The Powers of Priesthood

I was in the Provo City Center Temple recently for an endowment session. One of the delightful elderly sister workers, commented that my yellow tie was “swanky.” That’s an adjective I haven’t heard in a very long time.

Provo City Center Temple

I don’t think about looking swanky when I go to the temple (I know, shocker!) Instead, I am most often searching for the inspiration of the moment as I ponder the endowment ordinance. Lean back your chairs as you read this chapter, it’s going to be a long one, I predict.

We have recently witnessed the succession of another President of the Church, this time President Dallin H. Oaks as the 18th President is now in place. I invite each of you to consider with me how you would respond to the following question posed to the members of the Church many years ago by President David O. McKay: “If at this moment each one of you were asked to state in one sentence or phrase the most distinguishing feature of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, what would be your answer?” (“The Mission of the Church and Its Members,” Improvement Era, Nov. 1956, 781).

The response President McKay gave to his own question was the “divine authority” of the priesthood. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stands apart from other churches that claim their authority is derived from historical succession, the scriptures, or theological training. We make the distinctive declaration that priesthood authority has been conferred by the laying on of hands directly from heavenly messengers to the Prophet Joseph Smith. We declare that authority came by ordination under the hands of John the Baptist and Peter, James and John.

I was studying D&C 121 earlier in the morning and learned again what the Prophet Joseph was called upon to endure in Liberty Jail. His whole soul cried out in agony:

1 O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?

2 How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye, yea thy pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and of thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries?

3 Yea, O Lord, how long shall they suffer these wrongs and unlawful oppressions, before thine heart shall be softened toward them, and thy bowels be moved with compassion toward them?

4 O Lord God Almighty, maker of heaven, earth, and seas, and of all things that in them are, and who controllest and subjectest the devil, and the dark and benighted dominion of Sheol—stretch forth thy hand; let thine eye pierce; let thy pavilion be taken up; let thy hiding place no longer be covered; let thine ear be inclined; let thine heart be softened, and thy bowels moved with compassion toward us.

5 Let thine anger be kindled against our enemies; and, in the fury of thine heart, with thy sword avenge us of our wrongs.

6 Remember thy suffering saints, O our God; and thy servants will rejoice in thy name forever.

He was imprisoned on false charges during the winter of 1839, in conditions that were almost unimaginable. We can get some slight appreciation when we go there today, a site that has been restored as a Visitors Center by the Church. In his agony Joseph penned some of the most sublime language I have ever read in scripture. In his solitude he was shown the majesty of the “doctrine of the priesthood.”

Here were the words of comfort the Lord spoke to him in Liberty Jail:

26 God shall give unto you knowledge by his Holy Spirit, yea, by the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost, that has not been revealed since the world was until now;

27 Which our forefathers have awaited with anxious expectation to be revealed in the last times, which their minds were pointed to by the angels, as held in reserve for the fulness of their glory;

28 A time to come in the which nothing shall be withheld, whether there be one God or many gods, they shall be manifest.

29 All thrones and dominions, principalities and powers, shall be revealed and set forth upon all who have endured valiantly for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

30 And also, if there be bounds set to the heavens or to the seas, or to the dry land, or to the sun, moon, or stars—

31 All the times of their revolutions, all the appointed days, months, and years, and all the days of their days, months, and years, and all their glories, laws, and set times, shall be revealed in the days of the dispensation of the fulness of times—

32 According to that which was ordained in the midst of the Council of the Eternal God of all other gods before this world was, that should be reserved unto the finishing and the end thereof, when every man shall enter into his eternal presence and into his immortal rest.

33 How long can rolling waters remain impure? What power shall stay the heavens? As well might man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the Missouri river in its decreed course, or to turn it up stream, as to hinder the Almighty from pouring down knowledge from heaven upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints.

34 Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?

35 Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—

36 That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.

37 That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man. (D&C 121:26-37).

Just imagine how welcomed these words of comfort and power and must have thrilled the Prophet when he heard them and as he wrote them under inspiration! I was overcome with the reality of the priesthood power I felt yesterday. Then I went home and opened my scriptures again. Into my copy of the Doctrine and Covenants I had inserted these inspired thoughts from Elder Bruce R. McConkie:

Elder Bruce R. McConkie

This doctrine, this doctrine of the priesthood — unknown in the world and but little known even in the Church — cannot be learned out of the scriptures alone. It is not set forth in the sermons and teachings of the prophets and Apostles, except in small measure.

The doctrine of the priesthood is known only by personal revelation. It comes, line upon line and precept upon precept, by the power of the Holy Ghost to those who love and serve God with all their heart, might, mind, and strength. (See D&C 98:12.)

We have the revealed promise that if our souls are “full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith” and if we “let virtue garnish [our] thoughts unceasingly; then shall [our] confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon [our souls] as the dews from heaven.” (D&C 121:45.)

… His word goes forth by the mouths of his servants as they minister and labor in their weakness. That word is then carried into receptive hearts by the still small voice of the Spirit. (See D&C 85:6.)

… What, then, is the doctrine of the priesthood? What is this doctrine, framed in the courts above, which can distil upon faithful men as the dews from heaven? (See D&C 121:45.)

Priesthood is power like none other on earth or in heaven. It is the very power of God himself, the power by which the worlds were made, the power by which all things are regulated, upheld, and preserved.

It is the power of faith, the faith by which the Father creates and governs. God is God because he is the embodiment of all faith and all power and all priesthood. The life he lives is named eternal life.

And the extent to which we become like him is the extent to which we gain his faith, acquire his power, and exercise his priesthood. And when we have become like him in the full and true sense, then we also shall have eternal life.

Faith and priesthood go hand in hand. Faith is power and power is priesthood. After we gain faith, we receive the priesthood. Then, through the priesthood, we grow in faith until, having all power, we become like our Lord.

Our time here in mortality is set apart as a time of probation and of testing. It is our privilege while here to perfect our faith and to grow in priesthood power.

We received the priesthood first in the premortal existence and then again as mortals. Adam held the keys and used the priesthood when he participated in the creation of the earth. After his baptism he received the priesthood again, and he now stands as the presiding High Priest over all the earth.

All of us who have calls to minister in the holy priesthood were foreordained to be ministers of Christ, and to come here in our appointed days, and to labor on his errand.

The holy priesthood did more to perfect men in the days of Enoch than at any other time. Known then as the order of Enoch (see D&C 76:57), it was the power by which he and his people were translated. And they were translated because they had faith and exercised the power of the priesthood.

It was with Enoch that the Lord made an eternal covenant that all who received the priesthood would have power, through faith, to govern and control all things on earth, to put at defiance the armies of nations, and to stand in glory and exaltation before the Lord.

Melchizedek was a man of like faith, “and his people wrought righteousness, and obtained heaven, and sought for the city of Enoch.” (JST, Genesis 14:34.) Since his day the priesthood has been called after his name.

There are in the Church two priesthoods: the Aaronic or Levitical, and the Melchizedek. The Aaronic Priesthood is a preparatory priesthood, a schooling priesthood, a lesser priesthood, a divine system that prepares men to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood.

The Melchizedek Priesthood is the highest and holiest order ever given to men on earth. It is the power and authority to do all that is necessary to save and exalt the children of men. It is the very priesthood held by the Lord Jesus Christ himself and by virtue of which he was able to gain eternal life in the kingdom of his Father.

Both of these priesthoods are given by covenant. (See D&C 84:33–41.) Both of them surpass any earthly power; both of them prepare men for salvation.

Those who receive the Aaronic Priesthood covenant and promise to magnify their callings, to serve in the ministry of the Master, to forsake the world, and to live as becometh Saints.

In return, the Lord covenants and promises to enlarge the standing and station of all who keep their Aaronic covenant. He promises to give them the Melchizedek Priesthood, out of which eternal life comes.

Those who receive the Melchizedek Priesthood covenant and promise, before God and angels, to magnify their callings, to “live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God” (D&C 84:44), to marry for time and all eternity in the patriarchal order, and to live and serve as the Lord Jesus did in his life and ministry.

