Friday, September 6, 2013

Post 47f: Once Again, I Invite Each of You Who Have Logged Into This Blog Post of Mine to Learn From One of the Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ of Our Day, Elder Quentin L. Cook Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You Will Learn Much From His Very Well Planned and Inspired Talk. He Has Done a Very Thorough Job of Compiling a Long List of Notes for Each of Us to Peruse! They Begin Right After the Link to His Talk. I Have Assisted Him by Illustrating Many of His Notes to Make Such Perusal More Efficacious!. You Will be Inspired by What You Read and View in this Blog Post. May the Lord Bless Each of You as You Do So!

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 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 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.


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TODAY'S THEME:

Now, I invite you to earnestly, and even prayerfully, launch into learning from the April 2013 General Conference talk given by Elder Quentin L. Cook Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles who spoke on the subject of: "Personal Peace: The Reward of Righteousness." (Even with the trials of life, because of the Savior's Atonement and His grace, righteous living will be rewarded with personal peace.)

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/personal-peace-the-reward-of-righteousness?lang=eng&media=audio#listen=audio

As I, J. Neil Birch, have been doing regularly in this ongoing series of blog posts in which I feature an LDS General Conference talk I will now provide each of the scriptural quotes provided by Elder Cook in his notes found at the very end of the printed copy of that particular general conference talk of his. I also illustrate them as best as possible and try to make them more interesting by doing that in an effort to amplify the marvelous message of this, one of the inspired apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ in our day, which He (Our Savior) has provided us!

1. Two conferences were held in Abidjan on Sunday, February 10, 2013; 9,695 were in attendance--619 of whom were not yet members of the Church. Total Church membership on the Ivory Coast is approximately 19,000.

2. Doctrine and Covenants 115:6 And that the gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon her stakes, may be for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth.

 3. The word peace has different meanings. In classical Greek it refers to cessation, discontinuance, or absence of hostilities between rival forces. In Hebrew the word has a more comprehensive meaning and sometimes is just a form of greeting. Peace is also "a state of existence that comes to man only upon the terms and conditions set by God" (Howard W. Hunter, in Conference Report, Oct. 1966, 14-17)

4. Luke 2:14:  "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

The Holy Innocents by Giotto di Bondone.

5: See Matthew 2:16 " ¶ Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men." see also Ross Douthat, "The Loss of the Innocents," New York Times, Dec.16. 2012, 12.
Jesus Teaching His Apostles -by Walter Rane
6. Matthew 10:16  ¶ Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.  ¶ 22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

 7. Matthew 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

 8.  Doctrine and Covenants 84: 46 And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit.

 9. Doctrine and Covenants 1:33 And he that repents not, from him shall be taken even the light which he has received; for my Spirit shall not always strive with man, saith the Lord of Hosts. 

10. Doctrine and Covenants 1:35 For I am no respecter of persons, and will that all men shall know that the day speedily cometh; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand, when peace shall be taken from the earth, and the devil shall have power over his own dominion.

Weapons and Warfare in Ancient Israel

 









President Wilford Woodruff -Official Church Photo
11. President Wilford Woodruff declared this in 1894 and again in 1896. See The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, ed. G. Homer Durham (1946), 251-52; see also Marion G. Romney, in Conference Report, Apr. 1967, 79-82. Hopefully some of you viewers of this blog post will have access to those records. I don't.
Joseph Fielding Smith -Official Church Photo
12. See Joseph Fielding Smith, The Predicted Judgements, Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year (Mar. 21, 1967, 79-82. Again, once again, I need to leave it to each of you to look up that document.
Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve
Elder Neal A. Maxwell stated, "We can have inner peace even though peace has been taken from the earth...(and) all things (are) in commotion'" ("Behold, the Enemy Is Combined," Ensign, May 1993, 79).

 13. Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith (1998), p. 400.
President Joseph F. Smith -Official Church Photo
"Only the gospel of Jesus Christ can bring peace to the world.
There is only one thing that can bring peace into the world. It
is the adoption of the gospel of Jesus Christ, rightly understood,
obeyed and practiced by rulers and people alike. It is being
preached in power to all nations, kindreds, tongues and peoples
of the world, by the Latter-day Saints, and the day is not far distant
when its message of salvation shall sink deep into the hearts
of the common people, who, in sincerity and earnestness, when
the time comes, will not only surely register their judgment
against a false Christianity, but against war and the makers of war
as crimes against the human race. For years it has been held that
peace comes only by preparation for war; the present conflict
[World War I] should prove that peace comes only by preparing
for peace, through training the people in righteousness and justice,
and selecting rulers who respect the righteous will of the
people.

