The True and Living Church

This weekend was the 184^th Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The members of the church received counsel on how to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ more fully and how to be prepared against the changing moral standards of the world and how to respond to those who challenge our standards and teachings. 

The church was established by revelation and organized on this day 184 years ago on April 6^th, 1830. The Lord Jesus Christ in a revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith gave instructions about when the church should be organized, and what the name of the church should be as well as commanding the church to give heed to the words of the Prophet.

 3 Which church was organized and established in the year of your Lord eighteen hundred and thirty, in the fourth month, and on the sixth day of the month which is called April.

 4 Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me;

 5 For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.

 6 For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory.…

…For thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ^cSaints.  (Doctrine and Covenants 21:3-6; 115:4)

Since the time of the Prophet Joseph Smith there has been a prophet at the head of the church along with 12 Apostles.  The prophet and his two counselors form the 1^st Presidency of the Church, they along with the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are prophets, seers and revelators and hold all of the priesthood keys to govern God’s church on the earth today. They have authority to administer all of the saving ordinances necessary for us to return to live with Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ after this life as eternal families.

Every six months the church holds general conference where the prophet and apostles as well as other general officers of the church give us counsel on what we need to be doing to help us avoid the temptations and wickedness of the world that we live in and how we should teach our children to believe in God and keep his commandments. Here are some of those teachings from the past two days.

  

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve spoke on what we need to do to be steadfast in defending our faith in Jesus Christ and testified of the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ in our day:

“Herein lies a message for every young man and women in this church. You may wonder if it is worth it to take a courageous moral stand in high school or go on a mission only to have your most cherished beliefs reviled or to strive against much in society that ridicules against a life of religious devotion. Yes, it is worth it because the alternative is to have our houses left unto us desolate, desolate individuals, desolate families, desolate neighborhoods and desolate nations…

”Christ like love is the greatest need we have on this planet, in part because righteousness was always supposed to accompany it. So if love is to be our watchword, and it must be; then by the word of him of whom love is personified we must forsake transgression and any hint of advocacy for it in others…

“I testify that the true and living Gospel of Jesus Christ is on the earth and you are members of the true and living church trying to share that gospel. I bear witness of it and I bear witness of the church with a particular witness of restored priesthood keys, which unlock the power and efficacy of saving ordinances. I am more certain that those keys have been restored and those ordinances are once again available through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints than I am certain that I stand before you at this pulpit and you sit before me in this conference.

“Now be strong and live the gospel faithfully even if others around you don’t live it at all. Defend your beliefs with courtesy and compassion, but defend them.” (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, General Conference, April 2014)

To Elder Holland’s testimony of the restored church, I add the Lord’s own words to the Prophet Joseph Smith:

29 And after having received the record of the Nephites, yea, even my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., might have power to translate through the mercy of God, by the power of God, the Book of Mormon.

 30 And also those to whom these commandments were given, might have power to lay the foundation of this church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity and out of darkness, the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased, speaking unto the church collectively and not individually— (Doctrine and Covenants 1:29-30)

Elder Aidukaitis asked the question “How can we know the truth in the midst of the many evils today?”

“First we can know the truth by observing its fruits…we invite all to study the fruits and the works of this church. Those who want to know the truth will be able to recognize the difference that the church and its members make in the communities where they are established. They will also note the improvement in the lives of those who follow its teachings. Those who will examine the fruits of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are delicious and desirable.

“Second we can know the truth by experimenting on the truth ourselves…we are invited to test the word and we are told the outcome of the test if we follow the instructions.

“There is a third way to know the truth and that is by personal revelation. The Lord says that he will “tell it in your hearts and your minds by the Holy Ghost which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart believing and we will receive. But we must ask in faith or we will receive nothing.” (General Conference, April 2014)

President Thomas S. Monson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints counseled the church to develop a greater love of God and for all of Heavenly Father’s children. After quoting the scripture about the two great commandments to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves he said:

“We cannot love God if we do not follow our fellow travelers on this mortal journey, likewise we cannot love our fellow men if we do not love God, the father of us all. We are all spiritual children of our Heavenly Father and as such are all brothers and sisters. As we keep his truths in mind, loving all God’s children will become easier. Actually love is the very essence of the Gospel and Jesus Christ is our exemplar…there are many attributes of the manifestations of love such as kindness, patience, selflessness, understanding and forgiveness. In all of our associations, these and other attributes will help make evident the love in our hearts….

“All important will be our ability to recognize someone’s need and then to respond.” (April 2014 General Conference)

Many more things were taught about service, keeping the commandments, priesthood keys and how men and women can benefit from the priesthood. The sessions of general conference are available on LDS.org and I invite you to listen to the talks there. They will also be available in the May Ensign of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As we read, watch or listen to the conference talks we need to pray to know how we can follow the teachings and what we need to do to change our lives to be in harmony with those teachings. As we do these things we will be blessed and our families will be protected from the storms that are all around us.

