Marriage and Family #1

The Family: A Proclamation to the World is important to me; actually, it is important to all of us, whether we accept it yet or not. I have felt impressed to write my thoughts and feelings concerning this document one paragraph at a time. In this post, you will read the first paragraph, as presented by The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; then you will read my thoughts concerning the paragraph, which support why I believe their words and also why I claim them to be true:

“WE, THE FIRST PRESIDENCY and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children (See The Family: A Proclamation to the World)."

As a Latter-day-saint, I believe in the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In saying this, I acknowledge that I believe in the following away that way prophesied by the Apostle Paul (See 2 Thessalonians 2:3), and in the restoration of all things as prophesied by the Prophet Peter, and many others (See Acts 3:19-21). I do not claim any superiority for my beliefs, and I value deeply my relationship with Christians and righteous people of all faiths that seek to follow all of the commandments of God, particularly as they have been taught in the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible.

Since I do believe in the restoration of the gospel, I also believe in the books of scripture that have come to us in this last dispensation: The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ; The Doctrine and Covenants; and The Pearl of Great Price. In all the books of scriptures, those from The Bible and those found in modern-day scriptures, we find the commandments of God, the plan of salvation, and examples of those who are blessed or those who are cursed depending upon their adherence to God’s laws, His commandments, and the words of the prophets whom he sent to the various people.

I believe in prophets. Whenever there has been a dispensation of the gospel upon the earth, there have been prophets. Adam, the first man, was also the first prophet. We know that Elijah was a prophet. Noah was a prophet. So were Melchizedek and Abraham. In reading the Old Testament, you will find the words of God spoken through many prophets. This continues in the New Testament. John the Baptist was a prophet sent to prepare the way for Jesus Christ.

There were also prophets in the Americas. Lehi was a prophet who left Jerusalem with his family and sailed to the New World. Many of his descendants were also prophets, and they testified of the coming of Jesus Christ, just as the prophets in the Old Testament did. That is a prophet’s main role, to testify of Jesus Christ.

I believe in the structure of Christ’s church, with Jesus Himself being the Chief Cornerstone (See Ephesians 2:19-20). "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13)." I believe that the keys of the Priesthood were restored to the earth again through the instrumentality of angels of God to the Prophet Joseph Smith and others. Today we have the Church of Jesus Christ again on the earth, with the structure of apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ being the Head of the Church.

With my belief in both ancient and modern scripture, along with my belief in modern-day spokesmen for God, I must and do believe in the words of our modern-day prophets and apostles. I also believe that God is unchanging, and His laws are eternal and everlasting. If He were to change, He would cease to be God (See Mormon 9:19), and this He will not do. From the very beginning, He commandment both the man and the woman to leave both father and mother and cleave unto each other and to none else (See Genesis 2:24). Adam and Eve were married, and since then, this has been the pattern. God’s law is that marriage is to be between a man and a woman. He ordained it to be so. I do believe and trust in this. But if I did not believe it, it would account for very little, because God’s laws are fixed.

I am thankful for the words of our prophets and apostles in these the latter days when there is so much confusion in the world. As we follow the prophet, we can find safety in troubled times, and we can have the ever-present blessing of the Holy Ghost in our lives to comfort, reassure, and sustain us. We are truly blessed when we follow the commandments of God and are faithful to the covenants and ordinances that we receive (See Doctrine and Covenants 82:10).

A husband and wife legally and lawfully wedded can be blessed to be co-partners with God in bringing His spirit children into the world and housing them with mortal bodies. What a blessing! While children can be born outside of the matrimony of husband and wife, this has never been the ideal, and aside from the commandments of God, studies have proven that children in a stable home with both father and mother fair the very best.

