The Newly Called LDS YW Presidency
The newest member of the Presidency is President Thomas S. Monson’s Daughter Ann M. Dibb
Photo Credit: LDS.org
I was looking for a talk on comfort this evening, and there was something about this talk that really drew me in so I opened it. I can definitely say that I am better for doing so. What a powerful talk, and reading it made me miss President Hinckley that much more. What a dear man he was, and goodly man. In the end it gave me the comfort that I so needed, we are so fortunate as Latter-day Saints to have Prophets, Seers, and Revelators. How blessed we are.
Get ready to be inspired, because this one is going to do it. I especially liked the beginning of the talk as he discussed a conversation he had with a young man in South America.
Personal Peace and Freedom
I recall a very troubling conversation I had years ago with a young man in a South American airport, where we were both delayed by late planes.
His hair was long and his face bearded, his glasses large and round. Sandals were on his feet, and his clothing such as to give the appearance of total indifference to any standard of style.
He was earnest and evidently sincere. He was educated and thoughtful, a graduate of a great North American university. Without employment and sustained by his father, he was traveling through South America.
What was he after in life? I asked. “Peace—and freedom” was his immediate response. Did he use drugs? Yes, they were one of his means to obtain the peace and freedom he sought. Discussion of drugs led to discussion of morals. He talked matter-of-factly about the new morality that gave so much more freedom than any previous generation had ever known.
He had learned in our opening introductions that I was a churchman; and he let me know, in something of a condescending way, that the morality of my generation was a joke. Then with earnestness he asked how I could honestly defend personal virtue and moral chastity. I shocked him a little when I declared that his freedom was a delusion, that his peace was a fraud, and that I would tell him why. …
Can there be peace in the heart of any person, can there be freedom in the life of one who has been left only misery as the bitter fruit of indulgence?
Can anything be more false or dishonest than gratification of passion without acceptance of responsibility? …
No family can have peace, no life can be free from the storms of adversity unless that family and that home are built on foundations of morality, fidelity, and mutual respect. There cannot be peace where there is not trust; there cannot be freedom where there is not loyalty. The warm sunlight of love will not rise out of a swamp of immorality. …
Is there a valid case for virtue in our world? It is the only way to freedom from regret. The peace of conscience which flows therefrom is the only personal peace that is not counterfeit. 1
Peace and WarWe are people of peace. We are followers of the Christ who was and is the Prince of Peace. But there are times when we must stand up for right and decency, for freedom and civilization, just as Moroni rallied his people in his day to the defense of their wives, their children, and the cause of liberty (see Alma 48:10). …
We must do our duty, whatever that duty might be. Peace may be denied for a season. Some of our liberties may be curtailed. We may be inconvenienced. We may even be called on to suffer in one way or another. But God our Eternal Father will watch over this nation and all … who look to Him. He has declared, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Ps. 33:12). Our safety lies in repentance. Our strength comes of obedience to the commandments of God. …
Are these perilous times? They are. But there is no need to fear. We can have peace in our hearts and peace in our homes. We can be an influence for good in this world, every one of us. 2
The gospel of Jesus Christ is the only element that will destroy the hatred that exists among people. If they will bring this gospel into their lives and recognize the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man and the effects of the Atonement of Christ, there will be a far greater measure of peace in the world. We will not have peace until that happens more generally. That is why you and I are here, brothers and sisters. That is the objective of our work—to teach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and touch the hearts of people so that they can look upon one another as brothers and sisters, as children of our Father in Heaven. 3
Peace and DeathThe pain of death is swallowed up in the peace of eternal life. …
Whenever the cold hand of death strikes, there shines through the gloom and the darkness of that hour the triumphant figure of the Lord Jesus Christ, He, the Son of God, who by His matchless and eternal power overcame death. He is the Redeemer of the world. He gave His life for each of us. He took it up again and became the firstfruits of them that slept. He, as King of kings, stands triumphant above all other kings. He, as the Omnipotent One, stands above all rulers. He is our comfort, our only true comfort, when the dark shroud of earthly night closes about us as the spirit departs the human form.
