38s - A Stone Cut Out of the Mountain Without Hands -The Prophet Daniel Sees the Restoration of Christ's Church in Our Day!

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TODAY'S THEME



Daniel Interprets King Nebuchadnezzar's Dream -by Grant Romney Clawson

A Stone Cut out of the Mountain Without Hands

The title under the title of the painting above is a key phrase in an interpretation of a dream by the young Jewish prophet, Daniel. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (in about 590 B.C.) had forgotten a dream which was very troubling to him. None of the wisemen in his kingdom could tell him the details of his dream, except the young Jew, Daniel, who had turned to his God for help in doing that. The king had threatened to kill all of the wisemen, including Daniel, if they couldn't help him.

In the painting above you will see the stone as it is rolling rapidly down from the mountain (in the background) and is about to strike the image (statue of an ancient warrior - perhaps a warrior king) that Daniel has described in great detail to the king.

The man in white clothing is Daniel, who, not long before, had been taken captive into Babylon, along with many other Jews, just a few years after Father Lehi and his family and friends had left Jerusalem and were being led by the Lord to Central America (or were possibly there already).

The Lord had told Lehi and his fourth oldest son, Nephi that Jerusalem was soon to be destroyed and that some of their people, the Jews, would be taken into captivity. They most likely had never known Daniel, but surely they knew many who had been destroyed by the Babylonians and some who, like Daniel, were eventually taken captive into Babylonia.

Daniel told the king that God had revealed the dream and its meaning to him, (Daniel), in a night vision.

In this painting young Daniel by the spirit of prophecy and revelation is depicted interpreting the dream that greatly troubled Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. By that same gift of God, Daniel had given the king each of the intricate details of his dream. The king had forgotten those details but he evidently was sure that the dream meant something he must come to understand.

Nebuchadnezzar was very pleased that Daniel's God helped him remember and understand the dream that had troubled him so much. Because of this, Nebuchadnezzar elevated Daniel to a high position in his government.

Please read the scripture you are referred to at the end of the next paragraph that will help you understand Daniel's interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream directly from the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament.

44. And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

45. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made it known to the king what shall come to pass here-after: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure. (emphasis added)

You will now have the opportunity of reading and listening to the personal account of the individual who was chosen by God to begin the establishment of His latter-day kingdom that was foretold anciently in the prophet Daniel's interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream.

Please note the great care the Heavenly Messenger takes in preparing this young man who is almost 18 years of age for the huge task ahead of him.

As you begin accessing the following scripture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints I advise that you click on the word, "Listen" on the upper left side of the page. It will make your experience more interesting. 

 jstestimony

You have just learned about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, about which in his later years, Joseph Smith said: "The Book of Mormon is the keystone of our Religion."

Here are three paintings and a photo that depict important events you have just read about and hopefully, heard also.

Moroni Appears to Joseph Smith -by Tom Lovell

The Hill Cumorah in New York State, U.S.A.

A Replica of the Golden Plates

Joseph Smith Holds the Golden Plates as Moroni Instructs him, -by Kenneth Riley

When you have time you may want to review my blog post 20, in which the present Presiding Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, H. David Burton in an LDS General Conference talk, reviews the many humanitarian projects this church accomplished during the year, 2007, through the voluntary efforts of a goodly portion of the over thirteen million members of the Church.

I now give you the opportunity of reading a quote from a member of the First Presidency of this church, President Henry B. Eyring. It is from his speech given at the same general priesthood session of the Church's April conference in April 2008 where Bishop Burton gave the speech referred to above in which he reported the Church's Humanitarian efforts during the year, 2007.

President Henry E. Eyring

"I have seen the miracle of that growth in charity in the hearts of priesthood holders, So have many of you. And so have many outside the Church. I was in the office of President Gordon B. Hinckley when he was asked to take a phone call.

He spoke briefly on the phone and then returned to our conversation. But he took a moment to explain. He said that the call was from the president of the United States, who was flying over Utah in Air Force One on his way to Washington. The president of the United States had called to thank President Hinckley for what priesthood holders had done in the aftermath of a hurricane. The president of the United States had said that it was a miracle that we were able to get so many people, so quickly, working together so well. He praised our people by saying that we knew how to do things."

In ending this blogpost, I take the liberty of saying: That which was accomplished in humanitarian services in 2007 and for many years before that and in 2008 and now in 2009 and into the future, is what we should expect from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with its population growing from thirteen million members to a much larger number in years to come.

Of course, this is the Lord's latter-day kingdom, or the Stone Cut out of the Mountain without Hands which Nebuchadnezzar saw and was helped by Daniel to understand by the power of the gift of prophecy and revelation which he, the Prophet Daniel, used in interprepting the king's dream.

This church, under the direction of a living prophet, is striving to do all of those things our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ would have us do in preparation for His Second Coming.



The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ -by Harry Anderson

This church regularly accomplishes much more than that which I have been able to describe here. Through the gift of Prophecy and Revelation which ordinary worthy members of the this church can possess, the young, the elderly, both male and female, from every race, are led to Heavenly Peace and Security in this world of rapidly increasing turmoil, temptation and disasters.

Family Prayer - and - Serving Others -photos by lds.org 

 I have entitled this post, a part of the series: Book of Mormon (and; Bible) Prophecies are Fulfilled in Our Day, The Prophet Daniel Interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's Dream. I added the ( Bible) part for this post. After all, the Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon are one in the hand of our Lord. His holy gift of Prophecy and Revelation was used by the Lord's servants (prophets) in both books to present His word.



