Generations Linked in Love

by Elder Russell M. Nelson
Sunday Afternoon April 2010

Genealogy has always overwhelmed me.  I even took a class devoted to it in college but seemed to just get by with work that others in my family had already done.  I need to repent of that and spend some time figuring it out.  The church's new website Family Search has really made it simple for anybody to do.

My neighbor was telling me that their daughter - age 12 - gets on and finds names for them all the time.  Either for her to go to the Temple and perform baptisms or for the adults to take.

" Because of the importance of this work, the Church has built temples closer to the people, and family history research is being facilitated as never before. Methods to find and prepare names for temple ordinances are also improving. At the October 2005 conference, President Gordon B. Hinckley announced an exciting step forward in family history and temple work. He said: “One of the most troublesome aspects of our temple activity is that as we get more and more temples . . . across the earth there is duplication of effort in proxy work. . . . We, therefore, have been engaged for some time in a very difficult undertaking. . . . The solution lies in complex computer technology.”

Since then, not only has duplication been reduced, but procedures have been simplified so that virtually every member of the Church can participate in temple and family history work. Gone are the days when this sacred work was done only by specialists. No matter your situation, you can make family history a part of your life right now. Primary children can draw a family tree. Youth can participate in proxy baptisms. They can also help the older generation work with computers. Parents can relate stories of their lives to their posterity. Worthy adult members can hold a temple recommend and perform temple ordinances for their own kin."

I love how at the beginning of this talk Elder Nelson talks about his great-granddaughter and the love and connection we feel for our families. I know that if we studied and learned more about our ancestors and their stories that we would feel this same connection.

Healing the Sick

by Elder Dallin H. Oaks
Saturday Priesthood Session April 2010

In this talk Elder Oaks addresses the Priesthood holders about three areas involved with the healing of the sick. - "by medical science, by prayers of faith, and by priesthood blessings".

Medical Science

We believe that people can be healed by faith but we need to do our part. God has helped the medical field advance for the use of man.

" Latter-day Saints believe in applying the best available scientific knowledge and techniques. We use nutrition, exercise, and other practices to preserve health, and we enlist the help of healing practitioners, such as physicians and surgeons, to restore health.

The use of medical science is not at odds with our prayers of faith and our reliance on priesthood blessings."

My nephew was born with a heart defect and had to have open heart surgery the first week of his life. He received a Priesthood Blessing but we also prayed for the medical team working on him. I believe they were Divinely Guided in the surgery and were an answer to many prayers.

Prayers by Faith

"We know that the prayer of faith, uttered alone or in our homes or places of worship, can be effective to heal the sick."

"Truly, as the Book of Mormon teaches, God “manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, working mighty miracles . . . among the children of men according to their faith” (2 Nephi 26:13).

Priesthood Blessings

There are five parts to the use of priesthood authority to bless the sick: (1) the anointing, (2) the sealing of the anointing, (3) faith, (4) the words of the blessing, and (5) the will of the Lord.

Anointing

The Old and New Testament teach of anointing with oil to heal the sick.

Sealing the Anointing

"When someone has been anointed by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the anointing is sealed by that same authority. To seal something means to affirm it, to make it binding for its intended purpose. When elders anoint a sick person and seal the anointing, they open the windows of heaven for the Lord to pour forth the blessing He wills for the person afflicted."

Faith

Faith is essential for healing by the powers of heaven.

Faith is a crucial element in the healing of the sick. The person being anointed needs to exercise their faith to be healed.

President Spencer W. Kimball said: “The need of faith is often underestimated. The ill one and the family often seem to depend wholly on the power of the priesthood and the gift of healing that they hope the administering brethren may have, whereas the greater responsibility is with him who is blessed. . . . The major element is the faith of the individual when that person is conscious and accountable."

Words of Blessing

Another part of a priesthood blessing is the words of blessing spoken by the elder after he seals the anointing. These words can be very important, but their content is not essential and they are not recorded on the records of the Church. In some priesthood blessings—like a patriarchal blessing—the words spoken are the essence of the blessing. But in a healing blessing it is the other parts of the blessing—the anointing, the sealing, faith, and the will of the Lord—that are the essential elements.

I had never thought of the words this way before. That puts things into perspective for me and I know that I need to work on my faith.

Fortunately, the words spoken in a healing blessing are not essential to its healing effect. If faith is sufficient and if the Lord wills it, the afflicted person will be healed or blessed whether the officiator speaks those words or not. Conversely, if the officiator yields to personal desire or inexperience and gives commands or words of blessing in excess of what the Lord chooses to bestow according to the faith of the individual, those words will not be fulfilled.

