…to learn how to be better Brothers to each other and how to bless thy daughters……
Emissaries to the Church
May we briefly examine the priesthood duty that has been described as ‘the Church’s first source of help’ to its individuals and families…
A monthly visit in each home is the ideal….
…pursue the scriptural mandate to ‘visit the house of each member,’ establishing a schedule that would get us to homes…
….using any of the means the Lord has provided….
Lift your vision of Home Teaching: Please in newer, better ways, see yourselves as emissaries of the Lord to His children….
As for what ‘counts’ as home teaching, everything counts, every good thing you do ‘counts’, so report it all!
The report that matters most is how you have blessed and cared for those within your stewardship….
What matters is that you love your people and are fulfilling the commandment to ‘watch over the Church always’[D&C 20:53].….
My, Brethren of the Holy Priesthood…..we are asking you as Home Teachers to be God’s emissaries to His children… to love and care and pray for the people you are assigned, as we love and care and pray for you.
May you be vigilant in tending the flock of God in ways consistent with your circumstances…
There Is Power in the Book
Every time I open the Book of Mormon it’s like turning a switch – the Spirit flows into my heart and soul….
Whether our testimony of the Book of Mormon comes the first time we open it or over a period of time, it will influence us all of our days if we continue to read it and apply its teachings….
Whether reading it in print or on an electronic device, I have found the same wonderful Spirit flowing from its chapters and verses…...
The greatest power of the Book of Mormon
is its impact in bringing us closer to
Jesus Christ.
It is a strong witness of Him and His Redeeming mission…Through it we come to understand the majesty and power of His Atonement. It teaches His doctrines clearly.
Learn from Alma and Amulek
One of the most bittersweet narratives in all of scripture [is] in Alma chapters 8–16….
Alma did not hesitate. He ‘returned speedily’….
What can I learn from Alma? How am I like Amulek?
Alma was an exceptionally gifted and capable man. It may have been easy to think that he did not need anyone’s help. Nevertheless, what did Alma do when he returned to Ammonihah?
Alma found Amulek and asked him for help.
And Alma received help.
For whatever reason, sometimes we as leaders are reluctant to find and ask our Amuleks.…
In whatever position you currently serve—whether you are a deacons quorum president, a stake president, or an Area President—to be successful, you must find your Amuleks. …
Too often we hesitate to invite people to use their God-given talents and engage in the great work of salvation….
Think of the Savior – did He begin to establish His Church all alone? No…
His message was not ‘Stand back. I’ll handle this.’ Rather it was ‘Come, follow me.’….
Find them by seeing with your heart. Reach out to them. Teach them. Inspire them. Ask them….
You may be surprised to discover a valiant servant of the Lord who otherwise would have remained hidden…
Listen with your heart and follow the promptings of the Spirit….
There are many Amuleks in the Church today. Perhaps you know one. Perhaps you are one.
The Beloved Savior knows where you are. He knows your heart…He wants to rescue you. He will reach out to you if you just open your heart to Him.
It is my hope that those who have strayed from the path of discipleship—even by only a few degrees—will contemplate the goodness and grace of God, see with their hearts, learn from Alma and Amulek, and Hear the life changing words of the Savior, ‘Come, Follow Me’.
That He May Become Strong Also
The Lord grants His power to those in all priesthood offices who worthily serve in their priesthood duties…..
“I was just as much sustained by the power of God while holding the office of a Teacher…as I ever was as an apostle." [Wilford Woodruff]
That wonderful spiritual possibility of ‘no difference’…..
The Aaronic Priesthood prepares young men for an even more sacred trust…
Every man who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood can be endowed with authority and the privilege of speaking and acting in the name of the Almighty. There is infinity to that power….It is concerned with life and death, with family and the Church, with the great nature of God Himself and His eternal work….
Every holder of the Melchizedek Priesthood has such memories…
Many things may help strengthen our younger brothers to rise up in the priesthood, but nothing will be more powerful than our helping them develop the faith and confidence that they can draw on the power of God….
Faith and confidence won’t stay with them from a single experience of being lifted by even the most gifted...Priesthood holder…
The ability to draw on those powers must be cultivated by many expressions of confidence from those who are more experienced….
The Aaronic Priesthood holders will also need daily and even hourly encouragement and correction from the Lord Himself through the Holy Ghost. That will be available to them as they choose to remain worthy of it…
We understand the power of the faith of a loving mother. Mothers provide that great support to their sons today…
You priesthood leaders and fathers of Aaronic Priesthood holders can work miracles…
You can help the Lord fill the ranks of faithful elders with young men who accept the call to preach the gospel and do it with confidence…
You will see many you have lifted & encouraged stay faithful, marry worthily in the temple and in turn, lift and prepare others….
I thank with all my heart the wonderful people who have lifted me and shown me how to love and lift others.
Principles and Promises
Those who are obedient to the Lord’s commandments and who faithfully observe the Word of Wisdom are promised particular blessings, among which are good health and added physical stamina…[see D&C 89:18–20]….
May we care for our bodies and our minds by observing the principles set forth in the Word of Wisdom, a divinely provided plan.
With all my heart and soul I testify of the glorious blessings which await us as we do.
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