Insights into General Conference Part 2

This morning started with President Henry B Eyering who said that we share a desire to become better than we are, as long as we live. Through living the gospel we can become like the Savior Jesus Christ. He has prepared the way through the Atonement and His example. Our life must be filled with the love of God and love of others is at the hear to be obedient. We need to learn to love as He does.
1. husbands and wives must pray for the love that makes it soften the load of their partner and put their comfort and happiness above their own.
2. Parents- the Savior is the perfect example of persisting in love. For example: the story of the prodigal son. Pray for your children and reach out to them in confidence.
3. Children- love your parents and honor them. We have the assurances that we are on the way to becoming like Him.

L Tom Perry- What a great heritage the pioneers have left us, a great legacy of faith, and embracing the gospel became a new lifestyle for them. They sacrificed much to do the Lord's will. The past can provide a way to prepare for the future. In the gospel there are eternal principles and truths. These are so important for our lives, the only way to face the future. We have the obligation to share the gospel with others. Preparation removies fear. How prepared are you to testify of the 3 basic missionary lessons? Let us have a desire to share the gospel with others. This plan is for our live and our happiness.

H. David Burton- Virtue traits form the foundation fo a christian life. If we follow the world, the results would be disastrous. We need to stand tall and have virtous traits. Integrity is the mother of all virtues. Its the light that shows from a disciplined conscience. The virtuous traits must never be forgotten, important relationships may be jeopordized. Now is the time to save that which is virtuous. God expects us to express the -ity virtues. Let us have the responsibility to act on these traits.

Ann M Dibb- There are many lessons to be learned. We feel we are going through a scary time in our lives. We are entitled to our Heavenly Father's blessings in this work. He hasn't left us alone, He has given us all the safety requirements we need to guide us. We must choose to use it. We are invited to hold onto the Rod of Iron, hold tight until we reach our eternal role which is eternal life. We mus never let go. Its always possible to find our way back through repentance and feel the loving guidance of our Heavenly Father. Use the safety equipment He has provided for us. May we hold on to the eternal truths- FOR THEY ARE EVERYTHING!!!!!

Russel M Nelson- There is great invitation for us to receive personal revelation. Its true!!!! 1. We must have firm faith and desire, real intent 2. Study gospel matter diligently . We must know and obey the revelent teachings of the Lord. The Lord will bless each prophet and those who heed his counsel. We seek to understand the will of God and carry it out. We need to have reverance toward deity. Line upon line, precept upon precept. One will learn wisdom, patience and perserverance which is important to learn in our lives. Revelation exists because this is HIS living church.

President Thomas S Monson- "Whosoever is in the service of your fellowbeings you are only in the service of your God" (Mosiah 2:17) All who will do this will grow and flourish. Man's greatest happiness is losing one self in service to others. Its the intentino of each o f us to serve one another, do we let the day to day living take over and neglect that which is important? We are surrounded by those in need of our attention. We are the Lord's hands, He is dependent on each of us to lift others. Then shall the King say unto them on his aright hand, Come, ye bblessed of my Father, cinherit the dkingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
For I was an ahungred, and ye bgave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a cstranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye avisited me: I was in bprison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee asick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have adone it unto one of the bleast of these my cbrethren, ye have done it unto me.(Matt 25:34-40) Have I done any good today? He speaks to us to come unto Him, learn of Him, and find rest on our souls. Let us each qualify for this great blessing!

Jeffrey R Holland- The heart is the center of our faith and loyalty. We need protections for our hearts. In the parable of the 'Tree of Life' The successful travelers resisted ALL distractions. They press forward tenaciously. The Iron Rod marks the way of the solidary trail. The power of Christ is the safe harbor in public or private moments of despair. There is only one true way. The Book of Mormon is TRUE and Joseph Smith translated the work. God provides safety for the soul-the Book of Mormon is that safety.

Quentin L Cook- We do what we believe that the Lord would have us do. We are accountable for our own agency and thus the sins we commit. We are stewards over our bodies and families and the poor and needy. Morality in this world isn't protected. the well springs in life are to remain pure. Its our responsibility to teach His standard of morality. Some tend to rationalize their conduct. Through the Savior's atonement one can always repent. Then we can become pure again. 1. Religious observance is as important as temporal needs in the home. 2.Caring for the poor and those in need. We should be diligent and do all we can to do Christlike service to those in need; in all our efforts we should try to emulate Christ.

