Mormon Life - Charity tag

Mormon Helping Hands Assist in Maryland Park Cleanup (Photo Essay)

Wed, 23 May 2012 12:10:00 -0600

source: Newsroom.lds.org

Approximately 300 Mormon Helping Hands volunteers joined community members and elected officials to clean up Parkville, Maryland's Double Rock Park on 12 May. The photo essay at the link below shows these volunteers in action.

LDS high school junior used his mullet to bless lives

Tue, 15 May 2012 10:37:00 -0600

source: MormonTimes.com

For Isaac Blake, growing a mullet turned out to be a worthwhile experience.

Not only for himself, but for others as well.

Julia Blake said her son, a top student and three-sport athlete at Wellesley High, had always worn a short buzz cut. Seeing Patrick Kane of the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks and Jared Allen of the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings, however, inspired Blake to grow a spectacular, business-in-the-front, party-in-the-back mullet.

Woman stunned by unexpected act of kindness

Fri, 11 May 2012 08:33:00 -0600

source: sltrib.com

Mormon Life says: What a great story of paying it forward. Lisa Brummer was at a Walmart in Sandy, purchasing shelf-stable food, snacks, magazines and personal care products to send to her 21-year-old nephew who is serving his second deployment to Afghanistan.

Suddenly, an amazing thing happened.

Young Women Lesson 20: Reach Out to Others

Fri, 11 May 2012 00:04:00 -0600

source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: "Benevolence can bring joy and unity to your home, your class, your ward, and your school." -Mary N. Cook

Discussion Questions

• In what ways can we reach out to others and encourage their activity in Church meetings?

• How can we overcome our own self-consciousness to reach out to others?

Excerpt from "Remember This: Kindness Begins with Me" by Sister Mary N. Cook, May 2011 General Conference:

We build that unity and share our unique colors through benevolence: individual acts of kindness.

Have you ever felt lonely? Do you notice those who are lonely, living in a black-and-white world? Young women, I’ve watched as you bring your unique color into the lives of others with your smiles, your kind words, or a note of encouragement.

President Thomas S. Monson taught us how to interact with our peers and everyone we meet when he told the young women of the Church, “My precious young sisters, I plead with you to have the courage to refrain from judging and criticizing those around you, as well as the courage to make certain everyone is included and feels loved and valued.” 7

We can follow the example of the good Samaritan and “change the world” of just one person by being benevolent. 8 I would like to invite each of you to do at least one Samaritan-like act this coming week. It may require that you reach beyond your usual friends or overcome your shyness. You may courageously choose to serve someone who doesn’t treat you well. I promise that if you will extend yourself beyond what is easy to do, you will feel so good inside that kindness will start to become a part of your everyday life. You’ll see that benevolence can bring joy and unity to your home, your class, your ward, and your school. “Remember this: kindness begins with me.”

To read the full talk, click here.

Book of Mormon Lesson 19: "None Could Deliver Them But the Lord"

Fri, 04 May 2012 00:05:00 -0600

by Ted L. Gibbons
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: The middle chapters of Mosiah are full of examples that God is perfectly reliable. We must know this for ourselves and trust in the promises of the Lord.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

Few men on earth, either in or out of the Church, have caught the vision of what the Book of Mormon is all about. Few are they among men who know the part it has played and will yet play in preparing the way for the coming of Him of whom it is a new witness. Few are they who believe its truths and abide by its precepts to such a degree that they would qualify to read the sealed portion of the plates and learn the full account of what the Lord has in store for the people of the world (Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah, p.159).

INTRODUCTION:

One of the overarching messages of these accounts from the end of the book of Mosiah is that God keeps his promises. Over and over again as these dramas unfold, we see evidence—powerful evidence—of the truthfulness of the Lord's declaration in D&C 1:38:

What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.

As you study and ponder and teach these chapters, watch for the fulfillment of the Lord's promises made to the people of Nephi in the Land of Nephi, and to all men.

1. ALMA TEACHES THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT AND BAPTIZES MANY PEOPLE (Mosiah 18)

Alma, converted by the words of Abinadi and the Spirit of the Lord, “repented of his sins and iniquities, and went about privately among the people and began to teach the words of Abinadi . . ." (Mosiah 18:1, emphasis added). He went privately rather than openly like Abinadi. I am fully confident that he did not give many first discussions to Noah or his priests during this time. He had narrowly escaped martyrdom himself and he seems to have had a different purpose than Abinadi. Alma's mission was to convert. Abinadi's was to warn. Alma's message was also the message of the atonement—“the power, and sufferings, and death of Christ, and his resurrection and ascension into heaven" (Mosiah 18:2). Alma was another person who had “beautiful feet." And he taught anyone who would listen. “And as many as would hear his word he did teach" (Mosiah 18:3).

This brings to mind Paul's counsel to Timothy: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine" (2 Tim. 4:2). All of us serve under the same obligation as Timothy and Alma. When an opportunity to preach presents itself, we must preach. The “season"---the practicality, the preparation, our personal fears---cannot be considerations.

Therefore, verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men; For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say (D&C 100:5,6).

We will say a bit more about this later in the lesson.

Note that Alma taught them privately. The threat of discovery and destruction by Noah was a dark shadow over every meeting, every sermon, every action associated with this tiny group of believers. Still they met and preached and acted, for their love of the work and the word surpassed their fear of the king. So, in spite of the danger—the searches (Mosiah 18:5)—they met and worshiped. Their gathering place was in a grove of trees near a body of pure water in a place called Mormon.

Finally, “After many days," when a significant crowd had gathered, Alma preached about repentance and redemption and faith and then offered this people the opportunity to enter into the covenant of baptism.

A careful analysis of these verses of covenant and promise teach wonderful lessons about the obligations we assume by entering into the water, and the obligations God assumes if we abide by our promises (Mosiah 18:8-10).

OUR PART

1. A desire to come into the fold of God

2. A desire to be called his people

3. A willingness to bear one another's burdens

4. A willingness to mourn with those that mourn

5. A willingness to comfort those that stand in need of comfort

6. A commitment to stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things and in all places

7. A determination to serve him

8. A determination to keep his commandments

GOD'S PART

1. He will redeem us

2. We will be numbered with those of the first resurrection

3. We will have eternal life

4. He will pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon us

I read a story the other day on the Internet. I love the net, but I get crazy when I find wonderful stories and striking insights and important information without any sources cited. However, I'd like to share this story here because it teaches a great lesson about our part of the baptismal covenant, whether the story is true or not. We'll call it a parable—“The Parable of the Brick and the Jaguar."

A young executive was driving his brand new Jaguar in an area where there were usually several children playing in the street. He thought he saw something darting our from between parked cars and slowed down. As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead a brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and spun the Jag back to the spot from where the brick had been thrown. He jumped out of the car, grabbed some kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting . . . “Just what the heck are you doing? . . . That's a new car and the damage that brick you threw is going to cost me a lot of money. Why did you do it?"

“Please mister, please. I'm sorry, I didn't know what else to do!" pleaded the youngster. “I threw the brick because no one else would stop . . ." Tears were dripping down the boy's cheeks as he pointed around the parked car. “It's my brother," he said. “He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up." Sobbing, the boy asked the executive, “Would you please help me get him back in his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."

Moved beyond words, the driver . . . lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be OK.

“Thank you and God bless you," the grateful child said to him. The man then watched the little boy push his brother down the street toward their home. It was a long walk back to his Jaguar: a long, slow walk. He never did repair the side door. He kept the dent to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone had to throw a brick at you to get your attention.

God whispers in your soul and speaks to your heart. Sometimes when you don't have time to listen, he has to throw a “brick” at you (Author unknown).

The sacramental prayers remind us of our baptismal obligations to take the name of the Lord and to keep his commandments and to always remember him. I have wished on occasion that we had a regular reminder of the other part of the baptismal covenant. We have promised to bear one another's burdens, and to mourn and to comfort. But so often it takes a brick to get our attention.

