increase our faith

Move Forward With Faith

by Christlike AttributesDoctrinesProphetsSelf Improvement

This year’s study of the life and teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley has been so wonderful and uplifting! The underlying message in each chapter has been faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Chapter 25, Move Forward with Faith, is the perfect conclusion to this year’s study. Those words were the motto of his exemplary life. Jeffrey R. Holland once wrote, “’Things will work out’ may well be President Hinckley’s most repeated assurance to family, friends, and associates. ‘Keep trying,’ he will say. ‘Be believing. Be happy. Don’t get discouraged. Things will work out.’”1

Optimism and faith were instilled in President Hinckley as a young boy. When he left to go on his mission, his father handed him a card which read, “Be not afraid, only believe.” Those words were a great inspiration to him not only on his mission but throughout his entire life. He reminds us, “If there is any one thing that you and I need, … it is faith—the kind of faith that moves us to get one our knees and plead with the Lord for guidance, and then, having a measure of divine confidence, get on our feet and go to work. … Such faith is, when all is said and done, our only genuine and lasting hope.”

That kind of faith is what fueled his ever-optimistic attitude, something that endeared him to us all! Russell M. Nelson described it like this, “President Hinckley was unfailingly optimistic, an outgrowth of his complete faith in the Lord.”2

Along with optimism, President Hinckley’s unwavering faith gave him confidence – divine confidence that with the Lord’s help he could do whatever was asked of him. While he was on his mission, a few of the local newspapers reviewed the reprint of a book that was critical of the Church’s history. His mission president asked him to meet with the publisher and protest it. Although he felt inadequate for the job, he agreed to go. He first said a prayer and then walked to the publisher’s. President Hinckley shared what happened, “I found the office of the president and presented my card to the receptionist. She took it and went into the inner office and soon returned to say that the president was too busy to see me. I replied that I had come five thousand miles [8,000 kilometers] and that I would wait. During the next hour she made two or three trips to his office; then finally he invited me in. I shall never forget the picture when I entered. He was smoking a long cigar with a look that seemed to say, ‘Don’t bother me.’ I held in my hand the reviews. I do not recall what I said after that. Another power seemed to be speaking through me. At first he was defensive and even belligerent. Then he began to soften. He concluded by promising to do something. Within an hour word went out to every book dealer in England to return the books to the publisher. At great expense he printed and tipped in the front of each volume a statement to the effect that the book was not to be considered as history, but only as fiction, and that no offense was intended against the respected Mormon people. Years later he granted another favor of substantial worth to the Church, and each year until the time of his death I received a Christmas card from him.”

President Nelson said that President Hinckley could confidently speak about the gospel with everyone, be they experienced journalists or world leaders. He said, “I witnessed how he softened the heart of Mikhail Gorbachev, former president of the Soviet Union, who initially resisted an invitation to meet with President Hinckley in his office. Instead, Mr. Gorbachev wanted President Hinckley to come to Gorbachev’s hotel room. But when they met at Church headquarters, President Hinckley pointed out the beautiful Circassian walnut paneling in the First Presidency’s council room. When President Hinckley told Mr. Gorbachev where that wood was from, Mr. Gorbachev was amazed! That wood had come from the very region of his birthplace in Russia! His mood warmed immediately.”2

Through word and deed, President Hinckley taught, “If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. … There is no obstacle too great, no challenge too difficult, if we have faith.”

Perhaps because his own life had been so richly blessed by his faith, President Hinckley said, “Of all our needs, I think the greatest is an increase in faith.” For part of one general conference talk, he took from the scripture in Luke which reads, “Lord, increase our faith” and offered a prayer for us all that our Father in Heaven would help us to increase our faith in very specific areas. Imagine how much richer our lives would be if we would petition our Heavenly Father for ourselves and our families in such a way! His prayer included:

“Increase our faith to bridge the chasms of uncertainty and doubt.

“Increase our faith to rise above the feeble detractors of this Thy great and holy work.

“Grant us faith to look beyond the problems of the moment to the miracles of the future.

“Give us faith to pay our tithes and offerings.

“Give us faith to do what is right and let the consequence follow.

“Grant us faith when storms of adversity beat us down and drive us to the ground.

“When we walk in the valley of the shadow of death, give us faith to smile through our tears, knowing that it is all part of the eternal plan of a loving Father, … and that through the atonement of the Son of God all share rise from the grave.

“Give us faith to pursue the work of redemption of the dead.

“Grant us faith to follow counsel in the little things that can mean so very much.

“Increase our faith in one another, and in ourselves, and in our capacity to do good and great things.

“Increase our faith in Thee, and in Thy Beloved Son.”

In the next few days, we all will be thinking about the things can improve upon in the coming year. This year as we make our New Year’s Resolutions, let the one we put at the top of our list be to increase our faith!

References:

1. President Gordon B. Hinckley: Stalwart and Brave He Stands – Jeffrey R. Holland

2. Prophets, Leadership and Divine Law – Russell M. Nelson

The Blessings of the Holy Temple

by DoctrinesFamilyTemple

For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the temple is one of our most distinguishing features and cherished treasures. In Chapter 23, The Blessings of the Holy Temple, Gordon B. Hinckley reminds us that the temple is “is a place of light, a place of peace, a place of love where we deal with the things of eternity.” It stands as “a monument to our belief in the immortality of the human soul … and that as certain as there is life here, there will be life there.  … [T]he temple becomes … the bridge from this life to the next. The temple is concerned with things of immortality. These unique and wonderful buildings, and the ordinances administered therein, represent the ultimate in our worship. These ordinances become the most profound expressions of our theology.”


Recently David A. Bednar taught, “Temples are the most holy of all places of worship. A temple literally is the house of the Lord, a sacred space specifically set apart for worshipping God and for receiving and remembering His great and precious promises. … A principal purpose of the temple is to elevate our vision from the things of the world to the blessings of eternity.”1


Because the ordinances of temple represent the ultimate in our worship, it is easy to understand why President Hinckley had such a strong desire to “take the temples to the people instead of having the people travel great distances to get to them.” While serving as the chairman of the Temple Committee, he had the thought that the Church could build several smaller temples for the same cost as one large one. After his call to serve in the First Presidency, his travels took him far and wide. He could see firsthand the faithful Saints, some who would never have the opportunity to go to the temple and others who could not attend a temple without great personal sacrifice. In the Priesthood Session of October 1997 General Conference he said, “[T]here are many areas of the Church that are remote, where the membership is small and not likely to grow very much in the near future. Are those who live in these places to be denied forever the blessings of the temple ordinances? While visiting such an area a few months ago, we prayerfully pondered this question. The answer, we believe, came bright and clear. We will construct small temples in some of these areas, buildings with all of the facilities to administer all of the ordinances.”  


Six months later President Hinckley spoke of the many members who made “tremendous sacrifices to visit the temples” and had to “travel for days at a time in cheap buses and on old boats” and who had to “save their money and do without to make it all possible.  They need nearby temples—small, beautiful, serviceable temples.” He then made the historic announcement that construction of 30 smaller temples would begin immediately.


There are countless stories of people who have had to make these tremendous sacrifices to go to the temple. The one that touches my heart and is almost hard to imagine is the story President Monson told of Tihi and Tararaina Mou Tham and their 10 children. This is their incredible story:


“The entire family except for one daughter joined the Church in the early 1960s, when missionaries came to their island, located about 100 miles (160 km) south of Tahiti. Soon they began to desire the blessings of an eternal family sealing in the temple.


“At that time the nearest temple to the Mou Tham family was the Hamilton New Zealand Temple, more than 2,500 miles (4,000 km) to the southwest, accessible only by expensive airplane travel. The large Mou Tham family, which eked out a meager living on a small plantation, had no money for airplane fare, nor was there any opportunity for employment on their Pacific island. So Brother Mou Tham and his son Gérard made the difficult decision to travel 3,000 miles (4,800 km) to work in New Caledonia, where another son was already employed.


“The three Mou Tham men labored for four years. Brother Mou Tham alone returned home only once during that time, for the marriage of a daughter.


“After four years, Brother Mou Tham and his sons had saved enough money to take the family to the New Zealand Temple. All who were members went except for one daughter, who was expecting a baby. They were sealed for time and eternity, an indescribable and joyful experience.


“Brother Mou Tham returned from the temple directly to New Caledonia, where he worked for two more years to pay for the passage of the one daughter who had not been at the temple with them—a married daughter and her child and husband.”2


In the lesson, President Hinckley recalled hearing the testimony of a man who had sold all his worldly possessions so he could take his family to the temple which was located far from his home. He remembered the man saying, “We could not afford to come. Our worldly possessions consisted of an old car, our furniture, and our dishes. I said to my family, ‘We cannot afford to go.’ Then I looked into the faces of my beautiful wife and our beautiful children, and I said, ‘We cannot afford not to go. If the Lord will give me strength, I can work and earn enough for another car and furniture and dishes, but if I should lose these my loved ones, I would be poor indeed in both life and in eternity.’”