In return the Lord covenants and promises to give them all that his Father hath, meaning eternal life, which is exaltation and godhood in that eternal realm where alone the family unit continues in eternity.

In return the Lord admits them to his eternal patriarchal order, an order that prevails in the highest heaven of the celestial world, an order that assures its members of eternal increase, or in other words of spirit children in the resurrection. (See D&C 131:1–4.)

These are the most glorious promises given to men. There neither is nor can be anything as wondrous and great. And so the Lord uses the most powerful and emphatic language known to the human tongue to show their importance and immutability. That is to say, the Lord swears with an oath in his own name, because he can swear by no greater, that everyone who keeps the covenant made in connection with the Melchizedek Priesthood shall inherit, receive, and possess all things in his everlasting kingdom, and shall be a joint-heir with that Lord who is his Only Begotten.

God swore with an oath that Christ would be exalted, and he swears anew, at the time each of us receives the Melchizedek Priesthood, that we will have a like exaltation if we are true and faithful in all things. [“The day will come, when you will be chosen, called up and anointed…” we are taught in the temple endowment].

Speaking messianically of the Lord Jesus, David said, “The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” (Psalms 110:4.)

And Paul, after quoting this messianic word, this eternal oath sworn by God himself, said that Christ was “called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.” (Hebrews 5:10.)

Then of Melchizedek, to whom Abraham paid tithes, Paul said, “For this Melchizedek was ordained a priest after the order of the Son of God, which order was without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life.” (JST, Hebrews 7:3.)

Anciently the Aaronic Priesthood was limited to the Levites. It came because of father and mother; it was conferred only upon the worthy male descendants of Levi. But the Melchizedek Priesthood was to be conferred upon any male person of any lineage who was worthy to receive it.

And so Paul continued, “And all those who are ordained unto this [higher] priesthood are made like unto the Son of God, abiding a priest continually.” (JST, Hebrews 7:3.)

Christ is the prototype; he is the Son; he is the Heir of the Father. But we, as joint-heirs, inherit equally with him because we also abide as priests forever.

Thus we make the covenant with Deity; and God swears the oath to us all, to show the importance and eternal worth of the covenant.

This matter of swearing with an oath in ancient days was far more significant than many of us have realized.

For instance: Nephi and his brethren were seeking to obtain the brass plates from Laban. Their lives were in peril. Yet Nephi swore this oath: “As the Lord liveth, and as we live, we will not go down unto our father in the wilderness until we have accomplished the thing which the Lord hath commanded us.” (1 Nephi 3:15.)

Thus Nephi made God his partner. If he failed to get the plates, it meant God had failed. And because God does not fail, it was incumbent upon Nephi to get the plates or lay down his life in the attempt.

One of the most solemn oaths ever given to man is found in these words of the Lord relative to Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. “He [meaning Joseph Smith] has translated the book, even that part which I have commanded him,” saith the Lord, “and as your Lord and your God liveth it is true.” (D&C 17:6.)

This is God’s testimony of the Book of Mormon. In it Deity himself has laid his godhood on the line. Either the book is true or God ceases to be God. There neither is nor can be any more formal or powerful language known to men or gods.

And so it is with the Melchizedek Priesthood. As the Lord lives, it is his holy order, and all those priesthood holders of every nation and kindred and tongue and people and race and color who will keep the covenant shall abide as priests forever, ruling and reigning everlastingly with the great High Priest of our profession, who is the Lord Jesus Christ.

What, then, is the doctrine of the priesthood? And how shall we live as the servants of the Lord?

This doctrine is that God our Father is a glorified, a perfected, and an exalted being who has all might, all power, and all dominion, who knows all things and is infinite in all his attributes, and who lives in the family unit.

It is that our Eternal Father enjoys this high status of glory and perfection and power because his faith is perfect and his priesthood is unlimited.

It is that priesthood is the very name of the power of God, and that if we are to become like him, we must receive and exercise his priesthood or power as he exercises it.

It is that he has given us an endowment of heavenly power here on earth, which is after the order of his Son and which, because it is the power of God, is of necessity without beginning of days or end of years.

It is that we can enter an order of the priesthood named the new and everlasting covenant of marriage (see D&C 131:2), named also the patriarchal order, because of which order we can create for ourselves eternal family units of our own, patterned after the family of God our Heavenly Father.

It is that we have power, by faith, to govern and control all things, both temporal and spiritual; to work miracles and perfect lives; to stand in the presence of God and be like him because we have gained his faith, his perfections, and his power, or in other words the fulness of his priesthood.

This, then, is the doctrine of the priesthood, than which there neither is nor can be anything greater. This is the power we can gain through faith and righteousness.

Truly, there is power in the priesthood — power to do all things! (Ensign, April 1982, emphasis mine).

* * *

I cherish my temple time. I am routinely overwhelmed with the language I hear in the temple. Yesterday after reading D&C 121-123, I remembered something President Brigham Young had written about the priesthood keys. He was away in the East on a mission when he got the word of the martyrdom and was waiting for a train on the platform:

“The first thing which I thought of,” President Brigham Young recalled in his journal, “was whether Joseph had taken the keys of the kingdom with him from the earth; brother Orson Pratt sat on my left; we were both leaning back on our chairs. Bringing my hand down on my knee, I said the keys of the kingdom are right here with the Church.” (Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1801-1844, comp. Elden Jay Watson [1968], 171, LDS Church Archives).

Notice in the Center - Only 9 Apostles Had All the Keys

He remembered what the Prophet Joseph had taught them:

From the summer of 1841 until the deaths of Joseph and Hyrum on 27 June 1844, the Twelve were extensively tutored by the Prophet and heavily involved with the temporal and spiritual governance of the Church. In the months before his death, the Prophet Joseph expressed his forebodings concerning his death. “He often observed that he was laying the foundation, but it would remain for the Twelve to complete the building,” observed Elder Parley P. Pratt. “Said [Joseph]: … I am constrained to hasten my preparations, and to confer upon the Twelve all the ordinances, keys, covenants, endowments, and sealing ordinances of the priesthood, and so set before them a pattern in all things pertaining to the sanctuary and the endowment therein.

“Having done this he rejoiced exceedingly; for, said he, the Lord is about to lay the burden on your shoulders and let me rest awhile; and if they kill me, continued he, the kingdom of God will roll on, as I have now finished the work which was laid upon me, by committing to you all things for the building up of the kingdom according to the heavenly vision, and the pattern shown me from heaven.”

This last charge to the Twelve from Joseph the Prophet included not only instruction and the conferral of priesthood keys and authority to govern the Church, but also essential temple ordinances, including the endowment and the fulness of all priesthood blessings. This was an essential element of the Twelve’s claim to succession inasmuch as others who claimed the leadership of the Church after Joseph and Hyrum’s death had not received these priesthood ordinances and keys. Elder Wilford Woodruff testified that Joseph instructed the Quorum of the Twelve a few months before his death to prepare them for the endowment:

“And when they [the Twelve] received their endowment, and actually received the keys of the kingdom of God, … he [Joseph] exclaimed, ‘upon your shoulders the kingdom rests, and you must round up your shoulders, and bear it; for I have had to do it until now. But now the responsibility rests upon you. It mattereth not what becomes of me.’”

In March 1844, nine members of the Twelve met with the Prophet Joseph and heard him prophetically declare:

“Brethren, the Lord bids me hasten the work in which we are engaged. … Some important scene is near to take place. It may be that my enemies will kill me; and in case they should, and the keys and power which rest on me not be imparted to you, they will be lost from the earth; but if I can only succeed in placing them upon your heads, then let me fall a victim to murderous hands if God will suffer it, and I can go with all pleasure and satisfaction, knowing that my work is done, and the foundation laid on which the kingdom of God is to be reared in this dispensation of the fulness of times. Upon the shoulders of the Twelve must the responsibility of leading this church henceforth rest until you shall appoint others to succeed you.”

With the deaths of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, the Twelve became the presiding quorum of the Church. President Brigham Young heard the news of the Martyrdom while on a mission in the East.

