LDS HIGHLIGHTS

As everybody that is LDS already knows, President Hinckley has a great sense of humor. In this clip, at the closing of the October 2005 General Conference, after bearing his strong testimony and thanking everyone, he jokes about the "the secretaries who labor over our talks and WRITE them time after time." How do we know he was joking? Well, first of all, the laughter of the audience is the first dead give away. Secondly, we all know that President Hinckley and all of the other General Authorities, write their own talks, using the direct and divine guidance of our Heavenly Father, not some secretaries. That is truly hilarious and I can see why everyone laughed. Also, he was so serious when he said it and that was even more reason for everyone to laugh. President Hinckley always knows how to get a good laugh out of people and he certainly did it here, didn't he? I just felt that it was important to share with everyone, the incredible humor of this amazing Prophet of God. He can bear a serious testimony and then make everyone laugh at the end and that is how it should be. That is just one of the many things that make him so great! I stand all amazed and I thank thee O God for a Prophet, to guide us(and make us laugh) in these latter-days. This talk was given at the October 2005 General Conference.

In this amazing audio clip, Prophet President Kimball speaks about the importance of "WORDS." He says that we need to use a "reasonable vocabulary of well chosen words and speak finely, not coarsely." He gives several examples and even uses them in complete sentences, in order to help us understand how to use words correctly and in a way that people will understand us when we talk to them. He gives a great example of how to speak in a Kodak store, so that the clerk will be able to understand us correctly and easily. He then cleverly mentions some "four letter words", leading up to the word LUST, which was the one he was looking for all along. Like President Kimball says, "many of us are destitute of words and consequently clumsy in our speech, which becomes mere babble." He says that "some use words accurately and others sloppily." Are we sloppy with our words or accurate? I think we can all make a stronger effort to speak better and more clearly and use words properly and in the correct sentences more often, like President Kimball clearly explained to us in this speech. If we do this, other people can actually understand what it is we are trying to say. Let's not "just speak into the air", as Paul said. How we share the Gospel and the words we use, can be the difference of people either joining the LDS church or walking away from the truth and Eternal happiness. It can mean the difference of Eternal Life in the Celestial Kingdom with our families, loved ones and friends or Eternal suffering in a lower kingdom, without our friends, loved ones and families. Which one do we want to choose, both for us and others? This is a very powerful talk from a very inspired Prophet, as our "WORDS" and how we use them are so important. I'll be including more clips from this incredible talk, that we can all learn a lot from. This talk was originally given at BYU in January, 1965.

M. Russell Ballard stresses how important it is for us to find the people that are ready to hear the restored gospel right now. He says to "plea with the Lord daily", to help us find people that are ready. He says that we need to be bold in reaching out to others and helping people to know that the Church of Jesus Christ is true. He talks about the power of Lucifer and how he is "unleashing vulgar, revolting, violent, and sleazy filth with the design to destroy the spiritual sensitivity of our Father's children." He says that we are "truly at war with those that mock God and shun the truth", which is the LDS Church and the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. He says that we should be ready to bear our testimonies in any place, at any time. He says that the spirit will help us to know what to do and what to say. This message is so important. I feel that we should be standing on street corners, talking to every friend, people we work with, family members and even strangers bearing our testimonies of this one and only true, restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Are we up to the task? I hope that we can have the courage to do this and not let Jesus Christ down, as we are his messengers of truth and light. Like M. Russell Ballard says, "we need to keep our covenants" and we all know what those are. Are we keeping them? This talk was given in the October 2000 General Conference

As everybody that is LDS already knows, President Hinckley has a great sense of humor. In this clip, at the closing of the October 2005 General Conference, after bearing his strong testimony and thanking everyone, he jokes about the "the secretaries who labor over our talks and WRITE them time after time." How do we know he was joking? Well, first of all, the laughter of the audience is the first dead give away. Secondly, we all know that President Hinckley and all of the other General Authorities, write their own talks, using the direct and divine guidance of our Heavenly Father, not some secretaries. That is truly hilarious and I can see why everyone laughed. Also, he was so serious when he said it and that was even more reason for everyone to laugh. President Hinckley always knows how to get a good laugh out of people and he certainly did it here, didn't he? I just felt that it was important to share with everyone, the incredible humor of this amazing Prophet of God. He can bear a serious testimony and then make everyone laugh at the end and that is how it should be. That is just one of the many things that make him so great! I stand all amazed and I thank thee O God for a Prophet, to guide us(and make us laugh) in these latter-days. This talk was given at the October 2005 General Conference.

