One of the things I appreciate about being a part of this effort is to read the words of my fellow brothers and sisters. Their perspectives and experience enrich my experience engaging the words of the prophets. Of course, we don’t want our posts to replace the words of the prophets, but we hope perhaps this project will inspire you in some way, as it is inspiring us, to engage their words with more deliberateness and faith.

The other posts from this week’s reading, which focused on the Priesthood Session of the October 1971 General Conference, are at the bottom of the post.

– – – –

And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away.

~2 Nephi 2:13

Reading these General Conference talks from 1971 has been a meaningful experience for a lot of reasons. It’s interesting to see how relevant the messages are, how timeless so much of the counsel is, how prescient much of the preaching was.

Not only am I interested in watching for patterns across decades, I also am struck by patterns that appear within each conference. For example, so many talks focused on the commandments. Note titles like, “Should the Commandments be Rewritten?” and “The Ten Commandments” and “‘Thou Shalt Not‘” and “‘Thus Saith the Lord.” Specific commandments such as honesty, chastity, and the Word of Wisdom were addressed in numerous talks throughout the October 1971.

This focus on clear teaching of the commandments has been reviewed by a lot of the General Conference Odyssey bloggers, and with reason. We live in a world where the commandments of God are often ignored on one hand, or broken in ignorance on the other. The culture of “do what you want” is all the more pervasive than it was 45 years ago. Truly, the messages about commandments are timeless.

My title was actually chosen Sunday night after reading through my General Conference Odyssey friends’ blog posts from last week. On one of the posts (which for some reason is now returning a 404 message), there was a comment from someone who was feeling frustrated at the message focused on commandments, the importance of righteous parenthood, and the Church’s mission to save the world (yet another theme that appeared in these 1971 talks).

I could sympathize with this person’s comments, not because I take issue with a focus on commandments or the mission of the Church or the importance of good parenting, but because I know there are a lot of situations where pain exists in the life of a parent or loved one (or child) because of the choices of another. And sometimes, a message focused only on commandments may not offer the solace that a soul may need when the commandments are being lived but life is just hard.

I think of Jacob’s words when he had to speak with sharpness to the disobedience of the men in his congregation, knowing that there were others who needed a different message.

Wherefore, it burdeneth my soul that I should be constrained, because of the strict commandment which I have received from God, to admonish you according to your crimes, to enlarge the wounds of those who are already wounded, instead of consoling and healing their wounds; and those who have not been wounded, instead of feasting upon the pleasing word of God have daggers placed to pierce their souls and wound their delicate minds.

I wonder sometimes how our leaders feel when they feel prompted to speak about commandments. Do they sometimes feel like Jacob did? I imagine they might.

And yet, as I read these General Conference talks, I am reminded that the responsibility is on us, the listeners, to hold the message of the whole of the gospel as we listen to individual talks. No one talk can cover that whole.

In truth, of course, the commandments are evidence of God’s love, and I think our leaders urge us to remember and understand that. We are right to feel an urgency to uphold the commandments, because that is part of our mission as a Church. I love how the 1971 conference messages also remind us that we have a God-given duty to communicate His love and mercy as we minister to others.

When looking at the whole of the messages of the October 1971 conference so far, that message is very clear. Thus, while some of the talks may be “reproving betimes with sharpness,” other talks can reach out to those who need also to hear of God’s love in a direct way, and can remind us of our duty to channel that love to others.

For example, consider Marvin J. Ashton’s talk, “You Can Get There from Here,” (I invite you to listen to this talk because even Elder Ashton’s voice radiates compassion.)

Elder Ashton helps people understand the reality that commandments are compassionate:

“Young people, be not deceived. God loves you. He cares about you. He wants you back in his paths, where there is comfort, companionship, and purpose.”

And then, he urges leaders to be sure to communicate God’s love with clarity:

We as leaders need to effectively communicate to our youth that God loves them no matter where they are. We need to sacrifice our time and talents in this direction….

I pray to God that we in the future may communicate the positive, the happy, the abundant way of life to those around us.

Elder Ashton shares stories of hope, stories of people who have found God’s love even when they might have thought they had strayed too far from God’s way. (I am fairly certain that one of these stories is of one of the people mentioned in Elder Brown’s talk that I wrote about last week. If not, it’s a very similar story. Again, patterns were so evident in this October conference!)

I loved this story of hope, too, from a young man in a family situation that was not ideal for fostering faith. This story shows that family circumstance need not determine one’s destiny. Agency is always intact — a true evidence of God’s love.

A few weeks ago, I was visiting with an elder in the mission field. During our interview, I inquired, “Is your father a member of the Church?”

He said, “No.”

“Is your mother a member of the Church?” he was asked.

He responded with a smile, “Just barely.”

I said, “Did your father want you to go on a mission?”

He answered, “No.”

“Did your mother want you to go on a mission?”

“She really didn’t care whether I went or not.”

“Who influenced you most in your decision to go?”

Without hesitation he said, “I did. I’ve always wanted to go, and I knew I could make a success of it.”

Elder Ashton also pointedly warns against reproof when perhaps a different kind of response is warranted.

Many drug abusers are desperately trying to find their way back today. The road is difficult, the challenge tremendous. I am pleased to report many are making it, thanks to friends and volunteer members, priesthood bearers, who are concerned, care, and understand. Very often our glances, our indifference, our hasty comments and lack of patience convey the message, “You are hopeless. You can’t get back from here. You are too far down the road.”

