My Mask is a Matter of Faith

I want to put something out here which is a principle of faith for me, and it really doesn’t have anything to do with politics.

A Matter of Faith

If you do not agree with my opinion, please just carry on. I am not here to debate “Stars on Thars” (see The Sneetches).

As a Latter-day Saint Christian (I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), I believe in modern day revelation and prophets. Certainly the Lord has revealed His will for His children through the prophets throughout the history of this earth. In this modern day, the prophet often speaks to us through written letter. I give it as my opinion that he does not pass onto the membership of the Church and the people of this world trivial opinion. Why would he? He gives us council to bless our lives currently and in the future.

The Lord has told us that all His commandments are spiritual. Certainly many of them pertain to us as physical beings and are there for our physical safety; but, if we adhere to what the Lord asks us to do, we will receive spiritual blessings that otherwise are unavailable to us (see D&C 29:34-35).

This year we have been studying the Doctrine and Covenants. The Lord tells us in the first section, “What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same” (D&C 1:38). Because of my understanding, knowledge, and testimony of this, and because I firmly believe what President Woodruff said concerning the Manifesto (“The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the programme. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place, and so He will any other man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty”), I choose to follow the prophet. (see Official Declaration 1)

When the world was waiting for the Covid vaccination to become available, and then when it became available, I did not want to get it. I was pretty adamant about not getting it. I did not want it. I did not trust it. And then the prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, encouraged us to get it (see Church's Stand on Vaccinations . I still didn’t want it, but I wanted to be true to my conviction to follow the prophet. So I made the appointment to get it. With misgivings still, I trusted that what I was doing was for my spiritual well being, and that was by far more important to me than any fear or any pride. (It doesn’t matter that our prophet is a retired world reknowned heart surgeon to me; that is not what influenced my choice. I count him as a prophet of God, and I want to stay in favor with my Heavenly Father.)

When the state mandate was lifted and we no longer had to wear masks if we had been vaccinated, I was ready to never put on a mask again. I cherish the freedom of not wearing one, and I like to see others’ faces and smiles. Then recently the prophet (The First Presidency) wrote us a new letter (see First Presidency Urges). This is the middle paragraph in the short letter, “To limit exposure to these viruses, we urge the use of face masks in public meetings whenever social distancing is not possible. To provide personal protection from such severe infections, we urge individuals to be vaccinated. Available vaccines have proven to be both safe and effective.”

Those words are from a prophet of God. We can all weigh them and take them as we may; but once again, I don’t think the prophet is spending his time with trivial matters. If he wrote us a letter, it’s got to be important. The word “urge” is strong, and it was used twice. I choose to listen as if to the voice of the Lord with the promise that I will not be led astray. So when I am in meetings or hallways of meetings where I cannot social distance, I will be putting on a mask.

I was vaccinated and I am wearing a mask when in close quarters with others (with whom I’m not regularly with) because I was asked to do so by a prophet of God. I believe His words and I trust His prophets.

Temples Bless Us with Power from on High

Temples Bless Us with Power from on High

It once was said that all roads lead to Rome. But the Roman Empire has since fallen. Today some people think that all road lead to the temple. While we know that the Lord’s Kingdom will not fail, not all roads lead to the temple. In fact, most roads will lead us away from the temple. Temples certainly do dot the earth, and we can even see the Redlands Temple from our own backyard; but, the real road to the temple is discipleship. When we comply to the principles, ordinances, and commandments found in the gospel of Jesus Christ, then we are on the road to the temple.

How do we begin?

We must become acquainted with our Heavenly Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. This is the most important thing we can so. As mothers especially, I feel that it is important to teach our children very young that they are children of God, that He loves them, and that He has expectations for them. 

In the Lord’s Mission Statement, we read, 

“For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (Moses 1:39).”  

The day that the Prophet Joseph Smith spoke about will soon be here: 

 “If any man does not know God, . . . he will realize that he has not eternal life; for there can be eternal life on no other principle” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 344).  

