I once heard a talk given by President Gordon B. Hinckley, the late Prophet and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (or Mormon Church) that I’ve found myself thinking a lot about lately. I suppose it was less a story and more of an observation really, in which President Hinckley relayed a time when he drove up to an old farm gate. The gate, he saw, was controlled by small hinges that made only the slightest of movements in their assigned duties. The gate itself, however, swung in a large arc, sixteen feet in radius. President Hinckley noted that the decisions we make in our lives can likewise have tremendous consequences. One small thought, one small word, some small action can have far reaching consequences beyond our imagining.

My sister sometimes likes to talk about a thing she calls “stick-to-it-iveness.” If you make up your mind to do something, to achieve something, to be something, you ought to stick with it and see it through. Mormons would say to keep the faith. Being true to yourself and the promises you have made to yourself and to others around you, can bring you happiness and a peace of mind rarely available. You need to be able to count on yourself, and it’s a positively powerful feeling when you know others can count on you too.

Even the Lord Himself said:

“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 1:37-38.)

Remember those tiny hinges and the impact they had on the gate and it’s ability to function as it was created. Think what impact your small deeds, words or even thoughts have on the world around you. Strive to make even your small actions count for something good in this world.

The Lord also said:

“Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am” (3 Ne. 27:27.)

I believe that if we remember to be the sort of people others can count on, whose word is golden and actions speak of honor and integrity, we will feel satisfied with ourselves. Such deep personal satisfaction will bring us peace and a lasting happiness of true value.

Serving a full-time mission is an honor and a privilege that will bless your life an hundred-fold. I recently ran across some quotes by President Kimball that I thought were worth sharing here. They offer powerful perspective on who has been called to share the gospel. The prophet spoke clearly of our duty. He said "I was asked a few years ago, 'Should every young man who is a member of the Church fill a mission?' I responded with the answer the Lord has given: Yes, every worthy young man should fill a mission. The Lord expects it of him. And if he is not now worthy to fill a mission, then he should start at once to qualify himself."

The Lord has instructed,

"Send forth the elders of my church unto the nations which are afar off; unto the islands of the sea; send forth unto foreign lands; call upon all nations, first upon the Gentiles, and then upon the Jews.” (D&C 133:8)

President Kimball further added "Someone might also ask, 'Should every young woman, should every father and mother, should every member of the Church serve a mission?' Again, the Lord has given the answer: Yes, every man, woman, and child—every young person and every little boy and girl—should serve a mission. This does not mean that they must serve abroad or even be formally called and set apart as full-time missionaries. But it does mean that each of us is responsible to bear witness of the gospel truths that we have been given. We all have relatives, neighbors, friends, and fellow workmen, and it is our responsibility to pass the truths of the gospel on to them, by example as well as by precept. (Spencer W. Kimball, It Becometh Every Man, Ensign, Oct 1977, 3)

So, while I'm busy preparing my oldest son to enter the MTC next month I have to ask myself "Am I being a good member missionary today?" I'd love to be able to share conversion stories with him on his mission about people I've shared the gospel with!

I was out enjoying a summer stroll with my husband one evening when my cell phone rang. It was from a friend I knew through church (I'm a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or Mormons). Her doctor’s appointment that morning had brought devastating news: the 20-week-old fetus she’d been carrying was dead. My friend was scheduled to go to the hospital later that night to deliver the body. She was calling to ask me if I would notify our local church leaders for her.

As I got off the phone my husband asked what was wrong. After I related the contents of the call, we held each other for a few moments, then hurried home to see what more we could do.

The following evening I went with another girlfriend to visit this friend who’d lost her baby. I’d bought a yellow rose with a vase and card which we both signed, but I felt completely at a loss as to what I could possibly say that would help this grieving friend.

When we got to her door, we found that there was another couple from the ward (local congregation) already visiting, and we were invited to join them. About six months previously this visiting couple had also miscarried surprisingly late into their pregnancy. I humbly sat and listened as the visiting couple counseled with confidence my friend and her husband, both of whom looked visibly relieved to be speaking with two people who knew their pain so intimately. The visiting couple's prior experience had specially equipped them to help in this very sad, very unusual situation.

