A Golden Gem from Conference

Thoughts from General Conference Session # 4

Sins can enslave us stand by strand until they are un breakable. However, the thought occurred to me that sins hold on us can be reversed and broken but will take daily work to break the rope strand by strand as well. President Nelson in his talk urges us to learn to receive inspiration and revelation on a daily basis by praying for inspiration and then listening followed by action on the inspiration received and recorded. In other words that is like building spiritual ropes that will hold us to the gospel and Godlike strength just the opposite of the ropes that bind us to sin.  It should noted though that both ropes cannot build held to at the same time but the spiritual ropes as they are built will help us to break the evil strands that bind us to those evil ropes and habits. Daily spiritual revelation will break the lifetime of daily evil strands that currently bind us according to our actions each day of our life. Could it be that wisdom of age is built through the same daily process of learning wisdom in our lives as we listen to our spiritual leaders and to the Holy Ghost.

To the father's of my grandchildren "Fathers Responsibility"

THIS IS PRIMARILY TO THE FATHER'S IN EACH FAMILY, HOWEVER WIVES SHOULD STUDY THIS WITH THEM IN AN ATTITUDE OF PRAYER. 

I have recently been wrestling with a problem in our family and seeking guidance from my Heavenly Father as to what I should do.I have been searching through numerous church talks and documents to find information that I can use and today as I was searching I came upon the following talk given by Boyd K Packer in April 1994 session of conference. It doesn't address the key items that I am researching but it does address why I am researching what I am. So I am asking you to pray about this talk and learn something from it that will help you in the near future as I present the other materials. I am not suggesting that you are doing anything wrong I am just trying to establish a pattern of things that will come later and a foundation upon which I can build. 

Two of the things that I am researching specifically are abortion and forgiveness because they are the two things that are causing a separation of our family and I cannot stand by and not perform my duty as a father and let it happen. I know how important it is for my grandchildren to know each other as much as possible considering the miles that separate us and how important it is that we trust each other and love each other. Trust each other enough to let Aunt's and Uncle's be part of our children's love and be able to be a support to each of them. Trust enough that we will yearn to let them interact with them and be able to be loved by them. Trust enough to be able to forgive and forget and to discuss things that come between us as imperfect human beings but still children of our Heavenly Father.

The scriptures teach that everything that is good comes from God and everything that is bad comes of the devil and so the separation in my family is coming because the devil wants it to happen. Negative feelings and misunderstandings come because the devil is trying to tear us apart. In this talk I basically got the message that I as father of my children must teach what the prophets have taught, SO, I am starting with this talk.  Remember it won't take you long to remember my short comings and faults but I like you am learning and growing also and if you have any negative feeling towards me please realize that it is the devil trying to make you feel that way so that you cannot learn what will be needed to keep our family together. Now you have your agency to feel what ever you want and I am not trying to take that from you, I am just hoping that by presenting this information you will have what the Lord wants for you to have so you can make correct choices and when it comes to teaching your children that you will have sound doctrine to use. If you do have negative feelings then I implore of you to go to your Heavenly Father for further guidance of which I know he will give, just be sure you are listening to Him. Search the scriptures and talks from modern day prophets and apostles as well and then look for the peace and calm that will come into your life.

                                                                                                                                                                The Father and the Family

Boyd K. Packer

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles General Conference April 1994

A family begins when a young man and woman are drawn to one another by an irresistible force of nature. They offer to one another that which distinguishes him as male and her as female, and they want, above all else, to find the one with whom they can completely express their love. They want to have children—to be a family.

These compelling forces of nature should not be resisted, only approached cautiously, protecting those life-generating powers until promises have been made to one another, covenants with the Lord, and a legal ceremony performed, witnessed, and recorded.

Then, and only then, as husband and wife, man and woman, may they join together in that expression of love through which life is created.

The ultimate purpose of every teaching, every activity in the Church is that parents and their children are happy at home, sealed in an eternal marriage, and linked to their generations.

