Our ward boundaries got realigned so, by default, I have been released from my calling as Fourth Sunday Relief Society Teacher. The bishopric of the new ward asked for volunteers to teach while they reorganize. So I volunteered to teach one last time -- since I had already started preparing this lesson for the previous ward. So, sadly, this will be my last lesson posted. :-(
The following are direct quotes from President Packer's April 2014 General Conference talk.
The Witness
April 2014 General Conference
Like most
things of great worth, knowledge which is of eternal value comes only through
personal prayer and pondering. These, joined with fasting and scripture study,
will invite impressions and revelations and the whisperings of the Holy Spirit.
This provides us with instruction from on high as we learn precept upon
precept.
One eternal
truth that I have come to know is that God lives. He is our Father. We are His
children. “We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ,
and in the Holy Ghost” (Articles of Faith 1:1).
Parenthood
is a sacred privilege, and depending upon faithfulness, it can be an eternal
blessing. The ultimate end of all activity in the Church is that a man and his
wife and their children can be happy at home.
Another
truth I have come to know is that the Holy Ghost is real. He is the third
member of the Godhead. His mission is to testify of truth and righteousness. He
manifests Himself in many ways, including feelings of peace and reassurance. He
can also bring comfort, guidance, and correction when needed. The companionship
of the Holy Ghost is maintained throughout our lives by righteous living.
The gift of
the Holy Ghost is conferred through an ordinance of the gospel. This ordinance
alone does not change us in a noticeable way, but if we listen and follow the
promptings, we will receive the blessing of the Holy Ghost.
A supernal
truth that I have gained in my life is my witness of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Foremost and
underpinning all that we do, anchored throughout the revelations, is the Lord’s
name, which is the authority by which we act in the Church. Every prayer
offered, even by little children, ends in the name of Jesus Christ. Every
blessing, every ordinance, every ordination, every official act is done in the
name of Jesus Christ. It is His Church, and it is named for Him—The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (see D&C 115:4).
5 Have they not read the scriptures,
which say ye must take upon you the name of Christ, which is my name?
For by this name shall ye be called at the last day;
6 And
whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to the end, the same
shall be saved at the last day.
7 Therefore,
whatsoever ye shall do, ye shall do it in my name; therefore ye shall call the
church in my name; and ye shall call upon the Father in my name that he will
bless the church for my sake. –3 Nephi 27:5-7
In the
Church we know who He is: Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is the Only Begotten
of the Father. He is He who was slain and He who liveth again. He is our
Advocate with the Father. …He is the anchor that holds us and protects us and
our families through the storms of life.
Each of us
must come to our own personal testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ. We then share
that testimony with our family and others.
In all of
this, let us remember that there is an adversary who personally seeks to
disrupt the work of the Lord. We must choose whom to follow. Our protection is
as simple as deciding individually to follow the Savior, making certain that we
faithfully will remain on His side.
To be
faithfully devoted to Jesus Christ, we accept Him as our Redeemer and do all
within our power to live His teachings.
After all
the years that I have lived and taught and served, after the millions of miles
I have traveled around the world, with all that I have experienced, there is
one great truth that I would share. That is my witness of the Savior Jesus
Christ.
Joseph Smith
and Sidney Rigdon recorded the following after a sacred experience:
“And now,
after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony,
last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! “For we saw him” (D&C 76:22–23). Their words are my
words.
I believe
and I am sure that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and
that He lives. He is the Only Begotten of the Father…I bear my witness that the
Savior lives. I know the Lord. I am His witness. I know of His
great sacrifice and eternal love for all of Heavenly Father’s children. I bear
my special witness in all humility but with absolute certainty…
No comments:
Post a Comment