Two great quotes about following promptings and pushing away doubt

(From “To Learn and to Teach More Effectively,” Aug 21, 2007)

Let the Holy Spirit Guide: Creating a Spirit-led Learning Environment

After attending a teacher training last week, I’ve been inspired to pull out my file and review some gems I’ve collected about gospel teaching. Here are some great LDS quotes about the importance of the Spirit in gospel teaching and learning. Without the Spirit, we shouldn’t be teaching, because the Spirit IS the teacher. 

THE SPIRIT IS SUPREMELY IMPORTANT IN TEACHING AND LEARNING

“The greatest education you can get is to learn the voice of the Spirit” (Boyd K. Packer, Mine Errand from the Lord).

“The real teacher is the Spirit. … We’re instruments, we’re tools, and it’s our tongues and our lips, but the real teacher is on high. … ‘And if it be by some other way it is not of God’ (D&C 50:18)” (Elder Holland, Worldwide Leadership Training, 2007).

“The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life.” (Julie Beck, “And Upon the Handmaids in Those Days Will I Pour Out My Spirit,” Ensign, Nov. 2010). 

2 Nephi 33:1 – “When a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men.” 

D&C 100:6 – “It shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say.”
 
WHY? BECAUSE THE SPIRIT CONVERTS – CHANGES MINDS, HEARTS, AND ACTIONS 

“True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior. Preoccupation with unworthy behavior can lead to unworthy behavior. That is why we stress so forcefully the study of the doctrines of the gospel” (Boyd K. Packer, Ensign Nov. 1986, 17).

“The goal of gospel teaching … is not to ‘pour information’ into the minds of class members. … The aim is to inspire the individual to think about, feel about, and then do something about living gospel principles.” (Thomas Monson, CR 10/70). 

Alma 31:5 – “As the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just – yea, it had a more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them – therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God.” (Elder Holland said about this verse, “Another word for virtue is power.” From Worldwide Leadership Training, 2007)

“The Spirit not only informs and increases mutual understanding, it convinces! The Spirit can convince the student to ‘experiment upon’ (Alma 32:27) the gospel, so that the prized personal verification will come and individuals come to know for themselves that these things are true.  Brigham Young said of the Spirit’s convincing power: ‘Anything besides that influence, will fail to convince any person of the truth of the Gospel of salvation’” (Neal A. Maxwell, “Teaching by the Spirit: the Language of Inspiration,” August 15, 1991). 

“For you teachers of the Church, the principal goal of your lessons is the conversion of hearts. The quality of a lesson is not measured by the number of new pieces of information that you give your students. It comes from your capacity to invite the presence of the Spirit and to motivate your students to make commitments” (Gérald Caussé, CR, Oct. 2008).

THE TEACHER’S CHARACTER TEACHES AND INVITES THE SPIRIT 

My husband teaching my seminary class last year about the duties of a bishop.

“We teach what we are” (Boyd K. Packer, The Ideal Teacher). 

“Paramount … in what they observe is the example of your own life – how you work; how you react to challenges in and out of the classroom; … how you treat [your families]. How you live is constantly under observation. … More than what you teach, more than what you show or say, the spirit that radiates from you will effect your students. A truly effective inspiring teacher of youth cannot be marginal in conviction, intermittent in testimony, or wavering on obedience” (Richard G. Scott, “Four Fundamentals for Those Who Teach and Inspire Youth,” August 14, 1987).  

“The greatest impact of all is what they feel in your presence in the classroom and elsewhere. Your commitment to teach the precious children of our Father in Heaven is … [also] the commitment to a life every hour of which is purposefully lived in compliance with the teachings and example of the Savior and of His servants. It is a commitment to constant striving to be evermore spiritual, evermore devoted, evermore deserving to be the conduit through which the Spirit of the Lord may touch the hearts of those you are trusted to bring to a greater understanding of His teachings” (Ibid).

WHEN STUDENTS PARTICIPATE THEY INVITE THE SPIRIT AND CONVERSION

My daughter during an interactive seminary activity.

“Never, and I mean never, give a lecture where there is no student participation.  A ‘talking head’ is the weakest form of class instruction. … Ensure that there is abundant participation because that use of agency by a student authorizes the Holy Ghost to instruct. It also helps the student retain your message.  As students verbalize truths, they are confirmed in their souls and strengthen their personal testimonies” (Richard G. Scott, “To Understand and Live Truth,” Feb. 4, 2005). 

“When you encourage students to raise their hand to respond to a question, they signify to the Holy Spirit their willingness to learn.  That use of moral agency will allow the Spirit to motivate and give them more powerful guidance during your time together. Participation allows individuals to experience being led by the Spirit. They learn to recognize and feel what spiritual guidance is. It is through the repeated process of feeling impressions, recording them, and obeying them that one learns to depend on the direction of the Spirit more than on communication through the five senses” (Richard G. Scott, “Helping Others to Be Spiritually Led,” August 11, 1998). 

“A person learns more rapidly from what he does than from what others do for him.  One expert has concluded that ‘the ratio of learning is: one by hearing, ten by seeing, and one thousand by doing.’  A person does not learn nearly so well by sitting and listening to someone talk as he does by participating.  He must be involved in the lesson.  The secret of successful teaching, therefore, is getting a person to do something for himself”  (President Monson, Favorite Quotations from the Collection of Thomas S. Monson, p. 266).

1 Nephi 19:23 – “I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.”

TESTIFYING –  FROM BOTH TEACHER AND STUDENTS – INVITES THE SPIRIT 

“Above all, testify to them. Love them. Bear your witness from the depths of your soul. It will be the most important thing you say to them in the entire hour, and it may save someone’s spiritual life. … Never let your faith be difficult to detect. … Avoid self-serving performance and vanity. Don’t try to dazzle everyone with how brilliant you are. Dazzle them with how brilliant the gospel is” (Elder Holland, Worldwide Leadership Training, 2007).

“We are to help students learn to explain, share, and testify of the doctrines and principles of the restored gospel. We are to give them opportunities to do so with each other in class.  We are to encourage them to do so outside of class with family and others”  (The Teaching Emphasis in the Church Educational System, November 14, 2007).

ASKING INSPIRED QUESTIONS – FROM BOTH TEACHER AND STUDENTS – INVITES SPIRIT-LED LEARNING 

“The more questions we can get from the learners about something, the more they are engaged in the learning” (Julie Beck, Worldwide Leadership Training, 2007).

“The very process of formulating a question, raising a hand, asking a question and listening attentively is an expression of faith. This principle of seeking learning by faith invites individualized teaching by the Holy Ghost”  (David A. Bednar, Address to Australian Saints, April 2008).

“As teachers, we must require our students to think. … After discussing each story, we were asked questions such as ‘What does that mean to you?’ ‘How does this scripture–or story or principle–relate to your life?’ ‘How can you apply this teaching in your home?’ ‘How do you feel about it?’ I found in my own home with my boys that once I asked these questions they began to live and feel what they were being taught” (Elder Robert D. Hales, “Teaching By Faith,” Feb. 1, 2002). 

“To ask and to answer questions is at the heart of all learning and all teaching. The Master asked, answered, and sometimes chose not to answer questions in his ministry. … Some questions invite inspiration. Great teachers ask those. Here is a question that might not invite inspiration:  ‘How is a true prophet recognized?’ That question invites an answer which is a list, drawn from memory of the scriptures and the words of living prophets. But we could also ask the question this way, with just a small difference: ‘When have you felt that you were in the presence of a prophet?’ That will invite individuals to search their memories for feelings. After asking, we might wisely wait for a moment before calling on someone to respond. Even those who do not speak will be thinking of spiritual experiences.  That will invite the Holy Ghost”(President Henry B. Eyring “The Lord Will Multiply the Harvest,” Feb. 6, 1998).

WRITING DOWN IMPRESSIONS FROM THE SPIRIT INVITES CHANGE AND MORE IMPRESSIONS

“Those who earnestly seek help through prayer and scripture study often have a paper and pencil nearby to write questions and record impressions and ideas” (Julie Beck, “And Upon the Handmaids … I Pour Out My Spirit,” Ensign, Nov. 2010). 
“Do you know how to get the most benefit from this time together?  Write down the impressions you feel…Spiritual moments in life often come when it seems difficult to record them.  Yet that special effort to crystallize in a permanent record sacred impressions of the Holy Ghost is powerfully rewarded.  Begin now even if you have to borrow paper and pencil to do it.” (Richard G. Scott, BYU-I Devot., Feb. 24, 2004)

“I encourage you to emphasize that we often leave the most precious personal direction of the Spirit unheard because we do not record and respond to the first promptings that come to us when the Lord chooses to direct us or when impressions come in response to urgent prayer” (Richard G. Scott, “Helping Others to be Spiritually Led,” August 11, 1998).

“Powerful spiritual direction in your life can be overcome or forced into the background unless you provide a way to retain it. … Knowledge carefully recorded is knowledge available in time of need. Spiritually sensitive information should be kept in a sacred place that communicates to the Lord how you treasure it. That practice enhances the likelihood of your receiving further light” (Richard G. Scott, “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge,” Ensign, Nov. 1993).

IT’S BETTER TO REALLY DIGEST ONE PRINCIPLE THAN RUSHING TO COVER ALL YOUR MATERIAL

“Avoid … the temptation to cover too much material, the temptation to stuff more into the hour – or more into the students – than they can possibly hold! .. We are teaching people, not subject matter per se; … An unrushed atmosphere is absolutely essential if you are to have the Spirit of the Lord present in your class. … Don’t try to do too much. … If we can get one thing across, one idea, one principle, something sterling and significant … be assured” (Elder Holland, W Leadership Training, 2007).

PONDERING AND REVERENCE INVITE THE SPIRIT 

“The word ponder means to consider, contemplate, reflect upon, or think about. Pondering the scriptures, then, is reverent reflecting on the truths, experiences, and lessons contained in the standard works. The process of pondering takes time and cannot be forced, hurried, or rushed” (David Bednar, “Because We Have Them before Our Eyes,” New Era, Apr 2006, 2).

“Reverence is profound respect and love…As you become more reverent, you will notice a quiet transformation in your life.  The Lord will pour out His Spirit more abundantly on you.  You will be less troubled and confused.  You will be able to receive revelation to help you solve personal and family problems” (“Reverence”, True to the Faith – A Gospel Reference, p. 145)

The Spirit does not get our attention by shouting or shaking us with a heavy hand. Rather it whispers. It caresses so gently that if we are preoccupied we may not feel it at all. … Occasionally it will press just firmly enough for us to pay heed. But most of the time, if we do not heed the gentle feeling, the Spirit will withdraw and wait until we come seeking and listening and say in our manner and expression, like Samuel of ancient times, “Speak [Lord], for thy servant heareth.”  (1 Sam. 3:10.)  (Boyd K. Packer, “The Candle of the Lord,” Ensign, Jan 1983 )

WE CAN EXPECT A LOT FROM YOUTH, AND THEY NEED DEEP CONVERSION IN THIS DAY AND AGE

“One of the dangers of the times we are passing into is that we might be tempted to lower our expectations for ourselves and for those young people we serve.  As the world darkens, even a partial conversion and a few spiritual experiences may seem more and more remarkable, compared to the world.  We might be tempted to expect less.  The Lord has given another signal, clear and powerful.  It is that we can expect more, not less, of youth.” (Henry B. Eyring, “Raising Expectations,”August 2004)

THE SPIRIT CAN TESTIFY OF ALL TRUTH, NO MATTER THE SOURCE 

“If you can find a truth in heaven, earth or hell, it belongs to our doctrine. We believe it; it is ours; we claim it. … If the infidel has got truth it belongs to “Mormonism.” The truth and sound doctrine possessed by the sectarian world, and they have a great deal, all belong to this Church. As for their morality, many of them are, morally, just as good as we are. All that is good, lovely, and praiseworthy belongs to this Church and Kingdom. “Mormonism” includes all truth. There is no truth but what belongs to the Gospel” (Brigham Young, Teaching: Brigham Young, Chapt. 2: The Gospel Defined”).

PRAY FOR THE TEACHER TO PREPARE AND TEACH BY THE SPIRIT 

“I will talk to God about [the teachers] and tell him how much I desire for him to teach me through them. I am not sure I understand how this works, but I know it works. Last Monday night I was preparing to come here. I felt some impressions of something I was supposed to teach you. They came with more than the normal intellectual force. … As I received the idea for this talk, I felt it an impression that I was receiving it because of the prayers of one or more of you. … Perhaps it wasn’t so much that you were naming me, but you must have been pleading to be given some help, to be taught something, to be given some assurance. …  By your prayers you can and will bring down the blessings of heaven, and particularly the gift of the Holy Ghost, which will help your teachers and your leaders” (Henry B. Eyring, “Listen Together,” BYU Fireside, Sept. 4, 1988).


Click here to see quotes about getting students to participate in class. 

How to Get Students to Participate in Class: 17 Ideas and 17 Quotes

I agree with Elder Kim Clarke when he said: 

“Whatever level of spirituality we now enjoy in our lives; whatever degree of faith in Jesus Christ … commitment and consecration, whatever degree of obedience or hope or charity is ours … it will not be sufficient for the work that lies ahead. … You and I need to be much better than we are now. The scriptures teach us that the world is now and will be in commotion. Wickedness and darkness will increase. Yet in that darkening world there will be increased divine light. The Lord Jesus Christ has a great work for us to do with the rising generation. It is a greater work than we have ever done before. The Lord is working in power to strengthen teaching and learning in His true and living Church. He is hastening His work, and He is preparing the earth and His kingdom and us for His return” (“Encircled About with Fire,” Seminaries and Institutes of Religion Satellite Broadcast, August 4, 2015, emphasis added).

So How do we strengthen teaching and learning to raise us to the next level and help prepare the world for the Savior’s return? One way is to help students participate in their spiritual learning every time they come to class.   

17 Ideas to Invite Student Participation

1. When someone makes a comment, make sure they feel safe and appreciated. It takes a lot of courage for some people to participate, so be careful not to make someone feel embarrassed or unappreciated for their comment. Looking them in the eye and saying, “Thank you, that’s a great point! It reminds me of…” goes a long way in making people feel safe to share.   

2. Openly invite participation. At the beginning of your lesson, tell the class you’d love to hear their comments and questions. You may even dedicate a whole lesson to this, which is what we do at the beginning of each school year in seminary. 

3. Have them discuss with a neighbor or small group what a scripture or quote means to them, how it applies to their lives, or a time when it has blessed their lives.  

4. Have a student read a verse aloud then paraphrase it in his own words. That makes them think and internalize what they read.  

5. Have a student read a verse aloud then tell how it applies to a certain principle, or how it applies to her life.

6. Invite students to share a personal experience that relates to the topic. When you invite participation, pause longer than is comfortable. Some people need several seconds to process their thoughts, so if you’re too uncomfortable to pause, those people will never raise their hands to comment. 

7.  Invite a student to bear his or her testimony about a principle. Or ask a person after giving a comment, “Would you put an “I know” statement at the end of that?” For example, if the comment was about prayer, they may respond with “I know that when I spend more time thanking Heavenly Father in my prayers, I feel closer to Him.” 

8. When reading a passage, stop and ask questions along the way to make sure everyone follows the story or sermon.    

9. Have students brainstorm ways to apply a principle and list their ideas on the board. Invite them to set a goal by choosing one item that they plan to use to improve their own lives. If they write down their goal on an index card, set an alarm, or send themselves a message on their phone, they’re more likely to remember and do their goal. The next class period you could start the day asking who would like to share how it went doing their action. You could text your students with a reminder. 

10.  Play pass the chalk. One or two students can write on the board one way to apply the principle, and they pass the chalk to the next person until everyone has a chance to write their idea on the board. 

11. Invite them to write a short journal entry to paraphrase a verse into their own words, then write their thoughts about it, and how it applies to them. You may want to play instrumental hymn music as they write. 

12. Ask questions before reading a scripture or quote such as: 

• Look for…
• Notice…
• Find… 

13. Ask open-ended questions after reading a scripture or quote, such as: 

• What is the Lord trying to teach us here?
• What does it mean to you? How you feel about it?
• How does this scripture or story or principle relate to your life?
• Why do you think…
• What did you find…
• What do you think, In your opinion…
• Why is it, How is it…
• What is the difference…
• What are some ways…
• What life lessons can we draw from this? 
• Who’s willing to summarize the story so far?
• What blessings have you seen when you have…

(Notice what three words most of these questions start with)

14. When someone asks a question, rather than answering it yourself, invite the class to give answers.  Or ask the class to help find the answer in the scriptures or the manual. Teach them how to use study helps like footnotes, Topical Guide, Bible Dictionary, and especially the Joseph Smith Translation. 

15. What if you get too much participation from one or two people so other class members don’t get a chance? You could say before asking your next question, “Let’s hear from someone who hasn’t shared yet today,” or “How about someone on this side of the room?” or “We have time for two people to share.” 

16. At the end of a lesson I sometimes invite a student to close with their testimony of a principle or truth they learned today. These have been awesome! I gave my seminary students notice when I was going to start inviting them, and told them to come tell me privately if they didn’t want me to call on them. Another option is to ask, “Who is willing to stand up and share with us what you learned about prayer today?” 

17. Here is a method of class participation you can use if you have an emergency with no prep time, which happened once in Relief Society. I asked everyone to pull out their paper or digital manual, and assigned a section of the lesson to each row. I gave them several minutes to silently read their section and mark things they might like to share. I scanned the whole lesson while they read, and of course prayed for guidance that we’d all say what God would have us say. It turned out awesome! As we moved through each section of the lesson, that row shared what stood out to them and their thoughts or experiences about it. Sometimes I chimed in responses and sometimes others did. At the end I summarized the main point of the lesson in a testimony and we were all well nourished by the Spirit and a great discussion. 

17 LDS Quotes about Student Participation 

1. “Sometimes students come to the learning setting thinking that the responsibility for their learning rests only with the teacher. They want to sit passively and have education “happen” to them. This cannot be….Each person has a responsibility for his or her own gospel learning and living, and each will ultimately be judged by how they fulfill that responsibility” (Teaching the Gospel: A Handbook for CES Teachers and Leaders, p. 13).

2. “The very process of formulating a question, raising a hand, asking a question and listening attentively is an expression of faith. This principle of seeking learning by faith invites individualized teaching by the Holy Ghost”  (Elder David A. Bednar, Address to Australian Saints, April 2008).

3. “A person learns more rapidly from what he does than from what others do for him. One expert has concluded that ‘the ratio of learning is: one by hearing, ten by seeing, and one thousand by doing.’  A person does not learn nearly so well by sitting and listening to someone talk as he does by participating.  He must be involved in the lesson. The secret of successful teaching, therefore, is getting a person to do something for himself” (President Monson, Favorite Quotations from the Collection of Thomas S. Monson, p. 266).

4. “As teachers, we must require our students to think… After discussing each story, we were asked questions such as ‘What does that mean to you?’ ‘How does this scripture–or story or principle–relate to your life?’ ‘How can you apply this teaching in your home?’ ‘How do you feel about it?’ I found in my own home with m boys that once I asked these questions they began to live and feel what they were being taught.  We were asked to think” (Elder Robert D. Hales, “Teaching By Faith,” Feb. 1, 2002). 

5. “Never, and I mean never, give a lecture where there is no student participation.  A ‘talking head’ is the weakest form of class instruction… Assure that there is abundant participation because that use of agency by a student authorizes the Holy Ghost to instruct. It also helps the student retain your message.  As students verbalize truths, they are confirmed in their souls and strengthen their personal testimonies” (Elder Richard G. Scott, “To Understand and Live Truth,” Feb. 4, 2005). 

