Do you have a boring phone or desktop wallpaper? Remind yourself what’s really important with this free downloadable wallpaper. The quote comes from this talk by Elder Oaks given in General Conference April 2001.
Are you a graphic designer? Submit your own uplifting artwork for a chance to have your artwork featured!
As a missionary trainer, I often talked in group settings with other trainers about their experiences and how their missionaries were doing, some tell me how they have had bad experiences and have had to take kratom for it, so I checked this original site for more info. Often, one to two trainers would say something like, “It’s super easy training this one elder. He came pre-trained. He already knows how to be a missionary.” For that elder, home was the Missionary Training Center long before the MTC.
Most people think that when you enter the MTC, you magically gain a testimony of the gospel and a deep understanding of how to do missionary work. The truth is, you don’t. Those things must be learned, and preferably, learned early. President Kimball, in his talk “When the World Will be Converted,” reasserts this:
“I am asking that we start earlier and train our missionaries better in every branch and every ward in the world. That is another challenge—that the young people will understand that it is a great privilege to go on a mission and that they must be physically well, mentally well, spiritually well, and that “the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance.”
I am asking for missionaries who have been carefully indoctrinated and trained through the family and the organizations of the Church, and who come to the mission with a great desire. I am asking for better interviews, more searching interviews, more sympathetic and understanding interviews, but especially that we train prospective missionaries much better, much earlier, much longer, so that each anticipates his mission with great joy.”
Nobody has to go into the mission field untrained or unready. In the spirit of that, here are the top seven things, according to elders, sisters, and missionary presidents I’ve talked to, that you can to do to come “pre-trained” to your mission:
You will be spending the next 18-36 months testifying of Jesus Christ and His Atonement. Develop a testimony of Him now. Study His words and teachings. Strive to develop stronger faith in Him. Do all you can to learn of Him, and use His Atonement, for it will be your job to help others to do the same.
I cannot stress how vital it is to have an abiding testimony that Jesus is the Christ and that His atonement is real. Without this, nothing else matters or has reason. No missionary should ever go on his or her mission without a testimony of Jesus Christ and His atonement, and that includes a testimony of repenting of your sins.
Learning how to pray is vital to life on earth. Prayer is our main line of communication with heaven and our Heavenly Father. So many people “say” their prayers with no intent of the prayer ever reaching God, or they pray with no intent to obey. They often think God does not care or listen because they don’t have powerful prayers.
As a missionary, you will be teaching people how to have powerful and effective prayers. You will teach them how to receive revelation through prayer. Learning how to do these things yourself before you go will help with every aspect of the work.
Follow the established patterns. Learn how to ask. Rarely does God give revelation to “what should I do” prayers, but often He will give unto the person who studies out the options, picks one, and then asks, “This is what I think is right. I am going to proceed with it. Is this acceptable?” At that point, revelation comes. If it does not, proceed with your plan, and if the plan is wrong, God has promised to let you know.
Know that reverence invites revelation. Learn how to act. Being reverent invites the Spirit, and the Spirit is the gateway to revelation. Kneel, use respectful language, fold your arms, close your eyes, have personal prayers, and have family prayers. If your family does not hold family prayers, take the initiative and start them.
Finally, be specific and learn how convey desire. Specific prayers get specific answers, and prayer is a principle of effort. The more effort you put in, the more blessings you get out. Instead of, “Please bless everyone the missionaries are meeting with,” a more effective approach would be, “Please bless Michael Goff. Please bless him with a desire to read the book of Mormon and to pray to know of its divinity.” God blesses specific prayers. As my mission president always said, “Pray by name and need.” Taking the time to know names and needs of others conveys love and caring, and praying about them is powerful. It shows them you really care. It helps them feel your love and our Father’s love. I’ve seen it countless times. I promise you that few things melt a heart faster than hearing someone pray for you and your loved ones by name and need.
The Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion. You will be inviting others to read it and to pray about it to gain a testimony. At the very least, read the Book of Mormon all the way through and pray about it before you leave on your mission. I cannot tell you how many missionaries come to the field never having read the book! They spend the first 4-12 weeks of their missions just trying to read the Book of Mormon so that they can then share it with others. Gaining a testimony of the Book of Mormon is like toppling the first domino of the Restoration: everything else follows it.
