Knowledge

Knowledge (Be Smart): BS

D&C 88:118

God knows all                                                         Abraham 3:19

Wisdom leads to understanding                             Proverbs 4:7

Lord beginning of wisdom                                       Proverbs 9:9-10

Continues with us after death                                 D&C 130:18-19

How to learn:

Humbly seek                                              D&C 136:32-33; 2 Ne. 9:42

Ask                                                               Matthew 7:7-8, James 1:5

Gift of the Spirit                                                       D&C 46:18

Line upon Line                                            2 Ne. 28:30; Isaiah 28:10

Study and Faith                                                       D&C 109:7

What to learn:

Office in which you stand                                        D&C 107:99-100

Books, languages, people                                      D&C 90:15

Commandments of God                                          Alma 37:35

History, Countries, Laws                                         D&C 93:5

Principle, doctrine, heaven, earth,                          D&C 88:77-79

   past, present, future, home, abroad

Warnings:

Seek not to counsel God                                        Jacob 4:10

Do not harken to precepts of men                          D&C 45:28-29

Do not say I know of myself                                    2 Ne 9:28-29

Education prepares you for better employment opportunities. It puts you in a better position to serve and to bless those around you. It will set you on a path of lifelong learning. It will strengthen you to fight against ignorance and error. As Joseph Smith taught: “Knowledge does away with darkness, suspense and doubt; for these cannot exist where knowledge is. … In knowledge there is power.” “To be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.”  Education will prepare you for what is ahead.

                Robert D. Hales, October 2015; General Conference

We should teach our children the importance of schooling as a help in discovering how to think and to learn. They need to know, and we need to be reminded, that schooling is merely the formal part of education. Education should never stop, but should be a continuing activity throughout life.

                Victor L. Brown; October 1982; General Conference

There lies within you an incalculable potential for good. The small day-to-day decisions will determine the course of your lives.

Therefore, be smart. The Lord has blessed each of you with greater capacity than you realize. . . I have concluded that the work of the world is not done by intellectual geniuses. It is done by men of ordinary capacity who use their abilities in an extraordinary manner. As a member of this church you have the obligation to seek learning and to improve your skills.

                Gordon B. Hinckley, October 1972; General Conference

Because of our sacred regard for each human intellect, we consider the obtaining of an education to be a religious responsibility . . . Our Creator expects His children everywhere to educate themselves.

                Russell M. Nelson, October 1992; General Conference

The acquisition of knowledge is a lifelong, sacred activity, pleasing to our Father in Heaven . . . In our quest for truth, we need to seek the help of our loving Heavenly Father. His Spirit can direct and intensify our efforts to learn and magnify our ability to assimilate truth. . . An education is not limited to formal study. Lifelong learning can increase our ability to appreciate and relish the workings and beauty of the world around us. We should expand ourselves and enjoy the journey.                

                Dallin H. Oaks, April, Ensign April 2009

Choice and Accountability

Choice and Accountability: CA

2 Nephi 2:27

Choose Today:                                       Moses 6:33, Joshua 24:15

Every Man chose for himself:                  D&C 37:4

Created to Act                                         2 Nephi 2:14

Need opposition for true agency             Moses 6:56; 2 Nephi 2:16      

Reason to rejoice                                    2 Nephi 10:23

Allows us to prove ourselves                  Abraham 3:25

Cannot serve two masters                      Matthew 6:24

Principle of Agency is Eternal:

Satan Sought to Destroy                         Moses 4:3

Lost 3^rd Part of hosts of heaven              D&C 29:36

In Garden of Eden                                  Moses 7:32

When we came into this world, we brought with us from our heavenly home this God-given gift and privilege which we call our agency. It gives us the right and power to make decisions and to choose. Agency is an eternal law. President Brigham Young, speaking of our agency, taught: “This is a law which has always existed from all eternity, and will continue to exist throughout all the eternities to come. Every intelligent being must have the power of choice.”

                Wolfgang H. Paul, April 2006, General Conference

Perfect Example of use of Agency; Jesus Christ:

Christ chose to follow Father’s will:         Matthew 26:39

Throughout His life our Savior showed us how to use our agency. As a boy in Jerusalem, He deliberately chose to “be about [His] Father’s business.” (Luke 2:49) In His ministry, He obediently chose “to do the will of [His] Father.”(3 Nephi 27:13) In Gethsemane, He chose to suffer all things, saying, “Not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.”(Luke 22:42-43)  On the cross, He chose to love His enemies, praying, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”(Luke 23:34) And then, so that He could finally demonstrate that He was choosing for Himself, He was left alone. “[Father,] why hast thou forsaken me?” He asked. (Mark 15:34) At last, He exercised His agency to act, enduring to the end, until He could say, “It is finished.”(John 19:30)

                Robert D. Hales; October 2010, General Conference

Accountability essential part of Agency:

Accountability at Judgement Day           D&C 101:78

Bring upon us own condemnation          Alma 3:19; Helaman 14:30

Anxiously engaged in good                    D&C 58:27-29

By His perfect live, [Christ] taught us that when we choose to do the will of our Heavenly Father, our agency is preserved, our opportunities increase, and we progress . . . it is helpful to remember that the opposite is also true: when we don’t keep the commandments or follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost, our opportunities are reduced; our abilities to act and progress are diminished. Robert D. Hales; October 2010, General Conf.

