The Blessing of Scripture by Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Quotes and remarks are based on the talk entitled "The Blessing of Scripture" by Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles in the April 2010 General Conference- the complete talk can be found here.

Elder Christofferson begins his message by relating the story of William Tyndale, how he translated the Bible into English, and finally was martyred for it. He also speaks of many others who suffered and risked much to preserve the word of God throughout the centuries. He poses these thought-provoking questions:

"What did they know about the importance of scriptures that we also need to know? What did people in 16th-century England, who paid enormous sums and ran grave personal risks for access to a Bible, understand that we should also understand?"

I wonder how much we really take the Bible and other scriptures for granted when people literally gave their lives in order to have this sacred text and to make it available for us...


The talk's thesis:

"Through the scriptures, God does indeed “show forth his power” to save and exalt His children. By His word, as Alma said, He enlarges our memory, sheds light on falsehood and error, and brings us to repentance and to rejoice in Jesus Christ, our Redeemer."

He then continues to expound some of the ways the scriptures can and should bless our lives:

"The scriptures enlarge our memory by helping us always to remember the Lord and our relationship to Him and the Father. They remind us of what we knew in our premortal life."

"...And as these things penetrate our minds and hearts, our faith in God and His Beloved Son takes root."

"God uses scripture to unmask erroneous thinking, false traditions, and sin with its devastating effects. He is a tender parent who would spare us needless suffering and grief and at the same time help us realize our divine potential. " 

Another good quote to get you thinking:

"In Tyndale’s day, scriptural ignorance abounded because people lacked access to the Bible, especially in a language they could understand. Today the Bible and other scripture are readily at hand, yet there is a growing scriptural illiteracy because people will not open the books. Consequently they have forgotten things their grandparents knew."

"His commandments are the voice of reality and our protection against self-inflicted pain. The scriptures are the touchstone for measuring correctness and truth, and they are clear that real happiness lies not in denying the justice of God or trying to circumvent the consequences of sin but in repentance and forgiveness through the atoning grace of the Son of God (see Alma 42)."

This is why the scriptures are so essential to society:

"Where scriptural truths are ignored or abandoned, the essential moral core of society disintegrates and decay is close behind. In time, nothing is left to sustain the institutions that sustain society."

And why they are so incredibly important for us:

"In the end, the central purpose of all scripture is to fill our souls with faith in God the Father and in His Son, Jesus Christ"

"Faith comes by the witness of the Holy Spirit to our souls, Spirit to spirit, as we hear or read the word of God. And faith matures as we continue to feast upon the word."

The role of the Holy Ghost and revelation:

"Therefore, being in the scriptures is one way we receive the Holy Ghost. Of course, scripture is given through the Holy Ghost in the first place (see 2 Peter 1:21; D&C 20:26–27; 68:4), and that same Spirit can attest its truth to you and me. Study the scriptures carefully, deliberately. Ponder and pray over them. Scriptures are revelation, and they will bring added revelation."

Let us not take the scriptures for granted. Let us remember their value in our lives and the benefit that can be ours as we study them. We are so blessed to have the scriptures in so many forms including free online: scriptures.lds.org. "Surely with this blessing the Lord is telling us that our need for constant recourse to the scriptures is greater than in any previous time."

Mothers Teaching Children in the Home by Elder L. Tom Perry

Quotes and remarks are based on the talk entitled "Mothers Teaching children in the Home" by Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles in the April 2010 General Conference- the complete talk can be found here.

I completely agree with what Elder Perry teaches about how mothers have a great responsibility to teach their children true principles while they are young. I'd like to just share some quotes that I liked from the talk below:

In speaking of his mother and her preparation of Relief Society lessons:

"...she prepared so thoroughly, first, to be an example to her children of diligent Church service and, second, because she recognized that what she learned from preparing her lessons could be used repeatedly for a higher purpose—teaching her sons and her daughters."

"...parents are entrusted with the education of their children and, ultimately, parents must ensure that their children are being taught what their Heavenly Father would have them learn."

"Many activities link the values of one generation to the next, but perhaps the most central of these activities is parents teaching children in the home. This is especially true when we consider the teaching of values, moral and ethical standards, and faith."

