"All Thy Children Shall be Taught of the Lord"

Isaiah, who lived approximately 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ, reminded parents and others of their responsibility toward children in these words: "All thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children" (Isaiah 54:13).

When I was growing up, my family lived in Idaho Falls, Idaho, USA. Several times a year we visited my grandmother, Johannah Johnson Koyle. She was a widow, living in a small house on a farm south of Burley, Idaho, about 130 miles away. The only source of heat in her home was a stove in the middle of her living room. My brother and I took turns filling a coal bucket with cantaloupe-size chunks of coal, that were used to keep the fire burning . On cold winter nights, the temperature often dipped well below zero degrees Fahrenheit, so the warmth of the stove was welcome relief from the cold.


There were two bedrooms next to the living room, that were kept warm by the fire. However, my brother and I had to sleep in the far corner of the house, separated from the stove by the kitchen and walled-in porch. Unfortunately, the heat was unable to find its way to that part of the house. So my grandmother went to the room early to climb into the bed and warm it before my brother and I climbed in--one on each side of her. Three or four quilts made by my grandmother were piled on top of us--so heavy that breathing was a bit labored. Before we fell asleep, Grandma Koyle shared some faith-promoting stories--stories that told us how much she loved the Savior--stories that helped us to love Him also. I can't remember the stories she shared, but I will never forget how they made me feel. I felt loved, and warm, and safe and peaceful. That happened over 65 years ago, and even now I can remember the feelings.

Moses gave us the pattern for teaching in our homes:

 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:
 5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
 9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

Moses' charge to the parents of his day is a charge to parents of our day.

• We must show our love for the Lord by keeping His commandments (see John 14:15).
• We must treasure up His word, found in the scriptures, in our hearts and minds.
• We must teach them to our children at every opportunity, with love and testimony.
• We are invited to be living scriptures from which our children can draw peace and strength in a troubled world.

As we do so, the promise will be fulfilled. "Great shall be the peace of [our] children." Our children will find that peace as they draw ever closer to the Prince of Peace. Doing so will help them navigate the troubled waters of our time, secure in the knowledge that a loving Savior stands ready to lead them securely back to their heavenly home.

General Conference and Personal Revelation

As general conference approaches (on September 24 and October 1-2), I would like to share a few thoughts regarding things we can do to prepare. In doing so, we can make of general conference the blessing intended by the Lord.

General Conference - A Time for Personal Revelation

When we think of general conference, most of us look forward to what we will be taught by the First Presidency, other General Authorities and General Officers of the Church. Indeed, their instruction is inspiring and vital to our well-being in a world of rapidly declining moral values. However, perhaps we often don’t put enough emphasis on the fact that general conference can be a time of personal revelation--a time when impressions can come that are independent of what is spoken from the pulpit.

Prepare to Learn from the Spirit

I would like to paraphrase something spoken by President Boyd K. Packer, adapting it to general conference: “What we gain from [general conference] will depend to a large degree on what we take to [general conference] in the way of humility and reverence and a desire to learn. If we are teachable, we will be taught by the Spirit in [general conference]” (“Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple," 10, emphasis added).

As we prepare for general conference in the spirit of President Packer’s counsel, impressions will come--especially if we listen with questions to which we need answers. The answers will come in the the Lord’s way and timing.

As it says on the general conference page of lds.org, “Conference provides an opportunity to receive personal revelation as living prophets give counsel and direction. Asking questions can help you prepare for conference, increasing personal revelation while you watch” (emphasis added).

“As you prepare for general conference, I invite you to ponder questions you need to have answered. There are messages in each general conference given as a gift and a blessing from heaven specifically for our personal life situations” (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, emphasis added).

Be Prepared to Take Notes and Take Action

Have something handy to write on when impressions come. If we don’t record impressions given to us by the Spirit and treat them with the thoughtful consideration and action that they deserve, the Lord may be reluctant to give us more impressions. On the other hand if we record, ponder and act on impressions, the Lord will see that he can trust us with more of them.

I love general conference and pray that all of us will prepare and partake of general conference to our great blessing.

Repentance with Replacement

This morning a friend shared a scripture that had touched him. It is found in Romans 12:21: “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” It is a scripture that has also touched me. A few years ago I highlighted this scripture on the LDS Gospel Library app and added the following note, which supports and strengthens this principle.