… Brigham was unwavering in his assurance that the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles had become the Presidency of the Church. With this assurance, Brigham declared to the Saints at the special conference in Nauvoo on 8 August 1844, that the Twelve were “ordained and anointed to bear off the keys of the Kingdom of God in all the world. … If you let the Twelve remain and act in their place the keys of the Kingdom are with them, and they can manage the affairs of the Church and direct all things aright.” (From Brent L. Top and Lawrence R. Flake, “The Kingdom of God Will Roll On: Succession in the Presidency,” Ensign, Aug. 1996, 22).

I am writing today to add my witness to the early prophets in this dispensation. I am intentionally including it in Volume 6 of my memoirs for all my posterity to look upon in a future day with assurance. We are led by living prophets, who trace their priesthood keys and powers directly to the Lord Jesus Christ. Those keys will never be taken again from the earth.

It is by the authority of those very priesthood keys that we will claim all our blessings as a family in eternity.

And it will have little or nothing to do with “swankiness.”

The Winds of Change

We live in a world of ever-changing circumstances. Temperatures fall, then they rise again. One day the sun is shining brightly, the next day brings snow and blizzards. 

I have observed over a lifetime that includes 78 trips around the sun that people change too. Some are rock solid and steadfast in their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, come what may to discourage or dissuade them. Some are prone to being tossed about with every wind of doctrine that blows this way or that. 

In Ephesians 4:14-15, the Apostle Paul pleads:

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today, we are patiently waiting for the next change in our leadership to occur. President Russell M. Nelson died recently on September 27, 2025, at the age of 101 years young. That's the definition of "venerable" if there ever was one.

His death has given rise to a host of those inside and outside the Church who are prone and more than willing to offer their "sagacious" range of opinions on what should be done. (I use the quotes intentionally). So many want to rise up and be heard on what should or should not happen. I find this tumult of opinion on the one hand almost comical, and on the other hand disheartening that so many would presume so much. They are speculators and prognosticators, but they are NOT prophets.

This is The Church of Jesus Christ I belong to, and it is not a church of men. It is governed by the Savior Himself. He has raised up living Apostles in the Restoration of His Church that began with the formal organization of the Church on April 6, 1830, preceded by the translation and publication of The Book of Mormon. Because He alone stands at the head of this Church, it is my belief that He who knows the beginning to the end holds the timetable. He does not make mistakes if we believe He is the perfect Son of God, and that is what I believe.

Grave Marker for President Harold B. Lee

I was the oldest grandson of President Harold B. Lee. He was the 11th President of the Church. He was called on April 10, 1941, as the junior Apostle. Over time he rose in seniority in the Twelve until he became the senior Apostle and presided over the Church. He was an eyewitness to many transitions in leadership in the Church, and he taught us all about it in a family home evening he convened in his home. He outlined for us step by step and day by day what would happen during the "Apostolic Interregnum" like the one we are currently in. That is the period of time that elapses between the death of the Prophet, and the succession of the next one. That period will soon come to a close and the orderly transition to the new Church administration will begin shortly, perhaps as early as this next week.

I testify on these poor pages that there is nothing to speculate about here. We are in the hands of the Lord and His living Apostles. And because that is true, I can certify we are in good hands. Changing winds are indeed blowing, as I learned overnight last night. One picture is showing resplendent fall leaves against a backdrop of blue skies shrouded in luminous while clouds, and the other is the sight that greeted me this morning when I awakened. Those weather changes where I live are to be expected and welcomed, not dreaded and feared. 

Yesterday

Today

Changes continue to occur not only in the Church today, but in the world at large. For instance, who would have predicted even a month ago that President Donald J. Trump, brokering for a peace settlement in the Middle East, would have been able to announce that an agreement between all the disparate parties had been achieved? That's a BIG CHANGE on the world stage that has seen nothing but war in that part of the world for generations. I am praying in earnest that the settlement of hostilities will become permanent and stable as conditions on the ground play out going forward. PEACEMAKERS must be applauded and sustained in my humble opinion.

President Donald J. Trump, Jr.

I no longer have much fear left in me. I have lived through a host of changes in my life. My testimony in the Savior Jesus Christ is what anchors me today. I have become the grandfather and the great-grandfather of an astounding posterity of warriors for Christ and His Church. They have enlisted in the cause of truth that will continue to spread across this planet. The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will continue to be our prophetic guides in that uncertain future up ahead.

And yes, they are aged, sagacious and well-suited for the tasks ahead. I will assist them in whatever capacity I can. 

Apostles at President Nelson's Gravesite

Favorite Quotes from October 2025 General Conference

 

This was a historic General Conference, coming as it did so soon after the death of President Russell M. Nelson, 17th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The conference sessions were conducted under the authority of The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles with President Dallin H. Oaks at the helm. They have elected to defer the reorganization of the First Presidency until after the funeral of President Nelson. That will happen tomorrow, October 7, 2025.

Here are the highlights of the two-day General Conference:

Saturday morning session:

Opening remarks from President Dallin H. Oaks:

“I speak to you as the president of the Quorum of the Twelve, in which position I have been sustained in each of our ward, stake and general conferences for the past 7½ years.”

“President Nelson understood the value of general conference to provide direction to the Saints in the coming months. We honor him by following the planned conference schedule he approved.”

“I have learned more about the gospel and gospel leadership from my long friendship and association with him than from any other leader I have personally known. He is our model as a servant and follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Elder Gary E. Stevenson:

“Peacemaking still begins in the most basic place — in our hearts. Then in homes and families. As we practice there, peacemaking will spread into our neighborhoods and communities.”

“To be peacemakers, we forgive others and deliberately build others up instead of tearing them down.”

“We fulfill our divine role as children of a loving Heavenly Father as we strive to become peacemakers.”

Sister Tracy Y. Browning:

“Primary songs can become a child’s first spiritual language because their simple, memorable melodies give voice to gospel truths. These songs hold the power to stay with children for a lifetime, becoming part of their discipleship and a natural and normal way for them to testify of the Savior.”

“Primary music can be a miracle carried along the lifelong arc of discipleship that our children will travel.”

“Sacred music can help write the doctrine of Christ into the soul and prepare us to receive His ordinances. It links the Savior’s doctrine to our memory and that memory to our discipleship in Him.”

Elder Ronald M. Barcellos:

“The Savior taught that if our hearts are fully turned to Him, because of His atoning sacrifice, we can be blessed with the strength and spiritual gifts we need to overcome our mortal challenges, resist temptation, receive direction and understanding, and feel joy and peace in our lives.”

“Our Heavenly Father desires more than mechanical acts of obedience and service from His children. He wants us to do those things with real intent, because we love Him with all our hearts. He wants us to desire to become like Him.”

“When we choose to do each thing the Lord has asked us to do ... with a sincere heart and with real intent, each act of service and worship becomes a powerful spiritual experience that strengthens our faith and testimony, and fills our hearts with joy and love for God and our fellow man.”

Elder Brik V. Eyre:

“It is insightful that the first point of doctrine that our missionaries teach is that God is our loving Heavenly Father. Every subsequent truth builds on the foundational understanding of who we really are.”

“Regardless of where we are on our path of discipleship, our lives will fundamentally change if we better understand who we really are.”

“The greatest manifestation of Heavenly Father’s love for us as His children is the reality that He sent His Son, our own personal Savior, to help us come home. Therefore, we need to come to know Him.”

Elder Kelly R. Johnson:

“To be reconciled to God means to be brought back into harmony with God, or to restore a relationship with God that has been strained or broken because of our sins or actions. Simply put, being reconciled to God means aligning our will and actions with God’s will or, as taught by President Russell M. Nelson, letting God prevail in our lives.”

“Just as ethylene weakens the connection of a ripe cherry stem, disobedience, doubts and fears can weaken our connection to the Stem of Jesse, or Jesus Christ, allowing us to be easily shaken and separated from Him. As faithful as we may be, we must guard against a weakening of our connection to Jesus Christ.”

“I have learned that a desire to be reconciled to God must be accompanied by a desire to repent. Repenting and experiencing the blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ lead to unshaken faith. Unshaken faith leads to a desire to always be reconciled to God. This is a circular, or iterative, pattern.”

