M E R I D I A N M A G A Z I N E Gordon
B. Many have come forward to praise President Hinckley this week, including a Time magazine article that claims it was the prophet’s ability to open doors and make people more comfortable with Mormonism that paved the way for Mitt Romney’s run for the White House. In
In
all this, at Marvelous Things Happen "I recall sitting in the Salt Lake Tabernacle when I was fourteen or fifteen — up in the balcony right behind the clock — and hearing President Heber J. Grant tell of his experience in reading the Book of Mormon when he was a boy. He spoke of Nephi and of the great influence he had upon his life. And then, with a voice ringing with a conviction that I shall never forget, he quoted those great words of Nephi: ‘I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them’ (1 Ne. 3:7). There came into my young heart on that occasion a resolution to try to do what the Lord has commanded. What marvelous things happen when men and women walk with faith in obedience to that which is required of them!" Gordon
B. Conviction "Certitude is certainty. It is conviction. It is the power of faith that approaches knowledge — yes, that even becomes knowledge. It evokes enthusiasm, and there is no asset comparable to enthusiasm in overcoming opposition, prejudice, and indifference. Great buildings were never constructed on uncertain foundations. Great causes were never brought to success by vacillating leaders. The gospel was never expounded to the convincing of others without certainty. Faith, which is of the very essence of personal conviction, has always been, and always must be, at the root of religious practice and endeavor." Gordon
B. The Polar Star "We know not what lies ahead of us. We know not what the coming days will bring. We live in a world of uncertainty. For some, there will be great accomplishment. For others, disappointment. For some, much of rejoicing and gladness, good health, and gracious living. For others, perhaps sickness and a measure of sorrow. We do not know. But one thing we do know. Like the polar star in the heavens, regardless of what the future holds, there stands the Redeemer of the world, the Son of God, certain and sure as the anchor of our immortal lives. He is the rock of our salvation, our strength, our comfort, the very focus of our faith." Gordon
B. Bookends "Today,
facing west, on the high bluff overlooking the city of Gordon
B. Black Walnut "I
love trees. Well, some 36 years ago I planted a black walnut.
It was in a crowded area where it grew straight and tall to get the
sunlight. A year ago, for some reason it died. But walnut is a precious
furniture wood. I called Brother Ben Banks of the Seventy, who, before
giving his full time to the Church, was in the business of hardwood
lumber. He brought his two sons, one a bishop and the other recently
released as a bishop and who now run the business, to look at the
tree. From all they could tell it was solid, good, and beautiful wood.
One of them suggested that it would make a pulpit for this hall. The
idea excited me. The tree was cut down and then cut into two heavy
logs. Then followed the long process of drying, first naturally and
then kiln drying. The logs were cut into boards at a sawmill in Gordon
B. Prophetic Utterance "As
I contemplate this marvelous structure, adjacent to the temple, there
comes to mind the great prophetic utterance of Isaiah: ‘And
it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s
house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall
be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And
many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain
of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us
of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall
go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem … O
house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord’
(Isa.
2:2–3, 5). I believe that prophecy applies to the historic
and wonderful Gordon
B. Priesthood Keys “’What hath God wrought through the instrumentality of His servant Joseph!’ I give you my testimony of him. He was the ordained servant of God, this Joseph, raised up to become the mighty prophet of this dispensation — ‘a seer, a translator, a prophet, an apostle of Jesus Christ’ (D&C 21:1). To that witness I add another word of testimony, that the members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are they who today hold all of the priesthood keys bestowed upon Joseph Smith, with the administration of those keys under the direction of Joseph’s legal successor, the President of the Church." Gordon
B. "In
closing now, I feel impressed to announce that among all of the temples
we are constructing, we plan to rebuild the Gordon
B. Four Essential Cornerstones "We have basic cornerstones on which this great latter-day Church has been established by the Lord and built, ‘fitly framed together.’ They are absolutely fundamental to this work — the very foundation, anchors on which it stands. I should like to speak briefly of these four essential cornerstones which anchor The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I mention first the chief cornerstone, whom we recognize and honor as the Lord Jesus Christ. The second is the vision given the Prophet Joseph Smith when the Father and the Son appeared to him. The third is the Book of Mormon, which speaks as a voice from the dust with the words of ancient prophets declaring the divinity and reality of the Savior of mankind. The fourth is the priesthood with all of its powers and authority, whereby men act in the name of God in administering the affairs of His kingdom." Gordon
B. Praise for Our Youth "It is wonderfully refreshing to see the faith and faithfulness of our young people. They live at a time when a great tide of evil is washing over the earth. It seems to be everywhere. Old standards are discarded. Principles of virtue and integrity are cast aside. But we find literally hundreds of thousands of our young people holding to the high standards of the gospel. They find happy and uplifting association with those of their own kind. They are improving their minds with education and their skills with discipline, and their influence for good is felt ever more widely." Gordon
B. Fresh Air “The story is told that reporters were interviewing a man on his birthday. He had reached an advanced age. They asked him how he had done it. “He replied, ‘When my wife and I were married we determined that if we ever got in a quarrel one of us would leave the house. I attribute my longevity to the fact that I have breathed good fresh air throughout my married life.’” Gordon B. Let Our Voices be Heard “The building of public sentiment begins with a few earnest voices. I am not one to advocate shouting defiantly or shaking fists and issuing threats in the faces of legislators. But I am one who believes that we should earnestly and sincerely and positively express our convictions to those given the heavy responsibility of making and enforcing our laws. The sad fact is that the minority who call for greater liberalization, who peddle and devour pornography, who encourage and feed on licentious display make their voices heard until those in our legislatures may come to believe that what they say represents the will of the majority. We are not likely to get that which we do not speak up for.” Gordon
B. Joseph Learned More “For centuries men gathered and argued concerning the nature
of Deity. “I invite you to read that definition and compare it with the statement of the boy Joseph. He simply says that God stood before him and spoke to him. Joseph could see Him and could hear Him. He was in form like a man, a being of substance. Beside Him was the resurrected Lord, a separate being, whom He introduced as His Beloved Son and with whom Joseph also spoke. “I submit that in the short time of that remarkable vision Joseph learned more concerning Deity than all of the scholars and clerics of the past.” Gordon B. Click here to sign up for Meridian's FREE email updates. © 2008 Meridian Magazine. All Rights Reserved. |