6. “Learning by faith cannot be transferred from an instructor to a student through a lecture, a demonstration, or an experiential exercise; rather a student must exercise faith and act in order to obtain the knowledge for himself or herself… Ultimately the responsibility to learn by faith and apply spiritual truth rests upon each of us individually… What, how, and when we learn is supported by–but is not dependent upon–an instructor, a method of presentation, or a specific topic or lesson format” (Elder David A. Bednar, “Seek Learning by Faith,” Feb. 3, 2006).

7. “We are to help students learn to explain, share, and testify of the doctrines and principles of the restored gospel. We are to give them opportunities to do so with each other in class. We are to encourage them to do so outside of class with family and others” (The Teaching Emphasis in the Church Educational System, November 14, 2007).

8. “The role of the teacher is “to help individuals take responsibility for learning the gospel—to awaken in them the desire to study, understand, and live the gospel” (David M. McKonkie, Gen. Conf. Oct. 2010, quoting Teaching, No Greater Call: A Resource Guide for Gospel Teaching, 1999, 61).

9.  “When you encourage students to raise their hand to respond to a question, they signify to the Holy Spirit their willingness to learn.  That use of moral agency will allow the Spirit to motivate and give them more powerful guidance during your time together. Participation allows individuals to experience being led by the Spirit. They learn to recognize and feel what spiritual guidance is. It is through the repeated process of feeling impressions, recording them, and obeying them that one learns to depend on the direction of the Spirit more than on communication through the five senses” (Elder Richard G. Scott, “Helping Others to Be Spiritually Led,” Teaching Seminary Preservice Readings (2004), 55–57).

 10. “One of the dangers of the times we are passing into is that we might be tempted to lower our expectations for ourselves and for those young people we serve.  As the world darkens, even a partial conversion and a few spiritual experiences may seem more and more remarkable, compared to the world.  We might be tempted to expect less.  The Lord has given another signal, clear and powerful.  It is that we can expect more, not less, of youth.” (Henry B. Eyring, “Raising Expectations,” CES Satellite Training Broadcast, August 2004)

11.  “Do you know how to get the most benefit from this time together?  Write down the impressions you feel. … Spiritual moments in life often come when it seems difficult to record them.  Yet that special effort to crystallize in a permanent record sacred impressions of the Holy Ghost is powerfully rewarded.  Begin now even if you have to borrow paper and pencil to do it.” (Richard G. Scott, BYU-Idaho Devotional, February 24, 2004)

12. “How easy it is for a teacher to respond quickly to simple questions, to close a conversation that might have ignited a sparkling and lively class discussion. . . . Few things are so agonizing for a new teacher as to want to start a discussion and then have everyone remain silent. The use of discussion, simple question and answer, is one of the basic, useful, and important teaching processes. It often does not go well simply because the teacher does not know how to ask questions or how to respond (or how not to respond) to those that are asked by the class”  (President Boyd K. Packer, Teach Ye Diligently [1975], 55–56). 

13. “To ask and to answer questions is at the heart of all learning and all teaching. The Master asked, answered, and sometimes chose not to answer questions in his ministry. … Some questions invite inspiration. Great teachers ask those. That may take just a small change of words, an inflection in the voice. Here is a question that might not invite inspiration:  ‘How is a true prophet recognized?’ That question invites an answer which is a list, drawn from memory of the scriptures and the words of living prophets. But we could also ask the question this way, with just a small difference: ‘When have you felt that you were in the presence of a prophet?’ That will invite individuals to search their memories for feelings. After asking, we might wisely wait for a moment before calling on someone to respond. Even those who do not speak will be thinking of spiritual experiences.  That will invite the Holy Ghost” (President Henry B. Eyring,The Lord Will Multiply the Harvest, [address to religious educators, 6 Feb. 1998], 5–6)
14. “The goal of gospel teaching … is not to ‘pour information’ into the minds of class members. … The aim is to inspire the individual to think about, feel about, and then do something about living gospel principles” (Thomas S. Monson, in Conference Report, Oct. 1970, 107).

15. “Testimony—real testimony, born of the Spirit and confirmed by the Holy Ghost—changes lives” (Elder Ballard, “Pure Testimony,” Ensign, Nov. 2004, 40). 

16. “[The students’] decision to participate is an exercise in agency that permits the Holy Ghost to communicate a personalized message suited to their individual needs. Creating an atmosphere of participation enhances the probability that the Spirit will teach more important lessons than you can communicate.” (Elder Richard G. Scott, “The Spirit is the Real Teacher,” lds.org)

17. “Oh, if I could teach you this one principle. A testimony is to be found in the bearing of it! … It is one thing to receive a witness from what you have read or what another has said; and that is a necessary beginning. It is quite another to have the Spirit confirm to you in your bosom that what you have testified is true” (Elder Boyd K. Packer,“The Candle of the Lord,” 54–55).

6 Ways NOT to Invite Participation

1. Just read the lesson from the manual. 

2. Just lecture. 

3. Try to impress the class with yourself–your knowledge or skills.

4. When students make comments or questions, you criticize, be unresponsive, look down instead of listening fully, tell them they’re wrong, or treat it lightly.

5. Do anything to push away the Spirit like using inappropriate language, jokes or examples.

6. Fail to center the lesson on gospel truths.

Click here for quotes and ideas for creating a Spirit-led learning environment. 

My eight take-aways from President Eyring’s talk published FOUR TIMES.

“When words of a prophet seem repetitive, that should rivet our attention” (President Eyring). 

Then I think this should rivet our attention. President Eyring has published the same talk FOUR TIMES, including an adapted one in the newest Ensign. Click here for links to all four talks. I think understanding this talk is vital for spiritual survival in the last days, and quite possibly our physical survival, according to a story he repeats in all four versions. 

Here are my eight take-aways from the original talk in 1997. 

1. Jesus Christ wants to lead us to safety. 

President Eyring’s talk said this 18 times in various ways — call to safety, lead to safety, guide to safety, path to safety, go to places of safety, gather to safety. Remember, President Eyring told us that when prophetic counsel is repetitive, that should rivet our attention. I think 18 times in one talk is a deliberate theme and means we ought to pay attention.

2. God has created this awesome law of witnesses where His authorized servants give us messages to help lead us to safety. 

President Eyring said that God “calls by more than one means so that it will reach those willing to accept it. And those means always include sending the message by the mouths of His prophets… One of the keys to recognizing those warnings is that they are repeated,” like when one prophet quotes other prophets and becomes a second and even third witness. Prophets are absolutely vital. They are included in the ways God calls people to safety. Other ways can be local priesthood leaders like the bishop in President Eyring’s article, patriarchal blessings, promptings from the Spirit, and some have gifts of receiving personal revelation through dreams, visions, or near death experiences. I don’t have those gifts, but I know people who do, and the scriptures verify they are part of God’s plan (see D&C 46:11-26, Moroni 10:8-19, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11. Click here for more on gifts of the Spirit.)

3. When we listen to and obey God’s prophets, we can receive protection that we wouldn’t otherwise receive. 

President Eyring repeated the story of Haun’s Mill in all four of his articles, which means there is an important lesson there. If Mr. Haun had delivered the prophet Joseph Smith’s message to leave and come to Farr West, none of those innocent victims would have been killed. The lesson is simple and undeniable. Stick with the prophets; there is safety there. Not that people won’t ever suffer or even die if it’s their time to go, but that the safest place to be, especially important as signs of the last days are all around us, is to be 100% loyal to God through His prophets. This is a good lesson for our day where some believe in preparedness but seem to spend all their energy on gathering food storage and supplies, while neglecting their testimonies. Physical preparedness is great and coincides with what prophets have told us to do for decades, but being close to the Lord and having a burning testimony that God called our prophets today may be the only thing that can save you if there ever comes a time like Haun’s Mill when the only thing that would have saved them was to obey the prophet. 

4. One way to self-analyze the strength of your faith is by how you respond to the counsel of prophets. 

• For those with strong faith, obeying the prophets makes sense to them and is a top priority in their lives. 
• For those with little faith, prophets’ counsel may seem like only advice, and if it matches their own opinions they may follow it, but if it doesn’t, they may find fault in the advice or justifying being an exception to the counsel. 
• For those with no faith, prophetic counsel may be seen as selfish commands that take away others’ freedom, and they may mock and openly criticize the prophets and those who follow them, like Korihor did. 

5. An interesting couple of false beliefs come to play here. 

• When people reject God’s counsel they may believe they are independent from any outside influence, but the truth is, whether we know it or not, rejecting God’s protective influence means we choose the influence of the devil instead, whose motive is to make everyone miserable and take away their freedom. 
• Another fallacy is believing that choosing whether to accept counsel from prophets or not is choosing whether to gain benefits of that choice or to stay where you are. The truth is that rejecting prophetic counsel “changes the very ground upon which we stand. It becomes more dangerous. The failure to take prophetic counsel lessens our power to take inspired counsel in the future. The best time to have decided to help Noah build the ark was the first time he asked. Each time he asked after that, each failure to respond would have lessened sensitivity to the Spirit. And so each time his request would have seemed more foolish, until the rain came. And then it was too late.” So each rejection of prophetic counsel weakens our power and our freedom. 

