I love reading the diaries and journals of Joseph Smith, the first prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known as the Mormons. I especially love the early ones which are written in Joseph Smith’s own hand. You get exposed to Joseph Smith’s mind, unfiltered. There are no scribes, no copyists, no amanuenses—just Joseph Smith and his quill.

Here are some examples:

28 November 1832 • Wednesday

This day I have spent in reading and writing. This evening my mind is calm and serene, for which I thank the Lord.

4 December 1832 • Tuesday

This day I been unwell; done but little. Been at home all day. Regulated some things. This evening feel better in my mind then I have for a few days back. Oh Lord, deliver thy servant out of temptations and fill his heart with wisdom and understanding.

13 October 1833 • Sunday

Held a meeting at Freeman Nickerson's. Had a large congregation. Brother Sidney preached and I bore record to the people. The Lord gave His Spirit in a marvelous manner, for which I am thankful to the God of Abraham. Lord, bless my family and preserve them.

(Source: Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, 21-24. Standardized)

I also love reading the journal entries from people who heard Joseph Smith speak. Of course the best source on what Joseph Smith said is Wilford Woodruff’s journal. As an early member and later apostle, he was close to Joseph Smith. Whenever he attended a meeting where Joseph Smith spoke, he paid close attention, kept notes, and then recorded the sermon into his own private journal.

He explained that this journaling was more than a compulsion:

“I have been inspired and moved upon to keep a journal and write the affairs of this Church as far as I can. I did not understand why my feelings were exercised so much in the early age of this Church, but I understand it now. I seldom ever heard Brother Joseph or the Twelve preach or teach any principle but what I felt as uneasy as a fish out of water until I had written it. Then I felt right. I could write a sermon of Joseph’s a week after it was delivered almost word for word, and after it was written, it was taken from me or from my mind. This was a gift from God unto me.” (Chapter 13: Journals: “Of Far More Worth than Gold”, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff, 125.)

B. H. Roberts, a church leader and scholar, made this observation:

“As historian President Woodruff rendered a most important service to the church. His Journals regularly and methodically and neatly kept and strongly bound, extending as they do from 1834 to April 18th, 1897, (with some scattering notes through the remainder of 1897, and the year 1898 when he was in his ninety-second year)—a period of sixty-three years—constitute an original documentary historical treasure which is priceless. The church is indebted to these Journals for a reliable record of discourses and sayings of the Prophet of the New Dispensation—Joseph Smith—which but for him would have been lost forever. …”

“Other men may found hospitals or temples or schools for the Church, or endow special divisions or chairs of learning in them; or they may make consecrations of lands and other property to the Church but in point of important service, and in placing the Church under permanent obligations, no one will surpass in excellence in permanence or largeness the service Wilford Woodruff has given to the Church of Jesus Christ in the new dispensation, by writing and preserving the beautiful and splendid journals he kept through sixty-three years—so far do the things of mind surpass material things” (Comprehensive History of the Church 7:354-355).

You sense the early saints’ love for Joseph Smith. They took the time to record the words of the man whom they believed to be a prophet. It was not only love for the words, but also a desire to have correct information. Joseph Smith noted, “In these infant days of the Church, there was a great anxiety to obtain the word of the Lord upon every subject that in any way concerned our salvation.” (History of the Church 1:207)

This was a crucial problem for a church with so many new members. They had to weed out old ideas, and plant new seeds of correct doctrine. On August 6, 1838, Joseph Smith suggested that the members of the Church in Far West, MO have a weekly newspaper “to unite the people” (History of the Church 3:56). These early newspapers also had reports on Joseph Smith’s sermons and revelations.

Nowadays we have The Ensign, a monthly magazine, and the Church has a web page, www.lds.org. But the point is the same: we have access to the words of the living prophet.

Saturday, April 5th, 2008, Thomas S. Monson was installed as president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Like the people in Joseph Smith’s day, I have a desire to hear, obey, and to have the words of the prophet. And not only to have them, but to have them in a form that allows for easy access.

A few years ago I was in a regional training meeting with Presiding Bishop H. David Burton. In the course of his training, he held up a white three-ring binder. He said—and I am working from memory; the meeting happened about seven years ago—that this was his Hinckley Bible.

