Gems for Youth

The Strength of Youth

"Living the standards set in For the Strength of Youth will make you feel good about yourself. Write those standards into your heart and mind, and live accordingly. Compare each of those standards with where you are today. Listen to the Spirit, who will teach you what you need to do to become more like Jesus."

(Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "See the End from the Beginning," Ensign, May 2006, 45)

Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer

Elder Richard G. Scott Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Prayer is a supernal gift of our Father in Heaven to every soul.
This conference began with a profoundly moving presentation of the classic hymn "Sweet Hour of Prayer" by the magnificent Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The familiar lyrics remind us that prayer is the source of comfort, relief, and protection, willingly granted by our loving, compassionate Heavenly Father.

The Gift of Prayer

Prayer is a supernal gift of our Father in Heaven to every soul. Think of it: the absolute Supreme Being, the most all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful personage, encourages you and me, as insignificant as we are, to converse with Him as our Father. Actually, because He knows how desperately we need His guidance, He commands, "Thou shalt pray vocally as well as in thy heart; yea, before the world as well as in secret, in public as well as in private."
It matters not our circumstance, be we humble or arrogant, poor or rich, free or enslaved, learned or ignorant, loved or forsaken, we can address Him. We need no appointment. Our supplication can be brief or can occupy all the time needed. It can be an extended expression of love and gratitude or an urgent plea for help. He has created numberless cosmos and populated them with worlds, yet you and I can talk with Him personally, and He will ever answer.

How Should You Pray?

We pray to our Heavenly Father in the sacred name of His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Prayer is most effective when we strive to be clean and obedient, with worthy motives, and are willing to do what He asks. Humble, trusting prayer brings direction and peace.

Don't worry about your clumsily expressed feelings. Just talk to your compassionate, understanding Father. You are His precious child whom He loves perfectly and wants to help. As you pray, recognize that Father in Heaven is near and He is listening.

A key to improved prayer is to learn to ask the right questions. Consider changing from asking for the things you want to honestly seeking what He wants for you. Then as you learn His will, pray that you will be led to have the strength to fulfill it.

Should you ever feel distanced from our Father, it could be for many reasons. Whatever the cause, as you continue to plead for help, He will guide you to do that which will restore your confidence that He is near. Pray even when you have no desire to pray. Sometimes, like a child, you may misbehave and feel you cannot approach your Father with a problem. That is when you most need to pray. Never feel you are too unworthy to pray.

I wonder if we can ever really fathom the immense power of prayer until we encounter an overpowering, urgent problem and realize that we are powerless to resolve it. Then we will turn to our Father in humble recognition of our total dependence on Him. It helps to find a secluded place where our feelings can be vocally expressed as long and as intensely as necessary.
I have done that. Once I had an experience that caused me immense anxiety. It had nothing to do with disobedience or transgression but with a vitally important human relationship. For some time I poured my heart out in urgent prayer. Yet try as I might, I could find no solution, no settling of the powerful stirring within me. I pled for help from that Eternal Father I have come to know and trust completely. I could see no path that would provide the calm that is my blessing generally to enjoy. Sleep overcame me. When I awoke, I was totally at peace. Again I knelt in solemn prayer and asked, "Lord, how is it done?" In my heart, I knew the answer was His love and His concern for me. Such is the power of sincere prayer to a compassionate Father.
I have learned much about prayer by listening to President Hinckley offer supplications in our meetings. You can also learn from him by carefully studying the exceptional public prayer he offered at the conclusion of the October 2001 conference for Father's children throughout the world. He prayed from his heart, not from a prepared manuscript. (For convenience that prayer is reproduced at the end of this message.)

Study that prayer, and you will find that there are no vain repetitions, no posturing to impress others, as sometimes occurs. He combines simple words eloquently. He prays as a humble, trusting son who knows well his beloved Father in Heaven. He confides in the certainty that His answer will come when most needed. Each prayer is tailored to its purpose, with a clear statement of what needs resolution, as well as ample expression of gratitude for specific, recognized blessings. His spontaneous prayers are like crafted gems, a silent witness to the fundamental place prayer has occupied in his life for many, many years.

How Are Prayers Answered?

Some truths regarding how prayers are answered may help you.
Often when we pray for help with a significant matter, Heavenly Father will give us gentle promptings that require us to think, exercise faith, work, at times struggle, then act. It is a step-by-step process that enables us to discern inspired answers.
I have discovered that what sometimes seems an impenetrable barrier to communication is a giant step to be taken in trust. Seldom will you receive a complete response all at once. It will come a piece at a time, in packets, so that you will grow in capacity. As each piece is followed in faith, you will be led to other portions until you have the whole answer. That pattern requires you to exercise faith in our Father's capacity to respond. While sometimes it's very hard, it results in significant personal growth.

He will always hear your prayers and will invariably answer them. However, His answers will seldom come while you are on your knees praying, even when you may plead for an immediate response. Rather, He will prompt you in quiet moments when the Spirit can most effectively touch your mind and heart. Hence, you should find periods of quiet time to recognize when you are being instructed and strengthened. His pattern causes you to grow.

President David O. McKay testified, "It is true that the answers to our prayers may not always come as direct and at the time, nor in the manner, we anticipate; but they do come, and at a time and in a manner best for the interests of him who offers the supplication." Be thankful that sometimes God lets you struggle for a long time before that answer comes. Your character will grow; your faith will increase. There is a relationship between those two: the greater your faith, the stronger your character; and increased character enhances your ability to exercise even greater faith.

On occasion, the Lord will give you an answer before you ask. This can occur when you are unaware of a danger or may be doing the wrong thing, mistakenly trusting that it is correct.
It is so hard when sincere prayer about something you desire very much is not answered the way you want. It is difficult to understand why your exercise of deep and sincere faith from an obedient life does not grant the desired result. The Savior taught, "Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you." At times it is difficult to recognize what is best or expedient for you over time. Your life will be easier when you accept that what God does in your life is for your eternal good.

You are asked to look for an answer to your prayers. Obey the Master's counsel to "study it out in your mind." Often you will think of a solution; as you seek confirmation that your answer is right, help will come. It may be through your prayers, or as an impression of the Holy Ghost, and at times by the intervention of others.

This guidance about prayer given to Oliver Cowdery can also aid you: "Behold, . . . you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.
" . . . You must study it out in your mind; then . . . ask me if it be right, and if it is right . . . your bosom shall burn . . . ; therefore, you shall feel that it is right."

Then the answer comes as a feeling with an accompanying conviction. The Savior defines two separate ways: "I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost."
Answers to the mind and heart are messages from the Holy Ghost to our spirits. For me, response to the mind is very specific, like dictated words, while response to the heart is generalized, like a feeling to pray more.

Then the Lord clarifies, "But if [what you propose] be not right you . . . shall have a stupor of thought." That, for me, is an unsettling, discomforting feeling.

Oliver Cowdery was taught another way in which positive answers come: "Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter?" The feeling of peace is the most common confirming witness that I personally experience. When I have been very concerned about an important matter, struggling to resolve it without success, I continued those efforts in faith. Later, an all-pervading peace has come, settling my concerns, as He has promised.

Some misunderstandings about prayer can be clarified by realizing that the scriptures define principles for effective prayer, but they do not assure when a response will be given. Actually, He will reply in one of three ways. First, you can feel the peace, comfort, and assurance that confirm that your decision is right. Or second, you can sense that unsettled feeling, the stupor of thought, indicating that your choice is wrong. Or third—and this is the difficult one—you can feel no response.

What do you do when you have prepared carefully, have prayed fervently, waited a reasonable time for a response, and still do not feel an answer? You may want to express thanks when that occurs, for it is an evidence of His trust. When you are living worthily and your choice is consistent with the Savior's teachings and you need to act, proceed with trust. As you are sensitive to the promptings of the Spirit, one of two things will certainly occur at the appropriate time: either the stupor of thought will come, indicating an improper choice, or the peace or the burning in the bosom will be felt, confirming that your choice was correct. When you are living righteously and are acting with trust, God will not let you proceed too far without a warning impression if you have made the wrong decision.

Gratitude for the Gift of Prayer

An important aspect of prayer is gratitude. Jesus declared, "And in nothing doth man offend God . . . save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments."13 When we contemplate the incomparable gift of prayer and the limitless blessings that flow from it, honest appreciation fills our mind and heart to overflowing with thanksgiving. Should we not, therefore, continually and profoundly express to our beloved Father, as well as we are able, our unbounded gratitude for the supernal gift of prayer and for His answers that meet our needs while motivating us to grow?

