Simply stated, prayer is communication to Heavenly Father from His sons and daughters on earth...We are commanded to pray always to the Father in the name of the Son. We are promised that if we pray sincerely for that which is right and good and in accordance with God’s will, we can be blessed, protected, and directed...prayer becomes more meaningful as we counsel with the Lord in all of our doings, as we express heartfelt gratitude, and as we pray for others with real intent and a sincere heart. I witness Heavenly Father lives and that He hears and answers every earnest prayer.
- David A. Bednar, Pray Always
Inspiring Short: Seeking Constant Divine Communication | Patrick Kearon
President Monson talks about Prayer
Inscribed on the front of each temple is a solemn statement: “Holiness to the Lord.” These inspired words are a clear invitation that when we enter the Lord’s house, we embark on a sacred journey of learning to become higher and holier disciples of Christ...
when the Lord sees even a spark of desire or a flicker of righteous effort in our willingness to center our lives on Him and on the ordinances and covenants we make in His house, He will bless us, in His perfect way, with the miracles and tender mercies we need.
- Ulisses Soares, Covenant Confidence through Jesus Christ
President Nelson and the House of the Lord
[R]egardless of any challenges that yet await us, there is hope and confidence in knowing that by keeping the covenants of the gospel, all of the momentary trials of life can be transcended. The scriptures teach us that all will eventually be well as we are faithful to our covenants… Covenants are agreements we make with our Heavenly Father in which we commit our hearts, minds, and behavior to keeping the commandments defined by the Lord. As we are faithful in keeping our agreement, He covenants, or promises, to bless us, ultimately, with all that He has.
- Paul E. Koelliker, Gospel Covenants Bring Promised Blessings
Teachings of Mormon Prophet - Joseph Smith: Temple Ordinances
The temple is the Lord’s house and a sanctuary from the world. His Spirit envelops those who worship within those sacred walls. He sets the standards by which we enter as His guests… Your temple recommend reflects a deep, spiritual intent that you are striving to live the laws of the Lord and love what He loves…Your temple recommend opens the gates of heaven for you... To be “recommended to the Lord,” we strive to be like Him.
- Ronald A. Rasband, Recommended to the Lord
Inspiring Short: Seeking Jesus in the Temple | Allen D. Haynie | 2023
President Nelson Updates Temple Recommend Interview Questions
Priesthood keys constitute the authority and power of presidency. Priesthood keys govern how the priesthood of God may be used to bring about the Lord’s purposes and bless all who accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ…The power of these priesthood keys is infinite and breathtaking...Priesthood keys distinguish The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from any other organization on earth…Let us rejoice that priesthood keys are once again on the earth!
- President Russell M. Nelson, Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys
Priesthood keys the Restoration of Priesthood keys
FamilySearch is becoming what the Lord needs for part of His Restoration...help[ing] people gain feelings of familiarity and even love for their ancestors and complete their temple ordinances. Now, as the Lord surely knew would happen, young people are becoming computer mentors to their parents and ward members. All have found great joy in this service. The spirit of Elijah is changing the hearts of young and old, children and parents, grandchildren and grandparents... The desire to serve our ancestors and the bonding of parents and children are growing.
- President Henry B. Eyring, He Goes before Us
Discovering My Family’s History
Discovering Jesus Christ Through Family History
Rediscovering Purpose Through the Past | Amanda’s Story
Family History Helped Me Find Where I Belong | Jeremiah's Story
Why Will God Turn the Hearts of the Fathers to the Children? (Knowhy #219)
[T]he treasured blessings of the sacrament are available to us each time we attend sacrament meeting. We do not need to labor unsuccessfully…to find our treasure. Nor need we seek counsel from exotic sources, prizing the novelty of the source and thinking such counsel will be more enlightened than that which we can receive from a humble prophet of God...Treasure the opportunity to repent, the privilege of partaking of the sacrament, the blessing of making and keeping temple covenants, the delight of worshipping in the temple, and the joy of having a living prophet.
- Dale G. Renlund, Jesus Christ is the Treasure
President Gordon B. Hinckley said: “If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God. … The Lord will not forsake us.”... Scripture says, “Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good.” This doesn’t mean all things are good, but for the meek and faithful, things—both positive and negative—work together for good, and the timing is the Lord’s...Truly yoked to the Savior, we can say with confidence, “It will all work out.”
- Neill F. Marriott, Yielding Our Hearts to God
Discerning and accepting the will of God in our lives are fundamental elements of asking in faith in meaningful prayer. However, simply saying the words “Thy will be done” is not enough. Each of us needs God’s help in surrendering our will to Him...Humble, earnest, and persistent prayer enables us to recognize and align ourselves with the will of our Heavenly Father...We can... engage in meaningful prayer as we...humbly acknowledge and accept “not my will, but thine, be done.”
- David A. Bednar, Ask in Faith
Inspiring Short: The Whisperings of Heaven | Bruce C. Hafen
The Bread Loaf Prayer | Come Learn with Me
Isn’t it wonderful that there are times when we can feel so fully and personally noticed and loved?...Is it any surprise that the greatest commandments are to love God and to love those around us? When I see people showing Christlike love for one another, it feels to me as if that love contains more than just their love; it is love that also has divinity in it. When we love one another in this way, as completely and fully as we can, heaven gets involved too. So if someone we care about seems distant from a sense of divine love, we can follow this pattern—by doing things that bring us closer to God ourselves and then doing things that bring us closer to them.
- Karl D. Hirst, God’s Favourite
The Heart of the Gospel: Love God and Neighbor
Love One Another - Elder Holland
Much like the five wise virgins who had their lamps full with oil when the bridegroom came, we can be whole in Jesus Christ as we fill our lamps with the nourishing oil of conversion to Him...all ten of the virgins were in the right location, awaiting the bridegroom. Every one of them came with a lamp. But when He came, at the unexpected midnight hour, the five foolish did not have sufficient oil for their lamps...in response to their petition to be permitted to enter the wedding supper, the bridegroom responded, “Ye know me not.”…Wholeness is born of faith in and conversion to Jesus Christ and in letting the light of that conversion shine.