(Gordon B. Hinckley was the president of the Church at the time.)

He then apologized to anyone if they found the expression offensive. He explained that this three-ring binder contained copies of all of President Hinckley's public addresses he had given since being called as prophet. He used it as reference and resource whenever he had to give talks or train people.

I laughed. I did the same thing with President Howard W. Hunter, who was the prophet before President Hinckley. I got copies of some of his general conference talks (using the Teachings of the Living Prophets packet from BYU), then I kept Xeroxing talks as he gave them, and copied his home teaching articles as they were published. I also had some information from his biography, and occasionally had to call his office to get some addresses that I could not track down.

At this time I was serving as stake Sunday School president (and yes, there were a lot of “the other President Hunter” jokes), and used this homemade collection for teaching and training ward Sunday School teachers and presidents. When President Hunter’s book That We Might Have Joy was published, I carried both my collection and the book as I did my rounds as a stake officer.

Yesterday, I got a large three-ring binder and began my collection for President Thomas S. Monson. So far it has his funeral address for President Hinckley, his statement to the press (I had to transcribe this from the internet video), his world-wide leadership sermon, and the April 2008 home teaching message. I will add his General Conference addresses when they become available.

This collection is not only an expression of my love for the man and his office, but also my desire to really follow the living prophet. I will have all of his talks at my fingertips, ready for any assignment or teaching moment. There is both security and power in having the living prophet’s words so accessible.

We have so many examples of miracles in the Holy Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price. Miracle after miracle, such as:

• The healing of a leper. (Luke 5:12-13)
• The healing of a man with palsy. (Luke 5:18-25)
• The raising of a dead man. (John 11:1-2,5,11,14,43)
• The healing of a blind man. (John 9:1-12)

Just to name a few. But many have said that miracles ended with the Bible. Many say Jesus Christ is not God. They denigrate the great and crowning glory of mankind, the Atonement, as a falsehood. They deny the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ: Jehovah of the Old Testament and the Messiah of the New Testament. They say that God no longer speaks to man.

I challenge all that and I say miracles do exist to this very day. I say that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and a member of the Godhead, our Savior and Redeemer. I say the Atonement did happen, that Jesus was crucified, died and broke the bands of death with His Resurrection. All this is truth. God is the same yesterday, today and forever.

President Thomas S. Monson, the 16th called prophet in these modern times, spoke of miracles in 2004:

In my library is a personally inscribed, leather-bound copy of this classic treatment of the life of Jesus of Nazareth. As I have perused its pages, I have paused at the section entitled “The Miracles of Jesus.” I remember as though it were yesterday President [J. Reuben] Clark asking me to read to him several of these accounts while he sat back in his large leather chair and listened. That was a day in my life never to be forgotten.

President Clark asked me to read aloud the account found in Luke concerning the man filled with leprosy. I proceeded to read . . .

When I had read these scriptural stories aloud, President Clark removed from his pocket a handkerchief and wiped the tears from his eyes. He commented, “As we grow older, tears come more frequently.” After a few words of good-bye, I departed from his office, leaving him alone with his thoughts and his tears.

As I reflect on this experience with President Clark, my heart fills with gratitude to the Lord for His divine intervention to relieve the suffering, heal the sick, and raise the dead. I grieve, however, for the many, similarly afflicted, who knew not how to find the Master, to learn of His teachings, and to become the beneficiaries of His power. I remember that President Clark himself suffered heartache and pain in the tragic death at Pearl Harbor of his son-in-law Mervyn S. Bennion, captain of the battleship West Virginia. That day there had been no ram in the thicket, no steel to stop the shrapnel, no miracle to heal the wounds of war. But faith never wavered, and answered prayers provided the courage to carry on. (Thomas S. Monson, “Miracles of Faith,” Ensign, Jul 2004, 2–7)

May I briefly share a recent experience in my life which testifies of a loving, giving Father in Heaven?

As I have mentioned before, in previous posts, my husband will be receiving a kidney transplant next Tuesday, April 15, 2008. He was diagnosed with renal failure seven years ago when he weighed 425 pounds. He has worked out, when he was strong enough, enough to have lost 130 pounds. A miracle in and of itself because he did not use drugs, appetite suppressants or have a gastric bypass. He just paid attention to what he ate and drank and exercised when he was strong enough.

