Prayer helps us prioritize.

While most of us find it silly that someone would sell his eternal blessings for stew, many of us sell off God’s blessings for things of even lesser importance than stew. Each time we choose to violate a commandment, we are choosing to sell our birthright.

Our birthright is to receive all of God’s promised blessings for our lives on earth and to have the life He hopes we will have. In eternity, our birthright is to return to God to live forever. When Jesus lived on the earth, He consistently warned people they must keep the commandments if they wished to be with God after their deaths.

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (See Matthew 7:21.)

Each time we make a choice, we are prioritizing our values. If we decide to disobey a commandment, we’ve put that particular sin above the commandment in our priorities. We’ve decided the sin is worth more than the blessings associated with the commandment—in other words, we’ve sold our birthright for something that has only temporary benefit.

Mormons teach that we are expected to live a health code known as the Word of Wisdom. Sometimes a person will say, “I can’t believe God will keep me out of Heaven just because of a cup of coffee.” They are turning the problem around of course. What they should say is, “I can’t believe I’m willing to give up Heaven over a cup of coffee.” The same reasoning can be said of any sin we decide we value more than we value an eternity in God’s presence. When Jesus was on the earth, a young man asked Him how He could follow Jesus. Jesus reminded him of the commandments, but the man said he’d been doing all those things since he was a child. In response, Jesus offered Him another commandment: that of giving up all his worldly possessions. The man went away sadly. This he wasn’t willing to do. He preferred to sell his birthright for a fancy home or some other possessions. He had great possessions, and he had decided they were worth more to him than eternity.

Sometimes the mistaken priorities we set aren’t sins; they’re simply less important than the place we give them on our life scale. Many people put their careers or politics higher on their priority list than they do God. If being a Christian might damage their rise up the ladder to fame and fortune, they keep it a secret from those who know them. Some might decide they need the extra money they’ll earn working on Sunday more than they need the blessings that come from keeping the Sabbath Day holy. (We’re talking here about elective work, not essential work, or having no choice in the matter.)

When Jesus visited the home of Mary and Martha, Martha was terribly anxious about putting a good meal on the table for Jesus. It is without question important to give our best to Jesus, but when she complained about Mary, who was, instead of helping, letting Jesus teach her, Jesus helped Martha put her priorities in order. He gently told her that even though what Martha was doing was good, it was not the most important thing she could be doing at that moment. Jesus didn’t care about a fancy meal; He did care about teaching Mary and Martha the gospel. At another time, doing the housework might be the best use of Martha’s time, but at that particular moment, learning the gospel was the most important part. What was a feast at one time became a mere mess of pottage at this particular moment.

Take a few hours to look at how you plan and use your time. You’ll find that even though you are very busy, you always find time for the things you put first in your life. The challenge then is to make sure the first things go first. You have to be at work at a certain time and stay until a certain time, so although work may not be the most important thing in your world, it is the priority during that time. But do you really have to put in the many hours of overtime that keep you from your family or prevent you from doing God’s work? Do you need to earn as much money as you’re earning, or would it allow you to use your time in a more eternally important way if you turned down the next promotion or accepted less of the optional overtime?

What about your hobbies? There is nothing wrong with relaxing, but where do your hobbies fit into your priority scale? Is there a way to relax and to do something good at the same time? Could you develop a new hobby that also serves a purpose—perhaps gardening or teaching someone to read? What would happen if you decided to replace the morning newspaper with a half hour of scripture reading?

Each time we make a choice that puts something else over the teachings of God, or the priorities He wants you to have at this moment, we’re selling our birthright. Is what you’re getting worth what you’re giving up to get it?

Which gets your loyalty—pottage or eternity?

The Atonement is Personal

Atonement is a gift of love. Nephi, in the Book of Mormon, said, “But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love, (2 Nephi 1:15) Doesn’t that scripture help you understand the extraordinary gift of atonement? Picturing ourselves encircled in the arms of Jesus’ love is what the atonement does for us, and it’s why the atonement was done at all.

With the atonement and resurrection, we became recipients of God’s grace. The concept of grace is one many people have difficulty comprehending. Jeffrey R. Holland explains it this way:

“Some gifts coming from the Atonement are universal, infinite, and unconditional. These include His ransom for Adam’s original transgression so that no member of the human family is held responsible for that sin. Another universal gift is the Resurrection from the dead of every man, woman, and child who lives, has ever lived, or ever will live on earth.

“Other aspects of Christ’s atoning gift are conditional. They depend on one’s diligence in keeping God’s commandments. For example, while all members of the human family are freely given a reprieve from Adam’s sin through no effort of their own, they are not given a reprieve from their own sins unless they pledge faith in Christ, repent of those sins, are baptized in His name, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and confirmation into Christ’s Church, and press forward in faithful endurance the remainder of life’s journey….Furthermore, although the Resurrection of the body is a free and universal gift from Christ, a result of His victory over death, the nature of the resurrected body (or “degree of glory” given it), as well as the time of one’s Resurrection, is affected directly by one’s faithfulness in this life. The Apostle Paul made clear, for example, that those fully committed to Christ will “rise first” in the Resurrection…

“Of course neither the unconditional nor the conditional blessings of the Atonement are available except through the grace of Christ. Obviously the unconditional blessings of the Atonement are unearned, but the conditional ones are not fully merited either. By living faithfully and keeping the commandments of God, one can receive additional privileges; but they are still given freely, not technically earned” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Atonement of Jesus Christ,” Ensign, Mar 2008, 32–38.)