The ultimate purpose of the adversary, who has “great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time,”¹ is to disrupt, disturb, and destroy the home and the family. Like a ship without a rudder, without a compass, we drift from the family values which have anchored us in the past. Now we are caught in a current so strong that unless we correct our course, civilization as we know it will surely be wrecked to pieces.

Moral values are being neglected and prayer expelled from public schools on the pretext that moral teaching belongs to religion. At the same time, atheism, the secular religion, is admitted to class, and our youngsters are proselyted to a conduct without morality.

World leaders and court judges agree that the family must endure if we are to survive. At the same time, they use the words freedom and choice as tools to pry apart the safeguards of the past and loosen up the laws on marriage, abortion, and gender. In so doing, they promote the very things which threaten the family.

None of this is new. Jacob, the Book of Mormon prophet, told the people of Nephi:

“I … am weighed down with much more desire and anxiety for the welfare of your souls than I have hitherto been. …

“It grieveth me that I must use so much boldness of speech concerning you, before your wives and your children, many of whose feelings are exceedingly tender and chaste and delicate before God.”²

This crisis of the family is no surprise to the Church. We have certainly known what was coming. I know of no better testimony that we are led by prophets than our preparation for this present emergency.

The scriptures speak of prophets as “watch[men] upon the tower” who see “the enemy while he [is] yet afar off”³ and who have “beheld also things which were not visible to the natural eye … [for] a seer hath the Lord raised up unto his people.”⁴

Thirty-three years ago (1961) the Brethren warned us of the disintegration of the family and told us to prepare. It was announced by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles that the Church would be restructured.

The weekly family home evening was introduced by the First Presidency, who said that “the home [is] the basis of a righteous life and … no other instrumentality can take its place nor fulfil its essential functions.”⁵

Parents are provided with excellent materials for teaching their children, with a promise that the faithful will be blessed.⁶

While the doctrines and revealed organization remain unchanged, all agencies of the Church have been reshaped in their relationship to one another and to the home.

So sweeping were those changes that the entire curriculum of the Church was overhauled—based on scriptures, with excellent manuals for each course.

And years were spent preparing new editions of the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. Except for correcting printing errors and adding three revelations to the Doctrine and Covenants, the scriptural text remains unchanged.

Cross-references and other helps were added to make the scriptures more accessible. In the Topical Guide, for instance, under the heading of “Jesus Christ” there are eighteen pages—small print, single-spaced—the most comprehensive compilation of scriptural references on the Lord that has ever been compiled in the history of the world.

The new editions of the scriptures are complete in English and Spanish, and work is now under way in dozens of languages.

We can only imagine where we would be if we were just now reacting to this terrible redefinition of the family. But that is not the case. We are not casting frantically about trying to decide what to do. We know what to do and what to teach.

The family is very much alive and well in the Church. Hundreds of thousands of happy families face life with an unwavering faith in the future.

The course we follow is not of our own making. The plan of salvation, the great plan of happiness, was revealed to us, and the prophets and Apostles continue to receive revelation as the Church and its members stand in need of more.

We, like Jacob, must teach “according to the strict commands of God,” “notwithstanding the greatness of the task.” Like Jacob, we also run the risk of enlarging “the wounds of those who are already wounded, instead of consoling and healing their wounds.”⁷

When we speak plainly of divorce, abuse, gender identity, contraception, abortion, parental neglect, we are thought by some to be way out of touch or to be uncaring. Some ask if we know how many we hurt when we speak plainly. Do we know of marriages in trouble, of the many who remain single, of single-parent families, of couples unable to have children, of parents with wayward children, or of those confused about gender? Do we know? Do we care?

Those who ask have no idea how much we care; you know little of the sleepless nights, of the endless hours of work, of prayer, of study, of travel—all for the happiness and redemption of mankind.

Because we do know and because we do care, we must teach the rules of happiness without dilution, apology, or avoidance. That is our calling.

I once learned a valuable lesson from a mission Relief Society president. In a conference, she announced some tightening up of procedures. A sister stood up and defiantly said, “Those rules can’t apply to us! You don’t understand us! We are an exception.”

