The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is truly led by living prophets. About a year ago, when I said something online about President Russell M. Nelson and the twelve Apostles, a lady asked—sincerely—what they had prophesied. I compiled a simple list for her.
Events of this week have made it even more apparent that they lead the Church through revelation. Below is a long list of examples. While what we’re facing now is big, the inspiration of God’s spokesmen is a regular occurrence. If you’d like to see examples from during World War II, read this talk by Elder Harold B. Lee: “Hearing the Voice.”
We were told twice in one year by President Nelson that we’ve reached ‘a hinge point.'
-March 15, 2019: At the dedication of the Rome Italy Temple, he said it is “a hinge point in the history of the Church. Things are going to move forward at an accelerated pace…. The Church is going to have an unprecedented future, unparalleled. We’re just building up to what’s ahead now.”
-January 1, 2020: “The time to act is now. This is a hinge point in the history of the Church, and your part is vital.”
Lest you think this is simply a phrase he likes to use, I checked the church website. He’s only on record there using that phrase at one other time. That was when he referred to the date of a person’s temple sealing as “the hinge point in their history.” That gives you an idea of what a big deal a hinge point is.
The last time anyone else used that phrase for a church-related time marker was in 2004, in Elder Dallin H. Oaks’s talk about preparing for the Second Coming.
(There was one other time the words were used, by Elder Ballard, but that was in reference to Christ being the hinge point of the plan of salvation. It wasn’t being used as a time marker.)
"...a hinge point in the history of the Church. Things are going to move forward at an accelerated pace…. The Church is going to have an unprecedented future, unparalleled. We’re just building up to what’s ahead now.”
So with that in mind, some friends and I compiled a list of ways our living prophets have prepared us for all the rapid changes we've seen this week.
___________________________________________________________
-Home centered church supported learning- this covers home church, and to some extent, the now-necessary home school.
-Temple sealing policy changes-- allows flexibility for engaged couples facing temporary temple closures. All they need is a bishop, they can get married the day they intended, then go be sealed as soon as the temples reopen, rather than waiting the previously required year.
-The request to increase -- double -- our temple attendance. This lessens the loss of proxy work progress we'll see temporarily.
-The emphasis on recognizing and receiving personal revelation- for any time - but especially as extra oil in our vessels when others may run out. President Nelson’s first talk in general conference as prophet was “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives.” There he testified of “how willing the Lord is to reveal His mind and will.” Not just to him, but to each of us as children of God. "In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.”
-The counsel to men on the necessity of paying the price for priesthood power. "In a coming day, only those men who have taken their priesthood seriously, by diligently seeking to be taught by the Lord Himself, will be able to bless, guide, protect, strengthen, and heal others. Only a man who has paid the price for priesthood power will be able to bring miracles to those he loves and keep his marriage and family safe, now and throughout eternity."
-His counsel to the women to study sections 25, 84, 107 of the Doctrine and Covenants-- which have a heavy emphasis on priesthood power and the last days trials. Check out, for instance, 84:96-97. President Nelson added the promise that as we study this and more in preparation for April General Conference, it will be ‘not only memorable, but unforgettable.’
-His comment last General Conference (Oct 2019) that ‘time is running out’: “Do the spiritual work to find out for yourselves, and please do it now. Time is running out.”
-The creation and running of BYU Pathway Worldwide, which has given the church experience at the forefront of online and remote learning. This helps with the new MTC (missionary training center) video-only training, too.
-Weekly video calls between missionaries and parents-- this will be extra reassuring now!
-About a year ago, the First Presidency's request that all wards teach a '5th Sunday' lesson on managing our finances, reducing risk, and getting out of debt.
-The focus on having a more holy Sabbath
.
-President Nelson's comment to "eat your vitamins...and get your rest. It's going to be exciting!"
-Counsel for each home having food storage, particularly the short term everyday foods (2007)
-The self-reliance initiative- helping people begin and run businesses, get out of debt, live within their means, communicate better, and get a more eternal view of money and resources. The self reliance category was recently combined, appropriately, with church welfare programs . All of this is protection against job loss or reduction from the pandemic—or any other reason.
-A shift in the purpose and focus of the Ward Council to helping ward members become more self reliant in spiritual and temporal welfare matters, and then able to help provide for others.- Their ministering became more focused, encouraging charity and service to our neighbors. This helps restore The Lord's Way and bring Zion.
-The new Children and Youth program-- which also shifted goal setting to individual and family based. Meanwhile, all church activities are canceled for now.
-Ministering! And ministering interviews that get members thinking about those they are assigned to.
-The extra responsibilities for the Elders and RS presidents. It took some of the weight off bishops who will now have a lot of work to do....the likes of which they have never done before!
-Family history centers are online now, giving us the ability to do indexing and such from home – this allows one to still contribute toward temple work until we can get back to the temples.
-The focus and instruction on how to function in councils—particularly within our families.
At the end of the last General Conference, President Nelson said, "Now in closing, I leave with you my love and my blessing that each of you may become happier and holier with each passing day. Meanwhile, please be assured that revelation continues in the Church and will continue under the Lord’s direction until “the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.” I so bless you, reaffirming my love for you, with my testimony that God lives! Jesus is the Christ! This is His Church and we are His people."
