Family
1.
In a world of turmoil and uncertainty, it is more important than
ever to make our families the center of our lives and the top of our
priorities. Families lie at the center of our Heavenly Father’s plan. (Elder
Perry, “The Importance of the Family” April 2003 General Conference)
2.
The family unit is fundamental not only to society and to the
Church but also to our hope for eternal life. We begin to practice in the
family, the smaller unit, what will spread to the Church and to the society in
which we live in this world, which will then be what we practice in families
bound together forever by covenants and by faithfulness. We can start now to
“promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family.” I pray
that we will. I pray that you will ask, “Father, how can I prepare?” Tell him
how much you want what he desires to give you. You will receive impressions,
and if you act on them, I promise you the help of the powers of heaven.
(President Eyring, “The Family”, Feb. 1998 Ensign)
3.
Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when
founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ Successful
marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith,
prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome
recreational activities. (The First Presidency, The Family: A Proclamation to
the World)
4.
Because forgiveness connects principles, it connects people. It
is a key, it opens locked doors, it is the beginning of an honest path, and it
is one of our best hopes for a happy family. (President Uchtdorf, “One Key to a
Happy Family”, Oct. 2012 Ensign)
5.
All ordinances of exaltation are a family matter. Do you see that difference? The ordinances of salvation
are individual; the ordinances of exaltation involve more than one person.
(Elder Nelson, “Focus on Values”, Feb. 2013 New Era)
6.
My dear brothers and sisters, may your homes be filled with love
and courtesy and with the Spirit of the Lord. Love your families. If there are
disagreements or contentions among you, I urge you to settle them now.
(President Monson, “As We Close this Conference”, April 2012 General Conference)
7.
Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey and
share our love with friends and family. One day, each of us will run out of
tomorrows. Let us not put off what is most important. (President Monson, “Love
at Home-Counsel from Our Prophet”, August 2011 Ensign)
8.
May our families and homes be filled with love: love of each
other, love of the gospel, love of our fellowman, and love of our Savior. As a
result, heaven will be a little closer here on earth. May we make of our homes
sanctuaries to which our family members will ever want to return. (President
Monson, “Love at Home-Counsel from Our Prophet”, August 2011 Ensign)
9.
What is most important almost always involves the people around
us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should
never assume; we should let them know. (President Monson, “Love at Home-Counsel
from Our Prophet”, August 2011 Ensign)
10. While our individual
salvation is based on our individual obedience, it is equally important that we
understand that we are each an important and integral part of a family and the
highest blessings can be received only within an eternal family.
When families are functioning as designed by God, the relationships found
therein are the most valued of mortality. The plan of the Father is that family
love and companionship will continue into the eternities. Being one in a family
carries a great responsibility of caring, loving, lifting, and strengthening
each member of the family so that all can righteously endure to the end in
mortality and dwell together throughout eternity. It is not enough just to save
ourselves. It is equally important that parents, brothers, and sisters are
saved in our families. If we return home alone to our Heavenly Father, we will
be asked, “Where is the rest of the family?” This is why we teach that families
are forever. The eternal nature of an individual becomes the eternal nature of
the family. (Elder Hales, “The Eternal Family”, Oct 1996 Conference)
The Atonement
1.
I testify that the Atonement of Jesus Christ covers all of the
trials and hardships that any of us will encounter in this life. At times when
we may feel to say, “Hope you know, I had a hard time,” we can be assured that
He is there and we are safe in His loving arms. (Elder Quentin L. Cook, “Hope
Ya Know, We Had a Hard Time”, Oct. 2008 General Conference)
2.
No matter what our transgressions have been, no matter how much
our actions may have hurt others, that guilt can all be wiped out. To me,
perhaps the most beautiful phrase in all scripture is when the Lord said,
“Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the
Lord, remember them no more. (President Boyd K. Packer, “The Atonement”, Oct.
2012 General Conference)
3. The Atonement is
like an eraser. It can wipe away guilt and the effect of whatever it is that is
causing you to feel guilty. Guilt is spiritual pain. Do not suffer from chronic
pain. Get rid of it. Be done with it. Repent and, if necessary, repent again
and again and again and again until you—not the enemy—are in charge of you.
(President Boyd K. Packer, “How to Survive in Enemy Territory”, Oct. 2012
Ensign) 4. Life turns out to be
a succession of trials and errors. Add “repent often” to your list of things to
do. This will bring you lasting peace that cannot be purchased at any earthly
price. Understanding the Atonement may be the one most important truth that you
can learn in your youth. (President Boyd K. Packer, “How to Survive in Enemy
Territory”, Oct. 2012 Ensign)
5.