Brent Nielson- Lengthen your stride, enlarge your vision. We are part of the fulfillment of the prophecy-to go throughout the whole world, and so all ears may hear the message of the gospel, this is the work of the Lord, this work is a marvelous work and wonder. God will be with us always even unto the ends of the world. The Saviors call is to this rising generation. The need has never been greater, there is no greater call. The heavens are open, He is inviting us to follow Him and we will become Fishers of Men

Dale G Renlund- The ultimate operation is the spiritual change of hearts. Its just the beginning. Equal and greater care after the change of heart to endure to the heart. We need to be eager to please God, help others and to keep our covenants with God. We need to keep our hearts from hardening and turning to stone. We need to be constantly be praying and studying the scriptures, so that we never fall into the death trap. We need to be perfectly honest and upright in all things. We need to put temptations far out of reach. Press forward and endure joyfully to the end.

Michael T Ringwood- We need to have a willingness to believe in God. We have a legacy of faith who had soft hearts. We need to allow the words of god to be etched deep into our hearts. Obedience and repentance is a way for us to know God. Obedience will bring soft hearts and easiness to believe. We should find it easy for the spirit of the Lord to speak with us. he is our shepherd, we should know His voice.

Joseph Sitati- This gospel is a global faith. The love of our Father in Heaven is evident to us today. God's purposes are being fulfilled. We have seen the great fruits of Israel, and there are many who are finding an anchor to their faith. The spirit of the Lord is moving throughout the world.

D Todd Christofferson- Moral agency mus be accompanied by moral discipline. To make the right decisions despite how difficult that challenge may be. Our discipline is rooted in the Father and the Son. Moral discipline is learned at home, if we don't doubt then the Lord will deliver us. We must walk uprightly before him in a manner of reverence. There must be constant teaching including teaching by example. Our aim is for them ( children) to become disciples of Christ. We must know the truth to wisely use our agency. We must acknowledge Him for our children to see things clearly and make the right decisions. All of us are tempted but we choose whether or not to yield to temptation. Always there must be discipline which should be based upon God and His Son Jesus Christ. it can have an influence for good and inspire others to also have a moral discipline.

President Thomas S Monson- This is the final talk to end the conference and He told us to prepare ourselves, we must be ready for the storms. He is ready to bless us as we obey Him. We are a blessed people with prophets and apostles on the earth today. That we have a disposition to do good continually and become a better poeple we are one, all in this together, we all have a part toy and to play it well. MAy God bless you now and always!!

Insights into General Conference Part 1

It started with President Thomas S Monson announced 5 new temples that will be built, Brigham City, Utah; Concepcion, Chile; Fortaleza, Brazil; Fort Lauderdale, Florida.; and Sapporo, Japan, but he talked about how important it is to continue to be faithful in temple service. Through our efforts the light may shine upon those in the spirit world and rejoice with us in our duties as we perform work for the dead, he also counseled that we should reach our to new converts and surround them in love and friendship. May we be filled with the spirit of the Lord.


Richard G Scott- we are led to seek inspiration for our personal decisions, he created help for us to make the right decisions. Heavenly Father wants us to learn to seek divine help. Growth will come as we learn and strive the feelings and promptings of the spirit. Spirituality yields two fruits: 1. Inspiration 2. Power in 1 Nephi 3:7 Nephi vows to go and do as the Lord commands and that He will provide a way. We must exercise our agency to allow the spirit to teach us. Strong emotions can overcome the delicate promptings of the spirit. Pornography is one of the most damaging influences on earth, severely damaging, it degrades the mind and heart. It can cause emotional and spiritual damage. Its a deadly trap of the Adversary. Those that are involved need to make a commitment to overcome it NOW! DONT GIVE UP!!!!! Have patience at perfection to listening to the Holy Spirit. We can learn to be consistently guided by the Holy Spirit for the rest of our lives.

Vicki Matsumori- When we are trying to listen to the Holy Spirit, the influence of others can assist us. When we feel the Spiri, there are many things that we may feel such as: the pure intelligence, peace, hope, warmth, joy, and love. We will feel these things when the spirit speaks to our minds and hearts as it says in the Doctrine and Covenants 8:2 which says "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." When we bear our testimony of the gospel we can help others to feel the influence of the Spirit. The challenge is to have an environment to invite the Spirit in our homes, to have a time of quiet in our lives. We will recognize answers to our prayers and guidance for our lives.