Learn how to study the scriptures and Preach My Gospel before you go. And study them! Having a knowledge of doctrine is one of the big differences between a missionary who is pre-trained and a missionary who struggles. If you already know the doctrine you’re going to teach, then your trainer only needs to show you the finer points of missionary work. As a friend of mine who was a trainer once said, “I basically just showed him the mission culture.” This is one thing I wish I had done better at. I studied the scriptures, but I wish I had spent more time in Preach My Gospel.
I recommend starting with chapter two of PMG, which teaches you how to study. Once you’ve learned how to study, continue with chapter one. Try to apply each chapter to your life. PMG teaches eternal principles which are applicable to all stages of life. I recommend reading PMG at least once cover to cover. After you’ve read it cover to cover once, I recommend an in-depth study of the first six chapters, as the doctrines and principles in the first six chapters are the most important to understand as you prepare for a mission.
Once you’ve read PMG, read the Gospels in the New Testament, and I highly recommend reading the entire Bible before you leave. It is the companion volume of scripture to the Book of Mormon, and a greater gospel understanding will come as you study all of the scriptures.
Hastening the work of salvation does not start when you’re set apart as a full-time missionary, nor does it end when you’re released. Learning and applying the doctrine that every member is a missionary and has missionary responsibilities before your mission will add power to the authority you will hold. After all, Christ said, “Come, follow me,” not, “Go, do that.”
Do your home and visiting teaching. On your mission, you will spend much time and effort helping people understand the importance of doing home/visiting teaching. How can you ask someone to do theirs if you refused to do yours? Gain a testimony of teaching. It will add so much power to your invitations to others to do the same. As Harold B. Lee said, “Missionary work is but home teaching to those who are not now members of the Church, and home teaching is nothing more or less than missionary work to Church members.”
Go out with the ward/full-time missionaries. Few things will prepare you as well for a mission as gaining hands-on experience. It teaches you how to teach the doctrines of the gospel. Real teaching will teach you far faster than reading or role play. It will also help you to understand the different roles everyone plays in conversion/retention/reactivation. This knowledge is what you will be applying as a missionary for the next 18-36 months. It’s imperative to learn it, and the sooner, the better.
Invite your friends. As a missionary, you will learn that members are the key to finding new investigators. You will encourage them to invite their friends to church, to activities, and to meet with you. As you invite your friends to do these things before your mission, you will be able to gain personal testimony of this aspect of missionary work. It will allow you to declare, with the Holy Ghost as your witness, that it works, that it has blessed your life, and that it will bless the lives of the members you’re inviting to follow your example.
The lessons taught to you about the gospel are designed to help you learn and apply the gospel. The “Scripture Mastery” program of seminary is designed to give you a basic grasp of the scriptures and their teachings. I know so many missionaries that lamented, “I wish I had paid attention in seminary.” I even had some companions who were trying to memorize the scripture mastery verses because they realized the power that comes from quoting the scriptures word for word. Don’t underestimate the opportunity to learn in a class setting.
Worshiping is so much more than just attending. If you’re not attending the temple, developing that habit is a good start. If you only have a limited-use recommend, do baptisms and confirmations as often as is reasonable. Mostly, prepare for the temple now. As you prepare for your mission, also take temple prep. Ideally, as soon as you have your mission call, you will talk with your bishop and start planning a date to go to the temple to receive your endowment. This is where taking temple prep. as you work on your papers is huge. Once you have received your endowment, take full advantage of the House of the Lord before you leave. As you attend His house, you will gain the perspective of why we do missionary work and that baptism is not the end goal.
These seven things, when combined with developed social skills, a positive mental attitude, and a desire to work hard and be humble, lead to prepared missionaries who can hasten the work of salvation from day one. Always remember, though, that it is very important to listen to your trainer and to understand that their job is to train you. As my mission president put it to a group of new missionaries, “You are being trained. You are not here to train your trainers.” At all times, strive to be humble and willing to learn. With proper prior preparation, and with the help of your trainer, you can be a great instrument in the hands of the Lord.
This article appeared first on mylifebygogogoff.blogspot.com and has been republished with permission
“I’m leaving the church.”
