Tag Archives: prophets

What do the prophets say about [insert your hot-button issue of choice here]?

Posted in Divinity by

Listen to the prophet[image credit: jordanandemily.com]

Anyone who has read my blog for a while knows that every once in a while I get fire in my bones about something and I have to let it out. I have to write my thoughts “out loud” and I have to bear my testimony about it and promise the things that I know to be true. Usually it’s about one issue in particular (for example, see the previous catharses about pornography, the power of women , and the sanctity of family). Today it’s about all of those issues and many more. I don’t know about you, but lately my Internet content has been flooded, and I mean overwhelmingly filled, with discussions and commentary and articles and studies and arguments and status updates and diatribes about these issues and many more like them– gay marriage, abortion, vaccination, alcohol laws, government corruption… fill in the blank. The list goes on (painfully so).

If you feel confused and overwhelmed by some of these issues, I just want to tell you that this is the very reason that God gave us prophets. We have a living prophet and apostles, called to the whole world, to speak on behalf of the Lord and make His will known to us. The words of living prophets, like the iron rod in the vision of the Tree of Life, help us have a safe and clear pathway of truth even when surrounded by dark mists and pointing, mocking fingers. Lately, I have felt sadness when I see people I love and admire post things online that are contrary to what the prophets have taught us. I know these people love the Lord, and I think they love and try to sustain the prophet, but I fear they may not be paying attention to him.

This morning my family read from 2 Nephi 32. Verse 7 jumped out at me.  I’ve never marked it or paid attention to it before, but today, Nephi’s words captured the way I feel and reaffirmed to me the importance of practicing due diligence in our study of these issues.

I am left to mourn because of the unbelief, and the wickedness, and the ignorance, and the stiffneckedness of men; for they will not search knowledge, nor understand great knowledge, when it is given unto them in plainness, even as plain as word can be.

This is what I know to be true: Many people have many different opinions on many different issues, but so does God, and He “revealeth his secret unto to his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7) Do you want to know what God thinks about marriage or abortion or pornography? Find out. Take the challenge from Nephi: search knowledge. Sure there are plenty of “experts” and websites out there who are happy to tell you more than you want to know. The answers–the true answers, the right answers–are there for the taking if we do the asking.

Type the “issue” into the search engine at gc.lds.org (collection of general conference talks) and see what the prophets and apostles–whom we’ve sustained as prophets, seers and revelators–have said. A lot of talks and resources will pop up. You may be surprised how much is available. Read all of them. Study them. Ponder them. Invite the Spirit to help you see the issue through spiritual eyes. Like Nephi said, the knowledge is given “in plainness, even as plain as word can be.” Trust that God is using his prophets to help you know the truth. Then cling to those truths. Let them be an anchor to you in a constantly shifting and angry world.

Please. Pretty please. Even the not pretty, begging kind of please. Before you speak out on a major social or political or societal issue, study what the prophets have said about it. The knowledge you find will give you confidence to speak out in truth, and the people in your circle of influence will be pointed in the right direction by your words.

I testify that peace is found and sustained by hearing and studying and following the words of the prophets. I know that living prophets are completely in touch with the issues of our day and that the Lord is not silent on these matters. I cannot articulate how much comfort it gives me to understand how the Lord feels about things that the world is constantly fighting about. I promise that the prophets and apostles are teaching the same things Jesus would teach if He were here, so until He comes again, He has promised that “whether by mine own voice, or by the voice of my servants, it is the same” (D&C 1:38).

I know it and believe it so much it puts fire in my bones.

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Some thoughts on General Conference and the joy I feel to be a Mormon woman

Posted in Divinity, General Conference Book Club by

General conference is upon us in two days. Two days, people. Around here this is as exciting as Christmas. The other day, Grant (10) said, “Mom, I wish we could blip ahead 3 days so it would be general conference already.” Me too, son, me too.

I have two things I want to say about general conference because they are the ideas that are burning the brightest in my heart right now every time I think about this biannual event.