L Whitney Clayton- We all have burdens in our lives, many of us struggle beneath these burdens in our lives.
1. Burdens of the conditions of the world by which we live, such as sickness, economical, ect.
2. Burdens of misconduct of others such as sin, oppression, abuse, gossip and unkindness.
3. Burdens of our own mistakes, shortcomings and sins- what follows is immense pain and sorrow.
We were sent to earth for our own growth and progress. If we endure it well, God will Exalt us on high. Burdens help us to put off the natural man and helps us to become humble enough to come unto Him. Burdens can become a blessing for us. Work is a continual burden as well as a blessing for us. Our challenges may prepare us to hear the word of the Lord. We should bear one another's burdens to comfort and help each other, which helps relieve our own burdens as well as the burdens of others. The Savior offers us sustaining strength and warmth, which helps us to stand as a witness of Jesus Christ. He offers us deliverance from the bondage of our sins. When we repent, forgiveness comes from what the Savior offers.

Russel Osguthorpe- Missionary works saves the spiritual lives of those that they teach. They save the lives by sharing their knowledge of the gospel. One way that they teach is through key doctrine, which they use though the manual 'Preach My Gospel' as well as drawing upon the Spirit as they teach. The aim is to have them to think, feel, and do what they are taught the gospel principles that they are taught. We are all teaching future church leaders. When a call comes, we need to accept it. We need to reach higher than we thought we could.

David A Bednar- "We need to be more diligent and concerned in our homes"
1. We need to express our love and show it do it sincerely and frequently express our love to our spouses, parents, children and other family members. We need to consistently DO more of what we know.
2. Bear our testimony and live it It needs not be lengthy or eloquent, in our homes we should bear testimony to those we love the most. We need to do more and become better. We need to bear, mean it and live it. Our testimony should be reflected in our words and deeds. We should look for these opportunities. Its the result of revelation, conveyed by the Holy Ghost.
3. Be consistent Consistency is a key principle. Hypocricy weakens the foundations of a great work.; We need to be and become more consistent. As we seek the Lord's help we can become more diligent and concerned at home in living the gospel. We will never be left alone, Our Heavenly Father and our Savior will help us in these endeavors.

Pres. Dieter F Uchtdorf-How do we become disciples of Jesus Christ? "If your love me keep my commandments" Is there a constant compass to prioritize our lives? Yes the Holy Ghost is constantly available to us. Love is the healing balm that unites families, communities and countries. Its the first that warms our lives. When we love as Christ does, our love becomes more profound and our obedience becomes a joy. We NEED to love God. What we love determines what we think and do, which determines who we are. Love defines us as individuals and as a church. The Father watches over us and brightens our darkness with light, He rejoices when we rejoice, He offers promises of a glorious existence, ALL that He has. We love Him because He first loved us. He loves us completely, perfectly, which encompasses us completely. we are important to Him because we are His children. Regardless of our current state, there is hope for us. How can we experience more love for God? When we seek Him with our hearst and keep His commandments. We need to align our thoughts and actions according to His will. Because we love Him. The first step is to try to do the things which He asks of us. Listen to His voice, in the gentle whisperings of the spirit. He will lead us on the course to experience the true love of Christ. The love God has for us is the center of the plan of happiness. Every commandment hangs on the principle of love, everything else will fall into place. Its the guiding light that fills our life with meaning and wonder. Loves is the way of the disciple. He is mindful of us and the greatest, deepest desire our our hearts, souls and minds.

Dallin H Oaks- Gods love is shown in all the blessings of His gospel plan. These are eternal principles. Nothing can seperate us from the love of God. 'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life' (John 3:16) That is the greatest evidence of His love. Those who understand his plan, know that mercy can't rob justice. Only through obedience to His laws can we be perfect like Him. Its universal so that it bestows many gifts for His children. We can feel His love even when we are disobedient. All blessings are predicated by obedience to that law. Agency is fundamental to the gospel plan. He will bless us to endure the consequences of others' choices. Love doesn't supercede his commandments. Real love doesn't support self destructive behavior. These are part of the doctrine of Christ.

Robert D Hales- These are dangerous times when there are many whose faith and belief in God are faltering. How can we know that He lives? We have felt his spirit confirm what we know to be true. We know that God and His son Jesus Christ have physical bodies and voices, and we were created in their likeness. We know that they have feelings for us, they are immortal perfect beings. Joseph Smith prepared the way for the second coming in this last dispensation. Joseph Smith bore witness of God and his son as the same likeness of us. The way to know of the truth of God is the Holy Ghost. If we don't submit to the promptings of the Holy Ghost, we could become like Korihor who was a anti-christ-but he knew that God existed despite his efforts to convince others of the contrary. We need to learn of God and Jesus Christ. Cultivate a desire to know that He lives, that He loves us, and that there is much strength and peace that can come from knowing God, it will also give us the greatest joy we will ever have.

