Daily Gems - 28 February 2007

The Lord Expects Us to Endure to the End

"We are all subject to sorrow and suffering, to disease and death. Through times good and bad, the Lord expects each of us to endure to the end. As we all go forward together in His sacred work, the Brethren realize the importance of your thoughtful consideration, so lovingly offered and gratefully received. We love you and pray for you, as you pray for us."

Russell M. Nelson, "Jesus Christ—the Master Healer," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 85

Topics: Enduring to the End

Church History Gems - 28 February 2007

"The Expanding Inheritance from Joseph Smith

"As I submit to you my testimony of Joseph Smith, I acknowledge his humanness along with his great spiritual powers. He did not claim to be divine, nor a perfect man. He claimed only to be a mortal man with human feelings and imperfections, trying honestly to fulfill the divine mission given to him. He so describes himself in recorded counsel given to some of the members of the Church who had just arrived in Nauvoo on October 29, 1842. Said the Prophet, 'I told them I was but a man, and they must not expect me to be perfect; if they expected perfection from me, I should expect it from them; but if they would bear with my infirmities and the infirmities of the brethren, I would likewise bear with their infirmities' (History of the Church, 5:181)."

James E. Faust, "The Expanding Inheritance from Joseph Smith," Ensign, Nov. 1981, 76

Topics: Joseph Smith, Restoration

Young Single Adult Gems - 28 February 2007

Renewing Our Covenants in Solemnity before God

"President Gordon B. Hinckley has told us: 'If every man in this church who has been ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood were to qualify himself to hold a temple recommend, and then were to go to the house of the Lord and renew his covenants in solemnity before God and witnesses, we would be a better people. . . . So much of heartache and heartbreak would be avoided. . . . There would be a greater measure of appreciation and of mutual respect among us. And I am confident the Lord would smile with greater favor upon us' (Ensign, Nov. 1995, 53)."

James E. Faust, "Standing in Holy Places," Ensign, May 2005, 67

Topics: Temple Work

Daily Gems - 27 February 2007

Forgiveness Accomplishes Miracles

"Somehow forgiveness, with love and tolerance, accomplishes miracles that can happen in no other way."

Gordon B. Hinckley, "Forgiveness," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 84

Topics: Forgiving Others

Youth Gems - 27 February 2007

Are You a Standard for Others?

"My call to you is the same as Moroni's call: 'Awake, and arise . . . , O daughter[s] of Zion' (Moroni 10:31). He saw you. He saw this day. These are your days! It is up to you to decide that you will 'arise and shine forth.' I believe that as you awake and arise, your light will be a standard to the nations, but I also believe your standards will be a light to the nations. You are set apart. You distinguished yourselves in the premortal existence. Your lineage carries with it a covenant and promises. You have inherited the spiritual attributes of the faithful—even Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Your very nature reflects your divine heritage and destiny."

Elaine S. Dalton, "It Shows in Your Face," Ensign, May 2006, 111

Topics: Children of God, Gospel Standards, Example

Family Gems - 26 February 2007

Family Home Evening Is the Ideal Time for Family Togetherness

"Parents teach and families learn by doing things together. . . .

"It is a striking fact that the family home evening is the ideal time to accomplish almost every type of family togetherness. It is the ideal place for the family to pray together, learn together, counsel together, play together, and even work together. Most of us recognize this, but I wonder how many of us are really using the family home evening to its full potential."

Dallin H. Oaks, "Parental Leadership in the Family," Ensign, June 1985, 10-11

Topics: Family, Parenthood

Church History Gems - 26 February 2007

Decide to Decide

"The Prophet Joseph Smith's belief in God, his faith in God's interest in him, gave him the courage and optimism to say:

" 'Never get discouraged, whatever difficulties might surround [you]. If [you were] sunk in the lowest pit of Nova Scotia, and all the Rocky Mountains piled on top of [you], [you] ought not to be discouraged, but hang on, exercise faith and keep up good courage and [you] should come out on top of the heap.' (George A. Smith's journal, quoted by Preston Nibley, in Church Section, 12 Mar. 1950, p. 16.)"