I am grateful for the spirit we enjoyed as we participated in the conference sessions. I testify that those who spoke to us are prophets and apostles of God and that they speak for God today. I testify that we will be blessed as we give heed to their teachings and counsel. I testify that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and that Jesus Christ is the head of the church today and that through his prophet, Thomas S. Monson, he continues to provide the revelation we need to be safe and prepared for anything that may come to us.

Your thoughts and comments are welcome.

The Watchman on the Tower

The Lord speaking to the ancient Israelites gave them a warning to head the words of his servants, the prophets:

 17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.

 18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

 19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. (Ezekiel 3:17-19)

The watchman is the prophet and apostles at the head of the Lord’s church today. Earl C. Tingey speaking to the students at Brigham Young University said this about who the watchman is today:

“I believe the watchmen today are the prophets and apostles. The Lord has designated President Gordon B. Hinckley as our chief watchman on the tower today. We will be guided and protected from the enemy if we follow his counsel. President Boyd K. Packer is also a watchman on the tower. His biography, written several years ago, is entitled Boyd K. Packer: A Watchman on the Tower.² Trusted local priesthood leaders, including stake presidents and bishops, are watchmen on the tower to their members and congregations. Certainly a father is a watchman on the tower to his family. Each of you should be a watchman to yourself.”  (“The Watchman on the Tower”, Earl C. Tingey, BYU Devotional, June 5, 2007)

The Lord speaking to the Prophet Joseph Smith in Kirtland, Ohio gave the parable of the watchman on the tower:

 44 A certain nobleman had a spot of land, very choice; and he said unto his servants: Go ye unto my vineyard, even upon this very choice piece of land, and plant twelve olive trees;

 45 And set watchmen round about them, and build a tower, that one may overlook the land round about, to be a watchman upon the tower, that mine olive trees may not be broken down when the enemy shall come to spoil and take upon themselves the fruit of my vineyard.

 46 Now, the servants of the nobleman went and did as their lord commanded them, and planted the olive trees, and built a hedge round about, and set watchmen, and began to build a tower.

 47 And while they were yet laying the foundation thereof, they began to say among themselves: And what need hath my lord of this tower?

 48 And consulted for a long time, saying among themselves: What need hath my lord of this tower, seeing this is a time of peace?

 49 Might not this money be given to the exchangers? For there is no need of these things.

 50 And while they were at variance one with another they became very slothful, and they hearkened not unto the commandments of their lord.

 51 And the enemy came by night, and broke down the hedge; and the servants of the nobleman arose and were affrighted, and fled; and the enemy destroyed their works, and broke down the olive trees.

 52 Now, behold, the nobleman, the lord of the vineyard, called upon his servants, and said unto them, Why! what is the cause of this great evil?

 53 Ought ye not to have done even as I commanded you, and—after ye had planted the vineyard, and built the hedge round about, and set watchmen upon the walls thereof—built the tower also, and set a watchman upon the tower, and watched for my vineyard, and not have fallen asleep, lest the enemy should come upon you?

 54 And behold, the watchman upon the tower would have seen the enemy while he was yet afar off; and then ye could have made ready and kept the enemy from breaking down the hedge thereof, and saved my vineyard from the hands of the destroyer. (Doctrine and Covenants 101:44-54)

Elder Tingey explained the meaning of the tower and the impact it can have for us:

“In the Holy Land (and I have personally seen them) are remnants or remains of ancient towers—round structures built of rock, like lighthouses near the sea. The purpose of these towers was to provide a structure or facility where the watchman might look out upon the land and see the enemy before he came and destroyed the olive trees.

“Then what might be analogous to the tower today? The tower is a symbolic point of elevation where we may see the enemy before others do. I think today’s towers might be revelation, prophets, inspired scriptures, and, certainly, the temple. Revelation from living prophets permits us to see more clearly in a clouded world. Our modern scriptures—the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price—help us understand the Bible more fully. As compared to the world, all of these are opportunities to receive elevated instructions in a troubled world.” (“The Watchman on the Tower”, Earl C. Tingey, BYU Devotional, June 5, 2007)

Today we have fifteen prophets, seers and revelators that can see the troubles that are coming and they warn us of the dangers and help us know what we can do to be ready and battle the enemy. If we listen and heed the words of the prophets and apostles, we will be blessed and our families will be protected. If we do not take the time to listen and then follow their teachings the sin will be on our heads. On the day the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized the Lord explained the importance of giving heed to the prophets words:

4 Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me;

 5 For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.

 6 For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers o darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory. (Doctrine and Covenants 21:4-6)

Every six months we have the opportunity to listen to the teachings and warnings of the prophet of the church today, President Thomas S. Monson, the Twelve Apostles and other general authorities of the church. That opportunity will be here again next week. Sessions of general conference will be available on KBYU-TV and on the Internet at LDS.org.

I invite you to tune into as many sessions of general conference as you can and see for yourself if they are watchman on the tower and are warning us of things to come and telling us what we need to do to protect our families from the evils of the world today.

I testify that those who speak are prophets and apostles and they have been sent by the Lord to be a watchman on the tower and listening and heeding their warnings will bring us blessings and protect us from evil.

Your comments and questions are welcome