Young Single Adult Gems - 31 December 2008

Agency

"We tend to think of agency as a personal matter. If we ask someone to define 'moral agency,' the answer will probably be something like this: 'Moral agency means I am free to make choices for myself.' Often overlooked is the fact that choices have consequences; we forget also that agency offers the same privilege of choice to others. At times we will be affected adversely by the way other people choose to exercise their agency. Our Heavenly Father feels so strongly about protecting our agency that he allows his children to exercise it, either for good or for evil."

M. Russell Ballard, "Answers to Life's Questions," Ensign, May 1995, 23

Topics: Agency

Daily Gems - 31 December 2008

Being an Example of Strength

"Never forget that you are a [child] of God. He loves you. Live by your standards. Stand up for what you believe in. Sometimes it is not easy, and you may be standing alone for a while. Look for friends with integrity and character, then go to them and express appreciation for their examples. You might even find someone who has been feeling as lonely as you. Pray for guidance and protection from the Lord. He will sustain you. He will become a trusted friend, and you will discover that your example will attract many friends who will take courage from your strength of character."

W. Craig Zwick, "We Will Not Yield, We Cannot Yield," Ensign, May 2008, 98

Topics: Honesty and Integrity, Gospel Standards

Church History Gems - 31 December 2008

Saints Moved South

"The wicked spirit, which had inspired Governor Boggs of Missouri to issue the order to exterminate the Saints and broods forever and always over the work of the Lord, had followed them west.

"President Young had said when they entered the Valley: 'If they let us alone ten years we would ask no odds of them' (Journal of Discourses, 5:226; 14:108). Ten years to the day a messenger arrived with word that Johnston's army was marching west with orders to 'settle the Mormon question.'

"President Young told the Saints: '[We] have been driven from place to place; . . . we have been scattered and peeled. . . .

" 'We have transgressed no law, . . . neither do we intend to; but as for any nation's coming to destroy this people, God Almighty being my helper, they cannot come here.'

"The settlements were evacuated, and the Saints moved south. Every stone was cleared away from Temple Square. The foundation, which after seven years' work was nearing ground level, was covered over and the block was plowed.

"Later, when the foundation was uncovered, they found a few cracks. It was torn out and replaced.

"Sixteen large, inverted granite arches were built into the new foundation. There is no record as to why they did that. That manner of construction was unknown in this country then. If someday perchance there be a massive force wanting to lift the temple from beneath, then we shall know why they are there.

"Construction inched upward. A young married couple might have visited the construction site and returned with teenage grandchildren to the yet unfinished temple."

Boyd K. Packer, "The Temple, the Priesthood," Ensign, May 1993, 19

Topics: Opposition

Daily Gems - 30 December 2008

Action with Correct Principles

"True faith is focused in and on the Lord Jesus Christ and always leads to righteous action. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that 'faith [is] the first principle in revealed religion, the foundation of all righteousness' and that it is also 'the principle of action in all intelligent beings' (Lectures on Faith [1985], 1). Action alone is not faith in the Savior, but acting in accordance with correct principles is a central component of faith. Thus, 'faith without works is dead' (James 2:20)."

David A. Bednar, "Ask in Faith," Ensign, May 2008, 95

Topics: Jesus Christ, Faith, Joseph Smith

Youth Gems - 30 December 2008

Family Responsibility

"Young men and women, you can be a great influence for good in your homes as you help to achieve worthy family objectives. I shall never forget the family home evening, years ago, in which the name of each member of our family was placed in a hat. The name you picked from the hat would be your 'secret friend' for the week. You can imagine the love that filled my heart when I came home that Tuesday after work to sweep out the garage, as I had earlier promised, and found it cleanly swept. There was a note attached to the garage door which read, 'Hope you had a good day--your secret friend.' And on Friday night, as I turned down my bed, I uncovered an Almond Joy, my favorite candy bar, wrapped carefully in scotch tape and plain white paper, with a note: 'Dad, I love you a lot! Thanks, your secret friend.' Then to top it off, after returning home from a late meeting Sunday evening, I found the dining room table beautifully set, and written on the napkin by my place were the words 'SUPER DAD' in big bold letters and in parentheses, 'your secret friend.' Hold your family home evenings, for this is where the gospel is taught, a testimony gained, and the family fortified."

