Comments On Current Welfare State

I like it.  Just common sense.  Go to your church or atheist organization if you want more help than what the government can offer to keep you alive.  If your church or atheist organization turns you away, well maybe you should reevaluate your church or organization.  By the way, I don’t know of any atheist organization that provides help to the poor.

Life is hard.  Faith in God and trust that God is watching over you and to be a member of an organization that uplifts the poor while abasing the rich are great options.  The only other option is make the government do it.

By the way, without permitting people on welfare to purchase all the products at the grocery store, you wouldn’t get the corporate capitalist on board with the government plan.  Only the rice and bean producing corporations would be happy.  We are a welfare capitalist state not a socialist state and many suppose.

Best regards,

Scott

I F YOU CAN'T FIX IT WITH A HAMMER,YOU'VE GOT AN  ELECTRICAL PROBLEM" Wow, this girl has a great  plan! Love the last thing she would do.... the best . This was written by a 21  yr. old female who gets it. It's her future she's worried about and this is how  she feels about the social welfare big government state that she's being forced  to live in! These solutions are just common sense in her opinion. This  'article' was in the Waco Tribune Herald, Waco , TX   PUT ME IN CHARGE . .  . Put me in charge of food  stamps. I'd get rid of Lone Star cards; no cash for Ding Dongs or Ho Ho's, just  money for 50-pound bags of rice and beans, blocks of cheese and all the powdered  milk you can haul away. If you want steak and frozen pizza, then get a job. Put me in charge of Medicaid. The first thing I'd do is to get women  Norplant birth control implants or tubal ligations. Then, we'll test recipients  for drugs, alcohol, and nicotine. If you want to reproduce or use drugs,  alcohol, or smoke, then get a job. Put me in charge of government  housing. Ever live in a military barracks? You will maintain our property in a  clean and good state of repair. Your home" will be subject to inspections  anytime and possessions will be inventoried. If you want a plasma TV or Xbox  360, then get a job and your own place. In addition, you will either  present a check stub from a job each week or you will report to a "government"  job. It may be cleaning the roadways of trash, painting and repairing public  housing, whatever we find for you. We will sell your 22 inch rims and low  profile tires and your blasting stereo and speakers and put that money toward  the "common good.." Before you write that I've violated someone's  rights, realize that all of the above is voluntary. If you want our money,  accept our rules. Before you say that this would be "demeaning" and ruin their  "self esteem," consider that it wasn't that long ago that taking someone else's  money for doing absolutely nothing was demeaning and lowered self esteem. If we are expected to pay for other people's mistakes we should at least  attempt to make them learn from their bad choices. The current system rewards  them for continuing to make bad choices. AND While  you are on Gov't subsistence, you no longer can VOTE! Yes, that is correct. For  you to vote would be a conflict of interest. You will voluntarily remove  yourself from voting while you are receiving a Gov't welfare check. If you want  to vote, then get a job. Now, if you have the guts - PASS IT ON...I WOULD REALLY  LIKE TO GET THIS BACK, IF EVERYONE SENDS IT, I WILL GET OVER 220 BACK!!! I WOULD  KNOW YOU SENT IT ON!!!

Can Ye Feel So Now - 4th Sunday Lesson

Can Ye Feel So Now?  5/26/2013

By Elder Quentin L. Cook

Some in the Church believe they can’t answer Alma’s question with a resounding yes. They do not “feel so now.”

                                                                
Introduction

[if you want: a short history of myself]

Say: To start the lesson, I would like to read a scripture

Read Alma 5:26 And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask,  can ye feel so now?

Elder Quentin L. Cook uses this verse as the title of his talk in October 2012 General Conference.  His caption at the beginning of his talk is"

Some in the Church believe they can’t answer Alma’s question with a resounding yes. They do not “feel so now.”

SAY: During the course of this lesson I hope to be able to answer the question, why some can't answer the question with a 'resounding yes', as well as what we can do remember how the change of heart felt when we received it, bringing to our current memories of times when we have felt to sing the song of redeeming love.

SAY: A few verses earlier, Alma asks this question:

Read Alma 5:19:

19 I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?

Say: From the questions Alma is asking, he appears to want his brethren to do an internal assessment whether they still have access to the change of heart they felt in the past or have they lost it.  Are they enjoying a spiritual connection with God or have they lost the connection.

Learner Involvement

Q: What is it to have felt to sing the song of redeeming love?