So it is important to make these things known unto the children of men (2 Nephi 2:8). 

It is interesting to note, that many in the world today think that knowing about God is enough. If they acknowledge that He exists, they think that they have done their part and all will be well with them. They do not realize that like any loving parent, God has expectations for them and of them. Remember, that even Laman and Lemuel believed in God; they knew He existed; they were visited and reprimanded by an angel. But when they expressed unbelief or resentment towards Nephi for his understanding and his relationship with God, 

Nephi asked them, “Have ye inquired of the Lord?” 

And their response was, “We have not; for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us (See 2 Nephi 15:8-9 ).”  

You see, they failed to become acquainted with God, and they failed to see their relationship to Him. In essence, even though they believed in God, they did not believe in themselves or in God’s love for them.

Satan perpetuates this lie: that none of us can know God. Why? Because, if he can divert us from the path back to our Heavenly Father, he feels that he’s won. Yet we know that because of God’s Plan for us and our Savior’s Atonement for us, They won a long time ago. It is just up to us to choose to be on the winning team, and to invite others to be as well; and as parents, we must begin with our own families.

There are others who have abandoned any belief in God. They claim superiority to those who have faith, saying that we are childish. There are many examples of this type in The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Basically, this group does not want to live by the teachings of the gospel, so it becomes more convenient for them to deny God than to deny themselves of their godlessness.

Also, we live in a day when diversity is the thing to be prized and celebrated. Even though diversity abounds and can add richness to society, I prefer to celebrate our commonality—that we are all children of God, that we have a common parentage through Adam and Eve, and that we have unlimited potential if we make and keep covenants with our Father. I feel it is a shame that there is so much pride in belonging to a special interest group. Our Father and our Savior have invested greater interest in all of us than any special interest group ever will, and They have so much more to offer. Some celebrate their individual struggles as making them more special or more blessed. In Ether 12:27, we learn that God gives unto men weaknesses that they may be humble, and then if they turn to Him in humility and faith, he will make weak things become strong unto them.

So it isn't our weaknesses or our diversity that we should celebrate most; but, we should celebrate the grace of the Lord, that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can become stronger, and better, and be made whole.  

I have chosen to give this background information to this talk, because it is of paramount importance that we become acquainted with God; that we help our children to become acquainted through reading, study, prayer, service, devotion, meditation, work, and genuine love and kindness. We cannot maintain a relationship with our Heavenly Father if we become too casual in our devotion.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been restored in our day, and all the Priesthood power along with it, that can bind us as families for eternity and deliver us to God’s throne spotless, where we can receive a full extension of His grace, and move forward in our progression to become like Him. That is powerful. That is merciful. That is brilliant. And Satan knows it. We live in a time where we can go to the temples and be endowed with power from on high. Why would Satan and his minions allow that? No, he will do all in his power to thwart that from happening. And that is why we see the confusion over the family unit, gender identity, and proper use of priesthood power. 

Did God know this would happen? Of course He did, and that is why He had the prophet and the apostles issue The Family: A Proclamation to the World nearly 19 years ago. As we study that document, we can equip ourselves and our family with the necessary knowledge to combat both personal doubts and assaults from within and without the church. In saying this, I am not suggesting that we argue, fight, or force our opinions down anyone’s throats. That has never been the Lord’s way, and it isn't today. But we do need to have the boldness NOW to hasten the work. 

• As mothers and fathers, there is no better way to hasten the work than to teach our children and to be an example to them. 

• Second to that, let’s hasten the work by being more valiant home and visiting teachers and by magnifying our callings. 

• As individuals, couples, and families, let’s hasten the work by sharing our testimonies, our faith, The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, our food, our time, our homes, and our lives. 

The souls of all around us are in danger, and we have the means to help them. 

Let’s point them in the direction of our Heavenly Father, of His Son’s Atonement, of access to their mercy and grace through the first principles and ordinance of the gospel, which are Faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by immersion for remission of sins by proper priesthood authority, and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost (See Article of Faith 1:4). And we cannot stop there. 

