steadfast in Christ

Inspiring Messages From General Conference

2011-10-06T09:15:00.000-07:00

On The first and second of October we were blessed to hear from our Church Leaders, Apostles and the Prophet who gave inspired advice through this ever so trying world.... Here are some insights that really inspired me over this past weekend!
Richard G. Scott

The Lord provided a set of tools to help us through perplexing problems. Scriptures illuminate our minds, key to communing with the Father in Heaven. They can be stalwart friends. Great power can come from memorizing sripture, source of comfort, a need of change-can be a source of power and understanding. It becomes a enduring friend, a key to unlocking revelation and gives one peace and potent power to heal us through life's challenges. Do we use ALL of the standard works? There are precious jewels spread throughout the Old Testament. The New Testament has many guiding truths. Book of Mormon teaches truth with unique clarity. All who study them will find a treasure to lead them to a greater happiness.

Barbara Thomason
We can receive personal revelation through the gift of the Spirit. Which will fill our soul as we study the scriptures and seek to live righteous lives. There are many different forms of revelation. We can have guidance from the Holy Ghost. Let us earnestly Seek the Gifts of the Spirit. We must nourish and strengthen our testimony and be continually watchful. As you seek for personal revelation you will walk in the way of the Lord, which shall enlighten our understanding and will bless our families. We need not harden our harden our hearts and be open to receiving the Spirit.

Boyd K Packer

The Gospel plan is the great plan of happiness. We each have a divine path and future. We each have a power over the adversary and his angels, and temptations. WE should be guided and warned by the Spirit. "Feast Upon The Words Of Christ" Voice of the Spirit comes as a feeling rather than a sound. WE won't make major mistakes when we heed those sound warning from the Spirit. Repentance can heal all hurts no matter how big or small. Listen to the voice of the Spirit and you'll not be lead astray. Avoid all immorality and take a hold on your life and your never neyond the sight of your Heaven'y Father. WE trust the Lord to guide the way as He places trust in us. You can look forward to doing it right, where you'll be watched and protected.

President Dieter F Uchtdorf
The Church is pressing Forward. Always retain in remembrance the Greatness of God. God said We are the reason He created the glorious universe-that we might reach our potential-man is nothing-yet we are everything in the Sight of God. Exaltation is in our grasp. Satan tries to convince us to only be puffed up in our self importance. This life in mortal sphere is but a small moment. He that humbleth himself will be Exalted. Satan deceives through discouragement, that we are of no worth. At time we may feel forgotten, but God is always aware of us:
1. God love the humble and the meek
2. Entrust His Gospel to the weak and simple
3. No matter how meager you live-you are not invisible to God
4. He'll never forget or forsake us-learn to be His disciple in word and deed.
You matter to Him--we need to understand our worthy potential.
D. Todd Christofferson

Without Repentance there is no progression in life, its a divine gift, it points us to freedom and peace. It exists as an option because of the Atonement of Christ. Sanctiication through the Savior is just and true.
1. Invitation to repent is an expression of love
2. Strive to Change-we seek His Grace to compliment our efforts to strive and overcome. WE can steadily improve to live the Celestial Law.
3. Committing to Obedience and Abandoning of Sin-Turn to the Lord with your might, mind and strength. Humbling thyself before the Father (Baptismal Covenant)
4. Seriousness of Purpose and Perseverance despite pain involved- One's heart and desire change-becomes a Covenant with God.
5. Whatever the cost its swallowed up in the joy of Forgiveness.
*Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand!

L Tom Perry
Through open temple open houses there is a focus on the church. The Church is always growing and moving forward. There is so many that are aware of the Church. There are many things we can do to help others understand the church as it really is.
1. Be Bold in our Declaration of Jesus Christ. Only though Christ can we receive Salvation. Press forward and Endure to the End. He shall bless and guide us in the time of trials.
2. Be Righteous Examples of others-in word, in spirit, in coversion, in purity. Our lives should be examples of Virtue-being honorable and upright.
3. Speak Up About The Church- gage the level of interest. We should be honest and respectful and be clear in what we say. Use the media to share your religious beliefs. The message of Christ is a Pearl. As you do this a spirit of love will be your constant companion.
Robert D Hales

There are so many blessings that come from the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Our purpose on Earth is to grow, develop and be strengthened in our own experiences. We need to have hope and faith in the Lord-planting that seed of Faith with great diligence. We need to stand fast and be pressing forward with faith. When we wait upon the Lord we are immovable. Everything worketh for our good. It can be challenging to wait upon the Lord-Line upon Line, Precept upon Precept. In the Lord's time and His way, His answers to our prayers will come. Let us wait upon the Lord- for there is many who wait upon Us--Family--for us to be patient and understanding. He knows our sacrifices and sorrows and He hears our prayers. We are beloved to the Lord more than we can imagine. We are not alone. His angels are here to bear us up.

Elaine S Dalton
We need to live after the manner of happiness which is found in the temple. Fathers are guardians of the Home, wives and children. They are to be guardians of virtue. We must practice virtue and holiness. Be present in your children's lives. Be an active part in their lives. Your testimony has a powerful witness.

Pres. Thomas S. Monson
We have the Gospel of Jesus Christ-we are responsible for our actions-the laws of God have remained constant. Our cod of conduct is difinitive. Father in Heaven is unchangeable-its something on which we can rely. We must be vigilant, its essential to reject anything that doesn't conform with our standards. We need to have the gospel at our core, and Christ in our hearts. Its necessary to communicate with the Father so we can build a relationship with our Father in Heaven -where we will be entitled to His inspiration and guidance-what treasure they are. We always need to be worthy to receive revelation and then act upon it. His inspiration is necessary to weather the storms of life. 'Seek Ye Diligently and Ye Shall Find Me'. To stand in holy place and be not moved.

Russel M Nelson
A covenant is a sacred promise with God. There are many examples in the scriptures of those we were 'a covenant people'. We have the right to the Gospel and qualify for the blessing of Eternal life as we seek the Lord and be obedient to His commands. Ours is the responsibility to help fulfill the Abrahamic Covenant. This is the time of the promised gathering of Israel. The Book of Mormon is a tangible sign to us, of the covenant of Israel. The Lord has not forgotten. It helps us to make covenants with God. We have the right to receive His doctrine. When we know who we are and what is expected of us, His law to be written in our hearts. 'Covenant Keeper' is a blessed and happy state. We will be blessed now and forever.

Dallin H Oaks
'What Think Ye of Christ?' What are we doing from the belief of Christ. Jesus taught that 'He' was the only begotten son, so the world 'through Him' would be saved. he is the life of the world. Which He gave us as well as Eternal Life. That He is the way, the truth, and light. His teachings shows us the way back to the Father, Christ did the will of the Father. Jesus showed us how to follow Him and how to do the will of the Father. He shall guide us into all truth, and He also guides us through His commandments. He also challenges us to focus on Him rather than on the things of the world. Christ is the source of spiritual nourishment. "The Living Bread" The Atonement gives us the way to overcome spiritual death. 'What Think Ye Of Christ?' Where is our ultimate loyalty? There is no middle ground, our citizenship is in Zion-we should seek first to build the kingdom of God and establish His Rightteousness.

Randall K. Bennett
We shouldn't rationalize and ignore warnings. We need to evaluate each of the decisions that we make. Each of us have a diving nature and a divine destiny. We knew there would be suffering and trials but have the ability to make the correct choices. WE should look to the great mediator and choose eternal life. With every choice there is a consequence or blessings. Choose to follow the Savior=eternal life or the world which have negative consequences and would separate us from our families and our Savior. We all face adversity, it is never too late to make correct choices. His arms of mercy are always extended to us. Are we seeking the guidance of the Holy Ghost daily?

Books That Inspire: Peacegiver

2011-07-20T23:10:00.000-07:00

how is Christ the answer to a strained relationship with child, parent or sibling? What if I am being mistreated — what does the atonement say about that? How can I discover the desire to repent when I don't feel the need to repent? These are the challenging questions of daily life, the questions to which the gospel must provide an answer if it is to have living, cleansing, redeeming power.

The Peacegiver is a book about the answers to these questions. In both content and form it is unlike other books about the atonement, for it unfolds as compelling story in which the characters learn about the Atonement as they struggle over the problems in their lives — problems we each share. The book therefore allows us not only to “learn about” the Atonement but also to have an experience with it.

“My peace I give unto you,” the Savior declared. The Peacegiver explores in a deeply personal way what we must do to receive the peace he stands willing to give.

My Thoughts:
When I first bought this book right around the time when it came out...I was just looking for a inspirational book on the Atonement. I was amazed about how much this book changed my life and my outlook on life and the gospel and especially Christ and his sacrifice. I would recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a way to become closer to Christ. I found that this author's approach to the Atonement, is more on a personal level....which made reading this book much more meaningful!!! So if your looking for a book that will inspire and bring you closer to Christ....than you should go to the closest book store and buy this one...you will never regret it and one that you and your family will cherish!

Its Been Too Long!!!

2011-07-19T09:30:00.000-07:00

I apologize for those of you that follow this blog as life has been crazy but I plan on making this blog more of a priority. Hope you all are well!

Come Unto Christ

2010-10-07T20:53:00.001-07:00

I invite you to come unto Christ,
Though mere words cannot suffice.
May I, of His life expound?
That He, in your heart may be found?

During Our Lord's ministry,
Precious few came to know Him,
Though all He did made history.
Though He offered pure love to them.

He's our bright miracle
And our plan for happiness.
His arms extend to encircle,
With joy and love. He's Holiness.

There is no other name that saves.
He gives assurance to us.
There's no better path than he paves.
He teaches of faith, hope and trust.

It warms my heart to speak of Him
And of all He's done for me.
Through times of sorrow and of sin,
His love's been there enveloping.

His life's example paves the way.
I will strive to be like Him.
I'll keep my covenants and obey
What I promised at baptism.

May you find faith to do His will,
As the Spirit manifests.
Know that His promise does fulfill.
May you feel joy within your breast.

-President Eyring

Life Is A Ladder

2010-07-30T15:20:00.000-07:00

Life is like the ascent of such a column. While we are climbing up its dark stairway, there lies outside its walls a glorious world, reaching away into eternity, beautiful and filled with the rarest things of God's love. When thoughts of immortality and knowledge of the gospel come to us, they are like little windows through which we have glimpses of the infinite sweep of life beyond this hampered existence of earth. If we use the doctrines of the gospel as the rungs on the ladder upon which we climb this staircase of life, than our ascent will be enlightened, and all of our duties and responsibilities will be relevant to the goal ahead-that of eternal life we will realize the highest achievements and most satisfying joys. Our success in life depends on the way we make use of it. the advantage of leisure time is mainly that we have the opportunity to choose our own tasks. Not time to be spent in idleness. To make, to create, to produce something necessary or beautiful, at once lifts us closer to companionship with our Heavenly Father. Whether in work or leisure, it is important to keep our spiritual values uppermost in our lives, directing and determining our actions. We can all establish a beautiful relationship with the Lord if we so desire and then we will be able to feel His inspiration and work and live for Him. This is a ultimate joy that can be a part of each of our lives and mission to the service of the Lord, He will shower blessing upon us and we can become an instrument in His hands for accomplishing His will among our associates in the church. Spreading the gospel, loving it and being proud of it is always an asset. The worst thing that can destroy us is our spiritual pride. Turning to the Lord is an essential part of our eternal progression. A wonderful tuning agent is prayer. We must be careful that we do not only pray in our distress and need, but that we pray also in the fulness of our joy and in our days of abundance.

Weekly Talk That Inspires- "You Are My Hands"

2010-07-25T16:36:00.000-07:00

This week I am going to pick a talk from the most recent General Conference, that inspires and lifts me. I wasn't able to watch much of last conference, and so its always good to read a talk that I haven't listened or read before. And this one kinda just drew me in!!
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“You Are My Hands”

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Second Counselor in the First Presidency

As disciples of Jesus Christ, our Master, we are called to support and heal rather than condemn.

A story is told that during the bombing of a city in World War II, a large statue of Jesus Christ was severely damaged. When the townspeople found the statue among the rubble, they mourned because it had been a beloved symbol of their faith and of God’s presence in their lives.

Experts were able to repair most of the statue, but its hands had been damaged so severely that they could not be restored. Some suggested that they hire a sculptor to make new hands, but others wanted to leave it as it was—a permanent reminder of the tragedy of war. Ultimately, the statue remained without hands. However, the people of the city added on the base of the statue of Jesus Christ a sign with these words: “You are my hands.”

We Are the Hands of Christ

There is a profound lesson in this story. When I think of the Savior, I often picture Him with hands outstretched, reaching out to comfort, heal, bless, and love. And He always talked with, never down to, people. He loved the humble and the meek and walked among them, ministering to them and offering hope and salvation.

That is what He did during His mortal life; it is what He would be doing if He were living among us today; and it is what we should be doing as His disciples and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

On this beautiful Easter morning, our thoughts and hearts are drawn to Him—the Hope of Israel and the Light of the World.

As we emulate His perfect example, our hands can become His hands; our eyes, His eyes; our heart, His heart.

Our Hands Can Embrace

I am deeply impressed by the way our Church members extend themselves to others. As we hear of your selfless sacrifice and overwhelming compassion, our hearts swell with gratitude and happiness. You are a shining light to the world, and you are known for your goodness and compassion all around the globe.

Unfortunately, from time to time we also hear of Church members who become discouraged and subsequently quit coming to and participating in our Church meetings because they think they don’t fit in.

When I was a young boy, during the aftermath of World War II, Germany was broken and in ruins. Many people were hungry, sick, and dying. I remember well the humanitarian shipments of food and clothing that came from the Church in Salt Lake City. To this day, I can still remember the smell of the clothing, and I can still taste the sweetness of the canned peaches.

There were some who joined the Church because of the goods they received at that time. Some members looked down on these new converts. They even called them an offensive name:Büchsen Mormonen, or “Canned-Food Mormons.” They resented these new members because they believed that once their temporal needs had been met, they would fall away.

While some did leave, many stayed—they came to church, tasted the sweetness of the gospel, and felt the tender embrace of caring brothers and sisters. They discovered “home.” And now, three and four generations later, many families trace their Church membership back to these converts.

I hope that we welcome and love all of God’s children, including those who might dress, look, speak, or just do things differently. It is not good to make others feel as though they are deficient. Let us lift those around us. Let us extend a welcoming hand. Let us bestow upon our brothers and sisters in the Church a special measure of humanity, compassion, and charity so that they feel, at long last, they have finally found home.

When we are tempted to judge, let us think of the Savior, who “loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. . . .

“[And] he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, . . . [for] all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden.”¹

As I read the scriptures, it appears that those who receive the Savior’s strongest reproach are often those who hold themselves in high esteem because of their wealth, influence, or perceived righteousness.

On one occasion the Savior taught a parable of two men who went into the temple to pray. One man, a respected Pharisee, prayed: “God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.”

The other man, a hated publican, stood “afar off, [and] would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”

And Jesus said, “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other.”²

In truth, we “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”³ We are all in need of mercy. In that last day when we are called to the judgment bar of God, do we not hope that our many imperfections will be forgiven? Do we not yearn to feel the Savior’s embrace?

It seems only right and proper that we extend to others that which we so earnestly desire for ourselves.

