Daily Gems - 25 May 2009

Assurance of the Lord's Help

"President Thomas S. Monson remembered the promised words of the Savior as he blessed me six months ago to stand fearlessly in my calling when it seemed hard. These words of the Savior, which He gave to His tiny band of priesthood holders in this dispensation, came to the prophet's mind as he laid his hands on my head: 'And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up' (D&C 84:88).

"The promise which President Monson remembered and quoted was fulfilled for me. Confidence replaced doubt, the Spirit came, medical helpers were inspired, my life was preserved, and I was borne up. Because of that blessing by President Monson, it will always be easy for me to remember the Savior and trust His promise that He goes before and beside us in His service.

"I know that the promise of angels to bear us up is real. You might want to bring to memory the assurance of Elisha to his frightened servant. That assurance is ours when we feel close to being overwhelmed in our service."

Henry B. Eyring, "O Ye That Embark," Ensign, Nov. 2008, 58

Topics: Serving Others, Church Callings

Daily Gems - 12 May 2009

We Are Not Alone

"Paul counseled his beloved friend and associate Timothy, 'Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity' (1 Timothy 4:12).

"I would urge all of us to pray concerning our assignments and to seek divine help, that we might be successful in accomplishing that which we are called to do. Someone has said that 'the recognition of power higher than man himself does not in any sense debase him' (Stephen L. Richards, in Conference Report, Oct. 1937, 10). He must seek, believe in, pray, and hope that he will find. No such sincere, prayerful effort will go unanswered: that is the very constitution of the philosophy of faith. Divine favor will attend those who humbly seek it. . . .

". . . May we learn what we should learn, do what we should do, and be what we should be. By so doing, the blessings of heaven will attend. We will know that we are not alone. He who notes the sparrow's fall will, in His own way, acknowledge us."

Thomas S. Monson, "To Learn, to Do, to Be," Ensign, Nov. 2008, 67

Topics: Faith, Church Callings, Prayer

Daily Gems - 11 May 2009

Fulfilling Priesthood Responsibility

"Each priesthood holder . . . has a calling to serve, to put forth his best efforts in the work assigned to him. No assignment is menial in the work of the Lord, for each has eternal consequences. President John Taylor warned us, 'If you do not magnify your callings, God will hold you responsible for those whom you might have saved had you done your duty' ('Discourse,' Deseret News, Aug. 7, 1878, 2). And who of us can afford to be responsible for the delay of eternal life of a human soul? If great joy is the reward of saving one soul, then how terrible must be the remorse of those whose timid efforts have allowed a child of God to go unwarned or unaided so that he has to wait till a dependable servant of God comes along.

"The old adage is ever true: 'Do your duty, that is best; leave unto the Lord the rest.'

"Most service given by priesthood holders is accomplished quietly, without fanfare. A friendly smile, a warm handclasp, a sincere testimony of truth can literally lift lives, change human nature, and save precious souls."

Thomas S. Monson, "To Learn, to Do, to Be," Ensign, Nov. 2008, 62

Topics: Duty, Church Callings

Daily Gems - 1 May 2009

Church Help for Young Mothers

There are many things the Church offers to mothers and families, but for my purpose today may I suggest that the bishopric and the ward council members be especially watchful and considerate of the time and resource demands on young mothers and their families. Know them and be wise in what you ask them to do at this time in their lives. Alma's counsel to his son Helaman applies to us today: 'Behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass' (Alma 37:6)."

M. Russell Ballard, "Daughters of God," Ensign, May 2008, 110

Topics: Motherhood, Church Callings

Church History Gems - 16 February 2009

Not Where You Serve but How

"At general conference in April 1951, President David O. McKay was sustained as President of the Church after the passing of President George Albert Smith. Up to that time, President [J. Reuben] Clark had served as the First Counselor to President Heber J. Grant and then to President George Albert Smith. President McKay had been the Second Counselor to both men.

"During the final session of conference when the business of the Church was transacted, Brother Stephen L Richards was called to the First Presidency and sustained as First Counselor. President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., was then sustained as the Second Counselor. After the sustaining of the officers of the Church, President McKay explained why he had chosen his counselors in that order. He said:

" 'I felt that one guiding principle in this choice would be to follow the seniority in the Council [of the Twelve]. These two men were sitting in their places in that presiding body in the Church, and I felt impressed that it would be advisable to continue that same seniority in the new quorum of the First Presidency.' (In Conference Report, 9 April 1951, p. 151.)

"President Clark was then asked to speak following President McKay. His remarks on this occasion were brief but teach a powerful lesson: 'In the service of the Lord, it is not where you serve but how. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one takes the place to which one is duly called, which place one neither seeks nor declines. I pledge to President McKay and to President Richards the full loyal devoted service to the tasks that may come to me to the full measure of my strength and my abilities and so far as they will enable me to perform them, however inadequate I may be.' (Ibid., p. 154.)"

Howard W. Hunter, "No Less Serviceable, Ensign," Apr. 1992, 66-67

Topics: Service, Church Callings

Daily Gems - 25 August 2008

The Power of a Simple Testimony

"Forty six years ago . . . I was called to meet with President David O. McKay. He . . . called me to be one of the General Authorities, an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. . . .

