Like A Flame Unquenchable

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday afternoon session of the April 1999 conference.

Sunday afternoon usually has such great talks, I wonder why anyone would skip out on this session. In this particular session, Elder Eyring gave a fabulous talk about teaching doctrine. You can read more about it over at Light in Leaves by Marilyn. I want to share Elder M. Russell Ballard's talk about keeping covenants.

Too many of our young men and women are succumbing to the pressures imposed by a world saturated with evil messages and immoral behavior. Lucifer is waging a vicious ware for the souls of young and old alike, and the casualty count is climbing. The standards of the world have shifted like the sands of a windblown desert. That which was once unheard of or unaccepted is now commonplace.

Doesn't that sound like it was given last month? Think of how much worse things are today than they were twenty-three years ago.

But one thing is certain: the commandments have not changed. Let there be no mistake about that. Right is still right. Wrong is still wrong, no matter how cleverly cloaked in respectability or political correctness. We believe in chastity before marriage and fidelity ever after. That standard is an absolute standard of truth. It is neither subject to public opinion polls nor dependent upon situation or circumstance. There is no need to debate it or other gospel standards.

But there is a desperate need for parents, leaders, and teachers to help our youth learn to understand, love, value, and live the standards of the gospel. Parents and youth must stand together in defense against a clever and devious adversary. We must be just as dedicated, effective and determined in our efforts to live the gospel as he is in his efforts to destroy it--and us.

 

Elder Ballard discusses at length four ways we can build a fortress of faith.

First is gospel information. Knowledge that we are God's children and that He provided a Savior for us. Knowledge that will build a strong testimony. He talked about making covenants and gave the example of Brigham Young asking the people to covenant to give aid and assistance to bring all those who wanted to leave Nauvoo and move west, but were unable to because of poverty. 

We often hear of the suffering and the sacrifice those early Saints endured, and we ask ourselves, How did they do it? What was it that gave them such strength? Part of the answer lies in President Young's powerful words. Those early Latter-day Saints had made covenants with God and those covenants burned like unquenchable fire in their hearts.

He goes on to say that ". . . there is no spiritual power in living by convenience. The power comes as we keep our covenants. . . . We need to become so deeply converted to the gospel of Christ that the fire of the covenant will burn in our hearts like flame unquenchable. And with that kind of faith we will do what is necessary to remain true and worthy."

Second is communication. "Nothing is more important to the relationship between family members than open, honest communication."  He gives some instruction about how to increase communication in the family too.

There are powerful moments of communication through regular family prayer and through family scripture study. The scriptures help define family values and goals, and talking together about them will assist family members to learn to become individually secure, spiritually strong and self-reliant. This requires time, and so we need to counsel together about how much television, how many movies, videos, video games, time on the Internet, or out-of-the home activities should be allowed.

Third is intervention. "It is the parents' duty to intervene when they see wrong choices being made." This doesn't refer to taking away a child's agency, rather to make sure the children understand appropriate behavior and the consequences that will follow if they pursue a wrong course.

Make your home a haven of peace and righteousness. Don't allow evil influences to contaminate your own special spiritual environment. . . . When one of our youth stands at a moral crossroad in life, almost always there is someone--a parent, a leader, a teacher--who could make a difference by intervening with love and kindness. 

Fourth is example. "We cannot expect them to avoid those things that are inappropriate if they see their parents compromising principles and failing to live the gospel.

As parents, teachers, and leaders, it is our solemn duty to set a powerful, personal example of righteous strength, courage, sacrifice, unselfish service, and self-control. These are the traits that will help our youth hold on to the iron rod of the gospel and remain on the straight and narrow path."

Elder Ballard acknowledges that even focusing on information, communication, intervention and example doesn't guarantee a perfect family with no straying children. But he does promise that doing these things will make it easier to work through the challenges that come to every family.

I enjoy hearing from Elder Ballard, he comes across as a wonderful man, father, and grandfather; humble and loving, strong and kind.

 

 

A Prophet's Testimony

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday morning session of the April 1999 conference.

As a child I never liked when General Conference and Easter occurred on the same Sunday. Rather like Christmas on a Sunday. But as an adult I've come to appreciate the spirituality of celebrating a big holiday on a holy day. It seems totally appropriate to gather together and worship our Savior on the days of His most important events, birth and resurrection.

On this Easter morning, then current prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley shared his fervent witness and testimony in a beautiful way. He began by expressing gratitude.

It it plainly evident that the gospel, when lived, makes people better than they otherwise would be. . . . How deeply grateful I am for the devotion and the loyalty of the members of the Church throughout the earth who respond to every call, no matter the inconvenience, no matter what comfort they must forgo.

 

 And he continues, "But of all the things for which I feel grateful, I am most grateful this Easter morning for the gift of my Lord and my Redeemer. This is Easter, when, with all of Christendom, we commemorate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ."

I can't think of anything more important or more impressive than the fact that Jesus Christ overcame death and rose again. Paul wrote to the Corinthians about this, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept." (1 Cor. 15:19-20) In the margin of my scriptures I wrote, 'Like the hopeless masses mourning their losses on 9/11/01.' I vividly remember feeling such sorrow for those who didn't know that they would see their loved ones again, that this life is not the end.