We exert our forces and offer our resources when hurricanes devastate the poor in Central America, or when floods leave thousands homeless in Africa, or when tsunami’s devastate Indonesia or Japan. I believe that the baptismal covenant requires us to be just as willing to act in behalf of those who suffer silently in our own neighborhood—the widow, the orphan, the blind, the halt, the lonely, the poor.

Elie Weisel writes:

If there is one word that described all the woes and threats that exist today, it's indifference. You see tragedy on televison for three minutes and them comes something else and something else. Indifference, to me, is the epitome of evil. The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference (From the Citation for an Honorary Doctoral Degree, awarded to Elie Weisel at the 114th Summer Commencement Exercises at BYU, August 17, 1989).

We are prohibited by the covenant we made at baptism from being indifferent to the suffering around us. In Matthew 25, the Lord made our duties crystal clear in his parable of the sheep and the goats. There we are taught this:

If we ignore misery when we encounter it and could reduce it, we are not disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. If, when we have the opportunity and capacity we fail to minister to those who hunger or thirst, to those who are sick or lonely or incarcerated, then it is as though we had abandoned the Savior himself in his hour of need, and without repentance, we may Ago away into everlasting punishment." [Matthew 25:46 (34-36)] Our prayers and professions are hypocritical. In practice, our indifference is a denial of our faith (Misery and Joy, by Ted Gibbons, p. 95).

The people of Alma “clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: this is the desire of our hearts" (Mosiah 18:11). Then Alma baptized them, and organized a church. (Mosiah 18:17) This is the first mention of a church in America in the Book of Mormon.

Mosiah 18 gives a sweet view of the articles and covenants of Alma's church: the provisions made for the teaching and meeting of the people, that which the priests were to receive for their labor (18:26), the doctrine that was to be preached, etc.

He also organized the people to assist in the application of their baptismal covenants.

And again Alma commanded that the people of the church should impart of their substance, every one according to that which he had; if he have more abundantly he should impart more abundantly; and of him that had but little, but little should be required; and to him that had not should be given. And thus they should impart of their substance of their own free will and good desires towards God, and to those priests that stood in need, yea, and to every needy, naked soul. And this he said unto them, having been commanded of God; and they did walk uprightly before God, imparting to one another both temporally and spiritually according to their needs and their wants (Mosiah 18:27-29).

Our part of the baptismal covenant contains one other provision worth a brief mention here. We are under covenant to stand as witnesses of God always and everywhere. There are a multitude of wonderful examples of disciples who have done this very thing under the most difficult and dangerous of circumstances. Abinadi and Alma come to mind at once. But in my study of the Old Testament this year, I found an example that I have often overlooked.

In 2 Kings 5, we read the story of Naaman, the captain of the host of Syria, a great an honorable man, and a mighty man of valor, who happened to be a leper (2K5:1).

Serving in the home of this man was an Israelite slave, a little maid “brought away captive out of the land Israel" (2K5:2). Consider her circumstances. She is an innocent victim of a war waged by men she probably does not know over issues she may not understand. She has been torn from her family and her religious community. But when she learns that her master has leprosy, she stands as a witness. The God in whom she has trusted has allowed her life to go in directions she could never have imagined. Every hope she had seemed to have been destroyed. All of her faith and obedience had not kept her safe, home, happy. And yet, when the opportunity presents itself, she stands as a witness.

And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy (2K5:3).

She is a wonderful example for those of us who are under covenant to stand as witnesses at all times and in all things and in all places.

Noah learned of a movement among his people, sent spies to watch Alma and his people, and then an army to destroy them (Mosiah 18:32,33). Alma received a warning of the coming of the king's army, and he and his people departed into the wilderness.

2. KING NOAH BETRAYS HIS PEOPLE AND SUFFERS DEATH BY FIRE (Mosiah 19)

A certain amount of political intrigue followed the escape of Alma and his people. Part of the people began to oppose the king and contentions followed. Finally the people of Noah seem to have begun to see their king for what he really was. Gideon would have sent the king to his eternal reward except for the timely attack of the Lamanites (Mosiah 19:6-8).

As the people fled, Noah commanded his followers to abandon their families and follow him, for “he himself did flee before them . . ." (Mosiah 19:9).

Many would not do this thing, but “the rest left their wives and children and fled" (Mosiah 19:12). We know from the records that the wicked priests were among those who abandoned their families in favor of their own lives. And we know the name of at least one child who was left behind by a fleeing father: Limhi. He may have had a family of his own by then. The record refers to him as a “just man" (Mosiah 19:17), and it may be that he refused to leave his own family. Either way, Ahe was not ignorant of the iniquities of his father.”

The Lamanites captured those who remained behind, and they conferred the kingdom on Limhi, who made an oath to give to the Lamanites one half of all they possessed (see Mosiah 19:26).

Those who fled soon had a change of heart, however. We learn that

they had sworn in their hearts that they would return to the land of Nephi, and if their wives and their children were slain, and also those that had tarried with them, that they would seek revenge, and also perish with them. And the king commanded them that they should not return; and they were angry with the king, and caused that he should suffer, even unto death by fire (Mosiah 19:19,20).

You may remember that I suggested that one of the messages of these chapters is that the Lord keeps his promises. All of them. Without excuse. The death of Noah by fire fulfilled one such promise, a promise mentioned in Mosiah 12:3; 13:10; and 17:18. Abinadi had predicted that those who followed Noah with such devotion during his spiral into iniquity would one day value his life “as a garment in a hot furnace." We see here that they did.

But there was another promise—another prophecy—made by Abinadi to the people of Noah. That promise, found in Mosiah 12:1-8, was that these rebellious Nephites would be brought into bondage (12:2) and would be smitten and slain (12:2) because of their refusal to repent. That bondage began, as we have seen, in Mosiah 19. The fulfillment of the rest of the prophecy, with regard to the people of Limhi, we will see in Mosiah 21 and 22.

3. LIMHI'S PEOPLE ARE CHASTENED AND EVENTUALLY DELIVERED BY THE LORD (Mosiah 20-22)

The wicked priests ought to be in the Guinness Book of World Records under misery. Their drunkenness and immorality, their support of king Noah, their abandonment of their wives and children, their flight into the wilderness . . . and if that were not enough, they were able to initiate through their iniquity and lack of self control to initiate a war between the Nephites and the Lamanites, following two years of relative peace (see Mosiah 20:29), by kidnaping 24 Lamanite daughters. And there is more.

One of Limhi's great desires was that these men should be captured. They were thieves.

And he caused that his people should watch the land round about, that by some means they might take those priests that fled into the wilderness, who had stolen the daughters of the Lamanites, and that had caused such a great destruction to come upon them. For they were desirous to take them that they might punish them; for they had come into the land of Nephi by night, and carried off their grain and many of their precious things; therefore they laid wait for them (Mosiah 21:20,21).

The misery the Nephites experienced at the hands of the Lamanites was in fulfillment of the prophecies of Abinadi.

And it came to pass that after many days the Lamanites began again to be stirred up in anger against the Nephites, and they began to come into the borders of the land round about. Now they durst not slay them, because of the oath which their king had made unto Limhi; but they would smite them on their cheeks, and exercise authority over them; and began to put heavy burdens upon their backs, and drive them as they would a dumb ass Yea, all this was done that the word of the Lord might be fulfilled (Mosiah 21:2-4).

The people were in agony and “did afflict the king sorely" (21:6) with their desires to go to battle. They went, three times, and were defeated each time. Then, finally, it happened.

And they did humble themselves even to the dust, subjecting themselves to the yoke of bondage, submitting themselves to be smitten, and to be driven to and fro, and burdened, according to the desires of their enemies. And they did humble themselves even in the depths of humility; and they did cry mightily to God; yea, even all the day long did they cry unto their God that he would deliver them out of their afflictions (Mosiah 21:13,14).

