Man being what he is with tendencies such as he has, results can be prognosticated with some degree of accuracy. Spencer W. Kimball began work as a bank clerk, then moved on to the life insurance and real estate industries. Learn how your comment data is processed. And the earth shall be given unto them for an inheritance; and they shall multiply and wax strong, and their children shall grow up without sin unto salvation. How can one share temple privileges? They suffered the fulfillment of every dire prophecy. . But both husband and wife are to be parents! You are accountable for those things which long ago were expected of you just as are those we sustain as prophets and apostles! 2:18). I should like first to pay special tribute to the divinely inspired Primary organization of the Church. if they will but serve the God of this land who is Jesus Christ Ether 2:12 There is only one way. .He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. The gospel answers are the only true answers to the questions which women and men, over the centuries, have raised about themselves, about life, and about the universe. I have listened to over 4500 general conference talks. Its symptoms are manifested in every corner of the globe. In 1914, he graduated from the Gila Academy with highest honors. The first area presidents outside of the United States and Canada were also set apart. Let us assume the counsel given applies to us, to me. It is difficult to be prepared for an event so long delayed. Perhaps they judged Paul by the timbre of his voice or by his style of speech, not the truths uttered by him. He was not afraid of close friendships; he was not afraid that proximity to him would disappoint his followers. Numerous mothers prefer the added luxuries of two incomes to the satisfactions of seeing children grow up in the fear of God Deut. The world has been cliniced, and the complex diseases have been cataloged. (Matthew 24:21-22.) Spencer W. Kimball was President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints when this devotional address was given at Brigham Young University on 10 October 1975. Do we twentieth century people have reason to think that we can be immune from the same tragic consequences when we ignore the same divine laws? Absolute Truth Spencer W. Kimball President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints September 6, 1977 Audio 0:00/40:53 Speed 41:49 Full Video God's existence is a reality. 1:9, It shall be free from all nations under heaven., There shall be no enemies come into this land., It shall be free from bondage Ether 2:12, There shall be no kings upon the land 2 Ne. Paul wrote: For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. He has a prophet on the earth today who receives his revelations. He goes through an immense personal struggle and emerges victorious. Eventually, sweating and straining and puffing, we pulled the catch up on the sand. Finally, in 1978 he announced that he had received a revelation which extended the holding of the priesthood to all worthy male members of the Church, also extending temple blessings regardless of race. War clouds gather, fear heightens; tenseness increases, yet there need be no fear and worry and sleepless nights. For those who heed the warning and make their preparations, for those found at midnight with the oil of righteousness in their lamps, for those with patience, long-suffering, and full dedication, the promise is that they shall sit down at the banquet with their Lord. The precipitous walls on the high hills of Jerusalem deflected for a time the arrows and spears of enemies, the catapults and firebrands. They were not the gentiles or the heathens or the pagans, nor were they necessarily corrupt and reprobate, but they were knowing people who were foolishly unprepared for the vital happenings that were to affect their eternal lives. Again, you must be wise in the choices that you make, but we do not desire the women of the Church to be uninformed or ineffective. While he was president, he dedicated twenty-one temples, including the Washington, D.C. Temple. So long had it been since they began expecting him that they were rationalizing that he would never appear. I was not a General Authority at that time. BYU Speeches 17:2832. Certainly, the fig tree is shooting forth its leaves and the summer is nigh and the signs of the times presage the harvest with its separation of the righteous and unrighteous. Where it is permitted, though, which is most of the world, we should listen to the counsel of the Brethren and to the Lord." (President Spencer W. Kimball) We call upon priesthood bearers to store sufficient so that you and your family can weather the vicissitudes of life. His actions were considered irrational. As both the wheat and the tares grew up in the same field together, the question was asked of the landowner, "Shall we go and gather up the tares?" He gave us another parable to try to make clear the importance of being always prepared. (Luke 12:47-48.) The cause is not lost. Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness 1 likes Like "We would all be well advised to avoid the motivation to the evil thought. Be assured, too, that all faithful sisters, who, through no fault of their own, do not have the privilege during their second estate of being sealed to a worthy man, will have that blessing in eternity. The householder said: Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. Then shall the land enjoy her Sabbaths under compulsion. Can they not see the gross selfishness that will lead finally to deep loneliness? They are houses, lands, bank accounts, leisure. Ponder upon these great truths, especially in those moments when (in the stillness of such anxiety as you may experience as an individual) you might otherwise wonder and be perplexed. For instance, we read that war, pestilence, plagues, famine, etc., will be visited upon the inhabitants of the earth, but if distress through the judgments of God comes upon this people, it will be because the majority have turned away from the Lord., The worlds living prophet has warned and pleaded that the people return to God, who has said again: I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise D&C 82:10. Meanwhile, one does not need to be married or a mother in order to keep the first and second great commandmentsthose of loving God and our fellowmenon which Jesus said hang all the law and all the prophets. 10:11, I will fortify this land against all other nations 2 Ne. Let us assume the counsel given applies to us, to me. I'll never forget an experience that Sister Nelson and I had about three decades ago with President Spencer W. Kimball and his beloved Camilla. He predicted earthquakes and other terrestrial disturbances and we think of earthquakes and landslides in California, Chile and Greece, Japan and Alaska, and unprecedented floods in the United States. . Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 26:4-6,8, The land will be barren, (perhaps radioactive or dry from drought.). Of course, rejection of the holy prophets comes because the hearts of people are hardened, as people are shaped by their society. Even the foolish ones trimmed their lamps, but their oil was used up and they had none to refill the lamps. Instead of disciplining ourselves, we yield to urges and carnal desires. With no warning, no last-minute preparation is possible. Seek excellence in all your righteous endeavors, and in all aspects of your lives. The spring of the year reminds us, too, of the need to garden so that we can produce some of our own food as well as flowers to beautify our yards and our neighborhoods. Provo, Utah 84602, The Second Century of Brigham Young University. Various excuses have been used over the centuries to dismiss these divine messengers. Indeed, he seeks the misery of all mankind (2Ne. "Noah heeded God's command to build an arkthat they might be saved from the flood waters. And your people will be scattered among the nations as slaves and bondsmen. We have confidence in you. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. As a boy I saw how all, young and old, worked and worked hard. I'm grateful He let me choose Him. behold the decrees of God concerning this land, that it is a land of promise; and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall serve God, or they shall be swept off when the fulness of his wrath shall come upon them. After serving in stake presidencies and as a stake president, in 1943 Spencer W. Kimball was ordained an apostle. Todays prophet stands in the same position between God and the people as did Isaiah, Samuel, and even Moses who gave to the world the ten commandments. On occasions when you ache for that acceptance and affection which belong to family life on earth, please know that our Father in Heaven is aware of your anguish, and that one day he will bless you beyond your capacity to express. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Just because something is in our midst does not mean that we have been in the midst of it. ), David was a local boy and was ignored until he could no longer be ignored. 1942, p. 161). Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world (in whom there is often such an inner sense of spirituality) will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. Most of the time there have been pains and aches in some parts of its anatomy, but now that it is growing old, complications have set in, and all the ailments seem to be everywhere. Experience is a dear teacher but fools will learn by no other. But we continue on in our godlessness. In fact, I will be watching and listening here in my room at the LDS Hospital. Yet work goes on, merchandise is sold, athletic entertainments, fishing, hunting go forward without regard to commandments. 13:55.) I was thrilled to hear all the Brethren speak. Hundreds of thousands of us today are in this position. For as the . His mind is wandering. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. We love you sisters. Rushing for their lamps to light their way through the blackness, half of them found them empty. 44:27-28 Isa. 9:13. Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. The sun was shining and life moved forward as usual. When I heard each one of them say, I have put everything I own or ever have owned upon the altar; its there for the Lord or his servants to identify and to call upon, that pleased me because we know there is still faith in the Church, in Zion, among the youth, and among the young people who are growing up in this church. (Matthew 25:1-13.) For many years, this book has been widely read by the membership and even recommended at general conferences. I bear testimony to the divinity also of this great work which is the greatest thing in the world, as was said by one of the Brethren. Apparently, the bridegroom had tarried for reasons that were sufficient and good. When he was three years old, his father accepted a call to preside over a stake in Thatcher, Arizona. President Spencer W. Kimball spoke frequently at Brigham Young University, encouraging students and faculty to strengthen their testimonies, increase their moral fiber, and rededicate themselves to the principles of education and service. Later, Kimball became Mormonism's twelfth president. Now as we conclude this general conference, let us all give heed to what was said to us. Your strength will be spent in vain as you plow and plant and cultivate. The foolish asked the others to share their oil, but spiritual preparedness cannot be shared in an instant. The coming of the Lord is nigh. The late Elder JohnA. Widtsoe wrote: The place of woman in the Church is to walk beside the man, not in front of him nor behind him. (Revelation 21:3-5, 7. As the grandson of Heber C. Kimball and the son of a mission and stake president, Spencer W. Kimball grew up learning of and meeting prophets and apostles. 20:9 italics added). Sinai by the hand of Moses Lev. At only age nineteen, just before he was called to serve in the Swiss-Austrian mission, he was ordained as a general authority seventy. SISTER NELSON AND POSSIBLY DROPPING A HINT ON THE SAVIORS ACTIVITIES?. My beloved brethren and sisters, this is a momentous time. We understand that. I am confident there is not one within the sound of my voice who has not had his or her life influenced for good by the teachings of the devoted officers and teachers of this Primary organization. The Kimball family moved and Spencer grew up there. It is only the "when" that is unknown. The dignity and self-esteem that honest work produces are essential to happiness. We think of Russia and China, of Africa and VietNam, of the Near East and Ireland. The time of the reapers is near at hand. What is wrong is wrong, and trends do not make something right which is at variance with the laws of God. At midnight! Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. Your enemies will be astonished at the barrenness, sterility, desolation of the land they had been told was so choice, so beautiful, so fruitful. 5 likes. . (See Jonah 3:3.) Honest toil in subduing sagebrush, taming deserts, channeling rivers, helps to take the wildness out of mans environment but also out of him. But had I been wiser then, I would have realized that we were taming ourselves, too. That faith in Christ is a choice we can make. And there are many among us who are not ready for the great and glorious event. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. There were 832 marriages in a single month, and there were 414 divorces. Heaven will not hear your pleadings nor earth bring forth her harvest. They had the saving, exalting gospel, but it had not been made the center of their lives. Thou shalt have no other gods before me Ex. Granaries and barns will bulge in seed time and harvest. They are bombs and ships and armaments. (Matthew 24:27.) Now may I make a few further comments to let you know some of my concerns for us as a people who live in such challenging times. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. There is no greater and more glorious set of promises given to women than those which come through the gospel and the Church of Jesus Christ. And the fulness of his wrath cometh upon them when they are ripened in iniquity Ether 2:9. They had heard of his coming for so long, so many times, that the statement seemingly became meaningless to them. I know he is Gods recognized prophet. He has on numerous occasions outlined the cure for all international as well as local ills. . On October 7, 1943, both Benson and Spencer W. Kimball (1895-1985) became members of the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, filling two vacancies created by the deaths of apostles that summer. He served diligently despite various severe health problems. . 7:1-25 The thirteen colonies gained a permanent victory over superior forces, and America was born. Scriptures are read little, and the holy day becomes a holiday. I will fight your battles, says the Lord God Omnipotent D&C 105:14 He never fails his promises. Each must obtain that kind of oil for himself. 31:13 Men golf and boat and hunt and fish rather than to solemnize the Sabbath. And then he gave the parable of the fish and the net: Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. Can they not see that their kind of fulfillment will produce a hollowness and an emptiness from which no fleeting pleasure can finally rescue them? Far from freeing those involved, sin is an admission of surrender to the herd. These study aids were helpful not only in clarifying meaning, but also in linking the Bible, Book of Mormon, and other scripture more closely together, fulfilling the prophecy that the sticks of Joseph and Judah would be one in hand.

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