6. President Eyring gives a four step pattern to being on the path of safety. 

• First, strengthen your own faith so you are in the group who prioritize prophetic counsel whether it makes sense or not. This is not something others can do for you. You must do it yourself, every time you kneel to pray, study your scriptures or words of modern prophets, every time you serve in the temple or fast or hold family home evening. Each time you obey God through the counsel of his ancient and modern prophets, you are adding oil to your spiritual preparedness lamp that President Kimball told us about (see Faith Precedes the Miracle (1972), 256).
• Second, pay attention to what the prophets are telling us. This weekend is a perfect time to pay attention at general conference. When I was younger I would multi-task by cleaning the house, cooking, or doing other projects during conference. Not any more. Now I strive to tidy the house first and be fully present with notebook in hand, ready to write down my take-aways from every talk. I want to pay attention and not miss a thing. If someone were to ask you right now what topics the First Presidency spoke on six months ago in conference, would you remember? I’m not sure I would either, which means I need to make studying those conference talks a better priority the six months between conference, and perhaps hanging a quote meme for each of our 15 prophets, seers, and revelators in my home to remind me of each of their prophetic topics they felt called upon to guide us to safety.
• Third, President Eyring counsels us to pray and receive our own confirmation through the Spirit that the counsel is from the Lord. He told of him doing that himself, and then added the story of Reddick Allred likely praying to receive his own confirmation that his leaders’ counsel was from the Lord to stay until the stranded handcart companies were found, even when other rescuers were giving up and heading home. He also mentioned this with Lehi’s family, saying that only those who “had faith and who themselves received confirming revelation saw both the danger and the way to safety.” It takes that kind of KNOWING when it’s your moment to stand alone, to stand true to what God has told you even when many others around you are turning their back on what prophets have said, which happened in Allred’s and Lehi’s story. With the sifting of wheat and tares that we’re told will happen before the Savior’s Second Coming, this is something we each must have the strength and courage to do – to stand on the side of the prophets, even if those in our family or ward are going the other way, like the other rescuers did in Allred’s story.  I find that once I already have a burning testimony that our prophets are absolutely called of God, I don’t feel a need to pray about specific counsel they give because the testimony of them being called of God waterfalls down as a testimony of the counsel they give. What a layered blessing. But if I ever need to do this for any specific counsel, I love knowing that I can and that God will give that gift to me. President Eyring said, “I promise you answers to such prayers of faith.”
• Fourth, once you have heard what the prophets have said and have your own testimony of it, DO IT. Follow the counsel with humility, accepting that God knows better than your limited, mortal understanding.

I love how President Eyring said when he has used this pattern he has moved toward safety, and found that the way had been prepared ahead for Him by a loving Heavenly Father, sometimes far in advance, like Nephi’s experience of getting the brass plates when God prepared Laban who had passed out, and then guided Nephi to that very spot. Keep in mind, Nephi had prayed to receive his own confirmation that his dad was indeed telling him God’s will, which gave him the righteous spiritual stubbornness not to return until he had accomplished God’s will, absolutely knowing God would help him succeed (see 1 Nephi 3:7 and 2:16). 

7. When we follow the path of safety, we inspire others follow the path of safety too. 

Reddick Allred “could offer [the starving handcart pioneers] safety because he had followed counsel when it was hard to do.” As a twelve-year-old girl, I was invited to a birthday party where a rated-R movie started playing. This was before the days of cell phones and I didn’t know how to handle the situation. I walked upstairs to do homework at the kitchen table. Soon my friend followed me, saying she felt very uncomfortable with the movie but didn’t dare leave until she saw me leave the room. When one person follows God’s prophets on the path to safety, it empowers others to do the same. 

We see this all over in the scriptures. 

• Think of how Abinadi infused spiritual courage into Alma. 
• How Amulek was inspired by Alma. 
• How Zeezrom was led to the path of safety by following the inspired words of Alma and Amulek. 
• Think of Hyrum following Joseph.
• And President Monson being tenderly led to the path of ministering to the one by his inspired mother and primary teacher.

As President Eyring said, “There are few comforts so sweet as to know that we have been an instrument in the hands of God in leading someone else to safety. That blessing generally requires the faith to follow counsel when it is hard to do.” 

8. Finally, when a piece of prophetic counsel seems not to make sense or to apply to us, don’t discard it but hold it close. 

Just like being given a handful of sand with the promise of gold inside, don’t throw it away because you can’t see gold yet. Hold it carefully, shake it gently, and you will begin to see flakes of gold appear. You will begin to see the wisdom, foresight, and safety in counsel from a loving God who can see the beginning from the end, compared with our limited tunnel vision of mortality. 

I have loved studying this talk. I love our prophets and apostles, and I am inspired by how they have consecrated their lives to God’s work of calling you and me to safety.  

I miss our three apostles who recently left us for the spirit world, and I am praying hard for the three new ones soon to be announced, as I can only imagine the immense overwhelm and inadequacy such a call would bring. But just as I know God has prepared and called every one of his prophets and apostles so far, the next three will also be called of God. Even though I don’t yet know who they are, I already feel the Spirit confirming to me that they are men called of God from before this world (see Abraham 3:22-23), and that heeding their prophetic words will lead me to the path of safety. 

I want to share an experience I had when President Hinckley had died and President Monson was about to be announced as our new prophet. 

I was a bit nervous that my immense love and loyalty to President Hinckley as God’s mouthpiece for so many years might get in the way of feeling that same conversion and loyalty to President Monson as the Lord’s mouthpiece. So I prayed fervently that when I saw President Monson on the screen as we got the chance to sustain him as the new president of the Church, that I would be given that witness from the Spirit. I am happy to say that I was indeed given that confirmation, so strongly that tears rolled down my cheeks. I have tears in my eyes as I write this, remembering that moment. So if you need your own witness of our prophet, or any other leaders whom God has called, please don’t put it off a day longer. Get on your knees and plead with him for a personal witness from the Spirit that these people are indeed called of God. As President Eyring said, “I promise you answers to such prayers of faith.” Then you put yourself in the path of safety as you follow their counsel, especially in the challenging days ahead. 

Click here to see the four times President Eyring published versions of this talk. 

Seven Keys for Overcoming Evil Influence (from Moses chapter one)

Moses meeting with Jehovah just before Satan arrived.

This week in seminary we studied seven important keys that Moses used to overcome Satan’s influence. These keys can help us too. 

Satan tries to get to all of us, whether through temptation, discouragement, distraction, addiction, darkness, fears, or a million other ways. We all need tools to help us prevent and overcome the devil’s influence in our lives. And we cannot do it alone.  

Key number 1. Remember your true identity.  

When Satan commanded Moses to worship him and called him “son of man,”  Moses’ first response was something like this. Who do you think you are? I know who I am, a beloved son of God, not a son of man, created in God’s image and with infinite worth and potential. There’s no way I’m going to worship you. (See Moses 1:12-13.)

Like Moses, we can overcome Satan’s influence by remembering our true identity and worth. For example, the world says your self-esteem is based on what you look like, wear, or drive. Or based on your dress size, IQ number, grades, or income. Wait until you see God’s simple but powerful formula for true self-worth laid out in this chapter:

• I am God. 
• You are my beloved child, which means you have infinite worth and the potential to become like me. 
• I have a purpose for your life, a work for you to do, and I will help you succeed (see Moses 1:3-6). 
• And if you doubt my love for you, look what my own mission statement is (see Moses 1:39) and look whose life I gave so you can come back to me. (That one isn’t from Moses but it’s too important to leave out.)

Is that a great anti-depressant, or what?  So if you ever feel Satan or his helpers working on you, trying to convince you that you’re worthless because you’re x, y, or z, you just remember who you really are. So there. You may need help remembering while under the influence of the enemy, so dig into the scriptures, get on your knees, study your patriarchal blessing, run to the temple, or immerse yourself in indexing. Pretty soon your memory will be refreshed and you’ll start to feel peace again. 

2.  Have the Spirit with you. 

Moses could discern Satan’s lies because he had experienced both light and dark, and he had the discernment of the Spirit (see Moses 1:15).

So do whatever it takes to keep the Spirit with you. Every. Single. Day. You know, the small and simple holy habits that bring great things to pass, like scriptures, prayers, FHE, attending church and the temple. What holy habits do you need to do more consistently to have the Spirit with you more consistently?  Do you need to wake up a little earlier to allow for a quality morning prayer? Do you need to kick a habit of violent video games that repel the Spirit? Do you need to be kind to your younger siblings even when you’re tempted to yell? Do you need to get ready in the morning to uplifting LDS music rather than music laced with immoral messages? (See how here or here.) Do you need to stop what you’re doing and quickly repent when you realize you made a mistake?  No price is too high to have the Spirit with you, not only for the peace, joy, guidance, and so many other gifts that the Spirit brings, but also for discernment and protection from the enemy. 

3. Keep the commandments. 

Moses stayed true to the commandment that the Savior gave him at the burning bush a while back, which was to call upon and worship God.  He told Satan that he is committed to keeping that commandment exactly, and won’t veer from it by worshiping Satan (see Moses 1:17-18). Because of Moses’ precise obedience, God blesses him with the ability to make Satan leave, and with more layers of beautiful light and truth right around the corner (see Moses 1:25-40). Obedience is key to overcoming Satan in our lives as it makes us worthy of the Spirit and of God’s power and revelation. 

4. Call upon God. 

Moses tried three times to make Satan leave and Satan refused, showing more of his true colors by trying to cause fear and intimidation. Moses called upon God and gained strength to stand strong and resist Satan’s influence (see Moses 1:20-21).  We need to do the same thing. The Lord tells us to “pray always lest ye enter into temptation; for Satan desireth to have you” (see 3 Nephi 18:18).  Prayer helps us overcome evil. 

5. Command Satan to leave in the name of Christ. 

On Moses’ fourth time telling Satan to leave, he finally left (see Moses 1:20-21). Why the difference? The key was that Moses finally used the name of the Only Begotten the fourth time, and Satan had to leave. This is a good model that shows us how to cast out evil influences. And sometimes we need a priesthood blessing to cast it out, which is also in the name of Christ. What a blessing to have Christ on our side as long as we are on His. 

