Identity Theft? No, I am a Child of God

Identity Theft? No, I am a Child of God

We live in a world of identity theft. It happens everywhere. If you have not been a target yet, you probably will be in the future. It has happened to my husband and me a few times.

The first time, it was more an error than theft. There are so many people with the name Robert Stevenson in this world that somehow, either by human error or electronic error, my husband's identity was mixed up with someone else's; and the someone else did not have a good financial history or credit background. So it hurt my husband's credit until it was resolved.

Another time I woman stole mail out of our mailbox. From that she obtained some credit card information and purchased many things online using my name. The silly woman actually used our phone number as a second phone number to call though, so she was found out. But still she got away with stealing a great deal of merchandise.

The most blatant identity theft with which we have had to deal so far came from a trusted employee. She used Bob's name to order cell phones. She also stole checks written to him and deposited them in her own bank account. Before we were aware of this theft, she had stolen upwards of $16,000. She felt that she had the "right" because of the amount of time she'd been working for Bob.

Identity theft is not new. It didn't even begin in this mortal world. Satan attempted identity theft while we were still all in the presence of our Father in Heaven. We all lived in the presence of our Heavenly Father before we came to this earth. We loved Him and we wanted to become like Him. Jesus was the oldest spiritual begotten Son of our Heavenly Father. His name was Jehovah. Satan was one of the oldest as well. His name was Lucifer, or Son of the Morning.

When Heavenly Father presented His plan to us in the Grand Council in heaven, we shouted for joy! He would give us the gift of agency, which is the ability to choose right from wrong. When we came to earth, we would no longer be in His presence, and we would not remember what things were like before our mortal life. We would have to live by faith. We were anxious to gain the experiences of a mortal life that would help us become more like our Father in Heaven (see Gospel Principles Lesson 2).

The tests in this mortal life would be new to us, and none of us would be able to live in harmony with the glory of God at all times. We would fall short, and we would need a Savior. Heavenly Father said that through faith in the Savior's Atonement, repentance of our wrongs, and obedience to God's commandments, we would all be able to progress and return to live with Him again. But we would have to choose righteousness (see Gospel Principles Lesson 2).

Because we needed a Savior to pay for our sins and teach us the way to return to our Heavenly Father, Our Father asked us, "Whom shall I send." Jesus answered, "Here am I, send me" (Abraham 3:27).

Jesus's love for us was so great that He was willing to submit to all that Heavenly Father wanted Him to do. He was willing to be born in humble circumstances and to give His life for all mankind. He was willing to follow the Father's plan which would allow all of us freedom to choose our own paths or to follow Him. He would do all this because He loved His Father and wanted to please Him and bring honor to His name; and He would do all this because He loved us and wanted us to be able to choose to return to live with God (See Moses 4:2). "Father thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever," is what Jesus said (See
Gospel Principles Lesson 3).

Satan, wanted all the glory for himself. He wanted to destroy the agency that God had given to men. He wanted to force all of us to live in harmony with God's laws. And he wanted all the glory for restoring God's children to Him (See Moses 4:1-4; Gospel Principles Lesson 3). He wanted to take God's place and have His glory. He wanted to steal our Heavenly Father's identity.

Because Heavenly Father knew that Satan's plan would not work, He chose Jesus to be our Savior. Satan then rebelled against Heavenly Father, and He rebelled against Jesus, God's Chosen One. Jesus was foreordained by Heavenly Father to be the Savior of the world.

Satan didn't rise in rebellion by himself. He took a third part of the hosts of heaven with him. Satan waged war against Jesus and His followers. He did this because of anger and jealousy. And because he sought to take away the agency of man and also God's identity, and because he rebelled against the priesthood authority that God had given to His Only Begotten Son, Satan and those who followed him were cast out of heaven (See Isaiah 14:12-15; Revelation 12:4, 7-9). Satan succeeded in confusing one-third the host of heaven about their true identity as sons and daughters of God, and because of their anger, jealousy, and rebellion, they chose to forfeit that identity and follow Satan. They will never have the opportunity to receive mortal bodies and to progress to become like our Heavenly Father. That was their own choice because of their willingness to fight against what they knew was right; to fight against God's Chosen Vessel, and to seek to usurp power, and steal the throne of God. In so doing, they became sons and daughters to the devil, instead of to God. Now they try to thwart our progression as well; and one of their main tactics is to confuse us concerning our identity and to rob us of our identity by persuading us to use our agency wrongfully. Another tactic is to get us to speak against our living prophets and against priesthood authority and against the Lord's servants.  

