President Gordon B. Hinckley's Challenge and Promise

President Gordon B. Hinckley said in a

worldwide leadership training meeting:

“I am convinced there is no other organization anywhere to match the Relief Society of this Church.

If they will be UNITED and speak with ONE VOICE,

Their STRENGTH will be INCALCULABLE!”

10 January 2004, 20

Relief Society - A Restoration of an Ancient Form

RELIEF SOCIETY

“A Restoration of an Ancient Pattern”


Although the name may be modern date,

the institution is of ANCIENT ORIGIN.

We were told by our martyred prophet

that the same organization EXISTED

in the church ANCIENTLY.”

Eliza R. Snow

(Published in: “Daughters in My Kingdom”)

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Will Proclaim Liberty to All Men!

Quote from President John Taylor

"And they will tear away one plank of liberty after another, until the whole fabric will totter and fall; and many other nations will be cast down and empires destroyed; and this nation will have to suffer as others will. And it will be as Joseph Smith once said, “When all others forsake the Constitution, the Elders of this Church will rally around the standard and save its tattered shreds.” We will come to its rescue and proclaim liberty to all men." (Journal of Discourses 20:357)

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Through the Lens of His Gospel

"When one sees life and people
through the lens of His gospel,
then one can see forever."

Elder Neal A. Maxwell
"Ensign", May 1974, pg. 112

President Boyd K. Packer


President Boyd K. Packer, president of the LDS Church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, was released from a Massachusetts hospital today following a brief fainting spell Sunday.


“President Packer is feeling better,” LDS Church spokesman Scott Trotter. “He is flying home . . . and is grateful for the expressions of concern for his well-being.”

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

The World is in the Hands of God

WORLD IS IN THE HANDS OF GOD

But bear in mind that the Lord is directing this world. We are frequently reminded that conditions have been so developed in the powers of warfare that an accident or a rash move could set in operation those powers which might destroy our civilization. But let us bear in mind that this world is in the hands of God. All these things will happen only so far as they are in accordance with his plans and his purposes. And let us not waste our time and our energy and get into a nervous condition about what is going to happen to the world. That is not our sphere of responsibility. The Lord will take care of that . It remains for us to be devoted to the up-building of his kingdom and facing whatever conditions may come to us.

Author: George Q. Morris, Source: Conference Report, April 1959, p. 102

Monday, June 20, 2011

Virtue

Joseph Smith, The Prophet
"Virtue is one of the most prominent principles that enables us to have confidence in approaching our Father who is in heaven in order to ask wisdom at his hand. Therefore, if thou wilt cherish this principle in thine heart, thou mayest ask with all confidence before him and it shall be poured out upon thine head."

Friday, June 17, 2011

Crown of Thorns...

"We should not complain about our own life's
not being a rose garden
when we remember
who wore the crown of thorns."

Elder Neal A. Maxwell
"Ensign" - May 1987 - p. 72

Ability

The large attributes, those that cover the most ground,
are almost always developed incrementally---
by small steps, small decisions,
and small initiatives.

These attributes and talents we bring with us from the
premortal world were most likely developed there in the same way.
Yet upon seeing someone with highly developed cardinal attributes,
we may respond that "he was born that way."

Whatever the case, so far as the mortal life is concerned,
it is what we DO with these qualities
that matter."

Elder Neal A. Maxwell
Quoted in: "The Neal A. Maxwell Quote Book"
Page 1
From: "Endure, Page 35

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

"Small and Simple Things"

Alma said,
"By small and simple things
are great things brought to pass"
Alma 37:6

Marjorie Pay Hinckley made this observation:
"I couldn't possibly have understood this when I was young like I do now.
When we look back on decades of life, we see that the
seemingly insignificant things we do over and over
actually weave the pattern of our lives. And if those
small and simple things are good,
we will end up having lived a fulfilling life---
and that is a GREAT THING!"

"Small and Simple Things"
By: Marjorie Pay Hinckley
Page 1

I have since pondered these thoughts...My one "single" decision to
JOIN the CHURCH...has brought to pass events I would
have never dreamt of when I was young.
By that one small and simple decision, my ENTIRE LIFE
changed. Opportunities were opened up to me that has had
a profound effect on my life and others that
surround me.