God has ordained it to be so, that fathers and mothers rear the children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (See Proverbs 22:6). As we teach and prepare our children, we and they gain the experiences that we need in order to become more like our Heavenly Father so that we can one day return to His presence and be like Him. Families give us the opportunities to put aside selfishness and work for the common good and progress of the group as a whole. As Malachi taught, there must be a welding link. Fathers’ hearts must turn to their children, and children’s hearts to their fathers (See Malachi 4:6). Since God sent His Son to be our Redeemer, it is our goal and purpose that this gift of redemption be available to all, especially to our own families, and considering that we are all posterity of Adam and Eve, to the whole human family. The only way that the chain can remain unbroken is to have God-ordained marriage firmly in place so that God-ordained families can continue.

God indeed has a plan for our eternal destiny. As stated before, our hearts must turn to our family members past, present, and future; the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers (See Malachi 4:6). Heavenly Father prepared all things for us to live together in family units while here on earth, designed after the order of His Family in heaven, of which we were all a part. God's whole plan, his entire purpose, is for us to grow to become like Him. Indeed, children naturally become like their parents. Our Heavenly Father's mission plan is found in Moses 1:39:  "For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." While this seems like an impossible task, with Him and because of His love for us, we can become like Him. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved (John 3:16-17)." No matter where we have strayed from the commandments of God, He invites us back; and we can again become members of His family through faith in His Son; repentance from our sins; being baptized by immersion by someone who has been called of God and ordained with proper priesthood authority; and through receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, also by one who has been ordained with the authority to do so (See Articles of Faith 1:4-5).

I personally know that these words are true and faithful. I know because of the many times that I have read God’s words and found harmony in all of His teachings found in various sources of Holy Writ and spoken by His prophets. I know because the Holy Ghost has borne witness to me that they are true. I know because I trust in the living prophets and apostles and know that they have been called of God and speaks His words, and His words are truth. You can know too; but, only through studying His words, living His laws, keeping His commandments, and asking Him in faith. Don’t hesitate. He loves you, and He will lead you aright.


Marriage and Family #1

The Importance of Following Today's Prophet

http://tinyurl.com/a7vdo6g

Following the Prophet

Since the time of Adam until our time, with Thomas S. Monson as the prophet, every dispensation of the gospel has been marked by having prophets on the earth. Our Father in Heaven has always spoken to His children through His appointed servants. In Amos 3:7 we read, “Surely, the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets.”

Why are prophets important? Because the Lord speaks to them, and they relay His messages to us; because they hold the keys for administering the gospel of Jesus Christ; and because they are teachers of the gospel and testifiers of the divinity of our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. How important are their messages? They are vital to our spiritual growth, protection, and direction. Because they speak the word of God, they are the ones who point the way to the Savior and help us know what we need to do to follow Him and return to our Heavenly Father through Him.

In Article of Faith number nine, we read, “We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” (See Articles of Faith) These words were penned by the Prophet Joseph Smith. How does that revelation pertain to the prophets, and how does it pertain to us?

There were many in the early restored church who claimed revelations that were contrary in nature to the revelations that the Prophet Joseph was receiving. Today there are also people who are claiming revelation or authority to act on behalf of the church, not understanding that not all revelations are equal. How can we determine what is true and what is inspired of God, and what is false and may be inspired by our own misunderstandings, desires, or neglect to be in harmony with the gospel truths? Without the Spirit, we cannot receive revelation from God. “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14)

First off, we need to realize that all of us are entitled to personal revelation by which we can improve our own lives and by which we can enrich the lives of our family members or those over whom we have stewardship. But even then, we cannot claim entitlement to revelation without seeking the Lord’s will, keeping His commandments, and being humble before Him. Personal revelation is indeed a blessing. Through the Spirit, we can read and pray to know that The Book of Mormon is true; we can all develop faith and understanding in our Heavenly Father’s Plan; we can gain knowledge that we are His children, and that His Son is our Savior; we can come to know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true and that it houses the restored gospel. We can receive promptings of direction and protection, and we can be strengthened beyond our own abilities in all capacities in which we serve. I personally am thankful for personal revelation.