We are not always fortunate enough to have a close friend or relative who knows our particular pain. Fortunately, there is always One who knows perfectly what we are going through, because He too has personally experienced it. Many years before the Savior's birth, an ancient American prophet Alma prophesied that Christ would “take upon him [our] 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 [our] infirmities” (Alma 7:12). In the Garden of Gethsemane Christ suffered not only for the sins of all mankind, He also suffered every physical and emotional pain we could possibly experience. Because of what he suffered, Christ was uniquely prepared to give needed comfort to each of us during hardship. To succor means to run to the rescue, and Christ is waiting and willing to run to our side.

Whenever we are hurting we can seek the Savior’s comfort through prayer, reading scripture, or listening to sacred hymns. In quiet moments we can experience the reassurance that Christ is there and he knows what we are going through. While this knowledge will not alter our circumstances, it does give us needed relief, healing, and strength to carry on, while at the same time looking forward to a day when we can smile again.

Members of the Mormon Church believe two things about the Book of Mormon:

1. Joseph Smith translated it by the gift and power of God.
2. It is scripture.

In our day, the story of the Book of Mormon began on September 21, 1823. Joseph Smith was seventeen, and for the past three years the heavens had been silent. Earlier he had the First Vision, where God the Father and Jesus Christ had appeared to him, and told him to join no church. He was obedient to the command, and had continued on in the normal doings of daily life. But still, the heavens had been silent.

That night, Joseph Smith could not sleep. He was kept awake by several things. The first was his situation. He had seen a vision. He knew it, and God knew it. But he was still ridiculed by the townsfolk of Palmyra. Second, he was concerned about his sins.

Joseph Smith wrote:

“I was left to all kinds of temptations; and, mingling with all kinds of society, I frequently fell into many foolish errors, and displayed the weakness of youth, and the foibles of human nature; which, I am sorry to say, led me into divers temptations, offensive in the sight of God.”

“In making this confession, no one need suppose me guilty of any great or malignant sins. A disposition to commit such was never in my nature. But I was guilty of levity, and sometimes associated with jovial company, etc., not consistent with that character which ought to be maintained by one who was called of God as I had been. But this will not seem very strange to any one who recollects my youth, and is acquainted with my native cheery temperament.” (JS-History 1:28)

In other words, Joseph Smith’s big sin was that he was a teenager.

Nonetheless, he felt guilty about his mistakes. So that night, after his family had gone to sleep in the tiny log cabin, he stayed awake and prayed for forgiveness.

In his own words, this is what happened:

“While I was thus in the act of calling upon God, I discovered a light appearing in my room, which continued to increase until the room was lighter than at noonday, when immediately a personage appeared at my bedside, standing in the air, for his feet did not touch the floor.”

“He had on a loose robe of most exquisite whiteness. It was a whiteness beyond anything earthly I had ever seen; nor do I believe that any earthly thing could be made to appear so exceedingly white and brilliant. His hands were naked, and his arms also, a little above the wrist; so, also, were his feet naked, as were his legs, a little above the ankles. His head and neck were also bare. I could discover that he had no other clothing on but this robe, as it was open, so that I could see into his bosom.”

“Not only was his robe exceedingly white, but his whole person was glorious beyond description, and his countenance truly like lightning. The room was exceedingly light, but not so very bright as immediately around his person. When I first looked upon him, I was afraid; but the fear soon left me.”

“He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a work for me to do; and that my name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people.”

“He said there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang. He also said that the fulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants.” (JS-History 1:30-34)

The next morning, Joseph Smith went to the Hill Cumorah where the plates where buried. Joseph Smith did not immediately take the plates, but, after several years of preparation and returning to the hill on the same date, he eventually received the plates. He then translated them by the gift and power of God.

His translation was published in 1830, and is still in print. For a free copy of the Book of Mormon, click HERE.

The book itself is not mystery. The title page of the book, written by an ancient prophet, explains everything:

THE BOOK OF MORMON

AN ACCOUNT WRITTEN BY THE HAND OF MORMON UPON PLATES TAKEN FROM THE PLATES OF NEPHI

“Wherefore, it is an abridgment of the record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites—Written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile—Written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation—Written and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed—To come forth by the gift and power of God unto the interpretation thereof—Sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by way of the Gentile—The interpretation thereof by the gift of God.”

“An abridgment taken from the Book of Ether also, which is a record of the people of Jared, who were scattered at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people, when they were building a tower to get to heaven—Which is to show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever—And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all nations—And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment–seat of Christ.” (Title Page)

That is it: the Book of Mormon is an ancient book of history. It is also a witness or testament of Jesus Christ. Once you understand that the book is about Jesus Christ, everything else makes sense.