1. We have a living prophet! A. LIVING. PROPHET. I just can’t wrap my heart around how blessed I feel to know that our Father in Heaven still communicates with us today. He knows our day, our times, and the circumstances of our lives. He loves us and wants to help us navigate this scary world with the tools that will help us to succeed and to avoid sorrow and sin. And when I say “We” have a living prophet, I don’t just mean the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I mean THE WORLD. Just as in ancient days, God sends prophets and apostles to declare his gospel to the whole world. Just yesterday I read this quote and a “Wow!” went off in my brain:

“In the [several] two-hour sessions … , truths were taught, doctrines expounded, exhortations given, enough to save the whole world from all its ills—and I mean from ALL its ills. A rather complete education in eternal verities was given to millions with a great hope that there were ‘ears a’hearing and eyes a’seeing and hearts a’throbing,’ convinced of truth.” –President Spencer W. Kimball

In the class I teach, we recently read this story about Hugh B. Brown. My students loved the way he logically drew attention to the need for continuing revelation:

President Hugh B. Brown (1883–1975) of the First Presidency described a conversation he had with a member of the British House of Commons and former justice of the Supreme Court of England, who was not a member of the Church, about the need for living prophets and the revelation they receive:

“[I said,] ‘I am submitting to you in all seriousness that it was standard procedure in Bible times for God to talk to men.’

“[He responded,] ‘I think I will admit that, but it stopped shortly after the first century of the Christian era.’

President Hugh B. Brown

President Hugh B. Brown

“‘Why do you think it stopped?’

“‘I can’t say.’

“‘You think that God hasn’t spoken since then?’

“‘Not to my knowledge.’

“‘May I suggest some possible reasons why he has not spoken. Perhaps it is because he cannot. He has lost the power.’

“He said, ‘Of course that would be blasphemous.’

“‘Well, then, if you don’t accept that, perhaps he doesn’t speak to men because he doesn’t love us anymore. He is no longer interested in the affairs of men.’

“‘No,’ he said, ‘God loves all men, and he is no respecter of persons.’

“‘Well, … then the only other possible answer as I see it is that we don’t need him. We have made such rapid strides in education and science that we don’t need God anymore.’

“And then he said, and his voice trembled as he thought of impending war [World War II], ‘Mr. Brown, there never was a time in the history of the world when the voice of God was needed as it is needed now. Perhaps you can tell me why he doesn’t speak.’

“My answer was, ‘He does speak, he has spoken; but men need faith to hear him.’

“Then we proceeded to examine what I may call a ‘profile of a prophet.’ …

“The judge sat and listened intently. He asked some very pointed and searching questions, and at the end of the interview he said, ‘Mr. Brown, I wonder if your people appreciate the import of your message. Do you?’ He said, ‘If what you have told me is true, it is the greatest message that has come to this earth since the angels announced the birth of Christ’” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1967, 118, 120; emphasis added; see also The Profile of a Prophet, Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year [Oct. 4, 1955], 4–5, 8; or “The Profile of a Prophet,” Ensign, June 2006, 36–37, 39).

I invite you to tune in to what God is saying in our day by listening to prophets and apostles. General Conference is this weekend, Oct. 5 and 6, and will be broadcast live on KSL, BYUTV (available via Dish and DirectTV), and streamed on mormonchannel.org and lds.org. The four general sessions will be both days at 10 am and 2 pm, Mountain Daylight Time. (1 hour earlier in California, 2 hours later for east coast.) If you just want to tune in to one session, the Sunday morning one is your best bet because the prophet and president of the Church will give his address during that session.

Come listen to living prophets

2. We can get answers to our prayers and the concerns of our hearts as we listen to general conference. One of the reasons I love conference so much is that it recharges my spiritual batteries and prepares me to face the challenges of my life with more courage and determination. In the days leading up to conference, I spend time thinking about and praying about things I want to learn and questions I want to have answered. I can testify that, without exception, I have found what I need in the words of the conference speakers– sometimes the answers come in direct counsel, other times in quiet whisperings in my mind and heart as I listen, but the answers always come. I love this promise by Elder Holland and I believe it with all my heart.

conferenceisforyou-conference[See a two minute video about conference that includes this quote here.]

Finally, I love being a woman and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You may have caught wind of some noise in the news lately of a small faction of LDS women who feel some discontent because the men of the Church are ordained to the priesthood and they are not. I do not wish to disparage them or assume anything evil of them, but I want to state for the record that they represent a small minority among LDS women. The great majority of the millions and millions of women in the Church feel that their contributions, with or without any formal ordination, are equal and significant. We know of our value to God, His kingdom, and His church. We feel the great responsibility of our influence and power both within the Church, in our families, and in our communities. God’s daughters are no weaklings; He knows how to use us and puts great faith in us to further His work. And even though this small faction of dissent is a minority within the Church, they have every right to find answers to their questions, just as I do to my own personal questions. I can only assume that at general conference this weekend, whether directly or indirectly, the mind and will of God on this issue will be revealed as it has been many times in the past*. His doctrines will be reiterated and made clear. I hope that we can all listen with “ears to hear” and look for ways to apply these principles in our lives and personal testimonies. I recently came upon this quote from President Gordon B. Hinckley, and in light of some of these recent conversations, I was struck by how we are each given an equal opportunity to choose to sustain our leaders or not:

When President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) was sustained as the President of the Church, he explained the commitment we make when we sustain our Church leaders: “This morning we all participated in a solemn assembly. That is just what the name indicates. It is a gathering of the membership where every individual stands equal with every other in exercising with soberness and in solemnity his or her right to sustain or not to sustain those who, under the procedures that arise out of the revelations, have been chosen to lead.

“The procedure of sustaining is much more than a ritualistic raising of the hand. It is a commitment to uphold, to support, to assist those who have been selected.  …

“Your uplifted hands in the solemn assembly this morning became an expression of your willingness and desire to uphold us, your brethren and your servants, with your confidence, faith, and prayer” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1995, 70–71; or Ensign, May 1995, 51; emphasis added).

This past weekend, we had the opportunity to hear from our general Relief Society presidency (the women’s organization of the Church) and they reiterated the great power and eternal blessings that come into women’s lives as we make and keep our covenants and participate in temple service. Our prophet, Thomas S. Monson, emphasized the love of our Heavenly Father and testified that it never changes. I personally have felt in my own life the power, the blessings, and the love that He offers to His daughters, and I am proud to be a woman in His Church.

*There are several talks that have addressed the matter of women and the priesthood directly, but this most recent one is my favorite as it concisely summarizes the doctrines and policies, as well as states clearly the importance and value of women in God’s work. It is called “Let Us Think Straight,” by Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, given in August of this year. (You can read or watch the talk in its entirety here.)

General Conference Book Club Week 1

Posted in General Conference Book Club by

Welcome to General Conference Book Club. (←Click there if you want to learn more about how it works.)

Full heart. Determination. Gratitude. Love. Longing.

These are all things I feel as general conference draws to a close. The Lord answered many of my prayers and concerns, sent me reassurances, and gently called me to repent and gain more access to his power and protection. These are just some of the reasons I love general conference. I could not be more grateful for living prophets and apostles and the guidance they provide.

Please share some of your thoughts and reactions to general conference in the comments below. This week we will just reflect and ponder on all that we have heard and felt, and starting next Sunday, we will begin to study the talks one by one.  They are already available to watch or listen at gc.lds.org, and transcripts will probably be posted by Thursday of this week.

Here are some things to consider:

  1. Did you notice any themes, patterns, or repetitions throughout conference?
  2. What warnings were given?
  3. In what ways did you feel a call to action?
  4. What testimonies stood out to you, and in what ways was your own testimony strenghthened?
  5. Did you have favorite talks, phrases, or messages?

I have made SEVERAL quote images of some of the messages that stood out to me as I listened.  Feel free to pin them, print them, copy and paste them, share them, etc. I hope they are helpful in retaining the words of our living prophets. (If you’d like to just quickly repin them to Pinterest, you can grab them from this board (for the quotes from prophets and apostles) and this board (for the other general authorities.)

Warnings, Calamities, and … Hope?, by Matt

Posted in Family Proclamation Celebration by

Today marks the last day of the Family Proclamation Celebration. I hope you have loved it and felt renewed in your commitment to faith and family. Thank you so much to all my guest post contributors. I received messages of appreciation from friends and strangers alike about every single one of those posts every day, and I, too, gained something from each message. Thanks also to you readers who came and participated with your comments and encouragement. The drawings for prizes (based on participation via comments or blog hops) will happen shortly and will be announced on all four hosting blogs in the next couple of days.  Tomorrow, here on Diapers and Divinity, we’ll begin a new series intended to help us prepare for General Conference and to introduce the next round of General Conference Book Club, so make sure you stay tuned.

Today’s guest post comes courtesy of my favorite contributor of all, Matt. I’m partial to him because he married me and fathered my children. Frankly, he’s the means by which I am able to have a deep testimony of the power and blessings of family, and the reason I look forward to forever after. I nagged invited him several times to participate in this celebration, and despite his early trepidation, he came through beautifully, just like I knew he would. Blog friends, meet my main man.  🙂


In The Family: A Proclamation to the World, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles state, “We warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.”