- Camille N. Johnson, Spiritually Whole in Him
How Can Contrasts Teach Us about True Conversion? (Knowhy #562)
Follow Him—An Easter Message about Jesus Christ
Your testimony will be strengthened when you know in your heart through your prayers that the Prophet Joseph Smith was an instrument in the Lord’s hands...Joseph’s translation of the Book of Mormon by the gift and power of God was foundational to the Restoration. The Book of Mormon is internally consistent, beautifully written, and contains the answers to life’s great questions. It is another testament of Jesus Christ. I testify that Joseph Smith was righteous, full of faith, and an instrument in the Lord’s hands in bringing forth the Book of Mormon.
- Quentin L. Cook, Conversion to the Will of God
Joseph Smith, the Mormon Prophet: The First Vision
Ministry of Joseph Smith, the Mormon Prophet: The Book of Mormon
Joseph Smith organized The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Lord Jesus Christ knew how important it was to clearly name His Church in these latter days…The name the Savior has given to His Church tells us exactly who we are and what we believe…Let us develop the habit within our families and our Church activities and our daily interactions of making it clear that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the name by which the Lord Himself has directed that we be known.
- M. Russell Ballard, The Importance of a Name
I Belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints
When you live the standards and qualify for the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, you can have a powerful impact in the world. Your example, even the light in your eyes, will influence others who see your “shine,” and they will want to be like you…The call to “arise and shine forth” is a call to each of you to lead the world in a mighty cause—to raise the standard...
- Elaine S. Dalton, Now is the Time to Arise and Shine!
Why does God give us commandments? Part 2
Shine Your Light So Others May See
The natural man is truly God’s enemy, because the natural man will keep God’s precious children from true and everlasting happiness... Whereas the natural man covets praise and riches, the men and women of Christ know such things are but the “drop”. Human history’s happiest irony will be that the covenant-keeping, unselfish individuals will finally receive “all that [the] Father hath”!
- Neal A. Maxwell, Put Off the Natural Man, and Come Off Conqueror
Seeking the Kingdom First: How to Align Your Life with God’s Will
To sacrifice means to give something up in favor of something more valuable... Throughout history, faithful Saints have sacrificed personal desires, comforts, and even their lives for the Savior. We all have things, large and small, we need to sacrifice in order to follow Jesus Christ more completely. Our sacrifices show what we truly value. Sacrifices are sacred and honored by the Lord... Very few of us will ever be asked to sacrifice our lives for the Savior. But we are all invited to consecrate our lives to Him.
- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Our Heartfelt All
The Lord Loves Effort | General Conference April 2020
Why the Church of Jesus Christ Manages Its Finances So Carefully
All of us live in a world where Satan’s war against truth and against our personal happiness is becoming more intense...the loving God who allowed these tests for you also designed a sure way to pass through them...President Russell M. Nelson…described a way we might…put the Lord’s name upon our hearts to guide us through our trials. He said: “As you remember that ‘with God nothing shall be impossible’, know that [y]ou are a son or daughter created in His image, entitled through your worthiness to receive revelation to help with your righteous endeavors."
- Henry B. Eyring, Try, Try, Try
Nephi Breaks His Bow | 1 Nephi 16:18–22
These sacred funds are used in a rapidly growing church to spiritually bless individuals and families by constructing and maintaining temples and houses of worship, supporting missionary work, translating and publishing scriptures, fostering family history research, funding schools and religious education, and accomplishing many other Church purposes as directed by the Lord’s ordained servants... I testify spiritual and temporal blessings come into our lives as we live the law of tithing.
- David A. Bednar, The Windows of Heaven
What Does the Church Do With Tithing Money? | Elder David A. Bednar
Tithes and Offerings - Made Simple | Mormon Hub
The Six Main Ways the Church of Jesus Christ Uses Its Finances
How long do we wait for relief from hardships that come upon us? What about enduring personal trials while we wait and wait, and help seems so slow in coming? Why the delay when burdens seem more than we can bear?...How long, O Lord, how long?…When will these burdens be lifted? The answer is “by and by.” And whether that be a short period or a long one is not always ours to say, but by the grace of God, the blessings will come to those who hold fast to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- President Pres. Jeffrey R. Holland, Waiting on the Lord
If God Loved Me, He Wouldn't Let This Happen | His Grace
Feeling the Lord's Love and Goodness in Trials
Trust in the Lord - Youth Theme 2022
When the Prophet Joseph Smith, suffering what had to be one of his darkest moments while confined to the dungeon called Liberty Jail, cried out, “O God, where art thou?”, the Lord comforted him...How difficult it is and painfully foreign it may seem to find the good out of our personal tragedy and suffering. How inconsistent the words “for thy good” may seem... out of our adversity we might seek our greatest triumphs, and the day may well come that from our challenges we will understand the familiar words “for thy good.”
- Richard C. Edgely, For Thy Good
Falling Is Part of the Process, Just Get Up
Embrace the Hit: My Darkest Hour | Hope Works at Home
Your Great Adventure: Overcoming Life’s Obstacles
[W]hen adversity arrives in our lives, the only true source of comfort is God. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”… I witnessed how a…faithful family dealt with great adversity…pain and sorrow left because of the light of the gospel, which filled them with peace and comfort, providing the assurance that everything would be well…If we live our lives in accordance with teachings of the Savior, we will surely find the peace and consolation that only God can give.