6. Remember previous spiritual experiences.

Moses responded to Satan by rehearsing spiritual experiences he had recently had, which I’m sure gave him strength, boosted his faith, and helped him stand true until Satan left (see Moses 1:13-18). You can do the same thing when Satan tries to influence you. That’s one of the important reasons for writing down your answers to prayer or your spiritual experiences. Later if you have a moment of doubt about a decision, which, according to Elder Holland, you will because Satan is real, then you can reread your spiritual conviction, and pull up your boot straps to stand your ground and not let Satan tempt you to move from what you know is right. (See Holland video below.)

Another way remembering is potent against Satan is that we can remind ourselves of times when God has helped us in the past, helped our family members, ancestors, scripture people, and others. This boosts faith and courage, and combats the doubts or fears that Satan tries to plant. Writing a personal “remember list” of those times can be a tremendous strength, boosting our belief that if God helped us then, surely He will help us again.  

7. Keep the eternal perspective. 

Satan wants us to have tunnel vision, only seeing right here, right now, with selfish instant gratification being the only motive.  “This is what I want, and I want it now, and I don’t care about anything else.”  That kind of thinking is at the root of sins like dishonesty, immorality, addictions, or simple meanness. God invites us to keep a much broader perspective, understanding that our actions this moment impact our future, our loved ones, and our agency. The Savior had just given Moses a spiritual experience of seeing the whole earth and all the people on it, which is a very broad perspective, to say the least! We can help ourselves keep a broad, eternal perspective by doing the same small and simple holy habits that have been mentioned already – getting on our knees, digging into the scriptures, studying our patriarchal blessing, running to the temple, or talking with a trusted friend who can help us see the bigger picture until we can feel that peace and strength again. 


This video is Elder Holland narrating the story of Moses overcoming Satan, and encouraging us in our personal battles as well (6 minutes). 

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If the video doesn’t work, you can watch it by clicking here. You can also read Elder Holland’s whole talk here.

P.S. Here’s what we learn about the nature of Satan from Moses chapter one. 

• He tries to get us to forget our divine nature (verse 12)
• He tries to get us to break our promises to God (12)
• He often starts out subtle and grows more intense (12, 19, 21-22)
• He is a liar (19)
• He is completely selfish (12) 
• He likes to use fear and intimidation (19, 20, 22)
• He hates taking no for an answer (19, 20, 22) 
• He wants to be worshiped (12)
• He has some control of the elements (21)
• He must leave when commanded with the Savior’s name and power (20-21)
• He doesn’t want people to know his true nature or how to overcome him. We know this because one of the plain and precious parts of the Bible that was removed during the many translations was the entire first chapter of Genesis, which is now Moses chapter one. Why would Satan want this chapter removed? My husband calls it the “antidote to Satan” chapter. Of course he wants it gone. We are so blessed to have these tools and the truth of who God is, who we are, and who Satan is. 

Truth is empowering. I thank God for the truths in this precious, nearly-lost chapter. 

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland sums up Satan’s motives. 

“Number one, Satan, or Lucifer, or the father of lies—call him what you will—is real, the very personification of evil. His motives are in every case malicious, and he convulses at the appearance of redeeming light, at the very thought of truth. Number two, he is eternally opposed to the love of God, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and the work of peace and salvation. He will fight against these whenever and wherever he can. He knows he will be defeated and cast out in the end, but he is determined to take down with him as many others as he possibly can” (“We Are All Enlisted,” Ensign, Nov. 2011). 

How do you respond to broken bow challenges or a broken jar of spaghetti sauce? And printable handout of today’s liahonas. Day 6 of Book of Mormon challenge.

If you want to join in our 90 day Book of Mormon challenge, please do! Here is a post about it, and here is a Facebook group where we share insights and encouragement. 

Nephi’s broken bow story is classic (See 1 Nephi 16:18-32). Can we not all relate with many people experiencing the same stressful situation, where some people lose it and blame, complain, and lose hope, while others stay calm, try to calm others, and move forward with positive action? 


Take a broken jar of spaghetti sauce, a massive toy mess, or a stubbed toe.  

It’s not just Laman, Lemuel, and Nephi. I can experience these same situations with completely different responses. How about you? 


What is the key difference that determines how you will respond – freaking out and blaming, or calmly and with positive action?

The big difference I notice is if I’m filled with the Spirit or if I’m not. If I’m not filled with the Spirit a broken jar of spaghetti sauce is a catastrophe worth yelling over, blaming, and getting mad. If I am filled with the Spirit, the mess is really no big deal. I might even laugh over it to lighten the mood as I get to work cleaning it up cheerfully. Big difference. 

Check out this list that a BYU professor and his students came up with to describe the difference. (See Don Norton, “I Have a Question,” Ensign, August, 1978.) Can you relate? 

This reminds me of two of my favorite quotes about the importance of having the Spirit with us and learning how the Spirit speaks to us.

Julie Beck said, “The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life” (Ensign, May 2010). “Without personal revelation, we cannot succeed. If we heed personal revelation, we cannot fail” (Ensign, November 2008). 

President Boyd K. Packer said, “These are sobering times. … You won’t survive spiritually, unless you know how to receive revelation. … I don’t know if you know how to receive revelation, but you’re not going to survive without it” (BYU-Hawaii Graduation Speech, Dec. 2005). 

It also reminds me of my favorite Elder Holland quote about murmuring, which is NOT a good way to invite the Spirit. 

“I have often thought that Nephi’s being bound with cords and beaten by rods must have been more tolerable to him than listening to Laman and Lemuel’s constant murmuring (see 1 Nephi 3:28–31; 18:11–15).  Surely he must have said at least once, ‘Hit me one more time. I can still hear you.’ Yes, life has its problems, and yes, there are negative things to face, but please accept one of Elder Holland’s maxims for living—no misfortune is so bad that whining about it won’t make it worse” (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Tongue of Angels,” Ensign, May 2007).

Notice the liahona worked for Nephi the same way the Holy Ghost works for us. 

• According to our faith, heed, and diligence we give to it (See 1 Nephi 16:29).
• “By small means the Lord can bring about great things” (1 Nephi 16:29)
• The power of small and simple things is great, but is easy to overlook. When the Lord sent poisonous snakes to the Israelites in the wilderness, He gave them a simple way to be healed. All they needed to do was look at the brass serpent, but because of the easiness of it, many wouldn’t do it and they died. 
• The same can be said of the small and simple holy habits that invite the Spirit – personal and family scripture study and prayer, family home evening, temple worship, service, and kindness. These things are so small that we can overlook their great power. Yet they invite in the Spirit to be with us, which fills us with God’s power, perspective, purpose, and peace. What could be better than that? 

When I presented a class about the importance of the Spirit a couple years ago, I noticed what a striking difference there was between two plants in my home. They are the same exact kind of plant, but the one on the left gets lots of light, and the one in the middle does not. The dead leaves on the right are from the plant in the middle.  Isn’t that a perfect example of how our own spirits thrive and grow when they get lots of light from the Spirit, and how they wilt and wither when they do not?  

What are your favorite ways to invite the Spirit into your life every day?  Feel free to leave a comment below.

Click here for a printable handout about liahonas for our day, and how we respond to broken bow challenges in our life. (Update: I fixed the formatting so so it should print correctly now.)

Just print it on both sides, fold, and cut it if you want to glue it into your Book of Mormon like I did. You just slide a stick glue onto the folded edge of the handout and tuck it in between the pages. 

Pages one and two: Liahonas for our day

Page three: How do we respond to broken bow challenges in our life?

Gems from Today’s Seminary Lesson about Handcart Pioneers, with a Quote Handout

Today I dressed up in my pioneer trek outfit, all wrinkled from being stored in my trek bucket. 

Seminary was about the handcart pioneers. I LOVE pioneer treks! I’ve been on seven of them. I love the amazing spirit as I study these hero pioneers whom I LOVE SO MUCH. I gain so much from their courage, strength, sacrifice, faith, charity, and obedience to God at great cost. I love knowing that because Heavenly Father helped them, He will help me in my hour of need. I am so grateful for them! I hope I can be like them in my moments of challenge. I felt some of their spirits near before, during, and after our lesson today. 


We watched this movie. Click here to watch. (16 minutes) 

And we read these quotes. Click here for a printable handout the right size to glue into scriptures. We glued ours into D&C 136.  

President Brigham Young – Rescuing those in need is our religion:

“Many of our brethren and sisters are on the plains with hand-carts, and probably many are now 700 miles [about 1,100 kilometers] from this place, and they must be brought here, we must send assistance to them. … That is my religion; that is the dictation of the Holy Ghost that I possess, it is to save the people. … This is the salvation I am now seeking for, to save our brethren that would be apt to perish, or suffer extremely, if we do not send them assistance. I shall call upon the Bishops this day, I shall not wait until to-morrow, nor until [the] next day, for 60 good mule teams and 12 or 15 wagons … [as well as] 12 tons of flour and 40 good teamsters, besides those that drive the teams. … I will tell you all that your faith, religion, and profession of religion, will never save one soul of you in the celestial kingdom of our God, unless you carry out just such principles as I am now teaching you. Go and bring in those people now on the plains” (“Remarks,” Deseret News, Oct. 15, 1856, 252). 


President Gordon B. Hinckley – We need to rescue today:  

“I am grateful that today none of our people are stranded on the Wyoming highlands. But I know that all about us there are many who are in need of help and who are deserving of rescue. Our mission in life, as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, must be a mission of saving. There are the homeless, the hungry, the destitute. Their condition is obvious. We have done much. We can do more to help those who live on the edge of survival. “We can reach out to strengthen those who wallow in the mire of pornography, gross immorality, and drugs. Many have become so addicted that they have lost power to control their own destinies. They are miserable and broken. They can be salvaged and saved. …It is not with those on the high plains of Wyoming that we need be concerned today. It is with many immediately around us, in our families, in our wards and stakes, in our neighborhoods and communities” (“Our Mission of Saving,” Ensign, Nov. 1991, 59).


