Quotes of the Week:
"The search for peace is one of the ultimate quests of the human soul."
"Because sexual intimacy is so sacred, the Lord requires self-control and purity before marriage, as well as full fidelity after marriage. . . . .Tears inevitably follow transgression. Men, take care not to make women weep, for God counts their tears."
Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Peaceable Things of the Kingdom,” Ensign, 11/96, 82-84
Henry B. Eyring, “The Book of Mormon Will Change Your Life,” Ensign, 2/04, 11-12
Our present gathering is primarily spiritual, not geographic. . . . . Our need to be physically near large numbers of Saints is less than it was a century ago because Church magazines and satellite transmissions bridge distance and time, creating a sense of oneness throughout the entire Church. All have access to the same keys, ordinances, doctrine, and spiritual gifts.
If the gentiles on this land reject the word of God and conspire to overthrow liberty and the Constitution, then their doom is fixed, and they “shall be cut off from among my people who are of the covenant.”
Spencer W. Kimball, Ensign, 12/75
There is one point I would like to make clear as I repeat what the Lord said: “I will gather you on one condition.” The title to the land of America is a conditional title, and only those who live the laws of God and serve him faithfully can inherit it. He wanted the Jaredites to come over. They found America. They lived for a long while here and ripened in iniquity before they encountered the people of Mulek. The land then was given to Lehi and to his sons and their families, but when a fulness of iniquity arose among these children of the land, they were swept off. Therefore, I want us to keep in our minds the fact that this land is ours only so long as we live the commandments of God. Whether it is Greeks or Italians or Norwegians or whoever is going to enjoy this land, they are going to serve God or they shall be swept off.
That is what makes me so frightened today when I read the magazines and the newspapers and see that the gentiles who are living upon this land today are failing, to some extent at least, to live the commandments. There is much evil, much wrong, much wrongdoing in this land of ours. Many people break the laws of God, and the day will come when he just cannot tolerate it. He says he won’t. When they become ripe in their iniquity, the day will come when they will be swept off.
We are also children of the covenant. We have received, as did they of old, the holy priesthood and the everlasting gospel. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are our ancestors. We are of Israel. We have the right to receive the gospel, blessings of the priesthood, and eternal life. Nations of the earth will be blessed by our efforts and by the labors of our posterity. The literal seed of Abraham and those who are gathered into his family by adoption receive these promised blessings—predicated upon acceptance of the Lord and obedience to his commandments.
As all the world knows, many Jews are now gathering to Palestine, where they have their own nation and way of worship, all without reference to a belief in Christ or an acceptance of the laws and ordinances of his everlasting gospel. Is this the latter-day gathering of the Jews of which the scriptures speak? No! It is not; let there be no misunderstanding in any discerning mind on this point. This gathering of the Jews to their homeland, and their organization into a nation and a kingdom, is not the gathering promised by the prophets. It does not fulfill ancient promises. Those who have thus assembled have not gathered into the true Church and fold of their ancient Messiah. . . . .
This gathering of the unconverted to Palestine—shall we not call it a political gathering . . . or shall we not call it a preliminary gathering brought to pass in the wisdom of him who once was their God?—this gathering, of those whose eyes are yet dimmed by scales of darkness and who have not yet become the delightsome people it is their destiny to be, is nonetheless part of the divine plan.
Joseph McConkie, Studies in Scripture, 8:184
This latter-day gathering, Christ testified, would be first spiritual and then temporal. Israel, he said, must return first to their covenants and then to their covenant lands.
Do we really comprehend, do we understand the tremendous significance of that which we have? . . .
We of this generation are the end harvest of all that has gone before. It is not enough to simply be known as a member of this Church. A solemn obligation rests upon us. Let us face it and work at it.
We must live as true followers of the Christ, with charity toward all, returning good for evil, teaching by example the ways of the Lord, and accomplishing the vast service He has outlined for us.
