President Nelson's Talk on Priesthood Power

This talk was very powerful. I know there is real power in the Priesthood. I'm far from perfect (very far), but I know these things are real. I have felt and been apart of that power. President Nelson makes some great points and explains the high standards required to obtain more spiritual power in our lives. So I am just making a ginormous post that is basically a really long quote from President Nelson:

I urgently plead with each one of us to live up to our privileges as bearers of the priesthood. In a coming day, only those men who have taken their priesthood seriously, by diligently seeking to be taught by the Lord Himself, will be able to bless, guide, protect, strengthen, and heal others. Only a man who has paid the price for priesthood power will be able to bring miracles to those he loves and keep his marriage and family safe, now and throughout eternity.

What is the price to develop such priesthood power? The Savior’s senior Apostle, Peter--that same Peter who with James and John conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery--declared qualities we should seek to “be partakers of the divine nature.”

He named faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity, and diligence. And don’t forget humility! So I ask, how would our family members, friends, and coworkers say you and I are doing in developing these and other spiritual gifts? The more those attributes are developed, the greater will be our priesthood power.

How else can we increase our power in the priesthood? We need to pray from our hearts. Polite recitations of past and upcoming activities, punctuated with some requests for blessings, cannot constitute the kind of communing with God that brings enduring power. Are you willing to pray to know how to pray for more power? The Lord will teach you.

Are you willing to search the scriptures and feast on the words of Christ—to study earnestly in order to have more power? If you want to see your wife’s heart melt, let her find you on the Internet studying the doctrine of Christ or reading your scriptures!

Are you willing to worship in the temple regularly? The Lord loves to do His own teaching in His holy house. Imagine how pleased He would be if you asked Him to teach you about priesthood keys, authority, and power as you experience the ordinances of the Melchizedek Priesthood in the holy temple. Imagine the increase in priesthood power that could be yours.

Are you willing to follow President Thomas S. Monson’s example of serving others? For decades he has taken the long way home, following promptings of the Spirit to arrive on someone’s doorstep and then hear words such as, “How did you know it was the anniversary of our daughter’s death?” or “How did you know it was my birthday?” And if you truly want more priesthood power, you will cherish and care for your wife, embracing both her and her counsel.

Now, if all of this sounds excessive, please consider how different our relationships with our wife, children, and associates at work would be if we were as concerned about gaining priesthood power as we are in progressing at work or increasing the balance in our bank account. If we will humbly present ourselves before the Lord and ask Him to teach us, He will show us how to increase our access to His power.

In these latter days, we know there will be earthquakes in diverse places. Perhaps one of those diverse places will be in our own homes, where emotional, financial, or spiritual “earthquakes” may occur. Priesthood power can calm the seas and heal fractures in the earth. Priesthood power can also calm the minds and heal fractures in the hearts of those we love.

Are we willing to pray, fast, study, seek, worship, and serve as men of God so we can have that kind of priesthood power? Because two little girls were so eager to be sealed to their family, their father and brother were willing to pay the price to bear the holy Melchizedek Priesthood.

My dear brethren, we have been given a sacred trust—the authority of God to bless others. May each one of us rise up as the man God foreordained us to be—ready to bear the priesthood of God bravely, eager to pay whatever price is required to increase his power in the priesthood. With that power, we can help prepare the world for the Second Coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. This is His Church, led today by His prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, whom I dearly love and sustain. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

President Nelson's Talk - April 2016

Knowing Someone's Name Can Make a Difference - Thoughts on Elder Neil L. Andersen's April 2016 Conference Talk

I love the focus Elder Andersen places on being sensitive to everyone's situation when teaching them the gospel. Too often we think of and compare ourselves to the perfect standard while forgetting that none of us is really quite there. It is easy to become overwhelmed and discouraged. The miracle of the gospel is that Christ can take us from where we are, to where He wants us. The even greater miracle is that he will do it in a way that we are able to feel like we can actually make those steps. He empowers us. Emboldens us. Feeds our confidence. Too often as humans we tend to destroy each other's confidence by showing them how they are failing - rather than focusing on the good and then giving encouragement to be even better. Elder Andersen focuses on our ability to encourage and lift:

While a child’s earthly situation may not be ideal, a child’s spiritual DNA is perfect because one’s true identity is as a son or daughter of God.