Another thought I had as I listened to President Hinckley was about those who claim that we are not Christians. They would benefit from listening to this talk, as there is no plainer declaration of our discipleship than one from a prophet who knows the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanks be to the Almighty. His glorified Son broke the bonds of death, the greatest of all victories. As Paul declared, 'For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.' (1 Cor. 15:22)

He is our triumphant Lord. He is our Redeemer, who atoned for our sins. Through His redeeming sacrifice all men shall rise from the grave. He has opened the way whereby we may gain not only immortality but also eternal life.

As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, I bear witness and testimony of these things this Easter day. I speak in solemnity and reverence and gratitude, . . . 

 

At the end of the talk my final thought was, "I really miss President Hinckley!" Just like I miss my Grandpa Joe, and my Nana Rose. I'm grateful I'll be able to meet them again. I'm so thankful that there is purpose to this life and that we all will live again! Death is not the end of our existence. Jesus Christ won the victory over the grave. As we approach the season of celebrating His birth it is wise to remember that without the completion of His mission, to atone for our sins and rise from the grave, His birth would have been just another of the billions of anonymous babies born on this earth. But, praise God, He successfully completed His mission and did all that His Father asked of Him. That is truly the best gift of all.

The First Law of Heaven

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Priesthood session of the April 1999 conference.

Recently, while watching several YouTube videos I heard something profound, (and I can't remember which one so I can't give credit) 

"Obedience is the first law of heaven and Gen Z hasn't been taught to be very obedient." (Or something close to that, please forgive my aging brain for not remembering exactly.) In our Stake Conference this weekend a member of the Stake Presidency, talking about the new For the Strength of Youth booklet advised us that young children need 'the Law of Moses' to teach them how things work and to guide their choices; while teens can better operate under a higher New Testament framework of laws. I see this played out each week in Primary where the young children, with no knowledge of the consequences of their choices, are given choices and decisions to make. I think all that freedom makes most young children anxious and uneasy inside. It's been my experience that young children do best with well defined boundaries and careful guidance to understand how both the world, and the Spirit work before being given enough freedom to decide for themselves, which could lead to harm.

President James E. Faust's address Obedience: The Path to Freedom impressed me as just what we need today as an antidote to what's happening around us.

I wish to raise a warning voice. In today's society, the difference between right and wrong is being obscured by loud, seductive voices calling for no restraints in human conduct. They advocate absolute freedom without regard to consequences. I state unequivocally that such behavior is the high road to personal destruction.

Can you think of anything more personally destructive than the supposed transition from one sex to another of young children and teens? We witness the tragic results as one after another comes to their senses and realizes what they have done to their precious bodies. Satan is leading the destruction of the rising generation in a particularly gruesome way.

President Faust relates the story of David O. McKay's horse Dandy, who, while well behaved when saddled, disliked restraint and would find ways to escape any. His final escape, driven by curiosity, led to his death when after wandering from the safety of his corral he found and ate from a sack of grain which was actually poisoned bait for rodents. Quoting Pres. McKay, "How like Dandy are many of our youth! . . . They are impulsive, full of life, full of curiosity. . . . They, too, are restive under restraint, but if they are kept busy, guided carefully and rightly, they prove to be responsive and capable; but if left to wander unguided, they all too frequently violate principles of right which often lead to snares of evil, disaster, and even death."

Sheri Dew recently spoke about prophets being able to see around corners (view talk here) which led me to think about how I've been viewing General Conference. In the weeks leading up to conference I'm usually hoping and praying that the prophets will say something about what is going on right now. In the past I have sometimes felt rather disappointed and thought that maybe they can't or won't speak of anything specific to the USA because this is a world-wide church. After pondering the principles Sister Dew spoke of I think I better understand that the prophets and apostles, and other leaders, are actually prophesying of conditions to come, giving us guidance on how to prepare. But we seem to only see it in hindsight. This will change the way I study current conference talks!

President Faust concluded his talk with this wonderful statement:

Freedom and liberty are precious gifts that come to us when we are obedient to the laws of God and the whisperings of the Spirit. If we are to avoid destruction, which was the fate of President McKay's horse Dandy and his companion, fences or guardrails must be built beyond which we cannot go. The fences which we must stay within are the principles of revealed truth. Obedience to them makes us truly free to reach the potential and the glory which our Heavenly Father has in store for us.

I'm grateful for the guardrails of the Gospel! 

Understanding

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Saturday afternoon session of the April 1999 conference.

I'm beginning to think, after all these years, that what is said in General Conference doesn't pertain so much to today (as in when it is spoken), as it pertains to our future needs, the way the world will be in the future. Or it could be that human nature never changes so each generation needs to hear the same things. Or maybe it's a combination of both.

As I listened to this session I was struck by how pertinent the subjects were to life today. 

Elder Neal A. Maxwell gave a searing address about selfishness which seems definitely more apropos today than when given.

"Cultural decline is accelerated when single-interest segments of society become indifferent to general values once widely shared. . . . Today, in place of some traditionally shared values is a demanding conformity pushed, ironically, by those who eventually will not tolerate those who once tolerated them."

Doesn't that sound a lot like today? 

During this month of Thanksgiving I'm so very grateful to the gift of fifteen men who are prophets, seers, and revelators. We are blessed to have guides to lead us to the Savior. 

 

 

 

 

Thought for the Day

Whenever I think my life is hard I can remember that since there is opposition in all things (see 2 Nephi 2:11) I should be grateful that things aren't worse.