The scriptures are replete with prophetic warnings of calamities. Isa. 24:20 Dan. 7:21 Dan. 12:1 Joel 3:15-16 Hag. 2:6 (Hag. 2:22), Zech. 14:2, Mal. 4:1 (3 Ne. 25:1; D&C 133:64; JS—H 1:37), Matt. 24:7 (JS—M 1:29), 1 Tim. 4:1, 2 Tim. 3:1, Heb. 12:26 (D&C 84:118), 2 Pet. 3:3, Jude 1:18, Rev. 6:12, Rev. 11:3 (D&C 77:15), 1 Ne. 14:17, 2 Ne. 6:15, 2 Ne. 30:10, 3 Ne. 21:11-19, D&C 1: 9, D&C 1:35, D&C 5:19, D&C 10:65, D&C 29:14, D&C 29:16, D&C 29:21, D&C 34:9, D&C 35:16, D&C 38:12, D&C 43:18, D&C 45:26-27, D&C 45:30-33, D&C 45:40-42, D&C 45:47-50, D&C 45:63, D&C 45:68, D&C 87:2, D&C 88:85, D&C 88:91, D&C 101:11, D&C 103:2, D&C 106:4,  D&C 109: 45. D&C 110:16, D&C 112:25.

The war in heaven still rages today, waged by Lucifer and his minions in their never-ending quest to destroy the family unit. Why target the family unit? It is the one and only vehicle for returning to the presence of God. (1 Cor 11:11, D&C 131:2.) Knowing this, God established great blessings of protection for families, affixed those blessings to covenants, and offered these covenants to His children on the Earth, if they will but obey.

Disobedience and rejection of God on a societal and national scale is not new to this last gospel dispensation. Adam and Eve lost entire generations of their posterity to the trappings and wiles of the evil one, who convinced them to abandon their faith, their covenants and salvation (Moses 5:13, 55-57.) So wicked and perverse were the generations of Enoch’s day that the children of God who laid hold upon the gospel were ultimately translated, perhaps to spare them from the unending scene of bloodshed, lawlessness, and debauchery of the pre-flood generations. Apocryphal writings attest to the degree of wickedness reached by these people and allude to a complete and utter abandonment of the family unit in society, and total disregard for the sacred, creative powers bestowed by God upon his children.

There are many instructive parallels to these last days, in studying and pondering the divisions between the wicked and the righteous leading up to the establishment of the City of Enoch, and the eventual translation of that city prior to the destructive Deluge of the Earth with water (Moses 7:23-26.)

In these last days, the righteous can plainly discern the effects of the failing of the family. Satan has some of the greatest tools he’s ever had, all aimed at the destruction of the family: intense financial pressures, crushing debt, an overtly sexualized culture, the stain of pornography, and back-sliding moral standards. Social scientists, cultural anthropologists and clergy alike have proclaimed the harmful effects on society stemming from the dissolution of the nuclear family unit. Empirical research shows the stresses divorce places on single parents and children. The cycles are vicious and self-reinforcing: boys growing up without fathers often grow up to be like their fathers, lacking much-needed experience and skills. Abusive and absent fathers share accountability for their children’s promiscuity, single parenthood, low self-esteem, physical and mental trauma. These chaotic environments cannot instill values, moral standards, and cultural norms that embody God’s truths and laws.

In the midst of an endless march of horrific news stories, unending wars and threats of war, the dreary political landscape, and our own uncertainty and fears, our prophets have not remained silent!

While serving as the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Gordon B. Hinckley, gave an October 1998 sermon, in which he warned, “There is a portent of stormy weather ahead, to which we had better give heed.”   Three years later, just after the 9/11 attacks, he said,

“[Our  present situation (war, economy, etc.)] pull[s] us up sharply to a realization that life is fragile, peace is fragile, civilization itself is fragile. The economy is particularly vulnerable. We have been counseled again and again concerning self-reliance, concerning debt, concerning thrift. So many of our people are heavily in debt for things that are not entirely necessary.  . . I urge you as members of this Church to get free of debt where possible and to have a little laid aside against a rainy day.

“Now, I do not wish to be an alarmist. I do not wish to be a prophet of doom. I am optimistic. I do not believe the time is here when an all-consuming calamity will overtake us. I earnestly pray that it may not. There is so much of the Lord’s work yet to be done. We, and our children after us, must do it.”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell referenced this calamity in his last published article in October 2004.

“Prophetically, President Gordon B. Hinckley said to us at a recent general conference that current events in the world did not constitute the “all-consuming calamity.” President Hinckley also cautioned: ‘Peace may be denied for a season. … We may even be called on to suffer in one way or another. … Our safety lies in repentance. Our strength comes of obedience to the commandments of God. … This is the crux of the entire matter—obedience to the commandments of God.’”

Elder Maxwell’s short but powerful article serves as a keystone, tying simple but essential guidance that serves as a framework for dealing with the ever-increasing severity of the judgments to be poured out upon the earth “without measure.” D&C 1: 9, D&C 101: 11, D&C 103: 2, D&C 109: 45.