“Do not try merely to discard a bad habit or a bad thought. Replace it. When you try to eliminate a bad habit, if the spot where it used to be is left open it will sneak back and crawl again into that empty space. It grew there; it will struggle to stay there. When you discard it, fill up the spot where it was. Replace it with something good. Replace it with unselfish thoughts, with unselfish acts. Then, if an evil habit or addiction tries to return, it will have to fight for attention. Sometimes it may win. Bad thoughts often have to be evicted a hundred times, or a thousand. But if they have to be evicted ten thousand times, never surrender to them. You are in charge of you. I repeat, it is very, very difficult to eliminate a bad habit just by trying to discard it. Replace it. Read in Matthew, chapter 12, verses 43 to 45, the parable of the empty house. There is a message in it for you” (Boyd K. Packer, That All May Be Edified (1982), 196).

We find some examples of this principle in the Book of Mormon.

In 3 Nephi 5:3, “[the Nephites] did forsake all their sins, and their abominations, and their whoredoms, and did serve God with all diligence day and night.” In other words the Nephites replaced their sins with service to God.

Another example is found in Moroni 7:45: “Charity . . . rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth.”

Lehi provides yet another example. In experiencing the vision of the tree of life, Lehi didn't notice something that Nephi later noticed when receiving the same vision. Subsequently, Nephi shared the following observation: "The water which my father saw was filthiness; and so much was his mind swallowed up in other things that he beheld not the filthiness of the water" (1 Nephi 15:27). Lehi didn't just remove from his mind a vision of filthiness. He filled his mid with "other things", the things of righteousness. This is an important lesson for all of us.

As we repent of our sins and replace them by “treasur[ing] up the words of life” (D&C 84:85) and “let[ting] virtue garnish our thoughts unceasingly” (D&C 121:45) and “look[ing] unto [Jesus] in every thought” (D&C 6:36) and other worthy actions, we will find that repentance with replacement is one of the keys to success in enduring faithfully to the end. That we may do so with greater and greater consistency with the passage of time, is my humble prayer for each of us.

"The Truth Shall Make You Free"

Among the many reasons that we should read the scriptures daily is because in the scriptures we find the truths of eternity. We have been sent to earth to "obtain a body and gain earthly experience, to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize [our] destiny as . . . heir[s] of eternal life" (The Family: A Proclamation to the World, Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102). Without eternal truth to guide our footsteps in this life, we will not be armed to make the correct choices that will help us gain the kind of experience that will qualify us for eternal life.

During His earthly ministry, the Savior gave the following counsel to His followers:

 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:31-32)

The challenge of mortality is to "continue in [His] word." Of course, we won't be able to so continue unless we know His word and follow it. As we go to the scriptures daily, to learn and live the truths therein, we are incrementally strengthened against the temptations that would otherwise prevent us from continuing in God's word. I know that this is true, because I have experienced it myself and have observed it in the lives of others.

Through this simple practice of prayerfully going to the scriptures daily and courageously and consistently applying them in our lives, we will become ever more "firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of God" (1 Nephi 2:10). That is what it means to continue in His word and to increasingly know the truth, which will make us free from false doctrine that would lead us away from the divine destiny that God has prepared for each of us.

Joseph Smith provided this supportive insight: "Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God.  But we cannot keep all the commandments without first knowing them, and we cannot expect to know all, or more than we now know unless we . . . keep those we have already received" (Smith, Joseph, Jr., TPJS, 255-56).

Let us read and follow the scriptures daily, so that we can lay claim to the great blessings of eternity.

Forgiving Ourselves

Sin is integral to the human condition. As Paul said to the Romans, “"All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). John put it another way, but the message is the same: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8).

While sin is universal, repentance and forgiveness are not. The Savior paved the way for us to be forgiven of our sins. However, we must repent to receive this priceless gift. While Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins, no one else can complete the steps of repentance for us. We must do so ourselves.

In those cases where we have committed a serious transgression, it is necessary to confess it to our bishop and seek his help in the repentance process. Once we have fully repented, it is vital that we know that we have been forgiven.

The Savior described to Alma the senior two kinds of forgiveness: Forgiveness from the Church, as conveyed by the applicable priesthood leader and forgiveness from the Lord: “...Whosoever transgresseth against me, him shall ye judge according to the sins which he has committed; and if he confess his sins before thee and me, and repenteth in the sincerity of his heart, him shall ye forgive, and I will forgive him also” (Mosiah 26:29).

How do we know when we have been forgiven? Forgiveness from the Church will come from the bishop. He will tell us that we are free from the need for further discipline. A confirmation that we have been forgiven by the Lord comes from the peace and calm assurance that come only from the Prince of Peace--He who suffered for our transgressions. Alma the younger had the following experience when he was forgiven:

17 ...I was . . . racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.

18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.

19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.

20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!