It's important that we learn and claim our identity as children of God. So many would rather identify themselves with factions, thinking that they are promoting themselves better by doing so; but, there is no better position to be in than to know that we are children of God and that He desires us to feel His love and acceptance and to, eventually, become like Him.

There is a prevailing attitude in the world, and now in the church, among so many that we have to accept "anything goes." We do not have to accept that, nor should we. We have the scriptures, and we have living prophets. If we read, study, pray, and follow the commandments, the Lord has promised us that He will be with us, and we will not be deceived. We also have the Holy Ghost and the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and we can find strength in renewing our covenants every week as we partake of the sacrament worthily with a repentant heart and an eye single to the glory of God. Yet, Satan tries to cause factions and disharmony and to be a grand puppeteer of those who are willing to believe his lies and deceit concerning who they are and concerning Heavenly Father's plan for them. The sophistry of the devil is in great abundance, but it pales to the Light of Christ and in the light of those who are following Him and His prophets. 

Identity. We all knew our identity in our pre-mortal life, and we chose to follow our Heavenly Father's plan, and we chose to accept Jesus as our Savior. Satan tried to steal our Heavenly Father's identity, and He continues to try to steal our identity. And if he confuses everyone enough, he knows he just might be able to do so. So he spreads lies concerning both gender and same sex attraction, causing people to find false identity by defining themselves in limiting ways.  And he spreads lies about inequality, where no inequality is found. And he spreads lies concerning the very facets of our identity as children on God who are dependent upon Him for all that we have and are. And he spreads lies concerning the goodness of God and God's prophets. And he spreads lies telling people that their logic is correct and that it is just as good as God's prophets or God Himself. 

We have seen "gay marriage" being upheld and endorsed by those who are in authority in our state and federal governments. Like Satan, these people will endorse or uphold whatever they believe will bring them more power and glory. They are willing to enslave the people in order to rob them of their basic freedoms and identity in an effort to bring equality to all, they say; or in other words, to enslave the people so that they can reign supreme. To take away the voice of the majority is to rob the country of freedoms that will keep her free.  

Since December 2012, we have been seeing the fruits of the lies Satan has been spreading by the many distractions being cause by feminist groups, by a group called All Enlisted, and another called Ordain Women, to name a few, who believe that it is their purpose to promote feminist agenda that is contrary to the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Satan has convinced many of these people that they are doing so in harmony with the Spirit of God, and that they have a right to counsel both God's prophets and God himself.

Because  so many people are caught up in self-pity and disenfranchisement, they are willing to support the efforts of feminist groups that may touch a certain common chord of disharmony in their own lives. Without searching to find what the driving force and true agendas are behind these movements, many are jumping on the bandwagon thinking that they are doing all of us God-service by rallying a political movement within God's church, which is in opposition to the character and nature of the order of God's church. 

Satan is pleased to see so many confused and disenfranchised, and he grabs onto whom he can to further his plan to steal our identity. What many do not realize is that these feminist groups include many men as well. They seem to be the most fierce in driving these feminist page of the month clubs. Also, many who are adding fuel to the fire are apostate or excommunicated members already. Caught up in it all though are people who honestly feel disenfranchised and who do not understand God's plan or His scriptures. It is difficult for me to remember to be charitable when I feel like the Lord's Church is being attacked so fiercely. But that is exactly what we need to be now and in the coming days. 

You know, it seems like every discussion that I've participated in where  feminist issues of disenfranchisement are being discussed, no feminist woman for these causes has any solid thing to say. There are a whole lot of men out there thinking that they are being supportive of these feminist groups by repeating the rhetoric; and I am left to wonder whose fight for equality this really is. But then again, I know that it is Satan stirring up division in the Lord's house so that he can rob the Lord's children of their true identity. I also have seen many men and women who support the prophet and the Brethren; men and women, who have strong and solid testimonies, saying that they do not agree with these feminist ideas or tactics. And for that, they are belittled and told that they are stupid, passive, and conservative. We cannot think to impose the limited understanding of men's politics in relation to the Lord's Church. We are always to seek to gain counsel from God, through His prophets and the Holy Ghost, and not seek to counsel Him. 

So while we should all be rejoicing in our commonality as children of the Highest, Satan is delighting in the contention and division that he is causing. 

I am thankful for the understanding that I have of both priesthood power and authority. No one has ever said that women will not ever hold the priesthood. We already share in the power of the priesthood and act under the direction of the priesthood. Ultimately, priesthood power will be held jointly between husbands and wives who are faithful and become exalted. In my opinion though, women will never hold the same offices of the priesthood as men do. This has never been the order in the Church or Gospel of Jesus Christ. I love the gospel, and I am grateful for Christ's atonement, and that is sufficient for me. It should be for all of us. I think it is arrogant to demand anything more from the Lord or from our Father than what they have already provided for us and promised us. 

