by Autumn Dickson

Christ is the center figure in history. He was the promised Messiah who saved and changed the world. He brings light into the world. He created the world.

But a long time ago, He was just a baby that was born in a small town to a couple who had just begun their life together. Despite all that it cost them, they welcomed Christ into this world.

This week is Christmas, and as such, we focus on Christ. I would also like to draw our attention to those who welcomed Him into the world. I want to talk about Mary and Joseph who welcomed Him into their family and watched over Him when He was vulnerable. Maybe we can learn what it truly means to invite Christ into our lives.

Inviting Christ into their home was not easy. Right from the beginning, the couple faced difficulty and potential ridicule. Mary could have been in a lot of danger for being pregnant without being married, and Joseph, her betrothed, was likely very confused when she came to tell him about what was happening.

Instead of being able to rest and bring him into the world at home, Mary and Joseph travelled to Bethlehem. It was a small town six miles away from Jerusalem, and it was packed because people had travelled there as part of the census.

He was potentially born in a stable, and most people know that story. Other biblical scholars suggest that the birth story may have played out differently. From a different translation, it is possible that Christ was born amongst the animals on the first floor of a family home that Mary and Joseph were staying at. Regardless, it wasn’t a comfortable birth, and I can’t imagine that she was comfortable while travelling right before giving birth.

I had the tremendously unique experience of going to Bethlehem and Jerusalem while pregnant. I testify that it’s not comfortable, and I had a car and an air-conditioned room to sleep in.

Shortly after the birth, Mary and Joseph had to flee to Egypt to protect their Son. Instead of going home, they spent anywhere from several months to two years in Egypt amongst people who were very different from the Jews. They were separated from family and friends with very little ability to communicate with them. Joseph wasn’t practicing his work where he had been previously, and Mary was on her own as a first time mother in an unprecedented situation of raising the Son of God.

The Bible gives us very little after that. There were the wise men. Christ grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Christ turns water to wine for Mary at a wedding. Somewhere along the line, Mary lost Joseph despite Christ’s power.

And then, of course, Mary also had to lose her Son. We don’t know how much she knew about what was happening on that cross. She had pondered in her heart, and the angel had warned her that her heart would be pierced with sorrow as a result of bringing Christ into the world, but did she understand what was going on? Or, like the apostles, was she confused at what happened? Did she feel dreadfully alone with Joseph gone and now her oldest Son as well?

When we speak of inviting Christ into our lives, we often speak of rejoicing and peace and miracles. These are very real factors that Mary and Joseph both experienced as part of having the Messiah be born into their home. I have found immense amounts of joy since I have accepted Christ as my Savior and leaned into His promises. They are real and true.

There is also difficulty that comes with inviting Christ into our lives. There was very real difficulty that came into the life of Mary and Joseph as a direct result of welcoming Christ into their home. There will be difficulty in your life that comes as a direct result of inviting Christ into your heart and home. It will be different from the kind of difficulty experienced by Mary and Joseph, but it will be difficult nonetheless.

It can be difficult to invite Christ into your home when it brings uncertainty, rocks the boat, or brings potential whispers and judgment. It can be difficult when we’re asked to jump into the dark and trust when we’re called to go somewhere, and we don’t know how it will work out. It can be difficult when the responsibilities we’ve been given take us away from our families. It can be difficult when the powerful God that you love doesn’t give you a miracle to save your family member. It can feel lonely and even devastating.

There comes a point where you get to decide if it’s worth inviting Him in.

If an angel appeared to you and warned you about the sorrow that would pierce your heart as a result of inviting Christ into your life, how would you respond?

He follows us into our darkest moments. Will we follow Him when things get dark? Will we follow Him when the bread stops? Will we follow Him when we don’t feel that gigantic hug from behind when we’re praying and asking for help? Will we follow Him when we have to face our own cross? Will we resent Him if He doesn’t answer how we want Him to answer us? Will we curse His name when He takes away instead of giving?

Would we invite Him into our hearts and homes again, knowing what we know?

Why would you invite Him in again?

I love to testify of how Christ shows up for us. I want to take this moment to testify of a grand opportunity to show up and give our loyalty to Him no matter where He chooses to take us. It can be difficult to follow Christ when it feels like He asks too much. It can be difficult to follow Christ when He requires not just our obedience and time, but our whole souls.

I testify that He is worth our loyalty. He has earned our undying loyalty, and we will never truly be let down if we’re willing to give it to Him. I testify that offering our whole souls, just as He offered His own, is liberating and beautiful. He will never let us down even when we have to follow Him through difficulty and darkness. We can hold to Him and His promises.

Autumn Dickson was born and raised in a small town in Texas. She served a mission in the Indianapolis Indiana mission. She studied elementary education but has found a particular passion in teaching the gospel. Her desire for her content is to inspire people to feel confident, peaceful, and joyful about their relationship with Jesus Christ and to allow that relationship to touch every aspect of their lives. Autumn was the recipient of FAIR’s 2024 John Taylor Defender of the Faith Award.

The post Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Christmas – Part 1 – Autumn Dickson appeared first on FAIR.

In his October 2025 General Conference address,

This addresses an important question many wrestle with: If testimony truly comes from God, shouldn’t it come effortlessly—and remain without effort?

In whatever way a testimony is given—whether it is distilled like the sunrise or comes in a glorious vision—it still requires a choice to receive this precious gift.

Common Criticism: “If God wants me to have a testimony, He will give it to me without effort or choice.”

Some assume that a real testimony should arrive unmistakably and remain secure regardless of personal decisions. When doubt arises or conviction weakens, they conclude that either their testimony was never real—or that God has withdrawn it. This view can quietly undermine faith, especially when testimony doesn’t come dramatically or feels challenged by opposition.

Fallacy at Work: Passive Spiritual Expectation

This fallacy assumes that divine gifts require no ongoing agency—that once given, they operate independently of human choice. Applied to testimony, it suggests that effort, defense, or nurturing are signs of weakness rather than faith.

But this logic misunderstands how God works with His children. Agency does not end once truth is received; it becomes more essential.

Elder Brown’s Correction: Testimony Is a Gift Sustained by Agency

Elder Brown teaches that testimony is indeed a gift from God—but it is a gift entrusted to us. Like faith, testimony must be exercised, protected, and strengthened through righteous choices. It grows as we act on truth, defend it when challenged, and continue choosing Christ even when belief feels costly.

He reminds us that opposition does not invalidate testimony; it reveals its purpose. Testimony is meant to be tested, refined, and deepened. Doubt does not erase it—but neglect can weaken our access to it.

Resolving this Fallacy: God does not override agency in spiritual matters. He invites us to receive a testimony and then choose to live in a way that preserves it. Prayer, obedience, scripture study, covenant keeping, and moral courage all create the conditions in which testimony thrives. A testimony that must be nurtured is not fragile—it is alive.

Living Apologetics: Choosing and Defending Testimony

Many struggle when testimony feels less certain than it once did. Some interpret this as failure. Elder Brown reframes the experience: testimony matures as disciples learn to choose faith deliberately, not automatically.

Agency is what allows testimony to become eternal. When disciples actively defend truth, resist spiritual passivity, and remain faithful amid criticism or ridicule, their testimony is not diminished—it is strengthened.

Practical Apologetic Use:

• If someone says: “If testimony were real, I wouldn’t have to work so hard to keep it.”
• You can respond: “God doesn’t give testimonies to remove agency. He gives them so we can choose Him—especially when it requires effort. Elder Brown teaches that testimony grows as we nurture and defend it.”

Ways to Apply Today:

1️⃣ Identify one practice that strengthens your testimony and recommit to it this week.
2️⃣ Notice moments of choice—when believing requires intention rather than convenience.
3️⃣ Speak truth with quiet confidence when testimony is questioned, even if briefly.

Keep This Talk With You

Elder Brown reminds us that testimony was never meant to be effortless—it was meant to be eternal. God grants witnesses of truth, then honors our agency by allowing us to decide what we will do with them. In a world that challenges belief, testimony deepens as disciples choose to nurture it with courage, consistency, and faith.