The Bible and the Book of Mormon Stand Side by Side in testfying of the Lord Jesus Christ -by Greg K. Olsen



You can expect my next blogpost in about three to four days from the date given at the beginning of this post. I'll look forward to sharing things again with you at that time.

You regular readers of my blog may have noticed that about one week elapsed from the last post you would have read until this one. It was necessary for me to spend more time than usual with the Spanish version of my blog (See the URL for that below).

I assisted an LDS Argentine couple who are living now in France, in becoming experienced in translating my blog posts. You may view the post they translated by clicking on my Spanish Blog's URL. (it is given below)

If you do not have sufficient time right now to view the thirty five minute long LDS General Conference talk about the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, at this time, please come back later in the day when you have time or even on the following day to view this video.

The message of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, puts the Book of Mormon in its proper perspective! To view it please click on the link below. (Please note that when the first half of his talk ends you will see a link which will allow you to view the second half of his talk. Please don't miss this opportunity.

Jeffrey R Holland Book of Mormon LDS Conference Talk Oct 2009 179 HD (1/2)

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DISCLAIMER
This website is not owned by or affiliated with the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church.

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TO ACCESS NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX: To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This Blog Post, (Or To Search The Index For Any Other Blog Post You Desire To Access), After You Have Read All of This Paragraph, Please Scroll Back Up And Click on the Following: Daniel, the Prophet's Interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar's Dream Shows the Huge Role of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Latter-days. -Post 38t. When The Picture of Our Savior, Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy Comes Onto Your Screen, Please Scroll Down In The Index To Your Target Item Or Use the Alphabetical Scrolling Device (When It Has Been Installed).


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"Have You Really Read the Book of Mormon?" Legal /Statement. Thank you for visiting. The author retains intellectual property and creative licensing rights. Permission to use or reprint must be given in writing. © Est.2008 Neil Birch Legal /Statement.

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I deeply appreciate your readership and hope you found very beneficial, that which was presented to you in this blog post.

If you have any questions about what you have read or viewed in this post or in any previous posts of mine, or if you even have a curiosity about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and or its teachings, please e-mail me. I'm Neil and my e-mail address is: jneilmelva@gmail.com. If you contact me I'll get back to you just as soon as possible.

I invite you to let your friends and relatives know about this blog if you think they would be interested. Please be advised that I also have an additional blog. It is in Spanish: Its content is translated from the English in this blog.

Neil Birch

38r - A Review of Post 16, 07/29/08 - Joseph Smith - He was being Prepared Since His Childhood.

To Access This Blog's Index, Please Scroll Down To the Fifth Paragraph From the End of This Post!

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TODAY'S THEME

As with my personal adversity at a young age which I described in Post 38n (Sept. 30, 2009), and perhaps in the adversities you may have personally faced sometime in your lives, seven year old Joseph Smith had a very adverse circumstance come into his life. Here is a painting of him made after the Lord called him as a prophet. I believe that the Lord often allows



Joseph Smith -by David Lindsley



his children here on earth to suffer adversity to allow them to grow in character. I believe such was the case with Joseph Smith, Jr.

Being exposed to a Typhus fever epidemic which raged throughout that part of New Hampshire where his parents' family was living when Joseph, Jr. was seven, Joseph suffered a severe case of osteomylites.

The usual procedure for that medical problem at that time in New England where he and his family were living, was amputation.

Had it not been for the fact that one of the early medical geniuses of this country (U.S.A.) was located at Dartmouth University, a relatively short horseback ride away from Joseph Smith's parents' home, surely Joseph Smith, Jr. would have become an amputee.

It is very doubtful that Joseph Smith, Jr., with one leg amputated, could have ever met the heavy demands that were to be made on him during his lifetime as a prophet of the Lord, or could even have knelt in the grove of trees located not far from their future home in the State of New York where he would seek to ask the Lord which church was true.

It is well documented history that Dr. Nathan Smith, who often extended himself to help those in need of his medical expertise, rode to the Joseph Smith, Sr. home to treat Joseph Smith, Jr. with ten medical students coming along to learn from and to assist the respected doctor and medical school instructor.

Dr. Nathan Smith (On a Cover of a Book About Him)

At that time Dr. N. Smith was the only doctor in the United States or perhaps anywhere in the world who had developed a procedure for Joseph's kind of case, which could eliminate the need for an amputation.

Dr. Smith's procedure consisted of breaking off the most infected pieces of a patient's infected limb, which in Joseph's case was his left leg, which action allowed replacement growth.

Joseph Smith, Jr., in his history, mentioned that his left leg was weaker than his right leg, but he actually was quite athletic thanks to the remarkable coincidence of the doctor who invented this technique, being located nearby and being willing to help.

I shouldn't have called that a coincidence, I must call it divine intervention. The Lord allows adversity to come into our lives, including the lives of His faithful saints that lived in ancient America and ancient Israel as recorded in the Book of Mormon and in the Holy Bible. When His intervention is needed, as it was in the case of His future prophet, The Lord does amply provide.

It was not only from Joseph's history but also from his mother, Lucy Mack Smith's very accurate history that we have such a detailed record of what happened to young Joseph through the involvement of Dr. Nathan Smith.