President Thomas S. Monson has said: “Help God’s children understand what is genuine and important in this life. Help them develop the strength to choose paths that will keep them safely on the way to eternal life.” Let’s open our arms and our hearts a little wider. These youth need our time and our testimonies.

Brandon, who joined the Church in Colorado in high school, spoke to me of those who reached out to him both before and after his baptism. He said: “I was in the homes of families that lived the gospel. It showed me a standard that I felt I could have in my own family.”

Veronique, born in the Netherlands, attended school with our daughter Kristen when we lived in Germany. Veronique noted: “Students who were Church members had a light about them. I came to realize that that light came from their faith in Jesus Christ and living His teachings.”

My friend Max was baptized when he was eight years old. His father was not a member of any church, and Max could go to church or not go.

As a teenager, after not attending for several months, Max had the feeling that he needed to go back to church and determined one Sunday morning that he would return. But his resolve weakened as he approached the front door of the church; his stomach tightened.

There, standing at the door, was the new bishop. Max didn’t know him, and he felt sure the bishop didn’t know Max. As Max approached, the bishop’s face lit up, and he put his hand out and said, “Max, it’s so good to see you!”

“As he spoke those words,” Max said, “a warm feeling came over me and I knew I had done the right thing.”

Knowing someone’s name can make a difference.

Elder Andersen's April 1016 Talk

Forgive Them, For They Know Not What They Do...

I was in Sunday School today, taught by Thomas Griffiths, our neighbor and friend. He was teaching on the life of Jesus Christ. There were many important points brought out, many that are brought out quite often. It was a great lesson. Thomas brought up the crucifixion and how the Savior asked his Father to forgive those crucifying Him. I, of course, have often thought of how the soldiers didn't really know WHO they were crucifying, they were just..."doing their job". What I hadn't thought of before was the fact that none of the people involved in His death REALLY realized what they were doing. None of them. Except Judas. He knew. Though even that is up for debate!

Let me explain, and the explanation comes from my understanding of LDS doctrine. In order for this to make sense, we have to go back to before this life when 1/3 (part) of the hosts of heaven decided to abandon Jesus and His Father's plan and follow Lucifer. Well, that one-third took care of themselves.

What about the rest of us? We either fought valiantly for the Father's plan, or at the least we decided we could go along with it. Who were these people in the pre-mortal life? It was all of us. Every single person that has inhabited the Earth up to this point. We all chose, in one way or another that the Father's plan was good enough for us. I am sure it was much like today, some were super vocal and fought hard, and others were like..."sure...whatever. Sounds nice.".

Again. These are just my personal thoughts on the matter, not any sort of declaration of doctrine.

So. The rest of us come to earth, receive mortal bodies, and go through this mortal experience. Lehi taught about the mission of Jesus Christ and opposition in the Book of Mormon to his son, Jacob (2 Nephi 2: 4-6, 11-14) :
4 And thou hast beheld in thy youth his glory; wherefore, thou art blessed even as they unto whom he shall minister in the flesh; for the Spirit is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. And the way is prepared from the fall of man, and salvation is free.
5 And men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil. And the law is given unto men. And by the law no flesh is justified; or, by the law men are cut off. Yea, by the temporal law they were cut off; and also, by the spiritual law they perish from that which is good, and become miserable forever.
6 Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.

11 For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my firstborn in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.
12 Wherefore, it must needs have been created for a thing of naught; wherefore there would have been no purpose in the end of its creation. Wherefore, this thing must needs destroy the wisdom of God and his eternal purposes, and also the power, and the mercy, and the justice of God.
13 And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away.
14 And now, my sons, I speak unto you these things for your profit and learning; for there is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon.
https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/2?lang=eng

