How do I study effectively by being taught by the Holy Ghost?

In chapter 2 of Preach My Gospel, we read the simple and direct statement, "Your gospel study is most effective when you are taught by the Holy Ghost." When we take the Holy Ghost as our guide and teacher, an eternity of knowledge opens up to us, beyond what any man can teach us.

If we study the gospel in the same way that we study any other temporal topic, we will have missed the very essence and purpose of gospel study. It is true that there is a certain body of factual knowledge that we need to master, and we need mortal teachers to help us learn and to set us on the path. "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Rom 10:14).

We need to know that there is a Heavenly Father and a Savior. We need to know that they have a plan that is designed to lead us to salvation and exaltation. We need to know the details of that plan, including the principles of the gospel, the commandments, the covenants, and the promises. But knowing all of the facts is not enough to save us. We read that "it is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance" (D&C 131:6), but knowledge of the facts of the gospel are only part of the formula for salvation.

Knowledge alone is insufficient without conversion. Satan has a lot of knowledge, but he is still condemned to perdition because he does not act in accordance with his knowledge.

Scriptures

And again, he that receiveth the word of truth, doth he receive it by the Spirit of truth or some other way? If it be some other way it is not of God. Therefore, why is it that ye cannot understand and know, that he that receiveth the word by the Spirit of truth receiveth it as it is preached by the Spirit of truth? Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together. (D&C 50:19-22)

To learn from God, we must learn in his way. God teaches by the Spirit, and we must likewise learn from him by the Spirit. This is not to say that intellectual learning is not valuable. The General Authorities are charged with speaking to us and teaching us regularly in General Conference and elsewhere. We are encouraged to listen to and study their words. We are commanded to attend sacrament meeting and other Sunday meetings where doctrines of the Kingdom are expounded for our understanding. We are expected to engage mentally and intellectually with these source of knowledge.

Nevertheless, if we rely solely on intellect and rhetoric, we will miss out on the most important lessons, and we will not gain all that the Lord has in store for us. His way of teaching is through revelation, and our way of learning must be the same. He inspires teachers by his Spirit to say and write the messages he wants us to hear, and we must listen not only to the words but to the Spirit, who expounds on the words and testifies of their truthfulness to us.

Even reading the Holy Scriptures is ineffective if we come at them purely from an intellectual standpoint of facts and history and philosophy. Unless we let the Spirit speak to us through the scriptures, they are of little more value than a good encyclopedia or uplifting literature.

And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. (Moroni 10:5)

When we seek learning by the Spirit, we are not limited in the things that we may know. The Lord is willing to reveal to us the truth of all things. Obviously spiritual truth is of paramount importance. But we can know the truth about any principle that is of concern to us.

Examples

Joseph Smith was the archetype of one who learned by the Spirit. He wanted to know which church was right and which he should join. He read the scriptures, attended sermons, and learned everything he could. But he realized that intellectual understanding was not enough. He was left with too many conflicting opinions and no absolute proof of one church's claim to accuracy of doctrine over another.

Nevertheless, he knew that God knew the truth, and so he went to that source of truth for his answer. True to his word as revealed in James 1:5, God answered Joseph's inquiry with a statement of truth. Once he had the answer directly from God, Joseph was no longer confused. He knew with absolute certainty that none of the church's of his day were approved by God.

There came a time in my life when I needed to know with certainty that the Book of Mormon was true. I had received my mission call and was about to leave home and family and everything I loved for two years to preach the gospel. I had read the Book of Mormon, attended many sacrament meetings, listened to teachers in countless classes, read books and commentaries about the Book of Mormon, and attended three years of early morning seminary. I knew a great deal about the Book of Mormon and its contents. But without the assurance of God that this book was truly his word, all of the intellectual knowledge was not enough.

In my urgent need for a spiritual witness, I began to read the book one more time with sincerity and real intent to learn by revelation of its truthfulness. My sincere and pleading prayers were answered immediately and unmistakably. I had to put in the work, but once I was prepared, the Holy Ghost taught me the truth that I could learn in no other way. For more than forty years I have been able to say with moral conviction that I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. That knowledge, revealed to me by the Holy Ghost, has sustained me through every experience, challenge, and affliction. It is an anchor to my soul. That is what the Holy Ghost can do.

Summary

The Holy Ghost is a living fountain of knowledge. He will not only tells us things, but he will also show us things (see 2 Nephi 32:5). He can teach us facts, but more importantly, he can teach us what to do. Our goal is to return to Heavenly Father. The Holy Ghost can show us the most direct and unerring route back to the presence of the Lord.

How do I study effectively by exercising personal agency?