Atonement is often described as at-one-ment. It means to reunite, or make one again, that which was separated or estranged. Because Adam and Eve ate the fruit in the Garden, sin came into the world. This made humans sinful, but God has promised we will never be punished for any sins but our own. The atonement made that possible. It took away any inherited sin and left us responsible only for what we personally chose to do and could control.

Little children who die are not responsible for the mistakes they’ve made, nor, of course, would it be right for God to punish them for sins committed before they were born. If a child died before he could choose to be baptized, would a loving God punish him? No, of course not. Nor are we responsible for any sin we committed without knowing it was wrong. When we’re baptized, those past transgressions are washed away and we’re reunited with God.

Of course, we can’t be re-baptized every day, and most of us make at least small mistakes every day. Because of the atonement, we can be forgiven of our sins. The process of repentance makes it as though we were baptized once again. The mistakes of the past are washed away and God forgets about them.

“When we sin, we turn away from God. When we repent, we turn back toward God.

The invitation to repent is rarely a voice of chastisement but rather a loving appeal to turn around and to “re-turn” toward God. It is the beckoning of a loving Father and His Only Begotten Son to be more than we are, to reach up to a higher way of life, to change, and to feel the happiness of keeping the commandments. Being disciples of Christ, we rejoice in the blessing of repenting and the joy of being forgiven. They become part of us, shaping the way we think and feel.” (Neil L. Andersen, “‘Repent … That I May Heal You’,” Ensign, Nov 2009, 40–43

Repentance is not easy, but it is possible, and it is an extraordinary gift. When we go through the process sincerely, we are forgiven of our sins and can move on with the business of becoming more Christ-like. The steps of repentance are these:

Recognition of sin: We can’t repent until we know we’ve done something wrong and until we’ve accepted that our actions were improper. Many people try to rationalize their sins and to convince themselves and others they’ve done nothing wrong. Wishing doesn’t make it so, and repentance can’t begin until we admit to ourselves we’ve sinned.

Sorrow for sin: Repentance cannot be a rote act. “Oops, messed up again. Off to repent.” Along with recognition of our sin we have to have real, heart-wrenching sadness that we’ve done something wrong. When we understand how much God loves us, how desperately He wants us to return home, and how much the Savior longs for us to accept the gift of atonement, we can begin to be heartbroken at knowing what we’ve done wrong. When this happens, repentance will be sincere.

Confession: We’re required to confess our sins. The nature of the confession depends on the type of sin. If we’ve hurt another person, we need to confess to that person if it’s at all possible to do so. A child would be required to confess to his parents, who are responsible for his progress. Some very serious sins require confession to our ecclesiastical leader, which for Mormons is their bishop (similar to a pastor.) Mormons go to their bishops when they’ve committed sexual sins, sins involving criminal behavior, and other very serious sins. The bishop then helps them take the steps required to repent of these more complicated sins. If a crime has been committed, the person needs to confess to legal authorities. And of course, every sin must be confessed to God.

Restitution: We need to pay a price for our sins. If at all possible, and to the extent possible, we need to pay for the damage we’ve caused. This might mean paying to repair a broken window, apologizing to and perhaps serving someone we’ve hurt, or accepting legal consequences for actions.

Abandon the Sin: Our goal is to stop committing the sin. Sometimes this takes time and repeated repentance, but when we’re sincere in our efforts to live more closely to God’s teachings, in time, we can abandon any sin. We can’t decide we can sin all we want because we can always repent. We must long desperately to change our lives and our hearts.

These steps are not done quickly or easily. They are often a daily process of making gradual improvements. We shouldn’t delay our repentance, but God will be patient with us while we continue to work through the steps.

The next step, however, is the most complicated, and deserves its own article. In the next article, we will learn how to accept the greatest gift of repentance—God’s love—and to forgive ourselves and move on. We’ll learn how the atonement can help us face any trial in our lives.

This video is an extraordinary reminder of the Savior’s final week on earth and our responsibility to never let the Savior walk alone again.

For Mormons, having fun includes serving

When I first became a Mormon, someone asked what I did for fun, since I didn’t drink, smoke, use drugs, or participate in a number of other activities common to college students. When I teasingly—but truthfully–told him I’d been on a hayride the night before, he stared at me as if I’d lost my mind. He didn’t think that sounded like fun, but it had been (and it was where I met my husband, making it even more fun in retrospect.) I became Mormon the last year of high school, and soon after starting to visit Mormon activities, I said to a friend, “I’ve figured out why Mormon teens don’t get into trouble. They don’t have time.” I was always busy with the Church’s many activities for teens, including dances, parties, sports, service projects, campouts, and canoe trips.. There was always something fun to do and something new to work on.

As an adult, I don’t find my life limited at all by the things I can’t do, because the things I can do keep me very busy and entertained. Fun is a subjective thing and we enjoy what we’re good at and do regularly by choice. As children and young people, we are exposed to a variety of choices and from those we choose the things we like best. Our adults lives are filled with the hobbies and activities we discovered when we were young as well as the ones we added as adults. No one can do everything the world has to offer, and I personally try not to worry too much about the things I can’t do. To be honest, those things never appealed to me anyway. I saw early on how immorality impacted those around me, and long before I was Mormon, I decided not to make life harder on myself than it needed to be.

