;;;ENSIGN MAY 2007 • VOLUME 37 • NUMBER 5 ;;;Contents 2 Conference Summary for the 177th Annual General Conference SATURDAY MORNING SESSION 4 The Sustaining of Church Officers: President Thomas S. Monson 6 Church Auditing Department Report, 2006: Robert W. Cantwell 7 Statistical Report, 2006: F. Michael Watson 8 Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer: Elder Richard G. Scott 11 The Nourishing Power of Hymns: Elder Jay E. Jensen 14 Commitment to the Lord: Elder John B. Dickson 16 The Tongue of Angels: Elder Jeffrey R. Holland 19 Ye Must Be Born Again: Elder David A. Bednar 22 I Know That My Redeemer Lives!: President Thomas S. Monson SATURDAY AFTERNOON SESSION 26 The Spirit of the Tabernacle: President Boyd K. Packer 29 Prophets--Pioneer and Modern Day: Elder Earl C. Tingey 32 If These Old Walls Could Talk: Bishop H. David Burton 34 Gratitude: A Path to Happiness: Bonnie D. Parkin 36 Remember and Perish Not: Elder Marlin K. Jensen 39 Salt Lake Tabernacle Rededication: President James E. Faust 41 Tabernacle Memories: President Thomas S. Monson 43 A Tabernacle in the Wilderness: President Gordon B. Hinckley PRIESTHOOD SESSION 45 Life's Lessons Learned: Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin 48 To the Aaronic Priesthood: Preparing for the Decade of Decision: Elder Robert D. Hales 51 Lay Up in Store: Bishop Keith B. McMullin 54 Message to My Grandsons: President James E. Faust 57 The Priesthood--a Sacred Gift: President Thomas S. Monson 60 "I Am Clean": President Gordon B. Hinckley SUNDAY MORNING SESSION 67 The Healing Power of Forgiveness: President James E. Faust 70 Divorce: Elder Dallin H. Oaks 74 It's True, Isn't It? Then What Else Matters?: Elder Neil L. Andersen 76 A Lesson from the Book of Mormon: Vicki F. Matsumori 78 Do You Know?: Elder Glenn L. Pace 80 The Miracle of the Holy Bible: Elder M. Russell Ballard 83 The Things of Which I Know: President Gordon B. Hinckley SUNDAY AFTERNOON SESSION 85 The Message of the Restoration: Elder L. Tom Perry 89 This Day: Elder Henry B. Eyring 92 "Mom, Are We Christians?": Elder Gary J. Coleman 94 Who's on the Lord's Side?: Charles W. Dahlquist II 97 Will a Man Rob God?: Elder Yoshihiko Kikuchi 99 Point of Safe Return: Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf 102 Repentance and Conversion: Elder Russell M. Nelson 105 Closing Remarks: President Gordon B. Hinckley GENERAL YOUNG WOMEN MEETING 106 Daughters of Heavenly Father: Susan W. Tanner 109 Remembering, Repenting, and Changing: Julie B. Beck 112 Stay on the Path: Elaine S. Dalton 115 Let Virtue Garnish Thy Thoughts Unceasingly: President Gordon B. Hinckley 64 General Authorities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 118 Conference Story Index 119 Teachings for Our Time 119 Aaronic Priesthood and Young Women Resource Guides 122 General Auxiliary Presidencies 122 News of the Church For additional help in using this issue in learning and teaching--including in your family home evenings as President Gordon B. Hinckley suggested (see page 105)--see the topic index on page 3; an index of stories told in conference, on page 118; and article 32 in part B of Teaching, No Greater Call (item no. 36123). Conference Summary for the 177th Annual General Conference SATURDAY MORNING, MARCH 31, 2007, GENERAL SESSION Presiding: President Gordon B. Hinckley. Conducting: President Thomas S. Monson. Invocation: Elder Robert F. Orton. Benediction: Elder Paul E. Koelliker. Music by the Tabernacle Choir; Craig Jessop and Mack Wilberg, directors; Clay Christiansen, organist: "Glory to God on High," Hymns, no. 67; "Sweet Hour of Prayer," Hymns, no. 142; "Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel," Hymns, no. 252, arr. Wilberg, unpublished; "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet," Hymns, no. 19; "Search, Ponder, and Pray," Children's Songbook, 109; "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing," Hymns (1948), no. 70, arr. Wilberg, pub. Oxford. SATURDAY AFTERNOON, MARCH 31, 2007, GENERAL SESSION Presiding: President Gordon B. Hinckley. Conducting: President Gordon B. Hinckley. Invocation: Elder Lowell M. Snow. Benediction: Elder R. Conrad Schultz. Music by the Tabernacle Choir; Craig Jessop and Mack Wilberg, directors; John Longhurst and Richard Elliott, organists: "Redeemer of Israel," Hymns, no. 6, arr. Wilberg, unpublished; "Come, Come, Ye Saints," Hymns, no. 30, arr. Wilberg, unpublished; "We Love Thy House, O God," Hymns, no. 247; "How Firm a Foundation," Hymns, no. 85; "This House We Dedicate to Thee," Hymns, no. 245, arr. Wilberg, unpublished; "The Spirit of God," Hymns, no. 2, arr. Wilberg, unpublished. SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 31, 2007, PRIESTHOOD SESSION Presiding: President Gordon B. Hinckley. Conducting: President Thomas S. Monson. Invocation: Elder Wayne S. Peterson. Benediction: Elder Paul V. Johnson. Music by a priesthood choir from Brigham Young University; Ronald Staheli, director; John Longhurst, organist: "Rise Up, O Men of God," Hymns, no. 324, arr. Staheli, unpublished; "Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy," Hymns, no. 335, arr. Hopkins, unpublished; "Now Let Us Rejoice," Hymns, no. 3; "I Love the Lord," music from Hymns, no. 124, text by John Sears Tanner, arr. Staheli, unpublished. SUNDAY MORNING, APRIL 1, 2007, GENERAL SESSION Presiding: President Gordon B. Hinckley. Conducting: President Gordon B. Hinckley. Invocation: Elder Robert K. Dellenbach. Benediction: Elder Won Yong Ko. Music by the Tabernacle Choir; Craig Jessop and Mack Wilberg, directors; Richard Elliott and Clay Christiansen, organists: "Rejoice, the Lord Is King!" Hymns, no. 66; "The Lord My Pasture Will Prepare," Hymns, no. 109, arr. Wilberg, unpublished; "I Am a Child of God," Hymns, no. 301; "High on the Mountain Top," Hymns, no. 5; "For He Shall Give His Angels to Watch Over Thee," Mendelssohn, ed. Jessop, unpublished; "When Faith Endures," Hymns, no. 128; "O My Father," Hymns, no. 292, arr. Gates, pub. Jackman. SUNDAY AFTERNOON, APRIL 1, 2007, GENERAL SESSION Presiding: President Gordon B. Hinckley. Conducting: President Thomas S. Monson. Invocation: Elder H. Ross Workman. Benediction: Elder D. Rex Gerratt. Music by the Tabernacle Choir; Craig Jessop and Mack Wilberg, directors; Bonnie Goodliffe, organist: "From All That Dwell below the Skies," Hymns, no. 90, arr. Wilberg, unpublished; "There Is Sunshine in My Soul Today," Hymns, no. 227, arr. Wilberg, unpublished; "Come, Ye Children of the Lord," Hymns, no. 58; "I Need Thee Every Hour," Hymns, no. 98, arr. Wilberg, unpublished. SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 24, 2007, GENERAL YOUNG WOMEN MEETING Presiding: President Gordon B. Hinckley. Conducting: Susan W. Tanner. Invocation: Hillary Olsen. Benediction: Rosey Bassett. Music by a Young Women choir from stakes in Provo, Utah; Merrilee Webb, director; Linda Margetts, organist: "I Am a Child of God," Hymns, no. 301, arr. Perry, unpublished (French horn: Mary Wood-Lampros); "If the Savior Stood Beside Me," DeFord, arr. DeFord, unpublished; "I Stand All Amazed," Hymns, no. 193, arr. Manookin, pub. Jackman (flute: Kathleen Ellingson; harp: Sarah Edwards); "As Zion's Youth in Latter Days," Hymns, no. 256, arr. adapted by Kasen, pub. Jackman. CONFERENCE RECORDINGS AVAILABLE Recordings of conference sessions are available at www.lds.org. Generally within two months following conference, recordings are also available at distribution centers. Recordings for individuals who are deaf are available at www.lds.org/asl and generally within two months following conference from distribution centers (three DVDs with a signing inset). For more information, call 1-800-537-5971 or log on to www.ldscatalog.com. CONFERENCE TALKS ON INTERNET To access general conference talks on the Internet in many languages, visit www.lds.org. Click on "Gospel Library" and "General Conference." Then select a language. HOME AND VISITING TEACHING MESSAGES For home and visiting teaching messages, please select an address that best meets the needs of those you visit. ON THE COVER Front: Photograph by Craig Dimond. Back: Photograph by Welden C. Andersen. CONFERENCE PHOTOGRAPHY Scenes of general conference in Salt Lake City were taken by Craig Dimond, Welden C. Andersen, John Luke, Christina Smith, Les Nilsson, Scott Davis, Rod Boam, Emily Leishman, Geoffrey McAllister, Mark Weinberg, and Cortney Christensen; in Brazil by Laureni Ademar Fochetto and Adriano Carvalho Vedovi; in Canada by David Zuskind; in Guatemala by Virna Rodríguez; in Honduras by Pablo Archaga, Ruth Figueroa, Armando Rivas, and Armando Sierra; in Jamaica by Deven Rawle; in Peru by Juan Manuel Rivera Gavilano; in Philippines by Danilo Soleta; and in Sweden by Mark Hedengren. ENSIGN MAY 2007 • VOLUME 37 • NUMBER 5 AN OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS The First Presidency: Gordon B. Hinckley, Thomas S. Monson, James E. Faust Quorum of the Twelve: Boyd K. Packer, L. Tom Perry, Russell M. Nelson, Dallin H. Oaks, M. Russell Ballard, Joseph B. Wirthlin, Richard G. Scott, Robert D. Hales, Jeffrey R. Holland, Henry B. Eyring, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, David A. Bednar Editor: Jay E. Jensen Advisers: Gary J. Coleman, Yoshihiko Kikuchi, Gerald N. Lund, W. Douglas Shumway Managing Director: David L. Frischknecht Editorial Director: Victor D. Cave Senior Editor: Larry Hiller Graphics Director: Allan R. Loyborg Managing Editor: Don L. Searle Assistant Managing Editor: LaRene Porter Gaunt Senior Editors: Linda Stahle Cooper, Michael R. Morris, Judith M. Paller Assistant Editor: Melissa Merrill Editorial Staff: Susan Barrett, Ryan Carr, Monica L. Dickinson, Jenifer L. Greenwood, R. Val Johnson, Adam C. Olson Editorial Intern: Erin Marie Pitcher Senior Secretary: Christy Banz Publications Assistant: Sally J. Odekirk Marketing Manager: Larry Hiller Managing Art Director: M. M. Kawasaki Art Director: J. Scott Knudsen Senior Designers: C. Kimball Bott, Colleen Hinckley Design and Production Staff: Cali R. Arroyo, Collette Nebeker Aune, Thomas S. Child, Eric P. Johnsen, Jane Ann Peters, Randall J. Pixton, Scott Van Kampen Printing Director: Craig K. Sedgwick Distribution Director: Randy J. Benson © 2007 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. The Ensign (ISSN 0884-1136) is published monthly by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 50 E. North Temple Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3220, USA. Periodicals Postage Paid at Salt Lake City, Utah. To subscribe: By phone, call 1-800-537-5971 to order using Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card, or American Express. Online,go to ldscatalog.com. By mail,send $10 U.S. check or money order to Distribution Services, P.O. Box 26368, Salt Lake City, UT 84126-0368. To change address: Send both old and new address information to Distribution Services at the above address. Please allow 60 days for changes to take effect. The Ensign can be found on the Internet at www.lds.org, under Gospel Library. Text and visual material in the Ensign may be copied for incidental, noncommercial church or home use. Visual material may not be copied if restrictions are indicated in the credit line with the artwork. Copyright questions should be addressed to Intellectual Property Office, 50 E. North Temple Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3011; e-mail: cor-intellectualproperty@ldschurch.org. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Distribution Services, P.O. Box 26368, Salt Lake City, UT 84126-0368, USA. Canada Post Information: Publication Agreement #40017431 TOPIC INDEX Abuse, 16 Activation, 85, 109 Adversity, 34, 78, 94 Agency, 94 Atonement, 99 Baptism, 41, 92 Bible, 80 Book of Mormon, 92 Church history, 29, 32, 36, 39, 43 Church magazines, 105 Cleanliness, 60 Commitment, 14 Complacency, 89 Conversion, 11, 19, 102 Courage, 45, 57, 78 Covenants, 19, 76, 112 Debt, 51 Decisions, 48 Diligence, 45, 51 Divine nature, 94, 106 Divorce, 70 Education, 54 Encouragement, 16 Eternal life, 22 Example, 106, 109 Faith, 8, 41, 48, 67, 74, 76, 78, 97, 109, 115 Family, 54, 76 Family home evening, 105 Forgiveness, 67, 99 General conference, 41, 105 Goals, 45 Godhead, 83, 92 God the Father, 8 Gratitude, 34, 57 Healing, 67, 70 Hinckley, Gordon B., 29 Holy Ghost, 26, 78 Honesty, 45, 76 Hope, 102 Humility, 67 Hymns, 11, 94 Individual worth, 106 Inspiration, 26 Integrity, 45, 60 Jesus Christ, 22, 80, 109 Kindness, 105 Love, 22, 34, 106 Marriage, 16, 70, 105 Missionary work, 11 Modesty, 112 Music, 11, 26 Obedience, 14, 45, 48, 60, 94, 97 Parenthood, 94 Peace, 8 Prayer, 8, 76, 94, 115 Preparation, 48, 51 Priesthood, 54, 57, 85 Priorities, 74 Procrastination, 89 Prophets, 29, 32, 39 Remembering, 36 Repentance, 99, 102, 109 Responsibility, 54 Restoration, 83, 85, 92 Resurrection, 22 Revelation, 92 Reverence, 11 Righteousness, 51, 54 Sacrifice, 80, 94, 109 Sanctification, 19 Scriptures, 76, 80, 115 Self-reliance, 51 Service, 45, 85, 89 Smith, Joseph, 78, 80 Spiritual rebirth, 19 Standards, 14 Tabernacle, 26, 29, 32, 39, 41, 43 Testimony, 32, 54, 78, 83 Tithing, 57, 97, 115 Unity, 106 Virtue, 112 Word of Wisdom, 14 Words, 16 Worship, 11 Worthiness, 57 Young, Brigham, 29 Young women, 109 Youth, 14 SPEAKERS LISTED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER Andersen, Neil L., 74 Ballard, M. Russell, 80 Beck, Julie B., 109 Bednar, David A., 19 Burton, H. David, 32 Coleman, Gary J., 92 Dahlquist, Charles W., II, 94 Dalton, Elaine S., 112 Dickson, John B., 14 Eyring, Henry B., 89 Faust, James E., 39, 54, 67 Hales, Robert D., 48 Hinckley, Gordon B., 43, 60, 83, 105, 115 Holland, Jeffrey R., 16 Jensen, Jay E., 11 Jensen, Marlin K., 36 Kikuchi, Yoshihiko, 97 Matsumori, Vicki F., 76 McMullin, Keith B., 51 Monson, Thomas S., 4, 22, 41, 57 Nelson, Russell M., 102 Oaks, Dallin H., 70 Pace, Glenn L., 78 Packer, Boyd K., 26 Parkin, Bonnie D., 34 Perry, L. Tom, 85 Scott, Richard G., 8 Tanner, Susan W., 106 Tingey, Earl C., 29 Uchtdorf, Dieter F., 99 Wirthlin, Joseph B., 45 SATURDAY MORNING SESSION March 31, 2007 ;;;The Sustaining of Church Officers PRESIDENT THOMAS S. MONSON First Counselor in the First Presidency President Hinckley has asked that I now present the General Authorities, Area Seventies, and general auxiliary presidencies of the Church for a sustaining vote. May we all participate not only with our uplifted hand but with our pledged heart. It is proposed that we sustain Gordon Bitner Hinckley as prophet, seer, and revelator and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Thomas Spencer Monson as First Counselor in the First Presidency; and James Esdras Faust as Second Counselor in the First Presidency. Those in favor may manifest it by the uplifted hand. Those opposed, if any, by the same sign. It is proposed that we sustain Thomas Spencer Monson as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Boyd Kenneth Packer as Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; and the following as members of that quorum: Boyd K. Packer, L. Tom Perry, Russell M. Nelson, Dallin H. Oaks, M. Russell Ballard, Joseph B. Wirthlin, Richard G. Scott, Robert D. Hales, Jeffrey R. Holland, Henry B. Eyring, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, and David A. Bednar. Those in favor, please manifest it. Any opposed. It is proposed that we sustain the counselors in the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators. All in favor, please manifest it. Contrary, if there be any, by the same sign. It is proposed that we release the following as Area Seventies effective May 1, 2007: D. Allen Andersen, C. Elmer Black Jr., Ildefonso