Revelation

Revelation is the conduit by which every person receives a testimony of Jesus  Christ, the Savior of the world. I believe that this is one of the most important truths that have been revealed personally to me. That’s just it, things can be revealed to each person—personal revelation is how to know that the Book of Mormon is true, and that the Lord’s church has been restored. It is important to realize that we are not in charge of when or how we receive revelation—we are to wait on the Lord, although I personally believe He spends much more time waiting on us.  By following the Lord’s commandments and continually asking the Lord for guidance, our lives can be lead though great revelation given directly from our creator, our Heavenly Father.

1. “I had witnessed the healing power of the Lord! I had also witnessed revelation as received and responded to by His living prophet!”—Elder Nelson (General Conference October 2005, Sunday Afternoon)

2. “From modern revelation, unique to the restored gospel, we know that the commandment to seek perfection is part of God the Father’s plan for the salvation of His children.” —Elder Oaks (General Conference April 2013, Sunday Afternoon)

3. “The spirit of revelation is real—and can and does function in our individual lives and in the Church.”—Elder Bednar (General Conference, April 2011)

4. “We as members of the Church tend to emphasize marvelous and dramatic spiritual manifestations so much that we may fail to appreciate and may even overlook the customary pattern by which the Holy Ghost accomplishes His work. The very “simpleness of the way” (1 Nephi 17:41) of receiving small and incremental spiritual impressions that over time and in totality constitute a desired answer or the direction we need may cause us to look “beyond the mark” (Jacob 4:14).”— Elder Bednar (General Conference, April 2011)

5. “Revelation comes on the Lord’s timetable, which often means we must move forward in faith, even though we haven’t received all the answers we desire.”—Elder Hales

6. “Personal revelation is the way we know for ourselves the most important truths of our existence.”—Elder Hales

7. “As the conducting medium in an electric current is capable of conveying but a limited current, the maximum capacity depending upon the resistance offered by the conductor, and, as separate circuits of difference degrees of conductivity may carry currents of widely varying intensity, so human souls are of varied capacity with respect of higher powers. But as the medium is purified, as obstructions are removed, so resistance to the energy decreases, and the forces manifest themselves with greater intensity. By analogous processes of purification our spirits may be made more susceptible to the forces of life, which are emanations from the Holy Spirit. Therefore we are taught to pray by word and action for a constantly increasing portion of the spirit, that is, the power of the spirit which is a measure of this gift of God unto us.”—Elder James E. Talmage

8. “The Savior has the words of eternal life. Nothing else can profit us. There is no salvation in believing an evil report against our neighbor. I advise all to go on to perfection, and search deeper and deeper into the mysteries of Godliness. A man can do nothing for himself unless God direct him in the right way; and the Priesthood is revealed for that purpose.”—Joseph Smith Jr.

9. "We each have moments of spiritual power, moments of inspiration and revelation. We must sink them deep into the chambers of our souls. As we do, we prepare our spiritual home storage for moments of personal difficulty."—Elder Andersen, You Know Enough, General Conference, Oct 2008

10. "In our learning, let us not neglect the fountain of revelation. The scriptures and the words of modern-day apostles and prophets are the sources of wisdom, divine knowledge, and personal revelation to help us find answers to all the challenges in life. Let us learn of Christ; let us seek out that knowledge which leads to peace and truth."—President Uchtdorf, Learn!, General Conference, October 2009

The Priesthood

What is the priesthood? It is the authority of God given to man to act in his name. Why is it important? God’s kingdom is one of order, with this priesthood authority we are able to maintain order by doing all we do with Heavenly Father’s authorization. At times I feel inadequate to exercise such a great authority, but know that God has entrusted me with this sacred duty to bear his holy priesthood. For this reason, I must always honor it, and not treat it lightly. Possessing the priesthood doesn’t make one greater than another, rather it is a charge for that person to go and do the work of the Lord, serving with all of their heart, might, mind, and strength. 