After visiting with one of our young women who has been lost to drugs for many months, her only encouraging remark after more than three hours of sincere communication was, “Thanks for not chewing me out.” Two visits later she asked, “Do you think I would make a good schoolteacher?” To a sincere yes, she said, “Thanks, I’ll try. I’m only three semesters away from getting my teaching certificate.” This girl is making it back. Someone believes in her. Someone has convinced her she can get there from here. The trip she is on this time will bring her back home.

Other messages about compassion were also plentiful in this priesthood session of conference.

For example, N. Eldon Tanner ended his talk by saying

May the Lord bless us that we might realize the importance of a soul; that right in our midst we have people needing attention and help, and it is our responsibility to keep them active, to encourage them, and to reach them if they are having problems.

(Like Elder Hanks, though, Elder Tanner also urged individuals to reach out to their leaders and take responsibility for their activity as well. Once again, compassion is not the only answer — obedience and accountability also allow people to access God’s love!)

From Robert L. Simpson’s talk, “Strengthen Thy Brethren“:

A recurring theme during the life of the Savior as he taught the people was that each man is his brother’s keeper. No priesthood obligation is more important. The scriptures say something very similar but in another way that I like very much: “… when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” (Luke 22:32.)

Interestingly, Elder Simpson teaches how holding up the commandments is, again, an important way to show love, and is part of our covenant responsibility:

The world today tells you to leave your friend alone. He has the right to come and go as he pleases. The world tells you that persuasion to attend church or priesthood meeting or to discard a bad habit might lead to frustration and undue pressures; but again I repeat the word of the Lord: You are your brother’s keeper, and when you are converted, you have an obligation to strengthen your brother.

How can we know how to strengthen those around us? Elder Simpson uses the words of the Lord to guide us:

He also says: “Therefore, verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men;

“For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say.”….

“… inasmuch as ye do this the Holy Ghost shall be shed forth in bearing record unto all things whatsoever ye shall say.” (D&C 100:5–8.)

I loved Elder Marion D. Hanks’ talk, again giving specific examples of the kinds of struggles youth (and others) have in their lives. His talk, in particular, felt like it could have been written in 2016 because he addressed topics that are hitting headlines in our time. For example, he shared the anguish of a stalwart family who lost a son to suicide, and a letter from someone who had a friend “who questions a Church position which he feels he cannot accept, which he thinks makes his position in the Church tenuous or untenable.”

“What can we do?” Elder Hanks asks.

“How can we help this great young generation meet the challenges of their time? I am certain that we must thoughtfully examine not only their needs and their problems, and what we have to give them, but how we undertake to give it, and what we appear to them to be as they observe it. I have been rethinking my own experience and will give you just an example or two quickly. May I do it in the spirit of a statement that to me for a long time has been very choice: ‘Neither laugh nor weep, nor loathe, but understand.'”

And then, like other leaders, Elder Hanks teaches how essential the commandments are to helping youth know of God’s love. I love that he talks about the fact that how we reach out matters, but the what cannot be ignored as we reach out in love.

“[T]hey need faith. They need to believe. They need to know the doctrines, the commandments, the principles of the gospel….

[T]hey need to be accepted as they are, and to be included. [They need family above all] and they need the supportive influence outside their home of others, of neighbors, of friends, of bishops, of brothers, of human beings.

As others in this session taught, Elder Hanks taught that love can also be shown by giving people opportunities to serve, and

“[T]hey have to learn somehow that they are more important than their mistakes; that they are worthwhile, valuable, useful; that they are loved unconditionally.”

I find it interesting how unconditional love and the need for commandments (God’s conditions for being able to bless us with His full measure of love) are taught in the same talk? I’m reminded of Elder Oaks’ profound sermon, “Love and Law.”

The love of God does not supersede His laws and His commandments, and the effect of God’s laws and commandments does not diminish the purpose and effect of His love….

Some seem to value God’s love because of their hope that His love is so great and so unconditional that it will mercifully excuse them from obeying His laws. In contrast, those who understand God’s plan for His children know that God’s laws are invariable, which is another great evidence of His love for His children.

This reality of the dance between love and law, between commandments and compassion, is something I will continue to ponder as we finish the 1971 General Conference messages and prepare for the 2016 April General Conference which is fast approaching.

God’s love is both in His law, and in His mercy when we break His law. He desires to protect us from undue harm in a world full of conspiring people and philosophies which could lure us away from His ways, and He desires to help us find our way back when and if we stray. He desires us to teach the commandments and to teach of His love.

It’s all there in the whole of the message of the gospel. I pray we can all have eyes to see the beautiful mosaic of that whole that our leaders create as will let the Spirit show how their messages weave together in a tapestry of truth.

– – – –

Other posts in this week’s Odyssey:

The post Commandments and Compassion (#ldsconf Odyssey) appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

Editor’s note: This post is part of a collaborative effort of Mormon bloggers who are reading and writing about General Conference talks. We call it the General Conference Odyssey. [See this article at Meridian Magazine sharing more about the Odyssey, including how it came about as well as some thoughts from those of us participating in this project. One of the things I appreciate so much about being a part of this effort is to read the words of my fellow brothers and sisters. Their perspectives and experience enrich my experience engaging the words of the prophets.]