Lay your burden at the Savior’s feet. Let go of judgment. Allow
Christ’s Atonement to change and heal your heart. Love one another. Forgive one
another. (President Uchtdorf, “The Merciful Obtain Mercy”, April 2012 General
Conference)
6. Only the life,
teachings, and particularly the atonement of Jesus Christ can release us from
this otherwise impossible predicament. Each of us has made mistakes, large or
small, which if unresolved will keep us from the presence of God. For this
reason, the atonement of Jesus Christ is the single most significant event that ever has or ever will
occur. This selfless act of infinite consequence, performed by a single
glorified personage, has eternal impact in the life of every son and daughter
of our Father in Heaven—without exception.
1 It shatters the bonds
of death. It justifies our finally being judged by the Master. 2 It can prevent an eternity
under the control of the devil. 3
It opens the gates to exaltation and eternal life for all who qualify for
forgiveness through repentance and obedience. (Elder Richard G. Scott, “Finding
Forgiveness”, April 1995 General Conference)
7. The Savior’s gift of
immortality comes to all who have ever lived. But His gift of eternal life
requires repentance and obedience to specific ordinances and covenants.
Essential ordinances of the gospel symbolize the Atonement. (Elder Nelson, “The
Atonement”, Oct. 1996 Conference)
8. There is no greater
expression of love than the heroic Atonement performed by the Son of God. Were
it not for the plan of our Heavenly Father, established before the world began,
in a very real sense, all mankind—past, present, and future—would have been
left without the hope of eternal progression. (Elder Ballard, “The Atonement
and Value of One Soul”, April 2004 Conference)
9. Brothers and
sisters, I believe that if we could truly understand the Atonement of the Lord
Jesus Christ, we would realize how precious is one son or daughter of God. I
believe our Heavenly Father’s everlasting purpose for His children is generally
achieved by the small and simple things we do for one another. At the heart of
the English word atonement is the word one. If all mankind understood this,
there would never be anyone with whom we would not be concerned, regardless of
age, race, gender, religion, or social or economic standing. We would strive to
emulate the Savior and would never be unkind, indifferent, disrespectful, or insensitive
to others. (Elder Ballard, “The Atonement and Value of One Soul”, April 2004
Conference)
10. Always strive to
live worthy of the sacred full blessings of the Atonement of the Lord Jesus
Christ. (Elder Ballard, “The Atonement and Value of One Soul”, April 2004
Conference)
Agency
1.
As I’ve contemplated the various aspects of choice, I’ve put
them into three categories: first, the right of choice; second, the
responsibility of choice; and third, the results of choice. I call these the
three Rs of choice. (President Monson, “The 3 Rs of Choice”, Oct. 2012 General
Conference)
2.
First, learn what we should learn. Second, do what we
should do. And third, be what we should be. (President Monson, “To Learn, To Do, To Be”, Oct. 2008 General
Conference)
3.
We have been given agency, we have been given the blessings of
the priesthood, and we have been given the Light of Christ and the Holy Ghost for a reason. That reason is our growth and
happiness in this world and eternal life in the world to come. Today I ask,
have we received that Spirit? Are we following on the strait and narrow path
that leads to God and eternal life? Are we holding onto the iron rod, or are we
going another way? I testify that how we choose to feel and think and act every
day is the way we get on the path, and stay on it, until we reach our eternal
destination. (Elder Hales, “To Act for Ourselves: The Gift and Blessings of
Agency”, April 2006 General Conference)
4.
But if we ignore those promptings, the light of the Spirit will
fade. Our agency will be limited or lost, and we will lose the confidence and
ability to act. We will be “walking in [spiritual] darkness at noon-day.” Then how easy it is to wander into strange paths and become
lost! How quickly we are bound in the chains of sin spoken of by Lehi to his
rebellious sons. For example, if we
make choices that put us deeply in debt, we will lose our agency to meet our
wants and needs or to save for that inevitable rainy day. If we choose to break
the law, we may be put in prison, where our agency is so limited that we cannot
choose where we go, who we see, or what we do. Spirit prison is very much like
that. Therefore, to retain our agency we must daily walk in the light of our
Lord and Savior and follow the path of obedience. It is the only path that
leads to our Father in Heaven. (Elder Hales, “To Act for Ourselves: The Gift
and Blessings of Agency”, April 2006 General Conference)
5.