1. “We carry in one hand a vial of consecrated oil for blessing the sick; in the other we carry a loaf of bread to feed the hungry; and in our hearts we carry the peaceable word of God, “which healeth the wounded soul.”… “This is our first and foremost responsibility as priesthood holders…”—President Uchtdorf (General Conference, April 2013, Priesthood)

2. “Imagine how the world itself could be transformed for good if every man who bears the priesthood of God were to gird up his loins and live up to his true potential, converted in the depth of his soul, a true and faithful priesthood man, committed to building the kingdom of God.”— President Uchtdorf (General Conference, April 2009, Priesthood)

3. “The power of the priesthood is a sacred and essential gift of God. It is different from priesthood authority, which is the authorization to act in God’s name. The authorization or ordination is given by the laying on of hands. The power of the priesthood comes only when those who exercise it are worthy and acting in accordance with God’s will.”—Elder Ballard (General Conference, April 2013)

4. “We need to bear in mind that people can change. They can put behind them bad habits. They can repent from transgressions. They can bear the priesthood worthily. And they can serve the Lord diligently… We can help them to overcome their shortcomings. We must develop the capacity to see men not as they are at present but as they may become when they receive testimonies of the gospel of Christ.”— Thomas S. Monson Ensign, November 2012

5. “Yes, there is always something imperfect in any situation. Yes, it is easy to find things to complain about. But brethren, we are bearers of the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God! .. I feel a certain sadness for those who do not grasp and appreciate the wonder and privilege of the priesthood. They are like passengers on an airplane who spend their time grumbling about the size of the packet of peanuts while they are soaring through the air, far above the clouds.”—President Uchtdorf Ensign, November 2012

6. “The kingdom of God is governed by the authority of the priesthood. It is not conferred for honor, but for a ministry of service. Priesthood titles are not created by man; neither are they for adornment, nor do they express mastership. They denote appointment to service in the work of the Lord.”—Russell M. Neilson, Honoring the Priesthood, Conference April 1993

7. “Whenever men can find out the will of God and find an administrator legally authorized from God, there is the kingdom of God; but where these are not, the kingdom of God is not. All the ordinances, systems, and administrations on the earth are of no use to the children of men, unless they are ordained and authorized of God; for nothing will save a man but a legal administrator; for none others will be acknowledged either by God or angels.”

8. “It will be a marvelous day, my brethren—it will be a day of fulfillment of the purposes of the Lord—when our priesthood quorums become an anchor of strength to every man belonging thereto, when each such man may appropriately be able to say, ‘I am a member of a priesthood quorum of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I stand ready to assist my brethren in all of their needs, as I am confident they stand ready to assist me in mine. … Working together, we can stand, without embarrassment and without fear, against every wind of adversity that might blow, be it economic, social, or spiritual.”— Gordon B. Hinckley, Welfare Responsibilities of the Priesthood Quorums, Conference October 1977

9. “Every person is different and has a different contribution to make. No one is destined to fail. As you seek revelation to see gifts God sees in those you lead in the priesthood—particularly the young—you will be blessed to lift their sights to the service they can perform.”—Henry B. Eyring, Help Them Aim High, Conference October 2012

10. “Your priesthood quorums provide opportunities for friendship, service, and learning. But the responsibility to develop power in the priesthood is personal. Only as an individual can you develop a firm faith in God and a passion for personal prayer.”—Elder Neilson, Personal Priesthood Responsibility, Conference October 2003

Temples & Temple Work

What message does the restored gospel bring to the world? That God speaks to his children, and that families can and are meant to be perpetuated beyond this mortal life! What a horrifying and miserable day it would be if we realized that our families, the people we came to love and know so much, were terminated as soon as we die. How does this work? Temples! In the Lord’s sacred temples we perform the ordinances necessary to bind family relationships for time and all eternity. For this reason temples are extremely important, but they aren’t just a beautiful building to be gazed upon, they are meant to be busy!; filled with people getting sealed, and saving the dead. Additionally, the temple is the house of the Lord, when we go there we are nearest to God, and our family members who have died.