A testimony that requires effort is not defective; it is developing. As we choose Christ repeatedly—especially when belief is inconvenient—we discover that testimony does not fade with use. It strengthens.

 Try this week:

• Write down one experience that helped form your testimony and revisit it prayerfully.
• Defend truth gently in one conversation where faith is questioned.
• Choose one act of obedience specifically because it strengthens your testimony.

How might your testimony grow as you choose to nurture and defend it more intentionally?

The Consider Conference series by FAIR offers an in-depth look at recent General Conference talks to help members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints navigate common questions, misunderstandings, and criticisms. Each post provides doctrinal insights, historical context, and practical ways to apply gospel principles in everyday conversations. Through this series, we hope to equip readers with faith-promoting resources that encourage thoughtful reflection, respectful dialogue, and a stronger foundation in gospel truths, fostering both personal conviction and meaningful discussions with others.

The post The Eternal Gift of Testimony appeared first on FAIR.

In his October 2025 General Conference address, Elder Quentin L. Cook taught that while the Lord is hastening His work across the world, discipleship remains deeply personal: it is a covenant journey built on steady effort, not flawless performance. He emphasized that even as converts and longtime members feel inadequate or underprepared, the Lord invites all to progress along the covenant path with faith and patience.

A common misconception arises here: If I don’t understand everything or live flawlessly, am I really ready for temple covenants?

“You will at times feel inadequate about what you know… Gospel knowledge is a great blessing obtained incrementally over time, but it is not a saving ordinance.” – Quentin L. Cook

Common Criticism: “The gospel demands perfect knowledge or flawless obedience before temple covenants should be made.”

Some assume that deep doctrinal understanding or near-perfect obedience is required before progressing on the covenant path. This misconception can discourage converts, overwhelm returning members, and even stall lifelong Saints who worry they “don’t know enough” to be worthy of the temple. The result is hesitation, anxiety, and a distorted view of what God actually requires.

Fallacy at Work: All-or-Nothing Thinking

All-or-Nothing Thinking is the tendency to believe that unless something is done perfectly, it shouldn’t be done at all.

Applied here, it suggests that only those with comprehensive scriptural mastery or consistent flawless behavior should make or renew sacred covenants. It overlooks the reality that covenants are how disciples grow, not a reward for already having mastered the gospel. All-or-Nothing Thinking blinds disciples to the incremental nature of spiritual learning and the gift of repentance.

Elder Cook’s Correction: Covenants—not perfection—prepare us for exaltation.

Elder Cook teaches that receiving saving ordinances and entering temple covenants is essential for exaltation. Knowledge is a blessing, but it comes incrementally; covenants, not information, are what bind us to Christ. “Gospel knowledge is a great blessing obtained incrementally over time,” he explains, “but it is not a saving ordinance.”

In other words, disciples should not wait until they feel flawless to enter the temple or walk the covenant path. Temple preparation is an immediate goal because covenants anchor us to Christ’s grace, guide our growth, and open access to His power. Learning continues throughout our lives—and even beyond it.

Resolving this Fallacy: The belief that we must master the gospel before making covenants misunderstands the doctrine entirely. Exaltation is not achieved through intellectual mastery, but through the making and keeping of sacred covenants and relying on Christ’s Atonement. Elder Cook assures Saints that inadequacy is normal, learning is ongoing, and the Lord meets covenant-keepers where they are. The gospel is a path for imperfect people who are willing to progress.

Receiving the ordinances and covenants and living the commandments are essential… The gospel is not a test of knowledge.

Living Apologetics: Covenants as a Path for Imperfect Disciples

A common struggle—especially among new or returning members—is the feeling of not knowing enough to move forward. Some hesitate to prepare for the temple out of fear that they don’t understand everything yet. Others compare themselves to more seasoned members and feel inadequate by comparison.

Elder Cook reframes this: discipleship is not about arriving fully formed—it is about choosing the covenant path where Christ shapes us over time. Knowledge expands slowly. Spiritual confidence grows gradually. What saves us is not expertise, but commitment to Christ through sacred covenants.

Practical Apologetic Use:

• If someone says: “I don’t think I’m ready for the temple—I still have so much to learn.”
• You can respond: “Covenants are what help us grow into discipleship. Elder Cook teaches that knowledge comes incrementally, but covenants are essential now. The temple isn’t the finish line; it’s where Christ strengthens us along the way.”

Ways to Apply Today:

1️⃣ Take one step toward the temple. Study a temple-related chapter or talk with a leader about your next step.

2️⃣ Embrace incremental growth. Identify one gospel principle you want to understand better—then study it for just 10 minutes this week.

3️⃣ Release perfectionism. When feelings of inadequacy arise, remind yourself: “The gospel is not a test of knowledge.”

Keep This Talk With You

Elder Cook’s message is a reminder that the Lord’s hastening work does not require perfect Saints—only willing ones. As we set our hearts on the covenant path, we soon discover that Christ compensates for our shortcomings, strengthens our efforts, and teaches us line upon line. Temple covenants are not reserved for the doctrinally seasoned; they are the very means by which disciples become more like Him.

Just as early converts gathered with joy despite limited knowledge, modern Saints can move forward with confidence. The Lord has always worked through humble, learning disciples. He invites each of us—new, returning, or long standing—to progress one covenant at a time.

This week, try one small step:

• Identify one temple covenant you want to understand more deeply and read a related scripture or conference quote.
• Support a newer member by sharing a moment when you felt inadequate but kept moving forward.
• Choose one small act of obedience that will help you take a step toward the temple.

How will you walk the covenant path this week—even if you still feel like you’re learning as you go?

The Consider Conference series by FAIR offers an in-depth look at recent General Conference talks to help members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints navigate common questions, misunderstandings, and criticisms. Each post provides doctrinal insights, historical context, and practical ways to apply gospel principles in everyday conversations. Through this series, we hope to equip readers with faith-promoting resources that encourage thoughtful reflection, respectful dialogue, and a stronger foundation in gospel truths, fostering both personal conviction and meaningful discussions with others.

The post The Lord Is Hastening His Work appeared first on FAIR.

by Autumn Dickson

This is a message for anyone who feels that they have found God and love Him, but also carry around a doctrine or policy that doesn’t make sense to them; this is for anyone who is having a difficult time reconciling the idea of a loving God (with whom they’ve had good experiences) with doctrines that don’t seem loving to them.

For this week, we are studying Section 137 and 138. It’s important to understand that Section 137 is not in chronological order. It was placed next to Section 138 because doctrinally, they fit together really well. It’s actually really important to understand that Section 137 is out of chronological order for a number of reasons. In order to understand what I want to talk about today, let’s talk about the chronological order of a few more things.

When Joseph was young, he struggled with which church to join. His mother was Methodist, and his father aligned more closely with the ideas of a unitarian. His father didn’t believe that God would send someone to hell because they hadn’t been baptized into a particular church. Joseph received the First Vision and over time, he learned more and more of what it meant to have the restored church of Jesus Christ.

Alvin died in 1823, a few years after the First Vision, before the authority to baptize had been restored. I wonder if Joseph was leaning towards his father’s views that Alvin wouldn’t go to hell just because he hadn’t been baptized. After all, Joseph was taught that the true church was not upon the earth. Maybe Alvin wasn’t in hell.

In 1829, Joseph received the authority to baptize. Joseph learned that baptism was essential, and it hadn’t been done with the right authority for a long time.

Think, for just a moment, about what this means to Joseph. He rejoiced in the restored church. In fact, he was overwhelmed with joy after baptizing his father.

But I also want you to think about the perspectives that Joseph was operating under at this period in time. He knew that authority to baptize was essential. He knew that his brother wasn’t baptized at all, let alone by any needed authority. For a long time, I believe that Joseph still thought Alvin had gone to hell.