I testify our Father will always answer your prayers in the way and in the time that will be for your best eternal good. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

“Love One Another, As I Have Loved You”

Recently there moved over the wires of Associated Press a catalog of crime as the daily happenings around the world were relayed to the media and thence to homes on every continent.

The headlines were brief, but they highlighted murder, rape, robbery, molestation, fraud, deceit, and corruption. I made note of several: "Man slays wife and children, then turns gun on self." "Child identifies molester." "Hundreds lose all as multimillion-dollar scam is exposed." The sordid list continued. Shades of Sodom, glimpses of Gomorrah.

President Ezra Taft Benson often stated, "We live in a wicked world." The Apostle Paul warned, "Men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ... lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God" (2 Tim. 3:2, 4).
Must we suffer the same fate as those who lived in the cities of the plain? (see Gen. 24-25, 29). Can we not learn the lesson taught in the time of Noah? "Is there no balm in Gilead?" (Jer. 8:22). Or is there a doorway that leads us from the morass of worldliness onward and upward to the high ground of righteousness? There echoes ever so gently to the honest mind that personal invitation of the Lord, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him" (Rev. 3:20). Does that doorway have a name? It surely does. I have chosen to call it "The Doorway of Love."

Love is the catalyst that causes change. Love is the balm that brings healing to the soul. But love doesn't grow like weeds or fall like rain. Love has its price. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). That Son, even the Lord Jesus Christ, gave His life that we might have eternal life, so great was His love for His Father and for us.

In that tender and touching farewell, as He counseled His beloved disciples, Jesus taught, "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me" (John 14:21). Particularly far-reaching was the instruction, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another" (John 13:34).
Little children can learn the lesson of love. While profound instruction from holy writ oft times is not understood by them, they respond readily to a favorite verse:

"I love you, Mother," said little John;
Then, forgetting his work, his cap went on,
And he was off to the garden swing,
Leaving her the water and wood to bring.
"I love you, Mother," said rosy Nell.
"I love you better than tongue can tell."
Then she teased and pouted full half the day,
Till her mother rejoiced when she went to play.
"I love you, Mother," said little Fan.
"Today I'll help you all I can.
How glad I am that school doesn't keep!"
So she rocked the babe till it fell asleep.
Then, stepping softly, she fetched the broom,
And swept the floor and tidied the room.
Busy and happy all day was she,
Helpful and happy as a child could be.
"I love you, Mother," again they said,
Three little children going to bed.
How do you think that Mother guessed
Which of them really loved her best?

(Joy Allison, "Which Loved Best?")

Home should be a haven of love. Honor, courtesy, and respect symbolize love and characterize the righteous family. Fathers in such homes will not hear the denunciation of the Lord as recorded in the book of Jacob from the Book of Mormon: "Ye have broken the hearts of your tender wives, and lost the confidence of your children, because of your bad examples before them; and the sobbings of their hearts ascend up to God against you" (Jacob 2:35).
In Third Nephi the Master instructed us: "There shall be no disputations among you. ...
"For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.

"Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away" (3 Ne. 11:28-30).
Where love is, there is no disputation. Where love is, there is no contention. Where love is, there God will be also. Each of us has the responsibility to keep His commandments. The lessons found in scripture find fulfillment in our lives. Joseph Smith taught that "happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 255-56).
In the classic musical production Camelot, there is a line with words of warning for all. After the familiar triangle began to deepen regarding King Arthur, Lancelot, and Guenevere, King Arthur said, "We must not let our passions destroy our dreams."

From that same production came another truth also spoken by Arthur as he envisioned a better world: "Violence is not strength, and compassion is not weakness."
In this world in which we live, there is a tendency for us to describe needed change, required help, and desired relief with the familiar phrase, "They ought to do something about this." We fail to define the word they. I love the message, "Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me." Tears came to my eyes when I read of a young boy who noticed a vagrant asleep on a sidewalk and who then went to his own bedroom, retrieved his pillow, and placed it beneath the head of that one whom he knew not. Perhaps there came from the past these welcome words: "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (Matt. 25:40).

I extol those who, with loving care and compassionate concern, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and house the homeless. He who notes the sparrow's fall will not be unmindful of such service.
The desire to lift, the willingness to help, and the graciousness to give come from a heart filled with love. Somehow the memory of one's mother prompts such loving concern.
Some years ago there passed from mortality a friend who helped more people, spoke more eulogies, and gave more freely of his time, his talents, and his possessions than most. His name was Louis. He related to me this tender account:

A gentle, soft-spoken mother had passed away. She left to her stalwart sons and lovely daughters no fortune of finance but, rather, a heritage of wealth in example, in sacrifice, in obedience. After the funeral eulogies had been spoken and the sad trek to the cemetery had been made, the grown family sorted through the meager possessions the mother had left. Louis discovered a note and also a key. The note instructed: "In the corner bedroom, in the bottom drawer of my dresser, is a tiny box. It contains the treasure of my heart. This key will open the box." Another son asked, "What could Mother have of sufficient value to be placed under lock and key?" A sister commented, "Dad has been gone all these years, and Mother has had precious little of this world's goods."
The box was removed from its resting place in the dresser drawer and opened carefully with the aid of the key. What did it contain? No money, no deed, no precious rings or valuable jewels. Louis took from the box a faded photograph of his father. On the back of the photograph was the penned message, "My dear husband and I were sealed together for time and all eternity in the House of the Lord, at Salt Lake City, December 12, 1891."
Next there emerged an individual photo of each child, with his or her name and birth date. Finally, Louis held to the light a homemade valentine. In crude, childlike penmanship, which he recognized as his own, Louis read the words he had written 60 years before: "Dear Mother, I love you."
Hearts were tender, voices soft, and eyes moist. Mother's treasure was her eternal family. Its strength rested on the bedrock foundation of "I love you."
A poet wrote, "Love is the most noble attribute of the human soul." A schoolteacher showed her love with her guiding philosophy: "No one fails in my class. I have the responsibility to help each student succeed."
A priesthood quorum leader in Salt Lake City, a retired executive, said to me: "This year I have helped 12 of my brethren who were out of work to obtain permanent employment. I have never been happier in my entire life." Short in stature, "Little Ed," as we affectionately called him, stood tall that day as his eyes glistened and his voice quavered. He showed his love by helping those in need.
A large and tough businessman, a wholesale vendor of poultry, showed his love with a single comment made when a customer attempted to pay for 24 roasting chickens. "The chickens are going to the widows, aren't they? There will be no charge." Then he added in a faltering voice, "And there are more where these came from."

A number of years ago Morgan High School played Millard High for the Utah state football championship. From his wheelchair, to which he was confined, Morgan coach Jan Smith said to his team: "This is the most important game of your lives. You lose, and you will regret it forever. You win, and you will remember it forever. Make every play as though it were all-important."
Behind the door, his wife, to whom he tenderly referred as his chief assistant, overheard her husband say: "I love you guys. I don't care about the ball game. I love you and want the game victory for you." Underdog Morgan High won the football game and the state championship.
True love is a reflection of Christ's love. In December of each year we call it the Christmas spirit. You can hear it. You can see it. You can feel it. But never alone.

One winter day as Christmas approached, I thought back to an experience from my boyhood. I was just 11. Our Primary president, Melissa, was an older and loving gray-haired lady. One day at Primary, Melissa asked me to stay behind and visit with her. There the two of us sat in the otherwise empty chapel. She placed her arm about my shoulder and began to cry. Surprised, I asked her why she was crying. She replied: "I don't seem to be able to encourage the Trail Builder boys to be reverent during the opening exercises of Primary. Would you be willing to help me, Tommy?" I promised her I would. Strangely to me, but not to Melissa, that ended any problem of reverence in that Primary. She had gone to the source of the problem--me. The solution was love.
The years flew by. Marvelous Melissa, now in her nineties, lived in a nursing facility in the northwest part of Salt Lake City. Just before Christmas I determined to visit my beloved Primary president. Over the car radio, I heard the song "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing." I reflected on the visit made by wise men those long years ago. They brought gifts of gold, of frankincense, and of myrrh. I brought only the gift of love and a desire to say "Thank you."
I found Melissa in the lunchroom. She stared at her plate of food, teasing it with the fork she held in her aged hand. Not a bite did she eat. As I spoke to her, my words were met with a benign but blank stare. I took the fork in hand and began to feed Melissa, talking all the time I did so about her service to boys and girls as a Primary worker. There wasn't so much as a glimmer of recognition, far less a spoken word. Two other residents of the nursing home gazed at me with puzzled expressions. At last they spoke, saying: "She doesn't know anyone, even her own family. She hasn't said a word in all the years she's been here."
Lunch ended. My one-sided conversation wound down. I stood to leave. I held her frail hand in mine, gazed into her wrinkled but beautiful countenance, and said: "God bless you, Melissa. Merry Christmas." Without warning, she spoke the words: "I know you. You're Tommy Monson, my Primary boy. How I love you." She pressed my hand to her lips and bestowed on it the kiss of love. Tears coursed down her cheeks and bathed our clasped hands. Those hands, that day, were hallowed by heaven and graced by God. The herald angels did sing. Outside the sky was blue--azure blue. The air was cool--crispy cool. The snow was white-- crystal white. The words of the Master seemed to have a personal meaning never before fully felt: "Woman, behold thy son!" And to his disciple, "Behold thy mother!" (John 19:26-27).