Q: What does it mean to you to have the image of God engraven upon our countenances?

Q: Why is it important to remember?

Q: Is it hard to keep our relationship with diety, the Holy Spirit intact?

Q: Do we lose it sometimes?

Elder Cook says the following about being able to feel so now.

Read A:

Quotation A

This question, “Can ye feel so now?” rings across the centuries. With all that we have received in this dispensation—including the Restoration of the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the outpouring of spiritual gifts, and the indisputable blessings of heaven—Alma’s challenge has never been more important.

Q: Is feeling so now related to the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the outpouring of spiritual gifts and receiving blessing of heaven (which are indisputable, if we are receiving them)?

Say:  ...Debate on YouTube...  

- Tanner vs. Wallace, Pastor of the Pres. church in SLC.

- He picks at little things, Tanner responds admiralble.  

- I made me wonder, what make us different than the average evangelical christian out there.

- What is the inner life of a latter day saint?  What is the inner life the evangelical christian?

- Is there a difference?  Assuming we are good people, is there a difference?

Q: What is the difference? [we believe in grace and doing, we believe in being saved from our sins upon the conditions of repentance, those who are exerting themselves enjoy the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, gifts of the Spirit, spiritual progression and blessings and miracles.

Q: What brings about this change of heart?

Application

Read B

Quotation B

Local leaders across the world report that when viewed as a whole, Church members, especially our youth, have never been stronger. But they almost always raise two concerns: first, the challenge of increased unrighteousness in the world and, second, the apathy and lack of commitment of some members. They seek counsel about how to help members to follow the Savior and achieve a deep and lasting conversion.

Q: What is the cure for these two concerns?

READ C

Quotation C

Soon after Ezra Taft Benson was called as an Apostle in 1943, President George Albert Smith counseled, “Your mission … is to … warn the people … in as kind a way as possible that repentance will be the only panacea for the ills of this world.” When this statement was made, we were in the midst of the conflagration of World War II.

Q: What was Elder Benson's counsel?

READ D

Quotation D

Many who are in a spiritual drought and lack commitment have not necessarily been involved in major sins or transgressions, but they have made unwise choices. Some are casual in their observance of sacred covenants. Others spend most of their time giving first-class devotion to lesser causes. Some allow intense cultural or political views to weaken their allegiance to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Some have immersed themselves in Internet materials that magnify, exaggerate, and, in some cases, invent shortcomings of early Church leaders. Then they draw incorrect conclusions that can affect testimony. Any who have made these choices can repent and be spiritually renewed.

Say:  Elder Cook speaks on unwise choices that need to be repented of, so we can be spiritual renewed.  His first mentions casual observance of sacred covenants.  Q: How do we repent of casual observance? [Exert ourselves]

2. Spending most of our time giving first class devotion to lesser causes.

3. Allowing intense cultural or political views to weaken our allegiance to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

4. Drawing incorrect conclusions about early Church leaders that can affect testimony.

READ E

Quotation E

Immersion in the scriptures is essential for spiritual nourishment. The word of God inspires commitment and acts as a healing balm for hurt feelings, anger, or disillusionment. When our commitment is diminished for any reason, part of the solution is repentance. Commitment and repentance are closely intertwined.

READ F

Quotation F

C. S. Lewis, the striving, pragmatic Christian writer, poignantly framed the issue. He asserted that Christianity tells people to repent and promises them forgiveness; but until people know and feel they need forgiveness, Christianity does not speak to them. He stated, “When you know you are sick, you will listen to the doctor.”

Q: Are we sometimes sick, and not know it?

READ G

Quotation G

The Prophet Joseph pointed out that before your baptism, you could be on neutral ground between good and evil. But “when you joined this Church you enlisted to serve God. When you did that you left the neutral ground, and you never can [go] back.” His counsel was that we must never forsake the Master.

Q: Why is this counsel important in our day? [lots of diversions that tempt us to stop enduring to the end.]

READ H

Quotation H

Alma emphasizes that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, “the arms of mercy are extended” to those who repent. He then asks penetrating and ultimate questions, such as: Are we prepared to meet God? Are we keeping ourselves blameless? We should all contemplate these questions. Alma’s own experience in failing to follow his faithful father and then coming to a dramatic understanding of how much he needed forgiveness and what it meant to sing the song of redeeming love is powerful and compelling.

Q: What have you learned from this lesson?

