technology

1)"Satan promotes the concept that life is to be filled with constant personal entertainment even if that pursuit interferes with another’s well-being. (April 1998 Removing barriers to happiness)

2) "“Thou shalt not covet” (Exodus 20:17). Our world is fraught with feelings of entitlement. Some of us feel embarrassed, ashamed, less worthwhile if our family does not have everything the neighbors have. As a result, we go into debt to buy things we can’t afford—and things we do not really need. Whenever we do this, we become poor temporally and spiritually."(Becoming provident providers temporally and spiritually elder hales April 2009)

3)“Why, then, do we devote so much of our time and energy to things that are so fleeting, so inconsequential, and so superficial? Do we refuse to see the folly in the pursuit of the trivial and transient? Would it not be wiser for us to “lay up for [ourselves] treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal”?How do we do this? By following the example of the Savior, by incorporating His teachings in our daily lives, by truly loving God and our fellowman. We certainly cannot do this with a dragging-our-feet, staring-at-our-watch, complaining-as-we-go approach to discipleship” (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf  OF REGRETS AND RESOLUTIONS General Conferences October 2012)

4)“Even more amazing than modern technology is our opportunity to access information directly from heaven, without hardware, software, or monthly service fees. It is one of the most marvelous gifts the Lord has offered to mortals. It is His generous invitation to “ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”” (Russell M.  Nelson  Ask, Seek, Knock.  General conference October 2009)

5)  “Most days we all find ourselves assaulted by immoral messages of some kind flooding in on us from every angle. The darker sides of the movie, television, and music industry step further and further into offensive language and sexual misconduct. Tragically, the same computer and Internet service that allows me to do my family history and prepare those names for temple work could, without filters and controls, allow my children or grandchildren access to a global cesspool of perceptions that could blast a crater in their brains forever.” (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul General Conferences October 2010)

6) "If a TV show is indecent, turn it off. If a movie is crude, walk out. If an improper relationship is developing, sever it. Many of these influences, at least initially, may not technically be evil, but they can blunt our judgment, dull our spirituality, and lead to something that could be evil."(Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul General Conferences October 2010)

7) "I raise an apostolic voice of warning about the potentially stifling, suffocating, suppressing, and constraining impact of some kinds of cyberspace interactions and experiences upon our souls."( Things as They Really Are  David A. Bednar From a Church Educational System fireside address delivered at Brigham Young University–Idaho on May 3, 2009.)

8)“Brothers and sisters, please understand. I am not suggesting all technology is inherently bad; it is not. Nor am I saying we should not use its many capabilities in appropriate ways to learn, to communicate, to lift and brighten lives, and to build and strengthen the Church; of course we should. But I am raising a warning voice that we should not squander and damage authentic relationships by obsessing over contrived ones.” ( Things as They Really Are  David A. Bednar From a Church Educational System fireside address delivered at Brigham Young University–Idaho on May 3, 2009.)
 
9)  “Satan often offers an alluring illusion of anonymity. Lucifer always has sought to accomplish his work in secret (see Moses 5:30). Remember, however, that apostasy is not anonymous simply because it occurs in a blog or through a fabricated identity in a chat room or virtual world. Immoral thoughts, words, and deeds always are immoral, even in cyberspace. Deceitful acts supposedly veiled in secrecy, such as illegally downloading music from the Internet or copying CDs or DVDs for distribution to friends and families, are nonetheless deceitful. We are all accountable to God, and ultimately we will be judged of Him according to our deeds and the desires of our hearts (see Alma 41:3). “For as [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7).”  ( Things as They Really Are  David A. Bednar From a Church Educational System fireside address delivered at Brigham Young University–Idaho on May 3, 2009.)

10) "neither technology nor rapid change in or of itself is good or evil; the real challenge is to understand both within the context of the eternal plan of happiness." ( Things as They Really Are  David A. Bednar From a Church Educational System fireside address delivered at Brigham Young University–Idaho on May 3, 2009.)

11)“Parents must have the courage to filter or monitor Internet access, television, movies, and music. Parents must have the courage to say no, defend truth, and bear powerful testimony.” (Elder Quentin L. Cook Can Ye Feel So Now? General Conferences October 2012)

Why does it matter?: Now that we are being introduced so so many amazing technologies which have helped move forward not only work of  the church, but other good organizations there are still traps with in this gift. Technology is a tool and like any tool if used for its correct purposes it will create, but used in the wrong way it will destroy. Technology does have the ability to do good, but there are darker sides to it. We cannot be casual in how we refer to technology. We need to know that the devil may not hook us with pornography, but he can distract us form our true goals in mortality by taking up our time. 