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is giv'n!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessing of his heav'n.
No ear may hear his coming;
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.
("O Little Town of Bethlehem," Hymns, no. 208)
The wondrous gift was given, the heavenly blessing was received, the dear Christ had entered in--all through the doorway of love.

(Thomas S. Monson, "The Doorway of Love," Ensign, Oct 1996, 2 )

Family Prayer

"The warnings of the Prophets and Apostles lead them ever and always to speak of the home and family. Let me demonstrate the warning voice of the Prophets. On February 11 of this year, the First Presidency, with the support of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, sent to every member of the Church a letter of counsel concerning our families. Let me read you just two sentences from this letter:" 'We counsel parents and children to give highest priority to family prayer, family home evening, gospel study and instruction, and wholesome family activities. However worthy and appropriate other demands or activities may be, they must not be permitted to displace the divinely appointed duties that only parents and families can adequately perform'
('Policies, Announcements, andAppointments,' Ensign, June 1999, 80).

"What is our reaction to this prophetic counsel? What has been my response and your response to this First Presidency letter of nearly eight months ago?"As a parent of teenagers in a busy world, I can confirm that it takes giving these issues our highest priority to see them effectively work in our family. . . . With the influences of evil that surround our children, can we even imagine sending them out in the morning without kneeling and humbly asking together for the Lord's protection? Or closing the day without kneeling together and acknowledging our accountability before Him and our thankfulness for His blessings? Brothers and sisters, we need to have family prayer."

(Neil L. Andersen, "Prophets and Spiritual Mole Crickets," Ensign, Nov. 1999,17)

Faith and Miracles

"Miracles are everywhere to be found when priesthood callings aremagnified. When faith replaces doubt, when selfless service eliminates selfish striving, the power of God brings to pass His purposes. Whom God calls, God qualifies."

(Thomas S. Monson, "Our Sacred Priesthood Trust," Ensign, May 2006, 57)

The Influence of the Priesthood

"I testify of the refining, spiritual, comforting, strengthening, and
restraining influence the priesthood has had in my life. I have lived under
its spiritual influence all my life--in my grandfather's
home, in my father's home, and then in my own home. It is humbling to
use the transcending power and authority of the priesthood to empower
others and to heal and bless."

(James E. Faust, "A Royal Priesthood," Ensign, May 2006, 53)

Signs!

Preparation for the Second Coming

Dallin H. Oaks, Liahona, May 2004, 7-10

In modern revelation we have the promise that if we are prepared we need not fear (see D&C 38:30). I was introduced to that principle 60 years ago this summer when I became a Boy Scout and learned the Scout motto: "Be prepared." Today I have felt prompted to speak of the importance of preparation for a future event of supreme importance to each of us--the Second Coming of the Lord.

The scriptures are rich in references to the Second Coming, an event eagerly awaited by the righteous and dreaded or denied by the wicked. The faithful of all ages have pondered the sequence and meaning of the many events prophesied to precede and follow this hinge point of history.

Four matters are indisputable to Latter-day Saints: (1) The Savior will return to the earth in power and great glory to reign personally during a millennium of righteousness and peace. (2) At the time of His coming there will be a destruction of the wicked and a resurrection of the righteous. (3) No one knows the time of His coming, but (4) the faithful are taught to study the signs of it and to be prepared for it. I wish to speak about the fourth of these great realities: the signs of the Second Coming and what we should do to prepare for it.

I.

The Lord has declared, "He that feareth me shall be looking forth for the great day of the Lord to come, even for the signs of the coming of the Son of Man," signs that will be shown "in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath" (D&C 45:39-40).
The Savior taught this in the parable of the fig tree whose tender new branches give a sign of the coming of summer. "So likewise," when the elect shall see the signs of His coming "they shall know that he is near, even at the doors" (JS--M 1:38-39; see also Matt. 24:32-33; D&C 45:37-38).

Biblical and modern prophecies give many signs of the Second Coming. These include:

1. The fulness of the gospel restored and preached in all the world for a witness to all nations.

2. False Christs and false prophets, deceiving many.

3. Wars and rumors of wars, with nation rising against nation.

4. Earthquakes in divers places.

5. Famine and pestilence.

6. An overflowing scourge, a desolating sickness covering the land.

7. Iniquity abounding.

8. The whole earth in commotion.

9. Men's hearts failing them.

(See Matt. 24:5-15; JS--M 1:22, 28-32; D&C 45:26-33.)

In another revelation the Lord declares that some of these signs are His voice calling His people to repentance:

"Hearken, O ye nations of the earth, and hear the words of that God who made you. ...
"How oft have I called upon you by the mouth of my servants, and by the ministering of angels, and by mine own voice, and by the voice of thunderings, and by the voice of lightnings, and by the voice of tempests, and by the voice of earthquakes, and great hailstorms, and by the voice of famines and pestilences of every kind, ... and would have saved you with an everlasting salvation, but ye would not!" (D&C 43:23, 25).

These signs of the Second Coming are all around us and seem to be increasing in frequency and intensity. For example, the list of major earthquakes in The World Almanac and Book of Facts, 2004 shows twice as many earthquakes in the decades of the 1980s and 1990s as in the two preceding decades (pp. 189-90). It also shows further sharp increases in the first several years of this century. The list of notable floods and tidal waves and the list of hurricanes, typhoons, and blizzards worldwide show similar increases in recent years (pp. 188-89). Increases by comparison with 50 years ago can be dismissed as changes in reporting criteria, but the accelerating pattern of natural disasters in the last few decades is ominous.

II.

Another sign of the times is the gathering of the faithful (see D&C 133:4). In the early years of this last dispensation, a gathering to Zion involved various locations in the United States: to Kirtland, to Missouri, to Nauvoo, and to the tops of the mountains. Always these were gatherings to prospective temples. With the creation of stakes and the construction of temples in most nations with sizeable populations of the faithful, the current commandment is not to gather to one place but to gather in stakes in our own homelands. There the faithful can enjoy the full blessings of eternity in a house of the Lord. There, in their own homelands, they can obey the Lord's command to enlarge the borders of His people and strengthen her stakes (see D&C 101:21; D&C 133:9, 14). In this way, the stakes of Zion are "for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth" (D&C 115:6).

III.

While we are powerless to alter the fact of the Second Coming and unable to know its exact time, we can accelerate our own preparation and try to influence the preparation of those around us.
A parable that contains an important and challenging teaching on this subject is the parable of the ten virgins. Of this parable, the Lord said, "And at that day, when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten virgins" (D&C 45:56).

Given in the 25th chapter of Matthew, this parable contrasts the circumstances of the five foolish and the five wise virgins. All ten were invited to the wedding feast, but only half of them were prepared with oil in their lamps when the bridegroom came. The five who were prepared went into the marriage feast, and the door was shut. The five who had delayed their preparations came late. The door had been closed, and the Lord denied them entrance, saying, "I know you not" (Matt. 25:12). "Watch therefore," the Savior concluded, "for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh" (Matt. 25:13).