For those of us who are blessed to live near a temple, it is almost impossible to comprehend the great sacrifices so many have made to attend the temple. Thomas S. Monson reminds us, “Some degree of sacrifice has ever been associated with temple building and with temple attendance. Countless are those who have labored and struggled in order to obtain for themselves and for their families the blessings which are found in the temples of God. Why are so many willing to give so much in order to receive the blessings of the temple? Those who understand the eternal blessings which come from the temple know that no sacrifice is too great, no price too heavy, no struggle too difficult in order to receive those blessings. There are never too many miles to travel, too many obstacles to overcome, or too much discomfort to endure. They understand that the saving ordinances received in the temple that permit us to someday return to our Heavenly Father in an eternal family relationship and to be endowed with blessings and power from on high are worth every sacrifice and every effort.”2

 
Clearly these faithful Saints understood what the Prophet Joseph meant when he said, “We need the temple more than anything else.”3


Just as President Hinckley did not want those who lived so far from a temple to be denied the blessings of those sacred ordinances, he reminds us, “There are uncounted millions who have walked the earth and who have never had the opportunity to hear the gospel. Shall they be denied such blessings as are offered in the temples of the Church? Through living proxies who stand in behalf of the dead, the same ordinances are available to those who have passed from mortality. … Most of the work done in [the temple] is performed vicariously in behalf of those who have passed beyond the veil of death. I know of no other work to compare with it. It more nearly approaches the vicarious sacrifice of the Son of God in behalf of all mankind than any other work of which I am aware. … It is a service which is of the very essence of selflessness.”


There has been a greater emphasis on doing family history work. We are encouraged to find and learn about our ancestors. Russell M. Nelson said, “Sealing ordinances are essential to exaltation. A wife needs to be sealed to her husband; children need to be sealed to their parents; and we all need to be connected with our ancestors. … It’s wonderful to turn the hearts of the children to their fathers by telling important family history stories in ways that are accessible and memorable. If we leave it at that level, however, we really haven’t done enough. As Church members, our interest in family history work has been motivated by instruction from the Lord that our ancestors cannot be made perfect without us and that we cannot be made perfect without them (see D&C 128:15). That means we are to be linked together by the sacred sealing ordinances of the temple. We are to be strong links in the chain from our ancestors to our posterity. If our collections of stories and photos should ever become an end point in themselves—if we know who our ancestors are and know marvelous things about them, but we leave them stranded on the other side without their ordinances—such diversion will not be of any help to our ancestors who remain confined in spirit prison.”4 Similarly David A. Bednar taught, “[A]s members of Christ’s restored Church, we have the covenant responsibility to search out our ancestors and provide for them the saving ordinances of the gospel. … For these reasons we do family history research, build temples, and perform vicarious ordinances. For these reasons Elijah was sent to restore the sealing authority that binds on earth and in heaven. We are the Lord’s agents in the work of salvation and exaltation that will prevent ‘the whole earth [from being] smitten with a curse’ (D&C 110:15) when He returns again. This is our duty and great blessing.”5


We are all part of God’s family. We have a great responsibility to do temple work, for our own ancestors and for others. And without family history work and indexing, there would be no temple work. Earlier this year, President Nelson reminded us, “We need to be spending more time in the temple and in doing family history research, which includes indexing.”4


President Hinckley reiterated the fact that increased temple activity and increased family history work go hand in hand. Then he taught us a marvelous truth, “The computer in its various ramifications is accelerating the work, and people are taking advantage of the new techniques being offered to them. How can one escape the conclusion that the Lord is in all of this?” Does that sound familiar? Other prophets have taught the same truth – the God would provide the means necessary to further His work! President Hinckley continues, “As computer facilities improve, the number of temples grows to accommodate the accelerated family history work.”


Think about this – in 1980, about the time personal computers were in the early stages, the Church membership was a little more than 4 ½ million with 19 operating temples.6 By the end of 2007, just weeks before President Hinckley passed away, the total membership was slightly more than 13 million members and there were 124 operating temples and personal computers had become extremely accessible.7 Today we hold in our hands devices more powerful than the personal computers just a decade ago. Church membership is now nearly 16 million and today there are 157 operating temples, with 13 under construction. There are also 12 temples announced but not yet under construction. Can you see President Hinckley’s words coming to pass?


The blessings of the temple and the blessings of family history are not only for the adult members of the Church. Any temple-worthy member can attend the temple and anyone can do family history research and indexing. There are many blessings promised for those who do.


Speaking directly to the youth of the Church, Elder Bednar said, “Many of you may think family history work is to be performed primarily by older people.  But I know of no age limit described in the scriptures or guidelines announced by Church leaders restricting this important service to mature adults. You are sons and daughters of God, children of the covenant, and builders of the kingdom. You need not wait until you reach an arbitrary age to fulfill your responsibility to assist in the work of salvation for the human family. The Lord has made available in our day remarkable resources that enable you to learn about and love this work that is sparked by the Spirit of Elijah. For example, FamilySearch is a collection of records, resources, and services easily accessible with personal computers and a variety of handheld devices, designed to help people discover and document their family history. … It is no coincidence that FamilySearch and other tools have come forth at a time when young people are so familiar with a wide range of information and communication technologies. Your fingers have been trained to text and tweet to accelerate and advance the work of the Lord—not just to communicate quickly with your friends. The skills and aptitude evident among many young people today are a preparation to contribute to the work of salvation.”5


And here are the blessings he promised them for doing the work, “Your love and gratitude for your ancestors will increase. Your testimony of and conversion to the Savior will become deep and abiding. And I promise you will be protected against the intensifying influence of the adversary. As you participate in and love this holy work, you will be safeguarded in your youth and throughout your lives.”5


Of course those blessings aren’t just for the youth. Many beautiful blessings have been promised for all who go to the temple. The Doctrine and Covenants tells us of priceless blessings that are available as we do, “[T]hy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them.”8  Just think about those promises for a minute!  It helps us to understand why our leaders have such a strong desire for us to be in the temple. President Hinckley encouraged us, “Go to the house of the Lord and there … you will know a peace that you will find nowhere else.” If we will “take greater advantage of this blessed privilege,” he promises that it will refine our natures and make us better people. “I know your lives are busy. I know that you have much to do. But I make you a promise that if you will go to the House of the Lord, you will be blessed; life will be better for you.”


Here are just a few more of the ways our lives can be blessed:


“As you and I go to the holy houses of God, as we remember the covenants we make within, we will be more able to bear every trial and to overcome each temptation. In this sacred sanctuary we will find peace; we will be renewed and fortified.” – Thomas S. Monson2  


“Our temples provide a sanctuary where we may go to lay aside many of the anxieties of the world. Our temples are places of peace and tranquillity. In these hallowed sanctuaries God ‘healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.’” – James E. Faust9 


“Temple blessings are most meaningful when death takes a loved one away from the family circle. To know that the pain of separation is only temporary provides peace that passes ordinary understanding. Death cannot sever families sealed in the temple. They understand death as a necessary part of God’s great plan of happiness.” – Russell M. Nelson10


“The House of the Lord is a place where we can escape from the mundane and see our lives in an eternal perspective. … Regular temple work can provide spiritual strength. It can be an anchor in daily life, a source of guidance, protection, security, peace, and revelation.” – Joseph B. Wirthlin11


The answer to President Hinckley’s prayerful desire to bring the temples to the people ushered in the beginning of unprecedented temple building.  Gratefully now 85 percent of members of the Church live within 200 miles of a temple. So for the vast majority, the tremendous sacrifices have been greatly eased. Yet, as President Monson reminded us, there will always be “some degree of sacrifice” to go to the temple.


We often sing, “Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven.”12 Do we believe that? What sacrifices are we willing to make to bring the blessings of the temple into our own lives and the lives of our families?


For some, it is a matter of prioritizing our schedules. In a letter from the First Presidency, we were encouraged to “replace some leisure activities with temple service. … As we redouble our efforts and our faithfulness in going to the temple, the Lord will bless us.”13 Richard G. Scott suggested, “When a temple is conveniently nearby, small things may interrupt your plans to go to the temple. Set specific goals, considering your circumstances, of when you can and will participate in temple ordinances. Then do not allow anything to interfere with that plan. This pattern will guarantee that those who live in the shadow of a temple will be as blessed as are those who plan far ahead and make a long trip to the temple.”14

 
For others, it may be “bringing your life into compliance with what is required to receive a recommend, perhaps by forsaking long-held habits which disqualify you. It may be having the faith and the discipline to pay your tithing.”2 President Hinckley issued the challenge to “put [o]ur lives in order, to be worthy to go to the house of the Lord and there to partake of the blessings that are peculiarly [o]urs. … Great are the requirements, but greater still are the blessings.”


Temples are not just beautiful buildings, though they surely are. They are, as President Hinckley teaches, “an expression of the testimony of this people that God our Eternal Father lives, that He has a plan for the blessing of His sons and daughters of all generations, that His Beloved Son, Jesus the Christ, who was born in Bethlehem of Judea and crucified on the cross of Golgotha, is the Savior and Redeemer of the world, whose atoning sacrifice makes possible the fulfillment of that plan in the eternal life of each who accepts and lives the gospel.” The temple is at the heart of all we believe.


I love the temple! It is impossible to describe the peace, joy and comfort I feel there. In my times of greatest sorrow, it has been my sweetest source of comfort. In my times of greatest happiness, it is there I have tasted eternal joy. Even in this increasingly unpeaceful world, the temple is always a place where I can find peace. I know that in the temple “you will know a peace that you will find nowhere else.” May we make whatever sacrifices are necessary to more frequently be in the temple and also to always have the temple be in us.