But when we think that we can speak for the church, in regards to revelation, either individually or collectively, we are on extremely shaky, treacherous ground. No matter how well-intentioned our original purpose, we are acting in defiance to the Lord’s servants if we strive to gain a following by purposing that the prophet needs to change his position regarding matters of church policy. Not only would we be on shaky ground in doing such a thing, but we would carry responsibility for leading away many that are weak or ill-informed regarding principles of order and authority.

In conjunction with this, we should recognize that when we speak against our prophet and leaders that we are on the road to apostasy. Joseph Smith asked the question:

“Why do you think people can change from righteousness to apostasy in such a short time?”

"I will give you one of the Keys of the mysteries of the Kingdom. It is an eternal principle, that has existed with God from all eternity: That man who rises up to condemn others, finding fault with the Church, saying that they are out of the way, while he himself is righteous, then know assuredly, that that man is in the high road to apostasy; and if he does not repent, will apostatize, as God lives.”

(History of the Church, 3:385; from a discourse given by Joseph Smith on July 2, 1839, in Montrose, Iowa; reported by Wilford Woodruff and Willard Richards. See Beware the Bitter Fruits of Apostacy)

Next, we need to remember that the prophet holds all the keys for this dispensation, and that he is the only person on earth that can speak for the entire church. (If he were to die, that authority would be shared jointly among the apostles until a new prophet was ordained.) In addition to this, we need to remember that we are to seek counsel from the Lord and not seek to counsel Him. (See Jacob 4:10) He knows whom he has called as His prophets, and He knows why.

Some safeguards for me, and they should also be for you, in determining that a prophet’s words are from the Lord, have always been, “Do I support this man as a prophet of God? Are the words which he speaks in harmony with what I already know about the gospel? When the prophet teaches a principle, can I find that same thing taught by other prophets, and in the scriptures? Do I feel the Spirit?” I indeed can pray about what is being taught in conferences and gain a personal witness that the things that I hear are true.

Another safeguard should be, "When I don’t like something that is said, how will I personally deal with that? Do I pray and research the scriptures and the words of the prophets and seek for clarity from the Spirit and perhaps from local church leaders, or do I look to outside sources and apostate materials to justify my reasoning? Do I hunt for small errors in delivery, or do I look for the inspired message that is being taught and how I can incorporate true principles into my life? We need to remember that our General Authorities have been called of God and that they seek inspiration from Him before they address us. We also need to remember that the prophet is the Lord’s spokesperson, and that the Lord has said, “Whether by mine own voice, or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.” (See Doctrine and Covenants 1:38) Also, we are promised that the prophets of the Lord in this dispensation will never lead us astray. (See Excerpt regarding the Manifesto)

But the number one safeguard is found in reading the Book of Mormon! If you don’t believe me, ask the missionaries. It’s all found in Preach My Gospel, in the lesson entitled What is the Role of the Book of Mormon? We all should know that Joseph Smith has said that we can draw nearer to God by reading The Book of Mormon than by any other book and that it is the keystone of our religion. (That is found in the introduction to The Book of Mormon.) Why is that true, you may ask. Well, The Book of Mormon most clearly defines the first principles and ordinances of the gospel and the role of the Savior. Having a living testimony of that book will help us to face the challenges of our day.

President Benson taught that we can put The Book of Mormon to use in handling objections to the church. Now that’s of interest. If we are firmly grounded in the teachings of the Book of Mormon, besides gaining a testimony of that book, we can gain a testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith. And that is important. We can also gain a testimony that his successors were also prophets of the Lord, and that Thomas S. Monson is the Lord’s current prophet. And that is important.

You may ask, how does that all work? Good enough. It works, because a prophet of the Lord said it works; and it also works, because if we are reading The Book of Mormon, we are inviting the Spirit into our lives, and we are open to the revelation that we need to know that God is at the helm and that things are being run according to His will and in the proper order.