 We want peace in the world. We want love and good will to exist
throughout the earth, and among all the people of the world;
but there never can come to the world that spirit of peace and
love that should exist, until mankind will receive God’s truth and
God’s message unto them, and acknowledge his power and
authority which is divine, and never found in the wisdom only of
men."
Jesus the Christ -by Heinrich Hofmann

 The Lord loveth peace. The doctrine of the Savior of men was
“Peace on earth, good will to men,” love, love unfeigned. The
greatest of all the commandments that was ever given to the children
of men is: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy
heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 

14. Doctrine and Covenants 59:23 But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come.
John Taylor  -Official Church Photo

 15. Teachings of Presidents of the Church: John Taylor (2001) 150. "All we have to do is to live our religion, to obey the counsel of our President, be humble and faithful and not exalted in our own strength, but ask wisdom of God and see that we have peace with God, with our families, with one another, that peace may reign in our bosoms and in our community".19

"When we live our religion, when we walk according to the light of the Spirit of God, when we purge ourselves [of] impurity and corruption, and the sweet whispering of the Spirit of the Lord pours intelligence into our bosoms, broods over us, causing peace and joy to be with us, we have then, more or less, a faint glimpse of those things that are laid up for the faithful, and it is then we feel as though we and all that we have are in the hands of the Lord and that we are ready to offer ourselves [as] a sacrifice for the accomplishment of his purposes upon the earth".20

"Peace is a desirable thing; it is the gift of God, and the greatest gift that God can bestow upon mortals. What is more desirable than peace? Peace in nations, peace in cities, peace in families. Like the soft murmuring zephyr [or west wind], its soothing influence calms the brow of care, dries the eye of sorrow, and chases trouble from the bosom; and let it be universally experienced, and it would drive sorrow from the world, and make this earth a paradise. But peace is the gift of God." 21 

 16. "From the ancient Greeks to our own day, these words -happiness and contentment - have been parsed, dissected, and grappled with not only as to their meaning but also the guidance they give to our lives." See David Malouf, "The Happy Life, The Search for Contentment in the Modern World. (2011)
President Heber J. Grant -Official Church Photo
17. Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Heber J. Grant (2002), 226.
President Grant’s character was defined by his testimony of the Savior and the restored gospel. Elder John A. Widtsoe, who was ordained an Apostle by President Grant, wrote: “Men who attain true greatness adhere carefully to fundamental, guiding principles. This is notably true in the life of President Grant. Faith in God and in his Son, Jesus Christ, and in the restored gospel, has guided him from boyhood. It is quite impossible to understand his notable career unless the guiding power of this faith is taken into account. … His testimony of the divinity of Jesus Christ and of the restored gospel pierces the soul with its thrilling earnestness.”5

18. "Three of the five Ivory Coast stakes are among the top 25 in the Church in the percentage of adults (submitting ) family names for temple ordinances," and the Cocody Cote d'Ivoire Stake is the highest (C. Terry Warner and Susan Warner, "Apostle Visits Ivory Coast, Is 'Impressed with Exception Spirit," Church News.


19. Doctrine and Covenants 121: 7 My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;
8 And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.

  
Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail, -by Liz Lemon Swindle
President Harold B. Lee taught, "So we must be refined; we must be tested in order to prove the strength and power that are in us." (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee (2000), 208).

 20. I Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.


Elder Marion D. Hanks
Marion D. Hanks
21. In Marion D. Hanks, "A Loving, Communicating God" Ensign, Nov. 1992, 63. "Does the Church forbid the reading of "anti-Mormon" criticisms, or discourage its members from considering such matters?

The Church encourages its members not to purchase anti-Mormon propaganda, for this only contributes money to their cause.

