Daily Gems - 31 March 2010

Courage to Remain Chaste and Virtuous

"You will need [courage] to be chaste and virtuous. You live in a world where moral values have, in great measure, been tossed aside, where sin is flagrantly on display, and where temptations to stray from the strait and narrow path surround you. Many are the voices telling you that you are far too provincial or that there is something wrong with you if you still believe there is such a thing as immoral behavior.

"Isaiah declared, 'Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness' (Isaiah 5:20).

"Great courage will be required as you remain chaste and virtuous amid the accepted thinking of the times."

Thomas S. Monson, "May You Have Courage," Ensign, May 2009, 125

Topics: Virtue

Young Single Adult Gems - 31 March 2010

Revelation

“Personal revelation comes as a testimony of truth and as guidance in spiritual and temporal matters. Latter-day Saints know that the promptings of the Spirit may be received upon all facets of life, including daily, ongoing decisions. Without seeking the inspiration of the Almighty God, how could anyone think of making an important decision such as ‘Who is to be my companion?’ ‘What is my work to be?’ ‘Where will I live?’ ‘How will I live?’”

James E. Faust, “Communion with the Holy Spirit,” Ensign, Mar. 2002, 2

Topics:

Church History Gems - 31 March 2010

Added to His Greatness

"My father had a unique experience when he was the age of a priest. There were no high schools where he lived, and he wanted an education. He received permission from his father to leave the farm and seek his education elsewhere, but he had to make it on his own. Arriving in Salt Lake City, he heard of an employment position being offered in the home of President Joseph F. Smith. He was hired to care for the prophet's two cows. . . .

". . . The Smith family took this poor farm boy from Idaho into their home while he finished high school and attended the University of Utah. They included him in their family activities, around the dinner table, and at family prayer. My father shared with us his witness that the prophet Joseph F. Smith was truly a man of God: 'When I kneeled with the prophet, in family prayer, and listened to his earnest supplications for the blessings of the Lord upon his family and their flocks and their herds, I realized that those same humiliating cows were the subject of his blessings, my feet were brought solidly to earth. . . . Every common everyday act added inches to his greatness. To me he was prophet even while washing his hands or untying his shoes.' "

L. Tom Perry, "Becoming Men in Whom the Spirit of God Is," Ensign, May 2002, 39

Topics: Prophets

Youth Gems - 30 March 2010

The Absolute Certainty of the Restoration

“Some are willing to set aside the precious gospel truths restored by Joseph Smith because they get diverted on some historical issue or some scientific hypothesis not central to their exaltation, and in so doing they trade their spiritual birthright for a mess of pottage. They exchange the absolute certainty of the Restoration for a doubt, and in that process they fall into the trap of losing faith in the many things they do know because of a few things they do not know.”

Tad R. Callister, “Joseph Smith—Prophet of the Restoration,” Ensign, Nov. 2009, 37

Topics: Restoration

Daily Gems - 30 March 2010

Belief in God

"Some wonder, why is belief in God so important? Why did the Savior say, 'And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent'? (John 17:3; emphasis added).

"Without God, life would end at the grave and our mortal experiences would have no purpose. Growth and progress would be temporary, accomplishment without value, challenges without meaning. There would be no ultimate right and wrong and no moral responsibility to care for one another as fellow children of God. Indeed, without God, there would be no mortal or eternal life."

Robert D. Hales, "Seeking to Know God, Our Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ," Ensign, Nov. 2009, 29

Topics: God the Father

Daily Gems - 29 March 2010

Spiritual Arms Around Us

"The scriptures speak of [the Lord's] arms being open, extended, stretched out, and encircling. They are described as mighty and holy, arms of mercy, arms of safety, arms of love, 'lengthened out all the day long' (2 Nephi 28:32).

"We have each felt to some extent these spiritual arms around us."

Neil L. Andersen, "Repent . . . That I May Heal You," Ensign, Nov. 2009, 40

Topics: Love

Young Single Adult Gems - 29 March 2010

We May Receive Personal Revelation

“We as individual members of the Church may receive personal revelation by the power of the Holy Ghost. The Lord said to the Prophet Joseph Smith in the early days of the Church, ‘Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall dwell in your heart. Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation’ (D&C 8:2–3). The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “No man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations. The Holy Ghost is a revelator.’”

