Young Single Adult Gems - 31 January 2007

No One Knows the Lord's Wisdom

"President Howard W. Hunter once said, 'God knows what we do not know and sees what we do not see' (in Conference Report, Oct 1987, 71). None of us knows the wisdom of the Lord. We do not know in advance exactly how He would get us from where we are to where we need to be, but He does offer us broad outlines in our patriarchal blessings. We encounter many bumps, bends, and forks in the road of life that leads to the eternities. There is so much teaching and correction as we travel on that road. Said the Lord, 'He that will not bear chastisement is not worthy of my kingdom' (D&C 136:31). 'For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth' (Hebrews 12:6)."

James E. Faust, "Where Do I Make My Stand?" Ensign, Nov. 2004, 21

Topics: Patriarchal Blessings

Daily Gems - 31 January 2007

The Price of Integrity

"Some 30 years ago, while working in the corporate world, some business associates and I were passing through O'Hare Airport in Chicago, Illinois. One of these men had just sold his company for tens of millions of dollars--in other words, he was not poor.

"As we were passing a newspaper vending machine, this individual put a quarter in the machine, opened the door to the stack of papers inside the machine, and began dispensing unpaid-for newspapers to each of us. When he handed me a newspaper, I put a quarter in the machine and, trying not to offend but to make a point, jokingly said, 'Jim, for 25 cents I can maintain my integrity. A dollar, questionable, but 25 cents--no, not for 25 cents.' You see, I remembered well the experience of three towels and a broken-down 1941 Hudson. A few minutes later we passed the same newspaper vending machine. I noticed that Jim had broken away from our group and was stuffing quarters in the vending machine. I tell you this incident not to portray myself as an unusual example of honesty, but only to emphasize the lessons of three towels and a 25-cent newspaper.

"There will never be honesty in the business world, in the schools, in the home, or anyplace else until there is honesty in the heart."

Richard C. Edgley, "Three Towels and a 25-cent Newspaper," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 73-74

Topics: Honesty and Integrity

Church History Gems - 31 January 2007

The Faith of the Pioneers

"The power that moved our gospel forebears was the power of faith in God. It was the same power which made possible the exodus from Egypt, the passage through the Red Sea, the long journey through the wilderness, and the establishment of Israel in the Promised Land.

"It was by this power that our gospel forebears left Nauvoo and the beautiful lands of the Mississippi to travel to the shores of the Great Salt Lake. To me, it is a thing of never-ending wonder that Brigham Young and his associates had the faith to move to the mountain valleys of Utah. Of course, there were others who traversed the continent, but for the most part they were small groups. The movement of our people involved an exodus of many thousands to a land which others thought barren and unproductive. Nevertheless, they went west, putting their trust in God that he would rebuke the sterility of the soil and temper the climate that they might be sustained and grow and become a mighty people in the midst of the Rocky Mountains in order to send from its bastions the word of truth everywhere.

"It was by the power of faith that they threaded their way up the Elkhorn and along the Platte, past Chimney Rock, and on to South Pass, down the Sweetwater to Independence Rock, and finally over Big Mountain and into Salt Lake valley."

Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Faith of the Pioneers," Ensign, July 1984, 5

Topics: Faith

Daily Gems - 30 January 2007

To Receive the Blessings of Heaven

"Let us be no more tossed to and fro by every worldly wind and doctrine of man (see Ephesians 4:14). We declare to the world that the heavens are open and the truth of God's eternal plan has again been made known to mankind. We live in the dispensation of the fulness of times. We live in a day when we have the witness through the scriptures of the great plan the Lord has given to His children from the beginning of time down to this present and last dispensation. The evidence is well documented; we are not left alone to wander through mortality without knowing of the master plan which the Lord has designed for His children. He has bound Himself by solemn covenant to give us the blessings of heaven according to our obedience to His law. Oh, remember, remember that these things are true, for the Lord God has revealed these eternal truths unto us."

L. Tom Perry, "The Plan of Salvation," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 72

Topics: Plan of Salvation

Youth Gems - 30 January 2007

The Miracle of the Atonement

"I [have been] overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude for the magnificent principle of repentance and for the Atonement that makes it possible, for the miracle of conversion, for this great Church and its members, and for our missionaries."

