Friday, September 16, 2011

In Conclusion - James R. Allen

No, I'm not one of the speakers but this post concludes my reading and summarizing of the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of April, 2011. This is the second such effort on my part and I'm am grateful to have chosen this way to "follow the Prophets." I know that only a few have actually read or even seen this effort as we made little effort to make it known but in committing to do this, I know that both Shirlyn and I have benefited in important ways. At the bottom of the blog page is a count of the number of times people opened the blog. That number is impressive, but since there have been very few comments posted, we are not sure what it means. As we consider the next Conference which begins in a few weeks, please let us know how you might have been benefited and should we do this again? Thank You.

A Living Testimony - Henry B. Eyring

I believe that most of his talks begin with the statement of his purpose in giving it. That is the case here as he says; " My beloved young sisters, you are the bright hope of the Lord's Church. My purpose tonight is to help you believe that is so." From his vantage point in front of this congregation world wide he advises the hearers that they already have felt the spirit witness to them in various ways the reasons they were there present. It was as a result of the small choices they have made, including the one to be present.


He proclaims that; "There is need for the young daughters of Israel to get a living testimony of the truth." 
He then defines what a testimony is, using the quote from President Joseph Fielding Smith; "...is a convincing knowledge given by revelation to [a person] who humbly seeks the truth." It will not come at once but "...in pieces as parts of the whole truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ are confirmed." Of course Alma 32 was referred to and is perhaps the best sermon available to understand how that spiritual gift is obtained. Using that path, faith will result in the end as certain knowledge. 


As many struggle with faith from time to time this wisdom is pertinent: "I do not depend on what has happened in the past. To keep my living testimony of the Book of Mormon secure, I receive the promise of Moroni often. I don't take that blessing of a testimony for granted as a perpetual entitlement."


And then this warning: "There is danger in neglecting prayer. There is danger to our testimony in only casual study and reading of the scriptures. They are necessary nutrients for our testimony." 


As we serve as missionaries, we have often seen the fulfillment of this promise, even as I summarize and comment on these Conference presentations, the Spirit has confirmed and strengthened my testimony and my ability to bear this witness to the ones we serve. Our prayers each night include all of the young women of our family whatever their age and we sincerely hope their testimonies are growing through the revelations of the Spirit.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Guardians of Virtue - Elaine S. Dalton

In explaining the position of young women she used the phrase "walk in the paths of virtue" and expanded this to the walk the was done by the young women of the Alpine, Utah area 22 miles to the Salt Lake Temple. That is a long walk but represented the distance walked by John Rowe Moyle on one good leg and a wooden leg to do his part in building that edifice. The example included the instruction to be Guardians of Virtue and was magnified by using the people involved in the walk as "guardians" helping along the way and helping them protect the young women during the walk. Our young women are helped along the way to the Temple by their family, the adult leaders, the Bishop, and their faithful friends. The objective is to one day arrive at the Temple and enter worthy to receive the sealing blessings that are only available there. In reality, some will take longer than others to make this trip and the temptations and obstacles in the path will be there and must be overcome to arrive and enter. The path has been carefully laid out and explained and all of us have the opportunity to follow that path once it is explained to us.


Later in the talk she gave the young women a very definite challenge to do something. She explained that at the young age of 12 she made two lists, one a list of things she would always do and the other a list of things she would never do. The list was written. Whatever our age, we all would do well to write such a list. I remember such a list that I discussed with one of my friends at a young age. Some of the items on such a list today may require you to make changes in what you are doing now. My advice is the same that Shirlyn posted on our wall; "Just Do It." Things to consider for your list might include:

  • Obey the Word of Wisdom
  • Pray daily
  • Pay Tithing
  • Commit to never miss church
  • Serve when called
  • Obey the law of chastity
Of course you would also consider your role as a virtuous woman and a "guardian" of others needing your help and example. 