- Rafael E. Pino, Faith in Adversity
Peace in Christ- 2018 Youth Theme
Overcoming Life's Storms with Faith in Christ
God Delivers Us in Our Trials | Hope Works at Home
[W]e must lead by “principles of righteousness.” Such principles apply to all leaders in the Church as well as to all fathers and mothers in their homes. We lose our right to the Lord’s Spirit and to whatever authority we have from God when we exercise control over another person in an unrighteous manner...When setting firm limits for another person is in order, those limits should always be administered with loving patience and in a way that teaches eternal principles…If we are going to help those in our stewardships make the all-important link with heaven, we must be the kind of parent and leader described in Doctrine and Covenants, section 121.
- Larry Y. Wilson, Only upon the Principles of Righteousness
If you saw someone drowning, wouldn’t you reach your hand out and rescue them? Can you imagine your Savior rejecting your outstretched hand? I imagine Him diving into the water, descending below all things to lift us up so we can take a fresh breath!… Everyone is diving with their own degree of difficulty. And your Savior is the only one who truly knows the difficulty you are diving with. I want a relationship with the one person who gets me, who knows my heart and how hard I’m trying!…“Your Savior knows the degree of difficulty you’re experiencing. He’s felt it!”
- Tamara W. Runia, Your Repentance Doesn’t Burden Jesus Christ; It Brightens His Joy
Jesus Christ Suffered for Us All
Perhaps you look at others whose gifts are obvious and impressive and you feel pretty ordinary by comparison...Oh, how I wish I could embrace you and help you understand this great truth: You are a blessed being of light, the spirit child of an infinite God! And you bear within you a potential beyond your own capacity to imagine…It may be true that our spiritual gifts are not always flashy, but that does not mean they are less important...I hope you can see how precious they are to the Lord’s work and how you might have touched, blessed, or even saved one of God’s children by your gifts. Remember: “By small and simple things are great things brought to pass.” So let us each do our little part.
- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Do Your Part with All Your Heart
Accomplish Your Goals Through Small and Simple Things
The purpose of missionary work is defined as inviting “others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.”...Can you even begin to fathom the extraordinary outpouring of atoning grace that will be ours, individually and collectively, according to the Savior’s promise to all who bear testimony in the process of inviting souls to come unto Him—and then following up on those invitations?
- M. Russell Ballard, Following Up
Inviting Others to "Come and See"
The Lord trusts His true disciples. He sends prepared people to His prepared servants... You will be His disciple 24 hours a day in every situation…That is the mark of every person who is bold and effective in sharing the gospel... you will feel yourself drawing closer to your Heavenly Father, and you will feel the cleansing and the forgiveness the Savior promises His faithful witnesses. And you will feel His approval, knowing you have done what He asked of you, because He loves you and trusts you.
- President Henry B. Eyring, A Child and a Disciple
Standing by Our Promises and Covenants
Disciple of Christ | Official 2024 Theme Music Video | #christianmusic
Jesus Christ invites us to become, like Him, a good Samaritan, to make His Inn (His Church) a refuge for all from life’s bruises and storms…He entreats us to make His Inn a place of grace and space, where each can gather, with room for all. As disciples of Jesus Christ, all are equal, with no second-class groups. All are welcome to attend sacrament meetings, other Sunday meetings, and social events… As we create room in His Inn, welcoming all, our Good Samaritan can heal us on our dusty mortal roads.
- Gerrit W. Gong, Room in the Inn
Inviting Others to "Come and Stay"
Refuge from the storm - Elder Patrick Kearon
We do not build or enter holy temples solely to have a memorable individual or family experience. Rather, the covenants received and the ordinances performed in temples are essential to the sanctifying of our hearts and for the ultimate exaltation of God’s sons and daughters…The most sacred covenants and priesthood ordinances are received only in a temple—the house of the Lord…Ordinances that are received worthily and remembered continually open the heavenly channels through which the power of godliness can flow into our lives.
- David A. Bednar, “Let This House Be Built unto My Name”
Teachings of Mormon Prophet - Joseph Smith: Temple Ordinances
When circumstances beyond our control prevent us from fulfilling the righteous desires of our hearts, the Lord will compensate in ways that allow us to receive His promised blessings…Receiving these compensating blessings comes with certain conditions. The Lord asks us to do “all we can” and to “offer [our] whole souls as an offering unto him.” This requires a deep desire, a sincere and faithful heart, and our utmost diligence in keeping His commandments and aligning our will with His. When our earnest efforts fall short of our aspirations...the Lord still accepts the desires of our hearts as a worthy offering.
- Gérald Caussé, Compensating Blessings
No Blessings Denied the Faithful
Blessed and Happy Are Those Who Keep the Commandments of God
New members of the Church, have you heard of patriarchal blessings?…Your patriarchal blessing is a message from your Heavenly Father and will likely include promises and inspired counsel to guide you throughout your life. A patriarchal blessing is not going to map out your life or answer all your questions…Heavenly Father and His Beloved and Only Begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, live. They love us. Patriarchal blessings are sacred gifts from Them. When you receive your blessing, you will realize and feel how They love you and how They focus on you individually.
- Kazuhiko Yamashita, When to Receive Your Patriarchal Blessing
What is a Latter-day Saint "Patriarchal Blessing"? Ep. 123
Patriarchal Blessings Contain Life Warnings
[A]ll God needs to accomplish His purposes and to help us become who He wants us to become is for each of us to turn our hearts fully to Him…I believe this is why, at least in part, Jesus Christ so often corrected the scribes and Pharisees during His mortal ministry. Though diligent in keeping His law, they did so for the wrong reasons...it is not just about what we do—our words and actions—but also why we do what Jesus Christ has asked us to do—our desires and motives. He said, “For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts."