Towering above all mankind stands Jesus the Christ, the King of glory, the unblemished Messiah, the Lord Emmanuel. In the hour of deepest sorrow we draw hope and peace and certitude from the words of the angel that Easter morning, “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said” (Matt. 28:6). We draw strength from the words of Paul, “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ … all [are] made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22). … 4
Peace and the TempleTake advantage of the blessings of the house of the Lord. What a privilege. Every man or woman who goes to the temple comes out of that building a better man or woman than he or she was when entering into it. That’s something that’s remarkable that happens with all of us. Is life filled with cares for you? Do you have problems and concerns and worries? Do you want for peace in your heart and an opportunity to commune with the Lord and meditate upon His way? Go to the house of the Lord and there feel of His Spirit and commune with Him and you will know a peace that you will find nowhere else. Take advantage of it. What a great and wonderful blessing it is. 5
Peace and the Holy SpiritWhile there may be thorns and disappointments, while there may be heartache, even heartbreak, there can be peace and comfort and strength from the Lord for those who follow Him. For it is the Lord Himself who has said:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you 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” (Matt. 11:28–29).
It is the Lord who has said that if we keep the commandments “the Holy Ghost shall be [our] constant companion” (D&C 121:46) to buoy us up, to teach us, lead us, comfort us, and sustain us. To obtain this companionship, we need to ask for it, to live for it, to be loyal to the Lord.
I think Mormon knew very well from his own experience the truth of his words that the “Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God” (Moro. 8:26). Though we may sometimes be alone while among those of the world, we need not be lonely, for the Lord has given us the Holy Ghost to be our companion to walk with us. …
Though discipleship with the Lord requires times of standing humbly and courageously apart, the Lord will not forsake us. He also gives us the association of others who can edify and strengthen us as we go about our work of blessing others in the world. And if we are prayerful and loyal to Him and His commandments, the Lord’s promise can be applicable to us: “I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up” (D&C 84:88).
This is a promise from the Lord. I believe it. I bear testimony to you of its truth. May the Lord bless all who step out of the darkness of the world into the light of the everlasting gospel. May He bless us all to walk humbly and courageously and to know in our hearts that peace which comes from squaring one’s life with principles.
Notes
1. From Ensign, Aug. 1989, 2, 5–6.
2. From Ensign, Nov. 2001, 72, 74.
3. From Ensign, Apr. 1996, 73.
4. From Ensign, May 1996, 67.
5. From Ensign, Apr. 1996, 72.
6. From Ensign, Sept. 2001, 5.
Text Credit: LDS.org
The General Young Women Meeting of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2008. If you’re unfamiliar with the Young Women’s Program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, follow the link at the end of this post.
Speakers include the Young Women general presidency and a member of the First Presidency.
This meeting will be held on March 29, 2008, at 6:00 p.m. in the Conference Center.
Visit LDS.org for further information on this event, and watch it with your friends. Make it extra fun by inviting a non-member, what a wonderful missionary opportunity that would be.
Resources on the Young Women’s Program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Text Credit: LDS.org
SALT LAKE CITY 12 March 2008 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today named Richard E. Turley Jr. as the new assistant Church historian and recorder, signaling another step forward in its commitment to collect, preserve and publish Church historical records.
Click Here to read more at LDS.org
Photo and Text Credit: LDS.org
Given the fact that General Conference will be here before we know it, I figured I’d link to several articles about, or written by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf the newly called 2nd Counselor in The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have really enjoyed getting to know President Uchtdorf, what a life he’s lead thusfar, and what a life he has to come.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf: On to New Horizons
Special Witness: Getting to Know Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf
See the End from the Beginning
Visiting Teaching Message: Become an Instrument in the Hands of God by Practicing Holiness
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: “Developing Christlike attributes in our lives is not an easy task. … The reality check comes when Christlike attributes need to become visible in our lives—as husband or wife, as father or mother, as son or daughter, in our friendships, in our employment, in our business, and in our recreation. We can recognize our growth, as can those around us, as we gradually increase our capacity to ‘act in all holiness before [Him]’ (D&C 43:9)” (“Christlike Attributes—the Wind beneath Our Wings,” Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2005, 102).