The other posts from this week’s reading, which focused on the Tuesday Afternoon Session (interesting that they did Conference on Tuesdays!) of the April 1971 General Conference, are at the bottom of the post. 

“As we journey along through life we, as individuals, come in contact with many shaded areas, twilight zones, and even dark alleys, where we, unless aided by a higher power, are not able to see clearly, to interpret correctly, and to come to sound conclusions….

“As individuals, we have some limitations when it comes to our understanding of things as they really are. We can see so far, and then the earth and the sky come together, so to speak, and we cannot see beyond. But there is something beyond. In the physical world, all we have to do to realize this is to improve our vantage point by getting on top of a building, on a mountain, or in an airplane….

“Without divine guidance, we will have difficulty in the shaded areas of life. But we need not walk alone. Our Father in heaven and his Son Jesus Christ and the prophets—both ancient and modern—have given us a well-charted course for our journey through life. We can find joy and happiness and we can arrive at our destination in safety if we will but heed the road signs and follow the directions that have been given to us….

“’For we walk by faith, not by sight.’” [2 Cor. 5:7]” ~William H. Bennett

There were some simple, sublime messages that stood out to me from the Tuesday afternoon session of the 1971 Conference. These are truths that even children can and do understand, and yet they are also deep and profound — veritable secrets to the universe. Because keys have been restored, we have the keys to understand the purpose of life.

• We are mortal. We need God.
• We are His children. He and the Savior love us.
• They want to help us.
• They speak to us through the scriptures, through prophets, and through the Holy Ghost.
• When we act in faith and in a spirit of obedience, we can see more clearly.
• The Church is true! This is why we want to share it with others.

I’m hesitant to select only a few quotes because the talks were dense with insight, but here are some that stood out to me, with some commentary of my own interspersed.

“The Holy Ghost can give us a sure conviction that man is a child of God. Altogether too frequently, when men, unaided, try to understand the relationship of man to God, they look at things through mortal eyes only and consider only mortal conditions. But this life is not the beginning, neither is it the end. To understand man’s relationship with God, we must broaden our perspective with the help of the Holy Ghost.” ~William H. Bennett

“The impressions made by the Holy Ghost can be equally deep and lasting [as rare manifestations such as those experienced by Saul/Paul or Alma]. President Joseph Fielding Smith has said, ‘Therefore, the seeing, even the Savior, does not leave as deep an impression in the mind as does the testimony of the Holy Ghost to the spirit. … the impressions on the soul that come from the Holy Ghost are far more significant than a vision. It is where spirit speaks to spirit, and the imprint upon the soul is far more difficult to erase.” (Seek Ye Earnestly [Deseret BookCo., 1970], pp. 213–14.) ~Henry D. Taylor

[That quote from President Smith may be one of my favorite quotes about the Holy Ghost.]

“The Savior, while teaching at the temple, was questioned by the Jewish teachers as to the source of his doctrine, which was astounding to them. Whence came his wisdom? they asked. Jesus answered their troubled inquiries, saying: “… my doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” (John 7:16–17.) ~Henry D. Taylor 

[This scripture was also quoted by William H. Bennett— a simple, powerful second witness to the importance of action as a requirement for knowledge and understanding.]

“Joseph Smith was called by revelation, as were the prophets of old. John the Baptist restored to him and Oliver Cowdery the keys of the Aaronic Priesthood, followed by Peter, James, and John, who restored the keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood. Elijah returned in the Kirtland Temple and restored the keys of the sealing blessings for the living and the dead.

“Joseph Smith bestowed all the keys upon the Quorum of Apostles before his death. These keys of priesthood authority have been thus preserved to this day and shall continue to usher in the millennial reign of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.” ~Eldred G. Smith 

[In two paragraphs, he summed up some of the most amazing truths we proclaim — prophets! angels! priesthood! keys! life and family after death! As Mormons, do we see what we have? And is it any wonder that we are urged to share these truths with others?]

Add to that Elder Richards‘ testimony:

“Malachi saw before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord when the Lord said he would send Elijah the prophet to “turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”(Mal. 4:6.) Just think of that statement. The Jews are still waiting for his coming….”

[Read also his tender words about what is yet to come through the Book of Mormon in bringing the Jews to Christ. I long for that day. I read the Book of Mormon sometimes with that lens, wondering what it will be like when the Jews read Nephi’s words — which were written to and for them — and find Jesus in them.]

More from Elder Richards:

“It is hardly within the capacity of an ordinary man to comprehend and understand what has happened in this world because of Elijah’s coming….” [I can only imagine what Elder Richards thinks now about all that the internet has done for the work of turning hearts of fathers to children and children to fathers!]

“[F]ollowing [Jesus’] resurrection, as he walked along the way by two of his disciples to Emmaus, and we are told that their eyes were holden, that they did not recognize him, when he heard what they had to say about him and his ministry and his crucifixion, he realized that they did not comprehend what he had been trying to teach them, so he said, “O fools, and slow of heart, to believe all that the prophets have spoken” (Luke 24:25), and commencing with Moses and the prophets, he showed them how that in all things the prophets had testified of him.” ~LeGrand Richards 

[I was struck by how even these earnest disciples could not see without the Savior’s help to open their eyes. They didn’t see the patterns in the prophets’ teachings through the ages. They did not see Him of their own ability because they weren’t well-versed in the words of the prophets. Are we not all like this? We all need heavenly help to see what may be right before us. And yet, perhaps we would see more if we did know and study and ponder the patterns in the words of the prophets.]