- Ronald M. Barcellos, The Lord Looketh on the Heart
Inspiring Short: The Parable of the Bicycle
Near the end of His ministry, Jesus told His Apostles that hard times would come. But He also said, “See that ye be not troubled.”...The Savior fulfills His promise to be with us, His disciples, but we must continually look to Him to help us recognize and enjoy His presence. Christ’s disciples have always encountered hard times…Troubles are part of the plan and do not mean you’ve been abandoned; they are part of what it means to be His…When I stumble, I will keep getting up, relying on the grace and enabling power of Jesus Christ.
- Michelle D. Craig, Wholehearted
Inspiring Short: Trusting in God, Day by Day | D. Todd Christofferson
Nephi Exercises Faith to Obtain Food
Choose to Serve the Lord - by Blake Gillette and Angie Killian
[T]he Prophet stated: “It may seem to some to be a very bold doctrine that we talk of—a power which records or binds on earth and binds in heaven...whatsoever those men did in authority, in the name of the Lord, and did it truly and faithfully, and kept a proper and faithful record of the same, it became a law on earth and in heaven, and could not be annulled, according to the decrees of the great Jehovah.” ...the sealing power confers a seal of legitimacy upon your baptism, for example, so that it is recognized here and in heaven.
- President D. Todd Christofferson, The Sealing Power
The Spirit of Elijah - Ordinances & Covenants
Music Video: Families Can Be Together Forever
This period of time in which we live, the dispensation of the fulness of times, will see the culmination of all of God’s work on the earth. For this reason, we are anxiously engaged in the Lord’s work, which includes the performance of certain ordinances for all who have lived and will live upon the earth…We identify our ancestors so that we may perform for them the saving ordinances of the gospel in holy temples dedicated to that purpose. It is our responsibility, given to us by the Lord, to help redeem all those of our Father’s children who have lived and died without receiving the sacred ordinances of the gospel.
- David B. Haight, Linking the Family of Man
The Promised Blessings of Family History
Because baptism by water and of the Spirit is essential for full salvation, in the eternal nature of things all of God’s children should have this opportunity, including those who have lived in centuries past. The doctrine of baptism of the living for the dead was understood and practiced in the early Christian church. Paul, in his great discussion about the Resurrection, reasoned: “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?” Doing something so vital for those who cannot do it for themselves is truly Christlike....No other organization on the earth is doing more to fulfill Malachi’s promise than the Church.
- James E. Faust, Born Again
The Baptistry in Mormon Temples
You Can Be Born Again through Baptism
The Prophet Joseph had been teaching about baptism for the dead. This was indeed a glorious revelation that was received with great joy. When Church members first learned that they could be baptized for their deceased loved ones, they rejoiced…Although temples had existed anciently, with the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the building of temples has been one of the highest priorities of all prophets since the Prophet Joseph Smith. And it is easy to understand why…the need for temples and the work that is done for both the living and the dead become very clear.
- Kevin R. Duncan, A Voice of Gladness!
Their Hearts Are Bound To You—D&C 125–128: “A Voice of Gladness for the Living & the Dead”
Come Follow Me | D&C 125–128: “A Voice of Gladness for the Living and the Dead”
Come Follow Me | D&C 125–128: “A Voice of Gladness for the Living & the Dead” | A Sacrifice of Time
[T]he Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead..."but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.” This means that the Holy Ghost has a spirit body, unlike God the Father and Jesus Christ, who have physical bodies. This truth clarifies other names given to the Holy Ghost and familiar to us, including Holy Spirit, Spirit of God, Spirit of the Lord, Holy Spirit of Promise, and Comforter.
- Gary E. Stevenson, How Does the Holy Ghost Help You?
The Father by Brian K. Ashton | October 2018 General Conference
Who is God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost? | Faith and Beliefs Ep. 2
Right now, this very moment, is part of our eternal progression towards returning with our families to the presence of our Father in Heaven...Seeing life from an eternal perspective helps us focus our limited mortal energies on the things that matter most. We can avoid wasting our lives laying “up for [ourselves] treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt.” We can lay up treasures in heaven and not trade our eternal spiritual birthright.
- Joseph B. Wirthlin, The Time to Prepare
Russell M Nelson | 2023 | "Think Celestial"
Song inspired by: Think Celestial! - President Nelson (Oct 2023)
How to truly ‘Think Celestial’
We may feel at times that God’s laws restrict our personal freedom, take from us our agency, and limit our growth. But as we seek for greater understanding, as we allow our Father to teach us, we will begin to see that His laws are a manifestation of His love for us and obedience to His laws is an expression of our love for Him...Commandments are vital instructions to teach, guide, and protect us as we “gain earthly experience.”..If we obey the law, we receive the blessings.
- Carole F. Stephens, “If Ye Love Me, Keep My Commandments”
Blessed and Happy Are Those Who Keep the Commandments of God
No Blessings Denied the Faithful
What are the blessings of exaltation? They include dwelling in God’s presence for eternity together as husband and wife, inheriting “thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, … and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever,” receiving all that God the Father has…one can be in the celestial kingdom, or dwell in the presence of God, and be single. But to be exalted in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom, one must enter into marriage by the proper authority and then be true to the covenants made in that marriage...to receive the blessings of exaltation, we must demonstrate that we are willing to enter into and faithfully keep this new and everlasting covenant, either in this life or the next.
- Matthew L. Carpenter, Fruit That Remains
Enduring Love - Showing Love & Giving Service To Build Strong Marriages
To receive the blessings of the sealing that our Heavenly Father has given to us, we have to keep the commandments and conduct ourselves in such a way that our families will want to live with us in the eternities. The family relationships we have here on this earth are important, but they are much more important for their effect on our families for generations in mortality and throughout all eternity…we are each an important and integral part of a family and that the highest blessings can be received only within an eternal family. When families are functioning as designed by God, the relationships found therein are the most valued of mortality...This is why we teach that families are forever. The eternal nature of an individual becomes the eternal nature of the family.