Mormons see the Book of Mormon as a compliment to the Bible, as the Old Testament compliments the New Testament. We learn of the Gospel of Jesus Christ—the principles, laws, ordinances, covenants, and the undergirding Atonement—which allows us to be like our Father in Heaven, and return to be with Him after life.

Joseph Smith said this about the Book of Mormon:

"I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book." (“Chapter 4: The Book of Mormon: Keystone of Our Religion,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, [2007], 57–68.)

I keep a regular habit of reading all of the scriptures. I love them all. Even so, I feel there is something different about the Book of Mormon. It is shorter than the Bible, but is equally powerful. I think this doctrinal density is part of it.

And, unlike the Bible, its editing and compilation was overseen by prophets with authority and revelation. The Bible, on the other hand, has a looser history.

I’m not insulting the Bible. I’ve read it six times, and I have written a commentary on the book of Job. But we all know the all scripture is not of equal worth: the Beatitudes far outstrip the usefulness of “the begats.”

(For a free copy of the Bible, click HERE.)

So for me, the Book of Mormon has fulfilled its promise of being a witness of Christ and of drawing me closer to God. I know it can do the same for anyone.

Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon Church, was not only a prophet, but also a restorer. Through him God restored truths, priesthood powers, scripture, and a church organization whose membership now numbers thirteen million.

Those are the big things we think of when we discuss Joseph Smith. However, he was also responsible for restoring small things. For example, one of the central things he restored was an emphasis on families. This is a small thing, since it begins with merely two people who have fallen in love. This small process continues as this couple begins to have children, who begin life as the tiniest of creatures.

In saying that he revealed small things is not to say that they are trivial. But sometimes we focus on the externals or “the big things,” such as the number of temples, the size of the church membership, the prominence of Mormons in society, arts, and government, that we can miss these small things that are of equal value. After all, faith does not need to be mammoth. Faith can work perfectly well, even if it is as small as a mustard seed. (Matthew 17:20)

Another one of these small things Joseph Smith revealed was the nature of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Nowadays people have varying opinions of Mary. Some people are miffed because she does not get enough “airtime” in the scriptures as other less worthy males. They see her being trivialized because she is not as emphasized as, say, King Ahab or Goliath. On the other hand some Christian denominations see her as a “co-mediatrix” and “co-redemptrix” with Christ. She is the Queen of Heaven. Some take her up as a feminist icon—after all if Jesus is important, then his mother must be even more important. And there are various other notions.

To understand the Mormon view of Mary, the starting point is the Book of Mormon. Mormons consider this book is scripture on par with the Bible, and appreciate its teachings that reaffirm and expand upon the truths of the Bible.

Nephi, who was an ancient prophet, was given a vision of the life of Jesus Christ. One part of the vision focuses on Mary:

“And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the great city of Jerusalem, and also other cities. And I beheld the city of Nazareth; and in the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white.”

“And it came to pass that I saw the heavens open; and an angel came down and stood before me; and he said unto me: Nephi, what beholdest thou?”

“And I said unto him: A virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins.”

“And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God?”

“And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.”

“And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh.”

“And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the Spirit for the space of a time the angel spake unto me, saying: Look!”

“And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms.”

“And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father!” (1 Nephi 11:13-21)

Mormons accept that the traditional understanding of Mary. Although she was mortal and not divine, she did have a special calling to bear and nurture the Savior.

By way of comparison, King Phillip II of Macedon has his son Alexander the Great tutored by the philosopher Aristotle. We of course assume that God has as much horse sense as Phillip, and would make a similar choice in selecting super-competent people when choosing the parents of the Savior of the world.

However, there is one point that is disputed nowadays: the Virgin Birth. There are two reasons for this. One is the general distaste that some people have for miracles. They see miracles as an intrusion into the natural and scientific order of things. It makes things messy and smacks of mysticism and paganism. It would set science back two millennia. And miracles can be a non-answer. “Why did such-and-such happen? God willed it.” This is sometimes called the God of the Gaps Theory.

The other reason is has to do with translation. In the King James Bible, the official bible of the Mormon Church, there is a prophecy from Isaiah that reads:

“Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)

The disputation is over the word “virgin.” The Hebrew word used in this verse is almah, which refers to a young woman of marriageable age. The people argue that if virgin in the strict sense of the word was intended, Isaiah would have used bethulah which always means virgin. So Mary was just a young girl, noting more. Joseph (or the Roman soldier Panthera) was the real father of Jesus.

