Have you ever thought to yourself: My life will be so much better and therefore I’ll behave so much sweeter as soon as (fill in the blank) happens? I’m sure we all have at times. As we all eventually find out, that perfect tomorrow never arrives, and we will always only have today with its present challenges.

There is an important principle of the Gospel known as restoration. It’s as simple as this—we get what we put out. Happiness is one example. Sometimes we imagine in our minds circumstances that will make us happy, and we wait until those circumstances come together to be happy. Really, though, if you want to be happy, you need to create happiness for others. Then you will find you can’t help experiencing it yourself.

Restoration is not just a principle for this life, but it extends to the next. Dallin H. Oaks, current Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (or Mormons), said the following regarding resurrection and restoration:

The assurance of resurrection also gives us a powerful incentive to keep the commandments of God during our mortal lives. Resurrection is much more than merely reuniting a spirit to a body held captive by the grave. We know from the Book of Mormon that the resurrection is a restoration that brings back “carnal for carnal” and “good for that which is good” (Alma 41:13; see also Alma 41:2–4 and Hel. 14:31). The prophet Amulek taught, “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” (Alma 34:34). As a result, when persons leave this life and go on to the next, “they who are righteous shall be righteous still” (2 Ne. 9:16), and “whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life … will rise with us in the resurrection” (D&C 130:18). (“Resurrection,” Ensign, May 2000, 14)

Thanks to our elder brother Jesus Christ, every person who has ever lived on the earth will have the privilege of being resurrected. That means they will come back to life in their perfect form, free from disease and from the possibility of dying. However, the way we’ll feel about ourselves and those around us will not magically transform the same way our bodies will. We will have the same tendencies toward happiness or misery, selfishness or selflessness. As Elder Oaks pointed out, knowing that should help us want to get a handle on those attitudes that prevent us from experiencing joy now, as we will find the process of dying and coming back to life won’t simply make them disappear.

So practice living today the way you know you want yourself and your children to live forever. That doesn’t mean beat yourself up when you fall short. Our Father in Heaven knew we’d make mistakes, and He sent His Son Jesus Christ to atone for our sins so we could recover from our mistakes and move on and be better. But the next time you catch yourself thinking you’ll behave better as soon as (fill in the blank) occurs, remember that you could be thinking the same thing well into eternity, and that’s a very long time! We can and must begin the process of change now.

There is a topic that has weighed heavily upon my mind and heart for the past few weeks. I have some dear friends whom I fear are playing with fire. The worst part is that they either don't realize or won't accept that they are. What am I talking about? I am talking about moral cleanliness which is threatened by the fire of unbridled passion.

I am, apparently, not the only one concerned about this. There are countless talks given by our Prophet and Apostles to the young adults of the church on this topic. In the October 1990 General Conference Elder M. Russell Ballard began his talk with,

"The leaders of the Church care so deeply about every one of you that I feel an urgent need to warn you once again of the consequences of moral misconduct... We are aware that the youth of the Church are growing up in a world that is plagued with teenage moral misconduct. We also know that sexual sin has increased tremendously during the past 20 years. Far too many young people have violated the law of chastity. Unfortunately, the youth of the Church are not immune..." (Purity Precedes Power, October 1990 General Conference, Elder M. Russell Ballard)

First, I want you to know that my friends are all good people. They were raised with good standards, and would never (I hope) consciously do something to jeopardize their eternal happiness. And yet, when I see them with their girlfriends/boyfriends, I am afraid of just that. It seems that each time I see them together they are engaging in behavior that they never would have deemed appropriate just weeks before. Yet, they don't see anything wrong in what they are doing. When I tried to speak to them, they just responded by informing me that touch was his or her love language, and that, they haven't crossed the line, so it is, okay. Then they finish by saying I'll understand someday when I am finally in love.

I do understand, and that is why I am so concerned. Though most do not know this about me, touch is one of my main love languages, as well. However, it is because of this that touch evokes such powerful feelings in me, which I hold sacred and will not abuse by evoking inappropriately.

As for not crossing the line, we are given a line or standard, not so as to see how close we can get to it without crossing it, but so we can stay away from it. Commandments are for our protection. They keep us from pain if we will obey them and help us to have true and lasting happiness in this life. The closer we get to the line the more our perception and ability to think clearly are skewed. When this happens we lose self-control, and we become bound.