The last two years have been particularly hard on him, multiple hospital stays and ICU stints with every single one of them. He's grown weaker and weaker as the 7 years of dialysis began to take a huge toll on him. But he could not get a kidney transplant until he'd lost all the weight.

The week Mitt Romney dropped out of the presidential race we found out the donor we'd counted on had also been disqualified. For the first time in my life my unshakable faith was shaken. No, not because of Mitt Romney, but because suddenly, there was no longer a donor and my husband was in the hospital one more time, having gone septic again, and I feared he would not live long enough to find another donor.

My heart was broken and I cried out to my God in pain, sorrow and fear. I couldn't understand how this had happened and I didn't know where to go from there. I had believe all along, with a deep and abiding faith, that this woman would save Alvin's life. But a familial disease she'd never mentioned before suddenly took her out of the running.

Three days after Alvin was admitted to the hospital a young woman came to visit. She learned of the loss of the donor and immediately stepped up to the plate. Three weeks after that the phone call came and she was a match.

A modern-day miracle.

As the process moved forward, rather quickly, we learned that Alvin had to lose a drastic amount of weight in a relatively short amount of time. We tightened our diet more, began working out four times a week and redoubled our efforts. He lost 22 pounds, but it was not enough. There were 50 stubborn remaining pounds, all centered around his belly, that were not coming off. He'd gone from a 58" waist to a 44" waist, and it still wasn't enough. But we kept working out and praying hard. Family and friends joined us in the fasting and praying, weight continued to come off. Still not enough.

I received a phone call from our transplant coordinator and she said Alvin would need to have a tummy tuck before the transplant, or rather, tummy tuck and while Alvin was still open, the kidney would then be placed inside. The catch? Although the $250,000 surgery and post care were completely covered by insurance, the tummy tuck was not. We had a week-and-a-half to raise the $2,500 in cash.

Upon further questioning, I learned that any fat around the abdomen could damage the newly implanted kidney which would be placed right behind the abdominal wall. To insure the protection of that kidney, that remaining fat had to be removed.

We'd just concluded a medical bankruptcy and had nothing left. Nothing at all. Again, my faith was shaken. It should not have been, but it was. How on earth would we raise $2,500 in a short amount of time. We'd sold everything that could be sold. The bankruptcy court took our tax return and everything in our bank accounts. We literally had nothing left.

Again, I knelt in anguished prayer and when the answer came to me it was something we did not want to do. Alvin and I are hard workers and prefer to work for what we get than ask for help. It's simply how we were raised and who we are. But the answer came to send an email to family and friends and explain the situation asking for help.

It took me four days of begging for any other solution, any pay off for the incredible amount of work I'd put in on numerous projects, any pay off for the thousands of dollars owed to me . . . but nothing happened. This past Saturday I knelt once again and the same answer came to me once again. I reluctantly walked down to my home office and composed an email. I set up a Paypal account for the purpose of collecting the donations and a bank account to download them into. And then I hit send.

My heart heavy, I went upstairs to our bedroom, curled up on our bed and cried. This may have meant to be a humbling experience, but instead it was so humiliating to us that we could scarcely hold our heads up.

Within fifteen minutes money began to pour in. Over the course of the next 48 hours more funds began to accumulate until we have almost reached the required monies.

A modern-day miracle.

I have been the recipient of miracle after miracle in my 44 plus years of life. And yet, this day in this week in this month, more miracles have poured in than we can possibly count.

Yes, sometimes faith is shaken. But if you keep believing, more so, if you simply trust in the Lord then, if it is His will, the miracles will come. If they don't come, there is a specific reason and purpose and it gives us the opportunity to ask what we are to learn.

I testify with my entire heart and soul that we are children of a loving Heavenly Father. I testify that His Son, Jesus Christ, descended from His heavenly throne to fulfill His mission of bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. (Moses 1:39) Through Him, and only through Him, is the path to eternal exaltation. We were never meant to walk this path alone. The development of faith, which precedes the miracle, is sometimes a slow process, but it is a journey and a gift. But I promise you that great happiness await when we reach out to the Savior and give Him our burdens.

