Journal

General Conference April 2020 Sunday Morning Session

Brandon · Apr 5, 2020 ·

Elder Rasband

The restoration of the gospel was well prophesyed of in the scriptures.

Bonnie

Let you light shine that others may see the way to Christ. we shine the light but it is Christ’s light.

Elder Jeffery R Holland

200 years ago we would have hoped to find a more complete gospel. We would have looked for the parental care of God. There would have been doubts of whether Christ had come. We would have looked for another testament of his life. We would have look for the House of the Lord return and scriptures had testified would occur. We would have looked to for the ability to have eternal marriage.

We still have things we hope for. We still have modern plagues. May we hope to cure world hunger.

We have the mandate and hope that all may love God and love their neighbor.

Why should we not hope that righteous desire and sincere desires cannot still be miraculously gained. We should hope for this.

If we lose hope we, when all hope is gone there is nothing.

You must press forward with a perfect brightness of hope!—Nephi

David A Bednar

Our hearts—the sum to total of our desires and what we will become. The purpose of Gods work is to change hearts. The Lord works from the inside out.Ordinance remember and kept open the Heavens into us. We dod not hide in the temples, but rather go there to prepare, be taught, and strengthened to overcome the world.

Temples work is hastening. Brigham Young prophesied we would need 1,000’s of temples.

With the Lord’s counsel and direction we will fulfill these prophesy’s. This later-day work will destroy the darkness.

President Russell M Nelson

We are witnessing live what has been prophecied of for milennia. The Lord Jesus Christ is your Savior. The Prophet Joseph Smith is your prophet.

What does it mean for me that the gospel has been restored?

Most people do not embrace the truths offered up by the Lords prophets.

Hearts of the fathers to the children

Brandon · Apr 5, 2020 ·

During the General Conference April 2020 Saturday Evening Session, Elder Eyring spoke regarding the last days and the great work that must take place including the work of Elijah—genealogy and temple work. Shortly thereafter the living Prophet and President of the the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Russell M Nelson, called upon members, all who are able, and including those not members of our church to join in a fast for blessing and miracles, “Let us unite in pleading for healing throughout the world,” the prophet said. “Good Friday would be the perfect day to have our Heavenly Father and His Son hear us! … Let us prayerfully plead … that the present pandemic may be controlled, caregivers protected, the economy strengthened, and life normalized.”¹

With these thoughts on my mind I came across something I had written in a scripture journal on 8/12/2018:

We read in Malachi of the last days where destruction will occur. Elijah will come in preparation “he shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the children to the fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”²

Often we discuss the role of the children in this prophesy—the childrens’ need and desire to work on the genealogy and temple work of our fathers (mothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.) that have gone before us.

Less discussed is the role of the fathers in this, yet clearly there is a role as Malachi presents two sides to the promise . Now we can see that one way the fathers hearts might turn to us is assisting us as possible from the other side in this genealogy and temple work. Could it be that there is more for the fathers to do from their side of the vail that could help save us from destruction.

Moroni offers a glimpse at understanding another aspect of our fathers (those that came before us) role. Moroni talks of all Christ has done for us already through the atonement, then he asks if this is all to be done and have miracles therefore ceased? He, Moroni, affirms that miracles have not ceased and that “Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men.” and later in the chapter “if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain.”³ We know from reading many other verses of scripture, angles are often those who have come before us.

There is a great work to be done by all who are willing to work with their might.⁴ Let us be anxiously engaged in this work, and trust that our fathers are also engaged in all they can do to keep this work progressing.

Much to learn from the scriptures

Brandon · Apr 5, 2020 ·

Nephi suggests he began his record to share:

the good he was taught from his parents,
the affliction/blessing of being favored of the Lord,
the great goodness of the lord,
the great mysteries (or rather) the great understanding given from the Lord.

I love and look up to the great faith and example of Nephi. There is so much to learn from the records of Nephi, and all the scriptures. Elder Bednar taught¹ we should study the scriptures because of the covenants we have made, the direction we need in our lives, end the preparation/prerequisite to receiving personal revelation.

*Originally written 1/7/2016

Teaching in the gospel

Brandon · Apr 5, 2020 ·

Preparing to teach a class in the church is a personal matter and there is no one way to do it. Here are some recommendations that might help as you prepare and teach your lesson.

Pray

Seek guidance from the Holy Spirit in prayer. The gospel message is Heavenly Father’s message and He will guide and direct its teaching, especially when asked. As teachers we are to share the message inviting the Holy Ghost do the teaching.

Study

Read the material well before the day you will teach. If possible study the lesson more than once.

Share Scriptures

Use scriptures often in the lessons. These sacred words were prepared to teach and uplift. Here again the Spirit will be present as it witness of truth when scriptures are read.

Introducing the scripture helps increase understanding. Provide a back ground for the scripture. The Doctrine Covenants section headings provides a great example of how this can be done. Each give a history of when the revelation was given along with circumstances or questions that had been asked of Heavenly Father.

Ask questions

Asking questions is an important part of gospel discussion and learning. Asking good questions allows others to ponder and share, adding to the conversation and bring in the Spirit to testify and teach.

It is interesting to note that revelation and answers came often to Joseph Smith when he or others were asking questions of Heavenly Father. In like manner, when we have invited the Spirit into our teaching we can ask inspired questions of the class members that will invite the Holy Ghost to prompt answers and thought that will teach correct doctrine.

Share Experiences

Add personal experiences to the lesson.

Consider your own experiences related to the topic.

Ask parents, family, and friends what their thoughts are on the subject. Have they had any experiences you could share? We learn through personal experiences. When these experiences are shared the Holy Spirit can bear powerful witness of its truthfulness.

*Note, there are times when experiences are too personal or spiritual to share. Being in tune with the spirit will help you discern when and what to share.

Bear Testimony

Whether teaching or participating in a lesson, it is important to bear testimony of the things we know to be true. This does not require to know or have a perfect knowledge of what is being taught. We can bear testimony of simple things we know to be true related to the topic.

* Used as discussion outline with youth as a Teachers Council, considering all youth teach frequently in their classes.

General Conference 2020 April Saturday Evening Session

Brandon · Apr 5, 2020 ·

Elder Gong

Christ is our everything. Among small and simple things great things shall come to pass.

Jean B Bingham

Are we prepared to become united in the inspired ways we can to help the message go forth.

President Eyring

Doctrine Covenants 110 — Read and understand. In relation to our time and work that is to be completed at this time. Temples are critical to the gathering of Israel. The temple work came 7 years prior to Moses opening up the work to gather Israel.

There is much need to be. involved in Family Search. For when ever we solve one problem we open the door for inspiration and improvement.

The desire to serve our ancestors are surely growing.

Sacrifice brings forth blessing we did not see. Every hour and every prayer in preparation brings forth a blessing.

President Oaks

The Priesthood of God, it is the power of God men who hold it are not “the Priesthood.” The church exists the … perpetuate the family organization into the eternities.

If father’s would magnify their priesthood in the their family it would go further than any work they could do elsewhere.

We can fill our lives with light. We should focus on messages of light and truth. We should have an eye single to the glory of God. We should follow the counsel of the Lord and seek to understand the truths of the eternity, if we seek with an eye single to God we shall be blessed with the light and knowledge we seek.

We are called to assist… We are lead by a prophet.

President Nelson

This is Christ’s church, he is at the center of his church.