Mormons have many options for good clean fun. Many Mormons love music—singing, dancing, and playing instruments. Yes, Mormons can dance. Brigham Young University, a Mormon-owned college, has a very successful ballroom dance team and a variety of other dance programs. Chesea Hightower is a professional dancer who appeared on So You Think You Can Dance. Mormon teens have regular dances they can attend at no cost.

Many Mormons enjoy sports. Basketball is a regular part of the youth programs for both boys and girls and Mormons of all ages play a variety of sports as hobbies or professionally. Brigham Young University is noted for its ability to produce outstanding quarterbacks.

Sometimes the youth sports programs look a little different from your average youth league, however. Everyone plays, no matter how good or bad she is. I remember a game in which a mentally challenged girl was taking her turn on the court. Whenever she got the ball, she simply handed it to a teammate, which was accepted even if she took a few steps to do it. However, one day she unexpectedly turned toward the basket and everyone realized she was going to shoot. Both teams stopped moving, without being told to do so, and waited patiently while she worked up the courage to let the ball go toward the basket. No one intercepted the shot and everyone cheered for her, even though she missed the basket. That’s what makes Mormon games different—it’s a people-first program.

If you spend any time hanging around Mormon congregations, you’ll note they’re extremely fond of parties, and even tend to turn meetings into parties, given that they’re nearly incapable of holding the simplest, shortest meetings without serving refreshments and allowing time to eat and socialize. Of course, the parties might not be quite what you’re used to since there is no alcohol, and many of them—most of them, actually—include even the youngest family members. They tend to have games, chatter, and entertainment. At a typical party, you might learn to hula dance, be introduced to food and music of another country, listen to surprisingly good singing and violin playing, or play a silly family game. Sound corny? It grows on you, and when you wake up the next morning, you don’t have a headache and you can remember everything you did.

Mormons also find service projects fun, because they know how to make them fun. When I was new to the Church, I was invited to help out a new family who had just moved in. The mother had broken her leg and was confined to bed. Nothing was unpacked and everything needed cleaning. It sounded terribly dull and un-fun to me, but I went. To my surprise, I had a great time. We were laughing, singing, and talking as we worked. We helped the children get their rooms unpacked and set up by turning the work into games. Mormons know that everything is a matter of attitude. If you make it fun and are determined to have a good time, it will most likely be fun.

Of course, not all our fun happens at church. Mormons live in their regular communities and participate in them. Because they are a diverse people, they have diverse ways of having fun. They join clubs, tackle community service projects, go on outings with their families, and participate in the hobbies of their choice. They garden, read (for fun and for education) travel, write, paint…anything moral is open to Mormons. And when you start looking, you’ll be surprised at how many moral things there are to do that are fun.

Not convinced? Make a list of all the things you currently do that don’t require you to violate God’s commandments. Then think of things you don’t do but that might be fun, and see how many you can come up with. If all else fails, ask a Mormon if you can tag along when he’s having fun. Once you get used to the types of things they do, you’ll probably discover you’re having a great time with great people. The trick is to first treat it like being a tourist—you don’t expect people in an exotic new country to be doing what you do—and then give it all a fair chance. Chances are you can do the same things you always did, but differently. You can still dance, but you’ll possibly dance to different music and maybe a little differently, for instance. You’ll replace your alcohol with cocoa, but the conversation will still be just as good. After a while, you’ll find out that morality can be a lot of fun. Fun is more a matter of good company and pleasant or meaningful work to do than it is of any particular activity or drink.

Try it.

Wisdom comes from

Today, we see that many people confuse the concepts of education and wisdom. No matter how many years of schooling a person might have, there is no guarantee he will also have gained wisdom, or even truth, as Paul told Timothy.

Wisdom isn’t book learning or classroom learning. It comes from the Holy Ghost, sometimes also known as the Holy Spirit. It’s more than memorizing a list of facts, especially facts that might change as scientists, historians, or philosophers come up with new research or new ideas. True wisdom is the ability to recognize among the millions of pieces of information a person is given those things that are eternal truths, and to be able to apply those truths to make eternally correct choices. This comes not just from books and teachers, but from many hours of prayer. It is the result of having learned to recognize how the Spirit of God communicates with you and having the unselfishness and self-control to honor those communications, even when it’s hard or unpopular.

But most people today don’t give a lot of thought to wisdom, or, when they’re looking for it, they fall into the trap of confusing education and wisdom. They search the bestsellers of the well-educated of the world instead of the writings of God and His prophets. In the Book of Mormon, a prophet mourns, “O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.

“But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.” (2 Ne. 9:28–29.)

These verses tell us that there is nothing wrong with getting an education in secular things—in fact, Mormon beliefs include strong support for education—but that it must be measured against the teachings of God.

For instance, a science class might discuss how and when the earth was created, but never at all cover who created it or why. The textbooks were not written to answer who or why and the Bible was not created to answer how and when. The Bible is not a textbook on how to create an earth, which is why it does not matter that Genesis chapters one and two tell the creation story differently, and place events in a different order.