Will of the Lord

Young men and older men, please take special note of what I will say now. As we exercise the undoubted power of the priesthood of God and as we treasure His promise that He will hear and answer the prayer of faith, we must always remember that faith and the healing power of the priesthood cannot produce a result contrary to the will of Him whose priesthood it is. This principle is taught in the revelation directing that the elders of the Church shall lay their hands upon the sick. The Lord’s promise is that “he that hath faith in me to be healed, and is not appointed unto death, shall be healed” (D&C 42:48; emphasis added). Similarly, in another modern revelation the Lord declares that when one “asketh according to the will of God . . . it is done even as he asketh” (D&C 46:30).

Welcome to Conference

by President Thomas S. Monson
Saturday Morning April 2010

The church continues to grow. We are building Temples and helping those in need around the world.

"Thank you, my brothers and sisters, for your faith and devotion to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you for all that you do in your wards and branches, in your stakes and districts. You serve willingly and well and accomplish great good. May the Lord bless you as you strive to follow Him and to obey His commandments."

It is important that we are always doing our part to build up the Kingdom of God.

I love how tender the Prophet speaks of his wife. What a great and tender example of love and how we should treat our spouses and loved ones.

"Many of you are aware that a short time after October conference, my dear wife, Frances, suffered a fall, which left her with a broken hip and a broken shoulder. After two successful surgeries and several weeks of hospitalization, she was able to return home. She is doing well and continues to make progress toward a full recovery. She was able to attend the general Young Women meeting last Saturday and plans to attend a session or two this weekend. In fact, at the last minute she said, “I’m going today!” And she’s here! She joins me in expressing our deep gratitude to our Heavenly Father and to all of you for your prayers and your well wishes in her behalf."

He is Risen!

by President Thomas S. Monson
Sunday Morning April 2010

" To understand the meaning of death, we must appreciate the purpose of life. The dim light of belief must yield to the noonday sun of revelation, by which we know that we lived before our birth into mortality. In our premortal state, we were doubtless among the sons and daughters of God who shouted for joy because of the opportunity to come to this challenging yet necessary mortal existence. We knew that our purpose was to gain a physical body, to overcome trials, and to prove that we would keep the commandments of God. Our Father knew that because of the nature of mortality, we would be tempted, would sin, and would fall short. So that we might have every chance of success, He provided a Savior, who would suffer and die for us. Not only would He atone for our sins, but as a part of that Atonement, He would also overcome the physical death to which we would be subject because of the Fall of Adam.

Thus, more than 2,000 years ago, Christ, our Savior, was born to mortal life in a stable in Bethlehem. The long-foretold Messiah had come."

I don't think I can sum up the story of our Savior better than the Prophet. I have been thinking about our Savior, Jesus Christ, a lot lately. Not that I wasn't thinking of the Savior before but I have been watching myself. Am I teaching my kids enough specifically about Jesus? Am I letting others know of my testimony in the Savior? Of my testimony of the Atonement and Resurrection?

When I was in college I was so blessed to be able to live in Jerusalem for the summer. What an opportunity that was to deepen my testimony of Jesus Christ. I was able to walk where He walked, to learn and understand more about His boyhood, ministry, atonement, crucifixion, and ultimately His Resurrection.

"No mere mortal can conceive the full import of what Christ did for us in Gethsemane. He Himself later described the experience: “[The] suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit.”

Following the agony of Gethsemane, now drained of strength, He was seized by rough, crude hands and taken before Annas, Caiaphas, Pilate, and Herod. He was accused and cursed. Vicious blows further weakened His pain-racked body. Blood ran down His face as a cruel crown fashioned of sharp thorns was forced onto His head, piercing His brow. And then once again He was taken to Pilate, who gave in to the cries of the angry mob: “Crucify him, crucify him.”

He was scourged with a whip into whose multiple leather strands sharp metals and bones were woven. Rising from the cruelty of the scourge, with stumbling steps He carried His own cross until He could go no farther and another shouldered the burden for Him.

Finally, on a hill called Calvary, while helpless followers looked on, His wounded body was nailed to a cross. Mercilessly He was mocked and cursed and derided. And yet He cried out, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

The agonizing hours passed as His life ebbed. From His parched lips came the words, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”

As the serenity and solace of a merciful death freed Him from the sorrows of mortality, He returned to the presence of His Father.

At the last moment, the Master could have turned back. But He did not. He passed beneath all things that He might save all things. His lifeless body was hurriedly but gently placed in a borrowed tomb.

No words in Christendom mean more to me than those spoken by the angel to the weeping Mary Magdalene and the other Mary when, on the first day of the week, they approached the tomb to care for the body of their Lord. Spoke the angel:

“Why seek ye the living among the dead?

“He is not here, but is risen.”"

I know that this is true! I am so grateful to my Savior and the victory that he gave us over death. My very favorite place to visit in Jerusalem is the Garden Tomb. There is so much peace and serenity there.