The arithmetic of this parable is chilling. The ten virgins obviously represent members of Christ's Church, for all were invited to the wedding feast and all knew what was required to be admitted when the bridegroom came. But only half were ready when he came.
Modern revelation contains this teaching, spoken by the Lord to the early leaders of the Church:
"And after your testimony cometh wrath and indignation upon the people.
"For after your testimony cometh the testimony of earthquakes. ...
"And ... the testimony of the voice of thunderings, and the voice of lightnings, and the voice of tempests, and the voice of the waves of the sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds.
"And all things shall be in commotion; and surely, men's hearts shall fail them; for fear shall come upon all people.
"And angels shall fly through the midst of heaven, crying with a loud voice, sounding the trump of God, saying: Prepare ye, prepare ye, O inhabitants of the earth; for the judgment of our God is come. Behold, and lo, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him" (D&C 88:88-92).

IV.

Brothers and sisters, as the Book of Mormon teaches, "this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; ... the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors" (Alma 34:32). Are we preparing?

In His preface to our compilation of modern revelation the Lord declares, "Prepare ye, prepare ye for that which is to come, for the Lord is nigh" (D&C 1:12).

The Lord also warned: "Yea, let the cry go forth among all people: Awake and arise and go forth to meet the Bridegroom; behold and lo, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Prepare yourselves for the great day of the Lord" (D&C 133:10; see also D&C 34:6).
Always we are cautioned that we cannot know the day or the hour of His coming. In the 24th chapter of Matthew Jesus taught:

"Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
"But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up" (Matt. 24:42-43). "But would have been ready" (JS--M 1:47).
"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh" (Matt. 24:44; see also D&C 51:20).

What if the day of His coming were tomorrow? If we knew that we would meet the Lord tomorrow--through our premature death or through His unexpected coming-- what would we do today? What confessions would we make? What practices would we discontinue? What accounts would we settle? What forgivenesses would we extend? What testimonies would we bear?

If we would do those things then, why not now? Why not seek peace while peace can be obtained? If our lamps of preparation are drawn down, let us start immediately to replenish them.

We need to make both temporal and spiritual preparation for the events prophesied at the time of the Second Coming. And the preparation most likely to be neglected is the one less visible and more difficult--the spiritual. A 72- hour kit of temporal supplies may prove valuable for earthly challenges, but, as the foolish virgins learned to their sorrow, a 24-hour kit of spiritual preparation is of greater and more enduring value.

V.

We are living in the prophesied time "when peace shall be taken from the earth" (D&C 1:35), when "all things shall be in commotion" and "men's hearts shall fail them" (D&C 88:91). There are many temporal causes of commotion, including wars and natural disasters, but an even greater cause of current "commotion" is spiritual.

Viewing our surroundings through the lens of faith and with an eternal perspective, we see all around us a fulfillment of the prophecy that "the devil shall have power over his own dominion" (D&C 1:35). Our hymn describes "the foe in countless numbers, / Marshaled in the ranks of sin" ("Hope of Israel," Hymns, no. 259), and so it is.

Evil that used to be localized and covered like a boil is now legalized and paraded like a banner. The most fundamental roots and bulwarks of civilization are questioned or attacked. Nations disavow their religious heritage. Marriage and family responsibilities are discarded as impediments to personal indulgence. The movies and magazines and television that shape our attitudes are filled with stories or images that portray the children of God as predatory beasts or, at best, as trivial creations pursuing little more than personal pleasure. And too many of us accept this as entertainment.

The men and women who made epic sacrifices to combat evil regimes in the past were shaped by values that are disappearing from our public teaching. The good, the true, and the beautiful are being replaced by the no-good, the "whatever," and the valueless fodder of personal whim. Not surprisingly, many of our youth and adults are caught up in pornography, pagan piercing of body parts, self- serving pleasure pursuits, dishonest behavior, revealing attire, foul language, and degrading sexual indulgence.

An increasing number of opinion leaders and followers deny the existence of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and revere only the gods of secularism. Many in positions of power and influence deny the right and wrong defined by divine decree. Even among those who profess to believe in right and wrong, there are "them that call evil good, and good evil" (Isa. 5:20; 2 Ne. 15:20). Many also deny individual responsibility and practice dependence on others, seeking, like the foolish virgins, to live on borrowed substance and borrowed light.

All of this is grievous in the sight of our Heavenly Father, who loves all of His children and forbids every practice that keeps any from returning to His presence.

What is the state of our personal preparation for eternal life? The people of God have always been people of covenant. What is the measure of our compliance with covenants, including the sacred promises we made in the waters of baptism, in receiving the holy priesthood, and in the temples of God? Are we promisers who do not fulfill and believers who do not perform?
Are we following the Lord's command, "Stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh quickly"? (D&C 87:8). What are those "holy places"? Surely they include the temple and its covenants faithfully kept. Surely they include a home where children are treasured and parents are respected. Surely the holy places include our posts of duty assigned by priesthood authority, including missions and callings faithfully fulfilled in branches, wards, and stakes.

As the Savior taught in His prophecy of the Second Coming, blessed is the "faithful and wise servant" who is attending to his duty when the Lord comes (see Matt. 24:45-46). As the prophet Nephi taught of that day, "The righteous need not fear" (1 Ne. 22:17; see also 1 Ne. 14:14; D&C 133:44). And modern revelation promises that "the Lord shall have power over his saints" (D&C 1:36).

We are surrounded by challenges on all sides (see 2 Cor. 4:8-9). But with faith in God, we trust the blessings He has promised those who keep His commandments. We have faith in the future, and we are preparing for that future. To borrow a metaphor from the familiar world of athletic competitions, we do not know when this game will end, and we do not know the final score, but we do know that when the game finally ends, our team wins. We will continue to go forward "till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done" (History of the Church, 4:540).

"Wherefore," the Savior tells us, "be faithful, praying always, having your lamps trimmed and burning, and oil with you, that you may be ready at the coming of the Bridegroom--For behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, that I come quickly" (D&C 33:17-18).
I testify of Jesus Christ. I testify that He shall come, as He has promised. And I pray that we will be prepared to meet Him, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Are All Faithful Members Equal?

"All faithful members of the Lord's Church are equally blessed by priesthood ordinances."

(Julie B. Beck, "An Outpouring of Blessings," Ensign, May 2006, 11)

"The safety of the saints depends as much upon their fulfilling his commandments as the safety of Noah and Lot depended upon their obedience to the commands of God in their day. "

—Wilford Woodruff (MS, 6:3.)

"And now, as pertaining to this perfect atonement, wrought by the shedding of the blood of God--I testify that it took place in Gethsemane and at Golgotha, and as pertaining to Jesus Christ, I testify that he is the Son of the Living God, and was crucified for the sins of the world. He is our Lord, our God, and our King. This I know of myself independent of any other person. I am one of his witnesses, and in a coming day I shall feel the nail marks in his hands and in his feet and shall wet his feet with my tears. But I shall not know any better then than I know now that he is God's Almighty Son, that he is our Saviour and Redeemer, and that salvation comes in and through his atoning blood and in no other way."

--Elder Bruce R. McConkie

"That man loves God most who puts his own life in harmony with him, and who serves his fellow men as though his life depends upon it, as indeed it does."

—Sterling W. Sill

Beginnings!

I found this great scripture reading help online! Check it out! I've signed up for it becuase I want to be reading more each day in the scriptures than I am right now and I think this will help. http://www.readthescriptures.com

"To hold his testimony, one must bear it often and live worthy of it."

—Spencer W. Kimball (CR, October 1944, p. 45.)

opposition

President Howard W. Hunter (1907-95): "Without temptation, sickness, pain, and sorrow, there could be no goodness, virtue, appreciation for well- being, or joy. The law of opposition makes freedom of choice possible; therefore, our Heavenly Father has commanded his children, `Choose ye this day, to serve the Lord God who made you' (Moses 6:33). He has counseled us to yield to his spirit and resist temptation"

("God Will Have a Tried People," Ensign, May 1980, 25).

"Repentance means turning the heart and the will to God. It denotes a change of mind, a fresh view about God, about oneself, and about the world. It is a cleansing process. It is the way back."

—Elaine L. Jack (Ensign, November 1989, p. 88)

“Quick to Observe”

Talk given by DAVID A. BEDNAR


Sister Bednar and I are delighted to be with you. She and I have been anxiously engaged in university life for more than 30 years, and we love the young people of the Church. Time spent with you this morning is a sacred privilege for us. I now seek for and invite the assistance of the Holy Ghost as I speak with you about essential spiritual truths.