"Our youth seem confused about the definition of moral cleanliness. Some young men and women take a certain definition and then push it to its limits to see how far they can go without being immoral by that definition. … Because sexual intimacy is so sacred, the Lord requires self-control and purity before marriage, as well as, full fidelity after marriage. In dating, treat your date with respect, and expect your date to show that same respect to you. Never treat your date as an object to be used for your own lustful desires or ego. Improper physical contact can cause a loss of self-control. Always stay in control of yourself and your physical feelings" Away From the Blinding Dust, May New Era 1991, Elder M. Russell Ballard

Lastly, when I think about passion and love I think of the counsel given by the Prophet Alma to his son Shiblon,

"See that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love."Alma 38:12

He did not tell his son to suppress, ignore, or snuff out his passions. He did not say passion was wrong or evil. What he did say was that to be filled with love (and not lust which can only destroy) that we need to bridle (control or properly direct) our passions.

"Sometimes people try to convince themselves that sexual relations outside of marriage are acceptable if the participants love one another. This is not true. Breaking the law of chastity and encouraging someone else to do so is not an expression of love. People who love each other,will never endanger one another's happiness and safety in exchange for temporary personal pleasure.

When people care for one another, enough to keep the law of chastity, their love, trust, and commitment increase, resulting in greater happiness and unity. In contrast, relationships built on sexual immorality sour quickly. Those who engage in sexual immorality often feel fear, guilt, and shame. Bitterness, jealousy, and hatred soon replace any positive feelings that once existed in their relationship." Chastity, Gospel Library,
Gospel Topics

If any have gone too far (if you are not sure if your conduct has gone too far then talk to your bishop or branch president). Then there is still hope in the Atonement. The path to repentance and complete forgiveness in overcoming this sin is difficult, but doable. Go and talk to your Bishop or Branch President today, and he will help you to do so.

I have been blessed in knowing how to be wise in my financial stewardships. I learned how to be from my parents when I was still a small child. My parents taught me to be both imaginative and industrious in finding honest ways to earn money while growing up.

Once I earned money, I was taught that the FIRST thing I needed to do (first as in before anything else) was to set aside 10% to the Lord in tithing. After all, everything I have, I received from the Lord, and all He asks for in return is 10% to be used in the building of His kingdom.

Next, I was taught to set aside money into short-term and long-term savings. The short-term savings allowed me to think ahead so that I could pay for things of value, and also cover emergencies so that I would be able to avoid having to use credit and incurring debt. This is important for debt is not something you want to get caught up in.

"Some forms of credit, such as credit cards, have particularly high interest rates. Once you are in debt, you find that interest has no mercy. It continues to accumulate, regardless of your situation—whether you are employed or jobless, healthy or sick. It never goes away until the debt is paid. Do not be deceived by credit offers, even if they make debt seem attractive by promising low interest rates or no interest for a certain period of time." Debt, True to The Faith

The long-term savings is basically setting aside for my future retirement. For it is smart to start doing so while you are still young. The sooner you can retire the better. Normally I set aside 10% into each of these funds.

Then I was taught (mostly by example) to set aside money for those in need. Normally, the Lord blesses us so that we in turn can bless those around us. I love King Benjamin's discourse, in the Book of Mormon, on taking care of the needy.

"And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.

Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just—

But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.

For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?" Mosiah 4:16-19

Again, I usually set aside 10% to give in philanthropy whether through once-a-month fast offerings, or wherever I see a need. Somehow there is always enough to do so, and take care of my needs, as well.

My remaining funds were mine to do with as I pleased. However, I was warned by my parents as the Prophet Nephi warned his people more than two thousand years ago,

"Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy." 2 Nephi 9:51

I was warned that when I grew older that I would have financial obligations in the form of bills which I would have to pay out of that remaining 60% of my earnings. Yet, if I practiced wisdom in my spending and sacrificed a few of my temporary wants to stay out of debt and live within my income that I would be blessed with peace of mind, and that I would have nothing to fear in the financial storms that would come my way.