References:

  1.  Exceeding Great and Precious Promises – David A. Bednar

  2.  The Holy Temple–A Beacon to the World – Thomas S. Monson

  3.  Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, page 416

  4.  Open the Heavens Through Temple and Family History Work – Russell M. Nelson

  5.  The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn – David A. Bednar

  6.  Statistical Report – 1980

  7.  Statistical Report – 2007

  8.  D&C 109:22

  9.  Spiritual Healing – James E. Faust

10.  Personal Preparation for Temple Blessings – Russell M. Nelson

11.  Seeking the Good – Joseph B. Wirthlin

12.  Praise to the Man – Hymn 27

13.  Letter from the First Presidency – March 2004 Ensign

14.  Temple Worship: The Source of Strength and Power in Times of Need – Richard G. Scott

Fellowship With Those Who Are Not of Our Faith

by Christlike AttributesDoctrines

We are all familiar with the parable of the good Samaritan. As a man was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho, he was robbed and left for dead. Seeing him, a priest crossed the road and passed on the other side, so as not to encounter the man. A Levite also passed by, offering no help. But when the Samaritan saw him, “he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.” Jesus then posed this question, “Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among thieves?” The answer, of course, was the one who showed compassion. To which the Savior said, “Go, and do thou likewise.”1 


Of this parable, M. Russell Ballard says, “I am impressed with its power and its simplicity. But have you ever wondered why the Savior chose to make the hero of this story a Samaritan? There was considerable antipathy between the Jews and the Samaritans at the time of Christ. Under normal circumstances, these two groups avoided association with each other. It would still be a good, instructive parable if the man who fell among thieves had been rescued by a brother Jew. His deliberate use of Jews and Samaritans clearly teaches that we are all neighbors and that we should love, esteem, respect, and serve one another despite our deepest differences—including religious, political, and cultural differences.”2


What a great reminder this parable is as we study Chapter 20, Fellowship With Those Who are Not of Our Faith. In the lesson, Gordon B. Hinckley teaches, “We must never forget that we live in a world of great diversity. The people of the earth are all our Father’s children and are of many and varied religious persuasions. We must cultivate tolerance and appreciation and respect one another. …We must never adopt a holier-than-thou attitude. We must not be self-righteous. We must be magnanimous and open and friendly. We can keep our faith. We can practice our religion. We can cherish our method of worship without being offensive to others. I take this occasion to plead for a spirit of tolerance and neighborliness, of friendship and love toward those of other faiths.”


When my children were swimming competitively, I had the pleasure to become acquainted with a wonderful woman. Although our children swam for different teams, we would see each regularly. Through the years, we would often sit together and talk. We became good friends. During one of the meets, she shared with me how her son was being ridiculed and teased incessantly by the “Mormon” boys on his team. I was sad to learn that their mothers had also excluded my friend and treated her poorly. Even more unfortunate was the fact that this seemed to be a common experience for them.  I told my friend that I, too, was a Mormon. And I explained that that kind of behavior was not what our religion taught. In fact, it was completely contrary to what we believe. Although she has moved to another state, we have remained friends. I have often hoped she is having better interactions with members of the Church there than when she lived here.


Unfortunately, that was not my only experience having to explain that excluding others is not what we are taught. I have a friend whose son invited several boys from school to his birthday party. Only one came. When her son saw his best friend at school the Monday after the party, he asked him why he hadn’t come. His friend told him that his mother wouldn’t let him because he wasn’t a Mormon.  My friend’s son was devastated! My friend did not know how to explain that kind of thinking to her son. And understandably so! I told her that from the pulpit of general conference we have been taught NOT to do that and expressed my embarrassment, shame and sadness that her family had to deal with that kind of mistreatment from members of my church! Gratefully my friend has had some very positive experiences with members of the Church, particularly when she was younger and lived in another state. But that doesn’t diminish the hurt that is being caused by careless members now.


Elder Ballard specifically addressed both of these situations when he said, “Occasionally I hear of members offending those of other faiths by overlooking them and leaving them out. This can occur especially in communities where our members are the majority. I have heard about narrow-minded parents who tell children that they cannot play with a particular child in the neighborhood simply because his or her family does not belong to our Church. This kind of behavior is not in keeping with the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. I cannot comprehend why any member of our Church would allow these kinds of things to happen. I have been a member of this Church my entire life. I have been a full-time missionary, twice a bishop, a mission president, a Seventy, and now an Apostle. I have never taught—nor have I ever heard taught—a doctrine of exclusion. I have never heard the members of this Church urged to be anything but loving, kind, tolerant, and benevolent to our friends and neighbors of other faiths.”2


Similar counsel has been given by many of our prophets and apostles. I list just a few.


“Too often non-Mormons here in Utah have been offended and alienated by some of our members who will not allow their children to be friends with children of other faiths.  Surely we can teach our children values and standards of behavior without having them distance themselves or show disrespect to any who are different.”  Dallin H. Oaks3  


“We must teach our children to be tolerant and friendly toward those not of our faith. … [W]e can teach our children effectively enough that we need not fear that they will lose their faith while being friendly and considerate with those who do not subscribe to the doctrine of this Church.” Gordon B. Hinckley4


“Many good and honest people of different faiths or of no faith at all are on the Lord’s side in seeking the betterment of their fellowmen and exerting a positive influence on society. … Be grateful for the good that people do everywhere, whether to serve society generally or in behalf of the Church. Always be tolerant and considerate of the views and beliefs of others, recognizing each one as a son or daughter of God.” Joseph B. Wirthlin5 


“We must guard against bigotry that raises its ugly voice toward those who hold different opinions. Bigotry manifests itself, in part, in unwillingness to grant equal freedom of expression. Everyone, including people of religion, has the right to express his or her opinions in the public square. But no one has a license to be hateful toward others as those opinions are expressed. Church history gives ample evidence of our members being treated with hatred and bigotry. How ironically sad it would be if we were to treat others as we have been treated. … Jesus Christ set the example for us to follow—to show respect to all and hatred toward none. As His disciples, let us fully mirror His love and love one another so openly and completely that no one feels abandoned, alone, or hopeless.”  Dale G. Renlund6


“Turn to the Savior to understand how to live a Christlike life while also showing fairness and love to others who do not share your beliefs. … [A]s you … reach out to others in a spirit of fairness, you will feel an increase in the Savior’s love for you and for all of Heavenly Father’s children. Your example of respect and fairness will open doors and create meaningful friendships that you will cherish throughout your life.”  Ronald A. Rasband7 


“I admonish you to be … good neighbors, reaching out to those of other faiths as well as to our own. May we be tolerant of, as well as kind and loving to, those who do not share our beliefs and our standards. The Savior brought to this earth a message of love and goodwill to all men and women. May we ever follow His example.”  Thomas S. Monson8


Speaking to the Parliament of the World’s Religions, Russell M. Nelson said, “Members of our church often join with other like-minded citizens, regardless of religious persuasion, in support of worthy causes and humanitarian projects. This can be done without losing independent identity and strength. … [W]e should be models of tolerance of others whose sacred beliefs may differ from our own. We recognize that if one religion is persecuted, all are attacked.” He also shared with them a statement the First Presidency made several years earlier, “Our message is one of special love and concern for the eternal welfare of all men and women, regardless of religious belief, race, or nationality, knowing that we are truly brothers and sisters because we are the sons and daughters of the same eternal Father.”9

I love that sweet reminder! We are all sons and daughters of the same eternal Father!  


We remember that the Savior taught that “by their fruits ye shall know them.”10 Some only know of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because of its response when a great need arises. The Church is exceptional in tending to the needs of all of God’s children. Recently we have seen that outpouring of love and support for those who have been so severely affected by the hurricanes, other natural disasters and tragedies. Surely the Church’s humanitarian efforts are some of its most recognized “fruits.”  


What if I am the only Latter-day Saint someone knows. What do my “fruits” say about me? Are tolerance and kindness, love and acceptance some of those fruits? While it is true we cannot do anything about other people’s actions and reactions, we have complete control over our own. 


As stated in one of the Articles of Faith, “We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.”11 President Hinckley reminded us of that when he said, “How very important that is—that while we believe in worshipping God according to our doctrine, we do not become arrogant or self-righteous or prideful but that we extend to others the privilege of worshipping according to their desires.”  


One of my favorite scriptures is, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”12 As we offer love and friendship to all, we are letting our light shine. When we are “a little more tolerant, a little more kind, a little more outreaching to lift and help and sustain those among us,” we are letting our light shine. The Savior’s command to let our light shine is not exclusive to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! We would be wise to recognize the shining light of all good people.


While he was the prophet, President Hinckley was interviewed by Mike Wallace of 60 Minutes on national television. During the interview, he was asked how he viewed non-Mormons. His answer, “With love and respect. I have many non-Mormon friends. I respect them. I have the greatest of admiration for them. … To anybody who is not of this Church, I say we recognize all of the virtues and the good that you have. Bring it with you and see if we might add to it.” Can each of us say the same? I surely hope we can!  May we emulate his example to treat all with love and respect. May we heed his prophetic counsel to “be less prone to stoop to those things which clearly are unbecoming us. We are children of God and we love Him.  Act that way a little more.” Isn’t that really the message of parable of the Good Samaritan? Let us take every opportunity to “go, and do thou likewise.”