In Chapter 2 of Preach My Gospel we find the statement, "Study is an act of faith requiring the use of personal agency." Let's consider what it means to use personal agency in studying the gospel.

Impressions

Agency, simply defined, is our ability to choose. So in this light, we use agency in our study of the gospel when we choose to study. We make that choice every day, every time we open the scriptures or read a conference talk or attend a meeting or act on a prompting of the Spirit to minister to someone or kneel to pray.

Every proper exercise of agency increases our capacity to choose correctly again. Making good choices expands our opportunities. When we choose to learn a principle of righteousness, we then have the opportunity to practice that principle and incorporate it into our character. If we choose not to study in the first place, then we lack the capacity to choose to live a principle that we have not learned.

Effective study requires that we be agents who act and not objects to be acted upon. We cannot just sit dormant and wait for knowledge to be poured into us. We must seek learning by study and also by faith. We choose what to study, we create a plan of action to acquire the knowledge and skills that we seek, and then we work to learn and practice skills.

The Holy Ghost can change us, but only if we take the appropriate actions to approach the characteristics that we want. God will enable us to do what we cannot do on our own, but he will not enable us to do something that we do not want to do.

Scriptures

And I, the Lord God, commanded the man, saying: Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat, But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it, nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee; but, remember that I forbid it, for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Moses 3:16-17)

Adam and Eve were given the opportunity to eat of every tree of the Garden. They were forbidden, however, to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Nevertheless, they were not physically restrained from eating the fruit. They were allowed to "choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee." They were taught, though, that there are consequences to their choices.

In today's world, we can choose what to study. Many of us choose to sample the various fruits from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. We try to be discriminating in filling our baskets with mostly good fruit, but it is hard to resist the temptation to try some of the evil fruit just to see what it is like. Many fill their baskets with fruit that is innocuous, that is, neither good nor evil. It may not poison them, but neither does it nourish. It just fills up space and wastes time.

The point of agency is to choose the good, and then to learn to trade up to better and then the best. The wisest use of agency is to avoid the tree of good and evil altogether and seek for the tree of life. We do not have to be so picky about which fruit we partake from the tree of life, for it is all good. As Lehi described it, "And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy. And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen. And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy" (1 Nephi 8:10-12).

And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free. He hath given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might choose life or death; and ye can do good and be restored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you. (Helaman 14:30-31)

We choose our fate when we choose our actions. When we pick up a stick, we pick up both ends. First, we are free to act, and then we are free to choose how we act. How and what we choose determine the outcome. First we choose to study rather than do something else, and then we choose what we study and how we study it. When evil or unwanted consequences beset us, they are generally the result of inappropriate choices in the first place.

Now, in God's economy of mortality, it is not exactly a one-for-one exchange. Bad things happen to good people simply because we live in a mortal world and we are in a probationary state that requires tests of patience and faith. In the eternal scheme of things, however, God's economy is perfect. Our reward for good works is assured. And because of the infinite grace of the Atonement, our less-than-perfect works will not be held against us if we repent. God's economy is loaded in our favor. The key to his blessings is good choices - the righteous use of agency. The end result is that when we chose to study righteousness, righteousness is our fate.

That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment. (D&C 101:78)

We have "moral agency", which is the right and the ability to choose righteousness. The ability to choose between forms of evil is a degraded agency and serves no useful purpose. It is only when we exercise moral agency to choose good over evil - indeed to choose the best over the better and the good - that we remove ourselves from bondage and are truly free.

Agency carries with it accountability. The Lord holds us accountable for how we use the gift of moral agency. Our righteous acts will be weighed in the balance - offset and counter-balanced, of course, by the infinite righteousness of the Atonement. In reality, we cannot possibly perform enough righteous works to satisfy the scales of justice. We can only qualify to receive of the mercy of the Atonement to balance the scale for us.

Nevertheless, our choices count. A critical choice we make is how we spend our time. If we choose to spend it studying and practicing righteousness and godly attributes, however imperfect we may be in the implementation, we qualify for the Lord's mercy. If we choose to study and practice other things, justice will be our lot, and we will be found wanting.

Examples

Korihor is an example of one who chose to study and practice evil. He knew better, yet he exercised his agency to turn away from righteousness and study the vain things of the world because they were pleasing to the carnal mind. When caught in his lies and struck dumb by a prophet of God, he confessed, "I always knew that there was a God. But behold, the devil hath deceived me; for he appeared unto me in the form of an angel, and said unto me: Go and reclaim this people, for they have all gone astray after an unknown God. And he said unto me: There is no God; yea, and he taught me that which I should say. And I have taught his words; and I taught them because they were pleasing unto the carnal mind; and I taught them, even until I had much success, insomuch that I verily believed that they were true; and for this cause I withstood the truth" (Alma 30:52-53).