Friend to Friend - Side Note, not that they aren’t all good. But, this one is really special from The Friend Magazine
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
“The Atonement of Jesus Christ is real; it brings immortality to all and opens the door to eternal life. The gospel of Jesus Christ is again on the earth. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true and living” (“The Opportunity to Testify,” Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2004, 76).
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Presidency of the Seventy: I have no ancestors among the 19th-century pioneers. However, since the first days of my Church membership, I have felt a close kinship to those early pioneers who crossed the plains. They are my spiritual ancestry, as they are for each and every member of the Church, regardless of nationality, language, or culture. They have established not only a safe place in the West but also a spiritual foundation for the building of the kingdom of God in all the nations of the world.
They Spoke to Us: Making Conference Part of Our Lives - See the End from the Beginning
Called to Serve - From The Friend Magazine
Book Reviews - From The Friend Magazine
Sister Eternal, by Dieter F. Uchtdorf, illustrated by Ben Sowards. Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shares a story from his childhood. As his family embarks on a journey through war-torn Germany, they encounter danger and fear. But with the help of one elderly woman, they come to find peace and truth.
Sharing Time: The Light of Christ
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of Presidency of the Seventy said that when he was growing up, his “chapel had a stained-glass window of Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove. Whenever the sun shone on it, I felt that the story it illustrated and what I had learned in Primary about the First Vision were true” (Liahona, Apr. 1999, F3).
I’d like to share with you one of my most favorite Hymns from that inspirational green book known as our hymnbook this Sabbath morning. Click play and enjoy.
Words:
The Lord is my light; then why should I fear?
By day and by night his presence is near.
He is my salvation from sorrow and sin;
This blessed assurance the Spirit doth bring.
The Lord is my light.
He is my joy, and my song
By day, and by night
He leads, he leads me
along.
The Lord is my light
tho clouds may arise,
Faith stronger than sight,
looks up thru the skies
Where Jesus forever in glory doth reign.
Then how can I ever in darkness remain.
The Lord is my light,
He is my joy and my song.
By day, and by night
He leads, he leads me
Along
The Lord is my light, the Lord is my strength.
I know in his might I’ll conquer at length.
My weakness in mercy he covers with pow’r.
And walking by faith, I am blest every ev’ry hour.
The Lord is my light
He is my joy and my song
By day and by night
He leads, he leads me
along.
The Lord is my light, my all and in all.
The is in his sight no darkness at all.
He is my Redeemer, my Savior, and King.
With Saints and with angels his praises I’ll sing.
The Lord is my light
He is my joy and my song.
By day and by night
He leads, he leads me
along.
Event Description
The 178th Annual General Conference of the Church will convene in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday and Sunday, April 5-6, 2008. The Saturday general sessions will be held at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.; Sunday sessions will be held at 9:30 a.m. (which includes Music and the Spoken Word) and 2:00 p.m. The general priesthood meeting will be held in the Conference Center on Saturday, April 5, 2008, at 6:00 p.m. Click Here for more information.
Please leave your comments on The 178th Annual General Conference here!
Text Credit: LDS.org
Photo Credit: DesignTeam.
How forward thinking the church is, this article was written in 2005 to teach members how to increase their missionary opportunities online with acquaintances, friends, and non-member family members. There are several suggestions included in the article on just how to achieve this, and I’m including one of them below. Please make sure to read the entire article though, because this is just one of the suggestions. There are several others listed.
Suggestions for Sharing the Gospel Online
When preparing to share the gospel with a friend online, familiarize yourself with www.mormon.org. (For a recent news story about mormon.org, click here). Mormon.org is the primary Web site members will want to use when sharing the gospel. Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has said this site will help members answer the questions of friends directly (”The Role of Members in Conversion,” Ensign, Mar. 2003, 52). Know what is available on the site, such as answers to frequently asked questions, descriptions of basic Church doctrines, and e-cards to invite friends to visit the site.