I am not suggesting that we accept sin or overlook evil, in our personal life or in the world. Nevertheless, in our zeal, we sometimes confuse sin with sinner, and we condemn too quickly and with too little compassion. We know from modern revelation that “the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.”⁴ We cannot gauge the worth of another soul any more than we can measure the span of the universe. Every person we meet is a VIP to our Heavenly Father. Once we understand that, we can begin to understand how we should treat our fellowmen.

One woman who had been through years of trial and sorrow said through her tears, “I have come to realize that I am like an old 20-dollar bill—crumpled, torn, dirty, abused, and scarred. But I am still a 20-dollar bill. I am worth something. Even though I may not look like much and even though I have been battered and used, I am still worth the full 20 dollars.”

Our Hands Can Comfort

With this in mind, let our hearts and hands be stretched out in compassion toward others, for everyone is walking his or her own difficult path. As disciples of Jesus Christ, our Master, we are called to support and heal rather than condemn. We are commanded “to mourn with those that mourn” and “comfort those that stand in need of comfort.”⁵

It is unworthy of us as Christians to think that those who suffer deserve their suffering. Easter Sunday is a good day to remember that our Savior willingly took upon Himself the pain and sickness and suffering of us all—even those of us who appear to deserve our suffering.⁶

In the book of Proverbs we read that “a friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”⁷ Let us love at all times. And let us especially be there for our brothers and sisters during times of adversity.

Our Hands Can Serve

An old Jewish legend tells of two brothers, Abram and Zimri, who owned a field and worked it together. They agreed to divide both the labor and the harvest equally. One night as the harvest came to a close, Zimri could not sleep, for it didn’t seem right that Abram, who had a wife and seven sons to feed, should receive only half of the harvest, while he, with only himself to support, had so much.

So Zimri dressed and quietly went into the field, where he took a third of his harvest and put it in his brother’s pile. He then returned to his bed, satisfied that he had done the right thing.

Meanwhile, Abram could not sleep either. He thought of his poor brother, Zimri, who was all alone and had no sons to help him with the work. It did not seem right that Zimri, who worked so hard by himself, should get only half of the harvest. Surely this was not pleasing to God. And so Abram quietly went to the fields, where he took a third of his harvest and placed it in the pile of his beloved brother.

The next morning, the brothers went to the field and were both astonished that the piles still looked to be the same size. That night both brothers slipped out of their houses to repeat their efforts of the previous night. But this time they discovered each other, and when they did, they wept and embraced. Neither could speak, for their hearts were overcome with love and gratitude.⁸

This is the spirit of compassion: that we love others as ourselves,⁹ seek their happiness, and do unto them as we hope they would do unto us.¹⁰

True Love Requires Action

True love requires action. We can speak of love all day long—we can write notes or poems that proclaim it, sing songs that praise it, and preach sermons that encourage it—but until we manifest that love in action, our words are nothing but “sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”¹¹

Christ did not just speak about love; He showed it each day of His life. He did not remove Himself from the crowd. Being amidst the people, Jesus reached out to the one. He rescued the lost. He didn’t just teach a class about reaching out in love and then delegate the actual work to others. He not only taught but also showed us how to “succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.”¹²

Christ knows how to minister to others perfectly. When the Savior stretches out His hands, those He touches are uplifted and become greater, stronger, and better people as a result.

If we are His hands, should we not do the same?

We Can Love as He Does

The Savior revealed the perfect priorities for our lives, our homes, our wards, our communities, and our nations when He spoke of love as the great commandment upon which “hang all the law and the prophets.”¹³ We can spend our days obsessing about the finest details of life, the law, and long lists of things to do; but should we neglect the great commandments, we are missing the point and we are clouds without water, drifting in the winds, and trees without fruit.¹⁴

Without this love for God the Father and our fellowmen we are only the form of His Church—without the substance. What good is our teaching without love? What good is missionary, temple, or welfare work without love?

Love is what inspired our Heavenly Father to create our spirits; it is what led our Savior to the Garden of Gethsemane to make Himself a ransom for our sins. Love is the grand motive of the plan of salvation; it is the source of happiness, the ever-renewing spring of healing, the precious fountain of hope.

As we extend our hands and hearts toward others in Christlike love, something wonderful happens to us. Our own spirits become healed, more refined, and stronger. We become happier, more peaceful, and more receptive to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit.

With all my heart and soul I give thanks to our Heavenly Father for His love for us, for the gift of His Son, for the life and example of Jesus the Christ, and for His sinless and selfless sacrifice. I rejoice in the fact that Christ is not dead but risen from the grave! He lives and has returned to the earth to restore His authority and gospel to man. He has given us the perfect example of the kind of men and women we should be.

On this Easter Sunday, and every day, as we contemplate with reverence and awe how our Savior embraces us, comforts us, and heals us, let us commit to become His hands, that others through us may feel His loving embrace. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Here is the video of this talk, if you would rather watch than read:

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Why I liked This Talk:

Well I have always loved Pres Uchtdorf and all of his talks, but this one really struck a chord in my heart. What I really got out of this, and what I really want to work on, is to put love into everything that I do and feel. I have noticed that when I go out and help others, without thinking about the time, but focusing on them and loving them. Also what I learned from this talk is that we need to emulate the Savior, and how in everything he did was out of love for us and everyone around Him. So should we: we should put love in every action, every emotion that we do in our daily lives to show others that we care. Also to those that aren't only just members, but others of other faiths and beliefs as well, to set a example that love isn't limited, its eternal in its truest form.

Weekly Talk That Inspires- Friendship

2010-07-18T16:08:00.000-07:00

One of the great tributes the Savior can give is to call us “friends.” We know that He loves with a perfect love all of His Heavenly Father’s children. Yet for those who have been faithful in their service with Him, He reserves this special title. You remember the words from the 84th section of the Doctrine and Covenants: “And again I say unto you, my friends, for from henceforth I shall call you friends, it is expedient that I give unto you this commandment, that ye become even as my friends in days when I was with them, traveling to preach the gospel in my power” (D&C 84:77).

We become His friends as we serve others for Him. He is the perfect example of the kind of friend we are to become. He wants only what is best for His Heavenly Father’s children. Their happiness is His happiness. He feels their sorrow as His own because He has paid the price of all their sins, taken upon Himself all their infirmities, borne all their troubles, and felt all their longings. His motives are pure. He seeks no recognition for Himself but to give all glory to His Heavenly Father. The perfect friend, Jesus Christ, is completely selfless in offering happiness to others.

Each of us who has made the baptismal covenant has promised to follow His example to bear one another’s burdens as He would (see Mosiah 18:8).

In the next few days you will have many opportunities to be a friend for Him. It may be as you walk on a dusty road. It may be as you sit down in a railroad car. It may be as you look for a place to sit in a Church congregation. If you are watching, you will see someone carrying a heavy burden. It may be a burden of sorrow or loneliness or resentment. It may be visible to you only if you have prayed for the Spirit to give you eyes to see into hearts and have promised to lift up the hands that hang down.

The answer to your prayer may be the face of an old friend, one you have not seen in years but whose needs suddenly come into your mind and heart and feel as if they are your own. I’ve had that happen to me. Old friends have reached out to me across the miles and the years to offer encouragement when only God could have told them of my burden.

Living prophets of God have asked us to be faithful friends to those who come into the Church as converts and to go to the rescue of those who have drifted away. We can do it, and we will do it if we always remember the Savior. When we reach out to give succor and to lift a burden, He reaches with us. He will lead us to those in need. He will bless us to feel what they feel. As we persist in our efforts to serve them, we will more and more be given the gift of feeling His love for them. That will give us courage and strength to reach out again and again in faithfulness.

And, in time and in eternity, we will feel the joy of being welcomed to the company of His faithful friends. I pray for that blessing for all of us and for those we will serve.

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This I found on LDS.org, and its the visiting teaching message, but I think its something that everyone could benefit, whether you are man or woman or child. I think its so vital to keep up with our friendships, because they are what lift and inspire us to be something better and higher than ourselves!!! To all those who have been such a good friend to me whether in the past or the present, I thank you, for your support and love!!!

Spiritual Saturday

2010-06-19T19:49:00.000-07:00

Every Saturday I will be posting a spiritual talk that has meant something to me and then discuss what has inspired and lifted me up about the certain talk I have picked out.

Here we go:

The Blessing Of Scripture: Elder D Todd Christofferson

The central purpose of all scripture is to fill our souls with faith in God the Father and in His Son, Jesus Christ.

On October 6, in the year 1536, a pitiful figure was led from a dungeon in Vilvorde Castle near Brussels, Belgium. For nearly a year and a half, the man had suffered isolation in a dark, damp cell. Now outside the castle wall, the prisoner was fastened to a post. He had time to utter aloud his final prayer, “Lord! open the king of England’s eyes,” and then he was strangled. Immediately, his body was burned at the stake. Who was this man, and what was the offense for which both political and ecclesiastical authorities had condemned him? His name was William Tyndale, and his crime was to have translated and published the Bible in English.

Tyndale, born in England about the time Columbus sailed to the new world, was educated at Oxford and Cambridge and then became a member of the Catholic clergy. He was fluent in eight languages, including Greek, Hebrew, and Latin. Tyndale was a devoted student of the Bible, and the pervasive ignorance of the scriptures that he observed in both priests and lay people troubled him deeply. In a heated exchange with a cleric who argued against putting scripture in the hands of the common man, Tyndale vowed, “If God spare my life, ere many years I will cause a boy that driveth the plough, shall know more of the Scripture than thou dost!”

He sought the approval of church authorities to prepare a translation of the Bible in English so that all could read and apply the word of God. It was denied—the prevailing view being that direct access to the scriptures by any but the clergy threatened the authority of the church and was tantamount to casting “pearls before swine” (Matthew 7:6).

Tyndale nevertheless undertook the challenging work of translation. In 1524 he traveled to Germany, under an assumed name, where he lived much of the time in hiding, under constant threat of arrest. With the help of committed friends, Tyndale was able to publish English translations of the New Testament and later the Old Testament. The Bibles were smuggled into England, where they were in great demand and much prized by those who could get them. They were shared widely but in secret. The authorities burned all the copies they could find. Nevertheless, within three years of Tyndale’s death, God did indeed open King Henry VIII’s eyes, and with publication of what was called the “Great Bible,” the scriptures in English began to be publicly available. Tyndale’s work became the foundation for almost all future English translations of the Bible, most notably the King James Version.¹

William Tyndale was not the first, nor the last, of those who in many countries and languages have sacrificed, even to the point of death, to bring the word of God out of obscurity. We owe them all a great debt of gratitude. We owe perhaps an even greater debt to those who faithfully recorded and preserved the word through the ages, often with painstaking labor and sacrifice—Moses, Isaiah, Abraham, John, Paul, Nephi, Mormon, Joseph Smith, and many others. What did they know about the importance of scriptures that we also need to know? What did people in 16th-century England, who paid enormous sums and ran grave personal risks for access to a Bible, understand that we should also understand?

Not long before his death, the prophet Alma entrusted the sacred records of the people to his son Helaman. He reminded Helaman that the scriptures had “enlarged the memory of this people, yea, and convinced many of the error of their ways, and brought them to the knowledge of their God unto the salvation of their souls” (Alma 37:8). He commanded Helaman to preserve the records so that through them God might “show forth his power unto future generations” (Alma 37:14).

Through the scriptures, God does indeed “show forth his power” to save and exalt His children. By His word, as Alma said, He enlarges our memory, sheds light on falsehood and error, and brings us to repentance and to rejoice in Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.

The Scriptures Enlarge Our Memory

The scriptures enlarge our memory by helping us always to remember the Lord and our relationship to Him and the Father. They remind us of what we knew in our premortal life. And they expand our memory in another sense by teaching us about epochs, people, and events that we did not experience personally. None of us was present to see the Red Sea part and cross with Moses between walls of water to the other side. We were not there to hear the Sermon on the Mount, to see Lazarus raised from the dead, to see the suffering Savior in Gethsemane and on the cross, and we did not, with Mary, hear the two angels testify at the empty tomb that Jesus was risen from the dead. You and I did not go forward one by one with the multitude in the land Bountiful at the resurrected Savior’s invitation to feel the prints of the nails and bathe His feet with our tears. We did not kneel beside Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove and gaze there upon the Father and the Son. Yet we know all these things and much, much more because we have the scriptural record to enlarge our memory, to teach us what we did not know. And as these things penetrate our minds and hearts, our faith in God and His Beloved Son takes root.

The scriptures also enlarge our memory by helping us not forget what we and earlier generations have learned. Those who either don’t have or ignore the recorded word of God eventually cease to believe in Him and forget the purpose of their existence. You will remember how important it was for Lehi’s people to take the brass plates with them when they left Jerusalem. These scriptures were key to their knowledge of God and the coming Redemption of Christ. The other group that “came out from Jerusalem” shortly after Lehi had no scriptures, and when Lehi’s descendants encountered them some 300 or 400 years later, it is recorded that “their language had become corrupted; . . . and they denied the being of their Creator” (Omni 1:15, 17)

In Tyndale’s day, scriptural ignorance abounded because people lacked access to the Bible, especially in a language they could understand. Today the Bible and other scripture are readily at hand, yet there is a growing scriptural illiteracy because people will not open the books. Consequently they have forgotten things their grandparents knew.

The Scriptures Are the Standard for Distinguishing Truth and Error

God uses scripture to unmask erroneous thinking, false traditions, and sin with its devastating effects. He is a tender parent who would spare us needless suffering and grief and at the same time help us realize our divine potential. The scriptures, for example, discredit an ancient philosophy that has come back into vogue in our day—the philosophy of Korihor that there are no absolute moral standards, that “every man prosper[s] according to his genius, and that every man conquer[s] according to his strength; and whatsoever a man [does is] no crime” and “that when a man [is] dead, that [is] the end thereof” (Alma 30:17–18). Alma, who had dealt with Korihor, did not leave his own son Corianton in doubt about the reality and substance of a divine moral code. Corianton had been guilty of sexual sin, and his father spoke to him in love but plainly: “Know ye not, my son, that these things are an abomination in the sight of the Lord; yea, most abominable above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent blood or denying the Holy Ghost?” (Alma 39:5).

In a complete reversal from a century ago, many today would dispute with Alma about the seriousness of immorality. Others would argue that it’s all relative or that God’s love is permissive. If there is a God, they say, He excuses all sins and misdeeds because of His love for us—there is no need for repentance. Or at most, a simple confession will do. They have imagined a Jesus who wants people to work for social justice but who makes no demands upon their personal life and behavior.² But a God of love does not leave us to learn by sad experience that “wickedness never was happiness” (Alma 41:10; see also Helaman 13:38). His commandments are the voice of reality and our protection against self-inflicted pain. The scriptures are the touchstone for measuring correctness and truth, and they are clear that real happiness lies not in denying the justice of God or trying to circumvent the consequences of sin but in repentance and forgiveness through the atoning grace of the Son of God (see Alma 42).

Scripture tutors us in principles and moral values essential to maintaining civil society, including integrity, responsibility, selflessness, fidelity, and charity. In scripture, we find vivid portrayals of the blessings that come from honoring true principles, as well as the tragedies that befall when individuals and civilizations discard them. Where scriptural truths are ignored or abandoned, the essential moral core of society disintegrates and decay is close behind. In time, nothing is left to sustain the institutions that sustain society.

