A Collection of Topics with the Words of Prophets and Apostles and My Personal Commentary

Endure to the End

2012-01-10T21:31:00.000-07:00

Mosiah 2:41
41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

Celestial Kingdom

2012-01-08T18:09:00.000-07:00

John 3:20
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

My comment: Those who have not repented will not feel comfortable in the Celestial Kingdom.

2 Corinthians 12:2

2I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

Doctrine and Covenants 76:51-52 - Those who inherit the celestial kingdom
51 They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given—
52 That by keeping the commandments they might be washedand cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power;

Honesty

2012-01-07T20:39:00.000-07:00

President David O McKay, “We Believe,” Improvement Era, September 1963, p. 803

“Honesty and sincerity are the basic virtues of a noble character.”

President David O McKay, Treasures of Life [Deseret Book Co., 1965], p. 455
“Honesty … is the first virtue mentioned in the Thirteenth Article of Faith. It is founded on the first principles of human society and is the foundation principle of moral manhood.”

President David O McKay, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 7–8
“It is impossible to associate manhood with dishonesty. To be just with one’s self, one must be honest with one’s self and with others. This means honesty in speech as well as in actions. It means to avoid telling half-truths as well as untruths. It means that we are honest in our dealings—in our buying as well as in our selling. It means that an honest debt can never be outlawed, and that a man’s word is better than his bond. It means that we will be honest in our dealings with the Lord, for ‘true honesty takes into account the claims of God as well as those of man; it renders to God the things that are God’s, as well as to man the things that are man’s.’”

Gordon B. Hinckley, “Personal Worthiness to Exercise the Priesthood,” Ensign, May 2002, 52

“You cannot afford to do anything that would place a curtain between you and the ministering of angels in your behalf.
“You cannot be immoral in any sense. You cannot be dishonest. You cannot cheat or lie. You cannot take the name of God in vain or use filthy language and still have the right to the ministering of angels.”

Gospel Principles, “Honesty”

“When we are completely honest, we cannot be corrupted. We are true to every trust, duty, agreement, or covenant, even if it costs us money, friends, or our lives. Then we can face the Lord, ourselves, and others without shame”

Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [1939], 252

“Let every man’s life be so that his character will bear the closest inspection, and that it may be seen as an open book, so that he will have nothing to shrink from or be ashamed of”

President Thomas S. Monson, "Preparation Brings Blessings", Priesthood Session of General Conference April 2010

"A Latter-day Saint young man lives as he teaches and as he believes. He is honest with others. He is honest with himself. He is honest with God. He is honest by habit and as a matter of course."

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young [1997], 293
“If we accept salvation on the terms it is offered to us, we have got to be honest in every thought, in our reflections, in our meditations, in our private circles, in our deals, in our declarations, and in every act of our lives”

Chastity

2011-12-11T20:01:00.000-07:00

President Boyd K Packer, Counsel to Youth
“The family is the center of that plan. The family depends on the worthy use of those life-giving powers that are in your body.”

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Fundamental to Our Faith, Ensign January 2011

The power to create mortal life is the most exalted power God has given His children. The use of this creative power was mandated in the first commandment to “be fruitful, and multiply” (Genesis 1:28). Another important commandment forbade its misuse: “Thou shalt not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14), and “ye should abstain from fornication” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). The emphasis we place on this law of chastity is explained by our understanding of the purpose of our procreative powers in the accomplishment of God’s plan.

Mysteries of God

2011-12-11T18:53:00.000-07:00

Harold B. Lee, "Ye are the Light of the World", 1974, 211
"...a mystery may be defined as a truth which cannot be known except by revelation."

My Commentary
We can hear a doctrine, but to know and understand it comes by revelation.

Homosexuality

2011-12-11T17:25:00.000-07:00

1 Corinthians 11:11

11Nevertheless neither is the ^aman without the woman, neither the ^bwoman without the man, in the Lord.

Abraham 5:18

18Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall ^acleave unto his wife, and they shall be ^bone flesh.

Being One

2011-12-11T17:24:00.000-07:00

John 17:20-21
20Neither ^apray I for these alone, but for them also which shall ^bbelieve on me through their word;
21That they all may be ^aone; as thou, ^bFather, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be ^cone in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Behavior in the Chapel

2011-12-11T17:23:00.001-07:00

Exodus 3:5

“Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground!”