Finally, and most importantly, choose to believe in the
Atonement of Jesus Christ. Accept the Savior’s forgiveness, and then forgive yourself. Because of His
sacrifice for you, He has the power to “remember [your sins] no more.” You must do likewise. (Elder Hales, “To Act for Ourselves: The
Gift and Blessings of Agency”, April 2006 General Conference)
6.
Remember our agency is not only for us. We have the
responsibility to use it in behalf of others, to lift and strengthen others in
their trials and tribulations. Some of our brothers and sisters have lost the
full use of their agency through unrighteous choices. Without exposing
ourselves to temptation, we can and should invite others to receive the light
of the gospel of Jesus Christ Through friendship and love, we may lead them
along the path of obedience and encourage them to use their agency to make the
right choices once again. (Elder Hales, “To Act for Ourselves: The Gift and
Blessings of Agency”, April 2006 General Conference)
7.
Agency used righteously allows light to dispel the darkness and
enables us to live with joy and happiness. (Elder Hales, “To Act for Ourselves: The Gift
and Blessings of Agency”, April 2006 General Conference)
8.
When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing,
holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following: Stop it!
(President Uchtdorf, “The Merciful Obtain Mercy”, April 2012 Conference)
9.
“Are our minds and our hearts just as anxiously
engaged in good things during the rest of the week? Do we just go through the
motions, or are we truly converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ?” (Elder
Ballard, “Be Anxiously Engaged”, Oct. 2012 Conference)
10. “Set
aside those things in your life that don’t really matter. Decide to do
something that will have eternal consequences. Perhaps you have been prompted
to look for ancestors but feel you are not a genealogist. Can you see that you
don’t have to be anymore? It all begins with love and a sincere desire to help
those beyond the veil who can’t help themselves.” (Elder Scott, “The Joy of
Redeeming the Dead”, Oct. 2012 Conference)
Pornography
1. Pornography is a
plague that is detrimental not only to a person’s moral standing with God, but
it can also destroy marriages and families and has an adverse impact on
society. For those who have fallen into this destructive habit, please be
assured that you can repent, and you can be healed. Repentance will need to
precede healing. Healing may be a long process. (Elder Cook, “Don’t Wear
Masks”, March 2013 New Era)
2. Permissiveness,
immorality, pornography, drugs, the power of peer pressure—all these
and more—cause many to be tossed about on a sea of sin and crushed on the
jagged reefs of lost opportunities, forfeited blessings, and shattered dreams.
Is there a way to safety? Is there an escape from threatened destruction? The
answer is a resounding yes! I counsel you to look to the lighthouse of the
Lord. I have said it before; I will say it again: there is no fog so dense, no
night so dark, no gale so strong, no mariner so lost but what the lighthouse of
the Lord can rescue. It beckons through the storms of life. It calls, “This way
to safety. This way to home.” It sends forth signals of light easily seen and
never failing. If followed, those signals will guide you back to your heavenly
home. (President Monson, “Believe, Obey, and Endure”, May 2012 Ensign)
3. Stay completely away
from pornography. Do not allow yourself to view it, ever. It has
proven to be an addiction which is more than difficult to overcome…What will protect
you from the sin and evil around you? I maintain that a strong testimony of our
Savior and of His gospel will help see you through to safety. (President
Monson, “Priesthood Power”, April 2011 General Conference)
4. Don’t be afraid to
walk out of a movie, turn off a television set, or change a radio station if
what’s being presented does not meet your Heavenly Father’s standards. In
short, if you have any question about whether a particular movie, book, or
other form of entertainment is appropriate, don’t see it, don’t read it, don’t
participate. (President Monson, “Preparation Brings Blessings”, April 2010
General Conference)
5. We were concerned to
see the inroads pornography had made in the United States while we were away. For many years our Church
leaders have warned against the dangers of images and words intended to arouse
sexual desires. Now the corrupting influence of pornography, produced and
disseminated for commercial gain, is sweeping over our society like an
avalanche of evil. (Elder Oaks, “Pornography”, April 2005 Conference)
6. Pornographic or
erotic stories and pictures are worse than filthy or polluted food. The body
has defenses to rid itself of unwholesome food. With a few fatal exceptions,
bad food will only make you sick but do no permanent harm. In contrast, a
person who feasts upon filthy stories or pornographic or erotic pictures and literature
records them in this marvelous retrieval system we call a brain. The brain
won’t vomit back filth. Once recorded, it will always remain subject to recall,
flashing its perverted images across your mind and drawing you away from the
wholesome things in life. (Elder Oaks, “Pornography”, April 2005 Conference)
7. Those who seek out
and use pornography forfeit the power of their priesthood. The Lord declares:
“When we undertake to cover our sins, … behold, the heavens withdraw
themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen
to the priesthood or the authority of that man” (D&C 121:37).” (Elder Oaks, “Pornography”,
April 2005 Conference)
8. The scriptures
repeatedly teach that the Spirit of the Lord will not dwell in an unclean
tabernacle. When we worthily partake of the sacrament,
we are promised that we will “always have his Spirit to be with [us].” To
qualify for that promise we covenant that we will “always remember him” (D&C 20:77).