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf:

“Simply put, discipleship takes self-discipline. It is not a casual endeavor, and it doesn’t happen by accident.”

“Your origin story is divine, and so is your destiny. You left heaven to come here, but heaven has never left you. You are anything but ordinary. You are gifted.”

“I urge and bless every member of the Church and all who desire to be part of it to trust the Savior enough to engage, patiently and diligently, in doing your part with all your heart — that your joy may be full and that, one day, you will receive all the Father has.”

Saturday Afternoon Session:

Elder Ronald A. Rasband:

“The proclamation has a divine origin, so we must treat it with the reverence deserving words from God.”

“You have family in your Savior, Jesus Christ, who loves you. He came to earth to atone for our sins and bear the burden of our mistakes and very bad days.”

“Our Father in Heaven has provided the proclamation on the family to help guide us to come home to Him, to help us learn and be filled with love, strength, purpose and eternal understanding."

Brother Chad H. Webb:

“Today I invite you to consider the role of the Holy Ghost, specifically related to gospel learning and teaching in the home and at Church.”

“As we’re given opportunities to share what we are learning through our study and from the Holy Ghost, we help each other to be instructed and edified. As we apply gospel principles, the Spirit again bears witness of their truthfulness.”

“In our homes and Church meetings, as we focus on Jesus Christ, teach His doctrine and learn diligently, we invite the Holy Ghost to deepen our faith in Jesus Christ and help us become more like Him, which is the aim of all gospel teaching and learning.”

Elder Jeremy R. Jaggi:

“The sacrament table and temple altars symbolize the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and His infinite Atonement.”

“If the Savior is the great connector, then the adversary is the separator.”

“Our Savior’s arms are outstretched; His table is spread. Come worship the Son of God at His holy altars.”

Elder Kevin G. Brown:

“The gift and witness of the Holy Ghost are available to everyone.”

“It is worth every effort to pursue this path to testimony.”

“Saying ‘I choose to believe’ makes it easier to receive a witness from God.”

Elder Gerrit W. Gong:

“In His Church and through His ordinances and covenants, we come to each other and to Jesus Christ.”

“The peace of Jesus Christ is meant for us personally.”

“Covenant belonging deepens as we come to each other and to the Lord in His inn. The Lord blesses us all when no one sits alone.”

Elder Michael Cziesla:

“When the focus of our life is on Christ and His gospel message, we can experience the full blessings of discipleship wherever we live.”

“Applying the doctrine of Christ in a simplified and focused way will help us to find joy in our daily lives, give guidance in our callings, answer some of life’s most complex questions and provide strength to face our greatest challenges.”

“I have learned through my own experience that the small and simple things of the gospel and faithfully focusing on Christ lead us to true joy, bring about mighty miracles and grant us confidence that all promised blessings will come to pass.”

Elder Quentin L. Cook:

“Let me once again assure all new converts and those returning to the Lord’s Church: We love you; we need you; the Lord needs you.”

“My counsel to the members of the Church is to wrap our arms around these precious elect people who have accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

“Following the Savior and His doctrine and teachings has never been easy in a world that is constantly in commotion.”

Saturday Evening Session:

Elder Patrick Kearon:

“New beginnings are at the heart of the Father’s plan for His children. This is the Church of new beginnings. This is the church of fresh starts.”

“Little by little, the more we invite His goodness into our hearts and cast out the self-defeating voices in our heads, we become His people because we truly make Him our God.”

“To those who are struggling with the same sin or the same setback over and over again … You don’t have to be who you’ve been before. Embrace your fresh start, your second or third or fourth — or hundredth — chance, offered to you through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ.”

Sister J. Anette Dennis:

“It is a basic human need for all of us to feel a sense of belonging, to feel that we are wanted and needed and that our lives have purpose and meaning, no matter our circumstances or limitations.”

“Christlike love and care are higher and holier. The pure love of Christ is charity.”

“His is not a gospel of checklists; it is a gospel of becoming — becoming as He is and loving as He does.”

Elder Steven C. Barlow:

“When love is freely given and sincerely received, a virtuous cycle ensues with an increase of love between both the giver and the receiver.”

“The beautiful paradox is that the more we are focused on showing our love for God, the more easily we recognize His love for us.”

"Heavenly Father’s 'work and glory' is not only to bring to pass our eternal life but also includes a hope that our greatest desire is to return to Him.”

Elder William K. Jackson:

“Like the shepherd who left the ninety and nine — safe and secure, I am certain — and went after the one that was lost, we have been asked to be just as aware of our flocks, to notice and remember, and go and do likewise.”

“Christ has organized His Church in such a way that it should be difficult to forget a soul, for each is dear to Him.”

“To God, who created the universe and rules over all, this work — His work and glory — is very personal. And so it should be for us, as instruments in His hands in His amazing work of salvation and exaltation. Miracles in the lives of real people will result.”

Elder Neil L. Andersen:

“The powerful compassion of the Savior in forgiving sin and in healing the wounds caused by the sins of others is a most miraculous manifestation of the love of God.”

“Your Heavenly Father rejoices in your resolve to come unto Him with a broken heart and contrite spirit.”

“I give you my absolute assurance, the Savior knows you and loves you. Reach out to Him. He is your comfort and strength; He will send His angels to bear you up. When will your pain be gone, your grief subdued, the unwanted memories forgotten? I do not know. But this I do know: He has the power to bring beauty from the ashes of your suffering.”

Sunday Morning Session:

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland:

“When we participate in any of the ordinances of the gospel and honor the corresponding covenants, we come to know the Savior much more personally.”

“[The Book of Mormon] has been for me a rod of safety for my soul, a transcendent and penetrating light of revelation and illumination of the path I must walk when mists of darkness come, and surely they have and surely they will.”

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a true restoration of the New Testament church and more, because I could not deny the evidence of that restoration, particularly the spiritual evidence of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, the very word of God itself.”

Elder James E. Evanson:

“You don’t need to have a service assignment or wear a name tag to do good. Every act of service is recognized by the Savior. We are all able to help others come unto Christ by serving with loving kindness.”

“When you, or a family member, is blessed with a call as a service missionary, that is a moment to celebrate. Your family will have a set-apart representative of Jesus Christ living in your home. That will change all of you for the good.”

“If teaching missionaries are the Lord’s mouth, then service missionaries are the Lord’s hands, and you are not second-class missionaries. Each of you is vital to the gathering of Israel.”

Elder Ulisses Soares:

“Cultivating temperance is a meaningful way to protect our souls against the subtle yet constant spiritual erosion caused by worldly influences that can weaken our foundation in Jesus Christ.”

“The gospel of Jesus Christ invites us to exercise this virtue especially in times of challenge, for it is precisely on these occasions that the true character of individuals is revealed.”

“As we strive, with faith and diligence, to weave temperance into our actions and words, I testify that we will strengthen and anchor our lives more securely upon the sure foundation of our Redeemer.”

Elder Peter M. Johnson:

“Christ ministered to the one with love and as a result, others became His devoted disciples.”

“At times we will have unanswered questions and feelings of being unimportant, discouraged, alone and unseen; however, my friends, we must press forward with faith in Jesus Christ.”

“Our ability to live the doctrine of Christ will be enhanced by daily study of the Book of Mormon and weekly partaking of the sacrament.”

Elder D. Todd Christofferson:

“The counsel, ’look to God and live,’ has meaning for us not only in eternity, but also makes all the difference in the character and quality of our mortal lives.”

“In looking to God, we can find peace in difficulty and our faith can continue to grow even in times of doubt and spiritual challenge.”

“Looking to God means that He is not just one of our priorities; it means rather that He is our one highest priority.”

Sister Andrea Munoz Spannaus:

“Each member of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is a prophet, seer and revelator.”

“In the coming days, I invite you to kneel, open your hearts and pray with faith to Heavenly Father, asking Him to confirm to you that His chosen Prophet and Apostles are His voice on the earth today.”

“Prophets testify of Christ — His existence, His ministry and His divinity.”