It is my personal opinion, perhaps based on my own experience with my TB of the left knee (as explained in my Post 38n), that experiencing such adversity can actually strengthen a person's will to overcome the effects of challenging situations.

Even in the case of his eventual successful surgery at the hands of the great Dr. Nathan Smith, young Joseph faced very challenging conditions during that surgery which surely was a character strengthening factor he needed. Without Joseph realizing it then, perhaps this experience helped him to begin preparing himself to face the exceedingly great challenges he would face in serving as the Lord's true and authorized representative in restoring His true Gospel and Church to the earth.

I will now briefly describe the great challenge seven year old Joseph had to endure during that surgery. In that day there were no anasthetics. Perhaps it was Dr. Smith, who suggested that Joseph use alcohol to lessen the effects of the pain, but young Joseph refused. He only wanted his dear father to hold him to prevent him from twisting violently in the extreme agony he was to experience while Dr. Smith chipped pieces of infected bone from his leg.

Thank God for the great Doctor Nathan Smith who not only had rare skills but also cared much for the welfare of his patients!

I want each of you readers of this blog post to know that by the gift of the Holy Ghost which I have received as a baptized, worthy member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I came to know beyond any shadow of a doubt that Joseph Smith became the Lord's prophet through whom He restored His true Church and that it is the only church that our Savior, Jesus Christ acknowledges as his.

I also know that the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, is a true book. I promise you that your Heavenly Father will tell you personally of the truthfulness of all that which I just told you that He told me, if you will ask him in faith.

Credit is given to the Larry H. Miller Organization for the information regarding the medical assistance given young Joseph Smith Jr. This was provided on the Television program: The Joseph Smith Papers, on a Sunday evening beginning at 8:00 p.m. sometime during July 2008 on KJZZ Television, Channel 14 in Salt Lake City, UT.

Now in this post you will have the opportunity of learning through a video how Joseph Smith was led by the Lord to become the prophet of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how he was prepared to translate, by the gift of God, the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

You will also learn that Joseph was led by the Lord to organize the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 6, 1830.

It might help to view this in a well lighted room because of the relatively small image.



You can order a free copy of a DVD on which is the same video you have just viewed, however it has a larger and therefore, a clearer image. Click here to order the DVD.

I have added these photos/paintings below to allow you to see some of the things referred to in the video you have just seen. You can print each of them by right clicking on the picture. Click on print picture after having your printer turned on.

The Sacred Grove

Joseph's Prayer Was Answered In the Sacred Grove

The Smith Family's Log House in Palmyra, New York

The Angel Moroni Appears to Joseph Smith

The Hill Cumorah

The Golden Plates

Joseph Receives the Golden Plates from Moroni

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DISCLAIMER
This website is not owned by or affiliated with the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church.

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TO ACCESS NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX: To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This Blog Post, (Or To Search The Index For Any Other Blog Post You Desire To Access), After You Have Read All of This Paragraph, Please Scroll Back Up And Click on the Following: Joseph Smith - He Was Being Prepared Since His Childhood. -Post 38r. When The Picture of Our Savior, Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy Comes Onto Your Screen, Please Scroll Down In The Index To Your Target Item Or Use the Alphabetical Scrolling Device (When It Has Been Installed).


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"Have You Really Read the Book of Mormon?" Legal /Statement. Thank you for visiting. The author retains intellectual property and creative licensing rights. Permission to use or reprint must be given in writing. © Est.2008 Neil Birch Legal /Statement.

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I deeply appreciate your readership and hope you found very beneficial, that which was presented to you in this blog post.

If you have any questions about what you have read or viewed in this post or in any previous posts of mine, or if you even have a curiosity about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and or its teachings, please e-mail me. I'm Neil and my e-mail address is: jneilmelva@gmail.com. If you contact me I'll get back to you just as soon as possible.
I invite you to let your friends and relatives know about this blog if you think they would be interested. Please be advised that I also have an additional blog. It is in Spanish:  Its content is translated from the English in this blog.


Neil Birch

38p - A Revision of My Previous Post 9 Published June 9, 2008 -The Four Sons of King Mosiah

To Access This Blog's Index, Please Scroll Down To the Fifth Paragraph From the End of This Post!

DISCLAIMER

This website is not owned by or affiliated with the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church.

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TODAY'S THEME
Painting: Arnold Friberg

At the top, you are viewing a painting which depicts Ammon, one of the four sons of King Mosiah, as he keeps the Lamanite King's sheep from being stolen by Lamanite robbers.
In a previous blog post I mentioned that after their conversions, these four sons of the king worked long and hard to gain their father's permission to serve as missionaries to the Lamanites.





