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Show LUHiT f ., turn. .n.wwmu I i EDITORIAL 'niim.dl I 1&J PAGE w hat arc some of Gods rules for end- selves, covetous, boasters, blasphemers, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good? Can those who refuse to do unto others as they would be done by expect the smiles of heaven ? If we love not our f ellowmen, as Jesus taught, then in all candor how can we profess any genuine love for God? Can those who pray in hypocrisy, whose consciences are seared as with a hot iron, who despise true charity and mock its sacred ordinances, escape the condemnation of an indignant Deity whose spirit will not always strive with man? EVERY CHRISTIAN should know that God does not walk in devious paths, nor does He condone perfidy in man. All should know too that the only path of safety is the straight and narrow way and that no one can walk therein without humbling himself before the offended Power acknowledging his guilt and praying for clemency as he readjusts his life. Latter-da- y Saints should know by this time that all saints who keep and do His sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments shall receive health in their navels and marrow to their bones and shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures, and shall find peace to their souls. But they should also have learned by this time the truth cf the Lords words in which He said, . . . when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise. ON THE OTHER hand, they should know that in following their file leader wrho is their prophet and president, they can walk even through the valley of the shadow of death and fear no evil. The Almighty will lead them into green pastures and with both Ills staff and His rod He will pre .ct them. He will prepare a table for them even in the presence of their enemies and goodness and mercy shall follow them all the days of their ing war, poverty, riots and crime? We have tried mans ways and will continue to try them without success, fjut God has a plan. It is through obedience to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. And what are some of these requirements? One of the greatest of all is the Law of the Sabbath. Moses taught that keeping the Sabbath is one of the signs by which the true believers may be identified. (Exodus 31.) Great promises have been made to all who observe this law. But Low many people now' humbly worship Him on His holy day? How many use that day for pleasure and business instead? Moses also said that recognition of a sacred Sabbath signifies the perpetual covenant existing between the Lord and His true followers. But if the sign of the covenant disappears, does the covenant itself cease to exist? Can we afford to be deprived of this covenant? Can we count the cost of such a loss? ANOTIIEK OF the great laws laid down by the Almighty is that pertaining to morals. When will mankind recognize the fact that sex sin is next to murder in Gods category of crime? As this world makes sex a plaything, it defies the Creator wrho made it and who fortified its sanctity by divine rules of conduct. Can those who flout this law, openly or hi secret, expect anything but retribution in the form of disease, destruction, and despair ? 'The Almighty strongly denounced the use of alcoholic beverages and enslaving stimulants. Can a generation w'hich is willing to sell its birthright for liquor and drugs hope for blessings from the God w'hose word they reject? He also requires honesty, compassion, purity and good character on the part of his followers. Can liars, cheats, false witnesses, those whose feet run swiftly to mischie and those who spread discord claim the mere., of a just God? Can the dishonest; can the unclean? lives. Latter-da- y Saints are but a small segment of the worlds population, but obedience to the Lord must begin somewhere. Saint, therefore, should Every Latter-da- y dedicate himself to keeping the commandments of God and follow the leadership of the President of the Church. Thereby they, at least, like the leaven in the lump, will be making a great contribution to peace. CAN ANYTHING but the whirlwind come to those who deny mercy to their wrho rob widows and orphans, who are without natural affection, heady, haughlovers of their own ty, n, high-minde- d, GEMS OF THOUGHT Poor r at Problem of Youth Self-image-Seri- ous r.vii r,)ts from an address by Marion D. Hanks, delivered the o General Conference Church. Afotc. 196S. Perhaps the most serious prob- lem of many young people and of generation is their a conviction that poor To be able worthless. they are to truly love God and his neighbor, one must esteem himself. Everyone needs to love and to have the assurance that he is worth loving, and that he is loved, beyond demand or reciprocity, praise or blame. their adult self-imag- e, RCH WEEK It is written: You cannot love that is, beanother person have heard him so as to foster his happiness and growth unless you know what he needs. And you cannot know what he needs and you unless he tells you hear him. So much that is spurious and counterfeit is spoken and done in the name of love. Hoar the word of the Lord: By this we know that we love the child en of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments." (1 John 5:2) That charity which is defined by the proph ENDING OCTOBER 12, 1968 ets as the pure love of Christ (Moroni 7:47), is described clearly by the Apostle Paul: It suffereth long, and is kind ; Envieth not, vauntetli not itself, Is not puffed up; Doth not behave itself un- seemly, Seeketh not her own, Is not easily provoked, Thinketh no evil Rejoiceth not in iniquity Rejoice in the truth; Such love, never faileth. said the Apostle, BOOK OF MORMON PROFILES Nephi: Man Of Faith And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath .ommanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them . . . The lessons in this short passage of scripture from the Book of Mormon (I Nephi 2:7) are many, and are indicative of the great faith of Nephi. No greater Book of Mormon personality walked the Americas than Nephi, bom of goodly parents and taught somewhat in the learning of his father. He was a prophet of the Lord of the first rank. His trials were large, but greater still was his zealous devotion to serve God. natural leader whose heart overflowed with compassion for his family and friends, Nephi humbly sought divine direction in all that he did He was true to his heritage, courageous when confronted with dangers, patient with those who rejected his counsel, and tireless in opposing evil. Nephi spent much of his life preaching repentance. And yet he was a skilled craftsman. Under the direction of the Lord, he built a ship to carry his fathers peora to the Western Hemisphere; he fashioned tools, and weapons; taught the women how to take wool of the sheep and fur of llamas and make clothes therefrom, and taught men how to build and farm. Nephi was a prophet, predicting events to come. He was a revelator, interpreting dreams and making plain the teachings of the Gospel. A Like most of the prophets of the Lord, he stood alone time after time while his brethren those he loved most reviled, abused, and persecuted him. And each time he pleaded with them to remove wickedness and hardness from their hearts and to humble themselves before God. Frequently he was successful. Youthful, but large for his age, he was visited by the Lord and told that because of his faithfulness, he should be made a ruler and a teacher over thy brethren. Ever faithful, Nephi was uncomplaining in the face of all his tribulations, and his father, Lehi, said of him, . . . and thou shalt be favored of the Lord, because thou has not murmured. Eventually, Nephi was asked to be king over his followers, so loved was he by them. He accepted reluctantly, and successfully led them in battling against the evil followers of his brother Laman. Succeeding kings were thereafter named Nephi the Second, Nephi the Third, etc., in deference to this great prophet. Illustration adapted from "The Book of Mormon Story' Ti Deseret Book Co., Ronald Crosby, artist. |