Pornography

Satan has become a master at using the addictive power of pornography to limit individual capacity to be led by the Spirit. The onslaught of pornography in all of its vicious, corroding, destructive forms has caused great grief, suffering, heartache, and destroyed marriages. It is one of the most damning influences on earth. Whether it be through the printed page, movies, television, obscene lyrics, vulgarities on the telephone, or flickering personal computer screen, pornography is overpoweringly addictive and severely damaging.

Richard G. Scott, To Acquire Spiritual Guidance, April 2009

Immoral thoughts, words, and deeds always are immoral, even in cyberspace… We are all accountable to God, and ultimately we will be judged of Him according to our deeds and the desires of our hearts.

~ David A. Bednar, Things as They Really Are, CES Fireside, May 3, 2009 BYU-Idaho

Pornography impairs one’s ability to enjoy a normal emotional, romantic, and spiritual relationship with a person of the opposite sex. It erodes the moral barriers that stand against inappropriate, abnormal, or illegal behavior. As conscience is desensitized, patrons of pornography are led to act out what they have witnessed, regardless of its effects on their life and the lives of others.

~ Dallin H. Oaks, Pornography. Ensign, May 2005

Priesthood holders carry with them the antidote to remove the terrible images of pornography and to wash away guilt. The priesthood has the power to unlock the influence of our habits, even to unchain from addiction, however tight the grip. It can heal over the scars of past mistakes.

~ Boyd K. Packer, Cleansing The Inner Vessel, October 2010 Conference

Like thieves in the night, unwelcome thought can and do seek entrance to our minds. But we don’t have to throw open the door, serve them tea and crumpets, and tell them where the silverware is kept! Throw the rascals out! Replace lewd thoughts with hopeful messages an joyful memories; picture the faces of those who love you and would be shattered if you let them down.

~ Jeffery R. Holland, Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul, Conference April 2009

Permissiveness, immorality, pornography, drugs, the power of peer pressure- all these and more- cause many to be tossed about on a sea of sin and crushed on the jagged reefs of lost opportunities, forfeited blessings, and shattered dreams.

~ Thoma S. Monson, Believe, Obey , and Endure, Conference October 2013

Stay completely away from pornography. Do not allow yourself to view it, ever. It has been proven to be an addiction which is more than difficult to overcome.

~ Thomas S. Monson, Priesthood Power, Conference April 2011

We cannot afford husbands and fathers who fail to provide spiritual leadership in the home. We cannot afford to have those who exercise the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God, waste their strength in pornography or spend their lives in cyberspace.

D. Todd Christofferson Conference October 2012

Be Cautious. These same technologies can allow evil influences to cross the threshold of your homes. These dangerous traps are only a mouse click away. Pornography, violence, intolerance, and ungodliness destroy families, marriages, and individual lives. These dangers are distributed through many media, including magazines, books, television, movies, and music, as well as the internet.

Deiter F. Utchdorf, A Matter of a Few Degrees, April 2008

(Pornography) is utterly without redeeming social value. We urge our families to protect their children in every way possible. We live in a permissive world, but we must make certain we do not become a part of that permissive world, that degenerate world.

Spencer W. Kimball, God Will Not Be Mocked, Conference October 1974

Priesthood Power

It will be a marvelous day, my brethren—it will be a day of fulfillment of the purposes of the Lord—when our priesthood quorums become an anchor of strength to every man belonging thereto, when each such man may appropriately be able to say, ‘I am a member of a priesthood quorum of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I stand ready to assist my brethren in all of their needs, as I am confident they stand ready to assist me in mine. … Working together, we can stand, without embarrassment and without fear, against every wind of adversity that might blow, be it economic, social, or spiritual.

~ Gordon B. Hinckley, Welfare Responsibilities of the Priesthood Quorums, Conference October 1977

We cannot afford young men who lack self-discipline and live only to be entertained. We cannot afford young adult men who are going nowhere in life, who are not serious about forming families and making a real contribution in this world. We cannot afford husbands and fathers who fail to provide spiritual leadership in the home. We cannot afford to have those who exercise the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God, waste their strength in pornography or spend their lives in cyberspace. Brethren, we have work to do.

