Prepare Ye The Way

I am very grateful to be speaking today during the Month of December when everything around us is focused on the Birth of our Savior. 

I would like to welcome the Spirit to be here and I hope that your hearts will be touched by the messages shared today.

First I would like to share a personal story…..In 2005, we lived in Pearland Texas.  Pearland is located right on the outskirts of Houston and is about an hour away from the Gulf of Mexico. 

Three days before Hurricane Rita hit Texas; our local leaders warned the communities in the storm zone to evacuate.  This was insane because the population size was extremely large.  Houston alone has a population of about 2 million people.  If you add in the surrounding suburbs it was about 3 million. 

Three weeks earlier we had watched the devastating results of Hurricane Katrina.  Houston’s Reliant Stadium housed a small group of 100,000.  Our Stakes had received service assignments to help in many ways.  The individuals staying in the Stadium had lost so much, their family members, their homes, and their way of life.

As we saw the Category 5 Hurricane approaching Houston we packed up our children and headed to Dallas where my Sister lived. 

It normally would have been a 4 hour drive; however, we sat at a standstill on the freeway all day and all through the night with our frightened neighbors.

It was total kayos’ stores and consumers were running out of gas on the roads and there were altercations erupting throughout what seemed like a never ending journey to Dallas.  We were on the road for 16 long hours.

How grateful we were for the small blessings we noticed.  We somehow had enough gas to make the long journey to Dallas. We had two small children and one on the way, and we had food and water for them.  We were kept safe from the turmoil we saw all around us….and lastly as Hurricane Rita made its way into the Gulf it turned away from Houston and hit the eastern part of Texas.

There were 113 deaths reported from Hurricane Rita and out of those 113, 107 happened during the evacuation, because of weather and traffic issues.   

That experience caused me to ponder on two important questions.

1. In whom can we trust?
2. How can we be better prepared?

In Isaiah 41: 10 we are promised, Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

In 2 Nephi 4, it talks about how Nephi feels discouraged because of his weaknesses and iniquities.  His father Lehi has passed away and his brothers have turned against him. The words he spoke touched my heart.

16 Behold my soul delighted in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondered continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.

17. Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimed: O wretched man that I am!

Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.

19 And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaned because of my sin; nevertheless, I know in who I have trusted.

20.  My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.

Nephi continues

34. O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever.  I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh.  Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.

These scriptures allow us to see Nephi in a way that makes him very much like you and me.  We are not perfect and we all have struggles it is what we put our trust in, that makes us who we are.

Nephi gives us great words of advice when he says….“I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh”.  “Oh Lord I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever.

Because of Nephi’s desire to know the Lord he was able to overcome great hardships through the companionship of our Savior, and he was lead to safety time and time again.

There seems to be no end to our Savior’s desire to lead us to safety. And there is consistency in the way He shows us the path. He calls by more than one means so that it will reach those willing to accept it.

And those means always include sending the message by the mouths of His prophets, whenever people have qualified to have the prophets of God among them. Those authorized servants are always charged with warning the people, telling them the way to safety.

Apostle Paul wrote that “in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established” (2 Corinthians 13:1)

Prophets have been sent to us to prepare the way for our return to our Heavenly Father.  We will hear the message that God wants us to hear from one prophet to the next.  As we seek for God’s guidance we will hear the warning more than once.  We will have way more than 3 days to prepare.

President Joseph Fielding Smith wrote….Would it not be an extraordinarily strange thing if the Lord should come and begin his reign of peace, take vengeance on the wicked, cleansing the earth from sin, and not send messengers to prepare the way before him? Should we expect the Lord to come to judge the world without first giving it warning and preparing the means of escape for all who will repent?

-Noah was sent to the world to warn it of the flood. If the people had hearkened they would have escaped. 

-Moses was sent to lead Israel into the Promised Land, to fulfill the promises made to Abraham.

-John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way for the coming of Christ.

In each instance the call came through the opening of the heavens.

The Lord promised to have the same interest in humanity preceding his second coming.

-Joseph Smith was sent to prepare the way for this second coming, by the proclamation of the fullness of the Gospel and the granting to all men the means of escape from iniquity and transgression.

-In our day we have a loving Prophet, President Monson and many great Apostles who are placed here on earth to teach and guide us so we will be prepared for the day when our Savior returns.