Francis and Betsy Webster – felt angels helping push the cart: 

In 1856, Francis and Betsy Webster had enough money to travel to Utah in a wagon, but they donated their money to a fund created to help the Saints emigrate to Utah (the Perpetual Emigrating Fund). Their donation allowed an additional nine individuals to travel by handcart. Francis and Betsy, who were expecting a baby, traveled to Salt Lake City with the Martin handcart company and suffered along with the rest of the company. Years later, as Brother Webster sat in a Sunday School class, he listened to some Church members criticize Church leaders for the handcart tragedy. 

Unable to constrain himself, he arose and testified of the blessings of being in the Martin handcart company: “I ask you to stop this criticism for you are discussing a matter you know nothing about. Cold historical facts mean nothing here for they give no proper interpretation of the questions involved. Mistake to send the handcart company out so late in the season? Yes. But I was in that company and my wife was in it. … We suffered beyond anything you can imagine and many died of exposure and starvation. But did you ever hear a survivor of that company utter a word of criticism? … I have looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart but my eyes saw no one. I knew then that the Angels of God were there. Was I sorry that I chose to come by handcart? No. Neither then nor one moment of my life since. The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay and I am thankful that I was privileged to come to Zion in the Martin Handcart Company” (in William R. Palmer, “Pioneers of Southern Utah,” The Instructor, vol. 79, no. 5 [May 1944], 217–18). 

Elder Neal A. Maxwell – we praise the pioneers, they will praise us: 

“If we are faithful the day will come when those deserving pioneers and ancestors, whom we rightly praise for having overcome the adversities in their wilderness trek, will praise today’s faithful for having made their way successfully through a desert of despair and for having passed through a cultural wilderness, while still keeping the faith” (If Thou Endure It Well [1996], 28).

———————————————

We shared stories of students’ pioneer ancestors. 

My daughter Grace shared a story of our Grandma Mary Ann Mellor (I love her!) who was featured in the movie 17 Miracles. In the Martin handcart company, she had been ill and exhausted since before they left England. She sent her family ahead. Her teenage daughter Louisa stayed to pray for and comfort her mother. On the way back from praying, Louisa found a pie in the path!  Every time the mother felt discouraged and wanted to give up after that, she remembered her pie miracle and that gave her the strength to keep going. 

Louisa Mellor finding the miraculous pie.

I also shared a couple stories of heroic children who died on the plains. 

President James E. Faust about two heroic children: 

[After a treacherous climb over Rocky Ridge in a blizzard], “Thirteen members of the Willie Company who perished from cold, exhaustion, and starvation are buried in a common grave at Rock Creek Hollow. … Two of those buried at Rock Creek Hollow were heroic children of tender years: Bodil [Mortensen, age eleven], from Denmark, and James Kirkwood, age eleven, from Scotland.

“Bodil apparently was assigned to care for some small children as they crossed Rocky Ridge. [After] they arrived at camp, … she was found frozen to death leaning against the wheel of her handcart, clutching sagebrush.

Bodil Mortensen

“Let me tell you of James Kirkwood. James was from Glasgow, Scotland. On the trip west, James was accompanied by his widowed mother and three brothers, one of whom, Thomas, was nineteen and crippled and had to ride in the handcart. James’s primary responsibility on the trek was to care for his little four-year-old brother, Joseph, while his mother and oldest brother, Robert, pulled the cart. As they climbed Rocky Ridge, it was snowing and there was a bitter cold wind blowing. It took the whole company [twenty] hours to travel fifteen miles. When little Joseph became too weary to walk, James, the older brother, had no choice but to carry him. Left behind the main group, James and Joseph made their way slowly to camp. When the two finally arrived at the fireside, James ‘having so faithfully carried out his task, collapsed and died from exposure and over-exertion’” (“A Priceless Heritage,” Ensign, Nov. 1992, 84–85).

James Kirkwood

Joseph Smith appeared to Brigham Young in a dream at Winter Quarters to repeatedly emphasize the importance of following the Spirit. Count how many times…

“Tell the people to be humble and faithful, and 

• be sure to keep the spirit of the Lord and it will lead them right. 
• Be careful and not turn away the small still voice; 
• it will teach you what to do and where to go; 
• it will yield the fruits of the kingdom. 
• Tell the brethren to keep their hearts open to conviction, so that when the Holy Ghost comes to them, their hearts will be ready to receive it. 
• They can tell the Spirit of the Lord from all other spirits; 
• it will whisper peace and joy to their souls; 
• it will take malice, hatred, strife and all evil from their hearts; 
• and their whole desire will be to do good, bring forth righteousness and build up the kingdom of God. 
• Tell the brethren if they will follow the spirit of the Lord they will go right. 
• Be sure to tell the people to keep the Spirit of the Lord; 
• and if they will, they will find themselves just as they were organized by our Father in Heaven before they came into the world. … 
• Tell the people to be sure to keep the Spirit of the Lord and follow it, and it will lead them just right” (in Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1846–1847, comp. Elden J. Watson [1971], 529–30, bullet points added).

This last quote reminds me that angels come running when we need help. I hope I was one of the angels who helped our pioneer heroes!  And I have a feeling they come to help me during my challenging moments. 

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland – heavenly help comes running: 

“In the gospel of Jesus Christ you have help from both sides of the veil, and you must never forget that. When disappointment and discouragement strike—and they will—you remember and never forget that if our eyes could be opened we would see horses and chariots of fire as far as the eye can see riding at reckless speed to come to our protection [see 2 Kgs. 6:16–17]. They will always be there, these armies of heaven, in defense of Abraham’s seed.” (“For Times of Trouble,” Devotional Address, March 18, 1980)

And remember, Elder Holland told us to “Ask for angels to help you.” (Ensign, May 2010)

What life lessons do you learn from the pioneers? 

Click here to see a multi-family trek we did a year ago. 

Click here to see my favorite resources to get ready for a pioneer trek, or just to study about these amazing heroes. 

Click here for preparedness lessons we can learn from pioneers. 

Contrast LDS Beliefs about God with the Nicene Creed Beliefs about God.

Here are some statements of LDS beliefs about God. 

God the Father by Cima da Conegliano, c. 1515. I love this loving rendition of Heavenly Father!

Heavenly Father is a separate being from Jesus and the Holy Ghost 

“We declare it is self-evident from the scriptures that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are separate persons, three divine beings” (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent,” Ensign Nov. 2007, 41).

Heavenly Father is an Exalted Man

“God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder Heavens!  If you were to see him today, you would see him like a man in form – like yourselves in all the person, image and very form as a man.”  (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 6:305)

How Familiar Heavenly Father is to us

“If we could see our Father who dwells in the Heavens, we would learn that we are as well acquainted with him as we are with our earthly father…We would be ready to embrace him and fall upon his neck and kiss him, if we had the privilege.”  (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 8:30)

You will be sorry you didn’t try harder

“When you find out who you are, you will be sorry you didn’t try harder.”  (President Eyring, as quoted on March 21, 2006 BYU Devotional, “Understand Who You Are”, Elder Robert C. Oaks)

Nothing is going to startle us more

“Nothing is going to startle us more when we pass through the veil to the other side than to realize how well we know our Father and how familiar his face is to us.”  (President Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, Dec 1988, p.6)

We are his child all of the time

“You are His child all the time, not just when you are good, you are his child when you are bad.  You have within you a portion of Divinity that is real and tremendous and marvelous and wonderful.”  (President Gordon B. Hinckley, Church News, April 27, 1996)

God is cheerful

“I am perfectly satisfied that my Father and my God is a cheerful, pleasant, lively, and good-natured being…He is a jovial, lively person, and a beautiful man.”  (Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses, Volume 4:222)

Explanation of each member of the Godhead from D&C and Church History Seminary Teacher Manual, page 466-467)  

“God the Father: It is generally the Father, or Elohim, who is referred to by the title God. He is called the Father because He is the father of our spirits. … God the Father is the supreme ruler of the universe. He is all powerful … , all knowing … , and everywhere present through his Spirit. … Mankind has a special relationship to God that sets man apart from all other created things: men and women are God’s spirit children. …

“God the Son: The God known as Jehovah is the Son, Jesus Christ. … Jesus works under the direction of the Father and is in complete harmony with him. All mankind are His brothers and sisters, for He is the eldest of the spirit children of Elohim. [He is the Redeemer who suffered the sins and pains of all mankind and overcame physical death for all.] …

“God the Holy Ghost: The Holy Ghost is also a God and is called the Holy Spirit, the Spirit, and the Spirit of God, among other similar names and titles [such as the Comforter]. With the aid of the Holy Ghost, man can know the will of God the Father and know that Jesus is the Christ” (Guide to the Scriptures, “God, Godhead,” scriptures.lds.org). The primary role of the Holy Ghost is to bear witness of God the Father and Jesus Christ. The Holy Ghost teaches and confirms truth.

Icon depicting the Emperor Constantineand the bishops of the First Council of Nicaea (325) holding the Niceno–Constantinopolitan Creed of 381. From Wikipedia

Now contrast the above descriptions of the Godhead with the Nicene Creed description of the Godhead.

President Gordon B. Hinckley:

“For centuries men gathered and argued concerning the nature of Deity. Constantine assembled scholars of various factions at Nicaea in the year 325. After two months of bitter debate, they compromised on a definition which for generations has been the doctrinal statement among Christians concerning the Godhead.  I invite you to read that definition…

“Compare [The Nicene Creed] with the statement of the boy Joseph. He simply says that God stood before him and spoke to him. Joseph could see Him and could hear Him. He was in form like a man, a being of substance. Beside Him was the resurrected Lord, a separate being, whom He introduced as His Beloved Son and with whom Joseph also spoke. “I submit that in the short time of that remarkable vision Joseph learned more concerning Deity than all of the scholars and clerics of the past.” (“The Great Things Which God Has Revealed,” Liahona, May 2005.) 