Over the past month, I have heard/read this phrase seven times. Once from an incredible woman in my home ward who can’t take anymore of the ward’s judgement. Once from a family member who has felt the church is too restrictive for years. Twice from young adults my age whose knowledge and testimonies of the gospel have buoyed my own in the past. The rest from good friends and acquaintances. Some of these announcements I’ve been expecting for months and years. Others, I never ever expected.
The intensity of the grief I have quietly shouldered these past few weeks has been hard to describe and has left me with an alarming loss for words. In the miniature chaos of having, as one friend described to me, multiple individuals whom I propped my testimony on discard their own, I’ve found myself wondering why I even bother. My social media accounts have been inundated with angry words about members of the church being voiceless and cowardly, critical articles about confirmation bias, Joseph Smith, the church’s stance on gay marriage; friends who virtually laud their doubts and tear apart the testimonies of my other friends. In the middle of this, I see some of my friends faltering and questioning, wondering why they stay, and it’s overwhelmed me. I’ve not been able to blog for weeks. I thought that was because I just felt uninspired. I’m suspecting it’s because I’ve been deeply discouraged, not wanting to add fuel to the flame, not wanting to hurt or be hurt by other people who are just waiting for a chance to do it. Not wanting to defend the beliefs that are so much a part of me, that I’d imagine I’d crumble apart without them, and only because I worry about how others would react.
Because of beliefs I have expressed on this blog and others, I’ve been cyber-bullied and sexually harassed by online strangers who have put me in virtual stocks to throw tomatoes at. I’ve been called horrible names and told I’m a horrible person in the comments on my blog. I’ve been told that I’m a totally brainwashed Mormon and that I’m on the verge of apostasy all in one long digital breath, and I’ve dealt with it. But to see some of the things my friends and family are saying? To see members of the church turning on members of the church? To watch so many doubt and then cause others to doubt and then invalidate their feelings for them? It’s crippled me.
I don’t want to and cannot stay quiet anymore.
I know that some of you reading this right now have serious doubts, and you’re wondering why you stay. And there’s no one there to encourage you to stay because the battle you’re fighting is quiet and lonely. I know that some of you reading this right now are doing so because you’re lurking about like the bigotry police, waiting for a reason to ridicule me and say, “You’re wrong! You’re so stupid and so wrong!” And I know that many of you reading this right now are just as discouraged as I am, because you’re seeing people who helped your testimony abandon theirs, and it’s breaking you apart. Many, many of you are wondering why the words of the prophets seem so at odds with the words that the media, society, and your own friends are telling you. Many of you don’t believe the words of prophets at all. Many of you don’t see other members living up to what the prophets ask us to do, and it hurts.
In a time that is so chaotic, confusing, and heartbreaking, a time when men’s hearts fail them and men’s testimonies don’t seem to be enough, it’s easy to say, “You know what? I don’t want any part of this. It’s hard to be a member of the church, it’s embarrassing to be a member of the church, it’s not worth it to be a member of the church, and it’s stupid to be a member of the church.” It’s easy to think that. But I believe that most of us who think that way have forgotten whose church this is. It doesn’t belong to prophets or men or the whims of society. It belongs to Jesus Christ.
He is the center, basis, and foundation of every part of it. He’s who we worship, who we strive to be like, and who we make covenants for. He’s in every ordinance, and should be in every testimony, because in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Christ is not some far off deity. He’s a living, omnipresent Savior who can be found in everything and every person. Our scriptures confirm that. The New Testament is not some made up storybook. It’s documented testimony of the men and women who surrounded Christ, who boldly declared that Jesus Christ was who He said He was and did what He said He did. The Book of Mormon is not some made up storybook. It’s a compilation of testimony after testimony after testimony after testimony of men and women who saw Christ, understood Christ, waited hopefully for Christ, and reaffirmed that Christ would come. Even when accused of being fiction by critics of the church, the Book of Mormon functions exactly as the words of Christ’s early apostles do, not to glorify prophets, but to glorify the Messiah.