President Joseph Fielding Smith once told a group of Latter-day Saints that he was “praying for the end of the world.” He said, “If it came tomorrow I would be glad.” In response to that declaration, a woman spoke out, loudly enough for others to hear. “Oh, I hope not,” she said.

How can we be better prepared?

If you find yourself feeling discouraged about your preparation for the second coming and you are searching for some help, here are a few suggestions from our Prophet and his Apostles.

The first suggestion is to Pray Always-

When Oliver Cowdery failed in an attempt to translate, the Lord told him:

“Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.

“But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.

“But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings” (D&C 9:7–9).

President Packer shared a story illustrating that principle.

There was a little girl who was upset with her brother; he had built a trap to catch sparrows.

Unable to get help, she said to herself, “Well, I’ll pray about it.”

After her prayer, the little girl told her mother, “I know he is not going to catch any sparrows in his trap because I prayed about it. I’m positive he won’t catch any sparrows!”

Her mother said, “How can you be so sure?”

She said, “After I prayed about it, I went out and kicked that old trap all to pieces!”

How often do we pray without the Faith to accept Gods Will???

We should learn to pray. Pray often. Pray in your mind, in your heart. Pray on your knees. Prayer is your personal key to heaven. The lock is on your side of the veil.

President Packer reminds us that we should conclude all our prayers with “Thy will be done”.

The second suggestion is to Study the Words of God

 President Monson shared….When we came to the earth, we brought with us that great gift from God—even our agency. In thousands of ways we are privileged to choose for ourselves. Here we learn from the hard taskmaster of experience.

We discern between good and evil. We differentiate as to the bitter and the sweet. We learn that decisions determine destiny.

I am certain we left our Father with an overwhelming desire to return to Him, that we might gain the exaltation He planned for us and which we ourselves so much wanted.

 Although we are left to find and follow that path which will lead us back to our Father in Heaven, He did not send us here without direction and guidance. Rather, He has given us the tools we need, and He will assist us as we seek His help and strive to do all in our power to endure to the end and gain eternal life.

To help guide us we have the words of God and of His Son found in our holy scriptures. We have the counsel and teachings of God’s prophets. Of paramount importance, we have been provided with a perfect example to follow—even the example of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ—and we have been instructed to follow that example.

Said the Savior Himself: “Come, follow me.”² “The works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do.”³ He posed the question, “What manner of men ought ye to be?” And then He answered, “Verily I say unto you, even as I am.”⁴ “He marked the path and led the way.”⁵

As we look to Jesus as our Exemplar and as we follow in His footsteps, we can return safely to our Heavenly Father to live with Him forever.

Said the prophet Nephi, “Unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved.”⁶

As we strive to place Christ at the center of our lives by learning His words, by following His teachings, and by walking in His path, He has promised to share with us the eternal life that He died to gain. There is no higher end than this, that we should choose to accept His discipline and become His disciples and do His work throughout our lives. Nothing else, no other choice we make, can make of us what He can.

We really have two choices during our time here on earth.  One we can turn away from our Savior in fear and frustration, or we can turn to him with full trust as we pray diligently and study the words of the gospel, allowing him to strengthen us and guide us back to him. 

I bear witness that Jesus Christ loves us, and he lives, he was a born into this world to make the atoning sacrifice for us.   He did overcome death and he is the almighty Master Teacher and if we will go to him with anything he will bring us Peace and Happiness no matter what we are dealing with.

Do not Procrastinate your Day of Repentance and Service

For those of you that do not know me I am Jessie Packer and my husband is Brenton Packer.  We have three little kids Olivia 13, Johnny 10, and Mitchell 9.

The talk I have been asked to focus on is a General Conference talk by President Eying named THIS DAY!

The message is on Procrastination better yet “Not Procrastinating Service and Repentance”. I feel very inadequate to be speaking about this topic.  I hope the spirit will be here and you will be able to feel our Saviors love.  Keep in mind that as a Ward Family we are all in this together including myself and that we have the power to help one another.

This talk has so many facets and can apply to a broad range of ages from the most stalwart of saints to a young teenager learning the principles of the gospel, it just depends on our lives circumstances…..

As imperfect beings we tend to focus on things we do well and we put a lower priority on things we don’t do so well.

President Eyring explains that there is a danger in the word someday when what it means is “not this day.” “Someday I will repent.” “Someday I will forgive him.” “Someday I will speak to my friend about the Church.” “Someday I will start to pay tithing.” “Someday I will return to the temple.” “Someday …”

The thought “Someday I will” can be a thief of the opportunities of time and the blessings of eternity.