de Castro Deus, Oscar W. Chavez, Hector A. Dávalos, Carlos R. Fernandez, Carlos J. Garcia, John R. Gibson, José L. Gonzalez, Paulo Grahl, Beaver T. Ho Ching, Emmanuel A. Kissi, Erich W. Kopischke, G. Steven Laney, Barry Lee, James B. McDonald, Gerald A. Mead, Jorge Mendez, Rodrigo Myrrha, Carlos A. Perez, Richard G. Peterson, Eric B. Shumway, Joseph W. Sitati, A. Kim Smith, W. Blake Sonne, Gary M. Stewart, Michael J. Teh, Robert B. White, and John W. Yardley. All who wish to join us in expressing appreciation, please manifest it. It is proposed that we sustain as new members of the First Quorum of the Seventy Enrique R. Falabella, Erich W. Kopischke, Michael J. Teh, Octaviano Tenorio, and Claudio D. Zivic. All in favor, please manifest it. Any opposed. It is proposed that we sustain the following as new Area Seventies: Richard K. Ahadjie, Rubén V. Alliaud, Climato C. A. Almeida, Sergio M. Anaya, Wilford W. Andersen, Fernando J. D. Araújo, Nolan D. Archibald, Carlos L. Astorga, Hector Avila, Marvin T. Brinkerhoff, M. Anthony Burns, David Cabrera, Rafael E. Castro, Gerald J. Caussé, Robert E. Chambers, Yoon Hwan Choi, Kim B. Clark, David L. Cook, Nelson D. Cordova, Gary L. Crittenden, Stephen L. Fluckiger, Jovencio A. Guanzon, Mario E. Guerra, Luis S. Hernandez, Garith C. Hill, Frederick C. Ihesiene, David H. Ingram, Tetsuji Ishii, Kapumba T. Kola, Richard K. Melchin, R. Bruce Merrell, Peter F. Meurs, Benson E. Misalucha, Enrique J. Montoya, K. Brett Nattress, Russell T. Osguthorpe, Gamaliel Osorno, Patrick H. Price, Paulo R. Puerta, Rubén L. Spitale, Natã C. Tobias, Frank V. Trythall, Terence M. Vinson, Taniela B. Wakolo, Richard W. Wheeler, and Scott D. Whiting. All in favor, please manifest it. Opposed, if any, by the same sign. It is proposed that we release with a vote of thanks and sincere appreciation Bonnie Rae Dansie Parkin, Kathleen Hurst Hughes, and Anne Clark Pingree as the Relief Society general presidency. We also release all members of the Relief Society general board. It is also proposed that we release Julie Bangerter Beck and Elaine Schwartz Dalton as counselors in the Young Women general presidency. All who wish to join us in expressing appreciation for their excellent service and devotion, please manifest it. It is proposed that we sustain Julie Bangerter Beck as the new general president of the Relief Society with Silvia Henriquez Allred as first counselor and Barbara Thompson as second counselor. Those in favor may manifest it. Opposed, if any, by the same sign. It is also proposed that we sustain Elaine Schwartz Dalton as the first counselor in the Young Women general presidency and Mary Nielsen Cook as the second counselor in the Young Women general presidency. Those in favor, please manifest it. Any opposed. It is proposed that we sustain the other General Authorities, Area Seventies, and general auxiliary presidencies as presently constituted. Those in favor, please manifest it. Any opposed may manifest it. It appears that the sustaining has been unanimous in the affirmative, President Hinckley. Thank you, brothers and sisters, for your faith and prayers. ;;;Church Auditing Department Report, 2006 PRESENTED BY ROBERT W. CANTWELL Managing Director, Church Auditing Department To the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Dear Brethren: As prescribed by revelation in section 120 of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Council on the Disposition of the Tithes authorizes the expenditure of Church funds. This council is composed of the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and the Presiding Bishopric. This council approves budgets for Church departments and operations. After receiving the council's authorization, Church departments are to expend funds consistent with approved budgets and in accordance with Church policies and procedures. The Church Auditing Department has been granted access to all records and systems necessary to evaluate the adequacy of controls over receipts of funds, expenditures, and safeguarding of Church assets. The Church Auditing Department is independent of all other Church departments and operations, and the staff consists of certified public accountants, certified internal auditors, certified information systems auditors, and other credentialed professionals. Based upon audits performed, the Church Auditing Department is of the opinion that, in all material respects, contributions received, expenditures made, and assets of the Church for the year 2006 have been recorded and administered in accordance with appropriate accounting practices, approved budgets, and Church policies and procedures. Respectfully submitted, Church Auditing Department Robert W. Cantwell Managing Director ;;;Statistical Report, 2006 PRESENTED BY F. MICHAEL WATSON Secretary to the First Presidency Brothers and sisters, the First Presidency has issued the following report concerning the growth and activity of the Church as of December 31, 2006. Number of Church Units Stakes 2,745 Missions 344 Districts 630 Wards and Branches 27,475 Church Membership Total Membership 12,868,606 Increase in Children of Record 94,006 Converts Baptized 272,845 Missionaries Number of Full-Time Missionaries 53,164 Temples Temples Dedicated during 2006 2 (Sacramento California and Helsinki Finland) Temples Rededicated during 2006 2 (Santiago Chile and Papeete Tahiti) Total Number of Temples Currently in Operation 124 Prominent Church Members Who Have Passed Away since Last April: Elder Devere Harris, former member of the Seventy; Elder Spencer H. Osborn, former member of the Seventy; Sister Elisa Young Rogers Wirthlin, wife of Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Sister Norma Berntson Ashton, widow of Elder Marvin J. Ashton, former member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Sister Dorothy Porter Holt, former counselor in the Young Women general presidency. ;;;Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer ELDER RICHARD G. SCOTT Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles This conference began with a profoundly moving presentation of the classic hymn "Sweet Hour of Prayer" by the magnificent Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The familiar lyrics remind us that prayer is the source of comfort, relief, and protection, willingly granted by our loving, compassionate Heavenly Father. The Gift of Prayer Prayer is a supernal gift of our Father in Heaven to every soul. Think of it: the absolute Supreme Being, the most all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful personage, encourages you and me, as insignificant as we are, to converse with Him as our Father. Actually, because He knows how desperately we need His guidance, He commands, "Thou shalt pray vocally as well as in thy heart; yea, before the world as well as in secret, in public as well as in private."1 It matters not our circumstance, be we humble or arrogant, poor or rich, free or enslaved, learned or ignorant, loved or forsaken, we can address Him. We need no appointment. Our supplication can be brief or can occupy all the time needed. It can be an extended expression of love and gratitude or an urgent plea for help. He has created numberless cosmos and populated them with worlds, yet you and I can talk with Him personally, and He will ever answer. How Should You Pray? We pray to our Heavenly Father in the sacred name of His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Prayer is most effective when we strive to be clean and obedient, with worthy motives, and are willing to do what He asks. Humble, trusting prayer brings direction and peace. Don't worry about your clumsily expressed feelings. Just talk to your compassionate, understanding Father. You are His precious child whom He loves perfectly and wants to help. As you pray, recognize that Father in Heaven is near and He is listening. A key to improved prayer is to learn to ask the right questions. Consider changing from asking for the things you want to honestly seeking what He wants for you. Then as you learn His will, pray that you will be led to have the strength to fulfill it. Should you ever feel distanced from our Father, it could be for many reasons. Whatever the cause, as you continue to plead for help, He will guide you to do that which will restore your confidence that He is near. Pray even when you have no desire to pray. Sometimes, like a child, you may misbehave and feel you cannot approach your Father with a problem. That is when you most need to pray. Never feel you are too unworthy to pray. I wonder if we can ever really fathom the immense power of prayer until we encounter an overpowering, urgent problem and realize that we are powerless to resolve it. Then we will turn to our Father in humble recognition of our total dependence on Him. It helps to find a secluded place where our feelings can be vocally expressed as long and as intensely as necessary. I have done that. Once I had an experience that caused me immense anxiety. It had nothing to do with disobedience or transgression but with a vitally important human relationship. For some time I poured my heart out in urgent prayer. Yet try as I might, I could find no solution, no settling of the powerful stirring within me. I pled for help from that Eternal Father I have come to know and trust completely. I could see no path that would provide the calm that is my blessing generally to enjoy. Sleep overcame me. When I awoke, I was totally at peace. Again I knelt in solemn prayer and asked, "Lord, how is it done?" In my heart, I knew the answer was His love and His concern for me. Such is the power of sincere prayer to a compassionate Father. I have learned much about prayer by listening to President Hinckley offer supplications in our meetings. You can also learn from him by carefully studying the exceptional public prayer he offered at the conclusion of the October 2001 conference for Father's children throughout the world. He prayed from his heart, not from a prepared manuscript. (For convenience that prayer is reproduced at the end of this message.)2 Study that prayer, and you will find that there are no vain repetitions, no posturing to impress others, as sometimes occurs. He combines simple words eloquently. He prays as a humble, trusting son who knows well his beloved Father in Heaven. He confides in the certainty that His answer will come when most needed. Each prayer is tailored to its purpose, with a clear statement of what needs resolution, as well as ample expression of gratitude for specific, recognized blessings. His spontaneous prayers are like crafted gems, a silent witness to the fundamental place prayer has occupied in his life for many, many years. How Are Prayers Answered? Some truths regarding how prayers are answered may help you. Often when we pray for help with a significant matter, Heavenly Father will give us gentle promptings that require us to think, exercise faith, work, at times struggle, then act. It is a step-by-step process that enables us to discern inspired answers. I have discovered that what sometimes seems an impenetrable barrier to communication is a giant step to be taken in trust. Seldom will you receive a complete response all at once. It will come a piece at a time, in packets, so that you will grow in capacity. As each piece is followed in faith, you will be led to other portions until you have the whole answer. That pattern requires you to exercise faith in our Father's capacity to respond. While sometimes it's very hard, it results in significant personal growth. He will always hear your prayers and will invariably answer them. However, His answers will seldom come while you are on your knees praying, even when you may plead for an immediate response. Rather, He will prompt you in quiet moments when the Spirit can most effectively touch your mind and heart. Hence, you should find periods of quiet time to recognize when you are being instructed and strengthened. His pattern causes you to grow. President David O. McKay testified, "It is true that the answers to our prayers may not always come as direct and at the time, nor in the manner, we anticipate; but they do come, and at a time and in a manner best for the interests of him who offers the supplication."3 Be thankful that sometimes God lets you struggle for a long time before that answer comes. Your character will grow; your faith will increase. There is a relationship between those two: the greater your faith, the stronger your character; and increased character enhances your ability to exercise even greater faith. On occasion, the Lord will give you an answer before you ask. This can occur when you are unaware of a danger or may be doing the wrong thing, mistakenly trusting that it is correct. It is so hard when sincere prayer about something you desire very much is not answered the way you want. It is difficult to understand why your exercise of deep and sincere faith from an obedient life does not grant the desired result. The Savior taught, "Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you."4 At times it is difficult to recognize what is best or expedient for you over time. Your life will be easier when you accept that what God does in your life is for your eternal good. You are asked to look for an answer to your prayers.5 Obey the Master's counsel to "study it out in your mind."6 Often you will think of a solution; as you seek confirmation that your answer is right, help will come. It may be through your prayers, or as an impression of the Holy Ghost, and at times by the intervention of others.7 This guidance about prayer given to Oliver Cowdery can also aid you: "Behold, ... you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me. "... You must study it out in your mind; then . . . ask me if it be right, and if it is right ... your bosom shall burn ...; therefore, you shall feel that it is right."8 Then the answer comes as a feeling with an accompanying conviction. The Savior defines two separate ways: "I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost."9 Answers to the mind and heart are messages from the Holy Ghost to our spirits. For me, response to the mind is very specific, like dictated words, while response to the heart is generalized, like a feeling to pray more.10 Then the Lord clarifies, "But if [what you propose] be not right you ... shall have a stupor of thought."11 That, for me, is an unsettling, discomforting feeling. Oliver Cowdery was taught another way in which positive answers come: "Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter?"12 The feeling of peace is the most common confirming witness that I personally experience. When I have been very concerned about an important matter, struggling to resolve it without success, I continued those efforts in faith. Later, an all-pervading peace has come, settling my concerns, as He has promised. Some misunderstandings about prayer can be clarified by realizing that the scriptures define principles for effective prayer, but they do not assure when a response will be given. Actually, He will reply in one of three ways. First, you can feel the peace, comfort, and assurance that confirm that your decision is right. Or second, you can sense that unsettled feeling, the stupor of thought, indicating that your choice is wrong. Or third--and this is the difficult one--you can feel no response. What do you do when you have prepared carefully, have prayed fervently, waited a reasonable time for a response, and still do not feel an answer? You may want to express thanks when that occurs, for it is an evidence of His trust. When you are living worthily and your choice is consistent with the Savior's teachings and you need to act, proceed with trust. As you are sensitive to the promptings of the Spirit, one of two things will certainly occur at the appropriate time: either the stupor of thought will come, indicating an improper choice, or the peace or the burning in the bosom will be felt, confirming that your choice was correct. When you are living righteously and are acting with trust, God will not let you proceed too far without a warning impression if you have made the wrong decision. Gratitude for the Gift of Prayer An important aspect of prayer is gratitude. Jesus declared, "And in nothing doth man offend God ... save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments."13 When we contemplate the incomparable gift of prayer and the limitless blessings that flow from it, honest appreciation fills our mind and heart to overflowing with thanksgiving. Should we not, therefore, continually and profoundly express to our beloved Father, as well as we are able, our unbounded gratitude for the supernal gift of prayer and for His answers that meet our needs while motivating us to grow? I testify our Father will always answer your prayers in the way and in the time that will be for your best eternal good. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. NOTES 1. D&C 19:28. 2. "O God, our Eternal Father, Thou great Judge of the Nations, Thou who art the governor of the universe, Thou who art our Father and our God, whose children we are, we look to Thee in faith in this dark and solemn time. Please, dear Father, bless us with faith. Bless us with love. Bless us with charity in our hearts. Bless us with a spirit of perseverance to root out the terrible evils that are in this world. Give protection and guidance to those who are engaged actively in carrying forth the things of battle. Bless them; preserve their lives; save them from harm and evil. Hear the prayers of their loved ones for their safety. We pray for the great democracies of the earth which Thou hast overseen in creating their governments, where peace and liberty and democratic processes obtain. "O Father, look with mercy upon this, our own nation, and its friends in this time of need. Spare us and help us to walk with faith ever in Thee and ever in Thy Beloved Son, on whose mercy we count and to whom we look as our Savior and our Lord. Bless the cause of peace and bring it quickly to us again, we humbly plead with Thee, asking that Thou wilt forgive our arrogance, pass by our sins, be kind and gracious to us, and cause our hearts to turn with love toward Thee. We humbly pray in the name of Him who loves us all, even the Lord Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and our Savior, amen" ("Till We Meet Again," Liahona, Jan. 2002, 105; Ensign, Nov. 2001, 90). 3. In Conference Report, Apr. 1969, 153. 4. D&C 88:64; emphasis added; see also vv. 63, 65. 5. See D&C 6:23, 36; D&C 8:2-3, 10; D&C 9:9. 6. D&C 9:8. 7. See Spencer W. Kimball, The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball (1982), 252. 8. D&C 9:7-8; emphasis added. 9. D&C 8:2; emphasis added. 10. See Enos 1:3-5, 9-10. 11. D&C 9:9. 12. D&C 6:23; emphasis added. 13. D&C 59:21. ;;;The Nourishing Power of Hymns ELDER JAY E. JENSEN Of the Seventy This magnificent choir gives inspiring sermons. In fact, "some of the greatest sermons are preached by the singing of hymns."1 My testimony and conversion to the restored gospel were strongly influenced by singing the hymns of Zion as a young boy. I grew up in the small town of Mapleton, Utah, and attended meetings in what is known today as the "old white church." My 95-year-old mother still lives in Mapleton. When I visit her, I drive past the "old white church," and a flood of sweet memories fills my mind. Among them is the converting power of the hymns we sang in priesthood, Sunday School, and sacrament meetings. My experiences were similar to that of President Hinckley when, as a deacon, he attended a stake priesthood meeting with his father. They sang "Praise to the Man."2 Later he would say, "I had an impression that has never left that Joseph Smith was indeed a prophet of God."3 I believe that many of our Saints experience this again and again. Hymns play an essential role in spirituality, revelation, and conversion. Hymns Invite the Spirit Hymns are "an essential part of our church meetings. [They] invite the Spirit of the Lord."4 They often do this quicker than anything else we may do. President J. Reuben Clark Jr. said, "We get nearer to the Lord through music than perhaps through any other thing except prayer."5 Two missionaries teaching an older couple in their home in Peru were interrupted by the arrival of the couple's son, his wife, and three children. The elders explained who they were and what they were doing. The son was suspicious of the missionaries, resulting in an awkward moment. The junior companion prayed silently, "Heavenly Father, what do we do?" The impression came to sing. They sang "I Am a Child of God."6 The Spirit touched the hearts of this family of five. Instead of two converts, all seven became members, influenced initially by a hymn. Music in Church meetings and classes should facilitate a spirit of worship, revelation, and testimony. For sacrament meetings, the bishopric or branch presidency is responsible to select or approve music. They ensure that the music, the words, and the musical instruments are sacred, dignified, and will promote worship and revelation. Music becomes a perfor-mance when it brings attention to itself. Years ago, I was responsible for the music in a meeting where a special musical number was a performance. It was a disappointment. The spirit of worship was diminished. Hymns Invite Revelation Hymns "create a feeling of reverence."7 The words reverence and revelation are like twins who like each other's company. When the Seventy and Presiding Bishopric are invited to meetings with the First Presidency and the Twelve, we are reminded to arrive early and reverently listen to prelude music. Doing so invites revelation and prepares us for the meeting. President Packer taught that a member who softly plays "prelude music from the hymnbook tempers our feelings and causes us to go over in our minds the lyrics which teach the peaceable things of the kingdom. If we will listen, they are teaching the gospel, for the hymns of the Restoration are, in fact, a course in doctrine!"8 Hymns Invite Conversion The hymns of the Restoration carry with them the spirit of conversion. They came as a result of sacrifice. Hymns like "Praise to the Man,"9 "Come, Come, Ye Saints,"10 "Ye Elders of Israel,"11 "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet,"12 "Redeemer of Israel,"13 and many others reinforce the great truths of the Restoration--such as the divinity of the Father and the Son, the plan of redemption, revelation, latter-day scriptures, the gathering of Israel, the holy priesthood, and ordinances and covenants. These nourishing hymns create an atmosphere that invites the Spirit, which leads us to conversion. How incomplete and empty sacrament meetings would be without hymns of worship.14 Sacred among all hymns are those that capture the sacrifice and the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ and His infinite Atonement. My earliest memories of the healing power of the Savior are associated with sacrament hymns. This sentence is real to me: "I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me, confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me."15 My understanding of the doctrines of the Atonement is connected to the hymns. This verse is illustrative: How great, how glorious, how complete, Redemption's grand design, Where justice, love, and mercy meet In harmony divine!16 Teaching Children Hymns Begins at Home Singing hymns and listening to appropriate music begin at home. The First Presidency has reminded us: "Latter-day Saints should fill their homes with the sound of worthy music. "... We hope the hymnbook will take a prominent place among the scriptures and other religious books in our homes. The hymns can bring families a spirit of beauty and peace and can inspire love and unity among family members. "Teach your children to love the hymns. Sing them on the Sabbath, in [family] home evening, during scripture study, at prayer time. Sing as you work, as you play, and as you travel together. Sing hymns as lullabies to build faith and testimony in your young ones."17 Worship More Meaningfully through Hymns Important lessons I have learned and seek to apply about hymns are: 1. Strive to be more punctual to meetings, sit quietly and listen to the prelude music, and experience reverence and revelation. 2. Exit meetings more reverently, allowing the postlude music to extend the spirit of the meeting. 3. Sing the hymns. I see some who have access to hymnals but do not sing. 4. Choose hymns appropriate to the meeting and messages. 5. Use hymns to introduce or to emphasize scriptures and gospel truths in lessons and classes. 6. Listen to the hymns more frequently in our homes, inviting the Spirit to prevail. I pray that we may eliminate any inappropriate music from our lives and follow the counsel of the First Presidency: "Brothers and sisters, let us use the hymns to invite the Spirit of the Lord into our congregations, our homes, and our personal lives. Let us memorize and ponder them, recite and sing them, and partake of their spiritual nourishment. Know that the song of the righteous is a prayer unto our Father in Heaven, ‘and it shall be answered with a blessing upon [your] heads.'"18 Of these truths I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. NOTES 1. Hymns, ix. 2. Hymns, no. 27. 3. Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley (1997), 399. 4. Hymns, ix. 5. In Conference Report, Oct. 1936, 111. 6. Hymns, no. 301. 7. Hymns, ix. 8. "Reverence Invites Revelation," Ensign, Nov. 1991, 22. 9. Hymns, no. 27. 10. Hymns,no. 30. 11. Hymns, no. 319. 12. Hymns, no. 19. 13. Hymns, no. 6. 14. Just as hymns are essential to Sabbath and family worship, so are hymns and carols to Christmas (see Hymns, nos. 201-14). 15. "I Stand All Amazed," Hymns, no. 193. 16. "How Great the Wisdom and the Love," Hymns, no. 195. 17. Hymns, x. 18. Hymns, x. ;;;Commitment to the Lord ELDER JOHN B. DICKSON Of the Seventy Good morning, brothers and sisters. I would like to address the youth of the Church this morning as Sister Dickson and I would counsel our own family. We know that you are an exceptionally bright generation of youth that will soon take our place as leaders in the home, the workplace, the community, and the Church. Your Heavenly Father loves each of you and has sent you to earth with a purpose. He has revealed a plan of happiness that, if followed, will ultimately bring you home to His presence, having triumphed over the trials and challenges of this world. Committing yourself now to live by the pattern the Lord has set will give you great strength in the proper use of your moral agency. The sincere commitments you make to yourself and to the Lord will be vital. We learn from the book of Psalms to "commit thy way unto the Lord; ... and he shall bring it to pass" (Psalm 37:5). You have come into this world at a time that has been anticipated from the beginning--a time prior to the Second Coming of the Lord, in which, on one hand, the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored in its fulness and, on the other, there is great turmoil, confusion, and wickedness. The proving ground that you were born into is wonderful, affording great opportunities, but at the same time there is danger in abundance, even danger to one's very soul. Now is the time to commit yourself to the Lord as to what you will become during this mortal probation. Along with your parents, living prophets, and the scriptures, the Holy Ghost will help you distinguish between right and wrong so correct decisions can be made. Hopefully you will prayerfully study the pamphlet For the Strength of Youth and review and carry with you, in your wallet or purse, the abbreviated copy of the pamphlet. Great happiness will come to you in this life and eternally if you decide now to live after the pattern that is set forth in its pages. Let me help you understand how this pattern of making early commitments can help you by relating the experience of one Church leader. As a young man he decided that he would always keep the Word of Wisdom and never use alcohol or tobacco. He does not remember what prompted him to make that important commitment at the time, but a crucial victory was won in his heart, and on his knees he made a commitment with the Lord to always keep that commandment. Over the years there were invitations to use these substances, but he learned that "no, thank you" was a good answer. There was no personal battle over the Word of Wisdom because years before he had made a commitment in his heart, and he had sincerely made a commitment to the Lord to obey that law. As you seek to receive Heavenly Father's blessings regarding the Word of Wisdom, include a commitment to never touch the illegal drugs that are prevalent in today's society. The adversary will have very little power to tempt you with things that you have never touched. As members of the Church we have been baptized and have made a covenant to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ and keep God's commandments. If mistakes are made, the gospel allows us to sincerely repent and be forgiven. Your commitment can begin from where you are presently, whether young or old, including repenting and forsaking sin where mistakes have already been made. The Lord promises great, eternal blessings to His righteous, repentant children, but knowing there is great danger here in this life, He has commanded us, saying, "Beware concerning yourselves, to give diligent heed to the words of eternal life" (D&C 84:43). Because He loves us and wants us back, this commandment to "beware concerning [ourselves]" prompts us to be careful concerning everything about us--the type of social settings we enter, what we see and read, the media and entertainment we choose, the music we listen to, and more. Setting a pattern of early commitment is very important. For example, to receive the blessings promised to those who pay tithes and offerings, you should commit now to pay tithing on all earnings. Paying tithing helps us become less selfish and more like our Heavenly Father, who wants to share all that He has with His righteous children. Making that decision will be extremely important. It is interesting to note that, like tithing, every commandment is designed for your eternal happiness and to help you become more like your Father in Heaven. Decide now to be like Nephi of old, who was absolutely determined to "go and do the things which the Lord [had] commanded" (1 Nephi 3:7). Let us now consider other commitments that will bless your lives. Wouldn't it be wonderful if, in spite of what others at school might be doing, from this moment forward you would be known for your absolute integrity and clean language? Decide now that you will never cheat; that your language will be pure; that as long as you live, vulgar words or jokes will never come from your lips. These are commitments you can make in the quiet of your room and upon your knees. Success will come to you as you earnestly, prayerfully, and humbly approach the Lord. The scriptures teach, "Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers" (D&C 112:10). You would also want to make commitments regarding modesty of dress and how to act while dating. Keeping the Lord's standards is always easier when you have already determined how you will act when faced with decisions in the presence of a date, friends, or peers. Some individuals may not understand your standards as you follow righteous principles and keep your commitments, but they will truly respect and admire you and wish that they were more like you. Other standards to ponder and commit to are absolute moral cleanliness and sexual purity, Sabbath observance, preparation for missions and the temple, and a determination to always partake of the sacrament worthily. President Hinckley loves the youth and has constantly encouraged you to follow the standards the Lord has set. Following a living prophet's encouragement and counsel will lead you on a path to eternal or everlasting happiness. As you commit now to do the will of the Lord, He will help and strengthen you. Your faith, trust, and desire to follow Him will be your greatest key to success. I know our Heavenly Father loves each of you and that He truly sent His Only Begotten Son to help you and that you can gloriously succeed as you sincerely commit to follow Him. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. ;;;The Tongue of Angels ELDER JEFFREY R. HOLLAND Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles The Prophet Joseph Smith deepened our understanding of the power of speech when he taught, "It is by words ... [that] every being works when he works by faith. God said, ‘Let there be light: and there was light.' Joshua spake, and the great lights which God had created stood still. Elijah commanded, and the heavens were stayed for the space of three years and six months, so that it did not rain. ... All this was done by faith. ... Faith, then, works by words; and with [words] its mightiest works have been, and will be, performed."1 Like all gifts "which cometh from above," words are "sacred, and must be spoken with care, and by constraint of the Spirit."2 It is with this realization of the power and sanctity of words that I wish to caution us, if caution is needed, regarding how we speak to each other and how we speak of ourselves. There is a line from the Apocrypha which puts the seriousness of this issue better than I can. It reads, "The stroke of the whip maketh marks in the flesh: but the stroke of the tongue breaketh the bones."3 With that stinging image in mind, I was particularly impressed to read in the book of James that there was a way I could be "a perfect man." Said James: "For in many things we offend all. [But] if any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body." Continuing the imagery of the bridle, he writes: "Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. "Behold also ... ships, which though they be ... great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm." Then James makes his point: "The tongue is [also] a little member. ... [But] behold, how great a [forest (Greek)] a little fire [can burn]. "... So is the tongue [a fire] among our members, ... it defileth the whole body, ... it is set on fire of hell. "For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, ... hath been tamed of mankind: "But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. "Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. "Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be."4 Well, that is pretty straightforward! Obviously James doesn't mean our tongues are always iniquitous, nor that everything we say is "full of deadly poison." But he clearly means that at least some things we say can be destructive, even venomous--and that is a chilling indictment for a Latter-day Saint! The voice that bears profound testimony, utters fervent prayer, and sings the hymns of Zion can be the same voice that berates and criticizes, embarrasses and demeans, inflicts pain and destroys the spirit of oneself and of others in the process. "Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing," James grieves. "My brethren [and sisters], these things ought not so to be." Is this something we could all work on just a little? Is this an area in which we could each try to be a little more like a "perfect" man or woman? Husbands, you have been entrusted with the most sacred gift God can give you--a wife, a daughter of God, the mother of your children who has voluntarily given herself to you for love and joyful companionship. Think of the kind things you said when you were courting, think of the blessings you have given with hands placed lovingly upon her head, think of yourself and of her as the god and goddess you both inherently are, and then reflect on other moments characterized by cold, caustic, unbridled words. Given the damage that can be done with our tongues, little wonder the Savior said, "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man."5 A husband who would never dream of striking his wife physically can break, if not her bones, then certainly her heart by the brutality of thoughtless or unkind speech. Physical abuse is uniformly and unequivocally condemned in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If it is possible to be more condemning than that, we speak even more vigorously against all forms of sexual abuse. Today, I speak against verbal and emotional abuse of anyone against anyone, but especially of husbands against wives. Brethren, these things ought not to be. In that same spirit we speak to the sisters as well, for the sin of verbal abuse knows no gender. Wives, what of the unbridled tongue in your mouth, of the power for good or ill in your words? How is it that such a lovely voice which by divine nature is so angelic, so close to the veil, so instinctively gentle and inherently kind could ever in a turn be so shrill, so biting, so acrid and untamed? A woman's words can be more piercing than any dagger ever forged, and they can drive the people they love to retreat beyond a barrier more distant than anyone in the beginning of that exchange could ever have imagined. Sisters, there is no place in that magnificent spirit of yours for acerbic or abrasive expression of any kind, including gossip or backbiting or catty remarks. Let it never be said of our home or our ward or our neighborhood that "the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity ... [burning] among our members." May I expand this counsel to make it a full family matter. We must be so careful in speaking to a child. What we say or don't say, how we say it and when is so very, very important in shaping a child's view of himself or herself. But it is even more important in shaping that child's faith in us and their faith in God. Be constructive in your comments to a child--always. Never tell them, even in whimsy, that they are fat or dumb or lazy or homely. You would never do that maliciously, but they remember and may struggle for years trying to forget--and to forgive. And try not to compare your children, even if you think you are skillful at it. You may say most positively that "Susan is pretty and Sandra is bright," but all Susan will remember is that she isn't bright and Sandra that she isn't pretty. Praise each child individually for what that child is, and help him or her escape our culture's obsession with comparing, competing, and never feeling we are "enough." In all of this, I suppose it goes without saying that negative speaking so often flows from negative thinking, including negative thinking about ourselves. We see our own faults, we speak--or at least think--critically of ourselves, and before long that is how we see everyone and everything. No sunshine, no roses, no promise of hope or happiness. Before long we and everybody around us are miserable. I love what Elder Orson F. Whitney once said: "The spirit of the gospel is optimistic; it trusts in God and looks on the bright side of things. The opposite or pessimistic spirit drags men down and away from God, looks on the dark side, murmurs, complains, and is slow to yield obedience."6 We should honor the Savior's declaration to "be of good cheer."7 (Indeed, it seems to me we may be more guilty of breaking that commandment than almost any other!) Speak hopefully. Speak encouragingly, including about yourself. Try not to complain and moan incessantly. As someone once said, "Even in the golden age of civilization someone undoubtedly grumbled that everything looked too yellow." I have often thought that Nephi's being bound with cords and beaten by rods must have been more tolerable to him than listening to Laman and Lemuel's constant murmuring.8 Surely he must have said at least once, "Hit me one more time. I can still hear you." Yes, life has its problems, and yes, there are negative things to face, but please accept one of Elder Holland's maxims for living--no misfortune is so bad that whining about it won't make it worse. Paul put it candidly, but very hopefully. He said to all of us: "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but [only] that which is good ... [and] edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God. ... "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you. . . . "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."9 In his deeply moving final testimony, Nephi calls us to "follow the Son [of God], with full purpose of heart," promising that "after ye have ... received the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, [ye] can speak with a new tongue, yea, even with the tongue of angels. ... And ... how could ye speak with the tongue of angels save it were by the Holy Ghost? Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ."10 Indeed, Christ was and is "the Word," according to John the Beloved,11 full of grace and truth, full of mercy and compassion. So, brothers and sisters, in this long eternal quest to be more like our Savior, may we try to be "perfect" men and women in at least this one way now--by offending not in word, or more positively put, by speaking with a new tongue, the tongue of angels. Our words, like our deeds, should be filled with faith and hope and charity, the three great Christian imperatives so desperately needed in the world today. With such words, spoken under the influence of the Spirit, tears can be dried, hearts can be healed, lives can be elevated, hope can return, confidence can prevail. I pray that my words, even on this challenging subject, will be encouraging to you, not discouraging, that you can hear in my voice that I love you, because I do. More importantly, please know that your Father in Heaven loves you and so does His Only Begotten Son. When They speak to you--and They will--it will not be in the wind, nor in the earthquake, nor in the fire, but it will be with a voice still and small, a voice tender and kind.12 It will be with the tongue of angels. May we all rejoice in the thought that when we say edifying, encouraging things unto the least of these, our brethren and sisters and little ones, we say it unto God.13 In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. NOTES 1. Lectures on Faith (1985), 72-73; emphasis added. 2. D&C 63:64. 3. Ecclesiasticus 28:17. 4. James 3:2-10; emphasis added. 5. Matthew 15:11. 6. In Conference Report, Apr. 1917, 43. 7. Matthew 14:27; Mark 6:50; John 16:33. 8. See 1 Nephi 3:28-31; 18:11-15. 9. Ephesians 4:29-32. 10. 2 Nephi 31:13-14; 32:2-3. 11. John 1:1. 12. See 1 Kings 19:11-12. 13. See Matthew 25:40. ;;;Ye Must Be Born Again ELDER DAVID A. BEDNAR Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles My boyhood home in California was located relatively close to large orchards of apricots, cherries, peaches, pears, and other delicious fruits. We also lived near fields of cucumbers, tomatoes, and a variety of vegetables. As a boy I always looked forward to canning season. I did not like scrubbing the canning jars or working in our hot kitchen. But I did like working with my mom and dad. And I loved eating my work! I am sure I ate more fruit than ever made it into any of our canning jars. My memories of time spent in the kitchen with Mom and Dad are stirred every time I see a bottle of home-canned cherries or peaches. The basic lessons I learned about temporal self-reliance and provident living while picking and canning produce have blessed me throughout my life. Interestingly, simple and ordinary experiences often provide the most important learning opportunities we ever have. As an adult I have reflected upon the things I observed in our kitchen during canning season. This morning I want to discuss some of the spiritual lessons we can learn from the process by which a cucumber becomes a pickle. I invite the Holy Ghost to be with us as we consider the significance of those lessons for me and for you as we come unto Christ and are spiritually reborn. Cucumbers and Pickles A pickle is a cucumber that has been transformed according to a specific recipe and series of steps. The first steps in the process of changing a cucumber into a pickle are preparing and cleaning. I remember many hours spent on the back porch of my home removing stems from and scrubbing dirt off of the cucumbers we had picked. My mom was very particular about the preparing and cleaning of the cucumbers. She had high standards of cleanliness and always inspected my work to make sure this important task was properly completed. The next steps in this process of change are immersing and saturating the cucumbers in salt brine for an extended period of time. To prepare the brine, my mom always used a recipe she learned from her mother--a recipe with special ingredients and precise procedures. Cucumbers can only become pickles if they are totally and completely immersed in the brine for the prescribed time period. The curing process gradually alters the composition of the cucumber and produces the transparent appearance and distinctive taste of a pickle. An occasional sprinkle of or dip in the brine cannot produce the necessary transformation. Rather, steady, sustained, and complete immersion is required for the desired change to occur. The final step in the process requires the sealing of the cured pickles in jars that have been sterilized and purified. The pickles are packed in canning jars, covered with boiling hot brine, and processed in a boiling-water-bath canner. All impurities must be removed from both the pickles and the bottles so the finished product can be protected and preserved. As this procedure is properly followed, the pickles can be stored and enjoyed for a long period of time. To summarize, a cucumber becomes a pickle as it is prepared and cleaned, immersed in and saturated with salt brine, and sealed in a sterilized container. This procedure requires time and cannot be hurried, and none of the essential steps can be ignored or avoided. A Mighty Change The Lord's authorized servants repeatedly teach that one of the principal purposes of our mortal existence is to be spiritually changed and transformed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Alma declared: "Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; "And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God" (Mosiah 27:25-26). We are instructed to "come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny [ourselves] of all ungodliness" (Moroni 10:32), to become "new creature[s]" in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:17), to put off "the natural man" (Mosiah 3:19), and to experience "a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually" (Mosiah 5:2). Please note that the conversion described in these verses is mighty, not minor--a spiritual rebirth and fundamental change of what we feel and desire, what we think and