Those who seek out and use pornography for sexual
stimulation obviously violate that covenant. (Elder
Oaks, “Pornography”, April 2005 Conference)
9. Pornography also
inflicts mortal wounds on our most precious personal relationships. (Elder
Oaks, “Pornography”, April 2005 Conference)
10. “Pornography is also
addictive. It impairs decision-making capacities and it “hooks” its users,
drawing them back obsessively for more and more. A man who had been addicted to
pornography and to hard drugs wrote me this comparison: “In my eyes cocaine
doesn’t hold a candle to this. I have done both. … Quitting even the hardest
drugs was nothing compared to [trying to quit pornography]” (letter of Mar. 20,
2005).” (Elder Oaks, “Pornography”, April 2005 Conference)
Prayer
1. Communication with our Father in Heaven is not a trivial matter.
It is a sacred privilege. It is based upon unchanging principles. When we
receive help from our Father in Heaven, it is in response to faith, obedience,
and the proper use of agency. (Richard G. Scott, “Learning to Recognize Answers
to Prayers”, October 1989 General Conference)
2. When we explain a problem and a proposed solution, sometimes He
answers yes, sometimes no. Often He withholds an answer, not for lack of
concern, but because He loves us—perfectly. He wants us to apply truths He has
given us. For us to grow, we need to trust our ability to make correct
decisions. We need to do what we feel is right. In time, He will answer. He
will not fail us. (Richard G. Scott, “Learning to Recognize Answers to
Prayers”, October 1989 General Conference)
3. “Often, the answer to our prayer does not come while we’re on
our knees but while we’re on our feet serving the Lord and serving those around
us.” (President Uchtdorf, “Waiting on the Road to Damascus”, April 2011 General
Conference)
4. “The marvelous thing about prayer is that it is personal, it is
individual, it is private in terms of speaking to your Father in Heaven. Ask
God to forgive your sins. Ask Him to bless you. Ask him to help you realize
your righteous and worthy ambitions. Ask Him to help you with your studies. Ask
Him to take away your worries and fears. Ask Him to help you find a companion
with whom you can share your life. Ask Him for all of the things that mean so
much to you. He stands ready to help because we are His sons and daughters.
Don’t ever forget that.” (President Hinckley, “Standing for Something”, 2009
Book)
5. “You can always have a direct line of communication with your
Father in Heaven. Do not allow the adversary to convince you that no one is
listening on the other end. Your prayers are always heard. You are never
alone!” (President Packer, “How to Survive in Enemy Territory”, Oct. 2012
General Conference
6. It is my humble prayer, brothers and sisters, that we will ask
in our daily prayers for the inspiration to find someone for whom we can
provide some meaningful service, including the service of sharing the gospel
truths and our testimonies. At the end of each day, may we be able to say yes
to the questions: “Have I done any good in the world today? Have I helped
anyone in need?” (Elder Ballard, “Be Anxiously Engaged”, Oct. 2012 General
Conference)
7. One of the great lessons that each of us needs to learn is to
ask. Why does the Lord want us to pray to Him and to ask? Because that is how
revelation is received. (Elder Scott, “How to Obtain Revelation and
Inspiration for Your Personal Life”, April 2012 General Conference)
8. When I am faced with a very difficult matter, this is how I try
to understand what to do. I fast. I pray to find and understand scriptures that
will be helpful. That process is cyclical. I start reading a passage of
scripture; I ponder what the verse means and pray for inspiration. I then
ponder and pray to know if I have captured all the Lord wants me to do. Often
more impressions come with increased understanding of doctrine. I have found
that pattern to be a good way to learn from the scriptures. (Elder Scott, “How
to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life”, April 2012
General Conference)
9. Our Heavenly Father did not put us on earth to fail but to
succeed gloriously. It may seem paradoxical, but that is why recognizing
answers to prayer can sometimes be very difficult. Sometimes we unwisely try to
face life by depending on our own experience and capacity. It is much wiser for
us to seek through prayer and divine inspiration to know what to do. Our
obedience assures that when required, we can qualify for divine power to
accomplish an inspired objective. (Elder Scott, “How to Obtain
Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life”, April 2012 General
Conference)