In addition to mormon.org you might also use the Church’s three other official Web sites (www.lds.org, www.providentliving.org, www.familysearch.org) to introduce the gospel. Continue to check Church Web sites for features and links to which you could refer your friends. Using online gospel tools can help members answer President Gordon B. Hinckley’s call to become more active in sharing the gospel:
“I invite you to become a vast army with enthusiasm for this work and a great overarching desire to assist the missionaries in the tremendous responsibility they have to carry the gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people” (”Find the Lambs, Feed the Sheep,” Ensign, May 1999, 110).
Whether you are Internet savvy or not, here are 16 simple ideas that you can use to share the gospel online with your friends:
? Mormon.org Pass-along Cards
? Invitation to Attend Church
? Homefront Spots
? Recent Addresses from Church Leaders
? The Book of Mormon
? Joseph Smith’s Birthday
? Temples
? Church Magazines Articles
? E-greetings
? Music
? E-mail Signatures
? Pageants
? Places to Visit
? Gardening and Exercising Tips
? Family History
? Links to Church Web Sites
Mormon.org Pass-along Cards
Carry a handful of www.mormon.org pass-along cards while traveling to work or on a family vacation. These pass-along cards are an easy-to-use and informal invitation to hear about the Church. Write your e-mail address on each of the cards. During conversations when those you meet ask to exchange e-mail addresses, give a pass-along card including your e-mail. The pass-along card can either start a conversation about the gospel or refer them to learn more about your discussion of the Church at Mormon.org. Later, send an e-card from Mormon.org to see what they thought about the Web site. Mormon.org pass-along cards are available at www.ldscatalog (item no. 36593).
Be selfless when you share the Gospel with those that you encounter. Don’t be afraid, just freely offer it. It’s so important, and matters in your life, so help it matter in someone else’s.
With General Conference almost within our midst I wanted to remind everyone that The Church has an expansive archive of previous General Conferences, if you click here it will take you to the archives page. You can get them in a variety of formats as well (text, audio, and video). I spend at least an hour a week listening to them (I have been concentrating on a lot of President Faust’s talks of late).
This talk was given by President Dieter Uchtdorf before he became a member of the First Presidency. I’ve been very intrigued by President Uchtdorf since he was called as 2nd counselor in the First Presidency. I think it’s so awesome that we have a member of The First Presidency from another country other than the United States. What a thing the Lord has done by calling this great man of faith at this time. His English speaking skills are remarkable considering it’s not his native language. Read the following from LDS.org
From a devotional address given at Ricks College (now Brigham Young University—Idaho) on 13 March 2001.
Correct motives and a strong testimony will help guide us through our experience on earth.
As Church members, most of us have the ultimate goal of achieving immortality and eternal life. The Savior has already made provision for part of this goal to be achieved: immortality has been brought to pass for all of God’s children here on earth. Now we are working on achieving the second part of that goal: eternal life, God’s greatest gift to us (see D&C 14:7).
We read in the Book of Mormon the necessary preconditions to reach this lofty goal: “Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; … and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ. … Then are ye sanctified in Christ” (Moro. 10:32–33).
Each precondition for this transition to perfection and sanctification is no small task. The things we are required to do are challenging. But they are worth the effort. The process is based on the law of the harvest: “For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Gal. 6:7).
That law, however, will be divinely influenced to our advantage by our loving and caring Heavenly Father. We are promised uplifting sunshine and nourishing rain in times of slower growth or serious setbacks, if only we stretch out our hand, mind, and heart to receive renewing energy and strength through the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Repentance is the handle and forgiveness is the window that will open up the heavens so we may receive nourishing rain and uplifting sunshine.
Always remember to walk tall, for you are sons and daughters of God. Your lives will be fruitful and you can overcome any fear or doubt if you only have the right motives, which will give you the power to stay on the road to true achievement. You can do it!
