Power in Prayer

    Not to long ago as I was serving in one of my areas on my mission, I recall a time where i felt very stressed and i had a lot of problems and things weren't working out. I had a hard time with the work and teaching the gospel, and at that time I knew something was wrong. So as i had been taught and the simple truth i knew but had been taken for granted I knelt down and sincerely prayed to my Father in heaven and asked for his strength and comfort. I did not receive an answer immediately or even that same day. I wasn't very motivated to go out and do what I knew I should, but I was willing and thankfully I had a companion who was very motivated and we went out to do the work we knew could bless those who would listen. We went the whole day with nothing to show and a little more unmotivated. I did feel good that i had been working, but i still was unhappy and down on myself. So again I prayed that night and the next morning for help with what I was lacking and what I was going through. That day not only did Heavenly Father show me what I needed in my scripture study, but we were led to someone who had a desire to learn more about the gospel and would let us in their home. At that moment I felt the spirit work in us as we shared a brief message about Christ's church being restored on the earth. That feeling reminded me of Heavenly Fathers love and care for everyone of his children. I know that Heavenly Father listens, and answers our prayers, but we must remember it is in his own way and in his own time. We may not see at that moment the answer or recognize it, and it may not be in the way we wanted our prayer to be answered. That does not change the fact that God doesn't hear or answer our prayers. He loves each and every one of us perfectly and He knows what will be the best for us. I love everything that He has done for me and all my prayers he has listened too and answered. I know he blesses me every day. He wants all of us to pray to him and as for his strength to make weak things strong.

Elder David A. Bednar  (Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ)

  We are commanded to “pray always” (2 Nephi 32:9; D&C 10:5; 90:24)—“vocally as well as in [our] heart[s]; … before the world as well as in secret, in public as well as in private” (D&C 19:28). I testify that prayer becomes more meaningful as we counsel with the Lord in all of our doings, as we express heartfelt gratitude, and as we pray for others with real intent and a sincere heart.

I witness Heavenly Father lives and that He hears and answers every earnest prayer. Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and Mediator. Revelation is real. The fulness of the gospel has been restored to the earth in this dispensation. I so testify in the sacred name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

Jesus Christ Leads His Church Upon The Earth This Day

Sometimes we think of Christ death as a sad thing, that he died because of those who chose to reject the truth. Thankfully this was part of our Heavenly Fathers plan and he knew that we needed a savior because of our short comings. None of us are perfect and God recognizes that so he made a way for us to return to live with him in complete joy and happieness even though we may be imperfect here on this earth. I know Christ lives and is the head his true church. I know that Heavenly Father has once again called a young man to be a prophet not only to guide Christ true church but to restore that which had been lost. Joseph Smith lived and was marteryed for the church. He trusted in Jesus Christ and what he knew was true. He went through more then you or i will ever go through in our lives and never took offense or let in get in the way of what he knew was right. He stayed faithful and continued to do the will of the Lord. I know that Joseph Smith was a ture prophet of God and that he did restore Christ true church upon the earth.  I know that he did in fact see God the Father and Jesus Christ in a grove of trees in Palmyra New York.

 Elder Dieter F. Uctdorf says

Here I was, a young boy in post–World War II Germany, living in a city in ruins, thousands of miles away from Palmyra in North America and more than a hundred years after the event actually took place. By the universal power of the Holy Ghost, I felt in my heart and in my mind that it was true, that Joseph Smith saw God and Jesus Christ and heard Their voices. The Spirit of God comforted my soul at this young age with an assurance of the reality of this sacred moment that resulted in the beginning of a worldwide movement destined to “roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth” (D&C 65:2). I believed Joseph Smith’s testimony of that glorious experience in the Sacred Grove then, and I know it now. God has spoken to mankind again!