 References:

  1.  Luke 10:25-37

  2.  Doctrine of Inclusion – M. Russell Ballard

  3.  Loving Others and Living With Differences – Dallin H. Oaks

  4.  Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Gordon B. Hinckley – Chapter 20

  5.  The Lord’s Side – Joseph B. Wirthlin

  6.  Our Good Shepherd – Dale G. Renlund

  7.  Religious Freedom and Fairness For All – Ronald A. Rasband

  8.  Until We Meet Again – Thomas S. Monson

  9.  Combatting Spiritual Drift—Our Global Pandemic – Russell M. Nelson

10.  Matthew 7:20

11.  The Articles of Faith 1:11

12.  Matthew 5:16

The Holy Priesthood

by DoctrinesPriesthood

If asked to state in one sentence or phrase the most distinguishing feature of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, what would be your answer?  David O. McKay posed that question at the beginning of his general conference talk 80 years ago. He then gave his answer, “Divine authority by direct revelation.”1


Gordon B. Hinckley speaks of that divine authority in Chapter 15, The Holy Priesthood. He teaches us that the priesthood is “the power of the Almighty given to man to act in His name and in His stead. It is a delegation of divine authority, different from all other powers and authorities on the face of the earth. … Without it there could be a church in name only, lacking authority to administer in the things of God. With it, nothing is impossible in carrying forward the work of the kingdom of God.  It is divine in nature. It is both temporal and eternal in its authority.  It is the only power on the earth that reaches beyond the veil of death. … How precious is the gift of God that has come to us.”


Jeffrey R. Holland similarly reminds us, “The priesthood of God, with its keys, its ordinances, its divine origin and ability to bind in heaven what is bound on earth, is as indispensable to the true Church of God as it is unique to it and that without it there would be no Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”2


The priesthood is the most distinguishing feature, different from all other powers and authorities, indispensable and unique! It is, as President Hinckley teaches, “part of the plan of God our Eternal Father to bless the lives of His sons and daughters of all generations.”


That is very important to state again since it seems that some people get caught up in who holds the priesthood rather than who is blessed by the priesthood. The priesthood is given to us from a loving Heavenly Father to bless the lives of His sons and daughters. While the word priesthood is sometimes used to describe the men in the Church who hold the priesthood, Dallin H. Oaks has reiterated, “men are not ‘the priesthood.’ Men hold the priesthood, with a sacred duty to use it for the blessing of all of the children of God.”3


Elder Oaks has also stated, “The blessings of the priesthood are available to women and to men on the same terms. The gift of the Holy Ghost and the blessings of the temple are familiar illustrations of this truth.”3


M. Russell Ballard said, “While the authority of the priesthood is directed through priesthood keys, and priesthood keys are held only by worthy men, access to the power and the blessings of the priesthood is available to all of God’s children.”4  


And Sheri L. Dew, speaking directly to the women of the Church, echoes these teachings, “Sisters, some will try to persuade you that because you are not ordained to the priesthood, you have been shortchanged. They are simply wrong, and they do not understand the gospel of Jesus Christ. The blessings of the priesthood are available to every righteous man and woman. We may all receive the Holy Ghost, obtain personal revelation, and be endowed in the temple, from which we emerge ‘armed’ with power. The power of the priesthood heals, protects, and inoculates all of the righteous against the powers of darkness. Most significantly, the fulness of the priesthood contained in the highest ordinances of the house of the Lord can be received only by a man and woman together. … We as women are not diminished by priesthood power, we are magnified by it.  I know this is true, for I have experienced it again and again.”5  


The priesthood is meant to bless our lives, both here and hereafter, and to give us power to withstand the evils around us. While the lesson mentions several ways the priesthood does this, I would like to focus on three specific ways we can be continually blessed by the priesthood – the sacrament, the Holy Ghost and the temple. I am profoundly grateful for these blessings, which are part of my life because of the precious gift of the priesthood! 


The Sacrament


“The most important event in time and eternity is the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He who accomplished the Atonement has given us the ordinance of the sacrament to help us not only remember but also claim the blessings of this supreme act of grace. Regular and earnest participation in this sacred ordinance helps us continue to embrace and live the doctrine of Christ after baptism and thereby pursue and complete the process of sanctification.” – James J. Hamula6 


“The sacrament and the partaking of these emblems is the very heart of our sabbath worship. It includes a renewal of covenants with God.  It carries with it a promise of His Holy Spirit to be with us.” -Gordon B. Hinckley7


“The ordinance of the sacrament is a holy and repeated invitation to repent sincerely and to be renewed spiritually. The act of partaking of the sacrament, in and of itself, does not remit sins. But as we prepare conscientiously and participate in this holy ordinance with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then the promise is that we may always have the Spirit of the Lord to be with us. And by the sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost as our constant companion, we can always retain a remission of our sins.  We truly are blessed each week by the opportunity to evaluate our lives through the ordinance of the sacrament, to renew our covenants, and to receive this covenant promise.” -David A. Bednar8 


The Holy Ghost


“The Holy Ghost is real. He is the third member of the Godhead. His mission is to testify of truth and righteousness. He manifests Himself in many ways, including feelings of peace and reassurance. He can also bring comfort, guidance, and correction when needed. The companionship of the Holy Ghost is maintained throughout our lives by righteous living. The gift of the Holy Ghost is conferred through an ordinance of the gospel. One with authority lays his hands on the head of a new member of the Church and says words such as these: ‘Receive the Holy Ghost.’ This ordinance alone does not change us in a noticeable way, but if we listen and follow the promptings, we will receive the blessing of the Holy Ghost. Each son or daughter of our Heavenly Father can come to know the reality of Moroni’s promise: ‘By the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.'” -Boyd K. Packer9

“The Holy Ghost does not become operative in our lives merely because hands are placed upon our heads and those four important words are spoken. As we receive this ordinance, each of us accepts a sacred and ongoing responsibility to desire, to seek, to work, and to so live that we indeed ‘receive the Holy Ghost’ and its attendant spiritual gifts.” -David A. Bednar10


“Stay close to the Spirit, and the Spirit will stay close to you. … One of the privileges we enjoy as Latter-day Saints living in the fulness of times is the gift of the Holy Ghost.” -Gary E. Stevenson11


Temple


“In its ultimate expression the holy priesthood carries with it the authority to seal on the earth and have that sealing effective in the heavens. It is unique and wonderful. It is the authority exercised in the temples of God. It concerns both the living and the dead. It is of the very essence of eternity.” -Gordon B. Hinckley7 


“Until you have entered the house of the Lord and have received all the blessings which await you there, you have not obtained everything the Church has to offer. The all-important and crowning blessings of membership in the Church are those blessings which we receive in the temples of God.
“As you and I go to the holy houses of God, as we remember the covenants we make within, we will be more able to bear every trial and to overcome each temptation. In this sacred sanctuary we will find peace; we will be renewed and fortified.”  -Thomas S. Monson12


The power that can be derived from the sacrament, the Holy Ghost and the temple is immeasurable! That power is available to every woman and man who is willing to make and keep sacred covenants and live obedient lives. D. Todd Christofferson encourages us to “qualify for and receive all the priesthood ordinances you can and then faithfully keep the promises you have made by covenant. In times of distress, let your covenants be paramount and let your obedience be exact. Then you can ask in faith, nothing wavering, according to your need, and God will answer.”13


It is that type of obedience that President Hinckley speaks candidly about in one section of the lesson. He asks the priesthood holders to reflect on their lives to ensure that they are in line with the teachings of the gospel. He reminds them of their “solid and sacred obligation so to live as one worthy to speak and act in the name of God as his qualified representative.” He teaches, “Every worthy man, regardless of nationality, ethnic background, or any other factor, is eligible to receive the priesthood.  His obedience to the commandments of God becomes the determining factor. Its bestowal is based only on worthiness before the Lord.” Just as obedience and worthiness are the determining factors for men to be able to hold the priesthood, they are also the determining factors for us all to enjoy the blessings and power of the priesthood. We would all do well to do a little self-evaluating. For as Linda K. Burton taught, “Righteousness is the qualifier for each of us to invite priesthood power into our lives.”14


May we each accept President Hinckley’s challenge that, if followed, will enable men and woman alike to be blessed by priesthood power, “Flee the evils of the world. Be loyal to your better self. Be loyal to the best that is in you. Be faithful and true to the covenants that are associated with the priesthood of God.”

