Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Sustaining the Prophets

Our Savior, Jesus Christ, 
whom we follow, 
whom we worship, 
and whom we serve, 
is ever at the helm.”19



Eternal Life - to Know Our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ

Seeking for personal revelation is a key.

“And when ye shall receive these things”—including what I have shared today—“I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
“And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know [with a surety] the truth of all things.”27

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Ponder the Path of Thy Feet


The Savior’s example provides a framework for everything that we do, 
and His words provide an unfailing guide.

Living for Jesus

In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. 
In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.
-- Tom Bodett
“Come ye after me” (Mark 1:17).

We are most blessed and joyful when we strive to be like Jesus Christ.


One of the purposes of this life is for us to be tested to see whether we “will do all things whatsoever the Lord” our God shall command us. (Abr. 3:25.) In short, we are to learn the will of the Lord and do it. We are to follow the model of Jesus Christ and be like Him. 
The essential question of life should be the same one posed by Paul: “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6.) …
We need more men and women of Christ who will always remember Him, who will keep His commandments which He has given them. The greatest yardstick of success is to see how closely we can walk each moment in His steps.18
Some … are willing to die for their faith, but they are not willing to fully live for it. Christ both lived and died for us. Through His atonement and by walking in His steps, we can gain the greatest gift of all—eternal life, which is that kind of life of the great Eternal One—our Father in Heaven.
Christ asked the question, “What manner of men ought [we] to be?” He then answered by saying we ought to be even as He is. (3 Ne. 27:27.)
That [person] is greatest and most blessed and joyful whose life most closely approaches the pattern of the Christ. This has nothing to do with earthly wealth, power, or prestige. The only true test of greatness, blessedness, joyfulness is how close a life can come to being like the Master, Jesus Christ. He is the right way, the full truth, and the abundant life.
The constant and most recurring question in our minds, touching every thought and deed of our lives, should be, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6.) The answer to that question comes only through the Light of Christ and the Holy Ghost. Fortunate are those who so live that their being is filled with both. …
Considering all that [Jesus Christ] has done and is doing for us, there is something that we might give Him in return.
Christ’s great gift to us was His life and sacrifice. Should that not then be our small gift to Him—our lives and sacrifices, not only now but in the future?19
[Those who are] captained by Christ will be consumed in Christ. … Their will is swallowed up in His will. (See John 5:30.) They do always those things that please the Lord. (See John 8:29.) Not only would they die for the Lord, but, more important, they want to live for Him.
Enter their homes, and the pictures on their walls, the books on their shelves, the music in the air, their words and acts reveal them as Christians. They stand as witnesses of God at all times, and in all things, and in all places. (See Mosiah 18:9.) They have Christ on their minds, as they look unto Him in every thought. (See D&C 6:36.) They have Christ in their hearts as their affections are placed on Him forever. (See Alma 37:36.)
Almost every week they partake of the sacrament and witness anew to their Eternal Father that they are willing to take upon them the name of His Son, always remember Him, and keep His commandments. (See Moro. 4:3.)
In Book of Mormon language, they “feast upon the words of Christ” (2 Ne. 32:3), “talk of Christ” (2 Ne. 25:26), “rejoice in Christ” (2 Ne. 25:26), “are made alive in Christ” (2 Ne. 25:25), and “glory in [their] Jesus” (see 2 Ne. 33:6). In short, they lose themselves in the Lord and find eternal life. (See Luke 17:33.)20

Friday, March 27, 2015

“Lord, Is It I?”

Last Supper - Leonardo Da Vinci

It was our beloved Savior’s final night in mortality, the evening before He would offer Himself a ransom for all mankind. As He broke bread with His disciples, He said something that must have filled their hearts with great alarm and deep sadness. “One of you shall betray me,” He told them.
The disciples didn’t question the truth of what He said. Nor did they look around, point to someone else, and ask, “Is it him?”
Instead, “they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?


"We must approach our Eternal Father with broken hearts and teachable minds. We must be willing to learn and to change. And, oh, how much we gain by committing to live the life our Heavenly Father intends for us."

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

The Law of the Fast: A Personal Responsibility to Care for the Poor and Needy

I invite each of us to become more like the Savior 
by caring for the poor and needy, 
by faithfully keeping the law of the fast, 
and by contributing a generous fast offering.