Their humility and their cries did not go unnoticed, but . . .

the Lord was slow to hear their cry because of their iniquities; nevertheless the Lord did hear their cries, and began to soften the hearts of the Lamanites that they began to ease their burdens; yet the Lord did not see fit to deliver them out of bondage. And it came to pass that they began to prosper by degrees in the land, and began to raise grain more abundantly, and flocks, and herds, that they did not suffer with hunger (Mosiah 21:15,16).

In the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord said this:

They were slow to hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; therefore, the Lord their God is slow to hearken unto their prayers, to answer them in the day of their trouble. In the day of their peace they esteemed lightly my counsel; but, in the day of their trouble, of necessity they feel after me (D&C 101:7,8).

We have seen too many TV shows. We are not accustomed to problems than cannot be solved quickly. But the Lord is working on the composition of the human soul, where eternal changes are almost always prolonged.

We should remember that people don't get in serious trouble in one step. I don't think anyone steps off a precipice into the depths of immorality and apostasy. They slide down the slippery sides of the chasm. When they hit bottom, it's interesting that usually they want to take one step out. There's not one step out any more than there was one step in. It's a long, hard climb. Mostly they have to crawl to get outCon their knees. The best way out is to get into the organized activity pattern of the Church, to stay in it and resist the temptation to be drawn out of it. When people get out of this pattern, penalties come. They find themselves unhappy . . . and no one wants to be unhappy (Elder Boyd K. Packer, Improvement Era, May 1970, p. 7).

Chapter 21 explains the arrest of Ammon and some of his men from Zarahemla. Limhi thought perhaps they were some of the wicked priests of Noah (see 21:23.24). We also learn in this chapter the of the manner in which the plates of the Book of Ether were discovered (see 21:25-27).

In Mosiah 22, the Nephites escape from the Lamanites and return to the land of Zarahemla where they join the people of Nephi. This escape is fulfillment of another promise of the Lord to his children.

Verily I say unto you, notwithstanding their sins, my bowels are filled with compassion towards them. I will not utterly cast them off; and in the day of wrath I will remember mercy (D&C 101:9).

4. THE LORD DELIVERS ALMA'S PEOPLE FROM BONDAGE (Mosiah 23,24)

The righteousness of Alma's people did not prevent the prophecies of Abinadi from being fulfilled. But their experience with their enemies and with bondage was a much different one from the experience of the people of Noah and Limhi.

When his people asked Alma to be king, he deferred. He had seen (so had they for that matter!) how much damage a wicked king could do to a righteous people. Nephi (see 2 Nephi 5:18) and the brother of Jared (see Ether 6:22,23) had similar concerns. Alma defined the issue clearly when he warned:

And also trust no one to be your teacher nor your minister, except he be a man of God, walking in his ways and keeping his commandments (Mosiah 23:14)

This is a lesson worth exploring. We cannot be too careful about those to whom we give our allegiance.

I had a friend in high school. He came from a broken home and lived with a father who beat him frequently and made life miserable for him, his younger brother, and his mother. But I liked him. He was bold and creative and resourceful. From time to time he would confide in me that one day he and his brother were going away . . . far away. When the time was right, and the opportunity appeared, they would find a way to leave their father behind forever. Usually following such a sharing of confidence, J.M. would ask me if I would come with them.

I was always flattered that he would ask, and I always said Yes. The truth is that I had no need or desire to go. My family was great! Mom and Dad were warm and loving and I was safe. But I wanted to be accepted, to appear adventurous. After a couple of years, the family moved to a nearby state. Months later we got a newspaper clipping in the mail from the mother of the two boys. J.M. had learned enough by reading and observation to convince himself and his brother that he could fly a plane. One night they went to the airport, stole and Piper Cub, and took off. At 5000 feet J.M. apparently lost control of the aircraft. It crashed and they were both killed.

I remember sitting at the kitchen table reading the article with my mother. What if they had attempted the flight while they lived in my ward? What if I had been invited to come along? I might have trusted J.M. enough to go. It could have cost me everything.

And also trust no one to be your teacher nor your minister, except he be a man of God, walking in his ways and keeping his commandments (Mosiah 23:14)

We cannot be too careful about whom we decide to trust.

The Lamanite army that had followed Limhi and his people into the wilderness became lost. In their wanderings they had found the people of the wicked priests in a place they called Amulon (23:31). Then they stumbled upon the people of Alma in Helam.

In the book of Mosiah we see four different groups of people react to the coming of a Lamanite army. Their reactions are diverse and most enlightening.

ZENIFF (see Mosiah 10:9,10). “And it came to pass that I caused that the women and children of my people should be hid in the wilderness; and I also caused that all my old men that could bear arms, and also all my young men that were able to bear arms, should gather themselves together to go to battle against the Lamanites; and I did place them in their ranks, every man according to his age. And it came to pass that we did go up to battle against the Lamanites; and I, even I, in my old age, did go up to battle against the Lamanites. And it came to pass that we did go up in the strength of the Lord to battle."

NOAH (see Mosiah 19:9). “And the king commanded the people that they should flee before the Lamanites, and he himself did go before them, and they did flee into the wilderness, with their women and their children."

LIMHI (see Mosiah 20:7-9). “Therefore they sent their armies forth; yea, even the king himself went before his people; and they went up to the land of Nephi to destroy the people of Limhi. And now Limhi had discovered them from the tower, even all their preparations for war did he discover; therefore he gathered his people together, and laid wait for them in the fields and in the forests. And it came to pass that when the Lamanites had come up, that the people of Limhi began to fall upon them from their waiting places, and began to slay them."

ALMA (see Mosiah 23:27-29). “Alma went forth and stood among them, and exhorted them that they should not be frightened, but that they should remember the Lord their God and he would deliver them. Therefore they hushed their fears, and began to cry unto the Lord that he would soften the hearts of the Lamanites, that they would spare them, and their wives, and their children. And it came to pass that the Lord did soften the hearts of the Lamanites. And Alma and his brethren went forth and delivered themselves up into their hands; and the Lamanites took possession of the land of Helam."

There is a lesson here, and it is the lesson of Proverbs 3:5: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."

When the Lamanite king gave Amulon permission to rule Helam and the people of Alma, things became nearly unbearable. But from that experience came a wonderful lesson. I wrote the following several years ago.

The Nephites who had joined the church at the Waters of Mormon and who had settled at Helam were placed in bondage by the Lamanites. (See Mosiah 18, 23, and 24.) Amulon, Alma's former colleague and present enemy, was made king over the people of Alma, and he undertook to make their lives miserable. He "exercised authority over them, and put tasks upon them, and put taskmasters over them." (Mosiah 24:9.)
And it came to pass that so great were their afflictions that they began to cry mightily to God.
And Amulon commanded them that they should stop their cries; and he put guards over them to watch them, that whosoever should be found calling upon God should be put to death. (Mosiah 24:10, 11.)
In the bitterness of his apostasy, Amulon could not bear the shame generated by the worship of his subjects. To end his discomfort, he installed the death penalty for prayer:
And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts. (Mosiah 24: 25.)
The Lord responded, “Lift up your heads and be of good comfort . . . I will deliver [you] out of bondage. And I will ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders." (Mosiah 24:13, 14.)

An account of a similar incident comes from the Massacre at Haun's Mill in 1838. Almost twenty men or boys were killed in the attack on a small Mormon settlement by a mob of Missouri settlers. Fifteen others were wounded. The mob, before leaving, "pillaged the village and robbed the dead of their boots, clothing, and valuables." When they left the mill "they dragged with them horses, wagons, cows, and property of nearly every description belonging to the settlement." (Joseph Smith and the Restoration, Ivan J. Barrett, 1968, p. 330.)
A few days following the attack, a number of the mob returned. According to members of this group of rabble, they "lived fat, too," feasting on the remaining cattle and hogs that should have sustained the surviving widows and orphans, as well as the wounded. (Ibid.)
Like the people of Alma, these unfortunate victims found their only solace in prayer, and the widows vented their feelings in heartfelt appeals to their Heavenly Father. (Assorted Gems of Priceless Value, N.B. Lundwall, p. 97.) And, like Amulon, two thousand years earlier, the mobbers could not endure the guilt engendered by these prayers.
One of the mobbers delivered the warning, "The captain [Captain Comstock] says if you women don't stop your damn praying, he will send down a posse and kill every damn one of you!" Even the solutions were the same. Prayers and cries were hushed as women, fearful for their lives, spoke to their Creator in the silence of their hearts and minds.
But for at least one, this terrified silence was a shame and humiliation. Amanda Smith longed to hear her own voice raised in prayer. One morning, as the day began, she slipped into a nearby cornfield, crawled into a shock of corn, and raised her "voice high that it reached the heavens." (Enos 1:4.)
As she left her sanctuary a voice spoke to her, repeating the following words from the hymn "How Firm a Foundation":

That soul who on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I cannot, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell shall endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake!