Conclusion 

My sincere prayer is that each of us will take any necessary action to feel the Spirit now so we can sing the song of redeeming love with all our hearts. I testify of the power of the Savior’s Atonement, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

 Can Ye Feel So Now?  5/26/2013

By Elder Quentin L. Cook

Some in the Church believe they can’t answer Alma’s question with a resounding yes. They do not “feel so now.”

                                                                
Introduction

[if you want: a short history of myself]

Say: To start the lesson, I would like to read a scripture

Read Alma 5:26 And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask,  can ye feel so now?

Elder Quentin L. Cook uses this verse as the title of his talk in October 2012 General Conference.  His caption at the beginning of his talk is"

Some in the Church believe they can’t answer Alma’s question with a resounding yes. They do not “feel so now.”

SAY: During the course of this lesson I hope to be able to answer the question, why some can't answer the question with a 'resounding yes', as well as what we can do remember how the change of heart felt when we received it, bringing to our current memories of times when we have felt to sing the song of redeeming love.

SAY: A few verses earlier, Alma asks this question:

Read Alma 5:19:

19 I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?

Say: From the questions Alma is asking, he appears to want his brethren to do an internal assessment whether they still have access to the change of heart they felt in the past or have they lost it.  Are they enjoying a spiritual connection with God or have they lost the connection.

Learner Involvement

Q: What is it to have felt to sing the song of redeeming love?

Q: What does it mean to you to have the image of God engraven upon our countenances?

Q: Why is it important to remember?

Q: Is it hard to keep our relationship with diety, the Holy Spirit intact?

Q: Do we lose it sometimes?

Elder Cook says the following about being able to feel so now.

Read A:

Quotation A

This question, “Can ye feel so now?” rings across the centuries. With all that we have received in this dispensation—including the Restoration of the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the outpouring of spiritual gifts, and the indisputable blessings of heaven—Alma’s challenge has never been more important.

Q: Is feeling so now related to the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the outpouring of spiritual gifts and receiving blessing of heaven (which are indisputable, if we are receiving them)?

Say:  ...Debate on YouTube...  

- Tanner vs. Wallace, Pastor of the Pres. church in SLC.

- He picks at little things, Tanner responds admiralble.  

- I made me wonder, what make us different than the average evangelical christian out there.

- What is the inner life of a latter day saint?  What is the inner life the evangelical christian?

- Is there a difference?  Assuming we are good people, is there a difference?

Q: What is the difference? [we believe in grace and doing, we believe in being saved from our sins upon the conditions of repentance, those who are exerting themselves enjoy the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, gifts of the Spirit, spiritual progression and blessings and miracles.

Q: What brings about this change of heart?

Application

Read B

Quotation B

Local leaders across the world report that when viewed as a whole, Church members, especially our youth, have never been stronger. But they almost always raise two concerns: first, the challenge of increased unrighteousness in the world and, second, the apathy and lack of commitment of some members. They seek counsel about how to help members to follow the Savior and achieve a deep and lasting conversion.

Q: What is the cure for these two concerns?

READ C

Quotation C

Soon after Ezra Taft Benson was called as an Apostle in 1943, President George Albert Smith counseled, “Your mission … is to … warn the people … in as kind a way as possible that repentance will be the only panacea for the ills of this world.” When this statement was made, we were in the midst of the conflagration of World War II.

Q: What was Elder Benson's counsel?

READ D

Quotation D

Many who are in a spiritual drought and lack commitment have not necessarily been involved in major sins or transgressions, but they have made unwise choices. Some are casual in their observance of sacred covenants. Others spend most of their time giving first-class devotion to lesser causes. Some allow intense cultural or political views to weaken their allegiance to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Some have immersed themselves in Internet materials that magnify, exaggerate, and, in some cases, invent shortcomings of early Church leaders. Then they draw incorrect conclusions that can affect testimony. Any who have made these choices can repent and be spiritually renewed.

Say:  Elder Cook speaks on unwise choices that need to be repented of, so we can be spiritual renewed.  His first mentions casual observance of sacred covenants.  Q: How do we repent of casual observance? [Exert ourselves]

2. Spending most of our time giving first class devotion to lesser causes.

3. Allowing intense cultural or political views to weaken our allegiance to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

4. Drawing incorrect conclusions about early Church leaders that can affect testimony.

READ E

Quotation E

Immersion in the scriptures is essential for spiritual nourishment. The word of God inspires commitment and acts as a healing balm for hurt feelings, anger, or disillusionment. When our commitment is diminished for any reason, part of the solution is repentance. Commitment and repentance are closely intertwined.