The Scriptures Bring Us to Christ, Our Redeemer

In the end, the central purpose of all scripture is to fill our souls with faith in God the Father and in His Son, Jesus Christ—faith that They exist; faith in the Father’s plan for our immortality and eternal life; faith in the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, which animates this plan of happiness; faith to make the gospel of Jesus Christ our way of life; and faith to come to know “the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom [He has] sent” (John 17:3).

The word of God, as Alma said, is like a seed planted in our hearts that produces faith as it begins to grow within us (see Alma 32:27–43; see also Romans 10:13–17). Faith will not come from the study of ancient texts as a purely academic pursuit. It will not come from archaeological digs and discoveries. It will not come from scientific experiments. It will not even come from witnessing miracles. These things may serve to confirm faith, or at times to challenge it, but they do not create faith. Faith comes by the witness of the Holy Spirit to our souls, Spirit to spirit, as we hear or read the word of God. And faith matures as we continue to feast upon the word.

Scriptural accounts of the faith of others serve to strengthen our own. We recall the faith of a centurion that enabled Christ to heal his servant without so much as seeing him (see Matthew 8:5–13) and the healing of a Gentile woman’s daughter because that humble mother would accept, as it were, even the crumbs from the Master’s table (see Matthew 15:22–28; Mark 7:25–30). We hear the cry of suffering Job: “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him” (Job 13:15)—and professing, “I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: . . . [and] yet in my flesh shall I see God” (Job 19:25–26). We hear and take courage from the determination of a tender boy prophet, hated and bitterly persecuted by so many adults: “I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it” (Joseph Smith—History 1:25).

Because they expound the doctrine of Christ, the scriptures are accompanied by the Holy Spirit, whose role it is to bear witness of the Father and the Son (see 3 Nephi 11:32). Therefore, being in the scriptures is one way we receive the Holy Ghost. Of course, scripture is given through the Holy Ghost in the first place (see 2 Peter 1:21; D&C 20:26–27; 68:4), and that same Spirit can attest its truth to you and me. Study the scriptures carefully, deliberately. Ponder and pray over them. Scriptures are revelation, and they will bring added revelation.

Consider the magnitude of our blessing to have the Holy Bible and some 900 additional pages of scripture, including the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. Then consider that, in addition, the words of prophets spoken as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost in settings such as this, which the Lord calls scripture (see D&C 68:2–4), flow to us almost constantly by television, radio, Internet, satellite, CD, DVD, and in print. I suppose that never in history has a people been blessed with such a quantity of holy writ. And not only that, but every man, woman, and child may possess and study his or her own personal copy of these sacred texts, most in his or her own language. How incredible such a thing would have seemed to the people of William Tyndale’s day and to the Saints of earlier dispensations! Surely with this blessing the Lord is telling us that our need for constant recourse to the scriptures is greater than in any previous time. May we feast continuously on the words of Christ that will tell us all things we should do (see 2 Nephi 32:3). I have studied the scriptures, I have pondered the scriptures, and on this Eastertide, I bear you my testimony of the Father and the Son, as They are revealed in the holy scriptures, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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My thoughts:

As I was reading this talk, I was reminded by how much I have loved the scriptures and how much they mean to me. They are truly a blessing in each of our lives, for they teach us much and we are able to grow and progress from the lessons that they teach, if we ponder, and follow up on it and have the courage and faith to stand tall and following God's will. We all have different methods of studying the scriptures. As for myself, I will get study guides and commentaries to help me understand the place, time, culture, the deep meanings that sometimes ourselves don't see and the great symbolism that is all over the scriptures that teach us so much. I will relate a personal spiritual experience of studying the Book of Mormon. I was studying in Mormon, and I had never understood the depth of this part of the Book of Mormon until that point. I was studying with the commentary from Millet and McConkie, (which is a great version if you are interested) and it really talked about how Mormon was such filled with faith and dedication to the Lord. How he saw his people turn wicked, people that he loved and taught, and then to be killed right in front of him and he couldn't help them. As I was reading through Mormon, I felt a kinship with the man, for he had much courage and strength to go through something so challenging yet remain tall and faithful and ever remaining dedicated. If I was in his place it would have broken me to see such a thing, because I feel such sorrow when a friend or family member falls away from the church but to have that happen to everyone that I knew, now that would just be heart breaking sorrow. I pray that one day I will have that much courage, strength and faith!!!! May we all endeavor to follow his great example and have such a great faith as he did and does!!!!

Living Righteously in a Wicked World

2010-03-01T10:27:00.000-08:00

'And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, hat he said, escape for they life, look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest though be consumed'(Genesis 19:17)

1. We need to be more like Abraham- who was kind, gracious and loving. He had a deep concern for family-which wax a priority for Abraham. ' Let there be no strife' a soft answer turneth away wrath.
2. He also had faith in the Lord. He had his tent pitched toward Zion, toward the Lord and all things righteous and good. Lot however had his tent pitched toward Sodom(a very wicked city)
3. Lot was selfish, Abraham was unselfish. You can't have one foot in Babylon, and one in Zion. "And they pitched their tents round about the temple, every man having his tent with the door therof towards the temple, that thereby they might remain in their tents and hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them;"(Mosiah 2:6) They pitched their tents toward the temple, just as we must learn to do as well. In Gen 14- Melchizedek arrives and establishes the Sacrament. He is also called Shem, a righteous high priest. "The sacrament of the Lord's supper is a ordinance of salvation in which all the faithful must participate if they are to live and reign with him. It may well have been prefigured , some two thousand years before its formal institution among men, when 'Melchizedek, king of Salem, bought forth bread and wine, and he brake bread and blest it, and he blest the wine, he being the priest of the most high God. and he gave to Abram'....It had its beginning as an authorized ordinance and as a required rite when Jesus and his apostolic witnesses celebrated the feast of the Passover during the week of our Lord's passion"(Bruce R McConkie, The Promised Messiah)
4. Avoid even a thread of unrighteousness, if we do, it has the potential to grow and spread to immorality. We should want to become like Abraham. We need to take the time to accept the Lord's message. Even one person can make a difference, if we are righteous and be able to be helping others as well.

It Is Possible to Change, Really Change

2010-02-13T09:46:00.000-08:00

Charity is not an emotion or an action. It is not something we feel or do. Charity is who the Savior is. It is His most defining and dominant attribute. it is the greatest of all the gifts of the spirit. Charity defines who and what we are seeking to become. Without Chairty, we cannot enter into the Celestial Kingdom. For Charity changes us, it transforms us, it is a healing balm. Charity is a bestowal from the Father to true followers of His son and he and only He can change our hearts and our natures. the Lord needs every one of us, and we need each other. A distinguishing feature of the Gospel of Christ is that it makes His followers one. No matter what course we may take so long as it is in righteousness, if we are united, we can stand against the world. For unity is strength. We each have to walk through life on our own, but no one should have to do it alone. We are to bear each others burdens, even to absorb each others burdens. But not to cause each others burdens. We can do it, I know we can.

The Truth Sets Us Free

2010-02-04T17:50:00.000-08:00

In John 8:32-59- The Truth Sets Us Free:

In verse 32 is one of the most profound verses in all the scriptures. It is a simple and powerful fact. The truth sets us free. For example, if people believe that a baby who dies without baptism is forever damned from returning to heaven, "And I also beheld that all children who die before they arrive at the years of accountability are saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven."(D&C 137:10) sets them free from anguish and lingering guilt of having neglected this rite for the child. If one has lived a life of serious sin, and upon repenting and changing lifestule still believe that he or she will forever be a 'second class' citizen in the church, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."(Isaiah 1:18)-will set him or her free from feelings of being permanently limited by past lifestyle. Elder Richard G Scott said "If you have repented from serious transgression and mistakenly believe that you will always be a second class citizen in the kingdom of God, that is not true"
As we continue on from verse 33 we learn that those who sin are slaves to sin, and the only way to be free of sin, is with Christ.
In verse 39, that True followers of Abraham, would do the works of Abraham. Christ says to the Jews that if they were true followers of Abraham they wouldn't desire to kill him. They reply that they are loyal to God and not born of fornification. (We learn that the words "fornication and adultery" are often used in the Bible to refer, symbolically, to complete disloyalty to God.
In verse 43, it teaches us that there are some people who, because of their beliefs or lifestyle, simply can't stand the truth. In verse 44, the Savior gives us a brief but concentrated description of the devil. In verse, 48, we learn is a major message for us. As learners, we have the obligation to actively receive the gospel when we hear it, rather than simply hearing it.
In verse 48, the phrase "thou art a Samaritan" is saying, that Jesus is 'illegitimate' and God is not his father. The Samaritans came from remnants of the ten northern tribes of Israel, who intermarried with non-covenant people, mainly Assyrian occupational armies, beginning in about 722 BC., and apostatized. Thus, Samaritans were considered by the Jews to be former members of the House of Israel who had "stepped out on God" by marrying non-members and thereby had polluted the race. They were "illegitimate"children, therefore, were despised by the Jews.
Finally in verse 58, the Savior tells the Jews, that He is the Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament, and that the reason He has seen Abraham is the he is the god of Abraham and appeared to Him.

The Creation and Us

2010-01-24T17:15:00.000-08:00

The creation shows why we are here and where we come from.
1. Why?
2. What and How it was done?
Jesus Christ created the world which was done for God's purpose- which is in Moses1:39 "And this is my work and glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" Everything that he does is to bring us back home to live with Him again, and to also become as He is. He is teaching us, in the accounts of the creation, the patterns of creations since we will be creators just as He is. The creations testify of a creator. "But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator."(Alma 30:44) There is so many of God's creations which prove how much God cares. All of His creations testify of God's purpose. For example, as a institute teacher explained once, that for example when we usually see rainbows they are in a half circle, but it reality they are a whole circle, but we cant see the whole circle, unless something was in front of it. And that the rainbow symbolizes turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers. Which is a testament to one of God's purposes for us. So when we look at rainbows we will remember what they stand for. All creation is preceded by a spiritual creation. Its so important to master the techniques of accomplishing our goals.
1. They need to be measurable
2. Write them down, so we will see them around us and remember
3. Set time periods- moniter your progress
4. Make a commitment to accomplish that goal and invite the Lord in our goals because He wants us to succeed.
5. Always keep going and set a realistic goal that is within reach of accomplishing.
Most importantly we need to have spiritual goals, to work out way toward being with our Heavenly Father again and also to become like Him.

Broken Things To Mend Part Two

2010-01-23T09:50:00.000-08:00

Following these most basic teachings, a splendor of connection to Christ opens up to us in multitudinous ways: prayer, fasting and meditating on his purposes, savoring the scriptures, giving service to others, Above all, loving with "the pure love of Christ". We all need to have a more straightforward personal experience with the Savior's example. What is most important is personal experience, true discipleship , and the strength that comes from experiencing firsthand the majesty of His touch.
Whatever struggles or trials we are going through, we need to first come to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Trust in heaven's promises. "I do know, that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions"(Alma 36:3)
The Savior's atonement lifts from us not only the burdens of our sins but also the burden of disappointments and sorrows, heartaches, and our despair. From the beginning, trust in such helpo was to give us both a reason and a way to improve, an incentive to lay down our burdens and take up our salvation. There can and will be plenty of difficulties in life. Nevertheless the soul that comes unto Christ, who knows His voice and strives to do as He did, finds a strength. He is not going to turn His back on us now. He knows the way out and He knows the way up. He knows the way because He is the way.
If you are lonely, know you can find comfort. If you are discouraged, please know that you can find hope. If you are in poor in spirit, know you can be strengthened. If you feel you are broken, please know that you can be mended. May we all, especially the poor in spirit, come unto Him and be made whole

Broken Things To Mend- Part One

2010-01-17T08:38:00.000-08:00

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven"(Matthew 5:3) Many people are facing personal trials and family struggles, enduring conflicts fought in the lonely foxholes of the heart, trying to hold back floodwaters of despair that sometimes wash over us like a tsunami of the soul. What follows is especially for those who feel their lives are broken, seemingly beyond repair. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give thee rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls"(Matthew 11:28-29) This is the key to the peace and rest that we seek. It seems clear that the essence of our duty, the fundamental requirements of our mortal life, is captures in these brief phrases from any number of scenes in the Savior's mortal ministry. He could have said this to us " Trust me, learn of me, do what I do. Then, when you walk where I am going" He says " We can talk about where you are going, and the problems you face and troubles you have. If you follow me, I will lead you out of darness," He promises " I will give you answers to your prayer and I will give you rest to your souls" Just believing, just having a molecule of faith-simply hoping for things which are not seen in our lives, but which are nevertheless truly there to be bestowed--that simple step, when focused on the Lord Jesus Christ, has ever been and always will be the first principle of His eternal gospel, the first step out of despair.
Second, we must change anything we can change that may be part of the problem. We must repent, perhaps the most hopefull and encouraging word in the Christan vocabulary. We thank our Father in Heaven we are allowed to change, we thank Jesus we can change, and ultimately we do so only with their divine assistance. Often our trials result from the actions of others or just the mortal events of life.
Third, in as many ways as possible we try to take upon us His identity, and we begin by taking upon us His name. that name is formally bestowed by covenant in the saving ordinances of the gospel. these start with baptism and conclude with temple covenants, with many others, such as partaking of the sacrament, laced throughout our lives as additional blessings and reminders.

Aligning Our Wills With The Lord's

2010-01-11T19:18:00.000-08:00

1. Through the scriptures-we come to know Him and His will through the Spirit.Which speaks to us through the feelings that come to our hearts while reading the scriptures where we are given peace, hope, joy, comfort, strength, and courage. The scriptures are a tool for us because they invite us to come unto Him. Its also a way for us to come to know our Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ, to apply His atonement into our daily lives.
2. Prayer-to know the will of God we need to live it. Christ is a source of light. The more light we have, the better choices we will be able to make. whatever decision we make directs us toward God or to satan. Satan can only be in our lives if we allow Him to be. We also need to understand our relationship with our Heavenly Father to understand His will, and the ways that He speaks to us. There are 3 ways: 1. Pray 2. Scriptures 3. Other people around us. we also need to have faith, also to wait for His answer, and then act upon it! "For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have."(2 Nephi 28:30) Also the choices of others will affect us whether its positive or negative. Prayer is the passport to peace, the answer of miracle are wrought through prayer. If we have God on our side we cannot fail.
3. Communication- Communication with the Lord in Holy Places- to understand the will of the Lord our homes should be dedicated to holy things. we came here to learn and grow. there needs to be a good atmosphere in our homes. Which applies to temples and our homes as well. we need to make our homes a continually holy place by scripture study, prayer, kind words, cleanliness and a place of order, wholesome literature and media. to have a positive influence in our lives, in our homes. By praying we allow the Lord to come into our lives, to comfort and help us.