"Parents must resolve that teaching in the home is a most sacred and important responsibility. While other institutions, such as church and school, can assist parents to “train up a child in the way he [or she] should go” (Proverbs 22:6), ultimately this responsibility rests with parents. According to the great plan of happiness, it is parents who are entrusted with the care and development of our Heavenly Father’s children."

"Parents must bring light and truth into their homes by one family prayer, one scripture study session, one family home evening, one book read aloud, one song, and one family meal at a time. They know that the influence of righteous, conscientious, persistent, daily parenting is among the most powerful and sustaining forces for good in the world. The health of any society, the happiness of its people, their prosperity, and their peace all find common roots in the teaching of children in the home."

"...you must begin by teaching at the cradle-side. You are to teach by example as well as precept" [quoting Joseph Fielding Smith]

"Our teaching in the home prepares us to teach more effectively at church, and our teaching at church helps us to teach more effectively at home."

"The onslaught of wickedness against our children is at once more subtle and more brazen than it has ever been. Teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ in the home adds another layer of insulation to protect our children from worldly influences."

He concludes with this:

"God bless you wonderful mothers and fathers in Zion. He has entrusted to your care His eternal children. As parents we partner, even join, with God in bringing to pass His work and glory among His children. It is our sacred duty to do our very best."

Just remember, if you're not teaching your children how to walk in light and truth, then they are learning how to walk from friends, classmates, and the media...kind of a scary thought!

Help Them on Their Way By President Henry B. Eyring

Quotes and remarks are based on the talk entitled Help Them on Their Way by President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency of the Church in the April 2010 General Conference. The talk can be found here.

President Eyring explains that it is much better to teach children while they're young to have faith and obey the commandments:

"So we help God’s children best by providing ways to build faith in Jesus Christ and His restored gospel when they are young. And then we must help rekindle that faith quickly before it dims as they wander off the path."

He illustrates with a story of a woman that came to see him who had deviated from the path of righteousness, had made many mistakes, and wanted desperately to change her life from misery to happiness. She had grown up in the Church before making incorrect choices that led her to stray from it. How much easier it would have been for her to have had support and encouragement as a child than to have to go through the bitter process of repentance and lifestyle change.

He explains that we have a "nearly continuous opportunity to help travelers among God’s children" as we are all constantly trying to stay on the path. Satan fights hard to lead people astray, so we need to help one another out to overcome his evil influence! This is said to perfectly to paraphrase:

"Foreseeing the needs of His children, a loving Heavenly Father placed directions and rescuers along their way. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to make safe passage possible and visible. He called as His prophet in these times President Thomas S. Monson. Since his youth President Monson has taught not only how to stay on the path but also how to rescue those who have been led away into sorrow.

Heavenly Father has assigned us to a great variety of stations to strengthen and, when needed, to lead travelers to safety. Our most important and powerful assignments are in the family. They are important because the family has the opportunity at the start of a child’s life to put feet firmly on the path home. Parents, brothers and sisters, grandparents, aunts and uncles are made more powerful guides and rescuers by the bonds of love that are the very nature of a family."

President Eyring says that "if the children are strengthened with faith and testimony, they will be less likely to need rescue as teenagers. They realize that a strong spiritual foundation can make the difference for a lifetime." This is why it's so important to teach children while they're young and innocent.

If you think that you can't make a difference, you're absolutely mistaken. You can change a child's life. He says, "We all can help. Grandmothers, grandfathers, and every member who knows a child can help. It doesn’t take a formal calling in Primary. Nor is it limited by age. One such woman, as a younger person, was on the Primary general board that helped create the CTR motto." I like how President Eyring describes the help available for teenagers during those difficult teen years:

"The Lord has placed a pattern of rescue and rescuers in His kingdom. In His wisdom the Lord has inspired His servants to place some of the most powerful ways to strengthen us and to put in place the best rescuers as we pass through the teenage years.

You know of two powerful programs provided by the Lord. One, for young women, is called Personal Progress. The other, for Aaronic Priesthood holders, is called Duty to God. We encourage young people in the rising generation to see their own potential to build great spiritual strength. And we plead with those who care about those young people to rise to what the Lord requires of us to help them. And since the future of the Church depends upon them, all of us care."