Amulek warns that procrastinating your repentance and service can cause the Spirit of the Lord to withdraw from you.

But with the warning he gives this hope: “And this I know, because the Lord hath said he dwelleth not in unholy temples, but in the hearts of the righteous 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 blood of the Lamb.” Alma 34:36

When we hold on to sin we live each day in the darkness.  When we carry the burdens of sin with us we lose out on opportunities to bless ourselves our families and many others.

President Eyring shares that there is solemn warning and counsel in the words recorded in the Book of Mormon:

“And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance 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 night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.

“Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess 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.”

Brother’s and Sister’s today is that day “This Day” is the day to repent and make changes.  Trust that God will forgive us and as we seek him out he will be right there to embrace us and strengthen us.  We owe it to ourselves and our beautiful Families.

Just imagine who we could become if we could leave those burdens behind.

Many of us feel that admitting our sins is a weakness.  I promise you it is not a weakness.  I am learning that those of us that struggle with alcohol, drug, porn, even eating disorder addiction is not so much about an evil heart. These things are more about escape, escape from struggles that we cannot bear.  We will never overcome these addictions in isolation.  We need…our Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father.

Once again it is not a weakness to admit our sins!!

Weakness is the condition of being mortal and lacking ability, strength, or skill. Weakness is a state of being. All people are weak, and it is only by God’s grace that they receive power to do righteous acts (Jacob 4:6–7)

Always remember that:
God gives us weakness so we will be humble. If we humble ourselves, our weakness can be made strong through Jesus Christ. Ether 12:27

If our sins are in different categories then those I have mentioned….still do not delay.  It can be as simple as committing to prepare to take the sacrament weekly, keeping the Sabbath day holy, stop gossiping or envying, forgiving someone, paying a full tithing, or making a small change so that we can feel the light in our lives.

"Each of us has the power to change!!!  We must Bridal our passions and live within the laws that God has set.  We can do anything with God.  He loves us and will always answer our prayers."

I am a witness of the truth of the Scripture in Matthew 11: 28-30

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28–30).

“This Day!! is a great day to lighten our burdens and allow our hearts to be at rest as we take his yoke upon us.

President Eyring shared that the scriptures are filled with examples of wise servants of God who treasured the day they were in, and chose to do what they could to bring cleansing. Joshua was one: “Choose you this day whom ye will serve … ,” he said, “but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” ³

Serving Him invites the Holy Ghost to be with us. And the Holy Ghost is a cleanser of sin.

Even the Savior, who was without sin, set an example of the need not to procrastinate. He said:

“I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” ⁴

As the risen Savior, He is this day and forever the Light of the World. It is He who invites us to come unto Him and serve Him, without delay. His encouragement to you and to me is this: “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.”

We should treasure the day we are in!!  Don’t lose another moment….Spend your time doing what matters most.  Search your scriptures, pray and ponder, magnify your callings, show love to your neighbors.  Give your family the best you, you can become.

I am learning that early morning scripture study and a humble prayer can lead me and my family to what God would have us do.  Over the past few years I have seen many miracles happen within the walls of our home and I am excited about the things we have learned together as a family.

It is not always easy and my kids can be the most trying part of my mornings, however, President Eyring reminds us that it is not supposed to be easy.  God’s purpose in creation was to let us prove ourselves. 

As valiant Brother’s and Sister’s that plan was explained to us.  We rejoiced to know the test would be one of faithful obedience even when it would not be easy.  As hard as we knew the test would be, we felt joy because we had confidence that we could pass it.  Our confidence came from knowing that Jesus Christ would come into the world as our Savior.  He would overcome death.  He would make it possible for us to be cleansed of our sins by qualifying for the effects of His Atonement.

President Erying shares that We knew that to qualify we would need to be—baptized by authority, receive the Holy Ghost under the hands of authorized priesthood bearers, remember Him and therefore have His Spirit to be with us, and then keep His commandments—all would be possible for the humblest of us. It would not take superior intellect, nor would it take wealth, nor long life. And we knew that the Savior would draw us to Him and would have the power to help us when the test would be hard and the temptation to procrastinate great. Alma, the great prophet, described how Christ gained that ability:

“And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

“And he will take upon him death, that he may loose 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 succor his people according to their infirmities.” ⁷

After sharing all that President Eyring has spoken of.  Why would we choose to procrastinate even one more day?