~ D. Todd Christofferson, Bretheren We Have Work to Do, Conference October 2012

We need to bear in mind that people can change. They can put behind them bad habits. They can repent from transgressions. They can bear the priesthood worthily. And they can serve the Lord diligently… We can help them to overcome their shortcomings. We must develop the capacity to see men not as they are at present but as they may become when they receive testimonies of the gospel of Christ.’

~ Thomas S. Monson, Seeing Others As They May Become, Conference October 2012

Yes, there is always something imperfect in any situation. Yes, it is easy to find things to complain about. But brethren, we are bearers of the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God! .. I feel a certain sadness for those who do not grasp and appreciate the wonder and privilege of the priesthood. They are like passengers on an airplane who spend their time grumbling about the size of the packet of peanuts while they are soaring through the air, far above the clouds.

~ Dieter F. Utchdorf, The Joy of the Priesthood, Conference, October 2012

Every person is different and has a different contribution to make. No one is destined to fail. As you seek revelation to see gifts God sees in those you lead in the priesthood—particularly the young—you will be blessed to lift their sights to the service they can perform.

~ Henry B. Eyring, Help Them Aim High, Conference October 2012

The devil knows if the elders of Israel should ever wake up they could step forth and help preserve freedom. Therefore the devil has concentrated, and to a large extent successfully, on neutralizing much of the priesthood.

~Ezra Taft Benson, Not Commanded In All Things, Conference, April 1965

The kingdom of God is governed by the authority of the priesthood. It is not conferred for honor, but for a ministry of service. Priesthood titles are not created by man; neither are they for adornment, nor do they express mastership. They denote appointment to service in the work of the Lord.

~ Russell M. Neilson, Honoring the Priesthood, Conference April 1993

It (the priesthood) is veritably the power of the Almighty given to man to act in His name and in His stead. It is a delegation of divine authority, different from all other powers and authorities on the face of the earth.

~ Gordon B. Hinckley, Priesthood Restoration, Conference October 1988

Your priesthood quorums provide opportunities for friendship, service, and learning. But the responsibility to develop power in the priesthood is personal. Only as an individual can you develop a firm faith in God and a passion for personal prayer.

~ Russell M. Neilson, Personal Priesthood Responsibility, Conference October 2003

When I lay hands on the sick, I expect the healing power and influence of God to pass through me to the patient, and the disease to give way. … When we are prepared, when we are holy vessels before the Lord, a stream of power from the Almighty can pass through the tabernacle of the administrator to the system of the patient, and the sick are made whole.

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young (1997), 252;

 My Own Thoughts and Testimony; 

I am so grateful for the power of the priesthood in my life. I know that both men and woman are given separate and divine qualities. Woman have the amazing blessing of being able to bring God's children into this world and men are given the blessing to be able to receive the priesthood. Both are necessary and depend on one another. The priesthood is the ability for men to act in Gods name and to achieve His work here on earth. The priesthood is an act of service and can not be used for selfish desires or be used if unworthy. I know that miracles still exists today and that by the power of the priesthood, the great work of God is moving forward in these last days. 

Becoming a True Disciple of Christ

We conclude that the Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts—what we have done. It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts—what we have become. It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become.  
~ Dallin H. Oaks, The Challenge to Become, Conference October 2000

“It is essential that we reject anything that does not conform to our standards, refusing in the process to surrender that which we desire most: eternal life in the kingdom of God… We, however, will be far better equipped to deal with them, to learn from them, and to overcome them if we have the gospel at our core and the love of the Savior in our hearts.”

~ Thomas S. Monson, Stand in Holy Places, October 2011 Conference    

    

The call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior has promised that He will make us equal to His work. … As we follow Him, He blesses us with gifts, talents, and the strength to do His will, allowing us to go beyond our comfort zones and do things we’ve never before thought possible.”

~Robert D. Hales, Being a More Christian Christian, Conference October 2012

The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become.” Sadly, much of modern Christianity does not acknowledge that God makes any real demands on those who believe in Him, seeing Him rather as a butler “who meets their needs when summoned” or a therapist whose role is to help people “feel good about themselves.” It is a religious outlook that “makes no pretense at changing lives.

~ D. Todd Christofferson, “As Many As I Love, I Rebuke and Chasten” General Conference October 2012

Some young people inform me that in our current culture it is not “cool” to try too hard in many areas, including living strictly in accordance with righteous principles. Please do not fall into this trap.

