Until We Meet Again...

President Thomas S. Monson

We love and miss you!

As many of you have heard by now, President Monson passed away a few days ago. He left us an incredible legacy of love, kindness, service, and going to the rescue. He challenged us to read the Book of Mormon every day. He reminded us to choose the harder right, instead of the easier wrong. He asked us to be more kind and charitable - more like the Savior. He taught us the importance of listening to the Spirit. In his lifetime of service to the Lord - including the last 54 years as a General Authority! - he made a difference in the lives of others around the world, both on a general level and on a personal level. He was truly beloved.

One of my very favorite stories about President Monson was told by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland in the Oct. 2014 General Conference:

"In that regard, I pay a personal tribute to President Thomas Spencer Monson. I have been blessed by an association with this man for 47 years now, and the image of him I will cherish until I die is of him flying home from then–economically devastated East Germany in his house slippers because he had given away not only his second suit and his extra shirts but the very shoes from off his feet. 'How beautiful upon the mountains [and shuffling through an airline terminal] are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace.'²⁰ More than any man I know, President Monson has 'done all he could' for the widow and the fatherless, the poor and the oppressed."

Though we will miss President Monson and his gentle way and wonderful example, he is now reunited with his wife, Frances, whom he has been missing for the past four and a half years. (He paid a lovely tribute to her in this October 2013 conference talk.) 

A few Several of my favorite quotes from President Monson:

"Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith."

"So much in life depends on our attitude. The way we choose to see things and respond to others makes all the difference. To do the best we can and then to choose to be happy about our circumstances, whatever they may be, can bring peace and contentment. We can't direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails."

"The purpose of mortality is to learn and to grow to be more like our Father, and it is often during the difficult times that we learn the most, as painful as the lessons may be."

"The past is behind, learn from it. The future is ahead, prepare for it. The present is here, live it."

"Good timber does not grow with ease. The stronger the wind, the stronger the trees."

"If you want to give a light to others, you have to glow yourself."

"May we show increased kindness to one another, and may we always be found doing the work of the Lord."

"Whether it is the best of times or the worst of times, He is with us. He has promised that this will never change."

"A man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder."

"What is most important almost always involves the people around us."

"Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved."

"One of God's greatest gifts to us is the joy of trying again, for no failure ever need be final."

"Our Heavenly Father is aware of our needs and will help us as we call upon Him for assistance. I believe that no concern of ours is too small or insignificant. The Lord is in the details of our lives."

"Stick to a task till it sticks to you. Beginners are many; finishers few."

"May we ever choose the harder right, instead of the easier wrong." 

"There is no need for you to sail uncharted seas or to travel unmarked roads in search of truth. A loving Heavenly Father has plotted our course and provided an unfailing guide - even obedience."

"Decisions determine destiny."

"Hope is putting faith to work when doubting would be easier."

"Dare to be a Mormon, dare to stand alone. Dare to have a purpose firm, dare to make it known."

"Of this be sure: you do not find the happy life. You make it."

"Fill your mind with truth. Fill your heart with love. Fill your life with service."

"Prayer is the passport to peace."

"Faith and doubt cannot exist in the same mind at the same time, for one will dispel the other."

Please share in the comments your favorite story, quote, or memory of President Monson. :)

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

Chances are, you've all read/heard the Family Proclamation (or at least part of it) in some lesson or talk. It's part of a Personal Progress experience. If you're 38 or older, you may have actually heard President Hinckley read it from the pulpit for the first time in 1995.

Here's the real question: Did you actually internalize it? Understand it? Ponder it? Know it?

Okay, yes. Some of you did! But if you didn't...

In 1998, Henry B. Eyring, now First Counselor in the First Presidency, wrote an article for the Ensign entitled "The Teachings of 'The Family: A Proclamation to the World'". It was reprinted in the September 2015 New Era, because that was the 20 year anniversary of the Family Proclamation. And that was the issue of the New Era I happened to pick up on Sunday morning to read before church.

(Okay, maybe not "happened", exactly. See, our family has recently started memorizing the Proclamation, and I saw that on the cover and thought it would be a good one to read. Boy, I was right on that!!)

So, please enjoy this neat article, and strengthen your testimony of each of the principles found in this awesome revelation through a prophet of God!

THE TEACHINGS OF "THE FAMILY: A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD"

Life is Hard, Not the Gospel!

Today I'd like to share a quote my family and I have memorized. It is by Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge of the Seventy from his Oct. 2008 General Conference talk, The Way.

"Life is hard, not the gospel. 'There is an opposition in all things,' everywhere, for everyone. Life is hard for all of us, but life is also simple. We have only two choices. We can either follow the Lord and be endowed with His power and have peace, light, strength, knowledge, confidence, love, and joy, or we can go some other way, any other way, whatever other way, and go it alone . . . without guidance, in darkness, turmoil, doubt, grief, and despair. And I ask, which way is easier? . . . Life is hard, but life is simple. Get on the path and never, ever give up. You never give up. You just keep on going. You don’t quit, and you will make it."

This is so true. After we have faith, repent, are baptized, and receive the Holy Ghost, we need to endure to the end. ALL the way to the end. We can't quit as soon as we start, we can't quit halfway through, we can't even quit when we're in sight of the finish line--or else we will not make it. We need to "finish our course". Even if there are hard things along the way, or tempting 'Detour' signs. Even if everyone around us is turning back, or sitting down, or running off the road to chase temporary ideals. We must stay on the strait and narrow. We must "press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope". We must keep our minds and hearts fixed on the goal of eternal life.