do, and what we are. Indeed, the essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ entails a fundamental and permanent change in our very nature made possible through our reliance upon "the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah" (2 Nephi 2:8). As we choose to follow the Master, we choose to be changed--to be spiritually reborn. Preparing and Cleaning Just as a cucumber must be prepared and cleaned before it can be changed into a pickle, so you and I can be prepared with "the words of faith and of good doctrine" (1 Timothy 4:6) and initially cleansed through the ordinances and covenants administered by the authority of the Aaronic Priesthood. "And the lesser priesthood continued, which priesthood holdeth the key of the ministering of angels and the preparatory gospel; "Which gospel is the gospel of repentance and of baptism, and the remission of sins" (D&C 84:26-27). And the Lord has established a high standard of cleanliness. "Wherefore teach it unto your children, that all men, everywhere, must repent, or they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God, for no unclean thing can dwell there, or dwell in his presence" (Moses 6:57). Proper preparing and cleaning are the first basic steps in the process of being born again. Immersing and Saturating Just as a cucumber is transformed into a pickle as it is immersed in and saturated with salt brine, so you and I are born again as we are absorbed by and in the gospel of Jesus Christ. As we honor and "observe the covenants" (D&C 42:13) into which we have entered, as we "feast upon the words of Christ" (2 Nephi 32:3), as we "pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart" (Moroni 7:48), and as we "serve [God] with all [of our] heart, might, mind and strength" (D&C 4:2), then: "Because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters" (Mosiah 5:7). The spiritual rebirth described in this verse typically does not occur quickly or all at once; it is an ongoing process--not a single event. Line upon line and precept upon precept, gradually and almost imperceptibly, our motives, our thoughts, our words, and our deeds become aligned with the will of God. This phase of the transformation process requires time, persistence, and patience. A cucumber only becomes a pickle through steady, sustained, and complete immersion in salt brine. Significantly, salt is the key ingredient in the recipe. Salt frequently is used in the scriptures as a symbol both of a covenant and of a covenant people. And just as salt is essential in transforming a cucumber into a pickle, so covenants are central to our spiritual rebirth. We begin the process of being born again through exercising faith in Christ, repenting of our sins, and being baptized by immersion for the remission of sins by one having priesthood authority. "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4). And after we come out of the waters of baptism, our souls need to be continuously immersed in and saturated with the truth and the light of the Savior's gospel. Sporadic and shallow dipping in the doctrine of Christ and partial participation in His restored Church cannot produce the spiritual transformation that enables us to walk in a newness of life. Rather, fidelity to covenants, constancy of commitment, and offering our whole soul unto God are required if we are to receive the blessings of eternity. "I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved" (Omni 1:26). Total immersion in and saturation with the Savior's gospel are essential steps in the process of being born again. Purifying and Sealing Cured cucumbers are packed into sterilized jars and heat processed in order to remove impurities and to seal the containers from external contaminants. The boiling-water-bath procedure enables the pickles to be both protected and preserved over a long period of time. In a similar way, we progressively become purified and sanctified as you and I are washed in the blood of the Lamb, are born again, and receive the ordinances and honor the covenants that are administered by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood. "Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God" (Helaman 3:35). The word sealing in my message today does not refer exclusively to the ordinance of eternal marriage performed in the house of the Lord. Rather, I am using this particular word as explained in the 76th section of the Doctrine and Covenants: "This is the testimony of the gospel of Christ concerning them who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just-- "They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given-- "That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power; "And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true" (vv. 50-53). The Holy Spirit of Promise is the ratifying power of the Holy Ghost. When sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, an ordinance, vow, or covenant is binding on earth and in heaven. (See D&C 132:7.) Receiving this "stamp of approval" from the Holy Ghost is the result of faithfulness, integrity, and steadfastness in honoring gospel covenants "in [the] process of time" (Moses 7:21). However, this sealing can be forfeited through unrighteousness and transgression. Purifying and sealing by the Holy Spirit of Promise constitute the culminating steps in the process of being born again. "In the Energy of My Soul" My beloved brothers and sisters, I pray this parable of the pickle may help us to evaluate our lives and to better understand the eternal importance of spiritual rebirth. With Alma, "I speak in the energy of my soul" (Alma 5:43). "I say unto you that this is the order after which I am called, yea, to preach unto my beloved brethren, yea, and every one that dwelleth in the land; yea, to preach unto all, both old and young, both bond and free; yea, I say unto you the aged, and also the middle aged, and the rising generation; yea, to cry unto them that they must repent and be born again" (Alma 5:49). I witness the reality and divinity of a living Savior who invites us to come unto Him and be transformed. I testify His Church and priesthood authority have been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Through faith in Christ, we can be spiritually prepared and cleansed from sin, immersed in and saturated with His gospel, and purified and sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise--even born again. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen. ;;;I Know That My Redeemer Lives! PRESIDENT THOMAS S. MONSON First Counselor in the First Presidency Recently I was looking through some family photo albums. Cherished memories flooded my mind as I came across image after image of loved ones gathered at family outings, birthdays, reunions, anniversaries. Since these photographs were taken, some of those beloved family members have departed this life. I thought of the words of the Lord, "Thou shalt live together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die."1 I miss each one who has left our family circle. Though difficult and painful, death is an essential part of our mortal experience. We began our sojourn here by leaving our premortal existence and coming to this earth. The poet Wordsworth captured that journey in his inspired ode to immortality. He wrote: Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting: The Soul that rises with us, our life's Star, Hath had elsewhere its setting, And cometh from afar: Not in entire forgetfulness, And not in utter nakedness, But trailing clouds of glory do we come From God, who is our home: Heaven lies about us in our infancy!2 Life moves on. Youth follows childhood, and maturity comes ever so imperceptibly. As we search and ponder the purpose and the problems of life, all of us sooner or later face the question of the length of life and of a personal, everlasting life. These questions most insistently assert themselves when loved ones leave us or when we face leaving those we love. At such times, we ponder the universal question, best phrased by Job of old, who centuries ago asked, "If a man die, shall he live again?"3 Today, as always, the skeptic's voice challenges the word of God, and each must choose to whom he will listen. Clarence Darrow, the famous lawyer and agnostic, declared, "No life is of much value, and ... every death is [but a] little loss."4 Schopenhauer, the German philosopher and pessimist, wrote, "To desire immortality is to desire the eternal perpetuation of a great mistake."5 And to their words are added those of new generations, as foolish men crucify the Christ anew--for they modify His miracles, doubt His divinity, and reject His Resurrection. Robert Blatchford, in his book God and My Neighbor, attacked with vigor accepted Christian beliefs, such as God, Christ, prayer, and immortality. He boldly asserted, "I claim to have proved everything I set out to prove so fully and decisively that no Christian, however great or able he may be, can answer my arguments or shake my case."6 He surrounded himself with a wall of skepticism. Then a surprising thing happened. His wall suddenly crumbled to dust. He was left exposed and undefended. Slowly he began to feel his way back to the faith he had scorned and ridiculed. What had caused this profound change in his outlook? His wife died. With a broken heart, he went into the room where lay all that was mortal of her. He looked again at the face he loved so well. Coming out, he said to a friend: "It is she, and yet it is not she. Everything is changed. Something that was there before is taken away. She is not the same. What can be gone if it be not the soul?" Later he wrote: "Death is not what some people imagine. It is only like going into another room. In that other room we shall find ... the dear women and men and the sweet children we have loved and lost."7 Against the doubting in today's world concerning Christ's divinity, we seek a point of reference, an unimpeachable source, even a testimony of eyewitnesses. Stephen, from biblical times, doomed to the cruel death of a martyr, looked up to heaven and cried, "I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God."8 Who can help but be convinced by the stirring testimony of Paul to the Corinthians? He declared "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: and ... was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: ... And," said Paul, "last of all he was seen of me."9 In our dispensation, this same testimony was spoken boldly by the Prophet Joseph Smith, as he and Sidney Rigdon testified, "And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!"10 This is the knowledge that sustains. This is the truth that comforts. This is the assurance that guides those who are bowed down with grief--out of the shadows and into the light. On Christmas Eve, 1997, I met a remarkable family. Each member of the family had an unshakable testimony of the truth and of the reality of the Resurrection. The family consisted of a mother and father and four children. Each of the children--three sons and a daughter--had been born with a rare form of muscular dystrophy, and each was handicapped. Mark, who was then 16 years old, had undergone spinal surgery in an effort to help him move about more freely. The other two boys, Christopher, age 13, and Jason, age 10, were to leave for California in a few days to undergo similar surgery. The only daughter, Shanna, was then five years old--a beautiful child. All of the children were intelligent and faith-filled, and it was obvious that their parents, Bill and Sherry, were proud of each one. We visited for a while, and the special spirit of that family filled my office and my heart. The father and I gave blessings to the two boys who were facing surgery, and then the parents asked if little Shanna could sing for me. Her father mentioned that she had diminished lung capacity and that it might be difficult for her, but that she wanted to try. To the accompaniment of a recorded cassette, and in a beautiful, clear voice--never missing a note--she sang of a brighter future: On a beautiful day that I dream about In a world I would love to see, Is a beautiful place where the sun comes out And it shines in the sky for me. On this beautiful winter's morning, If my wish could come true somehow, Then the beautiful day that I dream about Would be here and now.11 The emotions of all of us were very near the surface as she finished. The spirituality of this visit set the tone for my Christmas that year. I kept in touch with the family, and when the oldest son, Mark, turned 19, arrangements were made for him to serve a special mission at Church headquarters. Eventually, the other two brothers also had an opportunity to serve such missions. Nearly a year ago, Christopher, who was then 22 years old, succumbed to the disease with which each of the children has been afflicted. And then, last September, I received word that little Shanna, now 14 years old, had passed away. At the funeral services, Shanna was honored by beautiful tributes. Leaning on the pulpit for support, each of her surviving brothers, Mark and Jason, shared poignant family experiences. Shanna's mother sang a lovely musical number as part of a duet. Her father and grandfather gave touching sermons. Though their hearts were broken, each bore powerful and deep-felt testimony of the reality of the Resurrection and of the actuality that Shanna lives still, as does her brother Christopher, each awaiting a glorious reunion with their beloved family. When it was my time to speak, I recounted that visit the family made to my office nearly nine years earlier and spoke of the lovely song Shanna sang on that occasion. I concluded with the thought: "Because our Savior died at Calvary, death has no hold upon any one of us. Shanna lives, whole and well, and for her that beautiful day she sang about on a special Christmas Eve in 1997, the day she dreamed about, is here and now." My brothers and sisters, we laugh, we cry, we work, we play, we love, we live. And then we die. Death is our universal heritage. All must pass its portals. Death claims the aged, the weary and worn. It visits the youth in the bloom of hope and the glory of expectation. Nor are little children kept beyond its grasp. In the words of the Apostle Paul, "It is appointed unto men once to die."12 And dead we would remain but for one Man and His mission, even Jesus of Nazareth. Born in a stable, cradled in a manger, His birth fulfilled the inspired pronouncements of many prophets. He was taught from on high. He provided the life, the light, and the way. Multitudes followed Him. Children adored Him. The haughty rejected Him. He spoke in parables. He taught by example. He lived a perfect life. Though the King of kings and Lord of lords had come, He was accorded by some the greeting given to an enemy, a traitor. There followed a mockery which some called a trial. Cries of "crucify him, crucify him"13 filled the air. Then commenced the climb to Calvary's hill. He was ridiculed, reviled, mocked, jeered, and nailed to a cross amidst shouts of "Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe."14 "He saved others; himself he cannot save."15 His response: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."16 "Into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost."17 His body was placed by loving hands in a sepulchre hewn of stone. On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, along with others, came to the sepulchre. To their astonishment, the body of their Lord was gone. Luke records that two men in shining garments stood by them and said: "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen."18 Next week the Christian world will celebrate the most significant event in recorded history. The simple pronouncement, "He is not here, but is risen," was the first confirmation of the literal Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The empty tomb that first Easter morning brought comforting assurance, an affirmative answer to Job's question, "If a man die, shall he live again?"19 To all who have lost loved ones, we would turn Job's question to an answer: If a man die, he shall live again. We know, for we have the light of revealed truth. "I am the resurrection, and the life," spoke the Master. "He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."20 Through tears and trials, through fears and sorrows, through the heartache and loneliness of losing loved ones, there is assurance that life is everlasting. Our Lord and Savior is the living witness that such is so. With all my heart and the fervency of my soul, I lift up my voice in testimony as a special witness and declare that God does live. Jesus is His Son, the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh. He is our Redeemer; He is our Mediator with the Father. He it was who died on the cross to atone for our sins. He became the firstfruits of the Resurrection. Because He died, all shall live again. "Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: ‘I know that my Redeemer lives!'"21 May the whole world know it and live by that knowledge, I humbly pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior, amen. NOTES 1. D&C 42:45. 