1. “Ordinances for our deceased ancestors are now performed vicariously in 141 temples throughout the world! There is no other way to offer salvation to our ancestors who died without a knowledge of the gospel!”— Elder Nelson (General Conference April 2013, Sunday Afternoon)

2. “In the temple we are prepared to and promise to live the law of consecration. Able young men begin to live this law by seeking a mission call—giving a tithing of the first years of their lives in the full-time service of the Lord. That sacrifice strengthens them to go forward to the highest covenant in life—for many, it will be to be sealed in the temple and begin an eternal family.”—Elder Hales

3. “Within the sound of my voice are individuals who have received the ordinances of the temple and for various reasons have not returned to the house of the Lord in quite some time. Please repent, prepare, and do whatever needs to be done so you can again worship in the temple and more fully remember and honor your sacred covenants.”—Elder Bednar Ensign, May 2009

4. “The fire of the covenant will burn in the heart of every faithful member of this Church who shall worship and honorably hold a name and standing in the Lord’s holy house.” —Elder Bednar Ensign, April 2009

5. "I have a suggestion: When a temple is conveniently nearby, small things may interrupt your plans to go to the temple. Set specific goals, considering your circumstances, of when you can and will participate in temple ordinances. Then do not allow anything to interfere with that plan."—Elder Scott Ensign, April 2009

6. "It is in the ordinances of the temple that we are placed under covenant to Him….[If] we will enter into our covenants without reservation or apology, the Lord will protect us. We will receive inspiration sufficient for the challenges of life."—Elder Packer

7. “The Church is not fully organized, in its proper order, and cannot be, until the Temple is completed, where places will be provided for the administration of the ordinances of the Priesthood.”—Joseph Smith Jr.

8. "We must build more temples, and we must build them more quickly. This is the season to build temples. They are needed, and we have the means to do so. The Lord will hold us accountable if we do not work with greater accomplishment than we are now doing."—Gordon B. Hinckley

9. "As we come unto Christ and journey to higher ground, we will desire to spend more time in His temples, because the temples represent higher ground, sacred ground."—Joseph B. Wirthlin Ensign, November 2005

10. "I know your lives are busy. I know that you have much to do. But I make you a promise that if you will go to the house of the Lord, you will be blessed; life will be better for you."—President Gordon B. Hinckley July 1997

Finances

I am amazed by the wisdom of the leaders of our church. They all are well educated, but I would attribute their wisdom to their willingness to submit to the will of the Lord. We have been warned time and time again to be careful with our finances, even before the tough spot the country is in right now. I believe and agree with our leaders who teach that we should always have money saved up for a “rainy day”. I also endorse the counsel of getting rid of debt. I don’t believe debt is a sin, but I do believe it has the same effects as sin—by that I mean it can enslave us. Debt will follow us around our whole life if we are not wise with our money, and our families can suffer. At times it is necessary to completely change our behavior in order to free ourselves from debt, and literally gain our freedom.

 

1. “Being provident providers, we must keep that most basic commandment, ‘Thou shalt not covet’(Exodus 20:17). Our world is fraught with feelings of entitlement. . . . If our family does not have everything the neighbors have, . . . we go into debt to buy things we can’t afford, and things we do not really need. Whenever we do this, we become poor temporally and spiritually”—Elder Hales

2. “As part of this general financial caution, we encourage, if necessary, plastic surgery for both husband and wife. This is a very painless operation and it may give you more self-esteem than a new nose job or a tummy tuck. Just cut up your credit cards. Unless you are prepared to use those cards under the strictest of conditions and restraints, you should not use them at all – at least not at 18 percent or 21 percent or 24 percent interest. No convenience known to modern man has so jeopardized the financial stability of a family -especially young struggling families- like the ubiquitous credit card.”—Elder Holland