The Power of the Priesthood

by President Boyd K. Packer
Saturday Morning Session April 2010

" This “dispensation of the fulness of times” opened with the appearance of the Father and the Son to the boy Joseph Smith. Next the angel Moroni showed Joseph where the plates containing the Book of Mormon had been buried. Joseph was given power to translate them.

During translation Joseph and Oliver Cowdery read about baptism. They prayed to know what to do. There appeared to them an angelic messenger, John the Baptist. He conferred upon them the Aaronic Priesthood, “which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins.”

The Apostles Peter, James, and John, who were closest to the Lord in His ministry, appeared next and conferred upon Joseph and Oliver the higher priesthood, or “the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God.” The priesthood, the scriptures direct, was to be named after Melchizedek, the great high priest to whom Abraham paid tithes.

This then became their authority. Through the keys of the priesthood, they had access to all of the powers of heaven. They were commanded to carry the gospel unto all nations."

What a blessing it is to live on the earth with the Priesthood restored to the Earth. I have seen its power and know that the power of the Priesthood is real.

" Some years ago I gave a talk entitled “What Every Elder Should Know: A Primer on Principles of Priesthood Government.” Later, when it was to be published, I changed the title to read “What Every Elder Should Know—and Every Sister as Well.”

I include the sisters because it is crucial for everyone to understand what is expected of the brethren. Unless we enlist the attention of the mothers and daughters and sisters—who have influence on their husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers—we cannot progress. The priesthood will lose great power if the sisters are neglected.

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."

What are we as sisters doing to help our Priesthood bearers? What are we, as sisters, doing to uplift and encourage them? What are we teaching our sons and future Priesthood holders about the Priesthood? Are we teaching them the standards that they need to keep to be worthy to hold and exercise the Priesthood?

President Packer says,

"We have done very well at distributing the authority of the priesthood. We have priesthood authority planted nearly everywhere. We have quorums of elders and high priests worldwide. But distributing the authority of the priesthood has raced, I think, ahead of distributing the power of the priesthood. The priesthood does not have the strength that it should have and will not have until the power of the priesthood is firmly fixed in the families as it should be."

Here are some more quotes because my narration won't do them justice.

President Harold B. Lee stated: “It seems clear to me that the Church has no choice—and never has had—but to do more to assist the family in carrying out its divine mission, not only because that is the order of heaven, but also because that is the most practical contribution we can make to our youth—to help improve the quality of life in the Latter-day Saint homes. As important as our many programs and organizational efforts are, these should not supplant the home; they should support the home.”

President Joseph F. Smith made this statement about the priesthood in the home: “In the home the presiding authority is always vested in the father, and in all home affairs and family matters there is no other authority paramount. To illustrate this principle, a single incident will perhaps suffice. It sometimes happens that the elders are called in to administer to the members of a family. Among these elders there may be presidents of stakes, apostles, or even members of the first presidency of the Church. It is not proper under these circumstances for the father to stand back and expect the elders to direct the administration of this important ordinance. The father is there. It is his right and it is his duty to preside. He should select the one who is to administer the oil, and the one who is to be mouth in prayer, and he should not feel that because there are present presiding authorities in the Church that he is therefore divested of his rights to direct the administration of that blessing of the gospel in his home. (If the father be absent, the mother should request the presiding authority present to take charge.) The father presides at the table, at prayer, and gives general directions relating to his family life whoever may be present.”

Women all too often try to take then man's place in the home as the Patriarch of the Home. A lot of women state that they don't think family prayer and scripture reading would happen if they took charge. Instead we should be more equal partners with our husbands and encourage him to take his proper place.

I recently took a class by John Bythway about this very subject. He said work out a deal with your husband that you can let him know when a good time to do these things would be but then step back and let him lead the way. I will often call the family down for prayers but then step back and let my husband lead the actual event.

I think we can also positively influence our Priesthood bearers by letting them know how much it means to us that they are living worthily to hold and use the Priesthood. Also, Br. Bytheway

"The authority of the priesthood is with us. After all that we have correlated and organized, it is now our responsibility to activate the power of the priesthood in the Church. 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."

“And upon the Handmaids in Those Days Will I Pour Out My Spirit”

by Julie B. Beck
Saturday Morning April 2010

Take a look around the world. It doesn't take long to realize that we are living in troubling times. So how are we, as mother's, supposed to 1) raise a family in the way they should go and 2) increase our faith and personal righteousness.

Sister Beck gives us some tools to help along the way.

Personal Revelation

"A good woman knows that she does not have enough time, energy, or opportunity to take care of all of the people or do all of the worthy things her heart yearns to do. Life is not calm for most women, and each day seems to require the accomplishment of a million things, most of which are important. A good woman must constantly resist alluring and deceptive messages from many sources telling her that she is entitled to more time away from her responsibilities and that she deserves a life of greater ease and independence. But with personal revelation, she can prioritize correctly and navigate this life confidently."

