Mormon Musings

The truth of God refers to the core truths that underlie His plan of happiness for His children. These truths are that God lives; that He is the Heavenly Father of our spirits; that as a manifestation of His love, He has given us commandments that lead to a fulness of joy with Him; that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and our Redeemer; that He suffered and died to atone for sins on condition of our repentance; that He rose from the dead, bringing to pass the Resurrection of all humankind; and that we will all stand before Him to be judged, that is, to account for our lives. 18 Alma 33:22 22 ... cast about your eyes and  begin  to believe in the Son of God, that he will come to redeem his people, and that he shall suffer and die to  atone  for their sins; and that he shall  rise  again from the dead, which shall bring to pass the  resurrection , that all men shall stand before him, to be  judged  at the last and judgment day, according to their  works . Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Octo

  Faithfulness is not foolishness or fanaticism. Rather, it is trusting and placing our confidence in Jesus Christ as our Savior, on His name, and in His promises. As we “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men,” 15   we are blessed with an eternal perspective and vision that stretches far beyond our limited mortal capacity. We will be enabled to “gather together, and stand in holy places” 16   and “be not moved, until the day of the Lord come.” 17 While I was serving as the president of Brigham Young University–Idaho, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland came to the campus in December 1998 to speak in one of our weekly devotionals. Susan and I invited a group of students to meet and visit with Elder Holland before he delivered his message. As our time together was drawing to a close, I asked Elder Holland, “If you could teach these students just one thing, what would it be?” He answered: “We are witnessing an ever greater

If we expect to receive, we must ask, seek, and knock. In his search for truth, Joseph Smith read from the scriptures, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” In answer to his prayer of faith, the heavens were opened. God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, descended in glory and spoke to Joseph Smith, ushering in the dispensation of the fulness of times. For us, miraculous healing, powerful protection, divine knowledge, liberating forgiveness, and precious peace are among the answers that come when we offer up a “soul’s sincere desire” in faith. Carol F. McConkie, October 2016 General Conference

We  should  not  worry  that  we  are  not  professionally  trained  gospel  teachers.  No  training  class  or  manual  is  as  helpful  as  personally  studying  our  scriptures,  praying,  pondering,  and  seeking  the  guidance  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  The  Spirit  will  lead  you  along.  I  promise  you:  the  calling  to  be  a  parent  includes  the  gift  to  teach  in  the  ways  that  are  right  for  you  and  for  your  children.  Remember,  God’s  power  to  influence  us  righteously  is  His  love.  “We  love  him,  because  he  first  loved  us." Elder Robert D. Hales, October 2016 General Conference

"It seems to be human nature: as we become more familiar with something, even something miraculous and awe-inspiring, we lose our sense of awe and treat it as commonplace." President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, October 2016 General Conference https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/10/o-how-great-the-plan-of-our-god?lang=eng

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/04/always-retain-a-remission-of-your-sins?cid=HP_WE_29-6-2016_dPFD_fGC_xLIDyL1-B_&lang=eng

I fear that many of us rush about from day to day taking for granted The Holy Scriptures. We scramble to honor appointments with physicians, lawyers and businessman.  Yet we think nothing of postponing interviews with Deity--postponing our Scripture Study.  Little wonder we develop anemic souls and lose our direction in living.  How much better it would be if we planned and held sacred fifteen or twenty minutes a day for reading The Scriptures. Such interviews with Deity would help us recognize His voice and enable us to receive guidance in all of our affairs.  We must look to God through the Scriptures. Elder Carlos E. Asay, General Conference October 1978

"Human judgment and logical thinking will not be enough to get answers to the questions that matter most in life. We need revelation from God." President Henry B. Eyring, November 2014 General Conference

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/lord-is-it-i?lang=eng

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/you-can-do-it-now?lang=eng#listen=audio

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1993/10/look-to-god-and-live?lang=eng

“...be kind regarding human frailty—your own as well as that of those who serve with you in a Church led by volunteer, mortal men and women. Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it. So should we. And when you see imperfection, remember that the limitation is  not  in the divinity of the work. As one gifted writer has suggested, when the infinite  fullness  is poured forth, it is not the oil’s fault if there is some loss because finite vessels can’t quite contain it all. Those finite vessels include you and me, so be patient and kind and forgiving. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland -”Lord, I Believe,”  Ensign , May 2013, 94

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2000/04/as-doves-to-our-windows?lang=eng

The past of each of us is now inflexible. We need to concentrate on what has been called “the holy present,” for now is sacred; we never really live in the future. The holy gift of life always takes the form of now. Besides, God asks us now to give up only those things which, if clung to, will destroy us! And when we tear ourselves free from the entanglements of the world, are we promised a religion of repose or an Eden of ease? No! We are promised tears and trials and toil! But we are also promised final triumph, the mere contemplation of which tingles one’s soul. My friends, there are footprints to follow where we must go—made not by a leader who said, safely from the sidelines, “Go thither,” but by a leader who said, “Come, follow me.” And our mortal leader is a prophet who is showing us how to lengthen our stride. Yes, for those in the Church’s courtyard or on its porch, ask not “for whom the [Church] bell tolls; It tolls for thee.” (John Donne,  Devotions upon Emergent Occa

“As an Apostle I listen now to the same inspiration, coming from the same source, in the same way, that I listened to as a boy.  The signal is much clearer now.” President Boyd K. Packer - Ensign,  Nov. 1979, 21

“May I suggest three short tests to avoid being deceived… What do the standard works have to say about it?… The second guide is: what do the latter-day Presidents of the Church have to say on the subject–particularly the living President?… The third and final test is the Holy Ghost…This test can only be fully effective if one’s channels of communication with God are clean and virtuous and uncluttered with sin.” President Ezra Taft Benson -Conference Report, Oct. 1963, 16-17

"We are challenged to move through a process of conversion toward that status and condition called eternal life.  This is achieved not just by doing what is right, but by doing it for the right reason–for the pure love of Christ.  The Apostle Paul illustrated this in his famous teaching about the importance of charity.  The reason charity never fails and the reason charity is greater than even the most significant acts of goodness he cited is that charity, ‘the pure love of Christ,’ is no an  act  but a  condition  or state of being.  Charity is attained through a succession of acts that result in a conversion.  Charity is something one becomes.  Thus, as Moroni declared, ‘except men shall  have  charity they cannot inherit’ the place prepared for them in the mansions of the Father." Elder Dallin H. Oaks, October 2000 General Conference - Ensign , Nov. 2000, 32-34

“My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith.” President Thomas S. Monson -”Be of Good Cheer,” April 2009 General Conference

C. S. Lewis, the striving, pragmatic Christian writer, poignantly framed the issue. He asserted that Christianity tells people to repent and promises them  forgiveness ; but until people know and feel they need forgiveness, Christianity does not speak to them. He stated, “When you know you are sick, you will listen to the doctor.” Elder Quentin L. Cook, October 2012 General Conference http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/can-ye-feel-so-now?lang=eng#11-10491_000_12cook