Now here are some examples of how it works: If an investigator or a member of the church, at the time of Joseph Smith, had objections to the Word of Wisdom, his real objection would not be with that principle, but with truly accepting Joseph Smith as a prophet. If he had a testimony of The Book of Mormon, he could also gain a testimony that the man who received and translated the plates was indeed a prophet of God, and that he received the revelation now known as the Word of Wisdom. If we have faith to believe in The Book of Mormon and fully accept it, we will also accept the prophets and the teachings that come from the prophets.

Another example: If current investigators or members have problems with The Family: A Proclamation to the World, then their real objection is not with that document itself; their real objection is that they did not receive the prophet, which was President Hinckley, nor his counselors, nor the Quorum of the Twelve as prophets, seers, and revelators. (Or when they had trouble accepting President Monson’s directive to support Proposition 8, they did not believe in his authority as a prophet to do so. Again, their real objection is that they do not believe in the prophets.) They may say that they do, but they lack the faith to do so fully. And how can they regain that faith? That’s right—by reading The Book of Mormon. As our faith is strengthened in the Restoration of the gospel, we will have the strength to overcome any other objection or concern.

Elder Costa spoke in the October 2010 General Conference. Along with Elder Costa, I feel to say,

"What a great blessing it is to have prophets in our day!"

Elder Claudio R. M. Costa's talk


After Elder Costa read, pondered, and prayed, the Lord gave him the assurance that Joseph Smith was a prophet. He also came to know that all Joseph’s successors were prophets. Since a prophet is a person called by God to speak in His name, it is a great blessing for us to have a prophet so that we can receive the word of the Lord.

The Lord reveals His will to us and instructs us through His prophets. If we believe in Him, we will follow His prophets and do what He asked us to do. When Elder Costa accepted baptism into the church, he covenanted to always follow the prophet. So did you and I. The prophet, his counselors and the twelve apostles have all been called and ordained as prophets, seers, and revelators. We have raised our rights hands each general and stake conference to show our support and to sustain them as such.

Elder Costa further referenced a talk by President Benson where he delivered fourteen fundamental points in following the prophet.


Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet


The points presented by President Benson are as follows (paraphrased):

1. The prophet is the only man that speaks for the Lord in everything.
2. The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works.
3. The living prophet is more important to us than the dead prophets.
4. The prophet will never lead the church astray.
5. The prophet doesn’t need to have any special credentials.
6. The prophet doesn’t need to say “thus saith the Lord” to be speaking for the Lord.
7. The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know.
8. The prophet is not limited by man’s reasoning.
9. The prophet can receive a revelation on any matter, temporal or spiritual.
10. The prophet may be involved in civic matters.
11. The two groups who have difficulty following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud  who are rich.
12. The prophet will not necessarily be popular with the world or the worldly.
13. The prophet and his counselors make up the First Presidency, the highest quorum in the church.
14. If we follow the prophet and the First Presidency, we will be blessed; if we reject them, we will suffer.

I finished reading The Book of Mormon for the first time when I was 12. I remember praying early one evening to know if the Book was true. The warmth and power of the Spirit filling my bosom was enlightening and expanding. I had never experienced the Spirit to that degree before, and I knew that that Book of Mormon is true. My heart felt it and my mind comprehended it. I remember wanting to hold onto that feeling. I did not want to participate in any other earthly activity that evening. I had received a witness from the heavens.

A couple of years later, my older sister Sheila invited me to go with her to a play. I believe that it was called A Day, a Night, and a Day. I had been fasting to know if Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. I remember having a strong witness in answer to my prayer at the end of that day, and following that production, that Joseph truly was a prophet.

I have felt the Spirit many times confirm to me that the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. I have felt the witness of the Spirit on many occasions as I have sought for the Lord's direction and to do His will.