Richard G. Hinckley, "Repentance, a Blessing of Membership," Ensign, May 2006, 50

Topics: Atonement, Repentance

Young Single Adult Gems - 29 January 2007

Choosing an Eternal Companion

“The choice of an eternal companion is up to each individual. Father in Heaven respects your agency, especially with this most important of all decisions. He won’t make the decision for you. He gives guidelines and principles, but the choice is yours. Ask Him to bless you with the wisdom to recognize the attributes of godliness in your potential spouse. Is this a good man who will honor his priesthood? Is this a woman who will nurture our children in loving kindness? “Be worthy of the inspiration you seek. Follow the counsel the Lord gave to Oliver Cowdery found in D&C 9:7–8:

“ ‘Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give [the answer] unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.

“ ‘But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.’

“The decision of who you marry is the most important of your life. It is a decision that will be made with both your heart and your head. In other words, it will feel right (heart) and make sense (mind). ‘This is the spirit of revelation’ (see D&C 8:2–3).

“May the Lord bless you. May you know and feel of His love and concern for each one of you. His desire for your success and happiness in life is my prayer and my testimony.”

Lynn G. Robbins, "Finding Your Sweetheart,” New Era, Sept. 2003, 48

Topics: Marriage, Revelation

Daily Gems - 29 January 2007

A Time to Serve

"Along your pathway of life you will observe that you are not the only traveler. There are others who need your help. There are feet to steady, hands to grasp, minds to encourage, hearts to inspire, and souls to save."

Thomas S. Monson, "How Firm a Foundation," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 68

Topics: Serving Others

Family Gems - 29 January 2007

Strong and Loving Families

"Our Father in Heaven wants us to have strong, loving families. One of the great helps he has given us to achieve this is family prayer. . . .

"Of course, our prayers must be more than words, for as President Marion G. Romney has so clearly stated, 'The efficacy of our prayers depends on how we care for one another.' (Ensign, Nov. 1980, p. 93.) Family prayer is fully effective, then, only as we rise from our knees and, with increased love and understanding, take better care of each other."

John H. Groberg, "The Power of Family Prayer," Ensign, May 1982, 50

Topics: Prayer, Family

Church History Gems - 29 January 2007

The Faith of the Pioneers

"The pioneers regarded their coming west as a blessing divinely given. Said Brigham Young on one occasion: 'I do not wish men to understand I had anything to do with our being moved here, that was the providence of the Almighty; it was the power of God that wrought out salvation for this people, I never could have devised such a plan.' (Discourses of Brigham Young, ed. John A. Widtsoe, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1954, p. 480.)"

Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Faith of the Pioneers," Ensign, July 1984, 5

Topics: Pioneers

Young Single Adult Gems - 26 January 2007

God Grant Us Faith

“Let us never forget, my brethren and sisters, that each of us is a part of the whole and that what we do mars or beautifies the magnificent panorama of the kingdom of God.

“As our fathers labored in faith with a moving vision of the destiny of this work, even so can we. There is so much to be done, so much improvement to be made, but we can do it, walking in faith.

“ ‘If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.’ (Matt. 17:20.)

“So declared the Lord.

“God grant us faith.”

Gordon B. Hinckley, "God Grant Us Faith,” Ensign, Nov. 1983, 53

Topics: Plan of Salvation

Church History Gems - 26 January 2007

The Faith of the Pioneers

"Oh, how much is faith needed in each of our lives—faith in ourselves, faith in our associates, and faith in the living God.

"Those pioneers who broke the sunbaked soil of the Mountain West valleys came for one reason only—'to find,' as Brigham Young is reported to have said, 'a place where the devil can't come and dig us out.' They found it, and against almost overwhelming adversities they subdued it. They cultivated and beautified it for themselves. And with inspired vision they planned and built a foundation that blesses members throughout the world today."

Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Faith of the Pioneers," Ensign, July 1984, 3

Topics: Faith

Family Gems - 26 January 2007

An Increased Love for Parents

“I have attended hundreds of missionary meetings over the years. I love to hear missionaries speak of their love for the Lord, but I also love to hear them speak with great appreciation and love concerning their parents. Boys who had been careless and indifferent stand on their feet and with tears in their eyes thank the Lord for their fathers and their mothers. In these days, what a salutary and wonderful thing it is to hear a strong young man stand up and speak with great feeling concerning his father and his mother, saying things he would never have said before in all of his life. Every boy and girl ought to come home with an increased love for parents.”

Gordon B. Hinckley, “Gifts to Bring Home from the Mission Field,” New Era, March 2007, 2

Topics: Work, Proclaim the Gospel, Family

Daily Gems - 26 January 2007

The Great Plan of Happiness

"To be without God in the world--in other words, to refuse to live His gospel and therefore lack the companionship of the Spirit--is to be in a state contrary to the nature of happiness. The gospel of Jesus Christ is, in fact, the--note that this is singular, meaning it is the only--'great plan of happiness' (Alma 42:8). If you opt for any other way of life or try to live only the parts of the gospel that seem convenient, such a choice will cheat you of the full, resplendent joy and happiness for which you were designed by our loving Father in Heaven and His Son."

