Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly

This morning I was given insight into the words of the scriptures that read, "let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly" found in D&C 121:45.

45 Let thy ^abowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let ^bvirtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy ^cconfidence wax strong in the ^dpresence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the ^edews from heaven.like garnish on a plate, to ocupy empty space...

One thing that I realized is the word garnish. I thought about garnish in restaurants. They bring out the food with all this garnish on it. Why garnish, well for one it adds to the beauty and appeal of the food dish but also to fill empty space. Our plates are never filled with a 30 once steak, but rather a 10 once steak and a small amount of potatoes or something and then garnish. So relating that to our thoughts, they are like an empty plate and our minds will fill in all the empty places with garnish of wickedness or garnish of virtue. What is interesting is that virtue like faith can't co-exist with evil or wickedness just like faith can't co-exist with fear. This concept was given by i believe Boyd K Packard that compared our minds to a stage. If we do not occupy our stage with righteousness that the evil one will occupy that stage with all manner of wickedness. I really like the way that the scriptures have used "let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly," it takes on a greater value and viewpoint.

The other thing that is if we "let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly" then it will be amazing at what will happen with our thinking and out thoughts. I believe that they will be centered on the Savior than ever before. If virtue accompanies or garnishes every thought it will cleanse and sanctify each thought and prepare them to be worthy of Celestial review. Peter taught:

Acts 8:22
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not ^aright in the sight of God.

22 Repent therefore of this thy ^awickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the ^bthought of thine ^cheart may be forgiven thee.

Our thoughts are to be pure just as our actions are to be pure. I would even go as far as to say more important because our action are simply the actions of our thoughts and if our thoughts are evil then our actions will reflect evil. Satan wants to control our thoughts because he knows of the power of the mind and knows that reality begins there and then is realized outwardly. The famous Trojan House was the most powerful devise that could of been used, it conquered from with in and ensured victory. Our battle is found inside and the victor will be seen by his actions.

Kiera's faith in tithing

Kiera made a determination that she would follow the advice that she was given in Relief Society General Conference to pay tithing first and foremost. There was a very powerful story about tithing that touched Kiera very much.

Add Story....

These last few weeks have been very financially challenging for her to pay tithing each week, because we needed the money so much but she felt that it was more important to pay it. It seems that every week I earned extra spiffs or made sales or something that made it possible to survive. She always hears people saying, "How can you afford to pay tithing," and others saying, "How can you afford not to." Kiera now feels strongly that she can not afford to not pay it.

Isabella died today

Today Isabella drowned in a canal behind their house. She is Kiera's cousin and the same age as Alexa. Isabella and their nanny's son both were found in the canal. The boys feet were above water and he is in ICU but should be fine. Isabella was found on the bottom of the canal.

Moments like this bring to reality how important life is and how quickly it can change. Just last night Kiera and I were talking about how fragile life is and today it is realized.

Here are the articles that made the papers:

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=77328
http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/1024drowning1023ON.html

Kiera's Favorite Scripture

Alma 5:16ish

Kiera's thoughts and my van crashing experience...

Home Teaching visit

I was reading over the message for this month and it was directed to the new members of the church. I also felt impressed to put a different spin on it and apply the principles to our new ward that is so very large.

First Presidency Message

A Perfect Brightness of Hope—to New Members of the Church
Ensign, October 2006

By President Gordon B. Hinckley

President Gordon B. HinckleyWe congratulate you on your recent baptism and welcome you most warmly. What a wonderful step you have taken in joining the Church! We stand ready to assist you in any way that we can.

At this critical time you may feel like the woman who wrote this letter:

"My journey into the Church was unique and quite challenging. This past year has been the hardest year that I have ever lived in my life. It has also been the most rewarding. As a new member, I continue to be challenged every day."