How I wish you could go with me through the Indian reservations and particularly Navajo lands and see the poverty, want wretchedness, and realize again that these are sons and daughters of God; that their miserable state is the result, not only of their centuries of wars and sins and godlessness, but is also attributable to us, their con querors, who placed them on reservations with such limited resources and facilities, to starve and die of malnutrition and unsanitary conditions, while we become fat in the prosperity from the assets we took from them. Think of these things, my people, and then weep for the Indian, and with your tears, pray; then work for him. Only through us, the “nursing fathers and mothers,’ may they eventually enjoy a fulfillment of the many promises made to them. . . . They shall prosper in the land and will, with our help, build up a holy city, even the New Jerusalem, unto their God. Only in our doing all in our power to restore these people to their heritage, can we even approach a justification for having taken their promised land.
Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, 441-42
Never shall we go to Jackson County until we have converted and brought into this Church great numbers of Lamanites.
He [Ezra Taft Benson] always kept this verse from the Book of Mormon in his wallet: [3 Ne. 22:17]. And always this statement was kept on his desk or in his study: “Be right, and then be easy to live with, if possible, in that order.
Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 4:540
No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independently, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.
John Taylor, Journal of Discourses, 21:8
When the people shall have torn to shreds the Constitution of the United States, the Elders of Israel will be found holding it up to the nations of the earth and proclaiming liberty and equal rights to all men, and extending the hand of fellowship to the oppressed of all nations.
Jeffrey R. Holland, CES Fireside for Young Adults, 9/12/04
We must never, in any age or circumstance, let fear and the father of fear (Satan himself) divert us from our faith and faithful living. . . . It will be okay. Just be faithful. God is in charge. He knows your name and He knows your need. . . .
So, in a world of tribulation—and there will always be plenty of it—let’s remember our faith. Let’s recall the other promises and prophecies that have been given, all the reassuring ones, and let’s live life more fully, with more boldness and courage than at any other time our history. . . .
God is watching over His world, His Church, His leaders, and He is certainly watching over you. Let’s just make sure we are the “pure in heart” and that we are faithful. How blessed you will be. How fortunate your children and grandchildren will be . . . .
Is there a happy future for you and your posterity in these latter days? Absolutely! . .. will there be difficult times when those ominous latter-day warnings and prophecies are fulfilled? Of course there will. . . .
God not only lives, He loves us. He loves you. Everything He does is for our good and our protection. . . . He will shelter us from the storm. . . .
I leave an apostolic blessing on each one of you individually within the sound of my voice that you will live with confidence, optimism, faith, and devotion. . . . I bless you to feel the joy of the Saints in the latter days—never crippling anxiety or destructive despair.
I am grateful for emphasis on reading the scriptures. I hope that for you this will become something far more enjoyable than a duty; that, rather, it will become a love affair with the word of God. I promise you that as you read, your minds will be enlightened and your spirits will be lifted. At first it may seem tedious, but that will change into a wondrous experience with thoughts and words of things divine.
Henry B. Eyring, Ensign, 11/97, 84
The Holy Ghost will guide what we say if we study and ponder the scriptures every day. . . .
We treasure the word of God not only by reading the words of the scriptures but by studying them. We may be nourished more by pondering a few words, allowing the Holy Ghost to make them treasures to us, than to pass quickly and superficially over whole chapters of scripture.
Bruce R. McConkie, as cited in Unlocking the Book of Mormon, p. 453
I personally believe that the writing of personal and family histories will do more to turn the hearts of the children to the fathers and the fathers to children than almost anything we can do. I am sure you will never turn your own children’s hearts more to you than you will by keeping a journal and writing your personal history. They will ultimately love to find out about your success and your failures and your peculiarities. It will tell them a lot about themselves, too. They will get a great desire to raise a family of their own when they see what a great blessing they were to you. . . .
I am convinced that these records we are commanded to write are absolutely vital, not only to the salvation of our ancestors but also to ours, for are we not to be judged out fo the books which John saw were to be opened, as recorded in Revelation 20:12?
Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Ensign, 5/99, 84
That which I do not in some way record will be lost at my death, and that which I do not pass on to my posterity, they will never have. . . .
A life that is not documented is a life that within a generation or two will largely be lost to memory.