The Mormon response to these questions can be resolved by the above passage from the Book of Mormon. As to miracles, the book not only reaffirms the reality of miracles, but the Book of Mormon is itself a miracle. The Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God. Consequently, Mormons believe that God guided Joseph Smith in word selection for the translation.

(You see how the atheistic scientism of the first objection facilitates the philosophic climate for the second objection.)

The critics assume that Isaiah used the word almah in the original text, and not bethulah. Mormons believe the Bible is the word of God, insofar as it is translated correctly. Joseph Smith taught:

“I believe the Bible as it read when it came from the pen of the original writers. Ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt priests have committed many errors. … Look at [Hebrews 6:1] for contradictions—‘Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection.’ If a man leaves the principles of the doctrine of Christ, how can he be saved in the principles? This is a contradiction. I don’t believe it. I will render it as it should be—‘Therefore not leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection.’ ” (“Chapter 17: The Great Plan of Salvation,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, [2007], 206–16.)

So it is possible that there was textual tampering with this verse.

But back to the issue. Understanding that Christ was virgin born is the key to everything. Bruce R. McConkie, an apostle in the Mormon Church, taught:

“This matter of the divine sonship of the Lord is the heart and core of revealed religion. It is the very center of out system of worship; all things revolve around it; all things center in it. If anyone is going to investigate revealed religion, the focal point of the investigation should be this matter of the divine sonship of Christ.” (Sermons and Writings of Bruce R. McConkie, 41)

The reason why is that if Christ was virgin born, then He was the Son of God. If He was the Son of God, then He could both atone and resurrect. On the other hand, if Christ was not virgin born, then He was not the Son of God, did not atone and resurrect, and then we have no religion whatsoever. Everything would collapse like a house of cards.

That is why Joseph Smith restored this truth about Mary. Although she was merely a mortal, she was chosen to be the virgin mother of Jesus Christ. And it is this connection to Christ that makes her noteworthy.

In general, LDS sacrament meetings require little more than reverent attention of its members. However, the passing of the sacrament, similar to communion in other churches, is one part of the meeting in which we all participate.

The sacrament allows us to renew our baptismal covenants and be reminded of the promises God made to us at that time and that we made to God. Ask your missionaries if you should take the Sacrament when it’s passed. While it is meant to renew covenants, no one will be offended if you choose to partake before your baptism. Children are allowed to do so even before they turn eight years old, the age of baptism.

The sacrament is based on the Last Supper. This was the last time the Savior met with his apostles. He broke bread and told them to eat it in remembrance of his body, which died for them. Then he gave them wine, which was to be taken in remembrance of the blood he shed for them on the cross. He repeated this ordinance in his visit to the Nephites, recorded in the Book of Mormon.

Today, we are also commanded to partake of this special ordinance. We use water instead of wine today, but the remembrance is the same.

The members prepare for the taking of the sacrament by singing a sacrament hymn. The hymn is one specifically chosen to help us remember the purpose of what we are about to do. There are many LDS hymns on this subject, and the music leaders select different ones each week. LDS.org, the official church site, has the words and music to many of these hymns, which can be listened to or downloaded at no cost. Look under the heading Sacrament.

On the stand in the chapel, you will see two priesthood holders, who hold the priesthood level of priest (minimum age sixteen) or higher, preparing the Sacrament during the hymn. They break the bread. The water was placed in small cups prior to the meeting. When the song ends, the members of the congregation bow their heads, close their eyes, and listen carefully to the sacrament prayer on the bread, given by a priest who is kneeling. Members remain in their seats.

Then boys or men who hold the priesthood level of deacon (minimum age twelve) or higher pass the sacrament to the members of the congregation. When they reach your aisle, they will hold the tray for the first person, who takes a single piece of bread with his right hand and eats it. He then takes the tray and holds it for the next person. This continues until the end of the aisle, when another deacon takes it. If you’re in a pew on the wall or have a large space between you and the next person, the last person should return it to the deacon who gave it to you or pass it back down the row to him. Parents should assist small children. People who are in the foyer, perhaps because their children are fussing, are taken the sacrament there.

You can read the words of the two prayers in the Doctrine and Covenants, section 20, verses 77-79.

If you are on the end of the aisle and can’t remember what to do, ask the deacon or a member near you for help. They will be happy to show you what to do.

This process is repeated for the water. Take the small individual cup when offered, and then place it in the center of the tray when you're finished.

