My Works Are Without End (Come, Follow Me)

With the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope on Christmas Day, we will soon be able to get an even better glimpse of God's vast creation.

I am the Lord God Almighty, and Endless is my name;
for I am without beginning of days or end of years;
and …my works are without end
Moses 1:3-4

The Family Proclamation and Our Time

In October 2018 General Conference, President Oaks said:

Modern revelation defines truth as a “knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come” (Doctrine and Covenants 93:24). That is a perfect definition for the plan of salvation and “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.”

Then he spoke of truth:

We live in a time of greatly expanded and disseminated information. But not all of this information is true. We need to be cautious as we seek truth and choose sources for that search. We should not consider secular prominence or authority as qualified sources of truth. We should be cautious about relying on information or advice offered by entertainment stars, prominent athletes, or anonymous internet sources. Expertise in one field should not be taken as expertise on truth in other subjects.

The Family: A Proclamation to the World came at a critical time in earth's history. Look at these other quotes about the time in which we live. 

• President Russell M. Nelson:  We live in a time prophesied long ago, when “all things shall be in commotion; and surely, men’s hearts shall fail them; for fear shall come upon all people.” That was true before the pandemic, and it will be true after. Commotion in the world will continue to increase.
• President Russell M. Nelson:  We live in a time of turmoil. Earthquakes and tsunamis wreak devastation, governments collapse, economic stresses are severe, the family is under attack, and divorce rates are rising.
• President Dallin H. Oaks:  We live in a time when some misrepresent the beliefs of those they call Mormons and even revile us because of them.
• President M. Russell Ballard:  Certainly, we live in a time during which things are in commotion. Many people fear the future, and many hearts have turned away from their faith in God and His Son, Jesus Christ.
• Elder Ronald A. Rasband:  We live in a time when we are “tossed to and fro,” when spirituality, decency, integrity, and respect are under attack.

But, we need not fear.

• President Nelson:  We live in the day that “our forefathers have awaited with anxious expectation.”
• Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf:  We live in a time of great outpouring of spiritual power. We have the fulness of truth. We have priesthood keys to seal on earth and in heaven. Sacred scriptures and teachings of living prophets and apostles are available as never before.

Learn Wisdom by... (Come, Follow Me)

In our Come, Follow Me reading this week, the Lord declared that the ignorant may "learn wisdom by humbling himself and calling upon the Lord his God, that his eyes may be opened that he may see, and his ears opened that he may hear; For my Spirit is sent forth into the world to enlighten the humble and contrite...." (Doctrine and Covenants 136:32-33).

President Nelson taught this again in our last General Conference with a specific warning for our time.

If most of the information you get 

comes from social or other media, 

your ability to hear the whisperings 

of the Spirit will be diminished.

If you are not also seeking the Lord 

through daily prayer and gospel study, 

you leave yourself vulnerable 

to philosophies that may be intriguing 

but are not true. 

Even Saints who are otherwise faithful 

can be derailed by the steady beat 

of Babylon’s band.

--Russell M. Nelson

Let him that is ignorant learn wisdom by humbling himself and calling upon the Lord his God, that his eyes may be opened that he may see, and his ears opened that he may hear; For my Spirit is sent forth into the world to enlighten the humble and contrite….

Doctrine and Covenants 136:32-33

Christ carries us (Come, Follow Me)

From this week's Come, Follow Me reading.... I know the Lord loves us, carries us through our afflictions which he felt, and redeems us.

In all their afflictions he was afflicted. And the angel of his presence saved them; and in his love, and in his pity, he redeemed them, and bore them, and carried them all the days of old

Doctrine and Covenants 133:53

God will deliver me (Come, Follow Me)

From experience I have learned, as did Joseph, that the Lord is powerful to deliver us from peril.

And as for the perils which I am called to pass through, they seem but a small thing to me … for to this day has the God of my fathers delivered me out of them all, and will deliver me from henceforth.  Doctrine and Covenants 127:2