10. Communication with our Father in Heaven is not a trivial matter.
It is a sacred privilege. It is based upon eternal, unchanging principles. We
receive help from our Father in Heaven in response to our faith, obedience, and
the proper use of agency. (Elder Scott, “How to Obtain Revelation and
Inspiration for Your Personal Life”, April 2012 General Conference)
Trials
1. We know from the scriptures that some trials are for our good
and are suited for our own personal development. We also know that the
rain falls on the just and the unjust. It is also true that every cloud we
see doesn’t result in rain. Regardless of the challenges, trials, and hardships
we endure, the reassuring doctrine of the Atonement wrought by Jesus Christ includes Alma’s
teaching that the Savior would take upon Him our infirmities and “succor his
people according to their infirmities.” (Elder Quentin L. Cook, “Hope Ya Know,
We Had a Hard Time”, Oct. 2008 General Conference)
2. However, the Lord knows our bearing capacity, both as to coping
and to comprehending, and He will not give us more to bear than we can manage
at the moment, though to us it may seem otherwise. Just as no temptations will
come to us from which we cannot escape or which we cannot bear, we will not be
given more trials than we can sustain. (Elder Neal A. Maxwell, “Be of Good
Cheer”, Oct 1982 General Conference)
3. My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The
future is as bright as your faith. (President Monson, “Be of Good Cheer”, April
2009 General Conference)
4. If we have faith in Jesus Christ, the hardest as well as the
easiest times in life can be a blessing. (President Eyring, “Mountains to
Climb”, April 2012 General Conference)
5. The ground must be carefully prepared for our foundation of
faith to withstand the storms that will come into every life. That solid basis
for a foundation of faith is personal integrity. (President Eyring, “Mountains to Climb”, April 2012
General Conference)
6. I cannot promise an end to your adversity in this life. I cannot
assure you that your trials will seem to you to be only for a moment. One of
the characteristics of trials in life is that they seem to make clocks slow
down and then appear almost to stop. There are reasons for that. Knowing those
reasons may not give much comfort, but it can give you a feeling of patience.
Those reasons come from this one fact: in Their perfect love for you, Heavenly
Father and the Savior want you fitted to be with Them to live in families
forever. Only those washed perfectly clean through the Atonement of Jesus
Christ can be there. (President
Eyring, “Mountains to Climb”, April 2012 General Conference)
7. Tests and trials are given to all of us. These mortal challenges
allow us and our Heavenly Father to see whether we will exercise our agency to
follow His Son. He already knows, and we have the opportunity to learn, that no
matter how difficult our circumstances, “all these things shall [be for our]
experience, and … [our] good.” (Elder Hales, “Waiting Upon the Lord: Thy Will
be Done”, Oct. 2011 General Conference)
8. “How do you remain ‘steadfast and immovable’
during a trial of faith? You immerse yourself in the very things that helped
build your core of faith: you exercise faith in Christ, you pray, you ponder
the scriptures, you repent, you keep the commandments, and you serve others.”
(Elder Andersen, “Trial of Your Faith”, Oct. 2012 Conference)
9. “Like intense fire that transforms iron into
steel, as we remain faithful during the fiery trial of our faith, we are
spiritually refined and strengthened.” (Elder Andersen, “Trial of Your Faith”,
Oct. 2012 Conference)
10. “Did
we not come to earth to confront challenges and to show God our love and
respect for Him by keeping His commandments?... Every [person] eventually is
backed up to the wall of faith, and there…must make his stand.” (Elder
Andersen, “Trial of Your Faith”, Oct. 2012 Conference)