The Law of Witnesses

2011-12-11T17:23:00.000-07:00

Tad R Callister, Of the Presidency of the Seventy, The Book of Mormon—a Book from God
“But why is the Book of Mormon so essential if we already have the Bible to teach us about Jesus Christ? Have you ever wondered why there are so many Christian churches in the world today when they obtain their doctrines from essentially the same Bible? It is because they interpret the Bible differently. If they interpreted it the same, they would be the same church. This is not a condition the Lord desires, for the Apostle Paul declared that there is “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5). To help bring this oneness about, the Lord established a divine law of witnesses. Paul taught, 'In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established' (2 Corinthians 13:1).

"The Bible is one witness of Jesus Christ; the Book of Mormon is another. Why is this second witness so crucial? The following illustration may help: How many straight lines can you draw through a single point on a piece of paper? The answer is infinite. For a moment, suppose that single point represents the Bible and that hundreds of those straight lines drawn through that point represent different interpretations of the Bible and that each of those interpretations represents a different church.

"What happens, however, if on that piece of paper there is a second point representing the Book of Mormon? How many straight lines could you draw between these two reference points: the Bible and the Book of Mormon? Only one. Only one interpretation of Christ’s doctrines survives the testimony of these two witnesses.”

Knowledge

2011-12-11T17:22:00.000-07:00

Doctrine and Covenants 8:2
2 Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.

Doctrine and Covenants 11:13
13Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy;

Stewardship

2011-12-11T17:21:00.000-07:00

Luke 22:32

32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Divine Nature

2011-12-02T20:27:00.000-07:00

2 Peter 1:3-4
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Physical Bodies

2011-11-23T21:08:00.004-07:00

Quoted by William Clayton, reporting an undated discourse given by Joseph Smith in Nauvoo, Illinois; in L. John Nuttall, “Extracts from William Clayton’s Private Book,” pp. 7–8, Journals of L. John Nuttall, 1857–1904, L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah; copy in Church Archives

“We came to this earth that we might have a body and present it pure before God in the celestial kingdom. The great principle of happiness consists in having a body. The devil has no body, and herein is his punishment. He is pleased when he can obtain the tabernacle of man, and when cast out by the Savior he asked to go into the herd of swine, showing that he would prefer a swine’s body to having none. All beings who have bodies have power over those who have not.”

Spirit Bodies

2011-11-23T21:08:00.002-07:00

Devil

2011-11-23T21:07:00.000-07:00

Run, and Not Be Weary

2011-11-22T12:57:00.000-07:00

Isaiah 40:31
31 But they that ^await upon the Lord shall ^brenew their ^cstrength; they shall mount up with wings as ^deagles; they shall ^erun, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Doctrine and Covenants 89:18-21

18 And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, ^ashall receive ^bhealth in their navel and marrow to their bones;

19 And shall ^afind ^bwisdom and great ^ctreasures of ^dknowledge, even hidden treasures;

20 And shall ^arun and not be ^bweary, and shall walk and not faint.

21 And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the ^adestroying angel shall ^bpass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Concern for the One", General Conference April 2008
Draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you, for He has promised that “they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” 8 [ Isaiah 40:31]

Rod of Iron

2011-11-20T18:15:00.000-07:00

Revelation 12:5
5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

Revelation 19:15
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

1 Nephi 8:19 - 24
19 And I beheld a rod of iron, and it extended along the bank of the river, and led to the tree by which I stood.
20 And I also beheld a strait and narrow path, which came along by the rod of iron, even to the tree by which I stood; and it also led by the head of the fountain, unto a large and spacious field, as if it had been a world.
21 And I saw numberless concourses of people, many of whom were pressing forward, that they might obtain the path which led unto the tree by which I stood.
22 And it came to pass that they did come forth, and commence in the path which led to the tree.
23 And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; yea, even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost.
24 And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree.

1 Nephi 11:25
25 And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron, which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life; which waters are a representation of the love of God; and I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God.

Perfect the Saints

2011-11-18T18:58:00.002-07:00

Luke 22:32

32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Conversion

2011-11-18T18:52:00.000-07:00

Luke 22:32
32But I have ^aprayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art ^bconverted, ^cstrengthen thy brethren.

Satan's Plan

2011-11-15T13:57:00.000-07:00

Elder L. Tom Perry, The Sabbath and the Sacrament
"Brothers and sisters, in the latter days the adversary succeeds when we relax our commitment to the Savior, ignore His teachings in the New Testament and other scripture, and cease to follow Him."