Some would suggest that the church is not true because prophets have been wrong, because prophets are imperfect, and because prophets just don’t understand. I wonder, however, what we would worship if we had perfect men leading this church. Would we remember to worship the Savior without being compelled to do so? Would we see the consistent need for and infinite capacity of His Atonement? I can’t say we would. Instead of perfection, we have imperfect men who have made mistakes, yes, even mistakes that our 21st Century brains find shocking and hard to understand. We often falsely suggest that prophets are perfect. We often struggle with the thought that they aren’t. Many who pour over doctrinal oddities and human faults found in the saints of early church history use it as justification to leave and condemn the church. But this church was never organized for the agendas of those saints. It was never a way to deify imperfect men with corrupt agendas. A closer truth would be that the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored in this church to give us a massive and yet totally intimate view of how we desperately need the Atonement in our lives, and even (and maybe especially) leaders and prophets need it, too.
Prophets exist to help us worship Christ, not themselves. Christ Himself tells us, “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken; ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory”(Luke 24:25-27)? After that, he expounds unto His disciples all scriptures and all the words of the prophets concerning Himself. I’d argue that all doctrine and all principles given over the pulpit are absolutely secondary when compared with the exhortation to become like and follow Jesus Christ, and as Christ teaches, that’s the purpose of prophets. To not believe in prophets and to still claim to believe in Christ is to invalidate a vast majority of Christ’s words. And to do that is to invalidate Him.
I can’t do that.
If there is one thing I know more than anything it’s that Jesus Christ is the Savior and that His Atonement is both real and mighty. There is no way that I could deny that, because I have seen it work. I have seen it work in the lives of people who I never guessed it could work for. I have seen it do things for me that I had no confidence I could ever do on my own. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is beautiful and it’s incomprehensible and it’s real, and it’s real because He’s real. Because He’s real, I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I believe Him when He says prophets give us the truth. And because I believe Him, I cannot deny the truthfulness of the one church on earth that has prophets that testify of Him. To do so would be to selectively believe the Savior who chose to believe entirely in me, so much so that He died for me. I cannot imagine the pain that would give Him.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a living, progressing entity that represents everything the Atonement is. It represents the enabling power of the Atonement, the ability to go from humble, hard, and yes, even questionable — in our eyes — circumstances to edification and happiness, and within the walls of its chapels, we covenant to always remember the Savior. That is the key. Remembering. Remembering who we were, what we are, what we felt, and what we experienced. Hanging on to the things that bring us closer to Christ. This church does that. Sometimes I think we’re so concerned with the roots of the church that we tragically forget to look up and see the fruits of the church, even the ones we have picked and savored frequently throughout our lives. The Atonement of Jesus Christ, sacred covenants, and the ability to be with our families forever are magnificent fruits indeed, fruits that we cannot find combined anywhere else.
I am inadequate on my own. I make mistakes and I’m imperfect and I’m stubborn. But I’m staying in the church. Not because I’m a coward, a prude, an idiot, a bigot, a conformist, an illogical fool, or whatever other garbage noun society likes to throw at me to make me feel bad about believing in something. I’m staying because of Jesus Christ. He is here.
And I never want to leave Him.
This article originally appeared on igobyari.com
Spray paint isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of missionaries. In fact, art has never played a huge roll in traditional missionary work, but all of that is changing in part of the hastening the work of salvation. Missions all across the world are now trying to hone in on the individual talents of each missionary and are striving to creatively use those talents to move the work along. This includes music, dancing, photography and yes, even spray paint that is now available at Spray Booths. I had the pleasure of meeting a young RM who had some very unique service opportunities while on his mission.
Tanner Stephenson is a Utah native who has loved art ever since he was young. When all the other kids wanted to be vets and policemen, Tanner wanted to be an artist when he grew up. His favorite medium is oil paint, however, he admits himself that he is best with spray paint. His talents with stencils and spray paint are impressive and creative to say the least, but no one suspected he would utilize those skills in the mission field. On his mission in California, Tanner and his companion were struggling to find investigators and they came up with a plan to spray paint images of temples in the park to attract people they could talk to. People loved to watch him work and they asked questions about the images themselves. This allowed Tanner and his companion to discuss the significance of the temple and teach them about the plan of salvation. He started painting more and more and his prints became popular with members and investigators alike. He ended up making about 200-250 temple prints that he gave away throughout his mission.
Service opportunities began to present themselves as well. One investigator asked if he could paint wall murals in his restaurant. “P-days became paint days.” Tanner said. It gave him a chance to use his talents to help people and share the gospel.