That wonderful Relief Society president replied, “Dear sister, we’d like not to take care of the exception first. We will establish the rule first, and then we’ll see to the exception.” Many times I have borrowed from her wisdom, grateful for what she taught me.

Now, following the example of Jacob, I speak to the men of the Church. Most of you are worthy fathers and husbands who do what you should do. But there are women whose hearts have been broken⁸ and children who are neglected, even abused.

If we are to help them, we must begin with the men. The next series of stake and regional conferences will be devoted to teaching the doctrines and principles of responsible and worthy manhood.

Some of you had no worthy example to follow and now visit the abuse or neglect of your own parents upon your wife and children.

Brethren, do you understand that we emphasize the teaching of the scriptures because they are the constant? From them we learn the purposes of life, the gifts of the Spirit. From them we learn about personal revelation, how to discern good from evil, truth from error.The scriptures provide the pattern and the basis for correct doctrine.

From doctrine, we learn principles of conduct, how to respond to problems of everyday living, even to failures, for they, too, are provided for in the doctrines.

If you understand the great plan of happiness and follow it, what goes on in the world will not determine your happiness. You will be tried, for that is part of the plan, but “thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; and then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high.”⁹

Your responsibility as a father and a husband transcends any other interest in life. It is unthinkable that a Latter-day Saint man would cheat on his wife or abandon the children he has fathered, or neglect or abuse them.

The Lord has “commanded you to bring up your children in light and truth.”¹⁰

You are responsible, unless disabled, to provide temporal support for your wife and children.¹¹ You are to devote, even sacrifice yourself to the bringing up of your children in light and truth.¹²

That requires perfect moral fidelity to your wife, with no reason ever for her to doubt your faithfulness.

Never should there be a domineering or unworthy behavior in the tender, intimate relationship between husband and wife.¹³

Your wife is your partner in the leadership of the family and should have full knowledge of and full participation in all decisions relating to your home.

Lead your family to the Church, to the covenants and ordinances. We are trying to reduce the length and number of meetings and activities outside of the home.

I cannot express the depth of my devotion to my wife and children, their companions, and their children. I have learned more by far from them than they from me. That learning comes in ordinary experiences, the joy and the pain of everyday life.

I learned from a little boy the identity and value of a human soul. Some years ago, two of our little boys were wrestling on the rug. They had reached that pitch where laughter turns to tears. I worked a foot gently between them and lifted the older boy (then just four) to a sitting position on the rug, saying, “Hey, there, you monkeys, you’d better settle down.”

He folded his little arms and looked at me with surprising seriousness. His little boy feelings had been hurt, and he protested, “I not a monkey, Daddy, I a person.”

I was overwhelmed with love for him. I realized he was a child of God. How much I wanted him to be “a person”—one of eternal worth. From such ordinary experiences, I have learned to understand doctrine. “Children,” truly, “are an heritage of the Lord.”¹⁴

The family is safe within the Church. We are not in doubt as to the course we must follow. It was given in the beginning, and guidance from on high is renewed as need may be.

As we continue on our course, these things will follow as night the day:

The distance between the Church and a world set on a course which we cannot follow will steadily increase.

Some will fall away into apostasy, break their covenants, and replace the plan of redemption with their own rules.

Across the world, those who now come by the tens of thousands will inevitably come as a flood to where the family is safe. Here they will worship the Father in the name of Christ, by the gift of the Holy Ghost, and know that the gospel is the great plan of happiness, of redemption, of which I bear witness in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

I love all of you and it is tearing me apart to see our family being torn apart. 

Love

Dad

A child in the aisle

A child in the Aisle

I was sitting on the second row of the chair seats during our stake conference general session right in line with the aisle on the left side of the chapel.

As the session got longer the small children too young to color in the pamphlet that the primary children were each given got more and more restless.

Our granddaughter Zoey by that time was in the hall with her dad and other parents were still struggling to keep the young ones occupied and quiet.