W. Douglas Shumway, "Marriage and Family: Our Sacred Responsibility," Ensign, May 2004, 96

Topics: Family

Family Gems - 29 December 2008

Marriage Requires Thoughtful Preparation

“The best way to avoid divorce from an unfaithful, abusive, or unsupportive spouse is to avoid marriage to such a person. If you wish to marry well, inquire well. Associations through ‘hanging out’ or exchanging information on the Internet are not a sufficient basis for marriage. There should be dating, followed by careful and thoughtful and thorough courtship. There should be ample opportunities to experience the prospective spouse’s behavior in a variety of circumstances. Fiancés should learn everything they can about the families with whom they will soon be joined in marriage. In all of this, we should realize that a good marriage does not require a perfect man or a perfect woman. It only requires a man and a woman committed to strive together toward perfection.

“President Spencer W. Kimball taught: ‘Two individuals approaching the marriage altar must realize that to attain the happy marriage which they hope for they must know that marriage . . . means sacrifice, sharing, and even a reduction of some personal liberties. It means long, hard economizing. It means children who bring with them financial burdens, service burdens, care and worry burdens; but also it means the deepest and sweetest emotions of all’ (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball (2006), 194.)”

Dallin H. Oaks, “Divorce,” Ensign, May 2007, 73

Topics: Marriage

Church History Gems - 29 December 2008

Too Poorly Clad

"In 1853 the cornerstone [for the Salt Lake Temple] was set, and ox teams began dragging granite stones from the mountains twenty miles away.

" ' "Good morning, Brother," one man was heard to say to a teamster. "We missed you at the meetings yesterday afternoon." "Yes," said the driver of the oxen, "I did not attend meeting. I did not have clothes fit to go to meeting." "Well," said the speaker, "Brother Brigham called for some more men and teams to haul granite blocks for the Temple."

" 'The driver, his whip thrown over his oxen, said, ". . . We shall go and get another granite stone from the quarry" ' (David O. McKay, Salt Lake Temple dedication services, 21 May 1963, pp. 7-8).

"President Woodruff had watched men cut out granite stones seventy feet square and split them into building blocks. If there was no mishap (and that would be an exception), that teamster, 'too poorly clad to worship,' could return within a week."

Boyd K. Packer, "The Temple, the Priesthood," Ensign, May 1993, 19

Topics: Sacrifice

Young Single Adult Gems - 29 December 2008

The Importance of Missionary Work

"The Lord provides the living water that can quench the burning thirst of those whose lives are parched by a drought of truth. He expects us to supply to them the fulness of the gospel by giving them the scriptures and the words of the prophets and to bear personal testimony as to the truth of the restored gospel to alleviate their thirst. When they drink from the cup of gospel knowledge, their thirst is satisfied as they come to understand our Heavenly Father's great plan of happiness."

Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Living Water to Quench Spiritual Thirst," Ensign, May 1995, 19

Topics: Proclaim the Gospel

Daily Gems - 29 December 2008

Lord's Works without End

"Virtually every prophet of the Old and New Testament has added scripture to that received by his predecessors. If the Old Testament words of Moses were sufficient, as some could have mistakenly thought them to be (see Deuteronomy 4:2), then why, for example, the subsequent prophecies of Isaiah or of Jeremiah, who follows him? To say nothing of Ezekiel and Daniel, of Joel, Amos, and all the rest. If one revelation to one prophet in one moment of time is sufficient for all time, what justifies these many others? What justifies them was made clear by Jehovah Himself when He said to Moses, 'My works are without end, and . . . my words . . . never cease' (Moses1:4)."