Harold B. Lee, “Revelation and You,” Liahona, Feb. 1980, 38

Topics:

Church History Gems - 29 March 2010

Opening of the Heavens

"It is true that we believe the Bible, more literally and fully and completely, I am sure, than others do. We accept it as the word of God, and strive to live in harmony with its teachings. We have all the knowledge that the world has about the dealings of the Lord with people in former times.

"But the gospel which we have received has come to us by revelation, by the opening of the heavens, by the ministering of angels, in modern times. This dispensation began in the spring of 1820 with the appearance of the Father and the Son to Joseph Smith, my great-uncle, the prophet chosen and prepared by the Lord to usher in his great latter-day work.

"Thereafter Moroni came and delivered the plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated 'by the gift and power of God.' It is a new witness for Christ, and an additional proof of the Bible. Then various angels came down from the courts of glory and conferred again upon mortal men the same priesthood, the same powers, the same keys possessed by those of old."

Joseph Fielding Smith, "The Plan of Salvation," Ensign, Nov. 1971, 3

Topics: Joseph Smith

Family Gems - 26 March 2010

Importance of Family Home Evening

"When children go off to school or to play with their friends, parents cannot be totally sure of what they are learning. But if parents take time at home each evening to explain the gospel program to their children, it will replace the negative things they may get during the day.

"Now the Lord knew this—that is why he revealed to us that we should have family home evening every Monday night and on additional nights whenever we wish."

Spencer W. Kimball, "Train Up a Child," Ensign, Apr. 1978, 2

Topics: Family Home Evening

Church History Gems - 26 March 2010

He Will Answer Your Prayers

"Since my youth, I have always been impressed by the fact that our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, would answer the heartfelt prayers of a 14-year-old boy who was searching for the truth. Just as He answered Joseph Smith's prayer, our Heavenly Father will answer your prayers in His own time and in His own way.

"As you learn more about the Prophet Joseph, you will learn that through him the fulness of the everlasting gospel was restored, including the keys of the priesthood. In addition, you will learn of the greatness of his spirit, the compassion he felt for those who suffered, his grasp of the mysteries of heaven and of the workings of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, among men.

"The more I know of the Prophet Joseph, the more I love him, the more I yearn to follow his example, the more I appreciate what our Father in Heaven and His Son have done in restoring this gospel that is destined to fill the earth in these, the latter days."

Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Growing into the Priesthood," Ensign, Nov. 1999, 41

Topics: Joseph Smith

Daily Gems - 26 March 2010

Miracle of the Restoration

"Our missionary message is strengthened by the knowledge of the Restoration. We know that God speaks to His prophets today, just as He did anciently. We also know that His gospel is administered with the power and authority of the restored priesthood. No other message has such great eternal significance to everyone living on the earth today. All of us need to teach this message to others with power and conviction. It is the still, small voice of the Holy Ghost that testifies through us of the miracle of the Restoration, but first we must open our mouths and testify. We must warn our neighbors."

L. Tom Perry, "Bring Souls unto Me, Ensign," May 2009, 110–11

Topics: Restoration

Young Single Adult Gems - 26 March 2010

We Can Access Heaven

“Even more amazing than modern technology is our opportunity to access information directly from heaven, without hardware, software, or monthly service fees. It is one of the most marvelous gifts the Lord has offered to mortals. It is His generous invitation to ‘ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.’

“This timeless offer to provide personal revelation is extended to all of His children. It almost sounds too good to be true. But it is true!”

Russell M. Nelson, “Ask, Seek, Knock,” Ensign, Nov. 2009, 81

Topics:

Family Gems - 26 March 2010

Children's Lives Are Shaped at Home

"Children are like trees. When they are young, their lives can be shaped and directed, usually with ever so little effort. Said the writer of Proverbs, 'Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it' (22:6). That training finds its roots in the home. There will be little of help from other sources. Do not depend on government to help in this darkening situation. Barbara Bush, wife of former United States president George Bush, spoke wisely when in Wellesley, Massachusetts, in 1990 she addressed the Wellesley College graduating class and said, 'Your success as a family, our success as society, depends not on what happens at the White House, but on what happens inside your house.' "

Gordon B. Hinckley, "Four Simple Things to Help Our Families and Our Nations," Ensign, Sept. 1996, 7

Topics: Children

Daily Gems - 25 March 2010

Trials and Heartaches of Life

"[The early pioneers] came from a great diversity of circumstances. All faced the universal trials and heartaches of life. Their determination born of faith to serve the Lord and others seemed to take them not around the storms of life but directly into them. Some were young and some old. They were from many lands and peoples, as you are today. But they were of one heart, one mind, and with one intention. They were determined to help the Lord build His Zion."