Marcus B. Nash, "The Great Plan of Happiness," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 49

Topics: Consequences of Sin

Daily Gems - 25 January 2007

“Gifts to Bring Home from the Mission Field”

“We ask tremendous things of missionaries. It is so hard for shy and diffident young people to do the things we sometimes ask them to do. But what a marvelous thing that they try. They have the faith to do, the faith to act, the faith to go forward and make the effort. And what a marvelous gift that is to bring home.”

Gordon B. Hinckley, “Gifts to Bring Home from the Mission Field,” New Era, Mar. 2007, 3

Topics: Proclaim the Gospel

Daily Gems - 24 January 2007

Lord's Concern for Us

"We are children of God. Each one of us is precious to the point of bringing the Lord God Almighty to a fulness of joy if we are faithful, or to tears if we are not."

M. Russell Ballard, "The Atonement and the Value of One Soul," Ensign, May 2004, 87

Topics: Parenthood

Church History Gems - 24 January 2007

The Faith of the Pioneers

"Brigham Young's words concerning his own death and burial are worth noting. After giving instructions concerning where he should be buried, he said, 'There let my earthly house or tabernacle rest in peace, and have a good sleep, until the morning of the first resurrection; no crying or mourning with anyone as I have done my work faithfully and in good faith.' (cited in Preston Nibley, Brigham Young: The Man and His Work, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1936, p. 537.)

"As we reflect on those who have gone before us, and as we consider our present labors for the good of ourselves and others, would that we all might say each day, 'I am doing my work faithfully and in good faith.'

Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Faith of the Pioneers," Ensign, July 1984, 6

Topics: Faith

Daily Gems - 24 January 2007

United in Righteousness

"I have learned over the years that the strength in a quorum doesn't come from the number of priesthood holders in it. Nor does it come automatically from the age and maturity of the members. Rather, the strength of a quorum comes in large measure from how completely its members are united in righteousness. That unity in a strong quorum of the priesthood is not like anything I have experienced in an athletic team or club or any other organization in the world.

Henry B. Eyring, "A Priesthood Quorum," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 43

Topics: Aaronic Priesthood, Melchizedek Priesthood

Youth Gems - 23 January 2007

Spiritual Strength

"My dear young friends, you can stand apart from evil . . . if you will develop your own testimony of the Savior. As you do so, you will grow in spiritual strength. Cherish spirituality, and you will learn how sweet it is."

James E. Faust, "Your Light—a Standard to All Nations," Ensign, May 2006, 112

Topics: Testimony

Daily Gems - 23 January 2007

Challenges Are Growth Experiences

"The challenges you face, the growth experiences you encounter, are intended to be temporary scenes played out on the stage of a life of continuing peace and happiness. Sadness, heartache, and disappointment are events in life. It is not intended that they be the substance of life. I do not minimize how hard some of these events can be. When the lesson you are to learn is very important, trials can extend over a long period of time, but they should not be allowed to become the confining focus of everything you do. Your life can and should be wondrously rewarding. It is your understanding and application of the laws of God that will give your life glorious purpose as you ascend and conquer the difficulties of life. That perspective keeps challenges confined to their proper place--stepping-stones to further growth and attainment."

Richard G. Scott, "The Atonement Can Secure Your Peace and Happiness," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 41

Topics: Adversity

Daily Gems - 22 January 2007

The Atonement of Christ

"Is it possible to reclaim a life that through reckless abandon has become so strewn with garbage that it appears that the person is unforgivable? Or what about the one who is making an honest effort but has fallen back into sin so many times that he feels that there is no possible way to break the seemingly endless pattern? Or what about the person who has changed his life but just can't forgive himself? . . .

"The Atonement of Jesus Christ is available to each of us. His Atonement is infinite. It applies to everyone, even you. It can clean, reclaim, and sanctify even you. That is what infinite means--total, complete, all, forever. President Boyd K. Packer has taught: 'There is no habit, no addiction, no rebellion, no transgression, no apostasy, no crime exempted from the promise of complete forgiveness. That is the promise of the atonement of Christ' ("The Brilliant Morning of Forgiveness," Ensign, Nov. 1995, 20)."

Shayne M. Bowen, "The Atonement Can Clean, Reclaim, and Sanctify Our Lives," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 33-34

Topics: Atonement