General Conference Priesthood Session 4-4-09

President Boyd K. Packer -Counsel to Young Men
"Young men speak of the future because they have no past, and old men speak of the past because they have no future."

"There are many accounts in the scriptures of young men serving. Samuel served in the tabernacle with Eli.³ David was a young man when he faced Goliath.⁴ Mormon’s service began when he was 10.⁵ Joseph Smith was 14 when he received the First Vision.⁶ And Christ was 12 when He was found in the temple teaching the wise men.⁷

Paul told young Timothy, “Let no man despise thy youth.”^8"Doctrine and Covenants 89
“All saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;

“And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;

“And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.”

“And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them.”

"You may see others who seem to have been given a more perfect body than yours. Do not fall into the trap of feeling poorly about your height or weight or your features or your skin color or race.

You are a son of God. You lived in a premortal existence as an individual spirit child of heavenly parents. At the time of your birth, you received a mortal body of flesh and blood and bone in which to experience earth life. You will be tested as you prepare yourself to return to our Heavenly Father."

"Your gender was determined in the premortal existence. You were born a male. You must treasure and protect the masculine part of your nature. You must have respectful, protective regard for all women and girls."

"Avoid the deadly poisons of pornography and narcotics."

"Do not decorate your body with tattoos or by piercing it to add jewels."

"It may seem that the world is in commotion; and it is! It may seem that there are wars and rumors of wars; and there are! It may seem that the future will hold trials and difficulties for you; and it will! However, fear is the opposite of faith. Do not be afraid!"

Bishop Richard C. Edgley - This Is Your Phone Call
"Brethren, there is no organization better able to respond to the challenges of humanity than the priesthood of the Most High God. We have the organization. Stake presidents, bishops, elders quorum presidents, and high priests group leaders—we now call upon you to mobilize our priesthood quorums in response to the employment and financial challenges facing our members. Consider this your personal phone call. Now is the time to rally around, lift up, and help the families in our quorums who may be in distress.

Opportunities abound, and yours is the opportunity and responsibility of marshaling the Lord’s resources. Among our quorum members, you will likely find those who know of job openings and others who are skilled at writing résumés or assisting in interview preparation. Regardless of titles or skills, you will find a brotherhood committed to bear one another’s burdens."

Elder Claudio R. M. Costa - Priesthood Responsibilities
“Each of us has a fourfold responsibility. First, we have a responsibility to our families. Second, we have a responsibility to our employers. Third, we have a responsibility to the Lord’s work. Fourth, we have a responsibility to ourselves.”^{2 (}Gordon B. Hinckley, “Rejoicing in the Privilege to Serve,” Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting, June 21, 2003, 22. )

“It is imperative that you not neglect your families. Nothing you have is more precious.”^{3 (}Gordon B. Hinckley, “Rejoicing in the Privilege to Serve,” Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting, June 21, 2003, 22. )

"It is our responsibility as fathers to lead our families in daily family prayer, daily study of the scriptures, and in family home evening. We must prioritize and preserve these opportunities to build and strengthen the spiritual underpinnings of our families."

“How fortunate and blessed we are to be holders of the priesthood of God. . . Always remember that people are looking to you for leadership and you are influencing the lives of individuals either for good or for bad, which influence will be felt for generations to come.’" (Thomas S. Monson, “Examples of Righteousness,” Liahona and Ensign, May 2008, 65–66; see also N. Eldon Tanner, “For They Loved the Praise of Men More Than the Praise of God,” Ensign, Nov. 1975, 74. )

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf - We Are Doing a Great Work and Cannot Come Down
"The tendency to focus on the insignificant at the expense of the profound happens not only to pilots but to everyone. We are all at risk. The driver who focuses on the road has a far greater chance of arriving at his destination accident free than the driver who focuses on sending text messages on his phone.

We know what matters most in life—the Light of Christ teaches this to everyone. We as faithful Latter-day Saints have the Holy Ghost as a "constant companion" to teach us the things of eternal value. I imagine that any priesthood holder listening to my voice today, if asked to prepare a talk on the subject "what matters most," could and would do an excellent job. Our weakness is in failing to align our actions with our conscience.

Pause for a moment and check where your own heart and thoughts are. Are you focused on the things that matter most? How you spend your quiet time may provide a valuable clue. Where do your thoughts go when the pressure of deadlines is gone? Are your thoughts and heart focused on those short-lived fleeting things that matter only in the moment, or on things that matter most?"

