kathyhmcbride – Page 9 – Scattering Inspiration

An Ensign to the Nations, a Light to the World

Gordon B. Hinckley declared, “It is the mission of this Church to stand as an ensign to the nations and a light to the world. We have had placed upon us a great, all-encompassing mandate from which we cannot shrink nor turn aside. We accept that mandate and are determined to fulfill it, and with the help of God we shall do it.” Many of our beliefs as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints set us apart from the world. Four of those are discussed in Chapter 2, An Ensign to the Nations, a Light to the World. The way we live as individuals can and does make a difference. President Hinckley reminds us, “Our individual contribution may be small, but it is not unimportant.” Every righteous life gives added light to an ever-darkening world. A righteous life can most easily be achieved if we “take on more of the luster of the life of Christ.” Not only will that bless us individually but, as President Hinckley teaches, that is also the only way we will be able “to hold up this Church as an ensign to the nations and a light to the world.”

Family – “As the integrity of the family crumbles under worldly pressures, our position on the sanctity of the family will become more obvious and even more peculiar in contrast, if we have the faith to maintain that position.” Gordon B. Hinckley

“So much of the Restoration focuses on fundamental principles pertaining to the family, including sealings of eternal families. Latter-day Saints therefore have no choice but to stand up and to speak up whenever the institution of the family is concerned, even if we are misunderstood, resented, or brushed aside.” Neal A. Maxwell1

“We want our voice to be heard against all of the counterfeit and alternative lifestyles that try to replace the family organization that God Himself established. We also want our voice to be heard in sustaining the joy and fulfillment that traditional families bring. We must continue to project that voice throughout the world in declaring why marriage and family are so important, why marriage and family really do matter, and why they always will.” L. Tom Perry2

Virtue and Morality – “We do not set the standards, but we are commanded to teach them and maintain them. The standard remains abstinence before marriage and total fidelity in marriage. However out of step we may seem, however much the standards are belittled, however much others yield, we will not yield, we cannot yield.” Boyd K. Packer3

“The Lord has made it clear, and the experience of centuries has confirmed it, that happiness lies not in immorality, but rather in abstinence. The voice of the Church to which you belong is a voice pleading for virtue. It is a voice pleading for strength to abstain from that which is evil. It is a voice declaring that sexual transgression is sin. It is contrary to the will of the Lord. It is contrary to the teachings of the Church. It is contrary to the happiness and well-being of those who indulge in it. You should recognize, you must recognize, that both experience and divine wisdom dictate virtue and moral cleanliness as the way that leads to strength of character, peace in the heart, and happiness in life.” Gordon B. Hinckley4

“In a world ever growing in moral pollution, tolerance of evil, exploitation of women, and distortion of roles, you must stand guard of yourself, your family, and all those with whom you associate. You must be guardians of virtue.” Elaine S. Dalton5

Word of Wisdom – “Our physical body is the instrument of our spirit. In that marvelous revelation, the Word of Wisdom, we are told how to keep our bodies free from impurities which might dull, even destroy, those delicate physical senses which have to do with spiritual communication. The Word of Wisdom is a key to individual revelation. If we abuse our body with habit-forming substances, or misuse prescription drugs, we draw curtains which close off the light of spiritual communication. Narcotic addiction serves the design of the prince of darkness, for it disrupts the channel to the holy spirit of truth. At present the adversary has an unfair advantage. Addiction has the capacity to disconnect the human will and nullify moral agency. It can rob one of the power to decide. Agency is too fundamental a doctrine to be left in such jeopardy. Teach your children to obey the Word of Wisdom. It is their armor and will protect them from habits which obstruct the channels of personal revelation.” Boyd K. Packer6

“The Word of Wisdom is one of the recognized and distinctive practices of members of the Church. Generally, others not of our faith acknowledge that members in good standing abstain from tobacco, coffee, tea, and all alcoholic beverages. Scientific studies have confirmed that Latter-day Saints have less incidence of heart problems, all forms of cancer, and other diseases because of their adherence to the Word of Wisdom. In all love, we give you warning that Satan and his emissaries will strive to entice you to use harmful substances, because they well know if you partake, your spiritual powers will be inhibited and you will be in their evil power. Stay away from those places or people which would influence you to break the commandments of God.” Ezra Taft Benson7

The Sabbath Day – “Observance of the Sabbath is an indication of the depth of our conversion. Our observance or nonobservance of the Sabbath is an unerring measure of our attitude toward the Lord personally and toward his suffering in Gethsemane, his death on the cross, and his resurrection from the dead. It is a sign of whether we are Christians in very deed, or whether our conversion is so shallow that commemoration of his atoning sacrifice means little or nothing to us.” Mark E. Peterson8

“Examine your feelings about, and your behavior on, the Sabbath day. The Savior identified Himself as Lord of the Sabbath. It is His day! Repeatedly, He has asked us to keep the Sabbath or to hallow the Sabbath day. We are under covenant to do so. Faith in God engenders a love for the Sabbath; faith in the Sabbath engenders a love for God.” Russell M. Nelson9

From the beginning, prophets of God have taught that faithful observance of the Sabbath blesses every aspect of our lives. What an incredible example President Hinckley shares about the pioneers following the prophet’s counsel to keep the Sabbath day holy – even when it would seem logical to make an exception. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in late July, with planting season well over. As the saints gathered on Sunday for Sabbath services, “in the blistering heat of that July Sunday they sat on the tongues of their wagons and leaned against the wheels while the Brethren spoke. The season was late, and they were faced with a gargantuan and immediate task if they were to grow seed for the next season. But President Young pleaded with them not to violate the Sabbath then or in the future.” And they were blessed for keeping the Sabbath day holy because, as President Hinckley reminds us, “God will shower down blessings upon those who walk in obedience to His commandments.”

President Hinckley taught, “Unless the world alters the course of its present trends (and that is not likely); and if, on the other hand, we continue to follow the teachings of the prophets, we shall increasingly become a peculiar and distinctive people of whom the world will take note.” I love Russell M. Nelson’s reminder, “It is converted, covenant-keeping women whose righteous lives will increasingly stand out in a deteriorating world and who will thus be seen as different and distinct in the happiest of ways.”10

President Hinckley gives us quite an extensive list of things we need to do. He also gives some pretty incredible promises if we will follow his counsel. “We must stand firm. We must hold back the world. If we do so, the Almighty will be our strength and our protector, our guide and our revelator. We shall have the comfort of knowing that we are doing what He would have us do. Beginning with you and me, there can be an entire people who, by the virtue of our lives in our homes, in our vocations, even in our amusements, can become as a city upon a hill to which men may look and learn, and an ensign to the nations from which the people of the earth may gather strength. The time has come for us to stand a little taller, to lift our eyes and stretch our minds to a greater comprehension and understanding of the grand millennial mission of this The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is a season to be strong. It is a time to move forward without hesitation, knowing well the meaning, the breadth, and the importance of our mission. It is a time to do what is right regardless of the consequences that might follow. It is a time to be found keeping the commandments. It is a season to reach out with kindness and love to those in distress and to those who are wandering in darkness and pain. It is a time to be considerate and good, decent and courteous toward one another in all of our relationships. In other words, to become more Christlike.”