"Look to the condition of your finances. Discipline yourself in your purchases, avoiding debt to the extent you can. In most cases, you can avoid debt by managing your resources wisely. If you do incur debt, such as a reasonable amount in order to purchase a modest home or complete your education, work to repay it as quickly as possible and free yourself from bondage. When you have paid your debts and accumulated some savings, you will be prepared for financial storms that may come your way. You will have shelter for your family and peace in your heart" Debt, True to The Faith

I am so grateful that I was taught this while still in my childhood. I have been blessed with much peace and security in handling my finances as I was taught. Many of my single adult friends either were not taught as I was, or chose not to follow the teachings of their parents on this subject. Because of this, they are in major debt, and live paycheck to paycheck, never knowing how they will make ends meet, from month to month, and they dare not even think of how this debt would affect a new marriage.

For those who are in the same financial difficulties as many of my friends, I would say to you, "Don't give up!" It may be difficult, but there is a way to free yourself from your financial bondage. There is a great article in the July 2002 Ensign entitled Climbing Out of Debt. I encourage you to read it and apply the counsel given therein.

This Easter Season, I have spent much time contemplating the record in the New Testament about the interactions, and teachings of our Savior Jesus Christ. This morning I have spent time pondering the story of Mary and Martha, and how it applies to us Single Adults today.

Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus lived together in the small town of Bethany. They were all beloved friends and followers of Jesus Christ. The fact that Jesus felt safe, and welcome in their home as testified by His often visiting them whenever He was in the area, speaks much of what sort of people they were. There is one particular visit to Mary and Martha however, which has occupied my mind these last few days. In his book, Jesus the Christ, President James E. Talmage speaks of this visit,

"Martha was housekeeper, and therefore she assumed responsibility for the proper treatment of the distinguished Guest. While she busied herself with preparations and "was cumbered about much serving," well intended for the comfort and entertainment of Jesus, Mary sat at the Master's feet, listening with reverent attention to His words. Martha grew fretful in her bustling anxiety, and came in, saying: "Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me." She was talking to Jesus but really at Mary. For the moment she had lost her calmness in undue worry over incidental details... He replied to her complaining words with marked tenderness: "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

There was no reproof of Martha's desire to provide well; nor any sanction of possible neglect on Mary's part… He desired not well-served meals and material comforts only, but the company of the sisters, and above all their receptive attention to what He had to say. He had more to give them than they could possibly provide for Him." James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ pg 433, 434

Christ had something most precious to give to His dear friends, and yet one of them almost missed receiving it; because she was caught up with doing that which she thought was important.

This to me is such a powerful lesson in how I need to prioritize my life. Too often I find myself, like Martha before me, filling my time with good things at the expense of that which is better. This I believe is a major problem with Single Adults. We are being distracted, and detoured, and overwhelmed by all the good things in our lives that we too often lose sight completely of the better or best things. In his October 2007 General Conference Address, Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said about this,

"We should begin by recognizing the reality that just because something is good is not a sufficient reason for doing it. The number of good things we can do far exceeds the time available to accomplish them. Some things are better than good, and these are the things that should command priority attention in our lives." Good, Better, Best, Elder Dallin H. Oaks, October 2007 General Conference

So how do we discern what the better part is? How do I know what is most needful? For what is most needful in one moment is not in another? For this, all I can say is to trust in the Holy Spirit to guide us. We as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been given the most precious gift of the companionship of the Holy Ghost if we will but be worthy and receive it.

The spirit will, as Nephi told his brethren, show us all things which we should do. He will guide us when we know not what to do. He will help us to always see the better part. And he will give us course corrections when we have made the wrong choices. When we follow the spirit, we are always right, and have nothing to fear.

We all have Weaknesses, or things that we don't like about ourselves. Throughout our lives we constantly seek to overcome these weaknesses. Yet, the more we focus on our weaknesses, the worse they seem to get in an ever downward spiral. No matter what we ourselves try to do, we can't seem to overcome these hated weaknesses.

In the Book of Ether in the Book of Mormon, the Prophet Moroni tells us of how he too agonized over his own weaknesses. When he turned to the Lord with his concerns over his weaknesses, the Lord revealed to him the key to overcoming them.