21 Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy. (Alma 36:17-21)

Note the indicators of forgiveness that Alma experienced. Alma could still remember his sins, but his recollection wasn’t painful any longer. Some think that if they still remember their sin they haven’t fully repented. This isn’t true. Remembrance of our transgressions is for our own safety--as insurance that we will resist the temptation to do something similar in the future.

When Alma was forgiven of the Lord, he felt the joy that comes from having been cleansed of sin. However, notice that joy didn’t come until he had repented and let go of his sin, as indicated the the lack of a painful remembrance of it.

Some who have truly repented continue to feel the pain of their sin, because they won’t let go of it. They continue to experience the anguish of their sin, perhaps because they feel so badly about what they have done that they refuse to forgive themselves. Or it could be that their faith in the Atonement isn’t sufficient for them to believe that it is possible for them to be forgiven.

The adversary of all righteousness doesn’t want us to repent in the first place. However, if he has lost that battle, he will discourage us from feeling forgiven. He will do anything to thwart the path of righteousness. Accordingly, Alma the younger counseled his son, Corianton as follows: "And now, my son...let these things trouble you no more, and only let your sins trouble you, with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance" (Alma 42:29). Apparently Alma felt that Corianton would persist in feeling guilty even after he had completely repented.

Elder Richard G. Scott shared these comforting words: "To you who have sincerely repented yet continue to feel the burden of guilt, realize that to continue to suffer for sins when there has been proper repentance and forgiveness of the Lord is prompted by the master of deceit" (Richard G. Scott, "The Path to Peace and Joy," Ensign, Nov. 2000).

Forgiveness of oneself requires faith—faith in the Savior and faith in His atoning sacrifice. To forgive ourselves after we have repented, we must let go of our sin by exercising our faith in the Savior and His atoning sacrifice. The Savior respects our agency, so He won’t take away the pain of our sin if we don’t let it go.

Many years ago, while serving as a stake president (a stake is similar to a diocese), a man came to me who had committed a serious transgression decades in the past. He had gone to his bishop and confessed and had done all that the bishop required of him. He was restored to full fellowship in the Church and had lived a faithful, obedient life of service to the Lord, his family and his fellowman. Yet he continued to feel the guilt of his past transgression. I told him that the Lord had paid for his sin and that the only step he needed to complete was to turn his burden over to the Lord--to let go of his past transgression.

May we each put our trust in the Lord and His Atonement. He paid a terrible price (see Doctrine and Covenants 19:15-19) for our sins. He showed His love for us in doing so. Let us show our love for Him by fully repenting of our sins and allowing Him to remove the anguish of our transgressions.

“Please don’t see the temple as some distant and perhaps unachievable goal. Working with their bishop, most members can achieve all righteous requirements in a relatively short period of time if they have a determination to qualify and fully repent of transgressions. This includes being willing to forgive ourselves and not focus on our imperfections or sins as disqualifying us from ever entering a sacred temple” (Quentin L. Cook, “See Yourself in the Temple,” Ensign, May 2016).

"Thy Word Have I Hid in My Heart"

"With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.  Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee" (Psalm 119:10-11).

The gospel is an affair of the heart.  The Lord doesn't want just our mind--our intellectual commitment to His gospel.  He wants mind, heart, and soul.  He expects total commitment, as expressed by the people of King Benjamin: "The Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent . . . has wrought a mighty change . . . in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually" (Mosiah 5:2).

One very good way of hiding His word in our heart is to read it, ponder it, memorize it, and apply it in our daily lives.

The ordinances of the temple are not to be spoken outside. Therefore we must “hide” the words in our hearts--internalize and treasure them. As we do so, they will protect us from the temptations of the world.

Job Loved the Scriptures

Concerning the scriptures, Job said this: "I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food" (Job 23:12). This scripture gives us a valuable insight into one of the things that contributed to Job's greatness--his love for and application of the scriptures. Surely the scriptures played a key role in helping Job to be faithful through severe adversity beyond which any of us will have to suffer.

It reminds me of the experience of Parley P. Pratt, when he received a copy of the recently translated Book of Mormon. President Hinckley related Parley's experience in the May 2001 Ensign:

"I opened it with eagerness, and read its title page. I then read the testimony of several witnesses in relation to the manner of its being found and translated. After this I commenced its contents by course. I read all day; eating was a burden, I had no desire for food; sleep was a burden when the night came, for I preferred reading to sleep.

"As I read, the spirit of the Lord was upon me, and I knew and comprehended that the book was true, as plainly and manifestly as a man comprehends and knows that he exists" (Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, ed. Parley P. Pratt Jr. [1938], 37).

