Arise and Shine!

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the General Young Women session of the April 2012 General Conference.

In the second half of 2025 there was a lot of hoopla about the new garment style with long lines at distribution centers, and a crashing website, and overly long waits for any order from the church online store. All social media lit up with everyones opinions. I have an opinion too, but haven't shared it anywhere.

Sister Elaine Dalton, General President of the Young Women, spoke to them about standing up and shining for truth and righteousness. Her hero is Moroni who, "in a very degenerate society, . . . remained pure and true."

She reminded the young women that "These are your days, and now is the time for young women everywhere to 'arise and shine forth, that they light may be a standard for the nations,'" explaining that "A standard is a rule of measure by which one determines exactness or perfection."

My favorite line from Sister Dalton is "If you desire to make a difference in the world, you must be different from the world." When I read that I thought of the new style garments and wrote in the margin of my magazine (I read all the talks in my old conference issues of the Ensign) "Like dressing differently, modestly, recognizably a follower of Jesus." How can we shine as a light to the world when we are indistinguishable from them?

Sister Dalton told of standing in the celestial room of the Reno, Nevada temple looking at the light streaming into the room made even more brilliant by the crystal chandelier. "It took my breath away as I realized that the Savior is 'the light and the life of the world,' that it is His light we must hold up and reflect. We are the tiny crystals that reflect His light, and in order to do that, we must be clean and free from the dust of the world."

One of the things I love about the "plain peoples", the Amish, Mennonites, and Hutterites (and any other of their kind), is that they are instantly recognizable; just as male missionaries are recognizable in their clean cut appearance wearing plain slacks, white shirts and ties. (Sister missionaries are less so because of their non-uniform style of dress.) 

In the Doctrine and Covenants we are told not to be proud in our hearts; letting all our garments be plain, and their beauty the beauty of the work of our own hands, and to let all things be done in cleanliness before the Lord. (D&C 42:40-41) At one time I studied all that God had said about modesty, clothing, and such in all four standard works. I believe that wearing "plain" clothing doesn't mean unadorned, rather it means that because of our clothing it will be obvious (plain) to others that we are a covenant people, disciples of Jesus Christ. And that when the fashions of the world are incompatible with that, that we are called to make our own clothing. 

How will covenant LDS women be distinguishable from the world if we look and dress just like them? The fact that so many women want the ability to wear skimpy sleeveless clothing is so sad to me. Looking different invites questions from others and can initiate conversations about the Gospel and covenants. I want to look different! I want it to be plain that I am a covenant follower of Jesus Christ, endowed in the temple with power and potential blessings.

Sister Dalton always taught truth in direct and loving ways. This was another inspired and inspiring example.

The Sabbath Day

 Here's the talk I gave yesterday in Sacrament Meeting.

I'm honored to address you today and feel a great responsibility to say something that will be worthwhile for you to hear. My prayer is that you'll hear the voice of the Spirit in your mind and heart as I do my best to teach true doctrine and bear pure testimony.

 

Before moving here we lived in southwest Minnesota for eight years in a house built in 1896; it was a large four story Victorian mansion. I called it "The Stairmaster". While it was structurally sound, it was suffering from a century of benign neglect.

 

As I worked on that house, cleaning it, repairing it and making plans to refurbish it I felt inspired that the house was a metaphor for life. Through daily, weekly and seasonal maintenance and repairs we can keep both our physical homes and our spiritual lives orderly, in good repair, and thriving.

 

Daily prayer and scripture study can be compared to daily housekeeping. Communing with our Heavenly Father and studying His words daily keeps our spirits clean and aligned with His goal for us of immortality and eternal life. It takes just minutes to read, ponder and pray each day, but those acts serve to keep us on the covenant path, holding fast to the iron rod, pressing forward with steadfastness in Christ. When we neglect these daily devotions, our spirits get dusty with the debris of worldliness that can result in a big mess that takes time and effort to clean up. How much better to keep up our spiritual housekeeping daily.

 

We can compare seasonal deep cleaning to participating in General Conference. We set aside time from our usual routine to hear the counsel of our prophets, apostles and other leaders; then look into the deep recesses of our souls and make adjustments to our lives, repenting, repairing and maintaining our souls before problems get too big. I love General Conference for the chance it gives me to measure my obedience, how well I’m doing.

 

I’d like to talk today about the level of maintenance between daily and semi-annual. This is more than just a quick wipe down or tidy up. It is meant to clean and keep organized each room, noticing anything that may have been missed or overlooked due to lack of time in a daily clean up.

 

The Lord has blessed us with a day each week to accomplish a more thorough job on our spiritual houses. He set the pattern from the beginning of the existence of this earth.

