Mormon Musings

 "I am excited to report to you that I am enjoying the scriptures more than ever. I have read a lot in my life—thousands of books, I’m sure. But rarely do I encore reading except for the holy scriptures. Therefore, I am even more anxiously engaged in the restored gospel than ever because the restored gospel is so engaging. It really does get a grasp on our minds, and there is no end to the exploration that one can make of it. It is, as I said from this pulpit years ago, an “inexhaustible gospel.” To be anxiously engaged really does mean that we are engaged intellectually as well as spiritually, and life in the kingdom, as you all know, is also very engaging."  Neal A. Maxwell BYU Devotional, January 1999

In modern revelation we are told very frankly, brothers and sisters, that “when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated” (D&C 130:21). I don’t know how it is for you, but I have felt so often in my life so greatly blessed for what little obedience I have given. My conclusion with regard to that verse is that the Lord’s ratio of blessings to our obedience is a very generous ratio indeed. He is so quick to reward us, so quick to reassure us, and so anxious to take delight when we serve Him. So if you puzzle over that verse, as I have in life, including in recent times, the only bottom line I can give you is that the ratio of blessings to our minuscule obedience is a very, very generous ratio indeed. Neal A. Maxwell https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/neal-a-maxwell/sharing-insights-life/

All the Scriptures, including the Book of Mormon, will remain in the realm of faith.  Science will not be able to prove or disprove holy writ.  However, enough plausible evidence will come forth to prevent scoffers from having a field day, but not enough to remove the requirement of faith.  Believers must be patient during such unfolding. Neal A. Maxwell, Plain and Precious Things

Spirituality yields two fruits.  The first is inspiration to know what to do.  The second is power, or the capacity to do it.  These two capacities come together. [See 1 Nephi 3:7].  The Scriptures teach, and I have been led to confirm, that we will never be prompted by the Holy Ghost to do something we cannot do.  It may require extraordinary effort and much time, patience, prayer and obedience, but we can do it. Richard G. Scott, 21 Principles, 12

All that we teach in this church ought to be couched in the scriptures.  We ought to chose our texts from the scriptures, and wherever you have an illustration in the scriptures...use it, and do not draw from other sources where you can find it here in these books.  We call these the standard Church works because they are standard.  If you want to measure truth, measure it by the four standard Church works...If it is not in the standard works, you may well assume that it is speculation.  It is a man's own personal opinion.   If there is any teacher who teaches a doctrine that can't be substantiated from the standard Church works--and I make one qualification, and that is unless that one be the President of the Church, who alone has the right to declare new doctrine--then you may know by that same token that such a teacher is expressing his own opinion.   Harold B. Lee, Teachings of Harold B. Lee, 148-49

Today I wish to talk about my brother, my colleague, my fellow Apostle—Simon Barjona or Cephas or Peter the Rock. Some time ago a newspaper in a distant town carried an Easter Sunday religious editorial by a minister who stated that the presiding authority of the early-day church fell because of self-confidence, indecision, evil companions, failure to pray, lack of humility, and fear of man. He then concluded, “Let us as people, especially those who are Christians and claim to abide by the Word of God, not make the same mistakes and fall as Peter fell.”[1] As I read this, I had some strange emotions. I was shocked, then I was chilled, then my blood changed its temperature and began to boil. I felt I was attacked viciously, for Peter was my brother, my colleague, my example, my prophet, and God’s anointed. I whispered to myself, “That is not true. He is maligning my brother.” A Man with Vision Then I opened my New Testament. I could find no such character as this modern minister describ