From that moment on, she was at peace. (Ibid.) [From Rending the Veil of Heaven, Ted Gibbons, pp. 51,52)

Alma's people paint a powerful portrait of true disciples in a time of trouble. We learn from them what we ought to do (see Mosiah 24:15,16)

-They did submit cheerfully and with patience to the will of the Lord

-They had great faith

We also learn what God is able to do for us in such situations:

-The Lord softened the hearts of their enemies (23:29)

-The Lord eased the burdens upon their shoulders (24:14)

-The Lord did strengthen them (24:15)

-He promised to go with them and deliver them out of bondage (24:16,17)

-He caused a deep sleep to come upon their enemies (24:19)

-He promised to stop their pursuers in the valley of Alma (24:23)

-They reached Zarahemla in only twelve days (24:25) The people of Limhi were many days in the wilderness (see 22:13)

CONCLUSION:

Enos and the Brother of Jared knew that God cannot lie (Enos 1:6; Ether 3:12). We must know it too. We must put our trust in the promises of the Lord. We have seen in these chapters that he is perfectly reliable. It is that quality that enables us to have faith in him.

I perceive that it has been made known unto you, by the testimony of his word, that he cannot walk in crooked paths; neither doth he vary from that which he hath said; neither hath he a shadow of turning from the right to the left, or from that which is right to that which is wrong; therefore, his course is one eternal round. (Alma 7:20)

Book of Mormon Lesson 16: "Ye Shall Be Called the Children of Christ"

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:05:00 -0600

by Ted L. Gibbons
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Every organization requires certain standards of its members, and in the conclusion of King Benjamin's sermon, he teaches us the requirements for becoming part of the family of Christ.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

Suppose that in this community there are ten beggars who beg from door to door for something to eat, and that nine of them are impostors who beg to escape work, and with an evil heart practice imposition upon the generous and sympathetic, and that only one of the ten who visit your doors is worthy of your bounty; which is best, to give food to the ten, to make sure of helping the truly needy one, or to repulse the ten because you do not know which is the worthy one? You will all say, Administer charitable gifts to the ten, rather than turn away the only truly worthy and truly needy person among them. If you do this, it will make no difference in your blessings, whether you administer to worthy or unworthy persons, inasmuch as you give alms with a single eye to assist the truly needy. (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol.8, p.12, March 5, 1860)

INTRODUCTION:

Consider the word qualifications. There seem to be qualifications or requirements for membership in every organization. In order to belong to the Kiwanis, I must meet certain standards. To be a student at any school, I must meet the admission requirements and abide by the established rules. To be a doctor or a lawyer or a real estate agent, I must demonstrate a proficiency and knowledge about the profession in order to obtain a license to practice.

Gaining membership to some organizations is much simpler than others, of course. Joining the student body at Harvard requires a level of expertise and preparation different from the admission requirements at Canyon View Junior High. Brain surgeons and rocket scientists must abide by more rigorous standards of preparation and performance than lumberjacks and street vendors. Even membership in a family requires admittance by birth or adoption. I cannot pick the loveliest home in Orem, walk in off the street with a suitcase, pick a bedroom as my own, and expect to be invited to dinner and to help dispose of the family fortune.

The conclusion of King Benjamin's sermon teaches us that there are qualifications for membership in the family of Christ. That sermon, and the events and explanations which follow it, teach us how to become “the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters . . .” (Mosiah 5:7)

1. KING BENJAMIN'S PEOPLE SEEK AND RECEIVE A REMISSION OF THEIR SINS (Mosiah 4:1-12)

When Benjamin finished delivering the words he received from an angel, “he cast his eyes round about on the multitude, and behold they had fallen to the earth" (Mosiah 4:1). Think back over the most powerful moments of your church experience. You have heard sermons that have moved you deeply. You have felt the burning power of the Spirit bearing witness to you of the truthfulness of things you are hearing and feeling. But have you ever reacted to a sermon like these people reacted? Has the recognition of your “own carnal state" and the realization that you are “even less than the dust of the earth" caused you to lose the ability to stand or sit upright.

I remember a similar moment at the Missionary Home in Salt Lake City. In ancient times (1965), all missionaries spent a week in Salt Lake City at the Missionary Home, in a spot more recently occupied by Deseret Gym, and most recently by the new Conference Center. A parade of general authorities came to speak to us. Day after incredible day they taught us and bore witness to us. In between these moments we sang and prayed and studied and attended the temple. I experienced wonderful moments with the Holy Spirit, but I also remember still the agony I felt from time to time as I confronted my own weaknesses and my lack of preparation for missionary service. I was overwhelmed by the recognition of a mountain of tiny transgressions that had distanced me from the Spirit and added to the suffering of the Savior. Some moments I felt weak and unworthy and even, at times, hopeless. I frequently felt inclined to fall on my face before Him and beg for His forgiveness. The heaviness of my weaknesses seemed of such a magnitude that I could hardly remain upright under the burden. And generally speaking I had been good. I was not guilty of great or malignant sins. Rather, I was rendered almost powerless by a hoard of tiny, suffocating iniquities, and the scope of my procrastination.

I think the people of Zarahemla must have felt like that. They fell to the earth and cried,

O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men. (Mosiah 4:2)

The imagery here is taken from the story of the first Passover, when Israel, aware of the impending arrival of the angel of death, literally applied the blood of a lamb, that they might be saved from death. These wonderful, repentant people of Zarahemla, transformed by the Spirit and by the power of Benjamin's sermon, asked that the Blood of the Lamb might be applied to the door posts and lintels of their own lives. Perhaps you will excuse the repetition here of a quote I think I used earlier in this course of study.

The Passover is a type of deliverance . . . It is a deliverance from the doom we deserve for our sins; from the spiritual death that awaits the wicked; from the outer darkness of Egypt and Sodom and Sheol––because the blood of Christ has been applied to us by faith. By sprinkling our Lord's blood upon the doorposts of our hearts and upon the lintels of our souls, we set our dwellings apart from the world: we make open and visible confession of our allegiance to Him whose blood has eternal saving power; we set ourselves apart from the Egyptians, the Sodomites, and the seekers after Sheol; and we place ourselves with the believing portion of mankind. (Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah, Vol.1, p.165 p.166)

And it happened. The 'atoning blood" was applied and they were cleansed and lifted.

And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come, according to the words which king Benjamin had spoken unto them. (Mosiah 4:3).

Most members are familiar with these verses. But there are some elements of this experience that we often miss. For example, Benjamin explains that what caused them to see themselves as they really were. “was the knowledge of the goodness of God [which has] at this time has awakened you to a sense of your nothingness, and your worthless and fallen state . . ." (Mosiah 4:5) Benjamin spent some time in Mosiah 2 (see lesson #15) explaining all that God has done for his children, and how little he requires of them in return. This message has penetrated the hearts of the those who have heard or read the words of their King. Benjamin continues:

I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his longsuffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal bodyI say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world. (Mosiah 4:6,7)

This is the beginning and end of the reality of salvation. For

this is the means whereby salvation cometh. And there is none other salvation save this which hath been spoken of; neither are there any conditions whereby man can be saved except the conditions which I have told you. (Mosiah 4:8)

Those conditions are precisely the qualifications that will make it possible to become a member of the family of Christ. They involve believing and doing.

Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend. And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them. (Mosiah 4:9,10)

You will have noticed that these people received a remission of their sins (see 4:3). I used to spend my summers working on a pig farm in Arizona. I spent long, sweaty days in an environment saturated by the smell of tens of thousands of pigs. How I loved to go home and shower at the end of a work-day. It felt so good to be clean! These people, cleansed and filled with joy must have had an experience a hundred times more grand. But my experience with filth had not ended with a single shower. I had to go back to the pigs day after day. And Benjamin knew that his listeners would again confront temptation and sin in an infinite variety of costumes. Having been cleansed once was not sufficient to guarantee a permanent place in the family of Christ. Benjamin wanted them to understand that certain things would be required of them if they wanted to stay clean.

I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and longsuffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel. And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true. (Mosiah 4:11,12, emphasis added)

2. KING BENJAMIN TEACHES HIS PEOPLE HOW TO LIVE CHRISTLIKE LIVES (Mosiah 4:13-30)

Benjamin continues to give the prescription for admission into the family of Christ. Here is a list of additional requirements:

-“Ye will not have a mind to injure one another" (4:13)

-You will “live peaceably" (4:13)

-You will “render to every man according to that which is his due" (4:13)

-“Ye will not suffer your children that they go hungry, or naked" (4:14)

-“Neither will ye suffer that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and quarrel one with another, and serve the devil" (4:14)

-“Ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness" (4:15)

-“Ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another" (4:15)

-“Ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor" (4:16)

This matter of helping those in need of our succor occupies most of the remainder of the chapter. What is it that Benjamin is saying a member of Christ's family will do when confronted with someone who is naked or hungry? Benjamin seems to be saying that there is only one acceptable excuse for not imparting of our substance to another in need. That excuse is that we do not have any to give (see 4:24). Any other rationalization constitutes sin.

Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just. (Mosiah 4:17)

In this context, re-read the Quote of the Week at the beginning of this lesson. We have all had this experience, or we will have. Someone will stop us and ask us to give a little or a lot to assist in a temporary or continuous time of need and want.

When I was stationed at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, I lived in the small farming community of Pomerene. Much of the labor in the fields was performed by young and middle-aged men who had crossed the border from Mexico and come north looking for work. By the time they reached the farmlands of Pomerene, they had generally been walking in the desert for at least 30 miles. They arrived hungry and thirsty. Pomerene was located astride Interstate 10, about 40-50 miles east of Tucson. Actually, only two houses were located on the south of the freeway. The others were all on the north.

One day in a Sunday School class we discussed these chapters from Mosiah and Benjamin's counsel about dealing with the poor. After a few moments a lady raised her hand. She and her husband lived in one of the houses south of the highway. She spoke of the plight of these illegal aliens, of their poverty and of their hunger. “But," she concluded, “I don't feed any of them. If I do they will mark my house in some way, and then they will all stop. If I feed one, I will have to feed them all."

The discussion continued for a few moments, and then the wife of the bishop raised her hand. She and her family lived in the other house south of I-10. She seemed almost reluctant to speak, but finally she said something like this. “I do not mean to find fault, and I am not being critical, but I want you to know how my husband and I feel about this matter. No one leaves our house hungry. And if my husband and I are not home, the children know. Anyone who comes to our door hungry will be fed."

Like the bishop's wife, I do not intend to judge or be critical. It may be that the first lady who spoke refused these visitors because she did not have enough for them and for her own family. Benjamin spoke to people like that:

And again, I say unto the poor, ye who have not and yet have sufficient, that ye remain from day to day; I mean all you who deny the beggar, because ye have not; I would that ye say in your hearts that: I give not because I have not, but if I had I would give. And now, if ye say this in your hearts ye remain guiltless, otherwise ye are condemned; and your condemnation is just for ye covet that which ye have not received. (Mosiah 4:24,25)

But I also know what I felt as I listened to the bishop's wife. I understood quite clearly what is expected of the members of the family of Christ. I have a wife who understands also. She could no more ignore someone in such desperate circumstances than she could ignore the need to breathe. It is a part of her being to serve and succor.

Benjamin explains how inconsistent it would be for someone in his audience at Zarahemla or reading the pages of the Book of Mormon to turn away a beggar.

For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind? And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy. (Mosiah 4:19,20)

This is wonderful doctrine.

And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another. (Mosiah 4:21)

If we, who are always unprofitable servants, receive such undeserved bounty from the Father, we ought to impart to our brothers and sisters in need with that same liberality.

And if ye judge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your condemnation for withholding your substance, which doth not belong to you but to God, to whom also your life belongeth; and yet ye put up no petition, nor repent of the thing which thou hast done. (Mosiah 4:22)

Remember the purpose behind these teachings of Benjamin.

And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto youthat is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before GodI would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants. (Mosiah 4:26, emphasis added)

KING BENJAMIN'S PEOPLE EXPERIENCE A AMIGHTY CHANGE" OF HEART AND COVENANT TO DO GOD'S WILL IN ALL THINGS (Mosiah 5,6)

One day about three years ago I was teaching a lesson in Family Home Evening about the experience of the people of Zarahemla. I read the first two verses of Mosiah 5, emphasizing the fact that these people had no more disposition to do evil. They just wanted to do good. I expressed the conviction I felt that this was a description of spiritual rebirth––of being born again. My son, who will be home exactly one month from today from a wonderful mission experience in California, asked, “Is that what that means, Dad?"

“I think so," I told him.

“That's just how I feel," he replied. We shared a quiet moment of wonder and joy. We knew it was true. He was a member of our family, be he belonged to another family as well. In Moses 6:59, we are taught this:

. . . inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so became of dust a living soul, even so ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory;

Birth and spiritual rebirth both involve at least four steps, three of which are outlined here. We are born into the world “by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so became of dust a living soul." One of the first signs of the arrival of a baby is the breaking of the water. Following the birth there is a cleansing of the blood––that protective substance that surrounds and insulates the baby in the womb. And sometime between conception and birth, a spirit enters that body, which thereby becomes a living soul. Our rebirth follows that same process.

. . . even so [we] must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten.

There is one other thing that happens following the birth process. The one born is given a name––a family name. In my case it was Gibbons, a name to give some indication of belonging. This baby is ours, the name proclaimed. He belongs to this family. The same thing happens to those who are born again. Benjamin explains it in this way:

And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters. (Mosiah 5:7)

Benjamin instructed his son Mosiah to call the conference at which he announced that Mosiah would take his place. Note that Benjamin lived three additional years after leaving government service (see Mosiah 6:5). During that time––during the final three years of his life––Benjamin, like his father before him, worked the land, Athat thereby he might not become burdensome to his people" (Mosiah 6:7)

At that conference, Benjamin had promised to give unto the people a name (see Mosiah 1:11). We have seen here that he did precisely that. Mosiah 5 gives us some interesting insights into the significance of taking the name of Christ. Read the chapter and answer these questions:

-How do you get the name? (5:7)

-Why is the name important? (5:9,10)

-Where is the name written? (5:12)

-How do we lose the name? (5:11)

-What must we know besides the name? (5:12)

-How do we come to know about the man whose name we have taken? (5:13)

-What is the name? (5:9,10)

Those who have taken the name of Christ are called by that name––they are called Christians. But as these questions and Benjamin's teachings show, it is much more than a title, more than a family name, more than a badge or stamp of approval. It is a way of life. Those who belong to this family must follow the head of the family. “Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold upthat which ye have seen me do" (3 Nephi 18:24).

CONCLUSION:

While I was suffocating under the weight of my sins at the Missionary Home, I prayed constantly for forgiveness. I wanted to be clean and to feel free. During a meeting late in the week, our Mission President spoke to us. An assigned speaker had encountered a conflict and our President had chosen to fill in at a moment's notice. He spoke by the Spirit. The words were not of his creation nor choosing. My heart burned and I wept and wept as I was taught from on high. Then a miracle happened. Somewhere in his talk he paused for a moment and made this comment: “I know that many of you have been pleading with the Lord for a remission of you sins, and I want you to know that the Lord has forgiven each and every one of you in the spirit of your repentance."