Extending God's Love To Others

2010-01-03T09:13:00.000-08:00

' I receive you to fellowship, in a determination that is fixed, immovable, and unchangeable, to be your friend and brother through the grace of God in the bonds of love, to walk in the commandment of God blameless in thanksgiving, forever and ever'-Doctrine and Covenants 88:133
When we help others feel God's love; when we are: supportive, encouraging, inspiring, nourishing, nurturing, comforting, compassionate, understanding, patient, long suffering, good humored, willing to cut him/her some slack and extend the benefit of the doubt, willing to talk and listen openly and honestly, trusting and accepting non judgmentally. When we counsel, guide, teach, mentor, pray and fast with empower, validate, acknowledge, withhold judgement. "And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light; Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—"(Mosiah 18:8-9) Our ability to worship God, to reaffirm our covenants and receive the healing power of the Holy Ghost, to receive the instruction we need in order to make personal progress-all of these things are greatly affected by how secure and safe we feel in our church environment during the three hour block of time on Sundays. When we truly pay attention to others-with open hearts, hearts filled with His validating, acknowledging, and accepting love. We work miracles when we simply pass it on. One of the great wonders of God's love is that it expresses itself uniquely through each person's personality.

Was It Prompting, Or Was It Just Me?

2010-01-02T10:19:00.000-08:00

Why we pray-The search for answers

As God our Eternal Father- Does He love us more than we know? Does He want us to be happy? Does He want us to pray? Is He anxious to answer us? Does He know exactly what we need? What are we praying about?

Essential Questions:
* Why do we pray?
* What are we praying (specifically) for?

The object of prayer to secure blessings God is willing to grant, but are conditional for our asking for them.

Elder C Lewis " I pray because I am helpless, the need flows out of me all the time waking and sleeping. It doesn't change God, it changes me."

" The education of our desires is one of for-reaching importance to our happiness in life"-Pres Joseph F Smith
To be taught what you need is one of the purposes of prayer.

"Even though we may ask in faith for something unless its right for us, God reserves the decision making process to himself. in asking in faith we need to ask for that which is right" Elder Maxwell " The Lord reserves the right to decide that which is right for us.

1. Why do we pray( The Essential Question)
-To learn His will for us
-To have the faith to carry His will out

Dramatic Differences

-Natural Man: What I want
   What I need
   I've got to have....
   Please Change this
(When I am desperate I look for dramatic answers)
-My submission prayer
   Thank you
   I'm grateful for...
   Give me ears to hear...
   Help me to know what to do...
Am I to be directed in everything?
" Only with the Holy Ghost can we be lifted out of our narrow little theatre of our own experiences. God see's things as they really are, we must rely on the promptings of the Holy Ghost" Elder Maxwell

21 Days Closer To Christ:Day One- Come and See

2009-12-31T20:33:00.000-08:00

In John 1:50 " Thou shalt see greater things than these" Come and see- this simple invitation summarized the Master's ministry. He was always an invitation. He asked His followers to come and then He showed them the blessings that followed. Today we are given the same invitation: Set aside your nets and come and see.
But will we leave behind our nets, which are so full other interests?
If we are to reach our full potential, we must create a place for the Savior in our lives. The sacrifice is worth it. Elder Jeffrey R Holland said " My desire today is for all of us...to have a more straightforward personal experience with the Savior's example. Sometimes we seek heaven too obliquely, focusing on programs or history or the experience of others. Those are important but not as important as personal experience. True discipleship and the strength that comes from experience firsthand the majesty of His touch." In a talk given by Elder L. Tom Perry where he talked about true discipleship and he said that True discipleship comes from an ongoing and continual process of drawing closer to our Savior Jesus Christ, so that we can be numbered among His disciples. Where our success is our we live ourlives, and what we need to take on is known as spiritual cleaning in ourselves and in our families and our homes. Our success, individually and as a Church, will largely be determined by how faithfully we focus on living the gospel in the home. Only as we see clearly the responsibilities of each individual and the role of families and homes can we properly understand that priesthood quorums and auxiliary organizations, even wards and stakes, exist primarily to help members live the gospel in the home. Then we can understand that people are more important than programs, and that Church programs should always support and never detract from gospel-centered family activities.The central purpose of our mortal probation is to prepare to meet God and inherit the blessings He has promised to His worthy children. The Savior set the pattern during His earthly ministry and encouraged those who followed Him to become His disciples. We need to learn to listen for that quiet invitation of the Master, the times when He invites you to come and see. Hopefully you will come and see the comfort and peace His spirit makes possible. Today try to listen for the quiet invitations from the Lord to come and see.

Born Again

2009-12-20T13:52:00.000-08:00

Being born again is when your mind is illuminated by the Spirit. Then one can see the kingdom of God, one then has a change of heart. The second part is to get baptized: 1. Immersed in water 2. Immersed in the Spirit. The way is open for us when we receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. When you feel it stiring-burning within you, its working on you, you have to use spiritual toolds to enter into the Spiritual Realm. We came here to become like God. We have to go through the experiences in life. We came into the world to experience adversity which can in turn bless us. We need to be pursuing what we nned to be learning. He gives us trials to us because He knows we can handle it, we will learn something about ourselves. We need to allow him to give us trials. So we can grown and learn. Its how when we handle a situation or trial we can be either stronger in the faith or we can be less faithful and bitter. "And as for the perils which I am called to pass through, they seem but a small thing to me, as the envy and wrath of man have been my common lot all the days of my life; and for what cause it seems mysterious, unless I was ordained from before the foundation of the world for some good end, or bad, as you may choose to call it. Judge ye for yourselves. God knoweth all these things, whether it be good or bad. But nevertheless, deep water is what I am wont to swim in. It all has become a second nature to me; and I feel, like Paul, to glory in tribulation; for to this day has the God of my fathers delivered me out of them all, and will deliver me from henceforth; for behold, and lo, I shall triumph over all my enemies, for the Lord God hath spoken it." (Doctrine and Covenants 127:2) The gospel is a resource in event of pain, when it comes, rejoice you have a resource to deal with your pain. The Atonement pays for the fall of adam. 1. Physical death we will be resurrected, the Savior will unconditionally pays for it. Also with spiritual death where we will enter into God's presence-but for how long?(its condititional on our part) He does require our effort.

First Presidency Christmas Devotional

2009-12-18T13:45:00.000-08:00

If we unclutter our lives a little bit and in sincerity and humility seek the pure and gentle Christ with our hearts, we will see Him, we will find him—on Christmas and throughout the year.
After the end of World War II, my family lived for a time in Zwickau, East Germany—that is where we found and joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Our congregation met in a small villa that had been converted into a meetinghouse, and there we joined with other members of the Church in worshipping the Savior and renewing our baptismal covenants.
One of the most striking things about our chapel was its beautiful stained-glass window depicting the Savior and the visit of our Heavenly Father and His Son to the Prophet Joseph Smith. As a young boy, I often looked up at this window and felt a special spirit. How I loved our quaint meetinghouse!
The special feeling in this building seemed to be enhanced during Christmastime. Somehow the smells were sweeter, the sounds were softer, the lights were more enchanting as they reflected off the stained-glass windows during those dark winter evenings. I will never forget this little villa because of the spirit I felt within its walls.

Years later, I grieved when I learned that this much-loved chapel—the place that had cradled us in its arms during the first years of our Church membership—had been demolished to make room for a high-rise apartment building.
I would think that those who made the decision to take down the building had good intentions and did not know what this villa meant to our small flock. To them it probably looked like just another building. Had they been able to see it as a house of worship, a place of rejoicing and friendship, a sacred chapel—had they only seen the place the way I did as a young child, they might have made a different decision.
I like the novel Le petit prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. It contains this keen observation: “Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is exhausting for children to have to provide explanations over and over again.” Later in the story a wise fox explains another important truth to the little prince: “Here’s my secret. It is very simple: One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes.”¹
Not being able to see the sacred either with the eyes or with the heart has been a fault of the human condition since the beginning. In the scriptures we read, “For the things which some men esteem to be of great worth . . . others set at naught and trample under their feet.”² Sometimes the most precious and sacred things are right in front of us, in plain sight, but we cannot or will not see them.
This may be especially true during the blessed and precious season of Christmas. This is a beautiful time of the year. Trees are draped with sparkling lights, the stores glitter with dazzling decorations, and the streets bustle with crowds of shoppers seeking gifts for those they love.

All of these spectacular displays and decorations that compete for our attention can be beautiful and uplifting, but if that’s all we see, then we’re missing something that’s in plain sight. Sometimes, despite our best intentions, we become so preoccupied with responsibilities, commitments, and the stress of our many tasks that we fail to see with our hearts that which is essential and most sacred.
Even many who lived during the time of the Savior’s mortal ministry could not see Him, though He walked among them in plain sight.

Why Couldn’t They See Him?

Jesus Christ was born in a stable surrounded by lowly animals. He was raised in a disparaged town on the fringes of civilization. He did not go through the pattern of worldly education. He was not trained in worldly schools of philosophy, art, or literature. Some who heard His teachings questioned the origins of His education, saying, “How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?”³ and they said also, “Whence hath this man (his) wisdom? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And his brethren . . . and his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?”⁴
The sophisticated and the proud, those who placed their trust in worldly learning, could not see Him.
Jesus the Christ was not wealthy, nor did he hold a political office. He lived and taught among humble people in a nation that was in bondage to the Romans. Therefore He did not seem worthy of notice by the political leaders of the day. They were, after all, preoccupied with running the world. They were far too busy to pay attention to a humble preacher of righteousness. When Jesus stood before Pilate, the powerful Roman governor could see only a teacher who was the cause of a disturbance in his political jurisdiction.
The wealthy and the influential, those who were caught up in their busy affairs of commerce and government, could not see Him.
The scribes and Pharisees and other religious leaders of the day were looking for the Messiah. They had studied the scriptures and longed for the time of the coming of the One who would deliver Israel. They yearned to see His day. They prayed for His arrival.
But they were so steeped in their own traditions and so blinded by their own narrow interpretation of scripture that they could not see the humble man who walked among them.
Jesus did not come in the way they expected. He had not attended their religious schools. Worse, He did not agree with all of their teachings and, therefore, He could not be the One.
The self-righteous and unteachable, those whose hearts were closed to the Spirit, could not see Him.

But Who Saw Him?
Simeon, an elderly, devout, and just man, saw the Christ. When Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the temple, Simeon knew through the power of the Holy Ghost that this was indeed the Christ, the Son of the Most High. And he took the baby in his arms and blessed Him.⁵
Humble fishermen and laborers saw Him. The ailing, the humble, and the distraught saw Him and recognized Him as the Salvation of Israel. But there were those among the rich and powerful who were teachable and therefore could see the Christ. Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, saw Him,⁶ as did the wealthy Joseph of Arimathea⁷ and Zacchaeus the publican.⁸

Now, Can We See the Christ?
Sometimes when we read about people who could not see the Savior for who He was, we marvel at their blindness. But do we also let distractions obstruct our view of the Savior—during this Christmas season and throughout the year? Some are external distractions—the gifts we worry about, the decorations, or the clamorous advertising—but often it is what is inside us that blinds us from seeing the Christ.
Some may feel a certain level of intellectual aloofness that distances them from Christ. In an age when vast amounts of knowledge are at our fingertips, the familiar story of Jesus the Christ can get lost amid the flood of scientific advances, pressing news, or the latest popular movies or books.
Some are so caught up in the details of running their lives that they don’t make time for much else. They might pay lip service to the things of the Spirit, but their hearts are so focused on the world that they cannot see the Christ.

Some, like the Pharisees, seek for the Christ, but their hearts are so set upon their own theories, spiritual hobbies, and opinions that they fail to recognize Him. In spite of their good intentions, they miss the transforming revelations of the Holy Spirit and thereby miss the only way to receive a certain testimony of Jesus Christ.

Let Us See the Christ in Christmas
This is a season of rejoicing! A season of celebration! A wonderful time when we acknowledge that our Almighty God sent His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem the world! To redeem us!
It is a season of charitable acts of kindness and brotherly love. It is a season of being more reflective about our own lives and about the many blessings that are ours. It is a season of forgiving and being forgiven.

But perhaps most of all, let it be a season of seeking the Lamb of God, the King of Glory, the Everlasting Light of the World, the Great Hope of Mankind, the Savior and Redeemer of our souls.
I promise that if we unclutter our lives a little bit and in sincerity and humility seek the pure and gentle Christ with our hearts, we will see Him, we will find Him—on Christmas and throughout the year.
Of this I testify in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

We can choose this Christmas and every day to create a small part of the Christmas story in our own lives.
The story of Christmas is a story of love. We heard the story first before the world was created. Heavenly Father told us of His plan of happiness for all of us, His beloved children.
Out of love He would let us come down from His royal courts to live in a world where we would be free to choose to come home again to Him. He said that because of temptations and because it would be so hard for us always to choose the right, that we would need a Savior. We would all need power beyond our own to be rescued from death and from sin.
Jehovah, out of His great love for the Father and for us, volunteered to come down from His exalted place as the perfect Firstborn in the spirit world to face the trials we would face and to save us if we loved Him enough to keep the commandments He would give us. At the heart of those commandments, we were to love the Father and His son and all of God’s other children. Hearing that story so filled our hearts with love for the Father and His Son that we shouted for joy and worshipped them.
Many have told since of the glorious time in that story when the Christ child is born to rescue and lead us home. Of the inspired accounts, the ones we treasure most help us feel again the tender love and care of the Father, and of His Beloved Son, for all of us, and especially for the least of us.
That is one of the reasons we love Luke’s story of the birth of Jesus. Each time we hear it we can feel again the love of our Father for us and for all His children. Each detail of the story makes real for us the message of love.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, wraps her firstborn child tenderly and lays Him in a manger. God sends angels in glorious light to announce to humble shepherds that the long-promised Messiah is born. And Luke tells us that choirs of angels were sent to celebrate this greatest of gifts from a loving Heavenly Father to His children. The words of Luke seem almost to bring to our minds and hearts the memory of the sound of angelic music:
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
“And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
“And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”¹
The story of Christmas given to us by Luke creates feelings of peace and goodwill, just as the angel choir promised. Every inspired account of the birth of Jesus has that power.
The great prophet Isaiah wrote of the Christ child hundreds of years before He was born in a stable. He knew that Christ would be born to save us and to become the King of kings:
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”²
Handel set Isaiah’s Christmas story to music, and those words sung by choirs have lifted hearts for generations. Some of us have sung them ourselves. Just this week members of my ward were invited to bring their music to sing along with a choir. Each time I have heard or sung Isaiah’s story of Christ, I have felt joy and peace. The promise of peace, which the Lord brought at His birth, come whenever we qualify to experience His love and cleansing power, which comes because of His Atonement. And every inspired story of Christmas brings a feeling of His love for us.
Heavenly Father out of His love sent angels and prophets to tell that story of Christmas even before Jesus was born. Moroni, in the Book of Mormon, tells us why God did that:
“For behold, God knowing all things, being from everlasting to everlasting, behold, he sent angels to minister unto the children of men, to make manifest concerning the coming of Christ; and in Christ there should come every good thing.
“And God also declared unto prophets, by his own mouth, that Christ should come…
“Wherefore, by the ministering of angels, and by every word which proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men began to exercise faith in Christ; and thus by faith, they did lay hold upon every good thing; and thus it was until the coming of Christ.”³
It is still the same after the coming of Christ: we lay hold upon every good thing through our faith in Him. True stories of Christmas always increase that faith in Him and in His mission. And with that faith our determination grows to join with Him to help in His loving mission of mercy and rescue.
It is wonderful to remember Him always but especially as we celebrate His birth. He came to bless children. He healed the sick. He invited all, even those who despised Him, to follow Him and so choose the way home to our Heavenly Father.
We can choose this Christmas and every day to create a small part of the Christmas story in our own lives. We can accept the invitation of living prophets to help those who are lost along the pathway, and have wandered, to come back to it. We can offer the gospel, which is the only way home, to all we meet along the way. We can lift up those who are tired and hungry and lonely, as the Savior did and now invites us to do with Him. As we do, they can feel how much the Savior loves them and wants to lead them on the way to the God He loves.
In the stories of Christ’s birth, we can see and feel who He was and who He is. That lightens our load along the way. And it will lead us to forget ourselves and to lighten the load for others. That can make every day feel like the best of our Christmases past.
We can feel again the Savior’s loving approval and His thanks. And those we help for Him may sense the helping hand the Master holds out to them, if only they will choose to take it.
I testify that the child born of Mary in Bethlehem was the divine and perfect Son of God. He loves us perfectly, as does our Father. Jehovah came as the Christ to open for us all the way to escape from sin and sorrow. I pray that we will choose that way and help all those we can to go home to God with us in love, in the name of Jesus the Christ, amen.