References:

1. Take Especial Care of Your Family – Neal A. Maxwell

2. Why Marriage and Family Matter – Everywhere in the World – L. Tom Perry

3. The Standard of Truth Has Been Erected – Boyd K. Packer

4. Reverence and Morality – Gordon B. Hinckley

5. Guardians of Virtue – Elaine S. Dalton

6. Revelation in a Changing World – Boyd K. Packer

7. A Principle With a Promise – Ezra Taft Benson

8. The Sabbath Day – Mark E. Peterson

9. The Sabbath is a Delight – Russell M. Nelson

10. A Plea To My Sisters – Russell M. Nelson

Teaching the Gospel

President David O. McKay once said, “There is one responsibility which no man can evade and that responsibility is personal influence.” At the beginning of Chapter 22, Teaching the Gospel, there is a story from the life of Howard W. Hunter which emphasizes this point perfectly. This is what he shared in April 1972 general conference:

“It was on a summer day early in the morning. I was standing near the window. The curtains obstructed me from two little creatures out on the lawn. One was a large bird and the other a little bird, obviously just out of the nest. I saw the larger bird hop out on the lawn, then thump his feet and cock his head. He drew a big fat worm out of the lawn and came hopping back. The little bird opened its bill wide, but the big bird swallowed the worm.

“Then I saw the big bird fly up into a tree. He pecked at the bark for a little while and came back with a big bug in his mouth. The little bird opened his beak wide, but the big bird swallowed the bug. There was squawking in protest.

“The big bird flew away, and I didn’t see it again, but I watched the little bird. After a while, the little bird hopped out on the lawn, thumped its feet, cocked its head, and pulled a big worm out of the lawn.”

While President Hunter’s remarks were directed at teachers, as is much of the lesson, what this story reminds us is that our examples can have a powerful effect on those who watch us. I had another thought as well. For anyone who has flown on an airplane, we are all familiar with the instructions we receive just before takeoff. We are instructed that if there is a loss of air pressure, an oxygen mask will automatically deploy which will, if secured properly, supply us with the needed oxygen. If we are travelling with young children, we are instructed to secure our own mask before helping them. Unless we are spiritually secure, we will not be able to help others. Only when we are spiritually strong can we be the righteous examples our Heavenly Father wants and needs us to be.

With that perspective in mind, instead of discussing what President Hunter wants students to learn from their teachers, let’s turn the table and make it personal. There were several specifics President Hunter talked about – developing confidence in the scriptures, having the Spirit, seeking Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, experiencing a change of heart. Let’s consider them in question form. For me, this is when the lesson changed.

Do I have confidence in the strength and truths of the scriptures?
Do I have confidence that Heavenly Father is really speaking to me through the scriptures?
Do I have confidence that I can turn to the scriptures and find answers to my problems and my prayers?
Am I doing everything possible to feel the sweet, reassuring presence of the Spirit of the Lord?
Am I learning gospel truths and having spiritual experiences?
Am I pointed toward God the Father and His Only Begotten Son?
Am I pointed toward the leadership of the true Church?
Is my testimony strong enough to carry me through when I have to stand alone?
Have I experienced a mighty change of heart?

That is quite a list! Interestingly, my personal study the other day included Alma 5. There is a very similar list found there! Some pretty soul-searching questions are asked, starting in verse 14. Then in verse 35 the Savior gives us an invitation to “come unto me and bring forth works of righteousness.”1 Isn’t that really what President Hunter is asking of us? He taught, “It is so needful for us to set the proper example, to be diligent and vigilant in our own lives. Example carries with it an influence much more forceful than precept. He who would persuade others to do right should do right himself.”

In October 2015 LDS General Conference Russell M. Nelson reminded us of something President Spencer W. Kimball said in 1979, “Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world … will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different—in happy ways—from the women of the world.”2 President Nelson then said, “The day that President Kimball foresaw is today. You are the women he foresaw!” He then gave us quite an impressive list of things that will be needed from the women of the Church:

“We need women who know how to make important things happen by their faith and who are courageous defenders of morality and families in a sin-sick world. We need women who are devoted to shepherding God’s children along the covenant path toward exaltation; women who know how to receive personal revelation, who understand the power and peace of the temple endowment; women who know how to call upon the powers of heaven to protect and strengthen children and families; women who teach fearlessly.

“We need women who have a bedrock understanding of the doctrine of Christ and who will use that understanding to teach and help raise a sin-resistant generation. We need women who can detect deception in all of its forms. We need women who know how to access the power that God makes available to covenant keepers and who express their beliefs with confidence and charity. We need women who have the courage and vision of our Mother Eve.

“Nothing is more crucial to your eternal life than your own conversion. It is converted, covenant-keeping women whose righteous lives will increasingly stand out in a deteriorating world and who will thus be seen as different and distinct in the happiest of ways.”3

Let’s go back to the questions above. As we honestly answer these questions and consider where we can improve, we can become the women President Nelson reminds us are needed today. The cause of righteousness is moving forward, with or without us. I don’t know why we wouldn’t do everything possible to be part of that great cause! Ours is the great privilege to teach the gospel, sometimes with our words and always with our actions.

In the lesson, President Hunter pleads with us to “labor unceasingly in righteousness and holiness before the Lord.” When prophets and apostles plead with us, we should do all in our power to listen and heed. We are always blessed when we do! So I conclude with a tender pleading and powerful promise from Russell M. Nelson:

“So today I plead with my sisters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to step forward! Take your rightful and needful place in your home, in your community, and in the kingdom of God—more than you ever have before. I plead with you to fulfill President Kimball’s prophecy. And I promise you in the name of Jesus Christ that as you do so, the Holy Ghost will magnify your influence in an unprecedented way!”3

References:

1. Alma Chapter 5 – Book of Mormon

2. The Role of Righteous Women – Spencer W. Kimball

3. A Plea to My Sisters – Russell M. Nelson

Walking the Savior’s Path of Charity

In Chapter 20, Walking the Savior’s Path of Charity, Howard W. Hunter said, “The Savior has commanded us to love one another as he has loved us; to clothe ourselves ‘with the bond of charity.’ We are called upon to purify our inner feelings, to change our hearts, to make our outward actions and appearances conform to what we say we believe and feel inside.”