(To the right is a small copy of the first painting found in my recent post, 38n that depicts these four sons of King Mosiah along with Alma the Younger as the Angel of the Lord rebukes all five of them for their wickedness thus bringing about their conversion to Jesus Christ and his work)
The second painting above, by LDS painter, Del Parson, depicts Lamanites, converted to the Lord Jesus Christ through the efforts of the four sons of Mosiah and their companions, preparing to bury their weapons of war in the earth as an army of hostile Lamanites advances to kill them. You will learn why this was happening later in this blog post.
It is recorded in the Book of Mormon that Ammon, his three brothers and some of the others they had chosen as missionary companions, worked hard to prepare themselves spiritually for this exceedingly difficult mission. It is in Alma 17, that we are told of the incident, depicted in the first painting at the top of this post, when Ammon protected the Lamanite King's sheep with his sword, being strengthened by his special spiritual preparations. Ammon was doing that which would achieve acceptance from the potentially hostile Lamanite king. This is told in Alma 17. Click here to read of this:
It might help you focus better on these chapter long scriptures, like this one and others to come, to listen to them while reading them. After clicking on the scriptural link, scroll up the scripture until you see the word, Listen, on the left side. Click on that. Then click on the (-) sign on the window that comes up so that it will close and not be a distraction to you as you read and listen. When you have finished that scripture please double click on the white arrow in the blue background you will see in the upper left hand corner. That will return you to the post.
Alma 17:1-39.
By reading this scripture, you will have gained the insight that because of the great results he Ammon had, the Lord was with him in all he did among the Lamanites .
Now if you were to read chapters 18-23 of Alma you would read of the great success that all of the other sons of Mosiah, along with their missionary companions, had in turning the hearts and souls of a great number of Lamanites to God. You will also read of the great tribulations they each went through in accomplishing this. I will link each of these chapters here for you. Remember to click on "Listen" on each, as instructed above.
Alma 18:1-43 Ammon teaches the Lamanite king, Lamoni.
Alma 19:1-36 King Lamoni and his queen are both converted to Jesus Christ.
Alma 20:1-30 Ammon and King Lamoni win over Lamoni's father.
Alma 21:1-23 Aaron teaches the Amalekites about Jesus Christ.
Alma 22:1-35 Lamoni's father and all his household are converted.
Alma 23:1-18 The Lamanites in seven lands and cities are converted.
I have also provided a link to Alma, Chapter 24 which will explain the meaning of the picture painted by LDS artist Del Parsons, inserted just after the painting of Ammon wielding a sword to secure the King's sheep.
Alma 24:1-30 The Anti-Nephi-Lehites rejoice in in Christ. They choose to suffer death rather than to defend themselves. More Lamanites are converted.
From that great account we learn more about the power that comes to people after true conversion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Refer to the second painting at the beginning of this post!
Now, please read these words regarding Alma the Younger: [From about 91 to 77 B.C.] You have read and listened to this scripture earlier in this post, but I have excerpted this part of it here to emphasize the importance of the fourteen (14) year mission of the four sons of King Mosiah and their missionary companions which, along with the accomplishments of Alma, were the results of the conversions of these five Nephite men to the Gospel of Jesus Christ at the time of the appearance of the Angel of the Lord!

Alma 17:
1 AND now it came to pass that as Alma was journeying from the land of Gideon southward, away to the land of Manti, behold, to his astonishment, he met with the sons of Mosiah journeying towards the land of Zarahemla.
2 Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel first appeared unto him; therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.
3 But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God.
4 And they had been teaching the word of God for the space of fourteen years among the Lamanites, having had much success in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth; yea, by the power of their words many were brought before the altar of God, to call on his name and confess their sins before him.
5 Now these are the circumstances which attended them in their journeyings, for they had many afflictions; they did suffer much, both in body and in mind, such as hunger, thirst and fatigue, and also much labor in the spirit.

Come Unto Me (Ye Blessed)

Among the blessed will surely be: Alma, the Younger, the Four Sons of Mosiah, and those who they as instruments in the hands of the Lord, helped bring to salvation: King Lamoni and his Queen; and Lamoni's father; and the brave People of Anti-Nephi-Lehi and millions of unamed others:

You could be listed among them! E-mail me at jneilmelva@gmail.com and I could suggest steps you could take to make that possible!
The following link, when clicked upon, will allow you to view the latest Mormon Messages Video. You will find it interesting and very well done. Hopefully it will meet needs that perhaps you didn't realize you had.
Mormon Messages

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"Have You Really Read the Book of Mormon?" Legal /Statement. Thank you for visiting. The author retains intellectual property and creative licensing rights. Permission to use or reprint must be given in writing. © Est.2008 Neil Birch Legal /Statement.
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I deeply appreciate your readership and hope you found very beneficial, that which was presented to you in this blog post.

If you have any questions about what you have read or viewed in this post or in any previous posts of mine, or if you even have a curiosity about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and or its teachings, please e-mail me. I'm Neil and my e-mail address is: jneilmelva@gmail.com. If you contact me I'll get back to you just as soon as possible.
I invite you to let your friends and relatives know about this blog if you think they would be interested. Please be advised that I also have an additional blog. It is in Spanish: http://varsinaisella.blogspot.com/ Its content is translated from the English in this blog.

Neil Birch

38o - Thomas S. Monson, Prophet, Seer and Revelator!

To Access This Blog's Index, Please Scroll Down To the Fifth Paragraph From the End of This Post!

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TODAY'S THEME

Beginning with the third paragraph below the photograph of Thomas S. Monson, the present Prophet, Seer and Revelator of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I will share with you a reminiscence of several related experiences I, Neil Birch, was privileged to share with him when he was still serving as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the church.

Doctrine and Covenants, section 107: 91 And again, the duty of the President of the office of the High Priesthood is to preside over the whole church, and to be like unto Moses—

92 Behold, here is wisdom; yea, to be a seer, a revelator, a translator, and a prophet, having all the gifts of God which he bestows upon the head of the church.

