Daily Gems - 31 January 2008

The Savior Has Promised Forgiveness

"[A] group of youth adopted the motto 'I Can Do Hard Things.' They understand their identity, their mission, their source of guidance, and they receive strength through keeping their covenants. They also understand that when they make a mistake, they can change! Satan wants all of us to think that repentance is not possible. This is absolutely not true. The Savior has promised forgiveness (See For the Strength of Youth [2001], 30). Each week, worthily partaking of the sacrament makes it possible for each of us to become clean and pure as we covenant to 'always remember [the Savior], and keep his commandments' (Moroni 4:3). The gospel of Jesus Christ is one of simplicity, and we are given the tools that make the pathway straight and narrow. The way is clear: 'For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light' (Matthew 11:30)."

Elaine S. Dalton, "Look toward Eternity!" Ensign, Nov. 2006, 31-32

Topics: Repentance, Forgiving Others

Youth Gems - 30 January 2008

Keeping Covenants

"The light in your countenance comes because you have made and kept covenants with our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, and you have made choices which qualify you to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost. I express my admiration for each one of you."

Elaine S. Dalton, "It Shows in Your Face," Ensign, May 2006, 109

Topics: Holy Ghost, Repentance

Daily Gems - 30 January 2008

Witnesses of the Resurrection Boldly Proclaimed It

"After the Resurrection, the disciples became renewed. They traveled throughout the world proclaiming the glorious news of the gospel.

"Had they chosen, they could have disappeared and returned to their former lives and occupations. In time, their association with Him would have been forgotten.

"They could have denied the divinity of Christ. Yet they did not. In the face of danger, ridicule, and threat of death, they entered palaces, temples, and synagogues boldly proclaiming Jesus the Christ, the resurrected Son of the living God.

"Many of them offered as a final testimony their own precious lives. They died as martyrs, the testimony of the risen Christ on their lips as they perished.

"The Resurrection transformed the lives of those who witnessed it. Should it not transform ours? We will all rise from the grave. . . .

Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Sunday Will Come," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 30

Topics: Resurrection, Plan of Salvation

Young Single Adult Gems - 30 January 2008

Full of Freedom and Liberty

"President Joseph F. Smith declared:

" 'The Almighty raised up [this nation] by the power of his omnipotent hand, that it might be possible in the latter days for the kingdom of God to be established in the earth.'

"President Smith continued:

" 'His hand has been over this nation, and it is his purpose and design to enlarge it, make it glorious . . . to the end that those who are kept in bondage and serfdom may be brought to the enjoyment of the fullest freedom and liberty of conscience possible for intelligent men to exercise in the earth.' (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1939, p. 409.)

"The religious freedom established in America made possible the coming forth of the plain and precious truths of the Book of Mormon."

David B. Haight, "Filling the Whole Earth," Ensign, May 1990, 24

Topics:

Church History Gems - 30 January 2008

Principle of Repentance

"I believe in the principle of repentance, because I have tested it and I know it to be good. If in an evil moment I have said or done anything that has given offense to my brother, I never could be satisfied or feel free from a certain degree of bondage until I went to that brother whom I had wronged, repented of my sin and made it right with him. Then the load would be lifted and I would at once feel the good effect of repentance of sin."

Joseph F. Smith, "Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith" [1998], 59

Topics: Repentance

Youth Gems - 29 January 2008

Your Divine Nature

"Your light has made a difference to me and many others. You have light because you are literally spirit daughters of Deity, 'offspring of exalted parents' (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966], 589) with a divine nature and an eternal destiny. You received your first lessons in the world of spirits from your heavenly parents. You have been sent to earth to 'prove' yourselves."

Julie Beck, "You Have a Noble Birthright," Ensign, May 2006, 106

Topics: Children of God

Daily Gems - 29 January 2008

The Resurrection Is Not a Fable

"Each of us will have our own Fridays--those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays.

"But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death--Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come.

"No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come. In this life or in the next, Sunday will come.

"I testify to you that the Resurrection is not a fable. We have the personal testimonies of those who saw Him. Thousands in the Old and New Worlds witnessed the risen Savior. They felt the wounds in His hands, feet, and side. They shed tears of unrestrained joy as they embraced Him."

Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Sunday Will Come," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 30

Topics: Resurrection, Plan of Salvation

Daily Gems - 28 January 2008

Discipleship Brings Purpose, Comfort, Peace, and Joy

"Our true claim as disciples comes when we can say with certainty that His ways have become our ways.

"The blessings of discipleship are readily available to all who are willing to pay the price. Discipleship brings purpose to our lives so that rather than wandering aimlessly, we walk steadily on that strait and narrow way that leads us back to our Heavenly Father. Discipleship brings us comfort in times of sorrow, peace of conscience, and joy in service--all of which help us to be more like Jesus."

James E. Faust, "Discipleship," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 22

Topics: Serving Others

Young Single Adult Gems - 28 January 2008

Blessed with Adversity

"The Divine Shepherd has a message of hope, strength, and deliverance for all. If there were no night, we would not appreciate the day, nor could we see the stars and the vastness of the heavens. We must partake of the bitter with the sweet. There is a divine purpose in the adversities we encounter every day. They prepare, they purge, they purify, and thus they bless."