Henry B. Eyring, "The Enduring Legacy of Relief Society," Ensign, Nov. 2009, 121–22

Topics: Pioneers

Youth Gems - 25 March 2010

Striving to Repent

“Sometimes in our repentance, in our daily efforts to become more Christlike, we find ourselves repeatedly struggling with the same difficulties. As if we were climbing a tree-covered mountain, at times we don’t see our progress until we get closer to the top and look back from the high ridges. Don’t be discouraged. If you are striving and working to repent, you are in the process of repenting.”

Neil L. Andersen, “Repent . . . That I May Heal You,” Ensign, Nov. 2009, 41

Topics: Repentance

Young Single Adult Gems - 24 March 2010

The Peace of God

“World peace, though a lofty goal, is but an outgrowth of the personal peace each individual seeks to attain. I refer not to the peace promoted by man, but peace as promised of God. I speak of peace in our homes, peace in our hearts, even peace in our lives. Peace after the way of man is perishable. Peace after the manner of God will prevail.”

Thomas S. Monson, "Finding Peace,” Ensign, Mar. 2004, 2

Topics: Peace

Daily Gems - 24 March 2010

In the Process of Becoming

"We're all on a journey. Dads are a little further down the road, but none of us has yet arrived at our final destination. We are all in the process of becoming who we will one day be. Fathers and sons can play a critical role in helping each other become the best that they can be.

"I know that father-son relationships are never perfect, but [much] is possible if you will put in the effort to make it happen."

M. Russell Ballard,, "Fathers and Sons: A Remarkable Relationship," Ensign, Nov. 2009, 47

Topics: Example

Church History Gems - 24 March 2010

Prison Temple

"Most of us, most of the time, speak of the facility at Liberty as a 'jail' or a 'prison'—and certainly it was that. But Elder Brigham H. Roberts (1857–1933) of the First Council of the Seventy, in recording the history of the Church, spoke of the facility as a temple, or, more accurately, a 'prison-temple.' Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) used the same phrasing in some of his writings. Certainly this prison-temple lacked the purity, beauty, comfort, and cleanliness of our modern temples. The speech and behavior of the guards and criminals who came there were anything but temple-like. In fact, the restricting brutality and injustice of this experience at Liberty would make it seem the very antithesis of the liberating, merciful spirit of our temples and the ordinances performed in them.

"So in what sense could Liberty Jail be called a 'temple,' and what does such a title tell us about God's love and teachings, including where and when that love and those teachings are made manifest? In precisely this sense: that you can have sacred, revelatory, profoundly instructive experiences with the Lord in any situation you are in. Indeed, you can have sacred, revelatory, profoundly instructive experiences with the Lord in the most miserable experiences of your life—in the worst settings, while enduring the most painful injustices, when facing the most insurmountable odds and opposition you have ever faced."

Jeffrey R. Holland, "Lessons from Liberty Jail," Ensign, Sept. 2009, 28

Topics: Faith

Daily Gems - 23 March 2010

Do the Best We Can

"The Lord doesn't expect us to work harder than we are able. He doesn't (nor should we) compare our efforts to those of others. Our Heavenly Father asks only that we do the best we can—that we work according to our full capacity, however great or small that may be."

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Two Principles for Any Economy," Ensign, Nov. 2009, 56

Topics: Work

Youth Gems - 23 March 2010

Prayer

“Learn to pray. Pray often. Pray in your mind, in your heart. Pray on your knees. Prayer is your personal key to heaven. The lock is on your side of the veil. And I have learned to conclude all my prayers with ‘Thy will be done’ (Matthew 6:10; see also Luke 11:2; 3 Nephi 13:10).”

Boyd K. Packer, “Prayer and Promptings,” Ensign, Nov. 2009, 46

Topics: Prayer