This year I would like to start with my testimony of the Book of Mormon and see how that testimony changes and grows over the coming year.

I know that the Book of Mormon is a sacred volume of scripture comparable to the Bible and modern scriptures. It is alive in that it tailors itself to my needs and the purposes of God. This has happened again and again over many years. I know that as I feast upon the words of Christ it contains I will be blessed and strengthened by the Holy Ghost and the Spiritual knowledge I obtain. Over the last almost 50 years, the Book of Mormon has been my friend. It has guided me, protected me, encouraged, strengthened and supported me. It has enabled me to clearly see and escape the wiles of my adversary. It has lifted me when my heart has been filled with sorrows so great I could not bear them. And I have great hope to have such similar experiences in this coming year. I have been changed by this book and hoped to be changed even more in the coming years as I strive to listen to still small voice as it speaks to me while studying, pondering, and memorizing its words. I know the Book of Mormon is powerful because it is the words of Christ and a sincere study of it is accompanied by the witness and guidance of the Holy Ghost. That my heart will be changed in the coming year and that at the end of this year I can look back and see a profound and powerful change in my life and the lives of those I love.

There is much I can not explain and is outside of my understanding, but I would like to join my void with those righteous saints that it is true, powerful and live.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

My Testimony of the Book of Mormon and Other Scriptures

Part of my testimony of the Book of Mormon is the precious truths I have found there over the years. The truths it and the other scriptures contain are like handcrafted lenses that enable me to see more clearly the world about me, especially see and understand the wiles of the devil. This is done for me in two ways: 1) these scriptural lenses help me understand and see the motives, tactics, and goals of the adversary and those who serve him and 2) to understand how God works, the motivates, approaches, and goals of God and those who serve Him.

Some would claim that these lenses or just pretty stones from some stream bed. But I know they are precious truths placed in my path as I read the scriptures and follow the direction of the Holy Ghost which guides me to them. Each of these spiritual lenses clarifies my understanding and spiritual vision. I know a man could not create something so incredible, complex, powerful and beautiful. To say these truths are simply my random thoughts is equivalent of find in a stream bed protected parts of a complete and working telescope and finding these pieces over years, often finding them in the same location I found other truths in the past. It would be like telling Lehi the Liahona was some random stone blown to his tent door by the desert wind. These truths are so clear, it astounds me that so many can’t see them. However, I also know that these truths must be seen through spiritual eyes. How Alma the elder saw a prophet (Mosiah 17:2) and Noah a mad man (Mosiah 13:1) is incomprehensible to me. The same as how someone could read the Book of Mormon and not know it is true. But its truth and beauty are also seen through spiritual eyes.

Therefore They Hushed Their Fears

In the last couple of days, I have been preparing for a visit to our stake or area from Elder David A. Bednar and have been reading through his past conference talks. This morning as I sat down to work, I felt stressed by so much that is going on in my life. I felt impressed to continue reading through Elder Bednar's past talks. I grab my tablet to see what talk was next and found that is was the talk from April 2015, Therefore They Hushed Their Fears. It is also interesting to note that the next chapter I will be reading is Mosiah 23, where the quote "Therefore they hushed their fears" is taken from.

Below are quotes from the talk that I have likened upon myself (see 1 Nephi 19:23).

A "[correct] knowledge of and faith in the Lord [empowers me] to hush [my] fears because Jesus Christ is the only source of enduring peace." This is why I must '[learn] of [Him], and listen to [His] words; walk in the meekness of [His] Spirit, that I might have peace in [Him]'" (D&C 19:23).

If I "[do] the works of righteousness", I "shall receive [my] reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come" (D&C 59:23).

"The peace Christ gives allows [me] to view mortality through the precious perspective of eternity and supplies a spiritual settledness (see Colossians 1:23) that helps [me] maintain a consistent focus on [my] heavenly destination. Thus, [I] can be blessed to hush [my] fears because His doctrine provides purpose and direction in all aspects of [my life]. His ordinances and covenants fortify and comfort in times both good and bad. And His priesthood authority gives assurance that the things that matter most can endure both in time and in eternity."

"But can [I] hush the fears that so easily and frequently best [me] in [this] contemporary world? The answer to this question is an unequivocal yes. Three basic principles are central to receiving this blessing in [my life]: (1) look to Christ, (2) build upon the foundation of Christ, and (3) press forward with faith in Christ."

"[I] should look to and have [my] focus firmly fixed upon the Savior at all times and in all places."

"With [my] eyes fixed upon Jesus, [I step] out of the boat and miraculously [walk] on the water. Only when [my] gaze [is] diverted by the wind and the waves [do I] become afraid and begin to sink" see Matthew 14:27-31).