In Moroni 7:45 we read, “And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” I especially love the pleadings and promises that follow in verses 46 and 47. “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail— But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.”

In the lesson, President Hunter suggests that the Lord has a way of measuring the purity of our commitment and dedication much like a goldsmith, in ancient times, had a way of measuring the purity of gold. A goldsmith used a touchstone which, when rubbed across gold, produced a mark that could be matched to a color chart to quickly and quite accurately determine the quality of the gold. President Hunter said that one of the ways the Lord will measure our devotion to Him is by how well we love and serve our fellowmen. He then uses the account of the young lawyer’s interaction with the Savior to teach us an incredibly valuable lesson.

The young lawyer asks the Savior what he needs to do to inherit eternal life. The Savior answered this question with a question of His own, “What is written in the law? how readest thou?” This young man had been taught well. He knew all the right answers to give. He said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.” “Thou has answered right:” said the Savior, “this do, and thou shalt live.” But the young man’s questioning of “Who is my neighbor?” reveals something about his heart. And the Savior’s answer reveals what is expected of us if we want to be His true disciples. It was in response to that question that the Savior taught the parable of the good Samaritan. President Hunter said, “We all ought to be eternally grateful for that question, for in the Savior’s reply came one of his richest and most appreciated parables, one that each of us has read and heard over and over again.”

I love Marion D. Hanks’ insight on this parable. “Out of this powerful story known to all of you—this story of a traveler from Jerusalem to Jericho who was set upon, robbed, wounded, and left at the wayside by thieves—comes a basis for understanding who is the neighbor we are commanded to love and what our own status is as a neighbor to those in need. You will remember that involved in the story were a priest (church leader or teacher) and a Levite (one of the tribe assigned to temple service). Both of them ‘passed by on the other side,’ neither stopping to help. Both were preoccupied or too busy with important assignments. Or both were too unimpressed, perhaps, with the ‘weightier matters’ of which Christ spoke. Christ joined mercy with just judgment and faith as the ‘weightier matters’ with which we should be concerned, and in this parable he defined mercy for us as the care and concern shown by the Samaritan who did not pass by on the other side but stopped to give immediate and sustained assistance. Jesus then said to the questioner and to us, ‘Go, and do thou likewise.” Loving neighbor, mercy, giving, service, caring, sacrifice—all are brought together in one compelling, understandable, and personally applicable example.”1

Do we ever find ourselves too busy with important assignments that we are either overwhelmed or blind to the needs of others? The ones who should have seen the great need did not. It was the one who could have easily been justified in ignoring the injured man who tended to his every need.

As I was thinking about the parable of the good Samaritan and President Hunter’s analogy of the touchstone, the scripture from 1 Samuel 16:7 came to mind – “The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” The touchstone the Lord uses measures the purity of our hearts. We have often heard of a very generous and charitable person described as one who has a heart of gold. Oh how we ought to work on having a heart of gold – a heart full of love, tenderness, compassion and charity! President Hunter said, “The touchstone of compassion is a measure of our discipleship; it is a measure of our love for God and for one another.”

Sometimes our outward actions accurately reflect our inward devotion, as was the case of the Samaritan. Sometimes they do not, as in the case of the young lawyer. We live in a world where things aren’t always as they appear. If we are not careful, we can be fooled. A beautiful stone can be made to look like a real diamond. Some people are very lonely while appearing to have many “friends” on social media. One can even go through the motions of praying, reading scriptures and attending church without truly being converted. If we are not careful, we can even fool ourselves into thinking we are doing better than we are. Even in a world so easily deceived, the Lord’s touchstone will always accurately reflect the purity of our heart. The purity of our heart is imperative!

Another great lesson we learn from the parable of the good Samaritan is that we will all, at one time or another, have hard times. Whether we are the one who is being loved and cared for or the one giving the love and tender care, we need to have a heart full of charity. Christlike love is best learned by studying and living the gospel of Jesus Christ. President Hunter gives this wise counsel: “The world in which we live needs the gospel of Jesus Christ. It provides the only way the world will ever know peace. We need to be kinder with one another, more gentle and forgiving. We need to be slower to anger and more prompt to help. We need to extend the hand of friendship and resist the hand of retribution. In short, we need to love one another with the pure love of Christ, with genuine charity and compassion and, if necessary, shared suffering, for that is the way God loves us. We need to walk more resolutely and more charitably the path that Jesus has shown.”

The greatest hope we have in this life comes in and through the Savior, Jesus Christ. Jeffrey R. Holland so powerfully reminds us, “Life has its share of some fear and some failure. Sometimes things fall short, don’t quite measure up. Sometimes in both personal and public life, we are seemingly left without strength to go on. Sometimes people fail us, or economies and circumstance fail us, and life with its hardship and heartache can leave us feeling very alone. But when such difficult moments come to us, I testify that there is one thing which will never, ever fail us. One thing alone will stand the test of all time, of all tribulation, all trouble, and all transgression. One thing only never faileth—and that is the pure love of Christ. Only the pure love of Christ will see us through. It is Christ’s love which suffereth long, and is kind. It is Christ’s love which is not puffed up nor easily provoked. Only his pure love enables him—and us—to bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things. His pure love never fails us. Not now. Not ever. Not ever.”2

Is it any wonder that some of the last words in the Book of Mormon teach us about that pure love? May we heed Moroni’s plea to cleave unto charity and “pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure.”3

References:

1. The Great Commandments – Marion D. Hanks

2. He Loved Them Unto the End – Jeffrey R. Holland

3. Moroni 7:45-48

True Greatness

What is greatness? A quick search on the Internet can give you several definitions. Webster’s Dictionary defines great as “markedly superior in character or quality.” Another online dictionary site defined greatness as being larger than ordinary size or ability, or being higher in degree or importance.

But what is true greatness? Ezra Taft Benson said, “The only true test of greatness is how close a life can come to being like that of the Master, Jesus Christ.” A very similar thought was shared by Howard W. Hunter in Chapter 11, when he said that true greatness “is the thousands of little deeds and tasks of service and sacrifice that constitute the giving, or losing, of one’s life for others and for the Lord.” Using these definition of true greatness, think of all the truly great people you know!