~ Quinton L. Cook, Can You Feel So Now? Conference October 2012

There are many others who, for different reasons, find themselves waiting on the road to Damascus. They delay becoming fully engaged as disciples. They hope to receive the priesthood but hesitate to live worthy of that privilege. They desire to enter the temple but delay the final act of faith to qualify. They remain waiting for the Christ to be given to them like a magnificent Carl Bloch painting—to remove once and for all their doubts and fears. The truth is, those who diligently seek to learn of Christ eventually will come to know Him. They will personally receive a divine portrait of the Master, although it most often comes in the form of a puzzle—one piece at a time.

~ Dieter F. Utchdorf, Waiting On The Road to Damascus, Conference April 2011

There is no greater calling, no greater challenge, and no greater source of joy—both proximate joy and ultimate joy—than that which is found in the process of discipleship. This process brings its own joys and reassurances. We must not, however, expect the world to understand or to value our discipleship; they will not. In a way, they may admire us from afar, but they will be puzzled about the priorities resulting from our devotion.

~ Neal A. Maxwell, Becoming A Disciple, Ensign June 1996

Conversion must mean more than just being a card carrying' member of the church with a tithing receipt.. (or) a temple recommend... (One who is converted) strive(s) continually to improve inward weaknesses and not merely the outward appearances.

~ Harold B. Lee, Church News, 25 May 1974, 2

More Importantly, we should be concerned with the spiritual dimension of our people and the enlargement of this dimension. There is a tendency in all of us to ask for better statistical performance. There is a tendency to impose quotas behind which usually lies imposition of pressure to achieve improved statistics. In the work of the Lord there is a more appropriate motivation than pressure. There is the motivation that comes of true conversion.

~ Gordon B. Hinckley, Regional Representatives’ seminar, 6 Apr. 1984

The call is to come back, to stay true, to love God, and to lend a hand. To all within the sound of my voice, the voice of Christ comes ringing down through the halls of time, asking each one of us while there is time, “Do you love me?” And for every one of us, I answer with my honor and my soul, “Yea, Lord, we do love thee.” And having set our “hand to the plough,” we will never look back until this work is finished and love of God and neighbor rules the world.

~ Jeffery R. Holland, The First Great Commandment, Conference October 2012

My Own Thoughts and Testimony; 

Each member of the church goes through a process of which they receive a spiritual conformation in their hearts and the beginning seed planted in their hearts that they believe or wish to believe that the gospel is true. They feel the spirit speak to their hearts confirming that it is true. However, it is not enough to just know that these things are true, we must become. We are required to be true to the faith and believe that we must  have both clean hands as well as a pure heart. I have come to know that acting and knowing go hand in hand either upward or downward. If we do not act on our beliefs our testimonies of the gospel soon diminish. If we have courage to act and experiment on the word then we see the resulting blessing of our actions and our faith will increase, leading to further action and growth.

Hope in the Future

The adversary uses despair to bind hearts and minds in suffocating darkness. Despair drains from us all that is vibrant and joyful and leaves behind the empty remnants of what life was meant to be. Despair kills ambition, advances sickness, pollutes the soul, and deadens the heart. Despair can seem life a staircase taht leads only and forever downward. Hope, on the other hand, is like the beam of sunlight rising up and above the horizon of our present circumstances. it pierces teh darkness with a brilliant dawn. it encourages and inspires us to place our trust in the loving care of an eternal heavenly Father, who has prepared a way for those who seek for eternal truth in a world of relativism, confusion, and of fear.

~ Dieter F. Utchdorf, The Infinite Power of Hope, Conference October 2008

It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don't worry. I say that to myself every morning. It all works out in the end. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers.

~ Gordon B. Hinckley, Put Your Trust In God, From the funeral program for Marjorie Pay Hinckley, April 10, 2004

Be assured that there is a safe harbor. You can find peace amidst the storms that threaten you. Your Heavenly Father—who knows when even a sparrow falls—knows of your heartache and suffering. He loves you and wants the best for you. Never doubt this. While He allows all of us to make choices that may not always be for our own or even others’ well-being, and while He does not always intervene in the course of events, He has promised the faithful peace even in their trials and tribulations.