Faith
1. In the scriptures, the Lord has specified how we learn by faith.
We must be humble, cultivate faith, repent of our sins, serve our fellowmen,
and keep the commandments of God. (Elder Oaks, “Alternate Voices”, April 1989
General Conference)
2. Our faith is the foundation upon which all our spiritual lives
rest. It should be the most important resource of our lives. Faith is not so
much something we believe; faith is something we live. (Elder Wirthlin, “Shall
He Find Faith on Earth?”, Nov. 2002 Ensign)
3. Faith exists when absolute confidence in that which we cannot
see combines with action that is in absolute conformity to the will of our
Heavenly Father. Without all three—first, absolute confidence; second, action;
and third, absolute conformity—without these three all we have is a
counterfeit, a weak and watered-down faith. (Elder Wirthlin, “Shall He Find
Faith on Earth?”, Nov. 2002 Ensign)
4. When we choose to follow Christ in faith rather than choosing
another path out of fear, we are blessed with a consequence that is consistent
with our choice. (Elder Cook, “Live by Faith and Not by Fear”, Oct. 2007
General Conference)
5. It is our faith in Jesus Christ that sustains us at the
crossroads of life’s journey. It is the first principle of the gospel. Without
it we will spin our wheels at the intersection, spending our precious time but
getting nowhere. It is Christ who offers the invitation to follow Him, to give
Him our burden, and to carry His yoke, “for [His] yoke is easy, and [His]
burden is light” (Elder Cook, “Live by Faith and Not by Fear”, Oct. 2007
General Conference)
6. Faith is a principle of action and power.
(Joseph Smith, “Lectures on Faith”, 1834)
7. Faith and character are intimately related. Faith in the power
of obedience to the commandments of God will forge strength of character
available to you in times of urgent need. Such character is not developed in
moments of great challenge or temptation. That is when it is intended to be
used. Your exercise of faith in true principles builds character; fortified
character expands your capacity to exercise more faith. As a result, your
capacity and confidence to conquer the trials of life is enhanced. The more your
character is fortified, the more enabled you are to benefit from exercising the
power of faith. You will discover how faith and character interact to
strengthen one another. Character is woven patiently from threads of applied
principle, doctrine, and obedience. (Elder Richard G. Scott, “The Transforming
Power of Faith and Character”, Oct. 2010 General Conference)
8. The exercise of faith is vital to Father in Heaven’s plan of
happiness. But true faith, faith unto salvation, is centered on the Lord Jesus Christ, faith in His
doctrines and teachings, faith in the prophetic guidance of the Lord’s
anointed, faith in the capacity to discover hidden characteristics and traits
that can transform life. (Elder Richard G. Scott, “The Transforming Power of
Faith and Character”, Oct. 2010 General Conference)
9. When the challenges of mortality come, and they come for all of
us, it may seem hard to have faith and hard to believe. At these times only
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Atonement can bring us peace, hope, and
understanding. Only faith that He suffered for our sakes will give us the
strength to endure to the end. When we gain this faith, we experience a mighty
change of heart, and like Enos, we become stronger and begin to feel a desire
for the welfare of our brothers and sisters. We pray for them, that they too
will be lifted and strengthened through faith on the Atonement of our Savior
Jesus Christ. (Elder Robert D. Hales, “Finding Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ”,
Oct. 2004 General Conference)
10. Miracles are
everywhere to be found when the priesthood is understood, its power is honored
and used properly, and faith is exerted. When faith replaces doubt, when
selfless service eliminates selfish striving, the power of God brings to pass
His purposes. (President Monson, “Willing and Worthy to Serve”, April 2012
General Conference)
Knowing How to Feel and Recognize the Spirit
1. Gospel truths and testimony are received from the Holy Ghost through reverent personal study and quiet contemplation. (Elder Oaks, “Alternate Voices”, April 1989 General Conference)
2. What may appear initially to be a daunting task will be much easier to manage over time as you consistently strive to recognize and follow feelings prompted by the Spirit. Your confidence in the direction you receive from the Holy Ghost will also become stronger. I witness that as you gain experience and success in being guided by the Spirit, your confidence in the impressions you feel can become more certain than your dependence on what you see or hear. (Elder Richard G. Scott, “To Acquire Spiritual Guidance”, Oct. 2009 General Conference)
