Always Remember Him

Always Remember

           This past General Conference Elder Hallstrom gave a talk, “Converted to His Gospel through His Church.  He discussed the difference between being active in the Gospel and active in the church. He gave three suggestions that if followed will increase our conversion to the Saviors gospel.  I want to discuss briefly the second suggestion which was to focus on the ordinances and covenants of the gospel.  He said, briefly the second suggestion which was to focus on the ordinances and covenants of the gospel.  He said,
 
  “If there are any of the essential ordinances yet to be performed in your life, intently prepare to receive each of them. Then we need to establish the discipline to live faithful to our covenants, fully using the weekly gift of the sacrament. Many of us are not being regularly changed by its cleansing power because of our lack of reverence for this holy ordinance.”

        Notice that one of the purposes of the Sacrament is to change us as we reverence the sacrament.  I recently listened to a question and answer session from Elder Bednar that was connected with his new book, “To Act In Doctrine.” The video is below, as you listen to Elder Bednars answer from this sweet boys question, think how his council might help us to have more reverence for the sacrament. 

We can see how remembering is central to the covenant we make at the time of the sacrament.  When we strive to always remember him we will in turn have greater reverence for this ordinance and be blessed by having our natures changed through the Atonement of Christ.  

        

Which way will we face?

I came across this video (below) a few days ago that has caused me to ponder some of the challenges our own members face and will continue to face in the future.  When Elder Packer was appointed the supervisor of Seminaries and Institutes of Religion.  Elder Harold B. Lee gave him this counsel. 


 "You must decide now which way you face," he said. "Either you represent the teachers and students and champion their causes or you represent the Brethren who appointed you. You need to decide now which way you face." Then he added, "Some of your predecessors faced the wrong way." It took some hard and painful lessons before I understood his counsel. In time, I did understand, and my resolve to face the right way became irreversible." (Elder Packer, Talk to the All-Church Coordinating Council, May 18, 1993)


One of the tests we will face in our time is the question, what direction will you face?  Will we face the brethren?  Or will we try to appease the world so we will be accepted?  This reminds me of Elder Nelsons talk this past conference who reaffirmed the churches stand on God as the creator and not the God of evolution.  I have read many blogs that have been very critical of Elder Nelson and others in the church for not getting "with the times" as it relates to science and evolution.   


What brought this all to a head was when I was reading Elder Christoffersons talk in the ensign from the April General Conference, "The Doctrine of Christ".  In the footnotes, Elder Christofferson quotes at length from an Ensign article Written by Elder Maxwell about the apostasy of the early church.  Elder Maxwell made this observation,


"In the course of time, reason, the Greek philosophical tradition, dominated, then supplanted, reliance on revelation, an outcome probably hastened by well-intentioned Christians wishing to bring their beliefs into the mainstream of contemporary culture. … “… Let us [too] be wary about accommodating revealed theology to conventional wisdom” (Ensign, Nov. 1993, 19–20).


We must remember, personal apostasy begins by trying to appease the world (IE, Lehis Dream).  It takes a strong individual to stand firm in ones convictions. I have included the interview with this good Nun, and I call her good because I firmly believe she is doing the best she can with the light and truth she has.  But, it does serve as a warning for us. 

LDS Church organizes first stake in India

This article Appeared in the Deseret News today announcing that the fist stake was organized in India!

A significant moment in the international expansion of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints occurred last Sunday when Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presided over the creation of the Hyderabad India Stake.

Elder Oaks was assisted in this action by Elders Donald L. Hallstrom and Anthony D. Perkins of the church Quorums of the Seventy.

The new stake — a church administrative unit similar to a Catholic diocese, consisting of a number of individual congregations, which are called wards or branches — is India's first and one of nearly 3,000 similar units worldwide. It will serve the needs of approximately 10,000 Latter-day Saints who are currently living in India.

Although LDS Church leaders made several attempts through the years to establish the church in India beginning in the mid-1800s, it wasn't until 1981 when government regulations allowed an LDS missionary couple to establish a branch of the church there. While most missionary teaching at that time was done in English, the Book of Mormon was translated into Telegu in 1981.