This is the fast that the Lord has chosen: 
    1.  Loose the bands of wickedness
    2.  Undo the heavy burdens
    3.  Let the oppressed go free
    4.  That ye break every yoke
    5.  Deal thy bread to the hungry
    6.  Bring the poor that are cast out to thy house
    7.  When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him
    8.  That thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh

The wonderful blessings promised by the Lord to those who obey the law of the fast:
    1.  Thy light break forth as the morning
    2.  Thine health shall spring forth speedily
    3.  Thy righteousness shall go before thee
    4.  The glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward
    5.  Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer
    6.  Thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am

"And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:
And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought."
Regarding this scripture, President Harold B. Lee had this to say: “The tremendous blessings that come [from fasting] have been spelled out in every dispensation, and here the Lord is telling us through this great prophet why there is fasting, and the blessings that come from fasting. … If you analyze … the 58th chapter of the book of Isaiah you will find unraveled why the Lord wants us to pay fast offerings, why he wants us to fast. It’s because by qualifying thus we can call and the Lord can answer. We can cry and the Lord will say, ‘Here I am.’”
President Lee adds: “Do we ever want to be in a condition where we can call and he won’t answer? We will cry in our distress and he won’t be with us? I think it is time we are thinking about these fundamentals because these are the days that lie ahead, when we are going to need more and more the blessings of the Lord, when the judgments are poured out without mixture upon the whole earth.”
Our beloved prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, has shared his testimony of these principles—a testimony borne of personal experience. He said: “No member of the Church who has helped provide for those in need ever forgets or regrets the experience. Industry, thrift, self-reliance, and sharing with others are not new to us.”

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Continuing Revelation

Human judgment and logical thinking 
will not be enough to get answers to 
the questions that matter most in life. 

We need the continuing blessing of communication with God.

Personal revelation ... does not come easily, nor does it come simply for the asking. The Lord gave this standard for the capacity to receive such witnesses from God. It is a guide for anyone seeking personal revelation, as we all must.
“Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distill upon thy soul as the dews from heaven ... The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion.”

The Lord Has a Plan for Us!

“If we continue to live as we are living, 
will the promised blessings be fulfilled?”

How then can we ensure that we are making the best decision?
    1. We need to consider our options with the end in mind.
    2. We need to be prepared for the challenges that will come.
    3. We need to share this vision with the people we love.

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Choose Wisely

Decisions determine destiny.

"When we rationalize wrong choices...
we lose the blessings and protections we need"



Video highlight

Complete talk

More information: http://www.mormon.org


“Will this make you a better person?”

Six Concepts of True Repentance

“True repentance is based on and flows from 
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other way.”

President Benson was faithful to this charge as he taught the gospel throughout the world. He taught that “it is better to prepare and prevent than it is to repair and repent.” But he also observed that “we all have need to repent.” He emphasized the “mighty change” of heart associated with repentance (see Alma 5:12–14) and explained the Savior’s role in bringing about such change.

Through repentance, Alma the Younger 
experienced a miraculous change of heart.

“The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature. … Yes, Christ changes men, and changed men can change the world.”

Full lesson
More information: http://www.mormon.org

1.     To truly repent, we must first realize that the gospel plan is the plan of happiness.

2.     Faith in Jesus Christ precedes true repentance.

3.     Repentance involves a mighty change of heart.

4.     Godly sorrow leads to true repentance.

5.     Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are anxious to see us change our lives, and They will help us.


6.     We must not lose hope as we seek to become Christlike.

I Know These Things of Myself

"A testimony is more like a tree that 
passes through various stages 
of growth and development."


Quotes from President Thomas S. Monson:

     1.  “In order for us to be strong and to withstand all the forces pulling us in the wrong direction … , we must have our own testimony. Whether you are 12 or 112—or anywhere in between—you can know for yourself that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true.”
     2.  “I maintain that a strong testimony of our Savior and of His gospel will … protect you from the sin and evil around you. … If you do not already have a testimony of these things, do that which is necessary to obtain one. It is essential for you to have your own testimony, for the testimonies of others will carry you only so far.”
     3.  “When we know the Book of Mormon is true, then it follows that Joseph Smith was indeed a prophet and that he saw God the Eternal Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. It also follows that the gospel was restored in these latter days through Joseph Smith—including the restoration of both the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods.”

Thursday, March 19, 2015

The Book

"We must work on all of the 
requirements and not become distracted..."
"During this conference we are being taught 
about changes that will help us all be better prepared."
"The work still takes time and sacrifice, but all can do it..."