Also from Elder Richards: “I believe that the words of the prophets are the most sure guide we have in this world today. I believe what Jesus said: ‘Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.’ (Matt. 5:18.)….

“Trust not the wisdom of men.

“I pray that the Lord will help us to go on, still fulfilling his promises of all that he has revealed that has not yet been fulfilled. And I would like to live long enough to see a little more even of these marvelous accomplishments, as a part of this great gospel dispensation. [He lived longer than almost any apostle.]

“With all my heart and soul, I bear you my witness of the divinity of this work, that God the Eternal Father has decreed its destiny. It is built on the foundation of apostles and prophets, with Christ our Lord as the chief cornerstone. And he is guiding his church today, and will continue to do so until he comes in the clouds of heaven as the holy prophets have declared….”

The closing testimony of President Joseph Fielding Smith was simple and powerful, given with great love and also directness (which is evidence of his love!)

He bore testimony of all that has been mentioned here. All that God has given us through his prophets is because of His love, pointing us to the love and grace and guidance of the Savior.

“A gracious and loving Father has in these last days spoken again from heaven to his servants the prophets.

“His voice has been one inviting all men to come to his Beloved Son, to learn of him, to partake of his goodness, to take his yoke upon them, and to work out their salvation by obedience to the laws of his gospel. His voice has been one of glory and honor, of peace in this life, and of eternal life in the world to come.”

But what of those outside our faith who love the Savior and honor God with their lives? President Smith shares one of the most important truths about why Mormonism matters:

“I am not unmindful that there are good and devout people among all sects, parties, and denominations,and they will be blessed and rewarded for all the good they do. But the fact remains that we alone have the fullness of those laws and ordinances which prepare men for the fullness of reward in the mansions above.”

And then, he extends this beautiful invitation which we have heard echoed through prophets in recent years:

“Keep all the good you have; cleave unto every true principle which is now yours; but come and partake of the further light and knowledge which that God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever is again pouring out upon his people.”

Elder Richards talked of the 14,000 missionaries that were serving at the time. Today, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has over 85,000 missionaries…to invite people to “come and see.“

I am grateful to be a member of this Church, to have prophets and restoration scriptures to give further light and knowledge, to help me see even more the love of God, the reality of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the purpose of prophetic patterns, and the reality and importance of laws and ordinances.

It’s true. This I know. Come and see!

If you are struggling to see, lean on God and the His methods has has given to help us see. Lean on the testimonies of others that move you. Move your feet in faith until you can come to a new vista. Trust the process. Truth does come. God is there. In His time and way, as you seek, He will make things known to you. It’s ok to wrestle. Just be sure to let the wrestle include the ways the Lord designated to help us see.

The post Eyes to see (#ldsconf Odyssey) appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

Last night, my family went shopping for a car lease. I was trained in my business/finance classes to never, ever accept gap insurance with a lease. But in one of the lease products, the gap insurance was a built-in feature. We had no choice. I wasn’t too thrilled about this, until my husband shared his opinion about why, in our situation, he liked the concept.

The car we are possibly going to get is for our teenage drivers. Through no fault of their own — just given the fact that they are young and inexperienced — the chance that our children may have a fender bender or accident is not remote. (Heaven help us that any such event be minor!) Gap insurance is there to protect us and the leasing company against the automatic loss that would come if there was an accident or other harm to the car. As such, we could turn the keys over to the leasing company at the end of the lease and walk away in peace, without having to carry the burden of the loss ourselves.

I’m thinking about gap insurance as I try to assimilate the messages from the Tuesday session of the 1971 General Conference.

As we see in the patterns of teachings in General Conference, we are often presented the ideal. For example, it’s been interesting, but not surprising, to see the many patterns already emerging in the General Conference talks we have read so far in our General Conference Odyssey: One of the key messages is that of the importance of marriage and family. Talks like those from James A. Cullimore (“Marriage is intended to be eternal“) and Marion D. Hanks (“Practicing What We Preach“) from this week’s Odyssey study give counsel that paint pictures of the ideal family life, even teach that this is our covenant responsibility to strive for.

This painting-through-preaching can often help many people do just that — strive for improvement in healthy, attainable ways. One of the key reasons for family life is to, as Elder Hanks says, practice what we preach and what we believe about love, patience, forgiveness, and so on.

And yet, teachings about the ideal also can create a sense of pain and deep loss and grief for those who are currently experiencing a significant difference between that ideal and the real.

As I read these two talks about marriage and family life, I felt some of that pain on behalf of so many people I know experiencing that gap — some through no fault of their own because of the sins and struggles of family members they love.

And which of us has not felt the pain of our own human, fallen, less-than-ideal behavior as we struggle in our inexperience — and sometimes even cause harm through accident or even willful mistake or sin? Some of my most agonizing life moments have been when I have seen my weakness as a mother. I love my children so very much, and I want them to have the best. But I have not often been at my best. In fact,  just as there is only one way my children can learn to drive (by driving), there was only one way I could learn to be a mother (by mothering).