Elder Henry B. Eyring:

“When we continue to have faith in Jesus Christ — even when things might feel impossible to us at the moment — we become spiritually stronger.”

“Because of His glorious Atonement, Jesus Christ can strengthen us in our times of trial. He knows how to succor us because He has felt all the challenges that we will ever feel in mortality.”

“If we remain faithful in our service, the Lord will refine us. He will strengthen us. And one day, we will look back and see that those very trials were evidence of His love.”

Sunday Afternoon Session:

Elder David A. Bednar:

“Consider that we are commanded — not merely admonished or counseled — but commanded to use our agency to love one another and choose God.”

“Unlike worldly fear that causes alarm and anxiety, godly fear invites into our lives peace, assurance and confidence.”

“Ultimately, then, we are our own judges. No one will need to tell us where to go.”

Elder B. Corey Cuvelier:

“Those who take upon themselves the name of Christ become His disciples and witnesses.”

“Following prophetic counsel to make discipleship a priority is both timely and wise, especially in an age of so many competing voices and influences.”

“In the end, our identity isn’t defined by the world. But our discipleship is defined by the ordinances we receive, the covenants we keep, and the love we show to God and neighbor by simply doing good.”

Elder Matthew S. Holland:

“Having a doctrinal understanding and spiritual witness of why every single one of us struggle with moral, physical, and situational challenges is a great blessing.”

“Even greater than manifesting the effects of the fall, Jonah’s story powerfully directs us to Him who can deliver us from these effects.”

“Whether we are facing a deep, Jonah-like catastrophe, or the every-day challenges of our imperfect world, the invitation is the same, forsake not your own mercy.”

Elder Carlos A. Godoy:

“The greatness of our Saints in Africa becomes even more evident as they face life’s challenges and the demands of a growing Church. They always approach it with a positive attitude.”

“We see their positive attitude because they center their lives in the gospel of Jesus Christ. They know where to find help and hope.”

“Just like those Saints in Africa, I know this promise [of the Savior’s healing power] is true. It is true there, and it’s true everywhere.”

Elder Dale G. Renlund:

“When we take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ, we link our name with His. We identify with Him. We gladly become known as Christian.”

“As His disciples, we … strive to become like Him and seek to be blessed with His attributes.”

“Come unto our Heavenly Father. Take upon yourself the name of Jesus Christ. Identify with Him. Always remember Him. Strive to be like Him. Join Him in His work. Receive His power and blessings in your life.”

Elder John D. Amos:

“The simple secret for happy living is to just follow God’s recipe as detailed in the scriptures. I call it the ‘Good News Recipe.’”

“What do you do if something goes wrong when following the recipe? Well, embedded in the Good News Recipe is the ‘secret ingredient’ to ensure you always get it right in the end. The answer is always Jesus Christ.”

“I think we all have moments when we feel our ingredients are not good enough, or we struggle to follow the directions, or perhaps we do something out of order, or something happens that is out of our control, and so on. What’s the remedy? It’s simply to add more of what invites Jesus Christ into your life.”

Elder Ozani Farias:

“The Book of Mormon has been my companion and has become an immeasurable treasure in my mortal journey.”

“Just as Lehi desired to share the fruit of the tree of life with his family (see 1 Nephi 8:12), when we gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon, we develop a desire to share the joy that comes from knowing the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

“I know as we feast upon the words of Christ found in the Book of Mormon, the Spirit will help us understand eternal truths and share our testimony with conviction to those whom the Lord has prepared to hear His message.”

President Dallin H. Oaks:

“The doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints centers on the family. ”

“Parents — single or married and others like grandparents who fill that role for children — are the master teachers.”

“Many parents will find that they can turn their family on if they all turn their technologies off. And parents remember, what those children really want for dinner is time with you.”

It's October - Baseball and General Conference

I must confess to one and all - October has always been my favorite time of the year. Why? Two reasons:

The New York Yankees

The Semi-Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 

This year holds particular enjoyment for me. The Yankees did the impossible last night. They came back to win the first round of the playoffs after losing game one in a short wild card series. And they didn't just win. Rookie pitcher Cam Schlittler, the 6-foot-6 right-hander, in his 85th day as a major leaguer, became the first pitcher to toss at least eight scoreless innings with at least 12 strikeouts and zero walks in a postseason game, according to ESPN Research. His 12 strikeouts were the most in a winner-take-all game in history, the most in a playoff debut in Yankees history and the most he's compiled in a professional game at any level.

Cam Schlittler, Yankees Hero

Every postseason I can remember going back a long way now, has been my favorite time of the year. I am old enough to have been an eyewitness to Don Larsen's perfect game pitched in the World Series in 1956. I was nine years old, still playing Little League baseball. Most of my readers on this page would not be conversant with that history, but I remember it vividly. It was in the heyday of Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra, who were my Yankees heroes back then. So here's a short course on Don Larsen:

Don James Larsen (August 7, 1929 – January 1, 2020) was an American professional baseball pitcher. During a 15-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career, he pitched from 1953 to 1967 for seven different teams: the St. Louis Browns / Baltimore Orioles (1953–54; 1965), New York Yankees (1955–1959), Kansas City Athletics (1960–1961), Chicago White Sox (1961), San Francisco Giants (1962–1964), Houston Colt .45's / Astros (1964–65), and Chicago Cubs (1967).

Larsen pitched the sixth perfect game in MLB history, doing so in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series. It is the only solo no-hitter and perfect game in World Series history and is one of only three no-hitters in MLB postseason history (the others being Roy Halladay's in 2010 and the combined Houston Astros no-hitter in 2022). He won the World Series Most Valuable Player Award and Babe Ruth Award in recognition of his 1956 postseason.

Yogi Berra and Don Larsen

Last night's performance by Schlittler comes as close to sheer domination by a pitcher as I have witnessed since then. Everybody watching the game knew a fast ball was coming on the next pitch, but the Red Sox hitters simply could not catch a break against his staggering performance. He averaged just under 100 mph on every fast ball he threw all night long. That's pure.

* * *

Now couple my joy over the Yankees so far this October with the prospect of the upcoming Semi-annual General Conference set to convene tomorrow in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Last week we said our final farewells to 101 year-old President Russell M. Nelson, the Church's 17th President, and the oldest ever to preside over The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

President Russell M. Nelson

I have had my boyhood baseball heroes, but I have likewise had my prophet heroes too. President Harold B. Lee was my grandfather, and he ranks at the top of that very long list of men whom I have admired.

President Harold B. Lee

President Lee was the 11th President of the Church, who presided for a scant eighteen months after many had predicted a longer presidency given his relatively youthful vigor compared to his long-lived predecessors Joseph Fielding Smith and David O. McKay, both of whom I also admired greatly. As a boy, one can easily deduce, I was blessed with men who were certainly worthy of my adulation and my gratitude.

And today we wait with eager anticipation about the upcoming changes that will occur at the top of Church leadership once again. I gathered my family last Sunday night after President Nelson's death to help them understand the next steps that will be taken to reorganize the First Presidency and to name a new Apostle. I suggested before it had been announced that the reorganization steps would not be taken until after General Conference and President Nelson's funeral. The next day we learned his funeral would be held on October 7, 2025. President Lee gathered his family after the passing of President Smith, and he told us with unerring accuracy exactly what would happen going forward as he assumed the mantle of the living prophet. 

How did he know? Because from the moment he entered the upper room in the Salt Lake Temple where the Apostles meet as the newly named Apostle in 1941, he had witnessed the various transitions in leadership as he rose in seniority in the Twelve. It was not some mysterious process. To him it was familiar and predictable, and he shared it with each of us in his posterity.

President Dallin H. Oaks

Until then, I assured my own posterity the other night, the Church is named The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for an important reason - this is the Savior Jesus Christ's Church. It is not just another church of men. He remains at the helm. The keys of the kingdom of God on the earth are in the hands of the living Apostles. Those keys in the due course of events over the next few days after General Conference concludes will be transmitted into the hands of the senior member of The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, President Dallin H. Oaks, who will select his counselors. Then a new member of the Twelve will be called to fill the subsequent vacancy. There is order in the kingdom of God. There is no politicking for position. We have been blessed by an abundance of worthy priesthood leaders in the past and the kingdom will go forward without hesitation or delay going forward. All is well with the restored Church.