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

(Genesis 2:1-3)

 

The Law of the Sabbath is as old as Adam and Eve. It was known among those who followed the prophets of the Old Testament. The Lord spoke of it to Moses even before it was codified as part of the Ten Commandments. Instructing Moses about the gathering of manna the Lord said to gather twice as much on the sixth day for “Tomorrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord: bake that which ye will bake today, . . . and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.” (Exodus 16:23) This was the only time the Israelites could save manna overnight. Any other time the manna “bred worms and stank.” (Exo. 16:20)

 

Subsequently, Jehovah revealed to Moses the law for His people. Listen to the language of the Lord recorded in what is now known as The Ten Commandments:

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it. (Exodus 20:8-11)

 

Later Moses records further instruction about the Sabbath: “Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid and the stranger, may be refreshed.” (Exodus 23:12)

 

The first time we moved to Iowa in 2010 I looked for a grocery store that was closed on Sunday. I did so because of a story I'd heard about President Joseph Fielding Smith told by then Presiding Bishop H. David Burton in 1998.

 

When Sister Burton and I were first married, we lived in the southeast part of the Salt Lake Valley. On occasion, as we purchased groceries from a small neighborhood store, we observed President and Sister Joseph Fielding Smith in the same store making their purchases. After several such observations, I finally mustered the courage to inquire of President Smith why it was he traveled all the way from downtown, past a dozen grocery stores, to shop at this particular store. Looking over the tops of his glasses he emphatically said: “Son! . . . Sister Smith and I patronize establishments that keep the Sabbath day holy. (General Conference October 1998)

 

This story so affected me that after that I too sought out stores that honored the Sabbath. They aren’t easy to find. In Iowa I found Fareway; and in looking on their website was interested to find the story of their founding.

Fareway's policy of being closed on Sunday has been in place for as long as our company has been in existence. We believe our customers, employees, and business partners deserve a day at home with their families - free from the fast-paced life we all live the other six days of the week.

 

The idea of resting on Sunday is something our founder, Paul S. Beckwith, firmly believed; in part because of his religious beliefs and a story told to him by his father. Paul's father was a pioneer who traveled to new territory by wagon train. Some pioneers were in a hurry, and drove on every day, leaving behind those who stopped for a day of rest and worship. As settlers continued to move westward, families who had taken Sunday off began to catch-up with those who had pushed ahead; finding broken-down wagons, lame animals, and weary people. Paul's father told him he decided that the Bible was right; neither man nor beast was made to work seven days a week.

(https://www.fareway.com/about/values)

 

While still on Mount Sinai, the Lord further instructed Moses, “Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep; for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: . . . Six days may work be done but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord, whosoever doeth any work in the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. . . It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.” (Exodus 31:13-17)

 

Fortunately, we are not put to death physically for breaking the Sabbath; but we still die a little each time we don’t keep the Sabbath holy. We become spiritually dead and disconnected from God.

 

Many years ago when Steve was a new member of the church and our five children (four boys) were young and rambunctious, we argued about how best to keep the Sabbath day. He asked me, “Why do we have to do things your way?” To which I responded, “I don’t want to do things my way, I want to do them the Lord’s way.”

 

So what is the Lord’s way of keeping the Sabbath? We can read Luke’s account of one Sabbath when the Pharisees took Jesus to task because he healed a man’s hand. Jesus responded, “I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the Sabbath days to do good, or, to do evil? To save life, or to destroy it?” (Luke 6:9) That's an easy distinction! To do good and to save life! We are asked to rest from OUR labors on the Sabbath, and engage in HIS labors, to do good and to save life.

 

How many things can you think of that come under those categories?

 

We can ask ourselves of our activities: Is this doing good? Is this saving life? Especially spiritual life?

 

Mormon gives us a good way to assess our choices.

But behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night. For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man that he may know good from evil; wherefore I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. (Moroni 7:15-16)

 

Remembering what the Lord said to Moses about keeping the Sabbath as a sign of a covenant, Elder Russell M. Nelson taught us:

 

In my much younger years, I studied the work of others who had compiled lists of things to do and things not to do on the Sabbath. It wasn’t until later that I learned from the scriptures that my conduct and my attitude on the Sabbath constituted a sign between me and my Heavenly Father.¹² With that understanding, I no longer needed lists of dos and don’ts. When I had to make a decision whether or not an activity was appropriate for the Sabbath, I simply asked myself, “What sign do I want to give to God?” That question made my choices about the Sabbath day crystal clear.  (General Conference April 2015)

 

Keeping the Sabbath day holy and doing good takes daily preparation, especially with children who need to practice being reverent and feeling reverence throughout the week so that church worship and Sabbath observance isn't foreign and unusual to them.