President Thomas S. Monson

In the Opening session of the 179th Semi-annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (October 3, 2009), once again, Thomas S. Monson was sustained by the Church as Prophet, Seer and Revelator.

Much evidence of his key role was shown throughout this general conference which concluded October 4, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. (USA, Mountain Time)

In one of the early months of 1984 not long after being assigned as the adoption worker for the Midvale, UT Office (soon to become the Sandy, UT Agency), of LDS Family Services, I was assigned to help bring about an adoption with a certain LDS Family who lived in the Salt Lake Valley (Utah, U.S.A.).

The wife and mother of that family served professionally as a secretary for Elder Thomas S. Monson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

At the LDS Family Services office where I worked on the scheduled day and time for the adoption I was told by the adoptive parents that the adoptive placement should not start until her employer, had arrived. I had learned from the Church News that Elder Monson had been heavily involved in negotiations with the Communist East Germany to secure authorization to build a temple in Freiberg there. I told them I'd be happy to wait to start the placement meeting until he arrived.

I assumed that with all the usual heavy work-load he must already have had, his having the responsibility of being personally involved in seeking the authorization for the building of the proposed East German Temple made his work-load even heavier and perhaps was part of the reason he had to be late for this event. * (That temple authorization was soon granted!)

Freiberg Germany Temple (Dedicated: 29 June 1985, Re-dedicated: 07 September 2002)

While waiting for him to arrive I realized that being at that adoption had to be a high priority for Elder Monson. With all that he had to do in his assignment as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve; he came as he had promised the adoptive parents previously.

One of the things I remember him saying to me and the birth-mother worker soon after he arrived, was, after calling each of us by name (reading from the name badges we wore) "This is the time when you receive your real salaries by participating in such a special event!"

The adoption went very well. I noticed that Elder Monson clearly enjoyed every minute of that adoption. The adoptive family later told us that he had been present at the adoption of their first child too. It became very obvious to me that here was an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ who valued families very highly. That wasn't surprising to me, but it allowed me to see, first hand, that such surely was the case with this apostle.

After several routine visits to the adoptive family's home I was able to report for the record that the adoption was doing very well.

But then, one evening, the adoptive father telephoned and gave me the very sad news that their two month old adoptive daughter had just been pronounced dead by her doctor. She had died of Sids the much feared (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) malady which wasn't yet fully understood, if it even is today!

They had already made arrangements for the viewing at a mortuary in their part of the Salt Lake Valley. The adoptive father invited me to attend. He told me that Elder Monson had been notified and would be the speaker at the viewing. The viewing arrangements were being made by them with the assistance of their LDS Ward bishop.

Several days before the viewing, the birth parent worker told our office manager and me that she felt that the baby's birth mother should be invited to attend the viewing. I think the birth parent worker had already told the birth mother about the baby's death. Involving the birth mother in the viewing would cause us to do something that was not at that time done under any circumstances: having the adoptive parents and the birth mother, meet.

After clearing the matter through channels, our office manager gave us official permission to go ahead with having the birth mother attend the viewing, thus allowing her to meet the adoptive parents. The birth mother worker was given the responsibility of inviting that birth mother to the viewing. I don't remember if it was I or she who informed the adoptive parents of this.

With heartfelt sorrow I arrived at the mortuary and went through the line that had been formed that ran in front of the dear baby's casket. I hugged the adoptive parents. There were many tears. The birth mother had already met the adoptive parents by the time I arrived. She wasn't in the line with them, but it appeared she was talking to family and/or friends of her own.

The Mortuary chapel was filled with many relatives and friends of the adoptive family. Their bishop, whom I had come to know because I had contacted him prior to the adoption to clear the adoptive family for adopting through our Church Agency, conducted the services in a very caring and capable manner. Elder Monson and his wife arrived just as the services were about to begin. He was the only speaker. I wrote in my personal journal that evening:

Elder Monson spoke about the situation and wove in beautifully the truths of the Savior's love and the resurrection and announced that he had received written permission from President Gordon B. Hinckley to seal the baby, vicariously, to her adoptive parents the coming Tuesday.

I was touched by his talk. However, as the services were drawing to an end I began to feel strongly that the birth mother would greatly benefit from some special individual attention from Elder Monson.

I had a plan! There wasn't sufficient time to consult with my co-workers. A silent prayer sufficed.

Quickly, as soon as the closing prayer was said and those in attendance had begun gathering around the adoptive family and the birth family members, to console them, I walked up to where Elder Monson was still by himself at the front of the chapel. I asked him if he would be willing to speak with the birth mother if I were to bring her up to speak with him. I made it clear there would just be the three of us. Elder Monson quickly agreed to my request.

Again, quickly, I went to the birth mother and introduced myself as the adoptive family's caseworker and asked her if she would like to speak personally with Elder Monson. I explained to her that I would remain with her during that time. The adoptive parents were still very occupied while being consoled by friends and family. With tears in her eyes that were flowing down her cheeks, the dear birth mother nodded in the affirmative.

I led her over to the left to the part of the chapel where Elder Monson was still by himself waiting for us.

After being introduced, he hugged the birth mother and began to speak from his heart. He began by telling her:

You have a very bright future and you are a wonderful young lady!

I felt such strong emotions during this very tender time and felt the presence of the Spirit of the Lord in a very special way.