In this amazing audio clip, Prophet President Kimball speaks about the importance of "WORDS." He says that we need to use a "reasonable vocabulary of well chosen words and speak finely, not coarsely." He gives several examples and even uses them in complete sentences, in order to help us understand how to use words correctly and in a way that people will understand us when we talk to them. He gives a great example of how to speak in a Kodak store, so that the clerk will be able to understand us correctly and easily. He then cleverly mentions some "four letter words", leading up to the word LUST, which was the one he was looking for all along. Like President Kimball says, "many of us are destitute of words and consequently clumsy in our speech, which becomes mere babble." He says that "some use words accurately and others sloppily." Are we sloppy with our words or accurate? I think we can all make a stronger effort to speak better and more clearly and use words properly and in the correct sentences more often, like President Kimball clearly explained to us in this speech. If we do this, other people can actually understand what it is we are trying to say. Let's not "just speak into the air", as Paul said. How we share the Gospel and the words we use, can be the difference of people either joining the LDS church or walking away from the truth and Eternal happiness. It can mean the difference of Eternal Life in the Celestial Kingdom with our families, loved ones and friends or Eternal suffering in a lower kingdom, without our friends, loved ones and families. Which one do we want to choose, both for us and others? This is a very powerful talk from a very inspired Prophet, as our "WORDS" and how we use them are so important. I'll be including more clips from this incredible talk, that we can all learn a lot from. This talk was originally given at BYU in January, 1965.

M. Russell Ballard stresses how important it is for us to find the people that are ready to hear the restored gospel right now. He says to "plea with the Lord daily", to help us find people that are ready. He says that we need to be bold in reaching out to others and helping people to know that the Church of Jesus Christ is true. He talks about the power of Lucifer and how he is "unleashing vulgar, revolting, violent, and sleazy filth with the design to destroy the spiritual sensitivity of our Father's children." He says that we are "truly at war with those that mock God and shun the truth", which is the LDS Church and the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. He says that we should be ready to bear our testimonies in any place, at any time. He says that the spirit will help us to know what to do and what to say. This message is so important. I feel that we should be standing on street corners, talking to every friend, people we work with, family members and even strangers bearing our testimonies of this one and only true, restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Are we up to the task? I hope that we can have the courage to do this and not let Jesus Christ down, as we are his messengers of truth and light. Like M. Russell Ballard says, "we need to keep our covenants" and we all know what those are. Are we keeping them? This talk was given in the October 2000 General Conference

As confirmation of the last audio post from Prophet Ezra Taft Benson; M. Russell Ballard also confirms that the leadership of the LDS Church, which includes Prophets, Apostles and probably Seventies, "cannot lead you astray." M. Russell Ballard said: "God bless you to keep your eyes riveted on the leadership of the Church. We will not lead you astray. We cannot." So, we now have 3 witnesses saying the same thing, that LDS leadership cannot lead us astray. To recap, we have Wilford Woodruff in Declaration #1, President Benson's 14 fundamentals talk and now M. Russell Ballard, all saying the same basic. What a great feeling to know that these incredible men of God, cannot, under any circumstance, lead us astray because God won't allow it and will physically remove them if they even try. In review, Wilford Woodruff taught, in Declaration #1, in the Doctrine and Covenants: "The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the programme. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place, and so He will any other man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty." Also, once again, current Apostle M. Russell Ballard taught: "We will not lead you astray. We cannot." Then President Benson taught: "The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet, The prophet will never lead the church astray and The prophet and the presidency—the living prophet and the First Presidency—follow them and be blessed—reject them and suffer. I think that about sums it up perfectly and we know that we never. ever have to worry about what we are taught by the Prophets and Apostles, as it can only be from God, from 1830 until the present day and beyond into the future. So, we can obey them and be blessed or reject them and suffer greatly. What choice will you make? I do not want to suffer. They will never, ever change their minds on any doctrines or change their views, because that would be leading us astray and it can never be allowed and has never happened. God is the same yesterday, today and forever and so are his Prophets and Apostles. This talk was given at BYU-Provo on November 6, 1994

