Thursday, March 26, 2009

Of Promises from the Prophets

Yikes--I hope I am not sounding too preachy in my blogs! However, I would like to share the following in hopes that it might be of interest to others (especially with General Conference around the corner!). I thought it would be interesting to mark as I went through last session's conference talks, the challenges and corresponding promises that were given by the speakers. This is by no means a comprehensive list (as I may have inadvertently missed a few) and I am only including in my blog the challenges and promises of the 12 apostles and our beloved prophet, President Monson--otherwise the list just gets too long! So, enjoy!

President Monson
Challange--Pray for the opening [to the missionaries] of closed countries.
Promise--Miracle after miracle will occur.

C--Never assume people know how much we love them
C--May we fill our days as much as possible with those things which matter most
C--May we cherish those we hold dear and express our love to them in word and deed.
P--We will never regret kind words spoken or affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us.

L. Tom Perry
C--Follow the word of wisdom in D&C 89
P--We will gain the blessings of a healthy body, alert mind, and the guidance of the Holy Ghost.
C--Be modest in dress, grooming, and appearance.
C--Live within our income, stay out of debt, save for a rainy day, practice and increase habits of thrift, industry, economy, and frugality
C--Acquire knowledge of God's eternal plan and our role in it, then live righteously and surrender our will to the Lord
P--We will receive the promised blessings (a sufficient store of spiritual fuel--in reference to the 10 virgins story)

Dallin H. Oaks
C--Qualify for the cleansing power of the atonement of Jesus Christ by keeping his commandments to come to Him with a broken heart and contrite spirit, partake of the emblems of the sacrament, and make the covenants that qualify us for the precious promise that we will always have His spirit to be with us
P--The Spirit of the Lord can guide our choices so we remain unspotted from the world and on a safe path through mortality.

Joseph B. Worthlin
C--The next time you are tempted to groan, you might try to laugh instead.
P--It will extend your life and make the lives of those around you more enjoyable.
C--God wants us to be successful. If we do our part...
P--He will step in.
C--As we look for humor seek for the eternal perspective, understand the principle of compensation (any trials we may endure are compensated for many times over), and draw near to our Heavenly Father...
P--we can endure hardship and trials.

Jeffrey R. Holland
C--If we search [the scriptures] diligently, pray always, and be believing and filled with faith...
P--the Lord will fight our battles, our children's battles, and the battles of our children's children.

David A. Bednar
C--If we pray sincerely for that which is right and good and in accordance with God's will...
P--we can be blessed, protected, and directed.
C--As we ask in faith...
P--we can receive revelation upon revelation and knowledge upon knowledge, and come to know the mysteries and peaceable things that bring joy and eternal life.
C--Periodically offer a prayer in which we only give thanks and express gratitude.
P--It will enlarge the conduit for personal revelation.
C--Pray for others with all the energy of our souls.
P--this will increase our capacity to hear and heed the voice of the Lord.
C--If those we love and serve have not heard and felt the influence of our earnest prayers in their behalf, the time to repent is now. As we emulate the example of the Savior...
P--our prayers truly will become more meaningful.

Henry B. Eyering
C--[In family night] Find a way to encourage someone to testify of the Savior and his mission.
P--We will feel our hearts being knit together as one.
C--Look for what is best in people's performance and character.
P--The Savior...will surely do that as he judges our performance. We will have a feeling of peace and joy when we speak generously of others in the light of Christ.
C--If we are united in sustaining [President Monson] with all our hearts, with willing obedience to do what God would have us do...
P--we will move together in power to go wherever God would have us go, and become what he wants us to be.

Robert D. Hales
C--As true disciples seek guidance from the Spirit...
P--they receive inspiration tailored to each encounter, and in every encounter, true disciples respond in ways that invite the Spirit of the Lord

Russell M. Nelson
C--Happiness can come to [married couples] only through their earnest and concentrated effort.
P--The effort will succeed if each partner will minimize personal demands and maximize actions of loving selflessness.
C--When one esteems the welfare of his or her spouse among the highest of priorities...
P--harmony in marriage will result.

2 comments:

Charity Z said...

That's an awesome list! I've really been enjoying re-reading last conference's talks too... another result of your good example while you were here!

Anna Marie said...

Thanks! I'm so looking forward to this conference! Do you do anything special to keep Ellie occupied? I'm looking for some fun ideas for the kids.