Elder M. Russell Ballard, a living apostle, gave the commencement address at BYU-Hawaii in December 2007 where he marveled at this rising generation and all the technology it has to offer. He reminded the students that when President Hinckley was in charge of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints', referred to as the Mormons, Public Affairs Department that the staff consisted of only one person - himself! We sure have come a long way since then!

Technology has provided some great new opportunities as well as challenges for missionary work. Elder Ballard remarked:

"The Internet can be used to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and can just as easily be used to market the filth and sleaze of pornography." (M. Russell Ballard, BYU-Hawaii, 15 December, 2007)

I've heard that the two most popular web site topics are complete opposites: genealogy and pornography. We have such an effective tool at our disposal in the World Wide Web. How will we use it to build the kingdom?

Elder Ballard continued,

"Yours is the world of cyberspace, cell phones that capture video, video downloads and iTunes, social networks like Facebook, text messaging and blogs, hand-helds and podcasts." The challenge is presented to all of us when he asked "How will you use these marvelous inventions? More to the point, how will you use them to further the work of the Lord?" (Ibid)

Within minutes anyone can create a blog and start sharing his or her testimony. Within minutes anyone can post comments on message boards or forums. There are so many places online where we can visit to receive encouraging and uplifting messages as well as give them.

"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." (Ephesians 4:29

Choosing our words carefully is extremely important since the reader can't see our facial expression or even detect when we're joking or using sarcasm.

Decide what your passion is and use your talents to build and bless others.

"Let him that is taught in the world communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things." (Galatians 6:6)

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (or Mormon Church) defined the family in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” in 1995 (Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102.) The proclamation was inspired in part by the passionate controversy that has been brewing worldwide for some time now about the importance, or unimportance, of the traditional family. Mormon beliefs include the family as a conventional unit with a man and a woman as husband and wife, hopefully blessed with children.

Recently, a growing and abundant body of academic research has begun to support the Church’s belief that the traditional family is more than an out-dated formula, but of true advantage to the well-being of men and women throughout the world and across all race and socioeconomic classes.

These findings were presented in an article entitled “Happiness, Health and Marriage” (Elizabeth VanDenBerghe, Ensign, Aug 2001, 29.” The article states:

“Findings reaffirm that marriage relationships need to be built on righteous principles—“a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other,” in the words of the proclamation. It is clear that marriages based on righteous principles are the kind of marriages that lead to lasting happiness.”

While the statistics support male/female traditional marriages, it doesn’t mean that a loving and committed husband and wife will escape the trials and tribulations of life. Life happens to all of us. The meaning behind the numbers though, seem to say that if we are happily married we are more likely to weather the storms of life with a better outlook and outcome.

The real question for me, though, is why is this so? One psychology professor maintains that the intimate friendship a husband and wife share is a safety net of sorts, allowing for all of our foibles and weaknesses and all of our challenges to be shared and vented and dealt with in a safe and understanding environment. Other specialists support the idea that spouses help each other take care of themselves so healthier eating habits, exercise and sleep patterns are achieved and maintained.

The article was lengthy and presents in great detail the many ways in which traditional marriages are seen to be of greater benefit to individual happiness over less traditional relationships. I encourage you to read the article if you are interested in viewing the citations and reading more. Through it all I find it very interesting that the research shows a trend that people are much more likely to flourish and find happiness in a healthy heterosexual marriage.

Strong, happy marriages are the glue that holds our society together. Happy marriages create healthy, capable individuals who feel good about themselves and their ability to contribute in a positive manner to their community. Healthy marriages raise children with strong moral values and who grow to be effective and contributing members of our society. Value your marriage, nurture it. You’ll be doing good not only for yourself, your spouse and your children … but for the world around you, too!

The Articles of Faith are thirteen statements of basic belief for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (referred to as the Mormons). They were written as a part of a document called the Wentworth Letter, which Joseph Smith wrote in 1842 to John Wentworth of the Chicago Democrat. Later, these brief statements were set to music by American composer Vanja Watkins. In this series, we will examine the truths presented in the Articles of Faith.

Article of Faith 2:

We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.

(Articles of Faith)

The gospel of Jesus Christ is good news, glad tidings, and much more. It is the message of salvation as repeatedly announced by Jesus Christ and His apostles and prophets. It is my firm belief that all truth and light originating with God is embraced in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

God, our Savior and Redeemer, has said that it is His work and glory “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” (Moses 1:39) God the Father is the author of the gospel; it is a key part of God’s plan of salvation, or plan of redemption. It is called the gospel of Jesus Christ because it is the Atonement of Jesus Christ that makes redemption and salvation possible. Through the Atonement all men, women, and children are unconditionally redeemed from physical death, and all will be redeemed from their own sins on the condition of accepting and obeying the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I thank God for giving us freedom from the transgression of Adam. I also praise Him for giving us responsibility for our own choices. He is truly both merciful and just.

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The Articles of Faith are thirteen statements of basic belief for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (referred to as the Mormons). They were written as a part of a document called the Wentworth Letter, which Joseph Smith wrote in 1842 to John Wentworth of the Chicago Democrat. Later, these brief statements were set to music by American composer Vanja Watkins. In this series, we will examine the truths presented in the Articles of Faith.

Article of Faith 2:

We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.

(Articles of Faith)

The doctrine presented in this Article of Faith is vital in two ways. First, it shows that God will not punish us because of the actions of another. Second, it affirms that we are responsible for our own sins.

The Fall of Adam was necessary in the plan of God. It enabled our Heavenly Father to put us in a place where we were exposed to temptation in order to prove ourselves. We also became subject to physical death. Mercifully, He provided a Savior to atone for our imperfections. Through Jesus Christ, we can overcome the effects of the fall of Adam. He provides for all men and women to be resurrected and receive immortal bodies, and for those who choose to follow him to receive Eternal Life as well.

President Deiter F. Uchtdorf, who was recently called to the First Presidency of the Church, said:

The gospel of Jesus Christ is good news, glad tidings, and much more. It is the message of salvation as repeatedly announced by Jesus Christ and His apostles and prophets. It is my firm belief that all truth and light originating with God is embraced in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

God, our loving Father in Heaven, has said that it is His work and glory “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” God the Father is the author of the gospel; it is a key part of God’s plan of salvation, or plan of redemption. It is called the gospel of Jesus Christ because it is the Atonement of Jesus Christ that makes redemption and salvation possible. Through the Atonement all men, women, and children are unconditionally redeemed from physical death, and all will be redeemed from their own sins on the condition of accepting and obeying the gospel of Jesus Christ.

(Have We Not Reason to Rejoice? October 2007)

I thank God for giving us freedom from the transgression of Adam. I also praise Him for giving us responsibility for our own choices. He is truly both merciful and just.

MP3 Recording of The Second Article of Faith children's song