Faith Is Ultimately Required

In the title page of the Book of Mormon we read, “And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ.”⁶

This is the way it has always been and will be until the perfect day when Christ Himself reigns personally upon the earth.

It is unfortunate that some have stumbled because of mistakes made by men. But in spite of this, the eternal truth of the restored gospel found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not tarnished, diminished, or destroyed.

October 2013 Come, Join With Us - President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Please Doubt Your Doubts Before You Doubt Your Faith

My dear brothers and sisters—my dear friends—please, first doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith.⁸ 

October 2013 Come, Join With Us - President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

A Grateful Person Is Rich In Contentment. An Ungrateful Person Suffers In the Poverty of Endless Discontentment

A grateful person is rich in contentment.  An ungrateful person suffers in the poverty of endless discontentment (see Luke 12:15).

 October 2013 The Windows of Heaven - Elder David A. Bednar

I think of this quote when I hear the above words of Elder Bednar: "Most “thou shalt not” commandments are meant to keep us from hurting others, but I am convinced the commandment not to covet is meant to keep us from hurting ourselves." Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Other Prodigal", Ensign, May 2002, 62–64

We May Have Greater Capacity to Act and Change Our Own Circumstance Rather Than Expecting Our Circumstances to Be Changed By Someone or Something Else

The blessing that come to us through heavenly windows may be greater capacity to act and change our own circumstances rather than expecting our circumstances to be changed by someone or something else....Sometimes we may ask God for success, and He gives us physical and mental stamina. We might plead for prosperity, and we receive enlarged perspective and increased patience, or we petition for growth and are blessed with the gift of grace. He may bestow upon us conviction and confidence as we strive to achieve worthy goals. And when we plead for relief from physical, mental, and spiritual difficulties, He may increase our resolve and resilience.

 October 2013 The Windows of Heaven - Elder David A. Bednar

I Never Feel that We, As A People, Are Living Up to Our Real Potential

As I travel throughout the Church I marvel at all the positive things that are occurring. Yet I never feel that we, as a people, are living up to our real potential. My sense is that we do not always work together, that we are still too much interested in aspirations for personal honors and success, and show too little interest in the common goal of building the kingdom of God.

 May 1987 “United In Building The Kingdom Of God” Elder L. Tom Perry

We Must Not Allow Ourselves to Be Discouraged Whenever We Discover Our Weakness

If the husband can live with his wife one day without quarrelling or without treating anyone unkindly or without grieving the Spirit of God in any way, that is well so far; he is so far perfect. Then let him try to be the same the next day. But supposing he should fail in this his next day’s attempt, that is no reason why he should not succeed in doing so the third day....We must not allow ourselves to be discouraged whenever we discover our weakness. We can scarcely find an instance in all the glorious examples set us by the prophets, ancient or modern, wherein they permitted the Evil One to discourage them; but on the other hand they constantly sought to overcome, to win the prize and thus prepare themselves for a fulness of glory.⁹ [See suggestion 4 on page 104.]

TEACHINGS OF PRESIDENTS OF THE CHURCH: LORENZO SNOW CHAPTER 6: BECOMING PERFECT BEFORE THE LORD: “A LITTLE BETTER DAY BY DAY”

Persecution Ahead

In recent decades the Church has largely been spared the terrible misunderstandings and persecutions experienced by the early Saints. It will not always be so. The world is moving away from the Lord faster and farther than ever before. The adversary has been loosed upon the earth. We watch, hear, read, study, and share the words of prophets to be forewarned and protected. For example, “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” was given long before we experienced the challenges now facing the family. “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles” was prepared in advance of when we will need it most.

 October 2013 General Conference: Strengthening Faith And Testimony - Elder Robert D. Hales

We Make A Serious Mistake If We Assume That Conference Is Above Their Intellect and Spiritual Sensitivity

Children and youth love to be included [in general conference]. We make a serious mistake if we assume that the conference is above their intellect and spiritual sensitivity. To the young members of the Church, I promise that if you will listen, you will feel the Spirit well up within you. The Lord will tell you what He wants you to do with your life.

 October 2013 General Conference: Strengthening Faith And Testimony - Elder Robert D. Hales

What Comes from the Authority of the Church...May Contradict Your Political Views

 Now the only safety we have as members of this church is to do exactly what the Lord said to the Church in that day when the Church was organized. We must learn to give heed to the words and commandments that the Lord shall give through His prophet, “as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me; … as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith” (D&C 21:4–5). There will be some things that take patience and faith. You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. But if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord Himself, with patience and faith, the promise is that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory” (D&C 21:6).¹⁵

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee (2000), 84–85.

How to Release Those Spiritually Dead

There is a way to release the spirits of the dead; that is by the power and authority of the Priesthood—by binding and loosing on earth.

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, (2011), 468–478

A Religion that Does Not Require the Sacrifice of All Things

A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation. … It [is] through this sacrifice, and this only, that God has ordained that men should enjoy eternal life."

Lectures on Faith (1985), 69

It Is Not for You to Be Led...It Is for You To lead

It is not for you to be led by the women of the world; it is for you to lead the … women of the world, in everything that is praise-worthy, everything that is God-like, everything that is uplifting and … purifying to the children of men

M. Russell Ballard, "Mothers and Daughters", Ensign, May 2010, 18–21

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith, (2011), 183–91

Look to Your Mother for a Pattern to Follow

My dear young women, with all my heart I urge you not to look to contemporary culture for your role models and mentors. Please look to your faithful mothers for a pattern to follow. Model yourselves after them,not after celebrities whose standards are not the Lord’s standards and whose values may not reflect an eternal perspective. Look to your mother. Learn from her strengths, her courage, and her faithfulness. Listen to her. She may not be a whiz at texting; she may not even have a Facebook page. But when it comes to matters of the heart and the things of the Lord, she has a wealth of knowledge. As you approach the time for marriage and young motherhood, she will be your greatest source of wisdom. No other person on earth loves you in the same way or is willing to sacrifice as much to encourage you and help you find happiness—in this life and forever.

M. Russell Ballard, "Mothers and Daughters", Ensign, May 2010, 18–21