She continues: "When we as investigators become members of the Church, we are surprised to discover that we have entered into a completely foreign world, a world that has its own traditions, culture, and language. We discover that there is no one person or no one place of reference that we can turn to for guidance in our trip into this new world."1

What you are going through as a new member should be exhilarating. Your faith in the Savior is strong. Your excitement to learn more and more about the restored gospel is sincere. But it is also easy to feel overwhelmed by new words, new meetings, new teachings, and new challenges. Even new people may be something to deal with. You may wonder if you can ever measure up to the standard of being a true Latter-day Saint. I have a simple message for you: Of course you can! Don't give up!

On the Path

Remember what Nephi said:

"Ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son. . . .

"And now, . . . after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life" (2 Nephi 31:18–20).

Joining the Church is a serious thing. Each convert takes upon himself or herself the name of Christ with an implied promise to keep His commandments. But coming into the Church can be a perilous experience. Unless there are warm and strong hands to greet you, unless we reach out to you with love and concern, you may begin to wonder about the step you have taken. Unless there are friendly hands and welcome hearts to greet you and lead you along the way, you may drop by the side. We have the challenge of helping you to strengthen your testimony of the truth of this work. We cannot have you walking in the front door and out the back! Every one of you is precious. Every one of you is a son or daughter of God.

I have said before, and I repeat it, that each of you as a convert needs three things:

1. A friend in the Church to whom you can constantly turn, who will walk beside you, who will answer your questions, who will understand your problems. You also have home teachers, visiting teachers, and other members who will help you on your marvelous journey of faith.

2. An assignment. Activity is the genius of this Church. It is the process by which we grow. Faith and love for the Lord are like the muscles of my arm. If I use them, they grow stronger. If I put them in a sling, they become weaker. Each of you deserves a responsibility.

In handling that responsibility you may make some mistakes. So what? We all make mistakes. The important thing is the growth that will come of activity. Your leaders can help you find ways to be involved. Be willing to accept new challenges, and trust that the Lord will help you be equal to them. If you get discouraged, ask for help. But don't give up. As you keep trying you will find that your abilities increase.

3. You need to be constantly "nourished by the good word of God" (Moroni 6:4). You will be affiliated with a priesthood quorum or the Relief Society, the Young Women, the Young Men, the Sunday School, or the Primary. Come to sacrament meeting to partake of the sacrament, to renew the covenants you made at the time of your baptism. Read from the scriptures every day. Pray every morning and every evening, that you may stay close to the Lord.

You know and we know that there are many good people in other churches. There is much of good in them. Your family and your prior religious traditions may have taught you many good things and established many good habits. As the Apostle Paul said, "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Bring the good things with you, keep them, and use them in the Lord's service.


Rejoicing Together

We rejoice with you in the gospel of Jesus Christ. There are many blessings in store for you. We know at times it can be terribly lonely. It can be disappointing. It can be frightening. We of this Church are far more different from the world than we are prone to think we are. But the gospel is nothing to be ashamed of. It is something to be proud of. "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord," wrote Paul to Timothy (2 Timothy 1:8).

To those of you who are new, I plead with you to continue with us. We need you. We will put our arms around you and be friends with you. We will do our best to comfort you, to make you feel welcome and accepted. We love you, and we know the Lord loves you. Forgive our faults and weaknesses. Come and work with us side by side as we grow and learn together.

This is God's holy work. This is His Church and kingdom. The vision that occurred in the Sacred Grove was just as Joseph said it was. There is in my heart a true understanding of the importance of what happened there. The Book of Mormon is true. It testifies of the Lord Jesus Christ. His priesthood has been restored and is among us. The keys of that priesthood, which have come from heavenly beings, are exercised for our eternal blessing. Such is our testimony—yours and mine—a testimony which we must live up to and which we must share with others. I leave this testimony, my blessing, and my love with each of you and my invitation to continue to be part of this great latter-day miracle that is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Lunch picnic with family