READ F

Quotation F

C. S. Lewis, the striving, pragmatic Christian writer, poignantly framed the issue. He asserted that Christianity tells people to repent and promises them forgiveness; but until people know and feel they need forgiveness, Christianity does not speak to them. He stated, “When you know you are sick, you will listen to the doctor.”

Q: Are we sometimes sick, and not know it?

READ G

Quotation G

The Prophet Joseph pointed out that before your baptism, you could be on neutral ground between good and evil. But “when you joined this Church you enlisted to serve God. When you did that you left the neutral ground, and you never can [go] back.” His counsel was that we must never forsake the Master.

Q: Why is this counsel important in our day? [lots of diversions that tempt us to stop enduring to the end.]

READ H

Quotation H

Alma emphasizes that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, “the arms of mercy are extended” to those who repent. He then asks penetrating and ultimate questions, such as: Are we prepared to meet God? Are we keeping ourselves blameless? We should all contemplate these questions. Alma’s own experience in failing to follow his faithful father and then coming to a dramatic understanding of how much he needed forgiveness and what it meant to sing the song of redeeming love is powerful and compelling.

Q: What have you learned from this lesson?

Conclusion 

My sincere prayer is that each of us will take any necessary action to feel the Spirit now so we can sing the song of redeeming love with all our hearts. I testify of the power of the Savior’s Atonement, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Contention in our Souls

In Mosiah 2, King Benjamin tells us that contention is bad for the soul (v.32).  We obey the evil spirit when we contend amongst ourselves.  He then pronounces a wo unto all who listeth to obey that spirit because if he were to die in his sins, he would drink damnation to his soul.  Why?  A person who is obeying the wrong spirit does not repent of his sins.  Contention seems to connote turmoil within oneself, not having arrived at Christ's peace, continuously rebelling against good, determined to hold on to old ways, unwilling to cast off false traditions - all of this after being made aware that a change needs to be made.  This is what is meant by the phrase in verse 33, "...having transgressed the law of God contrary to his own knowledge". Contention is a state of mind opposite to a state of peace and rest.

Why does transgressing the law of God contrary to our own knowledge cause us to drink damnation to our souls?  We stop progressing in this life.  If we have a knowledge that forgiving will free our souls and continue to hold a grudge, we are contending within ourselves against our own knowledge of the right thing to do.

As we withdraw from the Spirit of the Lord we are no longer guided in wisdom's paths which is the only way to be blessed, prospered and preserved (v. 36).  Whether we like it or not, we are in open rebellion against God (v.37).

Ultimately, if a person continues down this road until he dies,  dying an enemy to God, he awakens in the afterlife with a lively sense of his own guilt.  His breast is filled with guilt, pain and anguish, and this is like an unquenchable fire (v.38). Why?  Because the demands of divine justice awakens his soul.  He knew the right path but chose not to take it.  Justice claims him and mercy has no power.

Unresolved contention in our lives ultimately ends with us being in a unhappy state.  We never took advantage of the atonement, letting go of everything that is part of an unhappy, contentious, rebellious state of mind.  Coming unto Christ brings peace and rest to our souls.  Anything contrary to this in our lives indicates that we haven't cast our burdens upon the Lord.

Lesson - Trial of Your Faith, April 28, 2013

Trial of Your Faith, April 28, 2013

By Elder Neil L. Andersen

Elder Henry B Eyring, Where is Thy Pavillion?

Elder Marcus B Nash, By Faith all things are fulfilled

Elder Jeffrey R Holland, Lord, I Believe

Introduction

This lesson today is on Trials of our Faith.  It is taken from ... Anderson, Nash and Eyring and Holland

Problem: When fiery trials come upon us, they are so well disguised that we sometimes feel like God has forsaken us and give up.

Solution: Don't give up the faith.

tell experience ; wife broken hip, son in rehab, my investor bankrupts, I have a part time job.

Say, We cannot judge trial of others, Elder Anderson said, "A real but manageable test for one can be a fiery trial for another."

Learner Readiness (What shakes our faith?)

Let's read four Quotations:

READ

1. Quotation from Elder Eyring

Our feelings of separation from God will diminish as we become more childlike before Him. That is not easy in a world where the opinions of other human beings can have such an effect on our motives. But it will help us recognize this truth: God is close to us and aware of us and never hides from His faithful children.