With the Spirit of Christ in our lives, we will have goodwill and love toward all mankind, not only during this season, but throughout the year as well.
My beloved brothers and sisters, how grateful I am to be here with you this evening. I, with you, have been inspired and edified by the messages of President Eyring and President Uchtdorf, as well as by the glorious music provided by the choir and the orchestra.
Truth is found in a phrase we sing in one of our hymns: “Time flies on wings of lightning.”¹ Another year has flown by, bringing us once again to the Christmas season.
Recently, as I’ve reminisced concerning past Christmases, I’ve realized that probably no other time of the year yields as many poignant memories as does Christmas. The Christmases we remember best generally have little to do with worldly goods, but a lot to do with families, with love, and with compassion and caring. This thought provides hope for those of us who fear that the simple meaning of the holiday is diluted by commercialism, or by opposition from those with differing religious views, or just by getting so caught up in the pressures of the season that we lose that special spirit we could otherwise experience.
For many people, “overdoing it” is especially common at this time of the year. We may take on too much for the time and energy we have. Perhaps we don’t have enough money to spend for those things we feel we must purchase. Often our efforts at Christmastime result in feeling stressed out, wrung out, and worn out during a time when instead we should feel the simple joys of commemorating the birth of the Babe in Bethlehem.
Usually, however, the special spirit of the season somehow finds its way into our hearts and into our lives despite the difficulties and distractions which may occupy our time and energy.
Many years ago I read of an experience at Christmastime which took place when thousands of weary travelers were stranded in the congested Atlanta, Georgia, airport. An ice storm had seriously delayed air travel as these people were trying to get wherever they most wanted to be for Christmas—most likely home.
It happened in December of 1970. As the midnight hour tolled, unhappy passengers clustered around ticket counters, conferring anxiously with agents whose cheerfulness had long since evaporated. They, too, wanted to be home. A few people managed to doze in uncomfortable seats. Others gathered at the newsstands to thumb silently through paperback books.
If there was a common bond among this diverse throng, it was loneliness—pervasive, inescapable, suffocating loneliness. But airport decorum required that each traveler maintain his invisible barrier against all the others. Better to be lonely than to be involved, which inevitably meant listening to the complaints of gloomy and disheartened fellow travelers.
The fact of the matter was that there were more passengers than there were available seats on any of the planes. When an occasional plane managed to break out, more travelers stayed behind than made it aboard. The words “Standby,” “Reservation confirmed,” and “First-class passenger” settled priorities and bespoke money, power, influence, foresight—or the lack thereof.
Gate 67 in Atlanta was a microcosm of the whole cavernous airport. Scarcely more than a glassed-in cubicle, it was jammed with travelers hoping to fly to New Orleans, Dallas, and points west. Except for the fortunate few traveling in pairs, there was little conversation at Gate 67. A salesman stared absently into space, as if resigned. A young mother cradled an infant in her arms, gently rocking in a vain effort to soothe the soft whimpering.
Then there was a man in a finely tailored grey flannel suit who somehow seemed impervious to the collective suffering. There was a certain indifference about his manner. He was absorbed in paperwork—figuring the year-end corporate profits, perhaps. A nerve-frayed traveler sitting nearby, observing this busy man, might have identified him as an Ebenezer Scrooge.
Suddenly, the relative silence was broken by a commotion. A young man in military uniform, no more than 19 years old, was in animated conversation with the desk agent. The boy held a low-priority ticket. He pleaded with the agent to help him get to New Orleans so that he could take the bus to the obscure Louisiana village he called home.
The agent wearily told him the prospects were poor for the next 24 hours, maybe longer. The boy grew frantic. Immediately after Christmas his unit was to be sent to Vietnam—where at that time war was raging—and if he didn’t make this flight, he might never again spend Christmas at home. Even the businessman looked up from his cryptic computations to show a guarded interest. The agent clearly was moved, even a bit embarrassed. But he could only offer sympathy—not hope. The boy stood at the departure desk, casting anxious looks around the crowded room as if seeking just one friendly face.
Finally the agent announced that the flight was ready for boarding. The travelers, who had been waiting long hours, heaved themselves up, gathered their belongings, and shuffled down the small corridor to the waiting aircraft: twenty, thirty, a hundred—until there were no more seats. The agent turned to the frantic young soldier and shrugged.
Inexplicably, the businessman had lingered behind. Now he stepped forward. “I have a confirmed ticket,” he quietly told the agent. “I’d like to give my seat to this young man.” The agent stared incredulously; then he motioned to the soldier. Unable to speak, tears streaming down his face, the boy in olive drab shook hands with the man in the gray flannel suit, who simply murmured, “Good luck. Have a fine Christmas. Good luck.”
As the plane door closed and the engines began their rising whine, the businessman turned away, clutching his briefcase, and trudged toward the all-night restaurant.
No more than a few among the thousands stranded there at the Atlanta airport witnessed the drama at Gate 67. But for those who did, the sullenness, the frustration, the hostility—all dissolved into a glow. That act of love and kindness between strangers had brought the spirit of Christmas into their hearts.
The lights of the departing plane blinked, starlike, as the craft moved off into the darkness. The infant slept silently now in the lap of the young mother. Perhaps another flight would be leaving before many more hours. But those who witnessed the interchange were less impatient. The glow lingered, gently and pervasively, in that small glass and plastic stable at Gate 67.²
My brothers and sisters, finding the real joy of the season comes not in the hurrying and the scurrying to get more done or in the purchasing of obligatory gifts. Real joy comes as we show the love and compassion inspired by the Savior of the World, who said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these ... ye have done it unto me.”³
At this joyous season, may personal discords be forgotten and animosities healed. May enjoyment of the season include remembrance of the needy and afflicted. May our forgiveness reach out to those who have wronged us, even as we hope to be forgiven. May goodness abound in our hearts and love prevail in our homes.
As we contemplate how we’re going to spend our money to buy gifts this holiday season, let us plan also for how we will spend our time in order to help bring the true spirit of Christmas into the lives of others.
The Savior gave freely to all, and His gifts were of value beyond measure. Throughout His ministry, He blessed the sick, restored sight to the blind, made the deaf to hear, and the halt and lame to walk. He gave cleanliness to the unclean. He restored breath to the lifeless. He gave hope to the despairing and bestowed light in the darkness.
He gave us His love, His service, and His life.
What is the spirit we feel at Christmastime? It is His spirit—the Spirit of Christ.

How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heav’n.
No ear may hear his coming; but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in.⁴

With the pure love of Christ, let us walk in His footsteps as we approach the season celebrating His birth. As we do so, let us remember that He still lives and continues to be the Light of the World, who promised, “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”⁵
To each of you, my brothers and sisters, I extend my love and blessing. May you have a wonderful Christmas. May there be love and kindness and peace within your hearts and homes. May even those whose hearts are heavy rise with the healing which comes alone from Him who comforts and assures.
With the Spirit of Christ in our lives, we will have goodwill and love toward all mankind, not only during this season, but throughout the year as well.
May this be our experience and our blessing, I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, amen.

Ask, Seek, Knock

2009-12-15T09:41:00.000-08:00

My beloved brethren and sisters, I am very grateful for each of you. I am thankful too for the miracle of modern communication that allows this conference to reach millions of people throughout the world.
Today’s technology also allows us to use wireless telephones to exchange information rapidly. Recently Wendy and I were on assignment on another continent when we learned that a new baby had arrived in our family. We received the good news minutes after that birth had occurred half a world away.
Even more amazing than modern technology is our opportunity to access information directly from heaven, without hardware, software, or monthly service fees. It is one of the most marvelous gifts the Lord has offered to mortals. It is His generous invitation to “ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”1
This timeless offer to provide personal revelation is extended to all of His children. It almost sounds too good to be true. But it is true! I have received and responded to that heavenly help. And I have learned that I always need to be ready to receive it.
Years ago, while immersed in the task of preparing a talk for general conference, I was aroused from a sound sleep with an idea impressed strongly upon my mind. Immediately I reached for pencil and paper near my bed and wrote as rapidly as I could. I went back to sleep, knowing I had captured that great impression. The next morning I looked at that piece of paper and found, much to my dismay, that my writing was totally illegible! I still keep pencil and paper at my bedside, but I write more carefully now.
To access information from heaven, one must first have a firm faith and a deep desire. One needs to “ask with a sincere heart [and] real intent, having faith in [Jesus] Christ.”2 “Real intent” means that one really intends to follow the divine direction given.
The next requirement is to study the matter diligently. This concept was taught to leaders of this restored Church when they were first learning how to gain personal revelation. The Lord instructed them, “I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.”3
Part of being prepared is to know and obey the relevant teachings of the Lord. Some of His timeless truths are applicable generally, such as the commandments not to steal, not to kill, and not to bear false witness. Other teachings or commandments are also general, such as those regarding the Sabbath, the sacrament, baptism, and confirmation.
Some revelations have been given for unique circumstances, such as Noah’s building of the ark or the necessity for prophets like Moses, Lehi, and Brigham to lead their followers in arduous travel. God’s long-established pattern of teaching His children through prophets assures us that He will bless each prophet and that He will bless those who heed prophetic counsel.
A desire to follow the prophet requires much effort because the natural man knows very little of God and even less of His prophet. Paul wrote that “the natural man [receives] not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”4 The change from being a natural man to a devoted disciple is a mighty one.5
Another prophet taught that “the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.”6
Recently I observed such a mighty change in a man whom I first met about 10 years ago. He had come to a stake conference at which his son was sustained as a member of the new stake presidency. This father was not a member of the Church. After his son had been set apart, I put my arms around this father and praised him for having such a wonderful son. Then I boldly declared: “The day will come when you will want to have this son sealed to you and your wife in a holy temple. And when that day comes, I would be honored to perform that sealing for you.”
During the subsequent decade, I did not see this man. Six weeks ago he and his wife came to my office. He greeted me warmly and recounted how startled he was with my earlier invitation. He didn’t do much about it until later, when his hearing began to fail. Then he awakened to the realization that his body was changing and that his time on earth was indeed limited. In due course he ultimately lost his hearing. At the same time, he became converted and joined the Church.
During our visit he summarized his total transformation: “I had to lose my hearing before I could heed the great importance of your message. Then I realized how much I wanted my loved ones to be sealed to me. I am now worthy and prepared. Will you please perform that sealing?”7 This I did with a deep sense of gratitude to God.
After such a conversion takes place, even further spiritual refinement can come. Personal revelation can be honed to become spiritual discernment. To discern means to sift, to separate, or to distinguish.8 The gift of spiritual discernment is a supernal gift.9 It allows members of the Church to see things not visible and to feel things not tangible.
Bishops are entitled to that gift as they face the task of seeking out the poor and caring for the needy. With that gift, sisters may view trends in the world and detect those that, however popular, are shallow or even dangerous. Members can discern between schemes that are flashy and fleeting and those refinements that are uplifting and enduring.
Discernment was implicit in important instructions President John Taylor gave long ago.10 He taught stake presidents, bishops, and others: “It is the right of those holding [these positions] to obtain the word of God with regard to the duties of their presidencies that they may more effectually carry out His holy purposes. None of the callings or positions in the priesthood are intended for the personal benefits, emoluments and fame of those who hold them, but are expressly given to fulfil the purposes of our Heavenly Father and build up the Kingdom of God upon the earth. … We … seek to understand the will of God, and then carry it out; and see that it is carried out by those over whom we have the charge.”11
For each of you to receive revelation unique to your own needs and responsibilities, certain guidelines prevail. The Lord asks you to develop “faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God.” Then with your firm “faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, [and] diligence,” you may ask, and you will receive; you may knock, and it will be opened unto you.12
Revelation from God is always compatible with His eternal law. It never contradicts His doctrine. It is facilitated by proper reverence for Deity. The Master gave this instruction:
“I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end.
“Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory.
“… To them will I reveal all mysteries [and] my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom.”13
Revelation need not all come at once. It may be incremental. “Saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more.”14 Patience and perseverance are part of our eternal progression.
Prophets have described what they felt while receiving revelation. Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery reported that “the veil was taken from our minds, and the eyes of our understanding were opened.”15 President Joseph F. Smith wrote, “As I pondered over these things which are written, the eyes of my understanding were opened, and the Spirit of the Lord rested upon me.”16
Every Latter-day Saint may merit personal revelation. The invitation to ask, seek, and knock for divine direction exists because God lives and Jesus is the living Christ. It exists because this is His living Church.17 And we are blessed today because President Thomas S. Monson is His living prophet. That we may hearken to and heed his prophetic counsel is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Celestial Therapy

2009-12-04T13:36:00.000-08:00

insights from a talk given at Women's Conference that really has inspired me:
When we are weary, worried, in despair, restless, lonely, misunderstood, indecisive, overlooked, overweight, overwhelmed, overwrought, underappreciated, underemployed, or undernourished our first question should be "Where is the temple?" "As the forces around us increase in intensity, whatever spiritual strength was once sufficient will not be enough" -Elder Eyering. Its time to arise and benefit from the privileges of the temple. Its time for each of us to make sure we are engaged in what could be called "Celestial Therapy"

Celestial Therapy offered to everyone exclusively in the House of the Lord
There is only one aristocracy that God recognizes" George Albert Smith said " and that is the aristocracy of righteousness" No one is turned away who is willing to comply with the Lord's rules for admission. The Lord is the master healer. He knows everything about us and everything about this earth, this galaxy, this universe ....and beyond. The glory of God is intelligence. The more laws we know, and more important, the more laws we live, the more joy and peace we experience. in Doctrine and Covenants 109:22 the Lord tells us four blessings that come with being faithful in keeping the temple covenants: that as we leave His house we will leave with
1. Armed with His power
2. With His name upon us
3. With His glory round about us
4. With His angels having charge over us
Through temple experiences each of us can access the Lord's power and other blessings of the priesthood.