While waiting for the sacrament to be passed, members silently read scriptures about the Savior or ponder his life. Small children often find it helpful to look at pictures of the Savior while they wait. Members should attempt to not leave the chapel during this time. The doors are closed so others cannot enter, as well. It is meant to be a very quiet and reverent moment of communion with the Savior.

To learn more about the Sacrament, read the chapter on the sacrament in the Gospel Principles book. It is free to read in its entirety and is a basic introduction to church doctrine.

For some teenagers the strongest way they feel and receive love is through service. Service is a language most parents naturally speak. From the time our children are first born it becomes our responsibility to change diapers, cook food, wash clothes, and look after the physical welfare of our little ones.

One of the greatest examples of service comes in the form of a carpenter. Jesus Christ spent the majority of His ministry serving others. It’s a pretty fair bet that He spent many more years before that giving service as well. He knew, perhaps more than any of the rest of us can possibly comprehend, how acts of service are able to communicate so much love. The Bible is replete with story after story of how our Savior performed such acts. The Book of Mormon, another testament of Christ, also shows how He chose to serve His faithful in the Americas shortly after His resurrection. He was only with them for a short time, but His influence remained with them for hundreds of years after. (If you'd like to read of this visit please go to 3 Nephi 11 and read on.)

Gary Chapman, noted marriage and family counselor, recognized the need for service in many of his patients, even calling it a powerful expression. Unfortunately we as parents often find our attitudes slipping when it comes to serving our teens. Perhaps we do it more out of a sense of duty rather than love. We may even start to feel more like slaves than parents. I know I’ve felt that way a few times.

This is where we learn how to step away from the type of service we provided for our loved ones when they were children, and begin teaching them how to become independent adults through service.

In listening to Dr. Chapman speak on acts of service I am reminded of the saying, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” That is the attitude we must now begin to take with our teens. They want to feel grown up and independent. A big step forward will be in teaching them how to do things for themselves. This can be done in simple ways.

If you’re preparing dinner one night, invite your teen to come help you. Ideally this should be done even before they become teenagers. Still, it’s never too late to start, and teens should definitely be taught to cook some of the most basic dishes. You are providing the service of preparing the food and doing the main cooking, but your teen feels the love you are showing in asking them to be a part of the process.

In both the youth programs (Young Men and Young Women) in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed Mormon Church) teens are encouraged to set goals to help them become more self-reliant. For boys these goals are set in the Duty to God program, and for girls it's done in Personal Progress. For example, teens are asked to learn to make a grocery list, do the shopping, and prepare a meal. Parents are highly encouraged to help in this, and certainly show their love when they choose to do so.

Dr. Chapman encourages us to make a list of things we’d like to teach our teenager. Show it to him or her and explain what the list is. Ask your teenager to write down any other things he or she might like to learn. This will especially help in giving your teen a positive attitude about the plan. Your teen might even surprise you. Your young man could be a budding chef. Your young lady could be interested in cars. Give them the chance to express themselves through the things they want to learn.

Once the planning is done the training must begin.

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

It does not say, “Do everything for your child and maybe one day he’ll pick up on it.” Our children have to be taught and trained how to do things for themselves. Dr. Chapman tells us to teach first. Give a verbal explanation of what you are about to do. For example, you wouldn’t just hand your teenager a pot and expect them to know how to make spaghetti. You would first explain things. After we teach it’s time to train. First we show by example, next we have our teen help, until finally they are able to do it by themselves. This will take time, and a lot of patience. I can promise you when it is done in the right spirit wonderful things will happen in the life of both you and your teen.

Three warnings. First, be careful not to fall into the habit of making deals. Your teen will only see this as manipulation. If you find yourselves saying things like, “I’ll do this if you’ll do this…” be careful. It’s a form of manipulation, like a bartering system. The end result is not love, but getting what you want.

Second, be mindful of doing everything for your teens, as you did for them when they were children. It will still be necessary to do many things for your teens, especially those things they have not been taught to do for themselves. Parents who continually do everything for their teens are simply creating dependent teenagers who feels free to take and take and take, but never learn how to truly give.

Last, watch for teens who try and manipulate you. “If you really loved me you’d let me go to the party.” Guilt is a favorite tool, and we need to remember real loves comes from doing what we know to be right even when our children don’t see it themselves.

Whenever I think of the Lord I think of service, and the love He showed through each act performed. I know He would willingly serve me just as I try to serve my own children. I also know He doesn’t want me to just give my kids fish, He wants them to become fishermen.