Now, one final word. In this Church many will bear a strong witness that they were foreordained to serve in various assignments in their lives. This includes Sunday School teachers, missionaries, bishops, Relief Society presidents, stake presidents and others. I accepted a call to serve one time as the ward clerk, and I came to understand the reason why after I had performed a function of converting the manual records of the ward to digital records via the computer. I learned later I was the only person in the ward at that time who knew anything about those strange contraptions we now take for granted - the personal computer. I was foreordained, no doubt. So do not discount your pre-existent covenant to accept whatever foreordained tasks to which you are presently assigned in this life. 

We will raise our hands in a not distant future day to sustain the new leadership of the Church. We will have a witness of the divine nature of their callings, and that witness will come to each of us through the ministrations of the Holy Ghost to us. 

Thinking of My Mom Patsy, by Steve Goates

Steve on top of Dixie with Patsy

I’ve been thinking a lot about my Mom the past few weeks - it’s been just over two years since she passed on from this mortal life into the eternities - the next chapter.

She lived her life in such a way that she showed EVERYONE around her what it meant to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. She gave her life to God and gave her time and energy to her family, her friends, her neighbors, and even to strangers - she was the epitome of LOVE and CHARITY. She’s one of my heroes. She was not perfect, but she was literally the best example in my life of what it is to be Christ-like.

At her funeral, I was asked to speak, and one of the themes that emerged from that experience was that she spent her life teaching us that she, of herself, was nothing special (though she actually was VERY special). She was so consistent to ALWAYS point us to Christ - she gave Him all the credit for any good that she ever did in her life. Christ was her ROCK. Christ was her HOPE. Christ was her STRENGTH. Christ was her EVERYTHING. She taught us that we were to look to Christ for the strength and support we needed, to gain our own testimonies… and she was there, selflessly and faithfully as our mother, to guide us to HIM.

In John 17:3, we learn: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

I’m so grateful that she taught me that. I’m so grateful to know God and His Son Jesus Christ. I’m a weak, fallen man, and I need Jesus so much - I feel guilt and shame for my constant shortcomings - I truly know that I, like all of us, “… have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23).

Christ - "I need thee every hour"… Take my brokenness and make me whole, I pray. I have faith that He will. I have faith that He’s already paid the price to rescue my soul from hell. I love Jesus - HE IS EVERYTHING.

May we all try to be a little better, a little more kind, more giving of our time and our talents to lift up and bless those around us in this dark and fallen world - Like Christ did - Like my Mom did. ❤️❤️❤️

* * *

This was a priceless piece of writing I have chosen to include as a chapter in my memoirs with Steve’s permission. I believe it captures the essence of her impact on one of her sons. I’m certain there will be others who would second Steve’s observations, and I encourage all of you to contribute something about her if you would like to. I have the power to make you a “published author” if you do.

It’s wonderful to ponder our shared memories, especially in light of recent events on the world stage. As the fall season begins, I am filled with so many similar thoughts, alone as I am in my home these days.

I was in the Jordan River Temple today, and reflected on all my blessings as I frequently do in sacred precincts. I was performing a vicarious ordinance. He had been waiting years for his endowment to be done, and I got to perform that sacred ordinance on his behalf. Chief among those blessings are Patsy and all of our shared posterity. I can’t imagine anyone out there as favored and loved by our Heavenly Father as I am.

I visited an aging ward member this week, and asked him, “So how are you doing?” His response: “I’m all the way up to miserable.” He’s depressed, has lost his short-term memory, and has difficulty gathering his thoughts. His wife passed away about four years ago, and he lives alone. (He couldn’t remember his birthdate or how old he is when I asked). So I focused instead on our shared memories of the past Church assignments we shared, and he perked up as I reminded him about how many lives he had blessed through his service. I left hoping I had cheered him up a little beyond his self-described “miserable” status.

My thoughts are drawn out continually wondering what Patsy might be doing in her place in the spirit world today. As I minister to others, I feel her presence ministering to me, guiding and inspiring me. I felt her presence every moment as I was fasting and praying over the safe arrival of Benjamin Joshua Mann last week. What a consummate blessing this choice son is in answer to our united petitions!

Straight from Heaven

I love you all, and pray the Lord’s choicest blessings might be yours in all you are doing every day.

ZION - Now More Than Ever

This has been a momentous week in my personal history. I have withheld comment about it until now purposefully. I was somewhat stunned when I realized this is entry #800 on these poor pages.

First, I celebrated my 78th birthday in the Bountiful Temple, while President Russell M. Nelson was observing his 101st birthday on the same day. He’s 23 years older than me, and no matter how fast I run I can’t ever seem to catch up to him! I have to say that life is good right now. I am so grateful to be able to move about freely and with good health for the most part. As part of my birthday celebration we gathered many of the family in the Orem Temple on Saturday for a sealing session conducted by Hank Nelson, my dear friend. The temples are where I feel closest to heaven, and particularly my beloved Patsy.

Bountiful and Orem Temples

Second, this is also the week of the commemoration of the events of 9/11/2001, when the Twin Towers in New York were astonishingly levelled by the malevolent attacks perpetrated by terrorists who flew highjacked airplanes into them. Another flew into the Pentagon and exploded upon impact a few miles away, and a fourth was diverted by brave passengers who sacrificed their own lives to crash the plane they were on into a field in Pennsylvania. I witnessed those events in our home as the scenes were portrayed on my TV screen in living color throughout the day. It was an unbelievable and shocking event in world history. Osama bin Laden was ultimately identified as the perpetrator/mastermind, and he was summarily brought to justice and executed later.

9/11/25

Third, Charlie Kirk, an outspoken and stalwart voice for conservatives in this country, was assassinated in Orem, Utah, on the campus of Utah Valley University while he was giving a rally. Regardless of his politics and the positions he espoused, those who opposed him made an arbitrary decision to take him out with a single sniper’s bullet. Just this morning as I write, President Trump announced the shooter had confessed his act to his father, apparently, and it was his father who turned him in to authorities in St. George, Utah. Governor Cox, yesterday, reminded the world that Utah still upholds the death penalty for perpetrators of such crimes, and this individual will be held accountable to the “fullest extent of the law.”

Charlie Kirk at UVU

Fourth, and perhaps most satisfying of all to me personally, Aaron Judge hit two home runs (Nos. 45 and 46) in a game against the Tigers in Yankee Stadium, now tying him with Joe DiMaggio on the all-time Yankees home run list with 361 career homers. President Trump was in attendance for the commemoration of 9/11, and told the Yankees in their locker room before the game started that they would win that game. Final score: Yankees 9 Tigers 3.

So, would you say it was an eventful week? I vote “YES.” Honestly, you can’t make this stuff up, can you?

I have been pondering all week about ZION, and this morning as I write I am wearing my ZION sweatshirt in memory of those precious ideals I attempted to capture in my compilation those many years ago. It would seem after the shocking events of this week that we are now more than ever further away from ZION than we have ever been. But, I have a differing viewpoint based upon all I know. It is instructive, I believe, that no matter how devastating the historical events may be, we somehow seem to survive and eventually thrive despite the evidence to the contrary. We are resilient as a nation, and we can choose resilience as individuals too.

I wrote the following ten years ago on April 15, 2015:

Zion’s Four Facets

I continue to get questions from people I know well about the end of the world. It seems the political upheavals we are witnessing continue to trouble even the most grounded saints. These concerns arise as a natural consequence of the bad news we hear every day.

The budget and deficit spending in America is out of control. The prophets of doom and gloom continue to spread fear and uncertainty all around. Conspiracy theories abound. Few are escaping the effects of the 2008 financial market meltdown. Widespread doubts about the future are escalating. Inflation is eroding purchasing power. Gas prices are averaging $4 per gallon in five states, and continue rising in more. The price of basic food is rising at the grocery store. It is a troubling time for most.