Jorge Zeballos- We are not alone. He is willing to forgive our sins and errors as we repent. We need to give the best of ourselves, because there are great blessings in store for us, these rewards given to those who will give their all to build the kingdom of God. The Lord doesn't expect us to do that which we are unable to do. He knows our capacities and abilities. Let us always give the best we can in everything in our lives. Let us do what is within reach, we will be fulfilling His requirements. Its possible to achieve the impossible through our Father in Heaven and our Savior Jesus Christ.

Tad R Callister- there were four things that Joseph Smith learned in the first vision. 1. God and Jesus Christ are two seperate beings 2. The Father and his son have bodies of flesh and bones 3. God still speaks to man today 4. The full gospel of Christ wasn't yet on the earth. Joseph Smith was the instrument in God's hands, through Joseph Smith the fullness of the gospel has been found. This is the only true and living church upon all of the earth.

Kent D Watson-We need to be temperate in all things. Temperance is a divine attribute of Christ, to be temperate in all things is a spiritual gift through the Holy Ghost. Its to exercise control and be moderate in all things. We should be diligent and temperate in all things. A temperate soul is a person of increased spiritual strength. We can protect ourselves from dangers of today's world. Security for our families comes from self control. When we are filled with contention we should then humble ourselves and become like child. We should govern our homes in meekness and of love. Christ divine gift of temperance is available to all.

Neil L Anderson- Come unto Him and be spiritually wrapped in His arms. His arms are mighty, filled with safety and love. We have felt his forgiveness, love and comfort. This is often an invitation to repent ( wrapped in his arms). When we sin we turn from God, when we repent we turn to God. We rejoice in the blessing of repentance. We all need to feel His arms of mercy. The Savior is able and eager to forgive our sins. Divine forgiveness is one of the greatest fruits of the gospel. Change isn't easy, its difficult and it is a journey. We need to humbly approach the Lord. there is one who understands us, for He has engraven us in the palms of His hands. Don't be discouraged. As we improve we see our life more clearly. Healing come in the time of the Lord. In this life its never too late to repent. Repentance changes us but also blesses our families.

Boyd K Packer- Every child possess the light of Christ. we are the children of God. We are part of His great plan of happiness. We must use our agency wisely. Through the atonement our mistakes are wiped clean. the spirit can prompt and protect us. You can know the things you need to know. No matter what we have done, we can all pray. When temptation comes, your mind is in control-if a inappropriate image comes in your mind use your delete key in your mind by thinking of a hymn or listening to some uplifting music. Learn to pray often, its your personal key to heaven, the lock is on our side of the veil.

May Christ Lift Thee Up

In Moroni 9:25 " My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which i have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long suffering, and the hope of this glory and of eternal, rest in your mind forever" and in John 16:33 " These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world". Jesus Christ. Our sign of life, our key to life in all of its majestic and meaningful simplicity, is Jesus Christ. He fits every door, every life experience, every death experience, than any mortal can possibly encounter. He is the ungirding of the daffodil days, the root which teams with the hope of life, even when its been pruned to the ground. He stand as the fountain in ancient times as well as today. He is our key to life. He is the LIGHT and the LIFE. In 3 Nephi 27:13 " Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you--that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me" We will live our covenants, because living them is a happy choice. Covenants are not restrictive burdens, they are offerings joyfully made. Sister Marjorie Hinckley said "We each do the best we can. The fact is we know when we are doing our best and when we are not. If we are not...it leaves us with a gnawing hunger and frustration. But when we do our best, we experience peace" And President Gordon B Hinckley said "The work in which we are engaged in is their work (Meaning the Father and His son) and we are their servants, who are answerable to them," How we regard ourselves is important. Something about our mortal life says that we cannot just give our lives to God in our hearts and then withdraw from daily living our temporal tasks. The Savior can turn negative things to our good. Rather than bitterness, when we turn to Him we can forgive. Then, our suffering can help us develop the capacity to withold judgement and to reach our compassionately to others who suffer. Turning to the Savior can also protect us against our successes. Success is a affliction of the soul unless it is recognized for what it is-God working in our lives. And He will do that, because each prayer we offer will somehow be an expression that we are joyfully, voluntarily, and quietly desiring to give our lives to Him our ongoing responsibility to keep offering ourselves and everything that we have and are to HIM-to work actively but to cease judging each task with our mortal measurements, in the total giving away, we receive total abundance, the only security available. In Moses 1:39 "For behold this is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" in faith, each of us takes the only thing we really have-our agency and offers it back to Him joyfully, voluntarily and quietly.