3. Impressions of the Spirit can come in response to urgent prayer or unsolicited when needed. Sometimes the Lord reveals truth to you when you are not actively seeking it, such as when you are in danger and do not know it. However, the Lord will not force you to learn. You must exercise your agency to authorize the Spirit to teach you. As you make this a practice in your life, you will be more perceptive to the feelings that come with spiritual guidance. Then, when that guidance comes, sometimes when you least expect it, you will recognize it more easily. (Elder Richard G. Scott, “To Acquire Spiritual Guidance”, Oct. 2009 General Conference)
4. “We need to be acquainted with the promptings of the Holy Ghost, and we need to practice and apply gospel teachings until they become natural and automatic. These promptings become the foundation of our testimonies. Then our testimonies will keep us happy and safe in troubled times.” (President Packer, “Finding Strength in Challenging Times”, April 2009 General Conference)
5. Discovering how the Holy Ghost operates in your life is the quest of a lifetime. Once you have made that discovery for yourself, you can live in enemy territory and will not be deceived or destroyed. No member of this Church—and that means each of you—will ever make a serious mistake without first being warned by the promptings of the Holy Ghost. (President Boyd K. Packer, “How to Survive in Enemy Territory”, Oct. 2012 Ensign)
6. There are certain things that you must not do if the lines of communication are to remain open. You cannot lie or cheat or steal or act immorally and have those channels remain free from disruption. Do not go where the environment resists spiritual communication. (President Boyd K. Packer, “How to Survive in Enemy Territory”, Oct. 2012 Ensign)
7. The promptings that come to us to flee evil reflect our Heavenly Father’s understanding of our particular strengths and weaknesses and His awareness of the unforeseen circumstances of our lives. When these promptings come, they will not generally stop us in our tracks, for the Spirit of God does not speak with a voice of thunder. The voice will be as soft as a whisper, coming as a thought to our minds or a feeling in our hearts. By heeding its gentle promptings, we will be protected from the destructive consequences of sin. (Elder Hales, “To Act for Ourselves: The Gift and Blessings of Agency”, April 2006 General Conference)
8. The Holy Ghost communicates important information that we need to guide us in our mortal journey. When it is crisp and clear and essential, it warrants the title of revelation. When it is a series of promptings we often have to guide us step by step to a worthy objective, for the purpose of this message, it is inspiration. (Elder Scott, “How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life”, April 2012 General Conference)
9. There are some practical principles that enhance revelation. First, yielding to emotions such as anger or hurt or defensiveness will drive away the Holy Ghost. Those emotions must be eliminated, or our chance for receiving revelation is slight. (Elder Scott, “How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life”, April 2012 General Conference)
10. Two indicators that a feeling or prompting comes from God are that it produces peace in your heart and a quiet, warm feeling. (Elder Scott, “How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life”, April 2012 General Conference)
The Priesthood
1. “When the call came, I was ready. The preparation was far more than having consecrated oil close at hand. It must begin long before the crisis, which requires priesthood power. Those who are prepared will be ready to answer.” (President Eyring, “Be Ready”, October 2009 General Conference).
2. “The destiny of the rising generation of priesthood holders is far more than to be ready to bring God’s power down to heal the sick. The preparation is to be ready to go and do whatever the Lord wants done as the world is preparing for His coming. None of us knows exactly what those errands will be. But we know what it will take to be ready, so each of us can prepare.” (President Eyring, “Be Ready”, October 2009 General Conference).
3. “The priesthood is the eternal power and authority of God…By this great power we are authorized to preach the gospel, administer the ordinances of salvation, help build the kingdom of God on earth, and bless and serve our families and our fellowmen.” (President Uchtdorf, “The Joy of the Priesthood”, October 2012 General Conference).
