Young Single Adult Gems - 30 April 2008

Avoiding Pornography

“Suppose a storm is raging and the winds howl and the snow swirls about you. You find yourself unable to stop it. But you can dress properly and seek shelter, and the storm will have no effect upon you.

“Likewise, even though the Internet is saturated with sleazy material, you do not have to watch it. You can retreat to the shelter of the gospel and its teaching of cleanliness and virtue and purity of life. . . .

“Now . . . the time has come for any one of us who is so involved [in pornography] to pull himself [or herself] out of the mire, to stand above this evil thing, to ‘look to God and live’ (Alma 37:47). We do not have to view salacious magazines. We do not have to read books laden with smut. We do not have to watch television that is beneath wholesome standards. We do not have to rent movies that depict that which is filthy. We do not have to sit at the computer and play with pornographic material found on the Internet.

“I repeat, we can do better than this. We must do better than this.”

Gordon B. Hinckley, “A Tragic Evil among Us,” Ensign, Nov. 2004, 61-62.

Topics: Chastity

Daily Gems - 30 April 2008

Make General Conference a Priority in Your Life

"Decide now to make general conference a priority in your life. Decide to listen carefully and follow the teachings that are given. Listen to or read the talks more than once to better understand and follow the counsel. By doing these things, the gates of hell will not prevail against you, the powers of darkness will be dispersed from before you, and the heavens will shake for your good."

Paul V. Johnson, "The Blessings of General Conference," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 52

Topics: Prophets

Church History Gems - 30 April 2008

Divinely Instituted

"Relief Society was not man-made or woman-made. It was, as President Joseph F. Smith (1838-1918) explained, 'divinely made, divinely authorized, divinely instituted, divinely ordained of God to minister for the salvation of the souls of women and of men' (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith [1998], 184)."

Bonnie D. Parkin, "Oh, How We Need Each Other!" Ensign, Mar. 2004, 16-17

Topics: Relief Society

Youth Gems - 29 April 2008

Why Are We Here?

"Knowing the identity of the Father and the Son helps us know that all of us are placed on earth to acquire a physical body, gain experience, and prove ourselves worthy to return to our Heavenly Father."

Earl C. Tingey, "The Great Plan of Happiness," Ensign, May 2006, 72

Topics: Plan of Salvation

Daily Gems - 29 April 2008

Confirmation of the Living Reality of the Christ

"Today there is much confusion in the Christian world about the doctrine of Christ—not only about His divine nature but even about His Atonement and Resurrection, His gospel, and especially the commandments related to it. The result is a belief in a self-made-man Christ, a popular Christ, and a silent, crucified Christ. Wrong religious beliefs lead to wrong religious behaviors.

"A personal spiritual foundation can and must rely on a personal spiritual confirmation by the Holy Ghost of the living reality of Jesus Christ, the prophets, and the scriptures containing the revelations of the Lord."

Charles Didier, "Man's Search for Divine Truth," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 49

Topics: Revelation, Jesus Christ, Atonement

Family Gems - 28 April 2008

Our Duty to Teach Our Children

"President Heber J. Grant declared: 'It is our duty to teach our children in their youth. . . . I may know that the gospel is true, and so may my wife; but I want to tell you that our children will not know that the gospel is true, unless they study it and gain a testimony for themselves' (Gospel Standards, comp. G. Homer Durham [1941], 155)."

Thomas S. Monson, "If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear," Ensign, Nov. 2004, 115

Topics: Children, Testimony, Teaching

Young Single Adult Gems - 28 April 2008

Crucifying Christ Afresh

“Please, never say: ‘Who does it hurt? Why not a little freedom? I can transgress now and repent later.’ Please don’t be so foolish and so cruel. You cannot with impunity ‘crucify Christ afresh ’ (see Heb. 6:6). ‘Flee fornication’ (1 Cor. 6:18). Paul cries, and flee ‘anything like unto it’ (D&C 59:6) the Doctrine and Covenants adds. Why? Well, for one reason because of the incalculable suffering in both body and spirit endured by the Savior of the world so that we could flee (see especially D&C 19:15-20). We owe Him something for that. Indeed, we owe Him everything for that. ‘Ye are not your own,’ Paul says. ‘Ye [have been] bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s’ (1 Cor. 6:19-20; see also vv. 13-18). In sexual transgression the soul is at stake--the body and the spirit.”

Jeffrey R. Holland, “Personal Purity,” Ensign, Nov. 1998, 76

Topics: Righteousness

Church History Gems - 28 April 2008

Personal Tribute

"This year we commemorate the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Relief Society. Women of the Church rejoice as they reflect on past achievements of their organization and, with foresight coupled with faith, meet today's challenges and plan for future accomplishments.

"President Benson has singled out two members of the Relief Society for his personal tribute. He said: 'I pay grateful tribute to two elect women who have influenced my life—my mother, and my own sweetheart and eternal companion. I thank God that they have used their womanly attributes of compassion and charity to bless my life and the lives of their posterity' (Ezra Taft Benson, address at the Nauvoo Monument dedicatory services, "To the Elect Women of the Kingdom of God," 20 June 1978)."

Thomas S. Monson, "Memories of Yesterday, Counsel for Today," Ensign, May 1992, 4

Topics: Relief Society

Daily Gems - 28 April 2008

Beginning to Think and Feel as a Missionary

"The challenge to become applies precisely and perfectly to missionary preparation. . . . You can increase in your desire to serve God (see D&C 4:3), and you can begin to think as missionaries think, to read what missionaries read, to pray as missionaries pray, and to feel what missionaries feel. You can avoid the worldly influences that cause the Holy Ghost to withdraw, and you can grow in confidence in recognizing and responding to spiritual promptings. . . . You can gradually become the missionary you hope to be and the missionary the Savior expects. . . .