Be Of Good Cheer

My dear brothers and sisters, I express my love to you. I am humbled by the responsibility to address you, and yet I am grateful for the opportunity to do so.

Since last we met together in a general conference six months ago, there have been continuing signs that circumstances in the world aren’t necessarily as we would wish. The global economy, which six months ago appeared to be sagging, seems to have taken a nosedive, and for many weeks now the financial outlook has been somewhat grim. In addition, the moral footings of society continue to slip, while those who attempt to safeguard those footings are often ridiculed and, at times, picketed and persecuted. Wars, natural disasters, and personal misfortunes continue to occur.

It would be easy to become discouraged and cynical about the future—or even fearful of what might come—if we allowed ourselves to dwell only on that which is wrong in the world and in our lives. Today, however, I’d like us to turn our thoughts and our attitudes away from the troubles around us and to focus instead on our blessings as members of the Church. The Apostle Paul declared, “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”1

None of us makes it through this life without problems and challenges—and sometimes tragedies and misfortunes. After all, in large part we are here to learn and grow from such events in our lives. We know that there are times when we will suffer, when we will grieve, and when we will be saddened. However, we are told, “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.”2

How might we have joy in our lives, despite all that we may face? Again from the scriptures: “Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you.”3

The history of the Church in this, the dispensation of the fulness of times, is replete with the experiences of those who have struggled and yet who have remained steadfast and of good cheer as they have made the gospel of Jesus Christ the center of their lives. This attitude is what will pull us through whatever comes our way. It will not remove our troubles from us but rather will enable us to face our challenges, to meet them head on, and to emerge victorious.

Too numerous to mention are the examples of all the individuals who have faced difficult circumstances and yet who have persevered and prevailed because their faith in the gospel and in the Savior has given them the strength they have needed. This morning, however, I’d like to share with you three such examples.

First, from my own family, I mention a touching experience that has always been an inspiration to me.

My maternal great-grandparents Gibson and Cecelia Sharp Condie lived in Clackmannan, Scotland. Their families were engaged in coal mining. They were at peace with the world, surrounded by relatives and friends, and were housed in fairly comfortable quarters in a land they loved. Then they listened to the message of the missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and, to the depths of their very souls, were converted. They heard the call to gather to Zion and knew they must answer that call.

Sometime around 1848, they sold their possessions and prepared for the hazardous voyage across the mighty Atlantic Ocean. With five small children, they boarded a sailing vessel, all their worldly possessions in one tiny trunk. They traveled 3,000 miles (4,800 km) across the waters—eight long, weary weeks on a treacherous sea, watching and waiting, with poor food, poor water, and no help beyond the length and breadth of that small ship.

In the midst of this soul-trying situation, one of their young sons became ill. There were no doctors, no stores at which they might purchase medicine to ease his suffering. They watched, they prayed, they waited, and they wept as day by day his condition deteriorated. When his eyes were at last closed in death, their hearts were torn asunder. To add to their grief, the laws of the sea must be obeyed. Wrapped in a canvas weighed down with iron, the little body was consigned to a watery grave. As they sailed away, only those parents knew the crushing blow dealt to wounded hearts.4 However, with a faith born of their deep conviction of the truth and their love of the Lord, Gibson and Cecelia held on. They were comforted by the words of the Lord: “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”5

How grateful I am for ancestors who had the faith to leave hearth and home and to journey to Zion, who made sacrifices I can scarcely imagine. I thank my Heavenly Father for the example of faith, of courage, and of determination Gibson and Cecelia Sharp Condie provide for me and for all their posterity.

I introduce next a gentle, faith-filled man who epitomized the peace and joy which the gospel of Jesus Christ can bring into one’s life.

Late one evening on a Pacific isle, a small boat slipped silently to its berth at the crude pier. Two Polynesian women helped Meli Mulipola from the boat and guided him to the well-worn pathway leading to the village road. The women marveled at the bright stars, which twinkled in the midnight sky. The moonlight guided them along their way. However, Meli Mulipola could not appreciate these delights of nature—the moon, the stars, the sky—for he was blind.