"It is possible to take even good things to excess. One example can be seen in a father or grandfather who spends hours upon hours searching for his ancestors or creating a blog while neglecting or avoiding quality or meaningful time with his own children and grandchildren. Another example could be a gardener who spends his days pulling weeds from the soil while ignoring the spiritual weeds that threaten to choke his soul."

1 Corinthians 13:11
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

"This gospel does not come from man. The doctrine of the Church is not someone's best guess as to the meaning of ancient scripture. It is the truth of heaven revealed by God Himself."

President Henry B. Eyring - “Man Down!”
"Almost all of us have seen a battlefield portrayed in a film or read the description in a story. Over the din of explosions and the shouts of soldiers, there comes a cry, “Man down!” When that cry sounds, faithful fellow soldiers will move toward the sound. Another soldier or a medic will ignore danger and move to the injured comrade. And the man down will know that help will come. Whatever the risk, someone will run low or crawl to get there in time to protect and give aid."

"I would never put off such an impression because I had learned that the wounds of sin are often not felt at first by the one being hurt. Satan seems sometimes to inject something to deaden the spiritual pain while inflicting the wound. Unless something happens soon to begin repentance, the wound can worsen and widen."

"Consequently, as a priesthood holder responsible for the spiritual survival of some of Heavenly Father’s children, you will then move to help without waiting for a cry, “Man down!” Even a best friend or other leaders or parents may not see what you have seen.

You may have been the only one to sense by inspiration the warning cry. The others may feel, as you will be tempted to think, 'Maybe the trouble I thought I saw is just my imagination. What right do I have to judge another? It’s not my responsibility. I’ll leave it alone until he asks for help.'

Only an authorized judge in Israel is given the power and the responsibility to verify that there is a serious wound, to explore it, and then, under inspiration from God, to prescribe the necessary treatment for healing to begin. Yet you are under covenant to go to a spiritually wounded child of God. You are responsible to be brave enough and bold enough not to turn away."

President Thomas S. Monson - Be Your Best Self-
“Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you.”^{5 (}1 Peter 3:15.)

"Brethren, are we prepared for our journey through life? The pathway can at times be difficult. Chart your course, be cautious, and determine to study diligently, pray fervently, and live righteously."

Isaiah 52:11
"11 ¶ Depart ye, depart ye, go ye ^aout from thence, ^btouch no ^cunclean thing; go ye ^dout of the midst of her; be ye ^eclean, that bear the vessels of the Lord. "

Sunday June 1, 2008 - Services Sullivan Hollow Second Ward

Announcements
July 4, 2008 - Breakfast celebration for the entire community. I wasn't sure where it was being held. Sounded like maybe at our chapel. They weren't sure about the time. Someone thought maybe 8am. I will try to get more details next week.

July 13, 2008 - Pioneer Devotional at the Dee Center - Elder Jensen will be speaking.

Volleyball at the chapel Tuesday at 9pm

Priesthood Opening
2 Ne. 22: 2
Behold, God is my salvation; I will ^atrust, and not be afraid; for the Lord ^bJehovah is my ^cstrength and my ^dsong; he also has become my salvation.

Elders' Quorum/High Priest Group
Seeing with Spiritual Eyes
-Seeing Each other as brothers, not just seeing people as neighbors or extended family.
-Seeing people's potential

Called of God
-These are things we are called to do when we are baptized.
Mosiah 18:8-10

8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are ^adesirous to come into the ^bfold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

9 Yea, and are ^awilling to mourn with those that ^bmourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as ^cwitnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the ^dfirst resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being ^abaptized in the ^bname of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a ^ccovenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

-These are things we are called to do when we receive the priesthood.
Doctrine and Covenants 84:33-42

33 For whoso is ^afaithful unto the obtaining these two ^bpriesthoods of which I have spoken, and the ^cmagnifying their calling, are ^dsanctified by the Spirit unto the ^erenewing of their bodies.

34 They become the ^asons of Moses and of Aaron and the ^bseed of ^cAbraham, and the church and kingdom, and the ^delect of God.

35 And also all they who receive this priesthood ^areceive me, saith the Lord;

36 For he that receiveth my servants ^areceiveth me;

37 And he that ^areceiveth me receiveth my Father;

38 And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s ^akingdom; therefore ^ball that my Father hath shall be given unto him.

39 And this is according to the ^aoath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood.

40 Therefore, all those who receive the ^apriesthood, receive this ^boath and covenant of my Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be moved.

41 But whoso breaketh this ^acovenant after he hath received it, and altogether turneth therefrom, shall ^bnot have forgiveness of sins in this world nor in the world to come.

42 And wo unto all those who come not unto this priesthood which ye have received, which I now confirm upon you who are present this day, by mine own voice out of the heavens; and even I have given the heavenly hosts and mine angels ^acharge concerning you.

Receiving Revelation
-It was brought out that we act according to our current knowledge. We should continue to seek more knowledge in order to act better and more completely.
-Things we need to do to better receive revelation and receive more of it.

• Ask
• Be clean
• Research
• Listen
• Be humble
• Be persistent
  
• Sacrifice
  

Retention
-Ephesians 2:19
Now therefore ye are no more ^astrangers and foreigners, but ^bfellowcitizens with the ^csaints, and of the ^dhousehold of God;

Sunday School
Book of Mormon - Lesson 20: “My Soul Is Pained No More” p89
At this time there werre four groups living in Zarahemla. They all united and called themselves Nephites.

• a. Limhi’s people, who were descended from Zeniff and the others who returned from Zarahemla to the land of Nephi.
  b. Alma’s people, who had broken away from the group descended from Zeniff during the reign of Noah.
  c. The Nephites who had remained in Zarahemla.
  d. The Mulekites, the original residents of Zarahemla.

Mosiah 25:7–11

7 And now, when Mosiah had made an end of reading the records, his people who tarried in the land were struck with wonder and amazement.

8 For they knew not what to think; for when they beheld those that had been delivered ^aout of bondage they were filled with exceedingly great joy.

9 And again, when they thought of their brethren who had been ^aslain by the Lamanites they were filled with sorrow, and even shed many tears of sorrow.

10 And again, when they thought of the immediate goodness of God, and his power in delivering Alma and his brethren out of the hands of the Lamanites and of ^abondage, they did raise their voices and give thanks to God.

11 And again, when they thought upon the Lamanites, who were their brethren, of their sinful and ^apolluted state, they were filled with ^bpain and anguish for the ^cwelfare of their souls.

Mosiah 26:1–4

1 Now it came to pass that there were many of the rising generation that could not understand the ^awords of king Benjamin, being little children at the time he spake unto his people; and they did ^bnot believe the tradition of their fathers.

2 They did not believe what had been said concerning the resurrection of the dead, neither did they believe concerning the coming of Christ.

3 And now because of their ^aunbelief they could not ^bunderstand the word of God; and their hearts were hardened.

4 And they would not be baptized; neither would they join the ^achurch. And they were a separate people as to their faith, and remained so ever after, even in their ^bcarnal and sinful state; for they would not call upon the Lord their God.

-We should not assume that just because our children are watching us that they are receiving our testimonies.
-Alma the younger and the sons of Mosiah were part of this rising generation that chose not to believe.
-How often do we forget the things that our fathers saw and heard and learned because we were not there or we were very young?

Testimony Meeting

Sunday February 3, 2008 - Stake Conference Indianapolis, Indiana North Stake

This is the first time we have met as a stake since the stakes in the area were reorganized.

1st Councilor in the Stake Presidency
He listed what he called Prophetic Priorities. I believe he said one of President Hinckley's sons had called the list that.

1. Personal Testimony
- The speaker talked of when he was on his mission and President Hinckley spoke to his mission. He said that President Hinckley told them, "It doesn't matter if the pearly gates swing open or slide open as long as they open."
- The speaker also talked of when he and his family lived in New York. He said that at that time Elder Hinckley was a member of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles. During the Hill Cumorah Pageant week there was a special sacrament meeting at the foot of the hill. It was a very hot and humid. President Hinckley spoke at that meeting. He looked out on everyone and stated, "It looks hot out there, but not as hot as it is going to get if you don't straighten up and do your duty."

2. Avoid Debt
- The speaker related how there was a time in his marriage where he had lost his job, but his van was paid for and their food storage was well stocked.

3. Pay Tithing

4. Temple Work
- He discussed the expansion of temple under President Hinckley and the places his family has lived as temples were built near where they lived.