3 Nephi 11:29
29 For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.

Reputation

2011-11-15T12:25:00.000-07:00

Matthew 15:11,18
11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

Ephesians 4:29
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Saints

2011-11-11T19:57:00.002-07:00

Ephesians 2:19

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

13th Article of Faith

2011-11-08T11:31:00.000-07:00

Articles of Faith 1:13
13 We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Moroni 10:30

30And again I would exhort you that ye would ^acome unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good ^bgift, and ^ctouch not the evil gift, nor the ^dunclean thing.

New Era, January 2011, Articles of Faith 1:13
This New Era article breaks down the 13th Article of Faith.

President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008), “Fear Not to Do Good”, Ensign,Jan. 2000, 2

“That article of our faith is one of the basic declarations of our theology. We ought to reflect on it again and again. Then, whenever we might be tempted to do anything shoddy or dishonest or immoral, there would come into our minds with some force this great, all-encompassing statement of the ethics of our behavior.”

Terrance D. Olson, “Truths of Moral Purity,” Ensign, Oct. 1998, 43.

“Human sexuality is more than a physical matter. Chastity and fidelity begin in the spirit, not in the body. They are an expression of the condition of our spirit. When our spirit is in tune with godly thinking and gospel truths, we want to live high standards, and our actions reflect that desire. Thus, chastity and fidelity are more than sexual abstinence before marriage and sexual fidelity after marriage. They express the quality of our spiritual life.”

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Article of Faith 4

2011-11-04T20:23:00.000-06:00

Article of Faith 4

4 We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Hebrews 6:1-2
1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

Entitlement

2011-11-02T19:44:00.001-06:00

President Thomas S Monson, Peace, Be Still, General Conference October 2002 "We must learn to separate need from greed."

Doctrine and Covenants 68:31
31 Now, I, the Lord, am not well pleased with the inhabitants of Zion, for there are idlers among them; and their children are also growing up in wickedness; they also seek not earnestly the riches of eternity, but their eyes are full of greediness.

Signs

2011-10-25T15:41:00.001-06:00

Those who build their testimony on signs are easily mislead by false signs and wonders. They also quickly fall away when their faith is tried.

Alma 32:15-19
15 Yea, he that truly humbleth himself, and repenteth of his sins, and endureth to the end, the same shall be blessed—yea, much more blessed than they who are compelled to be humble because of their exceeding poverty.

16 Therefore, blessed are they who ^ahumble themselves without being ^bcompelled to be humble; or rather, in other words, blessed is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without ^cstubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know, before they will believe.

17 Yea, there are many who do say: If thou wilt show unto us a ^asign from heaven, then we shall know of a surety; then we shall believe.

18 Now I ask, is this faith? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for if a man knoweth a thing he hath no cause to ^abelieve, for he knoweth it.

19 And now, how much ^amore ^bcursed is he that ^cknoweth the ^dwill of God and doeth it not, than he that only believeth, or only hath cause to believe, and falleth into ^etransgression?

Matthew 24:24
24 For there shall arise ^afalse ^bChrists, and ^cfalse prophets, and shall shew great ^dsigns and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall ^edeceive the very ^felect.

Mark 13:22
22 For ^afalse Christs and ^bfalse prophets shall rise, and shall shew ^csigns and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

Getting Answers to Prayers

2011-10-25T14:46:00.001-06:00

Elder J Devn Cornish, Of the Seventy, The Privilege of Prayer, October 2011 General Conference

“Like learning a foreign language, it takes practice and effort.” - Wiki Answers to prayers
...

“Because He answers me, including sometimes in predictive and miraculous ways, I know He lives.”

Prayer

2011-10-25T14:00:00.002-06:00

Moroni 7:33
33 And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.

President Deiter F Uchtdorf, Waiting on the Road to Damascus, General Conference April 2011

“Often, the answer to our prayer does not come while we’re on our knees but while we’re on our feet serving the Lord and serving those around us. Selfless acts of service and consecration refine our spirits, remove the scales from our spiritual eyes, and open the windows of heaven. By becoming the answer to someone’s prayer, we often find the answer to our own.”

President Thomas S. Monson, "Heavenly Homes, Forever Families", 'Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting: Supporting the Family, February 2006

"We often feel overwhelmed by the task before us. However, help is ever at hand. He who knows each of His children will answer our fervent and heartfelt prayer as we seek help in guiding them. Such prayer will solve more problems, alleviate more suffering, prevent more transgression, and bring about greater peace and contentment in the human soul than any other way."