Maybe, complacency or discouragement. President Eyring shares that Complacency can affect even the seasoned adult. The better and the longer you serve, the more likely that the tempter can place this lie in your mind: “You have earned a rest.

This last weekend Olivia and I flew to DFW Texas.  One of my Sister’s oldest girls was getting married and my Sister had mentioned the term Bridezilla a few times.  I have 7 brothers and sisters and we all planned to fly out and meet and help my Sister put together a wedding that would impress any Bride.  She rented a huge piece of property that had a two-story barn and a small cottage with a kitchen.  The entire location needed to be decorated to the Brides satisfaction and the food needed to be prepared and hauled to the top level of the barn.  All this needed to be done in a severely humid climate.  We worked so hard and followed the directions of a young bridezilla, in hopes to make her happy.  By the night of the wedding we were all exhausted and I couldn’t wait for my head to hit the pillow.  Our flight left early that morning and we needed to get up at 4:30 a.m.

As I returned home to my regular routine still in place I went forward doing all that is required of a mother during the Month of May.  Tuesday morning I felt discouraged I dropped my kids off at school and put in a quick run.   As I was running my mind was clear and I thought “I really need a rest”.  I imagined myself crashing on the couch and taking a long nap before they all started knocking again.  I dismissed that thought knowing that once I checked my phone my day would begin.  More than likely there would be several messages and I would need to keep going.

I wasn’t surprised when I returned home to find two messages on the phone.  One from my 13 year old daughter requiring I pick up things for her and drop them at Clarke N Johnson Jr High and the other was Brother Dowdle requesting that I speak this Sunday.

Instead of taking what I thought I needed which was a long nap.  I began reading this talk and studying the scriptures.  It renewed my spirit and gave me drive that I didn’t think I had.

President Eyring gives this advice.   In the hardest trials, as long as you have the power to pray, you can ask a loving God: “Please let me serve, this day. It doesn’t matter to me how few things I may be able to do. Just let me know what I can do. I will obey this day. I know that I can, with Thy help.”

The Lord will help us day to day “This Day” if we ask for his help.

He also can help us see the danger in taking a rest because we feel we have done enough. 

I know that many of you have served diligently in all sorts of capacities, and some days it seems so difficult.  I know that without a shadow of a doubt that God has a plan for us…..He knows each one of us and he knows how we can uplift and help each other.  We have been placed near the individuals in our life to strengthen and support them.  If we pray for opportunities they will come and many great things will come because of our obedience.

In my life God has blessed me to come in contact with many wise spirits.  I know that God placed me here so I could be uplifted by my incredible neighbor who humbly reaches out and takes me to the Temple so that my spirit can be renewed.  She serves quietly and humbly and her testimony has strengthened mine.  She has followed Jesus Christ’s command “When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” (Luke 22:32.)

I am grateful for my neighbors example in keeping the greatest of all the commandments.

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Matt. 22: 37-40

President Eyring reminds us…..By serving Him this day, you will come to know Him better. You will feel His love and appreciation. You would not want to delay receiving that blessing. And feeling His love will draw you back to His service, wiping away both complacency and discouragement.

I personally am so grateful for the Atonement and it’s healing power. I have been blessed to see the effects of true repentance and the blessing that comes because of Change.  I am thankful for the opportunity we all have to change.  I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live and that they love us and want us to drawn near to them.  I say these things humbly in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Jana's Talk on Becoming acquainted w/God through righteous living

This afternoon I would like to address you on the topic of becoming acquainted with God through trials and righteous living.




This week we celebrate a great heritage of the early saints who scarified so much to know God. some of us may have to do a little digging, some maybe not so much and others may be able to just take a look in the mirror but whatever makes up our pioneer heritage we all have someone to thank because they chose to follow Christ and bless our lives with his gospel.



One specific pioneer story I would like to share that many of us have probably heard, is an experience that conveys that trails bring us closer to God.



The experience takes place: In a Sunday School class where there was sharp criticism of the ill-fated Martin and Willie Handcart Companies, which met with tragedy because of their late start on the trek to the Salt Lake Valley.

An elderly man [ in that Sunday school class] arose and said: “I ask you to stop this criticism. You are discussing a matter you know nothing about. Cold historic facts … give no proper interpretation of the questions involved. Mistake to send the Handcart Company out so late in the season? Yes. But I was in that company and my wife … too. We suffered beyond anything you can imagine and many died of exposure and starvation, but … we became acquainted with [God] in our extrem[i]ties.