2. William Wordsworth, "Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood," in The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250-1900, ed. Arthur Quiller-Couch (1939), 628. 3. Job 14:14. 4. The Story of My Life (1932), chapter 47, paragraph 34. 5. Arthur Schopenhauer, in The Home Book of Quotations, sel. Burton Stevenson (1934), 969. 6. God and My Neighbor (1914). 7. See More Things in Heaven and Earth: Adventures in Quest of a Soul (1925), 11. 8. Acts 7:56. 9. 1 Corinthians 15:3-5, 8. 10. D&C 76:22. 11. "The Beautiful Day," from the movie Scrooge (1970), music and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse. 12. Hebrews 9:27. 13. Luke 23:21. 14. Mark 15:32. 15. Mark 15:31. 16. Luke 23:34. 17. Luke 23:46. 18. Luke 24:5-6. 19. Job 14:14. 20. John 11:25-26. 21. "I Know That My Redeemer Lives," Hymns, no. 136; see also Job 19:25. ;;;SATURDAY AFTERNOON SESSION March 31, 2007 The Spirit of the Tabernacle PRESIDENT BOYD K. PACKER Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Forty-six years ago I was called as an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve, and for the first time, I came to this pulpit. I was 37 years old. I found myself standing among the venerable and wise prophets and apostles, "whose names," as the song proclaims, "we all revere" ("Oh, Holy Words of Truth and Love," Hymns, no. 271). I felt how keenly inadequate I was. About that time here in the Taber-nacle I had a defining experience. It gave me assurance and courage. In those days Primary conference was held here before the April conference. I came through a south door as the opening song was being sung by a large choir of Primary children. Sister Lue S. Groesbeck, a member of the Primary general board, was leading them. They sang: Rev'rently, quietly, lovingly we think of thee; Rev'rently, quietly, softly sing our melody. Rev'rently, quietly, humbly now we pray, Let thy Holy Spirit dwell in our hearts today. ("Reverently, Quietly," Children's Songbook, 26) As the children sang quietly, the organist, who understood that excellence does not call attention to itself, did not play a solo while they sang. He skillfully, almost invisibly blended the young voices into a melody of inspiration, of revelation. That was the defining moment. It fixed deeply and permanently in my soul that which I most needed to sustain me in the years to follow. I felt perhaps that which Elijah the prophet had felt. He sealed the heavens against the wicked king Ahab and fled to a cave to seek the Lord: "A great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks . . . ; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: "And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire [came] a still small voice. "And it was so," the record says, "when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave" to speak to the Lord (1 Kings 19:11-13). I felt something of what the Nephites must have felt when the Lord appeared to them: "They heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn" (3 Nephi 11:3). It is this still, small voice which Elijah and the Nephites heard that the Prophet Joseph Smith understood when he wrote, "Thus saith the still small voice, which whispereth through and pierceth all things" (D&C 85:6). In that defining moment, I understood that the still, small voice is felt more than heard. If I hearkened to it, I would be all right in my ministry. After that I had the assurance that the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, is there for everyone who will respond to the invitation to ask, to seek, and to knock (see Matthew 7:7-8; Luke 11:9-10; 3 Nephi 14:7-8; D&C 88:63). I knew I would be all right. As the years have unfolded, so it has been. I learned too what power there can be in music. When music is reverently presented, it can be akin to revelation. At times, I think, it cannot be separated from the voice of the Lord, the quiet, still voice of the Spirit. Worthy music of all kinds has its place. And there are endless numbers of places where it can be heard. But the Tabernacle on Temple Square is different from them all. For generations the Tabernacle Choir opened its weekly broadcast singing these words written by William W. Phelps: Gently raise the sacred strain, For the Sabbath's come again That man may rest, . . . And return his thanks to God For his blessings to the blest. ("Gently Raise the Sacred Strain," Hymns, no. 146) More than 100 years ago, President Wilford Woodruff, then 91 years of age, delivered what may have been his last sermon from this pulpit. In the audience was 12-year-old LeGrand Richards. His father, George F. Richards (later ordained an Apostle), brought his boys to the Tabernacle to hear the Brethren. LeGrand never forgot that experience. For more than 20 years, I was very close to Elder LeGrand Richards. When he was 96 years old, that message still lingered in his heart. He could not remember the words President Woodruff said, but he could never forget how he felt when they were said. On occasions, I have felt the presence of those who built and kept this Tabernacle. By music and the spoken word, those who came before maintained the simplicity of the gospel and the testimony of Jesus Christ. That testimony was the guiding light in their lives. Great events which shaped the destiny of the Church have occurred in this Tabernacle at Temple Square. Every President of the Church, except Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, has been sustained in a solemn assembly in this Tabernacle. And in similar manner, the sustaining procedure is repeated annually in general conference and duplicated in every stake and ward and branch as required by revelation. The Lord said, "It shall not be given to any one to go forth to preach my gospel, or to build up my church, except he be ordained by some one who has authority, and it is known to the church that he has authority and has been regularly ordained by the heads of the church" (D&C 42:11). In this way, no stranger can come among us and claim to have authority and attempt to lead the Church astray. Here in 1880 the Pearl of Great Price was accepted as one of the standard works of the Church. Here also two revelations were added to the standard works, now known as Doctrine and Covenants sections 137 and 138. Section 137 records a vision given to the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple, and section 138 is a vision given to President Joseph F. Smith concerning the Savior's visit to the spirits of the dead. Here in 1979, after years of preparation, the LDS version of the King James Bible was introduced to the Church. The new editions of the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price were announced to the Church here. In 1908 in a general conference, President Joseph F. Smith read section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants--the Word of Wisdom. Then he, both of his counselors, and the President of the Twelve all spoke to the same subject, the Word of Wisdom. Then a vote to accept it as binding upon the members of the Church was unanimously passed. That revelation begins, "In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation" (D&C 89:4). It is a shield and a protection unto our people, particularly to our youth. It becomes a part of that "whole armor" of God promised in the revelations to protect them from the "fiery darts" of the adversary (see D&C 27:15-18). The Church and individual members of it have always been, are now, and ever will be under siege from the adversary. He will cover, even erase the still, small voice through loud and dissonant music awash with lyrics that cannot be understood--or worse, by lyrics that can be understood. He will carefully lead us astray with every other temptation he could devise. Here by revelation the Lord clarified the order of the priesthood, and this opened the doors to fulfill the commandment of the Savior to take the gospel to "every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people" (D&C 133:37) and to cause the Church to be established among them. Here the Book of Mormon was given the subtitle "Another Testament of Jesus Christ." Thereafter, whoever opens the book will know from the very title what is offered within. The teachings, the sermons, the music, and the feelings and Spirit in this sacred building transfer without being diminished to the great Conference Center nearby, where they are heard by tens of thousands, translated into dozens of languages, and sent to congregations across the world. Even more, that Spirit enters into the homes of millions upon millions of Latter-day Saints. In the homes, parents pray for the well-being of their children. Men and women and, as the Book of Mormon promised, even little children can receive the testimony of Jesus Christ (see Mosiah 24:22; Alma 32:23; 3 Nephi 17:25) and of the Restoration of His gospel. This Tabernacle on Temple Square is "a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of glory and of God, even [His] house" (D&C 109:16). Those called to speak or to perform words, music, and culture are obligated to present that which is worthy. To seek after the praise of men, the scriptures caution us, is to be led carefully away from the only safe path to follow in life (see John 12:43; 1 Nephi 13:9; 2 Nephi 26:29; Helaman 7:21; Mormon 8:38; D&C 58:39). And the scriptures warn us plainly what follows when we "aspire to the honors of men" (D&C 121:35). It is not so much what is heard in the sermons but what is felt. The Holy Ghost can confirm to all who come within that influence that the messages are true, that this is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Tabernacle stands here next to the temple as an anchor and has become symbolic of the Restoration. It was built by very poor and very, very ordinary people. It is now known worldwide. The Tabernacle Choir, identified by the name of this building, has been a voice of the Church for many years. May they never drift from or allow themselves to be pulled away from the central mission which has been their place for generations. For generation after generation the Choir has opened and closed each broadcast with a message of inspiration, rich in principle and anchored in the doctrines of the Restoration, beginning with "Gently Raise the Sacred Strain" (Hymns, no. 146) and closing with "As the Dew from Heaven Distilling" (Hymns, no. 149). The Tabernacle stands in the world as one of the great centers of worthy music and culture. But most of all, it stands as a standard of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. That simple testimony was embedded deeply and permanently in me here in this building by those Primary children singing in reverent, revelatory tones. God bless this sacred building and all that transpires within its walls. How grateful we are that it has been renewed and refurbished without losing its sacred character. Elder Parley P. Pratt of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles read these words from section 121 in the Doctrine and Covenants: "Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven. "The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever" (D&C 121:45-46). Deeply moved, Parley P. Pratt turned his thoughts to a hymn which is actually a prayer. For many years it was chosen by the Choir to close its weekly broadcast: As the dew from heav'n distilling Gently on the grass descends And revives it, thus fulfilling What thy providence intends, Let thy doctrine, Lord, so gracious, Thus descending from above, Blest by thee, prove efficacious To fulfill thy work of love. Lord, behold this congregation; Precious promises fulfill. From thy holy habitation Let the dews of life distill. Let our cry come up before thee. Thy sweet Spirit shed around, So the people shall adore thee And confess the joyful sound. ("As the Dew from Heaven Distilling," Hymns, no. 149) I add my testimony that Jesus is the Christ, that this is His house, on this sacred day of dedication in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. ;;;Prophets--Pioneer and Modern Day ELDER EARL C. TINGEY Of the Presidency of the Seventy My brothers and sisters, as I stand at the pulpit of this old but new Tabernacle, I am overwhelmed with the sense of history I feel at this moment. As one foot is planted in the past and the other in the future, I give thanks for pioneer and modern-day prophets and apostles who have had and still have the vision to construct and extend into the future this remarkable building. I wish to speak of two such men of vision: Brigham Young and his successor today. Brigham Young was the second prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He led the Church for 33 years. He built this Tabernacle and presided at its dedication during the October general conference in 1875, more than 131 years ago. His other accomplishments were many, and I can refer to only a few. He was a pioneer, meaning someone who opens or prepares the way for others to follow. One writer said of Brigham Young: "He led a ragged and impoverished band, stripped of virtually all their earthly goods, into an unknown territory. His critics and biographers note that the man was unique among the leaders of modern history, for he alone, without any political and financial backing, established from scratch in the desert an ordered and industrious society, having no other authority than the priesthood and the spiritual strength with which he delivered his teachings. By constant exhortations and instructions, he drew his people together and inspired them in carrying out the divine mandate to build up the kingdom of God on earth."1 When Brigham Young first entered the valley of the Great Salt Lake, he declared, "This is the right place."2 He later said: "God has shown me, that this is the spot to locate his people, and here is where they will prosper; he will temper the elements to the good of the Saints; he will rebuke the frost and the sterility of the soil, and the land shall become fruitful, . . . and we shall build a city and a