It wasn’t until 1832 that Joseph learned there were different kingdoms in heaven. Can you imagine the relief that Joseph felt knowing that Alvin wasn’t burning up in eternal flame? But can you also imagine the pain that Joseph still felt when he believed he had still lost Alvin? There were some conflicting emotions there; Alvin wasn’t in hell, but were they still going to be separated?

Joseph received a vision of Alvin in the Celestial Kingdom in 1836. Here is part of that vision.

Doctrine and Covenants 137:5-6

5 I saw Father Adam and Abraham; and my father and my mother; my brother Alvin, that has long since slept;

6 And marveled how it was that he had obtained an inheritance in that kingdom, seeing that he had departed this life before the Lord had set his hand to gather Israel the second time, and had not been baptized for the remission of sins.

Joseph marveled to see Alvin in the Celestial Kingdom; he was surprised. This is part of the reason for my assumptions. For three years (not including the time before the priesthood was restored), Joseph believed Alvin was still burning up in hell. For four years, Joseph carried around the wound from his beliefs that he would be separated from Alvin.

There is an important implication from this timeline.

Joseph loved God. More than most, Joseph knew that God was real and that there was truth and that you had to be baptized and that there was specific authority. He knew this. Joseph had good experiences with God, but Joseph also carried around this painful wound that something felt tragically unfair.

Despite his knowledge of God, I wonder if Joseph ever still struggled with questions. How could a loving God do this? How could required baptism and authority be congruent with a fair God who loves all of His children? How could God have let Alvin die before the church was restored? What about all the other people who suddenly don’t qualify because the authority wasn’t on the earth?

And perhaps the question most of us have related to at one point or another in our lifetime, “If God is truly so loving, how is this His perfect plan?”

It doesn’t make sense. Joseph knew that God is perfect and just and fair and loving, but for a long time, Joseph was also operating under the assumption that God was going to let those who were unbaptized just suffer. How did Joseph reconcile this? Did he ever reconcile this or did he just hold on anyway?

Do you carry around anything that doesn’t seem congruent with a God who is perfect and just and fair and loving? Have you also had experiences with God and you have felt that He loves you and is leading you along here? Are you having a difficult time reconciling these two facts: that God is good but He also allows “xyz?”

I promise you two things. There is an answer, and there is also Christ’s atonement. Joseph was a prophet who received plenty of revelation, but God chose not to give that particular revelation for a while. Despite Joseph’s close relationship with God and despite his near constant influx of restored information, it took nine years for Joseph to learn that Alvin wasn’t going to be punished for dying before Joseph received the proper authority to baptize.

Take a page out of Joseph’s book. We don’t know everything yet. Is it really so implausible that God knows what He’s doing, that He has a plan that will take care of everything that you’re worried about? This isn’t said to negate any pain that you’re feeling trying to deal with this. Rather, it’s meant to give you hope in the midst of it. There is an answer and beyond that, there is the atonement of Jesus Christ. I don’t know why Joseph had to wait 9 years to learn about Alvin. You would think that Christ could have slipped that in at some point, but Joseph waited.

And Joseph was blessed. God is perfect and is handling everything beautifully. Beyond just a perfect answer, Christ suffered deeply so that He can carry us through the pain while we wait for those answers.

There are answers. If you hold on and rely upon the atonement of Jesus Christ and all of His adjacent promises, you will find answers and you will find joy. Not to mention, everything you’re experienced shall be for your good. The difficulty you’re wading through will transform you into exactly what you were meant to become.

I testify that God has a perfect plan. I testify that He truly is loving and perfect and fair and just. I testify that He is good and is handling everything beautifully. You don’t have to carry this. He’s got this. I also testify that beyond having a perfect plan, Christ paid for the plan and suffered what you suffer so He can run to you and comfort you.

Autumn Dickson was born and raised in a small town in Texas. She served a mission in the Indianapolis Indiana mission. She studied elementary education but has found a particular passion in teaching the gospel. Her desire for her content is to inspire people to feel confident, peaceful, and joyful about their relationship with Jesus Christ and to allow that relationship to touch every aspect of their lives. Autumn was the recipient of FAIR’s 2024 John Taylor Defender of the Faith Award.

The post Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 137–138 – Part 2 – Autumn Dickson appeared first on FAIR.

I don’t have a testimony of the history of the Church. That is why I can be a historian and also a believing Latter-day Saint. I will expand on this idea, but first let me address some related questions.

Do all well-informed historians become anti-Mormons?

The critics would have you believe that they are disinterested pursuers of the truth. There they were, minding their own business, going about their conscientious study of Church history and–shock and dismay!–they came across this, whatever this is, that blew them away. As hurtful as it is for them, they can no longer believe in the Church and, out of love for you, they now want to help you see the light of day.

Let’s get one thing clear: There is nothing in Church history that leads inevitably to the conclusion that the Church is false. There is nothing that requires the conclusion that Joseph Smith was a fraud. How can I say this with such confidence? For the simple reason that the historians who know most about our Church history have been and are faithful, committed members of the Church. Or, to restate the situation more precisely, there are faithful Latter-day Saint historians who know as much about this subject as any anti-Mormon or as anyone who writes on the subject from an outside perspective. With few exceptions, they know much, much more. They have not been blown away. They have not gnashed their teeth and abandoned their faith. To repeat, they have found nothing that forces the extreme conclusion our enemies like to promote.

CONTINUED HERE

The post Classic FAIR – I Don’t Have a Testimony of the History of the Church – Davis Bitton, 2004 appeared first on FAIR.

It’s an old and frequent spiritual question, and it shows up in many forms. It is the question Jesus asks the disciples who hear his troubling and offending discourse on being someone whose flesh must be eaten and whose blood drunk by those who would have eternal life. The discourse confuses many, who turn back and follow him no more, and then, to those who remain Jesus asks the question, “Will ye also go away?” To the man who seeks out Jesus to heal his deeply troubled son, the question is implied, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” To Nephi, approached by an angel after he is carried away to the top of a high mountain, the question is more direct: “Believest thou that thy father saw the tree of which he hath spoken?” And to the brother of Jared, who asks to see the premortal Jesus after hearing his voice and seeing his hand, the question is perhaps most clearly stated, “Believest thou the words which I shall speak?”

Believest thou? I am increasingly impressed by the implications of this simple question, and by how often it is at the heart of my mortal dilemmas. Do I believe God’s commandments and teachings, or do I find other explanations of reality more credible for getting what I want or keeping me safe? Do I trust him to tell me the truth, even when it includes improbable and invisible things? Do I trust him to have the love, the will, and the power to save me despite the ways I am not worthy? Do I trust him to keep his promises? Do I believe?

CONTINUED HERE

The post Classic FAIR – Faith and Cognitive Dissonance – Wendy Ulrich, 2005 appeared first on FAIR.

In this episode, Ryan sits down with Debra McClendon to discuss religious OCD, also known as Scrupulosity. Debra shares valuable advice for those navigating Scrupulosity while striving to stay faithful within the church. They explore what approaches tend to be effective, what often falls short, and dive into topics like consecration, burnout, and finding balance. If you or someone you know struggles with Scrupulosity, anxiety, or toxic perfectionism, we hope this conversation offers insight and support.

Debra Theobald McClendon, PhD is a licensed psychologist in the state of Utah and has interjurisdictional authorization to work with clients in most U.S. states. She specializes in treating those with scrupulosity, a religious and moral subtype of OCD. She is the owner of The OCD & Scrupulosity Clinic (ocdscrupulosityclinic.com) and is a member of the International OCD Foundation. She has been interviewed on podcasts, published articles, and published the book: “Freedom from Scrupulosity: Reclaiming Your Religious Experience from Anxiety and OCD.”

Ryan Sorensen is a native of Cache Valley, Utah. He earned his Bachelor’s degree at BYU-Idaho and is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at Abilene Christian University, with plans to become a chaplain after graduation. Ryan previously hosted a podcast called The Whom Shall We Go? Podcast. In his spare time, he enjoys being involved in interfaith work, reading about Latter-day Saint theology and history, training for triathlons, and spending time with friends and family.