Amulek is an example of a man who resisted the Lord and the promptings of the Spirit at first, but he finally repented and exercised his agency to learn righteousness. He said of his experience, "I am... a man of no small reputation among all those who know me; yea, and behold, I have many kindreds and friends, and I have also acquired much riches by the hand of my industry. Nevertheless, after all this, I never have known much of the ways of the Lord, and his mysteries and marvelous power. I said I never had known much of these things; but behold, I mistake, for I have seen much of his mysteries and his marvelous power; yea, even in the preservation of the lives of this people. Nevertheless, I did harden my heart, for I was called many times and I would not hear; therefore I knew concerning these things, yet I would not know; therefore I went on rebelling against God, in the wickedness of my heart, even until the fourth day of this seventh month, which is in the tenth year of the reign of the judges.

"As I was journeying to see a very near kindred, behold an angel of the Lord appeared unto me and said: Amulek, return to thine own house, for thou shalt feed a prophet of the Lord; yea, a holy man, who is a chosen man of God; for he has fasted many days because of the sins of this people, and he is an hungered, and thou shalt receive him into thy house and feed him, and he shall bless thee and thy house; and the blessing of the Lord shall rest upon thee and thy house. And it came to pass that I obeyed the voice of the angel, and returned towards my house. And as I was going thither I found the man whom the angel said unto me: Thou shalt receive into thy house—and behold it was this same man who has been speaking unto you concerning the things of God.

"And the angel said unto me he is a holy man; wherefore I know he is a holy man because it was said by an angel of God. And again, I know that the things whereof he hath testified are true; for behold I say unto you, that as the Lord liveth, even so has he sent his angel to make these things manifest unto me; and this he has done while this Alma hath dwelt at my house" (Alma 10:4-10).

Amulek had felt the stirrings of the Holy Ghost in his heart many times, yet he chose to ignore the Spirit and follow the ways of the world. Once he chose to follow the Spirit, however, great knowledge was poured out upon him. Angels visited him not only to call him to repentance but to confirm and strengthen his growing testimony as he sat at the feet of the Prophet Alma for many days prior to beginning his mission.

Summary

Our choices dictate our results. Choosing to study and choosing to act on what we study will yield a positive outcome.

How do I study effectively by acting in faith

The chapter about effective study in Preach My Gospel contains this intriguing statement:

"Study is an act of faith requiring the use of personal agency."

I want to examine today what acting in faith has to do with gospel study. In a future article I will discuss the role of personal agency.

Impressions
One definition of faith is acting without a sure knowledge of the outcome.

We study by reading, listening, pondering, watching and practicing without knowing for sure that we can master the gospel and keep all of the commandments and achieve perfect charity. At the outset we do not know for sure that we will receive a full remission of our sins or that we can make our calling and election sure. But we study and practice anyway in the hope that Christ will help us and enable us and qualify us and sanctify us.

Scriptures
When a group of high priests in Kirtland prayed for guidance and the will of the Lord for them in building up Zion, the Prophet received the following instruction as part of the answer.

"And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith" (D&C 88:118; 109:7). 

As noted in the citation, these same words are restated in Section 109, which is the dedicatory prayer for the Kirtland Temple. When the Lord repeats himself, it is an indication of significance.

Per this scripture, if we lack faith, we are to study words of wisdom out of the best books. What we learn from studying should motivate us to act, and when we act, we practice faith. When our faithful attempts bear fruit, our faith grows. We then study more so that we know how to act more effectively, which increases our faith.

Nephi in the Book of Mormon shows us how faith works with study.

"For it came to pass after I had desired to know the things that my father had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto me, as I sat pondering in mine heart I was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord, yea, into an exceedingly high mountain, which I never had before seen, and upon which I never had before set my foot.

"And the Spirit said unto me: Behold, what desirest thou?

"And I said: I desire to behold the things which my father saw.

"And the Spirit said unto me: Believest thou that thy father saw the tree of which he hath spoken?

"And I said: Yea, thou knowest that I believe all the words of my father.

"And when I had spoken these words, the Spirit cried with a loud voice, saying: Hosanna to the Lord, the most high God; for he is God over all the earth, yea, even above all. And blessed art thou, Nephi, because thou believest in the Son of the most high God; wherefore, thou shalt behold the things which thou hast desired." (1 Nephi 11:1-6).

Nephi desired to see and hear the same things that his father had seen in vision. He had faith in his father. He also had faith in God. There was no other source from which he could study his father's vision except to go to the original source, which was God himself. He acted in faith, and his faith was rewarded with a stunning example of personal revelation.