In October 1987 Elder Marvin J. Ashton, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, spoke in general conference about spiritual gifts. I recall with fondness the impact his message had upon me at that time, and the things he taught then continue to influence me today. In his message Elder Ashton detailed and described a number of less conspicuous spiritual gifts—attributes and abilities that many of us might not have considered being spiritual gifts. For example, Elder Ashton highlighted the gifts of asking; of listening; of hearing and using a still, small voice; of being able to weep; of avoiding contention; of being agreeable; of avoiding vain repetition; of seeking that which is righteous; of looking to God for guidance; of being a disciple; of caring for others; of being able to ponder; of bearing mighty testimony; and of receiving the Holy Ghost (see Marvin J. Ashton, “There Are Many Gifts,” Ensign, November 1987, 20–22).



This morning I want to talk with you about another seemingly simple and perhaps underappreciated spiritual gift—the capacity of being “quick to observe.” I will also attempt to explain why appropriately seeking for this blessing is vitally important for you and for me in the world in which we do now and will yet live.



The Spiritual Gift of Being Quick to Observe



All of us have learned important lessons from the central characters in the Book of Mormon. As we read about and study the lives of Nephi, Laman, Alma, King Noah, Moroni, and many others, we discover things we should and should not do, and we realize more completely the kinds of people we should and should not become.



In my study of the Book of Mormon I have been especially impressed with a particular description of Mormon, the principal compiler of the Nephite record. The specific depiction of this noble prophet to which I would direct our attention is contained in the first five verses of the first chapter of Mormon:



And now I, Mormon, make a record of the things which I have both seen and heard, and call it the Book of Mormon.



And about the time that Ammaron hid up the records unto the Lord, he came unto me, (I being about ten years of age . . . ) and Ammaron said unto me: I perceive that thou art a sober child, and art quick to observe;



Therefore, when ye are about twenty and four years old I would that ye should remember the things that ye have observed concerning this people. . . .



And behold, ye shall . . . engrave on the plates of Nephi all the things that ye have observed concerning this people.



And I, Mormon, . . . remembered the things which Ammaron commanded me. [Mormon 1:1–5; emphasis added]



Please note that the root word observe is used three times in these verses. And Mormon, even in his youth, is described as being “quick to observe” (Mormon 1:2). As you study and learn and grow during your time as a university student, I hope you also are learning about and becoming quick to observe. Your future success and happiness will in large measure be determined by this spiritual capacity.



Please consider the significance of this important spiritual gift. As used in the scriptures, the word observe has two primary uses. One use denotes “to look” or “to see” or “to notice”—as we learn in Isaiah 42:20: “Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not” (emphasis added).



The second use of the word observe suggests “to obey” or “to keep”—as is evident in the Doctrine and Covenants: “But blessed are they who have kept the covenant and observed the commandment, for they shall obtain mercy” (D&C 54:6; emphasis added).



Thus when we are quick to observe, we promptly look or notice and obey. Both of these fundamental elements—looking and obeying—are essential to being quick to observe. And the prophet Mormon is an impressive example of this gift in action.
I now want to present several examples of the lessons that can be learned when you and I are blessed to be quick to observe.



I have a dear friend who served as a stake president. The patriarch in the stake over which he presided had experienced some health challenges and was unable to perform in his calling. The ailing patriarch had difficulty moving about and dressing and caring for himself, and his strength was limited. One Sabbath afternoon this good stake president visited the home of the patriarch to encourage him and check on his well-being. As the stake president entered the home, he found the patriarch dressed in his suit and white shirt and tie, sitting in a recliner in the front room. The stake president greeted the dear patriarch and, knowing how hard it must have been to dress himself, graciously suggested to the patriarch that it was not necessary for him to get dressed up on the Sabbath or to meet visitors. In a kind but firm voice, the patriarch reproved the stake president and said, “Don’t you know that this is the only way I have left to show the Lord how much I love Him?”



The stake president was quick to observe. He both heard and felt the lesson, and he applied it. Reverence for the Sabbath day and the importance of respect and appropriate demeanor and dress took on added importance in the ministry of the stake president. The spiritual ability to see, hear, remember, and act upon that lesson was a great blessing in his life—and in the lives of many others.



Before attending her sacrament meetings, Sister Bednar frequently prays for the spiritual eyes to see those who have a need. Often as she observes the brothers and sisters and children in the congregation, she will feel a spiritual nudge to visit with or make a phone call to a particular person. And when Sister Bednar receives such an impression, she promptly responds and obeys. It often is the case that as soon as the “amen” is spoken in the benediction, she will talk with a teenager or hug a sister or, upon returning home, immediately pick up the phone and make a call. As long as I have known Sister Bednar, people have marveled at her capacity to discern and respond to their needs. Often they will ask her, “How did you know?” The spiritual gift of being quick to observe has enabled her to see and to act promptly and has been a great blessing in the lives of many people.



Your president, Elder Samuelson, participates each month in a Church Board of Education meeting in Salt Lake City. President Hinckley serves as the chair of that board. The counselors in the First Presidency, several members of the Quorum of the Twelve, and other General Authorities and general auxiliary leaders also sit on that board. During my years of service at Brigham Young University—Idaho, I also was blessed to participate in monthly board meetings.
At the conclusion of the June 2004 board of trustees meeting, President Hinckley called upon Elder David B. Haight to offer the benediction. It was the last board meeting in which Elder Haight ever participated. At the age of 97, Elder Haight had some difficulty as he tried to stand and offer the prayer.



After several attempts to rise to his feet, President Hinckley courteously said, “David, it is all right”—suggesting, I believe, that it was permissible for Elder Haight to remain in his chair and offer the prayer.



Elder Haight responded in a voice that was both firm and appropriate and said, “President, I must stand!”



There was simply no way that mighty Apostle was going to sit and pray in the presence of the First Presidency and his colleagues of the Twelve. And of greater importance, he was not going to sit as he communicated with his Heavenly Father. So once again Elder Haight worked to stand—and was successful. I shall never forget the spirit I felt as I listened to Elder Haight pray. I hope on that occasion I was quick to observe a powerful lesson about the dignity and the humility that should always attend our prayers. In my present calling I am blessed by Elder Haight’s example and feel a deep sense of gratitude for what I saw and felt and learned that day.
Sister Bednar and I are acquainted with a returned missionary who had dated a special young woman for a period of time. This young man cared for the young woman very much, and he was desirous of making his relationship with her more serious. He was considering and hoping for engagement and marriage. Now this relationship was developing during the time that President Hinckley counseled the Relief Society sisters and young women of the Church to wear only one earring in each ear.



The young man waited patiently over a period of time for the young woman to remove her extra earrings, but she did not take them out. This was a valuable piece of information for this young man, and he felt unsettled about her nonresponsiveness to a prophet’s pleading. For this and other reasons, he ultimately stopped dating the young woman, because he was looking for an eternal companion who had the courage to promptly and quietly obey the counsel of the prophet in all things and at all times. The young man was quick to observe that the young woman was not quick to observe.



Now before I continue, I presume that some of you might have difficulty with my last example. In fact, this particular illustration of the young man being quick to observe may even fan the flames of controversy on campus, resulting in letters of disagreement to the Daily Universe! You may believe the young man was too judgmental or that basing an eternally important decision, even in part, upon such a supposedly minor issue is silly or fanatical. Perhaps you are bothered because the example focuses upon a young woman who failed to respond to prophetic counsel instead of upon a young man. I simply invite you to consider and ponder the power of being quick to observe and what was actually observed in the case I just described. The issue was not earrings!



Now one final example. I have long been fascinated by the nature of the interaction between the Spirit of the Lord and Nephi found in chapters 11 through 14 of 1 Nephi. As you recall, Nephi desired to see and hear and know the things his father, Lehi, had seen in the vision of the tree of life (see 1 Nephi 8). In chapters 11 through 14 the Holy Ghost assisted Nephi in learning about the nature and meaning of his father’s vision. Interestingly, 13 times in these chapters the Spirit of the Lord directed Nephi to “look” as a fundamental feature of the learning process. Nephi repeatedly was counseled to look, and because he was quick to observe, he beheld the tree of life (1 Nephi 11:8); the mother of the Savior (1 Nephi 11:20); the rod of iron (1 Nephi 11:25); and the Lamb of God, the Son of the Eternal Father (1 Nephi 11:21).



I have described only a few of the spiritually significant things Nephi saw. You may want to study these chapters in greater depth and learn from and about Nephi’s learning. As you study and ponder, please keep in mind that Nephi would not have seen what he desired to see, he would not have known what he needed to know, and he could not have done what he ultimately needed to do if he had not been quick to observe. Brothers and sisters, that same truth applies to you and to me!



