Post 47i: Once Again I Feature an LDS General Conference Talk in One of my Blog Posts. Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chose Not to Insert Notes at the End of His Talk Which is Most Often Done in General Authority Conference Talks. Therefore, in This Blog Post, I have Chosen to Quote That Which I Thought Would be Most Helpful to You in Focusing on His Very Important Message, along With the Assistance of His Actual Scriptural Quotes and the Various Clarifying Illustrations Which I have Added! I Must Mention that this Identical Talk of Elder Ballard's was Featured in My Post 46c. However I Have Chosen to Base This Present Post on that Identical Conference Talk of His Because Since Having Published that Earlier Post, I've Learned Better How to Present Those Blog Posts Covering Conference Talks in Which the Speaker Chooses Not to Insert Notes at the End of His Talk! I am sure You Will be Edified by Your Having Experienced That Which You will Now Experience! All of the Credit Goes to Elder Ballard Along with the Lord's Inspiration Given him, in Delivering this very Edifying Talk.

The Following Blog Description Explains Why My Blog is named: "Four Books of Scripture Testify of Jesus Christ!

Jesus the Christ -by Del Parson

WELCOME, NEW  AND PREVIOUS VIEWERS OF THIS BLOG: In this and in every additional post of this blog you will be led on a carefully and prayerfully planned exciting and inspiring journey as you prepare by means of a guided study of the four sacred books of scripture I am shown holding above; which will assist you in becoming more righteously happy now and more fully prepared for eventual After-Mortality Eternal Endeavors on your part, along with your loved ones and countless other mortals who are seeking to qualify as our Heavenly Father's worthy children. 

Those enabling Books of Scripture were brought about through the love of the Heavenly Father of our immortal spirits which now inhabit our mortal bodies; and were a key part of the Restoration of the Gospel, and of establishing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, through the Prophet Joseph Smith early in the Nineteenth Century. Leading out in all of this, was of course, Our Heavenly Father's Only Begotten Son who is our Lord, Savior, and Redeemer, Jesus Christ (who initially was our eldest spirit brother and is the only one of us our Heavenly Father will have ever sired into mortality). 

Jesus accomplished His Infinite Atonement, the Ultimate Mortal Sacrifice, along with His infallibly witnessed Resurrection. He is our Redeemer and Savior and has opened the way for each of us to learn with certainty through those four books of scripture, and through the inspired teachings of His prophets, seers and revelators of our day and those authorized by them; that some time after our mortal deaths, because of His atonement and resurrection, and depending on the level of individual righteousness we each attain to, through His grace, we can eventually experience Eternal Life in our own resurrected bodies, which in the case of those who fully heeded all of His scriptural guidance and the guidance of His authorized living servants, there will be full possession of Godly capabilities! J. Neil Birch

To Access This Blog's Index, Please Scroll Down To the Fifth Paragraph From the End of This Post! For Those of You Who May Be In a Hurry to Access it, Here it is now: Neil Birch's Blog Index.

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TODAY'S THEME:

A Summary of Elder Ballard's Background:

http://www.lds.org/church/leader/m-russell-ballard


After Your Having Been Informed of Elder Ballard's Background, I invite you now to use the following link to listen to the talk he gave at April Conference of 2013. Afterwards I will extend my assistance in helping you to better focus on some of the matters he discussed in his talk through the printed word, by my using means which most likely are not easily available to you who will have listened to or have actually read his very inspiring talk.

Elder M. Russell Ballard's Conference Talk: April 2013: This is My Work and Glory."

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/this-is-my-work-and-glory?lang=eng


"... a few weeks ago, on a cold, dark winter's night, my wife, Barbara, and I looked in awe up at the sky. The millions of stars seemed exceptionally bright and beautiful. I then turned to the Pearl of Great price and read again with wonder what the Lord God said to Moses:

Christ's Image -By Heinrich Hofmann

The Lord Created All Things.  Photo: Brand x Superstock

Moses 1:33  And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten.

