General Conference Saturday Morning Session 4-4-09

President Thomas S. Monson - Welcome to Conference
"Because of the passing of Elder Wirthlin, there exists a vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. After much fasting and prayer, we have called Elder Neil Linden Andersen to fill this vacancy."

"We now have approximately 53,000 missionaries serving in 348 missions throughout the world."

"The Perpetual Education Fund, established in 2001, continues to move forward. Since its inception, 35,600 young men and young women have been enrolled in the program and have trained to improve their skills and their employment opportunities. Thus far, 18,900 have finished that training. On average, with the 2.7 years of education they are now receiving, they are increasing their income by three to four times."

Elder Robert D. Hales - Becoming Provident Providers: Temporally and Spiritually
"Today I speak to all whose freedom to choose has been diminished by the effects of ill-advised choices of the past. I speak specifically of choices that have led to excessive debt and addictions to food, drugs, pornography, and other patterns of thought and action that diminish one’s sense of self-worth. All of these excesses affect us individually and undermine our family relationships."

"..additional debt is incurred when we cannot control our wants and addictive impulses."

"Being provident providers, we must keep that most basic commandment, 'Thou shalt not covet'(Exodus 20:17). Our world is fraught with feelings of entitlement."

"...we go into debt to buy...things we do not really need." "We give away some of our precious, priceless agency and put ourselves in self-imposed servitude."

"When our boys were young, we had a family council and set a goal to take a 'dream vacation' down the Colorado River. When any of us wanted to buy something during the next year, we would ask each other, 'Do we really want to buy that thing now, or do we want to take our dream trip later?' This was a wonderful teaching experience in choosing provident living. By not satisfying our every immediate want, we obtained the more desirable reward of family togetherness and fond memories for years to come."

"...addiction is the craving of the natural man, and it can never be satisfied."

“Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted” (2 Nephi 9:51).

Sister Margaret S. Lifferth - Respect and Reverence
"...reverence for God is strengthened as we show respect for each other."

"Ask yourself these questions: Am I an example of respect in my home by the way I treat those I love the most? What is my demeanor during a sports event? If my child has a disagreement with a teacher, coach, or peer, do I listen to both sides of the issue? Do I show respect for the property of others as well as take care of my own? How do I respond to others with whom I disagree in matters of religion, lifestyle, or politics?"

"Reverence is profound respect mingled with love."(David O. McKay, in Conference Report, Apr. 1967, 86.)

"Reverence Invites Revelation." (Boyd K. Packer, "Reverence Invites Revelation," Ensign, Nov. 1991, 21–23.)

"...reverence will increase if our socializing is done in the foyer and if sacrament meeting begins with the prelude music, not the opening prayer."

"Texting or reading e-mails in a Church meeting is not only irreverent, it is distracting and signals a lack of respect for those around us. So we exemplify reverence by participating in the meeting, listening to the speakers, and singing the hymns of Zion together."

Michael A. Neider - Revealed Quorum Principles
"As bearers of the holy priesthood, we should see that the sisters are not the only examples of virtue. "

"And let every man ^aesteem his brother as himself, and practise ^bvirtue and holiness before me." (Doctrine and Covenants 38:24)

"Brethren, we should be earnest students of revealed priesthood and quorum principles."

"Teaching of fundamentals is urgent. That we might better understand our task and our opportunity" (Thomas S. Monson, "Back to Basics," regional representative's seminar, Apr. 3, 1981, 2. )

"Bishops, do not overlook the strength and skill of your Aaronic Priesthood quorum and Young Women class presidencies."

Allen F. Packer - Finding Strength in Challenging Times!
"We must know—and know that we know."

"As we tugged back and forth, amid all the noise I heard a voice yelling, 'Packer, tackle him!' That was enough to bring me to my senses, so I dropped him on the spot.

I have wondered how I heard that voice above all the other noise. I had become acquainted with the voice of the coach during the practices, and I had learned to trust it. I knew that what he taught worked.

