Birth

Blessing from Jacob

Restated church's position in opposition to gambling as it had apparently become a problem.

"We encourage you to grow all the food that you feasibly can on your own property. Berry bushes, grapevines, fruit trees - plant them if your climate is right for their growth. Grow vegetables and eat them from your own yard."

Under "Strength of the Faithful", Dieter F. Uchtdof reiterates the counsel of the church for members to remain and build Zion where they are and comments on how Europe is currently benefitting from those courageous individuals who pioneered the church on that continent, and how this pioneering spirit is still important.

"In our day. the Lord has seen fit to provide the blessings of the gospel, including an increased number of temples, in many parts of the world. Therefore we wish to reiterate the long-standing counsel to members of the Church to remain in their homelands rather than immigrate to the United States ..."

"As members throughout the world remain in their homelands, working to build the Church in their native countries, great blessings will come to them personally and to the Church collectively."

Mentions how the American Indians are a part of the house of Israel and shall be gathered.
We want all honest men to gather.

"That young man with gender disorientation needs to know that gender was not assigned at mortal birth, that we were sons and daughters of God in the premortal state. "

"Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose."

An article suggesting researching horizontally. (ie. doing "backward" genealogy)

Thoughts on what you can do when your family line has been researched extensively.
Have you made records of your own life? (p. 28)
Do you have accurate records of your immediate family? (pp. 28-29)
Do you have copies of you ancestor's records? (p. 29)
Have you checked your genealogy for completeness and accuracy? (pp. 29-30)
Have you found your ancestors in original documents? (p. 30)
Do you have a family organization? (p. 30)
Have you considered descendancy research? (p. 30)
What do you know about your ancestors' lives? (pp. 30-31)
Do you have family photographs or documents? (p. 31)
Do you own family heirlooms? (p. 31)
Do you have time to serve others in family history? (p. 31)

Describes how some Taiwanese have been able to trace their genealogy back over 100 generations.

A couple of experiences are shared regarding how individuals were helped to find their ancestors.

Discusses methods of getting more out of General Conference.

A nice little story about a simple, but lovingly given, gift.

A little story about a charitable sacrifice that reminds me of a reciprocal heart attack that I once set up. (Didn't work as I hoped, but it was pretty good nonetheless.)

"Being quick to observe is an antecedent to and is linked with the spiritual gift of discernment."

We need to ask for the Gift of Teaching.

Some further details building on "Principles of Teaching and Learning" in the same issue of the Ensign.

Fourth principle of the Gospel.

Tells the story of an army chaplain who had sought for a great part of his life to obtain the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and thus became a member of the church.

The loss of the gift of the Holy Ghost during the apostasy.

Relates an experience where he heard Parley P. Pratt speak in tongues while giving a blessing.

The apostles and others speak in tongues on the day of pentecost.

We believe in spiritual gifts. Some listed.

We can deny the gifts of the spirit by saying/thinking "I can't do it" when we get a calling.

Godhead explained along with our elationship with them. Asserts that there is no need to have a "special" relationship with any member of the Godhead.

Joseph Smith Jr. saw God, the Father, and Jesus Christ.

"We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost."

Discusses the nature of God as it relates to the apostasy. Early Christian views discussed in comparison with standard modern views along with the forces that effected change.
The Nature of God. p. 106
The adoption of platonic-style monotheism. (One God or Three Gods?) p. 107
An Immaterial or Material God? p. 114

A good conversion story in which an understanding of the nature of the Godhead plays a central role.

Discusses what is required to qualify to serve a mission.

Appearance of the plates described.

Appearance of the plates described.

Plates given to Moroni by Mormon
Moroni hid plates in the Hill Cumorah
Joseph Smith found/received plates by Moroni's instruction

Joseph Smith describe his obtaining of the gold plates.
Obtained 22/sep/1827
Returned to Angel Moroni who has them in his charge.

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour."

"Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD."

"Thou shalt not speak evil of thy neighbor, nor do him any harm."

"And see that there is no iniquity in the church, neither hardness with each other, neither lying, backbiting, nor evil speaking;"

"... let your words tend to edifying one another."

"A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter."

"The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly."

"Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth."

"It is not rumor ... upon which we are to found our judgements of one's merits or demerits: If it is we erect an altar upon which we sacrifice the most perfect of men, and establish a criterion by which the 'vilest of the vile' may escape censure." (in a letter to W. W. Phelps)

vv. 1-4 Freedom of religion
vv. 5-8 Men should support good government.
vv. 9-10 Religious societies should not wield civil authority.
v. 11 The right to self-defense

"We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law."

Corrupt government and corrupt government officials hurt Israel.

The Lord plans to restore the system of judges.

Joseph Smith touches upon man's responsibility to government in comparison with his responsibility to the laws of heaven. He also compares the benefits derived from obedience to their respective laws.

Statement particularly intended as a response to claims made by the John Birch Society. Political neutrality is affirmed. Communism is denounced. The two-party system is declared to be a system we believe in.

(The best version of this statement I've been able to find is in the form of a comment on a blog. Hence, the citation must necessarily be taken as apocryphal unless a more reliable citation can be found.)

Political Motto of the Church of Latter-Day Saints

The Constitution of our country formed by the Fathers of liberty. Peace and good order in society. Love to God, and good will to man. All good and wholesome laws, virtue and truth above all things, and aristarchy, live forever! But woe to tyrants, mobs, aristocracy, anarchy, and toryism, and all those who invent or seek out unrighteous law suits, under the pretext and color of law, or office, either religious or political. Exalt the standard of Democracy! Down with that of priestcraft, and let all the people say Amen! that the blood of our fathers may not cry from the ground against us. Sacred is the memory of that blood which bought for us our liberty.

Lehi's family gives thanks for the safe return for his sons.

"I will send a famine ... of hearing the word of God."

Prophecy of 3 non-traditional priests to be called before apostasy.