The first mission in India, the India Bangalore Mission, was created in 1993 with Gucharan Singh Gill, a native of India who joined the LDS Church as a student in California and who later taught mathematics at BYU, as president. At that time there were 1,150 Latter-day Saints in India in 13 church branches. Within five years that number grew to 2,000 members in 18 branches.

In 2007 a second mission in India — the India New Delhi Mission — was organized to provide ministry in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

Hungry Kids!!!

This is way to funny!!!

It is just One Sin!

This is a great quote about Satan's tactics and motivation in Elder Gerald Lunds newest book Look up my Soul, Page 115

 “The arch deceiver has studied every way possible to achieve his ends, using every tool, every device possible. He takes over, distorts, and changes and camouflages everything created for the good of man, … so he may take over their minds and pervert their bodies and claim them his. “He never sleeps—he is diligent and persevering. He analyzes carefully his problem and then moves forward diligently, methodically to reach that objective. He uses all five senses and man’s natural hunger and thirst to lead him away. He anticipates resistance and fortifies himself against it....He overlooks nothing that will deceive and distort and prostitute. He uses money, power, force. He entices man and attacks at his weakest spot. He takes the good and creates ugliness. … He uses every teaching art to subvert man. ”President Kimball, How to Evaluate Your Performance,” Improvement Era, Oct. 1969, 12. 

When I read this thought the scripture which counsels us to “watch” and be “aware” of the adversary came to mind. I have found in my own life that it is very easy to justify actions that may offend the spirit even in small degrees. It may be something as small as a song on the radio or a commercial on TV that may offend the spirit. But this I have learned is foolish, Elder Eyring describe the consequences of justifying sin, even in the smallest degree. He is discussing the consequences of not accepting the counsel of the prophets, but it is also applicable to any of the other channels of revelation.

 “Another fallacy is to believe that the choice to accept or not accept the counsel of prophets is no more than deciding whether to accept good advice and gain its benefits or to stay where we are. But the choice not to take prophetic counsel changes the very ground upon which we stand. That ground becomes more dangerous. The failure to take prophetic counsel lessens our power to take inspired counsel in the future.(Henry B. Eyring, “Safety in Counsel,” Ensign, Jun 2008, 4–9)

 When I ponder this idea, The movie Back to the Future Two comes to mind. In this movie, Marty Mcfly has been taken into the future (2012 Ironically enough) by his good friend Dr. Emmet Brown to help Marty's future Son avoid a disastrous choice that would destroy the Mcfly family. While in the future, Marty sees in a store window a sports almanac which he plans to use to make some easy money once he gets back to the year 1985.. Instead, Biff, the nemesis to the Mcfly family connects the dots and realizes that Marty Mcfly is Marty Jr. from 1985 and has ended up in the year 2012 in a time machine.

 So, Biff steals the Sports Almanac and the time machine without Marty or D.r Emmett Brown knowing, and flys back the the year 1955 and gives the sports Almanac to his younger self. As a result, Biff became rich and powerful by using the almanac.

 Unbeknownst to Mary and Dr. Brown, when they travel back to the year 1985, the entire world has changed. Their town, their family, their friends, everything, where they live. When we make a choice, no matter how small it is, changes the very ground we stand on much like the choice marty made in the movie. Now, that is an extreme example but if we do not repent and return to higher ground Satan will continue to lead us along and further change the ground upon which we stand.

 It is my hope that we remember just how real Satan is and how calculating he is in seeking to destroy us.

This is one of the coolest videos of the year, when you watch this think of sci-fie movie

"Call them iApostles"

I came accross this article in the Salt Lake Tribune today about the Brethren using I Pads. I thought it was kind of cool! Published on May 29, 2012 01:27PM "It's clear that the LDS Church knows how to tap technology to promote the faith and to reach the faithful. But now it also knows how new devices can simplify tasks such as scripture-reading for Mormon leaders and members. At a recent devotional in Asia, LDS apostle Dallin Oaks was looking up scriptural passages on his iPad. He told the members gathered there that Boyd K. Packer, the senior Mormon apostle, “had made them all get iPads which has been a much more convenient and light way to carry his scriptures with him," reported a blogger at Wheat&Tares who was there. But does that mean the apostle will be playing games on the iPad when he gets bored in General Conference? Probably not."