As confirmation of the last audio post from Prophet Ezra Taft Benson; M. Russell Ballard also confirms that the leadership of the LDS Church, which includes Prophets, Apostles and probably Seventies, "cannot lead you astray." M. Russell Ballard said: "God bless you to keep your eyes riveted on the leadership of the Church. We will not lead you astray. We cannot." So, we now have 3 witnesses saying the same thing, that LDS leadership cannot lead us astray. To recap, we have Wilford Woodruff in Declaration #1, President Benson's 14 fundamentals talk and now M. Russell Ballard, all saying the same basic. What a great feeling to know that these incredible men of God, cannot, under any circumstance, lead us astray because God won't allow it and will physically remove them if they even try. In review, Wilford Woodruff taught, in Declaration #1, in the Doctrine and Covenants: "The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the programme. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place, and so He will any other man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty." Also, once again, current Apostle M. Russell Ballard taught: "We will not lead you astray. We cannot." Then President Benson taught: "The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet, The prophet will never lead the church astray and The prophet and the presidency—the living prophet and the First Presidency—follow them and be blessed—reject them and suffer. I think that about sums it up perfectly and we know that we never. ever have to worry about what we are taught by the Prophets and Apostles, as it can only be from God, from 1830 until the present day and beyond into the future. So, we can obey them and be blessed or reject them and suffer greatly. What choice will you make? I do not want to suffer. They will never, ever change their minds on any doctrines or change their views, because that would be leading us astray and it can never be allowed and has never happened. God is the same yesterday, today and forever and so are his Prophets and Apostles. This talk was given at BYU-Provo on November 6, 1994

In a follow up to the last audio that I posted from Gordon B. Hinckley, I felt that I should post a quote from this amazing and powerful talk by the former Prophet Ezra Taft Benson. In this very short quote, he makes it crystal clear, that under no circumstances, will a Prophet of God ever be allowed to lead the Church astray. It is such a comforting feeling to know that we can listen and obey the Prophets every word and not have to even think about it or worry, that it may be something incorrect or wrong, since that is impossible. What a blessing to have modern day Prophets that CANNOT err, CANNOT make mistakes and CANNOT lead us astray. This address given on February 26, 1980 at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

In a follow up to the last audio that I posted from Gordon B. Hinckley, I felt that I should post a quote from this amazing and powerful talk by the former Prophet Ezra Taft Benson. In this very short quote, he makes it crystal clear, that under no circumstances, will a Prophet of God ever be allowed to lead the Church astray. It is such a comforting feeling to know that we can listen and obey the Prophets every word and not have to even think about it or worry, that it may be something incorrect or wrong, since that is impossible. What a blessing to have modern day Prophets that CANNOT err, CANNOT make mistakes and CANNOT lead us astray. This address given on February 26, 1980 at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

In this extremely important talk, given at the last General Conference Priesthood session, Gordon B. Hinckley condemned all current and past racism. My favorite quote was: "Now I am told that racial slurs and denigrating remarks are sometimes heard among us. I remind you that no man who makes disparaging remarks concerning those of another race can consider himself a true disciple of Christ. Nor can he consider himself to be in harmony with the teachings of the Church of Christ. How can any man holding the Melchizedek Priesthood arrogantly assume that he is eligible for the priesthood whereas another who lives a righteous life but whose skin is of a different color is ineligible?" Basically, Gordon B. Hinckley is talking about the past and current Prophets and Apostles, that taught "Blacks are the seed of Cain", "Blacks were less valiant in the pre-existence" or that there should be "death on the spot" if a black person mixed their seed with a white person and so on and so on. I don't know where this leaves Apostles and Prophets like Boyd K. Packer and Brigham Young among others, since "no man who makes disparaging remarks, concerning those of another race, can consider himself a true disciple of Christ. Nor can he consider himself to be in harmony with the teachings of the Church of Christ." For example, Boyd K. Packer taught, in 1977: "We've always counseled in the Church for our Mexican members to marry Mexicans, our Japanese members to marry Japanese, our Caucasians to marry Caucasians, our Polynesian members to marry Polynesians. The counsel has been wise.....Plan, young people, to marry into your own race. This counsel is good." Brigham Young taught: "Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so (Journal of Discourses, vol. 10, p. 110)." So, I guess it is a step forward to admit the racism and condemn it, but I don't know where that leaves us. Also, to wonder where it all comes from or to be confused about it, is a little puzzling to me, since it is so easily and clearly laid out in our LDS history. It is confirmed by the fact that blacks were denied all temple blessings until 1978. Hopefully this is a step in the right direction, but much more needs to be done. This talk was given in April 2006 at the Priesthood session.

