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Faith of Our Fathers
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Of the First Presidency
President
Dieter F. Uchtdorf
© 2008 Intellectual
Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
I would like to say a word about President
Thomas S. Monson. Some years ago, President Monson came to a regional
conference in Hamburg, Germany, and it was my honor to accompany
him. President Monson has a remarkable memory and we talked about
many of the Saints in Germany — I was amazed that he remembered
so many so well.
President Monson asked about Brother
Michael Panitsch, a former stake president and then a patriarch
who had been one of the stalwart pioneers of the Church in Germany.
I told him that Brother Panitsch was seriously ill, that he was
bedridden, and unable to attend our meetings.
President Monson asked if we could
pay him a visit.
I knew that shortly before his trip
to Hamburg, President Monson had undergone foot surgery and that
he could not walk without pain. I explained that Brother Panitsch
lived on the fifth floor of a building with no elevator. We would
have to climb the stairs to see him.
But President Monson insisted. And
so we went.
I remember how difficult it was for
President Monson to climb those stairs. He could take only a few
at a time before needing to stop and rest. He never uttered a word
of complaint, and he would not turn back. Because the building had
high ceilings, the stairs seemed to go on forever, but President
Monson cheerfully persevered until we arrived at the apartment of
Brother Panitsch on the fifth floor.
Once there, we had a wonderful visit.
President Monson thanked him for his life of dedicated service and
cheered him with a smile. Before we left, he gave him a wonderful
priesthood blessing.
No one but Bother Panitsch, the immediate
family, and myself ever saw that act of courage and compassion.
President Monson could have chosen
to rest between our long and frequent meetings. He could have asked
to see some of the beautiful sights of Hamburg. I have often thought
of how remarkable it was that of all the sights in that city, the
one he wanted to see more than any other was a feeble and ailing
member of the Church who had faithfully and humbly served the Lord.
President Monson came to Hamburg to
teach and bless the people of a country, and that is what he did.
But at the same time, he focused on the one, name by name. His vision
is so broad and far-reaching to grasp the complexities of a worldwide
Church, yet he is also so compassionate to focus on the one.
The Best Investment
Elder Sheldon F. Child
Of the Quorum of the Seventy
Elder Sheldon F. Child
When I was a young boy, one of our
neighbors had a herd of dairy cows. One of his cows died, leaving
a newborn calf, which he gave to me. I took care of the calf, fed
it, and raised it.
The day my dad took it to the stock
yards to be sold was a day of mixed emotions for me: I had grown
attached to my calf, and yet I was looking forward to receiving
the rewards of my labor. My request was that the money I received
from selling the calf be in silver dollars. I remember Dad coming
home that night and dropping 20 silver dollars into my hands.
Money was hard to come by, and I thought
I had all the money in the world. I counted, admired and polished
each coin carefully. When Sunday came, I reluctantly put two of
my bright shiny coins into my pocket to pay my tithing. As hard
as it was to surrender my precious silver dollars to the bishop,
I still remember how good I felt being obedient to the Lord and
paying my tithing.
After Sunday School, my mother was
waiting for me by the bishop’s office. I think she wanted
to make sure I had actually paid my tithing. On the way home she
told me how proud she was of me. Then she said, “Your grandfather
always told us children that if we would faithfully pay an honest
tithing, the Lord would bless us and it would be the best investment
that we could ever make.”
My grandfather understood that “there
is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of
this world, upon which all blessings are predicated — and
when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that
law upon which it is predicated” (D&C 130:20).
Tithing is a commandment from God,
and when we obey His law, He is bound to bless us. Even as a seven-year-old
boy, that was something I could understand. Our prophet, President
Thomas S. Monson, in speaking about God’s laws, stated, “Violate
them and we suffer lasting consequences. Obey them and we reap everlasting
joy.”
You’ll remember when Israel was
chastened for robbing God, the people asked, “Wherein have
we robbed thee?” The answer came, “In tithes and offerings.”
And then the Israelites were promised that if they would obey His
law of tithing, they would be entitled to receive His blessings.
The Lord said, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse,
and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not
open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that
there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Malachi 3:
8,10).
My Soul Delighteth in the Things of the Lord
Sister Susan W. Tanner
Former Young Women General President
Sister Susan W. Tanner
In the Book of Mormon, Nephi speaks
often of delight. He delights in “the things of the Lord,”
in the scriptures, and in the “great and eternal plan”
of the Lord. Notably, Nephi often remembers his sources of delight
in the midst of affliction, serving to lift and focus his spirit
on eternal blessings.
We too should delight in the things
of the Lord for it will “lift” our hearts and give us
cause to “rejoice.” Let me mention a few of the things
I delight in.
I delight in our Savior Jesus Christ.
List Nephi, “I glory in my Jesus” ( 2 Nephi 33:6), in
His ministering and saving roles upon the earth. He provides light
and hope and has given us the Holy Ghost for further guidance and
comfort along the pathway we should go. It is only through Him that
we can return to our Father. “Salvation can dome unto the
children of men, only in and through the name of Christ” (Mosiah
3:17).
I delight in the restored gospel of
Jesus Christ built upon the foundation of apostles and prophets
with whom I have had the blessed opportunity to serve. I testify
that President Thomas S. Monson is the Lord’s prophet on the
earth today. I delight that he is truly a Christlike minister to
the one, reaching out in warmth and love to each individual.
I delight in priesthood keys and temples
that dot the earth, making available to each of us eternal ordinances
and covenants. Some of my most celestial days recently have been
my own children’s temple marriages, with my father performing
that holy ordinance.