Since he’s been home he has continued working on his art and sells custom prints of temples, celebrities, and original designs under the name Kuru Arts. He goes to fairs to spray paint and get the word out about his custom t-shirts and home wall murals. He knows that the Lord didn’t give him his love for art for nothing. Tanner hopes to continue to bless and inspire others through his gospel inspired art work.
If you are interested Tanner’s art or in getting a temple print or other design from Kuru Arts check out his website. www.kuruarts.com
Photo courtesy Stott family
Jonny was born with many complications including a twisted foot that needed extensive surgery. Due to his condition he has no living muscles in his leg and he is paralyzed in most of his body. However, Jonny has defied all odds as his dreams to run and play like other boys pushes him to conquer his crippling handicap. His story has and will continue to bless countless lives. Jonny’s older sister had this to say;
“I think one of the greater miracles that has happened to my family would have to be about my brother, Jonny. I can’t count how many prayers we’ve offered on his behalf from before he was even born. We were told he would be born severely handicapped from a cyst in his brain. Miraculously he wasn’t. We were told he would never walk, run, ride a bike and he’s proven doctors wrong on all accounts. But the sweetest miracle we’ve seen is how it’s brought us closer as a family. The greatest miracle came from when we were realized God wasn’t going to heal Jonny completely, even when we had faith the He could. I knew Heavenly Father could heal my brother and protect him from years of pain and ridicule from peers. But He answered no. It was the most faith trying experience I had, I wondered why my faith wasn’t enough. Over the years I’ve learned that God knows better what miracles we need and when we need them. I wouldn’t trade the miracle of completely trusting Gods plan for my brother for anything. We’ve worked hard with him and struggled with him and I’ve seen the miracle of his adversity turn my little brother to the amazing man he is becoming. Jonny has been an amazing missionary to many, including my family. We’ve recognized the miraculous moments of healing. Even though his struggles have never gone away, we’ve learned I rejoice in the victories as they come and be grateful for trails that can make us strong.”
Jonny was honored in 2011 by the BYU Football Thursdays Heroes program and was able to spend a practice with his favorite football team. Jonny still continues to defy all odds and is always striving to push his limits. His life is a miracle and this miracle brings joy to his friends and family every day.
Photo via Deseret News 2015
March 2015, 18-month-year-old Lily was rescued after being suspended in her car seat in an overturned car for almost 14 hours in the freezing river near Spanish Fork, Utah. A fisherman noticed the car almost half a day after the accident, because it wasn’t visible from the roadway and a local towing service just like Towingless.com had to assist removing the car. Rescuers immediately responded to his report and stepped into the icy river to flip over the car, where it became clear that the driver, Lily’s 25-year-old mother, was deceased. Rescuers noticed that the baby was unconscious, but still alive. It was nothing short of miraculous that the child, left alone without food or water in freezing temperatures for 14 hours, could have survived such an ordeal. Probably the most striking miracle to occur was when responders claimed they distinctly heard a voice calling for help coming from the vehicle, and it was not the voice of a child.
May 16, 1986, David Young and his wife Doris entered an elementary school in Cokeville Wyoming and took 136 children and 18 adults hostage with firearms and a homemade bomb. They gathered everyone in the school into one classroom. He attached the bomb to his wrist and threatened the group that he might, at any time, move his arm and ignite the bomb. He demanded 2 million dollars per child and an audience with the President Regan. After a two and a half hour standoff, the children became restless and offered a prayer. Soon after the prayer the bomb was accidentally detonated and teachers began helping the students through open windows and out the doors through the smoke and fire to safety. Every child and adult in the room escaped with their lives except for the two perpetrators David and Doris Young. There lots of little miracles associated with this event and they are all beautifully portrayed in T.C. Christensen’s newest film Cokeville Miracle, in theaters today June 5. The movie focuses on the miracle surrounding the event rather than the sensationalism of a crazy man taking children hostage. It emphasizes the power of prayer, a miracle, and God’s grace. If this movie doesn’t make you believe in miracles again, I don’t know what will.