I testify to you of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored in its entirety. We were meant to be happy, even in the toughest and most tragic set of circumstances. That peace, which brings happiness, comes from the Holy Ghost, the Comforter and the Testifier of Truth.

Believe, for God is the same yesterday, today and forever. Miracles still exist and they always will.

It was so much fun playing that trivia game in preparation of General Conference last Monday night in the Single Ward's Family Home Evening (FHE). Even more, I found that just knowing more about these men, caused me to listen more intently to their words at Conference time. For though I know that what I heard was merely God's word spoken by the mouth of His chosen servants, I know that everything these men said, they not only believe, but they also live.

In my last post I shared facts about the First Presidency of the Church. Now in the spirit of getting to know these great men who have been called of God to lead this Church I would like to continue by sharing a few trivia facts that you may or may not have known before about the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the Mormons):

President Boyd K. Packer (President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles) is quite talented in woodcarving, and painting, and illustrating. At one time he even considered becoming a professional artist. You can see some of his work online as a past exhibit at the Church's Museum of History and Art.

Early on in his mission Elder L. Tom Perry felt that he needed more practice in teaching the gospel. So every night he would sneak down to the kitchen and practice teaching to the local mouse. The morning after he taught the discussion on Baptism by immersion, he discovered that in the night the mouse had drowned in a bowl of water.

While in college, Elder Russell M. Nelson's friends tried to convince him to try out as the leading man in the school musical; he claimed he was too busy. That was until he saw who the leading lady was to be. Three years later, Elder Nelson married that leading lady whose name was Dantzel White.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks was a boy when he found his interest in the radio while working as a sweep in a radio repair shop. He had earned his radio/telephone license before he was even sixteen. Later he became a regular announcer at a radio company. As a side note, Elder Oaks met his wife while he was announcing a high school basketball game.

Elder M. Russell Ballard had a hard time convincing his wife to marry him. According to him,

"She was not only beautiful, but had a sparkling personality. I knew from the beginning that I wanted to marry her, but she didn't share the same feelings. It was a little hard convincing her. I kid her now that getting her to marry me was the greatest sales job I ever did." (see Elder M. Russell Ballard: True to the Faith," Ensign, Mar. 1986)

Having graduated with a degree in business administration, Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin became a very prominent businessman (in Salt Lake City, Utah), and even served as the president of a trade association in Utah before becoming a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Having graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Elder Richard G. Scott went on to do his postgraduate work in Nuclear Engineering. He did much in this field. In the latter part of his career and before his call to the First Quorum of the Seventy, he acted as a private consultant in the nuclear industry.

With a love of baseball, and a very good arm, Elder Robert D. Hales became a great pitcher. He played on the school team while attending college at the University of Utah, until an injury ended his carrier.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland was an All-American boy who loved sports of every kind. In High School, he lettered in football, basketball, track, and baseball.

Growing up in a home where his mother was not particularly active and his father was not even a member, Elder David A. Bednar held true to his faith. Later in his life after having faithfully served a full-time mission for the church, Elder Bednar had the privilege of being able to baptize his own father.

Elder Quentin L. Cook was once taken out to lunch by some of the partners of the Law firm he had just applied to work at. During this meal, the senior partner offered him an alcoholic drink. Both times he declined. The second time He did so, Elder Cook informed the senior partner that he did not drink because he was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the Mormons). Elder Cook did receive an offer from that law firm. Then months later that same senior partner confided that the alcohol was a test, for he has seen on the resume that Elder Cook had served an LDS mission, and had determined to hire him only if Elder Cook was true to the teachings of his church. (See Called to Serve: Elder Quentin L. Cook, November 2007 New Era)

*Elder D. Todd Christofferson our newest Apostle graduated with a Bachelors degree from BYU and then graduated with a law degree from Duke University. During the Watergate Controversy, Elder Christofferson was working as a clerk for Judge John Sirica in Washington D.C. When asked about this time He remarked that,

"It was a unique way to start a legal career," he said. "It gave me, interestingly enough, a great deal of added faith in government. I saw there in action many, many good people who did the right thing and restored the equilibrium and constitutional balance of the United States." New LDS Apostle, an ex-lawyer, anxious to serve By Peggy Fletcher Stack and Jessica Ravitz, The Salt Lake Tribune

I hope you all enjoyed these fun and interesting facts regarding these most amazing men who have been called of God, to be Prophets, Seers, and Revelators, whom we are so blessed to have. I encourage all to learn more about these General Authorities of the Church, and in doing so read the messages they have delivered to us from God. If we will listen to their words and apply them in our lives then we will be blessed in more ways then we can now imagine.