Jeffrey R. Holland, "My Words . . . Never Cease," Ensign, May 2008, 92

Topics: Revelation, Scripture, Prophets

Young Single Adult Gems - 26 December 2008

The Lord's Prophets

"A characteristic of prophets throughout the ages is that, regardless of the consequences, they have had the strength to speak the words of God with plainness and boldness."

Robert D. Hales, "Hear the Prophet's Voice and Obey," Ensign, May 1995, 15

Topics: Prophets

Church History Gems - 26 December 2008

May the Lord Help Me

"When the Saints trickled into the Salt Lake Valley, all they owned, or could hope to get, was carried in a wagon, or they must make it themselves.

"They marked off the temple site before even the rudest log home was built.

"There was an architect in that first company, William Weeks, who had designed the Nauvoo temple. But the hopeless desolation was too much for him. When President Young went east in 1848, Brother Weeks left, saying, 'They will never build the temple without me' (see Thomas Bullock Journals, 1844-1850, 8 July 1848, Church Archives).

"Truman O. Angell, a carpenter, was appointed to replace him. He said: 'If the President and my brethren feel to sustain a poor worm of the dust like me to be Architect of the Church, let me . . . serve them and not disgrace myself. . . . May the Lord help me so to do' (Truman O. Angell Journal, 1857-8 Apr. 1868, 28 May 1867, Church Archives)."

Boyd K. Packer, "The Temple, the Priesthood," Ensign, May 1993, 19

Topics: Temples

Family Gems - 26 December 2008

Forgiveness in Marriage Is Essential

“Don’t treasure up past wrongs, reprocessing them again and again. In a marriage relationship, festering is destructive; forgiving is divine (see D&C 64:9–10). Plead for the guidance of the Spirit of the Lord to forgive wrongs . . . , to overcome faults, and to strengthen relationships.”

Dallin H. Oaks, “Divorce,” Ensign, May 2007, 72

Topics: Marriage

Daily Gems - 26 December 2008

A Worthy Instrument

"I am keenly aware of the 15 men who preceded me as President of the Church. Many of them I have known personally. I have had the blessing and privilege of serving as a counselor to three of them. I am grateful for the abiding legacy left by each one of those 15 men. I have the sure knowledge, as I am confident they had, that God directs His prophet. My earnest prayer is that I might continue to be a worthy instrument in His hands to carry on this great work and to fulfill the tremendous responsibilities which come with the office of President."

Thomas S. Monson, "Looking Back and Moving Forward," Ensign, May 2008, 88

Topics: Apostles, Priesthood Keys

Youth Gems - 25 December 2008

Inspiration

"I learned at a young age that inspiration can come to any of us. When I was in junior high school I was taking a difficult class where most of what was being taught went over my head. One day the teacher asked me a question. I didn't understand the question, let alone the answer. Out of nowhere a response came into my mind, which I repeated to the teacher. It was the right answer, but I knew it had not come from me.

"So how can we recognize inspiration when it comes? Enos stated, 'While I was thus struggling in the spirit, behold, the voice of the Lord came into my mind' (Enos 1:10). The voice of the spirit of revelation is not necessarily audible, but it gives us divine confirmation through our thoughts and feelings. As we are told in the Doctrine and Covenants, 'I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart' (D&C 8:2). We must cultivate our sensitivity to that divine voice."

James E. Faust, "Did You Get the Right Message?" Ensign, May 2004, 62

Topics: Revelation

Daily Gems - 25 December 2008

Sacred Brotherhood of the Twelve

"With President Uchtdorf being called to the First Presidency, there was then a vacancy in the Twelve, and so . . . we sustained a new member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Elder D. Todd Christofferson. He now joins that sacred brotherhood in that sacred circle, and the circle now stands filled. The calling of an Apostle goes back to the Lord Jesus Christ."