- Robert D. Hales, The Eternal Family
What is the Purpose of Family? | ComeUntoChrist.org
Music Video: Families Can Be Together Forever | Friend to Friend | July 2022
Finding Joy in Establishing a Happy Eternal Family
Félicia Shares Her Testimony About The Temple and Eternal Families | Friend to Friend | July 2022
Sacrifice comes in many forms and may not always be convenient. Latter-day Saints make a covenant with the Lord to sacrifice. By doing so, we surrender our will to His, dedicating our lives to building up His kingdom and serving His children...
Sacrifice is ultimately a matter of the heart—the heart. “Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind.” If we are caring, if we are charitable, if we are obedient to God and follow His prophets, our sacrifices will bring forth the blessings of heaven. “And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit.”
- Robert K. Dellenbach, Sacrifice Brings Forth the Blessings of Heaven
Why Did Jesus Tell All People to Sacrifice a Broken Heart and a Contrite Spirit? (Knowhy #198)
In the past, some effort was required to seek out…evil. Now it saturates significant portions of virtually every corner of the world. We cannot dry up the mounting river of evil influences, for they result from the exercise of moral agency divinely granted by our Father. But we can and must, with clarity, warn of the consequences of getting close to its enticing, destructive current... Avoid worldly wickedness. Know that God is in control…Through obedience, let Him guide you to peace and happiness amid increased evil in the world…
- Richard G. Scott, How to Live Well amid Increasing Evil
The Church and its members are commanded to be self-reliant and independent...Faith, spirituality, and obedience produce a prepared and self-reliant people… Our duty as Latter-day Saints is to prepare ourselves, this earth, and its inhabitants for the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Being prepared and being strong as the gospel teaches ensure happiness here and hereafter and make this “grand millennial mission” possible.
- Keith B. McMullin, Be Prepared … Be Ye Strong from Henceforth
100 Year Old Prophet Declares: “Now is the Time to Prepare for the Second Coming”
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
The Field Trip | A Parable About the Second Coming of Jesus Christ
Brothers and sisters, as the world grows more wicked, we need to grow increasingly pure...The great opportunity before us is to become the people God needs us to be...Increased time in the temple will help us prepare for the Second Coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We do not know the day or the hour of His coming. But I do know that the Lord is prompting me to urge us to get ready for that “great and dreadful day.”…I testify that Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of Israel, leads this, His Church. He is preparing to come again. May we likewise prepare to receive Him.
- President Russell M. Nelson, Confidence in the Presence of God
When is the Second Coming? (Come, Follow Me: Joseph Smith-Matthew 1)
When President Nelson speaks about the Second Coming, it is always with joyful optimism... The best advice...is to follow the Savior’s teachings. His instructions are neither mysterious nor complex. When we follow them, we do not need to fear or be anxious…
You will be ready to meet the Savior, and you can join President Nelson in being joyfully optimistic. In doing so, you help the world prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, and you will be blessed with sufficient hope to enter the rest and joy of the Lord, now and in the future.
- Dale G. Renlund, Personal Preparation to Meet the Savior
What Does The Book Of Mormon Say About The Second Coming? (Knowhy #318)
President Benson has cautioned us: “...We should be as charitable and considerate with our loved ones as Christ is with us. He is kind, loving, and patient with each of us. Should we not reciprocate the same love?… ‘What manner of men ought we to be?’ You remember the Lord’s answer is this: ‘Verily I say unto you, even as I am’”…may each of us…through our example, love, and care, be remembered…to have the qualities that our Heavenly Father and our Savior have...
- Robert D. Hales, How Will Our Children Remember Us?
KIND LIKE CHRIST – Song About Jesus and Kindness for Kids
Inspiring Short: Jesus Christ Perfectly Knows Our Burdens | David A. Bednar
Inspiring Short: Loving Like Christ | Kristin L. Matthews
Who is Jesus?: A Bible Story for Children
Gethsemane | The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square & a Children's Choir
[W]e are to follow the laws of men...to live peacefully under civil authority, and we follow the laws of God toward our eternal destination…Though Jesus’s teachings were revolutionary, He did not teach revolution or lawbreaking. He taught a better way. Modern revelation teaches the same...This does not mean that we agree with all that is done with the force of law. It means that we obey the current law and use peaceful means to change it.…the doctrine of the Lord’s Church teaches us [an] eternal interest to guide us: the teachings of our Savior, who inspired the Constitution of the United States and the basic laws of many of our countries.
- President Dallin H. Oaks, Love Your Enemies
We Believe, Article of Faith 12 - with Jim
Mark 12 | Render unto Caesar and unto God | The Bible
Article of Faith #12 | What Does It Mean 12th Article of Faith: Obey Laws
Everyday Example: Prayer in School
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith
...The Prophet Joseph Smith declared, “Where [the President is] not, there is no First Presidency”. Following the death of the President of the Church, the next ranking body, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, becomes the presiding authority. The president of the quorum becomes the Acting President of the Church until a new President of the Church is officially ordained and set apart in that office.
- David B. Haight, Solemn Assemblies
[A]lthough the events of June 27, 1844, were tragic, we are provided comfort as we realize that Joseph Smith’s martyrdom was not the last chapter in this account. Although those who sought to take his life felt that the Church would collapse without him, his powerful testimony of truth, the teachings he translated, and his declaration of the Savior’s message go on today in the hearts of…members throughout the world, who proclaim him a prophet of God. The testimony of the Prophet Joseph continues to change lives.