He mentions how when he was growing up, such programs did not exist and he had few things in his life that challenged him as these programs are meant to challenge youth. He says:

"On reflection I realized that the contents of these booklets are a physical representation of the Lord’s trust in the rising generation and in all of us who love them. And I have seen evidence that the trust is well placed."

How can we help them? He says:

"Of all the help we can give these young people, the greatest will be to let them feel our confidence that they are on the path home to God and that they can make it. And we do that best by going with them. Because the path is steep and sometimes rocky, they will at times feel discouraged and even stumble...

The example they most need from us is to do what they must do. We need to pray for the gifts of the Spirit. We need to ponder in the scriptures and in the words of living prophets. We need to make plans which are not only wishes but covenants. And then we need to keep our promises to the Lord. And we need to lift others by sharing with them the blessings of the Atonement which have come in our lives. And we need to exemplify in our own lives the steady and prolonged faithfulness that the Lord expects of them."

This will not only help them to find joy in their lives, but bring us great joy as we serve them and watch them grow in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Lastly, in closing, I want to share the testimony that he ends with:

"I testify that the Lord loves you and every child of God. This is His kingdom, restored with priesthood keys through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Thomas S. Monson is the Lord’s prophet today. I promise each of you, as you follow inspired direction in this, the true Church of Jesus Christ, that our youth and we who help and love them can be delivered safely to our home with Heavenly Father and the Savior to live in families and in joy forever."

Our Path of Duty by Bishop Keith B McMullin

My thoughts on a talk by Bishop Keith B. McMullin, April 2010 entitled Our Path of Duty.

This is a talk full of hope. Here is a great quote from his talk:

"For those who eschew evil and live good lives, who strive for a brighter day and keep the commandments of God, things can get better and better even in the face of tragedy. The Savior showed us the way. From Gethsemane, the cross, and the tomb, He rose triumphant, bringing life and hope to us all. He bids us, 'Come, follow me.'"

He also quotes the prophet, Thomas S. Monson:

"President Thomas S. Monson has counseled: 'If we are to walk with head held high, we must make our contribution to life. If we are to fulfill our destiny and return to live with our Father in Heaven, we must keep His commandments and pattern our lives after the Savior. By so doing, we will not only achieve our goal of eternal life, but we will also leave the world richer and better than it would have been had we not lived and performed our duties.'"

Bishop McMullin also quotes Ecclesiastes 12:13:

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

At this point, he focuses his talk more on our duties. He explains that our duty is "what we are expected to do and to be." He goes on to explain this about our duty:

"It is a moral imperative summoning forth from individuals and communities that which is right, true, and honorable. Duty does not require perfection, but it does require diligence. It is not simply what is legal; it is what is virtuous. It is not reserved to the mighty or high in station but instead rests on a foundation of personal responsibility, integrity, and courage. Doing one’s duty is a manifestation of one’s faith."

Sometimes we think that if it's legal, it must be right. How far from the truth is this! Legal is so far from moral and ethical. And we all have a conscience that helps us determine right from wrong. A large part of our path of duty is simply keeping the covenants and promises that we've made with the Lord.

He teaches that the duty of all men is first to God, and then to "one another, to their family, to their church and nation, to all things entrusted to their care."

The last part of his talk explains how we can know our duty in the midst of crisis. The key is prayer. We must pray in faith and as inspired by the Spirit. He concludes his talk with this powerful testimony:

"I bear my witness that our path of duty is clearly marked by an undivided faith and belief in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the power of prayer. This path is to be traveled by all of God’s children who love Him and desire to keep His commandments. For the young, it leads to personal achievement and preparation; for adults, it leads to renewed faith and resolve; for the older generation, it leads to perspective and endurance in righteousness to the end. It equips every faithful traveler with the strength of the Lord, protects him from the evils of the day, and endows him with the knowledge that 'the conclusion of the whole matter [is to] Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.' In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

The Power of the Priesthood by Boyd K Packer

These are some of my thoughts as I read The Power of the Priesthood, a talk given by Boyd K Packer, Presiding Apostle of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles. Here is the link to his talk.

President Packer says:

"We now number nearly 14 million members. Even so, we are a tiny fraction when compared to the billions of people on earth. But we are who we are, and we know what we know, and we are to go forth and preach the gospel."

