Reverently Quietly: Ponder Pages

Helping the Poor and Distressed Dallin H. Oaks read, listen, or watch the talk Takeaways: We have been commanded to do good. We can do this through charitable donations of time and effort. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints puts a large emphasis on helping those in need and is extensively involved in humanitarian efforts around the world. Many other organizations and people not affiliated with the church are similarly involved in doing good. "As members of the restored Church, we need to be more aware and more appreciative of the service of others." Quote: "I testify of Jesus Christ whose light and Spirit guide all of the children of God in helping the poor and distressed throughout the world." - Dallin H. Oaks Questions to Ponder: How do I support the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in its effort to serve those in need? How do I support other charitable causes? How can I find out the needs of people in my circle of influence and help meet t...

Building a Life Resistant to the Adversary Jorge F. Zeballos read, listen, or watch the talk Takeaways: As a civil engineering student, Elder Zeballos looked forward to taking a class that taught how to make buildings "anti-seismic" (i.e. earthquake-proof). But when he took the class, the professor explained that it was impossible to make anti-seismic buildings, but earthquakes were inevitable. Instead, the professor explained that the best he could do is teach his students how to build seismic-resistant buildings. Like civil engineering plans that tell builders how to build seismic-resistant buildings, we have the plan of salvation, the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, and inspired direction of living prophets to teach us how to construct happy lives that are resistant to sin, temptation, and attacks from the adversary. The Savior was tempted by Satan, but he was able to withstand the temptations. How? 1- He fasted and prayed. So although he was physically weak, he was spiri...

In Partnership with the Lord Ulisses Soares read, listen, or watch the talk Takeaways: Men and women are equal partners in the gospel of Jesus Christ, although men and women have different attributes and responsibilities. Adam was given a "helpmeet" so he wouldn't be alone in the Garden of Eden. "Meet" means equal, so Eve was to be an equal partner with Adam. The following two principles strengthen the partnership between man and woman: 1) We are all alike unto God. We are all invited to come unto Him. Both men and women have the same possibilities for celestial glory. So we are all equal to God.  When couples in a marriage understand this, "There is no superiority or inferiority in the marriage relationship, and neither walks ahead of or behind the other. They walk side by side, as equals, the divine offspring of God. They become one in thought, desire, and purpose with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, leading and guiding the family unit together....

And They Sought to See Jesus Who He Was James W. McConkie III read, listen, or watch the talk Takeaways: When Elder McConkie was called as a mission president, he and his family and his missionaries acted on President Wirthlin's counsel to spend time with Jesus. They read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John from the New Testament and 3 Nephi from the Book of Mormon. Doing so "changed everything":  "We gained a deeper appreciation for who He was and what was important to Him. Together we considered how He taught, what He taught, the ways He showed love, what He did to bless and serve, His miracles, how He responded to betrayal, what He did with difficult human emotions, His titles and names, how He listened, how He resolved conflict, the world He lived in, His parables, how He encouraged unity and kindness, His capacity to forgive and to heal, His sermons, His prayers, His atoning sacrifice, His Resurrection, His gospel." They "sought to see Jesus, who He was,...

Be Perfected in Him Paul V. Johnson read, listen, or watch the talk Takeaways: Brother Johnson's grandson's body could not produce red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets, so he received a bone marrow transplant. Brother Johnson compares a bone marrow transplant to the atonement. When a person gets a bone marrow transplant, it changes the DNA in their blood to match that of the donor. His grandson, Aaron, did not have the power in himself to overcome his illness. Similarly, we cannot cleanse ourselves from sin, change our bodies into immortal bodies, or exalt ourselves. But Aaron had to be willing to do what the doctors asked him to do. Similarly, we need to be willing to keep our covenants and submit to the Lord's will. "Like the remarkable process of the very DNA of Aaron’s blood cells changing, we can have our hearts changed, have His image in our countenances, and become new creatures in Christ." We have agency and thus have the opportunity to choose ...

Beauty for Ashes: The Healing Path of Forgiveness Kristin M. Yee read, listen, or watch the talk Takeaways: 1 Samuel 25 tells a story of David, the future king of Israel. He and and his men watched over the flocks and servants of a wealthy man named Nabal. When David sent men to Nabal to ask for provisions, Nabal refused. Offended, David prepared his men to go up against Nabal. A servant told Abigail, Nabal's wife, what was about to happen. Abigail quickly gathered the requested provisions and set off to intercept David and his men. When Abigail came upon David, she took on Nabal's trespass and begged David to accept the provisions she had brought and refrain from shedding any blood. Abigain and David departed in peace. Abigail can be seen as a symbol of Jesus Christ. "Through His atoning sacrifice, He can release us from the sin and weight of a warring heart and provide us with the sustenance we need." Christ took our sins upon himself and made a way for us to "...

Follow Jesus Christ with Footsteps of Faith M. Russell Ballard read, listen, or watch the talk Takeaways: "as we follow Jesus Christ with footsteps of faith, there is hope. . . . There is hope to overcome our mistakes, our sorrows, our struggles, and our trials and our troubles. There is hope in repentance and being forgiven and in forgiving others." Christ will help us just as he helped the early pioneers. The word "pioneer" is both a noun and a verb. Noun: "a person who is among the first to explore or settle a new territory." Verb: "to open or prepare the way for others to follow." Joseph Smith was a pioneer whose footsteps of faith led him to ask God for truth and to bring the Book of Mormon to the world.  Missionaries are modern-day pioneers. President Nelson is a modern-day pioneer who, as an apostle, has opened many lands for the preaching of the gospel. As prophet, he has urged us to become more spiritually self-reliant. Jesus Christ is t...