These scriptures teach us about opposition and the role of the Savior in overcoming that opposition. Lehi even teaches that "men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil." These people had become caught up in opposition, some of it so convincing that they readily accepted it as truth. Possibly even the scribes and the Pharisees who called for his murder. The scary thing is that these people had a basic understanding of good and evil, yet they lost sight of that through the excitement generated by Satan during this process.
I started this post saying that none of these men (women?) knew what they were really doing. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."
If these people had had a recollection of their previous life, I believe they would have been horrified at their own passion in condemning the very Son of God they had raised their arms and voices to support in the pre-mortal council. They voted for the Savior before this life, and then they slew Him. They had been blinded through the craftiness of the devil and his teachings, his appeals to their pride, and the contention that he raises in the hearts of men. They fell prey.
Did they know what they were doing? I mean REALLY know? I don't actually know the answer to that question, but the Savior said they didn't. A lot of them probably realized that they were doing something wrong, Pilate for example, but did they realize the fact that they were participating in the death of the Son of God?

Perhaps I am reading too much into this, but I believe quite strongly that all of us were taught correct doctrine and principles before this life. Then we get down here...and it's really hard to sift through all the opposition, voices, and mess we find ourselves in, if we don't take the proper precautions by studying and pondering on the word we may find ourselves doing or supporting things that we will be embarrassed by when we return to God...and I believe with all my heart we will all return.
I suppose the key we need is knowledge: Of who we are and what our business on this planet is. I believe that the answer is found in the Gospel message of Jesus Christ, in His infinite Atonement, and in His ability to save us, even if we "know not what we do." Hopefully each of us can figure out what we ought to do and live our best to accomplish that mission. I often wonder, after this brief stint in mortality, how we are going to feel about our performance here and how true we stayed to our convictions from before this life.

Just some thoughts to ponder I guess...

In Every Time of Trouble

I came across these verses this afternoon while reading. Too often I find myself not trusting God like I should and doing things my way, or somebody else's way. They were spoken to Joseph Smith after he had made a pretty big mistake with the 116 pages (D&C 3:7-8). They are actually quite comforting:


"7 For, behold, you should not have feared man more than God. Although men set at naught the counsels of God, and despise his words—"
"8 Yet you should have been faithful; and he would have extended his arm and supported you against all the fiery darts of the adversary; and he would have been with you in every time of trouble."

Too often we forget the power that God has. He can calm the storms. He can lift the weary. He can heal the broken. Listening and obeying Him more isn't going to "cramp our style" in the end. It will bring us closer to Him, which is, in reality, closer to our REAL self. 
I need to work on this!

A Teacher Come from God

This talk from Elder Holland in the April 1998 Conference is exceptionally powerful to me. It may be partially because I spend my day with children. Though my job as a teacher is civic, I believe I can have a more positive influence on days where I remember the principles of this talk. I feel that my "job" is a calling in many ways and that the people and students around me are people I am meant to influence for good...and I want to. I feel that many of our professions put us in the vicinity of people we can make a difference for...and we ought to take advantage of that and spread a little light. 

I know for sure that in my Church callings and at my home these principles hold true. I definitely have room for improvement, but these excerpts serve as great guideposts for all of us seeking to better influence the people and children around us who need strengthening.
I have taken a couple of pretty long segments from the talk, but it was impossible for me to not share more of this with my feelings of the importance of the principles being taught. Elder Holland is an excellent teacher himself:

"In all of this we must remember that the Lord has never given more emphatic counsel to the Church than that we are to teach the gospel “by the Spirit, even the Comforter which was sent forth to teach the truth.”"

"Do we teach the gospel “by the Spirit of truth?” He has inquired. Or do we teach it “some other way? And if it be by some other way,” He warns, “it is not of God.” In language echoing other commandments, He has said, “If ye receive not the Spirit ye shall not teach.”"

"No eternal learning can take place without that quickening of the Spirit from heaven. So, parents, teachers, and leaders, we must face our tasks the way Moses faced the promised land. Knowing he could not succeed any other way, Moses said to Jehovah, “If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.”"