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

"Remember This: Kindness Begins with Me" - Mary N. Cook

In reading the beginning experience Sister Cook related regarding a young Laurel in her ward I immediately thought of a young 17 year old young woman in one of the branches here. She has a warm sparkling attitude and is smiling and approachable with all of the students in her Seminary class and has only been a member less than a year. She is the president of the class and also helps with the attendance roll. She is caring and was engaged in helping several young members or investigators during the class and other meetings. I did not ask the question that Sister Cook mentioned but I'm confident that the answer would be that she now centers her life on Jesus Christ as well.


This was a new thread of thought about the word "benevolent" from the 13th Article of Faith. I don't remember the Primary song. When we go forward with people and we have in our hearts this attitude, it is easy to see the light in the eyes of a person when we listen and get to know him or her. By so doing, we find that every one of us is unique but in the Church our strengths and weaknesses blend into the unity that we strive to have. This is enhanced by our benevolence through individual acts of kindness. As we follow the Prophet and refrain from judging and criticizing others, our benevolent spirit will add to the unity of the group.


I am thankful for the many benevolent lives that have touched me and for those of my own family that demonstrate this great principle in their families.


Thank you Sister Cook for reminding us. 

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

I Believe in Being Honest and True - Ann M. Dibb

Well, I did not attend the Women's Conference nor have I watched the "rerun" but few men really hear about it much. For this, I decided that since it is included in the Conference Talks on the church web site I would include them this year in my Blog posts. As I read, I could picture the women in my family and how they are honoring the principles she was talking about. What a blessing they have to be part of a family, whether as a Mother, Daughter, Granddaughter or Grandparent who exemplifies these two principles of being "Honest" and "True." These principles are taught and understood by our family. They "keep us safe and on course." Good stuff indeed for the Mother/Daughter discussions that take place in the home. Since we are all challenged by life in this regard, mistakes can be forgiven and we can go forward from there.


Two of my sons will remember the event involving bows and arrows and coming home empty handed, but perhaps they don't know that paying the fine was very difficult for the young woman that was charged to collect it. She had trouble with the amount of money she should collect. Her computation was too little so I persisted until she understood the correct computation and took the money. The longer story involved several years of very great earnings connected to that honesty. 


Look ahead and be Honest and True.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

The Miracle of the Atonement - C. Scott Grow

It is interesting to be able to learn interesting facts about speakers in the conference. By clicking on their name under the title of the talk, you are taken to a profile sheet with this information. He has much experience to recommend him to us, some similar to my own background as a CPA. (Even his name is interesting if you read it out loud as if you were his parent.)


What an experience regarding his brother at the very time Elder Grow was preparing to give this talk about the miracle of the Atonement. I thought that this is important in understanding our relationship with the Atonement; "Through His Atonement, He heals not only the transgressor, but He also heals the innocent who suffer because of those transgressions. As the innocent exercise faith in the Savior and in His Atonement and forgive the transgressor, they too can be healed." I know this is true.


The topic is well presented here and familiar to Church members worldwide. Here are some questions he asks us to consider:

  • Are there things that you need to change?
  • Have you made mistakes that still need to be corrected?
Then back to the counsel of all the holy prophets until our day; "Immerse yourself in prayer and scripture study." When we follow this, the path is revealed or comfort is given. It's a promise.

Called to Be Saints - Benjamín de Hoyos

It is comforting to know that the name of the Church so carefully connects us to the "saints" who were the members of His church at the time of His organization of it. I think the key point of this talk is to realize that while we are saints of the latter days, we are not exempt from the trials and suffering but have the promise of His comfort while we patiently go though what may be required of us. As he said it; "Even though our understanding of the gospel may not be as deep as is our testimony of its truth, if we place our confidence in the Lord, we will be sustained in all of our difficulties, our trials, and our afflictions."