Second Speaker
She spoke of the 2000 stripling warriors. She talked of all of us being warriors for God. The 2000 fought physically, but more importantly spiritually.
Alma 56:47-48 -
47 Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.
48 And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.
Do we have no doubt that when we go through trials that Heavenly Father that He will work it out for our good?

She quoted from Elder Eyring's October 2005 conference talk "Spiritual Preparedness:
Start Early and Be Steady".
"It will take unshakable faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to choose the way to eternal life. It is by using that faith we can know the will of God. It is by acting on that faith we build the strength to do the will of God. And it is by exercising that faith in Jesus Christ that we can resist temptation and gain forgiveness through the Atonement."
Faith is an action word and we must doing something with it.

She listed off things that she feels the youth need to learn to be effective warriors.
-Pay Tithing
-Attend Sacrament Meeting - Fight the battles of the week and come together on Sunday for strength.
-Attend Seminary - Many wish they had paid better attention in seminary as they take on future callings.
-Family Home Evening - This is where warriors get fortification and shelter from the battle - In our own home.
-Good Music - Invites the spirit as a shield.
-Scripture Study

3rd Speaker
We are to be mirrors reflecting the light into places that would otherwise not receive any light.

4th Speaker
What do we need to teach our children to prepare them for the 2nd coming of Christ?
-As we train the children, so will the world be in a few years.
-They cited President Hinckley's first presidency message in the Ensign, These Our Little Ones.
-“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).
-Teach them, respect them, pray with them.

2nd Councilor in the Stake Presidently
-Mark 8:35 - "aFor whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall blose his clife for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it."
-He shared the story of President Hickely when he was on his mission and was discouraged. His father sent him a letter saying, "Forget yourself and go to work."
-Pray in faith - "Father, what would thou have me do."
-Seek the spirit - Seek, Invite, Be worthy of it.
-Labor in love - The savior saw sin and was able, because of that, to see the sinners underlying needs.
-Testify

Stake President
Finding Joy in Everything, Even Our Trials
-Jacob 5 - The allegory of the tame and wild olive trees. You work and work in a vineyard that give problem after problem. You're digging and you're dunging and in the end you will have joy.
-2 Nephi 31:20 - "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a asteadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of bhope, and a clove of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and dendure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eeternal life."
-He shared the story of Derek Redmon running the 400 meter and pulling a hamstring. He didn't quit. He hopped and limped and his dad came out on the track and helped him finish.
-Jesus' parables-
-Lost Sheep - Go after it until you find it.
-Lost Coin - Sweep the house until you find it.
-Prodigal Son - Fall upon him, kiss him, and welcome him back.
-They all had joy after laboring.
-We can not always see the designs of God in our lives. A lost job, an illness, or financial troubles may actually work out in the end for our good or at the very least be only a short while before God gives us great things.
-Give thanks in all circustances.
-He shared the story of a girl in a concentration camp that had to find joy in the hardships there. There were infested with fleas and at some point they prayed and thanked God for the fleas. It turned out that the fleas kept the guards away. they did not go in and harass them for fea of getting infested by fleas themselves.

Sunday January 27, 2008 - Sunday Services Cumberland Ward

Sacrament Meeting
Youth Speaker He quoted from 1 Corinthians. 15:58 - "58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye astedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." He said that this is the Mutual theme. They recite part of this at mutual (youth group) meetings.
He listed some ways to stay stedfast and I was able to capture a couple of them.
-Good morals
-Be fed (attend church, read, and pray).

2nd Speaker
She quoted from The Family: A Proclamation to the World. “Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. ‘Children are an heritage of the Lord’ (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations."

She spoke of the necessity to be engaged with our children and to be actively teaching them the gospel in our homes.

She quoted a letter that Elder Claudio R. M. Costa of the Presidency of the Seventy quoted in his October 2007 General Conference talk Don't Leave for Tomorrow What You Can Do Today. Permission was given to print in with his talk, so I will refer you to his talk to read it, but here is the introduction he gave to it: "I recently read a text which expresses the urgency of not leaving for tomorrow what you can do today. In July of this year Brazil witnessed the most devastating aircraft accident in its history. There were 199 people killed, including passengers, airline workers, crew members, and others who were at the site when the accident happened. The text I mentioned was said to have been posted on the airline communication board by the husband of one of the flight attendants who died in the accident. It is entitled "Tomorrow Never Comes" and is based upon a poem by Norma Cornett Marek."