Example
In 2005 President Hinckley called on the members of the Church around the world to read or re-read the Book of Mormon by the end of that year. In issuing this call to study, he said, “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.”

For the millions of members who took the challenge to study, we exercised faith that the promised blessings would come into our lives. Our personal and combined study was an act of faith in the prophet of God.

The purpose of study is to change behavior. Knowledge for its own sake is of little value. Knowledge that is acted on is powerful.

What did General Conference teach about the Restoration?

In the Guide to the Scriptures, the Restoration of the Gospel is defined as "God’s reestablishment of the truths and ordinances of his gospel among men on earth. The gospel of Jesus Christ was lost from the earth through the apostasy that took place following the earthly ministry of Christ’s Apostles. That apostasy made necessary the restoration of the gospel. Through visions, the ministering of angels, and revelations to men on the earth, God restored the gospel. The Restoration started with the Prophet Joseph Smith (JS—H 1:1–75; D&C 128:20–21) and has continued to the present through the work of the Lord’s living prophets."

I tried an interesting experiment while I listened to the talks during this most recent General Conference. The idea for the experiment is not original with me. I am sure we have all heard it suggested many times. The experiment is to listen to the speakers with a particular question in mind and see how many of the talks address this question in one way or another.

I was preparing to teach a Sunday school lesson on the Restoration of the Gospel for the week following Conference. So I intentionally looked for principles and information about the Restoration as the General Authorities spoke.

What I found was amazing and enlightening. Not every talk addressed the Restoration, but many did, either directly or indirectly. It seemed that the Restoration was a major theme of the Conference.

Below are teachings about the events and the principles of the Restoration that I gleaned from comments in talks by the various General Authorities.

Elder M. Russell Ballard (Saturday morning)

• What is the role of the priesthood in the Restoration of the Gospel?
  "During the glorious days of the Restoration and the reestablishment of the Church of Jesus Christ in the world today, John the Baptist; Peter, James, and John; Moses; Elias; and Elijah came to the earth and restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith all of the keys and authority of the priesthood for the work of God in these latter days.
  
  "It is by these keys, this authority, and this power that the Church of Jesus Christ is organized today, with Christ at the head directing His living prophet, Thomas S. Monson, and assisted by duly called and ordained Apostles."

• What is the difference between the authority and the power of the priesthood?
  "The power of the priesthood is a sacred and essential gift of God. It is different from priesthood authority, which is the authorization to act in God’s name. The authorization or ordination is given by the laying on of hands. The power of the priesthood comes only when those who exercise it are worthy and acting in accordance with God’s will."

• What does the priesthood have to do with our salvation?
  "The same priesthood power that created worlds, galaxies, and the universe can and should be part of our lives to succor, strengthen, and bless our families, our friends, and our neighbors—in other words, to do the things that the Savior would do if He were ministering among us today.
  
  "And the primary purpose of this priesthood power is to bless, sanctify, and purify us so we can live together with our families in the presence of our heavenly parents, bound by priesthood sealings, participating in the marvelous work of God and Jesus Christ in forever expanding Their light and glory."

President Henry B. Eyring (Saturday morning)

• What did Joseph Smith's experience in the Sacred Grove teach us about our ability to come unto Christ?
  "Every covenant servant of His within His kingdom on earth and in the spirit world will receive His guidance by the Spirit as they bless and serve others for Him. And they will feel His love and find joy in being drawn closer to Him.
  
  "I am a witness of the Resurrection of the Lord as surely as if I had been there in the evening with the two disciples in the house on Emmaus road. I know that He lives as surely as did Joseph Smith when he saw the Father and the Son in the light of a brilliant morning in a grove of trees in Palmyra."

• How does keeping the commandments draw us closer to the Savior?
  "My promise to you who pray and serve the Lord cannot be that you will have every blessing you may wish for yourself and your family. But I can promise you that the Savior will draw close to you and bless you and your family with what is best. You will have the comfort of His love and feel the answer of His drawing closer as you reach out your arms in giving service to others. As you bind up the wounds of those in need and offer the cleansing of His Atonement to those who sorrow in sin, the Lord’s power will sustain you. His arms are outstretched with yours to succor and bless the children of our Heavenly Father, including those in your family.
  
  "There is a glorious homecoming prepared for us. We will then see fulfilled the promise of the Lord we have loved. It is He who welcomes us into eternal life with Him and our Heavenly Father.
  
