Welcome

My name is Julie Rice and I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I created this blog for a religion course at Brigham Young University-Idaho. This blog consists of ten different gospel principles: obedience, judgment, gifts, missionary work, charity, forgiveness, pornography, agency, atonement, and family. For each principle I gathered quotes from talks given by the First Presidency and members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in recent General Conferences. I know that these men are called of God. The things they teach are true and we should give heed to their words. 

I also included a personal statement concerning each gospel principle at the beginning of each principle as well as pictures to make it more personal to me.

The First Presidency

The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Obedience

I have a huge desire to be obedient and follow the Lord Jesus Christ. I have a desire to live a life consecrated to Him. This desire to follow Him has come to me little-by-little. It has come because I have received joy by following his commandments in the past. I have been given the Light of Christ and the Gift of the Holy Ghost. These two things speak to me through thoughts and feelings. They tell me what is right and what is wrong. I cannot deny the joy that comes when I am obedient, and I cannot deny the guilt I feel when I sin. I will strive to be obedient to God’s will for all of my life and the eternities thereafter.

“My brothers and sisters, the lord purposes are often accomplished as we pay heed to the guidance of the spirit. I believe that the more we act on the inspiration and impressions that come to us the more the lord will entrust to us his errands. I’ve learned, as I have mentioned in previous messages, never to postpone a prompting.”

–President Monson, Consider the Blessings, October 2012 General Conference

“God is never hidden, yet sometimes we are, covered by a pavilion of motivations that draw us away from God and make Him seem distant and inaccessible. Our own desires, rather than a feeling of “Thy will be done,” create the feeling of a pavilion blocking God. God is not unable to see us or communicate with us, but we may be unwilling to listen or submit to His will and His time.”
–President Eyring, Where is the Pavilion? October 2012 General Conference

“My desire to know and do His will gave me a soul-stretching opportunity.” 
–President Eyring, Where is the Pavilion? October 2012 General Conference

 “As you continue to live righteously, you will always be prompted to know what to do. Sometimes the discovery of what action to take may require significant effort and trust on your part. Yet you will be prompted to know what to do as you meet the conditions for such divine guidance in your life, namely, obedience to the commandments of the Lord, trust in His divine plan of happiness, and the avoidance of anything that is contrary to it.”
–Elder Scott, How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration in Your Spiritual Lives, October 2012 General Conference 

"Worthiness to hold a temple recommend gives us the strength to keep our temple covenants.”
–Elder Hales, Coming to Ourselves: The Sacrament, the temple, and Sacrifice in Service, April 2012 General Conference

“Conversion is an enlarging, a deepening, and a broadening of the undergirding base of testimony. It is the result of revelation from God, accompanied by individual repentance, obedience, and diligence.”
–Elder Bednar, Converted Unto the Lord, October 2012 General Conference

Judgement

 We are taught in the scriptures and by prophets that we will be judged in the manner that we judge others. The significance of this doctrine is clear. My eternity is effected by the way I look at others. Plus, I know that I feel nasty when I look at others in an unloving way, and I feel happy when I see others in the way that Christ sees them. I know that I feel sad when I feel I have been judged wrongly. I do not want to be the cause of this hurt on others. I will continually strive to see others in Christ’s eyes. I will see them for their divine potential. I will look at them as children of God striving to be better. If I do this, I know that I will be judged likewise on judgment day.

“I imagine that every person on earth has been affected in some way by the destructive spirit of contention, resentment, and revenge. Perhaps there are even times when we recognize this spirit in ourselves. When we feel hurt, angry, or envious, it is quite easy to judge other people, often assigning dark motives to their actions in order to justify our own feelings of resentment.”
–President Uchtdorf, The Merciful Obtain Mercy, April 2012 General Conference

“But when it comes to our own prejudices and grievances, we too often justify our anger as righteous and our judgment as reliable and only appropriate. Though we cannot look into another’s heart, we assume that we know a bad motive or even a bad person when we see one. We make exceptions when it comes to our own bitterness because we feel that, in our case, we have all the information we need to hold someone else in contempt.”
–President Uchtdorf, The Merciful Obtain Mercy, April 2012 General Conference

“This topic of judging others could actually be taught in a two-word sermon. When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following: Stop it! It’s that simple. We simply have to stop judging others and replace judgmental thoughts and feelings with a heart full of love for God and His children.”  
–President Uchtdorf, The Merciful Obtain Mercy, April 2012 General Conference