READ

2. Quotation from Elder Anderson

These fiery trials are designed to make you stronger, but they have the potential to diminish or even destroy your trust in the Son of God and to weaken your resolve to keep your promises to Him. These trials are often camouflaged, making them difficult to identify. They take root in our weaknesses, our vulnerabilities, our sensitivities, or in those things that matter most to us. A real but manageable test for one can be a fiery trial for another.

READ

3. Quotation from Elder Nash

,... fear distracts from and undermines faith in the Savior. The Apostle Peter looked to the Lord one stormy night and walked on water—until he averted his gaze and “saw the wind boisterous [and] was afraid” and then sank into the stormy sea.  He could have continued walking if he had not feared! Rather than our focusing upon and fearing the boisterous wind and waves in our lives, the Lord invites us to “look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not."

Q: What kind of things shake our faith? (opinions of man, our vulnerabilities, fear, fiery trials)

READ

4. Quotation from Elder Anderson

 Peter later encouraged others: “Think it not strange,” he said, “concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you."

Learner Involvement (Why is our faith tried?)

Q: In the context of trials of our faith, what is faith? [believing in things that are inherently unseen and acting according to our beliefs]

Q: Why do we sometimes view our trials as some strange thing?

[we like it when things are good, we erroneously believe that bad things don't happen when we are righteous]

Q: Are trials a part of life?

Q: What happens after we successfully pass through a trial? (we learn that God is with us, miracles happen)

Q: Ultimately, if a trial of one's faith is designed to have a positive outcome, what is a trial of our faith really designed to do.  [designed to provide evidence whether or not God is really involved in our lives, whether or not unseen principles are true]

Learner Application (what do we do when a fiery trial comes upon us?) 

Q: So, what's the worse thing we can do when a trial of our faith comes our way?

READ

Quotation - Elder Nash

When faced with a trial of faith—whatever you do, you don’t step away from the Church! Distancing yourself from the kingdom of God during a trial of faith is like leaving the safety of a secure storm cellar just as the tornado comes into view.

Quotation - Elder Holland 

I said I was speaking to the young. I still am. A 14-year-old boy recently said to me a little hesitantly, “Brother Holland, I can’t say yet that I know the Church is true, but I believe it is.” I hugged that boy until his eyes bulged out. I told him with all the fervor of my soul that belief is a precious word, an even more precious act, and he need never apologize for “only believing.” I told him that Christ Himself said, “Be not afraid, only believe,” a phrase which, by the way, carried young Gordon B. Hinckley into the mission field. I told this boy that belief was always the first step toward conviction and that the definitive articles of our collective faith forcefully reiterate the phrase “We believe.” And I told him how very proud I was of him for the honesty of his quest.

Q: Why did I put this quote in the lesson?  You aren't 14 year olds.

Q: Is Believing in God, trusting in God, relying wholly upon His merits a small part of faith or is it a large part of faith?  What should be the balance between believing and doing?

Q: What have you done to develop unshaken faith in God?

Conclusion

 Read:

 Nash: How do you remain “steadfast and immovable” during a trial of faith? You immerse yourself in the very things that helped build your core of faith: you exercise faith in Christ, you pray, you ponder the scriptures, you repent, you keep the commandments, and you serve others.

Nash : We too can exercise such faith in the Lord, believing and trusting that our kind and constant God will bless us with His miraculous power suited to our circumstance, according to His timing. As we do so, we too will see the hand of God manifest in our lives.

Peter described these experiences as “much more precious than … gold.”26 Moroni added that a witness follows “the trial of your faith.”

Stay true

Believe in God

Stay strong

Believe that God is interested in you and love you.

Finally, believe in miracles after the trial of your faith.

Amen.

2. Quotation from Elder Nash

If, because of unbelief or doubt, you find your faith wavering, remember that even the ancient Apostles implored the Lord to “increase our faith.” Bearing in mind that faith and reason are necessary companions, consider the following analogy: faith and reason are like the two wings of an aircraft. Both are essential to maintain flight. If, from your perspective, reason seems to contradict faith, pause and remember that our perspective is extremely limited compared with the Lord’s. Do not discard faith any more than you would detach a wing from an aircraft in flight. Instead, nurture a particle of faith and permit the hope it produces to be an anchor to your soul—and to your reason.

Q: Back to the Wings of an airplane analogy: Why are reason and faith necessary companions?

Additional Material

3 Nephi 26

8 And these things have I written, which are a lesser part of the things which he taught the people; and I have written them to the intent that they may be brought again unto this people, from the Gentiles, according to the words which Jesus hath spoken.