I delight in the strength of the youth
as I see them throng the temples to do baptisms for the dead. I
love their worthy adherence to the standards leading to the temple
and their preparation to be faithful missionaries and righteous
mothers and fathers.
I delight that I am a daughter of Heavenly
Father who loves me. I learned of my divine identity in my earliest
years at my mother’s side. Just recently I saw my three-year-old
granddaughter learning her identity from her mother. Eliza had gone
to bed distraught. She could be comforted only as her mother again
told Eliza’s favorite true story about the special night when
Heavenly Father distinctly and clearly whispered to her mommy’s
heart that Eliza was a special spirit with a noble mission ahead.
I take great delight in my role as
a nurturer, which allows me to express my deepest identity as a
woman. I never fail to be struck by the way that women, young women,
and even little girls seem to have an instinctive interest and ability
in nurturing. It is not only a mother’s primary responsibility,
but also part of our “individual premortal, mortal, and eternal
identity and purpose.” To nurture is to teach, to foster development,
to promote growth, to feed, and to nourish. Who would not shout
for joy at being given such a blessed role?
The Twelve
President Boyd K. Packer
President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
President Boyd K. Packer
Yesterday in a solemn assembly we sustained
the First Presidency, a President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,
a new members of the Twelve, and new members of the Quorums of Seventy.
The calling of apostles began wit the
Lord Himself: “He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued
all night in prayer to God.
“And when it was day, he called
unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he
named apostles” (Luke 6:12-13).
Andrew heard John speak and ran to
his brother Simon and said, “We have found the Messias …
“He brought him to Jesus. And
when Jesus beheld him, he said, “Thou art Simon the son of
Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, a
stone” (John 1:41-42).
Simon and his brother Andrew were casting
nets into the sea; James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were mending
their fishing nets; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew, a publican
or tax collector; Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Canaanite;
Judas, the brother of James; and Judas Iscariot. They made up the
Quorum of the Twelve.
He bid them all, “Come follow
me” (See Matt 4:19).
He said to Peter, “I will give
unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou
shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou
shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19).
And He told the Twelve, “He that
believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater
works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father”
(John 14:12).
He gave His apostles “power and
authority over all devils, and to cure diseases
“And he sent them to preach the
kingdom of god, and to heal the sick … everywhere” (Luke
9:1-2,6).
And He said: “[The] Twelve hold
the keys to open up the authority of my kingdom upon the four corners
of the earth, and after that to send my word to every creature”
(D&C 124: 128).
Come Back
President Thomas S. Monson
Of the First Presidency
President Thomas S. Monson
Change for the better can come to all.
Over the years we have issued appeals to the less active, the offended,
the critical, the transgressor — to come back. “Come
back and feast at the table of the Lord and taste again the sweet
and satisfying fruits of fellowship with the Saints.”
In the private sanctuary of one’s
own conscience lies that spirit, that determination to cast off
the old person and to measure up to the stature of true potential.
In this spirit, we again issue that heartfelt invitation: Come back.
We reach out to you in the pure love
of Christ and express our desire to assist you and to welcome you
into full fellowship. To those who are wounded in spirit or who
are struggling and fearful, we say, let us lift you and cheer you
and calm your fears. Take literally the Lord’s invitation,
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and
I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for
I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:
28-30).
It was said of the Savior that he “went
about doing good … for God was with him” (Acts 10: 38).
May we follow that perfect example. In this sometimes precarious
journey through mortality, may we also follow that advice from the
Apostle Paul which will help to keep us safe and on course:
Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever
things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things
are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are
of good report: if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise,
think on these things (Philippians 4:8).
I would encourage members of the Church
wherever they may be to show kindness and respect for all people
everywhere. The world in which we live is filled with diversity.
We can and should demonstrate respect toward those whose beliefs
differ from ours.
May we also demonstrate kindness and
love within our own families. Our homes are to be more than sanctuaries;
they should also be places where God’s spirit can dwell, where
the storm stops at the door, where love reigns and peace dwells.
The world can at times be a frightening
place in which to live. The moral fabric of society seems to be
unraveling at an alarming speed. None — whether young or old
or in-between — is exempt from exposure to those things which
have the potential to drag us down and destroy us. Our youth, in
particular, face temptations we can scarcely comprehend. The adversary
and his hosts seem to be working nonstop to cause our downfall.
We are waging a war with sin, my brothers
and sister, but we need not despair. It is a war we can and will
win. Our Father in Heaven has given us the tools we need in order
to do so. He is at the helm. We have nothing to fear. He is the
God of light. He is the God of hope. I testify that He loves us
— each and every one.
Mortality is a period of testing, a
time to prove ourselves worthy to return to the presence of our
Heavenly Father. In order to be tested, we must sometimes face challenges
and difficulties. At times there appears to be no light at the tunnel’s
end — no dawn to break the night’s darkness. We feel
surrounded by the pain of broken hearts, the disappointment of shattered
dream and the despair of vanished hopes. We join in uttering the
biblical plea, “Is there no balm in Gilead?”
We are inclined to view our own personal
misfortunes through the distorted prism of pessimism. We feel abandoned,
heartbroken, alone. If you find yourself in such a situation, I
plead with you to turn to our Heavenly Father in faith. He will
lift you and guide you. He will not always take your afflictions
from you, but He will comfort and lead you with love through whatever
storm you face.
With all my heart and the fervency
of my soul, I lift my voice in testimony today as a special witness
and declare that God does live. Jesus is His Son, the Only Begotten
of the Father in the flesh. He is our Redeemer: He is our Mediator
with the Father. He loves us with a love we cannot fully comprehend,
and because He loves us, He gave His life for us. My gratitude to
Him is beyond expression.
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