In one of my saddest times, after the death and temporary loss of our son Robby, I had a witness, in a very real and personal way, that Jesus Himself is aware of me and that His love for me knows no bounds. At this time, I felt these words from Him, "Thy sins are forgiven thee." Indeed, it is when our hearts are broken and we exercise faith in Him that we are not only healed from our emotional and spiritual wounds, but we receive a remission of our sins. (See Matthew 9:2-8)

I can also testify that when our most recent prophet Gordon B. Hinckley passed away, I saw the mantle of authority shift to our new prophet Thomas S. Monson. As he spoke in a news' address, I indeed knew that he is a prophet of God.

In our confusing world today, there are important things that we must do to not be deceived. We must pray; we must fast if we are able (and, if not, we must carry the spirit of the fast); we must study our scriptures, giving particular emphasis to the Book of Mormon; we must partake of the sacrament worthily; and we must support the prophets of God.

While there is some room for all of us to have personal opinions, we are treading dangerous waters when we even appear to be speaking out openly against the prophet. We cannot afford to do that. The essence of the gospel plan of happiness is for families to be able to return together to Heavenly Father. (See Moses 1:39) Anything that deviates from that plan is not of God and it will not bring happiness.

It is a wicked and adulterous generation that must have everything shown unto them before they believe that it is from God. (See Matthew 12:39 and  Matthew 16:4) It is sad to note that even when the Lord Jesus Christ was on the earth, not only as God's Prophet, but as His Son, there were people who demanded proof that the things He taught were true.

The answer to objections and problems in our day truly is found in gaining and keeping a testimony of The Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon isn't just a beginning place for testimony for a Latter-day Saint. It is the most valuable physical source for also strengthening and maintaining testimony. If it is set aside and neglected, testimony concerning the truth of the restored gospel and the validity of our prophet’s words will follow suit. If it is cherished and read from day to day, testimony will flourish.

Read with me Moroni’s words found in the Book of Mormon. Moroni 10:3-5.

God has placed prophets on this earth for instruction, for counsel, and to issue His calls and commandments. Some try to separate the commandments from the counsel, like the one is from God and the other is merely opinion. I know that this is not so. We need to accept the words from the prophets as though they are God's own words, which they are. (See Doctrine and Covenants 1:37-38) And we need to trust that the Lord knows all things and that it is His right to counsel us through His prophets. We should accept His counsel and stop seeking to counsel Him. (Jacob 4:10)

We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet

On February 1, 2013, President Monson spoke in a news address, marking five years since he was called as our prophet. (See Message from President Thomas S. Monson)

In closing, I’d like to read a few of his words:

This year will mark 50 years since I was called to serve in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. I was 36 years old when that call came. Last August I celebrated my 85th birthday. Some of the senior members of the Quorum of the Twelve have a few years even on me. Age eventually takes its toll on all of us. However, we join our voices with King Benjamin, who said, as recorded in the second chapter of the book of Mosiah, "I am like as yourselves, subject to all manner of infirmities in body and mind; yet I have been chosen ... and consecrated by my father, ... and have been kept and preserved by his matchless power, to serve you with all the might, mind and strength which the Lord hath granted unto me" (Mosiah 2:11). Despite any health challenges that may come to us, despite any weakness in body or mind, we serve to the best of our ability.

Now for the important part:

I assure you that the Church is in good hands. The system set up for the Council of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve assures that it will always be in good hands and that, come what may, there is no need to worry or to fear. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, whom we follow, whom we worship, and whom we serve, is ever at the helm. (Thomas S. Monson, 1 February 2013)

I love the Lord. I love our prophet. I am thankful for my testimony of the Book of Mormon, for my testimony of Joseph Smith as a prophet and of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, and for my testimony that President Thomas S. Monson is God’s chosen prophet for all the world today.