A wise scholar will take what is learned in school, measure it against the teachings of God, and come up with a more complete answer than they could gain from either the Bible or the textbook. Each book has its own purpose and while the purpose of the Bible’s version is far more important, each can contain useful knowledge. However, the textbook is completely useless from an eternal standpoint without the Bible’s additions to the body of knowledge, while the Bible can stand alone if need be.

The textbooks and other works of secular learning generally only focus on what we need to know to live on this earth during this lifetime, or what will help future generations live here. The Bible and other scriptures, however, are focused on both this life and our eternal lives. They contain the essential information we need to live as Christians and to return to God for eternity.

While Mormons fully support secular education when it is respectful of religious education, they caution members to take worldly knowledge as interesting information and not to give it priority over eternal information. Sometimes the secular and spiritual teachings will conflict. A person who has the gift of wisdom will turn to God for resolution in those areas that impact eternal life. It really makes no difference to our eternal salvation how many modern days it took to create the earth, but it matters completely who created the earth and why. Mormons focus on those things that impact eternity and leave the rest to history and science. While some Mormon prophets have held and even expressed opinions on these secular aspects, they are not canonized—made an official part of the eternal religion. The canonized teachings fall under the category of wisdom.

How do we gain wisdom? Study is part of the process, of course. It’s important to study scripture and learn what God’s prophets from the time of Adam to the present have taught, and to pay special attention to the words of Jesus Christ, even though we only have them as remembered and recorded by others, and translated many times.

Prayer is also a critical part of gaining the gift of wisdom. If we want to be wise, we need to ask God to help us develop that gift. Then we need to pray often, taking care not to leap up and rush off when we’re done talking. Just as it’s rude to do all the talking when you’re conversing with an earthly friend, it is not proper or profitable to do all the talking when talking to God. You need to be still and listen with your heart so He can answer you.

Not all prayers will be of the type that can be answered with immediate action. “I need enough money to pay the rent.” Some require the ability to feel the Holy Ghost “whispering” in our hearts. “Heavenly Father, my heart is broken today. I need comfort.” “I need to know which church to join.” “I need to know how to handle my daughter.”

For these, we have to have true wisdom. The Holy Ghost won’t send us a letter and will seldom speak in a true voice. Instead, we might have thoughts come into our minds or feelings of peace come into our hearts. God might lead us to someone who has the answer, but we must then be able to recognize the source of that action. If we’re close to God and have worked to know what the Holy Ghost feels like when He’s nearby, we will recognize truth when we encounter it.

Recognizing and applying truth is what wisdom is all about.

Although the Mormon church is headed by a prophet, the gift of prophecy referred to here is not referring to that prophet. The office of the prophet is held by the president of the Mormons. Only one person holds that office, but many people can have the gift of prophecy.

“The spiritual gift of prophecy is quite different. As we read in the Book of Revelation, “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Rev. 19:10.) The Prophet Joseph Smith relied on this scripture in teaching that “every other man who has the testimony of Jesus” is a prophet. (Teachings, p. 119.) Similarly, the Apostle Paul states that “he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.” (1 Cor. 14:3.) Thus, in the sense used in speaking of spiritual gifts, a prophet is one who testifies of Jesus Christ, teaches God’s word, and exhorts God’s people. In its scriptural sense, to prophesy means much more than to predict the future.

The scriptures often use the word prophet and its derivatives in the broad sense of one who teaches and testifies of God. When the prophet Moses was asked to forbid two men who “prophesied in the camp,” he refused, expressing the wish “that all the Lord’s people were prophets.” (Num. 11:26, 29.) The Apostle Paul taught that Christians should “desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.” (1 Cor. 14:1.) The Book of Mormon describes various times in which there were many prophets. (See 1 Ne. 1:4; W of M 1:16–18.) In our day, Elder Joseph Fielding Smith declared that “all members of the Church should seek for the gift of prophecy, for their own guidance, which is the spirit by which the word of the Lord is understood and his purpose made known.” (Church History and Modern Revelation, 3 vols., Salt Lake City, Deseret Book Co., 1953, 1:201.)

It is important for us to understand the distinction between a prophet, who has the spiritual gift of prophecy, and the prophet, who has the prophetic office” (Dallin H. Oaks, “Spiritual Gifts,” Ensign, Sep 1986, 68.)

The gift of prophecy, then, is meant to help us gain a testimony of Jesus Christ and to share that testimony with others. It helps us to understand God’s teachings and to apply them to our lives, as well as to help other apply those teachings to their lives.

Each person is able to receive personal revelation for his own sphere of responsibility. A mother, for instance, can receive personal revelation to help her make decisions about caring for her children and family, but not for her neighbor’s family unless she has a specific responsibility there. A bishop (similar to a lay pastor) can receive revelation for his own congregation, but not for any other congregation. The president of the United States can turn to God for revelation about leading his own country. Only the person who holds the prophetic office can receive prophecy for the entire church.

Elder Oaks, quoted above, reminded us that in the Old Testament, Miriam was a prophetess. She didn’t hold the office of the prophet-that belonged to Moses. However, she and Aaron once forgot that distinction and tried to take authority, arguing with God’s prophet. God Himself intervened. He reminded them that Moses was the prophet, not them, and that they were to listen to his counsel. A prophet’s role is to communicate God’s will to the church as a whole, and only Moses could do that at that time. This is a reminder to all of us that only God chooses who holds the office of the prophet, and that we must always honor that office. Those who don’t hold that office can’t try to take over for him. Throughout the Bible, God has demonstrated the importance of recognizing the prophet and then listening to his messages from God. Those who ignore or deny the prophet have always suffered serious consequences.

