The Living Prophet Today

Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.  
  --Amos 3:7


"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets . . . "  Ephesians 4:11
Links to know more about prophets: Read a definition:   http://lds.org/study/topics/prophets?lang=eng
Prophets of the restoration:  http://lds.org/study/prophets-speak-today/unto-all-the-world/prophets-of-the-restoration?lang=eng
Church organization:   http://lds.org/church/organization/the-church-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng
Meet today's prophets and apostles:  http://lds.org/study/prophets-speak-today/meet-todays-prophets-and-apostles?lang=eng

The Dee Events Center does look like a giant flying saucer that has just landed at the base of the mountains.  It has purple seats inside because Weber State University's colors are purple and white.  I wore purple today so I could blend in while we listened to the speakers for our multi-stake meeting for our Sabbath Day treat (this does not happen very often as we usually meet in our local building for Sunday services).

Today was stake conference with eight combined stakes (stakes are a geographic area that contains a large number of individual wards (wards are congregations, usually around 250-300 members on average).  Since there isn't a building large enough to accommodate that many people, we met at the Dee Events Center in Ogden, Utah.  It is estimated 100,000 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints heard the president and prophet of the Church, Thomas S. Monson, speak.  Some of that number were in buildings to watch the live broadcast where it was too far for them to drive to Ogden.  Living in Utah gives us the privilege of seeing the Church leaders in person more often, though the prophet, apostles, and other leaders in the Church do travel world wide to speak and uplift members.  Live broadcasts were appreciated in England while we were there.  It is the next best thing to being there in person.

President Thomas S. Monson smiling at a recent general conference held in Salt Lake City

The prophet's main message was to find the lost sheep and bring them back into the fold.  His message was similar to the one in this link:   http://lds.org/ensign/1987/04/lost-battalions?lang=eng&query=Lost+Battalion  Apparently, his concerns are the same as the Savior's when he was on the earth.  God. the Father, and his Son, Jesus Christ have the same priority now for saving those who have let go of their faith and left the path that would bring the back to their heavenly home.


One of the speakers today was our own past Huntsville Stake president, Elder Marlin Jensen, now Church Historian, of the first quorum of the seventy (an office in Church leadership).  He and his wife still live in our area, and he commutes to Salt Lake City church headquarters.

The other speakers were Rosemary M. Wixom, General Primary President (over the children's programs in the Church) . . .

. . . and Elder Neil L. Anderson of the quorum of the twelve apostles. 

Words of counsel from our speaks in a nutshell are as follows:


  *There is a price to be paid to live close to the Holy Ghost so we can receive guidance in our lives.


  *Weigh the reasons Not to believe and the reasons TO believe.  Choose to believe and the Holy Ghost will let you know the truth.


  *Honestly seeking to keep the commandments is good enough as we strive to live all of the commandments.  No one is perfect, but we need to have the desire in our hearts and at least be making every effort to live righteously.


  *Ask ourselves, "What do we need to forsake in our lives so we have the time to be with our children and to teach them?"  We must help bring light and truth to our children


  *Trust in the Lord with all our hearts.  He never leaves us.


  *Whom the Lord calls, he qualifies.  He is there to support us when we are on His errand (doing his work).


  *Separate our needs and wants.


  *Don't allow yearnings exceed earnings.


  *Don't allow yesterday's luxuries become today's necessities.


  *Care for the one and never postpone a prompting to go to someone or help someone.


On Saturday night, at the adults' stake conference meeting, we were counseled to be aware of the "wakes" we make that affect others.  Do we have a positive impact of delight and pleasure in others' lives, or are we an irritation because of our negativity?


We were told to seek the "flecks of gold" in others (see previous You Tube post today) and have charity towards others, building them up and serving them.  Do small and simple acts of service to meet the needs of others.  Even small things make a difference.


Another speaker shared her experience of losing her daughter to brain cancer and how her children and husband handled it with faith.  Her daughter was a very positive person who worked at lifting others.  The mantra she had posted on her mirror was something like this one found on the link below:  http://tipsforpositivethinking.com/2011/09/be-grateful-for-today/


There's so much we can learn from others.  What gifted and loving people we find in this world!  I am very grateful for the blessings people bring into my life with the wisdom and experiences they share, and the great examples of courage and faith demonstrated by so-called ordinary people everywhere.