 

Those of us who have been baptized prepare for the Sabbath by studying for our classes, whether to teach or participate; by examining ourselves and repenting so we come to church ready to partake of the Sacrament to renew our covenants.

 

It is a delight to see fellow saints each Sunday, sing the hymns of Zion together, partake of the sacred emblems of the Sacrament; discuss the gospel together sharing insights and testimony gained through daily study; to feel united, “no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens . . . of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19); to feel refreshed by laying aside our worldly cares and activities to “do good” and to “save lives”.

 

Elder Bednar said, "One of the greatest challenges each of us faces every day is to not allow the concerns of this world to so dominate our time and energy that we neglect the eternal things that matter most. We can be too easily diverted from remembering and focusing upon essential spiritual priorities because of our many responsibilities and busy schedules. Sometimes we try to run so fast that we may forget where we are going and why we are running."  (October 2017)

 

I know from my own experiences that when I keep the Sabbath day different from the rest of the week, keeping it holy and special, when I participate in the Lord's work, I feel the blessings of strength and refreshment from doing so. When we do things the Lord’s way he pours out His blessings, we feel His love and approval, and we accomplish what we were sent here to do.

 

I testify that Our Father in Heaven is real, He shows His love for us by giving His Only Begotten son, Jesus Christ, our elder brother, to be our Savior and Redeemer. We are led today by prophets and apostles who continually teach us and encourage us to Keep the Sabbath Day Holy, as a sign of our covenant with God, and in preparation for the Savior's glorious return.

May we be blessed to do so, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

The Greatest Work - The Most Important Service, and other thoughts

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday afternoon session of the April 2012 General Conference.

Throughout the years of raising children, from the time our first was born in 1989 to the time our youngest left home in 2016, and even to this day, I often wondered if I should have chosen a different path, cultivating an outside career and developing my talents in a professional (that means paid) setting. Over my lifetime homemakers have increasingly been looked down on as less educated, homeschoolers continually questioned about their qualifications, while those who don't contribute monetarily to their family economy are seen as parasites. 

Thankfully we have apostles and prophets to teach the truth about the work that takes place in our homes.

Elder M. Russell Ballard quoted President Joseph F. Smith, ". . . and there is no service greater than that which converts the home into a divine institution, and which promotes and preserves family life. . . ."

Elder Ballard said, "Brothers and sisters, the most important cause of our lifetime is our families. If we will devote ourselves to this cause, we will improve every other aspect of our lives and will become, as a people and as a church, an example and a beacon for all peoples of the earth." 

I appreciate that he used the word "cause" rather than thing or entity. I believe our highest priority and relationships should be with God, Our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. They can give us salvation, and exaltation with our families; but our families can give us neither. Putting God first in our lives makes everything else fall into place in the correct order of priority.

Elder Ballard continued, "First, may I suggest that we prioritize. Put everything you do outside the home in subjection to and in support of what happens inside your home. . . . Organize your personal live to provide time for prayer and scriptures and family activity. Give your children responsibilities in the home that will teach them how to work."

I hear sisters in Relief Society say that they are just so busy and have trouble finding time to study the gospel. Then they tell about all the activities that they ferry children to every day of the week! I think they've lost sight of the priority of studying and living the gospel instead of busily chasing worldly activities and acclaim with and for their children.

Elder Ballard said to the young women (and I presume even older women could benefit from this advice) "No career can bring you as much fulfillment as rearing a family. And when you are my age, you will realize this even more." I concur!! Being a wife, mother and homemaker stretches a woman, demands her highest efforts, and utilizes every talent and skill she can muster. "Paydays" are few and far between, but all the sweeter when they come.

Elder David F. Evans also proclaimed that ". . . our most important work is always within our own home and family."  He gave an important insight about communication, saying, "Letters from home are not just quick emails. Real letters provide something tangible that can be held, thought about, and cherished." After children leave home words of encouragement, comfort and wisdom from a parent in the form of a tangible letter is priceless.

Elder Neil L. Andersen quoted President Thomas S. Monson from 2011, ". . . the moral fiber of society continues to disintegrate before our very eyes." And then said something comforting to me, "Being a disciple in these days of destiny will be a badge of honor throughout the eternities." Comforting because of what I said in my first paragraph, I haven't felt much praise and honor for my chosen path in life. Elder Andersen goes on to say, "Our journey of discipleship is not a dash around the track, nor is it fully comparable to a lengthy marathon. In truth, it is a lifelong migration toward a more celestial world." Yes! It is a hero journey through the wilderness to the promised land. What a beautiful way to put it, "a lifelong migration."