Let’s point them to the temple, and let’s develop the faith to take them there! 

I feel that too many of us are more worried about our rights of worship, and the rites performed in our temples, being taken away from us than we are in making it known that these blessings are available to all and inviting them to join us.

As a young mother, I felt it was important to read the scriptures and the Friend magazine with my children. It was important to teach them to share and to get along, and to rejoice in each other’s accomplishments. It was important for Bob and me to read with them, play with them, and teach them. Bob was very involved in all of this. He made sure that the children always had a good supply of books and music and that our family had wonderful daycations together.

Mother and Father need to work together as a team. This is especially true as the children grow older. Parents offer many prayers on behalf of their children, because they love them and want the best for them. And we point them in the right direction; but, we cannot coerce them or break them like a horse. They are sons and daughters of God, and they will learn to love Him more easily if their earthly parents love them. I would never purport to say that Bob and I were perfect parents, and our children may be quick to agree with that. But I know as they grow older in years and experiences with their own children, they will realize that we did the best we could. (And so did their grandparents.)

Our children were taught the gospel in our home through prayer, scripture study, Family Home Evening, and service to one another. They were prepared to enter the waters of baptism, and each had the personal desire to do so. It is a commandment to parents in the church to teach their children the first principles and ordinances of the gospel so that they will be prepared to be baptized when they are eight-years-old (Doctrine and Covenants 68:25).

Since the Gift of the Holy Ghost will be such a blessing in every facet of their lives, we should never adopt the worldly philosophy to not teach them and let them decide when they are older if they want to learn and convert or not. We can have the greatest influence on them for good while they are still young. And we should not want to deny them the privilege of the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

Besides the family nights and church attendance and teaching our children the importance of the gospel, how can we help them feel the Savior’s love and know how special they are to Him and their Heavenly Father? I won’t answer that question fully, and I really can’t. But The Family: A Proclamation to the World is a great starting point. Plus, the parents in each family unit can pray for direction on how they can most fully implement the teachings of the gospel in their home, what experiences will best help to invite the Spirit, and how they can help their children learn how to recognize the Spirit in their lives. The truer that we become in our own discipleship, the more our children will recognize the importance of developing their own relationships with God.

One of the most important things we can do is teach them about revelation. 

• As children of God we are all born with the Light of Christ and the ability to discern good from evil (See John 1). 

• Also, as children of God, even before being members of the church, we are all entitled to being influenced through the power of the Holy Ghost, which will lead us to truth (See 1 Nephi 10:17 and 2 Nephi 26:13).
  
  
• We should teach them that everyone is entitled to seek personal revelation, and if they are humble and faithful, and are seeking truth, they can expect to receive it.
  
  
• They should understand that only the prophet can receive revelation for the church and for the world; the stake president for the stake; the Bishop for the ward; parents for their families; and individuals for themselves. (We only receive revelation over that which we have stewardship.)

We need to teach them that those things that deny the Christ, or that deny the scriptures and the prophets, or that make all beliefs relative and equal are false doctrines. Truth is eternal; it is what God has established, and it is not what each individual person or civilization redefines it to be. Once we have the Gift of the Holy Ghost, we should seek our Father’s direction continually so that we can be led by truth and chart a proper course in our lives, and lovingly help others to do so as well.

In the temples, we will receive even more light and knowledge, and the personal revelation that we are prepared to receive. In the temples, we are endowed with power from on high. Yet we are not exempt from the struggles of our present-day world, and we will yet fall if we do not cleave unto the truths that we know, and if we do not follow the prophet. We will fall if we embrace the things of the world and let go of the things of God. What an amazing gift we have been given. We don’t just get to go to the temple once for ourselves and then stop. We can and should go back often. That way as we help our kindred dead receive their endowment, so that they can be blessed with power from on high, and so that they can be sealed eternally with their loved ones; as we go back ourselves, our own endowment is renewed in our lives, and we gain more power to resist evil and to pursue good. We also become a blessing to our family and friends, because we are enlightened by the Spirit of Truth, and we are carriers and keepers of the covenant. 