“Immersion in the scriptures is essential for spiritual nourishment. The word of God inspires commitment and acts as a healing balm for hurt feelings, anger, or disillusionment. When our commitment is diminished for any reason, part of the solution is repentance.”
–Elder Cook, Can Ye Feel So Now? October 2012 General Conference

“Remember, it is not up to us to judge. Judgment is the Lord’s. President Thomas S. Monson has specifically asked us to have the 'courage to refrain from judging others.^' He has also asked every faithful member to rescue those who have tasted of the gospel fruit and then have fallen away, as well as those who have not yet found the strait and narrow path.”
–Elder Cook, In Tune to the Music of Faith, April 2012 General Conference

“The attributes by which we shall be judged one day are all spiritual. These include love, virtue, integrity, compassion, and service to others.^” 
–Elder Nelson, Thanks Be to God, April 2012 General Conference

Gifts

Gifts are evidence of God’s love and faith He has for His children. We have been commanded to expound upon our gifts. We are to use them to benefit others. There may be times in our lives that we may feel inadequate, but if we rely upon the lord He can bless us to become “equal to the work.” We should be constantly at work—trying to better ourselves and others. I am so thankful for the gifts God has blessed me with. Some gifts I am thankful for are my body, family, home, school, the Holy Ghost, scriptures, modern day revelation, and Christ’s atonement. I have so many gifts. I know that all these gifts are given of God. I love, worship, and praise Him. He has given me all that I have.

“God knows our gifts. My challenge to you and to me is to pray to know the gifts we have been given, to know how to develop them, and to recognize the opportunities to serve others that God provides us. But most of all, I pray that you will be inspired to help others discover their special gifts from God to serve.”
–Pres. Eyring, Help Them Aim High, October 2012 General Conference

“This question, “Can ye feel so now?” rings across the centuries. With all that we have received in this dispensation—including the Restoration of the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the outpouring of spiritual gifts, and the indisputable blessings of heaven—Alma’s challenge has never been more important.”
–Elder Cook, Can Ye Feel So Now? October 2012 General Conference

“For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior has promised that He will make us equal to His work. ‘Follow me,’ He said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ As we follow Him, He blesses us with gifts, talents, and the strength to do His will, allowing us to go beyond our comfort zones and do things we’ve never before thought possible.”
–Elder Hales, Being a More Christian Christian, October 2012 General Conference

Missionary Work

I have been blessed to be born into the gospel of Jesus Christ. It has brought me so much happiness, fulfillment, and joy. I know that this church is true. I know that the gospel will be eventually presented to every person that has ever lived on the Earth, and this requires missionary work. Because I have been blessed to have the gospel in my life, I have the responsibility to share it with others. The Lord’s work will go forth, and I want to be a part of it. I need to share my testimony in word to others. I need to invite others to go to church with me. I need to be a good example because my actions speak about my religion. I know that God lives, and this knowledge calls me to a great work.

“We affirm that missionary work is a priesthood duty, and we encourage all men who are worthy, and are physically able, and mentally capable to respond to the call to serve. Many young women also serve, but they are not under the same mandate to serve as are the young men. We assure the young sisters of the church, however, that they make a valuable contribution as missionaries, and we welcome their service.”
–President Monson, Welcome to Conference, October 2012 General Conference

“Almost everything that I’ve been able to accomplish as a priesthood bearer is because individuals who knew me saw things in me that I couldn’t see.” 
–President Eyring, Help Them Aim High, October 2012 General Conference

“A testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ, a witness that the Book of Mormon is true, comes in a delicate, refined spiritual communication. It is described in the scriptures as light, as burning in the bosom. It is best described as a feeling.” 
–President Packer, Reverence Invites Revelation, October 1991 General Conference

“I want it absolutely clear when I stand before the judgment bar of God that I declared to the world, in the most straightforward language I could summon, that the Book of Mormon is true, that it came forth the way Joseph said it came forth and was given to bring happiness and hope to the faithful in the travail of the latter days.”
–Elder Holland, Safety for the Soul, October 2009 General Conference

Charity

Christ’s love for us is so strong, pure, and selfless. This type of love is referred to as Charity. We are commanded to follow the example of Jesus Christ; therefore, we are commanded to be charitable. Charity is not an attribute of the natural man, and it is something that must be learned. We must serve others so that we can learn to love them. We must also diligently pray to God for charity—charity is a gift of God. I know that it seems impossible to gain such a pure, selfless love for others, but I testify that through God all things are possible. I have faith in Him. I know that He would never command me to do something I am incapable of. Through a conscious effort, serving others, and prayer I know that we can all learn to have charity towards the children of God.