I've noticed on social media that there is an outpouring of defense against critics of the church and our doctrines and beliefs. It is wearying to me to keep up with it all so I don't try to. I love Elder Andersen's closing testimony, so fitting for the times we live in, "In a future day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is the Christ. On that day, our concern will not be, 'Do others consider me Christian?' At that time, our eyes will be fixed on Him, and our souls will be riveted on the question, 'What thinks Christ of me?'" His opinion and judgement of me is the only one that matters. Which is why I do my best to learn of Him, yoke myself to Him, and share my testimony of Him with my family.

The Merciful Obtain Mercy

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday morning session of the April 2012 General Conference.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's (then Second Counselor in the First Presidency) address, The Merciful Obtain Mercy, touched me deeply. It brought to mind President James E. Faust's April 2007 talk, The Healing Power of Forgiveness, on the same subject. Less than a year after President Faust's talk I had the opportunity to put into practice that very principle of forgiveness.

I won't give the specific details, but a close family member made choices that betrayed my trust and hurt me deeply. I pled with the Lord to take away my anger and hurt, and was miraculously and immediately relieved of my burden and able to forgive the person. He later told me that my act of forgiveness helped him understand better the Savior's atonement. Almost two decades later I've come to the realization that I had been a witness of Jesus Christ "in all times and in all things, and in all places." (Mosiah 18:9) 

President Uchtdorf said, "Forgiveness for our sins comes with conditions. We must repent, and we must forgive others."

I learned from reading Amish Grace by Kraybill, Nolt and Weaver-Zercher, that the Amish, about whom President Faust spoke, don't have some special ability to forgive, but that that particular teaching of Jesus is cultivated daily and supported by the ethos of the group. 

Forgiving ourselves and others is not easy. In fact, for most of us it requires a major change in our attitude and way of thinking--even a change of heart. But there is good news. This "mighty change" of heart is exactly what the gospel of Jesus Christ is designed to bring into our lives.

How is it done, President Uchtdorf asks? Through the love of God. When our hearts are filled with the love of God, something good and pure happens to us. 

I've learned that forgiving others is not for their benefit, but for mine. By giving grace and mercy through forgiveness, I remove from my heart the poison that will fester and canker my heart and soul. I can move forward with my life unburdened by anger and hatred. I can feel the peace of the redemption of my Savior's Atoning love, mercy and grace towards and for me.

Forgiveness and mercy seem to me to be a gift we give ourselves so we can receive the greater gift of forgiveness and mercy from the Savior for our own sins. It blesses our own life more than those we forgive, some of whom may never even know of our forgiveness, such as the person who cuts in front of us in traffic; or others who make life tense and uncomfortable.

President Uchtdorf sums it up saying, "Remember, in the end, it is the merciful who obtain mercy." I can testify that has been true in my life, and I have hope for the life to come.

Priesthood Power

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Priesthood session of the April 2012 General Conference.

We raised four boys to adulthood and every one of them had, and has an interest in guns, explosives, and such. They all have or are serving in the military. They all own guns; and shooting activities are always part of our family reunions. As they were growing up I tried to impress on them that while guns and bombs are powerful, there is something much more powerful and they possess it.

Just recently my sister asked me what my favorite Old Testament story is. That's easy, it's the story of Elijah and the Priest of Baal. I told her that if I could time travel that's what I'd like to see! Elijah is the coolest prophet ever! Then she asked what is the personal message to me. "The priesthood is the most powerful force!" 

Elder Adrián Ochoa spoke to the "Aaronic Priesthood", asking them to "Arise and Use the Power of God." I loved it!! So much so that I sent the link to our oldest son, who is the most vocal about needing more guns to protect his family and possessions. 

What greater power can you acquire on earth than the priesthood of God? What power could possibly be greater than the capacity to assist our Heavenly Father in changing the lives of your fellowmen, to help them along the pathway of eternal happiness by being cleansed of sin and wrongdoing?

You are often told about your great potential. Well, now is the time to put that potential into action, to make use of the abilities God has given you to bless others, bring them out of obscurity and into the light, and prepare the way of the Lord.

I am reminded of what President Russell M. Nelson said to the men in April 2016,

I urgently plead with each one of us to live up to our privileges as bearers of the priesthood. In a coming day, only those men who have taken their priesthood seriously, by diligently seeking to be taught by the Lord Himself, will be able to bless, guide, protect, strengthen, and heal others. Only a man who has paid the price for priesthood power will be able to bring miracles to those he loves and keep his marriage and family safe, now and throughout eternity.

The proclamation on the family says that husbands are to preside, provide and protect. It is through the use of priesthood power that men can do so. The priesthood is truly the most powerful force in the world. Through it miracles are wrought.