Right now my calling in my Singles Ward is to be a member of the Family Home Evening committee. This means that I help plan our weekly F.H.E., for the singles adults, who would not have the opportunity to attend in with their family or roommates. Normally, our Family Home Evenings consist of a lesson, an activity, socializing, and a treat. Our numbers fluctuate every week, (we could have anywhere from five to 45 singles) so our actives have to be flexible.

Prior to General Conference coming this last weekend, last week's Family Home Evening activity and lesson was combined. We (the Family Home Evening Committee) thought that it could be fun to prepare for General Conference by having a trivia game to get to know the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and First Presidency of the Church.

To prepare for our game we set up fourteen chairs in a line and taped the names of each of the members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve (I left one seat blank in honor of our new Apostle who would be presented to us the upcoming weekend). Then we broke into two teams. Every round, each team had to choose someone to stand behind the tape on the floor, a short distance from the chairs. A trivia fact would be read, and the representative from each team would have to run and sit down in the chair with the name of the Apostle or Prophet whom the trivia fact was about. With much laughing and fun we explored the lives if these Fourteen amazing men of God.

In the spirit of getting to know these amazing men, here are a few trivia facts that you may or may not have known before about the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the Mormons):

President Thomas S. Monson first met his wife, while attending a "Hello Dance" at the University of Utah. (See October 2004 New Era, The Message: Whom Shall I Marry? By President Thomas S. Monson)

President Henry B. Eyring's father was the brother of the late President Spencer W. Kimball's wife. Making President Eyring the nephew of the twelfth President of the Church.

Though President Dieter F. Uchtdorf is known as our German Apostle, he was actually born in Czechoslovakia.

Due to the size of this post I have broken it into two posts. Read FHE Conference Trivia Night Part 2 to learn about the incredible men who form the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

In the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ, we find a little clearer description of the purpose of the fall of Adam, and it’s done in two short statements.

“Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy” (2 Nephi 2:25).

When Adam and Eve first resided in the Garden of Eden they were given two commandments. The first was not to partake of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Both Adam and Eve came to know it was necessary to partake of the forbidden fruit. Only by introducing sin into the world could the earth be made ready for all of us to come and live, be tested, and prove ourselves worthy to return to a heavenly life.

Had Adam and Eve never taken that first bite we would not be here today. Some might say this is a good thing, but our Heavenly Father’s Plan could not have come to pass otherwise. Adam and Eve knew of the second commandment and came to realize if they did not commit the first sin they could not fulfill the second (to multiply and replenish the earth). Their bodies were immortal, unable to bring mortal beings into the world.

There was another purpose to this first sin, which we can find in the second part of the scripture. We were all to come to earth in the hopes of experiencing joy. The word ‘joy’ may have a different meaning to some today, but remember this word was written almost 600 years before Christ came to the earth. Joy does not mean pleasure, it does not mean having tons of irreverent fun.

Joy comes in the most perfect, tender moments of our lives. It comes from knowing someone loves you no matter what. It comes from serving others. It comes from following the guidelines and commandments our Savior put in place so we might maintain that joy. Even when we are being tried and tested we can find joy.

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed the Mormon Church), we have a different view of this ‘original sin,’ as most other churches refer to it.

“We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression” (Articles of Faith 1:2).

In other words, we don’t need to worry about being punished for the choice Adam made. We certainly have enough to deal with when it comes to our own mistakes and wrong choices. That first sin was a necessary step in bringing about the salvation of mankind. As Christ took upon Him all of our sins, he paid the debt of this first sin.

Adam and Eve broke a commandment of God when they chose to eat the forbidden fruit, but without that choice the entire plan of salvation would have stalled. We would never have had the chance to come here to earth. We would never have known joy. We would never have had the blessing of living with our Heavenly Father again.