Rex D. Pinegar, "Decide to Decide," Ensign, Nov. 1980, 73

Topics: Courage, Faith

Daily Gems - 26 February 2007

Understanding the Commandments through Personal Study

"It is not sufficient to have a vague understanding of truth or the reality of the Father and His Son, our Savior. Each of us must come to know who They really are. You must feel how very much They love you. You must trust that as you consistently live the truth the best you can, They will help you realize the purpose of your earth life and strengthen you to qualify for the blessings promised. To be obedient to the commandments of God requires an understanding of them. It necessitates faith in them. That comprehension is best obtained through personal study of doctrine."

Richard G. Scott, "Truth Restored," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 80-81

Topics: Testimony, Prayer, Faith

Young Single Adult Gems - 26 February 2007

Miraculous Effects on the Lives of Millions of Women

"[Women of the Church] have experienced much of heaven on earth as in life they have cherished one another, comforted one another, and instructed one another. Who can gauge the miraculous effects upon the lives of millions of women whose knowledge has been increased, whose vision has been extended, whose lives have been broadened, and whose understanding of the things of God has been enriched by reason of countless lessons effectively taught and learned in meetings of the Relief Society?"

Gordon B. Hinckley, “Video: Instruments in the Hands of God,” Ensign, Nov. 2005, 105

Topics: Relief Society

Family Gems - 23 February 2007

Eternal Marriage

"[The gospel] takes men and women and it joins them together in an eternal covenant of matrimony, holy and pure, given of God, which supplies the necessities and meets the purest and strongest desires of the soul. It makes men and women complete--husbands and wives for time and for all eternity. What a glorious thought this is! ("Discourse by President Joseph F. Smith," Millennial Star, 15 Feb. 1900, 98)."

Joseph F. Smith, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith (1998), 174

Topics: Marriage

Church History Gems - 23 February 2007

An Eternal Covenant of Matrimony

"[The gospel] takes men and women and it joins them together in an eternal covenant of matrimony, holy and pure, given of God, which supplies the necessities and meets the purest and strongest desires of the soul. It makes men and women complete--husbands and wives for time and for all eternity. What a glorious thought this is! ("Discourse by President Joseph F. Smith," Millennial Star, 15 Feb. 1900, 98)."

Joseph F. Smith, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith [1998], 174

Topics: Marriage

Daily Gems - 23 February 2007

Guidance of the Light of Christ and the Holy Ghost

"The Light of Christ . . . provide[s] . . . guidance. It gives light and life to all things. It prompts all individuals throughout the earth to distinguish truth from error, right from wrong. The Light of Christ is not a person. It is a power and influence that comes from God our Father through His Son, Jesus Christ, and, when followed, can lead a person to qualify for the more definitive guidance and inspiration of the Holy Ghost. You were told that transgression would weaken the influence of the Holy Ghost, but it could be restored through proper repentance. You rejoiced to know that the obedient who would receive the proper ordinances with the necessary covenants and remain faithful would inherit celestial glory and live in the presence of the Father and His Son throughout the eternities."

Richard G. Scott, "Truth Restored," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 79

Topics: Holy Ghost, Obedience

Young Single Adult Gems - 23 February 2007

We Cannot Do It Alone

"When you attempt to live life's experiences alone, you are not being true to yourself, nor to your basic mission in life. Individuals in difficulty often say: 'I'll do it alone,' 'Leave me alone,' 'I don't need you,' 'I can take care of myself.' It has been said that no one is so rich that he does not need another's help, no one so poor as not to be useful in some way to his fellowman. The disposition to ask assistance from others with confidence, and to grant it with kindness, should be part of our very nature."