Brother Mulipola’s vision had been normal until a fateful day when, while working on a pineapple plantation, light turned suddenly to darkness and day became perpetual night. He was depressed and despondent until he learned the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. His life was brought into compliance with the teachings of the Church, and he once again felt hope and joy.

Brother Mulipola and his loved ones had made a long voyage, having learned that one who held the priesthood of God was visiting among the islands of the Pacific. He sought a blessing, and it was my privilege, along with another who held the Melchizedek Priesthood, to provide that blessing to him. As we finished, I noted that tears were streaming from his sightless eyes, coursing down his brown cheeks and tumbling finally upon his native dress. He dropped to his knees and prayed: “O God, Thou knowest I am blind. Thy servants have blessed me that my sight might return. Whether in Thy wisdom I see light or whether I see darkness all the days of my life, I will be eternally grateful for the truth of Thy gospel, which I now see and which provides the light of my life.”

He rose to his feet and, smiling, thanked us for providing the blessing. He then disappeared into the still of the night. Silently he came; silently he departed. But his presence I shall never forget. I reflected upon the message of the Master: “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”6

My brothers and sisters, each of us has that light in his or her life. We are not left to walk alone, no matter how dark our pathway.

I love the words penned by M. Louise Haskins:

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light, that I may tread safely into the unknown!”
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than [a] light and safer than a known way.”7

The setting for my final example of one who persevered and ultimately prevailed, despite overwhelmingly difficult circumstances, begins in East Prussia following World War II.

In about March 1946, less than a year after the end of the war, Ezra Taft Benson, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, accompanied by Frederick W. Babbel, was assigned a special postwar tour of Europe for the express purpose of meeting with the Saints, assessing their needs, and providing assistance to them. Elder Benson and Brother Babbel later recounted, from a testimony they heard, the experience of a Church member who found herself in an area no longer controlled by the government under which she had resided.

She and her husband had lived an idyllic life in East Prussia. Then had come the second great world war within their lifetimes. Her beloved young husband was killed during the final days of the frightful battles in their homeland, leaving her alone to care for their four children.

The occupying forces determined that the Germans in East Prussia must go to Western Germany to seek a new home. The woman was German, and so it was necessary for her to go. The journey was over a thousand miles (1,600 km), and she had no way to accomplish it but on foot. She was allowed to take only such bare necessities as she could load into her small wooden-wheeled wagon. Besides her children and these meager possessions, she took with her a strong faith in God and in the gospel as revealed to the latter-day prophet Joseph Smith.

She and the children began the journey in late summer. Having neither food nor money among her few possessions, she was forced to gather a daily subsistence from the fields and forests along the way. She was constantly faced with dangers from panic-stricken refugees and plundering troops.

As the days turned into weeks and the weeks to months, the temperatures dropped below freezing. Each day, she stumbled over the frozen ground, her smallest child—a baby—in her arms. Her three other children struggled along behind her, with the oldest—seven years old—pulling the tiny wooden wagon containing their belongings. Ragged and torn burlap was wrapped around their feet, providing the only protection for them, since their shoes had long since disintegrated. Their thin, tattered jackets covered their thin, tattered clothing, providing their only protection against the cold.

Soon the snows came, and the days and nights became a nightmare. In the evenings she and the children would try to find some kind of shelter—a barn or a shed—and would huddle together for warmth, with a few thin blankets from the wagon on top of them.

She constantly struggled to force from her mind overwhelming fears that they would perish before reaching their destination.

And then one morning the unthinkable happened. As she awakened, she felt a chill in her heart. The tiny form of her three-year-old daughter was cold and still, and she realized that death had claimed the child. Though overwhelmed with grief, she knew that she must take the other children and travel on. First, however, she used the only implement she had—a tablespoon—to dig a grave in the frozen ground for her tiny, precious child.

Death, however, was to be her companion again and again on the journey. Her seven-year-old son died, either from starvation or from freezing or both. Again her only shovel was the tablespoon, and again she dug hour after hour to lay his mortal remains gently into the earth. Next, her five-year-old son died, and again she used her tablespoon as a shovel.

Her despair was all consuming. She had only her tiny baby daughter left, and the poor thing was failing. Finally, as she was reaching the end of her journey, the baby died in her arms. The spoon was gone now, so hour after hour she dug a grave in the frozen earth with her bare fingers. Her grief became unbearable. How could she possibly be kneeling in the snow at the graveside of her last child? She had lost her husband and all her children. She had given up her earthly goods, her home, and even her homeland.