"President McKay explained that one of the responsibilities of an Assistant to the Twelve was to stand with the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as a special witness and to bear testimony that Jesus is the Christ. What he said next overwhelmed me: 'Before we proceed to set you apart, I ask you to bear your testimony to us. We want to know if you have that witness.'

"I did the best I could. I bore my testimony the same as I might have in a fast and testimony meeting in my ward. To my surprise, the Brethren of the Presidency seemed pleased and proceeded to confer the office upon me.

"That puzzled me greatly, for I had supposed that someone called to such an office would have an unusual, different, and greatly enlarged testimony and spiritual power.

"It puzzled me for a long time until finally I could see that I already had what was required: an abiding testimony in my heart of the Restoration of the fulness of the gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith, that we have a Heavenly Father, and that Jesus Christ is our Redeemer. I may not have known all about it, but I did have a testimony, and I was willing to learn. . . .

Boyd K. Packer, "The Weak and the Simple of the Church," Ensign, Nov. 2007, 7 8

Topics: Church Callings, Testimony

Youth Gems - 11 March 2008

Magnifying Our Callings

"We magnify our callings by following the direction of our quorum presidency, the bishop, and our quorum adviser. It means preparing, administering, and passing the sacrament as we are asked to do so."

James E. Faust, "A Royal Priesthood," Ensign, May 2006, 52

Topics: Church Callings, Sacrament

Daily Gems - 27 November 2007

Promises That We and the Lord Make

"When we receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, we receive what is called 'the oath and covenant' of the priesthood. We promise the Lord two things, and He promises us two things. We promise to be 'faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods' and faithful in 'magnifying [our] calling.' He promises that we will be 'sanctified by the Spirit.' Then after we are faithful in all things to the end, He promises that 'all that my Father hath shall be given [us]' (see D&C 84:33-41)."

Stanley G. Ellis, "He Trusts Us!" Ensign, Nov. 2006, 51

Topics: Church Callings, Blessings

Daily Gems - 19 November 2007

Nurturing Is the Purpose of All We Do in the Church

"[The] need today [for Christlike love] is as great as or perhaps even greater than when the Savior walked on this earth. As shepherds we must understand that we should nurture each one of our sheep to bring them to Christ, which is the purpose of all we do in this Church.

". . . As we stay in tune with the needs of the people, we can strengthen them and help them overcome their challenges, so they will remain steadfast in the way which will lead them back to our Heavenly Father's presence and help them endure to the end."

Ulisses Soares, "Feed My Sheep," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 98

Topics: Mission of the Church, Church Callings

Young Single Adult Gems - 22 October 2007

Be Wise

"Be wise with your families. Be wise in fulfilling your Church callings. Be wise with your time. Be wise in balancing all of your responsibilities. O be wise, my beloved brothers and sisters. What can I say more?"

M. Russell Ballard, "O Be Wise," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 20

Topics: Church Callings, Family

Church History Gems - 9 July 2007

Foreordained

President Harold B. Lee became the President of the Church on July 7, 1972, but was ordained an apostle April 10, 1941, and was undoubtedly foreordained to these responsibilities in the far, far-away past as were his predecessors. The Prophet Joseph Smith made this statement over a century ago:

" 'Every man who has a calling to minister to the inhabitants of the world was ordained to that very purpose in the Grand Council of heaven before this world was.' (Joseph Fielding Smith, comp., Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 1940 ed., p. 365.)"

Spencer W. Kimball, "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet," Ensign, Jan. 1973, 33

Topics: Church Callings

Youth Gems - 5 July 2007

Magnifying Our Callings

"We magnify our callings by following the direction of our quorum presidency, the bishop, and our quorum adviser. It means preparing, administering, and passing the sacrament as we are asked to do so."

James E. Faust, "A Royal Priesthood," Ensign, May 2006, 52

Topics: Church Callings, Sacrament

Daily Gems - 25 June 2007

Called to Our Unique Responsibilities

"Joseph Smith's father pronounced this blessing upon his son's head: 'The Lord thy God has called thee by name out of the heavens. Thou hast been called . . . to the great work of the Lord: to do a work in this generation which no other . . . would do as thyself, in all things according to the will of the Lord' (in Gracia N. Jones, Emma's Glory and Sacrifice: A Testimony [1987], 43-44). The Prophet Joseph was called to his unique part of 'the great work of the Lord.'. . . I [know] I [am] called to my portion of the work, too. This insight [is] helpful and [gives] me courage. . . .

"Sarah Cleveland, one of our early Relief Society leaders in Nauvoo, described our feelings: 'We have entered into this work in the name of the Lord. Let us boldly go forward' (Relief Society Minutes, Mar. 30, 1842, Archives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 24)."

Anne C. Pingree, "Knowing the Lord's Will for You," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 113

Topics: Church Callings

Church History Gems - 19 February 2007

We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet

"Men do not obtain place in this Church because they seek for it. If it were known that a man was ambitious to hold a certain office in the Church, that fact itself would lead to his defeat because his desire would not be granted unto him. This is the case with the officers of this Church. . . . [They] are responsible to God. God chose and nominated [them], and it is for him to straighten [them] out if [they] do wrong (George Q. Cannon, in Deseret Weekly, May 21, 1898, p. 708.)"

Spencer W. Kimball, "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet," Ensign, Jan. 1973, 35

Topics: Church Callings