References:

  1.  David O. McKay – Conference Report 1937, page 121
  2.  Jeffrey R. Holland – Our Most Distinguishing Feature

  3.  Dallin H. Oaks – The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood

  4.  M. Russell Ballard – Let Us Think Straight

  5.  Sheri L. Dew – It is Not Good for Man or Woman to be Alone

  6.  James J. Hamula – The Sacrament and The Atonement

  7.  Gordon B. Hinckley – Priesthood Restoration

  8.  David A. Bednar – Always Retain a Remission of Your Sins

  9.  Boyd K. Packer – The Witness

10.  David A. Bednar – Receive the Holy Ghost

11.  Gary E. Stevenson – How Does the Holy Ghost Help You?

12.  Thomas S. Monson – The Holy Temple – A Beacon to the World

13.  D. Todd Christofferson – The Power of Covenants

14.  Linda K. Burton – Priesthood Power – Available to All

Home – The Basis For a Righteous Life

by Christlike AttributesDoctrinesFamily

Gordon B. Hinckley said, “The more surely you rear your children in the ways of the gospel of Jesus Christ, with love and high expectation, the more likely that there will be peace in their lives.” Chapter 11, Home – The Basis for a Righteous Life, is a loving reminder that teaching and rearing our children in the principles of the gospel is our God-given responsibility. As I studied this lesson, the word peace caught my attention. It truly is in teaching and living the gospel of Jesus Christ that our children will have the greatest chance of finding peace and stability in an ever-changing, commotion-filled world.  Consider these things President Hinckley taught about gospel living and peace:

  • I know of no other practice that will have so salutary an effect upon your lives as will the practice of kneeling together in prayer. … Your daily conversations with him will bring peace into your hearts and a joy into your lives that can come from no other source.
  • [The Lord] expects us to have family home evening—one night a week to gather our children together and teach them the gospel. Isaiah said, “And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord.” That is the commandment: “All thy children shall be taught of the Lord.” And the blessing: “And great,” he said, “shall be the peace of thy children.” (Isa. 54:13)1
  • I urge our people everywhere to read the scriptures more. … May the Lord bless each of us to feast upon his holy word and to draw from it that strength, that peace, that knowledge “which passeth all understanding” (Philip. 4:7), as he has promised.2
  • So lead your sons and daughters, so guide and direct them from the time they are very small, so teach them in the ways of the Lord, that peace will be their companion throughout life.

Russell M. Nelson has said, “No other work transcends that of righteous, intentional parenting!”3 I love the clarity he gives to us that our parenting must be intentional. It takes conscious effort! If we are not careful, other things occupy our time and energy without our even being aware. We’ve been warned often about that.


“When things of the world crowd in, all too often the wrong things take highest priority. Then it is easy to forget the fundamental purpose of life. Satan has a powerful tool to use against good people. It is distraction. He would have good people fill life with ‘good things’ so there is no room for the essential ones. Have you unconsciously been caught in that trap?” Richard G. Scott4


“It is of particular importance in our day, when Satan is raging in the hearts of men in so many new and subtle ways, that our choices and decisions be made carefully, consistent with the goals and objectives by which we profess to live. We need unequivocal commitment to the commandments and strict adherence to sacred covenants. … It is heartbreaking when we profess belief in these goals yet neglect the everyday conduct required to achieve them.” Quentin L. Cook5


“Sad to say, we even wear our busyness as a badge of honor, as though being busy, by itself, was an accomplishment or sign of a superior life. … If we fail to give our best personal self and undivided time to those who are truly important to us, one day we will regret it.” Dieter F. Uchtdorf6


“Sometimes we feel that the busier we are, the more important we are—as though our busyness defines our worth. Brothers and sisters, we can spend a lifetime whirling about at a feverish pace, checking off list after list of things that in the end really don’t matter. That we do a lot may not be so important. That we focus the energy of our minds, our hearts, and our souls on those things of eternal significance—that is essential.” Joseph B. Wirthlin7


“If he could have his way, Satan … would have us become involved in a million and one things in this life—probably none of which are very important in the long run—to keep us from concentrating on the things that are really important, particularly the reality that we are God’s children. He would like us to forget about home and family values. He’d like to keep us so busy with comparatively insignificant things that we don’t have time to make the effort to understand where we came from, whose children we are, and how glorious our ultimate homecoming can be!” Marvin J. Ashton8


We must never forget that both we and our children are children of God! President Hinckley gives us some very wise counsel, “You need heaven’s help in raising heaven’s child—your child, who is also the child of his or her Heavenly Father.” Intentional parenting includes making our family a priority by inviting heaven’s help as we strive to live the gospel together.


Spencer W. Kimball cautioned, “When we kneel in family prayer, our children at our side on their knees are learning habits that will stay with them all through their lives. If we do not take time for prayers, what we are actually saying to our children is, ‘Well, it isn’t very important, anyway. We won’t worry about it. If we can do it conveniently, we will have our prayer, but if the school bell rings and the bus is coming and employment is calling—well, prayer isn’t very important and we will do it when it is convenient.’ Unless planned for, it never seems to be convenient. No mother would carelessly send her little children forth to school on a wintry morning without warm clothes to protect against the snow and rain and cold. But there are numerous fathers and mothers who send their children to school without the protective covering available to them through prayer—a protection against exposure to unknown hazards, evil people, and base temptations. In the past, having family prayer once a day may have been all right. But in the future it will not be enough if we are going to save our families.” (Italics added)9


James E. Faust quoted that last sentence in his general conference talk nearly thirty years ago and then added, “I wonder if having casual and infrequent family home evening will be enough in the future to fortify our children with sufficient moral strength. In the future, infrequent family scripture study may be inadequate to arm our children with the virtue necessary to withstand the moral decay of the environment in which they will live. Where in the world will the children learn chastity, integrity, honesty, and basic human decency if not at home?”10


Surely the “in the future” President Faust spoke of was today! Oh how I wish I could go back to when my children were young and do a better job! And I am sure I am not alone! In fact, I find great comfort in Russell M. Nelson’s words, “Years ago the First Presidency stressed the importance of quality family time. They wrote: ‘We call upon parents to devote their best efforts to the teaching and rearing of their children in gospel principles which will keep them close to the Church. The home is the basis of a righteous life, and no other instrumentality can take its place or fulfill its essential functions in carrying forward this God-given responsibility. We counsel parents and children to give highest priority to family prayer, family home evening, gospel study and instruction, and wholesome family activities. However worthy and appropriate other demands or activities may be, they must not be permitted to displace the divinely-appointed duties that only parents and families can adequately perform.’ When I ponder this counsel, I almost wish I were a young father once again.”3


So, we do our best and pray for heaven’s help. Still, one of the great heartaches for parents is when children, young and sometimes not so young, seem to abandon what they have been taught. President Hinckley encourages, “Once in a while, notwithstanding all the things you try to do, there is a rebellious child. But keep at it. Do not ever give up. You have never lost as long as you try. Keep at it.”


Jeffrey R. Holland, in his ever-loving, always-encouraging way, teaches, “Some children will make choices that break their parents’ hearts. Moms and dads can do everything right and yet have children who stray. Moral agency still obtains. But even in such painful hours it will be comforting for you to know that your children knew of your abiding faith in Christ, in His true Church, in the keys of the priesthood and in those who hold them. It will be comforting then for you to know that if your children choose to leave the straight and narrow way, they leave it very conscious that their parents were firmly in it. Furthermore, they will be much more likely to return to that path when they come to themselves and recall the loving example and gentle teachings you offered them there. Live the gospel as conspicuously as you can. Keep the covenants your children know you have made. Give priesthood blessings. And bear your testimony! Don’t just assume your children will somehow get the drift of your beliefs on their own. Keep loving and keep testifying. Keep praying. Those prayers will be heard and answered in the most unexpected hour. God will send aid to no one more readily than He will send it to a child—and to the parent of a child.”11


We know that Satan seeks to destroy peace—especially in the family. Prophets and apostles have warned us for many years about these attacks and how we can guard against them. In 1995, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued The Family – A Proclamation to the World. President Hinckley read that proclamation as part of his talk to the women of the Church. He said, “With so much of sophistry that is passed off as truth, with so much of deception concerning standards and values, with so much of allurement and enticement to take on the slow stain of the world, we have felt to warn and forewarn. In furtherance of this we of the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles now issue a proclamation to the Church and to the world as a declaration and reaffirmation of standards, doctrines, and practices relative to the family which the prophets, seers, and revelators of this church have repeatedly stated throughout its history.” He then read the family proclamation.  He continued, “We commend to all a careful, thoughtful, and prayerful reading of this proclamation. The strength of any nation is rooted within the walls of its homes. We urge our people everywhere to strengthen their families in conformity with these time-honored values.”12


May we accept President Hinckley’s challenge to prayerfully, carefully and thoughtfully read and study the family proclamation and conform our lives to the values taught in this prophetic proclamation. As we do, we will feel heaven’s help as we are doing the heavenly work of raising God’s children.

References:

  1.  Family Home Evening – Gordon B. Hinckley

  2.  Feasting Upon The Scriptures – Gordon B. Hinckley

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

  4.  First Things First – Richard G. Scott

  5.  Choose Wisely – Quentin L. Cook

  6.  Of Regrets and Resolutions – Dieter F. Uchtdorf

  7.  Follow Me – Joseph B. Wirthlin

  8.  A Yearning For Home – Marvin J. Ashton

  9.  Prayer, The Passport to Spiritual Power – Spencer W. Kimball

10.  The Greatest Challenge in the World—Good Parenting – James E. Faust

11.  A Prayer for the Children – Jeffrey R. Holland

12.  Stand Strong Against the Wiles of the World – Gordon B. Hinckley

The Precious Gift of Testimony

by Doctrines

One of the beauties of general conference is the gathering of the members of the Church from all over the world, sometimes physically and always spiritually. While there are many different languages spoken, it is a sweet reminder that the language of the gospel is the same for everyone and has great power to unite us. Chapter 9, The Precious Gift of Testimony, is a similar reminder. Gordon B. Hinckley teaches that “in the heart of each of us beats a common testimony. You and I know that God lives and is at the helm of this His holy work. We know that Jesus is our Redeemer, who stands at the head of this Church which carries His name. We know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and is a prophet who stands at the head of this the dispensation of the fulness of times. We know that the priesthood was restored upon his head and that it has come down to us in this day in an unbroken line. We know that the Book of Mormon is a true testament of the reality and divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Have these profound truths changed your life?