Sisters...ponder for a moment...the "small and simple things"
you have done in the course of your life...
Follow that "small" choice...
and see the results of that one "simple thing" you chose...
See how the "hand of God" played in that
"small and simple act"...bringing to pass
"great things"...

You will find you have been on a REMARKABLE JOURNEY!
Be a WITNESS of this truth...

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Under the Direction of the Lord


Under the Direction of the Lord

"For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me,
he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and
what I should speak." (John 12:49)

JOSEPH SMITH:
"...revelations of the mind and will of God to the Church, are to come through the Presidency. This is the order of heaven, and the power and privilege of this Priesthood." (Joseph Smith, "Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 111.)

BRIGHAM YOUNG:
"The Lord Almighty leads this Church, and he will NEVER suffer you to be led astray if you are found doing your duty." ("Journal of Discourses, 9:289.)

JOHN TAYLOR:
"...no man could guide this kingdom. He cannot unless God be with him and on the side of the elders of Israel." ("The Gospel Kingdom, p. 166)

WILFORD WOODRUFF:
"I say to Israel, the Lord will never permit me nor any other man who stands as the President of this Church, to lead you astray. It is not in the program. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place, and so He will any other man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty. God bless you. Amen." (Cited in Matthias F. Cowley, "Wilford Woodruff, p. 572.)

LORENZO SNOW:
"Now, brethren, this much I say, and I say it in the name of the Lord: I will endeavor to be devoted to your interests and the interests of the kingdom of God. I will serve you to the best of my knowledge and understanding, in reference to that which will promote our interests in connection with the interest of the Almighty. I will do this, the Lord being my helper." (CR, October 1898, p. 54.)

JOSEPH F. SMITH:
"I want to say to you that there never was a time since the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, when a man led the Church, not for one moment. It was not so in the days of Joseph; it was not so in the days of Brigham Young; it has not been so since; it never will be so. The direction of this work among the people of the world will never be left to men. it is God's work, let me tell you, and...do not forget that it is the Almighty that is going to do this work and consummate it, and no man." (CR, April 1905, p. 5.)

HEBER J. GRANT:
"On the day that Brother Joseph F. Smith bade me good-bye, and he died that very night, he told me that the Lord never makes a mistake. He said: 'You have a great responsibility resting upon you. The Lord knows whom He wants to preside over His Church and He never makes a mistake.' I can testify to you that He has not made a mistake in my case any more than he did with each and all of my predecessors." (CR. April 1942, p. 8.)

GEORGE ALBERT SMITH:
"...I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints possesses divine authority and is guided by the Father of us all..." (CR, Oct. 1945, p. 175.)

DAVID O. McKAY:
"No one can preside over this Church without first being in tune with the head of the Church, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is our head. This is his Church." (CR, April 1951, p. 157)

JOSEPH FIELDING SMITH:
"I desire to say that no man of himself can lead this church. it is the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ; he is at the head." (CR, April 1970, p. 113)

HAROLD B. LEE:
"I bear you solemn witness as to the divine mission of the Savior and the certainty as to his guiding hand in the affairs of his church today, as in all dispensations of time." (CR, October 1972, p. 20.)

SPENCER W. KIMBALL:
"We have the assurance that we are carrying forward the work of the Lord Jesus Christ who is the head of this church. We are but his earthly helpers." ("Ensign, Feb. 1974, p. 3.)

EZRA TAFT BENSON:
"We should like to reaffirm to all the world that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is led by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." (Statement upon becoming President of the Church, 11 November 1985.)