3. “…live strictly within your income and save something for a rainy day. Incorporate in your lives the discipline of budgeting that which the Lord has blessed you with. As regularly as you pay your tithing, set aside an amount needed for future family requirements.”—Elder Perry Ensign, November 1995

4. Necessary debt should be incurred only after careful, thoughtful prayer and after obtaining the best possible advice. We need the discipline to stay well within our ability to pay.”—Elder Perry Ensign, November 1995

5. "Live within your means. Get out of debt. Keep out of debt. Lay by for a rainy day which has always come and will come again. Practice and increase your habits of thrift, industry, economy, and frugality' (in Conference Report, Oct. 1937, p. 107).”—Elder L. Tom Perry, "'If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear'," General Conference, Oct, 1995.)

6. "Whenever we want to experience or possess something that will impact us and our resources, we may want to ask ourselves, 'Is the benefit temporary, or will it have eternal value and significance?' Truthfully answering these questions may help us avoid excessive debt and other addictive behavior."—Elder Robert D. Hales, "Becoming Provident Providers Temporally and Spiritually," General Conference, Apr, 2009.)

7. “If you wish to get rich, save what you get. A fool can earn money; but it takes a wise man to save and dispose of it to his own advantage.”—President Brigham Young

8. “If there is any one thing that will bring peace and contentment into the human heart, and into the family, it is to live within our means. And if there is any one thing that is grinding and discouraging and disheartening, it is to have debts and obligations that one cannot meet”—President Heber J. Grant

9. “I urge you, brethren, to look to the condition of your finances. I urge you to be modest in your expenditures; discipline yourselves in your purchases to avoid debt to the extent possible. Pay off debt as quickly as you can, and free yourselves from bondage.—President Hinckley (General Conference, October 1998)

10. “Once in debt, interest is your companion every minute of the day and night; you cannot shun it or slip away from it; you cannot dismiss it; it yields neither to entreaties, demands, or orders; and whenever you get in its way or cross its course or fail to meet its demands, it crushes you”—President J. Reuben Clark (General Conference, 1938)

Raising Children

I do not have personal experience in raising children yet, but will soon enough. What I do know is that children are very important to the Lord. We are commandment to become as little children in order to enter the kingdom of God. Therefore I am certain that we must raise our children in a way pleasing to the Lord. In the proclamation to the family we learn that parents have responsibility to raise their children in love and righteousness. I am very grateful for my parents who were great examples of parents. They taught me through example; they each lived the gospel and never faltered. I know that as I live the gospel my children will want to follow more closely to the principles of the gospel.

1. “The father has the authority and responsibility to teach his children and to bless and to provide for them the ordinances of the gospel and every other priesthood protection necessary. He is to demonstrate love and fidelity and honor to the mother so that their children can see that love.”— President Packer (General Conference, April 2013, Saturday Morning)

2. “May our families be the traditional type, where the leadership is provided by two worthy parents who welcome children into their home to be loved, taught, and trained in the ways prescribed by the Lord.”—Elder Perry (General Conference, October 1980, Saturday Morning)

3. “Some homes have a father who is a worthy priesthood holder joined by a faithful, devoted mother who together lead in righteousness. Many homes have a different configuration. Regardless of your circumstances, you can center your home and your life on the Lord Jesus Christ, for He is the source of true peace in this life.” --Elder Scott (General Conference, April 2013)

4. “Keep the fire of your testimony of the restored gospel and your witness of our redeemer burning so brightly that our children can warm their hands by the fire of your faith.”—Elder Packer

5. “Brothers and sisters, our children take their flight into the future with our thrust and with our aim. And even as we anxiously watch that arrow in flight and know all the evils that can deflect it’s course after it has left our hand, nevertheless we take courage in remembering that the most important mortal factor in determining that arrow’s destination will be the stability, strength, and unwavering certainty of the holder of the bow.”—Elder Holland