The spouse who sees in you what you cannot seem to see in yourself.

The incredible single mom, who has such a heavy load to bear. And her family and friends who help bear that load with her.

Those who give so much of themselves to their Church callings – the bishop, Primary teacher, Elders Quorum president, early morning seminary teacher, Young Women leader.

Or the husband who lovingly takes care of his wife whose health is failing.

Neighbors who are watching out for each other.

The friend who instinctively knows just when you need her (or him).

The parent who loves even the most wandering child.

And what about those who have put their pasts behind them and are making better futures for those they love.

President Hunter had his own list. His include, “those of you who quietly and consistently do the things you ought to do. I am talking about those who are always there and always willing. I am referring to the uncommon valor of the mother who, hour after hour, day and night, stays with and cares for a sick child while her husband is at work or in school. I am including those who volunteer to give blood or to work with the elderly. I am thinking about those of you who faithfully fulfill your priesthood and church responsibilities and of the students who write home regularly to thank their parents for their love and support. I am also talking about those who instill in others faith and a desire to live the gospel—those who actively work to build and mold the lives of others physically, socially, and spiritually. I am referring to those who are honest and kind and hardworking in their daily tasks, but who are also servants of the Master and shepherds of his sheep.”

These are the people who would never think they are examples of true greatness – but they are! Joseph B. Wirthlin said, “We often don’t know the reach of a simple act of kindness.”1

President Hunter taught, ” To do one’s best in the face of the commonplace struggles of life—and possibly in the face of failure—and to continue to endure and to persevere in the ongoing difficulties of life when those struggles and tasks contribute to others’ progress and happiness and one’s own eternal salvation—this is true greatness.”

Struggles, failure, ongoing difficulties. While those words may sound a little grim – okay, maybe a lot grim – they are real life. And what I love about that quote is President Hunter is telling us that it is especially while we are going through the hard times that we are helping other people along their often bumpy road of life. And to help us keep an eternal perspective, he reminds us that “realizing who we are and what we may become assures us that with God nothing is really impossible.”

Joseph B. Wirthlin taught, “Every one of us has potential we can scarcely imagine. There is within each of us a divine spark of greatness. Who knows of what we are capable if we only try?”1

How very blessed I am to have such incredible people in my life who have kept trying especially when it was hard, who thought of others before themselves, who put God first, and who helped shape my life and my children’s lives. Most of these wonderful people the world would never consider great, but to me they are the epitome of true greatness.

I love this quote by President Hunter, which has a very special meaning today since it is Mother’s Day:

“Let us remember that doing the things that have been ordained by God to be important and needful and necessary, even though the world may view them as unimportant and insignificant, will eventually lead to true greatness.”

Reference:

1. The Abundant Life – Joseph B. Wirthlin

Continuous Revelation Through Living Prophets

We have the great blessing of living at a time of continuous information. It takes only seconds to find an answer to any question we might have. There is only one problem with that – we don’t always know if the information is correct. And sometimes it is very difficult to find the source of that information.

We have the even greater blessing of living at a time where there is a prophet on the earth who receives continuous revelation. We can know for ourselves through personal revelation that what the prophet says is true and can know the Source from which that revelation comes!

In Chapter 7, Continuous Revelation Through Living Prophets, Howard W. Hunter says, “There is an unending stream of revelation flowing constantly from the headwaters of heaven to God’s anointed servants on earth.” He also reminds us that “it is continuous revelation that guides prophets and the Church in any age. Down through its history, including this very day, the Church has had a prophet, seer, and revelator. At the head of the Church is Jesus Christ, who directs his prophet. Members of the Church can believe the voice of their leaders, knowing they are guided by the Lord.”

President Spencer W. Kimball said, “Of all things, that for which we should be most grateful today is that the heavens are indeed open and that the restored church of Jesus Christ is founded upon the rock of revelation. Continuous revelation is indeed the very lifeblood of the gospel of the living Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.” 1

James E. Faust taught: “This continuous revelation will not and cannot be forced by outside pressure from people and events. It is not the so-called ‘revelation of social progress.’ It does not originate with the prophets; it comes from God. The Church is governed by the prophet under the guidance and direction of God. We have been promised that the President of the Church will receive guidance for all of us as the revelator for the Church. Our safety lies in paying heed to that which he says and following his counsel.” 2

The expectation of some that the Church yield to social pressures has always existed. However, with social media, the voice of opposition speaks louder and more often. If we do not learn for ourselves that our safety truly lies in following the prophet, we may find ourselves being guided more by “social progress” than by the will of God. When some find themselves caught in that trap, they begin to critical of the Church and its leaders, looking for justification to stay in the mainstream. We have been warned time and again that this would be the case. It seems that criticism is also continuous. We would be wise not to get caught in that trap!

Jeffrey R. Holland reminds us that “this is a divine work in process, with the manifestations and blessings of it abounding in every direction, so please don’t hyperventilate if from time to time issues arise that need to be examined, understood, and resolved. They do and they will. In this Church, what we know will always trump what we do not know. And remember, in this world, everyone is to walk by faith. So be kind regarding human frailty—your own as well as that of those who serve with you in a Church led by volunteer, mortal men and women. Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it. So should we. And when you see imperfection, remember that the limitation is not in the divinity of the work.” 3

In a recent BYU devotional, Allan F. Packer said, “The role of the Brethren is to represent God to His people, as all prophets have done in the past. These men, past and present, are the first to say they are not perfect, but, like all members, they are striving to become as the Savior commanded. Some people will hold up a yardstick of perfection to them and find them wanting. That measure is just a distraction from the real question. Christ, after all, was the only perfect person who lived on the earth. The real question is, ‘Did these men have and fill a divine mission?’ The fact that these men are not perfect does not bother me. It actually gives me hope in my quest for exaltation to know that the Lord does bless, guide, and honor them. Following the teachings of the prophets is our test, not theirs.” 4

From Neil L. Andersen we learn, “The words of the Lord’s prophet, the First Presidency, and the Quorum of the Twelve are always available to lighten our path and help show us the way. Their united voice, if followed, will help set aside the enticing voices of the world. The men who occupy these positions would claim no personal perfection, but I witness to you that as the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve prayerfully approach the Lord, He shapes our thinking and direction and reveals His will for His covenant people, and indeed for all the world.” 5

Howard W. Hunter declared, “There is a prophet on the earth today who speaks the mind and will of the Lord to those who will hear and have the faith to follow. If we follow the advice, counsel, and teachings of the leaders of the Church in their instruction to us, we will not go amiss in that which is important for our own personal salvation and exaltation.”