I do not know what happened to anyone else at that moment, but I know what happened to me. I was clean. Suddenly, undeniably, utterly clean. If I had been standing when that revelation came, the weakness of my physical frame would have forced into a seat or onto the floor. As Enos said, “My guilt was swept away." (Enos 1:6) I wish I could say that I have retained that remission. I wish I could feel always as I felt then. But the memory has remained with me. I have remembered how good it feels to belong to his family, and to be clean.

FHE: Activation

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:05:00 -0600

by Shauna Gibby
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Use this lesson to discuss how you can help non-Mormons or less active members feel welcome and loved in the LDS community.

Conference Talk:

For more information on this topic read “Doing the Right Thing at the Right Time, Without Delay,” by Elder Jose L. Alonso, Ensign, Nov 2011, 14.

Thought:

We have a responsibility and a great opportunity. There are many who need to once again experience the sweet savor of happiness and joy through activity in the Church. That happiness comes from receiving the ordinances, making sacred covenants, and keeping them. The Lord needs us to help them. Let us do the right thing at the right time, without delay.

(Elder Jose L. Alonso, “Doing the Right Thing at the Right Time, Without Delay,” Ensign, Nov 2011, 14.)

Song:

“The Things I Do,” Children’s Songbook, p. 170.

Scripture:

And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.

(Mosiah 2:17)

Object Lesson:

Materials needed: A balloon.

Procedure: Ask your group if they have ever tried to blow up a stiff balloon. It’s difficult at best and sometimes impossible. By stretching and working with the balloon, we can make the process of blowing it up much easier.

We can liken this to fellowshipping nonmembers and less-active members.

Trying to convert them or change them can be a difficult, nearly impossible task. By friendshipping them, serving them, and setting a good example we can prepare them to receive the gospel in their lives.

(Beth Lefgren and Jennifer Jackson, More Power Tools for Teaching, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1991], p. 19.)

Story:

When I was a bishop, I received a telephone call from Elder Spencer W. Kimball. He said, “Brother Monson, in your ward is a trailer court, and in a little trailer in that court—the smallest trailer of all—is a sweet Navajo widow, Margaret Bird. She feels unwanted, unneeded, and lost. Could you and the Relief Society presidency seek her out, extend to her the hand of fellowship, and provide for her a special welcome?” This we did.

A miracle resulted. Margaret Bird blossomed in her newly found environment. Despair disappeared. The widow in her affliction had been visited. The lost sheep had been found. Each who participated in the simple human drama emerged a better person.

In reality, the true shepherd was the concerned apostle, Spencer W. Kimball, who, leaving the ninety and nine of his ministry, went in search of the precious soul who was lost.

(Thomas S. Monson, Inspiring Experiences That Build Faith: From the Life and Ministry of Thomas S. Monson, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1994].)

Activity:

Have everyone stand in a circle or boundary drawn on the ground. Toss an inflated balloon into the air. Everyone must keep it in the air by hitting, batting, or swatting and not let it hit the ground. The players must stay within the boundary.

The score for each ground is the number of hits before the balloon hits the ground.

Refreshment

Orange Rolls

1⁄2 cup butter or margarine, melted

1 cup sugar

3 tablespoons grated orange peel

Frozen white bread dough, thawed

Mix butter, sugar, and orange peel in a small bowl to make orange butter.

Divide dough and roll into rectangles about 8x12 inches on a floured board. Spread with orange butter. Roll up into a long log and slice into 1-inch rounds. Place on a sprayed or greased baking sheet, sides touching. Drizzle on any remaining orange butter. Let rise until double in size. Bake according to recipe or frozen dough directions.

Variable servings.

(Janet Peterson, Remedies for the “I Don’t Cook” Syndrome, [Salt Lake City: Eagle Gate, 2001], p. 90.)

To access the PDF version of this lesson, click here.

Young Men Lesson 16: Charity

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:03:00 -0600

source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: "Rather than being judgmental and critical of each other, may we have the pure love of Christ for our fellow travelers in this journey through life." -Thomas S. Monson

Discussion Questions

• Review the characteristics of charity in

1 Corinthians 13:4–7. How did the Savior exemplify these characteristics?

• How does an Aaronic Priesthood holder show charity?

Excerpt from "Charity Never Faileth" by President Thomas S. Monson, October 2010 General Conference:

Said the Savior, “Judge not.” 1 He continued, “Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” 2 Or, to paraphrase, why beholdest thou what you think is dirty laundry at your neighbor’s house but considerest not the soiled window in your own house?

None of us is perfect. I know of no one who would profess to be so. And yet for some reason, despite our own imperfections, we have a tendency to point out those of others. We make judgments concerning their actions or inactions.

There is really no way we can know the heart, the intentions, or the circumstances of someone who might say or do something we find reason to criticize. Thus the commandment: “Judge not.”

Forty-seven years ago this general conference, I was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. At the time, I had been serving on one of the general priesthood committees of the Church, and so before my name was presented, I sat with my fellow members of that priesthood committee, as was expected of me. My wife, however, had no idea where to go and no one with whom she could sit and, in fact, was unable to find a seat anywhere in the Tabernacle. A dear friend of ours, who was a member of one of the general auxiliary boards and who was sitting in the area designated for the board members, asked Sister Monson to sit with her. This woman knew nothing of my call—which would be announced shortly—but she spotted Sister Monson, recognized her consternation, and graciously offered her a seat. My dear wife was relieved and grateful for this kind gesture. Sitting down, however, she heard loud whispering behind her as one of the board members expressed her annoyance to those around her that one of her fellow board members would have the audacity to invite an “outsider” to sit in this area reserved only for them. There was no excuse for her unkind behavior, regardless of who might have been invited to sit there. However, I can only imagine how that woman felt when she learned that the “intruder” was the wife of the newest Apostle.

To read the full talk, click here.

Young Men Lesson 14: Serving Others

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:03:00 -0600

source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: "The needs of others are ever present, and each of us can do something to help someone." -Thomas S. Monson

Discussion Questions

• Who in our ward or branch could help us identify opportunities for our quorum to give service?

• How will your attitude about serving others affect the way you serve? How will it affect the people you serve?

Excerpt from "What Have I Done for Someone Today?" by President Thomas S. Monson, October 2009 General Conference:

A few years ago I read an article written by Jack McConnell, MD. He grew up in the hills of southwest Virginia in the United States as one of seven children of a Methodist minister and a stay-at-home mother. Their circumstances were very humble. He recounted that during his childhood, every day as the family sat around the dinner table, his father would ask each one in turn, “And what did you do for someone today?” The children were determined to do a good turn every day so they could report to their father that they had helped someone. Dr. McConnell calls this exercise his father’s most valuable legacy, for that expectation and those words inspired him and his siblings to help others throughout their lives. As they grew and matured, their motivation for providing service changed to an inner desire to help others.

Besides Dr. McConnell’s distinguished medical career—where he directed the development of the tuberculosis tine test, participated in the early development of the polio vaccine, supervised the development of Tylenol, and was instrumental in developing the magnetic resonance imaging procedure, or MRI—he created an organization he calls Volunteers in Medicine, which gives retired medical personnel a chance to volunteer at free clinics serving the working uninsured. Dr. McConnell said his leisure time since he retired has “evaporated into 60-hour weeks of unpaid work, but [his] energy level has increased and there is a satisfaction in [his] life that wasn’t there before.” He made this statement: “In one of those paradoxes of life, I have benefited more from Volunteers in Medicine than my patients have.” There are now over 70 such clinics across the United States.

Of course, we can’t all be Dr. McConnells, establishing medical clinics to help the poor; however, the needs of others are ever present, and each of us can do something to help someone.

