Sacrificio

Así como el sacrificio expiatorio de Jesucristo es la parte fundamental del plan de salvación, los seguidores de Cristo debemos hacer nuestros propios sacrificios para prepararnos para el destino que ese plan nos proporciona.

                                                                          Dallin H. Oaks
                                                                          Del Quórum de los Doce Apóstoles

Temples

The new Salt Lake Temple president, Claron Alldredge (Is he Grandpa Dave's cousin?) and his wife, Lillian spoke at our stake conference this past weekend and shared the following insights: 

Pres. Alldredge said that the building of temples in our day is like the building of the ark in the days of Noah.  In a world increasingly flooded by evil, the temple is the ark today that will "save the human race, spiritually".  "You  must worship in the temple to be saved."

Sister Alldredge pointed out that the reason many of the saints do not attend the temple regularly is because of "the easiness of the way".  She says that many of us are "being bitten, spiritually, and will not be healed".  

Pres Alldredge emphasized the importance of worshipping in the temples, and not merely attending.  He concluded by prophesying that, "When the saints learn to worship in the temple as the Lord intends, the veil will part and He will be revealed."     

We Need Not Fear

"While the battle rages, we need not fear…The Lord will help you, your family, and others you love who need special help.  We know the outcome.  The Savior will triumph over all!

We recognize the enemy and understand his plan.  The pride of the world seeks to destroy faith by casting doubt on the existence of God, or, if not his existence, his personal care and concern for his children.

As you arm yourself for battle, your protection comes from God who is our Father.  You have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and you take His name upon [you].  You are commissioned as a disciple of Christ, as defenders of the faith. 

You are armed with righteousness and …the power of God in great glory.  It is because something is happening inside of you, as well as the outward, public display of your discipleship.  Your belief in Christ and your love for Him fills your soul… The power of the Gift of the Holy Ghost is magnified and elevated in [you].  Happiness and peace follow—even in times of difficulty.”

You are absolutely critical to this cause.  Uniting together from different backgrounds, countries, cultures, and life experiences, you help advance the stone cut without hands, as it rolls forth to fill the whole earth. 

I look forward to the future.  I hope you do too.  To your children and grandchildren, your friends and associates, you can speak about the future with optimism, joy, and anticipation. 

You are living your mortality in a glorious time of destiny."

                                                                                         Elder Neil L Anderson, Apostle

                                                                                         BYU Women's Conference 2012

Savior, Redeemer of My Soul

Lately, this powerful text by Orson F. Whitney has been coming to my mind. There's such a deep reverence and love for Jesus in it. Thanks to Rob Gardner for writing lovely music that makes the text resound in the heart and stick in the head. 

Savior, Redeemer of my soul,
Whose mighty hand hath made me whole,
Whose wondrous pow’r hath raised me up
And filled with sweet my bitter cup!
What tongue my gratitude can tell,
O gracious God of Israel.

Never can I repay thee, Lord,
But I can love thee. Thy pure word,
Hath it not been my one delight,
My joy by day, my dream by night?
Then let my lips proclaim it still,
And all my life reflect thy will.

O’errule mine acts to serve thine ends.
Change frowning foes to smiling friends.
Chasten my soul till I shall be
In perfect harmony with thee.
Make me more worthy of thy love,
And fit me for the life above.

Prophets on the Relief Society: Julie B. Beck

Brigham Young, the second President of the Church, instructed his counselors and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to direct bishops to “let [the sisters] organize Female Relief Societies in the various wards.” He added, “Some may think this is a trifling thing, but it is not.”⁷

Later, President Joseph F. Smith said that in contrast to worldly organizations, which “are men-made, or women-made,” the Relief Society “is divinely made, divinely authorized, divinely instituted, divinely ordained of God.”⁸ President Joseph Fielding Smith told the sisters that they had “been given power and authority to do a great many things.”⁹ He said, “You are members of the greatest women’s organization in the world, an organization which is a vital part of the kingdom of God on [the] earth and which is so designed and operated that it helps its faithful members to gain eternal life in our Father’s kingdom.”¹⁰

Charity

Charity has two sides.  1 - Our love for the Savior.  2 - His love for us.  That's it.  

One might ask, What about everybody else?  I have come to learn that when we are blessed to be filled with the joy of God's love and grace in our lives, we then will naturally feel a rich love and joy for all of God's children as a result.  (And by the way, apparently, grace and charity derive from the same Latin word.)  

The list in Moroni 7:45 is easily misunderstood.  No matter how diligently we strive in our raw mortal state to be patient and long suffering and kind, these efforts alone will never bring the full love of God we all earnestly seek.  The fact is, we cannot achieve it by our selves!  It is a gift.  This beautiful list merely describes what it is to be a disciple of Christ, already filled with his love.  

Our challenge then is found in verses 44 and 48 where we learn that only through faith, hope, meekness and  lowliness of heart, combined with humble and sincere prayer to the Father will we be endowed with the love and grace that we seek.  

I am sure that just as there were many Lamanites who were filled with the Spirit of the Lord at the time of their baptism and knew it not, so also many of you humble followers of Christ have been richly endowed with the pure love of Christ many times in your life, unto the blessing of many, and you too, knew it not.  

I am so grateful to know you all and to feel the mercy and grace of the Lord in my life!

"I bless you, as you devote yourselves to Him and listen to Him, 

His reality will burn within you."

                                                                                 

                                                                                 Elder Neal Anderson

                                                                          Apostolic blessing at BYU Women's Conference 1012

 "It has nothing to do with acquiring!  It's all about sharing..."

                                                                                  Millie Dodson from Ghana on Entitlement

                                                                                   BYU Women's Conference 1012

"What makes a great missionary?  Real intent and personal repentance.

 The missionary's life is the example, the teacher."  

                                                                                   Nancy Baird, mission president's wife