"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

It is encouraging to know that we have already finished the first step in overcoming our weaknesses, by seeing them in the first place. Recognizing our weaknesses is a sign that we are coming closer to God

"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." Hope through the Atonement of Jesus Christ," Ensign, Nov. 1998, Neal A Maxwell

Next, we need to develop humility. This is partially accomplished in admitting to a weakness, to begin with. The other part of humility is in acknowledging where our strength lies. This means realizing that where we do not have the power to overcome our weakness that God does. With God we can do all things.

When we add to our humility unwavering faith in God, (Faith that He not only can overcome your weakness, but that He will), then we give Him access to do the seemingly impossible. Not just get rid of our weaknesses, but turn them into a strength.

This last part is the key. It is God is who has the power to make weak things become strong. Sometimes God takes away our weakness and in the process he strengthens our character. Other times He leaves our weakness and instead helps us to see and use our seeming weaknesses in a way that transforms it into a great strength. Yet still we know that it is only through God that either can occur.

"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 Corinthians 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 Corinthians 12:9–10).

Like Paul, we can find positive meaning in weaknesses that are not taken away. Surely nothing is quite as humbling as having a weakness that we cannot overcome but must continue to struggle with throughout our life. Such a weakness teaches us, in a very personal way, that after all we can do we must rely on the grace of Christ to make up the difference.

As we humbly submit our will to the Lord's, we find that our weaknesses can indeed become sources of strength if we put our trust in Him." Making Weak Things Become Strong, Anne C. Pingree Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency

This blog is the second in a series of four. In the last blog, I suggested that finding a balance between too strict or too lenient parenting can be found in the words and examples of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Finding the balance is not only important for the development of our children, it’s pretty important for the mental health of us parents. We can watch what He does and then try (and try again) to use it with our own children.

The first piece of this parenting puzzle is knowledge. There are two basic things our Father in Heaven wants us to know before He gives us the next puzzle pieces of choice and responsibility. They are:

1. The Target - Where We are Going
2. The Rules of the Game – How to Get There

1. The Target

Our Father in Heaven helps us “begin with the end in mind” as Steven Covey says. He gives us a vision of our end-state of life and tells us what the point of life is to be.

For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. )Moses 1:39)

He wants us back with Him. He wants to share all that He has with His children. He then tells us who we are, so we aren’t completely overwhelmed and unbelieving that this is possible.

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. (Acts 17:28-29)

Jesus Christ then gives us a challenge – to strive for perfection.

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)

It seems impossible! But Christ’s challenge keeps our sites on a target that is unchanging. He knows that we will not achieve the goal of perfection in this life, but we can work toward it every day.

This knowledge gives us confidence and direction. With the end in site, the standard high, and knowledge of our divine heritage, we can move forward, knowing that we can do hard things and that the reward is fantastic.

The same principles can be used with our children. We can help them visualize the end-state, whether we are talking about eternal or earthly things. When my son was eight, he went for about a two-month spell where he wouldn’t get out of the car at his violin lesson. Frustrated, I asked his wonderful violin teacher what she would do in my shoes. Should I physically drag him inside? Should I go home? Should I give him a punishment or bribe him? This mother of seven talented children told me, “Tell him that he can become a wonderful, gifted musician and this is what it takes to get there.” I tried it. I can’t say that he immediately bounded out of the car with a smile on his face, but he started coming back into the lesson and is still taking the violin years later. Because he stuck with it, he can now see that he IS a talented and gifted musician. This knowledge now feeds his interest. Visualizing the end-state is powerful and motivating. It keeps the standard high and the target in sight.

As a simple example, it can work with vegetable eating. Instead of pleading, bribing or punishing, we can help our children see the end goal. “When you grow up you are going to be a big vegetable eater. Your body needs the vitamins and you will find some that you love as an adult. At dinner, our family takes one bite of everything, even if you’ve had it before and even if you don’t like it. We need to see if those vegetable taste buds have kicked in yet - you never know when they will.”

We can also help our children to know who they are – that they are children of God and should act accordingly:

“You are a child of God and your body is a miracle gift. Smoking and drugs destroys that amazing body.”

“You are so intelligent. I know you can think of better words to use.”

“You can be kind, even when he teases you. Heavenly Father knows you have the power to choose how you respond.”