I pray that each of us will go to the scriptures daily--even if only for a few minutes--and let them work upon us as they did upon Parley P. Pratt and strengthen us as they did Job. With the scriptures in our hands and hearts, coupled with faith-filled prayer and obedience to God's commandments, there is no adversity that we cannot overcome.

Power in Prayer

During the almost nineteen years we lived overseas, visits to the airport to pick up a family member were a common occurrence. We did it dozens of times.

At the Dhahran International Airport, in Saudi Arabia, we waited outside the customs and immigration checkpoint for our family members to emerge from their flights. My practice was to stand on the left side of the portal, meaning that the path from the portal was on my right. Sometimes the wait was 45 minutes or more and there wasn’t anywhere to sit. That made for a painful wait. I get an acute pain in my lower back if I stand in one place for an extended time.

On June 7, 1993 I went to the airport to await a daughter's arrival. For the first and only time, I decided to wait on the opposite side of the portal. There were some tables and chairs there, so I could wait without having to suffer from a painful back.

As I waited for our daughter to come out of the arrival hall, I saw someone go past with a suitcase that looked very much like the green, clamshell American Tourister suitcase that she was using.  In fact it not only looked like it but it also clearly bore my wife's initials.  Our daughter was using one of the suitcases that had earlier been used by my wife.  Because of where I was sitting, I could clearly see the suitcase and those initials. If I had been on the other side, where I usually waited, I certainly wouldn’t have seen the initials and may not have even seen the suitcase.

This observation turned out to be a real blessing.  I caught up with the porter who was wheeling the bags from the airport and asked him whose bags he was carrying.  I then approached the man he singled out as the “owner.”  When I asked him if he was certain that the suitcase belonged to him he said, "yes."  However on pointing out to him that my wife's initials were on the bag, and that I was quite certain the bag was not his, he proceeded to open it.  When he did so, he agreed the bag was not his.  The contents clearly belonged to Heather.

Why didn’t he notice this when passing through the customs checkpoint? All bags are opened for inspection there. However in his case, there was an exception. He was a diplomat. So, as is the case for diplomats everywhere, his bags were not subject to inspection.

It may seem that finding our daughter's suitcase was simply an incredible coincidence. However, it was not. Prior to her arrival, she had offered a prayer that her luggage would arrive safely. That prayer led me to wait on the opposite side of the portal and to observe the bags as they came past. There is real power in prayer. I’m grateful to a generous Heavenly Father for His kindness in answering this prayer as He has answered countless others.

Honesty - A Vanishing Virtue

Honesty is a virtue that is vanishing from our society. Television commercials often portray dishonesty as cute and funny. People in public office regularly attempt to deceive the electorate to gain a political advantage. In fact, dishonesty in politics is so rampant that it isn’t uncommon to hear someone say of a public figure, “How can you tell when they are lying? When their lips move.” It is a tragedy. And it need not be so.

How do we define lying? I like the following definition: “A lie is any communication with the intent to deceive others” (James C. Hunter, The Servant: A Simple Story About the True Essence of Leadership, 118). Hence, even if a statement is true but is given in a way to mislead others, for example, by leaving out essential contextual information, it is still a lie.

Lying has become so common that those who do so occasionally preface something they say with, “I’ll have to be honest…” Why should it be necessary for an honest person to use such a phrase? Honesty should be a given, and yet sadly it is not.

I must add that the preface, “To be honest…” has become so common that even inherently honest people occasionally use it. When they do so, I’m sure they actually mean, “To be completely open…”, or “To be blunt…” or something similar.

Why is honesty so important? Honesty is a prerequisite to trust. It is hard to trust someone who isn’t honest. When such a person makes a commitment, it is difficult if not impossible to be sure they really intend to live up to it. How can one have confidence in another if there is a lingering uncertainty about their integrity? If a person tells a lie in one circumstance, what circumstances will trigger another lie?

It has been said that, “It is better to be trusted than to be loved.” Why is this statement true? Trust is something that must be earned. On the other hand, we are each commanded to love all men (see Matthew 22:39).

In addition to the temporal consequences of lying, there are also eternal consequences. As Nephi taught: “Wo unto the liar, for he shall be thrust down to hell” (2 Nephi 9:34). This sounds pretty harsh! Why is lying such a serious offense in the eyes of God? Because someone who is dishonest has distanced themselves from the mercy of a loving Savior. Someone who refuses to be honest about a sin cannot repent and therefore cannot be forgiven.

May we all resolve this day, if we haven’t done so already, to be honest—no matter the personal cost. May we do so quickly lest we become as Pilate, who said to Jesus Christ, “What is truth?” (John 18:38).