We need to be acquainted with the promptings of the Holy Ghost, and we need to practice and apply gospel teachings until they become natural and automatic."

“A testimony of the gospel is a personal witness borne to our souls by the Holy Ghost that certain facts of eternal significance are true and that we know them to be true." (Dallin H. Oaks, “Testimony,” Liahona and Ensign, May 2008, 26.)

"Testimony is to know and to feel, conversion is to do and to become.” (Dallin H. Oaks, quoted in Kenneth Johnson, “Coming to Know for Ourselves,” Ensign, July 2008, 29)

"This witness is not limited to the leaders but is available to all men, women, youth, and even little children. Having the capacity to receive personal inspiration will be necessary in the coming days."

Elder D. Todd Christofferson - The Power of Covenants
3 Nephi 27:20
20 Now this is the commandment: ^aRepent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be ^bbaptized in my name, that ye may be ^csanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand ^dspotless before me at the last day.

"Our access to [moral and spiritual] power is through our covenants with [God]. A covenant is an agreement between God and man, an accord whose terms are set by God"

"Divine covenants make strong Christians."

Elder Henry B. Eyring - Adversity
"Particularly when the comfortable times have gone on for a while, the arrival of suffering or the loss of material security can bring fear and sometimes even anger."

"The very opportunity for us to face adversity and affliction is part of the evidence of Their infinite love. God gave us the gift of living in mortality so that we could be prepared to receive the greatest of all the gifts of God, which is eternal life."

Doctrine and Covenants 121:7-8,10
“My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;
“And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.
“Thou art not yet as Job;”

Church Services This Week at Sullivan Hollow Second Ward Weber Heights Stake Ogden Utah 11-2-08

Priesthood Opening

Doctrine and Covenants 58:26-27
26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is ^acompelled in all things, the same is a ^bslothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.

27 Verily I say, men should be ^aanxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;

The bishop restated again to not go into debt for Christmas and to stay out of debt in general. He stated that a home and education and sometimes a vehicle are the only things that we should be in debt for. Some focus on that a house is ok for debt and they go beyond their means. Some also assume that they assume that they are the sometimes referred to and finance a car and then extend themselves beyond their means or at least what is permissible by God.

Elders' Quorum
The elders' quorum president reviewed how to administer to the sick with a priesthood blessing.

• Only Melchizedek Priesthood holders may administer to the sick or afflicted.

• Administering to the sick has two parts: (1) anointing with oil and (2) sealing the anointing.

• If a person requests more than one blessing for the same illness, the priesthood holder usually does not need to anoint with oil after the first blessing. Instead, he gives a blessing by the laying on of hands and the authority of the priesthood.

• Dress in church clothes where possible.

He also expressed that we should do our best to plan our lives with the information we have, but be prepared to change as the Lord reveals more information and new opportunities and priorities to us.

Take notes. Our minds alone are often no sharper than the dullest pencil.

Sunday School
Book of Mormon Lesson 40: “Then Will I Gather Them In” 177
Nephites are descendants of Israel through Joseph.

Why was Israel scattered? - To spread the gospel to other parts of the world.
3 Nephi 16:4
4 And I command you that ye shall ^awrite these sayings after I am gone, that if it so be that my people at Jerusalem, they who have seen me and been with me in my ministry, do not ask the Father in my name, that they may receive a knowledge of you by the Holy Ghost, and also of the other tribes whom they know not of, that these sayings which ye shall write shall be kept and shall be manifested unto the ^bGentiles, that through the fulness of the Gentiles, the remnant of their seed, who shall be scattered forth upon the face of the earth because of their ^cunbelief, may be brought in, or may be brought to a ^dknowledge of me, their Redeemer.

Gentiles - Nations without the gospel or people not born into the tribe of Israel.

What is the gathering of Israel? - Missionary work.
3 Nephi 20:10-15

10 And it came to pass that when they had all given glory unto Jesus, he said unto them: Behold now I finish the commandment which the Father hath commanded me concerning this people, who are a remnant of the house of Israel.