The Lord's Alter And Symbols Are Part of Celestial Therapy
The Lord can alter whatever we are willing to put on His alter. Celestial therapy also heals with the help of temple symbols. As we wrap our minds and hearts around the mighty symbols of the temple, we ask the Lord these questions
What does this symbol mean for me now?
What message is the Lord trying to give me through that symbol?
Do I understand the symbol the way I should?
Do I feel about the temple that way I should?
Temple symbols allow us to consider that there are many ways to interpret something. For every problem in life, there is power and knowledge in the temple to help us.
There are three ways that Celestial Therapy heals our hearts and homes:
1. It free's us
2. It reveals to us things we have never before considered about ourselves and others
3. It comforts us

Celestial Therapy Heals Us As It Free's Us
Celestial therapy can free us and save us time and energy by turning many "hot issues" of the world into "non issues" for us. Here is a example: Take one "hot" issue of the world and then immerse it in temple truths. what is the result. Most often, a non issue; at the very least, an abundance of eternal clarity that reduces prolonged debate to a post it note sized comment.
Celestial therapy can also free us and our ancestors . We are freer when we leave the temple than when we entered. Freer to do what the Lord requires of us and to discern good from evil. Freer to fill the measure of our creation and experience joy. Freer to solve our problems and freer to give our will to the Lord. We are also freer to put aside telestial relationship behaviors that shrink our spirits and grieve the Spirit.

Celestial Therapy Can Heal Us Through What Is Revealed To Us
Celestial Therapy can give us new insights into ourselves and others, sometimes clarifying what we should do in difficult situations. The Lord generally manifests to us those things we are seeking just as soon as he perceives us ready. At times we get more than we requested

Celestial Therapy Can Heal Us By Comforting Us
Celestial Therapy can indeed heal us as it frees, reveals, and comforts, Inside the temple, the Lord's altar and symbols are part of Celestial Therapy. when we depart from the temple, Celestial Therapy continues as we leave with the Lord's power and name upon us with his glory and angels round about us. Through the Savior's atoning sacrifice we come to know Him, not just know about him. And we come to love him above everyone and everything else. When we want to live closer to the Lord we ever have, closer to him than to anyone else, he brings us closer to everyone else. We experience through temple worship an anchoring and a direction in all our relationships.

Insights from Jeffrey R Holland "A Prayer for the Children"

2009-11-29T08:02:00.000-08:00

The Savior felt a great need to pray for and bless the children. As we too must be praying for the little children as there are destructive influences always swirling around them. We are not alone, and we do not tremble as if, abandoned in doing our part, we can live the gospel and defend its principles, we can declare to others the sure Way, the saving Truth, the joyous Life. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."( John 14:6) As parents we can hold life together the way its always held together with love and faith. "And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation."(D&C 68:4)
Parents simply cannot flirt with skepticism or cynicism, then be surprised when their children expand that flirtation into full blown romance. "Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey."(Isaiah 33:23) In matters of religion, a skeptical mind is not a higher manifestation of virtue than is a believing heart. Live the gospel as conspicuously as you can. Keep the commandments your children know you have made, give priesthood blessings and bear your testimony!
"For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." "And now behold, my people, ye are a stiffnecked people; wherefore, I have spoken plainly unto you, that ye cannot misunderstand. And the words which I have spoken shall stand as a testimony against you; for they are sufficient to teach any man the right way; for the right way is to believe in Christ and deny him not; for by denying him ye also deny the prophets and the law." ( 2 Nephi 25: 23, 26, 28) Have our children ever unexpectedly opened a closed door and found us on our knees in prayer? God will send aid to no one more readily than he will send it to a child-and to the parent of the child.

Eternal Families

2009-11-27T16:48:00.000-08:00

The earth was created for us, its our eternal home. So families could be formed, sealed and exalted. "BEHOLD, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming."(D&C 2) Eternal families is our ultimate goal. In one way or another Satan has attacked the concept of the family unit! Everything in the gospel revolves around the family. There is a lot more love within the church, yet outside it there is much fear. Satan is working hard on trying to divide up families. he did all of this for us. The work of Genealogy is on ALL of us!! There is much work for us to do. We also need to have a desire to do the work for those that are in the Sprit World. The spirit of Elijah influence us to look into our ancestors, such as research and the temple work and to learn about our ancestors. We need to do this work with a great desire. This is a important work for us to do and it can give us the greatest joy. Every single person counts, they are real people and need to receive these real blessings. We need to pray and think about these people, and it will make the experience so much more satisfying. Its so special for them to receive these blessings. He needs us to do this work and He can't do it alone. When we serve others, we can feel spiritually enriched and fulfilled. when we participate in this work, we can become 'Saviors on Mount Zion'. as we do this work we become more like our Savior, Jesus Christ

The First Thanksgiving in Utah

2009-11-26T08:31:00.000-08:00

Thursday, 10 August 1848 dawned warm and bright all over the Salt Lake Valley. After a harsh year, the prospect of a good harvest had revived the spirits of the Latter-day Saints, and everyone wanted to set aside a day for Utah’s (then called the State of Deseret) first Thanksgiving.
The festivities didn’t begin in the afternoon or evening, as they do now, but in the morning. Many children were up early. The girls helped their mothers prepare cakes, pies, and other pastries. The boys helped pull beets and carrots and cleaned cucumbers, radishes, and beans—all soon to be part of the wonderful feast.
Large baskets filled with pastries were placed under a large bowery (an open-sided building) on tables decorated for the feast. Fathers and sons proudly pulled carts heaped high with garden vegetables. Even the youngest Saints gathered at the bowery, each bringing so much food they almost couldn’t carry it all.
At nine o’clock sharp, a hush fell over the crowd. The festivities began solemnly, as a white flag was raised on a Liberty Pole decorated with sheaves of wheat, barley, oats, and a single ear of green corn. As the flag crept up the pole, a cannon was fired and the band began playing. When the flag reached the top of the pole, the people cheered loudly and cried out in unison, “Hosanna to God and the Lamb, forever and ever, amen.”
The Saints then stood and sang “Harvest Song,” written by Parley P. Pratt especially for the occasion. The voices of the Saints were strong and unified as they sang the chorus:

“Let us join in the dance, let us join in the song.
To thee, O Jehovah, the praises belong.
All honor, all glory, we render to thee;
Thy cause is triumphant, thy people are free.”

After the song, several prominent leaders took turns giving speeches about how the Lord had blessed them in allowing this joyful harvest. After the speeches, Elder John Taylor (who later became the third President of the Church) offered a Thanksgiving prayer of praise and blessing on the food.
At noon, a bugle sounded, and several hundred Saints sat down to a wonderful dinner of bread, beef, cheese, green corn, melons, lettuce, radishes, beets, onions, peas, carrots, cucumbers, parsnips, squash, and beans. After that, those who could find room enjoyed cakes, pies, and pastries.
At two o’clock, the bugle sounded again. The tables were cleared and the benches removed, making room for dancing. As the band played, as many as 50 couples at a time danced the Virginia reel and quadrilles (a kind of square dance).
The day had been such an enormously successful event, surely you would think that a grand tradition had been started. But, strangely, that wasn’t what happened. The quickly-growing population made it impractical to have another citywide feast. Three years after the first celebration, in the fall of 1851, President Brigham Young, then governor of the Territory of Utah, proclaimed 1 January 1852 a “Day of Praise and Thanksgiving.” President Young asked the Saints to spend the day as families, joyfully, thankfully, and prayerfully, “in response to the time-honored custom of our fathers at Plymouth Rock.” It became a day for Saints to share their hearts with one another and with God and share their substance with the poor. Today many people celebrate Thanksgiving in different ways and on different dates, but the spirit of love and gratitude celebrated by the early pioneers remains the same.

Helping Others Recognize the Spirit

2009-11-24T13:51:00.000-08:00

There are 3 ways to help others recognize the whispering of the Holy Ghost.
1. Understanding the doctrine for example through the scriptures, there are many different ways on receiving the Spirit.
2. Sharing personal testimony of the influence of the Spirit.
3. Providing an environment where the Spirit can be felt daily in our homes. We also need to have quiet moments in our lives, so that the Spirit can reach us and learn to live the gospel each day.
We must do things in our lives so that so that the Holy Ghost may be present. We must keep ourselves clean to be able to have the Spirit with us. We need to learn to exercise our faith in the Lord, to recognize the voice of the Spirit. Sometimes we hear the voice of the Spirit by answers of prayer. This is spiritual revelation. when we receive spiritual promptings we must act on those promptings. "Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you"(D&C 88:63) There are many things that the Holy Ghost can do for us such as bring comfort, peace, knowledge, joy and also warn us for safety. We need to also make sure we are listening to the Spirit. "Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man."(D&C 84:85) Once we have the Spirit with us, we must do the things to keep the Spirit with us. The Spirit helps us to get back on track, no matter how far off track we are. We need to do all we can do to make sure the Spirit is with us. The Lord is in charge. We all face adversity. The Holy Ghost can become our constant companion. let us have a partnership with the Holy Ghost. What an important aspect that is in our lives.

Shall We Not Go Forward In So Great A Cause

2009-11-19T09:04:00.000-08:00

Whatever our temporal conditions may be, once we have turned over our hearts to the Lord and decided we want to be like him, the process of following him becomes one of joy rather than white knuckled endurance. What do we want? And what are we willing to do to get it? Are we willing to yield our hearts to the Lord? "And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters."(Mosiah 5:7) The choice is ours for what we'll ultimately want. The one sure measure of a person's conversion was how he/she treats others. When we turnh our hearts to the Lord, we instinctively open our hearts to others "Now, it came to pass that when I had heard these words I began to feel a desire for the welfare of my brethren, the Nephites; wherefore, I did pour out my whole soul unto God for them." (Enos 1:9)

The Spirit cannot dwell in a home, a ward, or a relationship where there is criticism. Contention neutrolizes us spiritually when we fall to champion to one another, we in essence betray each other. The Lord has reserved that right for himself, because only He knows our hearts and understand the varying circumstances of our lives. Principle and covenants are the same for all of us. Charity is demonstrated when we give someone the benefit of the doubt, or readily accept an apology. Lucy Mack Smith said "We must cherish one another, watch over one another, and comfort one another that we may all sit down in Heaven together. The cause of women is to help build up the kingdom of God. The time has come for us to arise as never before and to let our light be a stard for nations. The Lord needs every one of us "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16) HE IS OUR ADVOCATE, OUR DELIVERER, AND OUR REDEEMER

Healing The Wounded Soul

2009-11-16T12:09:00.000-08:00

President Packer said. “You won’t survive spiritually unless you know how to receive revelation. The still small voice of the spirit. It’s a noisy world and you’re going to have to learn that revelation comes in the quiet times. It will come when the lord can speak to your feelings. The lord will speak to you; he will never fail to answer your prayers.” The problem is that we need have quiet times so that he can speak to us. As we spend time meditating, and In the midst of our meditation we will suddenly discover what we need to do. We’ll discover how we can heal ourselves, how we can change and how we can bless. (We’re usually just to busy) We have to have quiet times to be able to hear the voice of the spirit and come to know the savior. (Meditation is the key)

Misbehavior: People don’t usually misbehave because they are bad people, they misbehave because they are wounded, they’re hurt, and their lack of desire to please and to serve their master (Jesus Christ) is totally influenced by their pain, suffering and wounds. Generally these people’s misbehaviors are because they are wounded. Often times “We” don’t know the whole story about these people and how often are we so quick to judge. How often do we put them down, get upset at them or talk bad about them because of their misbehavior? When in reality their lack of desire and motivation to do that which is good, isn’t there because of internal pain. Their misbehavior has nothing to do with who and what they REALLY are.

These types of wounds have to heal from the inside out; we must be patient with people. But when they are healed you won’t even be able to tell that there has ever been a wound there. The savior can Heal without a scar.
Again, most misbehavior is not about people being bad, or worthless, or stupid… it’s about wounds, and pain, and insecurity, and hurt.

How often do we ourselves get up set, and when we are hurting inside or in pain, we say things that we don’t really mean. It’s often quoted that “hurting people, hurt people. “ Your whole misbehavior has nothing to do with your lack of love for the other person. It had to do with your own pain, your own insecurity, and your own wounds. And as a result we often bark back, we say something or do something that we normally wouldn’t do.

What about those who suffer from drugs? What about those that have been victims of sexual, physical or verbal abuse? What about someone who absolutely hate themselves because they’ve been told that they are stupid or ugly or they don’t like the way that they look.
We need to stop saying “You stupid idiot, why would you do that? “ And instead ask “What is it that has caused such deep pain, such deep wounds, such deep insecurity that you would behave in such a manner? We need to work to be more understanding and see what’s behind it all and why they might do those things. We might consider the questions…Why would drugs be so attractive, why would pornography be so attractive, what is missing in your life? What pain, what hurt, what insecurity, what need is not being met? Then we might see in what way we might love and help them.

Jacob 2:8 “And it supposeth me that they have come up hither to hear the pleasing word of God, yea, the word which healeth the wounded soul.”

The word of god heals wounded souls. Jacob himself knows about being wounded because he lived it. He was a victim of abuse from his two oldest brothers. We see that the drenching of ourselves in the living waters of the scriptures will begin to heal our wounds. With prayer, scripture study and meditation we will discover how to handle our difficulties. We will have the spirit of revelation come upon us.

President Faust was asked, “ President Faust, What are we going to do to overcome all the addiction that we face in this world, alcohol, drugs, pornography?” President Faust put his elbow on the podium, put his chin into his hand, and said, “Get them to hold faster and tighter to the Iron Rod (The scriptures).“ If you let it get in you the word of god will heal your wounded heart, feelings and emotions.

When people become truly healed, all they care about is pleasing their Heavenly Father, and loving and serving him. They will want to love and serve their master. Our lord, Our Savior and our King, Jesus Christ. But many times those who misbehave don’t get it because their wounds have been so deep that they haven’t been able to see clearly.

3rd Nephi 9: 13 “O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?” It’s a question, “will you let me heal you”, that’s all he wants to do.
1st Nephi 15: 24 “And I said unto them that it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.”

The Healing balm is the word of god which health the wounded soul. We can’t force anyone to read scripture or to feel the way we feel.

Elder Nelson said “ Man is that he might have joy, NOT Guilt Trips.” How often do we put guilt trips on people? One might say for example “Well if you don’t go on a mission then you just don’t love the lord.” Instead we should understand that maybe the reason that they don’t want to go on a mission is because they are wounded and they haven’t been able to see clearly yet. This goes for any other misbehavior problem we might see.

Well, How do we get the word of god into those people suffering from wounds, and particularly into the Book of Mormon? We must Love, Lead, and teach out of our own healed and changed hearts. President Lee said, “We will never help another unless “WE” are standing on higher ground.” So we have to love, we have to be patient, and we have to let them heal from the inside out.

May we remember President Hinckley’s challenge. “Those who read the Book of Mormon will be blessed with an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a greater resolve to obey His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God.”

Russell M. Nelson taught “Each individual who prayerfully studies the Book of Mormon can also receive a testimony of its divinity. In addition, this book can help with personal problems in a very real way. Do you want to get rid of a bad habit? Do you want to improve relationships in your family? Do you want to increase your spiritual capacity? Read the Book of Mormon! It will bring you closer to the Lord and His loving power. He who fed a multitude with five loaves and two fishes, He who helped the blind to see and the lame to walk can also bless you! He has promised that those who live by the precepts of this book “shall receive a crown of eternal life.”

If you may be one who is struggling I say to you Come Home! Heavenly Father needs You.! We need you! May we be slow to judge others. Cause if we really knew the whole truth we wouldn’t be so harsh, we wouldn’t be so quick to judge or to miss judge. Because again often people are wounded, they haven’t learned that they are Princes and Princesses to a King, Jesus Christ.