The Apostle Paul admonished, “By love serve one another.” Recall with me the familiar words of King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon: “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.”

To read the full talk, click here.

Refugee

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 10:33:00 -0600

source: bycommonconsent.com

Mormon Life says: What a moving story on charity and service. The author asks some hard questions on the topic. “Oh look, they’re selling Girl Scout cookies. Turn around up here.”

En route to home after a full day of running errands, my wife had spotted an awning on the street corner to our left, surrounded by several girls in uniform and a woman seated at a table in the middle. I immediately turned around to enter the parking lot adjacent to their location. As we entered the lot we noticed a man on the side of the street with a sign, “Homeless. Any help appreciated.” His appearance–ragged clothes that looked lived-in for weeks, long scraggly beard–was typical of the many homeless we often see in Provo/Orem, usually on busy street corners or near bustling commercial centers.

Teachings of George Albert Smith Lesson 5: The Holy Priesthood - For the Blessing of God's Children

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:04:00 -0700

source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: "A feeling of responsibility for others is at the heart of faithful priesthood service." -Henry B. Eyring

Note: As the Church has said, the manual has been prepared as the primary source of lesson material. This supplement, from a general conference address, is only meant as a complement to your study on this lesson's topic.

Excerpt from "Man Down!" by President Henry B. Eyring, April 2009 General Conference:

I am grateful for the honor and the blessing of speaking to the priesthood of God. My purpose tonight is to help you to be brave and bold in your priesthood service.

You will need bravery and you will need boldness because you are enlisted in the Lord’s army in the last dispensation. This is not a time of peace. That has been so since Satan arrayed his forces against our Heavenly Father’s plan in the premortal existence. We don’t know the details of the combat then. But we know one result. Satan and his followers were cast down into the earth. And since the creation of Adam and Eve, the conflict has continued. We have seen it intensify. And the scriptures suggest that the war will become more violent and the spiritual casualties on the Lord’s side will mount.

Almost all of us have seen a battlefield portrayed in a film or read the description in a story. Over the din of explosions and the shouts of soldiers, there comes a cry, “Man down!”

When that cry sounds, faithful fellow soldiers will move toward the sound. Another soldier or a medic will ignore danger and move to the injured comrade. And the man down will know that help will come. Whatever the risk, someone will run low or crawl to get there in time to protect and give aid. That is true in every band of men joined in a difficult and dangerous mission which they are determined to fulfill at any sacrifice. The histories of such groups are full of stories of those loyal men who were determined that no man would be left behind.

Here is one instance from an official account. 1 During fighting in Somalia in October of 1993, two United States Army Rangers in a helicopter during the firefight learned that two other helicopters near them had fallen to the earth. The two rangers, in their relative safety aloft, learned by radio that no ground forces were available to rescue one of the downed aircrews. Growing numbers of the enemy were closing in on the crash site.

To read the full talk, click here.

UK members collect stamps for charity

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:38:00 -0700

source: leamingtonobserver.co.uk

STAMP-collecting church-goers in the area are doing their bit for charity.

Members of the Church of the latter Day Saints have collected 35,000 used stamps in the district to help Oxfam and Leukaemia Care.

The charities sort the stamps to identify any special ones that might be particularly valuable, while standard stamps are sold by weight and recycled for their silk content.

Young Men Lesson 8: "Honour Thy Father"

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:03:00 -0700

source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: "Love is the measure of our faith, the inspiration for our obedience, and the true altitude of our discipleship." -Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Discussion Questions

• How has your father influenced your life for good?

• What are some qualities your father has that you would like to emulate in your life?

Excerpt from "The Love of God" by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, October 2009 General Conference:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is continually growing and becoming better known throughout the world. Although there will always be those who stereotype the Church and its members in a negative way, most people think of us as honest, helpful, and hardworking. Some have images of clean-cut missionaries, loving families, and friendly neighbors who don’t smoke or drink. We might also be known as a people who attend church every Sunday for three hours, in a place where everyone is a brother or a sister, where the children sing songs about streams that talk, trees that produce popcorn, and children who want to become sunbeams.

Brothers and sisters, of all the things we want to be known for, are there attributes above all others that should define us as members of His Church, even as disciples of Jesus Christ? Since our last general conference six months ago, I have pondered this and similar questions. Today I would like to share with you some thoughts and impressions that have come as a result of that inquiry. The first question is:

How Do We Become True Disciples of Jesus Christ?

The Savior Himself provided the answer with this profound declaration: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” This is the essence of what it means to be a true disciple: those who receive Christ Jesus walk with Him.

But this may present a problem for some because there are so many “shoulds” and “should nots” that merely keeping track of them can be a challenge. Sometimes, well-meaning amplifications of divine principles—many coming from uninspired sources—complicate matters further, diluting the purity of divine truth with man-made addenda. One person’s good idea—something that may work for him or her—takes root and becomes an expectation. And gradually, eternal principles can get lost within the labyrinth of “good ideas.”

To read the full talk, click here.

Washington Post: Romney paid 42 percent of 2011 income in taxes and charity

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:33:00 -0700

source: washingtonpost.com

Mormon Life says: Yes, Romney is much wealthier than most people, but he also pays his fair share and more. Mitt Romney gave a lot of money away to charity. Phil Klein explains

Typically, liberal rhetoric on taxes makes it seem as if the wealthy are getting a free ride on the backs of middle and lower-income Americans who are doing all the work and are really paying the taxes. But to put things on perspective, here’s what $3.2 million in federal taxes — Romney’s estimated 2011 burden — pays for:

Made with LOVE

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 04:29:00 -0700

source: youtube.com

Mormon Life says: A beautiful story of how one BYU grad student has worked with special-ed students to develop marketable skills THEY want to develop - and how they have risen to her high expectations.

Teachings of George Albert Smith Lesson 2: Love Thy Neighbor As Thyself

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:04:00 -0700

source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: "Given the purpose of our existence, if we do not love God and neighbor, whatever else we do will be of little eternal consequence." -Robert F. Orton

Excerpt from "'The First and Great Commandment'" by Elder Robert F. Orton, October 2001 General Conference:

The attention of people around the world has been drawn, during the past four weeks, to the willful, intentional, and destructive acts of terrorism and hatred.

Hatred is the antithesis of love. Lucifer is its chief proponent and perpetrator and has been since his approach to the plan of salvation was rejected by the Father. It was he who influenced Judas to deliver Jesus to the chief priests for 30 pieces of silver. It is he, the enemy of all righteousness and the father of contention, who, “as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8).

On the other hand, it was that same Jesus whom Judas delivered to the chief priests who said, “Love your enemies, … and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you” (3 Ne. 12:44; see also Matt. 5:44). And it was He who pleaded for the soldiers who crucified Him, saying, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

I thought for many years that love was an attribute. But it is more. It is a commandment. In His dialogue with the lawyer, a Pharisee, Jesus said:

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

“This is the first and great commandment.

“And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

“On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matt. 22:37–40; see also Gal. 5:14).

President Hinckley has said that “love is like the Polar Star. In a changing world, it is a constant. It is the very essence of the gospel.”

To read the full talk, click here.

Despite hard times, Americans are the most generous in the world

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:57:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

Mormon Life says: The U.S. moved up to first place from fifth last year. The United States is the most generous nation in the world, according to a global study released Monday.

Ireland was ranked second place in the World Giving Report 2011, followed closely by Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Dave Says: Where Does the Donation Go?

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:03:00 -0700

by Dave Ramsey
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: How can we know if a charitable organization is using our money wisely?

Dear Dave,

Our financial situation is pretty good now, and my husband and I feel it is time to start giving something back. There are several organizations we’re interested in helping, but how can we know if they’re legitimate and will use our money wisely?

Laura

Dear Laura,

I really appreciate your giving spirit, but the truth is you can never be 100 percent certain about this kind of thing. About the best you can do is put in some serious time researching and digging beneath the surface of various organizations to find some that are a comfortable fit for you.