Kiera and my girls (Lacie, Alexa, and Ashlyn) picked me up form work during my two hour lunch for a picnic. I work only 5 minutes from Provo Cannon so we went down there and parked in front of the big waterfall and ate our lunch. Kiera went to Arby's and they were offering, buy a sandwich and get one free. So Kiera got 4 different sandwiches and they were great. After we were done eating, we headed up to Aspen Grove which is a nice resort type of a place owned by the Church (I think). On our way up there we saw like 5-7 deer and I jumped out and got about 6 feet from one of them. That was the first time that the girls have seen deer that they remembered, so that was neat. There were some very nice home/cabins on the way up to Aspen Grove, and one of them was the biggest home I had ever seen and by far the nicest considering the landscape and location. Kiera stopped at Aspen Grove to go to the restroom and when she pulled in, it started to snow on us. It was very light an melted the second it hit our skin but the girls could hardly stop screaming, "It is snowing, it is snowing." Lacie did not remember snow either and so that was fun. On our way back to my work we stopped at this park that is the most beautiful we had ever seen.

Needless to saw that was one of the best lunches we as a family have had and we owe it all to Kiera. She is the best wife and mother a guy like me could ever ask for.

My Second Interview

I was selected out of 12 that interviewed in the first round of interviews. I prepared a killer presentation of a program that I designed for UOP called the NAV Pad. I also prepared a handout to impress the panel in all areas: presentation, PowerPoint design, handout design, and my ability to create innovative and power tools. I thought everything went well except for one guy on the panel was not very cool and got me concerned about the interview. I am supposed to find out this week, so we will see.

Blog Happy

I have to admit that I am "blog happy". I owe it all to my brother-in-law who allowed me to have a blog on his server (http://www.behindthewords.blogsite.org/) where I will post all my Monthly Talk Tradition as well as other things as I see fit. From there I have created a Journal Blog as well (http://www.behindthewordsjournal.blogspot.com/) where I will post more things pertaining to my journal as well as an archive feature for my main blog. I am so excited for these blogs and the power that they will provide to keep family and friends posted and up to date with the Monthly Talk Tradition as well as on our family.

Second Interview for Training Coordinator

I got scheduled for my second interview for tomorrow at 1:00 PM MST. I sure could use all your prayers.

A little background on this position. There were over 100 applicants inside and outside our company and of those, they only selected 12 to interview. So I made that cut which was nice. Of the 12 that interviewed they only invited 3 back for the second round.

First Daddy-Daughter Date

Two weeks ago Kiera and I went to the Purple Turtle Restaurant to grab some ice cream. While we where sitting there we noticed a Dad and his Daughter having what appeared as a date. We decided to start doing that, so we told Lacie the next morning. She was so excited for Friday. Sadly we had a ward party that Friday so we planned to go the following Friday. It seemed like she talked about it every day and her excitement continued to grow.

Friday came and Kiera took her to buy these new sandals but they were not on sale like they thought they were so she was not able to get them but instead Lacie and Alexa got butterfly Halloween costumes. I got home and we busted out the video-camera and videoed us as we left. We went to the Purple Turtle because that is where Lacie wanted to go. On the way over I thought to myself that there is no way her car seat is going to keep her in her seat because she was screaming with excitement.

At the Purple Turtle Lacie asked me, "What do we talk about, it is just you and me." I thought to myself that it is just like a real date. Luckily by the time we were done, she said, "We know what to talk about now." That made me feel good. After eating we went to the park. We had a blast. There was a tire swing that we spent the most time on. I took some pictures of her spinning and in one she was going so fast that the camera could hardly pick her up. I am glad that I had that time to spend with her and look forward to our next date.

Reminder to call Companionships

It is that time of the month where I need to call my Companionship's to remind them to make their appointments with their families.

I also need to do this.

Conversation with Elders Quorum President

After church I spoke with the Elders Quorum President, Austin Miller. I talked to him about my Home Teaching thoughts that I had after I had been called as Home Teaching Coordinator. He informed me that there was proposals in to split the Elders Quorum and possibly the Ward or Stake. So his suggestion was to wait to do anything until we know what the plans are.

My thoughts were recorded earlier as "Home Teaching Thoughts." But the implementation was were I felt that I needed his guidance on, and apparently it was inspired. My thoughts involved either a meeting after church with my companionship's as a "Meet you Companion" idea and then to have a meeting covering the thoughts that I had. I also wanted to get the families together to unit them and create friendships.