  "We will on the Day of Judgment stand before the Savior, face to face. It will be a time of joy for those who have drawn close to Him in His service in this life. It will be a joy to hear the words: 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant.' I so testify as a witness of the risen Savior and our Redeemer in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

Elder John B. Dixon (Saturday afternoon)

• How is the growth of the Restored Church like that of Christ's original church?
  "During the early days of the Church, in the meridian of time, the gospel was taken to the house of Israel only; then revelation came to Peter, the senior Apostle, that the time had come to take the gospel beyond Israel and unto the Gentiles. The 10th and 11th chapters of Acts help us understand the process and pattern whereby this needed expansion of the Church to more of God’s children was made known to its presiding officers and the general membership.
  
  "An example of the expansion of the Church at that time was the conversion of Paul, who became the great Apostle to the Gentiles. He had a vision while on the road to Damascus, where he saw a light and heard a voice, repented of his sins, and was called of God (see Acts 22:6–18) and then became a tremendous force in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.
  
  "Now let us move 1,800 years forward to the time of the Restoration of the gospel, or the restitution of all things prior to the Second Coming. I testify that through the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Church has been restored and continues to move forward under the direction of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Their mandate to take the gospel to the world is the same as that of the Apostles of old.
  
  "In 1978, following the established pattern of revelation through the senior Apostle, President Spencer W. Kimball, came a revelation, this time on extending priesthood blessings to all worthy males across the world. This means that in our day all of Heavenly Father’s children worldwide can partake of all of the blessings of the restored gospel. How appropriate to the kingdom of God on earth in the days approaching Christ’s Second Coming."

• How is the Church in Africa today like the Restored Church in Joseph Smith's day?
  "As a people, West Africans believe in God, have absolutely no shame in declaring and sharing their belief with others, and have tremendous leadership capacity. They are coming into the Church by the hundreds, and every week or so a couple of wards or branches are created somewhere in the Africa West Area with, in nearly every case, all-African priesthood and auxiliary leadership.
  
  "Across Africa, to join a Sunday School, auxiliary, or priesthood class is a sacred experience, where the Church curriculum is followed and there is great gospel understanding, teaching, and learning by the Spirit.
  
  "It has been said of Africans that they have very little of that which matters least and a great deal of that which matters most. They have little interest in enormous homes and the finest cars but great interest in knowing their Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, and in having eternal families. As a natural result of their faith, the Lord is lifting them in meaningful ways."

Elder Russell M. Nelson (Saturday afternoon)

• With which seven words was the Restoration introduced to Joseph Smith?
  "This wave of truth and righteousness is wondrous! It is not man-made! It comes from the Lord, who said, 'I will hasten my work in its time.' This wave is empowered by a divine announcement made 193 years ago. It consisted of only seven words: 'This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!' Uttered by Almighty God, that announcement introduced a young Joseph Smith to the Lord Jesus Christ. Those seven words launched the Restoration of His gospel. Why? Because our living God is a loving God! He wants His children to know Him and Jesus Christ, whom He has sent! And He wants His children to gain immortality and eternal life!"

• What is the ultimate purpose of the Restoration?
  "For this glorious purpose, our missionaries teach of the Restoration. They know that some 2,000 years ago, the Lord established His Church. After His Crucifixion and the death of His Apostles, men changed the Church and its doctrine. Then, after generations of spiritual darkness, and as predicted by previous prophets, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ restored the Church, its doctrine, and its priesthood authority. Because of that Restoration, knowledge and essential ordinances for salvation and exaltation are again available to all people. Ultimately, that exaltation allows each of us to dwell with our families in the presence of God and Jesus Christ forever!"

• What are some Biblical prophesies that were fulfilled by the Restoration?
  "The Restoration fulfills many biblical prophecies. For example, Isaiah prophesied that the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains. The exodus of Mormon pioneers to the mountains of western America is a fulfilling saga of sacrifice and faith. Isaiah also foretold that God will do 'a marvellous work and a wonder.' That is now being fulfilled by the sacred work of our growing army of missionaries."

• Why is the Book of Mormon the centerpiece of the Restoration?
  "The Book of Mormon is the centerpiece of the Restoration. It was written, preserved, and transmitted under the Lord’s direction. It was translated 'by the gift and power of God.' The book of Doctrine and Covenants contains many additional revelations given to the Prophet Joseph Smith. Through him we have received more pages of scripture than we have from any other prophet. In what must have been a wistful moment, he said to the Saints in Nauvoo, Illinois, 'I never told you I was perfect; but there is no error in the revelations which I have taught.'"