11 Ye remember that I spake unto you, and said that when the ^awords of ^bIsaiah should be fulfilled—behold they are written, ye have them before you, therefore search them—

12 And verily, verily, I say unto you, that when they shall be fulfilled then is the fulfilling of the ^acovenant which the Father hath made unto his people, O house of Israel.

13 And then shall the ^aremnants, which shall be ^bscattered abroad upon the face of the earth, be ^cgathered in from the east and from the west, and from the south and from the north; and they shall be brought to the ^dknowledge of the Lord their God, who hath redeemed them.

14 And the Father hath ^acommanded me that I should give unto you this ^bland, for your inheritance.

15 And I say unto you, that if the Gentiles do not ^arepent after the ^bblessing which they shall receive, after they have scattered my people—

At different phases of the work the Lord has gathered the people to different places in order to best grow the Church. At first the gathering was New York, Ohio, Missouri, Nauvoo, and now it is in your own city, state, country where you are to grow the Church and missionaries are sent forth to assist those who are gathering (the stakes of Zion).

Israel Facts

• The Book of Mormon - Records of the scattered tribes to convince that Jesus is the Christ.
• Joseph smith is a descendant of Israel, but he was born in a gentile nation, so the gathering is coming out from the gentiles as the scriptures say.
• Gathering doesn't just mean just restoring Israel to their homeland.
• The Lord will remember the covenant made to Abraham.
  Through his seed the kingdoms of the earth shall be blessed.
• The blood of Israel was also scattered throughout all nations.
• Gentiles that repent are adopted into the house of Israel. The Jews that don't repent are disowned.

Meanings of Israel - The main, the 12 tribes, and also the elect of God.

We are to gather our families, our wards (members and non members), our stake, our nation, the world.

Testimony Meeting
The bishop said the Holy Ghost is t comfort and to teach. Jesus has suffered our afflictions and knows how to comfort us and can send the Holy Ghost in that way.

Alma 7: 12
12 And he will take upon him ^adeath, that he may ^bloose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to ^csuccor his people according to their infirmities.

From the Bulletin
"When we invite the Holy Ghost to fill our minds with light and knowledge. He 'quickens' us, that is to say, enlightens and enlivens the inner man or woman. As a result we notice a measurable difference in our soul. We feel strengthened, filled with peace and joy. We possess spiritual energy and enthusiasm, both of which enhance our natural abilities. We can accomplish more than we otherwise could do on our own. We yearn to become a holier person.

If you set your payment, which is your personal effort, very low, you may not be able to avail yourself of all the Spirit has to offer...

We determine the level of our current personal contribution by examining our present choices and priorities against questions such as these:

1. Do I spend more time with sports than Church attendance or callings?
2. If I have a free day, do I choose to attend the temple or visit the mall?
3. Do I resort to computer games or surfing the internet rather than offering meaningful service to others in my home and community?
4. Do I read the newspaper religiously but find it difficult to read the scriptures daily?

Our next contribution to this effort will be to immerse ourselves more consistently in the words of Christ and of the prophets. When our study efforts expand, so will the influence of the Holy Ghost in our lives increase. Let us search the scriptures with pen in hand, making note of new insights and recording spiritual promptings. Thereafter, let us strive to apply what has been learned to our personal lives. The Spirit will quicken our inner selves; new understanding will come precept upon precept."
Keith K. Hilbig, "Quench Not the Spirit Which Quickens the Inner Man" Liahona, Nov 2007, 37-39)

Sunday June 29, 2008 - Services Sullivan Hollow Second Ward

Combined Relief Society/Priesthood 5th Sunday Meeting
Emergency Preparedness
Ether 3:14
14 Behold, I am he who was ^aprepared from the foundation of the world to ^bredeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the ^cFather and the Son. In me shall all mankind have ^dlife, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my ^esons and my daughters.