Our family has been blessed bountifully through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the gifts poured out to us in the temple. What a comfort it is to know that our son Robby has gained eternal life, that he is sealed to our family, and we can all be together after this life if we live worthily. As Bob and I grow older, it’s a comfort to us to know that our marriage was performed by the correct authority in the temple of God, and that it will be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise if we keep our covenants to God and to each other. We have been blessed that, so far, four of our children have been endowed and served missions; and that Christine is preparing to do the same. We are blessed that our children have decided to marry in the temple, and that three of them have already had that opportunity; that our grandson Jacob could be sealed to Tom and Whitney on their wedding day, and that our granddaughter Amanda was born in the covenant. Great are the blessings to our family because of the temple; and greater will be the blessings if each family member chooses to remain faithful to their covenants. Agency is paramount in our Father’s plan. But without proper teaching and guidance, there is not proper agency. We need to make known the benefits of the gospel of Jesus Christ to our own children, our own family, and to the world. We have been called upon to hasten the work. Let us do so. Let us take the high road of true discipleship which leads to the temple and back to our Heavenly Father's presence; and, let us invite all to come unto Christ, so that they can do the same.

Servants in the Lord's Church

In the Lord's Church, callings and positions of authority are not sought after. But individuals are blessed with different talents and abilities, and they are trained and seasoned through years of education and service. Even then the tutoring and reliance on the Lord are great when one is set apart to fulfill assignments from the Lord. There is no self-positioning, nor campaigning; but individuals are called by revelation from God. Humble servants feel the gravity of their position and seek to magnify their service by seeking direction from the Lord and doing only those things which will please Him.

I am thankful to all those who have served the Lord and His congregations, including me, with such diligence and love. I know that they are my brothers and sisters, who feel inadequate at times, but who also trust in the Lord who is behind their callings and behind them. They receive no monetary gain, but the Lord blesses and refines them into His beloved people.

There is no greater calling and assignment that we will receive in this life than to be good husbands and wives and good parents. How we love and serve each other is of utmost importance to the Lord. “No other success can compensate for failure in the home” (David O. McKay). By the same token, no monetary success alone can measure up to the growth and satisfaction that we receive when we are in the service of the Lord; and we can be in His service in His Church and in all our daily endeavors as we submit ourselves to Him and seek to do His will. “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God” (Mosiah 2:17).

So, although church callings and appointments are not sought after, those who are called to the Lord's work, submit themselves to the will of the Lord, and they do so willingly and cheerfully. We should not only sustain them when we raise our rights arms to the square in Sacrament meeting; but, we should sustain them with our prayers, our conversations with one another, and with eagerness to pitch in and help further the kingdom of God by being united in our service to Him. We should also show our support and gratitude by expresses thankfulness to the Lord and to His servants for the jobs that they are doing.

This Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, don’t forget to thank the Lord for His goodness in providing you with earthly parents and servants in His church who are there to aid you in your progress to return to Him. They love you and want you to succeed, and they are a witness of the extension of the Lord’s love to us in providing us His Good News, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, along with the Restoration of His Church, with the keys, the Priesthood, the Sacrament, the sealing powers, and those who have been given the authority to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof (see Article of Faith 1:5).

See also Talk by Boyd K. Packer

An Unsent Letter to the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve, and our other Leaders

http://burst.to/2CK

This letter is not actually being sent to our leaders at this time, because they are being inundated with letters from various people who feel disenfranchised from the church, and are in effect demanding change. (And I realize that they do not have time to read so many letters that are either negative or positive in nature.) I just wanted to express my love and faith in the leaders that the Lord has chosen. If you share my sentiments of love and devotion to the Lord, His leaders, and this great work, you may share this blog. Or you could write a similar blog of your own to share with family and friends.