~ Joseph B. Wirthlin, “Finding a Safe Harbor,” Ensign, May 2000, 59

To any who may be struggling to see that light and find that hope, I say: Hold on. Keep trying. God loves you. Things will improve. Christ comes to you in His ‘more excellent ministry’ with a future of ‘better promises.’ He is your ‘high priest of good things to come.

~ Jeffrey R. Holland, “An High Priest of Good Things to Come,” Ensign,Nov. 1999, 36

I recognize that, on occasion, some of our most fervent prayers may seem to go unanswered. We wonder, ‘Why?’ I know that feeling! I know the fears and tears of such moments. But I also know that our prayers are never ignored. Our faith is never unappreciated. I know that an all-wise Heavenly Father’s perspective is much broader than is ours. While we know of our mortal problems and pain, He knows of our immortal progress and potential. If we pray to know His will and submit ourselves to it with patience and courage, heavenly healing can take place in His own way and time.

~ Russell M. Nelson, “Jesus Christ—the Master Healer,” Ensign, Nov. 2005, 86

At times there appears to be no light at the tunnel’s end—no dawn to break the night’s darkness. We feel surrounded by the pain of broken hearts, the disappointment of shattered dreams, and the despair of vanished hopes… We feel abandoned, heartbroken, alone. To all who so despair, may I offer the assurance of the Psalmist’s words: ‘Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning’ (Psalm 30:5). Whenever we are inclined to feel burdened down with the blows of life’s fight, let us remember that others have passed the same way, have endured, and then have overcome.”

~ Thomas S. Monson, “Meeting Life’s Challenges,” Ensign, Nov. 1993

Though “anchored” in grand and ultimate hope, some of our tactical hopes are another matter. We may hope for a pay raise, a special date, an electoral victory, or for a bigger house—things which may or may not be realized. Faith in Father’s plan gives us endurance even amid the wreckage of such proximate hopes. Hope keeps us “anxiously engaged” in good causes even when these appear to be losing causes 

~ Neil A. Maxwell, Brightness Of Hope, Conference, October 1944

 Regardless of how desperate things may seem, remember—we can always have hope. Always! The Lord’s promise to us is certain: “He that endureth in faith and doeth my will, the same shall overcome.” I repeat—there is always hope! Hope is part of our religion… We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things.” 

~ Russell M. Neilson, “A More Excellent Hope”, February 1997

 There may be some among you who feel darkness encroaching upon you. You may feel burdened by worry, fear, or doubt. To you and to all of us, I repeat a wonderful and certain truth: God’s light is real. It is available to all! It gives life to all things. It has the power to soften the sting of the deepest wound. It can be a healing balm for the loneliness and sickness of our souls. In the furrows of despair, it can plant the seeds of a brighter hope. It can enlighten the deepest valleys of sorrow. It can illuminate the path before us and lead us through the darkest night into the promise of a new dawn.

~ Dieter F. Utchdorf, The Hope of God's Light, General Conference April 2013

Admittedly we have ample reason to be deeply concerned because we see no immediate answers to the seemingly unsolvable problems confronting the human family. But regardless of this dark picture, which will ultimately get worse, we must never allow ourselves to give up hope!... My message to you today, my brothers and sisters, is simply this: the Lord is in control. He knows the end from the beginning. He has given us adequate instruction that, if followed, will see us safely through any crisis.

~ M. Russell Ballard, The Joy Of Hope Fulfilled, Conference, October 1992 

My Own Thoughts and Testimony; 

With the gospel of Jesus Christ as the center of our lives, we have all reasons to hope for good things to come. Hope is a choice we make, tied together closely with faith and charity. When we choose to have hope our souls are filled with light and no power of darkness can overcome us. Yes we will still have moments when it seems that everything seems to go wrong and and nothing seems to make sense but hold on. Have the hope and the faith in God that He knows what He's doing. He knows what he wants you to become, and if you are doing all you can to obey His commandments and to serve Him, He will bless you immensely beyond anything you could have imagined. Hove hope in this world for light will always overcome the darkness. With hope in our lives we choose to follow the light. 

Charity Never Faileth

 What would be the cumulative effect of millions of small, compassionate acts performed daily by us because of our heartfelt Christian love for others? Over time this would have a transformative effect upon all of our Heavenly Father’s children through the extension of His love to them through us.