Christ Ordaining the Twelve Apostles -by Harry Anderson

". . . .Brothers and Sisters, the power by which the heavens and earth were and are created is the priesthood. Those of us who are members of the Church know that the source of this priesthood power is God Almighty and His Son, Jesus Christ. Not only is the priesthood the power by which the heavens and the earth were created, but is is also the power the Savior used in His mortal ministry to perform miracles, to bless and heal the sick, to bring the dead to life, and, as our Father's Only Begotten Son, to endure the unbearable pain of Gethsemane and Calvary - thus fulfilling the laws of justice with mercy and providing an infinite Atonement and over-coming physical death through the Resurrection.. ."

Lord, Save Me -by Gary Kapp

Christ Healing the 

Sick at Bethesda -by Carl Heinrich Bloch.

Christ Raising (From Death)The Daughter of Jairus - by Greg K. Olsen

Christ in Gethsemane -by Harry Anderson

The Crucifixion -by Harry Anderson

..."The power of the priesthood is a sacred and essential gift of God. It is different from priesthood authority, which is the authorization to act in God's name. The authorization or ordination is given by the "laying of of hands." The power of the priesthood comes only when those who exercise it are worthy and acting in accordance with God's will. As President Spencer W. Kimball declared, " The Lord has given to all of us as holders of the priesthood certain of his authority, but we can only tap the powers of heaven on the basis of our personal righteousness ((Boys Need Heroes Close By," Ensign, May 1976, 45)" ...

Here is President Spencer W. Kimball's April 1976 Conference Talk as it was recorded in the May 1976 Ensign (to which Elder Ballard referred to above. It is not available in a recording. However, I, Neil  Birch, am sure you will enjoy reading it!) 

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=bb2ffd758096b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1

(We now go back to Elder Ballard's talk:) . . ."During the glorious days of the Restoration and the reestablishment of the Church of Jesus Christ in the world today, John the Baptist, Peter, James, and John; Moses; Elias, and Elijah came to the earth and restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith all of the keys and authority of the priesthood for the work of God in these latter days." 

John Baptizing Jesus. -by Harry Anderson.

. . ."It is by these keys, this authority, and this power that the Church of Jesus Christ is organized today, with Christ at the head directing His living prophet, Thomas S. Monson, and assisted by duly called and ordained Apostles.. .

...It is crucial for us to understand that Heavenly Father has provided a way for all of His sons and His daughters to have access to the blessings of and be strengthened by the power of the priesthood. Central to God's plan for His spirit children in His own declaration: 

Moses 1:39 For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

..."In the revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith in Section 81 of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord explains that the power of the priesthood is to be used to "succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees" (verse 5).

 D.C. 81:4. And in doing these things thou wilt do the greatest good unto thy fellow beings, and wilt promote the glory of him who is your Lord. 

. . .Jesus said: John 7:37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

John  4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

 John 8:12 ¶ Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

. . . "Now I began with the wonder and awe in the creations of God through the power of the priesthood. I stand here wondering, as I suppose most of you also do, if God's power to instruct and bless us can ever be fully comprehended. It is so great, so majestic, so powerful.

Joseph Smith said, "The Priesthood is an everlasting principle, and existed with God from eternity, and will to eternity, without beginning of days or end of years" (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 104.).

. . . "I testify that the work of Jesus Christ is accomplished through the priesthood. It is the power by which our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son created this earth and set in motion the great plan of happiness for our sakes. May we be wise and seek to strengthen our own lives, the lives of our families, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through the power of the priesthood of God is my humble prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

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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.

____________

TO ACCESS NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This Blog Post, (Or An Item Which Refers To Any Other Blog Post You May Desire To Access): After Reading All of This Paragraph Please Click on the Post Title Shown at the End of this following paragraph:  When You See Our Savior Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy, Please, Scroll Down To our Target: This is My Work and My Glory . This blog post presents an April Conference Talk of Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on that most crucial subject. - Post 47i.

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"Four Books of Scripture Testify of Jesus Christ! 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.

_____________

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. 

