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Show Saturday, Oct. 12, 1991 5D Standard-Examiner LDS hear doctrine of self-reliance Keep expanding vision, understanding Members of the church were advised by L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to becomeself-reliant, saying it al- ways amazed him that so many people work all their lives to pay the grocer, landlord, power company, and never pay themselves anything. Brigham Young once said “Instead of searching after what the Lord is going to do for us, let us inquire what we can do for ourselves,” The Lord will help when asked, but helps only those who are will- ing to help themselves, Perry said. Never before has the doctrine of self-reliance been more needed to be preached and encouraged, he said. Governments are rising and failing, industries, once blooming, become obsolete too soon, and new discoveries are replaced by even newer discoveries. | And “unless we are continuously expanding our understanding and vision, we, too, will become out-of-date.” How to become self-reliant? Perry said first to search the scriptures which teach necessary principles. Other elements include education, physical health, employment, home : storage, resource management, and social, emotional and spiritual strength. He said the acquisition of “things” of the world can be tempting by the “acquire now and pay later” mentality so prevalent today. “Using our resources and worldly goods wisely and extending their life will help us become more self-reliant.” Financial well-being is all part of self-reliance and “it doesn’t take a genius to understand that before you can collect interest, you must have some savings.” He advised the listeners that after paying tithing, “pay yourself a predetermined amount directly into savings.” “Be prudent, wise, and conservative in your investment programs. It is by consistently and regularly adding to your investments that you will build your emergency and retirement savings. This will add to your progress in becoming self-reliant,” he concluded. "AUGUST MILLER/Standard-Examiner A capacity crowdfills the LDS Tabernacle on Temple Square to hear church leaders speak. ‘Only in Christ can our joy be full,’ Oaks admonishes Dallin H. Oaks of the Council of the Twelve Apostles spoke Sundayafternoon about one of God's great revelations being Lehi’s teaching that “men are, that they might have joy.” Hesaid joyis the ultimate sensation of well being and it comes from being in harmony with the Creator and his eternal laws. ®, Oaks The opposite of joy is misery, he said, and that misery is more than un- happiness, sorrow, or suffering. “Misery is the ultimate state of disharmony with God and his laws.” God wants his people to be happy, Oaks said, and the Prophet Joseph Smith taught that “happiness is the ob- blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received in heaven .. (to) dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness.” He said that despite all anyone can min told his people to consider “the blessed and happy state of those that do, “we cannot havea fullness of joy in this world or through our own efforts. Only in Christ can our joy be full.” The Book of Mormontells of an en- keep the commandments of God ...” tire people, Oaks said, who received a ject and design of our existence.” To find happiness or joy King Benja- “For behold.” he said, “They are remission of their sins and “were filled with Joy” and “peace of conscience.” Joythat follows the remission of sins comesfrom the spirit of the Lord and in contrast, those whoyield to the enticing of Satan may, as scripture says, “enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season,” but that kind of pleasure will not promote happiness or eternal joy. Oaks concluded his message by saying that lasting happiness and ultimate joy comes to those who exercise faith in God and keep his commandments. Vocal, secret prayers vital, Gibbons says Speaking at the Sunday afternoon session of General Conference Francis M. Gibbons, recently released from the Second Quorum of Seventy, said everyone should always have a prayerin their hearts no matter where they are or what they might be doing. He said God made it a com- Still, small voice It is important to read to children has best counse! In the Sunday afternoon session of General Conference, Aileen H. Clyde, second counselor in the general Relief Society presidency, said reading to children is of great importance and will benefit them all agency.” God’s commandment is to love him, and not bow down in despair and helplessness. There are priesthood leaders and other loving know what's needed. pray their lives. Clyde's mother always read to Compassionate service is the central mission of the Relief Society. There are now nearly 3 million more significant | Revitalize worship, read scriptures her children and besides reading from nursery rhymes, poetry and folk tales, she read from the scrip- Graham W. Doxeysaid in the Saturday afternoon session that dramatic and spectacular answers to prayers are the exception rather hear him,” Doxey said. Answers to prayers come, but “when he doesn’t shout back or cause the bush to bum or write us a message in stone with his finger, we are inclined to think he doesn’t listen, doesn’t care about us.” Doxey said the critical questions to be answered are not, “Does God live? Does God love me? Does God speak to me?” “The critical question is, ‘Are you listening to him?” He counseled members to filter out “the heavy decibels of darkness” by revitalizing their weekly worship, praying to know God's will and reading the scnptures. Doxey advised members to sing with enthusiasm during the playing of hymns and keep in mind sacred covenants that are renewed ough partaking of the sacra- “Together, we read parables, incidents (such) as the