"That is what our members really want when they gather in a meeting or come into a classroom anyway. Most people don’t come to church looking merely for a few new gospel facts or to see old friends, though all of that is important. They come seeking a spiritual experience. They want peace. They want their faith fortified and their hope renewed. They want, in short, to be nourished by the good word of God, to be strengthened by the powers of heaven. Those of us who are called upon to speak or teach or lead have an obligation to help provide that, as best we possibly can. We can only do that if we ourselves are striving to know God, if we ourselves are continually seeking the light of His Only Begotten Son. Then, if our hearts are right, if we are as clean as we can be, if we have prayed and wept and prepared and worried until we don’t know what more we can do, God can say to us as He did to Alma and the sons of Mosiah: “Lift up thy head and rejoice. … I will give unto you success.”"
***
"Satan is certainly not subtle in his teachings; why should we be? Whether we are instructing our children at home or standing before an audience in church, let us never make our faith difficult to detect. Remember—we are to be teachers “come from God.” Never sow seeds of doubt. Avoid self-serving performance and vanity. Prepare lessons well. Give scripturally based sermons. Teach the revealed doctrine. Bear heartfelt testimony. Pray and practice and try to improve. In our administrative meetings let us both “instruct and edify” as the revelations say, that even in these our teaching may ultimately be “from on high.” The Church will be the better for it, and so will you, for as Paul said to the Romans, “Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?”"

"A memorable account of the power of such teaching comes from the life of the prophet Jeremiah. This great man felt the way most teachers or speakers or Church officers feel when called—inexperienced, inadequate, frightened. “Ah, Lord,” he cried, “behold, I cannot speak: for I am [but] a child.”"

"But the Lord reassured him: “Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee. … Therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them.”"

"So speak unto them he did, but initially not with much success. Things went from bad to worse until finally he was imprisoned and made a laughingstock among the people. Angry that he had been so mistreated and maligned, Jeremiah vowed, in effect, never to teach another lesson, whether that be to an investigator, Primary child, new convert, or—heaven forbid—the 15-year-olds. “I will not make mention of [the Lord], nor speak any more in his name,” the discouraged prophet said. But then came the turning point of Jeremiah’s life. Something had been happening with every testimony he had borne, every scripture he had read, every truth he had taught. Something had been happening that he hadn’t counted on. Even as he vowed to close his mouth and walk away from the Lord’s work, he found that he could not. Why? Because “his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.”"

"That is what happens in the gospel to both the teacher and the taught. It is what happened to Nephi and Lehi when, the book of Helaman says, “the Holy Spirit of God did come down from heaven, and did enter into their hearts, and they were filled as if with fire, and they could speak forth marvelous words.” Surely it must have been that kind of heavenly joy Mary Magdalene experienced when near the Garden Tomb she unexpectedly beheld her beloved resurrected Lord and said to Him simply, “Rabboni,” which is to say, literally, “Teacher.”"

The full text and video can be found here:

 A Teacher Come from God - Elder Jeffrey R. Holland 

Teaching our Children from the Scriptures

This was another item I shared on Facebook. I feel that it is so important to be the one teaching my children. The Lord gave them to our family and we need to make sure we are teaching them correct principles.
Another 1998 Conference talk. This was Sister Ann G. Wirthlin speaking about the importance of teaching our children the gospel. It is something that we try to do in our home, but we know we could give it more effort some days. Sister Wirthlin gives some excellent advice for us:
"As we witness the unfolding events of the last days, we cannot doubt that in this scripture the Lord is speaking directly to us. We are Israel of the latter days. We are they who must teach our children of Him. Peace that endures is not dependent upon outside forces that are beyond our control. “Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me” (D&C 19:23)."
***
"The Savior has given us a pattern to follow as we study the scriptures. We hear the word, we ponder upon its meaning, we ask our Heavenly Father to help us understand, and then our minds and hearts are prepared to receive the promised blessings. Pondering is more than reading words; it is searching for meanings that will help us as we relate to one another and as we make choices in our lives. It is allowing the word to move from our minds to our hearts. The Spirit bears witness to our hearts as we prayerfully seek to know the things of our Heavenly Father. When we have that witness and knowledge, we think and live and relate to each other in more Christlike ways."
***
"President Hinckley has counseled parents: “Read to your children. Read the story of the Son of God. Read to them from the New Testament. Read to them from the Book of Mormon. It will take time, and you are very busy, but it will prove to be a great blessing in your lives as well as in their lives. And there will grow in their hearts a great love for the Savior of the world, the only perfect man who walked the earth. He will become to them a very real living being, and His great atoning sacrifice as they grow to manhood and womanhood, will take on a new and more glorious meaning in their lives” (quoted in Church News, 6 Dec. 1997, 2). Brothers and sisters, that glorious promise from our prophet can be ours if we read to our children from the scriptures."
"There can be no greater joy than to know that our children love the Lord, no greater peace than that which comes when we feel of His love and understand the meaning of His atoning sacrifice. That spirit which comes when we share sacred things of the heart will bond us together as families. John expressed it well: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (3 Jn. 1:4)."