The old nursery rhyme is true: Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the King's horses, And all the King's men Couldn't put Humpty together again! But the King Can!

Let’s heal out of our own healed and changed hearts. I know as we read the Book of Mormon we will come to know the Great Healer, Jesus Christ, and by coming to know him we will be healed of our own wounds. This I know because he personally has healed me many times in many different ways. I am proof that it’s true. May we have trust in the promises of our Heavenly father and faith in both his words, the scriptures, and his son Jesus Christ the Great Healer.

The King's Fields

2009-11-07T18:37:00.000-08:00

Before you read this story below think of one thing that you struggle with the most? Whether it’s temper, over-eating, under-eating, inappropriate thoughts, jealousy, bitterness; What ever it is, think about it, and I want you to bring that to the forethought of your mind. What is the one thing that you struggle with the most? -- Whatever came to mind first, you probably struggle with the most. Now let me ask you, “What difference would it make in you life if you gained self control of that one thing that you struggle with the most?” I bare testimony it would make the most difference. Harold B. Lee said, “What’s the most important commandment to keep? It’s the one that you struggle with the most.” I believe it would make a monumental change if you life. Please enjoy the story below and learn how the savior helps us overcome our vices with his virtue.

-The Kings Fields-

If you were to sail westward over the seas, and follow the signs in the heavens as you did so, you would arrive at a field of red sand that spans the horizon.

Anciently, this beach was the site of a great battle where a once glorious people were saved from destruction by a meek but mighty king. Their would-be conquerors, skilled in the manner of war, fell upon them in great fury, wielding blades tipped with sinister poisons. These poisons weakened their victims’ hearts before depriving them of life, as the enemy sought to add to their numbers by capturing the hearts of the people. With each inflicted wound, the enemy gained control of the victim’s will.

For days the battle raged, and the defenders of the land were weakening. A good number had been turned to the enemy. Those who struggled to defend the land were beginning to perish. Their bodies sagged and their spirits wilted. Their muscles had withered to the point that they could no longer grasp their swords and could only barely lift their shields in defense. Their weakness had become so great that they almost would have done anything their enemies willed them to do.

At this critical point in the battle, the king – The lone unwounded soul – turned to look at his people. He barely recognized them. The mighty warriors he had fought with for ages now drooped and slumped and stumbled. Their skin sagged, and fear show in their eyes. The king looked back at the host of his foes, who laughed almost in unison. Their victory was close at hand, and they rejoiced in it.

Only one hope remained for the king’s people—a maneuver in warfare that had never before been tried, as no ruler under the heavens had enough love or courage to do it. Even at this moment the king wished there was some other way. But another glance at his ever-weakening people told him there was not.

So the king turned back to the enemies who desired his weakness and death. And he dropped his shield to the ground.

An exultant cry pierced the air, and all the hosts of the enemy turned from their individual battles and rushed upon the defenseless king. They fell upon him in their full strength and fury, in order to end the battle for all time. They were confident that if he weakened, even in the slightest degree, there would be none to protect and heal his people. The battle would end his and their deaths, and he and his people would be lost from under the heavens.

“But what could be gained by the king’s action?” you might ask. “What would cause the king to make such an offering?”

A single hope upon which the fate of his entire people rested. You see, as the king opened himself to the weapons of the enemy, he took within himself the blades that had pierced the flesh and hearts of each of his people. If he could take each of those will-defeating blades within himself and yet remain pure, not yielding to the will of the enemy, he would overcome the poisons that had corrupted his people, and his pure heart would become the antidote to each and every poison.

The enemy rejoiced because no soul under heaven had ever been able to overcome their poison. One blade’s poison perhaps, or maybe two. But dozens or thousands? No. Millions or trillions? An impossibility. They needed only to capture the king’s will and all would be over. So, thirsting for victory, they pierced the king’s flesh and soul with every weapon they had used to weaken each of his people.

How long this torture continued no one can say. When the king lovingly roused his people back to consciousness, however, they witnessed a beach – once bright white – that now lay blood-red as far as the eye could see.

Although the people survived, their strength did not return. As long as the poison remained in their souls, their hearts and bodies remained weak.

“But the king can return their strength to them!” you might say.
Yes, but they had to let him. You see, the poison had a final debilitating effect: It induced those it had weakened to believe they were yet strong. The people’s outward strength would return to them only as they came to recognize how weak they were within and then turned for strength to the only one in their kingdom who had uncorrupted strength to give.

Broken souls can be healed only by one who takes that brokenness upon himself bud doesn’t break. Having overcome the particular strains of brokenness that each of us suffers from, the unbroken one can then give us his victorious, unbroken will. This is precisely what the Savior has done for each of us. He suffered our pains, afflictions, and temptations, and took upon himself our sins and infirmities. His suffering on our behalf was literally seared into his flesh. Taking all of this upon and within himself, we have become ‘members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.’ As Isaiah put it, ‘ he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we {may be} healed.’ ‘I am able to make you holy,’ the Lord declares. But he will not – in fact, cannot – do this for us unless we let him.

~May we stop pushing the Savior away. He suffered so that he could help you. Let him in so that he can take away that “favorite sin” or “poison”, the sin we keep going back to time and time again. Don’t just believe that Jesus can help you, but that he WANTS to help you. I bare testimony that he wants to help you and will help and heal us all if we let him in.

They Willingly Receive Him

2009-11-06T10:43:00.000-08:00

Introduction
Just prior to the third Passover, Jesus had received word that his cousin, John the Baptist had been beheaded by Herod. He crossed the Sea of Galilee from Capernaum to Bathsaida to be alone, but the multitudes followed. As he looked out on the people, he had compassion and healed their sick. As evening fell, the apostles asked Jesus to send them away to the cities so they could eat, but Jesus miraculously fed 5,000 of them. Afterwards he sent his apostles in a boat to Gennesaret. During the crossing, a storm arose on the sea, as the apostles looked out on the water; they saw the Savior walking there. The next day the multitudes caught up with Jesus and wanted to know how he arrived there. The Savior then confronted their true reason for following them. After their confrontation, many of the people no longer followed the Savior. He had raised the bar on discipleship.
Principle
Keeping our eyes on the Savior will allow us to reach our Celestial goal.
Analyze
Keeping Our Eyes On The Savior

Readiness: Just as a batter has to keep the eye on the ball, so must we keep our eyes on the goal which is Christ and when we keep our attention on the Savior than we will be able to read our ultimate goal which is Exaltation.
Block 1--Matt 14:1-2=John the Baptist is beheaded by Herod
Block 2--Matt 14:13-21=Jesus feeds the 5,000
Block 3--Matt 14:22-33=Jesus walks on the water

Howard W Hunter:"It is my firm belief that if as individual people, as families, communites, and nations we could, like Peter, fix our eyes on Jesus, we too might walk triumphantly over the swelling waves of disbelief and remain nterrified amid the rising winds of doubt. But if we turn away our eyes from him then we shall inevitable sink in a sea of conflict, sorrow and despair"

Jesus Will Continue To Raise the Bar on Discipleship

What is your motivation for doing the things in the Church>(Celestial-Terrestial-Telestial?)
If there is a goal that we desperately want to reach, which is worth our best efforts we will be able to reach it.
This is what the Savior does with each of us, He is measuring our efforts to reach out to Him
John 6:22-69=Jesus delivers the 'Bread of Life' sermon. He raises the bar on discipleship.
Some people murmur when the bar is raised. How strong is our commitment to reach Christ?

Harold B Lee "We have some tight place to go before the Lord is through with this church. The power of Satan will increase; we see it in evidence on every hand. We will see those who profess membership but secretly plotting and trying to lead people not to follow leadership that th eLord has set up to preside in this church. Now the only safety we have as members is to do exactly what the Lord said. We must learn to give heed to the words and commandments that the Lord shall give through his prophet. There will be some things that take patience and faith. You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church, it may contradict your political views, it may contradict your social vies, it may interfere with your social life. but if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord himself, with patience and faith, the promise is that the 'gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good' "

The Tomb and the Spirit World-Matthew 27 & Doctrine and Covenants 138

2009-11-05T08:16:00.000-08:00

Introduction
The Lord Jesus Christ had died for all mankind. Pilate had taken the body of Jesus from off the cross. A wealthy follower of Jesus than came to Pilate and begged for the bdy of Jesus. Pilate agreed, and Joseph took Jesus' body and wrapped it in the lined, and laid him in his own sepulcher which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone in front of the door. Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus were both Jewish leaders and members of the ruling body known as the Sanhedrin(BD 717) Both were secretly disciples of Jesus and members of the church. On the following day, the Pharisees and Elders came to Pilate and told him of their fears that the disciples of Jesus were planning to steal the body of Jesus so that they could claim that he had been resurrected. They wanted a Roman Guard to watch over the tomb, Pilate agreed and the watch was established.
Principle

During the three days of death, Jesus had gone to the spirit world to establish the preaching of the gospel.

Analyze

Matthew 27:57-61=Joseph of Arimatheaea takes the body of Jesus and lays it in his tomb
Matthew 27:62-66=Pharisees went to Pilate to ensure that no one stole the body of Jesus
D&C 138:11-24=On Saturday, while Jesus' body lay in the tomb, His spirit is in the spirit world
Matthew 28:11-15=The Pharisees paid money to the guards to say that the disciples of Jesus took him.

Our Heavenly Father in his infinite wisdom has provided a means whereby all of his children will have an opportunity to hear the gospel plan in its fullness. Some will have this message taught them while dwelling in the mortal tabernacle; others will hear it when they arrive in the post-mortal world. All will have the occasion to hear the gospel and either accept or reject this great plan of happiness.

The plan of Salvation Affords Everyone A Chance to Hear the Gospel:

None shall escape the gospel message. D&C 1:2-4, 90:11

Joseph Fielding Smith: " The Lord has made it known that his mercy extends to the uttermost bounds and that every soul is entitled to hear the gospel plan, either in this life or in the spirit world. All who hear and believe, repenting and receiving the gospel in its fullness, whether living or dead, are heirs of salvation in the celestial kingdom of God."

The Way Has Been Opened For Those Who Die Without The Gospel To Receive It

Christ preached the gospel to the righteous in spirit paradise 1 Peter 4:6, D&C 138:18-21
The righteous then took the gospel to those in spirit prison 1 Peter 3:18-20, D&C 138:27-30, 57
The gospel allows us to all be judged by the same standard 1 Peter 4:6, D&C 138:31-34
Those who didn't hear the gospel in mortality but accept it later have eternal life D&C 131:7-9

Joseph Fielding Smith: "Before the crucifixion for the Lord there was a great gulf fixed separating the righteous dead from those who had not received the Gospel, and across this gulf no man could pass.(Luke 16:26)Christ bridged that gulf and made it possible for the world and the dead prepared for the ordinances of the Gospel which must be performed on earth since they pertain to the mortal probation"

Vicarious Ordinances Provide the Dead The Opportunity for Full Salvation

Essential ordinances are necessary to enter the celestial kingdom D&C 131:1-4, 138:58
Ordinances performed by the priesthood on earth are valid in the spirit world Matt 16:19, D&C 128:8-9
The Lord has commanded us to perform vicarious baptisms 1 Cor 15:29, D&C 128:1,5, 138:32-33

Elder Rudger Clawson: "We have two great churches, one in heaven, the other upon the earth. They are moving along parallel line, and the temple of God, it appear to me, is the connecting link that connects the heavens with the earth, because it is through the temple that we will be able to reach our dead. To pray for the dead may not be any real assistance to the. To actually help them we must do the work for them"

Recognizing the Voice of God- I Samuel 1-15

2009-11-03T11:49:00.000-08:00

In theses chapters we learn about the faith of Hannah, and her giving son Samuel to the Lord. We also learn about the sins of Eli and his sons, and Israel's desire to do away with judges and have an earthly king. In effect, Israel was rejecting their true king, Jesus Christ. We also learn about the strengths that made Saul a good king, and weaknesses that led to his downfall and death.
Overview:
Year --------------------------- Event
1105 ---------------------------Birth of Samuel- The Prophet
1080----------------------------Birth of Saul
1050----------------------------Saul Anointed King of Israel
1040----------------------------Birth of David
1025----------------------------David Anointed as Saul's Successor
1010----------------------------Death of Saul
Principle If you read the scriptures, you can hear the voice of God every day!
Readiness
There is a story from the National Geographic special about seals. There were thousands of seals on a beach who had just given birth. The mothers went out hunting for fish, but when they came out of the water, they had lost sight of their babies. So the mother seals began barking, and listened to the barks of the baby seals, and then in a amazing display, they waddled right to their own even though there were thousands of pups all barking at once, they recognized the sound of their own.
In 1 Samuel 3:1-10 What sound did Samuel hear that he did not recognize at first? We see in these verses that at first Samuel thought it was the voice of Eli, but after three times, Eli realizes that it is the voice of the Lord and he informs Samuel of this.
Scripture Search
Reference---Person-Action---------------Result----------God's Voice
1 Sam 1:17--Hannah-Prayed at the temple-Had a son-------Leaders
1 Sam 2:27--Eli-Allowed his sons to sin---Sons killed--Angels
1 Sam 3:15--Samuel-Was living worthy---Became a Prophet--Visions
1 Sam 8:19--Israel--Refused to Hearken--Lost their inheritance--Prophets
1 Sam 15:11-Saul-Disobeys Instructions--Rejected by God------Spirit
* The best way to hear the Lord's voices are:
1)Prophets "And the arm of the Lord shall be revealed; and the day cometh that they who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of his servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles, shall be cut off from among the people;"-Doctrine and Covenants 1:14
2)Scriptures "These words are not of men nor of man, but of me; wherefore, you shall testify they are of me and not of man; For it is my voice which speaketh them unto you; for they are given by my Spirit unto you, and by my power you can read them one to another; and save it were by my power you could not have them; Wherefore, you can testify that you have heard my voice, and know my words."-D&C 18:34-36

"I can testify to you that none of you will have any adventure greater than findout out how to interpret the spirit. We have to find out the technique by which the spirit whispers inour hearts. We have to learn to hear it and to understand it, and to know when we have it, and that sometimes it takes a long time"-S. Dilworth Young

"The Spirit does not get our attention by shouting or shaking us with a heavy hand. Rather, it whispers, it caresses so gently that if we are preoccupied we may not feel it at all. It will press just firmly enough for us to pay heed. But most of the time, if we do not heed the gentle feeling, the Spirit will withdraw and wait until we come seeking and listening and say in our manner and expression like Samuel of ancient times, "Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth"-Boyd K Packer

Wintnesses of redemption from the Old Testament: Ruth the Romance of Redemption

2009-11-02T07:14:00.000-08:00

Ruth-------------------------------Judges
Light------------------------------ Spiritual Darkness
Purity------------------------------Disloyalty
Devotion----------------------------Wickedness
Love--------------------------------Sin
Peace
Kindness
Obedience brings blessings
Oasis of Righteousness
Faithfulness of Gentiles
Deciding for the one true God
-The romance of redemption-reconciling Ruth: 3 laws to remember:
1. The Law of Gleaning-Lev 19:9, Deaut 24:19-21(The Lord's welfare system
a)one reaping, anything left for the poor
2. The Law of Redemption- Lev 25:47-50
(Redemption=Pay a debt)
a)land's subject to redemption by a kingsmen Goel(Redeemer) Certain conditions applied:
I) He had to be a blood relative
II)Had to be able to perform
III) Be willing to perform
IV)Assume obligation
3. The Law of Levite Marriage (Deut 25:5-10)
Names in the Book of Ruth:
Emilech: My God is King
Naomi: Pleasant,delight
Mahlon: Sick
Chillon:Pining, Falling, Puny
Orpah:Gazelle(Fleeing, apostasy)
Ruth:Friendship, Beauty, Desirable
Judah: Praise
Ruth wanted a gentile to go to Israel
Boaz: A type of Christ:
1. Boaz: in him is strength- she will find grace in his protection(Boaz is Christ) Its her character that Boaz has given grace for her.
2. mighty in pedigree
3. Mighty in power
4. total authority
5. Rich in Grace
6. Large in provision
7. plateous in Redemption
8. Star of Bethlehem
9. His fields are ripe 'ready to harvest'
Chapter 3 vs 9- she is proposing marriage to Boaz
Boaz is her redeember
symbolizes we must come unto Christ
Boaz redeems Ruth to be his bride
Obed: a Son who is worshipped
A message from the Savior!!