President Harold B. Lee taught, "You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. But if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord Himself, with patience and faith, the promise is that 'the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory' (D&C 21:6)." This seems particularly relevant with the recent hype surrounding the Church's new policy. There has been a distinct contrast here between two different groups of people: Group A, whose members have chosen to leave the Church, claiming that the Brethren are bigots, or that Mormons are gay-haters, and Group B, which includes those who sought confirmation from the Lord and were able to feel peace regarding this policy.

I know that the prophet and apostles are called by God, that they receive revelation from Him, and that they will never lead us astray. I love them and pray for them.

Endure to the end!

PS: Another great article on this is "The Whole Earth Shall be in Commotion", by MMM.

Elder Richard G. Scott: 1928-2015

“He'll be remembered as a tireless worker, a tireless servant, and a friend of the Lord who wore out his life in the Lord's cause and was happy to do it,” were the words that fellow Apostle D. Todd Christofferson used in describing Richard G. Scott.

<--- In no particular order, pictures of Elder Scott from Mormon Newsroom.

Elder Richard G. Scott passed away at 1:45 MDT today, Tuesday, September 22, 2015, at age 86. His life was full of service to the Lord and His children. 

Though the members of the Church are saddened by Elder Scott's passing, the majority of thoughts I have heard on this matter pertain to Jeanene, his beloved wife, who passed away on May 15, 1995. Elder Scott never remarried, and he is undoubtedly ecstatic to be with her again after over twenty years of separation! They were sealed in the Manti, Utah temple in 1953.

Leader Bio of Elder Scott
Elder Scott Dies at 86
Yet Another Apostle Departs – My Brush With Richard G. Scott--This is from Middle-aged Mormon Man, and I loved his story about Elder Scott so much that I wanted to share. Also, if you have some time, read a few of his other works! TLPB approved for sure!

*sigh* Can you believe that there are now three vacancies in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles?!?!? The First Presidency and the remaining Apostles need your prayers!!!!!!!!!!! They are going to be calling, through inspired revelation, THREE new Apostles in just two and a half weeks! Talk about some pressure! Pray for them to be at ease as they strive to be in tune with the Spirit.

How wonderful it is to have living prophets and Apostles on this earth who testify of Christ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Elder Richard G. Scott magnified his calling to the fullest as he served faithfully in his holy callings. I am so grateful to know that he will continue to serve just as faithfully on the other side with his beloved Jeanene next to him.

The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ

mormon.org

I finished my Value Project for the value of VIRTUE last night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was beyond excited! I LOVE the Book of Mormon! I love to read overall, but this is definitely my all-time favorite book! It gives me the best feelings ever. The Spirit testifies to me that what I read is true and that if I follow its teachings I will be blessed! It contains the fulness of the gospel and, as Joseph Smith said, it is the most correct book on the face of the earth! (I'll get back to this in a sec--I've got some thoughts on it.) It is the keystone of our religion. (I'll talk more about this too.) It was written by prophets of God who taught His principles. It is God's word and a second witness to the Bible. The Book of Mormon does not replace the Bible and the Bible does not replace the Book of Mormon.

Now, as I said a minute ago, Joseph Smith said that the Book of Mormon is the most correct book on earth. But in Mormon 8, Moroni tells us that, even though it is from God, he used man to bring it forth and no man is perfect. Moroni says that there are faults in the text, but they are the faults of man, not God. There are people who would say, "Wait! Joseph Smith said that the book was the most correct on earth! But Moroni says that there are faults! Who is right? Who is wrong? Isn't God an unchangeable God? If so, wouldn't his prophets be consistent?" Well, the Book of Mormon is the most correct book spiritually speaking. Remember, the Book of Mormon often reminds us that there is a difference between spiritual and temporal. The same is true here.

I also said I would expound my thoughts on 'the keystone' concept. Many times the Book of Mormon has been compared to a keystone. The arch in this analogy is our religion--that of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Anyone who knows anything about arches knows that without the keystone, the arch will fall. But what about the other stones of the arch? Aren't they important, too? The other stones in an arch represent all of the other concepts of our beliefs. Families can be together forever, the Word of Wisdom, repentance, tithing, the list goes on. And without these stones, there literally would not be an arch. These principles make up our religion. So they are important--very! But the keystone is what holds the arch together. (If there are any engineers reading this right now, please tell me in the comments how that works!) If we didn't have the Book of Mormon, all of the other principles we listed would fail. They would crumble, and what would we have then? _____________ You couldn't fill in this blank with anything. We would have nothing, nowhere to turn. No iron rod to guide us!

The Book of Mormon is SO important! I urge you, as prophets have urged, to read and study the Book of Mormon if you haven't already, no matter what age, and no matter how long it takes you. Don't give up. And if you have read it, STUDY it over and over and over and over. You only get the important stuff  by STUDYING! Never stop! Don't let anything deter you from studying this Book day after day after day, for the rest of your life! It truly is the most correct book in principle on the whole face of the earth!

Happy reading studying!

Follow the Prophet, Follow the Prophet...

President Thomas S. Monson

I hope you all got a chance to watch the 185th Annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!!! It was awesome!!! Seriously, best thing on TV since last October, when conference was last held. ☺

I am not going to write about the talks, it's WAAAAY better if you go back and review them yourself!!!!! But here is a link to it...General Conference

Did any of you hear the opposing votes when the First Presidency was presented for a sustaining vote? Didn't it just make you feel absolutely sick????? I think that the intermediate hymn, We Thank Thee O God, For a Prophet, was certainly an inspired pick. Thank you so much to whoever was guided to choose that song!!

I was so excited when they announced the THREE new temples in the Ivory Coast, Haiti, and Thailand! The work is rolling forward.

We are so very blessed to have living prophets to guide us through this sometimes frightening 21st century. We thank thee, o God for a prophet--YES!!!!
Tell me in the comments what you liked about conference!

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