How to Handle Differing Opinions and Be A Good Part of a Discussion

From the Institute Manual 

 

Do Your Part and He Will Help You

 "When later asked what he learned from the assignment to open the countries in Eastern Europe for the preaching of the gospel, particularly in light of the many stop and stars, failed meetings, and ups and downs, Elder Nelson replied simply: "The Lord likes effort. He could have said to Moses, 'I'll meet you halfway.' But Moses had to go all the way to the top of Mount Sinai. He required effort from Moses and Joshua and Joseph Smith and from all of the subsequent Presidents of the Church. He requires effort from bishops and stake Relief Society presidents and elders quorum presidents. There is always a test. Are you willing to do really hard thing? Once you've shown you're willing to do your part, He will help you." "

From Insights From a Prophet's Life: Russell M. Nelson by Sheri Dew

Trust the Doctrine of Christ

 

Trusting the Doctrine of Christ

By Elder Evan A. Schmutz

Of the Seventy

If we trust the doctrine of Christ, we will trust Christ enough to live by His every word.¹⁴ We will make a lifelong study of Jesus Christ,¹⁵ His ministry, His teachings, and His infinite Atonement, including His glorious Resurrection. We will study His promises and the conditions upon which those promises are given.¹⁶ As we study, we will be filled with greater love for the Lord....

In God’s perfect plan, suffering with faith in Christ is linked to our becoming perfected in Christ.

Work Daily to Bring the Spirit into Your Life

 

“There Can Be Nothing So Exquisite and Sweet as Was My Joy”

By Elder Craig C. Christensen

Of the Seventy

Repentance brings joy because it prepares our hearts to receive the influence of the Holy Ghost. To be filled with the Holy Ghost means to be filled with joy. And to be filled with joy means to be filled with the Holy Ghost.¹⁸ Our joy increases as we work daily to bring the Spirit into our lives. As taught by the prophet Mormon, “Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in [their] faith [in] Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation.”¹⁹ The Lord promises all who work to follow Him, “I will impart unto you … my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy.”

Different Take on the Lord's Name in Vain

 

Accessing God’s Power through Covenants

By Elder Dale G. Renlund

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

At baptism and when we partake of the sacrament,¹² we witness that we are willing to take on ourselves the name of Jesus Christ.¹³ In this context, let us be mindful of the Old Testament commandment, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.”¹⁴ To our modern ears, this sounds like a prohibition against irreverently using the Lord’s name. The commandment includes that, but its injunction is even more profound. The Hebrew word translated as “take” means to “lift up” or “carry,” as one would a banner that identifies oneself with an individual or group.¹⁵ The word translated as “vain” means “empty” or “deceptive.”¹⁶ The commandment to not take the Lord’s name in vain can thus mean, “You should not identify yourself as a disciple of Jesus Christ unless you intend to represent Him well.”

Faithful Consistency Brings Miracles

Ministering

By Elder Gerrit W. Gong

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

 Elder Perry also offered practical advice. He said, “Give companionships a reasonable number of assignments, prayerfully chosen, clustered geographically where appropriate so travel time is used well.” He would counsel, “Start with those who most need visits. Build from those most likely to welcome and respond well to visits.” He concluded, “Faithful consistency brings miracles.”

Speaking Assignment with Elder Packer

 

Just Keep Going—with Faith

By Elder Carl B. Cook

Of the Presidency of the Seventy

Thankfully, when we are weak or incapable, the Lord can strengthen our faith. He can increase our capacity beyond our own. I have experienced that. More than 20 years ago, I was unexpectedly called as an Area Seventy, and I felt very inadequate. Following my training assignments, I was to preside at my first stake conference.¹⁰ The stake president and I meticulously planned every detail. Shortly before the conference, President Boyd K. Packer, then–Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, called to see if he could accompany me. I was surprised and, of course, agreed. I asked how he would like to proceed since he would preside. He suggested that we undo the plans and prepare to follow the Spirit. Thankfully, I still had 10 days to study, pray, and prepare.

With an open agenda, we were on the stand 20 minutes before the leadership meeting began. I leaned over to the stake president and whispered, “This is a wonderful stake.”

President Packer elbowed me gently and said, “No talking.”

I stopped talking, and his general conference talk “Reverence Invites Revelation”¹¹ came to mind. I observed that President Packer was writing down scripture references. The Spirit confirmed to me that he was receiving impressions for the meeting. My learning experience had just begun.

President Packer spoke for the first 15 minutes and emphasized the importance of conducting all meetings as guided by the Holy Spirit.¹² He then said, “We will now hear from Elder Cook.”

On my way to the pulpit, I asked how long he would like me to take and if there was a topic he would like me to address. He said, “Take 15 minutes and carry on as you feel inspired.” I took about 14 minutes and shared everything I had on my mind.

President Packer stood again and spoke for another 15 minutes. He shared this scripture:

“Speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men;

“For it shall be given you … in the very moment, what ye shall say.”¹³

Then he said, “We will now hear from Elder Cook.”