Elder Robert D. Hales (Priesthood session)

• What does it mean that Joseph Smith "sealed his testimony with his blood?"
  "The Prophet Joseph Smith restored the Savior’s gospel, sealing his testimony with his blood."
  The Prophet Joseph gave his life as proof of his testimony and his faith. He would rather die than deny what he knew and the experiences he had. Believing that he was going to Carthage to die, he had nothing to lose and everything to gain, in the eyes of the world, if he had admitted that he was a fraud and that he had made up the stories about seeing God and Jesus and angels and receiving revelations. Surely he would not have knowingly gone to his death to perpetuate a confidence game from which he would no longer profit. Though he wanted to live and tried to save his own life during the attack on the jail, he did not do so at the expense of his integrity and his testimony of the truth. There can be no more binding or unassailable testimony than that which is offered by a man who is about to die.
  
  When moments of question and doubt have surfaced in my life and challenged my faith in the Restoration, I remember that Joseph went to his death for his testimony. I ask myself why a man would die for a lie. I do not have an answer. I do not believe a rational man would do such a thing. Therefore, Joseph's martyrdom is a symbol to me of his sure conviction of what he experienced and what he taught. I take strength from this knowledge. Why did Joseph have to die? So that the rest of us could know with surety that he spoke the truth.

Elder Neil L. Anderson (Sunday morning)

• When the gospel was restored, what must the early saints have thought of the commandment to take the gospel to all the world?
  "As the Church of Jesus Christ was restored to the earth 183 years ago, the Lord’s charge to His small band of disciples echoed His words spoken centuries before: 'The voice of warning shall be unto all people.' 'For, verily, the sound must go forth … into all the world, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.'
  
  "'All people'? 'All the world'? 'The uttermost parts of the earth'? Was it possible?
  
  "The Savior reassured His Latter-day Saints, but could they foresee the reach and destiny of this marvelous work? They must have wondered if miracles really would accompany them in spreading the gospel.
  
  "Again, faith overcame doubt, and thousands were baptized. In England, Elder Wilford Woodruff found an entire community awaiting his arrival. The Spirit of the Lord fell upon them, and he baptized 45 preachers and several hundred members during his first month at Benbow farm."

• What miracles have occurred to enable us to fulfill the commandment to spread the gospel?
  "For those using the Internet and mobile phones, there are new ways to invite others to 'come and see.' Let’s make sharing our faith online more a part of our daily life. LDS.org, Mormon.org, Facebook, Twitter—all provide opportunities.
  
  "To share the gospel, young members in Boston started several blogs. Those who joined the Church began their learning online, followed by discussions with the missionaries. This experience also helped the youth have greater faith in talking about the gospel in person. One of them said, 'This isn’t missionary work. This is missionary fun.'"

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (Sunday afternoon)

• Why did Elder Holland say that he had learned more about the gospel form Joseph Smith than from any other prophet?
  "I know that Joseph Smith, who acknowledged that he wasn’t perfect, was nevertheless the chosen instrument in God’s hand to restore the everlasting gospel to the earth. I also know that in doing so—particularly through translating the Book of Mormon—he has taught me more of God’s love, of Christ’s divinity, and of priesthood power than any other prophet of whom I have ever read, known, or heard in a lifetime of seeking."

• What truths has Joseph Smith given us about the gospel?
  In October 2009 General Conference, Elder Tad R. Callister outline key doctrines that Joseph Smith revealed as part of the Restoration of the gospel:
  "First, he learned that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, are two separate, distinct beings."
  "The second great truth Joseph Smith discovered was that the Father and the Son have glorified bodies of flesh and bones."
  "The third truth that Joseph Smith learned was that God still speaks to man today—that the heavens are not closed."
  "The fourth truth that Joseph Smith learned was that the full and complete Church of Jesus Christ was not then upon the earth."
  "Through Joseph Smith was restored the doctrine of the gospel being preached to the dead in the spirit world to those who did not have a fair chance on earth to hear it."
  "Many teach that there is one heaven and one hell. Joseph Smith restored the truth that there are multiple heavens."
  "Yes, Joseph Smith did see angels and visions—because he was the instrument in God’s hands to restore the same Church of Jesus Christ as existed in primitive times—all of its powers as well as all of its doctrines."
  Joseph restored knowledge of " the doctrines of the premortal existence, baptism for the dead, and eternal marriage."
  "Through Joseph Smith have been restored all the powers, keys, teachings, and ordinances necessary for salvation and exaltation. You cannot go anywhere else in the world and get that. It is not to be found in any other church. It is not to be found in any philosophy of man or scientific digest or individual pilgrimage, however intellectual it may seem. Salvation is to be found in one place alone, as so designated by the Lord Himself when He said that this is 'the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth.'"

