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Be one who nurtures and who builds. Be one who has an understanding and a forgiving heart, who looks for the best in people. Leave people better than you found them. Be fair with your competitors, whether in business, athletics, or elsewhere. Don’t get drawn into some of the parlance of our day and try to “win” by intimidation or by undermining someone’s character. Lend a hand to those who are frightened, lonely, or burdened.
The Tongue Can Be a Sharp Sword
MARVIN J. ASHTON
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1992/04/the-tongue-can-be-a-sharp-sword?lang=eng Quote:It seems interesting that the first principles the Lord Jesus Christ chose to teach His newly called Apostles were those that center around the way we treat each other. And then, what did He emphasize during the brief period He spent with the Nephites on this continent? Basically the same message. Could this be because the way we treat each other is the foundation of the gospel of Jesus Christ?
During an informal fireside address held with a group of adult Latter-day Saints, the leader directing the discussion invited participation by asking the question: “How can you tell if someone is converted to Jesus Christ?” For forty-five minutes those in attendance made numerous suggestions in response to this question, and the leader carefully wrote down each answer on a large blackboard. All of the comments were thoughtful and appropriate. But after a time, this great teacher erased everything he had written. Then, acknowledging that all of the comments had been worthwhile and appreciated, he taught a vital principle: “The best and most clear indicator that we are progressing spiritually and coming unto Christ is the way we treat other people.”
Would you consider this idea for a moment—that the way we treat the members of our families, our friends, those with whom we work each day is as important as are some of the more noticeable gospel principles we sometimes emphasize.
The Tongue Can Be a Sharp Sword
MARVIN J. ASHTON
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1992/04/the-tongue-can-be-a-sharp-sword?lang=eng A bit of a random one, but wanted to save it. I came across it while reading up about the current bloggernacle discussion on bishop’s interviews. Quote:If, perchance, one of you has been drawn into any degrading conduct, cast it away from you so that when you are subject to a worthiness interview you can answer to yourself, and to the Lord, and to the interviewing priesthood officer that you are worthy.
Remember, you who conduct worthiness interviews are representatives of the Lord and you must conduct the interviews as the Lord himself would conduct them.
That is, there must be nothing immodest or degrading in your interview. Our interviews are not to be indelicate, or offensive, or pornographic in any way.
May I say here that occasionally we receive reports that a bishop or a stake president has been very indiscreet or indelicate in an interview, especially of married members.
It is not in order for a priesthood leader to list in detail ugly, deviant, or bestial practices and then cross-examine a member of the Church as to whether or not such things are practiced…
Brethren, our interviews must be conducted in love, in modesty. Ofttimes things can be corrected if you ask: “Would there be a reason you may feel uncomfortable or perhaps even dishonest to the Lord if you were to sign your own temple recommend?
The Blessing of Church Interviews
N. ELDON TANNER
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1978/10/the-blessing-of-church-interviews Quote:The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints believes that the experience of same sex attraction is a complex reality for many people. The attraction itself is not a sin, but acting on it is. Even though individuals do not choose to have such attractions, they choose how to respond to them. With love and understanding, the Church reaches out to all God’s children, including those with same sex attraction.
Elder M. Russel Ballard
CES Fireside, 5th May 2014
https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/watch/ces-devotionals/2014/05?lang=eng I was hoping you would add it, Mac. Thanks. DarkJedi wrote:I was hoping you would add it, Mac. Thanks.
You’re always welcome to add posts too
I know, but I see this as your thing as a service to the rest of us. 
Quote:I don’t want anyone to misunderstand what I am going to say next. The First Presidency has made its opposition to same-sex marriage very clear: as a member of the Church, I support them fully in their position.
But I want to stress that we can be opposed to a piece of legislation or to a practice and still behave with courtesy and decency toward those who hold other opinions. I would not want anyone to use the First Presidency’s stand as an excuse for being hateful or disrespectful toward others.When I was a member of the Relief Society General Presidency, I had the opportunity of speaking privately with many men and women, mostly women, who struggled with feelings of homosexuality.