The truth is that we are here to learn by experience, not to magically attain perfection simply because we believe in ideals, values, commandments, and doctrines. We practice what we preach. And practicing means making lots of mistakes along the way.

I only wish I’d understood — really understood — more about the Atonement when I was a young mother. (But, alas, learning about the Atonement is something we also learn by experience!)

We as mortals are wired to avoid pain, however. And sometimes, we as Mormons sometimes want to avoid pain by softening the ideal in some way. I have witnessed dozens, if not hundreds of times, this inclination — including sometimes in myself — to somehow wish the hurt could be reduced by hearing less or having others cushion the gap for us. (How many times I cringed at motherhood talks as I wrestled with my momma weakness, for example.)

But I have come to believe that this is not God’s way.

I see at least two reasons why we need the ideal so, so desperately in our lives, even when it may cause some pain.

One reason is explained beautifully by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland in one of my all-time favorite talks. This was not from a General Conference, but from a Worldwide Training meeting.

Elder Holland’s message was entitled “General Patterns, Specific Lives” (text here, audio/video here). He was addressing why it was that in a worldwide meeting about marriage and family, single young adults were deliberately invited. He also reached out with love to those whose lives don’t meet the ideal, acknowledging without question that that reality is known and cared about by our leaders. Nevertheless, he unapologetically taught that

“….General Authorities and general officers are called to teach His general rules. You and we then lead specific lives and must seek the Lord’s guidance regarding specific circumstances. But there would be mass confusion and loss of gospel promises if no general ideal and no doctrinal standard were established and, in our case today, repeated. We take great strength in knowing the Lord has spoken on these matters, and we accept His counsel even when it might not be popular.

And even when they know it might be painful. I see in his teachings an invitation to a sort of consecrated mindset that we don’t often talk or think about. We are in a very real sense called to support, sustain, teach, and preach the ideal, even when our lives don’t match it, because that ideal is a way God protects all of His children — especially those who would have no way to find it because their lives are so very not-ideal…sometimes for generations on end.

Thank you for understanding why we are concerned about protecting all members of families, whatever your age, and why we speak in opposition to trends or forces that would seek to destroy any aspect of God’s eternal plan of happiness. How grateful we are that the Lord has said, “I will give unto you a pattern in all things, that ye may not be deceived” (D&C 52:14).

I think there is another reason for the ideal, one that, once we know the ideal, is so very essential to our mortal and eternal journey. I believe the scriptures teach us (I am thinking of 2 Nephi 2 and many of the teachings of Paul, in particular) that the ideal is given so that we can experience the pain of the gap it creates — not because God is some sadistic being, but because we are here to then learn to experience the power of His rescuing love through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

We are here to be saved, covered, helped, carried, sustained. Rescued.

In this 1971 session of Conference, Thomas S. Monson spoke. And wouldn’t you know it? He spoke about service and rescuing those in need, especially those in isolation, suffering from hard mortality reality situations.  After sharing some World War I history about the Meuse-Argonne offensive and the “crusade of love” to rescue a battalion surrounded by its enemy forces, Elder Monson urged members to

“…turn from the past and survey the present. Are there “lost battalions” even today? If so, what is our responsibility to rescue them? Their members may not wear clothes of khaki brown nor march to the sound of drums. But they share the same doubt, feel the same despair, and know the same disillusionment that isolation brings.”

What can bring a sense of isolation to a life? The list is limitless. Some things come of choice and agency, some come of ignorance and inexperience, and some simply come because we are mortal. Beyond the reminder to serve and reach out and rescue others, I want to focus primarily on this point from Elder Monson’s talk:

In reality, each one of us is numbered in what could well have been the lost battalion of mankind, even a battalion doomed to everlasting death….

And each of us face the effects of spiritual death — our separation from God while living in this sphere — every day. Each of us is part of the lost battalion, every day. We are here both to get a body (so we can someday have a resurrected body) and to learn in this imperfect, less-than-perfect experience to let that ideal-vs.-real gap bring us to God.

“[J]ust as a man does not really desire food until he is hungry, so he does not desire the salvation of Christ until he knows why he needs Christ.

“No one adequately and properly knows why he needs Christ until he understands and accepts the doctrine of the Fall and its effect upon all mankind.” (President Ezra Taft Benson, A Witness and a Warning [1988], 33)

The chasm and pain created by the teachings about the ideal (and our inability to reach all ideals, all the time) can help us come to feel and understand the reality of the doctrine of the fall! If we understand that doctrine — really experience and taste of the bitterness of our less-than-ideal-ness — we are prepared to truly receive the Atonement into our lives.

Yes, we are all the “lost batallion,” but the battle is already won. The loss is already covered. All we need to do is accept what is already built into God’s merciful, brutiful plan. [Thanks, Glennon Melton, for that awesome word.]

All we need to do is give the keys of our lives over to God and let Him bring us peace.

I loved how then-Elder Monson ends his talk.

Of him who delivered each of us from endless death, I testify he is a teacher of truth—but he is more than a teacher. He is the exemplar of the perfect life—but he is more than an exemplar. He is the great physician—but he is more than a physician. He who rescued the “lost battalion” of mankind is the literal Savior of the world, the Son of God, the Prince of Peace, the Holy One of Israel, even the risen Lord, who declared, “I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father.” (D&C 110:4.)