“As you keep the faith, you will find yourself invited by the Lord often to serve someone in need when it will not seem convenient. It may appear to be an unpleasant and perhaps even impossible task. When the call comes, it may seem you are not needed or that someone else could easily give the succor.”
–President Eyring, The Caregiver, October 2012 General Conference

“The more we allow the love of God to govern our minds and emotions—the more we allow our love for our Heavenly Father to swell within our hearts—the easier it is to love others with the pure love of Christ. As we open our hearts to the glowing dawn of the love of God, the darkness and cold of animosity and envy will eventually fade.”

–President Uchtdorf, The Merciful Obtain Mercy, April 2012 General Conference

“The pure love of Christ can remove the scales of resentment and wrath from our eyes, allowing us to see others the way our Heavenly Father sees us: as flawed and imperfect mortals who have potential and worth far beyond our capacity to imagine. Because God loves us so much, we too must love and forgive each other.”

 –President Uchtdorf, The Merciful Obtain Mercy, April 2012 General Conference

“There is power in our love for God and for His children, and when that love is tangibly manifest in millions of acts of Christian kindness, it will sweeten and nourish the world with the life-sustaining nectar of faith, hope, and charity.”

 –Elder Ballard, Be Anxiously Engaged, October 2012 General Conference

"I have in mind the charity that impels us to be sympathetic, compassionate, and merciful, not only in times of sickness and affliction and distress but also in times of weakness or error on the part of others."
 –President Monson, Charity Never Faileth, October 2010 General Conference

“When hard trials come, the faith to endure them well will be there, built as you may now notice but may have not at the time that you acted on the pure love of Christ, serving and forgiving others as the Savior would have done. You built a foundation of faith from loving as the Savior loved and serving for Him. Your faith in Him led to acts of charity that will bring you hope.”

–President Eyring, Mountains to Climb, April 2012 General Conference

“The love the Savior described is an active love. It is not manifested through large and heroic deeds but rather through simple acts of kindness and service.”
–Elder Ballard, Finding Joy Through Loving Service, April 2011 General Conference

Forgiveness

Besides Christ, every soul that has ever lived on the Earth has sinned. Every single one of us depends on the atonement of Jesus Christ to be made clean. We all desire happiness, but some of us know how to obtain happiness while others do not. We have all done something that has hurt another. God commands that we forgive those that trespass us. Holding grudges hurts not only the other person but our self as well. We will not be forgiven of our sins if we do not forgive the wrongdoings of others. I will strive to be tolerant of others. I will strive to forgive my fellow brothers and sisters.

“We need to bear in mind that people can change. They can put behind them bad habits. They can repent from transgressions.”
–President Monson, See others as They May Become, October 2012 General Conference

“…Clinton Duffy was well known for his efforts to rehabilitate the men in his prison. Said one critic ‘don’t you know that leopards can’t change their spots.’ Replied Warden Duffy, “you should know that I don’t work with leopards. I work with men, and men change every day.”
–President Monson, See Others as They May Become, October 2012 General Conference

“We have the responsibility to see individuals, not as they are, but rather as they can become."
–President Monson, See Others as They may Become, October 2012 General Conference

“There are some practical principles that enhance revelation. First, yielding to emotions such as anger or hurt or defensiveness will drive away the Holy Ghost. Those emotions must be eliminated, or our chance for receiving revelation is slight.”
–Elder Scott, How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life, April 2011 General Conference

“Many of you, as I have, have felt fear in approaching someone you have offended or who has hurt you. And yet I have seen the Lord melt hearts time after time, including my own. And so I challenge you to go for the Lord to someone, despite any fear you may have, to extend love and forgiveness. I promise you that as you do, you will feel the love of the Savior for that person and His love for you, and it will not seem to come from a great distance. For you, that challenge may be in a family, it may be in a community, or it may be across a nation.”
–President Eyring, Where is the Pavilion? October 2012 General Conference