It’s been wonderful for me to learn to separate the worth of the individual from any particular behavior, and to feel how deeply and keenly God loves each individual. I don’t have to approve of any particular behavior, but I also don’t have to judge people. I know that God loves them. By not judging, I can feel that love for them in my own heart.It is very likely that every person in the Church knows someone – a family member or a friend – who is gay, lesbian, or bisexualy. I also think it is very likely that many people do not
knowthat they know a homosexual, bisexual person because that person is afraid to reveal that part of himself or herself for fear of being rejected, punished, or excluded.I think there is much we do not understand about how such conditions come to be, or what resources are truly helpful. In the meantime, nothing has suspended the commandment of Jesus to love one another and to bear one another’s burdens.I think the point I am making is clear. As with every controversy, I think there is great potential for division, for anger, and even for hatred. It would hurt me to have Mormons thought of as people who are “against”, people who hate, people who call you names and ostracize. Can you seek out a friend who disagrees with you on this issue and share a meal together in respect and love? Can you redouble your kindness to the gays and lesbians whom you know, as a witness to them of the love of Christ and his power to transform a heart?
As members of the Church, we have a clear position on the issue of same-sex marriages. It is right that we should defend this position vigorously.
But as members of the Church ofJesus Christwe also have a clear position on the worth and value of each human soul. Let us also defend that position with equal energy, for it is the pure love of Christ, or charity, which Moroni tells us we should pray for with all energy of soul.
Chieko N. Okazaki – book is Disciples pgs. 121-123. Chapter Good Measure, Pressed Down, and Running Over.
I personally have concerns about other sections of this sermon (some I completely disagree with), but I thought I’d capture this anyway. Quote:But there are many places where the scriptures are not too clear, and where different interpretations may be given to them; there are many doctrines, tenets as the Lord called them, that have not been officially defined and declared. It is in the consideration and discussion of these scriptures and doctrines that opportunities arise for differences of views as to meanings and extent…
There have been rare occasions when even the President of the Church in his teaching and preaching has not been “moved upon by the Holy Ghost.” You will recall the Prophet Joseph declared that a prophet is not always a prophet. [See Teachings, pg. 278.]
To this point runs a simply story my father told me as a boy, I do not know on what authority, but it illustrates the point. His story was that during the excitement incident to the coming of Johnson’s Army, Brother Brigham preached to the people in a morning meeting a sermon vibrant with defiance to the approaching army, and declaring an intention to oppose and drive them back. In the afternoon meeting he arose and said that Brigham Young had been talking in the morning, but the Lord was going to talk now. He then delivered an address, the tempo of which was the opposite from the morning talk.
I do not know if this ever happened, but I say it illustrates a principle–that even the President of the Church, himself, may not always be “moved upon by the Holy Ghost,” when he addresses the people. This has happened about matters of doctrine (usually of highly speculative character) where subsequent Presidents of the Church and the people themselves have felt that in declaring the doctrine, the announcer was not “moved upon by the Holy Ghost.”
How shall the Church know when these adventurous expeditions of the Brethren into these highly speculative principles and doctrines meet the requirements of the statutes that the announcers thereof have been “moved upon by the Holy Ghost”? The Church will know by the testimony of the Holy Ghost in the body of the members, whether the Brethren in voicing their views are “moved upon by the Holy Ghost”; and in due time that knowledge will be made manifest.
J. Reuben Clark, “When Are the Writings or Sermons of Church Leaders Entitled to the Claim of Scripture,” address given to seminary and institute teachers at BYU, 7 July 1954, published in Church News (31 July 1954): 9–10
https://faculty.byuh.edu/martinsm/Rel431/Readings/Clark-SermonScripture.htm I’ve probably captured this quote before, but here it is again anyway: Quote:The Saints believe in divine revelation to-day. At the head of this Church stands a man who is a Prophet, Seer and Revelator, sustained in that position by the vote of the whole body of its members. When the Lord wishes to speak to His Church, as a body, He does so through that individual, His servant. President Wilford Woodruf is a man of wisdom and experience, and we respect and venerate him; but we do not believe his personal views or utterances are revelations from God; and when “Thus saith the Lord” comes from him, the Saints investigate it; they do not shut their eyes and take it down like a pill. When he brings forth light they want to comprehend it. Light, truth, intelligence, wisdom, progress, growth all the time — that is “Mormonism” — to grown in grace and the knowledge of the truth. When the Lord desires to speak to the whole Church He does so through its head, not through half a dozen different channels; because in such an event there would be confusion. The Latter-day Saints are not blindly led by leaders or blindly directed by priests; but every man can receive the divine testimony in his own heart and be a priest in his own house.