However, there is no prohibition on reading material critical of the Church. In the Ensign, the Church's official magazine, the question was asked, "Some people say it is best to leave alone materials that claim to 'expose' the Church and its teachings. What counsel has been given on this? How do we respond when a friend comes to us with questions found in such materials?" The reply given included these recommendations:
[Cautions about those who sell material aiming to destroy the Church] must not be interpreted to mean that the Church is against honest scholarship or has anything to fear or hide. Nor does the Church ban literature, but Latter-day Saints should be wise in choosing what to read.
This cautionary counsel should not be misconstrued to justify laziness on our part in seeking answers, or giving glib, superficial replies when someone sincerely wants to know the truth after being exposed to anti-LDS material. Church critics and enemies should not be permitted to make what Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve has sometimes called "uncontested slam dunks." (See his photo in #12 above.)
Latter-day Saints should be sufficiently grounded in their testimonies and knowledge of Church doctrine and history that they can answer questions in a non-contentious and informative way. Elder Marvin J. Ashton of the Quorum of the Twelve has instructed Church members not to retaliate against attacks. "We encourage all our members to refuse to become anti-anti-Mormon," he said (Ensign, Nov. 1992, p. 63). Paul taught that coming to Christ requires "speaking the truth in love" (Eph. 4:15)."
The First Presidency has encouraged Church members to convey their response to questions and criticism "in the form of a positive explanation of the doctrines and practices of the Church" (Church News, 18 Dec. 1983, p. 2).
Members should invite those with questions about Church doctrine and practices to read latter-day scriptures and to study the restored gospel, thus tasting the gospel fruit for themselves. Only then will they know "whether it be of God" (John 7:17).
When members lack answers, they should learn what Church leaders and reputable scholars have said and written. There is probably no charge against the Church that has not been adequately refuted by someone. When members can’t find answers on their own, they can turn to home and visiting teachers, quorum leaders, bishops, and stake presidents...Those willing to take time to research anti-LDS claims can find answers.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

22.  See Jeffrey R. Holland, For Times of Trouble (2012),  Elder Holland teaches that "true poverty may do more to destroy  the human spirit than any other condition except sin itself." But the righteous use of money can enhance peace.


23. "Where Can I Turn for Peace?" (#129 in the LDS Hymn Book) You are invited to click on the link just below and with your family if they are availableto sing along with, you each are invited to sing it. You will find it easy to sing (each of you can choose which part to sing) using the LDS Church Internet Hymnal: Hymn, # 129  http://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/where-can-i-turn-for-peace?lang=eng

24. Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
President Marion G. Romney
Marion G. Romney of the First Presidency

 26. Mosiah 4:3; (emphasis added; see also Marion G. Romney, in Conference Report, Apr. 1967, 79-82)
3. And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come, according to the words which king Benjamin had spoken unto them.

27. Conscience is a moral compass pointing us toward peace. It is activated by at least two sources: the Light of Christ, a glorious birthright from our Heavenly Father (see Doctrine and Covenants 88:6-13;

 Doctrine and Covenants. 88:6 He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth;
  7 Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made.
  8 As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made;
  9 As also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made;
  10 And the earth also, and the power thereof, even the earth upon which you stand.
  11 And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings;
  12 Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space—
  13 The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things.
Doctrine and Covenants 93: 2 And that I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world;
Doctrine and Covenants 39:6 And this is my gospel—repentance and baptism by water, and then cometh the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, even the Comforter, which showeth all things, and teacheth the peaceable things of the kingdom.

 28. "Two sets of forgiveness are required to bring peace to the transgressor--one from the proper authorities of the Lord's Church, and one from the Lord himself. (See Mosiah 26:29)

  Mosiah 26:29 Therefore I say unto you, Go; and whosoever transgresseth against me, him shall ye judge according to the sins which he has committed; and if he confess his sins before thee and me, and repenteth in the sincerity of his heart, him shall ye forgive, and I will forgive him also.
Spencer W. Kimball -Official Church Photo
(Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball (2006), 41 Knowing the hearts of men, and their intents, and their abilities to repent and regenerate themselves, the Lord waits to forgive until the repentance has matured. The transgressor must have a “broken heart and a contrite spirit” and be willing to humble himself and do all that is required. The confession of his major sins to a proper Church authority is one of those requirements made by the Lord. These sins include adultery, fornication, other sexual transgressions, and other sins of comparable seriousness. This procedure of confession assures proper controls and protection for the Church and its people and sets the feet of the transgressor on the path of true repentance.

Many offenders in their shame and pride have satisfied their consciences, temporarily at least, with a few silent prayers to the Lord and rationalized that this was sufficient confession of their sins. “But I have confessed my sin to my Heavenly Father,” they will insist, “and that is all that is necessary.” This is not true where a major sin is involved. Then two sets of forgiveness are required to bring peace to the transgressor—one from the proper authorities of the Lord’s Church, and one from the Lord himself. 

29."How Gentle God's Commands,: Hymns, No. 125 (Please click on this link to sing this touching song! You can have family members sing along with you with each taking the part they wish to sing. A female in the family might do best with the melody part: -first line-)


30. John 14: 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

31. John 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

32. "Though Deepening Trials," Hymns no. 122 (Please click on this link to sing this touching song! You can have family members sing with you with each taking the part they wish to sing. A female in the family might do best with the melody part: -first line-)

http://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/though-deepening-trials?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, Personal Peace: The Reward of Righteousness from the title of the April (2013) General Conference Talk given it by Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. - Post 47f.
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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.

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Neil Birch




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