Honesty starts at a personal level. We must first and foremost be honest with ourselves, admitting our faults and need for repentance. We must not let excuses get in the way. Excuses only make us weak. They keep us from making needed changes to strengthen our character. When we frankly face our faults, we will position ourselves to be honest with and trusted by others. As Shakespeare put it, "This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man" (William Shakespeare, Hamlet Act 1, scene 3, 78–82).”

The rewards for honesty extend beyond the trust we gain with our fellow man. Such rewards are eternal, as expressed by the Psalmist:

 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
 5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. (Psalm 24:4-5)

As you seek peace in your daily life, I commend to you reading daily in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Prayerfully reading this divine book will draw you nearer to Jesus Christ than any other book. As a companion scripture to the Bible, it will bring you peace and a nearness to the Savior that will bless your daily life with strength through trial and peace in troubled times.

You can read the Book of Mormon online at: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/title-page?lang=eng 

To receive a free physical copy go to: churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/requests/free-book-of-mormon

Here is a link to the Book of Mormon app on iOS and Android: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/learn/mobile-applications/book-of-mormon-app?lang=eng

We Must Daily Strengthen Our Faith

We live in a world that calls "evil good, and good evil; that put[s] darkness for light, and light for darkness" (Isaiah 5:20).

Our surest defense against such an onslaught is to do things every day—simple things—that strengthen our faith and arm us with truth. We will thus be shielded against "the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil" (Helaman 3:29-30).

It occurs to me that a choice not to do something every day that strengthens our faith is a choice to weaken it.

I plead with each of us to take a few minutes each day to pray morning and night personally and in our families, to read from the scriptures and apply what we read, and to do our best to live lives of obedience. To do otherwise is to leave ourselves vulnerable to the winds of opposition.

Endure to the End: "Patient Continuance in Well Doing"

I just finished exercising. In fact, I am still trying to catch my breath. While riding my exercise cycle I was tempted to quit before my planned 30 minute workout was completed. The thought came to me that 15 minutes would be long enough. I could make it up later in the week. Then the thought came to me that I should continue exercising for the full 30 minutes. Thought number two won. I continued for 30 minutes and I'm glad I did. It was a good workout and I feel much better for having done it.

This experience is a microcosm of life. We were sent from the presence of our Heavenly Father to "obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize [our] divine destiny as [heirs] of eternal life" (First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, "The Family: A Proclamation to the World," Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102).

The scriptures teach us that, “If you keep [God's] commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God” (Doctrine and Covenants 14:7). Enduring faithfully to the end requires "patient continuance in well doing" (Romans 2:7). One of my favorite Spanish words is "empeño," which means "persistent determination." Making a success of this life requires determination--persistent determination--day in and day out--to do God's bidding.

As President Spencer W. Kimball said, "It cannot be accomplished in little spurts and disconnected efforts. There must be constant and valiant . . . righteous living” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, 1982, 29).

In gaining experience, we are subject to adversity. Like the resistance on the wheel of the exercise cycle, adversity provides needed opposition to permit spiritual growth. Sometimes our trials stretch us to the limit of our endurance. We are tempted to stop early, to slacken our faithfulness in keeping God's commandments. We must resist such temptations and press forward with persistent determination, so that we can reap the rewards awaiting us, which are the greatest gifts God can give us. As James has told us, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).

It is my prayer that we will "press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life" (2 Nephi 31:20).

I testify that as we take upon ourselves the yoke of Christ, he will come to our aid--giving us critical assistance when we need it most. "We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:15-16). The Great High Priest, Jesus Christ, has come to my aid in time of need. I know that he will come to your aid as well, as you feast upon His words and call on Him in faith.

Priorities - Getting Things Done

It is frustrating to have so many things to do and yet to accomplish so little in a day. This happens to me on a frequent basis. However, it occurred to me this morning that if we do in a day what Heavenly Father expects of us--that is a good day, no matter how many other things are left undone. It brings to mind a quote attributed to Elder Russell M. Nelson, "When priorities are in place, one can more patiently tolerate unfinished business" (www.azquotes.com/quote/917355).

Given this insight, the key obligation is for us to have our priorities in place. That was the case for Jacob, brother of Nephi. “I, Jacob, gave unto them these words as I taught them in the temple, having first obtained mine errand from the Lord” (Jacob 1:17). We would avoid much frustration if on a daily basis we would obtain our errand from the Lord for the day. Then we needn’t be frustrated by the things we couldn’t do.

How do we obtain our errand from the Lord? I certainly don’t have all the answers. I have been struggling with this battle for a long time. However, here are a couple of thoughts to consider in determining how to do so.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks said, “Some uses of individual and family time are better, and others are best. We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families” (“Good, Better, Best,” Ensign, Nov 2007, 104–8, emphasis added).