- President Thomas S. Monson, The Prophet Joseph Smith: Teacher by Example
President Nelson Opening Remarks | General Conference April 2020
Inspiring Short: A Rich Collection on the Prophet Joseph Smith
Ministry of Joseph Smith, the Mormon Prophet: The Book of Mormon
Ministry of the Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith: Restoration of the Priesthood
What do we learn about testimony from the lives and teachings of the prophets of God? We learn that a testimony is very personal…We are familiar with the vision received by the Prophet Joseph Smith and how he obtained his testimony of God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ...Joseph Smith sealed his testimony with his own blood. The Prophet’s martyrdom was a voluntary acceptance of death to seal the testimony of the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants and to bear holy witness of Jesus Christ and his gospel in this dispensation.
- Robert D. Hales, The Importance of Receiving a Personal Testimony
Testimony of the Book of Mormon
Joseph and Hyrum Give Their Lives for the Gospel
Why Was Hyrum Faithful to His Witness of the Book of Mormon? (Knowhy #614)
We are a covenant-making people. We make covenants at the waters of baptism. We renew those covenants each week as we worthily partake of the sacrament. We take upon ourselves the name of Christ; we promise to always remember Him and to keep His commandments. And in return He promises us that His Spirit will always be with us. We make covenants as we enter into the temple, and in return we receive the promised blessings of eternal life—if we keep those sacred covenants. Covenants with God are not to be taken lightly.
- Sheldon F. Child, As Good As Our Bond
Inspiring Short: These Noble Pioneers | Gordon B. Hinckley
The Blessings of Making Covenants
The word pioneer is both a noun and a verb. As a noun it can mean a person who is among the first to explore or settle a new territory. As a verb, it can mean to open or prepare the way for others to follow… Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is the ultimate pioneer in preparing the way. Indeed, He is “the way” for the plan of salvation to be accomplished so that we can repent and, through faith in Him, return to our Heavenly Father...[He] has opened the way for us to return to Him by following His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, with faith in every footstep.
- M. Russell Ballard, Follow Jesus Christ with Footsteps of Faith
He Lives–Celebrate Jesus Christ's Resurrection
When we have the sincere desire to put our lives in harmony with the will of the Lord, He will always be ready to help ease our burdens…The Lord’s invitation to each of us is “come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Jesus Christ has the power to give us rest from our pain and suffering… If we daily exercise faith, meekness, charity, and lowliness in heart, confessing that Jesus is the Christ, and accepting His Atonement, we will be blessed with the strength and hope to face and overcome the trials and pains of this life.
- Adhemar Damiani, Be of Good Cheer and Faithful in Adversity
We are told that God is no respecter of persons, and yet in no other church of which I am aware is provision made for those beyond the veil of death to receive every blessing which is afforded the living...Men boast that they are “saved” and in the same breath admit that their forebears have not been and cannot be saved...Here we serve in behalf of those who have died without a knowledge of the gospel. Theirs is the option to accept or reject the ordinance which is performed...The dead are given the same opportunity as the living.
- President Gordon B. Hinckley, The Great Things Which God Has Revealed
Ministry of Joseph Smith: Temples
Discovering Jesus Christ Through Family History
An Invitation to Come Unto Christ
[I]t is not just about what we do—our words and actions—but also why we do what Jesus Christ has asked us to do—our desires and motives...He wants us to do those things with real intent because we love Him with all our heart…When we choose to do each thing the Lord has asked us to do...with a sincere heart and with real intent, each act of service and worship becomes a powerful spiritual experience that strengthens our faith and testimony and fills our hearts with joy and love for God and our fellow man.
- Ronald M. Barcellos, The Lord Looketh on the Heart
How Will You Be Judged? God’s Mercy Explained
Because scriptures are generated from inspired communication through the Holy Ghost, they are pure truth...Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high. They can become the key to open the channel to communion with our Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ... Their use provides a foundation of truth that can be awakened by the Holy Ghost... Pondering a passage of scripture can be a key to unlock revelation and the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Ghost.
- Richard G. Scott, The Power of Scripture
Come Follow Me with John Hilton III (Doctrine and Covenants 137-138, Nov 29-Dec 5)
Reading the Scriptures | Changed Through Jesus Christ
[O]ur canon of scripture contains very little about the spirit world that follows death and precedes the Final Judgment. So what else do we know about the spirit world?…what we…know…is that the Father’s and the Son’s work of salvation continues there. Our Savior initiated the work of declaring liberty to the captives, and that work continues as worthy and qualified messengers continue to preach the gospel, including repentance, to those who still need its cleansing effect.
- President Dallin H. Oaks, Trust in the Lord
The Blessings of Temple and Family History Work
While yet in life, Jesus prophesied that He would also preach to the dead. Peter tells us this happened in the interval between the Savior’s Crucifixion and Resurrection…Our efforts on behalf of the dead bear eloquent witness that Jesus Christ is the divine Redeemer of all mankind. His grace and promises reach even those who in life do not find Him. Because of Him, the prisoners shall indeed go free.
- President D. Todd Christofferson, The Redemption of the Dead and the Testimony of Jesus
Russell M. Nelson's Grandfather Visited by Departed Father
In the vision of the redemption of the dead given to President Joseph F. Smith, he saw many of the noble and great prophets who had been on the earth prior to the Savior’s coming. He also saw...“other choice spirits who were reserved to come forth in the fulness of times to take part in laying the foundations of the great latter-day work.” Who were those other choice spirits? Our generation was somewhere there among those “noble and great” leaders, prepared in the world of spirits to be on the earth at this time!
- Elaine S. Dalton, We Did This for You
Thoughts for the Rising Generation
Russell M. Nelson - The Rising Generation
Urgent Call to the Rising Generation: Prepare the World for the Savior’s Return
[T]he fruit of living the gospel is evident in the lives of Latter-day Saints everywhere…A 14-year-old boy recently said to me a little hesitantly, “Brother Holland, I can’t say yet that I know the Church is true, but I believe it is.”...belief is a precious word, an even more precious act...Christ Himself said, “Be not afraid, only believe,”...belief [i]s always the first step toward conviction and...the definitive articles of our collective faith forcefully reiterate the phrase “We believe."