Leaving a Great Mark on Our Posterity

I have kind of fallen off the "posting on my blog train". So I will get back on! I have posted a lot of things on Facebook as usual, but it seems that this site is more geared to focusing on Gospel topics for me.
I read a talk this morning by Elder David B. Haight that left a positive impression on me and help me refine my desires for what I want to leave my posterity. I'll post what I share on Facebook and hope that it is useful to some one who needs these words:

This is probably past 1998, but you get
the gist!

I have been reading in the archives of older LDS General Conferences and kind of settled on April 1998. It was a pretty big year in my life with my missionary service beginning and this conference was given the month I went to the MTC.

Elwood Corry, my grandfather, left
a great legacy to learn from. My father
continues to do the same. I have great
examples in my life.

There were a few sections of Elder Haight's comments that made a positive impression on me and I wanted to share.
He had been talking about a boy (at the time) named Kevin Campbell, and how Kevin had written him a letter asking him how life was. So of course, Elder Haight responded:
"I would say to Kevin Campbell, bless his heart, life is wonderful. And the only way I can describe it is that I have been blessed all of my life, and I have been blessed with challenges and opportunities and questions and problems that are part of life. But life is wonderful if we live the simple principles that we have been taught and if we live the way that we know we should live. One of those wonderful blessings we have in our old age is the blessing of having more time with our children and their children and their children, to have that opportunity to assemble and to be with them."

This guy is an amazing grandfather to our children.

Near the end of the talk Elder Haight also expressed his hopes for his posterity, which I share:
"So I would hope that our own children, as the generations go on, would know of their heritage, to know who they are and to know that they had fathers who believed and to know that they had fathers who were challenged, that they had fathers who had investigated and who had been out in the world declaring the truth—not in just quoting scriptures—but feeling it in their hearts and souls that what we do is true."

Elder Haight ends with this challenge for us:
"Brothers and sisters, live the commandments. Do what is right. Take advantage of this great opportunity in your life to live it well, to be good, to have good works, and to influence other people for good. The gospel is true. I hope that every day of my life I might be able to do some good and to encourage somebody to live a better life and to understand what has been restored to the earth. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

More precious than gold.

Strength in the Gospel - Elder Nelson's Article/Talk from the January 2015 Ensign

These are several paragraphs from Elder Nelson's youth talk I read yesterday. I think they hold a great warning and guidelines for all of us. This excerpt is really long, but really important. (Really though, the whole talk is worth reading, it will give strength to those struggling and insight to those who can help.) I I hope they are of use to anyone who is struggling. There is strength in the Gospel:

With whom will you choose to associate?
You will mingle with many good people who also believe in God. Whether they be Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, or Muslim, believers know that there actually is absolute truth. Believers in God have a conscience. Believers obey civil and divine law voluntarily, even laws that might otherwise be unenforceable.

With your commitment to obey civil and divine law, you stop for a red light, even if no other traffic is in sight. As a child of God you know, even if the police don’t catch you, that stealing and murdering are wrong and that God will ultimately hold you accountable. You know that the consequences for not playing by the rules are not only temporal but also eternal.

As you move along life’s journey, you will also become acquainted with people who do not believe in God. Many of them have not yet found divine truth and don’t know where to look for it. But you youth of the noble birthright are coming to their rescue. In great numbers, you are rallying to the call of God’s prophet for more missionaries. We are deeply grateful for each one!

As you mingle with nonbelievers, be aware that there may be a few who do not have your best interest at heart (see D&C 1:16; 89:4). As soon as you discern that, flee from them quickly and permanently (see 1 Timothy 6:5–6, 11).