Elder J Devn Cornish, Of the Seventy, The Privilege of Prayer

“We must not only say our prayers; we must also live them.”
...

“Prayer is the means by which we approach our Father in Heaven, who loves us”

2 Nephi 32:8

8 And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that ye ponder still in your hearts; and it grieveth me that I must speak concerning this thing. For if ye would hearken unto the ^aSpirit which teacheth a man to ^bpray ye would know that ye must ^cpray; for the ^devil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray.

Proverbs 3:6

6 In all thy ways aacknowledge him, and he shall bdirect thy cpaths.

Matthew 6:18

18 That thou appear not unto men to afast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall breward thee openly.

Alma 5:45-46

45 And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I ^aknow of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?

46 Behold, I say unto you they are made ^aknown unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have ^bfasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of ^crevelation which is in me.

Agency/Free Will

2011-10-25T13:32:00.000-06:00

Neal A. Maxwell, “According to the Desire of [Our] Hearts,” Ensign, Nov. 1996, 22, 21

“When people are described as ‘having lost their desire for sin,’ it is they, and they only, who deliberately decided to lose those wrong desires by being willing to ‘give away all [their] sins’ in order to know God.”

“Therefore, what we insistently desire, over time, is what we will eventually become and what we will receive in eternity.”

Elder Randall K. Bennett, Of the Seventy, Choose Eternal Life, General Conference October 2011

"My dear brothers and sisters, your eternal destiny will not be the result of chance but of choice. It is never too late to begin to choose eternal life!”

Thomas S. Monson, “Decisions Determine Destiny” (Church Educational System fireside for young adults, Nov. 6, 2005)

‘I can’t stress too strongly that decisions determine destiny. You can’t make eternal decisions without eternal consequences.

Happiness

2011-10-24T15:55:00.001-06:00

Jose L Alonso of the Seventy, Doing the Right Thing at the Right Time, without Delay, General Conference, October 2011

“Some have lost a sense of happiness and joy. The prophets have declared that true happiness is found in following the example and teachings of Christ. He is our Savior, He is our teacher, and He is the perfect example.”

Caring for the Poor

2011-10-23T16:32:00.002-06:00

Doctrine and Covenants 52:40

“Remember in all things the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted, for he that doeth not these things, the same is not my disciple”

Ministering Angels

2011-10-23T16:31:00.001-06:00

Gordon B. Hinckley, “Personal Worthiness to Exercise the Priesthood,” Ensign, May 2002, 52

Growing Up

2011-10-16T19:31:00.000-06:00

Bishop Keith B. McMullin, Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, The Power of the Aaronic Priesthood, General Conference October 2011

“Shun profane and foolish chatter.”

President Boyd K Packer, Counsel to Youth, October 2011 General Conference
“Dress modestly; talk reverently; listen to uplifting music. Avoid all immorality and personally degrading practices. Take hold of your life and order yourself to be valiant.”

1 Corinthians 13:11
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

Loud Laughter

2011-10-12T15:03:00.000-06:00

President Boyd K Packer, Counsel to Youth, October 2011 General Conference
“Dress modestly; talk reverently; listen to uplifting music. Avoid all immorality and personally degrading practices. Take hold of your life and order yourself to be valiant.”

Over Population

2011-10-09T18:53:00.003-06:00

Jacob 4:13
13 Behold, my brethren, he that prophesieth, let him prophesy to the understanding of men; for the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls. But behold, we are not witnesses alone in these things; for God also spake them unto prophets of old.

My Commentary: We perceive lots of things in out lives that aren't entirely accurate. The holy ghost can help us see things are they really are.

President Boyd K Packer, Counsel to Youth
“The family is the center of that plan. The family depends on the worthy use of those life-giving powers that are in your body.”

Self Image

2011-09-25T18:19:00.000-06:00

Jesus didn't claim perfection until after his resurrection, so why are we so hard on ourselves for not bring perfect? The account in Matthew was while he was on earth. The account in 3 Nephi 12 is after he was resurrected.

Matthew 5: 48
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

3 Nephi 12:48
48 Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

Characteristics of Christ

2011-09-18T13:57:00.002-06:00

Premortal

Ether 3:16
16 Behold, this ^abody, which ye now ^bbehold, is the ^cbody of my^dspirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will I appear unto my people in the flesh.