How do we obtain our errand from the Lord? President Henry B. Eyring gave this suggestion: "A morning prayer and an early search in the scriptures to know what we should do for the Lord can set the course of a day" (Facebook post of January 13, 2015).

I have a long list of things I need and want to do. Each day it is a struggle to select from the to-do list the things that are most important. I’m going to apply the counsel of President Eyring and of Elder Oaks to see how much better I can do at focusing on the things the Lord would have me do--the best things--and spending less time feeling badly about the good things that I can’t get done.

Guidance of the Holy Gost

Following baptism, we are confirmed and invited to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. When we partake of the sacrament we renew the baptismal covenants to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ, to keep His commandments and to always remember Him. In turn, we are promised that we will “always have his spirit to be with [us]” (D&C 20:77).

One of life’s great blessings and challenges is to always have the Holy Ghost with us to guide and comfort us through life’s ups and downs.

As I was studying one of President Henry B. Eyring’s talks from the October 2015 General Conference, “The Holy Ghost as Your Companion,” I was touched by the following words: "When you demonstrate your willingness to obey, the Spirit will send you more impressions of what God would have you do for Him. As you obey, the impressions from the Spirit will come more frequently, becoming closer and closer to constant companionship. Your power to choose the right will increase.”

The young prophet, Samuel exemplified this pattern. “Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and [Samuel] did let none of his words fall to the ground” (1 Sam. 3:19). Samuel consistently heard the words of the Lord and acted on them.

How do you and I follow this pattern? The key is to desire and to pray for the guidance of the Spirit. As we do so, striving to keep the commandments, impressions will come. When they do, we must write them down right away so that we don’t forget them and then, when action is required, we must do our best to implement them. For example, while reading President Eyring’s words, I had the impression that I should include them in a blog post. I wrote down the impression in my journal and I’m now writing.

The Lord respects our agency. If He gives us an impression through the Spirit and we fail to hear and act on it, He will respect our decision and give us fewer impressions.

On the other hand, if we hear, record and act on an impression, He will give us more impressions. The pattern is expressed in these words: "That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day” (D&C 50:24).

How can we be sure an impression came from the Spirit? "When the impressions square with what the Savior and His living prophets and apostles have said, you can choose to obey with confidence. Then the Lord will send His Spirit to attend you” (Henry B. Eyring, “The Holy Ghost as Your Companion,” Ensign, Nov. 2015).

I pray that we will live worthy of the guidance of the Spirit, that we will listen to the whisperings of the “still small voice,” that we will record the impressions that come and that we will act on them. This is a pattern that will lead us and our loved ones back to God’s presence in His Celestial Kingdom.

"Superstars Aren't Made in the Spotlight"

On March 8, 2016 I read an article in the online version of USA Today. The author, Nicole Auerbach, announced USA Today's selection for the player of the year--Denzel Valentine. In the article she made a statement that caught my attention: "Superstars aren’t made in the spotlight; they’re made when no one is watching... Each offseason, Valentine made lists of goals he wanted to accomplish to get better in some facet of his game. The lists used to be longer than they became as he grew older. But he made sure to check each item off, whether it required endless hours in the gym with his older brother, Drew, or making the smart choice for dinner instead of the more delicious one."

The behind-the-scenes work Denzel did to become the player he is today reminded me of my own modest outside-the-spotlight efforts to become a good enough basketball player to qualify for our high school varsity team.

In grade school and high school I was usually the tallest person in the class. If my memory is accurate, I was six feet tall by the time I was 14 years old. However, at the same time I wasn't well coordinated. Figuratively, I couldn't walk and chew gum at the same time. As a result, even though I liked basketball, I wasn't very good at it.

In the sixth grade my tryout for the basketball team was unsuccessful. During my sophomore year I decided to try out again. I had practiced a lot since my previous, failed attempt. Again my efforts fell short.

I was still determined to qualify, so almost every night after school I went home, picked up my basketball and practiced by myself at the church gym for one to two hours.  In addition, though I didn't have a basketball hoop at home to practice shooting, I did practice dribbling and passing. I was determined to become a better player on my own, even if I didn't make the school team.

I also gained more skill by playing on the church young men's team. We had a good coach who took an interest in me and helped me to further develop my skills.

My many hours of basketball practice finally paid off in my junior year.  I made the junior varsity team and played on the starting squad throughout the season.

I went out for basketball again in my senior year and made the varsity team. Although I didn't play on the first string, I was usually the first one substituted. I even started in one game after playing an especially good game against Caldwell High School.  In that game I shared high point honors.