It should be remembered that the great temple, which is yet to be built in the City Zion, will not be one edifice, but twelve. Some of these temples will be for the lesser priesthood. When these temples are built, it is very likely that provision will be made for some ceremonies and ordinances which may be performed by the Aaronic Priesthood and a place provided where the sons of Levi may offer their offering in righteousness. This will have to be the case because all things are to be restored. . . The sacrifice of animals will be done to complete the restoration when the temple spoken of is built; at the beginning of the millennium, or in the restoration, blood sacrifices will be performed long enough to complete the fulness of the restoration in this dispensation. Afterwards sacrifice will be of some other character. [see D&C 13; 84:31]
Five reasons why all of us, rich or poor, longtime member or newest convert, should faithfully pay our tithes and offerings.
First, do so for the sake of your children and grandchildren, . . . Teach your children that many of the blessings of the Church are available to them because you and they give tithes and offerings to the Church.
Second, pay your tithing to rightfully claim the blessings promised those who do so. . . .
Third, pay your tithing as a declaration that possession of material goods and the accumulation of worldly wealth are not the uppermost goals of your existence. . . . .
Fourth, pay your tithes and offerings out of honesty and integrity because they are God’s rightful due. . . . .
This leads to a fifth reason to pay our tithes and offerings. We should pay them as a personal expression of love to a generous and merciful Father in Heaven. Through His grace God has dealt bread to the hungry and clothing to the poor. At various times in our lives that will include all of us, either temporally or spiritually.
Joseph F. Smith, CR, 4/1900, 47
There is a great deal of importance connected with this principle, for by it, it shall be known whether we are faithful or unfaithful. In this respect it is as essential as faith in God, as repentance of sin, as baptism for the remission of sin, or as the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, 5/82, 40
I can interpret the word land as people, that those who walk in obedience shall be a delightsome people. What a marvelous condition to be a delightsome people whom others would describe as blessed!
Harold B. Lee, Ensign, 11/71, 16
The opening of the windows of heaven, of course, means revelations from God to him who is willing thus to sacrifice.
If we neglect our families here in having home night and we fail in our responsibility here, how could we feel we are doing our full duty in turning the hearts of our children to their fathers? . . . So, the hearts of you fathers and mothers must be turned to your children right now, if you have the true spirit of Elijah, and not think it applies merely to those who are beyond the veil. . . . If you are neglecting your family home evening, you are neglecting the beginning of the mission of Elijah just as certainly as if you were neglecting your genealogical work.
Discourses of Gordon B. Hinckley, 1995-99, 1:576-77, 579
To you I say with all the energy of which I am capable, do not become a weak link in your chain of generations.
[The] challenge is not to prove that the “Book of Mormon is true by to prove to God that [we] are true. When [you] do this, [you] will know the book is true. And when [you] prove that [you] will do what the book says, God will tell [you] more. . . .
The Book of Mormon is about people proving their belief to God little by little. And then He confirms their belief and gives them more. . . .
I bear testimony that however much you have learned from the Book of Mormon before, you should read it again and prove it. Prove it by proving yourself. Do the things you feel impressed to do, and you will find things in it that you have never seen before.
"The search for peace is one of the ultimate quests of the human soul."
--Jeffrey R. Holland, Ensign, 11/96
"Because sexual intimacy is so sacred, the Lord requires self-control and purity before marriage, as well as full fidelity after marriage. . . . .Tears inevitably follow transgression. Men, take care not to make women weep, for God counts their tears."
--Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, 11/90, 47
Further Reading:
Russell M. Nelson, "Children of the Covenant", Ensign, May 1995, 32 Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Peaceable Things of the Kingdom,” Ensign, 11/96, 82-84
Henry B. Eyring, “The Book of Mormon Will Change Your Life,” Ensign, 2/04, 11-12
Handouts:
3 Nephi 20:11-13--The Gathering of Israel
Douglas L. Callister, “Book of Mormon Principles: The Gathering of the Lord’s Faithful,” Ensign, 10/04, 59Our present gathering is primarily spiritual, not geographic. . . . . Our need to be physically near large numbers of Saints is less than it was a century ago because Church magazines and satellite transmissions bridge distance and time, creating a sense of oneness throughout the entire Church. All have access to the same keys, ordinances, doctrine, and spiritual gifts.