Robert D. Hales, "We Can't Do It Alone," Ensign, Nov. 1975, 93

Topics: Serving Others

Daily Gems - 22 February 2007

What It Means to Study

"For the gospel to be written in your heart, you need to know what it is and grow to understand it more fully, . . . sometimes reading a few verses, stopping to ponder them, carefully reading the verses again, and as you think about what they mean, praying for understanding, asking questions in your mind, waiting for spiritual impressions, and writing down the impressions and insights that come so you can remember and learn more. Studying in this way, you may not read a lot of chapters or verses in a half hour, but you will be giving place in your heart for the word of God, and He will be speaking to you."

D. Todd Christofferson, "When Thou Art Converted," Ensign, May 2004, 11

Topics: Scripture

Youth Gems - 22 February 2007

The Atonement

"The Atonement is an event that enables us to be reconciled to God. The word atonement, or 'at-one-ment,' means to restore or to come back. In terms of family, it means to be reunited with one another and with God and His Son, Jesus Christ. It means sadness through separation will become happiness through reuniting."

Earl C. Tingey, "The Great Plan of Happiness," Ensign, May 2006, 74

Topics: Atonement

Daily Gems - 21 February 2007

Serving in Our Father's Kingdom

"May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments. May our testimonies ever grow stronger as we seek to find the fountain of eternal truth. May the brotherhood that exists in our quorum be of comfort and strength and security as we pass through this mortal part of our existence. May the joy of gospel service ever abide in our hearts as we go forward to fulfill our duties and responsibilities as servants in our Father in Heaven's kingdom."

L. Tom Perry, "What Is a Quorum?" Ensign, Nov. 2004, 26

Topics: Melchizedek Priesthood, Serving Others, Aaronic Priesthood

Church History Gems - 21 February 2007

The President is the Mouthpiece of God

"[The] President is the mouthpiece of God, the revelator, the translator, the seer, and the Prophet of God to the whole Church. It is he who holds the keys of this Holy Priesthood--the keys which unlock the doors of the Temples of God and of the ordinances of His house for the salvation of the living and the redemption of the dead. It is he who holds the sealing power, by which man may bind on earth and it shall be bound in heaven, and by which men duly authorized and appointed of him who holds the keys may loose on earth and it will be loosed in heaven. This is the order of the Holy Priesthood (Deseret News: Semi-Weekly, 27 Apr. 1897, 1)."

Joseph F. Smith, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith [1998], 141

Topics: Prophets

Young Single Adult Gems - 21 February 2007

Marriage in the Lord’s Way

“Once in a while, I’ll talk to a young Latter-day Saint couple who think it’s more important to ‘walk down the aisle’ or ‘have a big wedding’ or be surrounded by human symbols of beauty--my heart aches for them. They simply do not understand. You cannot improve on the Lord’s way. It was planned by the Father. The ordinance is His. The authority is His. The words are His, and the house is His. Who would dare to compare the tinsel of the temporal with the gold of God?”

Cree-L Kofford, "Marriage in the Lord’s Way, Part One,” Ensign, June 1998, 7

Topics: Marriage, Ordinances and Covenants

Daily Gems - 20 February 2007

Coming to an Understanding with Ourselves

"President David O. McKay counseled: ' "The greatest battle of life is fought within the silent chambers of your own soul.". . . It is a good thing to sit down and commune with yourself, to come to an understanding with yourself and decide in that silent moment what your duty is to your family, to your Church, to your country, and . . . to your fellowmen' (in Conference Report, Apr. 1967, 84-85)."

Thomas S. Monson, "Choose You This Day," Ensign, Nov. 2004, 68

Topics: Duty

Youth Gems - 20 February 2007

Making Important Decisions

"When we know who we are and what we are supposed to do, it is easier to make important decisions about education, careers, and marriage. It is easier to shine our light in our families, with our friends, and in all other places."

Julie B. Beck, "You Have a Noble Birthright," Ensign, May 2006, 107

Topics: Example