Alma 34: 32

32 For behold, this ^alife is the time for men to ^bprepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of ^cthis life is the day for men to perform their ^dlabors.

Alma 48
10 And thus he was preparing to ^asupport their liberty, their lands, their wives, and their children, and their peace, and that they might live unto the Lord their God, and that they might maintain that which was called by their enemies the cause of ^bChristians.

There is temporal and spiritual preparedness. If you teach a kid about both types of preparedness and they will be more likely to be safe.

We have been counseled to have a year supply of food and be debt free, but most are closer to having a year supply of debt and food free.

Things to keep as much as possible are medications and diapers if those are things you need on a regular basis.

Credit cards are more and more pushed on people. They are a tool, but can become a crutch that eventually cripples.

1 Timothy 5:8
8 But if any ^aprovide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

One definition I found said that infidel means a person who does not accept a particular faith. the other definitions listed in the same source were very similar.

72 hour kits should sustain, not make you comfortable. A heavy 72 hour kit can't sustain if you can't carry it.

They quoted from President Eyring's June Ensign 1st Presidency message.
-"Another fallacy is to believe that the choice to accept or not accept the counsel of prophets is no more than deciding whether to accept good advice and gain its benefits or to stay where we are."
-"Every time in my life when I have chosen to delay following inspired counsel or decided that I was an exception, I came to know that I had put myself in harm’s way."

IDLE	IDOL
We have more things that make us more efficient and we use our extra time for idleness many times.	Anything that preempt Heavenly Father
We are LDS - Let's Do Something	Might be using funds on our idol that we could be using to be prepared.
	It is all going to burn in a disaster anyway so we might as well use our resources wisely.

Life is a downhill escalator. If you stand still, you move backward.

Sunday School
Book of Mormon Lesson 24: “Give Us Strength According to Our Faith … in Christ” p. 107
Alma 13–16

Foreordained - Been given an assignment in the preexistence and have accepted it. You then have to figure out what that is here.

Husband, father, home teacher, and Church calling is the order of responsibility.

Elder Bruce R. McKonkie talked of what it means to enter into the rest of the Lord. Elder Bruce R. “The rest of the Lord, where mortals are concerned, is to gain a perfect knowledge of the divinity of the great latter-day work. [President Joseph F. Smith said,] ‘It means entering into the knowledge and love of God, having faith in his purpose and in his plan, to such an extent that we know we are right, and that we are not hunting for something else; we are not disturbed by every wind of doctrine, or by the cunning and craftiness of men who lie in wait to deceive.’ It is ‘rest from the religious turmoil of the world; from the cry that is going forth, here and there—lo, here is Christ; lo, there is Christ.’ (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed., pp. 58, 125–126.) The rest of the Lord, in eternity, is to inherit eternal life, to gain the fulness of the Lord’s glory (D. & C. 84:24.)” (Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966], 633).

Sacrament Meeting
First presidency letter about audience participation. They asked speakers to not ask everyone to turn in their scriptures. I read a post by someone commented on this like {gasp} the LDS church was asking people not to use their scriptures. I think it has more to do with not asking for audience participation during your talk. Sacrament meeting is not Sunday School. It is a more reverent meeting. The letter did not ask the members not to turn o the passage of scripture or not to write down the passage for further study later. I think it was simply asking to cut down the requesting of audience participation that can slow down the meeting and can also impact the reverence of the meeting.

Examples of things I have seen that are even more extreme irreverance are:
-"How many y'all read the book..." and waits for a show of hands.
-Asking for certain groups of people to stand up.

Two people were asked that had been asked to give testimonies.
Deuteronomy 32

One of the people giving their testimony also related the fictional story of the man that was asked by God to push on a rock. The man's obedience resulted in him having great strength that the Lord had use for elsewhere. Pushing on the rock seemed futile since the rock hadn't moved.