3rd Speaker
The speaker gave me a copy of their talk and I have included it here below. Everything to Sunday school is their talk.

The need of personal revelation in our daily lives is overwhelming. The thought of going through one day without petitioning the Lord for guidance and direction scares me. Who am I to think I can raise my family, be in harmony with my wife, fulfill my duties in the church, be a good example at work, and keep the commandments of God without talking to Him and receiving revelation on how to do this?

This topic is one I have studied about for several years. You can easily apply the saying, “The more you learn the less you know.” So I will rely heavily on the scriptures and the words of the prophets, seers and revelators. We will be using the scriptures a great deal so instead of having you look up the scriptures to follow along I am going to try something I feel will be more beneficial to us all. If you have a writing instrument and a piece of paper you will be able to jot down the scriptures that will be used for this subject, for your own personal study further into the important subject of personal revelation.

After we experienced our spiritual birth, Heavenly Father counseled and corrected us, and we were instructed, enlightened and edified in his holy presence. Now that we have experienced our physical birth in mortality, He desires to continue to communicate with us and to give us counsel and direction. He does this through personal revelation, which involves PREPARARION, PRAYER, and PROMPTINGS. This is one of the greatest gifts and blessings we can receive.

To receive personal revelation we must prepare ourselves. President Spencer W Kimball told us that, “God reveals himself to people who are prepared for such manifestations.” A. The Savior taught us what we need to do to prepare in D&C 93:1

We must repent, ask though prayer, be obedient, search the scriptures, fast, think pure thoughts, and develop a spirit of reverence. B. Let’s start with, “We must repent.”

In Moroni 8:26 Mormon explains the fruits of repentance in receiving revelation, “And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart, and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost”

Second we must ask through prayer.

In D&C 50:29 the Savior promised, “And if ye are purified and cleansed form all sin, ye shall ask whatsoever you will in the name of Jesus and it shall be done”

Third is to be obedient.

Again we receive council from the Savior in D&C 130:21, “When we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated” So we have to obey in order to be blessed.

He also promised in D&C 63:23, “But unto him that keepeth my commandments I will give the mysteries of my kingdom” E. Forth is to search the scriptures.

We must study our scriptures daily. That does not mean we read our scriptures daily. Nephi gave a great promise to all those who searched the scriptures in 2 NE 32:3, “Wherefore I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ, for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.”

What a great promise! In need of direction? Search the scriptures for you answer.

Fifth we must fast.

Alma 5:46 tells us that Alma had great desire to know of the truthfulness of the doctrines so he prepared himself through fasting and prayer.

Alma 17:3 the sons of Mosiah had given themselves too much prayer and fasting and as a result they had received the spirit of revelation. So how many times is “much prayer and fasting?” Once a month?

Sixth we must have pure thoughts.

If we desire our Heavenly Father to communicate to us we must remove our impure and worldly thoughts. Turn our minds to spiritual matters and fill it with uplifting thoughts. The Savior councils us again on the matter in D&C 121:45, “Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.”

Seventh we must develop a spirit of reverence.

Elder Boyd K Packer counseled, “Inspiration comes more easily in peaceful setting.” He added, “Irreverence suits the purposes of the adversary by obstructing the delicate channels of revelation in both mind and spirit and reverence invites revelation.”

Irreverence makes it hard for the Spirit to teach us and it also shows disrespect to Deity. Receiving revelation is sacred. It is a divine discussion with Deity and must be reverenced if it is to work. The savior councils us on this in D&C 84:54 and D&C 6:12.

Now that we have discussed Preparation let’s talk about Prayer.

To pray is to have a conversation with Deity. This crucial communication should be conducted with great care and in compliance with sacred counsel.

First we must pray often.

We must commune with our Heavenly Father on a regular bases and this communication must not be come casual and repetitive. To do this is to ignore the council of the Savior found in D&C 6:12 “Trifle not with sacred things.”

It is not the amount of time we spend praying but the depth of our desire that results in revelation.

Second we must ponder before we pray.

The Savior counseled in D&C 9:8, “Study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right.”

We cannot expect the Lord to just give us all of the answers all the time. Part of our learning process is to figure out the correct answer on our own by pondering and meditation then to confirm that answer with the Lord.

