First Presidency Message: Platitudes Beyond Price
The following is the First Presidency’s message this month, which we’ve taken the liberty of correcting a bit.
*
The true Church of Jesus Christ has been restored and is on the earth today for Utah and 0.01% of people worldwide to benefit from. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has always been led by living prophets and apostles (who are sometimes told to marry teenagers by angels with flaming swords), who receive constant guidance from heaven except for that one 21-year-period when they didn’t get any, according to Joseph F. Smith and a confession during a congressional hearing.
That divine pattern was also true anciently. We learn in the Bible: “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). Things the Lord God has revealed to his servants the prophets include: the sinfulness of wearing clothing made of two different materials (Leviticus 19:19) and God’s green light for people to buy slaves and treat them like property. (Leviticus 25:44-46.) Oh, also women shouldn’t be touched whatsoever while menstruating. (Leviticus 15:19-20.)
God has again spoken in our time, through the Prophet Joseph Smith. He revealed through the Prophet Joseph the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fulness, including the divine law of polygamy (that is definitely different from the one other cult leaders created), which required Joseph Smith to coerce the 14-year-old daughter of Heber Kimball into marrying him. He restored His holy priesthood with its keys and all the rights, powers, and functions of the sacred power of the priesthood. He also taught through the prophet Brigham Young that a man with all the keys of the holy priesthood can take the wife of a man with fewer keys. Cool!
In our day, living prophets and apostles are authorized to speak, teach, and direct with authority from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The Savior said to the Prophet, “What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same” (D&C 1:38). We know that we need to listen to the men who call themselves prophets because the men who call themselves prophets said so. Though President Woodruff gave this quote to try and calm people down about the whole polygamy mess, it should definitely be taken as fact from the God who never told us about it Himself.
In general conference twice a year, we are blessed with the opportunity to hear the word of the Lord for us from His servants. These meme-worthy platitudes are beyond price. But the value of that opportunity depends on whether we receive the words under the influence of the same Spirit by which they were given to those servants (see D&C 50:19–22). Because all the best truth requires you to decide before hearing it that it’s going to be true, and God loves thought-terminating clichés like “doubt your doubts” that are used to control every cult ever.
“Do Your Homework, But Don’t Look For Your Own Sources”
Years ago one of the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles asked me to read a conference talk he was preparing for general conference. I was a junior member of the quorum, so I usually had my talks written by someone else. I was honored by his confidence that I might help him find the words the Lord would have him speak, because I know that God requires a lot of collaboration in order to give divine revelation. He said to me with a smile, “Oh, this is the 22nd draft of the talk.” It was like God himself was speaking directly to us.
I remembered the counsel a loving and kind President Harold B. Lee (the one who said disabled people were unrighteous in the pre-mortal existence) had given me earlier with great emphasis: “Hal, if you want to get revelation, do your homework.” There was absolutely nothing about this that made me think it was a bit bogus.
I read, pondered, and prayed over that 22nd draft. I studied as best I could under the influence of the Holy Ghost who sometimes tells people totally conflicting things but on the whole seems like a great guy/ghost. By the time that quorum member gave his talk, I had done my homework. I am not sure I helped, but I know that I was changed when I heard the talk given. Messages came to me far beyond the words that I had read and that he spoke. The words had greater meaning than the ones I had read in the draft, because I was determined to give them as much meaning as possible. And the message seemed to be meant for me, fitted to my needs because I was taught since childhood that these kinds of things would happen to me.
The servants of God fast and pray to receive the message He has for them to give to those who need revelation and inspiration. No other religion does this and thinks they also receive God’s message and tons of smart people believe in it. What I learned from that experience, and many others like it, is that to gain the great benefits available from hearing living prophets and apostles, we must pay the price ourselves of receiving revelation, which mean shutting ourselves off from sources that are critical of our current beliefs because the cognitive dissonance is far too painful to deal with.
The Lord loves every person who might hear His message (though he might occasionally be a bit racist or sexist or homophobic) and He knows the hearts and circumstances of each one. He knows what correction, what encouragement, and what gospel truth will best help each person to choose his or her way along the path to eternal life.
We who listen to and watch the messages of general conference sometimes think afterward, “What do I remember best?” The Lord’s hope for each of us is that our answer will be: “I will never forget the moments when I felt the voice of the Spirit in my mind and heart telling me what I could do to please my Heavenly Father and the Savior” because I have drilled them deep into my head through brilliant inoculation and social pressure.
We can receive that personal revelation when we hear prophets and apostles and as we work in faith to receive it, just as President Lee said we could. I know that is true from confirmation bias and by the witness of my body’s endorphins so it’s definitely true.
Youth
Heavenly Father Spoke to Me through a Conference Talk and Santa Wrote Me A Letter
The author lives in Sergipe, Brazil.
I was having doubts about what I should study at the university. Most people spoke badly about the course that I wanted to take, so I prayed to the Lord to see if He agreed with my decision.
My answer came the following day while I was reading a general conference talk in the Liahona. I felt as though Heavenly Father was telling me by not saying anything at all that He couldn’t choose for me even though he definitely does answer prayers—this was a decision that I would have to make alone because He wasn’t really saying anything. I knew that no matter what I chose, I would have to work hard to be successful because it didn’t seem like God was going to help me out.
I know that my prayer was answered by not being answered. The confirmation bias I felt helped me make a decision. I’ve learned to give my best efforts and know that Heavenly Father will help me as long as I’m willing to decide how He is helping me without Him doing anything.
Children
Follow the Prophet — There’s No Other Choice!
Prophets and apostles speak for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. They teach us how to follow Jesus. Follow the paths to get to some of the things the prophet and apostles have asked us to do. Show children this video so they can understand what God wants for them.
Zina Jacobs-Smith-Young
It’s OK to Leave Mormonism for Any of These 5 Reasons
Stop Sharing the National Geographic Article About Native DNA
google-site-verification: google2cac8eb5ff86e577.html