My wife was the first speaker after the testimonies. I have included her talk below
Beginning of her talk---
I would like to read Alma 34:31-34

31 Yea, I would that ye would come forth and ^aharden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the ^bday of your ^csalvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and ^dharden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you.

32 For behold, this ^alife is the time for men to ^bprepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of ^cthis life is the day for men to perform their ^dlabors.

33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many ^awitnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not ^bprocrastinate the day of your ^crepentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the ^dnight of ^edarkness wherein there can be no labor performed.

34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful ^acrisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth ^bpossess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.

In the passages of scripture just before this Amulek and Alma are on a mission to reclaim the Zoramites.

The wealthier Zoramites are stuck in their evil ways but the poor Zoramites. who have been mistreated by their brethren because for their great poverty have become humbled, and begin to listen to Alma and Amulek.

Amulek has just testified to them of Christ and His coming to earth to atone for the sins of man. Now he is telling them of the urgency to repent. As we just read in Alma 34:31-34 Amulek goes on to say in verses 35 and 36.

35 For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become ^asubjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth ^bseal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.

36 And this I know, because the Lord hath said he dwelleth not in ^aunholy temples, but in the ^bhearts of the ^crighteous doth he dwell; yea, and he has also said that the righteous shall sit down in his kingdom, to go no more out; but their garments should be made white through the ^dblood of the Lamb.

It is very interesting that Alma 34 was the given to me to speak on today. Parts of this chapter I had been asked to read over in a meeting I had a few years ago with a member of the stake presidency as I sat in that meeting I asked him if I had to forgive some people who had wronged me before I could go to the temple. He said that depends, are you willing to forgive them. I said, "I don't know. It hurts to much to think about forgiving them." That's when we talked about Alma 34 verses 31-36 which we just read. Where Amulek is encouraging these poor Zoramites to repent and to act now before it is too late. He then reminded me that if I was unwilling to forgive the greater sin was in me. I thought how could that be a greater sin than the pain these people had brought on me? That's when we read in Alma 34 verses 40-41

40 And now my beloved brethren, I would exhort you to have ^apatience, and that ye bear with all manner of ^bafflictions; that ye do not ^crevile against those who do cast you out because of your ^dexceeding poverty, lest ye become sinners like unto them;

41 But that ye have ^apatience, and bear with those ^bafflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions.

He then shared a personal story that really helped. He talked of struggles he had had previously in his life. He said it really helped him when Alma 34:17-29.

17 Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your ^afaith unto repentance, that ye begin to ^bcall upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you;

18 Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is ^amighty to save.

19 Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in ^aprayer unto him.

20 Cry unto him when ye are in your ^afields, yea, over all your flocks.

21 ^aCry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening.

22 Yea, cry unto him against the power of your ^aenemies.

23 Yea, ^acry unto him against the ^bdevil, who is an enemy to all ^crighteousness.

24 Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them.

25 Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase.

26 But this is not all; ye must ^apour out your souls in your ^bclosets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.

27 Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your ^ahearts be ^bfull, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your ^cwelfare, and also for the welfare of ^dthose who are around you.

28 And now behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, do not suppose that this is all; for after ye have done all these things, if ye ^aturn away the ^bneedy, and the ^cnaked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and ^dimpart of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need—I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your ^eprayer is ^fvain, and availeth you nothing, and ye are as ^ghypocrites who do deny the faith.

29 Therefore, if ye do not remember to be ^acharitable, ye are as dross, which the refiners do cast out, (it being of no worth) and is trodden under foot of men.

This wonderful brother went on to tell me that he started praying all the time over everything in his day and big changes came to his life. He felt that if he had followed the steps in these verses sooner he could have realized these changes and blessings in his life sooner.

He did not want me to waist my time, energy, and salvation on a few people who had done me wrong. He encourage me to read over verses 17-29 and than all of Alma chapter 34. I started praying every day over every thing that came to my mind. Forgiveness came and I could then repent of any bad thought I may of had about the ones who wronged me. Then they where no longer my enemies, but people I really had compassion for. Icould then see the hurt they where going through and truly pray for them.