What are we doing with our agency? Are we drawing close to God, or away from him? Are we satisfied and happy in what we are doing with this God-given endowment? Can we improve in the use of it?

Think carefully about the promises and benefits available to us by using our free agency in obeying and keeping God’s laws, as against failure to do so.  May God bless us all that we will have the desire and courage to exercise our free agency in righteousness and in truth.                   Delbert L. Stapley; April 1975 General Conf. 

Live as Becometh a Saint

Live as Becometh a Saint: LBS

Articles of Faith 1:13

A saint is one who follows Christ in holiness and devotion with a view fixed on eternal life.  This is the commitment of a Latter-day Saint.

Wm. Grant Bangerter, April 1987 General Conf.

Lists to Live by:

     Christ: Beatitudes                                               3 Ne 12: 3-12

     Alma; Awaken to a sense of duty to God:         Alma 7:23-24

     King Benjamin; Become as a little child:            Mosiah 3:19

     Paul:  Stand Fast in the Lord                             Philippians 4: 4-8

     Paul: Exhortation to Saints                                1 Thes. 5:14-23

     Paul: Live as Saints should live                         Romans 12:9-18

     Peter:  Pertaining to Life and Godliness            2 Peter 1: 2-8

     Brigham Young: Live by gospel standards        D&C 136:23-29

     Joseph Smith:  Character traits of Christ          D&C 4:5-6

 “Are you a Saint?” may I suggest three questions that will allow for a self-assessment. 1^st, is the way we live consistent with what we believe, and would our friends and associates recognize, that we have separated ourselves from worldly evils?  2^nd, are worldly pleasures, profits, and similar pursuits distracting us from following, worshiping, and serving the Savior in our daily lives?  3^rd, in order to serve God and be holy, are we making sacrifices consistent with our covenants?           

                                 Quentin L. Cook; Oct 2003, General Conf.

A saint is a believer in Christ and knows of His perfect love. The giving saint shares in a true spirit of that love, and the receiving saint accepts in a true spirit of gratitude. A saint serves others, knowing that the more one serves, the greater the opportunity for the Spirit to sanctify and purify.  A saint is tolerant, and is attentive to the pleadings of other human beings, not only to spoken messages but to unspoken messages as well… A saint “refrain[s] from idleness and seeks learning by study, and also by faith… A saint is honest and kind… A saint is an honorable citizen… A saint resolves any differences with others honorably and peacefully and is constant in courtesy… A saint shuns that which is unclean or degrading and avoids excess even of that which is good.  Perhaps above all, a saint is reverent. Reverence for the Lord, for the earth He created, for leaders, for the dignity of others, for the law, for the sanctity of life…

A reverent saint loves the Lord and gives highest priority to keeping His commandments. Daily prayer, periodic fasting, payment of tithes and offerings are privileges important to a faithful saint.

                                    Russell M. Nelson, April 1990, General Conf.

Every one of us is more beloved to the Lord than we can possibly understand or imagine. Let us therefore be kinder to one another and kinder toward ourselves. Let us remember that as we wait upon the Lord, we are becoming “saint[s] through [His] atonement.

Robert D. Hales, Oct 2011, General Conference

I believe with all my heart that the Latter-day Saints, generally speaking, are good people. If we live by the principles of the gospel, we must be good people, for we will be generous and kind, thoughtful and tolerant, helpful and outreaching to those in distress. We can either subdue the divine nature and hide it so that it finds no expression in our lives, or we can bring it to the front and let it shine through all that we do.                         There is room for improvement in every life. Regardless of our occupations, regardless of our circumstances, we can improve ourselves and while so doing have an effect on the lives of those about us.

I challenge every one of you who can hear me to rise to the divinity within you. Do we really realize what it means to be a child of God, to have within us something of the divine nature?

                                Gordon B. Hinkley, Oct 2002 General Conf.

Relief Society Declaration:

We are women of faith, virtue, vision, and charity who:

Increase our testimonies of Jesus Christ through prayer and

   scripture study.