Motives Influence ActionsLet me share with you a personal experience. After the turmoil of the Second World War, my family ended up in Russian-occupied East Germany. We had fled from Czechoslovakia before the Russian front and lost everything during this terrible war. In the town of Zwickau, East Germany, my family learned about the restored gospel and joined the Church. At that time I was only six years old and the youngest of four children. The Church made an indescribable difference in our then very difficult lives. Even in these trying times, with extreme financial hardship, we were a happy family because of the Church.
Later, as a 10-year-old boy, I attended fourth grade and had to learn Russian as my first foreign language. Initially it was quite difficult because of the Cyrillic alphabet, but as time went on I seemed to manage all right.
When I turned 11, we had to leave East Germany overnight because of the political orientation of my father. He was perceived as a dissenter by the Communist government, and his life was endangered. We were refugees again and had lost everything for the second time.
Now I was going to school in West Germany, and the Russian language was not appreciated there at all. We were in the American-occupied part of Germany, and in school I had to learn English. Somehow I could not learn it. To learn Russian was difficult, but English was impossible. I even thought my mouth was not made for speaking English. My teachers had a hard time. My parents were desperate. And I knew English was not my language.
I agonized through those school years, helped and encouraged by kind and understanding English teachers, but I just couldn’t do it. It wasn’t my thing!
At this time, my dream in life was to become a pilot. Almost daily I rode my bicycle to the airport. I could picture myself in the cockpit of an airliner or even in a military jet fighter. This was definitely my thing!
I eventually learned that to become a pilot, I needed to speak English. Suddenly, the resisting condition of my mouth changed. I was able to learn the language. Why? Because of a strong motive!
Our motives and thoughts ultimately influence our actions. Jesus repeatedly emphasized the power of good thoughts and proper motives: “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not” (D&C 6:36).
In Proverbs we read, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7).
Nephi wrote about the struggles he had with his brothers: “And when my brethren saw that I was about to build a ship, they began to murmur against me, saying: Our brother is a fool, for he thinketh that he can build a ship; yea, and he also thinketh that he can cross these great waters” (1 Ne. 17:17).
But Nephi clearly had the right motives and succeeded because he knew “that the Lord … [would] prepare a way … [to] accomplish the thing which he commandeth” (1 Ne. 3:7).
From young Joseph Smith we can also learn that the right motive was crucial for the success of his mission. When the angel Moroni appeared to Joseph and instructed him about the coming forth of the gold plates, Moroni repeated over and over again that Joseph’s motives must be true.
Joseph said Moroni taught that “Satan would try to tempt me. … I must have no other object in view in getting the plates but to glorify God, and must not be influenced by any other motive than that of building his kingdom; otherwise I could not get them” (JS—H 1:46).
What a great lesson in doing things for the right reason.
Keys to Success: Our Testimony, Our MotivesOur own prospects for eternal advancement are closely influenced by learning to put in the center of our motives a very personal testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ and His restored gospel. The Prophet Joseph Smith declared, “The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 121).
How did the young Prophet Joseph Smith arrive at his strong testimony? How did he manage this great transition from a farm boy to a prophet of the Lord, to a civic leader, to a man of God?
Let’s use him as our example. He was a teenager when he studied the scriptures. During this time a multitude of unanswered questions arose. He wondered, he pondered, he asked, and he received answers.
Build your testimony the same way: Study the scriptures, increase your knowledge of the gospel, search for answers in the scriptures. If you have doubts or fears, invest the time and energy to find the answers in the scriptures and in the written words of our prophets. Contemplate, meditate, ponder, and pray.
Go to our Heavenly Father in prayer; communicate with Him daily. Draw close to Him, and He will draw close to you. Ask about your studies of the scriptures, about your feelings and your questions, and He will answer. He is waiting, He is real, and He is there. Use the gift of the Holy Ghost. Believe in the power of prayer.
It takes effort and time. Be patient; it is worth it. You can do it. You are not alone in this; others went through this before. Remember, it is easy to doubt, but it is a sure sign of maturity and responsibility to question and then search prayerfully for answers.
