A Decree to be Taxed

""And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed" (Luke 2:1).
This was really a capitation tax, a census, and an enrollment--a registration of the citizenry of the empire of Rome. King Herod had directed that people be counted in the land of their ancestors. Mary and Joseph, then living in Nazareth, had to travel southward to the city of David, a distance of approximately 90 miles. Perhaps they traveled even farther if they had to go around the hostile intermediate province of Samaria."

Elder Russell M. Nelson, From a devotional address delivered at Brigham Young University on December 10, 2002.

Strengthening Families by Increasing Spirituality

“There has grown in me an overwhelming testimony of the value of daughters of God. . . . I have felt that there has never been a greater need for increased faith and personal righteousness. There has never been a greater need for strong families and homes.

“The ability to quality for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life. Qualifying for the Lord’s Spirit begins with a desire for that Spirit and implies a certain degree of worthiness. Keeping the commandments, repenting, and renewing covenants made at baptism lead to the blessing of always having the Lord’s Spirit with us. Making and keeping temple covenants also adds spiritual strength and power to a woman’s life. Many answers to different questions are found by reading the scriptures because the scriptures are an aid to revelation. . . . Daily prayer is also essential to having the Lord’s Spirit with us.”

Julie B. Beck, “And upon the Handmaids in Those Days Will I Pour Out My Spirit,” Liahona and Ensign, May 2010, 10, 11. 

The Achilles Heel

“The adversary knows the Achilles’ heel of your loved ones, your friends, your roommates, your brothers and sisters, and your parents. Do you understand your Achilles’ heel? Do you know the situations you have to stay away from and what your weaknesses are? The secret of a happy marriage is to protect the Achilles’ heel and not take advantage of the weaknesses of those you know that best, love the most, and ultimately can hurt the most.”

Elder Robert D. Hales, “A Little Heaven on Earth,” Ensign Sept 2011, 48.

Don’t Discount a Message Merely because It Sounds Familiar

“Prophets have always taught by repetition; it is a law of learning. You will hear repetition in themes and doctrines in general conference. Let me reassure you: this is not due to a lack of creativity or imagination. We continue to hear messages on similar issues because the Lord is teaching and impressing upon our minds and hearts certain foundational principles of great eternal importance that must be understood and acted upon before we can move on to other things. A wise builder first lays the foundation before erecting the walls and the roof…It is our responsibility to listen and then apply the messages the Lord provides for us.”

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “General Conference – No Ordinary Blessing,” Ensign, Sept 2011, 4-5.

Free Genealogy Classes from FamilySearch

FamilySearch.org now offers more than 140 classes online free of charge to help people with family history. Courses ranging from beginning to expert skill level include half-hour filmed sessions taught by experts as well as electronic handouts.

Ensign, August 2011, 78.

Remember When?

Although our children are grown and have families of their own, my wife and I still look for ways to have meaningful family home evenings with them. One way we have found to do this is by holding a special family home evening once a year in which we invite all of the family members to share their memories.

Before they come to this special family home evening, we ask them to write down three stories from their lives. We call these “I remember when” stories. During family home evening, each family member takes a turn telling or reading their stories.

We laugh and cry for hours about the experiences. When we are done we collect the written stories and compile them in our family history book. It is a good way for us to continue building our relationships as a family while creating a family history at the same time.

Douglas Andrew, Ensign, August 2011, 73.

Suggestions for Lifelong Learning

· Read a good book.

· Take up a hobby you’ve always wanted to try.

· Attend wholesome cultural events.

· Study the assigned general conference talk or chapter in the Gospel Principles manual for Sunday lessons.

· Visit museums and historic sites.

· Observe the world around you: walk around your neighborhood, stargaze, watch animals in your area.

· Do family history work.

· Learn a new skill or sport.

· Visit the library to research a topic of interest.

Ensign, August 2011, 72.