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April 2008, Talk #3
Our living prophet, President Thomas S. Monson said “The holy scriptures are for children, to fill their eager minds with sacred truth.” President Ezra Taft Benson said “There is a book [that] we need to study daily, … namely the Book of Mormon. I love that book." Our latter-day prophets have instructed us that we should read and pray about the Book of Mormon. Grandpa Jones had just finished reading Collin's favorite book "The Big Red Truck" when Collin asked "Grandpa, what is your favorite book?" Grandpa Jones replied "I would have to say that it is The Book of Mormon. It has truly changed my life." Collin had a confused look on his face. He could understand why Grandpa might like the Book of Mormon. Collin thought about how much he liked it when his parents or primary teachers told him the story of how brave Nephi had been when he went to get the brass plates from the wicked king. He also liked the story of King Benjamin teaching all of the people but he just couldn't understand how these stories could change his life. "Grandpa" Collin asked "What do you mean that The Book of Mormon Changed your life?" Collin's grandpa explained that when he was a young boy like Collin, his family had never heard of the Book of Mormon. He told Collin that when he was 17 years old, his parents answered the door one day to find two missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints asking if they could share a message about Jesus Christ with their family. "You see Collin..." Said Grandpa Jones "These missionaries came into our home and told us about the Prophet Joseph Smith. They taught us about the Book of Mormon and the priesthood. They taught us about Heavenly Father's plan and that we could live together as a family forever if we would repent, be baptized and keep the commandments." Grandpa Jones also told Collin that the missionaries challenged his family to read the Book of Mormon and to pray to find out if it was true. They said that if we could know by the power of the Holy Ghost that the Book of Mormon was true that we would know that they were true representatives of the Lord and that their message was true. "Collin," said Grandpa Jones, "We did read the Book of Mormon. The Holy Ghost let us know that it was the word of god. It is because of the Book of Mormon that all of us belong to the Church of Jesus Christ." "Wow Grandpa!" Said Collin... "I guess the Book of Mormon really did change your life and mine too!" For the first time in his life, Collin realized how important the Book of Mormon is. He realized that it was more than just a story book. Colin understood why the Prophets have told us to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. I am glad that we have been given the Book of Mormon and I know that if will read and pray about it, Heavenly Father will answer our prayers.
April 2008, Talk #2
President Gordon B. Hinckley said: "May God help us to be a little kinder, to be more forgiving, to lay aside old grudges and nurture them no more."
He was asking us to love and forgive others. As followers of Christ we are commanded to love our neighbors. If someone does something that hurts us or upsets us, we need to forgive them.
Sometimes it is hard to forgive others. Even though it is hard, it is a commandment and we must obey it. Heavenly father will help us to forgive if we will go to him in prayer and ask for his help.
A good example of forgiveness can be found in First Nephi. After the prophet Lehi and his family left Jerusalem, Nephi's older brothers Laman and Lemuel began to rebel against those who were living righteously.
Nephi told his older brothers that they were sinning and that they needed to repent. Laman and Lemuel became very angry with Nephi. They tied him up and planned to leave him to be eaten by wild animals.
Nephi prayed to heavenly father and asked for help. The ropes were loosened from his hands and feet. This made Laman and Lemuel even angrier and they tried to hurt Nephi.
Some of the other righteous people pleaded with Laman and Lemuel not to hurt Nephi. Nephi's older brothers hearts were softened and they were sorry for their wickedness.
Laman and Lemuel bowed down before Nephi and asked for his forgiveness. Instead of being angry with his brothers for trying to hurt him, Nephi said that he “did frankly forgive them all that they had done, and … did exhort them that they would pray unto the Lord their God for forgiveness” (1 Ne. 7:21).
We, too, can choose to forgive those who have hurt or offended us. Forgiving others is a necessary part of Heavenly Father's plan. Heavenly Father will forgive us for our sins, if we will forgive others.
April 2008, Talk #1
We are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It is Christ's true church.
Heavenly father has called a very special person to help us understand what Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want us to do while we are here on the earth.
This man speaks with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Then he tells each of us what they have said. This man is called a Prophet. He is the leader of our church.
Our prophet today is President Thomas S. Monson. He was called to be the prophet after President Hinkley died earlier this year.
Joseph Smith was the first president of the church. Jesus Christ gave him the authority to use the priesthood to bless the members of the church. This authority is known as "Priesthood Keys".
Just like you have a key to open the door of your house when it is locked, priesthood keys open the door to Heavenly Fathers blessings and the ordinances necessary to return to live with Heavenly Father.
Without priesthood keys, we could not be baptized or receive the gift of the holy ghost. These keys also make it possible for our families to be sealed so that we can be together forever.
President Monson holds all of the priesthood keys necessary to do the Lord's work here on earth. He shares these keys with others when he calls Apostles, Stake Presidents and Bishops so that they can help with the lord's work.
I know that we are led by a prophet of god. I know that he is directed by the Lord. I know that he holds the keys of the priesthood and that because he does, I can receive all the ordinances necessary to live with heavenly father again one day.