3 Nephi 20:15-20--The Gentiles
Ezra Taft Benson, God—Family—Country, 345If the gentiles on this land reject the word of God and conspire to overthrow liberty and the Constitution, then their doom is fixed, and they “shall be cut off from among my people who are of the covenant.”
Spencer W. Kimball, Ensign, 12/75
There is one point I would like to make clear as I repeat what the Lord said: “I will gather you on one condition.” The title to the land of America is a conditional title, and only those who live the laws of God and serve him faithfully can inherit it. He wanted the Jaredites to come over. They found America. They lived for a long while here and ripened in iniquity before they encountered the people of Mulek. The land then was given to Lehi and to his sons and their families, but when a fulness of iniquity arose among these children of the land, they were swept off. Therefore, I want us to keep in our minds the fact that this land is ours only so long as we live the commandments of God. Whether it is Greeks or Italians or Norwegians or whoever is going to enjoy this land, they are going to serve God or they shall be swept off.
That is what makes me so frightened today when I read the magazines and the newspapers and see that the gentiles who are living upon this land today are failing, to some extent at least, to live the commandments. There is much evil, much wrong, much wrongdoing in this land of ours. Many people break the laws of God, and the day will come when he just cannot tolerate it. He says he won’t. When they become ripe in their iniquity, the day will come when they will be swept off.
3 Nephi 20:25-27—Children of the Covenant
Russell M. Nelson, Ensign, 5/95, 33We are also children of the covenant. We have received, as did they of old, the holy priesthood and the everlasting gospel. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are our ancestors. We are of Israel. We have the right to receive the gospel, blessings of the priesthood, and eternal life. Nations of the earth will be blessed by our efforts and by the labors of our posterity. The literal seed of Abraham and those who are gathered into his family by adoption receive these promised blessings—predicated upon acceptance of the Lord and obedience to his commandments.
3 Nephi 20:29-33—Jews Gathered
Bruce R. McConkie, Millennial Messiah, 229As all the world knows, many Jews are now gathering to Palestine, where they have their own nation and way of worship, all without reference to a belief in Christ or an acceptance of the laws and ordinances of his everlasting gospel. Is this the latter-day gathering of the Jews of which the scriptures speak? No! It is not; let there be no misunderstanding in any discerning mind on this point. This gathering of the Jews to their homeland, and their organization into a nation and a kingdom, is not the gathering promised by the prophets. It does not fulfill ancient promises. Those who have thus assembled have not gathered into the true Church and fold of their ancient Messiah. . . . .
This gathering of the unconverted to Palestine—shall we not call it a political gathering . . . or shall we not call it a preliminary gathering brought to pass in the wisdom of him who once was their God?—this gathering, of those whose eyes are yet dimmed by scales of darkness and who have not yet become the delightsome people it is their destiny to be, is nonetheless part of the divine plan.
Joseph McConkie, Studies in Scripture, 8:184
This latter-day gathering, Christ testified, would be first spiritual and then temporal. Israel, he said, must return first to their covenants and then to their covenant lands.
3 Nephi 21:1-9--Latter-day Gathering of Israel
Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, 5/04, 83-84Do we really comprehend, do we understand the tremendous significance of that which we have? . . .
We of this generation are the end harvest of all that has gone before. It is not enough to simply be known as a member of this Church. A solemn obligation rests upon us. Let us face it and work at it.
We must live as true followers of the Christ, with charity toward all, returning good for evil, teaching by example the ways of the Lord, and accomplishing the vast service He has outlined for us.