Other Blogposts about Prophets:

Prophets of God

 A Note of Gratitude to our Leaders

Living Prophets Today

Living Prophets Today

http://burst.to/2ga

I was reviewing some conference notes found in earlier blogs, and I came across
Elder Claudio R. M. Costa's talk from October 2010 General Conference.
Along with Elder Costa, I feel to say,

"What a great blessing it is to have prophets in our day!"

Here are my notes from that conference:

After I read, pondered, and prayed, the Lord gave me the assurance that Joseph Smith was a prophet. I know that all his successors are prophets.

Prophet—a person called by God to speak in His name. It is a great blessing to receive the word the Lord.

Amos 3:7 

He will reveal his will to us and He will instruct us through His prophets. If we believe in Him, we will follow His prophets and do what He asked us to do. When I accepted baptism into the church, I covenanted to always follow the prophet. 

Points made by President Benson

1. The prophet is the only man that speaks for the Lord in everything.
2. The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works.
3. The living prophet is more important to us than the dead prophets.
4. The prophet will never lead the church astray.
5. The prophet doesn’t need to have any special credentials.
    The Lord called a young man, Joseph Smith, to lead the Church. He was chosen by the Lord, and he     

    received from the Lord the gifts he needed to do His work.
6. The prophet doesn’t need to say “thus saith the Lord” to be speaking for the Lord.
7. The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know.
8. The prophet is not limited by man’s reasoning.
9. The prophet can receive a revelation on any matter, temporal or spiritual.
10. The prophet may be involved in civic matters.
11. The two groups who have difficulty following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud
      who are rich.
12. The prophet will not necessarily be popular with the world or the worldly.
13. The prophet and his counselors make up the first presidency, the highest quorum in the church.
14. The prophet and the presidency—follow them and be blessed; reject them and suffer.

Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet

Elder Costa testified of true prophet, counselors, and quorum of the twelve.

Now for my testimony:

I finished reading the Book of Mormon for the first time when I was 12. I remember praying early one evening to know if the Book is true. The warmth and power of the Spirit filling my bosom was enlightening and expanding. I had never experienced the Spirit to that degree before, and I knew that The Book of Mormon is true. My heart felt it and my mind comprehended it. I remember wanting to hold onto that feeling. I did not want to participate in any other earthly activity that evening. I had received a witness from the heavens.

A couple of years later, my older sister Sheila invited me to go with her to a play. I believe that it was called A Day, a Night, and a Day. I had been fasting to know if Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. I remember having a strong witness in answer to my prayer at the end of that day, and following that production, that Joseph truly was a prophet. 

I have felt the Spirit many times confirm to me that the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. I have felt the witness of the Spirit on many occasions as I have sought for the Lord's direction and to do His will. 

In one of my saddest times, after the death and temporary loss of our son Robby, I had a witness, in a very real and personal way, that Jesus Himself is aware of me and that His love for me knows no bounds. At this time, I felt these words from Him, "Thy sins are forgiven thee." Indeed, it is when our hearts are broken and we exercise faith in Him that we are not only healed from our emotional and spiritual wounds, but we receive a remission of our sins. (See Matthew 9:2-8)

I can also testify that when our most recent prophet Gordon B. Hinckley passed away, I saw the mantle of authority shift to our new prophet Thomas S. Monson. As he spoke in a news' address, I indeed knew that he is a prophet of God. 

In our confusing world today, there are important things that we must do to not be deceived. We must pray; we must fast if we are able (and, if not, we must carry the spirit of the fast); we must study our scriptures; we must partake of the sacrament worthily; and we must support the prophets of God. 

It is a wicked and adulterous generation that must have everything shown unto them before they believe that it is from God. (See Matthew 12:39, Matthew 16:4) It is sad to note that even when the Lord Jesus Christ was on the earth, not only as God's Prophet, but as His Son, there were people who demanded proof that the things He taught were true. 