Boyd K. Packer, "The Twelve," Ensign, May 2008, 83

Topics: Jesus Christ, Apostles, Priesthood Keys

Young Single Adult Gems - 24 December 2008

What Christmas Means

"Christmas means giving. The Father gave his Son, and the Son gave his life. Without giving there is no true Christmas, and without sacrifice there is no true worship."

Gordon B. Hinckley, "What Shall I Do Then with Jesus Which Is Called Christ?" Ensign, Dec. 1983, 3

Topics: Jesus Christ

Church History Gems - 24 December 2008

From the Top of Every Hill

"When the Salt Lake Temple was dedicated, it had been fifty-seven years since the Lord appeared in the Kirtland Temple, keys were bestowed, and Elijah appeared, fulfilling the prophecy of Malachi twenty-two hundred years earlier.

"There were to have been temples at Independence, at Far West, and on Spring Hill at Adam-ondi-Ahman, but those temples were never built.

"It had been fifty-two years since the Lord had commanded the Saints to build a temple in Nauvoo and warned that if they did not complete it within the allotted time, 'your baptisms for your dead shall not be acceptable unto me; and if you do not these things at the end of the appointment ye shall be rejected as a church, with your dead, saith the Lord your God' (D&C 124:32).

"The Saints built the temple, but they were driven away and it was destroyed by the mobs.

"Colonel Thomas L. Kane wrote: 'They succeeded in parrying the last sword-thrust" of the mobs until "as a closing work, they placed on the entablature of the front . . .

" 'The House of the Lord:

" 'Built by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

" 'Holiness to the Lord!

" '. . . It was this day,' he wrote, that 'saw the departure of the last elders, and the largest band that moved in one company together. The people of Iowa have told me, that from morning to night they passed westward like an endless procession. They did not seem greatly out of heart, they said; but, at the top of every hill before they disappeared, were to be seen looking back . . . on their abandoned homes, and the far-seen Temple and its glittering spire' (pamphlet, discourse delivered before The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 26 Mar. 1830, Church Archives)."

Boyd K. Packer, "The Temple, the Priesthood," Ensign, May 1993, 18-19

Topics: Temples

Daily Gems - 24 December 2008

Light and Hope

"I delight in our Savior, Jesus Christ. Like Nephi, 'I glory in my Jesus' (2 Nephi 33:6), in His ministering and saving roles upon the earth. He provides light and hope and has given us the Holy Ghost for further guidance and comfort along the pathway we should go. It is only through Him that we can return to our Father. 'Salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ' (Mosiah 3:17)."

Susan W. Tanner, "My Soul Delighteth in the Things of the Lord," Ensign, May 2008, 81

Topics: Light of Christ, Holy Ghost

Daily Gems - 23 December 2008

Tithing during the Depression

"In 1936, at the height of the Great Depression in the United States, when people were struggling to make ends meet, Elder John A. Widtsoe admonished the Saints to pay their tithing because of the spiritual blessings they would receive. He said: 'Obedience to the law of tithing . . . brings a deep, inward joy . . . that can be won in no other way. . . . The principles of truth become clearer. . . . Prayer becomes easier. . . . The spiritual sense is sharpened [and] . . . man becomes more like his Father in Heaven' ("Tithing Testimonies of Our Leaders," Deseret News, May 16, 1936, Church Section, 5)."

Sheldon F. Child, "The Best Investment," Ensign, May 2008, 80-81

Topics: Tithes and Offerings, Obedience

Youth Gems - 23 December 2008

Courage

"Life's journey is not traveled on a freeway devoid of obstacles, pitfalls, and snares. Rather, it is a pathway marked by forks and turnings. Decisions are constantly before us. To make them wisely, courage is needed: the courage to say, 'No,' the courage to say, 'Yes.' Decisions do determine destiny.

"The call for courage comes constantly to each of us. It has ever been so, and so shall it ever be."

Thomas S. Monson, "The Call for Courage," Ensign, May 2004, 54-55

Topics: Courage