3 Nephi 21:22-24—Who Shall Build the New Jerusalem?
Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, 605-06How I wish you could go with me through the Indian reservations and particularly Navajo lands and see the poverty, want wretchedness, and realize again that these are sons and daughters of God; that their miserable state is the result, not only of their centuries of wars and sins and godlessness, but is also attributable to us, their con querors, who placed them on reservations with such limited resources and facilities, to starve and die of malnutrition and unsanitary conditions, while we become fat in the prosperity from the assets we took from them. Think of these things, my people, and then weep for the Indian, and with your tears, pray; then work for him. Only through us, the “nursing fathers and mothers,’ may they eventually enjoy a fulfillment of the many promises made to them. . . . They shall prosper in the land and will, with our help, build up a holy city, even the New Jerusalem, unto their God. Only in our doing all in our power to restore these people to their heritage, can we even approach a justification for having taken their promised land.
Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, 441-42
Never shall we go to Jackson County until we have converted and brought into this Church great numbers of Lamanites.
3 Nephi 22:17—No Weapon . . . Shall Prosper
Boyd K. Packer, remarks at President Benson’s funeral, Ensign, 7/94, 32He [Ezra Taft Benson] always kept this verse from the Book of Mormon in his wallet: [3 Ne. 22:17]. And always this statement was kept on his desk or in his study: “Be right, and then be easy to live with, if possible, in that order.
Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 4:540
No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independently, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.
John Taylor, Journal of Discourses, 21:8
When the people shall have torn to shreds the Constitution of the United States, the Elders of Israel will be found holding it up to the nations of the earth and proclaiming liberty and equal rights to all men, and extending the hand of fellowship to the oppressed of all nations.
Jeffrey R. Holland, CES Fireside for Young Adults, 9/12/04
We must never, in any age or circumstance, let fear and the father of fear (Satan himself) divert us from our faith and faithful living. . . . It will be okay. Just be faithful. God is in charge. He knows your name and He knows your need. . . .
So, in a world of tribulation—and there will always be plenty of it—let’s remember our faith. Let’s recall the other promises and prophecies that have been given, all the reassuring ones, and let’s live life more fully, with more boldness and courage than at any other time our history. . . .
God is watching over His world, His Church, His leaders, and He is certainly watching over you. Let’s just make sure we are the “pure in heart” and that we are faithful. How blessed you will be. How fortunate your children and grandchildren will be . . . .
Is there a happy future for you and your posterity in these latter days? Absolutely! . .. will there be difficult times when those ominous latter-day warnings and prophecies are fulfilled? Of course there will. . . .
God not only lives, He loves us. He loves you. Everything He does is for our good and our protection. . . . He will shelter us from the storm. . . .
I leave an apostolic blessing on each one of you individually within the sound of my voice that you will live with confidence, optimism, faith, and devotion. . . . I bless you to feel the joy of the Saints in the latter days—never crippling anxiety or destructive despair.
3 Nephi 23:1-3—Scripture Study
Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, 5/95, 99I am grateful for emphasis on reading the scriptures. I hope that for you this will become something far more enjoyable than a duty; that, rather, it will become a love affair with the word of God. I promise you that as you read, your minds will be enlightened and your spirits will be lifted. At first it may seem tedious, but that will change into a wondrous experience with thoughts and words of things divine.
Henry B. Eyring, Ensign, 11/97, 84
The Holy Ghost will guide what we say if we study and ponder the scriptures every day. . . .
We treasure the word of God not only by reading the words of the scriptures but by studying them. We may be nourished more by pondering a few words, allowing the Holy Ghost to make them treasures to us, than to pass quickly and superficially over whole chapters of scripture.
Bruce R. McConkie, as cited in Unlocking the Book of Mormon, p. 453
"Much of what Isaiah has to say is yet to be fulfilled. . . He is in fact the prophet of the restoration, the mighty seer of Jacob’s seed who foresaw our day."
3 Nephi 23:9—Missing Prophecy
Hartman Rector, CR, 4/81, 99I personally believe that the writing of personal and family histories will do more to turn the hearts of the children to the fathers and the fathers to children than almost anything we can do. I am sure you will never turn your own children’s hearts more to you than you will by keeping a journal and writing your personal history. They will ultimately love to find out about your success and your failures and your peculiarities. It will tell them a lot about themselves, too. They will get a great desire to raise a family of their own when they see what a great blessing they were to you. . . .