Neil Birch

Post 47h: This Blog Post Follows an Approach Very Similar To That Which I Have Most Recently Been Using in My Blogging: Scriptures Used by an Apostle or Prophet in One of Their LDS General Conference Talks are Highlighted So As to be More Instructive by My Having Matched Them With Pictures or Paintings Made Available Over the Internet. Also the Music of a Specific LDS Hymn Referred to in His "Notes" by Elder Holland in His April 2012 Conference Talk ( as it is Found in the May 2012 Issue of the Ensign Magazine) Can Actually be Turned on by the Blog Viewer so He or She Can Join in the Singing (Along With Anyone Else Who is Present and Desires to Sing With Them) the Suggested Hymn with Actual Piano Accompaniment. Viewers are Thus Using the Music and the Words of the Hymn Which Elder Holland Suggested in His "Talk Notes", Which are Found at the Very End of His Published Talk. Because of That, Blog Post Viewers Can Enjoyably and More Easily Sing to the Extent That the Spirit of the Lord Can More Easily Inspire Them as They Sing the Sacred Words of any LDS Hymn They May be Singing!

The Following Blog Description Explains Why My Blog is named: "Four Books of Scripture Testify of Jesus Christ!

Jesus the Christ -by Del Parson

WELCOME, NEW  AND PREVIOUS VIEWERS OF THIS BLOG: In this and in every additional post of this blog you will be led on a carefully and prayerfully planned exciting and inspiring journey as you prepare by means of a guided study of the four sacred books of scripture I am shown holding above; which will assist you in becoming more righteously happy now and more fully prepared for eventual After-Mortality Eternal Endeavors on your part, along with your loved ones and countless other mortals who are seeking to qualify as our Heavenly Father's worthy children. 

Those enabling Books of Scripture were brought about through the love of the Heavenly Father of our immortal spirits which now inhabit our mortal bodies; and were a key part of the Restoration of the Gospel, and of establishing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, through the Prophet Joseph Smith early in the Nineteenth Century. Leading out in all of this, was of course, Our Heavenly Father's Only Begotten Son who is our Lord, Savior, and Redeemer, Jesus Christ (who initially was our eldest spirit brother and is the only one of us our Heavenly Father will have ever sired into mortality). 

Jesus accomplished His Infinite Atonement, the Ultimate Mortal Sacrifice, along with His infallibly witnessed Resurrection. He is our Redeemer and Savior and has opened the way for each of us to learn with certainty through those four books of scripture, and through the inspired teachings of His prophets, seers and revelators of our day and those authorized by them; that some time after our mortal deaths, because of His atonement and resurrection, and depending on the level of individual righteousness we each attain to, through His grace, we can eventually experience Eternal Life in our own resurrected bodies, which in the case of those who fully heeded all of His scriptural guidance and the guidance of His authorized living servants, there will be full possession of Godly capabilities! J. Neil Birch

To Access This Blog's Index, Please Scroll Down To the Fifth Paragraph From the End of This Post! For Those of You Who May Be In a Hurry to Access it, Here it is now: Neil Birch's Blog Index.

****

TODAY'S THEME:

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Elder Holland's April 2012 General Conference Talk: "The Laborers in the Vineyard."

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/the-laborers-in-the-vineyard?lang=eng

Now, after you have just listened to and studied thoughtfully and prayerfully the words spoken in that particular conference talk I now ask you to turn with me to Elder Holland's NOTES  found at the very end of  the printed version of this talk (in the May 2012 Ensign Magazine published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints): Those scriptures which are printed below our Savior's Image enlighten our understanding of what Elder Holland taught us in his talk:

Christ's Image -by Heinrich Hofmann

1. Matthew 20:1-15  Jesus presents the parable of the laborers in the vineyard—He foretells his crucifixion and resurrection—He came to give his life a ransom for many.

  

1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.

  2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

  3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,

  4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

  5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

  6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

  7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.

  8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.

  9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

  10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.

  11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,

  12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.

  13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?

  14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.

  15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

2. Luke 12:44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.

3.  Hebrews 4:16. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

The Prophet Isaiah Prophesied of Christ - by Harry Anderson

4.  Isaiah 55: 1. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Lehi and His People Arrive in the Promised Land -by Arnold Friberg

(Father Lehi is shown a number of years before his death.)

5.  2 Nephi 1:14 Awake! and arise from the dust, and hear the words of a trembling parent, whose limbs ye must soon lay down in the cold and silent grave, from whence no traveler can return; a few more days and I go the way of all the earth.