6. “Parents can also help children discover and develop their talents. We are responsible for the talents we have received. Children who are not taught that they are accountable for their time and talents are increasingly subject to the foolishness and unrighteousness that are so pervasive in the world.”—Elder Cook Ensign, November 2009

7. “Regarding our home evenings, an evening home with the family or an evening out to some place of interest with your family only partly solves the need of the home evening. Basically important is the teaching of the children the way of life that is vitally important.”—President Spencer W. Kimball

8. “No home is a failure until it gives up on that son, or that daughter, or that husband, or that wife. It must not give up, no matter how difficult the task to save one of ours.”—President Harold B. Lee

9. "Another important way we help our children learn to be provident providers is by establishing a family budget. We should regularly review our family income, savings, and spending plan in family council meetings. This will teach our children to recognize the difference between wants and needs and to plan ahead for meaningful use of family resources.”—Elder Hales Ensign, May 2009

10. "If we will build righteous traditions in our families, the light of the gospel can grow ever brighter in the lives of our children from generation to generation. We can look forward to that glorious day when we will all be united together as eternal family units to reap the everlasting joy promised by our Eternal Father for His righteous children."—Elder L. Tom Perry, "Family Traditions," Ensign, May 1990

Service

Mosiah 2:17 states, “And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.” I truly believe this. I look to Jesus Christ as the greatest example of service. Remember all of the New Testament stories—Jesus spends much of his time with the poor and sick serving them. He knew he was serving his Father. I know that as we serve the image of Christ will become a part of who we are. We will grow to love those around us, and we will become less judgmental. When we are in need of spiritual help or in despair we should think of others and serve and I know that God will serve us by helping us with our situation. 

 

1. “Please help them [missionaries] to fill their daily planners with focused and meaningful teaching opportunities. This is your responsibility. Your role is crucial, truly crucial to the success of this work.”—Elder Nelson (General Conference April 2013, Sunday Afternoon)

2. “Willingness to serve and strengthen others stands as a symbol of one’s readiness to be healed.”—Elder Nelson (General Conference October 2005, Sunday Afternoon)

3. “When sore trials come upon us, it’s time to deepen our faith in God, to work hard, and to serve others. Then He will heal our broken hearts.”— Elder Nelson (General Conference October 2005, Sunday Afternoon)

4. “Less well known is our Church’s global humanitarian service. Using funds donated by generous members, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sends food, clothing, and other essentials to relieve the suffering of adults and children all over the world.”—Elder Oaks (General Conference April 2013, Sunday Afternoon)

5. “When we obey the commandments of the Lord and serve His children unselfishly, the natural consequence is power from God—power to do more than we can do by ourselves. Our insights, our talents, our abilities are expanded because we receive strength and power from the Lord.” --Elder Scott (General Conference, April 2013)

6. “My heart rejoices as I observe the Saints all over the Church doing everything they can to provide Christlike service wherever there is a need. Because of member contributions, the Church can quietly and quickly, without fanfare, respond to needs all over the world.”—Elder Cook Ensign, November 2009

7. “As followers of Jesus Christ we are a community of Saints organized to help redeem the needs of our fellow Saints and as many others as we can reach across the globe.”—Elder Christofferson Ensign May 2013

8. “As disciples of Jesus Christ, we ought to do all we can to redeem others from suffering and burdens. Even so, our greatest redemptive service will be to lead them to Christ.”—Elder Christofferson Ensign May 2013

9. “Nevertheless, as we pursue the cause of Zion, each of us should prayerfully consider whether we are doing what we should and all that we should in the Lord’s eyes with respect to the poor and the needy.”—Elder Christofferson Ensign November 2008

10. “A man who is full of the love of God is not content with blessing his family only, but thinks about all of the people in the world, anxious to bless the whole human race.”—Joseph Smith, History of the Church, Vol. 4, pg. 227.