I am convinced that these records we are commanded to write are absolutely vital, not only to the salvation of our ancestors but also to ours, for are we not to be judged out fo the books which John saw were to be opened, as recorded in Revelation 20:12?
Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Ensign, 5/99, 84
That which I do not in some way record will be lost at my death, and that which I do not pass on to my posterity, they will never have. . . .
A life that is not documented is a life that within a generation or two will largely be lost to memory.
3 Nephi 24:3—Sons of Levi
Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 3:93-94It should be remembered that the great temple, which is yet to be built in the City Zion, will not be one edifice, but twelve. Some of these temples will be for the lesser priesthood. When these temples are built, it is very likely that provision will be made for some ceremonies and ordinances which may be performed by the Aaronic Priesthood and a place provided where the sons of Levi may offer their offering in righteousness. This will have to be the case because all things are to be restored. . . The sacrifice of animals will be done to complete the restoration when the temple spoken of is built; at the beginning of the millennium, or in the restoration, blood sacrifices will be performed long enough to complete the fulness of the restoration in this dispensation. Afterwards sacrifice will be of some other character. [see D&C 13; 84:31]
3 Nephi 24:8-12--Tithing
Jeffrey R. Holland, Ensign, 11/01, 33-35Five reasons why all of us, rich or poor, longtime member or newest convert, should faithfully pay our tithes and offerings.
First, do so for the sake of your children and grandchildren, . . . Teach your children that many of the blessings of the Church are available to them because you and they give tithes and offerings to the Church.
Second, pay your tithing to rightfully claim the blessings promised those who do so. . . .
Third, pay your tithing as a declaration that possession of material goods and the accumulation of worldly wealth are not the uppermost goals of your existence. . . . .
Fourth, pay your tithes and offerings out of honesty and integrity because they are God’s rightful due. . . . .
This leads to a fifth reason to pay our tithes and offerings. We should pay them as a personal expression of love to a generous and merciful Father in Heaven. Through His grace God has dealt bread to the hungry and clothing to the poor. At various times in our lives that will include all of us, either temporally or spiritually.
Joseph F. Smith, CR, 4/1900, 47
There is a great deal of importance connected with this principle, for by it, it shall be known whether we are faithful or unfaithful. In this respect it is as essential as faith in God, as repentance of sin, as baptism for the remission of sin, or as the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, 5/82, 40
I can interpret the word land as people, that those who walk in obedience shall be a delightsome people. What a marvelous condition to be a delightsome people whom others would describe as blessed!
Harold B. Lee, Ensign, 11/71, 16
The opening of the windows of heaven, of course, means revelations from God to him who is willing thus to sacrifice.
3 Nephi 25:5-6--Spirit of Elijah
Harold B. Lee, 1973 Annual Priesthood Genealogical Research SeminarIf we neglect our families here in having home night and we fail in our responsibility here, how could we feel we are doing our full duty in turning the hearts of our children to their fathers? . . . So, the hearts of you fathers and mothers must be turned to your children right now, if you have the true spirit of Elijah, and not think it applies merely to those who are beyond the veil. . . . If you are neglecting your family home evening, you are neglecting the beginning of the mission of Elijah just as certainly as if you were neglecting your genealogical work.
Discourses of Gordon B. Hinckley, 1995-99, 1:576-77, 579
To you I say with all the energy of which I am capable, do not become a weak link in your chain of generations.
3 Nephi 26:9-10—Greater Portion of the Word
Henry B. Eyring, Ensign, 2/04, 11-12[The] challenge is not to prove that the “Book of Mormon is true by to prove to God that [we] are true. When [you] do this, [you] will know the book is true. And when [you] prove that [you] will do what the book says, God will tell [you] more. . . .
The Book of Mormon is about people proving their belief to God little by little. And then He confirms their belief and gives them more. . . .
I bear testimony that however much you have learned from the Book of Mormon before, you should read it again and prove it. Prove it by proving yourself. Do the things you feel impressed to do, and you will find things in it that you have never seen before.
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