Characteristics of Spirits

2011-09-18T13:56:00.005-06:00

Ether 3:16
16 Behold, this ^abody, which ye now ^bbehold, is the ^cbody of my^dspirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will I appear unto my people in the flesh.

Alma 34:34
34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful ^acrisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth ^bpossess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.

Law of Moses

2011-09-17T08:06:00.004-06:00

Galatians 3:16-19

16 Now to ^aAbraham and his seed were the ^bpromises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was ^afour hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

18 For if the ^ainheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

19 ^aWherefore then serveth the law? It was ^badded because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Comment: The gospel and covenant were given to Abraham anciently, in the Old Testament. The law of Moses was added due to the people's transgression, until Christ would come.

Gospel in the Old Testament

2011-09-17T08:06:00.001-06:00

Galatians 3:16-19

16 Now to ^aAbraham and his seed were the ^bpromises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

18 For if the ^ainheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

19 ^aWherefore then serveth the law? It was ^badded because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Comment: The gospel and covenant were given to Abraham anciently, in the Old Testament. The law of Moses was added due to the people's transgression, until Christ would come.

Judgement Day

2011-09-04T15:05:00.002-06:00

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, "The Challenge to Become", General Conference, October 2000
"The Apostle Paul taught that the Lord’s teachings and teachers were given that we may all attain 'the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ' (Eph. 4:13). This process requires far more than acquiring knowledge. It is not even enough for us to be convinced of the gospel; we must act and think so that we are converted by it. In contrast to the institutions of the world, which teach us to know something, the gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something."
"From such teachings we conclude that the Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts—what we have done. It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts—what we have become. It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become."

Freedom

2011-08-29T18:05:00.000-06:00

Helaman 14:30

30 And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto ^ahimself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are ^bfree; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a^cknowledge and he hath made you free.

31 He hath given unto you that ye might ^aknow good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might ^bchoose life or death; and ye can do good and be ^crestored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you.

Families with No Children

2011-08-28T15:26:00.002-06:00

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

" By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation."

My Commentary:

{

The bishop is the father of the ward. The Relief Society president is the mother of the ward. They did not give birth to the members on the ward and they are likely not all their descendants, so what does it mean to be a father or mother, especially with the information in the proclamation on the family?

The duties of a bishop and a relief society president and different and generally one does not do the other's responsibilities.

Are we still fathers and mothers even if our kids are grown or if we never have had children? If we are fathers and mothers then are duties are still the same whether we have children in our home or not. As priesthood holders, our children are all around us. As members of the Relief Society their children are all around them. The father is still "to preside over [his] famil[y] in love and righteousness and [is] responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for [his] famil[y]." Priesthood holders provide leadership and protection for everyone around them. The mother is still "primarily responsible for the nurture of [her] children." Relief Society sisters nurture those around them.

Do not allow the fact that there are no children in your home or the fact that you are away from your family to keep you from doing your duty as outline in The Family: A Proclamation to the World.

}

Law of Consecration

2011-08-21T18:34:00.000-06:00

4 Nephi 1:3
3 And they had ^aall things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly ^bgift.

3 Ne. 26: 19
19 And they taught, and did ^aminister one to another; and they had ^ball things ^ccommon among them, every man dealing justly, one with another.

Hell

2011-08-21T18:33:00.000-06:00

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Fundamental to Our Faith, January 2011 Ensign

"Like other Christians, we believe that when we leave this life, we go to a heaven (paradise) or a hell. But to us this two-part division of the righteous and the wicked is merely temporary while the spirits of the dead await their resurrection and Final Judgment (see Alma 40:11–14). The destinations that follow the Final Judgment are much more diverse, and they stand as evidence of the magnitude of God’s love for His children—all of them."

Alma 12:9-11
9 And now Alma began to expound these things unto him, saying: It is given unto many to ^aknow the ^bmysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart ^conly according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him.

10 And therefore, he that will ^aharden his heart, the same receiveth the ^blesser portion of the word; and he that will ^cnot harden his heart, to him is ^dgiven the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full.

11 And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser ^aportion of the word until they ^bknow nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the ^cchains of ^dhell.

As they separate themselves from God they understand less and less of the mysteries of God and have trapped themselves in their distance from God.

We Already Have a Bible

2011-08-21T18:31:00.000-06:00

John 9:28
28Then they ^areviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples.

Joseph Smith History 1:12
12 Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know; for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible.