“It is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule."
- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King-
Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.-
And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
(John 1:45-46)
This is the current format for scripture references:-
https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/1-cor/1?verse=21-25&lang=eng#p21
- https://www.lds.org OR gospellibrary://content – LDS.org or the Gospel Library app.
- /scriptures – section of LDS.org or content type.
- /nt – testament / work / volume of scripture (ot / nt / bofm / dc-testament / pgp).
- /1-cor – scripture book.
- /1 – chapter.
- ?verse=21-25 – verse(s) to put a callout box around, optional. If not specified, no callout boxes will be drawn. This can be a single verse, a range, or a series (for example, "2-5,7" is valid).
- &lang=eng – language, optional. If not specified, link will default to the browser/device language (which could give an error if the content doesn't exist in that language).
Samuel Bradshaw • If you desire to serve God, you are called to the work.
- #p21 – verse to scroll to, optional. If not specified, chapter will load to the top.
("Formatting url to search for specific verses", 10 Dec 2017 tech.lds.org)
“I have discovered in my ministry that those who have become lost [and] confused are typically those who have most often … forgotten that when the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve speak with a united voice, it is the voice of the Lord for that time. The Lord reminds us, ‘Whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same’ [D&C 1:38]” (M. Russell Ballard, “Stay in the Boat and Hold On!” 90).
Neither the President of the Church, nor the First Presidency, nor the united voice of the First Presidency and the Twelve will ever lead the Saints astray or send forth counsel to the world that is contrary to the mind and will of the Lord.
An individual may fall by the wayside, or have views, or give counsel which falls short of what the Lord intends. But the voice of the First Presidency and the united voice of those others who hold with them the keys of the kingdom shall always guide the Saints and the world in those paths where the Lord wants them to be. ("Eternal Keys and the Right to Preside", Joseph Fielding Smith, Apr 1972)-
The prophet and President of the Church can receive revelation individually that becomes doctrine when it is sustained by the united voice of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (see Acts 10; Official Declaration 2). ("How Is Doctrine Established?", LaRene Porter Gaunt, Sep 2013 Ensign)-
In trying all matters of doctrine, to make a decision valid, it is necessary to obtain a unanimous voice, faith and decision. In the capacity of a Quorum, the three First Presidents must be one in their voice; the Twelve Apostles must be unanimous in their voice, to obtain a righteous decision upon any matter that may come before them…. Whenever you see these Quorums unanimous in their declaration, you may set it down as true. (Journal of Discourses 9:91-92)-
It is not definitive because it does not purport to declare the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or even to give any official Church position on the meaning of any particular scripture. Only the President of the Church or the First Presidency can perform those sacred functions. Modern revelation clearly declares that an Apostle can write "by wisdom," but not by commandment (D&C 28:5). (His Holy Name, Dallin H. Oaks, (1998) p. viii-ix)-
The doctrines of the restored gospel are found in the standard works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the teachings of the living prophets and apostles, and in the authorized declarations and proclamations of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Ultimately, however, only the President of the Church and the Quorum of the First Presidency have the authority to define the doctrines of the Church....
True ... doctrine... comes from God and is correct and accurate. The sources of such doctrine are the authorized teachings of the Lord's anointed servants and the scriptures. (Increase in Learning, David A. Bednar, (2011) p. 152-153)
"to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God" ("Title Page of the Book of Mormon")-
the Book of Mormon exists to bear witness of Jesus Christ—who He is, what He taught, why He died, and His resurrection from the dead. There are more than 6,000 verses in the Book of Mormon. Nearly 4,000 of those verses mention Jesus.
The culminating event in the Book of Mormon is the appearance of Jesus Christ sometime shortly after His Resurrection in the old world to a group of people living in the Americas (3 Nephi 11). ("What is the Book of Mormon About?", 7 Dec 2017)-
The major mission of the Book of Mormon, as recorded on its title page, is ‘to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations.’
“The honest seeker after truth can gain the testimony that Jesus is the Christ as he prayerfully ponders the inspired words of the Book of Mormon.