~M. Russell Ballard, Be Anxiously Engaged, Conference October 2012

Generally speaking, the most miserable people I know are those who are obsessed with themselves; the happiest people I know are those who lose themselves in the service of others...By and large, I have come to see that if we complain about life, it is because we are thinking only of ourselves.

~ Gordon B. Hinckley, “Whosoever Will Save His Life”

May we ever watch over one another, assisting in times of need. Let us not be critical and judgmental, but let us be tolerant, ever emulating the Savior’s example of loving-kindness. In that vein, may we willingly serve one another. May we pray for the inspiration to know of the needs of those around us, and then may we go forward and provide assistance.

~ Thomas S. Monson, Love, Joy, and Inspiration, November 2012

The pavilion that seems to be hiding you from God may be fear of man rather than this desire to serve others. The Savior’s only motivation was to help people… I challenge you to go for the Lord to someone, despite any fear you may have, to extend love and forgiveness. I promise you that as you do, you will feel the love of the Savior for that person and His love for you, and it will not seem to come from a great distance.

~Henry B. Eyring, Where is the Pavilion? Conference October 2012

I would hope that we would not lose the real objective of our cherished opportunities to serve. That objective, that eternal goal, is the same spoken of by the Lord and found in the Pearl of Great Price: “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” May we ever remember that the mantle of membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not a cloak of comfort but rather a robe of responsibility. Our duty, in addition to saving ourselves, is to guide others to the celestial kingdom of God.

~ Thomas S. Monson, The Savior’s Call to Serve, August 2012 Ensign

Nothing you do makes much of a difference if you do not have charity. You can speak with tongues, have the gift of prophecy, understand all mysteries, and possess all knowledge; even if you have the faith to move mountains, without charity it won't profit you at all.... Without charity—or the pure love of Christ—whatever else we accomplish matters little. With it, all else becomes vibrant and alive.

~ Joseph B Worthlin, The Great Commandment, (Ensign, Nov 2007, 28–31).

We need to be kinder with one another, more gentle and forgiving. We need to be slower to anger and more prompt to help. We need to extend the hand of friendship and resist the hand of retribution. In short, we need to love one another with the pure love of Christ, with genuine charity and compassion and, if necessary, shared suffering, for that is the way God loves us.

~ Howard W. Hunter, A More Excellent Way, Conference April 1992

Our opportunities to give of ourselves are indeed limitless, but they are also perishable. There are hearts to gladden. There are kind words to say. There are gifts to be given. There are deeds to be done. There are souls to be saved.

~ Thomas S. Monson, The Gifts of Christmas, First Presidency Message, December 2003

Note that charity is given only to those who seek it, only to those who earnestly pray for it, only to those who are disciples of Christ. Before we can be filled with this pure love, we must start at the beginning with the first principle of the gospel. We must have “first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

~ Joseph B. Wirthlin, Cultivating Divine Attributes, Ensign, November 1998

It is only when we love God and Christ with all of our hearts, souls, and minds that we are able to share this love with our neighbors through acts of kindness and service… When this pure love of Christ—or charity—envelops us, we think, feel, and act more like Heavenly Father and Jesus would think, feel, and act. Our motivation and heartfelt desire are like unto that of the Savior.

~ M. Russell Ballard, Finding Joy Through Loving Service, Conference April 2011

My Own Thoughts and Testimony: 

Of all of the commandments, perhaps the most forgotten and for some reason least feared is the commandment to love one another. When Christ was asked what is the first commandment of all He said, "thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength" and second was to "love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." Why is it that we so quickly forget to have love, patience, kindness, and forgiveness for others? I have tried to cultivate these characteristics of love in my life but find myself frequently making mistakes and my love un-perfect. In Moroni 7: 47 it teaches that true charity never faileth, yet I know that my love for others is not perfect. So how do we obtain this most precious gift of charity? Well, that is just it. We must understand that it is a gift. We do not cultivate this love because we are naturally good, nor do we receive it as a reward, it is bestowed upon us as a gift. Charity is the true love of Christ and His love truly does not fail. I know that as we strive to show love and charity we become filled with light and begin to see others as God see’s them. We receive happiness that cannot be found from fulfilling any selfish wants.

Following the Guidance of the Holy Ghost

Never postpone promptings because one of the greatest blessings in life is to be the answer to someone else’s prayer.