The birth mother listened intently to what this Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ was telling her. I was so overwhelmed by the spirituality of what was being said that afterwards I couldn't remember any more of the specifics of that which was actually said.

However, whenever I tell others about that (well-remembered by me) incident, I always tell them, that instead of just hearing the words of Elder Thomas S. Monson, I knew I was hearing the words and even the voice of our Savior Jesus Christ whom Elder Monson represents.

I never deviate from that observation during those appropriate occasions when I share that experience. In so doing I never divulge the names of the birth mother nor of the adoptive parents and not even the date of the viewing. I tell others, such as our Ward High Priest Group members when teaching a group lesson where that account fits in properly, in words such as these:

I heard our Savior Jesus Christ, or rather, one of His personal representatives, an apostle, speaking to that broken hearted beautiful young lady who was filled with grief because of the death of the dear baby to whom she had given life and whom she had willingly placed for adoption.

The Salt Lake Temple

As promised by Elder Thomas S. Monson the adoptive parent's deceased baby was vicariously sealed to them by him in the Salt Lake Temple that following Tuesday.

I was told sometime later by the adoptive parents that the birth mother's life was, at that time, going forward very well and that her speaking with Elder Monson had been a very positive experience for her. That experience she had with a personal representative of our Lord was surely something that gave her the needed strength to press forward at that time in her life, courageously! For that I am so grateful!

On a later more joyous occasion, I was present at another adoption with that same family. Elder Monson, once again, was a enthusiastic participant. Not long before, he had invited the birth mother worker and me to meet with him in his office at Church Headquarters. There he gave it as his opinion that the adoptive family was emotionally ready for another adoption.

He mentioned that he respected the fact that our LDS Family Services Office had the responsibility of determining if the adoptive parents were still meeting our official requirements. He explained to the two of us that he just felt he wanted to share his personal and intimate observations of the adoptive family's readiness to adopt again. He was showing great respect for our responsibilities. I greatly appreciated him for that. After studying the matter professionally and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I suggested to our Agency Director a particular baby whose mother was placing for adoption, through us, who I was spiritually impressed was a good "fit" in that same family whose previously placed baby daughter who several months before had died of Sids.

Over the years in my responsibility as an Agency worker, both as an adoption worker and then later, as a birth mother worker, I continued to have great respect for Elder Thomas S. Monson, this true servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. He appeared to me to be a man who didn't make hasty decisions, he just waited until he knew what was the right thing to be done under the circumstances! I am convinced that people in general and their families, are very important to him!

It was a privilege this morning while in our living room with my dear wife, Melva, watching General Conference on our Television Set, to raise my hand to the square, once again, to sustain Thomas Spencer Monson as the President and Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!

I now provide you the opportunity to view a video. It was produced soon after this most recent General Conference. The speaker is: President Thomas S. Monson.

What Matters Most

I'm sure that you readers of this particular blog post of mine will have realized, after viewing that video, that President Monson shows us by the way he lives that he knows that "most often the people around us should matter the most to us!"

If you would like to read the conference talks given by President Monson, I encourage each of you readers of this blog post, wherever you may live in the world and whatever language you may prefer, to log into The LDS Church

You will need then to click on the Classic LDS.org

Under the topic of Gospel Library, you may choose the column to the right under the topic of: General Conference. If you so choose please scroll down to the October Conference of 2009 or if you have been reading the post after that date, please feel free to view whichever General Conference you choose to view.

After scrolling down just a little bit you will be given a wide variety of languages from which to choose. You most likely already understand English to some extent to be reading this blog post, but nonetheless you may prefer to read or even listen in the language you most often use, whichever of President Thomas S. Monson's Conference addresses you choose to learn from. The various languages are easy to locate. There may be other General Authorities' addresses which may interest you too.

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DISCLAIMER
This website is not owned by or affiliated with the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church.


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TO ACCESS NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX: To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This Blog Post, (Or To Search The Index For Any Other Blog Post You Desire To Access), After You Have Read All of This Paragraph, Please Scroll Back Up And Click on the Following: Thomas S. Monson, Prophet, Seer and Revelator -Post 38o. When The Picture of Our Savior, Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy Comes Onto Your Screen, Please Scroll Down In The Index To Your Target Item Or Use the Alphabetical Scrolling Device (When It Has Been Installed).

__________________



"Have You Really Read the Book of Mormon?" Legal /Statement. Thank you for visiting. The author retains intellectual property and creative licensing rights. Permission to use or reprint must be given in writing. © Est.2008 Neil Birch Legal /Statement.
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I deeply appreciate your readership and hope you found very beneficial, that which was presented to you in this blog post.

If you have any questions about what you have read or viewed in this post or in any previous posts of mine, or if you even have a curiosity about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and or its teachings, please e-mail me. I'm Neil and my e-mail address is: jneilmelva@gmail.com. If you contact me I'll get back to you just as soon as possible.
I invite you to let your friends and relatives know about this blog if you think they would be interested. Please be advised that I also have an additional blog. It is in Spanish:  Its content is translated from the English in this blog.

Neil Birch

38n - Review of Past Post #14 - Can Facing Adversity Ever Prepare us for Eventual Blessings?

To Access This Blog's Index, Please Scroll Down To the Fifth Paragraph From the End of This Post!

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TODAY'S THEME


FACING ADVERSITY!



Alma and the Four Sons of King Mosiah Face Unexpected Adversity! -By Gary Kapp



Alma 36: 12 But I (Alma) was racked with eternal torment, for my soul was harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all my sins.