“I have pulled my handcart when I was so weak and weary from illness and lack of food that I could hardly put one foot ahead of the other. I have looked ahead and seen a patch of sand or a hill slope and I have said, I can go that far and there I must give up, for I cannot pull the load through it. … I have gone on to that sand and when I reached it, the cart began pushing me. I have looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart, but my eyes saw no one. I knew then that the angels of God were there.



“Was I sorry that I chose to come by handcart? No. Neither then nor any minute of my life since. The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay, and I am thankful that I was privileged to come in the Martin Handcart Company”



This story along with many others shows the faith and endurance that is required to know God.



So whomever that ancestor is of yours that chose to follow Christ, know that you have been deeply blessed by their sacrifices and that others will continue to be blessed by yours.



President James E. Faust, said of the Willie and Martin handcart companies and their rescuers that “ in the heroic effort of the handcart pioneers, we learn a great truth. All must pass through a refiner’s fire, and the insignificant and unimportant in our lives can melt away like dross and make our faith bright, intact, and strong. There seems to be a full measure of anguish, sorrow, and often heartbreak for everyone, including those who earnestly seek to do right and be faithful. Yet this is part of the purging to become acquainted with God.



trials in our life are a necessity because they help us to focus on what the important things are in life.



In the talk “The Race of Life” given by President Thomas S. Monson he states:



In this fast-paced life, do we ever pause for moments of meditation –

When compared to eternal verities, most of the questions and concerns of daily living are really rather trivial. What should we have for dinner? What color should we paint the living room? Should we sign Johnny up for soccer? These questions and countless others like them lose their significance when times of crisis arise, when loved ones are hurt or injured, when sickness enters the house of good health, when life’s candle dims and darkness threatens. Our thoughts become focused, and we are easily able to determine what is really important and what is merely trivial.



It is the trials that we face that give us the opportunity to learn of God, become acquainted with him and keep him in our lives.



Just this weekend our country and the the city of Aurora Colorado had tragedy strike when a gunman entered a movie theater and took 12 lives and injured many more. What I thought was interesting about this horrific event was what I read in a news article of what the survivors of this event were posting on their blogs. After this tragedy hit many wondered where God was in all of this. How could a merciful higher power allow this to happen? As it stated in the news article, but one survivor expressed that even after experiencing such evil firsthand, she believes that there is a God and he is indeed merciful. I was relieved to hear that this women did not let this event cloud her faith and to keep believing even after experiencing such a violent crime.



Some trials we can never prepare for and they are completely unpredictable and it is not uncommon to hear people question if there is a God and how could he allow these things to happen.



But as we study the truthfulness of the gospel we learn the why to trials.

In D&C section 29 verse 39 - And it must needs be that the adevil should btempt the children of men, or they could not be cagents unto themselves; for if they never should have dbitter they could not know the sweet—



It is no doubt that trials will turn our thoughts to God as they are intended to do so.

The Lord tests and tries us so we can prove ourselves worthy of celestial glory.



We all know that the Saints must be made pure, to enter into the celestial kingdom. It is recorded that Jesus was made perfect through suffering in Hebrews 5: 8

Though he were a Son, yet alearned he bobedience by the things which he csuffered;



The purpose of us coming and experiencing this life is as expressed in Abraham 3: 25 And we will aprove them herewith, to see if they will bdo all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;



Trials are intended for us to become acquainted with God. But it is not every day that we experience such life changing trials and since that is the case God gave us the blessings of commandments, principles, laws and ordinances to keep our minds and hearts centered in his gospel and on Him.



I have come to learn of the importance of having these blessings in my life. I have learned so much of God, what he is like and how he is to us his children. My heart has truly delighted in the scriptures and I have found that as I earnestly and consistently search them I have come to know God better. The Book of Mormon has truly become a great companion to me. Bringing truth, light and peace into my life as I read and more fully understand the ways of God.



in my reading of the BOM, earlier this summer I was reading in Jacob about the Allegory of the Olive Tree. I of course have read this story before but this time as I was reading through it, it taught me a great deal about who God is and the chances he gives to us to become better.


The part that taught me this is when the Lord of the Vineyard and his servant returns to the Vineyard after they had spent so much time and effort pruning, digging and nourishing the trees and grafting in good branches so that the corrupt branches would not take over and that the trees would then bring forth good fruit instead of corrupt fruit. As they went down into the Vineyard and after all the work they had done they saw that all the fruit had become corrupt.