I love the four conversion stories shared in the lesson. They are truly inspiring! They are sweet reminders of the powerful change that comes into our lives when we put our beliefs into action. Many times at a great cost! It is hard to imagine the sacrifices so many people have made and continue to make to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! I never had to make those sacrifices. My ancestors did! And my life has been eternally blessed because of them! These examples show how our testimonies change not only our lives but also the lives of our families and friends. We have also been taught that our personal testimonies strengthen and bless the Church.

The following quotes help us understand some of the blessings, and responsibilities, that are ours because of our testimonies.

“A strong testimony gives peace, comfort, and assurance. It generates the conviction that as the teachings of the Savior are consistently obeyed, life will be beautiful, the future secure, and there will be capacity to overcome the challenges that cross our path. As you fortify your own personal testimony, you will have power to make correct choices so that you can stand unwaveringly against the pressures of an increasingly vicious world. Your personal security and happiness depend upon the strength of your testimony, for it will guide your actions in times of trial or uncertainty.” Richard G. Scott1

“Testimony—real testimony, born of the Spirit and confirmed by the Holy Ghost—changes lives. It changes how you think and what you do. It changes what you say. It affects every priority you set and every choice you make. … Never underestimate the impact your testimony can have upon the lives of others as you bear it with the power of the Spirit.” M. Russell Ballard2

“Sometimes a single phrase of testimony can set events in motion that affect someone’s life for eternity.” Dieter F. Uchtdorf3

“Individual testimonies are the foundation and strength of the Church. Our testimony provides a guiding light that leads to a commitment which directs our conduct and our way of life. Our testimony is true north on a spiritual compass. It is a moving force that cannot be seen but can truly be felt. It is a burning within that tells us what is right.” Robert D. Hales4

“The strength of the Church lies in the depth and vitality of the personal testimonies of its members. Firm, secure testimonies will be the difference between faithfulness and disaffection.” Joseph B. Wirthlin5

“No matter how large the organization of the Church becomes or how many millions of members join our ranks, no matter how many continents and countries our missionaries enter or how many different languages we speak, the true success of the gospel of Jesus Christ will be measured by the spiritual strength of its individual members. We need the strength of conviction that is found in the heart of every loyal disciple of Christ.” Boyd K. Packer6

Think about some of the words used in those quotes – strength, power, change, conviction. President Hinckley reminds us, “Testimony is as real and powerful as any force on the earth.” It is no wonder then that he also reminds us, “It is the opportunity, it is the responsibility of every man and woman in this Church to obtain within himself or herself a conviction of the truth of this great latter-day work and of those who stand at its head, even the living God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

A testimony truly is a precious gift. It is so important to remember that it is what we do with our testimony that really counts. David A. Bednar taught, “Testimony is a point of departure; it is not an ultimate destination. Strong testimony is the foundation upon which conversion is established. … Knowing that the gospel is true is the essence of a testimony. Consistently being true to the gospel is the essence of conversion. We should know the gospel is true and be true to the gospel.”7

Harold B. Lee said, “The greatest responsibility that a member of Christ’s church has ever had is to become truly converted—and it is just as important to stay converted.” He then gives a great definition of conversion! “One is converted when he sees with his eyes what he ought to see; when he hears with his ears what he ought to hear; and when he understands with his heart what he ought to understand—then he is converted. And what he ought to see, hear, and understand is truth—eternal truth—and then practice it. That is conversion.”8

May we do whatever necessary to obtain a personal conviction of the truths of the gospel and then be true to those convictions.

References:

1. The Power of a Strong Testimony – Richard G. Scott

2. Pure Testimony – M. Russell Ballard

3. Waiting on the Road to Damascus – Dieter F. Uchtdorf

4. The Importance of a Personal Testimony – Robert D. Hales

5. Spiritual Bonfires of Testimony – Joseph B. Wirthlin

6. The Reason for Our Hope – Boyd K. Packer

7. Converted Unto the Lord – David A. Bednar

8. When Your Heart Tells You Things Your Mind Does Not Know – Harold B. Lee

We Look to Christ

by DoctrinesJesus Christ

“Absolutely basic to our faith is our testimony of Jesus Christ as the Son of God. We believe in Christ. We teach of Christ. We look to Christ. He is our Redeemer, our Lord, and our Savior,” proclaimed Gordon B. Hinckley in Chapter 8, We Look to Christ. 1  This lesson really speaks to my heart!  I’m sure it is no coincidence that this lesson will be taught on Easter and is filled with questions that help us think about what we truly believe and what we are willing to do because of those beliefs.


Part of the lesson comes from a talk given by Gordon B. Hinckley the day before Easter in 1966 during which he asks a thought-provoking question.  He said, “Multitudes will gather on a thousand hills to welcome the dawn of the Easter day and to remind themselves of the story of Christ, whose resurrection they will commemorate.  In language both beautiful and hopeful, preachers of many faiths will recount the story of the empty tomb.  To them – and to you – I raise this question:  Do you actually believe it?”


I suppose that at one time or another each of us will be faced with that question.  For me, it was the when my daughter passed away.  I remember thinking for a split second, “Is what I have been taught all my life really true?”  As quickly as the thought came, the sweet assurance from the Holy Ghost confirmed to me that it was!  It is hard to describe the tender feelings I had on Easter two short months later.  The love and gratitude I felt for the Savior was overwhelming.  Because of Him, I would be with my daughter again!  That Easter, and every one since, has had greater meaning to me.  


Joseph B. Wirthlin taught, “The Resurrection is at the core of our beliefs as Christians. Without it, our faith is meaningless. … When the Savior rose from the tomb, He did something no one had ever done. He did something no one else could do. He broke the bonds of death, not only for Himself but for all who have ever lived. … I think of how dark that Friday was when Christ was lifted up on the cross. … I think that of all the days since the beginning of this world’s history, that Friday was the darkest.  But the doom of that day did not endure.  The despair did not linger because on Sunday, the resurrected Lord burst the bonds of death. He ascended from the grave and appeared gloriously triumphant as the Savior of all mankind.  I testify to you that the Resurrection is not a fable. We have the personal testimonies of those who saw Him. Thousands in the Old and New Worlds witnessed the risen Savior. They felt the wounds in His hands, feet, and side. They shed tears of unrestrained joy as they embraced Him. … The Resurrection transformed the lives of those who witnessed it. Should it not transform ours?”2  


For that transformation to occur, we need the Holy Ghost.   President Hinckley reminds us, “The things of God are understood by the Spirit of God.”  It is only through the Spirit that we will gain a testimony. He taught, “There is needed an understanding of his unique and incomparable position as the divine Redeemer and an enthusiasm for him and his message as the Son of God.”   That understanding will come as the Holy Ghost bears witness to us “that Jesus is in very deed the Son of God, born in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world resurrected from the grave, the Lord who shall come to reign as King of kings.  It is your opportunity so to know.  It is your obligation so to find out.”


But finding out is not the end of our spiritual journey.  In fact, it is really the just the beginning.  Gaining a testimony is not a one-time event but a life-time pursuit.  Harold B. Lee taught, “Testimony is as elusive as a moonbeam; it’s as fragile as an orchid; you have to recapture it every morning of your life. You have to hold on by study, and by faith, and by prayer. If you allow yourself to be angry, if you allow yourself to get into the wrong kind of company, you listen to the wrong kind of stories, you are studying the wrong kind of subjects, you are engaging in sinful practices, there is nothing that will be more deadening as to take away the Spirit of the Lord from you until it will be as though you had walked from a lighted room when you go out of this building, as though you had gone out into a darkness.  That which you possess today in testimony will not be yours tomorrow unless you do something about it. Your testimony is either going to increase or it is going to diminish, depending on you.”3


Does what I know change how I live?  President Hinckley asks a similar question in the lesson, “I ask anew the question offered by Pilate two thousand years ago, ‘What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?’  Indeed, we need continually to ask ourselves, What shall we do with Jesus who is called Christ?” 


What a great blessing it can be to us personally if we will reflect on the ways our lives have been blessed because we have learned from the Savior how to respond to the different situations in our lives.  With His loving example of obedience, forgiveness, and charity, we can know how our Heavenly Father wants us to live our lives.  “What shall we do with Jesus who is called Christ?  Learn of him. Search the scriptures for they are they which testify of him. Ponder the miracle of his life and mission. Try a little more diligently to follow his example and observe his teachings.”1


At the rededication of the Mesa Arizona Temple, President Hinckley was asked by a Protestant minister why, when the symbol of Christianity is a cross, there was no cross on the temple or any other of our buildings.  He told him that for us the cross was a symbol of a dying Christ and “our message is a declaration of the living Christ.” The minister then asked, “If you do not use the cross, what is the symbol of your religion?”  President Hinckley replied, “The lives of our people must become the only meaningful expression of our faith and, in fact, therefore, the symbol of our worship.”  As he shared this experience with the members of the Church in April 1975 general conference, he gave us this charge, “Our lives must become a meaningful expression, the symbol of our declaration of our testimony of the Living Christ, the Eternal Son of the Living God.  It’s that simple, my brethren and sisters, and that profound and we’d better never forget it.”