“Over one-half of all the verses in the Book of Mormon refer to our Lord. Some form of Christ’s name is mentioned more frequently per verse in the Book of Mormon than even in the New Testament.
“He is given over one hundred different names in the Book of Mormon. Those names have a particular significance in describing His divine nature-
(“Come unto Christ”, Ezra Taft Benson, Oct 1987)
[Isaiah] verily saw my Redeemer, even as I [Nephi] have seen him.
And my brother, Jacob, also has seen him as I have seen him; wherefore, I will send their words forth unto my children to prove unto them that my words are true. Wherefore, by the words of three, God hath said, I will establish my word. Nevertheless, God sendeth more witnesses, and he proveth all his words.
Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ
(2 Nephi 11:3)
"the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved." 1 Nephi 6:4
"to show unto the remnant of the house of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers" ("Title Page of the Book of Mormon")-
"that they may know the covenants of the Lord" ("Title Page of the Book of Mormon")
"the Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts—what we have done. It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts—what we have become. It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become. "(Dallin H. Oaks, "The Challenge to Become" Oct 2000)-
We invite all, the whole earth, to listen to this account and take measure of its truth. God bless us as those who believe in His divine manifestations and help us to extend knowledge of these great and marvelous occurrences to all who will listen. To these we say in a spirit of love, bring with you all that you have of good and truth which you have received from whatever source, and come and let us see if we may add to it. ("The Marvelous Foundation of Our Faith", Gordon B. Hinckely, Oct 2002, https://youtu.be/-NWJEZkn9bU?t=1125)-
Broken
(Words by Kenneth Cope; Music by Kenneth & Eliza Cope)
—inspired by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
Broken clouds give rain
Broken soil grows grain
Broken bread feeds man for one more day
Broken storms yield light
The break of day heals night
Broken pride turns blindness into sight
Broken souls that need His mending Broken hearts for offering Could it be that God loves broken things
Broken chains set free
Broken swords bring peace
Broken walls make friends of you and me
To break the ranks of sin
To break the news of Him
To put on Christ till His name feels broken in
Broken souls that need His mending Broken hearts for offering I believe that God loves broken things
And yet, our broken faith, our broken promises
Sent love to the cross
And still, that broken flesh, that broken heart of His
Offers us such grace and mercy
Covers us with love undeserving
This broken soul that cries for mending This broken heart for offering I’m convinced that God loves broken me Praise His name—my God loves broken things
So, broken cloud—Give rain
And broken soil—Grow grain
And broken bread—Feed man for one more day
© 2004 Merge Right Music (BMI)-
The heart is a tender place. It is sensitive to many influences, both positive and negative. It can be hurt by others. It can be deadened by sin. It can be softened by love. Early in our lives, we learn to guard our hearts. It is like we erect a fence around our hearts with a gate in it. No one can enter that gate unless we allow him or her to.
In some cases the fence we erect around our hearts could be likened to a small picket fence with a Welcome sign on the gate. Other hearts have been so hurt or so deadened by sin that they have an eight-foot (2.5-m) chain-link fence topped with razor wire around them. The gate is padlocked and has a large No Trespassing sign on it.
Let us apply the idea of a gateway to the heart to receiving personal revelation. Nephi taught, “When a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men.” Elder David A. Bednar noted the use of the word unto: “Please notice how the power of the Spirit carries the message unto but not necessarily into the heart. … Ultimately, … the content of a message and the witness of the Holy Ghost penetrate into the heart only if a receiver allows them to enter.”
Why just unto the heart? Individual agency is so sacred that Heavenly Father will never force the human heart, even with all His infinite power. Man may try to do so, but God does not. To put it another way, God allows us to be the guardians, or the gatekeepers, of our own hearts. We must, of our own free will, open our hearts to the Spirit, for He will not force Himself upon us.
("Opening Our Hearts", Gerald N. Lund, GC Apr 2008)-
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. (Matthew 23:23)What are the weightier matters? Can we attend church, family scripture study and family prayer and not let the weightier matter sink deep into our hearts?