Here is the Nicene Crede for you to read. (There are varying versions.)

“We believe in one God the Father All-sovereign, maker of all things. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of the Father, only-begotten, that is, of the substance of the Father, God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not made, of one substance with the Father, through whom all things were made, things in heaven and things on the earth; who for us men and for our salvation came down and was made flesh, and became man, suffered, and rose on the third day, ascended into the heavens, and is coming to judge living and dead. And in the Holy Spirit.”

Here is what Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said about our belief compared with the Nicene Creed. 

“Our first and foremost article of faith in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is ‘We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost’ [Articles of Faith 1:1]. We believe these three divine persons constituting a single Godhead are united in purpose, in manner, in testimony, in mission. We believe Them to be filled with the same godly sense of mercy and love, justice and grace, patience, forgiveness, and redemption. I think it is accurate to say we believe They are one in every significant and eternal aspect imaginable except believing Them to be three persons combined in one substance, a Trinitarian notion never set forth in the scriptures because it is not true.

“Indeed no less a source than the stalwart Harper’s Bible Dictionary records that ‘the formal doctrine of the Trinity as it was defined by the great church councils of the fourth and fifth centuries is not to be found in the [New Testament]’ [Paul F. Achtemeier, ed. (1985), 1099; emphasis added].

“So any criticism that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not hold the contemporary Christian view of God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost is not a comment about our commitment to Christ but rather a recognition (accurate, I might add) that our view of the Godhead breaks with post–New Testament Christian history and returns to the doctrine taught by Jesus Himself. …

“We declare it is self-evident from the scriptures that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are separate persons, three divine beings” (“The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent,” Ensign, Nov. 2007, 40, 41).

My church talk on preparedness: our prophets receive revelation BEFORE it’s needed.

I gave this talk in sacrament meeting on January 25, 2015. I had to cut some parts out, but covered most of it. I started my talk with a summary of the parable of Gomer. 


Our Prophets Receive Revelation BEFORE it’s Needed. 

One of my early morning seminary students recently made a comment, “My friend asked why our prophets don’t get revelation like leaders of other churches do, like how certain churches are allowing gay people to be pastors.” Inside I was saying, “WHAT! What do you mean our prophets don’t get revelation? Of course they do.” A thought came to me to share, “Our prophets are so amazing that they get revelation before it’s needed. They don’t wait until they’re peer pressured into changing with cultural trends.” 

My student’s comment really got me thinking. The Family Proclamation came out in 1995, and I confess that my response was of this flavor, “Duh, what’s the big deal?” Since then we’ve seen how profound that doctrine on the family is as family is being attacked and redefined all over the place.

Family home evening was instituted in 1915. Perhaps some families back then responded with, “Duh, what’s the big deal? Our families are strong.” But now that we’ve seen families torn apart and divorce rates sky rocket, we see that God gave our prophets family home evening before it was needed. 

The Lord gave the prophet Joseph Smith the Word of Wisdom in 1833, and it wasn’t until 1948 that the first major studies showed that smoking caused serious health damage. Noah preached for 120 years telling people to repent. And then the flood came. 

Food storage and preparedness is one of those revelations that God has given his prophets before it was needed. We’ve heard it for over 75 years. Yet I’ve heard people saying, “The prophets aren’t emphasizing preparedness much any more so I don’t think it matters right now.” Inside I want to say, “WHAT? What do you mean it doesn’t matter any more. Of course it matters. The signs of the times are happening all around us.” 


Why Temporal Preparedness Matters. 

Have you experienced a time when your income was interrupted?  Were you grateful you had food storage to help you through, or did you wish you had food storage? Have you had a power outage where you were grateful you had some flashlights and candles, or a natural disaster and had to cook and heat your home without power? Were you glad you had supplies you needed, or did you wish you had prepared better? Have you entered a race or a musical performance where you were glad you prepared well, or did you wish you had prepared better?  

We know from prophets and scriptures that there will be some “adventurous” events between now and Second Coming. It’s part of the plan. President Benson said, “The revelation to produce and store food may be as essential to our temporal welfare today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of Noah. … 

We urge you to [get prepared] prayerfully and do it now.  I speak with a feeling of great urgency… Too often we bask in our comfortable complacency and rationalize that the ravages of war, economic disaster, famine, and earthquake cannot happen here. Those who believe this are either not acquainted with the revelations of the Lord, or they do not believe them. Those who smugly think these calamities will not happen, that they somehow will be set aside because of the righteousness of the Saints, are deceived and will rue the day they harbored such a delusion” (“Prepare for the Days of Tribulation,” Ensign, Nov. 1980). 

I’m thrilled that we get to study President Benson this year in Relief Society and Priesthood, and I encourage those who have callings in other areas to at least skim the book to learn from this great prophet, or at least to read his life story in the beginning of the book. What an amazing man. If there is a modern prophet who knows the importance of food storage, it’s President Benson. As a new apostle, he was assigned to post World War II Europe for a whole year, where he saw the ravages of starvation, women crying being given an orange or a spool of thread. 


To anyone who thinks the prophets aren’t talking about preparedness any more, they are. 

• President Monson wrote his whole First Presidency message about preparedness in the September Ensign of 2014. “We live in turbulent times. Often the future is unknown; therefore, it behooves us to prepare for uncertainties. When the time for decision arrives, the time for preparation is past” (“Are We Prepared?” Ensign, September, 2014).
• This month Mormon Channel has put out a new video about getting started with food storage, along with a weekly blog post with food storage tips. 
• Yesterday my husband, Bishop Edwards, got a flyer in the mail from the Layton home storage center saying, “Making a home storage resolution? Let us help!” So the Church is on it. 

Spiritual Preparedness Matters More. Obeying the Spirit, Obeying the Prophets, and Holy Habits are Vital Aspects of Spiritual Preparation. 

A while ago I met a return missionary at the temple who was serving during the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami. I asked what that was like for him. He said the mission president had planned on having a meeting that day with some of the missionaries in the mission, but then the president felt prompted at the last minute to invite more to the meeting, including all the missionaries serving on the coast. This missionary said his apartment was totally washed away, and he lost everything he owned, but that every missionary was safe. That mission president was spiritually prepared to obey personal revelation, even if it didn’t make sense. And the missionary was spiritually prepared to obey his leaders even if it didn’t make sense. Their spiritual preparedness saved lives.  

Two important aspects of spiritual preparation are becoming really good at obeying our leaders, especially the prophet, and obeying the Spirit. Sister Julie Beck said, “The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life” (“And upon the Handmaids in Those Days Will I Pour Out My Spirit,” Ensign, May 2010). I agree with her. Elder Scott said, “We will never be prompted by the Holy Ghost to do something we cannot do. It may require extraordinary effort and much time, patience, prayer, and obedience, but we can do it.” He said that God will give us “inspiration to know what to do, and when necessary, divine power or capacity to accomplish it.” (21 Principles, Divine Truths to Help You Live by the Spirit [2013] p. 12-14). 

An 8.8 earthquake happened in Chile in 2010.  President Larry and Sister Lisa Laycock were leading the mission. She said that one morning two weeks before the earthquake, “I was awakened at around 4:00 AM by … a prompting. I did not hear a voice, but the thought was as clear as if it had been in the form of spoken words: ‘There is going to be an earthquake. Prepare your missionaries.’ I sat up in bed and immediately remembered Elder Scott’s counsel [to write down promptings that come during the night or first thing in the morning so they would remember them]. That morning I told Larry what had happened. He immediately set to work organizing our missionaries to prepare for an earthquake.” 

The Laycocks visited every missionary apartment, and “brought specific instructions on what to do, supplied water purification bottles for the missionaries, told them how to create a 36-hour kit for emergencies and how to stay in communication should an earthquake strike. They prayed with each missionary and dedicated their apartments.” Sister Laycock said, “When the earthquake came, we were prepared. We did not experience the panic that many felt. We knew we were prepared. Because of the words of the Lord’s chosen Apostle, Elder Scott, we had listened and heeded the quiet, but clear promptings of the Holy Ghost. We were blessed with peace in the midst of chaos.” (“In Chile: The Lord’s Earthquake Warning,” Meridian Magazine, February or March 2010).  

Ephriam Hanks is another example of spiritual preparedness of knowing how to obey personal revelation and the prophet. Ephriam had an angel visit him, telling him, “The hand-cart people are in trouble and you are wanted; will you go and help them?” He answered, “Yes, I will go if I am called.’ That happened three times that night.” (“Ephraim K. Hanks’ Narrative“).

So the next morning he went to Salt Lake City to see the prophet. Brigham Young told the Saints that there were Saints who needed their help, and asked certain men to prepare to go rescue them. After other men said they could be ready in a few days, Ephriam said, “I’m ready now.” Ephriam left the next day. He found the Martin handcart company in their starving, snowed in condition. He had prayed for a buffalo to bring to the starving Saints and saw one immediately after his prayer, which meat he brought to the Saints. Had Ephriam been one or two days later, the Saints may have all died. Ephriam’s spiritual preparedness helped save hundreds of lives. 

Elder Oaks told us,  “A 72 hour kit of temporal supplies may prove valuable for earthly challenges, but, as the foolish virgins learned to their sorrow, a 24-hour kid of spiritual preparation is of greater and more enduring value” (“Preparation for the Second Coming,” Ensign, May 2004).

President Kimball taught that it’s the everyday holy habits that build our spiritual preparedness. “Attendance at sacrament meetings adds oil to our lamps, drop by drop over the years. Fasting, family prayer, home teaching, control of bodily appetites, preaching the gospel, studying the scriptures—each act of dedication and obedience is a drop added to our store. Deeds of kindness, payment of offerings and tithes, chaste thoughts and actions, marriage in the covenant for eternity—these, too, contribute importantly to the oil with which we can at midnight refuel our exhausted lamps.” (Faith Precedes the Miracle [1972] p. 256.)