In this moment of overwhelming sorrow and complete bewilderment, she felt her heart would literally break. In despair she contemplated how she might end her own life, as so many of her fellow countrymen were doing. How easy it would be to jump off a nearby bridge, she thought, or to throw herself in front of an oncoming train.

And then, as these thoughts assailed her, something within her said, “Get down on your knees and pray.” She ignored the prompting until she could resist it no longer. She knelt and prayed more fervently than she had in her entire life:

“Dear Heavenly Father, I do not know how I can go on. I have nothing left—except my faith in Thee. I feel, Father, amidst the desolation of my soul, an overwhelming gratitude for the atoning sacrifice of Thy Son, Jesus Christ. I cannot express adequately my love for Him. I know that because He suffered and died, I shall live again with my family; that because He broke the chains of death, I shall see my children again and will have the joy of raising them. Though I do not at this moment wish to live, I will do so, that we may be reunited as a family and return—together—to Thee.”

When she finally reached her destination of Karlsruhe, Germany, she was emaciated. Brother Babbel said that her face was a purple-gray, her eyes red and swollen, her joints protruding. She was literally in the advanced stages of starvation. In a Church meeting shortly thereafter, she bore a glorious testimony, stating that of all the ailing people in her saddened land, she was one of the happiest because she knew that God lived, that Jesus is the Christ, and that He died and was resurrected so that we might live again. She testified that she knew if she continued faithful and true to the end, she would be reunited with those she had lost and would be saved in the celestial kingdom of God.8

From the holy scriptures we read, “Behold, the righteous, the saints of the Holy One of Israel, they who have believed in [Him], they who have endured the crosses of the world, … they shall inherit the kingdom of God, … and their joy shall be full forever.”9

I testify to you that our promised blessings are beyond measure. Though the storm clouds may gather, though the rains may pour down upon us, our knowledge of the gospel and our love of our Heavenly Father and of our Savior will comfort and sustain us and bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the commandments. There will be nothing in this world that can defeat us.

My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith.

I declare that God lives and that He hears and answers our prayers. His Son, Jesus Christ, is our Savior and our Redeemer. Heaven’s blessings await us. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
We talked about this talk in Relief Society, and I was so grateful because its one of my favorites of President Monsons', I love how he talks about challenges, and I think every one has challenges and difficulties. Through the history of the world, there have been many circumstances and tradegies that many have suffered through. But in this day we have something so precious and beautiful, that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is what lifts us up, gives us hope and joy, and let us feel bright and cheerful as the noon day sun. Optimism is so important in this world that can seem big and scary. We never know whats going to happen in our lives, or what heartache or pain we may feel. The gospel helps us to be stronger and to stand a little taller. There are times when we need to laugh or to cry, the important thing is Heavenly Father is there for us, He loves us and He is with us. We are never alone!!!!As sheri Dew once said " The gospel is the Good News that provides us the tools to cope with the mistakes, the heartaches, the disappointments we can expect to experience here." No matter what is going on in our lives, we have good cheerful new, its the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Let us feel that joy!!!!!

Purpose of Relief Society

This evening I was so blessed to be able to watch the Relief Society Broadcast, It was such a blessing to be able to be enriched and edified and to feel the spirit, it touched the deepest part of my soul.
The first speaker was Julie B Beck said that Relief Society is a faith based work. Everything we do in Relief Society MATTERS!!!!! We work in partnership with our priesthood leaders. Ours is a work of salvation, service and of a holy people. Relief Society is organized after the pattern of the priesthood. Service in the Relief Society magnifies each sister. Visiting Teaching can strengthen our personal righteousness as we partner with the Lord. This is a blessing for us, its a faith based work, its a way of life, evidence of our discipleship. The Lord loves us enough to guide us in this work
Silvia Allred- "Why do we need Relief Society in our lives? : Its an essential part of the church, the church wouldn't be complete without it. We need to be more of a righteous mind than a selfish one. That is true Heroism. We help build up the kingdom and families in Zion. We are a much needed force of love and righteousness. we each have a significant role in God's plan. The Relief Society needs us & We need the Relief Society.
Barbara Thompson talked about how there are many gaps in our lives. The first one is The gap between believing and knowing we are a precious daughter of God. There are times when we doubt this concept. There is nothing that can seperate us from the love of God. The spirit helps us to feel His love for us. Mind the gap with this doubt and uncertainty. The second is that there is a gap between completion of Young Women and Full membership in the Relief Society. It gives our lives meaning and purpose. God needs us in the Relief Society and we have important works to be done in Zion. The third gap is between believing in Jesus Christ and being valiant in our testimony in Jesus Christ. We must have faith in Him and share our testimony with others, and keep our covenants with God. We need to have the desire to share the gospel with those we love. Let your voice be heard among all. As we mind the gap we will feel his love for us and be able to be valiant in testimony.
Finally we had the opportunity to hear from Pres. Henry B Eyering- who said that Charity is at the heart of Relief Society, is born of faith in Jesus Christ. This organization is unique. 'Charity Never Faileth' has been at the center of the organization since it started. This society has a great legacy- determined to help the Lord and build up Zion as one heart, one mind, and one purpose. The love of God dwelt in their heart, the legacy is passed from heart to heart. We must cherich and love one another. As we serve others we shall feel the Savior's Joy.