James E. Faust, "Refined in Our Trials," Ensign, Feb. 2006, 7

Topics: Hope

Church History Gems - 28 January 2008

Call to Serve

"The year was 1837. The Latter-day Saints were settled in two locations, most of them in and around Kirtland, Ohio, and others, some eight hundred miles distant in Missouri. It was a season of economic depression. Banks failed, fortunes were lost. Among the failures was the bank in Kirtland. A spirit of criticism and evil speaking threatened the Church. In those circumstances, Joseph Smith said to Heber C. Kimball, 'Brother Heber, the Spirit of the Lord has whispered to me: Let my servant Heber go to England and proclaim my gospel, and open the door of salvation to that nation.' (Orson F. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1945, p. 104).

"It is difficult for us to comprehend the enormity of that call. . . . It meant leaving a family destitute. It meant traveling to New York and crossing the sea when he had no money. It meant that a man with very little schooling . . . would go to the great cities of the British Isles among a people known for their education and enlightenment.

"In his mind, Heber C. Kimball demurred. He thought of all of these problems. He then wrote in his journal:

" 'However, all these considerations did not deter me from the path of duty; the moment I understood the will of my Heavenly Father, I felt a determination to go at all hazards, believing that He would support me by His almighty power, and endow me with every qualification that I needed; and although my family was dear to me, and I should have to leave them almost destitute, I felt that the cause of truth, the gospel of Christ, outweighed every other consideration' (Life of Heber C. Kimball, p. 104)."

Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Lengthened Shadow of the Hand of God," Ensign, May 1987, 53

Topics: Faith

Family Gems - 28 January 2008

An Inheritance of Prayer

"There is great power in loving, consistent, fervent family prayer. Don't deny your families this blessing. Don't allow the strength that comes from family prayer to slip away from you and your loved ones through neglect.

John H. Groberg, "The Power of Family Prayer," Ensign, May 1982, 52

Topics: Motherhood, Fatherhood

Young Single Adult Gems - 25 January 2008

The Key to Heaven

"Prayer is your personal key to heaven. The lock is on your side of the veil."

Boyd K. Packer, "Personal Revelation: The Gift, the Test, and the Promise," Ensign, Nov. 1994, 59

Topics: Prayer

Daily Gems - 25 January 2008

Bearing Our Cross as Disciples

"The disciples of Christ receive a call to not only forsake the pursuit of worldly things but to carry the cross daily. To carry the cross means to follow His commandments and to build up His Church on the earth. It also means self-mastery (Alma 39:9, footnote b). As Jesus of Nazareth instructed us, 'If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me' (Luke 9:23). 'And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple' (Luke 14:27)."

James E. Faust, "Discipleship," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 20

Topics: Discipleship, Commandments

Church History Gems - 25 January 2008

Power of Faith in God

"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 - 24 January 2008

Watching Over and Serving One Another

"I'm impressed with the spirit and energy of so many of our members. Hearts are being touched and lives are being blessed. The work is moving forward in dynamic ways. . . .

"The Lord in His infinite wisdom has designed His Church to operate with a lay ministry. That means we have been charged to watch over one another and to serve one another. We are to love one another as our Father in Heaven and the Lord Jesus Christ love us."

M. Russell Ballard, "O Be Wise," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 17-18

Topics: Serving Others, Love

Youth Gems - 24 January 2008

Good Works

"It is basic human nature to desire and seek praise and attention. Helaman taught his sons Nephi and Lehi to do the good works of their forefathers for whom they were named, 'that ye may not do these things that ye may boast, but that ye may do these things to lay up for yourselves a treasure in heaven' (Helaman 5:8). Good works should not be done for the purpose of receiving recognition."

Susan W. Tanner, "I Am the Light Which Ye Shall Hold Up," Ensign, May 2006, 103

Topics: Serving Others

Daily Gems - 23 January 2008

Waiting for God's Timetable

"Elder Neal A. Maxwell linked patience and faith together when he taught: 'Patience is tied very closely to faith in our Heavenly Father. Actually, when we are unduly impatient, we are suggesting that we know what is best–better than does God. Or, at least, we are asserting that our timetable is better than His' ("Patience," Ensign, Oct. 1980, 28).

"We can grow in faith only if we are willing to wait patiently for God's purposes and pattern to unfold in our lives, on His timetable."

Robert C. Oaks, "The Power of Patience," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 16-17

Topics: Faith

Young Single Adult Gems - 23 January 2008

They Knew Who They Were

"Joseph [Smith] knew that if he were to stop going forward with this great work, his earthly trials would probably ease. But he could not stop, because he knew who he was, he knew for what purpose he was placed on the earth, and he had the desire to do God's will.

"The pioneers—who left their homes in Nauvoo, Illinois, and elsewhere, traversed the great plains, and settled in the Salt Lake Valley—knew who they were. They were members of the Lord's Church newly restored to the earth. They knew their purpose or goal—to not only find Zion but to establish it. Because they knew that, they were willing to endure all manner of hardships to bring it about."

Robert D. Hales, "Behold, We Count Them Happy Which Endure," Ensign, May 1998, 75

Topics: Joseph Smith

Church History Gems - 23 January 2008

To Lead the People

"God has ordained among you presidents, apostles, prophets, high priests, seventies, bishops and other authorities; they are of his appointment, empowered and directed by him, under his influence, teaching his law, unfolding the principles of life, and are organized and ordained expressly to lead the people in the path of exaltation and eternal glory."

John Taylor, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: John Taylor (2001), 6

Topics: Leadership

Youth Gems - 22 January 2008

God Is Our Father

"Let us all recognize that each of us is a son or daughter of our Father in Heaven, who loves all of His children."

Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Need for Greater Kindness," Ensign, May 2006, 58

Topics: Children of God