We don’t have to wait until our lease on life is over to experience the blessings of the Atonement. Yes, the Savior of the World bridges the gap of death for us all, but He will also bridge the gap that our fallenness creates — now, today, if we will let Him. He offers daily, everlasting coverage during this life, both from our own messy, mortal processes and also from the effects of others’ recklessness and wrongdoing.

He is our gap insurance today, now, and forever.

So the next time you feel the sting of a talk or post or picture about the ideal (either from our prophets or through your social media stream), one that brings your less-than-ideal self or life to mind, remember the heart of the gospel message.

(I write for myself as much for anyone.)

Remember Him. Let Him bridge the gap.

Other posts from this week’s General Conference Odyssey reading:

Saving the Lost Battalions by Nathaniel Givens

The Secret Life of Mormons by G

“I Have that Witness” by Daniel Ortner”

Knowledge — On Whose Terms? by Ralph Hancock

LDS Conference April 1971 — Profound Spiritual Experiences in an Elevator by J. Max Wilson

A Prophet from the Get Go

Escaping “The Box” Through Families

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Better late than never! Here’s a Wordle from the 2013 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, created by Connor Boyack. At a glance, you can see what topics were discussed by living prophets and apostles, and other general leaders and officers of the Church.

More Wordles can be found on Connor’s site.

The post General Conference Wordles #ldsconf appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

We as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints honor Joseph Smith as a prophet of God. Today marks 167 years since he was martyred — killed by a mob in Carthage, Illinois. (Watch a motion picture about the life and mission of Joseph Smith.)

John Taylor, who was present the day Joseph Smith was killed, wrote this:

Joseph Smith, the ^aProphet and ^bSeer of the Lord, has done more, ^csave Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the ^dfulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord’s anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own ^eblood; and so has his brother Hyrum. In life they were not divided, and in death they were not ^fseparated!

Many members of the Church today are using social media to recognize what Joseph Smith did for the work of God. Here at Mormon Women, we’re sharing several videos, created by Seth Adam Smith, that celebrate Joseph Smith’s life and acknowledge his sacrifice for the work of God. He, like ancient prophets and apostles, was a special witness of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Prophet Joseph Smith said: “The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 121).

The Testimony of Joseph Smith – Hear Joseph Smith’s story in his own words, as recorded in Joseph Smith’s History

Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith – Praise to the Man

“Praise to the Man” – The Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith:

The divinity of Joseph Smith’s calling and of The Book of Mormon: John Taylor’s testimony (and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s testimony)

More from Elder Holland on Joseph Smith and The Book of Mormon

Joseph Smith and The Book of Mormon (some say he wrote the book; we declare that he translated it by the gift and power of God)

Two videos that reflect an artist’s rendition of the day of the martyrdom of Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum Smith
Joseph and Hyrum Smith Facing Death at Carthage Jail

Joseph Smith Triumphed Over All His Foes

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This is a great thought from Clayton Christensen (renowned Harvard business professor, who is also a Mormon (member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). Professor Christensen’s thoughts were recently summarized by Andy Proctor here.

“[Clayton Christensen has] referred to heaven as an immense library that was [and is!] full of books and that those books had [and have!] the answers to all questions. Yes, ALL questions. We just had to request the books and we could find the answers. He used this example to teach about the restoration of the gospel – that up until the time of Joseph Smith, no one believed that we could ask questions because they supposed all the answers had been given. So people stopped asking questions. And they stopped receiving answers.

Then Joseph asked.”

(For more information about Joseph Smith and the restoration of the gospel and the answers that came to his heartfelt questions, see Mormon.org.)

I’ve had the opportunity to hear Brother Christensen talk about this. He testifies that God desires with all His heart to give us answers, but if He were to give us answers where we don’t have questions, those answers wouldn’t have the same meaning and “sticking power.” We have the opportunity have to create spaces in our minds and hearts and spirits so that the answers have a space to be received and to stay and take root.

How often when we have questions do we, instead, turn to Google or Facebook for answers? (See Andy’s post for some stats that show the kinds of questions people take to the internet.)

The blog post author continues:

“When was the last time you asked God a question?

When was the last time He answered?…

[T]here is an actual library that you can go to and that there is information just waiting to be checked out or in our digital lingo, queried. We cannot ask too many questions nor can we query heaven too much. There is no heavenly query limit. No server downtime. No system errors and we all have free access to the largest database of information in the universe. Do we believe this? Because this is true. There is no limit to the revelation that we can receive from heaven.”

Read more http://www.thereturnedmissionary.com/heaven-is-a-library-check-out-more-books/

I know from my own personal experience that this pattern of asking and receiving answers is real. God hears prayers and questions can be answered. He gives some of those answers through living prophets and through honest seekers of truth. Answers often distill over time — like when you go to a library to do extensive research. It’s a thrilling process to discover how close truth really is when I’m willing to seek, ask, knock — and then receive and act upon what answers come.

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Maddie writes:

Do Mormons believe that God never changes? If so, I have a question: For a long time Mormons encouraged if not required polygamy. Why have you changed and now say that practice is not permissible? If God doesn’t change His mind, would you say that your early leaders were wrong? If so, couldn’t they have been wrong about many other things?

Maddie, this is a question that I think a lot of people have, so thanks for asking it.

I think the short answer to your question is that we believe in living prophets. But following is a longer response that I hope can explain a little about what that means to us as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and how that relates to your question.