Prophets and Apostles

In the Teachings of Presidents of the Church of Joseph Smith for this year, there is a lesson, where it talks about the organization and purpose of the twelve apostles. Orson Pratt, who served in the quorum of the twelve apostles said this “ The Lord…directed that the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles should be organized, whose business it would be to preach the Gospel to the nations, to the Gentiles first and then to the Jews. The Priesthood were called together after the building of the Kirtland Temple, and, in speaking of the twelve apostles, the Prophet Joseph Smith said they had received the Apostleship with all the powers pertaining to the same, just as the ancient apostles. “”
In the Bible Dictionary, says that Apostle means “ One Sent Forth” It was the title that Jesus gave to the twelve whom he chose and ordained, to be his closest disciples during his ministry on earth, and whom he sent forth to represent him after his ascension into heaven. The calling of an apostle is to be a special witness of the name of Jesus Christ in all the world, particularly of His divinity and of his bodily resurrection from the dead.
In Ephesians 4: 11-13 “And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, some evangelist, and some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come in the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of god, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
In Matthew 10:1-15 There were Six instructions that Christ gave to the twelve.
First he told them not to enter into the way of the Gentiles or into any of the cities of the Samaritans.
Second, to go the lost sheep of the House of Israel- which means to go and do missionary work unto the House of Israel, and preach of the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ which is available now.
Third, to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils, give to others what you have received.
Fourth, to not bring anything with you, the Lord will provide, also meaning that they had to trust in the Lord.
Fifth, wherever ye enter be a worthy person while you are there
Sixth, when ye go into a home, to say peace be to this house
Now what do these instructions have to do with Prophets and Apostles and Us? That Jesus Christ gave his authority to his Apostles, and as we receive them we receive Him, Jesus Christ.

In Doctrine and Covenants 1:14, 38 it says “ And the Arm of the Lord shall be revealed; and the day cometh that they who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of his servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles shall be cut off from among the people.” “ What I the Lord have spoken I have spoken, and I excuse not myself. And though the heavens and the earth shall 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”
In a talk given by M. Russell Ballard in 2001 said this “ These are difficult times, and the world’s cultural and sociological landmarks of propriety, honesty, integrity, and political correctness are constantly shifting. Just when we think we know the way to happiness and peace , some new ideology comes along which can lead us down a path that will only heighten our confusion and intensify our despair. At such times, we might well ask “ Is there one clear, unpolluted, unbiased voice that we can always count on? Is there a voice that will always give us clear directions to find our way in today’s troubled world?” the answer is YES. That voice is the voice of the living prophet and apostles.”
In 2 kings we know of the experience of Naaman, who was struck with leprosy and who eventually contacted the prophet Elisha, and was “instructed to go wash in the Jordan Seven times, and they flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean” as it say in 2 kings 5 verse 10. At first Naaman was unwilling to follow Elisha’s counsel. He couldn’t understand the thing which he had been asked to do- to wash in the Jordan river seven times. In other words his pride and stubbornness , were keeping him from receiving the Lords blessing through his prophet. Thankfully, he finally went down and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and it was clean” as it says in verse 14.What a humbling thing it must have been for Naaman to realize how close he came to allowing his pride and his unwillingness to listen to the counsel of the prophet to prevent him from receiving such a great cleansing blessing. And what a humbling thing it is to contemplate how many of us might miss out on great and promised blessings because we do not listen and then do the relatively simple things our prophet and apostles are telling us to do today.