21.  And now that my soul might have joy in you, and that my heart might leave this world with gladness because of you, that I might not be brought down with grief and sorrow to the grave, arise from the dust, my sons, and be men, and be determined in one mind and in one heart, united in all things, that ye may not come down into captivity;

The Crucifixion. -by Harry Anderson

Elder Holland suggests that after reading the scriptural verses above we then sing the LDS hymn, "We Are All Enlisted (page 250 in the LDS Hymnal). If you would like to sing that hymn by your self or with your family please click on the LDS Hymn Book link below which provides both the words and the actual music you can listen to which will facilitate your singing. If your family desires to sing with you, each of you can choose a particular part, Soprano, Alto, Tenor or Bass, you will each sing. Be sure someone who sings well is assigned the Soprano part. Please let the words and the music touch your hearts as you think of fully dedicating yourselves to serve much more fully than ever before, Him who did so much more than is easily discernible to us!

                                                                                

Jesus the Christ -by Del Parson

As you who have read each of the above scriptures and then viewed the paintings after singing the words of this hymn, the scriptures you have read in this post will touch your hearts! You will then be more willing to serve Him in whatever capacity He calls you to serve in, and in whatever amount of time it takes, and in whatever kind of service He expects of you. After all it is He who allowed Himself to suffer His almost incomprehensible sacrifice of His life for us!

Behold My Hands and Feet. -by Harry Anderson

Here is that hymnal link:  http://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/we-are-all-enlisted? 

____________

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 An Item Which Refers To Any Other Blog Post You May Desire To Access): After Reading All of This Paragraph Please Click on the Post Title Shown at the End of this following paragraph:  When You See Our Savior Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy, Please, Scroll Down To our Target: The Atoning Gift of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This blog post presents an April Conference Talk of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on that most crucial subject. - Post 47h.

____________

"Four Books of Scripture Testify of Jesus Christ! 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.

_____________

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. 

Neil Birch

Post 47g: In This Blog Post of Mine You are Privileged to Experience a Talk Given in the April 2013 General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Elder Dallin H. Oaks Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of that Church. His Talk is Entitled: "Followers of Christ."

The Following Blog Description Explains Why This Blog is named: "Four Books of Scripture Testify of Jesus Christ!

Jesus the Christ -by Del Parson

WELCOME, NEW  AND PREVIOUS VIEWERS OF THIS BLOG: In this and in every additional post of this blog you will be led on a carefully and prayerfully planned exciting and inspiring journey as you prepare by means of a guided study of the four sacred books of scripture I am shown holding above; which will assist you in becoming more righteously happy now and more fully prepared for eventual After-Mortality Eternal Endeavors on your part, along with your loved ones and countless other mortals who are seeking to qualify as our Heavenly Father's worthy children. 

Those enabling Books of Scripture were brought about through the love of the Heavenly Father of our immortal spirits which now inhabit our mortal bodies; and were a key part of the Restoration of the Gospel, and of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, through the Prophet Joseph Smith early in the Nineteenth Century. Also intimately  involved, and leading out in all of this, was of course, Our Heavenly Father's Only Begotten Son who is our Lord, Savior, and Redeemer, Jesus Christ (who initially was our eldest spirit brother and is the only one of us our Heavenly Father will have ever sired into mortality). 

Jesus accomplished His Infinite Atonement, the Ultimate Mortal Sacrifice, along with His infallibly witnessed Resurrection. He is our Redeemer and Savior and has opened the way for each of us to learn with certainty through those four books of scripture, and through the inspired teachings of His prophets, seers and revelators of our day and those authorized by them; that some time after our mortal deaths, because of His atonement and resurrection, and depending on the level of individual rightousness we each attain to, through His grace, we can eventually experience Eternal Life in our own resurrected bodies, which in the case of those who fully heeded all of His scriptural guidance and the guidance of His authorized living servants, there will be full possession of Godly capabilities! J. Neil Birch

To Access This Blog's Index, Please Scroll Down To the Fifth Paragraph From the End of This Post! For Those of You Who May Be In a Hurry to Access it, Here it is now: Neil Birch's Blog Index.

****

TODAY'S THEME:

Now, I invite you to earnestly, and even prayerfully, launch into learning from the Inspiring April 2013 General Conference talk given by Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

However, you Are First Invited to Experience Elder Oaks' Resume which is provided by the church in which he nobly serves:

http://www.lds.org/church/leader/dallin-h-oaks

Now, you have the special opportunity of listening to the inspired message of this Apostolic Witness of His and Our Savior Jesus Christ.