I believe that is exactly what Linda K. Burton meant as she spoke about certain women in the scriptures “who bore positive, confident, firm, assured testimonies of the Savior.” Their lives were meaningful expressions of their testimonies.  So can ours be as we follow Sister Burton’s challenge to “be found staying close to Him in prayer and scripture study. Let us draw ourselves near to Him by preparing for and partaking of the sacred emblems of His atoning sacrifice weekly during the ordinance of the sacrament and as we keep covenants by serving others in their times of need. Perhaps then we might be part of the certain women, disciples of Jesus Christ, who will celebrate His glorious return when He comes again.”4  


May we be certain in our testimonies of the Savior, Jesus Christ, who “is the rock of our salvation, our strength, our comfort, the very focus of our faith.  In sunshine and in shadow we look to Him, and He is there to assure and smile upon us.”1

References:

1.  Chapter 8, We Look to Christ, Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Gordon B. Hinckley

2.  Sunday Will Come – Joseph B. Wirthlin

3.  Chapter 5, Walking in the Light of Testimony, Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee

4.  Certain Women – Linda K. Burton

The Whisperings of the Spirit

by Doctrines

In Chapter 7, The Whisperings of the Spirit, Gordon B. Hinckley teaches, “There is no greater blessing that can come into our lives than the gift of the Holy Ghost.”  While the Holy Ghost can bless and teach anyone, the gift of the Holy Ghost “can come only after proper and authorized baptism and is conferred by the laying on of hands. The gift of the Holy Ghost is the right to have, whenever one is worthy, the companionship of the Holy Ghost.”1  

In the lesson, President Hinckley lists some of the blessings that come from the companionship of the Holy Ghost.  He tells us that the Holy Ghost testifies of truth, guides us, protects us, blesses us, leads us in paths of righteousness and truth, buoys us up, teaches us, comforts us and sustains us. “To obtain this companionship,” he tells us, “we need to ask for it, to live for it, to be loyal to the Lord.” 

Several years ago, David A. Bednar spoke of “the importance of striving in our daily lives to actually receive the Holy Ghost.”2  As we were confirmed members of the Church, the words “Receive the Holy Ghost” were spoken.  Elder Bednar reminds us that those four words “are not a passive pronouncement; rather, they constitute a priesthood injunction – an authoritative admonition to act. … The Holy Ghost does not become operative in our lives merely because hands are placed upon our heads and those four important words are spoken.  As we receive this ordinance, each of us accepts a sacred and ongoing responsibility to desire, to seek, to work and to so live that we indeed ‘receive the Holy Ghost’ and its attendant spiritual gifts.”2  

Henry B. Eyring taught something very similar.  He wants us to “increase [our] desire and [our] determination to claim the gift promised to each of us after we were baptized.  During our confirmation we heard these words: ‘Receive the Holy Ghost.’  From that moment our lives changed forever.  We can, if we live worth of it, have the blessings of the Spirit to be with us not only now and then, but always. … The most valuable inspiration will be for you to know what God would have you do. … Whatever it is, do it.  … As you obey, the impressions of the Spirit will come more frequently, becoming closer and closer to constant companionship.”3

Marion G. Romney once heard President David O. McKay say, “Never fail to respond to the whisperings of the Spirit.  Live so you can receive it, and then have the courage to do as it instructs.”4  The story at the beginning of Chapter 7 is a wonderful example of the responding to the whisperings of the Spirit and shows the blessings that flow from acting on those promptings.  In July of 1992, Gordon B. Hinckley and a few other Church leaders were in Hong Kong looking for a place to build a temple.  With that decision weighing on his mind, President Hinckley went to bed.  In the middle of the night, he had a very sweet experience with the whisperings of the Spirit.  In his journal he recorded, “Something very interesting came to my mind.  I did not hear a voice with my natural ears.  But into my mind there came the voice of the Spirit.  It said, ‘Why are you worried about this?  You have a wonderful piece of property where the mission home and the small chapel stand.  They are in the very heart of Kowloon, in the location with the best transportation.  Build a building of several stories.  It can include a chapel and classrooms on the first two floors and a temple on the top two or three floors.’”  The Hong Kong China Temple was announced a few months later in October 1992 General Conference.

President Hinckley reminds us, “The things of God are understood by the Spirit of God.  That Spirit is real.  I urge each of us to continue to cultivate a heart in tune with the Spirit.  If we do so, our lives will be enriched.  We will feel a kinship with God our Eternal Father.  We will taste a sweetness of joy that can be had in no other way.”

Nearly thirty years ago, James E. Faust taught, “There is a greater need for divine oversight in our lives today than ever before.”  I think it safe to say that the need has increased even more today.  He continued, “By the power and gift of the Holy Ghost, we can know what to do and what not to do to bring happiness and peace in our lives.  …  The gift of the Holy Ghost is available as a sure guide, as the voice of conscience, and as a moral compass.  This guiding compass is personal to each of us.  It is unerring.  It is unfailing.”   He then made this profound statement, “The Holy Ghost is the greatest guarantor of inward peace in our unstable world.”5

President Hinckley said, “How great a blessing it is to have the ministering influence of a member of the Godhead.”  I hope we can each take some time to reflect upon the many blessings that have come into our lives because of the gift of the Holy Ghost.  May we strive daily, as Elder Bednar encouraged, “to actually receive the Holy Ghost.” 

References:

1.  Bible Dictionary

2.  Receive the Holy Ghost – David A. Bednar

3.  The Holy Ghost as Your Companion – Henry B. Eyring

4.  We Need Men of Courage – Marion G. Romney

5.  The Gift of the Holy Ghost – A Sure Compass – James E. Faust

How Mighty a Thing is Prayer

by Doctrines

As I began my study of Chapter 6, How Mighty a Thing is Prayer, I remembered the quote from Donald L. Hallstrom used in the last blog, “Our most fundamental doctrine includes the knowledge that we are children of a living God.  … This doctrine is so basic, so oft stated, and so instinctively simple that it can seem to be ordinary, when in reality it is among the most extraordinary knowledge we can obtain.”1 Can’t the same thing be said about prayer?  It is so basic, so oft stated and so instinctively simple that it can seem to be ordinary.  However, knowing that our Father in Heaven hears and answers our prayers is really among the most extraordinary knowledge we can obtain.  Gordon B. Hinckley teaches, “Never forget who you are.  You are in very deed a child of God.  He is your Eternal Father.  He loves you.  You can go to Him in prayer.  He has invited you to do so.  What a wonderful thing this is.  He is the Greatest of All.  He is the Creator and Governor of the universe.  And yet He will listen to your prayer!”


While physically praying really is quite simple, the impact it can have on us spiritually is anything but!  In fact, President Hinckley uses words like wonderful, miraculous, marvelous and mighty.  He encourages us to “believe in the power and majesty of prayer.” Those words are far from simple!  So how can our prayers become powerful, wonderful, miraculous, marvelous and mighty?  I believe how we pray and how we listen for answers can have a tremendous impact.


How we pray can change prayer from ordinary to extraordinary.


“The gift of prayer,” said Bruce D. Porter, “is surely among the greatest of gifts given by our Father in Heaven to His children on earth. Prayer is the ordained means by which men and women, and even little children, come to know God. It is our channel of communication with heaven. It is a priceless privilege.  …  Yet all too easily our prayers can become repetitive and perfunctory, a mere check on a checklist of duties and tasks in a given day. … But prayer was never meant to be ordinary: it can be among the most exalted of privileges we enjoy in this mortal sphere.”2


President Hinckley warned, “The trouble with most of our prayers is that we give them as if we were picking up the telephone and ordering groceries—we place our order and hang up. We need to meditate, contemplate, think of what we are praying about and for and then speak to the Lord as one man speaketh to another.”


Joseph B. Wirthlin cautioned about letting our prayers become routine or mechanical.  He taught, “Prayers that do not demand much of your thought will hardly merit much attention from our Heavenly Father.”3


When our prayers are sincere and heartfelt, they bring us into what President Hinckley calls a “partnership with God.”  Elder Porter said, “True prayer is heartfelt: the words convey our deeply felt desires and are coupled with a commitment to act on the divine guidance we receive. … Heartfelt prayer comes from the depths of the soul. … When we pray from the heart, we are seeking to draw nearer to our Father in Heaven, to commune with Him in a personal and intimate manner. … We do not simply talk at God; rather, we talk with Him. This does not imply a face-to-face conversation as Moses experienced, but it does suggest communing with God by listening to the still, small voice of the Spirit. It means allowing time both during a prayer and after a prayer to hear spiritual promptings. … Heartfelt prayer … entails coming to know God. It means seeking understanding of divine truths, seeking to better understand the purposes of one’s life and how to best please God; it means talking with the Lord about things that matter most.”2


As we come to know God, we will more easily recognize how Heavenly Father answers our prayers. Some of the most profound answers I have received to my prayers have come while I have been reading the scriptures.  Robert D. Hales teaches, “When we want to speak to God, we pray. And when we want Him to speak to us, we search the scriptures. … If you have not heard His voice speaking to you lately, return with new eyes and new ears to the scriptures.”4


Henry B. Eyring reminds us, “We can and must go often and carefully to the word of God. If we become casual in our study of the scriptures, we will become casual in our prayers.  We may not cease to pray, but our prayers will become more repetitive, more mechanical, lacking real intent. Our hearts cannot be drawn out to a God we do not know, and the scriptures and the words of living prophets help us know Him.”5


Another way Heavenly Father answers our prayers is by speaking peace to our soul.  Ezra Taft Benson taught, “It is soul-satisfying to know that God is mindful of us and ready to respond when we place our trust in Him and do that which is right. There is no place for fear among men and women who place their trust in the Almighty, who do not hesitate to humble themselves in seeking divine guidance through prayer. Though persecutions arise, though reverses come, in prayer we can find reassurance, for God will speak peace to the soul. That peace, that spirit of serenity, is life’s greatest blessing.”6


As we come to know God, we will trust Him and trust in Him.