4. What is the significance of a priesthood blessing? Think of a young man preparing to leave home to seek his fortune in the world. If his father gave him a compass, he might use this worldly tool to help him find his way. If his father gave him money, he could use this to give him power over worldly things. A priesthood blessing is a conferral of power over spiritual things. Though it cannot be touched or weighed, it is of great significance in helping us overcome obstacles on the path to eternal life. (Elder Oaks, “The Importance of Priesthood Blessings” April 1987 General Conference)
5. Do not hesitate to ask for a priesthood blessing when you are in need of spiritual power. (Elder Oaks, “The Importance of Priesthood Blessings” April 1987 General Conference)
6. From the newest ordained deacon to the most senior high priest, we all have lists of what we could and should do in our priesthood responsibilities. The what is important in our work, and we need to attend to it. But it is in the why of priesthood service that we discover the fire, passion, and power of the priesthood. The what of priesthood service teaches us what to do. The why inspires our souls. The what informs, but the why transforms. (President Uchtdorf, “The Why of Priesthood Service”, April 2012 General Conference)
7. The gift of the priesthood is priceless. It carries with it the authority to act as God’s servants, to administer to the sick, to bless our families, and to bless others as well. Its authority can reach beyond the veil of death, on into the eternities. There is nothing else to compare with it in all this world. Safeguard it, treasure it, live worthy of it. (President Monson, “Priesthood Power”, April 2011 General Conference)
8. The restoration of the priesthood reendowed mankind with the power and authority to act for and on behalf of God in conducting priesthood ordinances and in reestablishing the Church of Jesus Christ on the earth. We are blessed to be members of the restored Church. (Elder Perry, “The Tradition of Light and Testimony”, Dec. 2012 Ensign)
9. “Take heart and prepare the best you can, whatever your circumstances. Prepare to be a good husband and father; prepare to be a good and productive citizen; prepare to serve the Lord, whose priesthood you hold. Wherever you are, your Heavenly Father is mindful of you. You are not alone, and you have the priesthood and the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Elder Christofferson, “Brethren, We have Work to Do”, Oct. 2012 Conference)
10. “As has been repeated by prophets over the years, ‘The most important…work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own homes.’” (Elder Christofferson, “Brethren, We have Work to Do”, Oct. 2012 Conference)
Forgiveness
1. We all depend on the Savior; none of us can be saved without Him. Christ’s Atonement is infinite and eternal. Forgiveness for our sins comes with conditions. We must repent, and we must be willing to forgive others. (President Uchtdorf, “The Merciful Obtain Mercy”, April 2012 General Conference)
2. When the Lord requires that we forgive all men, that includes forgiving ourselves. Sometimes, of all the people in the world, the one who is the hardest to forgive—as well as perhaps the one who is most in need of our forgiveness—is the person looking back at us in the mirror. (President Uchtdorf, “The Merciful Obtain Mercy”, April 2012 General Conference)
3. Forgiving ourselves and others is not easy. In fact, for most of
us it requires a major change in our attitude and way of thinking—even a change
of heart. But there is good news. This “mighty change” of heart is exactly what
the gospel of Jesus Christ is designed to bring into our lives. (President Uchtdorf, “The
Merciful Obtain Mercy”, April 2012 General Conference)
4. The great and infinite Atonement is the supreme act of forgiveness
and reconciliation. Its magnitude is beyond my understanding, but I testify
with all my heart and soul of its reality and ultimate power. The Savior
offered Himself as ransom for our sins. Through Him we gain forgiveness.
(President Uchtdorf, “One Key to a Happy Family”, Oct. 2012 Ensign)
5. May God help us to be a little kinder, showing forth greater
forbearance, to be more forgiving, more willing to walk the second mile, to
reach down and lift up those who may have sinned but have brought forth the
fruits of repentance, to lay aside old grudges and nurture them no more.
(President Hinckley, “Forgiveness”, Oct. 2005 General Conference)
6. Most of us need time to work through pain and loss. We can find
all manner of reasons for postponing forgiveness. One of these reasons is
waiting for the wrongdoers to repent before we forgive them. Yet such a delay
causes us to forfeit the peace and happiness that could be ours. The folly of
rehashing long-past hurts does not bring happiness. (James E. Faust, “The Healing
Power of Forgiveness”, April 2007 General Conference)
7. With faith in the Savior, you can repent and plead for forgiveness. There is someone you can forgive. There is
someone you can thank. There is someone you can serve and lift. You can do it
wherever you are and however alone and deserted you may feel. (President
Eyring, “Mountains to Climb”, April 2012 General Conference)
8. It is not repentance per se that saves man. It is the blood of
Jesus Christ that saves us. It is not by our sincere and honest change of
behavior alone that we are saved, but “by grace that we are saved, after all we
can do” (2 Nephi 25:23). True repentance, however, is
the condition required so that God’s forgiveness can come into our lives.
(President Uchtdorf, “Is There a Point of No Return?”, June 2010 New Era)
9. True repentance blesses our lives with the effects of the
Atonement: we feel God’s forgiveness and His peace, and our guilt and sorrow
are lifted away; we enjoy the influence of the Spirit in greater abundance; and
we are better prepared to live with our Heavenly Father. (President Uchtdorf,
“Is There a Point of No Return?”, June 2010 New Era)
10. Once we have truly
repented, Christ will take away the burden of guilt for our sins. We can know
for ourselves that we have been forgiven and made clean. The Holy Ghost will verify this to us; He is the Sanctifier.
No other testimony of forgiveness can be greater…The gift of the Atonement of Jesus Christ provides us at all
times and at all places with the blessings of repentance and forgiveness. (President Uchtdorf, “Is There a Point of No
Return?”, June 2010 New Era)
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