Payments and Dividends

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Saturday morning session of the October 2007 conference.

About six months prior to our son's suicide I felt a strong impression that I needed to "up my game" in gospel study. I worked on being more diligent at studying every day. When the crisis hit my testimony of the Savior and His Atonement was strong enough to support me through that trying time. 

Elder Keith K. Hilbig of the Seventy says, "If you set your payment, which is your personal effort, very low, you may not be able to avail yourself of all the Spirit has to offer. You may even quench the Spirit! However, if you set your personal contribution high, you will reap an abundant harvest from the Spirit. The payment I reference is, of course, not money, rather it is a greater commitment to and involvement in personal spiritual endeavors and behaviors."

"Would you consider investing more of your time in the things of eternity in order to merit the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost and to benefit more fully from His influence?"

I'll be forever grateful I paid attention and acted upon that particular prompting.

Modesty is More than Just Not Showing Skin

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the General Young Women session of the April 2007 conference.

Modesty has been a topic of conversation, blogs, YouTube videos, Pinterest photos, and much more for decades. Lots of opinions and counsel swirl around the internet. Often the discussion gets heated as opinions clash, offense is taken, and justifications are offered.

Sister Elaine S. Dalton, then Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency offered what I think is the best definition of modesty outside of scripture or prophetic/apostolic teachings.

Modesty is not a matter of being "hip." It is a matter of the heart and being holy. It is not about being fashionable. It is about being faithful. It is not about being cool. It is about being chaste and keeping covenants. It is not about being popular, but about being pure. Modesty has everything to do with keeping our footing securely on the path of chastity and virtue.

 

Measured against that description we, young, in the middle, or old, can know how to dress, speak, and behave. 

Even though I'm almost 67, I enjoy the counsel to the Young Women. In many ways, and especially compared to Heavenly Father, I feel like a teenager who needs encouragement and guidance. This particular Young Women presidency was one of powerfully spiritual women. Their instruction, encouragement and testimonies are still relevant.  

"Mom, Are We Christians?"

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday afternoon session of the April 2007 conference.

I taught Primary for three years recently and began each year with spending a few minutes each Sunday teaching the children (they were 5-7 year olds, preparing for baptism) what I call "The Basics".

I'd start out asking "What is the name of our church?" The most common answer was "The Fairmont Branch". I'd then teach them the correct name of the church, and then ask, "Are we Christians?" Most children said, "No." Some of them emphatically! So I'd teach them the connection between the name of the church and who is the head of the church and who we worship. Then I'd ask "Who is the prophet and president of the church?" "Jesus!" They'd jubilantly proclaim. So I'd show them a photo of President Nelson and introduce them to the prophet. Then we'd learn the names of his counselors and what they looked like. We'd do this every week until all the children could give correct answers to all the questions. I wanted them to know without doubts that yes, we are Christians.

Elder Gary J. Coleman told of a 14 year old girl asking her mother, "Mom, are we Christians?" My heart went out to that girl and wondered how she'd gotten to be 14 without someone teaching her the connection between the name of the church, who is the head of the church, and who we worship. 

Elder Coleman tells his story of growing up in a devout Christian home having no question in his mind that they could define themselves as Christians. 

I think too many parents think their children will get it by osmosis rather than direct teaching in Family Home Evening. Feeling compassion for the children who weren't being taught at home guided my insistence on teaching them directly in Primary.

Elder Coleman bears his testimony saying, "As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you are a Christian, and I am too. I am a devout Christian who is exceedingly fortunate to have greater knowledge of the true "doctrine of Christ" since my conversion to the restored Church. These truths define this Church as having the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Like other members of the Church, I now understand the true nature of the Godhead, I have access to additional scripture and revelation, and I can partake of the blessings of priesthood authority."

I so love to hear conversion stories and testimonies. I grew up in the church and have known it is true since I was a little girl. Lately I have wondered if I hadn't been born in a covenant home would I have felt a lack and consequently searched for the truth? I hope I would have. I can't imagine life without the truths of the Gospel, or the hope of eternal life to come.