The post The Cause for Christ Episode 2: Scrupulosity (moral and religious OCD) with Dr. Debra McClendon appeared first on FAIR.

Can faith and trust in God’s guidance coexist with personal doubts?

Elder David P. Homer’s recent General Conference address, “Trusting Our Father,” explores a fundamental question: How can we fully trust God’s will, even when it challenges our own understanding? Drawing on historical and scriptural examples, Elder Homer emphasizes that God’s boundaries are eternal and defined by His love for us. As we seek to understand these divine truths, this talk offers valuable insights for those facing doubts or challenges to their faith.

Questions, Misconceptions, and Criticisms

Doctrine:

• Misconception: Truth is always relative and depends on individual perspective or context.
  • Response: This belief reflects the philosophical concept of moral relativism, which suggests that what is right or true depends entirely on social norms, personal beliefs, or situational factors. However, Elder David P. Homer counters this idea by teaching that God’s truths are absolute, eternal, and independent of human perspective. “The boundaries between right and wrong are not for us to define. God has established these boundaries Himself, based on eternal truths for our benefit and blessing.” 

    Elder Homer asserts that while circumstances can shape how we experience or apply principles, some truths remain unchanged because they are divinely appointed. For example, the law of chastity, honesty, and the command to love one another are consistent moral standards that transcend cultural shifts. These truths are not contingent on context but are rooted in God’s eternal character.

• Fallacies and Cognitive Biases:

• • Moral Relativism Fallacy: This fallacy suggests that since different cultures have varying beliefs about what is right or wrong, no universal truth exists. While individual experiences vary, God’s laws are designed for the eternal well-being of all His children, not just specific groups or times.
  • Appeal to Popularity (Bandwagon Fallacy): Believing that truth must conform to popular opinion assumes that societal consensus determines what is morally right. This is flawed because majorities have often supported unjust practices in history. Truth is not a democratic process; it is revealed by God.

Social Issues:

• Criticism: Commandments should change to align with evolving social norms.
  • Response: The belief that God’s laws must adapt to current cultural standards is based on the assumption that divine commandments are outdated social constructs. However, Elder Homer teaches that God’s commandments are not arbitrary rules but expressions of His love and eternal wisdom. “God’s saving truths are absolute, independent, and defined by God Himself.” 

    While societies evolve, God’s commandments remain constant because they are designed to bring lasting happiness and spiritual safety. For example, commandments related to honesty, fidelity, and service reflect eternal principles that uplift individuals and communities. When societal values deviate from divine law, God does not alter His laws to accommodate humanity’s changing preferences; instead, He invites us to align with His higher standard.

• Fallacies and Cognitive Biases:

• • Appeal to Novelty: This fallacy assumes that newer societal norms are inherently better than established principles simply because they are modern. This discounts the wisdom embedded in enduring divine teachings.
  • Presentism Bias: This bias judges historical religious teachings based on modern cultural values, ignoring the fact that God’s commandments are meant to be timeless and not bound by current societal trends.
  • False Dilemma: Some assume that if commandments don’t change, believers must choose between following an outdated moral code or rejecting faith entirely. This oversimplifies the process of living faith, which involves applying unchanging truths in changing circumstances with personal revelation and divine grace.
• By understanding that God’s laws are rooted in eternal truths rather than social consensus, we can see the wisdom in commandments that sometimes feel countercultural. Elder Homer reminds us that trusting in God’s design leads to spiritual clarity, peace, and lasting joy.

Defending Divine Doctrine

Elder Homer’s emphasis on trusting in divine boundaries provides an apologetic approach to several common critiques. By underscoring that truth is not for humans to redefine, he aligns with Come, Follow Me lessons in Moroni 1-6 about the Sacrament, repentance, and ordinances as God-given instructions rather than culturally influenced practices.

Application: Trusting God’s Boundaries in Daily Life

This teaching helps counter the criticism that Church doctrines are restrictive. By trusting that God’s boundaries are an expression of love, believers can find meaning even when doctrines challenge their views. Elder David P. Homer’s talk offers several practical “to-do” items that help apply this principle in everyday life:

• Pause, Reflect, and Respond with Faith:

• • “When we don’t understand, we can pause, let our feelings settle, and then choose how to respond.”  When faced with difficult teachings or personal struggles, practice pausing before reacting. This pause creates space for spiritual clarity through prayer and thoughtful reflection.

• Study the Scriptures and Listen to Prophets

• • “Fortunately, we have the scriptures and guidance from living prophets to help us understand God’s truth.” Commit to a consistent scripture study routine. Focus on teachings that address current questions or concerns, such as studying Come, Follow Me lessons or recent General Conference talks. Create a study journal to write down insights, questions, and how you see God’s guidance in your life.

• Seek Personal Revelation

• • “If clarification beyond what we have is needed, God provides it through His prophets. And He will respond to our sincere prayers through the Holy Ghost.”  Practice regular personal prayer, specifically asking for help understanding God’s will. Follow promptings from the Holy Ghost, even when they require courage or sacrifice.

• Stay with Faith through Uncertainty

• • “We must never allow doubt to hold us prisoner and keep us from the divine love, peace, and gifts that come through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.”  When doubts arise, try Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s counsel to “doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith.” Create a habit of spiritual resilience by focusing on past spiritual experiences and holding onto the truths you already know.

• Choose to Trust God’s Timing

• • “God gives His word according to the attention and effort we devote to it.”  Make a conscious decision to trust God’s timeline. This might mean waiting patiently for answers to long-term questions while staying active in your spiritual practices.

• Remember God’s Eternal Perspective

• • “God has something better for us. If we reach out to Him, He will assist us.”  Write down one area of your life where you struggle to trust God’s plan. Pray specifically about that area, asking for His help in seeing things from His eternal perspective.

By applying these steps, believers can build trust in God’s eternal laws rather than being influenced by temporary societal trends or personal uncertainties. As Elder Homer’s talk illustrates, trusting divine boundaries leads to deeper peace, spiritual growth, and lasting joy—even when understanding takes time.

Explaining the Nature of the Priesthood

Elder Homer’s discussion on trusting divine roles and structures supports the Church’s position on priesthood authority as sacred and purpose-driven. For example, Moroni 3 discusses the importance of ordaining individuals by priesthood authority—a principle that underscores God’s intentional design for leadership in His Church.

Historical and Doctrinal Connections

Contextual Background – The Story of Louisa Barnes Pratt

The example of Louisa Barnes Pratt courageously following God’s guidance despite personal reluctance mirrors the journeys many of us take in faith. This historical story reminds us of the faith required to trust in God’s eternal plan, even when societal norms suggest alternative paths.

Resources for Deeper Understanding:

• Priesthood

• Church resource: Revelation for Our Lives

Living Apologetics

Practical Application

Respectful Dialogue Guide: When discussing spiritual topics, particularly the idea of absolute truth vs. relative morality, it’s important to approach conversations with empathy, patience, and clarity. Here’s how to engage effectively:

• Listen Actively: Begin by listening without interrupting to understand others’ perspectives, even if they differ from your own.
• Ask Open-Ended Questions: Use phrases like, “How did you come to that conclusion?” or “What do you believe about truth?” to invite thoughtful dialogue.
• Clarify God’s Teachings with Humility: Share beliefs without being defensive. Say something like: “I believe that God’s laws are based on eternal principles meant for our lasting happiness.”
• Acknowledge Common Concerns: Recognize that trusting in God’s will can be challenging. You might say: “There have been times I’ve struggled to understand a commandment, but as I’ve studied and prayed, I’ve come to see its deeper purpose.”
• Express Love and Understanding: No matter the outcome, express kindness: “Thank you for sharing your perspective. I’ve enjoyed learning more about what you believe.”

Faith in Action: Applying Elder David P. Homer’s counsel to trust in God’s boundaries, even when public opinion or personal desires differ, strengthens our spiritual foundation. 