I don’t know about you, but I am grateful for that first, difficult choice Adam and Eve made.

In Joseph Smith, Jr.'s "Lectures on Faith" he teaches many powerful lessons, one of which is:

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (Hebrews 11:3)

By this we understand the principle of power which existed in the bosom of God, by which the worlds were framed, was faith; and that it is by reason of this principle of power existing in the Deity, that all created things exist; so that all things in heaven, on earth, or under the earth, exist by reason of faith as it existed in Him. (Joseph Smith, Jr., "Lectures on Faith" American Fork, 2000 3)

Let's stop and consider, we have been told if we have faith the size of a mustard seed even the mountains would obey if we told them to move. (Matthew 17:20) So how does one gain faith the size of a mustard seed? It's sure harder than it seems at times, for such a simple eternal concept.

Examples of faith can be found in the true stories of Alma and Amulek (Alma 14:23-29); Nephi and Lehi (Helaman 5:37-50) and the Master's calming of an angry sea. (Mark 4:35-39) The stories of faith in the scriptures go on and on, and yet, faith seems to slip through the fingers of so many.

So let's examine, with the aid of Joseph Smith, Jr., the concept of faith.

What is faith? The evidence of things hoped for, but not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

In Hebrews 11:6 we learn it is impossible to please God without faith. If we accept this as truth, and I do, then it follows that we must have faith. Faith that Jesus Christ is our Lord, Savior and Redeemer. Faith that He fulfilled the mission (Moses 1:39) our Heavenly Father sent Him to do. Faith that there is more to life than this brief mortal existence. Faith that we came from more than nothing. Faith that we are sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father. Faith that we are meant to be so much more than we are right now.

To fully understand this, we must understand:

. . . God is the only supreme governor and independent being in whom all fulness and perfection dwell; who is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient; without beginning of days or end of life; and that in Him every good gift and every good principle dwell; and that He is the Father of lights; in Him the principle of faith dwells independently, and He is the object in whom the faith of all other rational and accountable beings center for life and salvation. (Joseph Smith, Jr., "Lectures on Faith" American Fork, 2000 9)

So, if we are to understand this correctly, faith dwells with God. (Romans 1:20) If we believe, have faith, that there is a God whose sole purpose is to provide the path, means and support to bring all of His children home, than we can believe that if we ask for faith, He will give it to us.

There are many instances in the scriptures when God spoke to man: He spoke to Cain after He slew Abel (Genesis 4:1-15); He spoke to Moses (Exodus 34:27-28); He spoke to Noah (Genesis 7:1-5); Joseph Smith, Jr. in the sacred grove (Joseph Smith History 1) and many, many more. Answers to prayers offered in the scriptures are even more abundant, miracles equally so. We trace our knowledge of God, back to the very beginning, from Adam and Eve.

And so to build faith we must accept that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, our loving and eternal Heavenly Father. From the acceptance of that truth a whole new world opens up to the children of God. And yes, that means you too.

According to Joseph Smith, Jr., three things must exist in order for faith to exist in your life.

First the idea that God actually exists. We've covered that amply.

Second, a correct idea of His character, perfections and attributes.

This takes study of the scriptures. As you pour over and internalize the concepts, practices and principles taught in the Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price you will come to know and better understand Jesus Christ, and in doing so, you will also come to know and better understand Heavenly Father. For the Savior does nothing and speaks nothing that is not of the Father. They are of one mind, heart and purpose although not body.

This is what we know of Jesus Christ:

1) He was God before the world was created and remained God after.

2) He is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abundant in goodness and that He has always been so and always will be.

3) He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow . . . forever and ever. Therefore, miracles have not ceased. Prophets and apostles, holding the proper priesthood authority, still walk the earth. And His Church exists with the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth today.

Third, an actual knowledge that the course of life which He (Jesus Christ) is pursuing is according to His (Heavenly Father's) will. This, we learn as we study the scriptures and examine every aspect of Jesus Christ's life that we may know the path that we too must follow.