This was the opening prayer at the Joseph Smith Commemorative Broadcast, last December. The reason I love this opening prayer so much, is the praise that he gives to Joseph Smith and his ONE wife, Emma Hale Smith. Boyd K. Packer said: .......We remember as well, in this commemoration of Joseph Smith the Prophet, his WIFE, Emma Hale Smith, elect lady, his SWEETHEART, wife and mother of his children. We pray that uh, her memory will likewise be blessed... This prayer was given December 23, 2005

In this extremely important talk, given at the last General Conference Priesthood session, Gordon B. Hinckley condemned all current and past racism. My favorite quote was: "Now I am told that racial slurs and denigrating remarks are sometimes heard among us. I remind you that no man who makes disparaging remarks concerning those of another race can consider himself a true disciple of Christ. Nor can he consider himself to be in harmony with the teachings of the Church of Christ. How can any man holding the Melchizedek Priesthood arrogantly assume that he is eligible for the priesthood whereas another who lives a righteous life but whose skin is of a different color is ineligible?" Basically, Gordon B. Hinckley is talking about the past and current Prophets and Apostles, that taught "Blacks are the seed of Cain", "Blacks were less valiant in the pre-existence" or that there should be "death on the spot" if a black person mixed their seed with a white person and so on and so on. I don't know where this leaves Apostles and Prophets like Boyd K. Packer and Brigham Young among others, since "no man who makes disparaging remarks, concerning those of another race, can consider himself a true disciple of Christ. Nor can he consider himself to be in harmony with the teachings of the Church of Christ." For example, Boyd K. Packer taught, in 1977: "We've always counseled in the Church for our Mexican members to marry Mexicans, our Japanese members to marry Japanese, our Caucasians to marry Caucasians, our Polynesian members to marry Polynesians. The counsel has been wise.....Plan, young people, to marry into your own race. This counsel is good." Brigham Young taught: "Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so (Journal of Discourses, vol. 10, p. 110)." So, I guess it is a step forward to admit the racism and condemn it, but I don't know where that leaves us. Also, to wonder where it all comes from or to be confused about it, is a little puzzling to me, since it is so easily and clearly laid out in our LDS history. It is confirmed by the fact that blacks were denied all temple blessings until 1978. Hopefully this is a step in the right direction, but much more needs to be done. This talk was given in April 2006 at the Priesthood session.

This was the opening prayer at the Joseph Smith Commemorative Broadcast, last December. The reason I love this opening prayer so much, is the praise that he gives to Joseph Smith and his ONE wife, Emma Hale Smith. Boyd K. Packer said: .......We remember as well, in this commemoration of Joseph Smith the Prophet, his WIFE, Emma Hale Smith, elect lady, his SWEETHEART, wife and mother of his children. We pray that uh, her memory will likewise be blessed... This prayer was given December 23, 2005

James E. Faust explains very clearly, the LDS Church's stance on homosexuality and gay marriage. There can be no doubt where they stand, not that there is much doubt anyway. He refers to homosexuals, engaged in sexual activity, as being "the inappropriate use of sacred creative powers." He makes it clear that it is impossible that homosexuality is inherited or that people are born that way, because it "it would frustrate the whole plan of mortal happiness. Our designation as men or women began before this world was." He also mentions that "No scientific evidence demonstrates absolutely, absolutely, that this is so. James E. Faust then states there is "the false belief of inborn sexual orientation." So, I'm gathering that he saying heterosexual people are born heterosexual, but homosexual people are not born homosexual. So, in short, he does indeed believe in "inborn sexual orientation", but only for heterosexual people. I'm not sure why he mentioned that it was a "false belief", since it is his belief, as he clearly stated in the sentence before. Hopefully that makes sense to everyone. This powerful and extremely important talk was given on November 15, 1995 at BYU.