Mormon Musings

My faith is, when we have done all we can, then then Lord is under obligation, and will not disappoint the faithful; He will perform the rest. Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 4:91 I cannot save you.  I can tell you how to save yourselves, but you must do the will of God. Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 10:317 Seek diligently to know the will of God.  How can you know it?  In matters pertaining to yourselves as individuals, you can obtain it directly from the Lord; but in matters pertaining to public affairs, his will is ascertained through the proper channel, and may be known by the general counsel that is given you from the proper source.   Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 1:78

“Would a frequent housecleaning be in order for all of us? “I may not be able to eliminate pornographic trash, but my family and I need not buy or view it. “I may not be able to close disreputable businesses, but I can stay away from areas of questioned honor and ill repute. “I may not be able to greatly reduce the divorces of the land or save all broken homes and frustrated children, but I can keep my own home a congenial one, my marriage happy, my home a heaven, and my children well adjusted. “I may not be able to stop the growing claims to freedom from laws based on morals, or change all opinions regarding looseness in sex and growing perversions, but I can guarantee devotion to all high ideals and standards in my own home, and I can work toward giving my own family a happy, interdependent spiritual life. “I may not be able to stop all graft and dishonesty in high places, but I myself can be honest and upright, full of integrity and true honor, and my family will be trained likewise

...being in an increasingly secularized world, we should recognize the truth of Paul’s words, “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). Many individuals refuse to be informed by the Spirit. However, as we all know, when speaker and hearer—writers and readers—are spiritually conjoined, it is a special thing, as revelatory reciprocity occurs: “Therefore, why is it that ye cannot understand and know, that he that receiveth the word by the Spirit of truth receiveth it as it is preached by the Spirit of truth? “Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together” (D&C 50:21–22). John Taylor confirmed this by saying: “There is no man living, and there never was a man living, who was capable of teaching the things of God only as he was taught, instructed and directed by the spirit

‎"It is a paradox that men will gladly devote time every day for many years to learn a science or an art; yet will expect to win a knowledge of the gospel, which comprehends all sciences and arts, through perfunctory glances at books or occasional listening to sermons. The gospel should be studied more intensively than any school or college subject. They who pass opinion on the gospel without having given it intimate and careful study are not lovers of truth, and their opinions are worthless." John A Widtsoe

Let us help the youth of the Church learn to love the Lord, for what we love determines what we seek. What we seek determines what we think and do. What we think and do determines who we are—and who we will become. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

None of us lives for himself alone.  Others are following in our footsteps, watching carefully, and taking license from the things we say and the things we do.  When we have doubts, it is wise to keep them to ourselves and to ponder on them and study and pray and inquire.   One by one they are resolved.  When we have questions that are unresolved, it is wise to take them on faith.  Otherwise it may be that we will enjoy the fruits of the Gospel and never stray "too" far, and yet those who come after us who depend upon us most may be robbed of their spiritual inheritance.  They may forsake the standards and become inelegible for those redeeming ordinances that makes life eternally happy. Boyd K. Packer, "Teach Ye Diligently", (Deseret Book Company, 1975), p. 181

“I testify that I was acquainted with Joseph Smith for years. I have traveled with him; I have been with him in private and in public; I have associated with him in councils of all kinds; I have listened hundreds of times to his public teachings, and his advice to his friends and associates of a more private nature. I have been at his house and seen his deportment in his  family . I have seen him arraigned before the tribunals of his country, have seen him honorably acquitted, and delivered from the pernicious breath of slander, and the machinations and falsehoods of wicked and corrupt men. I was with him living, and with him when he died, when he was murdered in Carthage jail by a ruthless mob … with their faces painted. I was there and was myself wounded; I at that time received four balls in my body. I have seen him, then, under these various circumstances, and I testify before God, angels, and men, that he was a good, honorable, virtuous man … that his private and public character