Suggested Actions:

• Speak with Purpose: Share your beliefs about God’s eternal truths when the opportunity arises. This might be during family discussions, in church meetings, or with friends who have honest questions. Use phrases like: “I believe that God’s truth isn’t defined by society but revealed through His prophets.”
• Study Faithfully: Strengthen your understanding by studying scriptures and prophetic counsel. Focus on sections like Alma 30 (Korihor’s rebellion) and 2 Nephi 2 (agency and eternal law). Seek personal revelation on how to trust God’s will more fully.

Quick Reference: Key Defenses and Facts

• Truth is Eternal: God’s truths are independent and do not change based on cultural trends.
• Historical Figures in Faith: Stories like Louisa Barnes Pratt show that trusting God often requires courage against popular opinion.
• Sacrament and Ordinances: Following sacred ordinances, as discussed in Moroni 1-6, helps believers connect to God’s guidance and protection.

Conclusion

Encouragement and Reflection: Elder Homer’s message encourages us to trust in God’s eternal love and wisdom, especially in times of doubt or challenge. When we recognize that God’s boundaries are expressions of His love, we can find peace in His plan for us.

“God trusts us to make many important decisions, and in all matters He asks us to trust Him. This is especially difficult when our judgment or public opinion differs from His will for His children. Some suggest that we should redraw the lines between what is right and what is wrong because they say that truth is relative, reality is self-defined, or God is so generous that He does not actually care about what we do. As we seek to understand and accept God’s will, it is helpful to remember that the boundaries between right and wrong are not for us to define. God has established these boundaries Himself, based on eternal truths for our benefit and blessing.”

Share Your Insight

Share your thoughts on trusting God’s boundaries – your thoughts and experiences can help others!

The Consider Conference series by FAIR offers an in-depth look at recent General Conference talks to help members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints navigate common questions, misunderstandings, and criticisms. Each post provides doctrinal insights, historical context, and practical ways to apply gospel principles in everyday conversations. Through this series, we hope to equip readers with faith-promoting resources that encourage thoughtful reflection, respectful dialogue, and a stronger foundation in gospel truths, fostering both personal conviction and meaningful discussions with others.

The post Trusting God’s Boundaries: Faithfully Navigating Modern Challenges appeared first on FAIR.

2024 April General Conference, Sunday Morning Session

Pillars and Rays

Elder Alexander Dushku
Of the Seventy

Main Points

• We too can have our own pillar of light—one ray at a time.
• No two people experience God’s light and truth in exactly the same way.
• Most of us receive truth line upon line, not in one big revelation

Gospel Principles taught

 Jesus Christ, The Holy Ghost, Faith in Christ,

Gospel Doctrine taught

Restoration, Prophets

Scriptures

Joseph Smith—History 1:10–13, Joseph Smith—History 1:14–16, Joseph Smith—History 1:17, Joseph Smith—History 1:20, Mosiah 16:9, Doctrine and Covenants 84:46; John 1:9, Doctrine and Covenants 88:12–13, Doctrine and Covenants 6:23, Doctrine and Covenants 8:2; Helaman 5:30, Mosiah 5:2; Doctrine and Covenants 11:12, 2 Nephi 4:21; Helaman 5:44, Doctrine and Covenants 46:13–14, Doctrine and Covenants 18:35–36, Mosiah 2:17; Moroni 7:45–48, 1 Nephi 1:20, Helaman 5:9–12, Doctrine and Covenants 20:77, 79, Moroni 10:3–4, Doctrine and Covenants 88:40, Alma 32:35, Doctrine and Covenants 50:24, Alma 32:41

Other Sources

 Joseph Smith, Journal, Nov. 9–11, 1835, 24

Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith Chapter 23: Receiving a Testimony of Jesus Christ

Related talks: 

• Russell M. Nelson, “Closing Remarks”
• Spencer W. Kimball, in Conference Report, Munich Germany Area Conference, 1973, 77; quoted in Graham W. Doxey, “The Voice Is Still Small”
• David A. Bednar, The Spirit of Revelation
• Gerritt W. Gong, Ministering
• Always Remember Him

Look for Jesus Christ:

• Testimony of Christ.
  • Jesus Christ “is the light and … life of the world” 
  • Christ’s “Spirit giveth light to every man [and woman] that cometh into the world”
  • His light “fill[s] the immensity of space” 
  • His light gives “life to all things.”
  • I bear witness of Jesus Christ, that He is the light and life of the whole world—and of your personal world and mine.
  • I testify that He is the true and living Son of the true and living God and that He stands at the head of this true and living Church, guided and directed by His true and living prophets and apostles.
• Description of His Teachings.
  • The Lord teaches truth line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little.”
  • The Lord’s typical pattern, brothers and sisters. Rather than sending us a pillar of light, the Lord sends us a ray of light, and then another, and another.

Inspiring Words & Phrases

• My message is for those who worry about their testimony because they haven’t had overwhelming spiritual experiences.
• The Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ began with an explosion of light and truth!
• All that, and much more, began with a boy’s desperate prayer and a pillar of light.
• One of the great truths of the Restoration is that the heavens are open—that we too can receive light and knowledge from on high. I testify that is true.
• One of the great truths of the Restoration is that the heavens are open—that we too can receive light and knowledge from on high. I testify that is true.
• But we must be wary of a spiritual trap. Sometimes faithful Church members become discouraged and even drift away because they haven’t had overwhelming spiritual experiences—because they haven’t experienced their own pillar of light.
• President Spencer W. Kimball warned, “Always expecting the spectacular, many will miss entirely the constant flow of revealed communication.”
• Rather than sending us a pillar of light, the Lord sends us a ray of light, and then another, and another.
• The Light of Christ is literally all around us.
• Perhaps you were reading in the Book of Mormon and a verse spoke to your soul, as if God had put it there just for you—and then you realized that He did.
• Brothers and sisters, I have not seen a pillar of light, but, like you, I have experienced many divine rays. Over the years, I’ve tried to treasure such experiences. I find that as I do, I recognize and remember even more of them.
• I remember studying and praying desperately to receive a more certain witness of Jesus Christ. Then one day, as I pled with Heavenly Father, I felt a powerful sense of light and warmth. And I knew. I just knew.
• You have had your own experiences—your own light-filled bursts of testimony. As we recognize, remember, and gather these rays “together in one,” something wonderful and powerful begins to happen. “Light cleaveth unto light”—“truth embraceth truth.” The reality and power of one ray of testimony reinforces and combines with another, and then another, and another. Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a ray and there a ray—one small, treasured spiritual moment at a time—there grows up within us a core of light-filled, spiritual experiences. Perhaps no one ray is strong enough or bright enough to constitute a full testimony, but together they can become a light that the darkness of doubt cannot overcome.
• In time and through “great diligence,” we too can have our own pillar of light—one ray at a time. And in the midst of that pillar, we too will find a loving Heavenly Father calling us by name, pointing us to our Savior, Jesus Christ, and inviting us to “Hear Him!”
• May we recognize and receive His glorious light and then choose Him over the darkness of the world—always and forever.

Lists

We have needs just like Joseph did:

• Freedom from spiritual confusion. 
• Freedom from worldly darkness.
• The need to know for ourselves.

The restoration brought a flood of:

• Divine revelation
• New scripture
• Restored priesthood keys
• Apostles
• Prophets
• Ordinances
• Covenants
• Reestablishment of the true and living church

We are ‘living in revelation’ (worthy to receive these divine rays constantly) if:

• We have received the gift of the Holy Ghost 
• We are striving to exercise faith
• We are striving to repent
• We honor our covenants

Different ways we experience the light and Spirit of the Lord:

• Peace spoken to your mind about something that has worried you
• An impression to do something good
• A desire to follow Jesus Christ
• A desire to be faithful
• Felt that the testimony you shared was true
• Felt an assurance that God loves you
• Someone else’s testimony of Christ touches you and gives you hope
• A verse in the Book of Mormon seems to be just for you
• Felt love of God as you serve others
• Remember past tender mercies

Invitations/Challenges

• “Immerse yourself in the glorious light of the Restoration.” (Russell M. Nelson)
• May we recognize and receive His glorious light and then choose Him over the darkness of the world—always and forever.