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/followers-of-christ?lang=eng

It is now my special opportunity of doing as I have been doing in the previous eleven blog posts of mine, reporting on and illustrating in various ways, including the presentation of paintings which depict scriptural events, mentioned in Elder Oak's NOTES which he provided at the end of his written and published message entitled: "Followers of Christ." (Published in the May, 2013 General Conference Issue of the Ensign Magazine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)

I am certain Elder Oaks would be pleased if  you and perhaps, if you are willing, other members of your family who are available, could be invited to sing with you two sacred hymns from the Hymn Book of the L.D.S. Church which Elder Oaks mentioned in his Notes in the published version of his talk concerning Our Savior Jesus Christ's desire that each of us rise up and follow Him:

The music and the words to both of those hymns are provided through your internet screen and sound systems. You are welcome to decide beforehand among yourselves, which vocal part each of you could best sing in each of these two hymns. You may consider switching parts among yourselves from the first to the second hymn.

1. "Come Follow Me," Hymn, no. 116: http://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/come-follow-me?lang=eng

In his talk (not in his Notes) Elder Oaks asked each one of us to consider the following:

"Like all other Christians, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints study the life of our Savior as reported in the New Testament books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. I will review examples and teachings contained in these four books of the Holy Bible and invite each of us and all other Christians to consider how this restored Church qualifies and each of us qualify as followers of Christ:"

Christ Calling Peter and Andrew. -by Harry Anderson

Matthew 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

John Baptizing Jesus -By Harry Anderson

John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

John 3:22 ¶ After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.

  23 ¶ And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.

  24 For John was not yet cast into prison.

  25 ¶ Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying.

  26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.

"We Latter-day Saints do likewise":

Young Man Being Baptized -Hyun-GYU Lee

Girl Being Baptized -Photo IRI

Jesus Preaching -by Heinrich Bloch

Matthew 4:17 ¶ From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Jesus the Christ -by Del Parson

John 14:15 ¶ If ye love me, keep my commandments.  

 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 

23. Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 

Luke 16:15  And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

Mark 7:8  For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

John 15: 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Elder Oaks then continues: "Latter-day Saints understand that we should not be "of the world" or bound to the tradition of men," but like other followers of Christ, we sometimes find it difficult to separate ourselves from the world and its traditions. Some model themselves after worldly ways because, as Jesus said of some whom He taught, "they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God" (John 12:43).

Elder Oaks then guided us yet further: "Jesus' teachings were not meant to be theoretical. Always they were to be acted upon. Jesus taught, "Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man."

Here is one other of Elder Oak's examples of Jesus' teachings: Matthew 7:24:  ¶ "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

In his talk which you listened to just before beginning to be involved with my (Neil Birch's) recap of the scriptures Elder Oaks quoted in his talk, he quoted a number of other scriptures which I will not list or discuss  here. You can locate them in your own May 2013 Issue of the Ensign Magazine. If you do not have a copy of you can access his written words through the link to his talk provided above.  

2. You are now invited in Elder Oak's Notes to plan to access a book written by Karen Lynn Davidson, Our Latter-day Hymns: The Stories and the Messages (1988), 142-43, 419. I was unable to access it via the Internet, but you may want to search the shelves of your particular ward's library to find it if you are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If you are not, you perhaps may want to ask for assistance in doing that from a member of that Church whom you may know. That book was recommended by Elder Oaks in his Notes at the end of the printed version of his talk found in the May 2013 Ensign Magazine.