The Lord of the Vineyard then began to cry and said to his servant, “What could I have done more for my Vineyard?” Now it is good for nothing except to cast it into the fire, but then

The servant says to the lord of the Vineyard “Spare it a little longer” – it was this phrase that hit me that this is how the lord is with me and with each one of us. He gives us more time, gives us another chance and has more patience then I could even comprehend. Though this story was about a tree it was really about people and that was a message to me of how much we can really come to know God through studying the scriptures.

As I have read and studied my scriptures I have found that my thoughts are turned more to God and my understanding of his ways and his gospel become more clear.

We are truly blessed to have the fullness of the gospel and to be able to take upon ourselves ordinances that will bless our lives, our families lives and those around us because as we keep the covenants made in these ordinances we bring Christ to the center of our life and become more familiar with God.

President Uchtdorf said, “The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of transformation. It takes us as men and women of the earth and refines us into men and women for the eternities.”

During this week as we celebrate pioneer day I hope our thoughts are turned to those who sacrificed so much to be acquainted with God because their experiences truly transformed them and refined them into men and women ready for the eternities.

We too have the same obligation to faithfully endure so that we may become acquainted with God and to do all things that the Lord God shall command us.

Not only our trials but righteous living will refine us especially as we earnestly seek to do right and be faithful - we will then become acquainted with God.

Temple Covenants Bind Families Together

President Monson shared an account of the Mou Tham family and their 10 children. The entire family except for one daughter joined the Church in the early 1960s, when missionaries came to their island, located about 100 miles (160 km) south of Tahiti. Soon they began to desire the blessings of an eternal family sealing in the temple. At that time the nearest temple was in Hamilton, New Zealand, more than 2,500 miles) to the southwest, accessible only by an expensive airplane trip. The large Mou Tham family, which eked out a meager living on a small plantation, had no money for airplane fare, nor was there any opportunity for employment on their Pacific island. So Brother Mou Tham and his son Gérard made the difficult decision to travel 3,000 miles to work in New Caledonia, where another son was already employed.

The three Mou Tham men labored for four years. Brother Mou Tham alone returned home only once during that time for the marriage of a daughter. After four years, Brother Mou Tham and his sons had saved enough money to take the family to the New Zealand Temple. All who were members went, except for one daughter, who was expecting a baby. They were sealed for time and eternity, an indescribable and joyful experience.

Brother Mou Tham returned from the temple directly to New Caledonia, where he worked for two more years to pay for the passage of the one daughter who had not been at the temple with them—a married daughter and her child and husband.

Today most of us do not have to suffer hardships like this in order to attend the temple. Eighty-five percent of the membership of the Church now live within 200 miles of a temple, and for a great many of us, that distance is much shorter.

Early on in our marriage we lived right across the street from the Ogden Temple. Whenever I looked out the window there it was, a great reminder that we needed to attend. We didn’t have any children at the time and we attended a lot.

Our early Temple attendance was a great source of strength for us as we increased our understanding of the doctrine related to the Temple ordinances especially the significance of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. During this time my 18-year-old brother passed away. I remember feeling a great deal of sorrow and I had so many questions.

After a few years passed, my family of six reunited at the Ogden Temple to perform my brother’s endowment ordinance. It was one of my most sacred and treasured experiences. I felt so close to my family members. We were all there for one purpose and we felt a rush of peace and comfort from our loving Heavenly Father.

During General Conference Pres. Monson, said, there is much to be done in our temples in behalf of those who wait beyond the veil. As we do the work for them, we will know that we have accomplished what they cannot do for themselves. President Joseph F. Smith, in a mighty declaration, stated, “Through our efforts in their behalf their chains of bondage will fall from them, and the darkness surrounding them will clear away, that light may shine upon them and they shall hear in the spirit world of the work that has been done for them by their brothers and sisters here, and will rejoice with you in your performance of these duties.” My brothers and sisters, the work is ours to do.

As the years have passed our Temple attendance has fluctuated according to our circumstance. A few years ago we moved to Texas for school, we did not know anyone and we had never lived outside of Utah. We moved into an apartment complex close to the school, which was less than desirable. Olivia was 2 and Johnathan was just a month old.