We can use this same principle in our own families. We tell our children they are the “Honest Ahlstroms” and that integrity is a family heritage. We share stories of grandparents and other relatives who have shown honesty during hard times. If they lie, we are firm but positive. “You are an honest Ahlstrom. We expect more.” Their potential is greater than they have shown and the standard is still high.

2. Rules of the Game

Once we know where we are going, we really need help in knowing how to get there.

We have more pieces of knowledge so we know what to do:

1. Commandments and direction
2. A mentor
3. A personal guide

Commandments and Direction

First, He gives us commandments and direction. The children of Israel had the 10 Commandments and the Law of Moses. With Christ’s coming, we have a fulfillment of the law and a higher expectation. After Christ gives the Sermon on the Mount where He outlines a new gospel, He tells us how to achieve the end-state.

20 Therefore come unto me and be ye saved; for verily I say unto you, that except ye shall keep my commandments, which I have commanded you at this time, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. (3 Nephi 12:20)

The scriptures contain a complete outline of the law with blessings and punishments that come with keeping or breaking the law. Prophets and apostles give more information about the law and warnings when the people start breaking the laws. If we had no law, then any behavior would be acceptable – there would be no right or wrong. He knows that any behavior will not get us to our end goal. The commandments are a generous plan that gives us guardrails for life. They are the most efficient way back to the target.

There is no question that we need family law. Bedtimes, manners, chores, and other rules keep order and progression in place. We tell our children to stay out of the street to keep them safe. We feed them nutritious food to keep them healthy. We have them brush their teeth to avoid pain and decay.

But at the same time, we don’t need to come up with a rule and corresponding blessing or punishment for every behavior – we can point our children in so many instances to the perfect law of Jesus Christ.

Swearing? Matthew 5:34-37
Morality? Matthew 5:27-28
Treatment of bullies? Matthew 5:44-45
Tattling? Matthew 7:3-5
Choosing friends wisely? Matthew 7:16-20
Sibling rivalry? Matthew 5:22-25

Thankfully, He has given us the basic laws and then lets us practice law-giving in our own families.

A Mentor

In God’s wisdom, He knew that we would need an example to follow. We have a mentor in Jesus Christ. The only perfect individual to walk the earth, He shows us the way.

32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God. (Moroni 10:32)

Just as Christ is a mentor for us and for our children, our Creator also places us in families. You are your child’s mentor, no matter how intimidating that responsibility may be.

A Personal Guide

We may call it our conscience, intuition, our “gut feeling”, the light of Christ, or the gift of the Holy Ghost. All of humanity is given the gift to known good from evil. (2 Nephi 2:5)

With this innate knowledge of right and wrong, there can be no plausible deniability that we did wrong because we didn’t know better. Kids seem to have an uncanny sense of right and wrong. They are the first to call out unfair treatment.

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, known as the Mormons, we believe that the Holy Ghost can speak to all of humanity. We also believe that in order to receive the opportunity for constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, we must be baptized and confirmed, Then we must stay obedient and worthy to keep this magnificent gift.

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38)

- and -

32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. (Acts 5:32)

Whew. When our Father in Heaven gave us the ability to choose, He first prepared us well. This is a stunning amount of knowledge –

• We are headed back to live eternally with God
• We are His children
• We have commandments to help us return
• We have a mentor in the Savior
• We can have a personal guide in the Holy Ghost

Talk about an amazing support system. Any other thoughts? I am sure that you have many more ideas and examples of knowledge given and used in your own families. We would all love to hear about your experiences with knowledge, so please comment if you would like.

Before we move to the next piece of the puzzle – choice, we need to first see that it is not given in a vacuum. Knowledge is first given to help the choices go well.

As you meet with the missionaries, you will probably be asked to do a variety of reading assignments. If you’re unable to read, or to read well enough, these may make you feel uncomfortable. If you are using a screen reader to read this article because of literacy needs, you may already have found you can’t read the Book of Mormon or Bible reading assignments.

Let your missionaries know you can’t read. Don't keep this a secret from them, even if you've worked hard to keep it a secret from everyone else. They can help you with the assignments so you are able to hear the scriptures read. The scriptures are also available in auditory form online. Then ask the missionaries to tell you about the Relief Society Literacy effort.