Warnings

• But we must be wary of a spiritual trap. Sometimes faithful Church members become discouraged and even drift away because they haven’t had overwhelming spiritual experiences—because they haven’t experienced their own pillar of light.
• President Spencer W. Kimball warned, “Always expecting the spectacular, many will miss entirely the constant flow of revealed communication.” 

Blessings/Promises

• in time and through “great diligence,” we too can have our own pillar of light—one ray at a time. And in the midst of that pillar, we too will find a loving Heavenly Father calling us by name, pointing us to our Savior, Jesus Christ, and inviting us to “Hear Him!”

Stories:

•  Elder Dushku tells the story of Joseph Smith. “And then, “at the very moment when [he’s] ready to sink into despair and abandon [him]self to destruction,” when he doesn’t know if he can hang on any longer, a glorious brilliance fills the grove, scattering the darkness and the enemy of his soul.” The answer to his question was given when a pillar of light appeared in the grove, with the Father and the Son.
• Elder Dushku remembers being a rowdy teenager at a baptism and having the Spirit urge him to sit down and be reverent.
• He recounts how he received a more sure witness of Christ before his mission.
• “Being awakened one night years later by a feeling of “pure intelligence” telling me I would be called to serve in the elders quorum.”
• “I remember a general conference where a beloved member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke the exact words of testimony I had told a friend I hoped to hear.”
• I remember kneeling with hundreds of brethren to pray for a dear friend who lay unconscious on a ventilator in a small, faraway hospital after his heart had stopped. As we united our own hearts to plead for his life, he woke up and pulled the ventilator out of his own throat. He serves today as a stake president.
• And I remember waking up with strong spiritual feelings after a vivid dream of a dear friend and mentor who passed away far too early, leaving an enormous hole in my life. He was smiling and joyful. I knew he was OK.

Application Ideas

1. Take some time to think about how you experience the light and Spirit of the Lord. Write your observations in a journal or your study journal. Revisit and revise your comments over time.
2. Over the next month, spend a week focusing on each of the items under “living in revelation.” Write about your experiences or share them with a trusted friend.
3. Honestly evaluate whether or not you are being aware of the spiritual trap Elder Dushku mentions. Ask Heavenly Father for a desire to overcome and weakness you may find.

The post Consider Conference: Pillars and Rays appeared first on FAIR.

2023 October General Conference, Saturday Morning Session
In the Path of Their Duty
David A. Bednar, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Main Points

1. The real strength of the church is those members who are quietly and consistently trying to live the gospel and do their part, even if they are not well-known. They are “no less serviceable” – just as useful – as those whose service is more conspicuous.
2. Elder Bednar summarizes his feelings for the church members who are on the covenant path by quoting Samuel the Lamanite – these members are “in the path of their duty.”
3. There are many ways to serve, and they are all valued.

Gospel Principles taught

Faith in Christ, Charity, Service, Obedience, Work and Personal responsibility

Gospel Doctrine taught

The Covenant Path

Scriptures

Alma 48:17, Alma 48:19,  Moroni 10:32–33, Helaman 15:5–6, Mosiah 18:9, Helaman 7:17, Moroni 10:30, 32, 1 Nephi 8:28, Doctrine and Covenants 64:33, Doctrine and Covenants 109:24, 1 Nephi 10:3, 3 Nephi 5:25,, 3 Nephi 20:29, Psalm 30:5, Doctrine and Covenants 90:11, 

Romans 10:17, Isaiah 40:31, Doctrine and Covenants 133:45, Mark 9:36–37, Omni 1:26, Helaman 3:35, Doctrine and Covenants 121:29,

Related talks

To Them of the Last Wagon- J. Reuben Clark, July 1997

No Less Serviceable – Howard W. Hunter, Sept 1990

Choose Ye This Day to Serve the Lord – Julie B. Beck, 2011

Missionary Work: Sharing What Is in Your Heart – Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 2019

Look for Jesus Christ:

• Testimony of Christ.
  • I joyfully witness that Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son live and Their promises are sure, in the sacred name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.
• Description of His Teachings.
  • Consider the eternal impact of the service rendered by these devoted disciples—and the marvelous blessings promised to those who minister to children. “And [Jesus] took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, “Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.”
• Description of His relationship with us.
  • The phrase “in the path of their duty” describes righteous individuals who yearn to become yoked to the Savior through the authorized covenants and ordinances of His gospel—but may be prohibited from doing so by factors beyond their control. I promise your personal anguish will be relieved and your obedience and faithfulness to patiently submit your will to God will be rewarded in “the own due time of the Lord.” 

Inspiring Words & Phrases

• “uncelebrated heroes”
• I now express my love, admiration, and gratitude for the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all around the world.
• uncelebrated heroes
• “They of the last wagon pressed forward, worn and tired, footsore, sometimes almost disheartened, borne up by their faith that God loved them, that the restored gospel was true, and that the Lord led and directed the Brethren out in front.” (Elder Bednar quoting J. Reuben Clark)
• “If you feel that much of what you do this year or in the years to come does not make you very famous, take heart. Most of the best people who ever lived weren’t very famous either. Serve and grow, faithfully and quietly.” (Elder Bednar quoting Howard W. Hunter)
• Your strong faith in Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ and your unpretentious, consecrated lives inspire me to be a better man and disciple.
• I love you. I admire you. I thank you. And I commend you.
• I have described only a few selected examples of covenant-keeping and devoted disciples of Jesus Christ like you who are pressing forward “in the path of [your] duty.” Millions of additional examples of Latter-day Saints who offer their “whole souls” unto God are found in Christ-centered homes and in Church units around the world.
• Coming unto Christ  by returning to the covenant path from sinful detours into “forbidden paths” is spiritually essential and righteously rigorous.

Lists

The phrase “in the path of their duty” describes members who:

1. Look for and sit next to people who are alone
2. Strive to comfort others without expectation of acknowledgment or praise
3. Support family members as they serve in callings
4. Are returning to Christ and their covenants 
5. Desire to come to Christ and make covenants
6. Translate scriptures and conferences
7. Raise children or “wait patiently upon the Lord” when those blessings don’t come
8. Nursery leaders and Primary teachers
9. Children caring for elderly parents, parents caring for and protecting their children
10. Set up and take down chairs for activities
11. Invite others thru inspiration to come to church

By the power of the Holy Ghost you: 

• Love
• Serve 
• Listen 
• Learn
• Care 
• Console 
• Teach 
• Testify

Invitations/Challenges

• You love and serve, listen and learn, care and console, and teach and testify by the power of the Holy Ghost. You fast and pray often, wax stronger and stronger in humility, and grow firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, “unto the filling [your] souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of [your] hearts, which sanctification cometh because of … yielding [your] hearts unto God.”

Blessings/Promises

• “…individuals who yearn to become yoked to the Savior through the authorized covenants and ordinances of His gospel—but may be prohibited from doing so by factors beyond their control. I promise your personal anguish will be relieved and your obedience and faithfulness to patiently submit your will to God will be rewarded in ‘the own due time of the Lord.’”
• They of the last wagon, all who are no less serviceable, and you who today are pressing forward in the path of your duty are the strength of the Savior’s restored Church.
• As the Lord has promised, “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.”

Application Ideas

1. Consider prayerfully asking God how you can become “stronger in humility.” Write down and act upon any ideas you receive.
2. Choose someone who is an “unsung hero” and send them a note of thanks.
3. Recognize the ways you are “in the path of (your) duty.” Appreciate what you do to serve!
4. Make a conscious effort to appreciate equally all the ways and degrees that those around you serve in the Church.
5. Invite the Holy Ghost to be with you to help you know how to “love and serve, listen and learn, care and console, and teach and testify.”

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2023 October General Conference, Sunday Afternoon Session
Think Celestial!
Russell M. Nelson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Main Points

“Thinking Celestial” means to view our choices and the circumstances of our lives with an eternal perspective.