In the aftermath of General Conference two weeks ago, I’ve had a chance to review the content, topics and themes we heard expressed by the living prophets. Patsy and I were asked to speak about the prophets in a recent sacrament meeting.

I chose to focus on the two senior Apostles - President Thomas S. Monson and President Boyd K. Packer. What did you hear from them two weeks ago? I heard a clear emphasis on priesthood power as it relates to family. Temple ordinances and marriage covenants were also themes. Missionary work and proclaiming the gospel throughout the world also came up more than once. Entering into temple marriage was a plea from the Prophet to young single men.

So where were the themes of doom and gloom, predictions of the pending demise of the planet being ground into dust? Conspicuously absent. Rather, we hear the announcements of three new temples echoing each opening statement by the Prophet as General Conference begins each six months. Just this week a new “super building” housing 5 stakes and 48 wards in Provo was announced. The City Creek project surrounding Temple Square in Salt Lake is on time, set for opening in a year from now.

Time and again we hear, “and this is just the beginning” in the promised establishment of Zion in the midst of Babylon. Living prophets are decidedly optimistic because of their absolute faith in the plan of salvation. There seems to be no fears in any of the living prophets.

Many years ago I began putting it all together on paper. I discerned four facets related to our understanding of the word “Zion” in the scriptures. I found that in each scriptural reference to Zion one could pinpoint one or more applications of the word. These four facets are people, place, condition or time.

People

Zion is a covenant people, set apart, consecrated, and sanctified from the rest of the world. They are different, they are peculiar and they are pure. They have come out of the world, entered in at the gate of baptism, are born of the Spirit and have taken hold of the iron rod. They reject the clarion voices from amid the mists of darkness, and ignore the taunts and jeers of those in the spacious building of sin. God has purged his people in all the other dispensations of which we have record, and the purification has come as a result of extreme adversity and affliction. Gold is never refined in an air conditioned chamber. If the covenant people cannot sacrifice and consecrate their lives to God, it has forever been the case that the rest of the world was willing to cast them out, throw them into the lions’ den, or stoke up the fiery furnace. Let us never be deluded into thinking we will inherit Zion in any other way, nor be worthy of the company of earlier martyrs at that future wedding feast unless we consecrate.

Place

Zion is two world centers of righteousness and judgment that are ultimately joined together physically. One is Independence, Missouri, the “centerstake,” from which “the law” will emanate, the other is Jerusalem, from which “the word” will go forth. Those who love and cherish the Constitution of the United States, it would seem, will rally to Zion and her stakes (and by extension her temples) upon the American Continent and throughout the world wherever they may find themselves. Christ will come to the Earth and sit in his temples in Jerusalem and in Jackson County, from which will go forth His word. They will combine eventually in the Lord’s timetable with the heavenly Zion when the earth enters the terrestrial phase of its existence, thus returning to the status it once enjoyed referred to in the 10th Article of Faith as “paradisiacal glory.” This telestial world in which we now live will give way to a terrestrial world that will stand for one thousand years, a period of time referred to as “The Millennium.” This is the place at the end of the path in Lehi’s vision where the tree of life grows.

Condition

Zion will stand apart from all worldly influences. Men and women of honesty and truth will seek the peace Zion affords, trust their temporal and spiritual welfare to each other, or sink lower and lower with the rest of the world who will be at war. There will be no middle ground - either total acceptance of God’s salvation, or Lucifer’s damnable embrace of death and destruction. Zion will be the light on the hill, and so formidable will be her strength and beauty because of God’s overshadowing presence that her enemies will shrink at the sight of her. The society will be characterized by people of one heart, one mind, and one objective spreading the truth of God’s salvation over the face of the earth as with a flood.

Time

Zion will come to pass in the due season of the Lord, and that season is upon us even now. We live at the end of the sixth seal of John’s Revelation, meaning the end of the sixth thousand-year period since the Fall. It is called “today” in the scriptures, and it is a day of sacrifice. It is not a day in which to trust in the arm of flesh, seeking security in the carnal pleasures of today’s society. Zion’s time is not fully ripe until the Bridegroom comes to accept the Bride, as John foresaw. The paradox of Zion’s timetable is that she will be nurtured as it were in the bull rushes like Moses, in the midst of unparalleled wickedness and abominations among men. The wheat and tares continue growing together, and the tares keep looking more and more like the weeds they are. And we also see the fig tree putting forth its leaves every day.

The Spirit whispers the truth that Zion will indeed have to be led out of bondage as the children of Israel were led out under Moses. While we are in the midst of spiritual bondage right now, the scriptures are replete with types and shadows of a physical bondage yet to come that will precede the day when all things are fulfilled.

We will not see the establishment of the headquarters of Zion until the temporary landlords who now occupy the sacred sites of the habitations of the New and the Old Jerusalem are swept off. The reclamation of those lands will come in the wake of destruction as foretold by all the prophets who witnessed the promised day, and that time is not far distant. Without an understanding of the impending destruction as the lynch pin to prophecy, the promises of the Lord to Israel that she will ultimately redeem the promised lands of her inheritance seem incomprehensible.

One need not read far into The Book of Mormon to discover that this land is not promised to the Gentiles who now occupy it. Rather, it will be given as an inheritance to the scattered remnants of the House of Israel now being gathered, and to those relatively few Gentiles who repent, embrace the gospel and by adoption become Israel. To think otherwise would be to deny the very faith that gave the prophets their utterance. And this despite the obvious evidence that the Gentiles who occupy this Promised Land today have material wealth and military might beyond even the wildest imaginations of the prophets who foresaw their destruction.

Ephraim’s descendants will figure prominently in the leadership of the House of Israel in the development of Zion, but it would be a gross error to assume that Zion is the private domain of Ephraim. The scriptures speak plainly of all the tribes coming to their inheritances in their various lands. We are witnessing the emergence of all these long-lost cousins in Israel in our day, as adversity, lawlessness, and political upheavals continue to drive them to our borders of freedom. They come because of wars, famines, diseases, natural disasters, and the love of freedom, but whatever the reasons they are coming to claim their promised blessings at the hands of Ephraim. Let us never be so surfeited by the things of this world that we cannot embrace them, when they come with little more than the clothes on their backs.

Conclusion

There is not a clear road map to Zion, a “checklist” if you will, that will land us unerringly at the gates of the Holy City. To come to Zion requires clean hands, a pure heart, and pure faith. To be a consecrated saint is to hearken to the voice of the Lord by the power of the Holy Ghost, to receive revelation upon revelation, and to possess a submissive heart that endures all that the Lord sees fit to inflict upon us. All the inhabitants of Zion are as little children, full of faith, and eager to do the will of the Father in all things.

We are not worthy of Zion’s society in our present state, but the chastening is in full effect and the spiritual mettle of us all will be put to the test in due time. Those who persist in their hidden sins while proclaiming their beliefs with their lips only, will fail to accumulate the needed midnight oil droplet by droplet over a lifetime of faithfulness. Those who cling steadfastly to their institutional faith, never risking the failure of individual responsibility for their decisions will sink in the depths of forgotten dust with the discarded baggage. We cannot endure the journey to Zion on borrowed light, nor will we find the oil of the Spirit to buy at midnight.

We must beware of repeating the patterns of old. Zion is a steadily progressing caravan of strangers and foreigners seeking a city built without hands. It is to be expected that the “corporate” Church would have difficulty implementing the celestial principles upon which Zion will be built. That reality does not make the Church’s doctrines any less true, nor the need for the Church’s organization less compelling. One laudable development is that the Church is adapting to the worldwide need for simplicity, as evidenced by the priesthood and Relief Society manual of instruction – it’s back to basics with Gospel Principles.

This is an important point that cannot be glossed over. The Church members’ compromise with Babylon is nearly complete. In a forthcoming day there will be an entire separation of the righteous from the wicked. Babylon is slated for destruction. That fact is a well-documented scriptural reality, and so is the establishment of Zion.

We are in the world as never before in our history, and we are more of the world too. From the days of Brigham Young whose mission was to separate the saints from the world by leading them to these remote valleys of the Mountain West, to the administration of Gordon B. Hinckley who has welcomed the world with the red carpet, we have come full circle. Living prophets lead the way.

But never doubt for one minute - the caravan is on course, though there will always be those among us who cling to the past fiercely, as though we are going to return somehow to the purity and simplicity of an earlier time. These somehow wish they could live in the days before the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands and started rolling downhill. We are picking up speed as the little stone rolls forward. But let us not be smug.

God will cut short the work in this last dispensation of the fulness of times. The Bride may have grown weary while waiting and defiled herself with the world, but this time there will be a wedding with the Bridegroom and the Church will become the Bride of Christ. The best course we can take is individual repentance and to let the rest of the Church and the world who fail to repent go their merry way to destruction. As midnight draws nigh there will be fewer opportunities to obtain oil to light our little lamps of faith. Unconsecrated material possessions in that hour will be a poor store of value - ancient prophets used the word “slippery.” (Helaman 13:31).

Now I offer this final observation. Patience with the unfolding timetable of the Lord is indispensable to the true disciple. Many, knowing what the scriptures reveal concerning conditions in a Zion society, and observing these circumstances do not now exist in the Church, and thinking they have somehow been “called” to lead the way, have made unwise and premature decisions to move out in front of the caravan. Like the ancient Rechabites of Jeremiah’s day they prefer the separatist life to the heat of the day in the kingdom with all its paradoxes, contradictions and ironies. They are never wise stewards, and seem to lack the faith they proclaim.

The keys of the priesthood reside with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and those keys and this kingdom will never again be taken from the earth. The path to Zion is first discovered deep within the hearts of men and women, and they gravitate to others who have made a similar discovery, all of whom are subject to the Lord’s mouthpiece. That man, the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, like Moses who stood at the head of another caravan, will lead Israel out of whatever form of bondage enslaves us. Until that promised day comes, it is enough to hear the Lord whisper again, “Be still, and know that I am God.” His promises will never fail, and the gates of the Heavenly City await us.

So put away your Mayan calendar, and add to your food storage in the spirit of faith not fear.

* * *

Finally, I offer this concluding statement for your consideration:

I promise you all, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that we can each be filled with the spirit of prophecy to guide us unerringly toward the implementation of Zion principles now and forever. It is within our grasp even now, and it is never too late. 

Making Peace in a War-Torn World

 Because we live in the United States of America, we can be forgiven if we do not fully appreciate the agony of those who are living in war-torn countries around the world. I will not undertake a complete listing of those countries, but suffice it to say there are many right now.

Perhaps top of the list might be the 3½ year-old conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The principal leaders are Putin and Zelenskyy, neither of which has shown a willingness to consider peace. In the meantime, lives have been lost on the battlefield.

The Russia-Ukraine war began in February 2022 when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, escalating a conflict that had been simmering since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. Initially, Russia aimed for a swift takeover, but Ukrainian resistance, supported by Western military aid, halted major advances. Over time, the war has evolved into a prolonged and grinding conflict, with both sides suffering heavy casualties. Russia has captured some territory in eastern Ukraine, while Ukraine has conducted counteroffensives with mixed results. Diplomatic efforts have stalled, and recent reports indicate that the U.S. and Russia have discussed potential resolutions to the war without Ukraine’s direct involvement. Meanwhile, military aid and financial support from Western allies, particularly the U.S., continued to play a crucial role in sustaining Ukraine’s war effort.

And then Trump said, “Enough,” and foreign aid from the U.S. ceased. Europe has stepped up to some degree to assist in opposition to Russia’s naked aggression, but now Putin and Trump have concluded a private meeting in Alaska on Friday, to be followed by a meeting tomorrow in Washington between European leaders and Trump. The rhetoric is extreme, and truthfully none of us can decipher what is really happening. Trump is positioning himself solely as the mediator, because as he said, “This isn’t my war.”

The loss of over a million lives needlessly is what is most troubling in my heart and mind. All of this high-stakes drama on the world stage is causing uncertainty and a high degree of speculation, depending upon where one turns for news.

We have almost become numb, I believe, to the rumors of wars and the actual wars. It has become a commonplace piece of our existence. The closest I ever came to war was the Vietnam War during my era as a young man. In those days I read D&C 87:2:

And the time will come that war will be poured out upon all nations, beginning at this place. (Kirtland, Ohio).

That was not comforting news to me as a young man who had hoped to establish a temple marriage and a family. It disrupted my plans. I was not assured of anything, but my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ sustained me through that period of doubt, as it will for all of you.

Now a new generation faces similar challenges. Will Donald Trump be successful in mediating between the warring factions yet again? The pundits and the talking heads on all the media platforms continue their diatribes in full force. I frankly cannot tune in for all the commentary. I am reveling instead in the knowledge of my faithful posterity, many of whom are enlisting in the service of the Lord as missionaries in their far-flung assignments.

The latest to join the ranks is Jonny, who received his endowment yesterday in the Payson Temple. I was told he selected that temple because it was the first temple open house he attended and he said he would one day return to engage in temple work himself when he was older. And so he did!

With Elder Jonny Bayles Yesterday

The world may be in turmoil all around us, it is true, but in the House of the Lord there is peace and solemnity of soul.

I pray for all the peacemakers in the world, including Donald J. Trump. He seems to be transcending politics as usual. I pray others may follow his example in seeking peaceful resolutions to their conflicts. I say all of this knowing full well that the world will continue to pursue war on a widespread scale as prophesied. Nevertheless, we can CHOOSE peaceful resolutions whenever we can.

While I waited briefly for the session to begin yesterday, my pages in the Book of Mormon landed on these verses:

And now it came to pass in this year, yea, in the two hundred and thirty and first year, there was a great division among the people.

And it came to pass that in this year there arose a people who were called the Nephites, and they were true believers in Christ; and among them there were those who were called by the Lamanites—Jacobites, and Josephites, and Zoramites;

Therefore the true believers in Christ, and the true worshipers of Christ, (among whom were the three disciples of Jesus who should tarry) were called Nephites, and Jacobites, and Josephites, and Zoramites.

And it came to pass that they who rejected the gospel were called Lamanites, and Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites; and they did not dwindle in unbelief, but they did wilfully rebel against the gospel of Christ; and they did teach their children that they should not believe, even as their fathers, from the beginning, did dwindle.

And it was because of the wickedness and abomination of their fathers, even as it was in the beginning. And they were taught to hate the children of God, even as the Lamanites were taught to hate the children of Nephi from the beginning.

And it came to pass that two hundred and forty and four years had passed away, and thus were the affairs of the people. And the more wicked part of the people did wax strong, and became exceedingly more numerous than were the people of God.

And they did still continue to build up churches unto themselves, and adorn them with all manner of precious things. And thus did two hundred and fifty years pass away, and also two hundred and sixty years.

And it came to pass that the wicked part of the people began again to build up the secret oaths and combinations of Gadianton.

And also the people who were called the people of Nephi began to be proud in their hearts, because of their exceeding riches, and become vain like unto their brethren, the Lamanites.

And from this time the disciples began to sorrow for the sins of the world.

And it came to pass that when three hundred years had passed away, both the people of Nephi and the Lamanites had become exceedingly wicked one like unto another.

And it came to pass that the robbers of Gadianton did spread over all the face of the land; and there were none that were righteous save it were the disciples of Jesus. And gold and silver did they lay up in store in abundance, and did traffic in all manner of traffic. (4 Nephi 1:35-46, emphasis mine).

Many churches, many “ites” - most stunning was that they TAUGHT THEIR CHILDREN WICKEDNESS AND HATRED. The story of the people in those days is a cautionary tale for our day. The book was written, compiled and translated to come forth in this last dispensation of the fulness of times.

Contrast that with what you are all trying to do, and that is to teach your children righteousness instead. You are disciples of Jesus, and you are in the minority, always have been, always will be. I give you my assurances that you are in the right path. Your children will one day rise up and call you blessed because of what you have taught them in your homes.

This is the generation who will prepare the way for the Savior’s Second Coming, even as we witness more wickedness than we have ever seen before. I love you all for your steadfastness.