I think what is on Mormon.org addresses your specific question about polygamy pretty well, so I’ll start there. This is from the page “Do Mormons practice polygamy?”

At various times, the Lord has commanded His people to practice plural marriage. For example, He gave this command to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, and Solomon (Doctrine and Covenants 132:1). At other times the Lord has given other instructions. In the Book of Mormon, the Lord told the prophet Jacob “for there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife: and concubines he shall have none… for if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things (Jacob 2:27-30).

In this dispensation, the Lord commanded some of the early Saints to practice plural marriage. The Prophet Joseph Smith and those closest to him, including Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball, were challenged by this command, but they obeyed it. Church leaders regulated the practice. Those entering into it had to be authorized to do so, and the marriages had to be performed through the sealing power of the priesthood. In 1890, President Wilford Woodruff received a revelation that the leaders of the Church should cease teaching the practice of plural marriage (Official Declaration 1).

Through a living prophet, polygamy (in limited practice) was commanded for a time. Through the same means (through a living prophet), polygamy was later revoked.

We believe changes in policy or commandments given to or through prophets do not negate or contradict the belief in an unchanging God. In fact, to me, the fact that God has consistently used this pattern of having living leaders to guide His people and do His work throughout the dispensations of time underscores the unchangeableness of God! Let me explain, or give a few examples.

Consider, for example, that God gave the law of Moses to the children of Israel. Before His death, Jesus and the family He grew up in lived and obeyed that law. But after Christ’s death and resurrection, the law was no longer practiced. It had been fulfilled; it had served its purpose in God’s big picture. After that time, it became, in fact, wrong for followers of Christ to practice the law of Moses.

But this change didn’t negate the divine role Moses had in God’s work or the role the law of Moses had during that time to bring people to God and point their souls to Christ. God had not changed, and His desire and love for His children had not changed, and His eternal plan to save His children through Christ had not changed (that was the plan from the beginning of time, even before the earth was formed, and still is the plan!). But the law had.

Another example is how, at first, Jesus Himself told the apostles to only teach the Jews, but after Christ’s death, to and through Peter (the authorized head/leader of the Church), the revelation was received to then take the gospel to the Gentiles. This didn’t negate Jesus’ commission to His leaders when He was alive. Again, God’s character and love for His children had not changed, but God had continued to reveal His will through His authorized servants, and His work continued to go forward.

Over time, the authority that had been given to Jesus’ apostles was taken from the earth, as those apostles died. Because of His big picture view and because of where people were at the time (speaking generally), there were centuries of time when that authority did not exist on the earth. God had not changed, but in His big picture view, that period of time had a purpose (and many people had important work to do to help prepare for the restoration of the gospel).

It was all still about God’s plan and His love and His purposes to bring people to Christ and this time, to prepare the earth for Jesus’ *second* coming.

Through the prophet of the restoration and the authority that was restored to and through him, Joseph Smith, the pattern of having living prophets was also restored. Continuing and unfolding authorized revelation for Christ’s Church became part of the pattern again. The unfolding work of the restoration of the Church took years and years, and continued after his death…and continues to this day.

Polygamy was commanded for some to live for a time in the early history of the Church. But through a living prophet (the fourth president of the Church), Wilford Woodruff, God revealed in 1890 that it was time for that to end. Leaders from that time forward upheld monogamy as the rule. As noted in the Mormon.org quote above, monogamy has, in fact, always been the rule. God has commanded polygamy at times, but it was never meant to be His unending, unchanging law.

Today, living prophets continue to receive inspiration about policy changes and specific things the Church and its members are to do and focus on.

But through all of the dispensations of time, through all of these types of changes and that process of God giving different instructions to different prophets depending on what His will and purposes were, the character of God has not changed. His love for His children has never changed. His plan, as mentioned before, never changed.

For me, although I don’t fully understand the purpose polygamy filled in its time, I am not bothered by it. This pattern of God working through living prophets to reveal His will and commands for specific times and seasons, in fact, only strengthens my faith in God and His character. It is the pattern found in scripture. I find great comfort in knowing that He will give the instructions that I need to know in my life through prophets, and that He is fully aware of what is needed now in our time given where we are in the earth’s history and in His big picture view. But my God is the same God who guided Moses and who sent Jesus and who inspired Peter and who called Joseph Smith and who speaks through living prophets today.

Answers to and thoughts about questions addressed at Mormon Women should not be considered official responses of the Church. For official material and/or to ask Mormon missionaries questions, see Mormon.org.

The post Why don’t Mormons practice polygamy now? (LDS belief in living prophets) appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

This interview with Sister Linda K. Burton, Sister Elaine S. Dalton and Sister Rosemary M. Wixom provide some insights into how the council system works in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, how Mormon women are involved in councils at different levels of the Church (for example, there was a committee that discussed the missionary age change — revelation in the Church often flows through councils working together), and how the priesthood impacts our lives. They also address some questions that some have about Mormon women and leadership and the priesthood.

The post Mormon Women Leaders Interview appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

I love this time of year. We just celebrated Easter. It’s springtime where I live. (I cannot say enough about how much I love spring!) And now General Conference is just around the corner.  It’s a time that we cherish as a family. I’ve already started getting some of the children’s favorite snacks and we’ll be getting our sheets and blankets and tables out so the kids can make their Conference tents.