The literacy effort was introduced in 1992. It’s an exciting 18-month program that will teach you how to read and write by using the scriptures. This is an inspired method. We are promised that when we read the scriptures, the spirit will be with us in extra measure to help us understand them. So, when you’re learning to read by reading scriptures, you also have that extra measure to help you learn to read.

There is no cost for the program, but it requires a strong commitment on your part. Classes are held twice a week and you must study at home every day as well. Once you are baptized and are assigned home or visiting teachers, they will be asked to help and encourage you as well. For instance, they might help you with a homework assignment during visits. If your family can read, they too are asked to assist you. You don't have to be a member of the church to participate, but you will be learning scriptures and religion as you learn to read.

Students learn to read by learning words from the scripture, allowing them, at the end of the very first day, to read a short sentence from the scriptures. They also keep a journal. If they can’t write, the teacher writes what they dictate, but once students learn a few letters, they write the letters they know and the teacher writes the rest. Students may also request help learning words they need to know, such as the names of family members.

You may have spent your life hiding your inability to read. Your teachers will not look down on you because you can’t read. They will, instead, be excited and proud that you’ve taken the important step of asking for help. They will work patiently with you until you’re successful. Once you know how to read, a whole new world will open up to you. You’ll be able to find better employment, read to your children, and explore the riches of the gospel. While you can listen to the scriptures online, there is extra power in being able to read them for yourself, studying at your own pace and making notes of the scriptures that are most meaningful to you.

However, you needn’t wait until you can read to continue your missionary lessons. Reading is not a requirement for baptism. Work with your missionaries to find other ways to complete the assignments, but do take advantage of the program offered by the church.

Read the stories of others just like you who have learned to read using this program in "I Have Hope in the Future for Me.”

There are two men in particular to thank for the proper, though hurried, burial of our Savior. If it weren’t for these two men Christ’s body would have been treated the same way as any other Jewish convicted criminal: tossed into a common grave. This was not a burial meant for the one who had just redeemed all of mankind.

This occurred to Joseph of Arimathaea. Joseph was a rich man and a member of the Sanhedrin, the ancient Jewish court. His relationship to Jesus is uncertain, though some non-scriptural scholars have thought he might be the brother of Anna, Christ’s grandmother. It is more likely he was simply a devoted follower.

Joseph of Arimathaea went to Pilate, a ruler appointed by Rome, and asked to have the body of Jesus Christ released to him upon death. Though it seems a simple enough act, Joseph showed great courage. Not only could he have angered Pilate, he would also face the resentment of the Jewish leaders who originally sought the life of Christ and the court with which he served.

Pilate granted Joseph’s wish. Once death was declared Joseph went into action. Jewish law dictated that burial occur before the end of the day which was quickly approaching. Time didn’t allow for a proper burial in the sense of the body being appropriately anointed. All they could do was wash Him, wrap the head and body, and lay the body amid spices.

This is where we’re introduced to the second man who is only briefly mentioned at this time. Nicodemus, another ruler of the Jews (John 3:1) as a member of the Sanhedrin, had been a devoted follower of Christ, even in defending Him against the chief priests and Pharisees (John 7:45-52). He bought a large amount of spices, myrrh and aloe to prepare Jesus’ body for burial. The purchase was actually so large it was compared to that of what was used in royal burials, which I’m sure Nicodemus felt was appropriate.

These two men are those who took down the body of Jesus Christ. They removed the spikes from His hands, wrists, and feet. They lovingly washed His body clean, and did all that was needed in the short time available. I cannot picture the scene without seeing tears running down their faces, just as many of us who have grieved for our own loved ones who have passed on.

Jesus Christ was buried in Joseph of Arimathaea’s new tomb, freely given by this disciple (John 19:41-42). James E. Talmage, leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed the Mormon Church), sums up the next few events:

“The tomb was in a garden… Because of the nearness of the Sabbath the interment had to be made with haste; the door of the sepulchre was closed, a large stone was rolled against it; and thus laid away the body was left to rest” (Talmage, James E., Jesus the Christ, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1981, p.665).

Only a few women followed, though they didn’t enter the tomb. Their Sabbath day was soon to begin and so they planned to come back in a few days to complete the anointing. Little did they know what scene would meet them the next time they would come to the Garden Tomb.