In a CES fireside in January, Russell M. Nelson said, “Prophets see ahead. They see the harrowing dangers the adversary has placed or will yet place in our path. Prophets also foresee the grand possibilities and privileges awaiting those who listen with the intent to obey.” 6

Much of the advice, counsel and teachings of the leaders of the Church comes to us in general conference. That is often when we are warned of dangers and told of the possibilities and privileges awaiting the faithful and obedient. Let us never forget, as President Hunter reminded us, that “we are guided by a living prophet of God—one who communicates with, is inspired by, and receives revelation from the Lord.” The choice is our if we will hear and have the faith to follow.

Speaking of general conference, President Hunter said, “Conference time is a season of spiritual revival when knowledge and testimony are increased and solidified that God lives and blesses those who are faithful. It is a time when an understanding that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, is burned into the hearts of those who have the determination to serve him and keep his commandments. Conference is the time when our leaders give us inspired direction in the conduct of our lives—a time when souls are stirred and resolutions are made to be better.”

Recently M. Russell Ballard warned, “Some of you have become casual in listening to the Lord’s servants. Some choose to miss sessions of general conference because they see those special weekends as a time off from their Church assignments. It is hard for me to understand why anyone turns to other voices on the Internet without first turning to voices of the scriptures or the voices of the living prophets and apostles.” 7

We cannot afford to be casual in listening to the Lord’s servants! In our day of continuous information, I hope we will search more deeply the information found in the scriptures and the words of the living prophets and apostles. Continuous revelation indeed comes to living prophets. Through the Holy Ghost, it is also available to each of us. Russell M. Nelson teaches us that “revelation from the Lord to His servants is a sacred process, and so is your privilege of receiving personal revelation.”

In the general conference Howard W. Hunter was sustained as the prophet, he said, “Like my Brethren before me, I receive with this calling the assurance that God will direct his prophet.” That assurance is one each of us can and should have.

References:

1. Revelation: The Word of the Lord to His Prophets, Spencer W. Kimball

2. Continuous Revelation, James E. Faust

3. Lord, I Believe, Jeffrey R. Holland

4. Finding Your Way, Allan F. Packer

5. A Compensatory Spiritual Power for the Righteous, Neil L. Andersen

6. Becoming True Millennials, Russell M. Nelson

7. To the Saints in the Utah South Area, M. Russell Ballard

Adversity

“Life—every life—has a full share of ups and downs. Indeed, we see many joys and sorrows in the world, many changed plans and new directions, many blessings that do not always look or feel like blessings, and much that humbles us and improves our patience and our faith.” That quote is found in Chapter 3 of Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Howard W. Hunter. President Hunter taught often about adversity and the need for hope and encouragement as we journey through life. The lesson comes from four such talks – three from general conferences and one from a CES Fireside. Links to those talks are at the bottom of the page.

I remember well the first time I saw the Mormon Message entitled “The Refiner’s Fire.” (The link is below.) I don’t think any of us can truly anticipate how hard life can be at times. However, the strength this sweet sister finds through the Atonement of Jesus Christ is inspiring! It is the lesson we are all here to learn. That video epitomizes President Hunter’s reminder that in times of trouble, “Jesus Christ possesses the power to ease our burdens and lighten our loads.”

That quote also brought Elder David A. Bednar’s talk from April 2014 LDS General Conference to mind. He told the story of a friend who went into the mountains to cut and haul firewood. There was already some snow in the mountains. However, the farther up the mountain he got, the deeper the snow got. Having recently purchased his truck, this man was confident he could handle the snow and so he kept driving. Unfortunately he went too far and got stuck. The harder he tried to get out the more his wheels spun. He didn’t really know what to do or how he would get out. So he got out of his truck and went to cut the firewood he had come for. He completely filled the back of his truck with a heavy load of wood. He decided to try one more time to get out of the snow. Slowly the truck inched its way out and he was finally back on the road. Elder Bednar taught us this lesson about his friend, the truck and the load of firewood:

“For my friend, the load of wood provided life-saving traction. The empty truck could not move through the snow, even equipped with four-wheel drive. A heavy load was necessary to produce traction.

“It was the load. It was the load that provided the traction that enabled my friend to get unstuck, to get back on the road, to press forward, and to return to his family.

“The unique burdens in each of our lives help us to rely upon the merits, mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah (see 2 Nephi 2:8). I testify and promise the Savior will help us to bear up our burdens with ease (see Mosiah 24:15). As we are yoked with Him through sacred covenants and receive the enabling power of His Atonement in our lives, we increasingly will seek to understand and live according to His will. We also will pray for the strength to learn from, change, or accept our circumstances rather than praying relentlessly for God to change our circumstances according to our will. We will become agents who act rather than objects that are acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:14). We will be blessed with spiritual traction.”

By yoking ourselves to the Savior, President Hunter tells us we will have “the power and peace of standing side by side with a God that will provide the support, balance, and the strength to meet our challenges and endure our tasks here in the hardpan field of mortality.” And Elder Bednar tells us “we are not and never need be alone. We can press forward in our daily lives with heavenly help. Through the Savior’s Atonement we can receive capacity and strength beyond our own.”

Helping us learn to keep perspective through our trials, President Hunter teaches us:

“When the difficulties of mortality humble us and refine us and teach us and bless us, they can be powerful instruments in the hands of God to make us better people, to make us more grateful, more loving, and more considerate of other people in their own times of difficulty.

“We all have difficult moments, but even in the most severe of times, those problems were never intended to do anything but bless the righteous and help those who are less righteous move toward repentance.”

He also reminds us that “God knows what we do not know and sees what we do not see.” Adversity is a necessary part of life. It is part of God’s plan. He knows what is best for us and what will help us become who He wants us to be. Trust in His plan will bring peace during times of trial. Brigham Young said, “Every trial and experience you have passed through is necessary for your salvation.”

I really like how Orson F. Whitney said the same thing, with even greater depth:

“No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude, and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God … and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven.”

Perhaps the most beautiful talk I have read about trusting God and relying on the Atonement of Jesus Christ while enduring adversity was the one given by Richard G. Scott the general conference following his wife’s death. He taught that adversity is evidence that the Lord feels we are prepared to grow and that those experiences stimulate growth, understanding and compassion which will benefit us eternally. He said, “To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain.” I love his tender reminder:

“Your Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son love you perfectly. They would not require you to experience a moment more of difficulty than is absolutely needed for your personal benefit or for that of those you love.”