We will see how this all works out and I will report back.

Home Teaching Thoughts

After I was called as Home Teaching Supervisor I fasted and prayed about my calling. The Lord has opened my understanding to the importance of Home Teaching. I was overwhelmed with the understanding that Home Teaching is a call from Heaven and we will be held accountable for our neglect of not magnifying this great call. Late one night I could not sleep and felt to turn to the scriptures and was taken straight to D&C 45: 6 which reads, "Hearken, O ye people of my church, and ye elders listen together, and hear my voice while it is called today, and harden not your hearts." Let us not harden our hearts but rather open our hearts to be taught by the Spirit.

The Lord is involved in aligning home teaching families with Home Teachers. These questions should be on your mind often:

1. For what purpose have I been aligned with this family?

2. How can I make a difference is this families life?

I was in the Temple about a week ago and had been praying for understanding and guidance in my new calling. While I was in the Celestial room I felt impressed to open the scriptures and turned to 4 Nephi. I thought to myself, Oh no, I will not find what I need here, but I kept reading. I started at verse 1 and when I got to verse three it hit me that this was specifically for Home Teachers.

"And they had all things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift (4 Nephi 1"3)."

Although we do not as of yet practice the law of consecration, we have a responsibility to our families to strive to help make them become "free, and partakers of the heavenly gift". If you look at the cross-reference for "gift" it is described as the Gifts of God. The scriptures are full of the gifts of the Spirit and our charge to obtain these gifts. The use of these gifts of the spirit are described in 3 Nephi 8:1

"... for he truly did many miracles in the name of Jesus; and there was not any man who could do a miracle in the name of Jesus save he were cleansed every whit from his iniquity."

So how do we as Home Teachers help our families to obtain these great gifts that will bless our Home Teaching Families lives and well as our own.

First and foremost we are counseled to have the Spirit with us when we teach and so we MUST live in such a way that we will have the Holy Ghost as our constant companion. If we will live this way I promise that the power of God will rest upon you as you teach and befriend your families and that the Spirit will flow into the hearts of your families as you teach.

After we have the Spirit ourselves, our focus must be on our families. President Gordon B Hinckley has taught, "the most important thing we can do for those whom we lead is to cultivate in their hearts a living, vital, vibrant testimony and knowledge of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the world (Teachings of Gordon B Hinckley, p. 648)." Faith on Jesus Christ is how we will help our Home Teaching Families to become free and partakers of the heavenly gift.

Home Teaching is all about the families of whom we visit. Home Teaching is almost like Friendship with an added stewardship. We are to show absolute love for our Home Teaching Families and be prayerful and listen to the Spirit so that we can have a spiritual impact as well. I was also impressed to talk about Ammon and his love for those Lamenites that he served who became the people of Ammon or the Anti-Nephi-Lehies. Ammon told King Lamoni, “Yea, I desire to dwell among this people for a time; yea, and perhaps until the day I die (Alma 17:23).” He ended up converting all of the people of King Lamoni and then he met King Lamoni’s father and had the opportunity to kill him but did not because he met Ammon’s conditions. “And when he saw that Ammon had no desire to destroy him, and when he also saw the great love he had for his son Lamoni, he was astonished exceedingly (Alma 20:25).” We learn from this account that the love of just one man can have such a powerful effect upon the hearts of so many thousands. Ammon not only loved those whom he served but he also brought the light of the Gospel into their lives which transformed them into a people of God.

It is our challenge and duty to love those whom we serve with Ammon-like love which is Christ-like love and then to bring the light of the Gospel into their lives. We must make a difference in their lives. In this last Priesthood Session, Elder Stanley G. Ellis said, "But the Spirit taught me this truth-the Lord expects a difference! I knew in that moment that each of us will one day stand before God and give an accounting of our priesthood service and stewardships. Did we make a difference? (General Conference October 2006)”

I will close with this question, "Will you make a difference in the lives of your Home Teaching Families?"