- President Jeffrey R. Holland, “Lord, I Believe”
A Christmas message from President Henry B. Eyring
We Believe, Kenneth Cope, EFY Music (Church of Jesus Christ Welfare System)
[O]ur gospel study and instruction are rooted in the word of God and that we don’t sensationalize or speculate on what the Lord has not revealed. Instead, we focus on essential and eternal gospel principles...The Lord’s exhortation to study the scriptures individually and as families and to attend church each week to study His gospel provides a remarkable framework to learn His doctrine and hear His voice. We search the scriptures to understand the narrative, the principles they teach, and the application of these truths in our lives.
- Chad H. Webb, That All May Be Edified
The Thirteenth Article of Faith: Standing Together
I Will Be What I Believe - Blake Gillette
The First Christmas Story, Retold by Children | The Birth of Jesus Christ
[W]e are blessed with continuing revelation to living prophets. Prophets are “commissioned agents of the Lord, authorized to speak for Him.” Some revelations are of monumental importance, and others enhance our understanding of essential divine truths and provide guidance for our day…I declare with all solemnity that continuous revelation has been received and is being received through channels the Lord has established.
- Quentin L. Cook, The Blessing of Continuing Revelation to Prophets and Personal Revelation to Guide Our Lives
How can you receive personal revelation to guide your life?
Patterns of Light: Spirit of Revelation
Prophets are seers and revelators. That means they can see what others cannot see, and they can prophesy of future events. They can also prepare us for calamities. Prophets receive commandments and revelations from the Lord...Elder Gary E. Stevenson said, “The Lord continues to reveal His commandments and will to His prophets today because He desires to lead us to happiness in this life and to celestial glory in the next life.”...the Lord assures us that His will will be done.
- Andrea Muñoz Spannaus, Prophets of God
Come Follow Me with Casey Paul Griffiths (Articles of Faith and Official Declaration 1-2, Dec 6-12)
Silent Night | 7-Year-Old Claire Crosby Accompanied by President Russell M. Nelson
“In the First Presidency,” [President Monson] said, “we do everything we can to move this work forward. But this is the Lord’s work, and He directs it. He is at the helm. We marvel as we watch Him open doors we cannot open and perform miracles we can scarcely imagine.”...The Lord declared, “I am able to do mine own work.” We each try to do our part, but He is the grand architect...As we are spiritually awake and alert, we see His hand across the world and we see His hand in our own personal lives… Can you see the hand of God moving His work forward?
- Neil L. Andersen, Thy Kingdom Come
Press Forward: 2016 Youth Theme
A Great Work | Youth Music Festival 2021
Be part of the greatest story ever told | #LightTheWorld with Love 2021
[O]ur Heavenly Father’s involvement in the details of our lives, even when we may not be aware of it or understand it…The Father is aware of us, knows our needs, and will help us perfectly...Sometimes our most earnest and worthy desires are not answered in the way we hope, but we find that God has greater blessings in store...We have the assurance that in His own way and in His own time, Heavenly Father will bless us and resolve all of our concerns, injustices, and disappointments.
- Brook P. Hales, Answers to Prayer
Trust in the Lord - Youth Theme 2022
Till We All Come in the Unity of the Faith
An Invitation to Come Unto Christ
Family Proclamation, paragraph 1
The family proclamation, announced 30 years ago, declares that “the family is ordained of God” and “is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.” ...As then-Elder Russell M. Nelson taught a Brigham Young University audience, the family is "pivotal to God’s plan…In fact, a purpose of the plan is to exalt the family.”
The Church of Jesus Christ is sometimes known as a family-centered church. It is! Our relationship to God and the purpose of our mortal life are explained in terms of the family. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the plan of our Heavenly Father for the benefit of His spirit children.
- President Dallin H. Oaks, The Family-Centered Gospel of Jesus Christ
Family Proclamation, paragraph 2
[The Family] proclamation, with its revelatory words, was created to “maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.” Everyone belongs to a family, whether you are a mother, father, daughter, son, grandchild, grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, sister, or cousin. Most importantly, each of us is, as the proclamation states, “a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents … [with] a divine nature and destiny.”
…President Nelson taught: “You are literally spirit children of God. … Make no mistake about it: Your potential is divine. With your diligent seeking, God will give you glimpses of who you may become.”
- Ronald A. Rasband, The Family Proclamation- Words from God
Migration: A Yearning for Home
Family Proclamation, paragraph 3
God is the literal Father of all mankind; we are each part of His eternal family. Because He loves us with the love of a perfect Father, He wants us to progress and advance and become like Him. He ordained a plan by which we would come to earth, in families, and have experiences that would prepare us to return to Him and live as He lives.
The central element of this plan was the promise that Jesus Christ would offer Himself as a sacrifice, to rescue us from sin and death.Our task in that plan is to accept the Savior’s sacrifice by obeying the laws and ordinances of the gospel. You and I accepted this plan. In fact, we rejoiced in it...
- President Henry B. Eyring, Gathering the Family of God
How to build a united and eternal family? (2022)
Finding Joy in Establishing a Happy Eternal Family
Family Proclamation, paragraphs 4-5
After Adam and Eve were joined in marriage, the scripture reads, “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.”...This commandment has not been forgotten or set aside in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints…In “the best of times [and] … the worst of times,” the true Saints of God, acting in faith, have never forgotten, dismissed, or neglected “God’s commandment … to multiply and replenish the earth.” We go forward in faith…What a wonderful blessing we have to receive sons and daughters of God into our home.