Elder Dallin H. Oaks (Sunday afternoon)

• In what ways are the organization and practices of the Restored Church comparable to Christ's original church?
  "Like all other Christians, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints study the life of our Savior as reported in the New Testament books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. I will review examples and teachings contained in these four books of the Holy Bible and invite each of us and all other Christians to consider how this restored Church and each of us qualify as followers of Christ."
  "Jesus taught that baptism was necessary to enter the kingdom of God."
  "Jesus began His preaching by inviting His listeners to repent."
  "Throughout His ministry Jesus gave commandments. And He taught, 'If ye love me, keep my commandments.'"
  "Jesus’s teachings were not meant to be theoretical. Always they were to be acted upon. Jesus taught, 'Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man.'"
  "Following Christ is not a casual or occasional practice but a continuous commitment and way of life that applies at all times and in all places. The Savior taught this principle and how we should be reminded and strengthened to follow it when He instituted the ordinance of the sacrament (communion, as others call it). We know from modern revelation that He commanded His followers to partake of the emblems in remembrance of Him."
  "Jesus taught that 'men ought always to pray.'"
  "The Savior called Twelve Apostles to assist in His Church and gave them the keys and authority."
  "Jesus taught that God created male and female and that a man should leave his parents and cleave to his wife."
  "In the familiar parable of the lost sheep, Jesus taught that we should go out of our way to seek after any of the flock who have strayed."
  "As part of loving one another, Jesus taught that when we are wronged by persons, we should forgive them."
  "Most Christians give to the poor and the needy, as Jesus taught."
  "In His last biblical teaching, our Savior directed His followers to take His teachings to every nation and every creature."
  "As part of His great Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught, 'Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect' (Matthew 5:48). The purpose of this teaching and the purpose of following our Savior is to come to the Father, whom our Savior referred to as 'my Father, and your Father; and … my God, and your God.'"
  

Elder Christoffel Golden, Jr. (Sunday afternoon)

• What does the Restoration teach us about the nature of God?
  "We respectfully submit that at the heart of the gospel of Jesus Christ and its power to save is a correct understanding of the Father and the Son.
  
  "The importance of this most fundamental principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ is confirmed by the First Vision of the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1820. The Prophet wrote: 'I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!'
  
  "This experience by the boy Joseph, followed by many other visions and revelations, reveals that God actually exists; the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, are two separate and distinct beings; man is created in the image of God; our Heavenly Father is literally the Father of Jesus Christ; God continues to reveal Himself to man; God is ever near and interested in us; and He answers our prayers."

General Conference is as much to prepare us to teach others as it is to teach us the things we need to know. What we feel is as important as what we hear.

My testimony is that if we approach General Conference with a question, that question will be answered in manifold ways, not only by the words of the speakers but by the words of Christ spoken to our hearts by the power of the Holy Ghost.

How do I study effectively by developing a habit of gospel study?

Preach My Gospel teaches us "For you to grow in the gospel and stay on the path that leads to eternal life, you need to develop a habit of gospel study." The habit of study is essential to progressing in understanding and growing in the gospel. In the gospel, we either progress or we regress. We cannot stand still. Just as we must eat daily to maintain our bodies, we must study daily to maintain our spirits.

Impressions
The definition of a habit is a regular practice that is hard to give up, an automatic reaction to a situation. There are certain aspects of having Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder that are beneficial. People with OCD latch onto a behavior and cannot give it up. When it comes to the habit of gospel study, we could all be a little more OCD.

When we create the habit of regular gospel study, we instill into our characters and constantly reference and reflect on the scriptures and the words of the living prophets. When we have a problem or a challenge, the gospel will be the first place to which we instinctively turn.

Through gospel study we learn to hear the voice of the Spirit. When we learn to hear that voice while we are studying, it becomes easier to hear it when we are engaged in other activities. Hearing the Spirit is a skill, and like any skill, it requires regular daily practice to stay sharp. The habit of daily gospel study is an excellent source of practice.

We study not only by reading and pondering, but also by observing, interacting with, and relating to other people. We learn the gospel not only from hearing the words of Jesus and the prophets and apostles but by watching what they do and emulating them. We can study the lives and actions of righteous men and women and find principles in their examples that we should develop in our own lives. Study is not only about knowing but about doing.

Scriptures

D&C 88:118 "And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith."

We are commanded to "seek diligently ... words of wisdom" from teachers and from the "best books". Surely the scriptures are the very best books.

D&C 11:21-22 "Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men. But now hold your peace; study my word which hath gone forth among the children of men, and also study my word which shall come forth among the children of men, or that which is now translating, yea, until you have obtained all which I shall grant unto the children of men in this generation, and then shall all things be added thereto."

We are to study before we try to teach others. We are specifically directed to study the Bible and the Book of Mormon.

2 Nephi 4:15-16 "And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children. Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard." Nephi pondered continually upon the scriptures and upon the revelations that he had received personally. Pondering is an important element of studying. Writing these blog articles is my way of pondering.