The gift of prophecy, for those who don’t hold the office of the prophet, is a very special gift. The ability to know without doubt of the divinity of Jesus Christ and to be able to use that knowledge to share what you know with others is a sacred responsibility and an honor. It must always be used wisely.

To use this gift wisely, we have to pray and spend time getting to know Jesus Christ on a personal level. As we study the scriptures, ponder what we read, pray, and spend time in the Savior’s spiritual presence, we can increase our testimony from believing to knowing. We must be certain, if we are blessed with the gift of prophecy, that our testimony is completely accurate so we are using the gift the best way possible. We are responsible for learning how to turn to God for information on who to trust for information and then accept the answers.

Learn how to pray.

7 We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth. (See Articles of Faith.)

The gift of tongues is for sharing the gospel.

Robert D. Hales, an apostle for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (whose members are sometimes referred to as Mormons), gave the following explanation and caution about the gift of tongues:

“And to another is given the interpretation of tongues” (D&C 46:24–25).

Many of you who have gone to foreign lands have been given the gift to speak with tongues and to translate, or have the interpretation of tongues.

“And all these gifts come from God, for the benefit of the children of God” (D&C 46:26).

We are told by prophets in this dispensation that revelation for the direction of the Church will not be given through the gift of tongues. The reason for this is that it is very easy for Lucifer to falsely duplicate the gift of tongues and confuse the members of the Church.

Satan has the power to trick us as it pertains to some of the gifts of the Spirit. One in which he is the most deceptive is the gift of tongues. Joseph Smith and Brigham Young (1801–77) explained the need to be cautious when considering the gift of tongues.

“You may speak in tongues for your own comfort, but I lay this down for a rule, that if anything is taught by the gift of tongues, it is not to be received for doctrine” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 229).

“Speak not in the gift of tongues without understanding it, or without interpretation. The devil can speak in tongues” (Teachings, 162).

“The gift of tongues is not … empowered to dictate … the Church. All gifts and endowments given of the Lord to members of his Church are not given to control the Church; but they are under the control and guidance of the Priesthood, and are judged of by it” (Discourses of Brigham Young, comp. John A. Widtsoe [1941], 343).

The gift of tongues is used by missionaries to teach the gospel to the nations of the world. (See Robert D. Hales, “Gifts of the Spirit,” Ensign, Feb 2002, 12

As you can see, the gift of tongues is seen by Mormons a bit differently than it is by some churches. You will not find, in Mormon meetings, someone speaking by the spirit in a language no one else understands. The gift of tongues is not a way to prove our spirituality or to deliver revelation. Instead, it is most often used to teach the gospel to someone with whom you don’t share a common language.

For instance, when I was younger, I was serving a stake mission. This meant I lived at home and did my usual things, but also agreed to donate a large portion of my day doing missionary work. I was loaned to a mission for the deaf because I was learning sign language, and worked with two other women in teaching religion to those who could not hear. One day, one of the people the full-time missionaries were teaching asked an important question, but specifically wanted me to answer it. I panicked, because my sign language was not up to the requirements of the answer. However, as I began to answer, it was as though my hands moved on their own. I gave a detailed answer, but did not know many of the signs I was using. The investigator (student) was satisfied with my answer, but I could not take credit for it. The Holy Ghost was providing the answer and gave me the gift of tongues for that single instance to assist me in doing God’s work. Had there been no one in the room who knew sign language, there would have been no need for me to have that gift at that time, and I can’t normally do it. My sign language has never been very good, but I can sign when I need to in the course of my religious responsibilities. Other times, I can’t sign at more than a beginner’s level.

The gift of tongues always works in conjunction with the gift of interpretation. If someone is speaking in tongues, others must be able to interpret. The gift of interpretation is closely related to the gift of tongues. David O. McKay, a former Mormon prophet, once wanted to speak to church members in New Zealand without the diluting impact of an interpreter. He spoke in English for forty minutes, and many were able to understand him, even though they didn’t speak English. They were given this ability just for this occasion in order to receive God’s word. It is unlikely any of them were able to comprehend English when the meeting ended. (See “Chapter 22: The Gifts of the Spirit,” Gospel Principles, (2009),125–32.)

Although in many churches, the gift of tongues is considered a very desirable gift, Joseph Smith said it was generally the least important gift, and not useful except for the types of circumstances mentioned above. Generally, when Mormons do have the types of experiences we’ve discussed here, they don’t really think of it as the gift of tongues, although, of course, it is. They think of it as the Holy Ghost helping them share or understand the gospel.

To make Bible study more meaningful, you need to slow down. If you’ve committed to reading ten chapters a day, you may want to consider either reducing the number of Bible chapters you’re reading each day or set a time goal instead of a chapter goal. This way, if you read a single verse and spend fifteen minutes pondering what it means to you, it won’t throw you off schedule and ruin your need for productivity. You can read as slowly as you’d like and allow yourself time to use your reading to increase your knowledge of the Bible, God, and Jesus Christ.