Quick to observe. Prompt to watch and to obey. A simple gift that blesses us individually and in our families and extends blessings to so many other people. Each of us can and should strive to be worthy of this significant spiritual gift—even the capacity of being quick to observe.



Why the Spiritual Gift of Being Quick to Observe Is So Vital Today



Let me now address the question of why the spiritual gift of being quick to observe is so vital for us in the world in which we do now and will yet live. Simply stated, being quick to observe is an antecedent to and is linked with the spiritual gift of discernment. And for you and for me, discernment is a light of protection and direction in a world that grows increasingly dark.
Much like faith precedes the miracle, much like baptism by water comes before the baptism by fire, much like gospel milk should be digested before gospel meat, much like clean hands can lead to a pure heart, and much like the ordinances of the Aaronic Priesthood are necessary before a person can receive the higher ordinances of the Melchizedek Priesthood, so being quick to observe is a prerequisite to and a preparation for the gift of discernment. We can only hope to obtain that supernal gift of discernment and its light of protection and direction if we are quick to observe—if we both look and obey.



President George Q. Cannon, who served as a counselor to four presidents of the Church, taught powerfully about the gift of discernment:



One of the gifts of the Gospel which the Lord has promised to those who enter into covenant with Him is the gift of discerning of spirits—a gift which is not much thought of by many and probably seldom prayed for; yet it is a gift that is of exceeding value and one that should be enjoyed by every Latter-day Saint. . . .



Now, the gift of discerning of spirits not only gives men and women who have it the power to discern the spirit with which others may be possessed or influenced, but it gives them the power to discern the spirit which influences themselves. They are able to detect a false spirit and also to know when the Spirit of God reigns within them. In private life this gift is of great importance to the Latter-day Saints. Possessing and exercising this gift they will not allow any evil influence to enter into their hearts or to prompt them in their thoughts, their words or their acts. They will repel it; and if perchance such a spirit should get possession of them, as soon as they witness its effects they will expel it or, in other words, refuse to be led or prompted by it. [Gospel Truth: Discourses and Writings of President George Q. Cannon, comp. Jerreld L. Newquist (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1974), 1:198–99]



Can we recognize how crucial this spiritual gift is in our lives today and how being quick to observe is a powerful invitation for the blessings of discernment?



President Stephen L Richards, who served as a counselor to President David O. McKay, has provided additional instruction about the nature and blessings of discernment:
First, I mention the gift of discernment, embodying the power to discriminate . . . between right and wrong. I believe that this gift when highly developed arises largely out of an acute sensitivity to impressions—spiritual impressions, if you will—to read under the surface as it were, to detect hidden evil, and more importantly to find the good that may be concealed. The highest type of discernment is that which perceives in others and uncovers for them their better natures, the good inherent within them. . . .



. . . Every member in the restored Church of Christ could have this gift if he willed to do so. He could not be deceived with the sophistries of the world. He could not be led astray by pseudo-prophets and subversive cults. Even the inexperienced would recognize false teachings, in a measure at least. . . . We ought to be grateful every day of our lives for this sense which keeps alive a conscience which constantly alerts us to the dangers inherent in wrongdoers and sin. [CR, April 1950, 162–63; emphasis added]



As we integrate the teachings of Presidents Cannon and Richards, we learn that the gift of discernment operates basically in four major ways.



First, as we “read under the surface,” discernment helps us detect hidden error and evil in others.



Second, and more important, it helps us detect hidden errors and evil in ourselves. Thus the spiritual gift of discernment is not exclusively about discerning other people and situations, but, as President Cannon taught, it is also about discerning things as they really are within us.



Third, it helps us find and bring forth the good that may be concealed in others.



And fourth, it helps us find and bring forth the good that may be concealed in us. Oh, what a blessing and a source of protection and direction is the spiritual gift of discernment!
The teachings of Presidents Cannon and Richards concerning the power of discernment to detect hidden evil and to identify good that may be concealed become even more important to you and to me in light of a specific element of Lehi’s vision. In the vision various groups of individuals were pressing forward that they might obtain the path which led unto the tree of life (see 1 Nephi 8:21). The strait and narrow path came along by the rod of iron, even to the tree (see 1 Nephi 8:20). The mists of darkness described in the vision represent the temptations of the devil which blind the eyes of the children of men and lead them into broad roads so that they are lost (see 1 Nephi 12:17). Now please pay particular attention to verse 23 in 1 Nephi 8, and let us liken this scripture to our day and the challenges we face in an increasingly wicked world:
And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; yea, even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost. [1 Nephi 8:23]



I repeat again for emphasis the truth that discernment is a light of protection and direction in a world that grows increasingly dark. In these latter days you and I can press forward safely and successfully through the mist of darkness and have a clear sense of spiritual direction. Discernment is so much more than recognizing right from wrong. It helps us to distinguish the relevant from the irrelevant, the important from the unimportant, and the necessary from that which is merely nice.



The gift of discernment opens to us vistas that stretch far beyond what can be seen with natural eyes or heard with natural ears. Discerning is seeing with spiritual eyes and feeling with the heart—seeing and feeling the falsehood of an idea or the goodness in another person. Discerning is hearing with spiritual ears and feeling with the heart—hearing and feeling the unspoken concern in a statement or the truthfulness of a testimony or doctrine.



I frequently have heard President Boyd K. Packer counsel members and priesthood leaders: “If all you know is what you see with your natural eyes and hear with your natural ears, then you will not know very much.” His observation should help all of us to appropriately desire and seek these spiritual gifts.



Observing and discerning also enable us to assist others who are seeking to obtain the path and who desire to press forward with steadfastness in Christ. Blessed with these spiritual gifts, we will not lose our way; we will not wander off; we will not be lost. And we can only hope to obtain the supernal gift of discernment and its light of protection and direction if we are quick to observe. As Alma taught his son Helaman, “See that ye take care of these sacred things, yea, see that ye look to God and live” (Alma 37:47).



I declare my special witness that Jesus is the Christ, our Redeemer and our Savior. I know that He lives. I invoke His blessing upon each of you—that indeed you may desire to be and become quick to observe and truly discerning. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Gems for Youth

Good Decisions?

"You want to make your own decisions, but you ought to make those decisions with an eternal perspective. With age, experience, and faith, you will have the wisdom to make good decisions and also to make the right ones. I believe you young people know where to go to get the right answers. In the words of Mormon, 'Ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ' (Moroni 7:18)."

(James E. Faust, "Your Light--a Standard to All Nations," Ensign, May 2006, 112)

Gems for Youth

Being a Leader for Righteousness

"President Gordon B. Hinckley has said of you, 'You are . . . the finest [and strongest] generation of young people ever in the history of this Church'

I believe you have been prepared and reserved to be on the earth at this time when the challenges and opportunities are the greatest. I believe that the Lord is counting on you to be a leader for righteousness and to stand as a witness 'at all times and in all things, and in all places' (Mosiah 18:9). Indeed, it can be said of you that you are the 'bright shining hope' of the future (Gordon B.Hinckley, "Standing Strong and Immovable,"

(Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley[1997], 714) (Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting, Jan. 10, 2004, 20)." (Elaine S. Dalton, "It Shows in Your Face," Ensign, May 2006, 109)

Seminary

It’s hard to believe that it’s been four years of seminary. It seems just a day ago I was skipping off to my first day of Old Testament. I was in Highland Utah and attended “release time” during the day. I loved learning about the stories and people in the Old Testament. Then we moved to Rexburg Idaho and I attended release time again during my school day. I followed the adventures of the apostles of Jesus through the New Testament and was deeply moved by his birth and resurrection. My hero in that class was the Savior and I learned to love him more through the stories of his life and good works. Then we moved to a wonderful tropical island called Saipan. I was excited but dreading early morning seminary. Everyone was kind and inviting and Sis. Conner taught us the wonders of the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ. My testimony of missionary work increased after being challenged to give away a Book of Mormon. I learned things I’d missed in my personal reading as we went quickly through those blessed pages and saw how each story fit with the other. I saw Ammon as a missionary serving King Lamoni, I felt like I was there when King Benjamin preached to his people, I cried tears of joy as the Savior blessed the children in 3rd Nephi, and I ached for Moroni as he traveled alone keeping the record as the Lord had commanded. So many other lessons I learned. Then the next year came around and the Doctrine and Covenants was coming up. I was excited. I knew so little about the Doctrine and Covenants. What a powerful book of scripture it turned out to be! Joseph Smith is a true prophet. He lived and sacrificed for this gospel so we could have it. No one can convince me that it isn’t true because I’ve had a conformation of the Holy Ghost that it is true and the Jesus Christ lives and speaks to us through the pages of his scriptures. This year he spoke to me through the Doctrine and Covenants. I can’t thank everyone enough for the examples you’ve been to me. It is so humbling to be a part of the youth of this Church. The world is wicked, sleazy, and scary, but we have the choice to “Stand in holy places” and to “Let virtue garnish our thoughts unceasingly.” I love you all! I can’t wait for the day we can all sit down to a picnic in the celestial kingdom, and tell each other the end of our stories here on earth.