I was shocked. I had never considered the possibility that I would be asked to speak twice in one meeting. I didn’t have anything in mind to say. Praying fervently and relying on the Lord for help, somehow, I was blessed with a thought, a scripture, and I was able to speak for another 15 minutes. I sat down totally exhausted.

President Packer spoke again for 15 minutes about following the Spirit and shared Paul’s teachings that we should not speak “words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth.”¹⁴ As you can imagine, I was overwhelmed when he was impressed to say for the third time, “We will now hear from Elder Cook.”

I was empty. I had nothing. I knew it was time to exercise more faith. Slowly, I made my way to the pulpit, pleading to God for help. As I stepped up to the microphone, the Lord miraculously blessed me to somehow give another 15-minute message.¹⁵

The meeting finally ended, but I quickly realized that the adult session would start in one hour. Oh, no! Like Zoram, I sincerely wanted to run, but just as Nephi caught him, I knew President Packer would catch me. The adult meeting followed the very same pattern. I spoke three more times. The next day during the general session, I spoke once.

After the conference, President Packer said with affection, “Let’s do it again sometime.” I love President Boyd K. Packer and appreciate all that I learned.

Do you know what I am grateful for? That I didn’t give up—or resist. If I had given in to my desperate desire to escape from those meetings, I would have missed an opportunity to increase my faith and receive a rich outpouring of love and support from my Heavenly Father. I learned of His mercy, the miraculous enabling power of Jesus Christ and His Atonement, and the powerful influence of the Holy Ghost. In spite of my weakness,¹⁶ I learned that I can serve; I can contribute when the Lord is by my side if I just keep going—with faith.

Regardless of the size, scope, and seriousness of the challenges we face in life, we all have times when we feel like stopping, leaving, escaping, or possibly giving up. But exercising faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ, helps us overcome discouragement no matter what obstacles we encounter.

Holy Habits - Make Them Less of a Checklist

 

Never Give Up an Opportunity to Testify of Christ

By President Bonnie H. Cordon

Young Women General President

I have attended the temple many times, but when I worship in the house of the Lord, it changes me. Sometimes while fasting, I find myself simply going hungry, but other times, I feast on the Spirit with purpose. I sometimes have mumbled prayers that are repetitive and routine, but I have also come eager to receive counsel from the Lord through prayer.

There is power in making these holy habits less of a checklist and more of a witness. The process will be gradual but will grow with daily, active participation and purposeful experiences with Christ. As we consistently act on His teaching, we gain a testimony of Him; we build a relationship with Him and our Heavenly Father. We begin to become like Them.

Easter Traditions

 

The Greatest Easter Story Ever Told

By Elder Gary E. Stevenson

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Lesa and I have discussed ways that our family can do better during the Easter season. Perhaps the question we have asked ourselves is one we could all contemplate: How do we model the teaching and celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Easter story, with the same balance, fulness, and rich religious tradition of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Christmas story?...

As Lesa and I continued to ponder and seek ways to expand our family Easter celebration to be more Christ-centered, we discussed what scripture reading tradition we might introduce to our family—the Luke 2 equivalent for Easter, if you will.

And then we had this heavenly epiphany: In addition to the important verses about Easter in the New Testament, we as Latter-day Saints are endowed with a most remarkable Easter gift! A gift of unique witness, another testament of the Easter miracle that contains perhaps the most magnificent Easter scriptures in all of Christianity. I am referring of course to the Book of Mormon and, more specifically, to the account of Jesus Christ appearing to inhabitants in the New World in His resurrected glory.

The Prophet Joseph Smith described the Book of Mormon as “the most correct of any book,”⁵ and beginning with 3 Nephi 11, it tells the magnificent story of the resurrected Christ’s visit to the Nephites, the Savior’s Easter ministry. These Easter scriptures bear record of the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ....

This Easter, our family is going to focus on the first 17 verses of 3 Nephi 11, with which you are familiar....

Imagine: the Nephites at the temple actually touched the hands of the risen Lord! We hope to make these chapters in 3 Nephi as much a part of our Easter tradition as Luke 2 is of our Christmas tradition. In reality, the Book of Mormon shares the greatest Easter story ever told. Let it not be the greatest Easter story never told.

I invite you to look at the Book of Mormon in a new light and consider the profound witness it bears of the reality of the risen Christ as well as the richness and depth of the doctrine of Christ....

We cannot stand as witnesses of Jesus Christ until we can bear witness of Him. The Book of Mormon is another witness of Jesus Christ because throughout its sacred pages, one prophet after another testifies not only that Christ would come but that He did come.

Because of Him

​I am holding in my hand a copy of the first edition of the Book of Mormon. Doing so always moves me. For much of my adult life, I have been fascinated, enthralled, and riveted with what young Joseph Smith did to get this sacred book of scripture translated and published. The miracles that had to occur are staggering to contemplate.

​But that is not why this book moves me. It is because this book, more than any other ever published on this earth, bears witness of the life, the ministry, the teachings, the Atonement, and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. My dear brothers and sisters, studying regularly from this book about Jesus Christ will change your life. It will open your eyes to new possibilities. It will increase your hope and fill you with charity. Most of all, it will build and strengthen your faith in Jesus Christ and bless you with a sure knowledge that He and our Father know you, love you, and want you to find your way back home, with a capital H....