Where Will I Find The Strength?

2009-11-01T10:13:00.000-08:00

He will lift us up, and with His help our performance can be not only acceptable but remarkable If we are to accomplish thie work given us to do, it is not enough to just do the best we can. Instead we must do the best we can as our abilities are magnified by the grace and strength of the Lord. That goes far beyond the best we can do by ourselves. "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."(Ether 12:27)The first step in gaining access to this strength is as simple as having desire. The stregnth He gives us is exactly what we need for the circumstance. The strength of the Lord is not only in our major battles against the enemy but also in our private battles against weaknesses and infirmities. His grace this divine "Divine means of help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ"; is an enabling power we can call upon when we have expended our own best efforts. This compensation for our weaknesses does not come at the end of life or even the end of the day, but at the end of our best efforts. When we are in the Lord's service, He will make up for our limitations. When self reliance and self confidence gives way, our struggles open the door to a deeper understanding of Christ's condescension and His commitment to succor us, bless us, comfort and even pray for us. He is our advocate with the Father. Success is an affliction to our soul unless we recongnize the source of strength.

Miracle of Miracles

2009-10-31T07:35:00.000-07:00

When we make a decision and become totally committed and persistent, the impossible can become the possible. "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."(Ether 12:27) When we become committed to do our best, give it all we have got, and trust in the Lord, we become future oriented and live in anticipation. Heber J Grant often spoke of persistence. "Persistence in the pursuit of righteous desires can help us develop talents, and attain our spiritual goals and serve others. We all have gifts and talents, but many lie 'dormant or in embryo' until touched by the spirit of commitment. Friendship is a precious gift we can all magnify as we comfortable acknowledge the gifts we don't have and give thanks for the miracles that available to each of us. It is while pondering solitude that we are helped by the spirit to discover the plot of ground that we must cultivate if we are uncover and claim our gifts. And THEN we can watch the miracle unfold.

D&C Section 76

2009-10-30T13:52:00.000-07:00

'What brought it and what it brought'-(John 5:29) Joseph Smith asking questions was part of what brought this vision. We need to watch for constant communication(Which is Revelation) Instead of looking for a powerful revelation. There needs to be personal worthiness for revelation even personal. There are 6 different visions within one vision.
Vs 1-19 Introduction and explanation
1. Vs 20-24 Christ
2. Vs 25-29 Satan
3. Vs 30-38,43-49 Sons of Perdition
4. Vs 50-70, 92-96 Celestial
5. Vs 71-80, 91, 97 Terrestial
6. Vs 81-90, 98-112 Telestial
Testimony of Jesus:
1. Personal knowledge of Jesus Christ
2. Verbal declaration of Jesus Christ
Received Not:
1. Never offered, therefore never received
2. Rejected
Celestial:
If we are valiant, we can touch others deeply instead of being remembered pleasantly. If we are consecrated we are reverent and genuinely constantly striving, loving Him and keeping ALL of His commandments(Seek so to do)
Terrestial:
Those who are terrestial are 'honorable'but not valiant, they are not aware of the gap. They aren't miserable, wicked, unrighteous, or unhappy. A comfortable state. They are content with what they have. They are remembered pleasantly.
Telestial:
Those who are telestial are grossly entangled, overcome and in bondage. They are committing sins of omission.
To be a celestial person we need to: 1. Serve the true master-if the Master is a stranger to us, than we will merely end up serving other masters. 2. Greater consecration corrects omission occur because we fail to get outside ourselves. The hands which hang down and most need to be lifted up belong to those too discouraged even to reach out anymore. 3. Letting God educate our desires-everything depends-initially and finally on our desires. These shape our thought patterns. Our desires thus precede our deeds and lie at the very core of our souls, tilting us toward or away from God. Only by aligning our wills with God's will is where full happiness is found. 4. The need to lose ourselves, He is only asking us to lose the old self in order to find the new self. It's not a question of one's losing identity but of finding his true identity! 5. Submission brings revelation and joy-as one's will is increasingly submissive to the will of God, he or she can receive inspiration and revelation. So much need to meet the trials of life 6. The only possession that is ours to give is the submission of one's will, which is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God's alter. When we finally submit ourselves, by letting our individual wills to be swallowed up in God's will, then we are really giving something to Him. It is the only possession which is truly ours to give! Consecration thus constitutes the only unconditional surrender. Which is also a total victory!!!!

Vision of Moses-The Divine Heritage of the Human Soul

2009-10-29T10:05:00.001-07:00

The dignity of the human soul is the first thing that God wants us to understand. Joseph Smith gloried in the potential of the human soul. The spirit will train us just as he did with Moses. Their (Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ) character is to lift us up, to help us feel good about one another. A lifting of all mankind of dignity. Moses see's a broader perspective. Man is everything, we matter to God, something that God care for. Moses beheld God and he was transfigured. Satan then came tempting him. When Christ comes we will see Him as He is, and purify ourselves as He is pure and we need to see that in one another. If we believe that wew ill be different people and see others differently as well. Having a correct understanding of who we are is a way to defeat Satan, to overcome the adversary. We need to be able to distinguish good and evil. Moses then has questions for the Lord and the Lord comes back, he views the first vision, he views all the inhabitants of the earth of all lands. He asks the Lord why? and how? The Lord says'I have a purpose a wise one and will stay with you' The highest moment of prayer is when the spirit inspires us what you need to ask for. There is no end to God's work past, present, or future. When we are weary, than the Lord shall strengthen us. All of God's children matters to Him. God helps us understand that we matter to Him.

Keeping Perspective and Faith During Life's Storm's

2009-10-27T16:45:00.000-07:00

"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." (Matthew 7:24-27)
Storms are adversity and hardships. The rock is Jesus Christ, in 1 Corinthians 10:2-4 " And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." We need to build our lives on the Savior and the Gospel " And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out; For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered."(Mark 6:45-51) "The wind was contrary to them is like adversity and trials"(Ether 6:5-12)The promised land is eternal life
*A Metaphor for Life* A dish could be testimony and desires. There are difficult storms of life. We will be left alone at time, and needs to be an independent being to be righteous in dark. To be the friend of God. He is aware of us when we are struggling. We worship a 4th Watch God:
*We often make assumptions about a 4th Watch God
-He is not there
-Not listening
-Doesn't Care
-We are not worthy
In moments like theses we need to realize, its not the 4th watch YET!!! For example in Abraham 2:2,19,14)"And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee above measure, and make thy name great among all nations, and thou shalt be a blessing unto thy seed after thee, that in their hands they shall bear this ministry and Priesthood unto all nations;" Sariah doesn't have Issac until 38 years after this promise that the Lord makes.
In Mormon 8:5-6 "Behold, my father hath made this record, and he hath written the intent thereof. And behold, I would write it also if I had room upon the plates, but I have not; and ore I have none, for I am alone. My father hath been slain in battle, and all my kinsfolk, and I have not friends nor whither to go; and how long the Lord will suffer that I may live I know not.Behold, four hundred years have passed away since the coming of our Lord and Savior." He wanders for 46 years and he is all alone.
Here are some examples of 4th Watches Deliverance:
-Man at pools of Bathsalda
-Israelites at the Red Sea
-Widow of Zarephat and Elijah
-Alma & Amulek in prison
Remember YOUR 4th Watch Deliverances
*That which gives fear is the resolution to the problem
*The Gospel is a resource for pain, all that we go through builds our characted so we can become more like our Father and Mother in Heaven
*Walk with Jesus through the storms and we will walk on the storm! "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."(John 14:27)
*There will be a peace to the calm
-"And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions. And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord."(Mosiah 24:14-15) Be instruments in the Lord's hands
-Sometimes the best people have the worst experiences because they are most ready to learn "Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God."(Matthew 14:33)

Growing in the Gospel: Increasing Our Faith

2009-10-25T20:36:00.000-07:00

What is Faith? Joseph Smith Said that faith is "the assurance which men have of the existence of things which they haven't seen, and the principle of action in all intelligent beings" then President Gordon B Hinckley said "Faith is a living, vital force with recognition of God as our Father and Jesus Christ as our Savior. When we accept this basic premise, there will come an acceptance of their teachings and a obedience which will bring peace and joy in this life and exaltation in the life to come". A believing heart is the motivating force that leads us to do good and live virtous lives. We must check our hearts regularly and ask ourselves these questions:
*Do I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ lives and that they love me?
* Do I know that Jesus Christ atoned for my sins?
* Do I know that I am a Daughter/Son of God?
* Do I know that God is at the hlm and that He knows what is best for his children?
* Do I listen and obey the counsel from His prophet?
* Do I live the gospel to the best of my ability?
"Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their fyielding their hearts unto God" (Helaman 3:35)As we live our lives with faith in our hearts, our children will recognize our faith and they will not doubt that we know that God lives and Jesus is His son and this is His church. To increase our faith is to place more trust in God and His son Jesus Christ. Increasing our faith will purify our hearts, sanctify our souls and bring us closer to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. If we are faithful we have a tremendous role to play in building Zion and preparing for the second coming.

If Life Were Easy, It Wouldn't Be Hard

2009-10-24T10:23:00.000-07:00

If nothing ever tested our faith or our resolve of our convictions, ( Because we really do not know what we believe in or what we believe, until we are tested)then what are our chances we would progress far enough spiritually in this lone and dreary world? Whether we like it or not, our trials and struggles can tend to accelerate our push toward Godliness. This life was destined to be a test, a test to determine if we want to be part of the kingdom of God more than we want anything else. Mortality offers a wide range of experiences and opportunities; everything from countless ways to serve our fellowman to an endless array of distraction, deceptions and modes of self gratification. Prophet Joseph Smith said " A Religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation." Our mortal experience is designed to test what we really want to become and how we really feel about our Father and His Son. We don't really know what we believe in or care about until what we believe in or care about is threatened, challenged, or measured. President Boyd K Packer said " These are the days of great spiritual danger....the world is spiraling downward at an ever quickening pace. I am sorry to tell you it will NOT get better. I know of nothing in the history of the church or in the history of the world to compare with our present circumstances. Nothing happened in Sodom and Gomorrah which exceeds the wickedness and depravity which surrounds us now" Evil breeds evil. Anytime Lucifer convinces a man or woman or most horrifying a society- that unrighteous behavior is normal, he has made inroads that are difficult to combat and almost impossible to reverse. How can we ensure that though life is meant to be vigorous, we do what we came here to do and live up to who we are as Latter Day men and women of God? There is only one answer: By living the gospel of Jesus Christ. And that is possibly only if we obtain a personal witness of Jesus Christ and his Atonement and Crucifixion. When we obtain for ourselves a witness that Jesus is the Christ, that His gospel has been restored to the earth, that His prophet leads and guides His church, and that all of the power and ordinances necessary to purify, sanctify, and exalt us here on the earth today, there can be no turning back. As our understanding of what the Father has promised us and what the Savior did for us increases, our love for them increases so much that we are willing to do whatever they ask us to do. Imagine-all that the Father has is potentially our ALL!!! Nothing held back. We have the potential of being joint heirs with Christ. It's difficult not to wonder- at least when seeing through a mortal Len's-how much an exquisite, ultimate reward can possibly be fair, considering what He did for us. If life were easy, we would have nothing to show for our time here. President Boyd K Packer "Life will not be free from challenges, some of them bitter and hard to bear. We may wish to be spared all the trials of life, but that would be contrary to the great plan of happiness. 'for it must needs be that there is opposition in all thing'-(2 Nephi 2:11) this testing is the source of our strength. While we have been assigned to take the test of mortality during the most spiritually rigorous and demanding time in the world's history, we have not been Left alone. We have the gift and power of saving ordinances that bind us to each other and to the Lord. (D&C 68:6) The answer to meeting life's challenges head on is and always will be having a personal witness that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, our elder brother who when called upon premortaly said "Here am I, Send me" and who then fulfilled His atoning mission perfectly and completely. These are time that try mens souls, meaning we are living in the roughest of tough day. President Gordon B Hinckley said " All of us have problems, we face them everyday. How grateful I am that we have difficult things to wrestles with. They keep us young. If that is possible they keep us alive, they keep us going, they keep us humble, they pull us down to our knees to ask God of Heaven for help in solving them. Be grateful for your problems, and know that there will come a solution" Just do do the best you can, but be sure it is the very best. Then leave it in the hands of the Lord. Even during those days when the challenges in front of us seem more intense and demanding than we have the copacity to handle, a personal testimony of Christ and an understanding of the power that lies within His gospel will make it possible for us to do our very best.

Be Still and Know That I Am God

2009-10-23T20:11:00.000-07:00

"Let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion, for all flesh is in mine hands, be still and know that I am God" (Psalms 46:10,11) This scripture lets us concentrate on the face of Christ himself, leaning over us in love and encouragement and promise. In the moment of stillness, miracles can happen, in repsons to the Savior's love, peace and knowledge and strength can flood our souls. In th emoment of stillness, in which we recognize the Savior, our testimony is born, but it grows only as we nurture it. When we follow His way, then we can truly lift up our hearts and rejoice because he will fill us with His love. The second way we can lift up our hearts and rejoice is to take stock of our own situtation and then have faith that the Savior is nearby to encourage us and strengthen us. "And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save" (2 Nephi 31:19) If our hearts are fixed on the Savior, we will have a solid reason to rejoice, to rejoice in spite of adversity and to rejoice even in our adversity, we don't need to compare ourselves to others. We are alright, just the way we are, each of us, with our own needs, our own abilities, our own desires for righteousness, and our own set of obstacles to overcome. If we are doing the best we can, that's ENOUGH!! Let the sun shine into our lives, Dont be too hard on yoursleves and don't let other people be hard on you. We need to lift our eyes in faith to the Savior and then waiting in stillness to know that He is God.

HELLO WORLD!

2009-10-22T21:39:00.000-07:00

Hello, My name is Bonnie, and I am a proud member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I love this gospel, its the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. I am so grateful for all the many blessings that I have been given from a loving Heavenly Father. I am grateful that the Savior loved me enough to suffer and atone for me and for all of us. I wanted to start this blog, to express inspirations that come to me, that I want to share with others. To tell others of my testimony of this Gospel and of Jesus Christ. May we all continue to be faithful and steadfast in Christ, who made it possible for us to return home!!