"Be of Good Cheer"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Church members in another age were held hostage with their lives at stake, but were told by the Lord to be of good cheer because of His imminent birth.
Church members in another age were being held hostage until certain prophecies were fulfilled"”with their lives being forfeit if those prophecies were not fulfilled precisely on time. They, too, were told by the Lord to be of good cheer. Why? Because, said Jesus, "On the morrow come I into the world." With His birth, the mortal ministry of the Messiah would, at last, be launched!
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Be of Good Cheer"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Brigham Young, before joining the Church, felt discouraged about the world but was advised by his brother to hang on for the Lord's future blessings.
In the late 1820s, Brigham Young, as yet untouched by the restored gospel, was a somewhat discouraged young man. He found himself disapproving of much of what he saw in the world and wondering if he had a work yet to do. His loving brother, Phineas, gave Brigham prescient counsel: "Hang on, for I know the Lord is agoing to do some thing for us." What then happened is Moses-like history!
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Be of Good Cheer"
Elder Marvin J. Ashton
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
A woman from Washington, Utah, expresses her good cheer despite the tragic death of her husband.
Recently, while visiting with a wife who had suddenly lost a husband through a tragic death, I was touched by this lovely lady from Washington, Utah, when she said, "My heart is heavy and sad, but my soul is of good cheer." There was a powerful inward cheer dominating the sorrowful situation. The promise, "for I the Lord am with you," was triumphing over heartache and despair.
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Be of Good Cheer"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Jesus instructed the original Twelve Apostles to be of good cheer despite the impending tribulations, including His own suffering and death, because He had overcome the world.
Jesus has given that same instruction to others before, when the stressful circumstances in which they found themselves were anything but cheerful. For instance, he told the original Twelve to be of good cheer when, on the surface, there was nothing to be cheerful about. The indescribable agonies of Gethsemane were imminent. Judas"™s betrayal lay immediately ahead. Likewise, Jesus"™ arrest and arraignment. The Twelve would be scattered like sheep. Jesus"™ unjust and mocking trial and His t ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Be of Good Cheer"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The resurrected Jesus appeared to Paul in prison, telling him to be of good cheer because he would soon take the gospel to Rome.
It was the same on another occasion when, of a night, the resurrected Jesus stood by an imprisoned Paul, instructing Paul to be of good cheer. Once again, the circumstances of the moment included Paul"™s having been struck publicly on the mouth by order of Ananias, forty individuals were plotting his death, and he faced a trial for sedition. Why, therefore, should he be of good cheer? Because, Jesus announced, though in bad circumstances, Paul would soon take the good news of the gospel to Rom ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Be of Good Cheer"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Joseph Smith faced personal and public challenges but wrote of gladness and joy concerning temple work.
Gospel gladness was a part of the Prophet Joseph Smith"™s attitude. In the fall of 1842, rumors were rife of armed mobs on their way to Nauvoo. His beloved Emma was often ill, and there were concerns she would not recover. Joseph was hunted in the City of Joseph. In this same period, of Joseph"™s circumstance we learn that upon his return home on one occasion he found "Emma sick "¦ delivered of a son, which did not survive its birth." Though in a period of such anguish and affliction, the ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Be of Good Cheer"
Elder Marvin J. Ashton
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
A woman with a husband suffering from Parkinson's disease exemplifies good cheer through her service and positive attitude.
One beautiful "good cheer" lady I have loved deeply over the years is very special. For more than thirty-five years her husband has been afflicted with Parkinson"™s disease. They have raised six outstanding children. She has cheerfully cooperated in making it possible for him to function well as a father, husband, bishop, high councilor, and successful building contractor. When his mobility has reached discouraging stages of near zero, she has lifted him. Her neighbors, and they are everyone ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Be of Good Cheer"
Elder Marvin J. Ashton
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
A family in Thailand experiences a transformation and joy through the gospel after the mother and children decide to change their lives.
Just a few weeks ago, while in Bangkok, Thailand, our hearts were touched by a young lady now living in a state of good cheer she never realized possible. Meaningful change has brought great joy and happiness to her and her family. Let me share this message of good cheer as told in her own words. "In 1975 there was a family who lived near the main road in a small village. My parents were rather poor. My father worked at the local post office, while my mother stayed home caring for the children. ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Be of Good Cheer"
Jeanne Inouye
- Provo Sixteenth Ward, Provo Utah Edgemont Stake
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on being unmarried in her thirties despite a patriarchal blessing promising marriage and motherhood, and how a message from God in the temple reassured her not to be afraid.
But I was still unmarried in my thirties. By then I had come to understand that the promises of my patriarchal blessing might not be realized during my mortal life. Although I understood that if worthy and faithful, I would eventually enjoy every blessing, I was still troubled. I wondered whether I could be happy if marriage and family did not come in the ways I had desired. During one difficult period, I went often to the temple. On one occasion, I was given a clear message from God. I was told ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Be of Good Cheer"
Jeanne Inouye
- Provo Sixteenth Ward, Provo Utah Edgemont Stake
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts marrying at thirty-four, facing challenges in having children, and making promises to God about dedicating their children to His service.
As it turned out, I did marry. I was thirty-four, and my husband was thirty-seven. We wanted to begin our family quickly, but children did not come easily. We told Heavenly Father that if he would give us a child, we would dedicate that child to his service. When I was thirty-seven, our first child, a daughter, was born. We asked our Heavenly Father for another child and again promised that we would consecrate this child to his will. When I was almost forty, we had a son. We asked for more child ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Be of Good Cheer"
Jeanne Inouye
- Provo Sixteenth Ward, Provo Utah Edgemont Stake
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares her dilemma about whether to continue working after the birth of her first child and how she sought guidance through prayer and a priesthood blessing, ultimately deciding to become a full-time homemaker.