No book does more to show that:

• Because of Jesus Christ, everything changed.

• Because of Him, everything is better.

• Because of Him, life is manageable—especially the painful moments.

• Because of Him, everything is possible.

Don't Get Caught Up in Worldly Physical Trends

1 Corinthians 1–7

How Can I Treat My Body Like a Temple?

Liahona, Aug 2023, 49

 President Russell M. Nelson taught:

“The gift of our physical bodies is a transcendent miracle.

“… Your body, whatever its natural gifts, is … a temple for your spirit.”¹

But sometimes we criticize our appearance or wish our bodies were different. We might get caught up in worldly trends or standards that cause us to forget what our bodies are meant to be. They are temples for our spirits and for the Holy Spirit.

Shake it Off

Come, Follow Me

Acts 22–28

How Can the Savior Deliver Me from Trials?

Liahona Aug 2023, 46. 

 While Paul laid sticks on a fire, “there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand” (Acts 28:3). But he “shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm” (verse 5). We all face challenges, temptations, and weaknesses in mortality, and like Paul, with faith in Jesus Christ and by obedience to His commandments, we can “shake off” our trials and find relief by trusting in God’s power to deliver us.

Don't Insist or Demand that Others Recognize Our Correctness

 

The Coin in the Fish’s Mouth

By Elder S. Mark Palmer

Of the Seventy

4. Although as disciples of Christ we may know we are right, there are times when insisting or demanding that others recognize our correctness would simply cause unneeded offense. And even worse, it could become a stumbling block in someone else’s spiritual progression.

A wonderful example of this meekness and unwillingness to become a stumbling block is found in this experience of President James E. Faust (1920–2007), a former counselor in the First Presidency. “His son, Marcus, talked … about going with him to the Washington, D.C., temple to participate in a temple [endowment] session. When President Faust presented his recommend for admission—a special one used by general authorities—the temple worker didn’t recognize him or the recommend and denied him access. ‘Rather than embarrassing the man by telling him who he was, Dad politely excused himself and we all left.’”...

Like Peter, we will learn from the example of our Master, who was patient with faults and meek despite having all power.

Make a Healthier Plan to Process Your Feelings

 

Are Your Coping Habits Helping or Harming You?

By Gabrielle Shiozawa

Church Magazines

Remember you engaged in habits for a reason. You wouldn’t cling to bad habits if they weren’t serving you in some way, even if that “service” is a false sense of joy or security. For example, my perfectionistic tendencies used to help me avoid facing my fears about not meeting others’ expectations.

But when I let go of those expectations, I felt so much lighter! When you consciously recognize what problem you’re avoiding with your negative coping mechanisms, you can intentionally make a healthier plan to process your feelings.

Asking yourself these questions can help you become self-aware and respond differently:

• What need is this negative habit attempting to fulfill?

• What emotion is this habit helping me avoid?

• What’s a healthier option I can try in order to meet that need?

"You Have the Temple, so You Will Be OK."

 

You Have the Temple

By Nobuko Maeda, Tokyo, Japan

I am thankful that I always receive strength from serving in the Lord’s temple.

Drawing of Tokyo Japan Temple by Alan Klay

I learned the gospel from the full-time missionaries and was baptized at age 17 in 1972. Three years later, as an organist, I was at the Budokan arena in Tokyo when President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) announced the construction of the Tokyo Japan Temple.

After the temple was dedicated in 1980, I commuted from Sendai to the temple every month. I would leave work Friday evenings to attend the temple the next day. My desire to attend the temple grew stronger, so I moved to Tokyo in 1981.

Soon after I married, my husband, Osamu, was called to serve as stake president. He served diligently and was involved in the construction of the temple annex. With his and our children’s help, and with the Lord’s guidance, my parents joined the Church 20 years after my baptism.

Nobuko and Osamu Maeda in 1996.

Photograph courtesy of the author

Just after their conversion, I underwent surgery for cancer in my upper jaw. On the day of my surgery, the president of the temple, where I served as an organist and an ordinance worker, fasted and prayed for me. After my surgery, I found it difficult to speak, eat, sing, and do other normal things.

“If you can’t speak,” the temple president told me, “you can still be an organist!”

That encouraged me to resume my service after I had healed. As I played the organ in the temple chapel, I was filled with the Spirit of the Lord and felt strengthened spiritually and physically. I often gave thanks and prayed silently over the words of the hymns.

Ten years after my surgery, my husband was also diagnosed with cancer. He was soon in and out of the hospital. Before he passed away, he left me with these words: “You have the temple, so you will be OK.”

The temple has always been at the center of every important decision I have made in my life of faith. As I have played the organ in the temple chapel every day, I have come to understand more deeply the Lord’s plan of redemption—especially after my husband was called beyond the veil.

I am thankful that I always receive strength from serving in the Lord’s temple. In the temple we are guided and strengthened to endure the suffering and difficulties in this life.