God has placed prophets on this earth for instruction, for counsel, and to issue His calls and commandments. Some try to separate the commandments from the counsel, like the one is from God and the other is merely opinion. This is not so. We need to accept the words from the prophets as though they are God's own words, which they are. (See Doctrine and Covenants 1:37-38) And we need to trust that the Lord knows all things and that it is His right to counsel us through prophets. We should accept His counsel and stop seeking to counsel Him. (Jacob 4:10)

We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet

I am thankful to my Heavenly Father and to His Son Jesus Christ for their remarkable love for me. Because they know all things, and because I do not, I will put my trust in them as a daughter. It is through the Spirit that I do know that I am a literal spirit child of my Heavenly Father; it is through the Spirit and through obedience to the principles and ordinances of the gospel that I also became a child of Jesus Christ and took upon me His name. It is through the Gift of the Holy Ghost that I can continue in faith and virtue, keeping the commandments and putting my trust in the Lord and His prophets until the perfect day. Without prophets both ancient and modern, I would not know of God's great love for me. I indeed am thankful for living prophets!

I am thankful for the counsel and teachings of all the prophets during my lifetime. I know that they were called of God just like the prophets that we revere in the scriptures.

Your Holy Scriptures are Important

                                                                                                                               

Holy Writ is Meant to Be Read

I was told by someone a few months back that it doesn't matter how many times I have read the Book of Mormon; all that matters is if I keep the commission of Jesus to do well unto others: things that are found in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 25.

I want you all to know that it is through reading scriptures that are found in Holy Writ that I have come to understand how I can live a more Godly life and how I can serve as Jesus would have me do. Do I fall short? Yes. But I can attest that I do make better decisions because I do value what is written in the Book of Mormon, and in the Old and the New Testaments, in the Doctrine and Covenants, and in the Pearl of Great Price. And these books remind me of who I am and who my Heavenly Father is and what my relationship is to Him. They give me hope, joy, comfort, direction, and peace.

In a day when having secular sophistry is more valued than having faithful humility, I would encourage everyone who believes in Holy Writ to not abandon your sacred books. They will bring you confidence to face the challenges of today's world, and they will serve to lead you in righteous paths and bring you peace. Also, they will fortify you against the attacks of those who deem your religious choices as folly. We cannot be dressed in the armor of God to stand against the wiles of the devil without reading our scriptures (See Ephesians 6).

I also believe in modern-day prophets. President Monson is the current prophet in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I value what he says, because I believe that he speaks to us directly for the Lord, just like the prophet Moses did anciently. It seems that most prophets are not accepted during their own times and among their own people. But I feel the Spirit when he speaks to the church, and so I value what he has to say and accept it as the Lord's words and His will. Having a lighthouse in the midst of a constant tempest is a valuable thing. We can stay rooted and directed and keep moving in the right direction.

This blogpost is not so much an invitation for you to believe as I believe, even though I would welcome questions or be happy to talk to you about that; it is more of a plea for you to hold onto the things that you know in your heart are right and correct--the things that you value as sacred; the things that you've proven to be of value. Don't allow yourself to be sidetracked from what you know to be true; plus, embrace truth wherever you find it, and shun those things that you know are contrary to truth.

So if you have Holy Writ or scripture that you esteem as sacred, hold to it and read it. Don't let anyone dissuade you from the Word of God and tell you that it is not important to read His words. You cannot know His words without reading them, and you cannot remember them and incorporate them into your soul and your being without reading them many times. Listen to the Spirit within you. When you are prompted by Light and Truth, do not ignore it, but follow the impulses you have to do good.

Never has there been a day when it is more important to be literate and to choose uplifting things to read. Your soul needs the spiritual nourishment and enrichment found in the scriptures in order for it to thrive or even survive these morally challenging times. I believe that if we could all recommit ourselves to prayer, scripture study, and mediation, we could bring about a mighty change in this world, beginning with ourselves and circling outward to embrace so many others. If your Holy Books are on a shelf or in a box, will you locate them and make them a part of your daily life? Miracles will happen if we all do that. Let's do it.