The entire talk is definitely worth reading!

President Hunter encouraged us to “have faith and hope, two of the great fundamental virtues of any discipleship of Christ” and that “if our faith and hope are anchored in Christ, in his teachings, commandments, and promises, then we are able to count on something truly remarkable.” He then leaves us this powerful promise:

“I promise you in the name of the Lord whose servant I am that God will always protect and care for his people. We will have our difficulties the way every generation and people have had difficulties. But with the gospel of Jesus Christ, you have every hope and promise and reassurance. The Lord has power over his Saints and will always prepare places of peace, defense, and safety for his people. When we have faith in God we can hope for a better world—for us personally, and for all mankind.”

Evidence of the Lord’s tender care during our afflictions can be readily found in the scriptures. Here are just a few:

1 Nephi 20:10 – I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

1 Nephi 21:13 – The Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.

2 Nephi 4: 20 – My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions.

Jacob 3:1 – He will console you in our afflictions, and he will plead your cause.

Alma 26:27 – Bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.

Alma 36:3 – I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day.

D&C 24:1 – I have lifted thee up out of thine afflictions, and have counseled thee.

D&C 24:8 – Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days.

D&C 98:3 – All things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good.

D&C 121:7 & 8 – Peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.

As I look back on some of the hardest times in my life, I can see that was when my testimony grew the most. I could not have learned the things I have learned in any other way. Relying on the Savior, I had the strength to bear hard things. Holding fast to the covenants I have made, I found great hope. Faith to submit my will to the Father’s gave me peace. As I continue to align my will with His, I know I will be blessed with the strength, hope and peace I need to endure what is yet to come.

Additional Resources:

God Will Have a Tried People – Howard W. Hunter

The Opening and Closing of Doors – Howard W. Hunter

Come Unto Me – Howard W. Hunter

An Anchor to the Souls of Men – Howard W. Hunter

The Refiner’s Fire – Mormon Message

Finding a Safe Harbor – Joseph B. Wirthlin

Adversity – Henry B. Eyring

Bearing Our Burdens with Hope – Mormon Message

My Peace I Give Unto You

In Chapter 2 of Teachings of the President of the Church: Howard W. Hunter, President Hunter reminds us that “peace is a state of existence that comes to man only upon the terms and conditions set by God, and in no other way.”

One great example of this is found in Matthew 14 when the disciples are out at sea and a great storm arises. The Savior goes out to be with them. Sensing their anxiousness, He tells them to “be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” Peter leaves the boat to join Jesus. While his sight is firmly fixed on the Savior, he finds peace amid the storm. With his firmly fixed focus, he finds his way toward the safety of the Savior. However with the winds and waves beating upon him, Peter’s focus turns from the Savior to the difficulties all around him. He begins to sink. His desperate plea to be saved is immediately answered by the loving, waiting, oustretched arm of the Savior.

How often are we like Peter? We know that we must look to the Savior. But fear and doubt, even if only momentary, cause us to look down. How often does the Savior ask the same question of us, “Why do you doubt?”

Joseph B. Wirthlin, in his April 2000 LDS General Conference talk taught:

“You can find peace amidst the storms that threaten you. Your Heavenly Father—who knows when even a sparrow falls—knows of your heartache and suffering. He loves you and wants the best for you. Never doubt this. While He allows all of us to make choices that may not always be for our own or even others’ well-being, and while He does not always intervene in the course of events, He has promised the faithful peace even in their trials and tribulations.

“Draw close to the Lord Jesus Christ. He bears a special love for those who suffer.

“Be of good cheer. The Man of Galilee, the Creator, the Son of the Living God will not forget nor forsake those whose hearts are drawn to Him. I testify that the Man who suffered for mankind, who committed His life to healing the sick and comforting the disconsolate, is mindful of your sufferings, doubts, and heartaches.

“Even when we are called to sail through troubled waters, we need to know the place of adversity in shaping our divine potential.

“If only we would have the faith and trust in our Heavenly Father to see how, after a little season, then we can emerge from our trials more refined and glorious.

“At times we may be tempted to think the Savior is oblivious to our trials. In fact, the reverse is true; it is we who need to be awakened in our hearts to His teachings.

“Do all you can do and then leave the rest to the Lord.

“Living the gospel does not mean the storms of life will pass us by, but we will be better prepared to face them with serenity and peace.

“Draw close to the Lord Jesus Christ. Be of good cheer. Keep the faith. Doubt not. The storms will one day be stilled.

“In our own storms in life the Savior is our solace and our sanctuary. If we seek peace, we must come unto Him. He Himself spoke this eternal truth when He said, ‘My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ When our souls are anchored in the safe harbor of the Savior, we can proclaim as did Paul: ‘We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.'”

I love this quote from James E. Faust! “The Savior doesn’t heal souls by simply restoring us to our former state of wellness. When He heals, He graciously overdoes it. He makes us healthier than we ever were before the onset of the affliction. His objective is our happiness and peace.”

In his April 2013 LDS General Conference talk, Quentin L. Cook said:

“Peace is not just safety or lack of war, violence, conflict, and contention. Peace comes from knowing that the Savior knows who we are and knows that we have faith in Him, love Him, and keep His commandments, even and especially amid life’s devastating trials and tragedies.

The Savior is the source of true peace. Even with the trials of life, because of the Savior’s Atonement and His grace, righteous living will be rewarded with personal peace. In the intimate setting of the Passover chamber, the Savior promised His Apostles that they would be blessed with the ‘Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost’ and then uttered these important words: ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.’ Then just before His Intercessory Prayer: ‘These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.'”

We learn a very important lesson about peace from that scripture, which is found in John 16:33. The Savior tells us “in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Peace is only attainable because of the Savior. This scripture also teaches us a couple of very interesting things. There are two absolute statements and two variable ones. The two absolutes are that “in the world ye shall have tribulation” and “I have overcome the world.” Life will be hard! We will experience pain, heartache, sin and sorrow . . . in this world! But the Savior has overcome the world! And because He has, He has the power to help us through the two variable parts of this scripture. Though the phrase, “ye might have peace” is conditional, we are the only conditional part. We must choose to come to Him. When we do, that promised peace is assured. The admonition to “be of good cheer” is also our choice. And as we follow that admonition, we will find our walk along the path that leads to promised peace.