Many of the presentations of this conference focus on the fact the we have these problems to confront as part of our telestial time here. How then do we attain sanctification while we struggle here? Here are some points to emphasize with our families:

  • Live the gospel
  • Follow the counsel of the prophets
  • Conduct daily family prayer
  • Scripture study
  • Engage in family history
  • Rescue those who have become alienated from the Church
  • Encourage them to sit at the Lord's table
  • Serve as the Lord's missionaries
This path will lead to the wonderful feeling involved with charity, or the pure love of Christ. May we be on and follow this path now and always.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

What Manner of Men and Women Ought Ye to Be? - Lynn G. Robbins

At our stage of life, I was grateful with his closing paragraph which included' "My remarks today have been addressed primarily to parents, but the principles apply to everyone." This certainly applies to the focus words of his talk, "DO" and "BE" which permeate the counsel throughout. "BE without DO really isn't being - it is self-deception, believing oneself to be good merely because one's intentions are good."


Most of us have our to do lists so that we can make important progress during each day, but what a concept to think about a to be list. This kind of list cannot be checked off like the to do list because our to be's are never done in this life. They are however the motivators of our to do's. Character can be observed by a person's actions and so our motivation to become like Christ will be reflected by our actions and choices, our To Do's.


I love his comment  regarding the raising of children. "A sweet and obedient child will enroll a father or mother only in Parenting 101. If you are blessed with a child who tests your patience to the nth degree, you will be enrolled in Parenting 505. Rather than wonder what you might have done wrong in the premortal life to be so deserving, you might consider the more challenging child a blessing and opportunity to become more godlike yourself. With which child will your patience, long-suffering, and other Christlike virtues most likely be tested, developed, and refined? Could it be possible that you need this child as much as this child needs you?"


It is important not to label people or children with words such as "stupid," "slow," "lazy," or "clumsy." Maybe you can add some labels to this list but we must always be careful about putting people into such identity destroying labels. What about the question to a child; "What are you going to be when you grow up?" That puts profession, occupation, or trade as the identifier in their mind instead of the deeper and more important question of what attributes, qualities or virtues are most important. Back to the question of what to be versus to do


Thank you, Brother Robbins.

The Lord's Richest Blessings - Carl B. Pratt

This talk is all about tithing and the kinds of blessings that follow it. For our families that have young boys, it would be a great topic for a family gathering as it talks about outdoors experiences related to that principle. What I would like to add is the approach that President James D. King took to tithing early in his career. I don't know how often he shared this as it was in a very small setting of just a few that he shared it with me. He first asked these questions:


When are you entitled to the blessings of tithing?
  • Is it when you receive a payment of money?
  • Is it when you decide to pay your tithing?
  • Is it when you actually write the check?
  • Is it when you give it to the Bishop?
  • Is it when the check is deposited by the Bishop?
  • Is it when the Church uses the money?
  • Is it when you attend Tithing Settlement? 


You can see that these are only to create discussion and thought about the topic individually or with a group and really is only to help you make your own decisions about when to pay your tithing. 

In relation to when to pay this that he said; "It has been my personal experience that the surest way to pay tithing faithfully is to pay it as soon as I receive any income. In fact, I've found it to be the only way." Early in our marriage we tried waiting for Tithing Settlement to pay the tithing for that year. Those were the most difficult settlements we ever made. Pay it now and expect the blessings to show themselves sooner.

Blessings themselves are not usually monetary as his story showed. Most often they are related to family of challenges where the blessings are evident.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

"As Many as I Love, I Rebuke and Chasten" - D. Todd Christofferson

It is usually very humbling when one of our faults or shortcomings is pointed out to us. The human response may quickly be to find fault with the person that calls attention, attempting to ignore the statement or find other faults in the other that offset the rebuke. That is an attitude for us to watch carefully as it most often is an opportunity for us to grow. Our practice should be "willingly to accept and even seek correction." Four of the early church leaders were rebuked strongly in revelation found in D&C 93:41-50.