Third we must ask for the right things.

We must be careful that we ask for that which is right. The Savior counsels in D&C 8:10 that we should, “Not ask for that which you ought not” and he then warns us in D&C 88:65, “And if ye ask anything that is not expedient for you, it shall turn unto your condemnation.”

Forth we must ask in faith.

Faith is the bottom line in the Gospel. One cannot do anything without faith. The Savior gave us a powerful promise concerning faith in our prayers. This is found in 3 NE 18:20, “And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.”

Fifth we must ask in humility.

Praying with great humility is essential if our prayers are to be heard and answered. In D&C 112:10 the Savior said, “Be thou humble and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand and give thee answer to thy prayers.”

The Savior also warns those who forget the importance of the principal of humility. D&C 3:4

Sixth we must ask in sincerity and with intensity.

If you really want to learn how to pray study the example of Enos. This is my all time favorite book in the book of Mormon. Every one of us can in some way relate to Enos. I will not dive into this book in this talk but I will leave it for you to study and feel the spirit yourselves.

Now that we have discussed preparation and prayer let us dive into the third topic Promptings.

The Father speaks to us through the promptings of the Spirit. If we have properly prepared we will become sensitive to these promptings. There are specific ways in which the mind and the heart are touched as we receive personal revelation.

First we can have promptings to the mind.

This can happen in a variety of ways. They come as enlightenment, in the form of instant recall, and audible voice, counsel from leaders, dreams. Visions and visitations.

Enlightenment comes as an increase in light, knowledge, and understanding. The Savior instructed Oliver Cowdery in D&C 6:15, “I did enlighten thy mind and now I tell thee these things that thou mayest know that thou hast been enlightened by the Spirit of truth”

The prophet Joseph Smith describes this process, “When you feel pure intelligence flowing into you it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it you may find if fulfilled the same day or soon those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God, will come to pass and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it you may grow into the principle of revelation until you become perfect in Christ Jesus.”

The scriptures play a big roll. There are times while searching, studying, and pondering the scriptures that we receive personal revelation as did Joseph Smith did when he read James 1:5

Personal Revelation may come in the form of an instant recall of things the Spirit once taught us that may apply to our present situation. In John 14:26 the Savior taught, “The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

One can hear and audible voice as did Nephi and Lehi did when they were imprisoned.

The Lord speaks through His chosen leaders. The Savior taught this principal in D&C 1:38 when he said, “What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken…whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants it is the same.”

Several Prophets throughout the scriptures have received Personal Revelation through dreams, visions or visitations.

The Spirit also reveals the will of the Lord though our Heart. These feelings may be characterized as peaceful, warm. Compelling, or dark or confusing in nature.

The most frequent confirmation of the Spirit comes through peaceful feelings. Joseph Smith stated, “They can tell the Spirit of the Lord from all other spirits—it will whisper peace and joy to their souls.”

Second there are the warm and spiritual feelings. In D&C 9:8 we are giving instruction that if you ask if something is right and it is right He will cause that your bosom shall bun within you; therefore you shall feel that it is right.”

Third there is the compelling feeling. It is characterized by a sense of urgency, a sense of restlessness, and a sense of surety. It was the feeling Nephi experienced when he was commanded to slay Laban. The prophet Joseph Smith described this feeling as he spoke about the principle of baptism for the dead in D&C 128:1, “That subject seems to occupy my mind, and press itself upon my feelings the strongest.”

Fourth we have the dark and confused feeling. This is explained in D&C 9:9 when we are given a stupor of thought with will cause us to forget that thing which was wrong.

CONCLUSION
The Lord has given us powerful promises concerning personal revelation. These promises are given based upon certain conditions: “If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things.”It is a tender experience to petition our Heavenly Father in sincere heartfelt prayer and know that He will respond with personal revelation. His promises are sure but we must properly prepare to be receptive to the promptings of the Spirit in receiving this guidance.

I have a strong testimony of the power of personal revelation. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints we need this power in our everyday lives. The Lord will always keep his promises so it is up to us to keep ours.

Sunday School
Book of Mormon Lesson 4
1 Nephi 12-14
1. Nephi sees the future of his descendants and his brothers’ descendants.
2. Nephi sees the formation of the great and abominable church, the colonization of the Americas, the Apostasy, and the Restoration of the gospel.
3. Nephi sees the blessings promised to the faithful; he also sees the destruction of the great and abominable church.