“Christian forgiveness. He taught us to bless those who curse us. He showed us the way by praying that those who crucified Him would be forgiven.”
–Elder Hales, Being a More Christian Christian, October 2012 General Conference

Pornography

Pornography is like a viral disease. It does not destroy the body like the plague does, but rather the human spirit. It is carnal and devilish. I have made an oath to myself to always flee from the grasps of pornography. It is addictive and destructive. Not only should I flee from it, but I should also take measures to help those around me. My Bishop of my young single adult ward advised the relief society to ask every boy we ever date whether or not he views pornography. This way we can address any issues before making decisions. It also allows us to encourage them to refrain from viewing pornography. He also told us as mothers to keep computers in an open area to protect our children. It is a topic that should be spoken openly about in the family. I will never view pornography, and I will take measures to protect people around me.

“We cannot afford husbands and fathers who fail to provide spiritual leadership in the home. We cannot afford to have those who exercise the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God, waste their strength in pornography or spend their lives in cyberspace (ironically being of the world while not being in the world). Brethren, we have work to do.”

 –Elder Christofferson, Brethren, We Have Work to Do, October 2012

“I recently had an insightful conversation with a 15-year-old Aaronic Priesthood holder. He helped me understand how easy it is in this Internet age for young people to almost inadvertently be exposed to impure and even pornographic images. He pointed out that for most principles the Church teaches, there is at least some recognition in society at large that violating these principles can have devastating effects on health and well-being. He mentioned cigarette smoking, drug use, and alcohol consumption by young people. But he noted that there is no corresponding outcry or even a significant warning from society at large about pornography or immorality.”

 –Elder Cook, Can Ye Feel So Now? October 2012 General Conference

“Stay completely away from pornography. Do not allow yourself to view it, ever. It has proven to be an addiction which is more than difficult to overcome.”

–President Monson, Priesthood Power, April 2011 General Conference

 “Satan has become a master at using the addictive power of pornography to limit individual capacity to be led by the Spirit. The onslaught of pornography in all of its vicious, corroding, destructive forms has caused great grief, suffering, heartache, and destroyed marriages. It is one of the most damning influences on earth. Whether it be through the printed page, movies, television, obscene lyrics, vulgarities on the telephone, or flickering personal computer screen, pornography is overpoweringly addictive and severely damaging. This potent tool of Lucifer degrades the mind and the heart and the soul of any who use it. All who are caught in its seductive, tantalizing web and remain so will become addicted to its immoral, destructive influence.”

 –Elder Scott, To Acquire Spiritual Guidance, October 2009 General Conference

Agency

God has placed us on the Earth to learn and grow. He can teach us life principles in word, but experiencing principles for ourselves is necessary to get a deeper, true understanding of them. To create an environment that promotes self-discovery He did two things: He put in place the veil and gave us agency. The veil blinds us from Heaven. It makes it so we have to learn Heaven for ourselves. Agency allows us to make mistakes so, again, we have to learn Heaven for ourselves. It is easy to get discouraged after making the same mistakes over and over again, but this is how we learn. We must learn that with sin comes despair and with obedience comes joy.

“Though seemingly insignificant when compared to the total, each bee’s one-twelfth of a teaspoon of honey is vital to the life of the hive. The bees depend on each other. Work that would be overwhelming for a few bees to do becomes lighter because all of the bees faithfully do their part.” 
–Elder Ballard, Be Anxiously Engaged, October 2012 General Conference

“Now, brothers and sisters, we have available to us a tool even more remarkable than the best GPS. Everyone loses his or her way at some point, to some degree. It is through the promptings of the Holy Ghost that we can be brought safely back onto the right path, and it is the atoning sacrifice of the Savior that can return us home.”