13 Yea, I did remember all my sins and iniquities, for which I was tormented with the pains of hell; yea, I saw that I had rebelled against my God, and that I had not kept his holy commandments.

14 Yea, and I had murdered many of his children, or rather led them away unto destruction; yea, and in fine so great had been my iniquities, that the very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror.

15 Oh, thought I, that I could be banished and become extinct both soul and body, that I might not be brought to stand in the presence of my God, to be judged of my deeds.

16 And now, for three days and for three nights was I racked, even with the pains of a damned soul.

17 And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.

18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.

19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.

20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain! (emphasis and clarification added)

Now, I hope that you are in agreement with me on that which Alma the Younger's experiences help us to more clearly see, that the adversities we face in life can very effectively prepare us for better things!

Neil Birch (Me, This Blog's Author) at age six in Front of the Primary Childrens' Hospital Located then just across North Temple Street from the North Gate of Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah (U.S.A.) -Photo taken by Neil's mother, Virginia Jensen Birch sometime in either 1938 or 1939.

I will now share with you some of the adversity I had to face beginning at the tender age of five. Unlike Alma and the people he was teaching (in the scripture above) I had not yet reached the age of accountability before God (age eight). I was a good child, I just happened to drink (Tuberculosis "TB" infected) milk that my good parents obtained unknowingly from a dairy located not too far from our home in Roseville, California (U.S.A.)


Examine your own life! Has any adversity you may have faced actually turned out to have had a beneficial effect on you? While you are trying to answer my question to yourself, let me tell you more about the effects on me of that adversity that came to me in that early part of my life.

Not too many months ago, while doing my forty minute elliptical exercise six days a week routine (- an update on July 23, 2011 - 55 minutes a day now on a more heavy-duty elliptical. I never miss a day because of illness because I just don't get sick and I thank the Lord for that! Eating correctly helps much also) At the Murray, Utah Recreation Center, keeping my heart rate under 141 beats a minute as my doctor told me 77 (79) year-olds should do, and using two successfully medically implanted new knees - (one on December 13, 2001 and the other on February 6, 2008), I saw and heard a good sized group of pre-teen boys on the basketball court just behind me down on the first floor making all kinds of happy noises while working out in a basketball camp. They were really shouting for joy, the joy of using their bodies while developing skills needed in playing basketball.

I remembered right then, at their age I would have never been "shouting for joy" like they were doing because our very good and greatly respected (respected to this day by me and my parents who are now deceased) doctor, Lucas W. Empey M.D., had, on purpose, made my left knee stiff.

To achieve my having a stiff left knee, Doctor Empey put me in traction for most of the rest of my fifth year by attaching pulleys to the outside end of my crib with weights on the ends of ropes that ran over the pulleys and stretched my left knee straight during much of the daytime hours for about half a year. This was done because the medical opinion then was that only by so doing my leg would grow to a normal length. And it did, but it remained stiff for 65 years until a new knee was implanted (in  December 2001).

During part of my sixth and seventh years I had a Plaster of Paris caste on my left knee and spent 14 months away from my family as a patient at the LDS Primary Children's' Hospital shown in this photo:


The Primary Childrens' Hospital That Once Stood Across North Temple Street From the North Gate of Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah (U.S.A.) It Was Replaced Sometime in 1952 by a New Hospital Which Was Built in the Avenues section of Salt Lake City.

The photo you viewed earlier in this post was taken by my mother in the front yard of the hospital shown just above.



The Present Conference Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The very large and beautiful Conference Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (shown above) now stands in that same block where that hospital and several other smaller buildings once stood.

My parents felt that was the only thing that they could afford (financially) to have my knee treated by specialists and also for me to be able to begin attending the first grade (which was taught right there in the hospital). They didn't have the needed means (an auto) to transport me to school in Roseville, CA. My father was a clerk at the Roseville Roundhouse of the Southern Pacific Railroad. It was during the Great Depression and his salary was somewhat meager.

My Mother and Father and my brother who is twenty three months younger than me, lived 700 miles to the West from Salt Lake City, Utah (U.S.A.). Whenever my mother would kiss me goodbye after visiting me for several days at the Children's' Hospital most every month, I cried, at times, almost uncontrollably.

Here is a second photograph of me as a seven year old. It was taken by a Deseret News photographer for an article in their March 18, 1939 issue. The cake was given to the children at the Primary Children's' Hospital to eat. This cake memorialized the Salt Lake Exchange Club's sixteenth anniversary. I'm the second boy from the right. My mother drew an arrow above me on this newspaper photo. I guess we were all asked to have a happy look on our faces, but I don't think that is the kind of look I'm showing in that photo. Being away from home for fourteen months was very difficult for seven year old me.



I did exceptionally well in the first grade that was held at the hospital and there were many loving, caring nurses and I developed some good relationships with other children. Church meetings including Primary were held regularly. I learned to love our Savior, Jesus Christ, while there.

The adversity I went through during that time and to some extent all the time I was growing up because of that stiff knee, was actually something that helped shape my life in a positive direction.

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints there is a worthy man in every stake (an area organization) of the church whose responsibility it is, to give patriarchal blessings from the Lord to individuals in the Church who desire and are worthy to receive such. I received such a blessing when I was ten years old and living at our home in Roseville, California (U.S.A.) (which is about 14 miles North East of Sacramento, the Capitol City of the State of California.)