Pictures at BYU

Here are some pictures of our beautiful girls.

Awake and Arise

Trying to identify a topic is always fun and amazing how they come about. On this occasion I had some quotes and a scripture that I wanted to use in this months talk, but had not narrowed down the topic. As I was walking to my computer to sit down and type up a talk, I just knew that my topic was to be Awake and Arise, which falls in line with the scripture I had in mind but also allows for greater depth. In this talk hopefully the Spirit will take to your very soul the message and that it will cause action within us all. Moroni could no longer sit still and watch his freedoms taken from him and he took action and required all men, women, and children to come forth and take action as well (Alma 46: 12-13, 19, 21, 23). We no longer can sit still while righteousness is taken from us, we too must take action and warn others to take action as well. Awake and arise should take on new meaning in your lives by the conclusion of my talk.

The simplicity of the word, awake, causes many to miss or overlook the purpose and use of the word. We see from scriptures how simplicity can be the downfall of many.

1 Nephi 17: 41

41 And he did straiten them in the wilderness with his rod; for they hardened their hearts, even as ye have; and the Lord straitened them because of their iniquity. He sent fiery flying serpents among them; and after they were bitten he prepared a way that they might be healed; and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simplexes of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished.

Here we sadly learn that "the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished." I think that is important to note that those that perished, understood the meaning of the word "look" but failed to understand the action needed to be saved. The concept of awake and arise is equally simple, and yet we hardly give it a second thought. As I look at it one must either be asleep or awake, there is no middle ground. I believe that is why this term is used over 60 times in the scriptures. It is a descriptive word that is not open to interpretation, there is only one possible interpretation and that is one is either asleep or awake. The Savior spoke in parables, but why?

Matthew 13:34-35

34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:

35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

Mark 4:10-11

10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.

11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

The Savoir spoke in parable to keep all those that had not the spirit to hear, asleep, and those that had the spirit to hear he, awoke or unstopped their ears and they were given understanding.

The key is not the meaning of the word "awake" but instead the action or act "to awake." This key will either be "asleep" to you still or the spirit will unstop your ears and you will begin to act or strive to learn how to act which is what contains the power to save.

I was having a difficult day a while back and was sitting at a river behind where I currently work. I was praying and felt prompted to open my scriptures. I opened my scriptures to the same chapter I had read the night before and my eyes caught hold of a scripture that meant very little to me the night before. I was given understanding to unlock its meaning. This scripture is found in D&C.

D&C 133: 10

10 Yea, let the cry go forth among all people: Awake and arise and go forth to meet the Bridegroom; behold and lo, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Prepare yourselves for the great day of the Lord.

Here we see those words "awake and arise." There a few components here that are important to point out.

1. "Yea, let the cry go forth among all people" The cry has gone forth through the Book of Mormon, but we are also commanded to do the crying or warning. Just in the D&C the Lord uses the word warn 20 times and many of them are a command for us. We must give heed.

D&C 63: 37, 57-58

37 …lift a warning voice unto the inhabitants of the earth; and declare both by word and by flight

57 …those who desire in their hearts, in meekness, to warn sinners to repentance, let them be ordained unto this power.

58 For this is a day of warning, and not a day of many words…

D&C 88: 81 Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor.

D&C 38: 41 And let your preaching be the warning voice, every man to his neighbor, in mildness and in meekness.

D&C 112: 5 Contend thou, therefore, morning by morning; and day after day let thy warning voice go forth; and when the night cometh let not the inhabitants of the earth slumber, because of thy speech.

D&C 124: 106 And in all his journeyings let him lift up his voice as with the sound of a trump, and warn the inhabitants of the earth to flee the wrath to come.

2. "Awake and arise and go forth to meet the Bridegroom." I believe that this is the stage that we are in and it was confirmed to me that this was the case. We are no longer allowed to sleep and we must awake the rest of the world. I was given some insight pertaining to this stage. This stage combined with stage 4 and includes going forth to meet the Bridegroom. In my mind it was likened to getting ready for church or a wedding both similar dress and similar requirements.