Sadly, you will meet people whose desperate search for something that seems to them like happiness takes them down the slippery slopes of sin. Beware of that slimy slide! Any pleasure in sin is only fleeting, while haunting memories of sin are filled with gnawing and grinding guilt. The sinful warping of the embrace divinely designed to unite husband and wife is but a hollow counterfeit. Each unlawful experience is stripped of deep meaning and sweet memory.

Will you choose freedom or bondage?
Godless forces are all around. You are literally living in enemy territory. A plague of poisonous pornography abounds. It ensnares all who yield to its insidious grasp.

This was foreseen by the Lord, who said, “And now I show unto you a mystery, a thing which is had in secret chambers, to bring to pass even your destruction in process of time, and ye knew it not” (D&C 38:13; see also verse 28).

Consider how many people in secret chambers are seeking to destroy your life and happiness! Carnal temptation is not new. The Apostle Peter warned of this same snare when he wrote:

“They allure through the lusts of the flesh … those that were clean. …

“While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage” (2 Peter 2:18–19).

Avoid that bondage, my beloved brothers and sisters. If you are currently viewing pornography, stop it now! Seek help from your bishop. None are smart enough to outwit the adversary on their own once they have been poisoned by pornography. It is as destructive as leprosy, as addictive as meth, and as corrosive as lye.

Will you choose to follow the Lord or the philosophies of men?
Carefully study “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.” The family is under attack across the entire world, but the truths of the family proclamation will fortify you.

You need to understand the far-reaching consequences of society’s current skirmish over the definition of marriage. The present debate involves the question of whether two people of the same gender can be married. If you have a question about the position of the Church on this or any other important issue, prayerfully ponder it and then heed the prophetic messages of living prophets. Their inspired words, with inspiration from the Holy Ghost, will bring to your mind a fuller and truer understanding.

The marriage debate is but one of the many controversies that will challenge you in the future. Against the strident voices of the adversary, you, as youth of the noble birthright, will choose to stand for the Lord and His truth.

The Apostle Paul prophesied about the plight of our day (see 2 Timothy 3:1–5). His accurate vision of the spiritual devastation of our day was followed by his reassuring conclusion, telling us how to stay safe: “From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15).

To his advice I add my own: Keep studying the scriptures. Keep doing the things that build your faith in Jesus Christ. And then notice the wise choices you are naturally drawn to make.

Your faith in Jesus Christ and His gospel will give you the courage to marry and to bring children into your family while you are young and able to have them. When you are my age, you will prize your children, your grandchildren, and their children above any fame or fortune that otherwise might have come.

How will you prepare for your personal interview with the Savior?
You youth of the noble birthright are not perfect yet. None of us are. So you, along with the rest of us, are very grateful for the Atonement of the Savior, which provides full forgiveness as you truly repent. You also know that your stay here in mortality is relatively brief. In time, each of you will graduate from this frail existence and move on to the next world.

Judgment Day awaits each of us. I know that “the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there” (2 Nephi 9:41). Yes, each of us will have a personal interview with Jesus Christ.

Each day on earth gives you time and opportunity to prepare for that interview. Please know this: As you choose to live on the Lord’s side, you are never alone. God has given you access to His help while you move along mortality’s perilous pathway. As you diligently, earnestly pour out your heart to Him in daily prayer, He will send His angels to help you (see D&C 84:88). He has given you the Holy Ghost to be by your side as you live worthily. He has given you the scriptures so that you can fully feast upon the words of Jesus Christ (see 2 Nephi 9:51; 32:3). He has given you words to heed from living prophets.

In whom will you put your trust?
You know that God is your Father. He loves you. He wants you to be happy. Put your trust in Him (see 2 Nephi 4:34; 28:31). Maintain your focus on His holy temple. Be worthy to receive your endowment and sealing ordinances. Remain faithful to those covenants, and return frequently to the temple. Remember, your loftiest goal is to gain the greatest of all the blessings of God, that of eternal life (see D&C 14:7). Temple ordinances are essential for that blessing (see D&C 131:1–3).