Looking back, I am grateful for so many friends who helped me in my youth to gain a testimony of the restored Church of Jesus Christ. First I exercised simple faith in their testimonies, and then I received the divine witness of the Spirit to my mind and to my heart. I count Joseph Smith among those whose testimony of Christ helped me to develop my own testimony of the Savior. Before I recognized the tutoring of the Spirit testifying to me that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, my youthful heart felt that he was a friend of God and would therefore, quite naturally, also be a friend of mine. I knew I could trust Joseph Smith.

  As we pray to Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ we can come to know this truth or be reassured that it is true. Again I add that i know Jesus Christ lives and is the head of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints. I am so grateful for everything Christ has done and will do for me. I know he died for each and every one of us so we can be forgiven and returen to a loving Heavenly Father. I leave this with you in the name of Jesus Christ amen.

With Weakness, Comes Strength

 

By Anne C. Pingree

     At every stage of our lives, we struggle to overcome our weaknesses. And as we do, we reflect on the familiar words of an ancient prophet who agonized over his own weakness. As Moroni labored to chronicle sacred events on metal plates, he was deeply concerned about his weakness in writing. Perhaps, he worried, future readers would not be able to feel the power of the inspired messages he was recording (see Ether 12:23–26).

     When he humbly turned to the Lord, the Lord revealed these words to him:

“And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them” (Ether 12:27). 

      As Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) observed: “It is not an easy thing … to be shown one’s weaknesses. … Nevertheless, this is part of coming unto Christ, and it is a vital, if painful, part of God’s plan of happiness.” ¹

      Some people feel defeated by their personal weaknesses and succumb to despair. Some attempt to hide, ignore, or compensate for their shortcomings because of pain and embarrassment. But, as the Lord told Moroni, recognizing and acknowledging a weakness is a necessary part of overcoming it: “Because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong” (Ether 12:37).

Turning to the Lord

     Sometimes, in spite of all we do to “make weak things become strong,” the Lord, in His infinite wisdom, does not take away our weakness. The Apostle Paul struggled throughout his life with “a thorn in the flesh,” which he said served to humble him “lest [he] should be exalted above measure” (2 Cor. 12:7). Three times Paul asked the Lord to take away his weakness, and three times the Lord declined to do so. The Lord then explained that His grace was sufficient for Paul and that, in fact, His strength was actually “made perfect in weakness.” Then Paul wrote, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

    “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Cor. 12:9–10).

    What a wonderful blessing it is to know Heavenly Father loves us so much that he does not care if we are weak, so long as we turn to him and ask in Christ name for help in becoming stronger. I know that none of us are perfect and so there is no reason to fear what man thinks of us. To many times you will find us judging each other when it is not our place, especially when we have not taken the time to get to know someone personally. If we look at others the way Heavenly Father does we would love everyone. I know God loves all of us perfectly, no matter who we are, what we have done, or where we are in our lives currently. All he wants is to bless us as we humbly come before him in prayer. We must look for the good and the strengths in our brothers and sisters and build them up so that in turn they can do the same for those they know and love. I know as we reach to those who may feel inadequate or out of place, Heavenly Father will bless us and we will feel more joy and happieness in our lives.

Selflessness

I love the words of the Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley, and every time i watch this I am filled with the spirit. We should all strive to follow the example of these young boys.

   Matthew 25:37–40: “Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

“When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

“Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

     

As we serve those around us we know that we are serving Heavenly Father, and as we serve Him, he has promised us blessings, and what a blessing in of itself to know you have helped someone who may be less fortunate then you, or in a tight spot, or who just needed a friendly gesture. I know that as we do these things and help those around us that we will feel the love of our Heavenly Father more abundantly!

  

Why we are who we are

To think of such men that they would give their lives for us so we can have the Book of Mormon, Jesus Christ gave his life so that we could return to live with our loving Heavenly Father again. I do know that the Book of Mormon is the true word of God just as the Bible is. We have so much to be grateful for in this day and we tend to look past the greatest blessing because its not what may be socially accepted in this day. We need to want to have God and Christ in our lives. That is one of the greatest blessings to recieve this day.