One of the many wonderful changes you may be making as a new member of the church is in the media you choose for yourself. Sometimes, just at first, this doesn’t seem so wonderful. You’ve had years of listening to certain types of music and watching certain types of movies and television programs. Now you’re being asked to evaluate those and decide which are worth keeping in your life. Do you know why you’re asked to do this?

“To me, it is impossible to maintain the Spirit of the Lord while listening to music or watching movies or videos that celebrate evil thoughts and use vulgar language.” (M. Russell Ballard, Ensign, Nov. 1997, 39)

This is the most important reason to avoid inappropriate media. You will lose the gift of the Holy Ghost you’ve just worked so hard to gain. The Spirit can’t be in the presence of sin, and so it departs, leaving you to cope with life alone. Now that you’ve felt the spirit, do you really want to lose it?

It’s Satan who promotes the use of inappropriate movies, music, video games, internet usage, and other types of media. Heavenly Father asks us to stay with that which will keep our minds and hearts pure. Which side do you want to be on? Every time you choose to participate in media that is inappropriate, even if it’s only “a little” inappropriate, you choose Satan’s team, and that’s not the winning team.

Every choice you make has consequences and affects your eternal progression. You can’t put eternal progression on pause while you experiment with the evil side of the world. You’re either moving toward Heaven or away from it. You’re never standing still. The smallest amount of inappropriateness sends you backwards, like those children’s board games that often send you backwards on the board, making it harder to reach the finish line.

The Thirteenth Article of Faith is our guideline for what we should bring into our lives:

“We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul— We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”

When you’re choosing a movie to watch or music to listen to, test them against these words. Imagine watching or listening in the presence of the Savior. Would you feel uneasy? Then don’t do it. If you find yourself in a situation where your friends are doing something that makes you uneasy, find the courage to ask them to stop. If they don’t—and often they won’t--be ready to walk away. Ask your parents to come for you if you need transportation. Parents are generally happy to rescue you from an immoral or dangerous situation, and will be proud of your choice. It’s not easy to walk away, but even when you’re taunted, you survive. I did, even though at the time I was sure I’d die on the spot.

Use the internet in a room full of family. Check reviews before watching a movie. Really listen to the words of your music. In addition, evaluate the mood of the music. How do you feel when you listen? Does it make you feel something inappropriate inside—angry, perhaps? If so, the spirit won’t be in the room, so don’t just turn it off. If it’s yours, throw it away.

It can take time to learn to enjoy new types of music, books, and videos, but it’s more than worth the effort. God is counting on you.

A new convert once asked if it was okay to continue some of the religious practices she had enjoyed in her previous religion. They didn’t conflict in any way with our own doctrines or practices; they were simply a comfort and a tradition, particularly those related to holidays. She was assured that if those things helped her to feel closer to God, they were okay to do. We tend to do things in a simple way, and it can be a challenge for new converts to adapt quickly to that.

President Hinckley, the previous president of the church, said, “Let me say that we appreciate the truth in all churches and the good which they do. We say to the people, in effect, you bring with you all the good that you have, and then let us see if we can add to it.” (meeting, Nairobi, Kenya, 17 Feb. 1998).

You came to your new religion with a great deal of truth and goodness already tucked away inside of you. You were already making some good choices and had probably developed some routines, traditions, and habits that made it easier for you to do the right things. You’re not asked to dispose of everything you did in the past to take on a new way of life completely. Some things will change, but those things that are in harmony with the gospel are yours to keep. They will help you make your transition easier. If a lit candle makes it easier to pray, light it. In time, you may find you no longer need it, but while you do, no one is going to consider you weak or incorrect. If you previously put your hands together or in the air as you prayed, feel free to do that. Folding our arms is how we pray in church, but at home, do it the way that makes it easiest for you to feel the spirit. There is time in the future to feel at home with your arms folded.

Some things Mormons do are traditional or cultural. Others are doctrinal. Over time you’ll learn which are which. Many people in the church today are happiest with a combination of traditions. Some converts from the Jewish faith continue to celebrate Jewish holidays, often inviting their new church friends to join them and to learn about their Old Testament past. Jesus himself celebrated the Passover and had Seder dinners. There is no reason you can’t have them now if you had them in the past.

As you learn what parts of your old life are appropriate for your new life, you can combine them to make the gospel personal and just right for you.