- Neil L. Andersen, Children
Our Fun Family Vacation - The Importance of Spending Time With Family
Having Children Enriches Your Life
Choosing Eternal Families Over Modern-Day "Idols" | Elder Quentin L. Cook
Family Proclamation, paragraphs 6-8
Regardless of your circumstances, you can make your home the center of gospel learning and living. It simply means taking personal responsibility for your conversion and spiritual growth. It means following President Nelson’s counsel “to [remodel your] home into a sanctuary of faith.”...How grateful I am for my “goodly parents,” who raised their family in a home of constant spiritual nourishment, loving relationships, and wholesome recreational activities. The teachings they provided in my youth have held me in good stead. Parents, please build strong relationships with your children. They need more of your time, not less.
- Steven W. Owen, Be Faithful, Not Faithless
Home and Family - Through Small Things
What Family Means - Happy Families
Pizza with the Puentes - Happy Families
Blending Families: Love is Key - Happy Families
Make It a Good Day - Happy Families
Raising a Family: Learning the Ropes Together - Happy Families
One Big Experiment - Happy Families
Family Proclamation, paragraphs 9-10
[The Family Proclamation]…is now a clarion call to protect and strengthen families and a stern warning in a world where declining values and misplaced priorities threaten to destroy society by undermining its basic unit…Today I call upon members of the Church and on committed parents, grandparents, and extended family members everywhere to hold fast to this great proclamation, to make it a banner not unlike General Moroni’s “title of liberty,” and to commit ourselves to live by its precepts. As we are all part of a family, the proclamation applies to everyone
- M. Russell Ballard, What Matters Most Is What Lasts Longest
Elder Stevenson on Fortifying Families
The Living Christ, paragraph 1
The Living Christ, paragraphs 8-10
The young men and young women in the Church...can offer gifts of love and testimony in the baptismal fonts of our temples...An increasing number of missionaries participate with the Savior and their companions to offer the gift of eternal life. With the change in age of eligibility for missionary service, many more will feel the joy of offering that priceless gift...Families also offer priceless gifts of love and testimony at Christmastime through music as well as words…It is my prayer that the Spirit will bless us this Christmas and in the years to come with the power to offer other gifts of love and of the testimony of Jesus Christ and His restored gospel.
- President Henry B. Eyring, The Perfect Gift
A Silent Night Surprise in Times Square | #LightTheWorld
A Worldwide Celebration of Jesus Christ's Birth | Light the World
The Living Christ, paragraph 2
As we are kind and serve each other as the Savior would, even in the smallest of ways, we can become a channel of God’s grace to help those in our circle of influence feel the Savior’s love and hope…As I have continually studied the life of the Lord Jesus Christ, I have marveled at His matchless example of kindness…opportunities await each of us this Christmas season to reach out and show kindness with Christlike love and compassion and to make a difference...Jesus Christ is love and hope—J’Aime et J’Espere. We too can partner with Him and share His love and hope with others through selfless acts of kindness.
- President Henry B. Eyring, The Gift of Kindness
A Holiday Reminder – Loving Your Neighbor
The Living Christ, paragraphs 3-7
Marvelous is the chronicle that began with the singing of angels at Bethlehem and ended on Golgotha’s cruel cross..nothing is so wonderful, so majestic, so tremendous as this act of grace when...He who had condescended to come to earth as a babe born in Bethlehem, gave His life in ignominy and pain so that all of the sons and daughters of God of all generations of time, every one of whom must die, might walk again and live eternally…This is the wondrous and true story of Christmas...There would be no Christmas if there had not been Easter. The babe Jesus of Bethlehem would be but another baby without the redeeming Christ of Gethsemane and Calvary, and the triumphant fact of the Resurrection.
- President Gordon B. Hinckley, The Wondrous and True Story of Christmas
The Living Christ, paragraph 11
We now have in the restored Church apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and evangelists, as spoken of by Paul to the Ephesians. These priesthood offices were established by the Savior when He organized His Church in the meridian of time. We recognize the two orders of the priesthood and the offices contained within them…We believe The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a restoration of the original Church established by Jesus Christ...I am grateful that the Restoration of the fulness of the gospel has taken place in our time.
- James E. Faust, The Restoration of All Things
Sharing God's Love This Christmas
"When We Seek Him" | Shawna Edwards & Angie Killian | New Christmas Song 2024
Getting Into The Christmas Spirit - The True Meaning of Christmas
The Living Christ, paragraph 12
I…recalled…a shopping mall in the Midwest that...put up a large banner that read, “If Christ came tonight, to whom would He come?”…As I contemplate the…banner...two thoughts come to my mind. First, we know that when the Savior comes for the second time, we will not know the day or the hour. Second, when Jesus Christ comes, as President Russell M. Nelson taught at the recent general conference, “[He] will return to the earth as the Millennial Messiah.”... Accordingly, the banner might more properly have said, “If Christ came tonight, who would be prepared to greet Him?”
- Quentin L. Cook, Being Prepared to Meet the Savior
O Come, Emmanuel - Christmas Version - ThePianoGuys
The Living Christ, paragraph 13
During our lives there will be times when the sun may go down on our hopes and dreams... But because Jesus Christ came to earth and rose on the third day, triumphant over sin and death, there will be no permanent darkness at the going down of the sun. We can seek and find His life-giving light…As we keep our focus on the Savior of the world, He will light our way to hope and healing... the Lord is our everlasting light! I bear my witness that Jesus Christ came to earth to bring joy and hope as He lights our way home. I love Him. I worship Him. “God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.”
- Susan H. Porter, The Everlasting Light
The Light of Jesus Christ: A Christmas Message from President Russell M. Nelson | #LightTheWorld
The World Needs Your Light | #LightTheWorld 2022
#LightTheWorld: A Christmas Message
The Christ Child: A Nativity Story – Full Trailer