Gospel Principles taught

Obedience, prayer, agency, Law of Chastity, Tithing, Faith, Temple Work

Gospel Doctrine taught

The Plan of Salvation, The Atonement of Jesus Christ

Scriptures

John 6:38; Alma 7:11; Alma 7:12; Doctrine and Covenants 19:18; 2 Nephi 9:40; 2 Nephi 28:7; Alma 34:32–35; 2 Nephi 9:39; Mosiah 4:30; Doctrine and Covenants 132:7; Moroni 7:41; 2 Nephi 2:6–8, 27; 2 Nephi 2:11; Doctrine and Covenants 122:7; Doctrine and Covenants 121:8; Isaiah 1:16–18; Doctrine and Covenants 58:42–43; 1 Timothy 4:1; 1 Timothy 4:2; 2 Timothy 3:12; 2 Nephi 32:5; Doctrine and Covenants 42:61

Related talk: Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives

Look for Jesus Christ:

• Testimony of Christ.
  • “The Lord is directing us to build these temples to help us think celestial. God lives. Jesus is the Christ. His Church has been restored to bless all of God’s children. I so testify in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.”
• Description of His Atonement.
  • “The Savior’s Atonement is what makes our Father’s Plan possible.”
  • “Think of it! The Savior suffered ‘pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind’ so that He can comfort us, heal us, rescue us in times of need. Jesus Christ described His experience in Gethsemane and on Calvary: ‘Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore.’”
  • “Put Jesus Christ first because your eternal life is dependent upon your faith in Him and in His Atonement.”
• Description of His relationship with us.
  • “Come unto Christ and receive His promise of complete forgiveness as you fully repent of your sins.”

Inspiring Words & Phrases

• Heavenly Father’s Plan for us is fabulous
• What we do in this life really matters
• Mortality is a master class
• Obedience paves the way for a joyful life for you today and a grand, eternal reward tomorrow.
• When you are confronted with a dilemma, think celestial! When tested by temptation, think celestial! When life or loved ones let you down, think celestial! When someone dies prematurely, think celestial. When someone lingers with a devastating illness, think celestial. When the pressures of life crowd in upon you, think celestial! As you recover from an accident or injury, as I am doing now, think celestial!
• The Lord’s perspective transcends your mortal wisdom.
• think celestial and…envision an eternal reward rather than focus on the excruciating difficulties of the day.
• Any addiction—be it gaming, gambling, debt, drugs, alcohol, anger, pornography, sex, or even food—offends God. Why? Because your obsession becomes your god.
• Public opinion is not the arbiter of truth.

Lists

Your choices today will determine three things: 

1. where you will live throughout all eternity, 
2. the kind of body with which you will be resurrected, and 
3. those with whom you will live forever.

To build faith:

1. Pay tithing
2. Choose to live a virtuous life
3. Spend more time in the temple

In the temple:

1. you are shown how to progress toward a celestial life. 
2. There you are drawn closer to the Savior and given greater access to His power. 
3. There you are guided in solving the problems in your life, even your most perplexing problems.

Invitations/Challenges

• I invite you to adopt the practice of “thinking celestial”! (Thinking celestial means being spiritually minded.)
• Begin with the end in mind. This means making the celestial kingdom your eternal goal and then carefully considering where each of your decisions while here on earth will place you in the next world.
• When you make choices, I invite you to take the long view—an eternal view.
• Our prayers can be—and should be—living discussions with our Heavenly Father.
• When you make decisions regarding morality, please think celestial. 

Warnings

• For those who have made covenants with God, immorality is one of the quickest ways to lose your testimony.
• There is no end to the adversary’s deceptions. Please be prepared. Never take counsel from those who do not believe. Seek guidance from voices you can trust—from prophets, seers, and revelators and from the whisperings of the Holy Ghost, who “will show unto you all things what ye should do.” Please do the spiritual work to increase your capacity to receive personal revelation.
• As you focus on thinking celestial, expect to encounter opposition.
• Please do not let an obsession rob you of your freedom to follow God’s fabulous plan.

Blessings/Promises

• As you think celestial, your heart will gradually change.
• As you think celestial, you will view trials and opposition in a new light.
• As you think celestial, your faith will increase.
• Your service and worship in the temple will help you to think celestial.

Apologetics

• When someone you love attacks truth, think celestial, and don’t question your testimony.

Application Ideas

1. Make an appointment to serve in the temple this week.
2. Make time to have a vocal prayer and try to have a “living discussion” with Heavenly Father.
3. Evaluate the importance of ‘public opinion’ in your life. What do you need to change?
4. Make peace with those you have contended or are contending with.
5. Start each day thinking of your end goals in mind and what you will do that day to make sure you’re on the path to reach them.

The post Consider Conference: Think Celestial! appeared first on FAIR.

The following is from LaJean Purcell Carruth’s presentation at BYU Education Week 2022 as part of the series presented on what can be learned from the Wilford Woodruff Papers.

Introduction

When I was eleven years old, I was bored one Sunday afternoon and found in my parents’ basement an old Improvement Era open to an article on the Deseret Alphabet.¹ I was instantly, completely, absolutely hooked. I taught myself the Deseret Alphabet and decreed that I would be a Deseret transcriber when I grew up. Little did I know where that early passion would lead.

Another eleven years later, in 1974, I was finishing my first master’s degree at Brigham Young University in Library Science. I was on my own financially and desperately in need of work. A fellow student told me that a BYU professor, Dr. Thomas Alexander, was reading Wilford Woodruff’s journals, and that they contained some Deseret Alphabet entries. Dr. Alexander hired me to transcribe the Deseret Alphabet entries, fulfilling, in part, my childhood ambition, and giving me the paycheck I desperately needed.

More work with the Deseret Alphabet came my way when I learned that Dennis Reilly, the manuscript librarian at BYU, had some items to transcribe. He told me that he didn’t have much in Deseret, but he had a lot of Pitman shorthand, what some might consider a precursor to the Deseret Alphabet. If I would learn to read Pitman shorthand, he’d give me a job. I didn’t quite realize what I was agreeing to, but I said, “Okay, I’ll learn Pitman shorthand.” I went out to the stacks and got a nineteenth-century book on Pitman and taught myself to read it. It wasn’t until many years later when I was trying to teach others to read this old shorthand that I realized how much I had actually accomplished at such a young age.

One of my first assignments for Dennis Reilly was to look at the shorthand in Wilford Woodruff’s journals on a microfilm copy. Wilford Woodruff did not write all his journal entries in shorthand, but instead what I call “salt and pepper shorthand,” a sprinkling of shorthand here and there throughout his writing. I began transcribing, but quickly found some shorthand I could not read at all. Months later, after extensive research and some help from the Phonographic Institute of Cincinnati, I learned that Wilford wrote in two different shorthands: Taylor shorthand, published by Samuel Taylor in 1786, and Pitman shorthand, published by Isaac Pitman in 1837. Other early Church leaders wrote in one or both of these, including some of Joseph Smith’s scribes who occasionally used Taylor shorthand in the prophet’s journals. These extant shorthand records are vital to the early history of the Church.

Wilford Woodruff’s Shorthand Writing

Elder Hale and myself had a good time in secret prayer. May God bless us on the islands and help us find the blood of Ephraim.

Note: Shorthand is in bold type and longhand is in regular type.

Wilford wrote some words in shorthand for convenience, especially some phrases such as “miles traveled,” which he recorded almost every day, and phrases such as “took the parting hand,” which is what he liked to say when he was bidding someone goodbye. I also realized he was writing in shorthand some names he used often. When I first started reading his shorthand I kept seeing a word spelled “f b” over and over and over, with no vowels to help, just “f b.” It took me a while to decipher, but then it dawned on me, “f b” was shorthand for his wife Phebe!

He also used shorthand for some things that were either deeply personal or that he didn’t want readily accessible to his readers. These included personal information, spiritual experiences, his private feelings, or problems with his wives.

