Getting our Houses and Finances in Order

I decided to share a few thoughts on finances.  I am currently enrolled in a Money Management class and we have read several talks by the Brethren as far as finances.  This is such an appropriate topic especially with the way the economy has been and the way people are spending more than they make.  Its sad to see how many bankruptcies occur and ruin lives. The prophets have counseled us on this topic for many many years, there is never a better time than now to evaluate your finances and get your house in order.  

Here are a few links to great talks on the matter.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin - Earthly Debts, Heavenly Debts

Marvin J. Ashton - Guide to Family Finance 

Marvin J. Ashton - One for the Money

Hinckley Challenge

As the previous entry mentioned, our beloved prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley passed away this past week. I felt it fitting to include a challenge that has been sent throughout the world to honor President Hinckley. It has been entitled Hinckley Challenge and it is one to read the Book of Mormon in 97 days to honor the 97 years President Hinckley was on the earth.

Almost two years ago, President Hinckley issued the following promise and challenge, "We studied the Book of Mormon in Sunday School this past year. Nonetheless I offer a challenge to members of the Church throughout the world and to our friends everywhere to read or reread the Book of Mormon. If you will read a bit more than one and one-half chapters a day, you will be able to finish the book before the end of this year. Very near the end of its 239 chapters, you will find a challenge issued by the prophet Moroni as he completed his record nearly 16 centuries ago. Said he: "And I exhort you to remember these things; for the time speedily cometh that ye shall know that I lie not, for ye shall see me at the bar of God; and the Lord God will say unto you: Did I not declare my words unto you, which were written by this man, like as one crying from the dead, yea, even as one speaking out of the dust?...And God shall show unto you, that that which I have written is true" (Moroni 10:27,29).
Without reservation I promise you that if each of you will observe this simple program, regardless of how many times you previously may have read the Book of Mormon, there will come into your lives and into your homes an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God."

I know that these things that we were promised will still come to pass. All good things come from reading the Book of Mormon. If you want to be part of the challenge, follow the link and sign up (it's free). The challenge begins Monday February 4, 2008. http://www.hinckleychallenge.com/index.php

I know that ours is the true church on the face of the earth. The Lord has prophets in our day to guide us to Him. I am truly blessed to have lived in such a great time to hear the words of President Hinckley. He is loved and missed.

President Hinckley 1910-2008

We are sad that our beloved prophet President Hickley passed away Sunday January 27th but we are so grateful for the life that he lived and the wonderful leader he was.

President Gordon B. HinckleyApril 1, 2006, Sunday morning session of the 176th Annual World General Conference

"I hope that all of you will remember that on this Sabbath day you heard me bear my witness that this is God's holy work. The vision given the Prophet Joseph in the grove of Palmyra was not an imaginary thing. It was real. It occurred in the broad light of day. Both the Father and the Son spoke to the boy. He saw Them standing in the air above him. He heard Their voices. He gave heed to Their instruction."It was the resurrected Lord who was introduced by His Father, the great God of the universe. For the first time in recorded history, both the Father and the Son appeared together to part the curtains and open this, the last and final dispensation, the dispensation of the fullness of times."The Book of Mormon is all that it purports to be—a work recorded by prophets who lived anciently and whose words have come forth "to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations" (Book of Mormon title page)."The priesthood has been restored under the hands of John the Baptist and Peter, James, and John. All the keys and authority pertaining to eternal life are exercised in this Church."Joseph Smith was and is a prophet, the great Prophet of this dispensation. This Church, which carries the name of the Redeemer, is true."I leave you my testimony, my witness, and my love for each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

I know that my redeemer lives....

Follow this link to view a fantastic video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8athR6fvshY

Charity, the Pure Love of Christ

In our religion we are taught to have Charity. In the Book of Mormon it says,

"And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him." Moroni 7: 45-47

In next verse in Moroni we are instructed to". . . pray with all the energy of our heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ. . ." Moroni 7: 48

None of us are perfect, so Charity is an attribute we all must continually work on.

I was touched this last week by a story Fox news reported on. If you are going to watch this make sure you get a kleenex. I ran across this article in a forum and was touched by these individuals service and charity.

http://community.myfoxchicago.com/blogs/SaxInTheCity/2008/01/11/Through_the_Lens_of_Loss

I Love Sister Hinckely!

I love this quote by Sister Hinckely. She had such a fun personality and is a women I highly admire and respect.

"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with grass stains on my shoes from mowing Sister Schenk's lawn. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor's children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and I really lived."

A few facts about the LDS Church. . .

by M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

"1. “Mormon” is a nickname for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Members are often referred to as “Mormons,” “Latter-day Saints,” or “LDS.” The term “Saint” means “member.”

2. The Church was restored in 1830 in upstate New York with Joseph Smith as its first prophet and president. Today it is headquartered in Salt Lake City, with President Gordon B. Hinckley as the present prophet.

3. There are now over 13 million members in 176 countries and territories. About 6 million of these are in the United States, making us the fourth largest Christian denomination in America. As one of the fastest growing Christian faiths in the world, we complete a new chapel every working day. Members pay a tithe, which is 10 percent of their income, making this and other programs possible.

4. Local congregations are led by volunteer, unpaid members. Both men and women serve in assigned leadership positions.

5. Mormons are well represented in politics and government. (In the United States, for example, there are 16 members in Congress, from both political parties.) Members also serve in high and trusted positions throughout the world in business, medicine, law, education, media, sports, and entertainment."

These excerpts were taken from a talk given by Elder Ballard, October 6, 2003 in the 177th Semiannual General Conference. The remained of this talk can be found at

http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-775-9,00.html