Do not allow your love toward your fellows to wax cold, especially within families. Humility bred from a love and reverence for the Lord is a powerful antidote to the hardening of your heart. Service, in any form, will spark love within you for those you serve. Elder Maxwell counsels:

 “Pay heed, therefore, to your inborn spiritual reflexes. Use, even more, the gifts of the Holy Ghost, who can fill you with “hope and perfect love” (Moro. 8:26). He can “enlighten your mind, … [and] shall fill your soul with joy” (D&C 11:13). How precious and relevant these gifts of hope, love, and joy are in any age, but certainly in yours, when so many feel unloved, hopeless, and sad!”

Do not allow despair to take hold of your heart. Despite the loss of hundreds of descendants, Adam and Eve rejoiced when they learned of their redemption from the Fall (Moses 5:10-12.)  Enoch, who refused to be comforted after seeing the Flood and the destruction of mankind, rejoiced in the knowledge of the Redemption (Moses 7:44,47). Alma exclaimed his anticipation of the Savior’s mortal ministry, which mirrors what many of us feel concerning His second coming, “And now we only wait to hear the joyful news declared unto us by the mouth of angels, of his coming; for the time cometh, we know not how soon. Would to God that it might be in my day; but let it be sooner or later, in it I will rejoice.”

Many of you reading this are already members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  If you are not, I invite you to read the Book of Mormon, which contains a critically important message about surviving these times in which we live.  Those who are members of the Church should strive to enter the temple and enter into the protective and redemptive covenants with God. Those who have already done so need to master and keep them as if you were clinging to a buoy in a turbulent sea, awaiting rescue.  The Holy Ghost will continue teaching, leading, guiding, inspiring and training you. I end with the immortal words of Neal A. Maxwell, who wrote to you, in the final days of his life.

Do not “refuse to be comforted.” Let the revelations comfort you. Let the scriptures refresh you!

You young disciples are so privileged, and though the times in which you will live will be turbulent, there will be glorious accomplishments, too.

Thus, I have desired to place some perspective on these, your days, and I salute you for what your generation represents and the divine compliment God has given you by placing you here—now.

Make use of these, “your days,” for as you become more like Jesus, there will be more and more things He will give you to do.

My feelings are such that I salute you! Perhaps this feeling is so strong because I have a more keen sense of who you really are than you do, a clearer picture of your rendezvous in these, your days, speaking of you collectively. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen!”

I know Heavenly Father’s promises are as sure as His warnings. As we are willing to defend, protect, and preserve families, despite growing calamity, the Lord will continue to defend, protect, and preserve His covenant children.

Matt didn’t write a bio, and he’s already asleep, so I don’t know how much he wants me to tell you about him. First and foremost, he’s my husband, and deserves some kind of trophy for “Excellence in a leading role” in our family. I took this picture just yesterday when we all hiked around in the canyon.  As you can tell by my daughter’s face, her dad is her “favorite grown-up.” Her brothers probably agree. Whatever. I admit he’s my favorite grown-up, too.

General Conference is coming. Are you ready??

Posted in Divinity, General Conference Book Club by

We have living prophets and apostles.  LIVING prophets and apostles!  It’s amazing.

I love general conference deep, and I think my children are catching on.  A while back, Natalie asked me if I knew what her favorite holiday was.  I guessed Christmas, and she said. “Nope. General Conference.”  I think she’s given it a little more thought since then and decided it’s actually in second place, but still.  Happy heart pinch moment.

Next round:  Saturday March 31st and Sunday April 1st.  I don’t have anything new and exciting to say about getting ready for general conference because I’m just happy with my same old routines. It’s all become tradition, both physical and spiritual traditions, and I look forward to it like an oasis in a busy world.

So I’ll just remind you to start thinking of questions you have for the Lord about your life, your family, your goals, your needs, your potential… and pray about those questions.  Watch conference with your questions in your hand and a pencil ready to receive revelation.  I promise it works.

Here’s a post with other suggestions to prepare yourself for conference.

And here’s another with suggestions of how to prepare your children.

There are always a plethora of current resources for activities and children’s general conference packets over at Sugardoodle.

I always love to review the last conference before I watch the next one.  It makes it easy to recognize patterns and repetition– both tools that God uses to tell us, “Pay attention to this!”  Here’s the highlight video from October 2011 conference:

See? Doesn’t that just make you excited?

Also, the tradition of General Conference Book Club will continue after this next conference, but there will be a big change.  It will still have all the integrity of studying the conference talks, but there will be a new guest hostess.  I’ll post more about that as we get closer.

Feel free to share any of your own traditions and preparation strategies in the comments below.  Your idea may feel like a perfect fit to someone else’s circumstances.