We need to Let our light so shine before men [and women], that they may see our good works, and glorify our Father which is in heaven. (See Matthew 5:16)

To the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve; also, to the Seventy, the Bishopric, and the Leaders in all the Auxiliaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: 

I feel to thank you for your faith, love, prayers, and service to the entire church body membership and to the world at large. I know that you carry a heavy load on our behalf and on the Lord’s behalf. Because of His love for us, and because of our love for Him, we are engaged in the building of His kingdom together.

I can more fully feel the love of my Savior in my life because of your love for all of us. It is a powerful service that you are rendering, and it is humbling to know that the Lord loves us so much that He has given us the gift of prophets and apostles and a manifest order to the structure and workings of His Church. It is the same organization that existed when Jesus was on the earth and established it. He has established it here again for our day.

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, and for the edifying of the body of Christ.

(See Ephesians 4:11-16)

We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.

(See Article of Faith number 6)

I know that the Lord has always spoken through His prophets.

Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

(See Amos 3:7)

I also understand that none of you sought for your offices. You have only sought to do the Lord's will and to serve Him. 

And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

(See Hebrews 5:4)

For this reason, I will not try to second guess the workings of the Spirit or the direction of the leaders within the Lords church; nor will I seek to take honor or glory unto myself which does not belong to me. Why should I, when I know that the Father has promised me everything that is His in due time? Unfaithfulness, bitterness, and seeking for power or for more than what is allotted to me would come at too great a cost and at too great an eternal sacrifice. When there are things with which I disagree or lack understanding, I will pray for the Lord's Spirit to be with me to restore light and truth to my mind and heart. 

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

(Romans 8:16-18)

It is through the Gift of the Holy Ghost that I feel secure and peaceful and directed. I know that the Lord is at the helm and He is the Leader in this latter-day work through you. Because I trust Him, I also trust you, because I know that you were called by Him.

We have been promised that no latter-day prophet will lead us astray. I truly believe that. I saw the mantle of authority newly fallen on President Monson when he spoke at a news’ conference soon after he became prophet. He has had years of tutelage in preparing for this moment, and he has lived a life full of examples of following the Spirit with exactness and honor in serving as the Lord would have him do.

I am thankful to the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve for their relatively new and inspired documents of scripture: 

The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles 

and 

The Family: A Proclamation to the World .

I know that these are true and inspired documents. And they were given in the Spirit; therefore, I deem them as scripture. 

I have found the principles and doctrines within these documents to be true and remarkably on target for the times in which we live. The Spirit can confirm the truth of these things to everyone. They are in harmony with all other scripture and the words of all previous prophets. I am thankful that our Heavenly Father would give us renewed direction through His chosen and called prophets and apostles. 

I have full trust in following the counsel, commandments, directions, or strong recommendations which are given in our General Conferences. I know that my time isn't being wasted with personal opinion, but that I am being taught by the servants of the Lord. Because I have the scriptures and because I have the Gift of the Holy Ghost, I know that I am entitled to personal revelation concerning the things which I hear spoken in these assemblies. And again, they are in harmony with the testimony I already have and with the words of scriptures that are already a part of me. 

I want you to know that I am trying to be patient and understanding with our brothers and sisters who are currently lacking in faith. But at the same time I feel to say as Paul did:

I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation.

(See Romans 1:16)

And also as Alma said, I seek:

To stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that I may be in, even until death, that I may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that I may have eternal life.

(See Mosiah 18:9)

I pray that our Heavenly Father will continue to support and sustain you. I also hope and pray that you can feel the love and support and sustaining influence from the majority of the members of the church. I deem it an honor to be able to follow a living prophet, and I am most thankful that the Lord is giving us direction for our times and for these seasons of particular unrest, uncertainty, infidelity, and pride. I will rededicate myself to the service of the Lord and seek to do His will. I hope that I will never be found choosing to be involved in any group or company that is offensive to Him; while, at the same time, I pray that I will be found worthy to let my light shine in His behalf. 

Thank you for your sacrifice and service on our behalf and on the Lord's behalf. I personally am extremely grateful. I love the Lord and I honor you as His servants.

Most sincerely, from your sister in the gospel,

Heidi Sommerfeld Stevenson