I certainly didn't become a superstar by any stretch of the imagination. However, I did learn a valuable lesson. To be successful in any endeavor, it takes determination, discipline, patience and a lot of hard work when no one is watching. If I could change anything during that period of time, I would have worked even harder.

Choices Have Consequences

Recently my left knee has been aching a bit. The ache has reminded me that I injured it during the winter of my senior year in high school, while ice skating. Before I started dating Grandma, a cute girl named Marty Jones asked me to go ice skating with her and some friends. I knew it was something I shouldn't do, because I was on the basketball team. The coach restricted us from doing anything outside of basketball that risked injury. However, I ignored the rule, thinking that I would be all right. Besides that, I had a hard time saying no to a cute girl.

I was at the end of a long string of skaters. We were playing “crack the whip.” The line turned in such a way that the last person in the chain moved along the ice at a very fast pace, like the end of a whip. I was going so fast that I lost my balance and fell to the ice on my left knee.

It wasn’t a serious injury. The skin wasn’t broken. I had a bruise, but not a serious one. However, the left leg is used to “take off” when making a layup. There was enough pain that I couldn't use my left leg normally.

During a game that followed the injury, the coach put me in the game against a big player from Fremont High School. He was taller and heavier than I, but he was also slower. I had worked hard to develop several moves to get past a defender and score. I had just the right combination of moves to easily score on this player. However, whenever I went around him with a clear shot at the basket, my knee buckled and I wasn’t able to make the layup. Needless to say, it was a very disappointing night. I was upset with myself and the coach was unhappy with me as well.

What is the lesson to be learned from this experience? A seemingly small and innocent choice to go ice skating when I shouldn’t have resulted in consequences I hadn’t anticipated. I let someone else talk me into doing something that I knew I shouldn't have done. As a result, I let down my coach, my team and myself.

In truth few choices are really small--especially decisions to do something we know is wrong.

I don’t know what my knee will do from this point forward. However, I suspect it will occasionally be a source of some discomfort for the rest of my life. I will use this consequence as a reminder to make good choices. President Boyd K. Packer said, “We cannot set off on a wrong course without first overruling a warning" (cited by Elder Kenneth Johnson, “Yielding to the Enticings of the Holy Spirit,” Ensign, Nov. 2002, 8).

It is important for all of us to listen carefully to the whisperings of the Spirit when making choices, so that we can hear and respond to the warning that will surely come to protect us.

"Greater Love Hath No Man..."

I have been reflecting on yesterday’s (January 25, 2016) incredible outpouring of love and support for slain police officer Doug Barney and his family. It occurs to me that the well-deserved and overwhelming show of appreciation wasn’t exclusively for them. In fact, it was a show of gratitude for all who put their lives at risk to keep us safe--be they policemen, firemen, or others who respond first to an emergency of whatever kind. They all serve, in a way, following the pattern of the Savior of whom it was said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). This is the spirit of service that Doug Barney embraced. This is the spirit of service embraced by all good men and women who accept the dangers of protecting our safety, peace and liberty. From this day forward I will pray for them and their families with greater fervor and will support them with with greater conviction. To them--all of them--I give my deepest appreciation and greatest respect. Henceforth, I will strive to serve my fellow men with greater love, courage and dedication.

We Can Change, Because "We Are the Clay"

"O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand" (Isaiah 64:8).

These words of the Prophet Isaiah teach an important truth. If we will put our lives in the hands of the Lord and trust Him, humbly submitting our will to His will, He will make far more out of our lives than we can.

It is often tempting to think of ourselves as a lost cause, that we can't change, that we are who we are and there is no hope of becoming the person our Heavenly Father wants us to become.

This simply is not true. We can change. We can become better and better, over time--as the scriptures say, "line upon line; here a little, and there a little" (Isaiah 28:10). However, that change requires our desire to do so, our willingness to repent of our sins and to obey His commandments.

He has paid the price for our sins. As we humbly repent, He is not only willing but anxious to forgive us, so that we can have the "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding" (Philippians 4:7).

"If ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage" (Book of Mormon, Mosiah 7:33).

I pray that we will humbly yield our will to God. As we do so, the Divine Potter will mold us each into a glorious being, worthy to return to His presence. We will have happiness in this life and eternal joy in the life to come.



You can read the Book of Mormon online at: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm?lang=eng

To receive a free copy, go to: https://www.mormon.org/free-book-of-mormon

Integrity--A Priceless Possession

Job, in the face of more adversity than we can comprehend, said: "Tell I die I will not remove mine integrity from me. My righteousness I hold fast and will not let it go" (Job 27:5-6).

