My Gospel Study in March 2009

Among other things, my gospel study in March included the following:

Chapter 28: Missionary Service: A Holy Calling, a Glorious Work
Chapter 29: Living With Others in Peace and Harmony

Lesson 10: “This Is My Voice unto All”
Lesson 11: “The Field Is White Already to Harvest”
Lesson 12: “The Gathering of My People”
Lesson 13: “This Generation Shall Have My Word through You”

General Conference Addresses October 2008

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf: The Infinite Power of Hope

"Hope is not knowledge, but rather the abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promise to us. It is confidence that if we live according to God’s laws and the words of His prophets now, we will receive desired blessings in the future. It is believing and expecting that our prayers will be answered. It is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance.

In the language of the gospel, this hope is sure, unwavering, and active. The prophets of old speak of a “firm hope” and a “lively hope.”It is a hope glorifying God through good works. With hope comes joy and happiness. With hope, we can “have patience, and bear … [our] afflictions.”

Elder David A. Bednar: Pray Always
Principle #1. Prayer becomes more meaningful as we counsel with the Lord in all our doings (see Alma 37:37).
Principle #2. Prayer becomes more meaningful as we express heartfelt gratitude.
Principle #3. Prayer becomes more meaningful as we pray for others with real intent and a sincere heart.

President Henry B. Eyring: Our Hearts Knit as One
"Happily I am seeing more and more skillful peacemakers who calm troubled waters before harm is done. You could be one of those peacemakers, whether you are in the conflict or an observer.

One way I have seen it done is to search for anything on which we agree. To be that peacemaker, you need to have the simple faith that as children of God, with all our differences, it is likely that in a strong position we take, there will be elements of truth. The great peacemaker, the restorer of unity, is the one who finds a way to help people see the truth they share. That truth they share is always greater and more important to them than their differences. You can help yourself and others to see that common ground if you ask for help from God and then act. He will answer your prayer to help restore peace, as He has mine."

Elaine S. Dalton: A Return to Virtue

"The temple is the reason for everything we do in the Church."

"Virtue is a prerequisite to entering the Lord’s holy temples and to receiving the Spirit’s guidance. Virtue “is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards.”It encompasses chastity and moral purity. Virtue begins in the heart and in the mind. It is nurtured in the home. It is the accumulation of thousands of small decisions and actions. Virtue is a word we don’t hear often in today’s society, but the Latin root word virtus means strength. Virtuous women and men possess a quiet dignity and inner strength. They are confident because they are worthy to receive and be guided by the Holy Ghost. President Monson has counseled: “You be the one to make a stand for right, even if you stand alone. Have the moral courage to be a light for others to follow. There is no friendship more valuable than your own clear conscience, your own moral cleanliness—and what a glorious feeling it is to know that you stand in your appointed place clean and with the confidence that you are worthy to do so.”

President Thomas S. Monson: Finding Joy in the Journey
"If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly."

"Send that note to the friend you’ve been neglecting; give your child a hug; give your parents a hug; say “I love you” more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It’s so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they’re gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of “what if” and “if only.” Said author Harriet Beecher Stowe, “The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.”

William D. Oswald: Gospel Teaching--Our Most Important Calling
Principle 1: Show love to those you teach and call them by name.
Principle 2: Teach from the scriptures.
Principle 3: Encourage the pondering of gospel truths

Ensign, March 2009

The Friend, March 2009