Here on earth, the priesthood is known to be the authority to act in the name of God. No one can receive that authority except from God. Seeking it by relying on the arm of flesh is godless. There is no pretense or arrogance in saying so.

Because I believe so strongly in my identity as a daughter of God, and because I believe that Jesus Christ is my Savior and the One who stands at the head of His own Church, I feel strengthened by their strength and their goodness. I identify with Them. Because I am a daughter of God, I thoroughly trust that the prophets are called of God and that they are not running this Church alone, but that Jesus Christ stands at the head. So I will put my trust in the Lord and His prophets. And, therefore, anyone who issues calls to action to members of the Church on behalf of the Church, who does not have authority to do so, I will not follow.

God knew that we would make mistakes and fall short; that is why He sent His Son. Even Jesus Christ had to grow from grace to grace in remembering His identity and learning His purpose. But He always did all things to please His Father. That is because He knew and remembered who He was. God has sent His Spirit to testify concerning Himself and His Son and concerning our true identity as sons and daughters of God. Jesus did not think it robbery to become like God, because God had promised Him Eternal glory for His obedience (see  Philippians 2:5-16); whereas Satan actually sought to rob God and keep all the glory for himself. And Jesus provided for us to all become joint-heirs with Him to all that the Father has (see Romans 8:16-18). What a grand and glorious plan and purpose. Who could ask for anything more?

I pray that we will all humble ourselves sufficiently in order to become recipients to the Spirit of Truth that will teach us all things which we must do, and which will testify to us of God's love and our own identity, so that we can hold onto it and not allow anyone to rob us of it. We kept our first estate, and we are promised eternal glory if we keep our second estate. We need to remember and claim our identity as children of God, and we need to follow the prophet and proper priesthood authority in order to remain valiant in doing so.

All Enlisted May Be Editing Your Letters!

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All Enlisted May Be Editing Your Letters!

Obviously, I am very wary of All Enlisted and the Feminist groups that have united with them. Please be advised that they do have ulterior motives than those which are expressed in their various Facebook pages, blogs, and websites. Some of these are already clear, and some of these are becoming clearer as time goes on. Please do not just jump to each cause they propose without questioning their real intent. So many already have, thinking that they are doing great things, with no idea of where they are really headed.

Interchanges from the Night of 26 January 2013:

I wrote the following this evening (26 January 2013), and others commented. I really cannot believe the twisting of comments that takes place with the ALL Enlisted group. They twist the scriptures to fit their own purposes; and they twist the comments of anyone who disagrees with them to also fit their own purposes. I should just stay away, but sometimes I've been hopeful that maybe just even one honest person will read something that I have written, and it will help him or her. I was rather astonished though when a male supporter of All Enlisted noted that he was revising the letters that they were receiving.

Beginning with my note:

Heidi: It's interesting that the Jewish people thought that Jesus should be their political hero. But He knew that it wasn't part of His mission to do so. He just went about doing good. And He did all things to please His Father.

Response by an All Enlisted supporter, K: I love this—it absolutey supports what we are doing! I appreciate your support.

My thoughts: I guess, at this point you can see my annoyance. I think she twisted what I said in her mind to actually believe I was being supportive of their cause, which I am not. I find it extremely annoying when my words and intentions are so twisted as to defy all logic and meaning.

Response from a second All Enlisted supporter, D: Jesus also went about correcting the harmful behaviors of others, such as discrimination against Samaritans, casting judgment, and instructing leaders to be more understanding of their people’s needs.

Response from a very visible male supporter of All Enlisted, C: Jesus=social justice hero. The perfect Mormon feminist.

Heidi: Jesus spoke from a position of authority. He disdained those who twisted things.

Response from the same male supporter, C: The words you speak are magical, Heidi. They inspire me as I work on editing these letters.

My thoughts: When I realized that there are many individuals that think All Enlisted is really out there to support them in their desire to have their voices heard, even though I do not agree with this group or the causes in which they are engaging, I felt sad for those who think that this group is supporting them. There is clearly an ulterior motive present. Whether they are editing the letters before they are sending them on to the General Authorities, or whether they are editing them for publication for their own purposes, I cannot say. But when I noticed this response, I had to question it.

So I began a new thread:

Heidi: Are you editing everyone's letters? Do you have the right to do that?