Next, create a plan for getting yourself to slow down and ponder as you read. Begin each session with a prayer to help you have the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit) with you as you’re reading. Then put a few tools nearby to assist you with your reading.

One useful tool to have handy is a colored pencil for marking your Bible. Some people use multiple colors and a system of marking certain types of scriptures in different colors. This is useful for future study, but can cause you to focus more on the method and less on what you’re reading. The best systems are always simple. If you long for a color-coded study Bible, consider having a second one for that purpose. At a time other than your Bible study, go through your personal Bible, note all the marked scriptures, and also mark them in your color-coded Bible.

You will also want something with which to write. Put notes in the margins to remind you of thoughts you had, meanings you’ve applied to the verses, or explanations you’ve found as you study.

You may have more notes than fit into the small margins of most Bibles. A scripture journal can give you expanded room for your thoughts and ideas and force you to slow down and ponder. Purchase or make a journal, or keep one online (but print it periodically) and, as you read, stop to write your thoughts or inspirations. What does that verse or story mean to you? What can you learn from it that will help you in your own life? How can you change your life based on what you read? This record will be a valuable tool for you in the future, and can also be a way to help your children understand your faith process when they’re old enough to read it. (If your thoughts are too personal, you may want to type an edited version to save for your family.)

Take time to make the people in the stories come to life. They were real people (except in the parables, of course) and had complete lives that went on before and after the stories we have preserved. How do you think they felt about the things that happened? What kinds of people were they? How do you think the events recorded impacted their lives? Don’t just focus on the main characters. Sometimes there are great lessons to be learned from the minor characters as well.

Each day, when you finish your reading, stop and spend several minutes just thinking about what you read. Decide what you’ve learned and what you’re going to do about it. This is called pondering. Pondering is an essential part of your scripture reading.

You may find commentaries helpful in giving you more background or new ideas, but don’t let them do all your thinking for you. Sometimes, just read without the aid of a commentary. Let the Holy Ghost tell you what you need to know, instead of just accepting someone else’s interpretation.

Reading alone is important, because it allows you to ponder and to focus your reading entirely on what you need to learn. However, it can be helpful to also read the Bible with others. You don’t have to be in the same place in your group reads as you do in your private reading. Read with your children each day and encourage them to talk about what they’ve read. Children, even very young ones, often have amazing insights into the Bible. You’ll find you look at the stories and the people in all new ways after you’ve listened to a child’s opinion of them. You might also read with your spouse, as a way of finding what is in the Bible that can help you as a couple.

Try reading the Bible in several different ways. Sometimes read it straight through, as it was published. Other times, read it chronologically. (The New Testament is not published in the order experts believe it was written.) Still more often, read it by topic.

To read the Bible topically, choose a topic you want to know more about or that you feel you need to focus more on in your life. For instance, you might be thinking a lot about truth, faith, or service lately. Using a good topical guide to help you find those scriptures. Read each one, noting them in your study journal, and add your thoughts about them. Cross-reference those you feel add more insight into the other scriptures on the subject. Reading the Bible this way is a whole different experience than reading chronologically, because you’ll get a more complete picture of God’s teachings on a given subject. If you write out each scripture on the topic, along with your thoughts, you’ll begin to see the topics you’re studying in new ways. It will force you to think of them differently when you put all the verses together, instead of encountering them in pieces during chronological study.

Read both the Old Testament and the New Testament. Both parts make up the complete Bible and although the Old Testament is harder reading, there are great riches of understanding to be found there.

God gave us the Bible for a reason. He meant us to love it, study it, and apply it. Make the very best use of His gift you possibly can by increasing the power of your Bible study.

An article appearing on the official church news website states that the building is part of a pilot program demonstrating the church’s commitment to stewardship and conservation. In 2009, the Church completed a new history library that was LEED certified. LEED certification is very rigorous and begins with an application made in the planning process. “LEED is important now because it has become widely accepted and practiced at a time when the concept of sustainability is starting to be understood by a large portion of the populace. The timing and acceptance of LEED will help form basic practices that can be standardized and applied to all future development. It provides a new framework for thinking about choices that in the broadest sense, impact everyone on the planet,” said Jim Bradburn, who consulted with the Church on this project. (See New Buildings Undergo Extensive Process to Achieve LEED Certification.)

The Mormons have a history of working toward and encouraging sustainability. The history of Mormon sustainable buildings begins in the 1950s, when buildings began using overhangs and verandas to reduce heat load on five continents. In the Pacific area, they also collected and used rainwater for many purposes.

Things got a little more technical in 1971, when the Mormons used underground spring wells for heating and cooling in the Church Office Buildings in Salt Lake City, Utah. In the 1980s, they began employing satellite systems to reduce travel to meetings. This cut carbon emissions and is estimated to conserve 100,000 gallons of fuel for each event. In the 1990s, buildings began to have water sensors that shut of sprinkler systems when it was raining and motion sensors to turn lights and fans off when rooms weren’t in use. 1995 saw the addition of low flow toilets. Other innovations have appeared world-wide as new technologies have been invented.

The creation is an important part of Mormon beliefs. In the Old Testament, we learn that God created the earth as a gift to us. Adam, the first man, was instructed to exercise stewardship over the earth, which means to care for it. Mormons are taught to reverence God’s creations because they were a precious and sacred gift, and from the earliest days of the church, church leaders have counseled Mormons  to talk responsibility for their planet.