Houston was not our friend. Both Brenton and I were greeted by having our identity stolen by a couple who used our names to open several credit cards and charge up tens of thousands of dollars. The cockroaches were a joy. The maintenance man in our apartment complex backed into our new vehicle and crushed the back panel and light in, then left without telling us. We finally tracked him down after matching his broken taillight with his taped over light and mud-covered ghetto truck. That was just in the first couple of months. We didn’t feel very safe in the area and I was so home sick.

At this point an individual from the ward called me and asked me if I would like to attend Stake Temple Day. He gave me the name of a sister who would gladly tend my children. We arranged things with the baby sitter and planned to leave a little early just in case of heavy traffic. Well if any of you have ever lived or driven through down town Houston it can be a nightmare. We ended up stuck in traffic and we started to doubt whether we would ever get there at all. By some miracle we were able to make it into the very last Session of the evening.

As we sat there all defeated and humbled we felt the spirit take hold of us. We felt a warm comforting feeling that we absolutely needed at that time. I told Brenton, “Just go get the kids we are living here from now on!!!!” We stayed as long as they would let us linger. As we drove home we felt uplifted and renewed. We decided we would move forward with “Faith” and make the best of our situation.

As President Monson said, “The world can be a challenging and difficult place in which to live. We are often surrounded by that which would drag us down. As you and I go to the holy houses of God, as we remember the covenants we make within, we will be more able to bear every trial and to overcome each temptation. In this sacred sanctuary we will find peace; we will be renewed and fortified”.

Until you have entered the house of the Lord and have received all the blessings which await you there, you have not obtained everything the Church has to offer. The all-important and crowning blessings of membership in the Church are those blessings which we receive in the temples of God.

A few years ago we were able to attend the Randall’s family sealing. It was one of those moments I will never forget. Just to see the Light of Christ working in their lives and watching their three beautiful little boys as they entered the Sealing Room. One was 7, another 3, and the baby four-months. They rolled the baby into the room in a little white stroller. He was just grinning from ear to ear the entire time. Seeing their beautiful family image in the double mirror, which went on for eternity was an incredible sight.

Elder Gary E. Stevens tells us that there exists a righteous unity between the temple and the home. Understanding the eternal nature of the temple will draw you to your family; understanding the eternal nature of the family will draw you to the temple. President Howard W. Hunter stated, “In the ordinances of the temple, the foundations of the eternal family are sealed in place.”

Last year we celebrated our 15th year Anniversary by returning to the Ogden Temple that we love so much. Memories of attending there with my loving husband rushed through my head. It made me think about how much each of us had grown since then. I felt so lucky to know that our children are sealed to us for time and all eternity, and that I will see my brother again. This all provides a powerful motivation for me to live so that together we will receive all of the eternal blessings promised in the temple.

Unlike the Mou Tham family we do live within close proximity to a temple. However the sacrifice still exists. Our sacrifice could be setting aside the time in our busy lives to visit the temple regularly or it could be a number of things.

Our Prophet has admonished us that there is much to be done in our temples in behalf of those who wait beyond the veil. He speaks to us individually as he says, my beloved brothers and sisters, may we make whatever sacrifices are necessary to attend the temple and to have the spirit of the temple in our hearts and in our homes. May we follow in the footsteps of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who made the ultimate sacrifice for us, that we might have eternal life and exaltation in our Heavenly Father’s kingdom. This is my sincere prayer, and I offer it in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord, amen.

Paying Tithing and Fast Offering During Economic Harship

"About a year ago I found myself kneeling humbly in prayer regarding our economic situation. We had some big decisions to make and I was really scared to make the wrong choice. As I prayed I received two answers. The first answer I received was to pay my tithing. I immediately went and paid it. The second answer I received was to Fast and make sure to pay Fast Offerings. I had not Fasted regularly and I needed to strengthen my testimony on Fasting. So we looked up some talks on Fasting and I found an incredible talk that answered many of my questions.

The talk was written by Elder Carl B. Pratt Of the Seventy. He tells of how to obtain a proper Fast. He said to begin with a prayer and to have a purpose. He explains that you should Fast for two complete meals-24 hours-. Elder Pratt also stresses the importance of ending your fast with a prayer. After reading his talk I paid as much Fast Offering as I could. Because Elder Pratt’s talk stressed what the Lord said,” “Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

After reading this talk we prepared ourselves that following Fast Sunday to have a True Fast. We prayed about our families’ situation and we searched our scriptures and pondered what we had read. My heart could see how truly wonderful fast offerings were. Today we can feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, and clothe the naked. And by fasting we can grow closer to God.