D: I wonder what made you ask that? Did you read a comment or post that suggested the possibility? It would seem if you want to be sure the letter is not edited you can send a sealed letter instead of an email?

Heidi: C said he was editing the letters. I wonder why you didn't straightly answer.

There were then an entire series of comments that were deleted. C said that he can’t stand improper grammar and such. Someone claimed they weren’t being edited, using the words “no and no” in answer to my question. Another asked if I thought it were a good idea for them to be edited. The comments were all conflicting. 

C also said that he did not write that he was editing the letters, but that I was putting words into his mouth. 

So the interchange after the series of deletions continued at this point:

Heidi: Wow. First, I am not sending a letter which you know. Second, C did write in a response to me that he was editing the letters.

C: Deleted convo here because this is an important topic and the response was way too wordy. Basically, unless somebody give us permission to edit their letters, we will deliver them UNEDITED. That is all. Sorry for any confusion that may have occurred. 

D: Oh, I missed that comment you reference Heidi. I was asking a genuine question and provided what I thought was a serious solution after your earlier post that if you wrote a letter it would say.... I apologize that my comment promoted such a reaction.

Heidi: C, your exact words: "The words you speak are magical, Heidi. They inspire me as I work on editing these letters."

D: It's possible he was taking about editing his own letters. Your words to the GAs were lovely and I hope everyone remembers to include those kinds of sentiments in their letters (should they choose to write them). 

Heidi: Those were not to you, and you are not to touch them.

My thoughts: I had posted a link to a blog I that I had written, which wasn't a letter to be sent, just a blogpost showing my gratitude for our prophet and the general authorities. I said that was NOT intended for them and not to touch it; by that, I only meant that I did not want them editing it or using it in any way for their own purposes.

 
L: Letters will not be edited. As an admin of this group, after asking the other admins, we are all in agreement that editing letters would be inappropriate and will not happen.

Thoughts: I believe that this interchange between the administrators for the group occurred as a result of this dialogue, not before it. 

C: AHHHH!!!! I remember now. Editing MY letters. Sorry about the confusion. I'm a perfectionist, and I like to edit what I write before I call it final.

Heidi: L, if you are being honest, then look in your other box on Facebook, because I am not sending a note for $1. C did say he was editing them.

D: Heidi, you posted them here for everyone to see. I didn't "touch" them - I took inspiration from them and encouraged others to do the same.

I believe I have been nothing but respectful and polite to you, yet your responses have been far from that. Can you explain what your goal is in these discussions if you plan on being combative instead of constructive I will be happy to exit any conversation you start.

C: I was editing MYYY letters. I'm sorry for the confusion. I would not edit anybody else's letters. (As much as I have this urge to fix every grammatical and spelling error I see). It's not my place to do so. We're simply a delivery service. 

L: Heidi, it is irrelevant to me if you send in a letter. It is clear you don't agree with this group, so no one expects a letter from you. That is fine; don't write for a cause you do not support. C has explained that he was referring to the letters...

(I cannot retrieve the rest of this post, because I have been blocked, and anything that I have written has been hidden from this page. But I did copy everything I could into a Word Document before I was blocked. Also, I had already messaged a note to L, concerning the dialogue referenced in this blog, before I realized that she did not want to see one.)

Da: Heidi, I am a page admin and in that capacity I am issuing you a warning. You are being extremely combative on this page. If that continues you will be blocked from commenting here.

As an additional clarification: No letters have been or ever will be edited by group organizers. Thanks to every one who has contributed.

C: The admins are only sending letters that are mailed to the P.O. Box in the About section or sent to the e-mail address also found in the About section.

Heidi: I posted a link to a blog. It was never intended to be a letter to send. But C definitely said that he was working on editing these letters. More than one definitely. I am not being extremely combative. You may block me if you wish, but I will know what was said, and so will you.

Heidi: It's also amazing how many of your comments were deleted before I wrote "Wow."

At this point, Da deleted the last three comments, so that her final comment read as follows:

Da: Heidi, I am a page admin and in that capacity I am issuing you a warning. You are being extremely combative on this page. If that continues you will be blocked from commenting here.

As an additional clarification: No letters have been or ever will be edited by group organizers. Thanks to every one who has contributed.

This thread ends here. All other comments will be deleted.

My thoughts: But not only were the last three comments deleted (plus the “convo” that C spoke of), I was then blocked from the page and the entire interchange was deleted from anyone’s view. 

The interchange between L and me in messages:

I just sent her my first post of the evening, as seen above, that shows that C said he was editing letters. 