Elder Charles W. Penrose of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “The Doctrine of Revelation,” Millennial Star, 21 March 1892, 191.
Saw this on an old thread from Ray. Quote:Now, the next issue. What about doubts and questions in principle? How do you find out that the gospel is true? Is it all right to have questions about the Church or its doctrine?
My dear young friends, we are a question-asking people. We have always been, because we know that inquiry leads to truth. That is how the Church got its start, from a young man who had questions. In fact, I’m not sure how one can discover truth without asking questions. In the scriptures you will rarely discover a revelation that didn’t come in response to a question.
Whenever a question arose and Joseph Smith wasn’t sure of the answer he approached the Lord. And the results are the wonderful revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants. Often the knowledge Joseph received extended far beyond the original question. That is because not only can the Lord answer the questions we ask, but even more importantly, He can give us answers to questions we should have asked.
Let us listen to those answers. The missionary effort of the Church is founded upon honest investigators asking heartfelt questions. Inquiry is the birth place of testimony.
Some might feel embarrassed or unworthy because they have searching questions regarding the gospel, but they needn’t feel that way. Asking questions isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a precursor of growth.
God commands us to seek answers to our questions and asks only that we seek with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ. When we do so, the truth of all things can be manifest to us by the power of the Holy Ghost. Fear not. Ask questions. Be curious.
But doubt not – doubt not. Always hold fast to faith and to the light you have already received. Because we see imperfectly in mortality, not everything is going to make sense right now. In fact, I should think that if everything did make sense to us, it would be evidence that it had all been made up by a mortal mind. Remember that God has said, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Nevertheless, you know that one of the purposes of mortality is to become more like your Heavenly Father in your thoughts and in your ways. Viewed from this perspective, searching for answers to your questions can bring you closer to God, strengthening your testimony instead of shaking it. It’s true that faith is not a perfect knowledge, but as you exercise your faith, applying gospel principles every day under any circumstances, apply those principles wherever you are. And whenever it is, you will taste the sweet fruits of the gospel, and by this fruit you will know of its truth.
Elder Uchtdorf
The Reflection in the Water, CES Fireside, Nov. 1, 2009
Fireside Video:
https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2009-11-0050-the-reflection-in-the-water In the seminary manual:
https://www.lds.org/manual/print/doctrine-and-covenants-and-church-history-study-guide-for-home-study-seminary-students-2014/section-7/unit-32-day-2-official-declaration-2?lang=eng Quote:The only perfect people you might know are those you don’t know very well. Everyone has imperfections… If someone is willing to accept me, imperfect as I am, then I should be willing to be patient with other people’s imperfections as well.
Elder Uchtdorf
https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2009-11-0050-the-reflection-in-the-water This might be useful at some point: Quote:If it is not in the standard works, you may well assume that it is speculation. It is man’s own personal opinion, to put it another way; and if it contradicts what is in the scriptures, you may know by that same token that it is not true. This is the standard by which you measure all truth. But if you do not know the standards, you have no adequate measure of truth.
Harold B. Lee
The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, 148–49.
https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-harold-b-lee/chapter-7?lang=eng#17-35892_000_009 Thanks for posting these last few Mac. I intend to include them in my epistle to my son. Quote:But I say to you, deal justly, act mercifully and eschew evil. Do good to all men. We say sometimes, “I will not do any favor for that man, he is unworthy of assistance.” I will give you a piece of counsel. Do good to all. It is better to feed nine unworthy persons than to let one worthy person—the tenth, go hungry. Follow this rule and you will be apt to be found on the right side of doing good.
Suppose we look around here. How many of you sisters have donated fifty cents to help gather the poor this season? Don’t say you have no money. Have you not had fifty cents to buy a ribbon? How about that ten dollars to buy hair from somebody else’s head when you have plenty on your own? Take the brethren, too, who wear needless clothing, smoke cigars, &c. Take all the money that is spent for tea and coffee and squandered in waste and how much could we get?
Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 16:40
http://en.fairmormon.org/Journal_of_Discourses/16/7 Apologies for the mild sexism in the final paragraph.
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