3. "Lord, I would Follow Thee," Hymn no. 220. Once again, I Neil Birch invite you to sing as a family this hymn (or you may choose to sing it all by yourself!):

http://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/though-deepening-trials?lang=eng

Now if you choose to do so, you can sing another hymn found in the LDS Hymn Book, using the same Internet device you may have just used, to provide you with the music and the words:

3. http://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/come-follow-me?lang=eng

Thomas S. Monson -Official Church Photo

4. In Heidi S. Swinton's book "To the Rescue: The Biography of Thomas S. Monson" (2010) pages 149-61; you can read of President Thomas S. Monson's service to others. For those of you readers of this blog post who are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he is the president (and prophet) of that church. You are advised to obtain a copy of that book and read those pages. I have personally read those pages and have selected just one episode reported on, in those particular pages which I thought pertinent and applicable to what I (Neil Birch) am presenting here. (I hope each of you readers of this blog post of mine will locate a copy of that great book (Deseret Book is one source) and read much more of what Sister Swinton wrote:

(In the very beginning of Chapter 11 which is entitled: "HE WENT ABOUT DOING GOOD" the author of that book, Sister Heidi Swinton, wrote: "THOMAS S. MONSON'S INTRODUCTION to the Church's welfare program came ten years before he was called as a bishop. He was twelve years old, a new deacon, when his bishop asked him to take the sacrament to a bedfast brother who longed for that blessing. On that sunny morning, Tommy didn't mind the three-quarter mile walk down the street and across the railroad tracks to the modest residence.  He knocked at the kitchen door and heard a feeble voice say, "Come in." He uncovered the sacrament for Brother Wright, who was so weak that he needed to ask Tommy to place the bread in his trembling hand and press the cup of water to his lips. Recognizing the overwhelming gratitude of Brother Wright, Tommy felt "the spirit of the Lord" in the room, and he recognized that he "stood on sacred ground." 

Brother Wright asked him to "stay awhile," and the elderly man proceeded to bear his testimony: "Tommy, this Church is divine. The love which the members have one for another is an inspiration." He then talked of the Relief Society president, Sister Balmforth. "Do you know what she did one week many years ago?" he asked. "She took her little red wagon, went to members' homes and gathered a jar of peaches here, a can of vegetables there, and brought to my cupboard shelves the food that sustained me." Brother Wright cried as he told of the experience and "described watching the Relief Society president walk away from his home, pulling behind her, over the bumpy railroad tracks, the red wagon of mercy." 

Welfare to President Monson has always been about filling the 'red wagon' with whatever is needed: food, clothing, friendship, or personal attention. The welfare plan "would never succeed on effort alone," he has attested, for this program operated through faith after the way of the Lord."

In the heading of that chapter of the Biography of Thomas S. Monson, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles wrote:

"In a message he gave to all of the General and Area Authorities, he (Thomas S. Monson) said that one of our responsibilities is to to help the members feel the Savior's love. That's who he is. His whole ministry is focused on discerning the needs of an individual and offering a smile or a pat on the back--doing some simple, very gracious thing that you never would really expect the President of the Church to do." Elder David A. Bednar

5. Chris Williams, in Jessica Henrie, "Father Relies on Faith to Forgive Intoxicated Teen Driver," Deseret News, Aug. 1, 2012, Deseret News:  This is a very griping story. Be prepared for your emotions to be deeply touched!

http://deseretbook.com/Let-Go-True-Story-Tragedy-Forgiveness-Chris-Williams/i/5080536

6. See "Emergency Response: Church Assists Worldwide," Church News, Mar. 9, 2013, 9:Welfare Services Emergency Response, "2012 Year in Review," 8. I was unable to access that. Perhaps you can.

7. Hymn, no. 116 Elder Oaks once again calls our attention to the same hymn we experienced in 1. above. After experiencing what we each did in #5 above we may once again benefit by singing that same song by yourself or with other family members. Here is that hymn once again You may just want to listen to the music and read the words to yourself!:

"Come Follow Me," Hymn, no. 116: http://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/come-follow-me?lang=eng

You are welcome to listen to Elder Oaks talk once again if you so desire. He has provided much which will help each of us in our efforts to follow the teachings and example of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Thank you for having logged into my blog post today! J. Neil Birch

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/followers-of-christ?lang=eng

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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 An Item Which Refers To Any Other Blog Post You May Desire To Access): After Reading All of This Paragraph Please Click on the Post Title Shown at the End of this following paragraph:  When You See Our Savior Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy, Please, Scroll Down To our Target: I have taken the theme of this blog post, Christ, Followers of; which is the altered (for simplification of indexing) of the April (2013) General Conference Talk given it by Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. - Post 47g.

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"Four Books of Scripture Testify of Jesus Christ! 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. 

Neil Birch