I invite you to prayerfully study the scriptural statement of your identity, purpose, and blessing (see D&C 86:8–11). Yes, you truly are youth of the noble birthright, created in God’s image. You are the lawful heirs, to be tried and tested. May you choose to be a light to the world to help save God’s children, to have joy, and ultimately to earn the blessing of eternal life.

Here's the link:

lang=eng https://www.lds.org/ensign/2015/01/what-will-you-choose?lang=eng

A Couple Facebook Posts that are Worth Re-sharing

I have posted a few things on Facebook lately that I haven't shared here yet. I like to share things to both places because I believe that the messages are important. First off is today's share from Elder Kacher:

I felt like Elder Kacher's story and teaching is a powerful example of resisting the temptation to flee the safety of the gospel when confronted with doubts. He also discusses how our decisions will affect the lives of our children and family members. The same principles have worked for me and have strengthened my beliefs and testimony:

"I was baptized with my friends in 1972. This new current I chose to follow, the gospel of Jesus Christ, provided direction and meaning to my life. However, it was not without its challenges. Everything was new to me. At times I felt lost and confused. Questions and challenges were posed by both friends and family."
"I had a choice to make. Some of their questions created doubt and uncertainty. The choice was an important one. Where would I turn for answers? There were many who wanted to convince me of the error of my ways—“riptides” determined to pull me away from the peaceful current that had become a wonderful source of happiness. I learned very clearly the principle that there is “opposition in all things” and the importance of acting for myself and not forsaking my agency to others."
"I asked myself, “Why would I turn away from that which had brought me such great comfort?” As the Lord reminded Oliver Cowdery, “Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter?” My experience had been similar. Therefore, I turned, with yet more commitment, to a loving Heavenly Father, to the scriptures, and to trusted friends."
"Still, there were many questions I could not answer. How would I address the uncertainty they created? Rather than allow them to destroy the peace and happiness that had come into my life, I chose to set them aside for a season, trusting that in the Lord’s time, He would reveal all things. I found solace in His statement to the Prophet Joseph: “Behold, ye are little children and ye cannot bear all things now; ye must grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth.” I chose not to forsake what I knew to be true by following an unknown and a questionable current—a potential “riptide.” As President N. Eldon Tanner taught, I learned “how much wiser and better it is for man to accept the simple truths of the gospel … and to accept by faith those things which he … cannot understand.”"
"Does this mean there is no room for honest inquiry? Ask the young boy who sought refuge in a sacred grove wanting to know which of all the churches he should join. Hold the Doctrine and Covenants in your hand, and know that much of what has been revealed in this inspired record has been the result of a humble search for truth. As Joseph found out, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, [who] giveth to all men liberally, … and it shall be given him.” By asking sincere questions and by seeking divine answers, we learn “line upon line, precept upon precept,”8 as we increase in knowledge and wisdom."
"The question is not, “Is there room for honest, sincere inquiry?” but rather, “Where do I turn for truth when questions do arise?” “Will I be wise enough to hold fast to what I know to be true in spite of a few questions I might have?” I testify there is a divine source—One who knows all things, the end from the beginning. All things are present before Him. The scriptures testify that He does “not walk in crooked paths, … neither doth he vary from that which he hath said.”"
"On this mortal journey we must never think that our choices affect only us. Recently, a young man visited my home. He had a good spirit about him, but I sensed he was not fully participating in Church activity. He told me that he had been raised in a gospel-centered home until his father was unfaithful to his mother, resulting in their divorce and influencing all his siblings to question the Church and to fall away. My heart was heavy as I spoke with this young father who now, affected by his father’s choices, was raising these precious spirits outside the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ."
"Another man I know, a onetime faithful Church member, had questions regarding certain doctrine. Rather than ask Heavenly Father for answers, he chose to rely solely on secular sources for guidance. His heart turned in the wrong direction as he sought what seemed to be the honors of men. His pride may have been gratified, at least temporarily, but he was cut off from the powers of heaven. Rather than find truth, he lost his testimony and brought with him many family members."