temple to the most high God in this place."3 Today, we can all attest to the truth of this prophecy. Truly, the desert land and the valleys of the Rocky Mountains are a fruitful and a productive land of promise and prophecy. He built temples. He started the Salt Lake Temple, which took 40 years to complete. He also started the Manti and the Logan Temples. He dedicated the St. George Temple 4 1/2 months before he died. He was one of America's greatest colonizers. By the time of his death, nearly 400 colonies had been established. He organized the Perpetual Emigrating Fund to reach out to those in need, assisting those of limited means in emigrating from countries in Europe. He established universities. The University of Deseret is now known as the University of Utah. Latter-day Saints' College is now known as LDS Business College. And, of course, he also established Brigham Young University. He loved the Church and its members. Brigham Young had a unique way in which he referred to the Church: "God is at the helm. This is the mighty ship Zion. You stick to the ship and honor it, and see that you are in favor with the ship Zion and you need not worry about anything else. . . . ". . . He guides the ship, and will bring us safely into port. All we have to care about is to take care of ourselves and see that we do right. Let us man the ship manfully, everyone standing faithfully and firmly to his post, and she will outride every storm and safely bear us to the harbor of celestial bliss."4 He loved the youth of the Church, as is evidenced by the experience of Heber J. Grant. Nine days after Heber's birth, his father, Jedediah M. Grant, who was Second Counselor to Presi-dent Brigham Young, died. For the next 21 years, Brigham Young took special interest in the boy Heber J. Grant. Heber J. Grant wrote: "I was almost as familiar in the homes of President Brigham Young as I was in the home of my own mother. In one home . . . if I was hungry I felt as free to go in and ask for something to eat there as in my own home. . . . I knelt down time and time again in his home in the Lion House at family prayers, as a child and as a young man."5 He loved the Prophet Joseph Smith. Of this, he said: "What I have received from the Lord, I have received by Joseph Smith."6 "I love his doctrine. . . . I feel like shouting Hallelujah, all the time, when I think that I ever knew Joseph Smith."7 How I love Brigham Young. His modern-day successor is President Gordon B. Hinckley, also a beloved and revered prophet. A beautiful painting shows President Hinckley looking forward to the future, a set of architectural drawings before him. In the background is a portrait of Brigham Young, making it appear that President Young looks over President Hinckley's shoulder. The portrait of Brigham Young shown in this painting actually hangs in President Hinckley's office, and he has often spoken of it. In a recent general conference, he said: "At the close of one particularly difficult day, I looked up at a portrait of Brigham Young that hangs on my wall. I asked, ‘Brother Brigham, what should we do?' I thought I saw him smile a little, and then he seemed to say: ‘In my day, I had problems enough of my own. Don't ask me what to do. This is your watch. Ask the Lord, whose work this really is.'"8 These two great prophets, President Brigham Young and President Gordon B. Hinckley, are linked together in their shared prophetic vision that comes from seeing the future and having the faith to bring that vision into present reality. President Hinckley, like Brigham Young, is a pioneer and a builder. He has traveled the world, meeting kings, queens, and presidents. He has been interviewed by the world's media. He continues to bring the Church "out of obscurity."9 More than 75 temples have been built in the last 12 years. And he had the inspiration to build the majestic Conference Center. President Hinckley, like Brigham Young, spreads the gospel and values education. Church membership now approaches 13 million in 176 nations, territories, and countries. More than 53,000 missionaries circle the globe. This conference is being translated into 90 languages. He continues to support Church universities and Church education. More than 26,000 members now enjoy the benefits of the Perpetual Education Fund. President Hinckley, like Brigham Young, loves the youth and all members of the Church. The youth of the Church especially reach out to President Hinckley for prophetic counsel. President Hinckley loves the Prophet Joseph Smith. Several years ago, he said: "I worship the God of heaven who is my Eternal Father. I worship the Lord Jesus Christ who is my Savior and my Redeemer. I do not worship the Prophet Joseph Smith, but I reverence and love this great seer through whom the miracle of this gospel has been restored. I am now growing old, and I know that in the natural course of events before many years, I will step across the threshold to stand before my Maker and my Lord and give an accounting of my life. And I hope that I shall have the opportunity of embracing the Prophet Joseph Smith and of thanking him and of speaking of my love for him."10 I bear my humble witness that both President Brigham Young and President Gordon B. Hinckley are prophets who have led the Church by inspiration and revelation. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. NOTES 1. Hugh W. Nibley, in Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 5 vols. (1992), 4:1611. 2. Quoted by Wilford Woodruff, in The Utah Pioneers (1880), 23. 3. Quoted in James R. Clark, comp., Messages of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6 vols. (1965-75), 6:265. 4. Quoted in Preston Nibley, Brigham Young: The Man and His Work (1936), 293, 352. 5. Gospel Standards, comp. G. Homer Durham (1941), 223. 6. Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young (1997), 345. 7. Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe (1954), 458. 8. "An Ensign to the Nations, a Light to the World," Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2003, 82. 9. D&C 1:30. 10. Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley (1997), 509. ;;;If These Old Walls Could Talk BISHOP H. DAVID BURTON Presiding Bishop President Gordon B. Hinckley said in an October 2004 press conference: "I respect this building. I love this building. I honor this building. I want it preserved. . . . I want the old original Tabernacle, its weak joints bound together . . . and strengthened and its natural and wonderful beauty preserved." Then he looked at me and said, "Don't you do anything you shouldn't do, but whatever you do, do well and do right."1 With those stirring but intimidating words, a charge was extended to preserve, strengthen, and return the old original Salt Lake Tabernacle, revitalized and ready for another period of distinguished service. Today, dear President, we present this senior citizen of a building, all attired in a fresh new finish, fitly framed together in its historical elegance--although a bit more comfortable. The Presiding Bishopric, along with more than 2,000 craftsmen, proudly return the "old original Tabernacle," along with a 100-year warranty. President Hinckley's request to return the "old original Tabernacle" became the standard for making difficult architectural and construction decisions. The phrase was used to express the essence and objective of the project. It served as the equivalent of Captain Moroni's title of liberty in that it was, in effect, "hoisted upon every tower" and raised in "whatsoever place"2 was necessary. If these old walls could talk, they would join in expressing sincere appreciation to FFKR Architects, Jacobsen Construction company, and most important, the entire Church project team, along with the many whose skills have made a complex endeavor possible. One senior team member remarked, "As we counseled together, the Lord was able to give us capability beyond our own natural means." Project members felt great reverence for the beauty of the Tabernacle, for its original builders, and for the quality of their work. They marveled that for more than a century, words of the latter-day prophets, seers, and revelators have gone forth from this podium to the world. If these old walls could talk, I'm confident they would express appreciation for their new firm foundation. These old walls would be delighted with their new steel belt, which holds them tall and erect. These old walls would say thank you for scraping 14 layers of paint from the ceiling, then patching and applying a beautiful new coat. These old walls would express gratitude for the protection and beauty of a shiny new aluminum roof and would join with the benches in enjoying the smiles on faces of patrons as they discover the slightly modified seats and a few more inches of knee room. New facilities to better accommodate the strains of inspirational music would be welcomed and appreciated by these old walls. One can only imagine what these old walls could recall about the many sermons they carefully listened to over the years. These old walls, if they could talk, would shout, "We were here!" when President Joseph F. Smith rose from a prolonged illness to attend a session of general conference in October 1918. In the opening session, with a voice filled with emotion, he said, "I will not, I dare not, attempt to enter upon many things that are resting upon my mind this morning, and I shall postpone until some future time, the Lord being willing, my attempt to tell you some of the things that are in my mind, and that dwell in my heart." He continued: "I have not lived alone these five months. I have dwelt in the spirit of prayer, of supplication, of faith and of determination; and I have had my communication with the Spirit of the Lord continuously."3 We later learned that on the day before conference started, President Smith received a manifestation recorded as the vision of the redemption of the dead, which later became section 138 of the Doctrine and Covenants. If these old walls could talk, they would remind us of the bleak, dark days of the Great Depression. They would recall the April 1936 general conference, when President Heber J. Grant announced the Church would inaugurate a Church security plan, later known as the Church welfare plan. Six months later he explained: "Our primary purpose was to set up . . . a system under which the curse of idleness would be done away with, the evils of a dole abolished, and in-dependence, industry, thrift and self respect be once more established amongst our people. The aim of the Church is to help the people to help themselves. Work is to be re-enthroned as the ruling principle of the lives of our Church membership."4 In October 1964, by assignment from President David O. McKay, Elder Harold B. Lee spoke about parental responsibilities. These old walls remember Elder Lee stating he would read from a 1915 letter to the Church signed by the First Presidency. But before starting, he remarked, "I suppose it is something like Mark Twain said about the weather: ‘We talk a lot about the weather, but we don't seem to do anything about it.'" Elder Lee then read from the 50-year-old letter: "We advise and urge the inauguration of a ‘Home Evening' throughout the Church, at which time father and mother may gather their boys and girls about them in the home, and teach them the word of the Lord." And then this promise: "If the Saints obey this counsel, we promise that great blessings will result. Love at home and obedience to parents will increase. Faith will be developed in the hearts of the youth of Israel, and they will gain power to combat the evil influences and temptations which beset them."5 These old walls remember the profound silence that came over the Tabernacle in 1985 when it was announced that Elder Bruce R. McConkie would address the conference. These old walls felt a deep spirit of reverence as Elder McConkie concluded his remarks with these electrifying words: "And now, as pertaining to this perfect atonement, wrought by the shedding of the blood of God--I testify that it took place in Gethsemane and at Golgotha, and as pertaining to Jesus Christ, I testify that he is the Son of the Living God and was crucified for the sins of the world. He is our Lord, our God, and our King. This I know of myself independent of any other person. "I am one of his witnesses, and in a coming day I shall feel the nail marks in his hands and in his feet and shall wet his feet with my tears. "But I shall not know any better then than I know now that he is God's Almighty Son, that he is our Savior and Redeemer, and that salvation comes in and through his atoning blood and in no other way."6 In 1995 President Gordon B. Hinckley said to the women of the Church, "With so much of sophistry that is passed off as truth, with so much of deception concerning standards and values, with so much of allurement and enticement to take on the slow stain of the world, we have felt to warn and forewarn." He then proceeded to read: "We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children. . . . "Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. ‘Children are an heritage of the Lord' (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives--mothers and fathers--will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations."7 I'm grateful for this extraordinary building. It stands as a sacred monument to our past and a magnificent ensign of hope for the future. I testify to the divinity of our Father in Heaven and of our Savior's abundant love for each of us. We are greatly blessed to be led by a prophet of God. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. NOTES 1. "Tabernacle Renovation Press Briefing--Remarks by President Gordon B. Hinckley," Oct. 1, 2004; see www.newsroom.lds.org. 2. Alma 46:36; 62:4. 3. In Conference Report, Oct. 1918, 2. 4. In Conference Report, Oct. 1936, 3. 5. In Conference Report, Oct. 1964, 83-84. 6. "The Purifying Power of Gethsemane," Ensign, May 1985, 11. 7. "Stand Strong against the Wiles of the World," Ensign, Nov. 1995, 100-101; see also "The Family: A Proclamation to the World," Liahona, Oct. 2004, 49. ;;;Gratitude: A Path to Happiness BONNIE D. PARKIN Recently Released Relief Society General President This afternoon I am honored to represent those Relief Society leaders who, here in this very Tabernacle, shared the doctrines of the kingdom, emphasized the significance of women's roles in the home and family, called each other to charitable service, and reminded their sisters of the joy that comes from righteous living. From this pulpit in 1870, Eliza R. Snow asked thousands of women a question that I'd like to repeat today: "Do you know of any place on the face of the earth, where [a] woman has more liberty, and where she enjoys such high and glorious privileges as she does here, as a Latter-day Saint?"1 I bear witness that the women of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints do enjoy grand and glorious privileges. Blessing Basket Let me share a sweet story with you. A family was going through a difficult time. It was hard for them not to focus on their challenges. The mother wrote: "Our world had completely crumpled, so we turned to Heavenly Father for guidance. Almost immediately we realized that we were surrounded by goodness and were being cheered on from every side. We began as a family to express our gratitude to each other as well as to the Lord daily. A close friend pointed out to me that our family's ‘blessing basket' was overflowing. From that conversation came a sort of game, which my children and I grew to love. Before family prayer each night we would talk about how our day had gone and then share with each other all of the many blessings that had been added to our ‘blessing basket.' The more we expressed gratitude, the more there was to be grateful for. We felt the love of the Lord in a significant way as opportunities for growth presented themselves."2 What would a "blessing basket" add to your family? A Spirit-Filled Principle Gratitude requires awareness and effort, not only to feel it but to express it. Frequently we are oblivious to the Lord's hand. We murmur, complain, resist, criticize; so often we are not grateful. In the Book of Mormon, we learn that those who murmur do not know "the dealings of that God who ... created them."3 The Lord counsels us not to murmur because it is then difficult for the Spirit to work with us. Gratitude is a Spirit-filled principle. It opens our minds to a universe permeated with the richness of a living God. Through it, we become spiritually aware of the wonder of the smallest things, which gladden our hearts with their messages of God's love. This grateful awareness heightens our sensitivity to divine direction. When we communicate gratitude, we can be filled with the Spirit and connected to those around us and the Lord. Gratitude inspires happiness and carries divine influence. "Live in thanksgiving daily," said Amulek, "for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you."4 Mercies and blessings come in different forms--sometimes as hard things. Yet the Lord said, "Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things."5 All things means just that: good things, difficult things--not just some things. He has commanded us to be grateful because He knows being grateful will make us happy. This is another evidence of His love. How do you feel when someone expresses gratitude to you? One Sunday I sat next to a sister in Relief Society and got to know her a little better. A few days later I received an e-mail: "Thank you for sitting next to my daughter in Relief Society. You put your arm around her. You will never know how much that meant to her and to me."6 This mother's words surprised me and brought me happiness. How do you feel when you express gratitude to another? I'd like to express gratitude to someone who cares about my grandchildren. A few months ago, while visiting in Texas, I asked six-year-old Thomas to tell me about his bishop. He said, "Oh, Grandmother, you will know him. He wears a dark suit, a white shirt like Papa, and he has shiny shoes and a red tie. He wears glasses and always has a smile." I recognized Thomas's bishop as soon as I saw him. My heart was filled with gratitude for him. Thank you, Bishop Goodman, and thank you, all you wonderful bishops. An Expression of Faith Luke chapter 17 records the experience of the Savior when He healed 10 lepers. As you recall, only one of the cleansed lepers returned to express his appreciation. Isn't it interesting that the Lord did not say, "Your gratitude has made you whole"? Instead, He said, "Thy faith hath made thee whole."7 The leper's expression of gratitude was recognized by the Savior as an expression of his faith. As we pray and express gratitude to a loving but unseen Heavenly Father, we are also expressing our faith in Him. Gratitude is our sweet acknowledgment of the Lord's hand in our lives; it is an expression of our faith. Gratitude in Tribulations: Hidden Blessings In 1832 the Lord saw the need to prepare the Church for coming tribulations. Tribulations are frightening. And yet the Lord said: "Be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours. "And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious."8 The kind of gratitude that receives even tribulations with thanksgiving requires a broken heart and a contrite spirit, humility to accept that which we cannot change, willingness to turn everything over to the Lord--even when we do not understand, thankfulness for hidden opportunities yet to be revealed. Then comes a sense of peace. When was the last time you thanked the Lord for a trial or tribulation? Adversity compels us to go to our knees; does gratitude for adversity do that as well? President David O. McKay observed, "We find in the bitter chill of adversity the real test of our gratitude ... , which ... goes beneath the surface of life, whether sad or joyous."9 Conclusion To my remarkable, faithful sisters of the Church, I thank you for the ways you extend the Lord's love through your service: your care for families at the death of a loved one, your watchcare as you visit teach, your willingness to build testimonies in children as you serve in Primary, your time preparing young women for womanhood. Thank you for your devotion. I have experienced the love of the Lord through your faithfulness. I have been blessed to serve among you; my heart is brimming over with gratitude and love for each of you. I have deep gratitude for the priesthood brethren with whom I've served. My most profound gratitude is for my Savior--an obedient Son, who did all that His Father asked and atoned for every one of us. As I remember Him and acknowledge His goodness, I desire to be like Him. May we be blessed to feel of His love in our lives daily. "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift."10 In His sacred name, Jesus Christ, amen. NOTES 1. In Jill C. Mulvay, "Eliza R. Snow and the Woman Question," Brigham Young University Studies, winter 1976, 251. 2. Personal correspondence. 3. 1 Nephi 2:12. 4. Alma 34:38. 5. D&C 59:7; emphasis added. 6. Personal correspondence. 7. Luke 17:19; emphasis added. 8. D&C 78:18-19; emphasis added. 9. Pathways to Happiness, comp. Llewelyn R. McKay (1957), 318. 10. 2 Corinthians 9:15. ;;;Remember and Perish Not ELDER MARLIN K. JENSEN Of the Seventy I feel honored to follow Sister Parkin. Her service and teachings as well as those of her counselors have blessed all of us. About this same hour 18 1/2 years ago, I was standing near this pulpit waiting for the congregational singing to end, when I was to step forward and give my first general conference address. My anxiety at that moment must have been obvious. Elder L. Tom Perry, who was standing behind me, leaned forward and, in his positive and enthusiastic way, whispered in my ear. "Relax," he said, "we haven't lost anyone at that pulpit in years!" Those encouraging words and the few minutes that followed in which I spoke for the first time to a worldwide audience of Latter-day Saints constitute a treasured memory for me. Like all of you, I am constantly accumulating a reservoir of memories which, when recalled, make up a very useful and often enjoyable part of my consciousness. And, despite resolutions I made as a young man never to weary others with reminiscing when I grew older, I now take great pleasure in sharing my own memories at almost every possible occasion. Today, however, I wish to speak of a more profound role of memory and remembering in the gospel of Jesus Christ than the passive recall and enjoyment of information. If we pay close attention to the uses of the word remember in the holy scriptures, we will recognize that remembering in the way God intends is a fundamental and saving principle of the gospel. This is so because prophetic admonitions to remember are frequently calls to action: to listen, to see, to do, to obey, to repent.1 When we remember in God's way, we overcome our human tendency simply to gird for the battle of life and actually engage in the battle itself, doing all in our power to resist temptation and avoid sinning. King Benjamin called for such active remembering from his people: "And finally, I cannot tell you all the things whereby ye may commit sin; for there are divers ways and means, even so many that I cannot number them. "But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not."2 Realizing the vital role remembering is to play in our lives, what else ought we to remember? In response, assembled as we are today to remember and rededicate this historic Tabernacle, I suggest that the history of the Church of Jesus Christ and its people deserves our remembrance. The scriptures give the Church's history high priority. In fact, much of scripture is Church history. On the very day the Church was organized, God commanded Joseph Smith, "Behold, there shall be a record kept among you."3 Joseph acted on this command by appointing Oliver Cowdery, the second elder in the Church and his chief assistant, as the first Church historian. We keep records to help us remember, and a record of the Church's rise and progress has been kept from Oliver Cowdery's time to the present day. This extraordinary historical record reminds us that God has again opened the heavens and revealed truths that call our generation to action. Of all that has been collected, preserved, and written by historians over those many years, nothing exempli-fies the importance and power of the Church's history more than Joseph Smith's simple and honest story of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appearing to him in what our history books now call the First Vision. In words that generations of missionaries have committed to memory and shared with seekers of truth the world over, Joseph describes the miraculous way in which he received an answer to his question posed in prayer of which Church is right: "I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. ". . . When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other--This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!"4 Hear him, Joseph did! And millions have heard or read and believed his account and have embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ he helped restore. I believe Joseph Smith and know he was a true prophet of God. Remembering his experience of the First Vision never fails to stir my soul to greater commitment and action. No one has greater appreciation for the value of the Church's history than President Gordon B. Hinckley. We love his delightful sense of humor, but his sense of history is equally keen. Inspiring stories and anecdotes from our past punctuate his writings and sermons. As our living prophet, he consciously emphasizes the past and the future to help us live more righ-teously in the present. Because of his teachings, we understand that remembering enables us to see God's hand in our past, just as prophecy and faith assure us of God's hand in our future. President Hinckley reminds us how members of the early Church faced their challenges so we, through the grace of God, can more faithfully face our own. By keeping our past alive, he connects us to the people, places, and events that make up our spiritual heritage and, in so doing, motivates us to greater service, faith, and kindness. In an exemplary way President Hinckley also openly shares from his own personal and family histories. Scores of discouraged new missionaries have been comforted to learn that early in his own mission, President Hinckley was also discouraged and admitted as much to his father. He even courageously shared his father's brief response: "Dear Gordon, I have your recent letter. I have only one suggestion: forget yourself and go to work."5 Over 70 years later, we are all witnesses to how earnestly President Hinckley took that counsel to heart. His sterling character and prophetic wisdom provide persuasive proof for the benefits of remembering the Church's history as well as our own. There is much more to say about memory and remembering in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We often speak of remembering our sacred covenants and God's commandments and of remembering and performing saving ordinances for our deceased ancestors. Most importantly, we speak of the need to remember our Savior Jesus Christ and not just when convenient, but always, as He asks.6 We witness always to remember Him as we partake of the sacrament. In return, we are promised His Spirit will always be with us. Interestingly, this is the same Spirit sent by our Heavenly Father to "bring all things to [our] remembrance."7 Thus, by worthily receiving the sacrament, we are blessed by the Spirit to enter into a wonderfully beneficial circle of remembering, returning again and again in our thinking and devotion to Christ and His Atonement. Coming unto Christ and being perfected in Him is, I believe, the ultimate purpose of all remembering.8 Therefore, I pray that God will bless us always to remember, especially His perfect Son, and perish not. I gratefully testify of Christ's divinity and saving power. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. NOTES 1. See 2 Nephi 1:12; Mosiah 6:3; Helaman 5:14. 2. Mosiah 4:29-30. 3. D&C 21:1. 4. Joseph Smith--History 1:16-17. 5. In Gordon B. Hinckley, Faith: The Essence of True Religion (1989), 115. 6. See 3 Nephi 18:7, 11. 7. John 14:26. 8. See Moroni 10:32-33. ;;;Salt Lake Tabernacle Rededication PRESIDENT JAMES E. FAUST Second Counselor in the First Presidency It is a great honor and privilege to be part of the rededication service of this great edifice, the Salt Lake Tabernacle, which stands west of the Salt Lake Temple. We acknowledge any and all who have had anything to do with the great work that has been done in this building. We especially thank the Presiding Bishopric--Bishop H. David Burton, Bishop Richard C. Edgley, and Bishop Keith B. McMullin--for their excellent leadership in directing the work of updating and restoring the Salt Lake Tabernacle. I have fond memories as a boy coming to this Tabernacle. I was baptized here. When I became a deacon, my father brought me here to attend general priesthood meeting. We came 15 minutes early and were easily able to get a seat in the balcony. In the early days of the Church, the only two buildings built specifically for worship were the temples in Kirtland and Nauvoo. Both were built according to revelation. The first recorded Church-constructed building designated as a meetinghouse was also intended to be used as a schoolhouse. It was built of logs in Missouri in 1831.1 By the time the Kirtland Temple was dedicated in 1836, it was already too small to hold all the Saints who wanted to attend the dedication. The Prophet Joseph Smith regretfully recorded that the building would not accommodate more.2 However, as violence against the Saints and their leaders escalated in Kirtland, the main body of the Church moved to Missouri in 1838, leaving this precious building behind. The Nauvoo Temple followed essentially the same pattern as the Kirtland Temple with respect to the assembly rooms on the first and second floors. However, before the Nauvoo Temple was completed in 1846 the Saints would meet outside, often near the temple, to hear Joseph and the other Church leaders speak. Sometimes thousands attended those meetings. As George A. Smith observed in his humorous way, "In the days of the Prophet Joseph . . . Mormonism flourished best out of doors." This was because "we failed to erect a building big enough to hold the Saints previous to the death of the Prophet."3 Occasionally bad weather would interrupt those outdoor services, and both the speakers and congregation were uncomfortable. President Joseph F. Smith, who remembered well the discomfort of those outdoor meetings held near the temple in Nauvoo, said: "My first recollection of a place of worship was in Nauvoo. It was in a little grove of trees near the site of the temple. In company with my mother I listened here to such men as Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, the Prophet Joseph and the Patriarch Hyrum. I remember quite well attending one meeting in this grove, that a wagon