In the Doctrine and Covenants, a book of modern day revelations given to Mormons, we learn:

“16 Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the fulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth;

17 Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards;

18 Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;

19 Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.

20 And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion.

(See Doctrine and Covenants Section 59.)

Joseph Smith, the first Mormon prophet, instructed a group of men traveling with him not to kill a snake they found, and further taught them they were not to kill any animals except as food. Brigham Young, the second president and best known as the prophet who led the Mormon pioneers to Utah, spoke often of the need for Mormons to grow plants, beautify the earth, and keep the planet clean. In a lecture by Hugh Nibley, Young is quoted as saying, “It is not our privilege to waste the Lord’s substance.” “We may take all we need, because it is the Lord’s, but wo to him who dares to take more—for it is the Lord’s!” (See Brigham Young on the Environment by Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute.)

More recently, Russell M. Nelson, a living apostle of the Lord, said, “As beneficiaries of the divine Creation, what shall we do? We should care for the earth, be wise stewards over it, and preserve it for future generations. And we are to love and care for one another.” (Russell M. Nelson, “The Creation,” Ensign, May 2000, 84)

For Mormons, being wise stewards of the earth is not a political issue, but a spiritual one. It is one of sacred responsibility to care for something made for us and given to us by our Savior.

Watch Conference online.

General Conference begins, as do most Mormon meetings, with music and prayer. The music is provided by a choir. Some sessions have the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the official Mormon choir. Other sessions have choirs from various LDS schools or stakes (similar to a diocese.) Some choirs were put together just for conference. The prayer is given by a member of the church who is invited to do so.

Conference is conducted by a member of the First Presidency. The First Presidency consists of the prophet, who is also the president of the Church, and his two counselors. They are the highest ranking body of the church. The current prophet is Thomas S. Monson, who is best known for his long service to widows and his strong encouragement to care for the poor. He is noted as a skilled storyteller, whose stories always teach an important moral message. His personality is gentle and peaceful, as one might expect from someone with a long history of quiet service.

His First Counselor is Henry B. Eyring, who holds a doctorate from Harvard University, and who taught at Stanford University and headed an LDS university prior to becoming a General Authority (a high ranking church official).

The Second Counselor is Dieter F. Uchtdorf, born in Czechoslovakia. President Uchtdorf joined the Church as a child with his family and until his call to serve the Church, he was senior vice president of flight operations and chief pilot of Lufthansa German Airlines.

Mormons do not attend a seminary and study for the ministry. Their leaders come from all walks of life and the bishops (similar to a pastor) and other local leaders all have full-time careers in addition to their pastoral work. Those who move to full-time Church service are chosen—you cannot volunteer to be a General Authority—and bring with them a wide range of experience from the wider world.

Speakers for the conference are chosen from the General Authorities and other high ranking Church leaders. Among those speakers are the Apostles. Although they are the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, there are actually fifteen apostles, since the prophet and his counselors are also apostles. The Quorum of the Twelve serve as the second highest ranking body of the Church.

Additional speakers are usually chosen from among other General Authorities and other leaders. Most sessions include women who lead the Relief Society auxiliary for women, the Young Women’s auxiliary for teenage girls, and the Primary organization for children.

Each speaker chooses his or her own topic and his own approach to it, praying to know what God wants them to discuss. As a result, there may be several talks on a given subject, but each from the perspective of the individual speaker. Listeners are encouraged to study the talks throughout the coming six months, to know the will of the Lord and to apply the messages to their own lives. The messages frequently include a range of topics on Christianity as it applies to everyday life.

Following are some excerpts from the October 2009 conference, offered to demonstrate some of the topics covered in a typical conference. A link is included to each talk so you can read it in its entirety.

Seeking to Know God and Jesus Christ

“Some wonder, why is belief in God so important? Why did the Savior say, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent”?2

Without God, life would end at the grave and our mortal experiences would have no purpose. Growth and progress would be temporary, accomplishment without value, challenges without meaning. There would be no ultimate right and wrong and no moral responsibility to care for one another as fellow children of God. Indeed, without God, there would be no mortal or eternal life.

If you or someone you love is seeking purpose in life or a deeper conviction of God’s presence in our lives, I offer, as a friend and as an Apostle, my witness. He lives!

Some may ask, how can I know this for myself? We know He lives because we believe the testimonies of His ancient and living prophets, and we have felt God’s Spirit confirm that the testimonies of these prophets are true.”

Robert D. Hales, “Seeking to Know God, Our Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ,” Ensign, Nov 2009, 29–32

Moral Discipline

Moral discipline is the consistent exercise of agency to choose the right because it is right, even when it is hard. It rejects the self-absorbed life in favor of developing character worthy of respect and true greatness through Christlike service (see Mark 10:42–45). The root of the word discipline is shared by the word disciple, suggesting to the mind the fact that conformity to the example and teachings of Jesus Christ is the ideal discipline that, coupled with His grace, forms a virtuous and morally excellent person.

Jesus’s own moral discipline was rooted in His discipleship to the Father. To His disciples He explained, “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (John 4:34). By this same pattern, our moral discipline is rooted in loyalty and devotion to the Father and the Son. It is the gospel of Jesus Christ that provides the moral certainty upon which moral discipline rests.