womanat the well,” she said, and how the Good Samaritan showed compassion and love for his brother. He said God may be hard to hear over din of today’s environment. ment. He said prayers have too often become lists of wants. “We must learn to pray with meaning. ‘Not mywill, but thy will be done.” “When you are able to do that, his whisperings to you will be loud and clear.” As for reading the scriptures, Doxey said readers should keep their minds centered on the message. “What to many seems to be the monologue of prayer actually becomes a dialogue with God, as we immerse ourselves in the scriptures.” “As it was with Eliyah, so 1t is today. God is not in the earthquake, nor in the winds and fires of war, but he speaks to us in a voice that is still small,” Doxey said Pointing at people’s faults is not way o help them Reading the scriptures taught Clyde and her brother manyimportant things, including charity. “Charity suffereth long” and re- quires thoughtful interpretation. The “suffering ” that may come from loving is the result of caring. It is not charity or kindness to endure any type of abuse or unrighteousness, she said, and “It is not charity to let another repeat- edly deny our divine ature and that which is right; fifth, harden not your hearts; and sixth, express gratitude. He said prayers must be sought in the name of Christ. unattended, but he questioned how that could be when scripture says, and ye shall receive; knock, it shall be opened unto you Sometimes such difficulty results either from not following the Lord's spiritual laws for providing help or from not recognizing help when it comes, he said. In James i says “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss Scott quoted 3 Nephi 18:20 where it says “And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.” He listed six things that are nec- it is awkward to vocally. But Gibbons said there is a S ; Gibbons reason for praying secretly andit is found in the Doctrine and Cove- The channel of secret prayer pro- Clyde said faith in God can move people to such action, and that all may know, by the Holy Spirit, the meaning of charity and exercise it in their lives. essary to receive blessings: First to diligently keep his commandments; second, ask the Father in the name of Christ; third, ask with faith in Christ; fourth, ask for often feel their pleas for help go necessary where others in righteousness. Manyfee! pleas for help unheeded, but they may not recognize answers Sometimes people become overwhelmed with challenges and troubles and don’t know where to tum for help said Richard G. Scott at the Sunday afternoon session of General Conference. Scott, a member of the Council of the Twelve Apostles, said people Sometimes secret prayer is focus of the Relief Society is to nants 6:16 where it says, “Yea, I help the individual woman as she tell thee, that thou mayest know grows in her knowledge of Christ's «that there is none else save God Gospel and reflects her knowledge that knowest thy thoughts and the by the choices she makes to serve intents of thy heart.” Blessings granted if steps followed Scott said help from the Lord generally comes in increments. He can cure serious illnesses, disabilities, and even allowthe dead to be raised, but the general pattern is that improvement comes in sequential steps. This, he said, requires patience and provides growth “in our efforts and our trust in him and gives us opportunity to express thanksgiv- ing for the help given.” vided by God to his people is one that Satan cannot invade, Gibbons said. Often we talk too much and say things we should not be said, and in saying them “we may open a crevice which enables Lucifer to wedge his way into our lives,” he said, adding that Satan wants to make everyone “miserable like unto himself.” Commitfully to mission Dennis B. Neuenschwander of the Second Quorumof the Seventy spoke in the Saturday priesthood session of General Conference, addressing his remarks to the young men anticipating full-time missions When Neuenschwander’s third son, Bradley, received his call to the Poland Warsaw Mission, he | 4 ‘ talked to h his son regarding the great missionary experience which was now to becomehis He told his son a mission would be exactly what he decided to make it. The mission president and his companions would help, but he | and decisive factor Gaining personal testimony urged success f the mission call. Those called should comnission 2 mo pose Process begins with having a sincere heart, being receptive to the truth Marvin J Ashton A deafening decibels of today’s environment, all too often we fail to members worldwide, so the major tures, especially the parables. than the rule, He counseled members to listen carefully to the quiet promptings of the spint because “the still, smail voice is still small.” “My testimonyis that the Lord is speaking to you, but with the servants who will help when they mandment to his people to pray both vocally and in secret. My Aier f she and exercise faith sincere heart, hb truth, be rec F ceived Don’t dweli on old mistakes, Cicalixt apostie tells He addressed the worid’s political upheavalin his General Conference remarks. members. wo you F an C2 «tand stancG tunities to and plenty show of op- that you are to be mea asureg testimomies to De e membership of the Citing President Ezra Taft B son who said “A testimony [ ts testimony " onotine QVvOuns. said essenti d steps toard gaining a personal testimony nclude: “ask in the name of Christ of Jesus means th prophetic mission of Joseph Sn and his successors.” of mv taught irom rselves and ye of the few possessions we may tak with us when weleavethis li e. A accept the divine mission Christ, embrace his gospel his works, it Means you accet wer be th power, that n give even as | have spoi share their and 4 I rs have the to change |