My wife and I give the majority of our donations to Christian ministries. It’s not unusual for us to take a tour of the place to see what kind of feel we get while we’re there. If they’re secretive or not forthcoming with what we consider to be basic information about how they operate, or if we see signs of opulence or super-luxury, you can bet we’ll be asking lots of questions.

Talk to the leaders and administrators about what they plan to do with the money from your donation. You have a right to know this. I mean, if they’re going to give the money to hurricane victims, you want the victims to get the money, right?

People who work for a charitable organization need to make a decent living just like everyone else. But if they’re ultra-rich, it could be a sign that they’re not being responsible with their donations. Take a look at their administrative costs - what percentage of donations goes directly to the cause - and anything else you feel would help you make the right decision.

Giving is like anything else. It takes time and work to do it responsibly and with excellence!

—Dave

For more financial help, please visit davesays.com.

The Coat: A Children’s Story of Charity

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:47:00 -0700

source: youtube.com

Mormon Life says: I love this story of President Grant. If you're like me, you might need a tissue. A true story from the childhood of President Heber J. Grant.

New Testament Lesson 44: "God Is Love"

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 00:05:00 -0600

by Ted L. Gibbons
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: The major theme of the three epistles of John is love. Watch for teachings about the love of the Father and the Son for us, and especially for ways in which we can show our love for them both. INTRODUCTION:
My Mission President in Brazil gave what I have long considered to the best definition of love I have ever heard. He said, “Love is caring more about someone else’s happiness than you care about your own.” I have come to believe and see that this description of love is accurate. Consider the actions of Christ, who loved us and the Father so much that when confronted with the garden and the cross, he carried on. Remember that he pled for the Father, if possible, to find another way, but went forward in spite of immeasurable pain to do the thing he had been sent to do . . . “Hereby perceive we the love of Christ, because he laid down his life for us . . .” (1 John 3:16, JST) The Savior’s will was “swallowed up in the will of the Father.” (Mosiah 15:7)

Abinadi before King Noah, had he been concerned only with his own happiness, could have walked away a free man. “Your Majesty, I probably made a mistake. I’d like to recall all those unkind things I said about you. I am sure you are very righteous.” (See Mosiah 17:8) But Abinadi was more concerned with pleasing someone else than he was with taking care of himself.

But I finish my message; and then it matters not whither I go, if it so be that I am saved [in the Kingdom of God]. (Mosiah 13:9)

Paul suffered stripes, and prisons, and beatings with rods, and stoning and shipwreck. He experienced perils and weariness and painfulness and hunger and thirst and cold and nakedness, and all of this while burdened with the responsibility to care for the churches. (2 Cor. 11:23-28) But he carried on because of his love, a word he uses 80 times in his epistles.

There are a hundred examples of such love in the scriptures and in our literature. I think I first began to experience this kind of love when I married and had children. I knew, holding and loving and watching my family, that I really loved them more than I loved myself. Like the father who sacrificed his own life to push a child from the path of a speeding car; like the grandfather who attacked a bear with a flashlight so that his granddaughter could get free; like the Savior who freed us from the grasp of those awful monsters death and hell (see 2 Nephi 9:10) the happiness and welfare and safety of my family were more important to me than my own.

The major theme of the three epistles of John is love. As you read, you will see the word “love” many times. Watch for teachings about the love of the Father for us, the love of the Son for us, and especially watch for ways in which we can show our love for them both.

John also speaks of the blessings we can expect if we learn to love others in the manner he suggests. Look for those blessings and ponder their presence or absence in your own life

As you study the following scripture accounts, ponder the ways in which these scriptures apply to your own life. Reflect on experiences that help you understand the scriptural principles. Do not neglect to record in your journals those things that the Spirit teaches you as you immerse yourself in the word of God.

I. THE FATHER MANIFESTS HIS LOVE FOR US BY PREPARING A PLAN BY WHICH WE MAY BECOME LIKE HIM.

If you were to use just one word to describe the Father, what word would you use? What word did John use? (1 John 4:8,16)

What do we learn about God’s love for us in 1 John 3:1,2?

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:1,2).

How did the Father manifest his love for us? What did the Father do to enable us to become like him? (1 John 4:9,10,14)

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins . . . And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world” (1 John 4:9,10,14).

In what way is the mission of the Son a manifestation of the Father’s love for us?

Notice the language of 1 Nephi 11:21,22:

“And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw? And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things.”

What ultimate gift will we receive because the Father sent the Son into the world?

“And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life” (1 John 2:25).

“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son” (1 John 5:11).

What other remarkable thing is the Father willing to do for us because of his love?

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him “(1 John 5:14,15).

II. THE SAVIOR MANIFESTS HIS LOVE THROUGH HIS WILLINGNESS TO FULFILL THE FATHER’S PLAN.

What is the first manifestation of the Savior’s love for us that John mentions in his epistle?

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:7-9; See also 1 John 3:5).

What does John indicate we must we do to receive this great blessing? (see 1 John 1:7-9).

“And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin” (1 John 3:5).

How does the Savior manifest his love for us in his interaction with the father?

“And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments” (1 John 2:2-3).

What does the Savior, as our advocate, do for us?

Notice how the language of D&C 45:3-5 sheds even more light on this remarkable gift of the Savior to us:

“Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him--Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified; Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.”

In what other way does the Savior manifest his love for us? (1 John 3:8) How do the Savior’s life and teachings destroy the works of the devil?

What was it necessary for the Savior to do in order to show his love for us in the manner we have discussed?

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16).

III. WE MANIFEST OUR LOVE FOR THE FATHER AND THE SON BY OUR OBEDIENCE AND OUR LOVE OF OUR FELLOW MEN.

John indicates that there are three major ways in which we can show our love for the Father and the Son.

A. What is the first of these ways?

“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked” (1 John 2:3-6; see also 3:22,24; 5:2,3; 2 John 1:6).

Why is obedience the greatest manifestation of our love for the Father and the Son? Earlier we learned that the Father shows his love for us by answering our prayers. What gift of love do we give the Father in order to receive these answers?

“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight” (1 John 3:22).

B. What is the second way we show our love for the Father and the Son?

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:15-17).

Why is it unprofitable to fall in love with the world? If we really believe that we can be like the Father and the Son, what will we do?

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 John 3:2,3).

C. What is the third way mentioned by John in which we show our love for the Father and the Son?

“He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes” (2:10,11).

“For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another . . . We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death . . . Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth” (3:11, 14, 16-18).

If we claim to love the Father and the Son, but do not love our brothers, what does John say we are?

“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also” (1 John 4:20, 21).

What are some of the ways we are instructed to show our love for our brothers?

John wrote: “For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” (1 John 3:11; see also 1 John 4:21)

Note that it is not enough to declare our love. Words are wonderful, but when works are needed, works will not supply their place. When the handcart pioneers were stranded on the frozen plains of Wyoming, the Saints no doubt prayed for them, but in addition, they sent wagons to the rescue. That is the kind of love we must be willing to offer. John wrote, “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18, emphasis added).

There is a great difference between saying “I love you” and living “I love you.” What is one of the great evidences that we have passed from death into life?

“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death” (1 John 3:14).

How much love should we have for our brethren?

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16).

What activities are suggested in D&C 123:13 that are comparable to laying down our lives?

“Therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven—“(D&C 123:13).

How do these endeavors manifest our love for our brethren?

Besides exposing the “hidden things of darkness” to those around us, what other things must we offer if we are partakers of this love?

“But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” (1 John 3:17).

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love” (1 John 4:7,8).

CONCLUSION:
What are the blessings of living in a family whose members love one another as they have been taught? John indicates that there are blessings if we learn to love as the Father and the Son love. Note the blessings the following verses promise?

1 John 3:21--”Confidence toward God”

1 John 4:17--”Boldness in the day of judgement”

1 John 4:18--”There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear.”

What does John indicate is the greatest joy of a righteous parent?

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth (3 John 1:4).

This verse suggests that you have the opportunity to bring great joy to the Father. What must you do?

Will you do it?