We truly are a minority when compared with the billions of people on the Earth, but I think this should only motivate us to step up to our responsibility as Priesthood holders to share the gospel with those around us. Even though we may never have "numbers" on our side, we have the Priesthood, the power of God, which more than compensates. On the same note, I like this quote as well:

"President Joseph Fielding Smith said, 'While it may be said . . . that we are but a handful in comparison with . . . the world, yet we may be compared with the leaven of which the Savior spoke, which will eventually leaven [or lift] the whole world.'"

Here is how President Packer defines the priesthood:

"Priesthood is the authority and the power which God has granted to men on earth to act for Him. When priesthood authority is exercised properly, priesthood bearers do what He would do if He were present...

Authority in the priesthood comes by way of ordination; power in the priesthood comes through faithful and obedient living in honoring covenants. It is increased by exercising and using the priesthood in righteousness."

It is a father's duty to preside in the home in righteousness. He should give priesthood blessings to his family and be involved in their spiritual growth and progression. Here are two stories that President Packer shared in his talk that touched me and taught of the importance of a father fulfilling his priesthood duties to his family- Story 1:

"During the Vietnam War, we held a series of special meetings for members of the Church called into military service. After such a meeting in Chicago, I was standing next to President Harold B. Lee when a fine young Latter-day Saint told President Lee that he was on leave to visit his home and then had orders to Vietnam. He asked President Lee to give him a blessing.

Much to my surprise, President Lee said, 'Your father should give you the blessing.'

Very disappointed, the boy said, 'My father wouldn’t know how to give a blessing.'

President Lee answered, 'Go home, my boy, and tell your father that you are going away to war and want to receive a father’s blessing from him. If he does not know how, tell him that you will sit on a chair. He can stand behind you and put his hands on your head and say whatever comes.'

This young soldier went away sorrowing.

About two years later I met him again. I do not recall where. He reminded me of that experience and said, 'I did as I was told to do. I explained to my father that I would sit on the chair and that he should put his hands on my head. The power of the priesthood filled both of us. That was a strength and protection in those perilous months of battle.'"

Story 2:

"Another time I was in a distant city. After a conference we were ordaining and setting apart leaders. As we concluded, the stake president asked, “Can we ordain a young man to be an elder who is leaving for the mission field?” The answer, of course, was yes.

As the young man came forward, he motioned for three brethren to follow and stand in for his ordination.

I noticed on the back row a carbon copy of this boy, and I asked, “Is that your father?”

The young man said, “Yes.”

I said, “Your father will ordain you.”

And he protested, “But I’ve already asked another brother to ordain me.”

And I said, “Young man, your father will ordain you, and you’ll live to thank the Lord for this day.”

Then the father came forward.

Thank goodness he was an elder. Had he not been, he soon could have been! In the military they would call that a battlefield commission. Sometimes such things are done in the Church.

The father did not know how to ordain his son. I put my arm around him and coached him through the ordinance. When he was finished, the young man was an elder.

Then something wonderful happened. Completely changed, the father and son embraced. It was obvious that had never happened before.

The father, through his tears, said, “I didn’t get to ordain my other boys.”

Think how much more was accomplished than if another had ordained him, even an Apostle."

Fathers need to step up to their privilege and responsibility. Mothers need to help by encouraging their husbands. I like President Packer's call to action:

"We need everyone. The tired or worn out or lazy and even those who are bound down with guilt must be restored through repentance and forgiveness. Too many of our priesthood brethren are living below their privileges and the Lord’s expectations.

We must go forward, confident of the supernal power of the priesthood. It is a source of strength and encouragement to know who we are and what we have and what we must do in the work of the Almighty."

The priesthood power is very real. I've had so many experiences in my life where I have witnessed first hand the power of the priesthood both on the administering and receiving ends of ordinances and blessings. If we do not use the priesthood with which we've been blessed, think of how many people- our families, neighbors, friends- have not been blessed, when they might have been, because of our living below our privileges.

Fathers have a sacred duty to protect their homes and their families, especially against the attacks of Satan, the enemy of all righteousness. In conclusion, this is President Packer's counsel to fathers in this regard:

"You have the power of the priesthood directly from the Lord to protect your home. There will be times when all that stands as a shield between your family and the adversary’s mischief will be that power. You will receive direction from the Lord by way of the gift of the Holy Ghost."