It would naturally draw us closer to the Savior. It is essential for each of us to have our own testimonies of the book and to keep them alive.
She said that the enemy of all righteousness is attacking our children at an earlier age than ever before.
It is by faith that angels and miracles appear.
Each Sabbath day can be a Spring day to us.
She read a quote by Elder Christofferson that said that a Christlike testimony is more a process than an event.
Elder Ulisses Soares chose to speak to the young men and
young women in Guatemala. Among other
things he said "You are the best generation of youth that the Church has
had. God held you in reserve to face
difficult times. Because of your special
calling you are prepared to live in the later part of the latter days.
He talked about Nephi's dream of the Iron Rod and the
mist of darkness and the very narrow path that must be taken. He said that Satan makes us think that there
is no danger in the temptations that he offers. He said that it is only possible to overcome
and ignore those temptations by holding onto the iron rod.
He quoted President Monson saying that "We become
what we choose" (I am going to add here a story that President Monson also
tells along with that quote: Most of you are familiar with Alice in Lewis
Carroll’s classic novel Alice’s
Adventures in Wonderland. You will remember that she comes to a
crossroads with two paths before her, each stretching onward but in opposite
directions. As she contemplates which way to turn, she is confronted by the
Cheshire Cat, of whom Alice asks, “Which path shall I follow?”
The cat answers, “That
depends where you want to go. If you do not know where you want to go, it
doesn’t matter which path you take.”1
Unlike Alice, we know where
we want to go, and it does
matter which way we go, for the path we follow in this life leads to our
destination in the next life.
He reviewed the story of Captain Moroni and said that we
must all become figurative Captain Moroni's.
He then gave five points on how we can deflect the enemy.
1. Listen to your parents. He quoted Elder Ballard saying, "“When
you are willing to listen and learn, some of life’s most meaningful teachings
come from those who have gone before you. They have walked where you are
walking and have experienced many of the things you are experiencing. If you
listen and respond to their counsel, they can help guide you toward choices
that will be for your benefit and blessing and steer you away from decisions
that can destroy you. As you look to your parents and others who have gone
before you, you will find examples of faith, commitment, hard work, dedication,
and sacrifice that you should strive to duplicate.”
2. Listen to the prophets, apostles and current local
leaders on earth. He quoted Elder Uchtdorf "Prophets speak not only to
the people of their time, but they also speak to people throughout all time.
Their voices echo through the centuries as a testament of God’s will to His
children." He went on to say that
they were called by the Lord to guide us in THIS day.
3. Study the scriptures
4. Commit to act in good things: church, sacrament,
attend seminary, church activities prepare for missions, do baptisms for the
dead.
5. Follow the example of Jesus Christ. No other choice can make of us what He
can.
He said that none of this is simple but you can do it
because YOU are chosen for this day. The
promises are true. He quoted President
Monson saying, "May we choose to build up within ourselves a great and
powerful faith which will be our most effective defense against the designs of
the adversary—a real faith, the kind of faith which will sustain us and will
bolster our desire to choose the right. Without such faith, we go nowhere. With
it, we can accomplish our goals."
The final speaker was Elder Ballard who spoke in English with translation for English speakers. Something that I have not thought about in the past was that Joseph Smith was schooled by Moroni for four years before he got the Book of Mormon.
We understand that we may have eternal life. Warning voices are there for things that trouble you. There are two powers 1)Choose the right 2) the opposite. Life is a test. We are told that there shall arise false prophets and leaders and the very elect will be deceived.
He told the story of the sequoia tree that died on BYU campus because it became disconnected from the source of water.
He listed several essential habits that will keep us strong:
sincere personal and family prayer, fasting, study of the scriptures and words of living prophets, making the Sabbath day a delight, the Temple, the sacrament and reaching out to the poor and lonely.
Problems come from pride, too much recreation and entertainment, cell phones over use (especially during church), social media and internet sources that don't adequately present information.
He encouraged leaders to not ever brush the question off but instead help them to find the answers. He suggested to a searching brother that he read the Book of Mormon one hour a day and the questions that he had were answered.
His last point was that we need to love and respect everyone
He said, "I'll tell you a little secret-- we can't even die and get out of being missionaries. Why not learn to do it now?
The temple teaches us what has happened in the past and what will happen in the future. We will be asked clear questions that will allow us to enter His presence. No one else even approaches what we are blessed to understand.
Our physical body is SO important. The faithful can receive exaltation. We realize that the Father will give ALL THINGS to those who are faithful.
Keep your feeder roots connected. "If we need to do better may God bless us to do so."
The explosive activity at Guatemalan Fuego volcano has intensified since November 19, 2016 and has generated at least one 300 m (984 feet) high lava fountain, feeding three new lava flows. This is the 15th paroxysm at the volcano this year. (2016)
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