–Elder Ballard, That the Lost May Be Found, April 2012 General Conference

“When I am faced with a very difficult matter, this is how I try to understand what to do. I fast. I pray to find and understand scriptures that will be helpful. That process is cyclical. I start reading a passage of scripture; I ponder what the verse means and pray for inspiration. I then ponder and pray to know if I have captured all the Lord wants me to do. Often more impressions come with increased understanding of doctrine. I have found that pattern to be a good way to learn from the scriptures.”
–Elder Scott, How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration in Your Personal Life. April 2012 General Conference

“Did you, like they, think that this work could be killed simply by killing me? Did you, like they, think the cross and the nails and the tomb were the end of it all and each could blissfully go back to being whatever you were before? Children, did not my life and my love touch your hearts more deeply than this?”
–Elder Holland, The First Great Commandment, October 2012 General Conference

Atonement

The grace of Christ covers 100% of our mistakes. His atonement allows all sins to be forgiven so that I can receive the blessings of Eternal Life. Recently I have realized more fully my dependence on Christ. Circumstances that Heavenly Father has so wisely placed me in have allowed me to see my weaknesses and have compelled me to be humble. I am so grateful for Christ and what He did for me. I have partaken of the sacrament so many times without understanding of the significance of it. The bread and water represent Christ’s body and blood. I physically partake of the bread and water and allow my body to use it as sustenance. This represents how I should use the gift of the atonement for my spirit. I would spiritually die without the gift of the atonement. I love Christ and what He did for me.

“In the private sanctuary of one’s own conscience lies that spirit, that determination to cast off the old person and to measure up to the stature of true potential.”
–President Monson, Looking Back and Moving Forward, April 2008 General Conference

“It was understood from the beginning that in mortality we would fall short of being perfect. It was not expected that we would live without transgressing one law or another.”
–President Packer, The Atonement, October 2012 General Conference

 “If you have made no mistakes, then you do not need the Atonement. If you have made mistakes, and all of us have, whether minor or serious, then you have an enormous need to find out how they can be erased so that you are no longer in darkness..”
–President Packer, The Atonement, October 2012 General Conference

"That is the promise of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Atonement: to take anyone who comes, anyone who will join, and put them through an experience so that at the end of their life, they can go through the veil having repented of their sins and having been washed clean through the blood of Christ."

–President Packer, The Atonement, October 2012 General Conference

“We do not know exactly how the Lord accomplished the Atonement. But we do know that the cruel torture of crucifixion was only part of the horrific pain which began in Gethsemane—that sacred site of suffering—and was completed on Golgotha.”
–President Packer, The Atonement, October 2012 General Conference

Family

The family is a social unit that has been instituted by God. God knows what environment that will benefit His children the best, and he has placed us in families. Through the Priesthood, families can be sealed through eternity. My family was sealed in 2008 in the Boise, Idaho Temple. I testify that Priesthood power is real and that I know that I was purposefully placed in a family by God. We should strive to build strong healthy family relationships. Families are a source of strength. Many life principles are learned in the home. I am grateful for my family and love them all so much.

“This son is living not only to qualify for eternal life but also to live surrounded eternally by grateful family members whom he is gathering around him.”
–President Eyring, Help Them Aim High, October 2012 General Conference

“So what can we do to not become lost? First, may I suggest that we prioritize. Put everything you do outside the home in subjection to and in support of what happens inside your home.”

 –Elder Ballard, That the Lost May Be Found, April 2012 General Conference

“Do you young people want a sure way to eliminate the influence of the adversary in your life? Immerse yourself in searching for your ancestors, prepare their names for the sacred vicarious ordinances available in the temple, and then go to the temple to stand as proxy for them to receive the ordinances of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. As you grow older, you will be able to participate in receiving the other ordinances as well. I can think of no greater protection from the influence of the adversary in your life.”
–Elder Scott, The Joy of Redeeming the Dead, October 2012 General Conference

“But what about you? Have you prayed about your own ancestors’ work? Set aside those things in your life that don’t really matter. Decide to do something that will have eternal consequences. Perhaps you have been prompted to look for ancestors but feel you are not a genealogist. Can you see that you don’t have to be anymore? It all begins with love and a sincere desire to help those beyond the veil who can’t help themselves. Check around. There will be someone in your area who can help you have success.”
–Elder Scott, The Joy of Redeeming the Dead, October 2012 General Conference

“What we are speaks so loudly that our children may not hear what we say. When I was nearly five years old, my mother received word that her younger brother had been killed when the battleship on which he was serving was bombed off the coast of Japan near the end of World War II. This news was devastating to her. She was very emotional and went into the bedroom. After a while I peeked into the room to see if she was OK. She was kneeling by the bed in prayer. A great peace came over me because she had taught me to pray and love the Savior. This was typical of the example she always set for me. Mothers and fathers praying with children may be more important than any other example.”

–Elder Cook, In Tune with the Music of faith, April 2012 General Conference