The next post was Elder Scott:

I love this promise from Elder Scott! I know that taking just a few minutes a day to fill ourselves with the Word of God makes a difference in our daily routine. It gives us perspective of what we're doing here. For those on the edge of daily, committed scripture study, consider this as a part of your New Year's goals:
"I add my voice with this promise: as you dedicate time every day, personally and with your family, to the study of God’s word, peace will prevail in your life. That peace won’t come from the outside world. It will come from within your home, from within your family, from within your own heart. It will be a gift of the Spirit. It will radiate out from you to influence others in the world around you. You will be doing something very significant to add to the cumulative peace in the world."
"I do not declare that your life will cease to have challenges. Remember when Adam and Eve were in the garden, they were free from challenges, yet they were unable to experience happiness, joy, and peace. Challenges are an important part of mortality. Through daily, consistent scripture study, you will find peace in the turmoil around you and strength to resist temptations. You will develop strong faith in the grace of God and know that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ all will be made right according to God’s timing."

I will see if I can link the videos below! Please enjoy!

Elder Kacher's Talk

Elder Scott's Talk

I Had a Dream Last Night...

I had a dream last night. I have had it before...well. I have been to the place before. According to my dream it is where I currently live and the former owner, Dale Payne, left a lot more house for me than I use, or even remember.
It's just a dream. The house doesn't even look the same as the one we bought. On the top floor there is a door that goes out the back of this house-I suppose it is to a garage. (Sometimes it is just another completely different home on the same property, they are still connected.)But. There are also steps that go downstairs. Three floors. Each floor has a lot of usable space and things in it. The first has a family room and bedrooms. The second down has a family room and a large bedroom, it is in decent shape, but it is older. The last floor-the lowest- has a lot of clutter. There is a small family room and there is also a storage room with a couple refrigerators. There are also things that the previous owner has left. Every time I dream of the place I mean to get in the refrigerators and clean them out. I never get that far.
Last night the dream and the place were a bit different. There was more than just the large home. There were two gymnasiums. I got a tour of a really nice one from a nice gentleman. I do not know who he is, but he was familiar to me and kind (Almost like Mr. Rogers...okay...) On the way into the gymnasium we were in a very nice place, mountainous and green. It seemed about evening time. There was a lot of room to enjoy, but it was empty at that time. There was a walkway across the one I toured.
The last part of the dream before it got weird and changed into a coin gathering game...was back in the home. In the basement there was a room I hadn't been in before, it was basically an old shop. Everything was still in it. It hadn't been opened for a long time, but things were still marked for sale. Vintage type things lined the shelves. We wanted to open it up again and get it going.
The whole experience was really vivid. I have had several vivid dreams the last several days. I don't know why, but they have been very interesting. I personally feel that dreams are a way of dealing with things, or facing things that we can't face in reality. Is there reality tied to them? I think there can be. Not all dreams are created equal. Many are just...entertaining or something else.
This dream last night seemed to mean something to me. I have been to this house before in other dreams. It is usually the same, perhaps I notice more each time. This time Jenna had put our kids and others to sleep on the second floor, they were all tucked in cozy and looked peaceful. It was nice. There seemed to be more than the three we have, so maybe we had visitors.
So what does it all mean? I don't know exactly, but I think that it had something to do with my life. I am in a good place right now, but there are things that I either want to do, or wish I could do, or even know I could do, but I don't. I felt like it was a dream showing me that there are so many opportunities in life that we don't take advantage of. I live in my house, I do my work, I raise my family and I am happy doing that, but perhaps I could do more things that would enrich my experience here on Earth and add to my enjoyment. I worry a lot about over doing, I do that often, but I think if I could get out of some of my ruts of habit and try some new things I would be happier.
Don't get me wrong. I am happy. I am blessed and I know it. The Lord is good to me and my family. I am grateful for that. But. Perhaps He would be happier with me if he saw me doing more outside of the four walls I enclose myself in. I have a book that needs finishing, places I want to go, and people I want to see.
Will I do it? I hope I do more. But for me it will be gradual. Line upon line.
We are here on Earth to experience life. Not to be walled in by our fears and perceived truths. There is so much goodness and life to enjoy. We need to find the real truth of our existence. I believe that I have been led to much truth in my life and I hope to be able to find more. I believe there are certain ways of living that bring happiness and I feel I do a great job at many of them, but I could do more. I could be more. We all could. We are happy when we are doing new and exciting things. What will mine be? What will yours be?