HOWARD W. HUNTER:
"Christ is the head of this Church. He leads it in word and deed. I am honored beyond expression to be called for a season to be an instrument in his hands to preside over his Church. But without the knowledge that Christ is the head of the Church, neither I nor any other man could bear the weight of the calling that has come." (CR, October 1994, "Ensign", November 1994 , p. 7)

GORDON B. HINCKLEY:
"...Jesus Christ stands at the head of this church which bears His sacred name. He is watching over it. He is guiding it. Standing at the right hand of His Father, he directs this work." ("Ensign", May 1994, pg. 59)

"I know that I am not the head of this Church. The Lord Jesus Christ is its head. He is its living head." (First Presidency Christmas Devotional, Salt Lake Tabernacle, December 3, 1995.)

THOMAS S. MONSON:
"I bear my testimony to you that this work is true, that our Savior lives, and that He guides and directs His Chuch here upon the earth." ("Ensign", November 2009, p. 110)






Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Meekness

"Meekness is a facilitator in the development of all the other Christian virtues.
Combined with the other virtues, it supplies many human needs,
including perspective.
After cataloging various qualities, such as
faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, kindness, and charity,
Peter declared that if an individual lacks these qualities, he will not be able to
"see afar off." (2 Peter 1:5-9)
Determining whether we will myopically and selfishly or
LIVE NOW FOR ETERNITY
is a fundamental decision that colors every day of daily life.
To live a life of "thanksgiving daily" (Alma 34:38)
while in the midst of adversity and its tutorials
is impossible without a degree of
MEEKNESS."

Elder Neal A. Maxwell
"Meek and Lowly"
Page 4

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Gospel of Jesus Christ will REGENERATE the World

Quote from:
"Jesus the Christ"
By: Elder James E. Talmage
(Page 286 - Collector's Edition)

"The gospel of Jesus Christ, which shall yet regenerate the world,
is to prevail---not by revolutionary assaults upon existing governments,
nor through anarchy and violence---
but by the teaching of individual duty and by the
spread of the spirit of love.
When the love of God shall be given a place in the hearts of mankind,
when men shall unselfishly love their neighbors,
then social systems and governments shall be formed and operated
to the securing of the greatest good to the greatest number.
Until men open their hearts to the reception of the
gospel of Jesus Christ, injustice and oppression, servitude and slavery,
in some form or other, are sure to exist.
Attempts to extirpate social conditions that spring from individual
selfishness cannot be otherwise than futile so long as selfishness
is left to thrive and propagate."

Monday, June 6, 2011

"Master, which is the great commandment in the law?"

Elder M. Russell Ballard
"Finding Joy through Loving Service"
General Conference - April 2011
"Ensign" - May 2011 - Page 46-47

"I believe there is one SIMPLE but PROFOUND---even SUBLIME---
principle that encompasses the ENTIRETY of the
gospel of Jesus Christ. If we whole-heartedly EMBRACE
this principle and make it the focus of our lives,
it will PURIFY and SANCTIFY us so we can LIVE once again
in the presence of God."

The Savior spoke of this principle when He answered the Pharisee who asked,
"Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with ALL thy heart,
and with ALL thy soul,
and with ALL thy mind.

"This is the first and great commandment.

"And the second is like unto it,
Thou shalt love they neighbor as thyself" (Matthew 22:36-40)

Sunday, June 5, 2011

When one door closes...

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens;
but often we look so long at the closed door
that we do not see the one
which has been opened for us."

---Helen Keller

Friday, June 3, 2011

MAY Birthday Celebration

(L to R) Wendy Storey, Jennifer Oliverson, and Amy Hardman

(L to R) Anita Denney and Heidi Stott

It is GREAT to see how our sisters find fun reasons to get together...
...like celebrating their birthdays because they were all born in the month of May!

Front to back:
(Left side) Anita Denney and Heidi Stott
(Right side) Amy Hardman, Jennifer Oliverson, and Wendy Storey

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Salvation

"Salvation means a man's being placed
beyond the power of all
his enemies."

Joseph Smith
"Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith"
Page 301

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Desire - Formula

"DESIRES dictate our PRIORITIES,
PRIORITIES shape our CHOICES,
and CHOICES determine our ACTIONS.
The desires we act on determine our CHANGING,
our ACHIEVING,
and our
BECOMING."

Elder Dallin H. Oaks
"Desire"
Ensign - May 2011 - Page 42