Zoey even ran into the chapel from the left side and Scott was quick to hurry and get her, he thought she was headed back to sit with the rest of us.

About that time a small boy somewhere between one and two years old was also wanting to run. His mother would let him walk a couple of steps and when he wouldn’t return to her quiet whispers then she would reach out and take hold of his arm and slowly guide him back into their seats. This happened a number of times and as I watched the thought came to me that our Heavenly Father is much the same way with us. We want to get out on our own and do things and He will whisper to us that their might be danger or some other thing that He knows we are not ready t experience. So after a few wrong responses from us He will reach out His hand and slowly lead us back to safety. Now that reaching out may be simple talks in meetings or conferences helping us to understand the gospel and discover things that we need to change to return to the safety of His guidance.  I thought it a very special lesson given to me as I sat receiving instruction from our Stake leaders and Elder Blake Roney our visiting general authority.

What do I want? Who will I become?

Conference Notes from Mapleton Stake Conference Jan 5-6, 2013 with Elder Corbridge of the Seventy.

Last night and today Marie and I attended our stake conference sessions for the adults and general assembly of the stake. Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge  of the seventy talked at both sessions and gave some very excellent advice and very thought provoking thoughts. His talk last night was on a question that he asked. “What do you want?” and then later “What does the Lord want for you?”

He went on to explain that he could ask us and would like to but didn’t because he didn’t want those who might answer to feel as though they had been “set-up”. He explained during his talk that what motivates us to get up in the morning and to go from day to day is something that we need to think about seriously. He stated that in Isaiah ch 55 that we need to trust in the Lord and that it is really an invitation to elevate our thoughts to be like the thoughts of the Lord. In other words what would be our greatest answer to what do we want would best be to want what the Lord wants and wants for each of us. Then in Alma 7:7 Alma explained that “there is one thing which is of more importance than they all—for behold, the time is not far distant that the Redeemer liveth and cometh among his people.”  The invitation has been given by the Lord to Come and fear not, lay aside every sin and keep the commandments. He also explained the scripture in D&C 121:34-36 Many are called but few are chosen and why are they not chosen. Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness. So in answer to his question we need to think as the Lord thinks so that the powers of heaven can be part of our lives and that we will use them righteously. Then he quoted from 2^nd John that the world passeth away (things of this world passeth away and doesn’t last.) So if our thoughts are as the Lord’s then they will not be of the world but rather of the Lord’s gospel. Then the power of the Holy Ghost will be able to lift us and edify us even to eternal life.  2 Nephi 32 was quoted next saying that the words of Crist will tell you all things that you can do. And in Moroni 10:4-5 that the Holy Ghost will tell you all things through his power.  Alma explained that the word was more powerful than the sword (or fear of death) and that it would elevate the level of our thoughts and what occupies our minds.  So he admonished us to treasure up the words of Christ and his life continually. Let the scriptures be the standard for our thoughts. He then made an interesting note. He said that there had been a study done by one of the universities in New York where they took two groups of people and gave them each a random set of words that they were to make into sentences. Well the one group was given words such as baldness, grey hair, aches and pains and other words that would suggest old age without ever using the words old age. Then they and the group walk to another building to another room and without their knowledge tracked just how long it took them to arrive at the other location. That group was without question longer in getting to that room suggesting that even though they were not told that they were old that the words subconsciously suggested it to their minds and bodies. He made the comment that if that mere suggestion of words could effect that group so much what other things might the body hear that we do not know and how does it react to those words. Does swearing and other bad influences make such a difference on us without our realizing it. He then stated that he use to think that attending the temple just to get a quota or to just be there that it was not right. However now he believes that no matter the reason for attending that the fact that we are there will have a greater effect on our lives than we realize. The mind will pick up on things that mentally and consciously we may not realize are being registered into our subconscious. It does us good more than we can realize. I went away form that talk having learned some very important principles that I had not realized before.