Remember who you are, and why you’re here!

Gems for Youth

What Is the Worth of a Soul?

"[Paul C. Child] quoted from the Doctrine and Covenants, including section 18 concerning the worth of a soul, indicating that we should labor all our days to bring souls unto the Lord. He then turned to one elders quorum president and asked, 'What is the worth of a soul?' "The stunned quorum president hesitated as he formulated his reply. I had a prayer in my heart that he would be able to answer the question. He finally responded, 'The worth of a soul is its capacity to become as God.'"Brother Child closed his scriptures, walked solemnly and quietly up the aisle and back to the stand. As he passed by me, he said, 'A most profound reply.' "

(Thomas S. Monson, "Our Sacred Priesthood Trust," Ensign, May 2006, 56)

Gems for Youth

Your Divine Nature

"Your light has made a difference to me and many others. You have
light because you are literally spirit daughters of Deity, 'offspring
of exalted parents' with a divine nature and an eternal destiny. You
received your first lessons in the world of spirits from your heavenly
parents. You have been sent to earth to 'prove'
yourselves."

(Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed.[1966], 589) (Julie Beck, "You Have a Noble Birthright," Ensign, May 2006, 106)

Harold B. Lee-- testimony and quotes

“I want to bear my sacred witness that because I know of the divinity of this work, I know that it will prevail; and that though there may be enemies within and without the Church who would seek to undermine and would seek to find fault and try to undermine the influence of the Church in the world, this Church will be borne off triumphantly and will stand through the test of time when all the man-made efforts and weapons forged against the Lord's word will fall by the wayside. I know that our Lord and Master Jesus Christ is the head of this Church; that He has daily communion through agencies known to Him, not only to the leaders of the Church in high positions, but also to individual members as they keep the commandments of God. To that I bear my sacred witness and leave my blessing upon all the faithful of the Church, and indeed in the world everywhere, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”

(“Strengthen the Stakes of Zion,” Ensign, July 1973, 6. )

“And so I come to you today, with no shadow of doubting in my mind that I know the reality of the Person who is presiding over this Church, our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. I know that He is. I know that He is closer to us than many times we have any idea. They are not an absentee Father and Lord. They are concerned about us, helping to prepare us for the advent of the Savior, whose coming certainly isn't too far away because of the signs that are becoming apparent.”

(“Stand Ye in Holy Places,” Ensign, July 1973, 124. )

“There has come to me in these last few days a deepening and reassuring faith. I can't leave this conference without saying to you that I have a conviction that the Master hasn't been absent from us on these occasions. This is His church. Where else would He rather be than right here at the headquarters of his Church? He isn't an absentee Master; He is concerned about us. He wants us to follow where He leads. I know that He is a living reality, as is our Heavenly Father. I know it. I only hope that I can qualify for the high place to which He has called me and in which you have sustained me.”“I know with all my soul that these sayings are true, and as a special witness I want you to know from the bottom of my heart that there is no shadow of doubt as to the genuineness of the work of the Lord in which we are engaged, the only name under heaven by which mankind can be saved.”(“A Blessing for the Saints,” Ensign, Jan. 1973, 134. ) “Testimony isn't something you have today, and you are going to have always. A testimony is fragile. It is as hard to hold as a moonbeam. It is something you have to recapture every day of your life.”(Church News, July 15, 1972, 4. )

Quotes

“I only ask to go where the Lord would have me go, and only to receive what the Lord would have me receive, knowing that more important than sight is the witness that one may have by the witness of the Holy Ghost to his soul that things are so and that Jesus is the Christ, a living personage.” ( “Be Loyal to the Royal Within You,” Speeches of the Year, 1973 [1974], 88.)

“God grant that each of us here today may so live that all among us, and with us, may see, not us, but that which is divine and comes from God. With that vision of what those who have lost their way may become, my prayer is that they may receive strength and resolution to climb higher and higher and upward and onward to that great goal of eternal life and also that I may do my part in seeking to show by example, as well as by precept, that which will be the best of which I am capable of doing.” ( “Understanding Who We Are Brings Self-Respect,” Ensign, Jan. 1974, 6.)

“To some it may seem old-fashioned to speak of virtue and chastity, honesty, morality, faith, character, but these are the qualities which have built great men and women and point the way by which one may find happiness in the living of today and eternal joy in the world to come. These are the qualities which are the anchors to our lives, in spite of the trials, the tragedies, the pestilences, and the cruelties of war which bring in their wake appalling destruction, hunger, and bloodshed.” ( “Understanding Who We Are Brings Self-Respect,” Ensign, Jan. 1974, 2.)

“If it were not for the assurance that I have that the Lord is near to us, guiding, directing, the burden would be almost beyond my strength, but because I know that He is there, and that He can be appealed to, and if we have ears to hear attuned to Him, we will never be left alone.” ( "President Harold B. Lee's Closing Remarks,” Ensign, Jan. 1974, 129.)

“Never is the gospel of Jesus Christ more beautiful than in times of intense need, or in times of a severe storm within us as individuals, or in times of confusion and turmoil.”
( “A Blessing for the Saints,” Ensign, Jan. 1973, 133.)

“The heaviest burden that one has to bear in this life is the burden of sin.”
( “Stand Ye in Holy Places,” Ensign, July 1973, 122.)

“The trouble with us today, there are too many of us who put question marks instead of periods after what the Lord says. I want you to think about that. We shouldn't be concerned about why He said something, or whether or not it can be made so. Just trust the Lord. We don't try to find the answers or explanations. We shouldn't try to spend time explaining what the Lord didn't see fit to explain. We spend useless time.” ( “Admonitions for the Priesthood of God,” Ensign, Jan. 1973, 108.)

“I earnestly urge all our people to unite under the true banner of the Master, to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ so powerfully that no truly converted person could ever be aligned with these controversial concepts and procedures contrary to the Lord's plan of salvation.” ( “Teach the Gospel of Salvation,” Ensign, Jan. 1973, 63.)

“Remember that, brethren. You cannot destroy the appointments of the prophets of God. The Lord knows whom He wants to preside in His Church, and sometimes it takes a lot of practicing, guiding, testing, before He may know whether or not one of us is prepared for the present assignment.” ( “Admonitions for the Priesthood of God,” Ensign, Jan. 1973, 107.)

“Faith, not doubt, is the beginning of all learning, whether in science or religion. . . . It is faith that seeks for spiritual knowledge and power by studying out in your own mind the matter in question, by applying all possible human wisdom to the solution of your problem and then asking God if your conclusion is right. If it is right, your bosom shall burn within you and you shall ‘feel’ that it is right, but if your conclusion is not right, you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing that is wrong. (Doc. and Cov. 9:8–9.)” (Decisions for Successful Living, 194).

Gems for Youth

What Is the Worth of a Soul?

"[Paul C. Child] quoted from the Doctrine and Covenants,
including section 18 concerning the worth of a soul, indicating that we
should labor all our days to bring souls unto the Lord. He then turned to
one elders quorum president and asked, 'What is the worth of a
soul?'
"The stunned quorum president hesitated as he formulated
his reply. I had a prayer in my heart that he would be able to answer the
question. He finally responded, 'The worth of a soul is its capacity to
become as God.'
"Brother Child closed his scriptures, walked
solemnly and quietly up the aisle and back to the stand. As he passed by
me, he said, 'A most profound reply.' "

(Thomas S. Monson, "Our Sacred Priesthood Trust," Ensign, May 2006, 56)

"THE FIRST BOOK OF NEPHI

CHAPTER 1

1 I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days."

I, Tikla, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father and mother; and having traveled many lands in the course of my days and seen some small afflictions, nevertheless, having been blessed exceedingly; yea, having great treasures of knowledge found in the scriptures passed down by my fathers to his seed, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days.