"[I] can be blessed to conquer [my] fears and strengthen [my] faith as [I] follow the Lord's instruction: 'Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not'" (D&C 6:36).

I must "[remember that it is upon the rock of [my] Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that [I] must build [my] foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat up [me], it shall have no power over [me] to drag [me] down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which [I am] built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if [I] build [I] cannot fall" (Helaman 5:12).

"[I] can be blessed to hush [my] fears as [I] firmly establish [my] desires and deeds upon the sure foundation of the Savior through [my] ordinances and covenants."

"The righteous fear I [need] encompasses a deep feeling of reverence, respect, and awe for the Lord Jesus Christ, obedience to His commandments, and anticipation of the Final Judgement and justice at His hand. [This], godly fear grows out of a correct understanding of the divine nature and mission of the Lord Jesus Christ, a willingness to submit [my] will to His will, and a knowledge that [I] will be accountable for [my] own sins in the Day of Judgment" (see D&C 101:78; Articles of Faith 1:2).

My "godly fear is linked inextricably to an understanding of the Final Judgment and [my] individual accountability for [my] desires, thoughts, words, and acts" (see Mosiah 4:30).

My "godly fear dispels mortal fears. It even subdues the haunting concern that [I] never can be good enough spiritually and never will measure up to the Lord's requirements and expectations. In truth, [I] cannot be good enough or measure up relying solely upon [my] own capacity and performance. [My] works and desires alone do not and cannot save [me]. 'After all [I] can do' (2 Nephi 25:23) [I am] made whole only through the mercy and grace available through the Savior's infinite and eternal atoning sacrifice."

¿Cómo puedo "Reunir todas las cosas en Cristo"?

Lo siguiente son mis notas del estudio del discurso del élder David A. Bednar de la Conferencia General de octubre de 2018.  Vir Reunir todas las cosas en Cristo por el élder David A. Bednar
Del Cuórum de los Doce Apóstoles, Conferencia General de octubre de 2018.

"[Vivo] en una época singular y de revelación en la Iglesia restaurada de Jesucristo."

Cuando el presidente Nelson [me] instó a estudiar los mensajes de la conferencia, ¿cuál era su deseo? Vir Cómo ser Santos de los Últimos Días ejemplares, por el presidente Russell M. Nelson, Conferencia General de octubre de 2018.

Creo que mi "fe en el plan del Padre y en la misión redentora del Salvador" pueda aumentar "y que se establezca el convenio sempiterno de Dios" más plenamente in mi vida.

Creo que su objetivo es "facilitar [mi] conversión continua al Señor y amar de manera más completa y servir más eficazmente a [mis] hermanos y hermanas."

"[El] poder del evangelio del Salvador para [transformarme] y [bendecirme] fluye al discernir y aplicar la interrelación entre su doctrina, sus principios y sus prácticas. Solo si [reuniría] todas las cosas en Cristo, [centrándo] con firmeza en Él, pueden las verdades del Evangelio actuar sinérgicamente para ayudarme a ser capaces de lo que Dios desea que [llegue] a ser y perseverar valientemente hasta el fin."

Yo se que "[en me] Salvador [encuentro] gozo; y en Él [encuentro] la certeza de 'la paz en este mundo, y la vida eterna en el mundo venidero.'"

How do I "Gather Together in One All Things in Christ"?

The following is my notes from studying Elder David A. Bednar talk from the October 2018 General Conference (see Gather Together in One All Things in Christ by Elder David A. Bednar
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, October General Conference, 2018).

"[I] live in a remarkable and revelatory season of the restored Church of Jesus Christ."

When "[President Nelson urged me] to study [the conference] messages", what was his desire? See Becoming Exemplary Latter-day Saints by President Russell M. Nelson, October 2018 General Conference.

I believe it was that my "faith in the Father's plan and in the Savior's redeeming mission might increase ... and that God's everlasting covenant might be established" more fully in my life.

I believe his objective was "facilitate [my] continuing conversion to the Lord and [that I might] love more completely and server more effectively [my] brothers and sisters."

"[The] power of the Savior's gospel to transform and bless [me] flows from discerning and applying the interrelatedness of its doctrine, principles, and practices.  Only as [I] gather together in one all things in Christ, with firm focus upon Him, can gospel truths synergistically enable [me] to become what God desires [me] to become and endure valiantly to the end."

I know that "[in my] Savior [I] find joy.  And in Him [I] find the assurance of 'pease in this world, and eternal life in the world to come.'"