This brings back memories

Great insights into the life of the Prophet Joseph.

After watching this video, the following story that was told at this past April General Conference came to my mind. "During World War II approximately 500 U.S. soldiers and supporting locals were held captive in a prison camp. Because of the suffering and concern for their safety, a volunteer force of approximately 100 U.S. soldiers was selected to rescue these prisoners. After the volunteers were assembled, the commanding officer instructed them something like this: “This evening you men meet with your religious leaders, you kneel down, and you swear to God that as long as you have a single breath of life, you will not let one of these men suffer one more moment.” (See Hampton Sides, Ghost Soldiers: The Forgotten Epic Story of World War II’s Most Dramatic Mission [2001], 28–29.)" When I think about just how many people in the world who live their lives in fear because they do not have the Gospel, it motivates me more then anything to share what I know with them. I hop you feel the same way!

LOL

One thing I love to learn about is temple symbolism especially as it relates to the architecture and design of our Temples. This past week the Kansas City Missouri Temple was dedicated and the message behind the motifs are instructive. As most members know, the history of how the Mormons were treated in Missouri to say the least was not pleasant. The motifs of the Kansas City Temple is that of an Olive Branch, which as we know symbolizes peace and reconciliation. What a wonderful message to the world about our churches Values on Forgiveness and letting go of the past. No doubt the message and application behind the olive branch motif as it relates to the temple are endless, but I do think that the choice to use the Olive Branch as the main design is priceless.

Elder Cook in his April General Conference Addressed referred to this talk. It is very good!

I was talking with my friend who is an institute teacher at ASU about some of the challenges the young people are facing. I was surprised to learn just how many young people are questioning their faith. They are being taught that they cannot trust their feelings when it comes to finding out what is true. I asked him what he says to these kids when you come to him. He will ask them if they can think of a time when they knew for sure that they felt the spirit. Once they do he will ask them, "could you have made that up?" He and I talked about how the Lord gives us special experiences from time to time that are meant to be act as anchor when doubts and fears come about. I believe that we all have had these experiences (It should be noted that they do not happen very often) that we "could not have made up." In the book of Judges chapter 6, Gideon goes before the Lord to ask for a sign to affiliate his doubts and fears that he was chosen to deliver Israel. These special experiences that we have from time to time act as a sign much the same way in which the Lord provided a sign to Gideon that he was called to deliver Israel. Elder Holland many years ago gave a great talk about looking to these special experiences in time of doubt and fear as a source do strength to get through those tough and trying times. The video below is about five minutes and worth watching. Also, think of someone that you know who is struggling with doubt who you might be able to pass this message onto. “Our Heavenly Father did not put us on earth to fail but to succeed gloriously. It may seem paradoxical, but that is why recognizing answers to prayer can sometimes be very difficult. Sometimes we unwisely try to face life by depending on our own experience and capacity. It is much wiser for us to seek through prayer and divine inspiration to know what to do. Our obedience assures that when required, we can qualify for divine power to accomplish an inspired objective. Like many of us, Oliver Cowdery did not recognize the evidence of answers to prayers already given by the Lord. To open his and our eyes, this revelation was given through Joseph Smith: “Blessed art thou for what thou hast done; for thou hast inquired of me, and behold, as often as thou hast inquired thou hast received instruction of my Spirit. If it had not been so, thou wouldst not have come to the place where thou art at this time. “Behold, thou knowest that thou hast inquired of me and I did enlighten thy mind; and now I tell thee these things that thou mayest know that thou hast been enlightened by the Spirit of truth.”4 “If you feel that God has not answered your prayers, ponder these scriptures—then carefully look for evidence in your own life that He may have already answered you. Two indicators that a feeling or prompting comes from God are that it produces peace in your heart and a quiet, warm feeling. As you follow the principles I have discussed, you will be prepared to recognize revelation at critical times in your own life. (April 2012 General Conference, How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life, Richard G. Scott Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles)

Cant miss these videos. This gentleman articulates the ideas of separation of church and state so well. Especially in light of the constant attacks on religious.

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All you people who are loaded, next time you drop your car off for a valet you will think of this!!!

Funny Video!