Job had every reason to abandon the exemplary standards by which he had lived his life. Formerly owner of thousands of camels, sheep, oxen, and donkeys, having a large family, revered by his countrymen, all was taken from him. Gone were his wealth, his children and his health. Even his friends failed to provide comfort but instead found fault with him, saying that he had brought this adversity upon himself. Yet Job bore it all, refusing to turn against God and refusing to abandon his integrity.

It is important to remember that, having passed this supreme test, "the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning" (Job 42:12).

His example extends a powerful invitation to all of us to be true to the best that lies within us. As we are obedient to the Lord and maintain our integrity through the trials that life gives us, our end will also be greater than our beginning. We may not see those rewards in this life. However, it is certain that in the life to come God will shower upon us blessings that we can hardly imagine.

God's promises are sure. As Solomon said, "There hath not failed one word of all his good promise" (1 Kings 8:56). The Prophet Mormon is a second witness. "The eternal purposes of the Lord shall roll on, until all his promises shall be fulfilled" (Book of Mormon: Mormon 8:22). Indeed His word will never fail--time without end. I know this is true.

What hangs in the balance is our willingness to hold fast to our integrity, to our righteousness. We too may then reap the rewards of the faithful. I testify, beyond any shadow of doubt, that the Savior stands ready to help us in this quest, if we call on Him in faith and exert our very best efforts. "We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:15-16).

You can read the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ online at: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/title-page?lang=eng 

To receive a free physical copy go to: churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/requests/free-book-of-mormon

Here is a link to the Book of Mormon app on iOS and Android: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/learn/mobile-applications/book-of-mormon-app?lang=eng

On Being Positive - "Having a Perfect Brightness of Hope"

"Perfect Brightness of Hope"

In His powerful Sermon on the Mount, the Savior gave not only those present but all of us the following invitation:

 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)

The word "strait" as used above means a narrow passageway. The Savior is teaching us that the way back to our heavenly home is narrow. There are specific things that we must do to qualify. We must have faith in Jesus Christ, repent of our sins, be baptized, receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost and endure faithfully to the end of our lives.

Nephi taught these principles in the Book of Mormon, in 1 Nephi chapter 31. In that chapter, Nephi says, "Ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life" (Book of Mormon: 1 Nephi 31:20).

Among the most important things to qualify for eternal life is the requirement to have "a perfect brightness of hope"--in other words, to have a positive attitude.

In response, many will respond by asking how we can have a positive attitude in a world where so many bad things happen to good people. For example, Jesus Christ, who is the only person who lived a perfect life, suffered more than anyone else who has ever or will ever live on earth.

In having a "perfect brightness of hope" we aren't expected to hope that all will go right in our lives. The invitation is to have a brightness of hope in the ultimate result of living a good life--in God's plan of salvation for mankind. Jesus Christ, though despised, rejected, spit upon, beaten, and crucified, is now exalted at the right hand of His Father. His love for His Father, His determination to be obedient to the end, and his brightness of hope in the ultimate outcome, saw Him through to victory.

We have many examples in life of the result of a positive attitude. Yesterday (January 2, 2015) Texas Christian University (TCU) played the University of Oregon in the Alamo Bowl. TCU's star quarterback, Trevone Boykin, wasn't there to play, because of having violated team rules. The TCU offense depended greatly on Boykin for success. Without him, TCU fell behind by a score of 31 - 0 in the first half. I'm sure that many watching stopped doing so at that point. However, in the second half, TCU came back to tie the game at 31-31 at the end of the fourth quarter. TCU ultimately prevailed by a score of 47-41 in the third overtime.

What is the lesson? In life as in eternity, it is vital that we have a positive attitude. We should keep doing our best, even when things aren't going well. We may make mistakes, but with the grace of the Savior, they need not be permanent. "A just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief" (Proverbs 24:16). The key to victory is, armed with a brightness of hope, to keep rising again when life hands us a temporary defeat.

Through "feasting upon the word of Christ" and laying hold of His Grace, ultimate victory is assured. I know this is true. Jesus is the Christ, His is the way, with His help victory is assured!

As you seek peace in your daily life, I commend to you reading daily in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Prayerfully reading this divine book will draw you nearer to Jesus Christ than any other book. As a companion scripture to the Bible, it will bring you peace and a nearness to the Savior that will bless your daily life with strength through trials and peace in troubled times.

You can read the Book of Mormon online at: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/title-page?lang=eng 

To receive a free physical copy go to: churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/requests/free-book-of-mormon

Here is a link to the Book of Mormon app on iOS and Android: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/learn/mobile-applications/book-of-mormon-app?lang=eng