At night we set our alarm to go off an hour and a half before we need to be leaving to get to church on time or slightly early. When we hear our alarm, what do you think we do several times? That is correct we hit the snooze button. This can be very dangerous and many times leads us to being late. When we finally get up, we make a mad rush bathing kids and ourselves, finding clean clothes, tights, jewelry, and shoes. It is more than just getting ourselves and girls ready, we also have to find coloring books, toys, and snacks to keep the kids stay quite during Sacrament meeting. Then comes the drive which is always fun and hectic. So that is the typical routine for Sunday morning at the Conover house.

The thought then came to me if it takes that kind of time to prepare my small family of 5, how much time is needed to prepare a ward, community, nation, and the world. Now be careful not to judge. What was given to me was not necessarily time related but rather a greater understanding of circumstances. The Prophets have already told us many times that we are at the doors. There is an urgency to prepare rapidly ourselves, families, and to take this warning to our neighbors and to the world.

3. "Behold and lo, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him." There is no doubt that he will come, it is inevitable. We must choose whether to have oil in our lamps or not.

4. "Prepare yourselves for the great day of the Lord." Once we can view the correct circumstances then we can act appropriately if we choose. Preparation is a choice. Here in lies the truth of the saying I have heard Thomas S Monson quote, "When the time for decision arrives, the time for preparation is past." For example, if we were still asleep and kept hitting the snooze button, can we miss the wedding all together, the answer is yes. Can we take too long in the shower and just drag our feet and miss the wedding, yes. One thing to remember is that there is no late, those that are late will miss the wedding as well. We learn this from the parable of the ten virgins, five of who were late and were locked out of the wedding.

Matthew 25:10-12

10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

We all know why the five virgins were late, and that was because they ran out of oil for their lamps. The oil is simply the preparation that we make. As we think of preparation, lets look at some of the times that the Lord through the Holy Scriptures tells us to awake ourselves and then to prepare.

D&C 117:2-3

2 Let them awake, and arise, and come forth, and not tarry, for I, the Lord, command it.

3 Therefore, if they tarry it shall not be well with them.

There is a powerful statement by Henry b Eyring, who said, "The danger lies in delay or drift, (Always, CES Fireside 1/3/1999).

2 Ne. 1: 13, 23

13 O that ye would awake; awake from a deep sleep, yea, even from the sleep of hell, and shake off the awful chains by which ye are bound, which are the chains which bind the children of men, that they are carried away captive down to the eternal gulf of misery and woe.

23 Awake, my sons; put on the armor of righteousness. Shake off the chains with which ye are bound, and come forth out of obscurity, and arise from the dust.

Rom. 13: 11

11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

1 Cor. 15: 34

34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

Eph. 5: 14

14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee alight.

2 Ne. 4: 28

28 Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.

2 Ne. 9: 47

47 But behold, my brethren, is it expedient that I should awake you to an awful reality of these things? Would I harrow up your souls if your minds were pure? Would I be plain unto you according to the plainness of the truth if ye were freed from sin?

Jacob 3: 11

11 O my brethren, hearken unto my words; arouse the faculties of your souls; shake yourselves that ye may awake from the slumber of death; and loose yourselves from the pains of hell that ye may not become angels to the devil, to be cast into that lake of fire and brimstone which is the second death.

Mosiah 2: 40

40 O, all ye old men, and also ye young men, and you little children who can understand my words, for I have spoken plainly unto you that ye might understand, I pray that ye should awake to a remembrance of the awful situation of those that have fallen into transgression.

Alma 32: 27

27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

Ether 8: 24

24 Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also upon those who built it up.

In closing I would like to extend a challenge to more fully awake to your own personal standing with God and take action today. Let us no longer hit the snooze button, but let us awake and arise and be about our father's business (Luke 2:49). Let us prepare ourselves and families and get to work preparing to go forth and meet the Bridegroom. I have a testimony of this great work and know we possess inside our souls greatness and all we need to do is tap into that greatness. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Starting Behind The Words

This is the begining of building a refuge from the storm through spirituality.