D. Todd Christofferson, “Moral Discipline,” Ensign, Nov 2009, 105–8

How Mormonism Changes Africans

I have seen the good fruit of the gospel blossom in my home continent of Africa. After just 30 years, there are 300,000 Saints. In the doctrines and principles of the restored gospel, many are finding a sure anchor for their faith. Families uprooted from their rural communities in search of a better future in the towns and cities have found a new way to hold on to the strong family traditions which have come progressively under attack in this era of globalization. The Spirit of the Lord is moving powerfully among the people.

A new celestial culture is developing in homes, nurtured by the ready hearkening to the counsel of the living prophet to have daily prayer and scripture study and to meet once a week as a family in home evening. As a result, many are able to break free from the shackles of traditions that restrict the exercise of their agency.

As an illustration from personal experience, three of our children were recently married in the temple without the encumbrance of dowry, a traditional practice that drives many young men and women to live together without any legal commitment to each other. The opportunity for a temple marriage in the three temples now established in Accra, Ghana; Aba, Nigeria; and Johannesburg, South Africa, is helping to instill a fresh hope in the sanctity of marriage.

Joseph W. Sitati, “Blessings of the Gospel Available to All,” Ensign, Nov 2009, 103–5

One of the purposes of mortal life is to prove to God that we will keep His commandments when that takes courage (Henry B. Eyring, “Moral Courage,” Liahona, Mar 2010, 4–7).

An important aspect of Mormon beliefs is that one purpose of our life on earth is to be tested. Passing the test requires moral courage, because if it were easy, the test would be meaningless.

Before we were born, we lived as spirits with God. We didn’t have bodies, limiting our experiences and temptations, but we had our personalities. We were shaped by our experiences, our learning, and our choices, just as we are here. However, because God was there, in our presence, for many of us, the choices seemed easier.

Even with that reassurance, the ability to know exactly what God wanted from us, some people were not willing to trust Him or themselves. When He told us we were going to be sent away from home for a while to continue our eternal progression, some were not excited by the prospect. We were told we might fail and, if we rejected God and His teachings, we would not be allowed to return to His presence, although we would be saved by grace, meaning we would be resurrected and live forever. For most people, everlasting life, even if we could not be with God, would still be a happy experience.

Knowing some people were unwilling to take that risk, Lucifer tried to convince the people to reject God’s plan. He told them if they chose him to be their savior, he would guarantee they’d all make it back home. Of course, the only way to do this was to control their every action and thought, ensuring they’d never have an opportunity to sin. There was no other way, because God’s laws could not be altered. One third of all the spirits chose him as their leader. The remainder chose Jesus Christ as their Savior, who volunteered Himself as our Savior, but He committed Himself to follow God’s plan exactly. Unlike Satan, He was willing to suffer and die for us, so we would have the ability to repent of our sins and break the bonds of death. The third that followed Satan were cast out of Heaven and were denied the right to come to earth and to partake of the Atonement. They’ve since devoted their lives to trying to make us as miserable as they are.

The rest of us began taking our turns on Earth, gaining families, bodies, trials, and blessings. Every day, most of us face choices that have eternal consequences. We hear teachings about God and have to decide which ones are correct and which are false. We face ridicule for trying to live the commandments or for encouraging others to do so. If we obey the commandments we’re considered foolish.

For those who put the teachings of Jesus Christ first, however, it is worth the sacrifice, worth the mocking, the judgment, and the inability of others to understand.

There is a story in the Book of Mormon about a prophet named Lehi. He had a vision in which he viewed a tree that represented God’s love. Those who partook of the fruit experienced great joy. Some who followed the path to that tree ate the fruit, but then looked around to see how others viewed their choice. In the air, nearby, was a spacious building filled with elegant, well-dressed people who were busy making fun of those who were working so hard to reach the tree. Those who insisted on monitoring the reactions of others to their choice were humiliated to be the subject of this mockery from people who seemed important, and they rushed away, forfeiting the blessings of their choice. Some even joined the mockers, thinking it made them more important or glamorous.

This story is about moral courage. Those who fled from God because of the mockery lacked moral courage. They were unwilling to do the hard work of being a Christian.

The most effectual way to establish the religion of Heaven is to live it, rather than to die for it: I think I am safe in saying that there are many of the Latter-day Saints who are more willing to die for their religion than to live it faithfully (Brigham Young, quoted in Chapter 11: Choosing to Walk in Obedience,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, 71).

Brigham Young understood that dying for your religion takes a moment of courage and no requirement to live on earth with the results of your sacrifices. Instead, you’re immediately in Heaven. But living on earth, day in and day out facing the large and small temptations and trials, sorting through the many voices taunting you to sin or encouraging you to make wise choices, and facing the world everyday with a different lifestyle than others takes far more courage. It’s not the courage of a moment, but the courage of a lifetime.

In his message on moral courage, Henry B. Eyring reminded us we have a great help in getting through our lives with moral courage: the atonement. Through Jesus Christ, we can find the courage to face the moral challenges of mortality. President Eyring reminded us of the following scripture, which contains revelation given to Joseph Smith from God:

And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.

“The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?” (D&C 122:7–8).