Moses 1:39 gives us a clear understanding of the purpose of Jesus Christ's mission on this earth:

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

His humble birth in Bethlehem. (Luke 2) His three year mission teaching and restoring the fulness of His gospel, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (New Testament) His fulfillment of the Law of Sacrifice. (Mark 14:13-31) His agonizing and terrifying Atonement, the greatest act of love and crowning glory of all of mankind. (Mark 14:32-41) His cruel and excruciating trial, torture and crucifixion. (Mark 14:43-27; Mark 15) And His triumph over the grave when He broke the bands of death, forever, upon His resurrection. (Mark 16) All this was to the end of bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man . . . yes, again, that is you.

Fourth, He cannot lie, for He is a God of truth.

Fifth, He is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that fears God and works righteousness is accepted of Him.

This is God. If you kneel down and offer with a sincere and humble heart the fervent desire to know if this true, it will be given to you. God is all that I have described. (Moroni 10:3-5)

You must have an idea of the perfect truth of God before faith can be given unto you. Joseph Smith, Jr. said:

By a little reflection, it will be seen that the idea of the existence of these attributes in the Deity is necessary to enable any rational being to exercise faith in Him; for without the idea of the existence of these attributes in the Deity, men could not exercise faith in Him for life and salvation; seeing that without the knowledge of all things God would not be able to save any portion of His creatures; for it is by reason of the knowledge which He has of all things, from the beginning to the end, that enables Him to give that understanding to His creatures by which they are made partakers of eternal life; and if it were not for the idea existing in the minds of men that God had all knowledge, it would be impossible for them to exercise faith in Him. (Joseph Smith, Jr., "Lectures on Faith" American Fork, 2000 51)

As you study the Gospel of Jesus Christ, fervently desiring to know truth from error or falsehood, you will be challenged. You might possibly be verbally or physically attacked, for truth has its enemies.

But know this, with the study of the Gospel comes a protection if you but ask. Study, learn and line upon line the truth and will be given to you. (Isaiah 28:10) And as truth is given to you, so is faith. Until your faith, challenged time and time again, will grow to the size of a mustard seed and beyond. This I testify of as absolute truth.

General Conference has been adjourned until October, but we can continue to learn from it and to experience its blessings all year long.

Because you’re a new member of the church, there was probably a great deal in this conference that was new to you. The speakers might have been unfamiliar. By focusing on the teachings offered in this conference, you will be much better prepared for the next conference and be able to increase your knowledge of the gospel.

Conference materials are available online at LDS.org. You can listen to them now, and by Thursday, you will be able to watch them and read them as well. If you study two talks a week, you will finish them all by the time the next conference begins. Each week, choose two that meet your needs or that interest you and watch them again online. You can even download them to save on your computer or put the MP3 version on your player. Print out the written talk and tuck it into your briefcase or purse, to study as you have time.

Put a question mark by any part you don’t understand. Then you can research that topic and become more familiar with it. If you have specific questions, write them on the back of the printout so you can take them to someone you trust or look up the answers yourself.

Highlight any part that is especially meaningful or helpful to you. Often, I write a quote from a talk on a card and prop it on my desk, where I spend much of my day, to read often. This allows me to absorb all the layers of meaning from the quote and to think of ways to apply it to my own life.

Notice who gave the talks you are reading. After you read a talk, do a search at LDS.org for other talks by the same person. Does he have themes that seem especially important to him? What can you learn about him from the things he says in his talks? Study his picture so you will be able to recognize him when you see him on television in the future.
Choose one aspect of a talk you read that week and resolve to apply it in your own life for the coming week. This makes general conference personal.

And that’s what General Conference is. Although the same message goes out to millions of people, it is personal and just for you. On LDS.org we read:

“Mormons find that the same address can be understood in different ways by different people. Mormons ascribe this to a desire on the part of each person to receive uniquely relevant and applicable instruction and inspiration from sermons, with the help of God’s Holy Spirit. This form of tailor-made learning, experienced by people of all faith traditions who sincerely engage with sacred texts or in religious services, is something that must be experienced to be truly comprehended.

"For Mormons, general conference is an exciting time when large numbers gather to hear sermons, sacred music and news. But the most satisfying, profound and exhilarating thoughts and feelings of inspiration come when one person receives an answer to a serious personal question or is reassured by a connectedness to God and others.”