Nephi: wow what a prophet! Such a humble, faithful, righteous man. It's interesting to see that as John Bytheway frequently points out that Laman and Lemuel both went to get the plates, went into the wilderness, built the ship, etc. it was all in the attitude. Nephi was a "neverthelesser" and Laman and Lemuel were "everthelessers."

One neat thing about this first verse in the book of Mormon is the first thing he mentions is his parents. What a great example of honoring parents. This verse is probably the most read verse in the entire BoM. Every time we start to read the book again we dive in to those words of Nephi, "I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents" I know that he was a real person. He really did all the things mentioned in those books. What an inspiration.

The Standard of Truth

"The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; . . . the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done."

Joseph Smith Jr.

Our Deepest Fear

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

~Marianne Williamson

Bursts of Sunshine

By Louise Hurd

When you see a friend, be sure to smile;
The warmth will stay a long, long while.

And if you see a stranger, smile again.

He needs one as much as your best friend.

If he's having a discouraging day,

Like wintertime when skies are gray,
Your little smile to him will be

Like bursts of sunshine will return to you,

As all the smiles you gave away

Come back to brighten up your day.

Gems for Youth

If Necessary, Can I Be Clean Again?

"Through the infinite Atonement, God has provided a means whereby we can both overcome our sins and become completely clean again. This is made possible by the eternal law of mercy. Mercy satisfies the claims of justice through our repentance and the power of the Atonement. Without the power of the Atonement and our complete repentance, we are subject to the law of justice."

(Earl C. Tingey, "The Great Plan of Happiness," Ensign, May 2006, 72)

"When a person has gone through the process that results in what the scriptures call a broken heart and a contrite spirit, the Savior does more than cleanse that person from sin, He also give him or her new strength. That strengthening is essential for us to realize the purpose of the cleansing which is to return to our Heavenly Father. To be admitted to his presence, we must be more than clean. We must also be changed from a morally weak person who has sinned into a strong person with the spiritual stature to dwell in the presence of God. We must, as the scriptures says, '(become) a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord' (Mosiah 3:19) This is what the scripture means in its explanation that a person who has repented of his sins will 'forsake them.' (D&C 58:43.) Forsaking sins is more than resolving not to repeat them. Forsaking involves a fundamental change in the individual."

-Dallin H. Oaks

Isaiah For Airheads

by John Bytheway
August 21, 2006

THE GOSPEL DOCTRINE DISCONNECT

It's happened to all of us. We walk into Sunday School, and we see written on the blackboard: "Great are the words of Isaiah," and we think to ourselves, Oh, great . . . the words of Isaiah.
For many of us, the Isaiah chapters are just a barrier in the Book of Mormon--something we have to "get through" to get to the rest. Only the Hebrew scholars get it and understand it. There's even an old joke about an LDS soldier whose life was saved because a Book of Mormon was in his shirt pocket. When asked how such a small book could stop a bullet, the soldier replied, "Hey--nothing gets through Second Nephi."
It's kind of a sad joke because we must get through Isaiah, and not just "get through it" but enjoy it, learn from it, and be blessed by it, because Jesus really did say "Great are the words of Isaiah." In fact, he said, "A commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah" (3 Nephi 23:1; emphasis added). So this becomes really serious because to search Isaiah is one of the Savior's commandments! And if we love the Lord, as we do, then we want to keep his commandments.

WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE?

So our first step is to change our attitude--rather than just "getting through" Isaiah, let's "get from" Isaiah. Let's not get bogged down, let's get fired up! We don't need to be Hebrew scholars--we are sons and daughters of God with the gift of the Holy Ghost, for crying out loud! Scriptures are a gift from God, and children of God should never be intimidated by scripture. Isaiah is not a trial, it's a treasure! The fact that you're reading this book testifies that you're eager to understand Isaiah and your heart is already prepared.
This change in our attitude makes searching Isaiah a lot more fun. Isaiah is a treasure hunt--it's a challenge--and there's a greater sense of satisfaction when you do a little detective work and can finally say, "Hey, I get this, I understand this!"
As we all know, when the Lord gives a commandment, he prepares a way. And you and I can have one of two reactions to the Lord's commandments--we can echo Laman and Lemuel, "It is a hard thing you have required of us," or we can echo Nephi, "I will go and do . . ." (1 Nephi 3:5-7). Nephi brought these chapters to us at the peril of his life, and we'll probably have to answer to him and to the Lord if we just skip them.
Remember too that Jesus' book list is short. How many books has He actually commanded us to read? His book list is a lot shorter than Oprah's. He has not commanded us to see every movie, watch every game, or read every book on The New York Times bestseller list. His reading list is sorted by author, not by sales. Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). The books he has commanded us to read and search were all written by God through his prophets.

"AND THEY SAID OF THEIR INSTRUCTOR, BEHOLD, HIS HEAD IS AN EMPTY VOID, AND OUT OF HIS EARS LEAKETH MUCH AIR"

As a new Book of Mormon instructor at BYU, when I got to the Isaiah chapters, I would just start with the first chapter and plow on through, explaining what I knew as I went. Sometimes students would ask thoughtful, serious, and wonderful questions. More often, after a particularly difficult Isaiah passage, they'd ask very pointed questions, like, "What does that mean?"
These students (or more likely their parents) paid tuition, and they wanted to know. C'mon "professor" Bytheway, what does that mean? (I'd quickly explain that I wasn't a professor, just an instructor, as if that would satisfy them.) At times, I felt like a complete airhead. And that's why I've entitled this book "Isaiah for Airheads," which is a commentary on my brain, not yours.
Sometimes, after our class discussion, my students would walk out the door muttering, "I'm still as confused as ever," to which I would reply, nodding wisely, "Yes, but now we're confused on a higher level and about more important things."

"FOREST? WHAT FOREST? I DON'T SEE A FOREST IN HERE, JUST A BUNCH OF TREES. . ."

Later, I realized that this "plow-through-the-Isaiah-chapters" approach was like "missing the forest for the trees." We use that expression to describe someone who's so caught up in the details that they miss the larger picture. After teaching the Isaiah chapters a few times, I began to notice some prominent themes (this is one of the great benefits of teaching--the teacher often learns more than the student). I began to see the forest of Isaiah, and it was beautiful. I began to notice grand, important, and recurring themes that helped me better understand the words of this great prophet. I noticed what may have prompted the Book of Mormon prophets to quote Isaiah passages, and why. Now, after a decade of teaching, I look forward to these chapters, and I love watching my students experience "a-ha!" moments as we "get through" Second Nephi.
Now, a disclaimer. I wish that I could say, "After reading this book, you'll understand Isaiah." But that's not possible. Isaiah is not a freebie--it's not a no-brainer--even scholars disagree on the meaning of the things Isaiah said. Perhaps the Lord doesn't want it to be easy. Someone once said, "What we obtain too easily, we esteem too lightly." I suppose you've got to pay the price to obtain some blessings, but that's okay. We like blessings, and we're not afraid of work, as evidenced by the fact that we've turned off the TV and we're reading a book.

SCENIC BYWAY AHEAD . . .

Let's map out what we're going to do in the rest of this book: We're going to take a whirlwind tour through what we'll call, "Isaiah National Forest." How should we approach our visit to such an intimidating, expansive area?
Good question. Suppose we were to take a tour of a real forest, Yellowstone National Forest for example. As our bus takes the first "Scenic View" exit, how strange it would be for us to get out of the bus, run up to an individual tree, examine one or two of the leaves from a distance of two inches, then sprint back to the bus and tell the driver, "We're through here--Scenic Pulloff #2, and step on it!"
Yet this is the way many of us experience Isaiah National Forest. We hear one or two passages in a class, mention one or two passages in a talk, without ever stopping to get the big picture. This kind of "drive by" scripture study never allows us to enjoy the view, to survey the landscape as a whole, or to see the colors and context of Isaiah National Forest.
So, before we get on the bus, we'll become acquainted with Isaiah's "Four Guides," "Four Trees," and "Four Keys." I'll also give you "Four Kingdoms" and "Four Events" to consider, which will give you a sense of the historical context in which these chapters were written. With these tools, we'll have all the equipment we'll need for our journey. Then, we'll take a broader look at each Isaiah chapter in the Book of Mormon and using our tools, we'll look for ways to understand them and apply them to our day.

See book "Isaiah For Airheads" by John Bytheway