In the Pearl of Great Price—what a telling title for a priceless book—we can read how Moses had questions and how he conversed with the Lord and received divine answers:
“And again Moses said: I will not cease to call upon God, I have other things to inquire of him. …
“And it came to pass that Moses called upon God, saying: Tell me, I pray thee, why these things are so, and by what thou madest them? …
“… Be merciful unto thy servant, O God, and tell me concerning this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, and also the heavens, and then thy servant will be content” (Moses 1:18, 30, 36).
The answer to this prayer brought great eternal truth about the work and the glory of God (see Moses 1:39).
During his transition time, the Prophet Joseph Smith worked hard; he did not idle away his time and did not bury his talents because of the fear of man. He had pure, noble motives. He had faith, prayed and studied, repented, showed good works, was obedient, and relied on the Holy Ghost. He was therefore taught from on high.
The law of the harvest worked well for him while translating the Book of Mormon. The translation time took no longer than 85 days. During these 85 days, so many other things happened in his life—including receiving revelations recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants, moving to Fayette, and many other time-consuming activities—that only about 55 days remained for the translation (see Russell M. Nelson, “A Testimony of the Book of Mormon,” Ensign, Nov. 1999, 71, 72 note 40). What a miracle! Great miracles can happen in your lives too. But you also need to have pure motives and a strong personal testimony.
What Our Testimony Needs to IncludeTo build the foundation for your own personal testimony, you have to use material recommended by the greatest character builder there is: Jesus Christ. These materials include faith, prayer, obedience, honesty, truth, and accountability.
In building your own testimony, invest your time, your brain, your talents. Be focused, study it out, be in tune with the Spirit, and then find your own Sacred Grove to receive confirmation. Every one of us needs to find a very personal testimony of the following:
• A living Father in Heaven
• The Atonement of Jesus Christ
• The Prophet Joseph Smith
• The Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ
• Our living prophet today, even President Gordon B. Hinckley, with authority as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in an uninterrupted succession from Joseph Smith
What Is a Testimony Good For?This testimony, or firm belief and assurance in your heart, will be a solid foundation, an overarching motive in all you accomplish in your life. It will be your true and faithful companion during good and challenging times in your lifelong transition. It will be a constant source of confidence and motivation. Your testimony provides you with a reason for gladness. It will help you cultivate a spirit of optimism and happiness and will help you to rejoice in the beauties of nature. Your testimony will help you to choose the right at all times and in all circumstances. It will give you peace of mind, His peace. If God is with you, who can be against you? (see Rom. 8:31).
Your testimony will be the strongest motive to select the right path and direction in your educational and vocational endeavors. It will help you to not live below your privileges and possibilities.
Your testimony will even help you to choose your eternal companion, if you have not already done so. The transition from being single to married will be well grounded because you will base your preparation and decisions on true values and feelings.
You are to do the choosing here and now during this exciting and wonderful transition time on earth. Moral agency, the freedom to choose, is certainly one of God’s greatest gifts next to life itself. We have the honorable right to choose; therefore, we need to choose the right. This is not always easy.
We are blessed to live in a time when we have a living prophet—President Gordon B. Hinckley—just like during the times of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joseph Smith, and Brigham Young. The words of the prophets help us make the right choices of our own free will during this earthly transition time.
As we refine and solidify our testimony by listening to the prophet’s voice, we will joyfully follow his counsel and guidance. In the scriptures we read, “For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith” (D&C 21:5) and “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).
The Lord will bless you as you follow His counsel and guidance given through prophets. Go forward and become the valiant men and women of Zion you were prepared to be. The Lord has a great work for each of you to do. “Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations” (D&C 115:5). He trusts you, and He calls and relies on you to stand taller and shine brighter in these challenging but wonderful days.
Let’s Talk about ItMost Ensign articles can be used for family home evening discussions. The following questions are for that purpose or for personal reflection:
1. Why is it crucial that we have proper motives? How do our motives affect our actions?
2. How can our testimonies help us as we make decisions?
3. In what areas does your testimony need to be strengthened? How can you work on these areas?