photo via ABC News
On June 1st, 2015, a sudden storm with extreme wind gusts settled over Bear Lake, in the Northeastern corner of Utah. Strong winds caused a boat carrying seven individuals to capsize, and those individuals fought the waves while they waited for rescue. Two teens in the group, Tiffany Stoker, 13, and Tylinn Tilly, 13, reported that when the boat capsized, they felt as if they were lifted up and gently placed into the water a safe distance from the boat. The Tiffany and Tylinn then decided to embark on their own and began swimming toward shore for help. As they swam they encouraged each other and would massage each others legs when they got cramps. They sang primary hymns and prayed together even though they had to shout over the roar of the waves. When the sun went down they began to lose hope, but a final glimmer of light from the sky gave them just the motivation they needed to swim a little bit farther. A search and rescue boat found them soon after, both cold and weak, they were rescued three hours after the boat capsized. Kathryn Capener also survived the ordeal, however, her husband Lance, her daughters Kelsey, 13, Kilee, 7 and a family friend Siera Hadley, 13, didn’t survive. While this miracle is surrounded by tragedy we cannot deny the heavenly hand that surrounded the rescue of these two teenagers.
via ABC News: (courtesy Nielson family)
Stephanie Nielson and her husband Christian miraculously survived a plane crash in 2008. While the crash left them with severe burns, they were able to return home to their four children. Stephanie was in a coma for four months, and while she experienced excruciating pain, the greatest pain was battling the fact that her burns left her scarred and disfigured. While she struggled with the fact that she’d never be beautiful again, she was reassured to know that she was still alive to be a mother to her children, she could still eat her favorite foods, and that she could still kiss her husband. Since the accident, Stephanie has inspired millions with her blog and was featured in a video on the Mormon Channel. She also wrote a memoir that she hopes will bring comfort to others facing adversity. Her miracle continues to edify millions.
Early in the afternoon on Saturday, May 30th, Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles passed away peacefully at his home. He was an incredible man with endless enthusiasm for life and a smile that could light up a room. Not only that, but he had a deep and abiding love for the Savior that he shared whenever he could.
In tribute to this remarkable apostle of the Lord, here are ten moments from Elder Perry’s life that prove he was a man among men.
(Saturday morning session of 179th General Conference; photo via Deseret News)
As a young boy, Elder Perry had a perfect church attendance record. One week, when he was sick with tonsillitis, the entire family left Elder Perry and his mother at home and went to church. They were all shocked to see young L. Tom Perry walking through the chapel doors only a few minutes after the services had begun. He refused to ruin his perfect record.”
“I don’t remember the exact date when this took place, but it was a great time for me. Each year the Board of Education of the Church met at Ricks College. As food service director it was a special time to provide meals and snacks for the board. On one occasion Elder Perry, Elder Packer, President Eyring, Elder Jeffey Holland and others, along with their families were invited to go into Yellowstone Park on snowmobiles the day after the Board meetings. We stayed in a cabin near West Yellowstone Park. I was along as their chef. After breakfast we loaded onto the bus and went to West Yellowstone where we assigned either snow coaches or snowmobiles. Elders Perry and Packer each had a snowmobile. It was so much fun to see them all suited up and ready to go. As we were about to depart, Elder Perry looked over at Elder Packer and said, “Boyd, I’ll race you into Old Faithful.” With that the race was on. It was hilarious.”
via ftrver commenting on ldsliving.com
“While serving as a Guest Service Missionary (usher) on Temple Square & in the Conference Center, we were instructed to “never approach a General Authority”. Ushers put in many long hours on our feet, before, during and after events, mostly with very little acknowledgement. Following a First Presidency Christmas Devotional, many of the General Authorities passed through the door at which I was stationed. Mostly we are “invisible”. Elder Perry stopped, put one hand on my shoulder, shook hands with me, looked at my name tag and said, “Sister (my name), thank you for your service. Now you go home and get some rest!” What a kind acknowledgement!”
via grma747 on ldsliving.com
Read the talk here: https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/l-tom-perry_best-whatever/
“Elder Loren Dunn, as I left for lunch, whispered in my ear and said, “They grade General Authorities on how little time they take in their first address.” I am trying for a straight A today.”
Watch and read the rest here: www.lds.org
In his last general conference address, Elder Perry gave an incredible defense of the family.
“What the restored gospel brings to the discussion on marriage and family is so large and so relevant that it cannot be overstated: we make the subject eternal! We take the commitment and the sanctity of marriage to a greater level because of our belief and understanding that families go back to before this earth was and that they can go forward into eternity.”