In our family, we read Mosiah 2 as part of our Conference tradition as well. [For those unfamiliar with the Book of Mormon, in Mosiah 2, the people gather at the temple to hear their prophet-king speak about Jesus Christ, the Atonement, and what it means to be followers of the Savior. Each family pitches a tent toward the temple to hear the words that are taught…hence our family’s tradition of making tents.]

I also have often used General Conference packets to help my children engage. They are getting older now so some of them choose to engage in their own way. For example, last year, one of my daughters captured favorite quotes and ideas from General Conference talks and wrote them on colorful pieces of paper which she then taped on the wall in her “tent.” (They stayed up on the wall for weeks afterward.)

Our local leaders often encourage us to go to the temple to prepare before we have conferences. So much of General Conference is about spiritual preparation. For example, many people write down and/or ponder questions or concerns they have and listen for insight that is relevant to their specific needs. Sometimes the answer comes directly during the weekend, or sometimes (as I experienced a couple of years ago), the answers unfold later upon pondering and reading the messages again).

If you are looking for ideas to prepare for General Conference, Kathryn at A Well-Behaved Mormon Woman has posted an amazing list of resources. It includes official materials as well as links to various Mormon blogs where members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints talk about what they do to get the most out of General Conference. Many of the posts are from Mormon Mommy Bloggers who share ideas for making it a special time for their children. Often family traditions surround this bi-annual event, including favorite recipes. [Here’s an example of one friend’s tradition: crepes. (Recipe included!) They also do Legos while listening.] There are also activity sheet downloads for various ages (available in multiple languages). (Again, these were a favorite part of our tradition in our family while the children were younger.)

What do you do to make General Conference special? If you are a parent, how do you help your children engage? What personal and/or family traditions do you have around this time? Any special recipes?

If you have links to add to Kathryn’s list, hop on over and make a comment at her blog or share your thoughts below. 

The post Preparing for General Conference #ldsconf appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

We recently received this comment/question from a reader, Katie.

So, I have a question about what mormons believe. Ephesians 2:8-9 says “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and that not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.” In 2 Nephi it says: For we know it is by grace we are saved after all you can do. When I asked my mormon friend what is it that you can do, she replied to try & live a good life the best we can. so my question is, how do you know when you have done “all you can do”? How do you know you’ve done your best, or could you possibly have done any better? I mean, even when we try so hard to do good, we still have broken God’s law and since God is a righteous God as well as forgiving, he demands that justice be paid.”for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in christ jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) If a criminal asked a judge in court to forgive him & say he tried to live right & the judge let him go unpunished, wouldn’t he not be a good judge? Jesus is the only way we can have eternal life as it says in John 14:6 “Jesus answered, I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the father except through me.” Many places in the bible say that it’s only by grace we are saved, not by anything we do. It says that salvation is a free gift to anyone you believes in his name, not by works. so then why do you believe that water baptism, repentance, and trying to live a good life to the best ability will contribute to salvation as well as God sending his son to dies for our sins? I hope I am not sounding offensive, I do not mean it at all that way! I love you guys, I am just trying to better understand why you believe what you do. I’m a senior in high school & have been studying a lot about this! Also, you teach that there will be marriage in heaven but in Matthew 22:30 it says there will not be marriage. I’m confused. Do you have an answer to my questions? Thank you so much for your time!(and being patient because this message is so long!

Thanks, Katie, for your questions. Your questions are not uncommon ones, and they hit at the core of our beliefs. I’m just one person, and my responses will not be able to capture all the facets of our faith. There is always much more that could be said about these topics. But so much of it is to be experienced and learned through your own seeking and study and prayer, so I hope you will continue such seeking! God will help you as you ask for His guidance.

First of all, before I get to your specific questions, I think it’s important to understand a little about what members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints call the Restoration. We believe in the Bible and in the teachings therein. We believe in the teachings of the Savior and of His apostles, such as Paul, whom you quote above. We also believe that after Christ’s death, after Jesus’ apostles whom He called during New Testament times died, the authority He gave them to administer His church and teach in His place died with them.

You’ve probably heard about Joseph Smith and how he struggled as a young man with how the different Christian denominations around him would interpret and practice Biblical teachings. I imagine that some of the very questions you ask were ones that probably plagued his mind. He didn’t know whom or what to believe. He prayed about it, and got a response he wasn’t expecting — God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him and told him that Christ’s church would be restored through him. He had a specific and world-changing work to do!

Through the course of the next several years, he was taught by heavenly messengers; given (and given power to translate) the original plates of the ancient record known as the Book of Mormon; visited by some of the ancient Church leaders who restored sacred priesthood authority to him (John the Baptist (who restored the authority to baptize) and Peter, James, and John (who restored higher authority to confer the gift of the Holy Ghost and administer the Church and its ordinances); and guided to restore Jesus’ Church to the earth.

From that time forward, there has been a living prophet and living apostles continually guiding the Church, using ancient texts as foundations to their teachings, but also receiving current and continuous divine guidance. So, for example, the doctrines surrounding eternal marriage were received through Joseph Smith over time after the Church was organized.

I’ll address your questions about grace and works (baptism, etc.) in a separate post. 🙂

God bless you in your faith journey.

Warmly,

Michelle

Editor, Mormon Women: Who We Are

The post What Mormons believe: About grace, about baptism, about marriage (part 1) appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.