Well this morning was no different. He reflected upon that question from last night and then posed a new one for today. He first began by stating that we go to church not to just be entertained but rather to worship the Lord. If talks are boring then we are the ones to blame because we are not listening with the spirit of the Lord and allowing the Holy Ghost to speak to our minds. He stated that there are approximately 2600 people in the stake in attendance today. and that for 2 hours we are being instructed in the gospel. Well that equates to 2 and ½ years of 40 hour work weeks being spent in instruction collectively and what a waste if we don’t go away and learn from it and change our lives. He then restated the fact from last night that we need to strive to know what Christ would have us do and be.  The he said he had some other questions. What will have been the greatest work that you have done in this life? Or when you die what will be the greatest accomplishment that will be of the most worth for you eternally. Will your greatest accomplishment be, YOU? Who are you? What kind of person will you be? Will you be like Christ? What kind of knowledge will you have acquired? He wasn’t asking what our profession was or maybe our awards or accomplishments but rather what kind of a person have we become. (It made me thing about Scrooge and the likeness of the questions he was asked.)  Then he quoted from 3 Nephi 22:  What manner of men?  So do we have a plan for who we will be?

Think about it!

Put it onto paper!

Make the plan work!

Just as in building the stake center, it didn’t jus happen, it had to be a thought in someone’s mind and  consider how big, how the rooms would be aligned, what kind of materials , etc. Everything that would be needed had to have been thought out then put onto paper before the builders could come in and build it. Then he made the comment that many people think they cannot change but he said, we are not carved in stone and in fact we cannot STOP changing. We can not only change, but we change daily in more ways than we can imagine.  He then said “The Lord has commanded us to have no other God’s before us.” The first commandment. So, he asked, Who is our God? Do we do things because it is popular with our friends and if so then our friends are our God. Do we do things because of advertisements or media influences then they are our God. If we do what we do because it is the easiest thing to do then our God is “Easy”. If we react to what we red or see then what we read or see is our God. So we need to think differently. If we were to take a group of people and divide them into two groups there would be one group that would know right and wrong and even though they would “want to do what is right” they would always be asking the question of whether it was right or wrong or how close to wrong would it be. They would be walking possibly just on the right side of the line but it would not particularly be correct for their eternal salvation. The other group however would always be trying to do what the Lord wanted and not be worried about how close to wrong it might be and thus they would be far distant from that line. They would always be thinking about what the Lord would do. So we must never believe that we are beyond reach of the Lord’s love. He then gave an analogy that took me quite by surprise. He stated that he didn’t want to offend anyone who might have been in this situation but that he wanted to put across a point. He had apparently written this out some time ago and read it from a paper that he had in front of him. He said that if you were in a marriage and you were totally in love with your spouse and then that spouse decided to not accept your love and would leave you for someone else who was not as good as you and then later your spouse decided to come back to you. Would you then take that spouse back and love them as if nothing had happened. He went on to explain a couple of other things as well that really made the spouse sound bad and that the first spouse was always forgiving. He then told of a husband who loved his wife perfectly. He was perfect in all that he did for her and yet she decided to go to someone else. Later she came back and he healed her and loved her like he had before and again she left for someone else. She came and went many times yet each time he took her back and nursed her back to health.  Well during the explanation of the wife’s disloyalty to her husband and his unwavering love for her I suddenly realized that he was talking about the Savior, The Bridegroom, as He is referred to in the scriptures and the wife Elder Corbridge soon explained was “Israel”.  He then explained that we are Israel and no matter how many times we turn from the Lord he is always there to accept us back and to heal and love us.

His final comments were however that even though the Lord is there to always take us back it is not without consequence. We cannot decide to go have fun, break His heart over and over again without there being a consequence.   Each time we stray we are that much further behind in our spiritual knowledge and growth and that we will never be able to make it up as though it had not happened even with His complete forgiveness. We should want to do as He would do all of the time so tha we can gain eternal salvation and all that the Father hath will be ours because of the Atonement and the Love our Savior has for each of us. So, he said, let our hearts be true. Let Israel do what Israel will do but for us let us be true to he Savior all of our days. It was a wonderful learning experience for me and I truly enjoyed it.