Events of this week have made it even more apparent that they lead the Church through revelation. Below is a long list of examples. While what we’re facing now is big, the inspiration of God’s spokesmen is a regular occurrence. If you’d like to see examples from during World War II, read this talk by Elder Harold B. Lee: “Hearing the Voice.”
We were told twice in one year by President Nelson that we’ve reached ‘a hinge point.'
-March 15, 2019: At the dedication of the Rome Italy Temple, he said it is “a hinge point in the history of the Church. Things are going to move forward at an accelerated pace…. The Church is going to have an unprecedented future, unparalleled. We’re just building up to what’s ahead now.”
-January 1, 2020: “The time to act is now. This is a hinge point in the history of the Church, and your part is vital.”
Lest you think this is simply a phrase he likes to use, I checked the church website. He’s only on record there using that phrase at one other time. That was when he referred to the date of a person’s temple sealing as “the hinge point in their history.” That gives you an idea of what a big deal a hinge point is.
The last time anyone else used that phrase for a church-related time marker was in 2004, in Elder Dallin H. Oaks’s talk about preparing for the Second Coming.
(There was one other time the words were used, by Elder Ballard, but that was in reference to Christ being the hinge point of the plan of salvation. It wasn’t being used as a time marker.)
"...a hinge point in the history of the Church. Things are going to move forward at an accelerated pace…. The Church is going to have an unprecedented future, unparalleled. We’re just building up to what’s ahead now.”
So with that in mind, some friends and I compiled a list of ways our living prophets have prepared us for all the rapid changes we've seen this week.
___________________________________________________________
-Home centered church supported learning- this covers home church, and to some extent, the now-necessary home school.
-Temple sealing policy changes-- allows flexibility for engaged couples facing temporary temple closures. All they need is a bishop, they can get married the day they intended, then go be sealed as soon as the temples reopen, rather than waiting the previously required year.
-The request to increase -- double -- our temple attendance. This lessens the loss of proxy work progress we'll see temporarily.
-The emphasis on recognizing and receiving personal revelation- for any time - but especially as extra oil in our vessels when others may run out. President Nelson’s first talk in general conference as prophet was “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives.” There he testified of “how willing the Lord is to reveal His mind and will.” Not just to him, but to each of us as children of God. "In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.”
-The counsel to men on the necessity of paying the price for priesthood power. "In a coming day, only those men who have taken their priesthood seriously, by diligently seeking to be taught by the Lord Himself, will be able to bless, guide, protect, strengthen, and heal others. Only a man who has paid the price for priesthood power will be able to bring miracles to those he loves and keep his marriage and family safe, now and throughout eternity."
-His counsel to the women to study sections 25, 84, 107 of the Doctrine and Covenants-- which have a heavy emphasis on priesthood power and the last days trials. Check out, for instance, 84:96-97. President Nelson added the promise that as we study this and more in preparation for April General Conference, it will be ‘not only memorable, but unforgettable.’
-His comment last General Conference (Oct 2019) that ‘time is running out’: “Do the spiritual work to find out for yourselves, and please do it now. Time is running out.”
-The creation and running of BYU Pathway Worldwide, which has given the church experience at the forefront of online and remote learning. This helps with the new MTC (missionary training center) video-only training, too.
-Weekly video calls between missionaries and parents-- this will be extra reassuring now!
-About a year ago, the First Presidency's request that all wards teach a '5th Sunday' lesson on managing our finances, reducing risk, and getting out of debt.
-The focus on having a more holy Sabbath
.
-President Nelson's comment to "eat your vitamins...and get your rest. It's going to be exciting!"
-Counsel for each home having food storage, particularly the short term everyday foods (2007)
-The self-reliance initiative- helping people begin and run businesses, get out of debt, live within their means, communicate better, and get a more eternal view of money and resources. The self reliance category was recently combined, appropriately, with church welfare programs . All of this is protection against job loss or reduction from the pandemic—or any other reason.
-A shift in the purpose and focus of the Ward Council to helping ward members become more self reliant in spiritual and temporal welfare matters, and then able to help provide for others.- Their ministering became more focused, encouraging charity and service to our neighbors. This helps restore The Lord's Way and bring Zion.
-The new Children and Youth program-- which also shifted goal setting to individual and family based. Meanwhile, all church activities are canceled for now.
-Ministering! And ministering interviews that get members thinking about those they are assigned to.
-The extra responsibilities for the Elders and RS presidents. It took some of the weight off bishops who will now have a lot of work to do....the likes of which they have never done before!
-Family history centers are online now, giving us the ability to do indexing and such from home – this allows one to still contribute toward temple work until we can get back to the temples.
-The focus and instruction on how to function in councils—particularly within our families.
At the end of the last General Conference, President Nelson said, "Now in closing, I leave with you my love and my blessing that each of you may become happier and holier with each passing day. Meanwhile, please be assured that revelation continues in the Church and will continue under the Lord’s direction until “the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.” I so bless you, reaffirming my love for you, with my testimony that God lives! Jesus is the Christ! This is His Church and we are His people."
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