L’s response: 

Heidi, this is not complicated. I have spoken to C in private and he has cleared this up in public several times. We are submitting letters to six different leaders, and have suggested that people write six different letters, personalizing them to each recipiant. C, as someone heavily involved in this Project from the beginning, has been working on his letters (plural for multiple recipiants) and is editing them (or reworking parts to improve them) as he draws inspiration from the comments of others. He was talking about editing his own letters. I understand how you could be confused initially, but your insistance on clinging to your belief that we are all lying about editing letters is absurd. Letters will not be edited, and no one said they would be. The admins of the event discussed this and we are all in total agreement. Letters will not be edited, and C never said they would be. End of story.

My thoughts: For your information, I decided not to edit any of the dialogue from Facebook (other than just using first letters for the people's names). Whether or not the letters being sent in are being edited before going to the General Authorities or not, I do believe that they are being saved and will be edited for this group’s own purposes, which do NOT match what they are telling the public.

Working on a Latter-day Saint Marriage

What does love mean in a Latter-day Saint relationship?

Because we believe in an eternal covenant of marriage, love means being true to our spouse not only after we make that covenant with him or her, but it means being faithful and practicing fidelity before we ever even meet.

Because we believe that we are literally the sons and daughters of God, and we believe that our bodies are gifts from him and tabernacles for our spiritual bodies and also for the Holy Ghost, we would never want to do anything to violate the law of chastity, which would mean that we are violating ourselves and those who we take advantage of outside of a marriage covenant.

Because we believe that a marriage should last forever, we do not believe that courtship should ever end. In fact, the leaders of the church recommend a weekly date night. On top of that, a weekly family night should also be in place to help develop and maintain the integrity of the family unit.

Because we believe that we are accountable to God and that our marriage covenant is a three-way covenant, we include God in the decisions that we make, and we act as equal partners in both our marriage and the rearing of our children. Because we believe we are children of God, we think that it is inappropriate to be sarcastic or cutting to each other; and we feel that it is expected for each of us to be supportive and cooperative to each other’s desires, needs, and wants. We strive not only to be our best selves, but to help each other be his or her best self. There is not room for competition, envy, and malice within a Latter-day Saint marriage.

Because we literally believe that we are to become like our Heavenly Father through faith and obedience and that we can become joint-heirs with Christ, and because we truly believe that the man is not without the woman nor the woman without the man in the Lord, we work diligently to be one in purpose, one in testimony, and one in our path to happiness.

Quick thoughts here for a friend who is gathering information. If you have any other thoughts, please comment. Thanks.

The Importance of Following Today's Prophet

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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

wintry day

wintry day

wintry day with no clouds but wind
flying through the trees and whistling through the eaves
from my window, your voice is whispering that it is warm
outside, but from inside I can see
the boughs of the trees being tempest tossed
even the cat has run for shelter

wintry day with no voices of children at play
I can hear the echoes of your laughter
peal and repeal as layers of licking wind flap
and fowls take to flight
not a soul in sight
echoes flinging of autumn singing
and the dog scratching to come in

wintry day abundant in sound and sight
melodious dissonance of cackle and joyful
laughter combined in chaotic timing
your very song thrills and chills
seeping ever more deeply
as I safely sip cocoa in reflective
solititude

http://tinyurl.com/baotcys

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

Cancer Spreading through our Country

Stupid, stupid cancer. All any of us wish for is to retain most of our hard-earned wages, have the means to pay our bills and feed our families, and maybe have a little left over for a rainy day or personal enjoyment or educational development. We live in a country full of cancer with a cantankerous government who doesn't want to pursue treatment, or who is only willing to place a Band-Aid on the greatest bleeding ulcer ever. We live in a country full of cancer with citizens who are so plagued with the effects of the disease and so accustomed to the Band-Aid treatments that they are unwilling to undergo the perceived drastic changes that social chemotherapy and radiation may have to offer. It appears that an appeal to conservatism or liberalism is a cover-up for those who are neither conservative or liberal. We keep doing the same stupid things and getting the same stupid results. It's simple math that we all learned in middle school: garbage in, garbage out. So unlike true cancer victims who recognize that they are fighting a deadly disease and who are struggling to hold onto the things that they hold most dear, the United States is burying its head in the sand and ignoring the imminent dangers of the spreading disease. Until we wake up, and stay awake for more than half-an-hour or half-a-day; until we are ready to accept that we are dealing with destructive economic, societal, and moral demons and dependencies; until we look to the only known cure from slavery and poverty, the source which will bring freedom and prosperity, this cancer will continue to spread.