"[Then you are] well on [your] way to becoming a missionary, [and] the basic adjustment to the rigors of missionary work and lifestyle will not be overwhelming, burdensome, or constraining. Thus, a key element of raising the bar includes working to become a missionary before going on a mission."

David A. Bednar, "Becoming a Missionary," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 45-46

Topics: Proclaim the Gospel

Family Gems - 25 April 2008

Teaching Children about Christ

"Children are open to gospel truths more than at any other time, and

protected childhood is literally a once-in-a-lifetime

opportunity to teach and strengthen children to choose the

"It's easy to know what to teach. The scriptures and our

Gordon B. Hinckley, "Behold Your Little Ones," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 74-75

Topics: Plan of Salvation, Revelation

Young Single Adult Gems - 25 April 2008

The Importance of Our Actions

“Actions truly do speak louder than words. In fact, actions mean much more to the Lord than words. The Lord declared in the Doctrine and Covenants, ‘If thou lovest me thou shalt serve me and keep all my commandments’ (D&C 42:29).”

Richard J. Maynes, “Keeping Our Covenants,” Ensign, Nov. 2004, 94

Topics: Obedience

Church History Gems - 25 April 2008

Friendly Associations

"Since our last conference we have had a delightful message from Christopher S. Bond, Governor of the State of Missouri, who advised us that he has rescinded the 138-year-old Executive Order of Governor Lilburn W. Boggs calling for the extermination or expulsion of the Mormons from the state of Missouri. Governor Bond, present Missouri governor, writes:

" 'Expressing on behalf of all Missourians our deep regret for the injustice and undue suffering which was caused by this 1838 order, I hereby rescind Executive Order No. 44 dated October 27, 1838, issued by Governor Lilburn W. Boggs.'

"To Governor Bond and the people of Missouri, we extend our deep appreciation for this reversal and for the present friendly associations between the membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the people of Missouri as it is now in effect."

Spencer W. Kimball, "A Report and a Challenge," Ensign, Nov. 1976, 4

Topics:

Daily Gems - 25 April 2008

Receiving All Things with Thankfulness

"He who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious".

Doctrine and Covenants 78:19

Topics: Gratitude

Youth Gems - 24 April 2008

How Do We Make Good Decisions?

"You want to make your own decisions, but you ought to make those decisions with an eternal perspective. With age, experience, and faith, you will have the wisdom to make good decisions and also to make the right ones. I believe you young people know where to go to get the right answers. In the words of Mormon, 'Ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ' (Moroni 7:18)."

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

Topics: Light of Christ

Daily Gems - 24 April 2008

We Have Forgotten God

"Consider these words written by Abraham Lincoln as part of a resolution in 1863:

"'We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in number, wealth, and power as no other Nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God who made us.

"'It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended power, to confess our . . . sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.' (John Wesley Hill, Abraham Lincoln, Man of God, 4th ed., New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, p. 391.)"

Marion G. Romney, "Gratitude and Thanksgiving," Ensign, Nov. 1982, 50

Topics: Gratitude

Daily Gems - 23 April 2008

Ingratitude--One of the Evils of Our Time

"One of the evils of our time is taking for granted so many of the things we enjoy. This was spoken of by the Lord: 'For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift?' (D&C 88:33). The Apostle Paul described our day to Timothy when he wrote that in the last days 'men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy' (2 Tim. 3:2). These sins are fellow travelers, and ingratitude makes one susceptible to all of them."

James E. Faust, "Gratitude As a Saving Principle," Ensign, Dec. 1996, 2

Topics: Gratitude

Young Single Adult Gems - 23 April 2008

The Importance of Pure Testimony

“Simply stated, testimony--real testimony, born of the Spirit and confirmed by the Holy Ghost--changes lives. It changes how you think and what you do. It changes what you say. It affects every priority you set and every choice you make. To have a real and abiding testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ is to be ‘spiritually . . . born of God,’ to ‘[receive] his image in your countenances,’ and to experience a ‘mighty change in your hearts’ (Alma 5:14).”

M. Russell Ballard, “Pure Testimony,” Ensign, Nov. 2004, 40

Topics: Testimony

Church History Gems - 23 April 2008

God Has Put His Approval on the Book of Mormon

"All scriptures are one in that they testify of Jesus. Jacob, a Book of Mormon prophet, reminds us 'that none of the prophets have written, nor prophesied, save they have spoken concerning this Christ' (Jacob 7:11). Speaking of the scriptures, the Psalmist said, 'Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path' (Psalm 119:105). . . .

"The Savior Himself declared the great worth of the Book of Mormon. He said in 3 Nephi, 'This is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me' (3 Nephi 11:32).

"The Redeemer further declared in the Book of Mormon, 'Behold I have given unto you my gospel' (3 Nephi 27:13).

"As a special witness, I testify that Jesus is the Christ. . . .

"I testify . . . that . . . God Himself has put His approval on the Book of Mormon, having said, 'As your Lord and your God liveth it is true' (D&C 17:6)."

James E. Faust, "The Keystone of Our Religion," Ensign, Jan. 2004, 3

Topics: Book of Mormon

Youth Gems - 22 April 2008

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 - 22 April 2008

Gratitude and the Holy Ghost

"You could have an experience with the gift of the Holy Ghost today. You could begin a private prayer with thanks. You could start to count your blessings, and then pause for a moment. If you exercise faith, and with the gift of the Holy Ghost, you will find that memories of other blessings will flood into your mind. If you begin to express gratitude for each of them, your prayer may take a little longer than usual. Remembrance will come. And so will gratitude."

Henry B. Eyring, "Remembrance and Gratitude," Ensign, Nov. 1989, 13

Topics: Prayer, Gift of the Holy Ghost, Gratitude