He ended with these sweet and powerful words:
“Let me close by bearing witness (and my nine decades on this earth fully qualify me to say this) that the older I get, the more I realize that family is the center of life and is the key to eternal happiness.
“I give thanks for my wife, for my children, for my grandchildren and my great-grandchildren, and for all of the cousins and in-laws and extended family who make my own life so rich and, yes, even eternal. Of this eternal truth I bear my strongest and most sacred witness in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”
Read it here: www.lds.org
God be with you ‘til we meet again, Elder Perry.
What are your favorite memories of Elder Perry? Leave us a comment below or on our Facebook page.
Whenever I used to imagine how the apostles assign missionaries to missions, I usually imagined something like this:
Turns out the reality is a lot more mundane. Elder Dallin H Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gave us an insight into the process yesterday with this Facebook post to his page:
Kind of looks like my desk at work only with comfier chairs.
I think we have a tendency in the Church to make our religion out to be more grandiose than it really is, and I find something weirdly comforting about imagining the Lord’s apostles quietly seated at a normal, unassuming desk, calmly carrying out their responsibilities. As much as I would have loved to find out that this process involved more chanting, and claps of thunder, it’s nice to know that when it really comes down to it, it’s all very… ordinary. And yet, perhaps not so ordinary. Behind the menial facade there is powerful priesthood authority at work. While the church outwardly espouses normality, the real miracles are of a spiritual nature, and this is proof.
Did he miss anything? Comment below with the clichés you hear all the time!
Like this video? Check out: “This Primary Song Cover Made Us Feel All the Feels”
BYU Vocal Point recently released a new music video for their cover of “Homeward Bound” along with a behind-the-scenes video of its production. The song was arranged by McKay Crockett, and is currently trending at #2 on the Itunes classical chart. You can check out more of Vocal Point’s music on their website here: byuvocalpoint.com, or on their Youtube Channel.
Like this video? Check out: “This Primary Song Cover Made Us Feel All the Feels”
My Mom and I haven’t always been close. In fact, when I heard other girls say that their mom was their best friend, I never thought I’d be able to say the same thing. I wish I could take back the times that I distanced myself from her. But the older I grew, the more I realized that my mom was the one real friend that would always be there, always return my calls, and always love me… no matter what. I realized that my mom is a person too, with good days and bad days, strengths and weaknesses, triumphs and sorrows. We are both far from perfect, but without her love, acceptance, and guidance, I truly would not be where I am today. We truly have become best friends. I love you, Mom.
This poem is for all the mother hearts that surround us, whether they be our biological mothers, a friend, aunt, grandmother, or the neighbor down the street. Thank you for opening your hearts, and for inspiring us to someday become mothers like you.
Who would have taught me not to be scared of the dark,
Or of the monsters downstairs, or of the big slide in the park?
Who would have shown me how to walk, and tie shoes
And that there are good or bad consequences for each action I choose?
Who would have listened to my long melodramas
And stayed up too late helping with my school dioramas?
Who would have noticed when I felt sad and alone
Who would have sung lullabies and soothed me in all the right tones?
Who would have shown me to be patient and kind?
Who would have believed in me when I was so far behind?
Who could have seen all the potential within me?
And told me “keep going, I know how good you will be.”
Who would have forgiven me after the rude things I said
And give me a hug and a kiss when I was tucked into bed?
Who could have known all the right things to do
For all of my problems and things I went through
Who would have found my missing left shoe
Who would have supported all the dreams I’ve pursued?
Who else would wake early just to pack me my lunch
And who would have made your famous lemonade punch?
Who would have taught me about Jesus Christ?
Who would have shown me how to walk in the light?
Who would have told stories of courage and faith?
Who would have testified of truth and of grace?
Who would have held me and told me it was alright
After falling short yet again in this great mortal fight?
And who in the world could be better than you
To convince me unconditional love can extend to me too?
Only my angel mother could have done this and more
You’ve given me wings and taught me to soar.
I’m truly in debt, with every breath
I love you forever, love won’t stop after death.
Let it be etched into the book of my life
That I love you, dear mother.
Sincerely,
Rachelle H. is a twenty-something young lady who loves to travel, run, bike, and spend time outdoors. She loves her family and the gospel. She completed her RN and BSN degrees, and has just been called to serve as the mission nurse specialist in the Bolivia Santa Cruz Mission.