One thing I have learned is that motherhood entails difficult decisions. When our first child was born, I had been working for about twelve years, first as a teacher and later as a lawyer. I wondered whether to continue working. My husband"™s income was sufficient to meet our needs, but we were about twenty years older than most new parents. I wondered whether we would both survive to raise our children and, if I were widowed, how I would provide for them. I wondered how difficult it would be ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Be of Good Cheer"
Jeanne Inouye
- Provo Sixteenth Ward, Provo Utah Edgemont Stake
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker describes how she prioritized scripture study over music practice for her children when time was limited, following the counsel of President Benson.
President Benson counseled us, as have other prophets, to read the scriptures as a family each day. For the past several years, our family has been trying to do that. Last year, however, I noticed a problem developing. Our children practice musical instruments, and I encourage them to do this in the morning when there are fewer distractions. But sometimes they would go to bed late and get up late. On those days they would not have enough time to finish practicing, dress, eat, and read the script ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Be of Good Cheer"
Jeanne Inouye
- Provo Sixteenth Ward, Provo Utah Edgemont Stake
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker testifies to the guidance and healing power of God, especially for mothers who worry about the impact of their mistakes on their children.
Another source of courage has been the experiences that have taught me that God will give mothers guidance concerning the individual needs of their children. Some of my most fervent prayers have been for blessings for my children and for guidance in directing them. While answers have most often come in the peaceful confirmation of a planned course of action, I have sometimes been surprised with the clarity of new ideas presented to my mind. God will do much more. Every woman who has raised child ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Be Thou an Example of the Believers"
Bishop Joseph L. Wirthlin
- Presiding Bishop of the Church
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on the achievements of the Aaronic Priesthood and recalls the story of Timothy, a young missionary who worked with the Apostle Paul and was advised to be an example of the believers in various virtues.
This morning, as President McKay was giving us information about the Aaronic Priesthood and its achievements, I thought of another young man. His name was Timothy. Timothy became a wonderful missionary in his work with the Apostle Paul. Paul said to him, 'Let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity' 1 Tim. 4:12
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Be Thou an Example of the Believers"
Bishop Joseph L. Wirthlin
- Presiding Bishop of the Church
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts a period of darkness and war in the world after the original Church was disorganized and the true gospel was lost, leading to the absence of divine guidance and the dominance of Satan's power.
When the Church was upon the earth two thousand years ago, and thereafter was disorganized, the apostles and all who had labored in building up the kingdom at that time were gone. There were individuals who desired to organize churches of their own. During that period of time of darkness in the world when the sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father were not receiving the divine guidance they had received during the time of the apostles and those who followed them, the power of Satan was domina ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Be Thou an Example of the Believers"
Bishop Joseph L. Wirthlin
- Presiding Bishop of the Church
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker tells the story of Joseph Smith, a young man seeking the true Church, who prayed and was visited by the Father and the Son, leading to the restoration of the Church and the priesthood.
A young man who was desirous to find the true Church made it a matter of prayer, and there appeared to him the Father and the Son. The Father said to Joseph, 'This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!' JS—H 1:17 Thereafter, the Prophet Joseph received the direction and the authority to organize the Church. Yes, he received the priesthood when John the Baptist appeared to him. He also received the Melchizedek Priesthood from Peter, James, and John, the apostles at the time of Christ. The golden pl ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Be Thou an Example"
President Thomas S. Monson
- First Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
A family who had difficulty paying tithing received meat from their neighbors, which helped them get through the month after paying their tithing.
May I share with you a letter I received some months ago which provides such an example? The letter begins:
"We live on the edge of a small town, and our neighbor uses our pasture for his cattle and as payment provides us with all the beef we want. Each time we get new meat, we have some of the present supply left over; and since we live in a student ward, we take meat to some students we feel might have use for some good beef.
"During the time my wife was serving in a Relief Society presidenc ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Be Thou an Example"
President Thomas S. Monson
- First Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
A young deacon collecting fast offerings remembers an elderly member, Brother Wright, who contributed a quarter and shared a memory of receiving help in the past.
I remember when, as a young deacon, I would cover a portion of the ward on fast Sunday morning, giving the small envelope to each family, waiting while a contribution was placed in it, and then returning it to the bishop. On one such occasion, an elderly member, Brother Wright, welcomed me at the door and, with aged hands, fumbled at the tie of the envelope and placed within it a quarter. His eyes fairly twinkled as he made his contribution. He told me of a time years before when the Relief Soci ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Be Thou an Example"
President Thomas S. Monson
- First Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
A group of Aaronic Priesthood young men cleaned a poultry project, but their actions inadvertently caused the hens to stop laying eggs.
For instance, I shall ever remember the time we gathered together the teenaged Aaronic Priesthood young men to really give the poultry project a spring cleaning. Our enthusiastic and energetic throng gathered at the project and in a speedy fashion uprooted, gathered, and burned large quantities of weeds and debris. By the light of the glowing bonfires we ate hot dogs and congratulated ourselves on a job well done. The project was now neat and tidy. However, there was just one disastrous problem. ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Be Thou an Example"
President Thomas S. Monson
- First Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
Catherine Curtis Spencer chose her faith over returning to her parents' home, even as she faced death.
One from pioneer times who exemplified the charge heard this evening to be steadfast and immovable and who filled her mind, heart, and soul with truth was Catherine Curtis Spencer. Her husband, Orson Spencer, was a sensitive, well-educated man. She had been reared in Boston and was cultured and refined. She had six children. Her delicate health declined from exposure and from the hardships encountered after leaving Nauvoo. Elder Spencer wrote to her parents and asked if she could return to live ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →