Why We Listen to Thomas S. Monson.

In my blog today, I include and quote excerpts from the talk entitled, "Profile of a Prophet" by Hugh B Brown. I'll start by paraphrasing the beginning of the talk.  Hugh B Brown had an interview with a man of high regards in London England.  Its a little longer than normal but well worth the read.  The dialogue goes as follows.

 I began by asking, “May I proceed, sir, on the assumption that you are a Christian?”

“I am.”

“I assume you believe in the Bible—the Old and New Testament?”

“I do!”

“Do you believe in prayer?”

“I do!”

“You say that my belief that God spoke to a man in this age is fantastic and absurd?”

“To me, it is.”

“Do you believe that God ever did speak to anyone?”

“Certainly. All through the Bible we have evidence of that.”

“Did He speak to Adam?”

“Yes.”

“To Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jacob, Joseph, and on through the prophets?”

“I believe He spoke to each of them.”

“Do you believe that contact between God and man ceased when Jesus appeared on the earth?”

“No, such communication reached its climax, its apex at that time.”

“Do you believe that Jesus was the Son of God?”

“He was.”

“Do you believe, sir, that after Jesus was resurrected a certain lawyer, who was also a tent maker by the name of Saul of Tarsus, when on his way to Damascus, talked with Jesus of Nazareth, who had been crucified, resurrected, and had ascended into heaven?”

“I do.”

“Whose voice did Saul hear?”

“It was the voice of Jesus Christ, for He so introduced Himself.”

“Then, … I am submitting to you in all seriousness that it was standard procedure in Bible times for God to talk to man.”

“I think I will admit that, but it stopped shortly after the first century of the Christian era.”

“Why do you think it stopped?”

“I can’t say.”

“You think that God hasn’t spoken since then?”

“I am sure He hasn’t.”

“There must be a reason; can you give me a reason?”

“I do not know.”

“May I suggest some possible reasons: perhaps God does not speak to man anymore because He cannot. He has lost the power.”

He said, “Of course that would be blasphemous.”

“Well, then, if you don’t accept that, perhaps He doesn’t speak to men because He doesn’t love us anymore. He is no longer interested in the affairs of men.”

“No,” he said, “God loves all men, and He is no respecter of persons.”

“Well, then, if He could speak and if He loves us, then the only other possible answer, as I see it, is that we don’t need Him. We have made such rapid strides in science, we are so well educated, that we don’t need God anymore.”

And then he said, and his voice trembled as he thought of impending war: “Mr. Brown, there never was a time in the history of the world when the voice of God was needed as it is needed now. Perhaps you can tell me why He doesn’t speak.”

My answer was: “He does speak. He has spoken, but men need faith to hear Him.”

We have a prophet today.  God does speak to us through him.  Christ's one and only true church is again on the earth.  In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
_Elder Halbert

What's a Prophet in the LDS Church?

Prophets. All throughout scriptures, particularly the Bible, God has had a prophet.  The purpose of a prophet is to guide the  people, or to tell them God's will for them.  Abraham was a great prophet who was willing to do anything that the Lord asked of him.  Moses was also a great Prophet who led the Children of Israel out of captivity.  Elijah and Elisha were more great prophets from the Old Testament.  In the New Testament, John the Baptist as well as Peter were ordained prophets.  But there seems to be a gap here.  After Peter, there was no more record of prophets.  For some reason, God had ceased talking to man by means of a prophet.  In Amos 3:7 its reads that Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servant the prophets.  That promise from God is still true.  God has again called prophets to lead and guide his people.  The prophet today is named Thomas S. Monson is he receives revelation on behalf of the Lord's church today.  Read Thomas S. Monson's most recent talk from the 2011 General Conference of the church titled "Stand in Holy Places" or "Dare to Stand Alone" or learn more about prophets at Mormon.org.  There is a prophet today!
_Elder Halbert

Man of Honor

Honesty is a principle that is lacking in today's society.  To be or find an honest man is a rare occurrence.  Dishonesty comes from selfishness; when it is easier to sacrifice integrity than to face the consequences of one's actions.  Selfishness motivates someone to take an extra couple of minutes on a lunch break, or to not provide a full day's work.
Karl G Maeser said regarding honesty.

 "I have been asked what I mean by 'word of honor.' I will tell you. Place me behind prison walls--walls of stone ever so high, ever so thick, reaching ever so far into the ground--there is a possibility that in some way or another I may escape; but stand me on the floor and draw a chalk line around me and have me give my word of honor never to cross it. Can I get out of the circle? No. Never! I'd die first!"

Let us all work on being completely honest with those around us.  People's respect for you will increase as they come to know you as a man of you honor. In the name of Jesus Christ.
_Elder Halbert

What's in a Name?