David O. McKay said, “I have cherished from childhood the truth that God is a personal being, and is, indeed, our Father whom we can approach in prayer and receive answers thereto. I cherish as one of the dearest experiences of life the knowledge that God hears the prayer of faith. It is true that the answers to our prayers may not always come as direct and at the time, nor in the manner, we anticipate; but they do come, and at a time and in a manner best for the interests of him who offers the supplication.”7


Virginia Pearce reiterates, “Prayer works. It does indeed call down the powers of heaven. It reconciles our will with the will of the Father. … We may not be granted that which we desire, but we end up grateful with all of our hearts for that which the Lord gives us.”8

What an incredibly valuable lesson we learn from our Savior in Gethsemane.  With the undaunting responsibility He was about to undertake, He went to His Father in prayer seeking relief. “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me.”  How profound were the words that followed, “nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”9  Aligning our will to the will of the Father is imperative.  Sometimes answers to our prayers are clear and unmistakable. Sometimes we may not like the answer we get. And sometimes we can feel as though they are not being answered at all.  When that happens, we have to exercise faith in Heavenly Father’s timing and know that “God knows what we do not know and sees what we do not see.”10


There is power and majesty in prayer!  It can change our lives!  It is available to us not only as individuals but as families as well.  President Hinckley reminds us of the great power and miracles that can come through family prayer.  He taught, “The family is the basic unit of society. The praying family is the hope of a better society. … I submit that a return to the old pattern of prayer, family prayer in the homes of the people, is one of the basic medications that would check the dread disease that is eroding the character of our society. We could not expect a miracle in a day, but in a generation we would have a miracle. … How tragic the loss for any family that fails to take advantage of this precious and simple practice. … If you sincerely apply family prayer, you will not go away unrewarded.”


President Hinckley lived what he taught. Family prayer was a daily part of life in the Hinckley home.  And the rewards are evident in the lessons his children learned from hearing their father pray. His son Richard shared, “I can’t remember a day when we didn’t have family prayer.  When it was his turn, Dad prayed very sincerely but never with a theatrical or emotional air.  We learned much about the depth of his faith by listening to him pray.  He addressed God with great reverence, as he would perhaps a wise and revered teacher or mentor, and he referred to the Savior with deep feeling.  As a child, I knew they were real persons to him – that he loved and revered them.”  


I hope we will follow President Hinckley’s example and make prayer a priority in our lives and in our homes!  As we do, we will witness miracles and experience peace promised by a prophet of God.

References:

  1.  I Am A Child of God – Donald L. Hallstrom

  2.  Did You Think to Pray? – Bruce D. Porter

  3.  Improving Our Prayers – Joseph B. Wirthlin

  4.  Holy Scriptures: The Power of God Unto Our Salvation – Robert D. Hales

  5.  Prayer – Henry B. Eyring

  6.  Prayer – Ezra Taft Benson

  7.  The Power of Prayer – David O. McKay

  8.  Prayer:  A Small and Simple Thing – Virginia Pearce

  9.  Luke 22:42
10.  The Opening and Closing of Doors – Howard W. Hunter

Daughters of God

by DoctrinesFamily

Donald L. Hallstrom recently taught, “Our most fundamental doctrine includes the knowledge that we are children of a living God.  … This doctrine is so basic, so oft stated, and so instinctively simple that it can seem to be ordinary, when in reality it is among the most extraordinary knowledge we can obtain.  …  It is essential that our preeminent identity is as a child of God.  Knowing that will allow our faith to flourish, will motivate our continual repentance, and will provide the strength to ‘be steadfast and immovable’ throughout our mortal journey.”1


Recently I had a conversation with someone about religion.  The gentleman I was talking to shared his view that, if there is a God, He is just a presence.   I took the opportunity to express my testimony that God is our Father, that He cares about us individually and that He is involved in the details of our lives. That night as I said my prayers, I was overcome with emotion as I thanked Heavenly Father for the blessing of knowing that I am His child and that He loves me.  And I prayed that the man I had spoken with earlier that day could come to know that as well.


Perhaps because of that experience, the first words in Chapter 5, Daughters of God, resonated deep in my soul.  Gordon B. Hinckley said, “Each of you is a daughter of God.  Reflect on all the wondrous meaning of that one paramount fact.”  The word reflect made a great impression on me.  Not only does it mean to realize or consider, but it also means to give back an image or to make manifest.  It is important to know that I am a child of God!  But is that knowledge reflected in the way I live?  It should be!  I like the suggestion of Rosemary M. Wixom to “take that beloved phrase ‘I am a child of God’ and add the words ‘Therefore, what?’”2

 
I am a child of God.  Therefore, I will be faithful.


In the lesson, President Hinckley urges us to be faithful “to the very best that is within us. … Be faithful to the gospel.  Be faithful to the Church.  … Be faithful to God.  … He is the one true source of your strength.”  Using the revelation given to Emma Smith as a guide for each of us, President Hinckley reminds us of some of the things our Heavenly Father expects of us.  One of those is to “lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better.”3  Just as Emma had so many things in life to worry about and occupy her time, so do we.  But here was council to not be obsessed with those everyday things and to “get her thoughts on the higher things of life, the things of righteousness and goodness, matters of charity and love for others, the things of eternity.”  


Marvin J. Ashton said, “If he could have his way, Satan would distract us from our heritage. He would have us become involved in a million and one things in this life—probably none of which are very important in the long run—to keep us from concentrating on the things that are really important, particularly the reality that we are God’s children. He would like us to forget about home and family values. He’d like to keep us so busy with comparatively insignificant things that we don’t have time to make the effort to understand where we came from, whose children we are, and how glorious our ultimate homecoming can be!”4


Elder Hallstrom cautioned, “We live in a world that can cause us to forget who we really are.  The more distractions that surround us, the easier it is to treat casually, then ignore, and then forget our connection with God.”1 


I am a child of God.  Therefore, I will cherish motherhood.


When discussing our divine nature as women, motherhood is appropriately included.  Although it can be a tender subject when some of us are not mothers, it is our responsibility as daughters of God to cherish and value motherhood – always!  President Spencer W. Kimball taught, “The Church will always hold aloft the banner of happy family life, for we can do no other!  Family life is the best method for achieving happiness in this world, and it is a clear pattern given to us from the Lord about what is to be in the next world.  We have no choice but to continue to hold up the ideal of the Latter-day Saint family. The fact that some do not now have the privilege of living in such a family is not reason enough to stop talking about it.  We cannot set aside this standard, because so many other things depend upon it.”5


Reminding mothers of the sanctity of their calling, President Hinckley said, “No one can adequately take your place.  No responsibility is greater, no obligation more binding than that you rear in love and peace and integrity those whom you have brought into the world.  Rear your children in light and truth.  Teach them to pray.  Read to them from the scriptures.  Teach them to pay their tithes and offerings.  Teach your sons to honor womanhood.  Teach your daughters to walk in virtue.  Accept responsibility in the Church, and trust in the Lord to make you equal to any call you may receive.  Your example will set a pattern for your children.”


We have often heard the statement made by the First Presidency in 1942, “Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels.”


I am a child of God.  Therefore, I will stand strong and immovable.


M. Russell Ballard taught, “Sisters, your sphere of influence is a unique sphere—one that cannot be duplicated by men.  No one can defend our Savior with any more persuasion or power than you, the daughters of God, can—you who have such inner strength and conviction. The power of a converted woman’s voice is immeasurable, and the Church needs your voices now more than ever.”6


President Hinckley stated, “It is so tremendously important that the women of the Church stand strong and immovable for that which is correct and proper under the plan of the Lord. … No one can calculate the tremendous force for good that you can become. … I charge you to stand tall and be strong in defense of those great virtues. … When you are united, your power is limitless. You can accomplish anything you wish to accomplish. And oh, how very, very great is the need for you in a world of crumbling values where the adversary seems so very much to be in control. … Marvelous is the power of women of faith.”


Julie B. Beck said, “The sisterhood of Relief Society can provide a place of safety, refuge, and protection. As our times become ever more difficult, the faithful sisters of Relief Society will unite to protect the homes of Zion from the shrill voices of the world and the predatory and provocative influence of the adversary. And through Relief Society, they will be taught and strengthened and taught and strengthened more, and the influence of righteous women can bless many more of our Father’s children.”7


As daughters of God, let us accept President Hinckley’s invitation to “rise to the great potential within you.  Do what you can do in the best way you know.  If you do so, you will witness miracles come to pass.”

References:

1.  I Am a Child of God – Donald L. Hallstrom

2.  Discovering the Divinity Within – Rosemary M. Wixom

3.  Doctrine & Covenants 25:10

4.  A Yearning for Home – Marvin J. Ashton

5.  Privileges and Responsibilities of Sisters – Spencer W. Kimball

6.  Let Us Think Straight – M. Russell Ballard

7.  What I Hope My Granddaughters and Grandsons Will Understand About Relief Society – Julie B. Beck