Seek spiritual strength by following the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

Dedicate ourselves to strengthening marriages, families, and homes.

Find nobility in motherhood and joy in womanhood.

Delight in service and good works.

Love life and learning.

Stand for truth and righteousness.

Sustain the priesthood as the authority of God on earth.

Rejoice in the blessings of the temple, understand our divine

    destiny, and strive for exaltation.

Young Women Theme:

We are daughters of our Heavenly Father who loves us and we love Him.  We will stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things and in all places as we strive to live the YW values which are: Faith, Divine Nature, Individual Worth, Knowledge, Choice and Accountability, Good Works, Integrity, and Virtue.  We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values we will be prepared to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.

For the Strength of Youth Standards:  Agency and Accountability, Dating, Dress and Appearance, Education, Entertainment and Media, Family, Friends, Gratitude, Honesty and Integrity, Language, Music and Dancing, Physical and Emotional Health, Repentance, Sabbath Day Observance, Service, Sexual Purity, Tithes and Offerings, Work and Self Reliance

These standards are a guide to help you make correct choices. Review the standards often and ask yourself, “Am I living the way the Lord wants me to live?” and “How have I been blessed by living these standards?”

My Gospel Standards from Faith in God:

I will follow Heavenly Father’s plan for me.

I will remember my baptismal covenant and listen to the Holy Ghost.

I will choose the right. I know I can repent when I make a mistake.

I will be honest with Heavenly Father, others, and myself.

I will use the names of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ reverently. I will not swear or use crude words.

I will do those things on the Sabbath that will help me feel close to    

     Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

I will honor my parents and do my part to strengthen my family.

I will keep my mind and body sacred and pure, and I will not partake

     of things that are harmful to me.

I will dress modestly to show respect for Heavenly Father and myself.

I will only read and watch things that are pleasing to Heavenly

     Father.

I will only listen to music that is pleasing to Heavenly Father.

I will seek good friends and treat others kindly.

I will live now to be worthy to go to the temple and do my part to have

     an eternal family.

“I will give you the B’s

1.        Be grateful               2.    Be smart          3.    Be clean

4.     Be true                    5.    Be humble        6.    Be prayerful”

                                Gordon B. Hinckley; Ensign, Apr. 2001  

Without Guile; Honesty; Integrity

Without Guile; Honesty; Integrity: GHI

2 Corinthians 8:21

Command:

3 of 10 Commandments:                  Exodus 20:15-17

Deal honestly, be one:                     D&C 51:9

In our thoughts:                                 Philippians 4:8

Wo be to the dishonest:                    2 Nephi 15:20

Examples:

Stripling Warriors:                             Alma 53:20

Hyrum Smith:                                    D&C 124:15

Spirit:                                                Jacob 4:13

Pau:                                                  2 Corinthians 4:2

Job:                                                   Job 27:5 & 2:3

Why:

Personal Peace:                               James 1:8

Blessed man w/out guile:                 Psalms 32:2

Children blessed:                              Proverbs 20:7

Cannot Serve two masters:              Luke 16:13

God Himself is full of integrity:         Alma 7:20

Satan in Father of lies:                     Moses 4:4

No virtues in the perfection we strive for are more important than integrity and honesty.  Let us then be complete, unbroken, pure, and sincere,…”

Integrity in man should bring inner peace, sureness of purpose, and security in action.  Lack of it brings the reverse: disunity, fear, sorrow, unsureness.             

 President Spencer W. Kimball Chapter 12

One of the greatest accomplishments of our lives is to promote and honest, earnest integrity within ourselves.  This means that we become spiritually sound, intellectually sincere, morally honest, and always personally responsible to God.  Integrity is that golden key which will unlock the door to almost any success.

                President Howard W. Hunter Chapter 18

To be without guile is to be free of deceit, cunning, hypocrisy, and dishonesty in thought or action.  To beguile is to deceive or lead astray, as Lucifer beguiled Eve in the Garden of Eden.  A person without guile is a person if innocence, honest intent, and pure motives, whose life reflects the simple practice of conforming his daily actions to principles of integrity.

Joseph B Wirthlin, April 1988 General Conference

Our honest effort to improve our integrity allows God to increase our power to do it. I promise you, as you read your scriptures and say your prayers—that’s the magic formula—the Holy Ghost will help you in your noble quest to strengthen and develop your integrity.

Carol B. Thompson April 2000 General Conference

To me, integrity means always doing what is right and good, regardless of the immediate consequences. It means being righteous from the very depth of our soul, not only in our actions but, more importantly, in our thoughts and in our hearts. Personal integrity implies such trustworthiness and incorruptibility that we are incapable of being false to a trust or covenant.

                Joseph B Wirhlin, April 1990 General Conference