There are three purposes behind divine chastening:

  1. To persuade us to repent,
  2. To refine and sanctify us, and
  3. At times to redirect our course in life to what God knows is a better path.
The two stories told by Hugh B. Brown illustrate this principle eloquently. They should be referred to if you are trying to understand and teach this to others. The first regarding the trimming of the current bush is understandable to even young children. The second about religion being the factor in losing a promotion may illustrate a probable reason for some of our own disappointments in life. I can relate well to this statement by Elder Christofferson; "Even when we encounter mean-spirited criticism from persons who have little regard or love for us, it can be helpful to exercise enough meekness to weigh it and sift out anything that might benefit us."

Important corrections can many times come from our own spouse and we will do well to listen and consider when this is the case. 

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

The Eternal Blessings of Marriage - Richard G. Scott

The "empty nest" has been with Shirlyn and I now for some years. It is a daily thing to have some conversation about one or more of our seven children and their spouses and what may be happening with them. That inevitably turns to the grandchildren. We are in awe of our family members, every one. What a great blessing to have this all connected beyond this life as covenants are kept and milestones celebrated.


As Elder Scott expressed, "Two of the vital pillars that sustain Father in Heaven's plan of happiness are marriage and the family." And for that plan to be evidenced by loving comments from time to time is the fruit of the plan in this life. I am so grateful for that wise counsel from Wayne Beck on leaving Brazil in December, 1964. He told me that the next and highest priority was to find the right girl and marry her. Education was the next priority. I took me about seven months to find her and eleven to be sealed in the Mesa Temple by Delbert L. Stapley, an apostle and a man that held that sealing priesthood power to make this happen.


For you married readers of this blog, Elder Scott left us with the following challenges:
  • Are you faithful to your spouse mentally as well as physically?
  • Are you loyal to your marriage covenants by never engaging in conversation with another person that you wouldn't want your spouse to overhear?
  • Are you kind and supportive of your spouse and children?
  • Do you lead out in family activities such as scripture study, family prayer, and family home evening, or does your wife fill in the gap your lack of attention leaves in the home?
  • Do you tell you wife often how very much you love her?
  • Do you express gratitude for what your spouse does for your?
  • Do you express that love and gratitude often?
  • Do you hold her close while you tell her those things?
The combined and complementary gifts that fathers and mothers are given are "the primary cause of contented, well-developed children." When your family is around you, from the oldest to the youngest, you can see and feel how rewarding it is to be married. For this principle and for the additional gift of sealing these relationship after our probationary time here is over, I am awesomely thankful.

Friday, September 2, 2011

The Spirit of Revelation - David A. Bednar

Revelation in our lives in Brazil is real. It is part of how we were prepared to be able to be called to this mission. It is part of how the call came to us and it has been part of the very numerous experiences here. Often, at the time of the revelation, we do not appreciate what was being received as revelation, but later it is easier to see that it was that very gradual result of listening and seeing the results. Many times the fact of revelation is felt during communication with a person or group. Other times we can see the hand of protection and care during travel. We have felt promptings which is another word we have for revelation, when we decide to visit someone or be early for a class or visit. During or later the purpose for that event becomes clear.


How wonderful is the apostolic promise that; "The spirit of revelation is available to every person who receives by proper priesthood authority the saving ordinances of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost - and who is acting in faith to fulfill the priesthood injunction to "receive the Holy Ghost."" It is ours to claim, not just for those in authority in the Church.


I marvel at our understanding of this principle. We have the promise but we have to seek it. When it is given, we need to be grateful and acknowledge this gift. Oliver Cowdery had to be reminded that it was through this process that he was led to help the Prophet Joseph Smith who he did not know and who was in another location at the time. As Elder Bednar promised, "As you appropriately seek for and apply unto the spirit of revelation, I promise you will "walk in the light of the Lord""


This is part of our understanding of "Line upon line, precept upon precept" (2 Nephi 28:30) that comes to us throughout our life. I am very grateful for this principle of revelation that has directed us during the difficult times and during the times when our help has been needed by others.