In the 2011 October General Conference address Elder Russel M. Ballard gave a talk entitled "The Importance of a Name".  In it he talks about the importance of calling our church by its real title, that is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Elder Ballard says "Let us develop the habit ... of of making it clear that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the name by which the Lord himself has directed that we be known."  While Mormons is a nickname that we are often called, it is not how we should refer to ourselves.  When we are baptized, we take upon us the name of Jesus Christ, not Mormon's or Moses's or Joseph Smith's nor anybody else's name.  We are followers of Jesus Christ.  

 Anyways, that got me thinking about names.  When we are all born, we receive a name.  That name is shiny and new, polished and clean.  As we grow up, we make mistakes, sometimes putting a smudge, a scuff, a scratch, or even a dent in our names.  Sometimes those smudges can be cleaned off, however some of the scratches are there to stay.  In the end though, there is only one name that was dragged through this world without getting a scratch on it.  That is the name that we take upon ourselves when we are baptized; the name of the Jesus Christ.  Baptism into the true church of God on earth is the way that we take the Lord's name upon us.  Keep your name bright, that we may be counted worthy to be baptized in His perfect name, in the name of Jesus Christ.

_Elder Halbert

Thanks Giving Goodness

Thanksgiving is almost here.  It is my very favorite holiday.  It is a celebration and expression of divine favors and goodenss.  At first I think of the turkeys and spending time with family and football.  But like Christmas, the true meaning of Thanksgiving can easily be forgotten amid the football games, the preparing of mountains of food, and of the hustle and bustle that always comes when extended family is in town.  But, outside of the prayer or grace before the meal, how much time do we really take to give thanks?  Thanksgiving can easily become another Christmas or Easter, with its true meaning being put on the back burner and replaced by bunnies, elves, parades, turkeys, 5K's, and football.  So, this season as the impending feast nears this Thursday, Take a moment to get down on your knees and personally thank your Maker for the bounty that He has blessed you with this last year.  Thank Him in your families for all that you have and set that example for your children. 

President Thomas S. Monson, a modern day prophet said the following in a talk entitled, "An Attitude of Gratitude".  He states "If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues."  In Psalms 118:1 the first part reads "Give thanks unto God, for he is good."  To the prophet Joseph Smith the Lord said "Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let you hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks".  In the New testament, the Lord heals ten lepers and only one returned to give thanks.  So this week especially, tell the Lord how grateful you are to Him.  Try to be the one thankful leper.   As we develop this "Attitude of Gratitude" we will be less apt to complain and look at the bad in our lives and more prone to possessing the virtue of gratitude. 

_Elder Halbert

The Touch of the Master's Hand

This is a poem written by Myra Brooks Welch but was quoted in a Conference talk by Boyd K Packer entitiled "The Touch of the Master's Hand".  Its a really good talk so feel free to read it here.   

’Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer

Thought it scarcely worth his while

To waste much time on the old violin,

But held it up with a smile:

“What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried,

“Who’ll start the bidding for me?”

“A dollar, a dollar”; then, “Two!” “Only two?

Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?

Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;

Going for three—” But no,

From the room, far back, a gray-haired man

Came forward and picked up the bow;

Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,

And tightening the loose strings,

He played a melody pure and sweet

As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,

With a voice that was quiet and low,

Said, “What am I bid for the old violin?”

And he held it up with the bow.

“A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?

Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?

Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice,

And going, and gone!” said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,

“We do not quite understand

What changed its worth.” Swift came the reply:

“The touch of a master’s hand.”

And many a man with life out of tune,

And battered and scarred with sin,

Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,

Much like the old violin.

A “mess of pottage,” a glass of wine,

A game—and he travels on.

He’s “going” once, and “going” twice,

He’s “going” and almost “gone.”

But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd

Never can quite understand

The worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought

By the touch of the Master’s hand. ²⁹

 

^Harmony 

^{Harmony is a part of the music that written that does not carry the melody.} 

The Power Tower

One of the stories that I read the other day in the scriptures was about towers.  Towers often represent the wicked or worldly things in the scriptures.  For example, in Mosiah 11:12  King Noah, built a tower right next to the temple so that the people would look to him instead of God for protection, freedom and answers.  In Genesis 11 the people erect the tower of Babel.  This scripture is another example of people who forsook  God and tried to get to Heaven on their own.  Again, in the Book of Mormon in 1 Nephi 8 we read in Lehi's dream about a grand building that represents the pride of the world, mocking those true believers of Christ. 

Something I've noticed that is associated with each of those towers in the scriptures is pride.  King Noah was greedy and prideful, caring less about the people in his city than about building himself up.  The people of the tower of Babel were so prideful as to think that they would be able to make it to Heaven by the work of their own hands.  In Lehi's dream, the prideful people in the building mock those who follow Christ so as to pet their own ego and build up their own pride. 

When we let pride into our lives, we build towers up in our lives, pointing the praise towards ourselves instead of towards God.  As we root pride out of our lives, we tear down the towers that keep us from growing closer to him and the focus of our lives turn to those around us.  So now think about what are some of the towers in you life that separates you from him and start taking it down.   When we tear down the towers, we give the credit for everything in our lives to God instead of taking it for ourselves. 

_Elder Halbert