At Women's Conference in May, Sister Beck gave a talk similar to this about our priorities. She said to divide our list into 3 categories: Have to do, Need to Do, and Would like to do. The top category should be filled with things that will bring us closer to God. ie Temple Attendance, Personal Prayer and Scripture study

There is so much that needs to be done and it is impossible to get everything done, but, as she reminds us, personal revelation can help us along the way.

She says here,

"The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life."

However, we must do our part to be worthy to receive personal revelation.

"Revelation can come hour by hour and moment by moment as we do the right things. When women nurture as Christ nurtured, a power and peace can descend to guide when help is needed."

Relief Society—Teaching, Inspiring, and Strengthening

"Additionally, the Lord in His wisdom has provided a Relief Society to help His daughters in these latter days. When Relief Society functions in an inspired way, it lifts women up and out of a troubled world and into a way of living that prepares them for the blessings of eternal life. This society has at its very core the responsibility to help sisters increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek out and help others who are in need. Through Relief Society, sisters can receive answers to their questions and be blessed by the combined spiritual power of all the sisters. Relief Society validates the true and eternal nature of daughters of God. It is a sacred trust, a guiding light, and a system of watchcare that teaches and inspires women to be strong and immovable. Its motto, “Charity never faileth,”7 is embodied in all good women"

I personally have felt the benefit of being involved in such a large sisterhood. I have been spiritually fed, physically fed, and mentally fed over the years. When we lived in Arizona, a friend of mine had her first baby. She is not a member of our Church but I called and told her that I was bringing dinner over to her. She could not believe that I would be willing to help her like that. I told her this is what we do ... help and strengthen our sisters.

Measuring Success

"Good women always have a desire to know if they are succeeding. In a world where the measures of success are often distorted, it is important to seek appreciation and affirmation from proper sources. To paraphrase a list found in Preach My Gospel, we are doing well when we develop attributes of Christ and strive to obey His gospel with exactness. We are doing well when we seek to improve ourselves and do our best. We are doing well when we increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek out and help others who are in need. We know we are successful if we live so that we qualify for, receive, and know how to follow the Spirit. When we have done our very best, we may still experience disappointments, but we will not be disappointed in ourselves. We can feel certain that the Lord is pleased when we feel the Spirit working through us.9 Peace, joy, and hope are available to those who measure success properly."

I know that I am not perfect, not even close, but I am always working on being a better person. I think it is so important that everyone knows who they are and especially that they are a "Child of God" who knows and loves them personally.

Tell Me the Stories of Jesus

by Elder Neil L. Andersen
April 2010

Are we teaching our children about Jesus Christ? Do they have an understanding of his ministry, life, Atonement, Resurrection?

Elder Andersen quotes President Monson
"President Thomas S. Monson has described the rising generation as “the very best ever” and has said to our youth: “You have come to this earth at a glorious time. The opportunities before you are nearly limitless.” But he also warned, “We have been placed on earth in troubled times.” “It is a time of permissiveness, with society in general routinely disregarding and breaking the laws of God.” We are surrounded by so much that is designed to divert our attention. “The adversary is using every means possible to ensnare us in his web of deceit.”"

We have such a huge responsibility to teach our kids the way of God and not of the world.

He says, "In our world today, each child, each young man and young woman needs his or her own conversion to the truth."

When I was 18 I was able to live in Nauvoo for a semester in college. I had always been a church going girl and knew what I needed to do to be happy in life but I had a twinge of doubt in my mind. I wasn't sure if I had a testimony of my own. I had always heard people sharing experiences of this life altering event where they just knew without a doubt that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was true. I couldn't think back to a time where I had this great significant event or "Tadaaa" moment as I like to call it, so it made me wonder if maybe I didn't know.

During this 4 months I studied and had many spiritual experiences that testified to me but most importantly I came to understand that for me I didn't need a big moment like that. I already had a testimony of Jesus Christ and his teachings. I had been taught my entire life about Him and His Gospel. I had been raised in a good Christian family who taught me about Christ, his ministry, good values, to be kind to others and about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ on the Earth.

Elder Andersen says,
" The stories of Jesus can be like a rushing wind across the embers of faith in the hearts of our children. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”8 The stories of Jesus shared over and over bring faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strength to the foundation of testimony. Can you think of a more valuable gift for our children?

Are the life and teachings of Jesus Christ embedded in the minds and souls of our children? Do they think about the Savior’s life when they wonder what to do in their own lives? This will be more and more important in the years ahead"

I realized I had been given this gift and I will be forever indebted to my parents for giving it to me. And eternally indebted to my Savior for the Gift he gave me.