9 And when they shall have received this, which is expedient that they should have first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things then shall the greater thingsbe made manifest unto them.

10 And if it so be that they will not believe these things, then shall the greater things be withheld from them, unto their condemnation.

11 Behold, I was about to write them, all which were engraven upon the plates of Nephi, but the Lord forbade it, saying: I will try the faith of my people.

Q: Why is the Book of Mormon a trial of our faith?

Q: What are some principles and precepts in the Book of Mormon that we must do?

  Mosiah 10:11 strength of the Lord

  Rely wholly on His merits who is mighty to save.

  Perfect in Christ = denying ungodliness and coming unto Christ

  Pride

  Working on our weaknesses

The Community Foundation of Jacob 2 - Part I

As I studied the words of Jacob to his people, I realized that Jacob dictated (from God) two community principles upon which the Nephites were to build their civilization.  The foundation principles were temporal equality and gender equality.  These two principles are outgrowths of living or striving to live, the principles of the gospel.  Instead dispelling already embedded false traditions, Jacob, was not going let them get started. (Jacob 2:5).  Nephi's group had grown large enough by this time that the people weren't inherently acting as a cohesive family unit.  So, this first regulation was made.  Their society and their church were essential the same.

Jacob seeing that some men are now obtaining more wealth than other men, were beginning to walk in the pride of their hearts (Jacob 2:13).  Their wearing of fine apparel and their persecuting of their brethren are the evidences Jacob uses to show their pride.  Jacob tries to impress upon their minds the gravity of the matter by telling them that God could strike them down with a single glance (v.10,15).  Jacob later infers that their abundance is a gift from God (v.20) and temporal inequality is an abomination unto God (v. 21).  No wonder Jacob tells his brethren to "be free with their substance, that they may be rich like unto you"(v.17).  He explains in his way what Christ taught in his ministry in Palestine to seek first for the Kingdom of God and all things would be added unto them (Matthew 6:33).  The obvious outcome of first having a hope in Christ is to use your surplus riches to help others (v.18,19).

The Nephite prophets sought to uphold and maintain the foundation principles taught by their fathers.  Two of these were temporal equality and gender equality (to be discussed).  Their church was built on these principles. Falling away from these principles was consider wickedness and pride. I find it curious that we, the LDS people, continuously strive to arrive at a similar state (of mind and reality).  We are coming from a different direction, though.  To dispel our deep set traditions is not easy.  Our logic, and the natural man within us, easily dismisses the idea that temporal equality will work.  More progress has been made in the area of gender equality.

April 7, 2013 PM General Conference

Holland

If thou canst believe all things.  Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief.

Straight way, Lord I believe, help thou unbelief.  He heals the boy.

Those young in years of faith.

1. The father asserts his faith.  Lord I believe
Remember this man.  Hold the ground you have already won.  When those moments come, hold fast to what you already know.  This specific miracle, Jesus said, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed.  The size of your faith is not the issue.  Be true to your faith that you do have.
2.  Don't lead with your unbelief.  Be true to the faith you do have.  Have an honest declaration of faith rather than your declaration of your unbelief.  You have more faith than you think you do.  The fruit of living the gospel is evident in LDS every where.  This cannot be denied.  This is a divine work in process.  Do not hyperventilate about issue that need to be examined and resolved.  In this world everyone is to walk by faith.  Imperfect people is all God has to do to deal with it.  Be patient and kind and forgiving.
3.  When doubt or difficulty come don't be afraid to ask for help.  Importune God acting no hypocrisy.  I can't say yet ....  I hugged that boy until his eyes bulged out.  Be not afraid, only believe. Belief was always the first step toward conviction.

I know that God is at all times and all circumstances is our loving Father in Heaven.
I know that JS acknowledging that he was imperfect.
I know that president Thomas S. Monson is the rightful successor of the mantle of prophet.

More sure word of prophecy.  I know.  Lean on mine.  This work is God's work.  Don't allow doubt or devils stop you.  Fan the faith of your belief.

Dallim H. Oaks.