1 Nephi 10:19 "For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round." 

To receive the mysteries of God from the scriptures, we must diligently seek. When we do so, we can expect every blessing in our life that we read about in the scriptures. God is no respecter of persons, nor is he a respecter of time and distance. They are nothing to him. He loves us as much today as he loved the ancient patriarchs and the people in the meridian of time. The Book of Mormon proves that he loved the people in America as much as he loved the people in Jerusalem. If he loves us equally, then we can expect that he will bless us equally if we qualify for the blessings. We can seek every blessing that God has bestowed upon any other person, including Adam, Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Peter, Paul, Nephi, Ammon, Moroni, and Joseph Smith.

Examples

President Spencer W. Kimball is often quoted: “I find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no divine ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far away. If I immerse myself in the scriptures the distance narrows and the spirituality returns. I find myself loving more intensely those whom I must love with all my heart and mind and strength, and loving them more, I find it easier to abide their counsel” (What I Hope You Will Teach My Grandchildren [address to seminary and institute teachers, July 11 1966], 4).

Nephi is a great example of one who delighted in, studied, and pondered the scriptures. He quoted them extensively, and he copied them into his own writings to ensure that his posterity would have access to his favorite passages. He taught extemporaneous sermons to his brothers from the scriptures. He directed his life by them.

When I was in the mission home in Salt Lake during the first week of my mission, all of the missionaries attended an endowment session in the Salt Lake Temple. We then ascended to the solemn assembly room on the top floor and met with President Harold B. Lee. He invited us to ask him any question we wanted about the temple or the gospel in general. He promised that he would answer every question from the scriptures. I was too overwhelmed by the whole experience of starting my mission and memorizing discussions and just being in the Salt Lake Temple to learn any fine points of doctrine in that meeting, but the principle I learned from a prophet of God is that the scriptures are essential to our learning the gospel. And I saw that a lifetime of diligent study had prepared President Lee to find anything he needed to know in the scriptures.

Jesus, who is the perfect example in all things, knew the scriptures by heart. Though the Gospel writers do not mention having ever seen Jesus study the scriptures, he quoted them frequently and to good effect. He obviously knew them, and he knew what they meant and how they applied to him and his life and ministry.

By developing a life-long habit of gospel study, we can draw closer to the Lord and invite the Holy Ghost to teach us. We are on a marvelous journey in this life. We have the opportunity to re-learn principles that we knew in the pre-existence, but apply them in an entirely new way because of our mortal condition. Our physical condition and the veil that has been drawn across the heavens give new meaning to faith, hope and charity. As we study the gospel regularly, may we gain not only in knowledge but in wisdom.

A message to the graduating seniors

Please indulge me for a moment as I share a graduation message with the members of our Sunday school class who will be graduating this week from high school. You will hear lots of advice from many speakers at various ceremonies over the next few days. I have no ceremony at which to speak, and no invitation, but I offer the following from one who has trod the path you are on for what it is worth.

As you enter the brave new world of adulthood, you will have to make your own choices more than ever before. In particular, you will have to decide whether you will progress in the gospel, and if so, how far. What you do with the knowledge that parents and teachers have tried to instill in you is up to you.

You have to decide every day whether to pray, read the scriptures, remember Christ, listen to the Holy Ghost, keep the commandments. You have to decide every week whether you will prepare for Sunday and be ready to participate and invite the Holy Ghost to teach you, or whether you will just let Sunday "happen" to you. You have to decide whether you are an agent or an object. If you choose to be a spiritual object, you will stagnate, wither, and die. If you choose to be an agent, you will grow and flourish and thrive. You will still make mistakes, but you will learn from them and make corrections and keep going.

You are at the most momentous moment in your life. Deciding to be baptized was significant, but it was probably pretty automatic for most of you. Nevertheless, you made a good choice. Deciding whom you will marry will be all about emotions and romance. Nevertheless, you will hopefully make another good choice. Today, however, you have the maturity you lacked as an eight-year-old and the clarity of thought that you may lack when you are in love to make a real decision about your eternal future.

What you do today, in the next weeks, in the next months, and in the next couple of years is crucial to your path in this life and toward eternal life. It has nothing to do with where you go to college or what job you get or what kind of career you pursue. It has everything to do with whether you get on the path of discipleship and stay on it. If you choose to get on, or stay on, the path now, and take the gospel seriously, and look to the Savior in every thought, and seek his will with all your heart while you are young, you have a glorious future ahead of you in earth life and beyond.

There will always be time to repent, but there is no moment like now to make the right decision and choose the right course.

May the Lord bless you today, this week, and always.

Sincerely,

Brother and Sister Armstrong