Many of his notations in shorthand are spiritual, some deeply so, and very personal. We see in this example that in part of the blessing he received from David Patten and Warren Parrish when he was ordained a Seventy, on May 31, 1836, he recorded in shorthand part of what must have been a very spiritual experience:

YEA even when my spirit was playing around the throne of God in eternity that I should travel to the nations of the Earth & the Islands of the sea to Proclaim the word of God when these and other blessings were Pronounced upon my head I was filled with the Power & spirit of God EVEN SO LET IT BE AMEN.

And again in this example from his mission to the Southern States, he wrote some of this spiritual experience in shorthand:

I and Brothers Smoot and Clapp went to the woods to pray. the power of God sat on us. we prayed with the spirit of prophecy. I sealed up my brethren and prophesied on their heads great blessings by the spirit of God.

He also wrote in shorthand sometimes when he was sharing particularly tender experiences with his wife Phebe.

I was still sick in the morning I had Prayers & was much better after my wife laid hands on me and asked the Lord to heal me.

Besides such personal experiences, he sometimes wrote in shorthand when he knew that what he wrote could land him in legal trouble, as we see in this example of a plural marriage from March 10, 1877:

We gave Endowments to 106. 36 Elders ordained. W Woodruff sealed 7, E Snow 27. President Young was with us to day in the Temple of the Lord And I feel thankful for it. The Blessing of God Rested upon the people. President Young gave his daughter Eudora Young to me in marriage and sealed us together at the altar in the temple of the Lord this day and I thank the Lord for it[.] I received 3 letter from G. Q. Cannon Elias Smith &c to day from James J Woodruff.

George Watt and Conflicting Transcription

George Watt was the first British convert, baptized in 1837. Watt later came to Nauvoo where he taught Pitman shorthand. As a very skilled reporter, he recorded the trial of the murderers of Joseph and Hyrum Smith in Carthage Jail. Then he went on a mission from 1846 to 1851 back to England and Scotland. In late fall of 1851, he came to Salt Lake City traveling with Orson Pratt’s company and began reporting sermons, legislative proceedings, court reports, and other matters in Pitman shorthand.

It took me 30 years and thousands of hours working on other shorthand before I could figure out how to read George Watt’s shorthand. I had been working at BYU in the manuscripts department and had taken other freelance work, but needed more work, so I contacted the Church History Library, where I was hired to work on the John D. Lee trials: 1,400 pages of shorthand extant from John D. Lee’s two trials for the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Through thousands of hours of work on that, I learned to read Watt’s shorthand.

As the Mountain Meadows shorthand project slowed down, I was assigned to read other documents in George Watt’s shorthand, which is when I found out how very different his preserved transcript was from his original shorthand. The differences in the text published in the Journal of Discourses compared to his original shorthand became very obvious to me. As George Watt transcribed his shorthand, he would rewrite what was said rather than reporting word for word. George Watt was a brilliant writer, and he might have thought he was improving Brigham Young. But his additions and omissions changed the perception we have of Brigham Young. Brigham Young was a powerful and charismatic preacher, but when we read the accounts that Watt transcribed, we lose the power of his sermons.

For example, if Brigham said “heart,” Watt would replace that with “mind,” changing the meaning from one of spirit to one of intellect. Or when Brigham Young would so often address the congregation with a question, Watt would change that to a statement, thereby removing Brigham’s empathy towards the members, as we see in an example from 1853: President Young was discussing the hard crossing of the plains and how so many lost heart and almost lost their faith. He turned to the congregation and asked, “Do some of you who came over this year feel this way?” Watt, however, changed the text to, “Some of you who came over this year feel this way,” thereby telling the members how they felt rather than empathizing with them; the first shows understanding while the second shows accusation.⁷

Watt would also take out words that Brigham Young said and add words that Brigham Young never said, including whole paragraphs. Large sections in the Journal of Discourses have no relationship to the shorthand document. I wrote this short poem to exhibit Watt’s tendency to rewrite Brigham Young’s words:

There was a man named George Watt,
Who could improve Brigham Young, so he thought.
So he took out words here,
And he added words there,
And his accuracy was not what it ought.

Sermons published in the Journal of Discourses and in the Deseret News often differed from the shorthand, sometimes significantly; here is one example from a sermon by Wilford Woodruff on June 27, 1875, at the funeral of two young boys who had been burned to death:

The Lost Sermons: Never Transcribed or Published

While much of Watt’s transcription from his shorthand is heavily editorialized and incorrect, many of the early Church leaders’ sermons were never transcribed from the original shorthand. It was when I began transcribing these previously untranscribed sermons that I began to learn much about President Woodruff, about how he spoke, about the great dignity with which he spoke, and about his personal experiences, especially regarding the gospel.

From George Watt’s shorthand, I have recently transcribed this account from Wilford Woodruff’s record:

I even prayed before the Lord from time to time that I might live to behold a people who again embraced those principles and blessings I saw an account of recorded in the Bible . . . The Spirit of God bore record to me in my labors from time to time I [would] live to see that day that I should occupy a place in house of God behold a people who again embraced the gospel of Christ.⁹

Or this recently transcribed and unpublished record recorded in shorthand by John V. Long, a colleague of George Watt:

The Lord requires a great many things of us and the greater our blessings the greater will be our responsibilities to the Lord. The Lord will hold us responsible for all the blessings that he has given unto us he will hold us responsible for the gospel which he has revealed unto us for the use we make he will hold us responsible for the holy priesthood and the use we make of that and he will hold us responsible [for] all the truths of light and faith that has been given unto this people . . . It is a comfort to know that we serve a God whose attributes are good and righteous and to establish righteousness and truth upon the earth to do his mind and will to accomplish things necessary for the redemption of the earth for this reign and reign of his son Jesus Christ and the saints.¹⁰

These records of Wilford Woodruff show him as a man of great faith, someone who understood how to serve God and how to love the Savior and the gospel that was restored to the earth. Having accurate historical records matter. Knowing where the limitations are in our historical records matter. This is the Church of Jesus Christ and the focus needs to be on Him, not on misunderstanding; when we work from inaccuracies, we can sometimes get lost in clouded doctrine.

When we read Wilford Woodruff’s accurate record, we can see how he recognized the truth of the Savior that he was seeking. When we can focus on the correct doctrine, we can find the same truth.

ENDNOTES

1. To learn more about the Deseret Alphabet, read “Deseret Alphabet,” Church History Topics, ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
2. Wilford Woodruff’s Journal, August 20, 1837, p. 170, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, accessed August 16, 2023, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/journal/1837-08-20.
3. Wilford Woodruff’s Journal, May 31, 1836, p. 85, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, accessed August 16, 2023, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/journal/1836-05-31.
4. Wilford Woodruff’s Journal, June 30, 1836, p. 90, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, accessed August 16, 2023, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/journal/1836-06-30.
5. Wilford Woodruff’s Journal, March 30, 1838, p. 25, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, accessed August 16, 2023, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/journal/1838-03-30.
6. Wilford Woodruff’s Journal, March 10, 1877, p. 239, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, accessed August 16, 2023, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/journal/1877-03-10.
7. LaJean Purcell Carruth, “Preached vs. Published: Shorthand Record Discrepancies,” August 18, 2020, history.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
8. Discourse by Wilford Woodruff, June 27, 1875, p. 1, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, accessed August 17, 2023, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/discourse/1875-06-27.
9. Church History Department Pitman Shorthand transcriptions, Wilford Woodruff, 1860–1872, April 6, 1860, ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
10. Church History Department Pitman Shorthand transcriptions, Wilford Woodruff, 1860–1872, August 22, 1863, ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

LaJean Purcell Carruth is a senior historian at the Church History Library in Salt Lake City and an Advisor to the Wilford Woodruff Papers Project. She is the coeditor of Mountain Meadows Massacre: Collected Legal Papers (2017) and Liverpool to Great Salt Lake: The 1851 Journal of Missionary George D. Watt (2022).

To learn more about the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the never-before-published history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, please visit wilfordwoodruffpapers.org.

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