President Hunter taught, “Peace can come to an individual only by an unconditional surrender—surrender to him who is the Prince of peace, who has the power to confer peace.” He also reminds us to “seek for the peace that comes from living the simple principles of the gospel of Christ.”

In October 2004 LDS General Conference, Richard G. Scott taught that peace of conscience is “a condition of immense worth, yet there are few on earth that enjoy it. Peace of conscience relates to your inner self and is controlled by what you personally do. Peace of conscience can come only from God through a righteous, obedient life. It cannot exist otherwise.” Again speaking on peace, in his April 2013 LDS General Conference talk he taught that our homes are the ideal place to establish peace. He said:

“Deep inside each of us is a need to have a place of refuge where peace and serenity prevail, a place where we can reset, regroup, and reenergize to prepare for future pressures.

“The ideal place for that peace is within the walls of our own homes, where we have done all we can to make the Lord Jesus Christ the centerpiece.

“Center your home and your life on the Lord Jesus Christ, for He is the source of true peace in this life.”

Elder Scott then taught us how we can best accomplish this. He said:

“Daily personal and family prayer, daily personal and family scripture study, and weekly family home evening are the essential, weight-bearing beams in the construction of a Christ-centered home. Without these regular practices it will be difficult to find the desired and much-needed peace and refuge from the world.

“Simple, consistent, good habits lead to a life full of bountiful blessings.

“Remember that there are some things that must be left to the Lord. He invites us to set our burdens down at His feet.

“Living an obedient life, firmly rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ, provides the greatest assurance for peace and refuge in our homes. There will still be plenty of challenges or heartaches, but even in the midst of turmoil, we can enjoy inner peace and profound happiness.”

President Hunter reminds us, “There is but one guiding hand in the universe, only one truly infallible light, one unfailing beacon to the world. That light is Jesus Christ.”

May we each look to the light of our Savior, Jesus Christ as we navigate our way through the stormy seas of life.

The Wondrous Gift

“The life of the Savior, the meaning of Christmas and how they are still relevant today.” That was the topic I was given to speak on this past Sunday. What a tender blessing it was to reflect on the many ways the Savior’s life, example and Atonement have blessed my life, especially at this special time of year when we sometimes get overwhelmed with the busyness of the season. I would like to share a portion of my talk with you. The words in the third verse of the Christmas hymn, “O Little Town of Bethlehem” are so beautiful. They tell of the most beautiful gift that has ever been given to this world and remind us that it is up to each of us to let Him in:

“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.”

The wondrous gift our Heavenly Father gave us was His Son, Jesus Christ. While the ultimate gift is the Atonement, the Savior’s life is a most wondrous gift. The wondrous gift of the Savior often comes silently and personally to us. “Where meek souls will receive Him, still the dear Christ enters in.” I love the reference to meek souls. Meekness is one of the Savior’s attributes. As soon as we are meek enough, He will enter. And He is always there, waiting for us to let Him in.

We are all familiar with the Savior’s interaction with the rich young man who asked what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. The Savior told him that he needed to obey the commandments, to which the young man replied that he had done so all his life. We can each put ourselves in this young man’s place as we read the piercing words the Savior said next, found in Luke 18:22:

22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

In essence, the Savior told him to give up what was holding him back – his riches. What is our “one thing” that is holding us back?

Continuing in verse 23:

23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. (Insert your own adjective here)

24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches (or stubbornness or pride or whatever our “one thing” is) enter into the kingdom of God!

Those who were listening then questioned the Savior about who could be saved. I love His response!

27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

How grateful I am that the Savior taught how not only eternal life is possible but also happiness in this often very difficult life. It is possible by heeding those simple yet profound words, “Come, follow me.” A similar invitation found in Book of Mormon in 3 Nephi 27:27, “Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.”

Russell M. Nelson, in the 2013 Christmas Devotional said, “As our great Exemplar, Jesus taught us how to live, to love, and to learn. He taught us how to pray, to forgive, and endure to the end. He taught us how to care about others more than we care about ourselves. He taught us about mercy and kindness—making real changes in our lives through His power. He taught us how to find peace of heart and mind. One day, we will stand before Him as our just Judge and merciful Master. These sacred responsibilities of the Lord cause us to adore Him as our personal and perennial Prince of Peace.”

His power is what makes it possible for us to change our hearts and our ways.

The Savior’s power was evident in the miracles He performed. When He lived on the earth, He healed the sick, the lame, the blind, the deaf. He offers to each of us those very same miracles today. When I have come to Him in faith, He has healed me when I have been spiritually sick, spiritually lame, spiritually blind, spiritually deaf. I love the promise that even if we are spiritually dead, He can heal us.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said it like this, “However many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines.”

I hope that every day of my life the Savior’s life and love have a great impact on me! There have been several occasions when I could not have survived without Him.

In this year’s Christmas Devotional, Elder David A. Bednar declared, “In every season of our lives, in all of the circumstances we may encounter, and in each challenge we may face, Jesus Christ is the light that dispels fear, provides assurance and direction, and engenders enduring peace and joy.”

That is why the life of the Savior and the meaning of Christmas are still relevant today.

I am so grateful for the most wondrous gift of the Savior, Jesus Christ!

Merry Christmas!

A Christ-Centered Life

Imagine what the world would be like if we were all striving to be like Jesus Christ. I love the beautiful reminder in one of the Primary songs. It says, “I’m trying to be like Jesus. I’m following in His ways. I’m trying to love as He did, in all I do and say.” Ezra Taft Benson gave us this advice, “If we would truly seek to be more like our Savior and Master, then learning to love as He loves should be our highest goal.” That quote comes from Teachings of the Presidents of the Church – Ezra Taft Benson, Lesson 24. This lesson is the perfect way to finish our study of this extraordinary man! His life was one of love and devotion to the Savior. The lesson quotes from his April 1984 LDS General Conference, when he said:

“I testify to you that there is no greater, more thrilling, and more soul-ennobling challenge than to try to learn of Christ and walk in His steps. Our model, Jesus Christ, walked this earth as ‘the Exemplar.’ …

‘What would Jesus do?’ or ‘What would He have me do?’ are the paramount personal questions of this life. Walking in His way is the greatest achievement of life. That man or woman is most truly successful whose life most closely parallels that of the Master.”

Some of the most beautiful scriptures are found in Chapter 7 of Moroni in the Book of Mormon. They teach:

45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure.”

Verses 45-47 plainly teach us how we should live. Verse 48 reminds us that we cannot do it alone. We must pray to our Father and ask for His help. Charity is a gift of the Spirit. We must ask for His help in obtaining that gift.