Follow in the footsteps of Christ.  Study the life of the Savior.
Review examples and teachings.  Invite you how this restored church and each of us qualify.
Baptism necessary to enter the kingdom of God.
Invite people to repent
If you love me keep my commandments.
Leave that which is highly esteemed among men and the traditions of men.
Ye are not of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
We should not be of the world or bound to the traditions of men.
Some model themselves after the worldly ways.
Worldly practices such as Political Correctness, grooming, teaching about the family.
Whosoever hearth these things and doeth them, I will liken unto a wise man.....
If we love him we will be obedient.
Continuous commitment that applies at all times and all places.
Partake of the sacrament as emblems of him.
We do this each week and covcnant.
We are taught to pray.  We pray in our worship services.
Daily kneeling prays as a family.
The restored church follows the example of Jesus Christ.
No man having put his hand to the plow.   Missionary duties ...
Male and female.  Leave his parents and cleave to his wife.
Seek after the flock who has strayed.  rescue and serve.
Love.  Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy self.
New commandment.  as I have loved you.  Love one another.
When we are wronged, we should forgive them.
Give loving forgiveness.  forgive the drunken driver.  As a disciple of Christ, I had no other choice.
Giving to charities.  We fast for tow meals and donate to Chruch to help
Less well known is the church humanitarian donations.  100s of millions of dollars.lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
Be ye therefore perfect.  We are all heirs.  Heirs with God and joint heirs with Christ.  We inherit all things. All that he has.  Only if we follow the Savior.

Chistobel Golden Jr.

About the Father.  JC is the great Jehova.

Elder Falabella

1. The temple is the place The home.  Getting married.  Expiration date.  Shake hand with everyone. Gathered enough to get to Guatemala.
2. In order to contend, you need two people and I will never be one of them. physical abuse.  still far from eliminating emotional abuse.  wounds our personality.
3. A child who sings is a happy child.  Sacred music.  My soul delighteth in the song of the heart.
4. **send nice texts
5. Read the Book of Mormon.
6. Live the scriptures.  Blance (wife).  She taught me how to live it.  Wise man building his house on a rock.  they bring peace.

Elder Kolpischke

Always felt his love and confidence in me.  Feel his acceptance.  His father.  Being accepted by good people motivates us.  Seeking acceptance.  Bad friends or status.  Dangerous path.  to destruction.  Eventually feel abandoned and inferior.  Look to God and live.  Lasting accptance of HF and JC.  They look into our hearts.  They accept us for who we are and what we are striving to become.

Pattern:  know their hearts are honest and broken.  We look into our hearts.  We know our motives and desires. This is honest.  Broken heart is open and receptive.  He knocks. Open this door to Him.  Honest and broken.  We will be taught by the Holy Ghost.


Spirits are contrite. Acknowedge that we have done something wrong.  Willing to listen to the enticings of the Holy Spirit.  Willing.

keep their covenants by sacrifice.  Conscious decision.  Something big or hard.  No so.  Everyday we work on this.  Renew and confirm our sacred promises to the Lord.   The Sacrament.  Always having his Spirit to be with us.  Accept a calling in the church.  Rescue others.  Silent service.  Simply striving for righteousness. Observing our covenants when things are raging around us.

Seeking and receiving the acceptance of the Lord.brings forth great blessings.  His loving acceptance will motivate.  We will feel at peace.  Fear not little children.  I have overcome the world.

Bruce D. Porter.

The last supper.  they did not know that it would be called this.  Darkest hours imminent. In the world you shall have tribulation.  Be of good cheer.  Wickedness in Vengeance.  Last dispensation.  We live in it.  I have overcome the world.  We need not fear the future or falter in good cheer.  Fear not.  Jesus repeated that counsel many times.  I the Lord am with you and will stand by you.  Peace in Zion and in her Stakes.  Defense and refuge from the storm.  When poured out beyond measure....

Stone cut out without hands will fill the whole earth.  JC is the chief corner stone.  Everyone of us can be armed with the power of God as a defense.  Let the Spirit be our guide.  Humbly, quietly trust in the Lord, we will be blessed with deep inner peace.  just a joyful as I do now.

Life begins with a motarized wheel chair.  Pauls faith never dimmed.

Optimistic person named Bruce.  Impossible not to feel bouyed up in his presence.  Tom, in snow, he heard someone singing.  Here came singing.  Oh what a beautiful morning.  A symbol of faith and hope. We may sing with joy rejoicing that God is with this church.  Two other mornings - Spring of 1820.  JS entered a grove of trees in prayer.

Monson

Love and good will to all. Savior has provided this to all,.

Widows and widowers
Drug abuse

We live in a time in the world's history.
I we will put our trust in the Lord, he will help us through our difficulites whatever they may be.  i am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is the key to our happiness.