Let me quote a small portion of that blessing:

"...these things which have come unto you (my stiff knee and the challenges that came with that) will be for your good. For you shall develop patience and shall have a kindly spirit towards your fellow man, and love for your fellow man in his affliction shall be great in your heart." (I added that which is parenthesized.)

I shed some tears of gratitude as I typed those words just now. That Patriarchal Blessing was true prophecy!

I'm adding this paragraph later. Yesterday (at the time I first used this material in my blog post #14 in June 2008) at a family reunion, two female cousins of mine reminded me of a song my mother had sung to each of them as they were growing up, telling them each that it was what she used to sing to me when I was discouraged about my knee problem. This is it:

Happiness: (The title of a song which is found in a Primary (which is the LDS Church's Childrens' organization, in case you are not a member of the church or are new to the church and don't know what "Primary" is.) older Song Book: "The Children Sing."

I am happy today for the sunshine, for the skies of gray or blue. For within my heart is a song of life. I'll live, I'll work, I'll do.

No cloud can cast a shadow over courage such as mine. For I'll sing this song as I go along. I'll live, I'll work, I'll do.

By the way, what was the answer you gave to the question I asked you above, "Has any adversity you may have faced actually turned out to have had a beneficial effect in you?" If you would like, you could e-mail your answer to me at: jneilmelva@gmail.com I will keep your answer confidential and not share it on my blog unless you ask me to do so.

The Resurrected Jesus Christ -by Heinrich Hoffmann


* The Lord Jesus Christ admonishes us to have broken hearts and contrite spirits!

3Nephi 9:17 And as many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by me redemption cometh, and in me is the law of Moses fulfilled.

18 I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.

19 And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings.

20 And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.

21 Behold, I have come unto the world to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin.

22 Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved. (emphasis added)

I repeat this painting and the scripture from above where they were shown as illustrating this post's Theme.

An Angel of the Lord Appears to Alma the Younger and His Four Friends (Sons of Their King, Mosiah). The Angel is Chastising them for Their Sinful Lives: -By Gary Kapp.

Alma 36: 12 But I (Alma) was racked with eternal torment, for my soul was harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all my sins.

13 Yea, I did remember all my sins and iniquities, for which I was tormented with the pains of hell; yea, I saw that I had rebelled against my God, and that I had not kept his holy commandments.

14 Yea, and I had murdered many of his children, or rather led them away unto destruction; yea, and in fine so great had been my iniquities, that the very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror.

15 Oh, thought I, that I could be banished and become extinct both soul and body, that I might not be brought to stand in the presence of my God, to be judged of my deeds.

16 And now, for three days and for three nights was I racked, even with the pains of a damned soul. (clarification added)

Alma suffered great adversity because of his many sins. That great adversity brought about in him: Repentance and the Blessed Peace which follows that! Thus, Alma the Younger, suffering great adversity and tribulation, remembered the teachings of his father, Alma the Elder. Young Alma was humbled and with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, found peace he had never before experienced or even most likely, ever even anticipated. Now I add the next four verses as I did at the beginning of this post so as to emphasize their importance:

Alma 36:17 And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.

18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.

19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.

20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain! (emphasis added)

Now, it would seem that Alma would have ever afterwards demonstrated his deep appreciation for the great blessing his experience with adversity had brought him and that he would value the true principle consistently in his ministry among the wayward ones of his people, that facing adversity properly, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit*, is the sure means to gaining great blessings and peace.

Here is an example showing that indeed, Alma did demonstrate in his teachings of others his deep appreciation for that great blessing of adversity that had come upon him earlier in his life:

Alma 32: 6 And now when Alma heard this, he turned him about, his face immediately towards him, and he beheld with great joy; for he beheld that their afflictions had truly humbled them, and that they were in a preparation to hear the word.

7 Therefore he did say no more to the other multitude; but he stretched forth his hand, and cried unto those whom he beheld, who were truly penitent. . . [About 74 B.C.] (emphasis added)

____________

DISCLAIMER
This website is not owned by or affiliated with the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church.

____________


TO ACCESS NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX: To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This Blog Post, (Or To Search The Index For Any Other Blog Post You Desire To Access), After You Have Read All of This Paragraph, Please Scroll Back Up And Click on the Following: Facing Adversity Can Prepare Us for Eventual Blessings. -Post 38n. When The Picture of Our Savior, Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy Comes Onto Your Screen, Please Scroll Down In The Index To Your Target Item Or Use the Alphabetical Scrolling Device (When It Has Been Installed).

____________


"Have You Really Read the Book of Mormon?" Legal /Statement. Thank you for visiting. The author retains intellectual property and creative licensing rights. Permission to use or reprint must be given in writing. © Est.2008 Neil Birch

_____________


I deeply appreciate your readership and hope you found very beneficial, that which was presented to you in this blog post.

If you have any questions about what you have read or viewed in this post or in any previous posts of mine, or if you even have a curiosity about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and or its teachings, please e-mail me. I'm Neil and my e-mail address is: jneilmelva@gmail.com. If you contact me I'll get back to you just as soon as possible.

I invite you to let your friends and relatives know about this blog if you think they would be interested. Please be advised that I also have an additional blog. It is in Spanish: It is translated from this English blog of mine.

Neil Birch