I love the last part of verse 48. Two things strike me in that sentence – we shall be like Him and we shall see Him as He is. The only way to become like the Savior is to try every day to do the things He would do. And to see Him as He is will only be possible if we know Him.

President Benson reminds us that becoming Christlike is a lifelong pursuit. He said:

“To become as He is, we must have Him on our mind—constantly in our thoughts. . . . If thoughts make us what we are, and we are to be like Christ, then we must think Christlike thoughts.

Let our personal lives, our homes, and our work performance reflect our Christlike character. So live that others will say about you, ‘There is a true Christian!’

Yes, we believe in Jesus Christ, but more—we look to Him, we trust Him and strive to emulate His attributes.

Christ is our ideal. He is our exemplar. … The best measure of true greatness is how Christlike we are.

To be like the Savior—what a challenge for any person!”

In October 2015 LDS General Conference, Elder Richard J. Maynes compared centering our lives on Christ with a potter who must have the clay perfectly centered on the wheel. He said:

“The world in which we live is similar to the potter’s spinning wheel, and the speed of that wheel is increasing. Like the clay on the potter’s wheel, we must be centered as well. Our core, the center of our lives, must be Jesus Christ and His gospel. Living a Christ-centered life means we learn about Jesus Christ and His gospel and then we follow His example and keep His commandments with exactness.

“If our lives are centered in Jesus Christ, He can successfully mold us into who we need to be in order to return to His and Heavenly Father’s presence in the celestial kingdom. The joy we experience in this life will be in direct proportion to how well our lives are centered on the teachings, example, and atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.”

We were also reminded in general conference that we don’t have to be perfect but that we need to be good and getting better.

Neal A. Maxwell said it like this, “Once our direction is correct, we can give attention to pace.” (The Christ-Centered Life.)

Elder Maxwell, from that same article, said, “To speak of personal progress and drawing closer to the Savior requires our trusting not only in the Lord’s plan for all mankind but also trusting in his unfolding and particularized plan for each of us. Drawing ever closer to the Lord, therefore, means much more than merely acknowledging that He is in charge, though that is a beginning. Believers who remain underinvolved with Him are, in a sense, living without Him in the world.

“In spite of what the world declares, there is still only one way to find ourselves and that is by losing our lives for the sake of the Savior and the gospel.”

As we center our lives on the Savior and keep our focus firmly fixed on Him, we will see more clearly His hand in our lives. He loves us and wants us to succeed. If we pause from our busy lives, it is actually quite easy to see how much He loves us individually.

I cannot think of a better way to show our love for the Savior, especially at this special time of year, than to accept this challenge from President Benson, “May we all have the moral courage from this moment forward to more fully strive each day to think on Christ, learn of Him, walk in His steps, and do what He would have us do.”

Filling Our Hearts & Homes

The Women’s Session of our last General Conference had such a powerful impact on me. I was profoundly grateful for the incredible women who boldly declared and defended God’s truths. I left that meeting with a greater desire to do my part, however small that might be. Their words and their examples have made me want to be a more devoted disciple of Christ. Here are just a few of the things that inspired me most.

From Cheryl A. Esplin’s talk “Filling Our Homes With Light and Truth”1:

“When filled with the Spirit and with gospel truth, we have the power to withstand the outside forces of the world that surround and push against us.
Families are the Lord’s workshop on earth to help us learn and live the gospel. . . . Strong eternal families and Spirit-filled homes do not just happen. They take great effort, they take time, and they take each member of the family doing his or her part. Every home is different, but every home where even one individual seeks for truth can make a difference.

As we fill our hearts and homes with the Savior’s light and truth, we will have the inner strength to withstand in every circumstance.”

From Carole M. Stephens’ talk “The Family is of God”2:

“The Savior knows the difficulties of the way and can guide us through whatever sorrows and disappointments may come.

As we use our time in mortality to study and apply the Savior’s teachings, we become more like Him. We come to understand that He is the way—the only way—we can overcome mortal challenges, be healed, and return back to our heavenly home.

If we are to be successful in our sacred responsibilities as daughters of God, we must understand the eternal significance of and our individual responsibility to teach truths about our Heavenly Father’s plan for His family.”

From Bonnie L. Oscarson’s talk “Defenders of the Family Proclamation”3:

“We need to boldly defend the Lord’s revealed doctrines describing marriage, families, the divine roles of men and women, and the importance of homes as sacred places—even when the world is shouting in our ears that these principles are outdated, limiting, or no longer relevant. Everyone, no matter what their marital circumstance or number of children, can be defenders of the Lord’s plan described in the family proclamation. If it is the Lord’s plan, it should also be our plan!

There is no greater honor, no more elevated title, and no more important role in this life than that of mother or father.

Our homes should be places where the Spirit of the Lord is felt in rich abundance and where the scriptures and the gospel are studied, taught, and lived.”

I can’t think of a greater blessing for us or our families than to have a home where the Spirit of the Lord dwells. As Sister Esplin said, that takes time and effort. If we do nothing more than listen to the words of our leaders, then they are nothing more than beautiful words. We must plant them in our hearts and then have the faith to live them, even when it seems hard. It does take effort. But the rewards are great! Especially now, it is essential to have a testimony of our Savior and invite His Spirit into our lives and homes. By relying on our Savior and living His gospel, we will have the strength needed to endure the trials we will face in this life. Heber C. Kimball said, “To meet the difficulties that are coming, it will be necessary for you to have a knowledge of the truth of this work for yourselves. The difficulties will be of such a character that the man or woman who does not possess this personal knowledge or witness will fall. The time will come when no man nor woman will be able to endure on borrowed light.”

I look forward with great anticipation to the next two weekends! I love general conference! For me, it is a time of rejuvenation, reflection and recommitment. Robert D. Hales said, “Oh, how we need general conference! Through conferences our faith is fortified and our testimonies deepened. And when we are converted, we strengthen each other to stand strong amid the fiery darts of these last days.”

The only way our faith can be fortified and our testimonies deepened is if we act on the impressions we receive while listening to conference. If we spiritually prepare ourselves, conference can be a very personal, even life changing, experience. Just as Paul V. Johnson said, “In order for the messages of general conference to change our lives, we need to be willing to follow the counsel we hear.”

References:

1. Filling Our Homes With Light and Truth – Cheryl A. Esplin

2. The Family is of God – Carole M. Stephens

3. Defenders of the Family Proclamation – Bonnie L. Oscarson