Priesthood
Conference talk - Boyd K Packer - Nov 2007 - The Weak and the Simple of the Church
"We have sustained the general officers of the Church in a solemn, sacred procedure. This common procedure occurs whenever leaders or teachers are called or released from office or whenever there is reorganization in a stake or a ward or a quorum or in the auxiliaries (see D&C 124:123, 144; see also D&C 20:65–67; 26:2). It is unique to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." One must have the authority to serve in the Church by another in authority. DnC 42:11 - 11 Again I say unto you, that it shall not be given to any one to go forth to preach my gospel, or to build up my church, except he be ordained by some one who has authority, and it is known to the church that he has authority and has been regularly ordained by the heads of the church.

J Ruben Clark - It is not where you serve, but how.

"Years ago when I first received an appointment that resulted in my picture being in the newspapers, one of my high school teachers, evidently quite astonished, was heard to say, 'That just proves that you can’t tell by looking at a frog how high he is going to jump!'"

Service is an action word.

Saturday March 31, 2007 - Priesthood Session of General Conference

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin - Apostle (Text)
Life's Lessons Learned
Early like experiences made him who he is. Without them he would've been a different person. They shaped his character.

Act with honor and never take your eye off the ball.
"Priesthood means service; bearing the priesthood, I will serve."

Elder Robert D. Hales - Apostle (Text)
To the Aaronic Priesthood: Preparing for the Decade of Decision
His chose not to prepare on the flight simulator and died in a fighter crash. The copilot had prepared and parachuted to safety. "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 34: 32)

What type of friends do you want? Are you that type of friend? What type of spouse do you want? Are you that type of person?

Our 20s are the decade of decision.

Bishop Keith B. McMullin - 2nd Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric (Text)
Lay Up in Store
"if ye are prepared ye shall not fear." (D&C 38:30)

Bishop McMullin quoted Paul and then each of the first presidency:

"A cardinal principle of the gospel is to prepare for the day of scarcity. Work, industry, frugality are part of the royal order of life. Remember these words from Paul: "If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."¹³

"Seated before us are the three presiding high priests who constitute the First Presidency of the Church.

"From President James E. Faust, Second Counselor, we hear: "Every father and mother are the family's storekeepers. They should store whatever their own family would like to have in the case of an emergency . . . [and] God will sustain us through our trials."¹⁴

"From President Thomas S. Monson, First Counselor, we hear: "Many more people could ride out the storm-tossed waves in their economic lives if they had their year's supply of food . . . and were debt-free. Today we find that many have followed this counsel in reverse: they have at least a year's supply of debt and are food-free."¹⁵

"From President Gordon B. Hinckley, the Lord's prophet, we hear:

""The best place to have some food set aside is within our homes. . . .

""We can begin ever so modestly. We can begin with a one week's food supply and gradually build it to a month, and then to three months. . . . I fear that so many feel that a long-term food supply is so far beyond their reach that they make no effort at all.

""Begin in a small way, . . . and gradually build toward a reasonable objective."^16"

President James E. Faust - 2nd Counselor to the prophet (Text)
Message to My Grandsons
"Priesthood is the authority delegated to man to minister in the name of God. It is a power that no one can assume on his own initiative. As Paul said, "No man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron." (Hebrews 5:4.) It is an authority beyond all human power to create."

"All you young men who hold the priesthood have the duty to respect womanhood. As you date the lovely young women of the Church, you have a duty to protect their physical safety and virtue. "

President Thomas S. Monson - 1st Counselor to the prophet (Text)
The Priesthood—a Sacred Gift
"My brethren, the priesthood is a gift which brings with it not only special blessings but also solemn responsibilities. It is our responsibility to conduct our lives so that we are ever worthy of the priesthood we bear. We live in a time when we are surrounded by much that is intended to entice us into paths which may lead to our destruction. To avoid such paths requires determination and courage."

President Gordon B. Hinckley - Prophet (Text)
"I Am Clean"
"I regret that I am so old at a time when life is increasingly exciting."

He recounted statistics of things that have happened since he was called as a general authority.

"In a world that wallows in filth, be clean—in language, in thought, in body, in dress.

"To each of you I say, be clean in your language. There is so much of filthy, sleazy talk these days"