Sister Linda Reeves also expressed the importance of prioritizing holy habits that bring spiritual preparation. She said, “It is OK if the house is a mess and the children are still in their pajamas and some responsibilities are left undone. The only things that really need to be accomplished in the home are daily scripture study and prayer and weekly family home evening” (“Protection from Pornography – A Christ-Focused Home,” Ensign, May 2014).  

I hope we aren’t just going through the motions with our holy habits. Going through the motions doesn’t bring enough spiritual power and armor of God that we need these days. I hope our prayers are sincere, and our scripture study is feasting. I hope we are putting effort into planning family home evenings that address the specific needs of our children, and being guided by the Spirit. 

Did you notice that most of the talks at our last General Conference mentioned the importance of following the prophets? Do whatever it takes to strengthen your testimony of our current prophet, Pres. Monson. I highly recommend reading his biography. Mike and Adam both read stories from it to our family on a trip before Adam’s mission. Even though I already knew Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet of God, through his biography, the Spirit witnessed again and again that we are led by a true prophet of God, who follows Jesus Christ at the head of this church. If your testimony of our prophet isn’t vibrant and strong, may I invite you to start today taking steps to strengthen your testimony. 

A Change in Counsel About Food Storage. 

I used to do public speaking about preparedness, and it was pretty straight forward because for years the Church taught us to store seven basic foods and even gave us the amounts that would sustain life for a year: “…Wheat or other grains, legumes [like pinto beans or lentils], salt, honey or sugar, powdered milk, and cooking oil. [And a lesser amount of water.] When members have stored enough of these essentials to meet the needs of their family for one year, they may decide to add other items that they are accustomed to using day to day” (First Presidency Letter, January 20, 2002). 

Then in 2007 the Church gave us new counsel in a new pamphlet called “All is Safely Gathered In.” I have some guesses about why the counsel changed in 2007. Perhaps because they saw that immediately after disasters, eating chili out of a can is easier than figuring out how to grind wheat. Perhaps it’s because we’re now such a worldwide church and Saints in Tonga might store coconut milk and dried mango rather than wheat and beans. It doesn’t matter the reason for the change. All that matters is that we know this direction came from the prophet, and we need to obey it. 

Here is the current counsel in this 2007 pamphlet “All is Safely Gathered In.” 
• three-month supply of everyday foods that you’re used to eating 
• water
• money
• long term foods

The easiest way to start with your three-month supply of everyday foods is to simply buy some extras each time you shop. Even though it might stress some people, I think it’s kind of cool that the Church isn’t giving us specific lists and amounts like they used to, because it gives each family the opportunity to pray about what the Lord would have them store. I still think the original seven basic foods and the amounts the Church used to recommend are a great way to build your long term foods. The cheapest way to get a year supply of survival food is to buy wheat. If you buy the bags from a local LDS storehouse  you can get an entire year supply of wheat for one person for less than $100!  That is around the price of many cell phone or cable TV bills. The Church will even ship cases of food storage to you. How easy is that?  You can find a food storage calculators online to help you figure out amounts of these basic long term foods for your family.  

In the recent President Monson message that I mentioned earlier, he included being careful with spending and getting out of debt. He also said, “Every family [should have a] supply of food, clothing, and where possible, other necessities of life.” Other necessities of life might include ways to live without power, heat, or water. It might include a 72-hour kit or a way to live outside for a time in case of earthquake or some other crisis. That’s why personal revelation is so wonderful, because we can pray like Ephriam Hanks and those mission presidents did and know from the Lord the specific things we need to prepare for what the Lord knows is coming for our specific families. 


Invitation to Kneel in Prayer and Ask God. 

I invite you to kneel in prayer before today is done, and please write down any thoughts that come as you are praying. Ask Heavenly Father if He wants you to become more prepared spiritually and temporally. Ask if there are any ways the Lord wants you to improve your holy habits. Ask if He will help you figure out where to start with your food storage. I also invite you to ask Him what amount of money He would have you dedicate to preparedness each month, and then treat it sacredly by paying it second, right after tithing. Because tithing and preparedness are both a matter of faith and obedience, right? You could use a special jar with a favorite preparedness quote taped to the jar.  Then each month pray that you’ll be guided in how to best use those dollars for preparedness, and watch the miracles happen. Take your concerns to Heavenly Father in prayer. If you feel like you don’t have time, money, space, or feel too overwhelmed to get prepared, tell Him that and ask Him to guide you to solutions. 

Then, when challenging times come, because we’ve been told by prophets and scriptures that they will, you won’t have to say like Sister Gomer did, “I told you so.” You will have obeyed the Lord, and you will be prepared. 

Are you putting on the full armor of God every day? Holy habits are the key.

The armor of God isn’t like one solid piece of metal. It’s more like chain mail made from small acts over and over, holy habits that weave together to protect us from evil.

Elder M. Russell Ballard said, “I like to think of this spiritual armor not as a solid piece of metal molded to fit the body but more like chain mail. Chain mail consists of dozens of tiny pieces of steel fastened together to allow the user greater flexibility without losing protection. I say that because it has been my experience that there is not one great and grand thing we can do to arm ourselves spiritually. True spiritual power lies in numerous smaller acts woven together in a fabric of spiritual fortification that protects and shields from all evil” (“Be Strong in the Lord,” Ensign, July 2004).

Something that keeps coming to my mind is the ever-increasing importance of putting on the full the armor of God all the time. 

It reminds me of how Captain Moroni created protections for his cities like never before. Since Satan is upgrading his battle plans all the time, we must upgrade our battle plans too. Of course this includes things like getting internet filters and teaching doctrine. It also includes consistently doing the small and simple holy habits that invite in the Spirit. 

There is such a profound difference in how people respond to ANYTHING when they do have the Spirit fully with them, verses when they don’t. 

A person’s desires are different. A person sees others differently – as objects or as spirit sons and daughters of God. Our young kids get along with each other great when the Spirit is in our home and in their hearts, but when they don’t have the Spirit they fight with each other over ridiculous things. A person has a different ability to withstand temptation when they’re filled with the Spirit and have the full armor of God vs. when they don’t. 

I think my favorite Book of Mormon example of this concept is Nephi vs. Laman and Lemuel with the broken bow incident. 

You could take any incident, really, and compare them. How Nephi responded to the broken bow made it obvious that he had the Spirit fully with him – he was  soft-hearted, proactive, and didn’t give into the temptation to just sit there and whine and despair like most of the family was doing. He followed the prompting to turn to the Lord for help. And of course the Lord gave the help they all needed. 

On the other hand, Laman and Lemuel didn’t have the Spirit with them, and their response shows it. They blamed. They wanted other people to take responsibility. They gave into the temptation to complain, whine, and get hopeless. 

The time to do the actions that invite the Spirit isn’t in the heat of the moment, like when the bow breaks, or when a young person sees a bad ad on the internet, or when a child spills a jar of spaghetti sauce and Mom wants to yell. 

The time is beforehand, every day, as many times a day as is needed, to have the full armor of God on all the time. So when the fiery darts of Satan arrive, armor is in place. 

The angel told Nephi in his tree of life dream that only when people hold fast to the iron rod will they be protected from the fiery darts of the adversary. (See 1 Nephi 15:24). 

The shield of faith that quenches all the fiery darts of the adversary is faith in action – doing those holy habits that God commands us to do every single day. 

Like power praying. That’s my term to describe praying on the knees, aloud, really connecting with God in a two-way conversation asking things like, “Is there anything else Thou would like to tell me?” and “Is there anything I need to repent of?” and “What would Thou have me pray for?” Those kinds of prayers are soooo different than the hurry-go-through-the-motions-so-I-can-get-back-on-Facebook prayer.  There is not much power or protection in that. It’s not real armor. 

Same thing with scripture feasting. There is feasting, where God’s words really nourish and change you and you’re receiving personal revelation and writing it down as you study. And then there is the hurry-and-check-it-off-the-list experience. Not much power or protection there either. Not real armor. 

Other holy habits that put on the chain mail armor of God are the typical Sunday School answers: temple service, family history work, kindness, service, magnifying our callings, attending our meetings, loving others, and so on. 

The Spirit’s presence is fragile and must be treated with care. 

I’m sure you’ve found in your family that at any moment the Spirit can leave and you must take quick action to invite Him back. Like if our kids start fighting, we need to stop and sing a hymn or primary song or play the gratitude game or compliment game, or say a family prayer to get the Spirit back. It’s such a fragile thing. We have to really respect the Spirit’s presence, and Honor His presence there, or if our actions do anything to push Him away, He leaves. Then we must eat humble pie and plead for Him to come back. But it’s oh so worth it. As many times a day as it takes to keep the Spirit with us constantly, the protection, the gifts, the fruits of the Spirit are oh so worth it. And of course this includes having the full armor with us all the time, so when temptation comes, we’re ready. 

This concept reminds me of people saying you grow spiritually from trials. 

Of course there is a truth to this. But really, the spiritual growth comes from the daily holy habits of connecting with God and nourishing our souls and filling up with the Spirit, so when a trial comes is when we show our true colors. If we didn’t do that work ahead of time the trial can be absolutely debilitating, as they often are for people who didn’t put on the armor of God first. 

Elder Neal Maxwell said, “Real disciples [withstand] the fiery darts of the adversary by holding aloft the quenching shield of faith with one hand, while holding to the iron rod with the other (see Ephesians 6:16; 1 Nephi 15:24; D&C 27:17). There should be no mistaking; it will take both hands!” (Ensign, May 1987). 

Here is a video that shows the importance of putting on, and keeping on, the full armor of God.  If the video below doesn’t work, watch it here.

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/ID9nKuh8wY8&source=uds

Here is a post where Elder Holland shares what lessons we learn from Moses about overcoming evil influences.