God lives.  he hears the prayers of humble hearts.  He will come in to us.  We must open on door which He knocks.  Nuture your testimonies.  Until we meet gain in six months.  the Lord bless and keep you. Invoke a blessing upon you.

April 6, 2013 - LDS Conference Sat, PM

Don't forget to pray (song)

Uctdorft

Packard, Perry, Nelson, Oaks, Ballard, Scott, Hales, Holland, Bednar, Cook, Christopherson, Anderson

Cantwell

Brook P Hales

Scott

Place of refuge.  The home.  Quiet place to reset.  Center your home and your life on the Lord.  He is the source of true peace in your life.  All decisions, what the Savior would have you do.

** Make your children accountable for your actions.
** Daily personal and family prayer, daily personal and family scripture study
** Apply sound gospel principles.
Simple consistent good habits.
tech devices can have filth in them.  Waste of time.
** do all we can to have the gentle guidance of the Holy Ghost in your life.
When we serve obediently we gain power from the Lord.
This is an absolute law.  Friends will blossom on your Christ centered environment.  Love abounds.
** Be a true friend.  as a treasure, find a good model for a family.
a positive response to our rescue efforts can occur.  Be patient.
Some things are left to the Lord.  He is in the watch care of the Lord. (James and Steven and Shawn)
Hope is not a thin thread.  Place your trust in the Lord.  We need not worry.  We don't do things simultaneously.  One step at a time.  The Lord will direct us.


Cook

The doctrine of peace.  Having a lasting peace.  How to find peace.  Newton, CT funeral.  Ivory Coast city of Abajan.
Rob our peace, things do.  World trade center.  Made their way to the Manhattan Stake Center.  Stakes of Zion are refuge from the storm when wrath to be poured out on the earth without measure.
World peace vs. God's peace.  Thing not that I have come to send peace on the earth.  He did not bring peace.  Peace shall be taken from the earth.  In deed, peace has been taken.  But, the goal is peace.  Mankind must receive his truth and acknowledge His authority.

Peace is a promised reward to righteousness.  Peace in this life.  Gift from God.  Abiding deep happiness and spiritual contentment.  Calm and happiness.

Saviors peace eases our suffering and hate.  Peace by focusing on family history.  Knowing that the Lord loves us and he knows who we are.   [connected to the vine].

God is the author of peace.  Reject God, no peace.  Abuse of agency leaves us angry, defenseless, vulnerable.

All the rules will be fair and their will be wonderful surprises.
Not found in all the stuff of the world.  Where can I turn for peace?  Answer:  The Savior, source and author.  Humbling ourselves, repenting, becoming true disciples of Jesus Christ.  Peace of conscience.   Essential for peace.  Unload your burdens on the Lord.  Bare a song away.

Ordinances bring peace because they are covenants with the Lord.

Fiji temple.  martial law.  open house.  in celestial room.  tears, feelings of peace of Hindu woman.  Grace of Jesus, we are given peace.  Comforter, peace I leave with you, peace I give unto  you.

In me ye shall have peace.  amen

Stanley Ellis
No Sugar Coating....   Whatever dude!
I am a 70.
Finding the Lord's way. The Lord has a way to do everything.  "every man walketh in his own way" in the last days.  We get blessed if we do it the Lord's way.  The Lord looketh on the heart.  Helping the poor and the needy must be in my own way.  Promoting self reliance.  Evils of the dole.

Do all that we do in His way.

Dickson

Africa, believing, faithful people. They believe in God.  Have no shame.  every couple weeks another ward is made.  You sense their faith.  to join a priesthood class is a sacred experience.  not concerned about having endless material possessions.  Little interest in having enormous homes and expensive cars.  Not incumbered with material things.  Things that matter little.  But they are filled with the things that matter most.

Bednar

limitations prepare us for eternity.  Experiences that we must have.  Male and female was needed to inact the plan of happiness.  Strengthen, bless and complete each other.  Adam and Eve, multiply and replenish the earth.  Marriage between a man and a woman is the right way.  complete abstenance before marriage.  Use that power correctly. Dont misuse God's power of procreation.  Don't use it as evil.  Ultimate expression of diving nature. Contemporary behaviors.  natural man is carnal and sensual, selfish, earthy man, rude animal passions.  Bridle all passions, constrained, deny yourselfand take up your cross.

Nelson

Missionary work.  Lots of them.  Be on the crest of the wave.