I continued to follow these verses for a time but over time I have not been really opening my heart in prayer or improving my life as I should.

I am very great for the opportunity I have been given to speak on Alma chapter 34 and to be able to remember how importance it once was in my life and how it can be again.

I would like to bear my testimony of pray and it's importance. I know that if we would keep Heavenly Father in our thoughts throughout the day and in every thing we do we would reserve great blessings of peace and happiness. I know that when our hearts and minds are in prayer at all times it makes repenting of the small, everyday sins in our lives so must easier.

I know that Christ came to this earth and died to atone for our sins and if we could but improve our lives just even a little we would see great blessings. I would encourage us all when we go home to read Alma chaper 34 and ponder on the words Amulek shared with those who where afflicted and I say these thing in the name of Jesus Christ amen.
---End of her talk

Second Speaker
Used parts of the article Why Now? Why Me? by Vaughn J. Featherstone of the First Quorum of the Seventy in the January 1984 New Era.

Elder Featherstone had been up for 17 hours and had been away from home. His friend called to give a blessing to a friend's daughter who was in a dire condition at a hospital 30 minutes away. He asked his wife if she wanted to come along and they left right away.

It is not always convenient to serve and yet it is necessary.

Third Speaker
The speaker took thoughts from the July 1977 New Era article If They Will But Serve the God of the Land
by Elder N. Eldon Tanner - First Counselor in the First Presidency

He said, “And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land.” Thus the American colonies attained their independence and set up the government of the United States, all under the divine intervention of God in preparing this land for its divine destiny.

Elder Tanner quoted from Lehi, “And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land.” (1 Ne. 13:12.)

Be loyal to your native land.

"Celebrating our freedoms as a nation must be more than a parade or fireworks. Let us re-commit.
We currently live in a day when untotalled blessings are ours. To retain those blessing of freedom, we must be much more than spectators or Latter Day Tourists. We have covenanted at baptism, during the sacrament, and in the temples of God to do our part to live righteously and to serve in our Church and community. This land was founded on those principles and using or ignoring those principles, we retain or lose our freedoms. As President Hinckley so often repeated, 'Be wise.'
Additionally, a truly free, obedient people will take care of themselves and not expect endless support from others, churches, groups, or governments OR wish to even pass that responsibility onto others. We are to work and earn our way through life. (Summarized baseline principles from Church Welfare instructions)" - Our Bishop

Sunday September 2, 2007

Testimony Meeting
Nothing to report.

Sunday School
We talked about the differences of opinions that were taking place in the early Church. The contensions about taking the gospel to the gentiles and also about blending the law of Moses into the gospel. Even the brethren contended these points. Revelation from God came and settled it.

We saw some of this after Joseph Smith's death. As different people were contending over who should lead the church.

We also see this among the various churches as doctrines are debated and various people have their opinions about what the scriptures say.

Elder's Quorum
The prophet has counceled us to look at our finances and get out of debt. In this months Ensign magazine there was an insert of finances. We talked about this a bit.

In the insert there was an exerpt of a talk from October 1998 General Conference by President Hinckley.
"I urge you, brethren, to look to the condition of your finances. I urge you to be modest in your expenditures; discipline yourselves in your purchases to avoid debt to the extent possible. Pay off debt as quickly as you can, and free yourselves from bondage.

"...If you have paid your debts, if you have a reserve, even though it be small, then should storms howl about your head, you will have shelter for your wives and children and peace in your hearts. That’s all I have to say about it, but I wish to say it with all the emphasis of which I am capable." (Ensign Nov 1998, 54)

In the insert there were also exepts from talks from the rest of the first presidency and a budget worksheet.

The following principles were shared to gain a few months' reserve.

• Pay an honest tithe and give a generous fast offering.
• Avoid debt.
• Use a budget to record expenses and plan spending.
• Save some money, if only a few coins each week.
• Teach family members these principles.