This statement is true for the Rich and the Poor.

President Faust said that the work of God is moving forward in many parts of the world like it never has before, particularly in countries where the economic standards are not high and new members are still learning the principle of faith and how it relates to blessings. To be faithful members of this Church requires sacrifice and consecration. It means that worldly pleasures and earthly possessions should not be our principal aim in life, because the gift of eternal life requires a willingness to sacrifice all we have and are in order to obtain it.

In Old Testament times the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel, and many people died. He commanded David to offer a sacrifice at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. When David went to see Araunah, and Araunah found out why he had come, he generously offered to give him whatever was needed for the sacrifice. David’s response was profound: “I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing.” He bought the threshing floor, offered the sacrifice, and the plague ceased.

In our time we are surfeited with a pestilence of violence, evil, and wickedness in so many forms. Those who keep their covenants and pay their tithes and offerings will have some extra defense against these virulent modern-day forms of evil. But this protection will not come with a sacrifice which costs us nothing.

I say this because the world’s religious drift is obvious. If something can be had cheaply, without exertion or sacrifice, people do not mind having a little bit of it. In contrast, the blessings of membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints require both exertion and sacrifice. Receiving the blessings requires the payment of tithes and offerings. Ours is not a Sunday-only religion. It demands exemplary conduct and effort every day of the week. It involves accepting calls and serving with fidelity in those callings. It means strength of character, integrity, and honesty to the Lord and our fellowmen. It means that our homes need to be places of sanctuary and love. It means a relentless battle against the bombardment of worldly evils. It means, at times, being unpopular and politically incorrect.

The ultimate offering was that offered by the Savior Himself in giving His very life. It causes each of us to wonder, How many drops of blood were shed for me?

President Faust comments really make me think about where my priorities lie. Tithing is like a small version of the Law of Consecration. If I was to live the Law of Consecration I would give all that I had to build the Kingdom. However, if I can’t even pay 10% I am probably not going to be able to live the Law of Consecration. President’s Faust comments were made back in November 1998, however, the world is increasing in violence, wickedness and evil. Especially, during this period of economic hardship. President Faust explains that protection lies within paying our tithes and fast offerings.

The Lord not only promises us protection he also promises this.

If we fast properly:

“Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily, and thy righteousness shall go before thee;…

“Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am…

“And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity and thy darkness be as the noonday:

“And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought,… and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.”

Our family has continued to Fast each Fast Sunday this year. I can honestly tell you that I have seen miracles occur in my life and others. I have increased my desire to be closer to the Lord and I can not get enough of my scriptures. Fasting has opened a new door for me. If I wouldn’t have struggled I probably wouldn’t have a testimony of fasting today.

I have always had a testimony of tithing. It was instilled in me when I was very young, but I never knew how powerful tithing could be until I had a hardship in paying it.

Elder Sheldon F. Child Of the Seventy explained that “there is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—and when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.” Tithing is a commandment from God, and when we obey His law, He is bound to bless us. President Thomas S. Monson, in speaking about God’s laws, stated: “Violate them and we suffer lasting consequences. Obey them and we reap everlasting joy.”

You’ll remember that when Israel was chastened for robbing God, the people asked, “Wherein have we robbed thee?” The answer came, “In tithes and offerings.” And then the Israelites were promised that if they would obey His law of tithing, they would be entitled to receive His blessings. The Lord said, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse … and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

The Lord asked Israel to prove Him, to test Him, to have faith in Him so that He would be able to keep His promise to them. That same commandment and that same promise are in effect today. When we keep the law of the tithe, the Lord’s promise is sure: blessings will come to us both temporally and spiritually, according to the wisdom and timing of the Lord.

President Heber J. Grant put it in context when he said: “Prosperity comes to those who observe the law of tithing. When I say prosperity I am not thinking of it in terms of dollars and cents alone. … What I count as real prosperity … is the growth in a knowledge of God, and in a testimony, and in the power to live the gospel and to inspire our families to do the same. That is prosperity of the truest kind.”

As I have taken that leap of Faith and paid a full tithe I have been blessed more than I can remember. My heart is so full and I am so grateful to God for having mercy on me and helping me in my struggles. I have a true testimony of Tithing and Fast Offering and if you are wondering how you are going to make it all work. Stop and pay your Tithes and Offerings and draw closer to the Lord and feel his blessings. I say these things humbly in the name of Jesus Christ Amen".