~Thomas S. Monson, Consider the Blessings, Conference October 2012

It is through the repeated process of feeling impressions, recording them, and obeying them that one learns to depend on the direction of the Spirit more than on communication through the five senses

~ Richard G. Scott, Helping Others to Be Spiritually Led” CES fireside, Aug. 11, 1998

Our own desires, rather than a feeling of “Thy will be done,” create the feeling of a pavilion blocking God. God is not unable to see us or communicate with us, but we may be unwilling to listen or submit to His will and His time… We remove the pavilion when we feel and pray, “Thy will be done” and “in Thine own time.” His time should be soon enough for us since we know that He wants only what is best.

~Henry B. Eyring, Where is the Pavilion? Conference October 2012

We all have an inner braking system that will stop us before we follow Satan too far down the wrong road. It is the still, small voice within us. But if we allow ourselves to succumb to Satan’s tempting, the braking system begins to leak brake fluid and our stopping mechanism becomes weak and ineffective.

~James E. Faust, The Forces That Will Save Us, First Presidency Message, January 2007

In many of the uncertainties and challenges we encounter in our lives, God requires us to do our best, to act and not be acted upon, and to trust in Him. We may not see angels, hear heavenly voices, or receive overwhelming spiritual impressions. We frequently may press forward hoping and praying—but without absolute assurance—that we are acting in accordance with God’s will. But as we honor our covenants and keep the commandments, as we strive ever more consistently to do good and to become better, we can walk with the confidence that God will guide our steps. And we can speak with the assurance that God will inspire our utterances. 

~David A. Bednar, The Spirit of Revelation, Conference April 2011

If you want to obtain and keep the guidance of the Spirit, you can do so by following this simple four-point program. One, pray. Pray diligently. … Second, study and learn the gospel. Third, live righteously; repent of your sins. … Fourth, give service in the Church

~President Marion G. Romney , Guidance of the Holy Spirit, Ensign, Jan. 1980, 5.

There is no greater blessing that can come into our lives than the gift of the Holy Ghost—the companionship of the Holy Spirit to guide us, protect us, and bless us, to go, as it were, as a pillar before us and a flame to lead us in paths of righteousness and truth. That guiding power of the third member of the Godhead can be ours if we live worthy of it.

 ~Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [1997], 259.

There is indeed such a thing as absolute truth—unassailable, unchangeable truth. This truth is different from belief. It is different from hope. Absolute truth is not dependent upon public opinion or popularity. Polls cannot sway it. Not even the inexhaustible authority of celebrity endorsement can change it.

~ Deiter F. Utchdorf, What is Truth, CES fireside 2012

Seldom will you receive a complete response [to a prayer] all at once. It will come a piece at a time, in packets, so that you will grow in capacity. As each piece is followed in faith, you will be led to other portions until you have the whole answer. That pattern requires you to exercise faith in our Father’s capacity to respond. While sometimes it’s very hard, it results in significant personal growth.

~ Richard G. Scott, Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer, Conference April 2007

Revelation from our Father, in its most familiar form, comes through the Holy Ghost as thoughts to our minds and feelings to our hearts. Thus, God communicates with us through our very thoughts and feelings! It should not be hard to understand why we are counseled to avoid polluting our minds with pornography, watching R-rated and inappropriate movies and television programs, and taking into our bodies harmful and addictive substances such as drugs and alcohol. These tools of the Adversary can restrict and eventually destroy our ability to recognize and respond to the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

~David A. Bednar, Receiving, Recognizing, and Responding to the Promptings of the Holy Ghost, BYUI Devotional, August 1999


My Own Thoughts and Testimony;

One of the great blessings that is received when we get baptized is the companionship of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost testifies of Christ, can act as a voice of warning or direction, lead us to service, brings peace to our, hearts, and testifies of all truth. It often speaks with a still and quiet voice or just an impression on our hearts or minds and therefore we must be living worthily and put ourselves in an environment where we are able to hear it. The more we practice listening to the Spirit, the more we are able to recognize it and the more it will speak to us. If you are unsure if it is the spirit or just your own thoughts, if it is a good thing and causes you to serve God then just do it. As you show your willingness to listen and obey you will become able to identify more easily the voice of the spirit and will be greatly blessed.