Stewardship

1) "Wherever there is a need for help, like our forefathers, we will step forward." (Hinckley To boys and to men 1998 Oct.)

2)"Children are highly vulnerable. They have little or no power to protect or provide for themselves and little influence on so much that is vital to their well-being. Children need others to speak for them, and they need decision makers who put their well-being ahead of selfish adult interests." (Protecting the children Oct, 2012 elder oaks)

3) “President Joseph Fielding Smith taught: “It is the duty of parents to teach their children these saving principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, so that they will know why they are to be baptized and that they may be impressed in their hearts with a desire to continue to keep the commandments of God after they are baptized, that they may come back into his presence. Do you, my good brethren and sisters, want your families, your children; do you want to be sealed to your fathers and your mothers before you … ? If so, then you must begin by teaching at the cradle-side. You are to teach by example as well as precept.”” -   (President L. Tom Perry Becoming Goodly Parents General conferences October 2012)

4)    “parents are the defining example I retain of goodly parents who placed their marriage and the proper rearing of children as their highest priority.” -   (President L. Tom Perry Becoming Goodly Parents General conferences October 2012)

5)“Brethren, please do not think that this is someone else’s responsibility. It is mine, and it is yours. We are all enlisted. “All” means all […] In the Lord’s plan, there is something everyone can contribute.” “The two great commandments—to love God and our neighbor—are a joining of the temporal and the spiritual. It is important to note that these two commandments are called “great” because every other commandment hangs upon them.4 In other words, our personal, family, and Church priorities must begin here. All other goals and actions should spring from the fountain of these two great commandments—from our love for God and for our neighbor.” (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf  PROVIDING IN THE LORD’S WAY General Conferences October 2011)

6)“I feel a certain sadness for those who do not grasp and appreciate the wonder and privilege of the priesthood. They are like passengers on an airplane who spend their time grumbling about the size of the packet of peanuts while they are soaring through the air, far above the clouds—something ancient kings would have given all they possessed to try and experience just once!” (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf  THE JOY OF THE PRIESTHOOD General Conferences October 2012)

7)“ As you willingly fulfill callings when you are asked, you are helping to build the kingdom of God on earth.”(God be with you until we meet again Thomas S. Monson General Conferences October 2012)

8)“May we ever watch over one another, assisting in times of need. Let us not be critical and judgmental but let us be tolerant, ever emulating the Savior’s example of loving-kindness. In that vein, may we willingly serve one another. May we pray for the inspiration to know of the needs of those around us, and then may we go forward and provide assistance.” (God be with you until we meet again Thomas S. Monson General Conferences October 2012)

9)  “Parents ponder their responsibility to teach, to inspire, and to provide guidance, direction, and example.” (The race of life Thomas S. Monson General Conferences April 2012)

10)“Parents, the days are long past when regular, active participation in Church meetings and programs, though essential, can fulfill your sacred responsibility to teach your children to live moral, righteous lives and walk uprightly before the Lord.” (Elder Quentin L. Cook Can Ye Feel So Now? General Conferences October 2012)

11)“We live in perilous times when many believe we are not accountable to God and that we do not have personal responsibility or stewardship for ourselves or others. Many in the world are focused on self-gratification, put themselves first, and love pleasure more than they love righteousness. They do not believe they are their brother’s keeper. In the Church, however, we believe that these stewardships are a sacred trust.” (Elder Quentin L. Cook Stewardship—a Sacred Trust General Conferences October 2010)

12)  “In the Church, stewardship is not limited to a temporal trust or responsibility. President Spencer W. Kimball taught: “We are stewards over our bodies, minds, families, and properties. … A faithful steward is one who exercises righteous dominion, cares for his own, and looks to the poor and needy.”  (Elder Quentin L. Cook Stewardship—a Sacred Trust General Conferences October 2010)

13)“It is easy to confuse our priorities. We have a duty to secure the physical safety and well-being of our children. However, some parents place undue priority on temporal and material possessions. Some are far less diligent in their efforts to immerse their children in the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Remember that having religious observance in the home is as important as providing food, clothing, and shelter. Parents can also help children discover and develop their talents. We are responsible for the talents we have received. Children who are not taught that they are accountable for their time and talents are increasingly subject to the foolishness and unrighteousness that are so pervasive in the world.  The family proclamation warns that individuals “who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God.”” (Elder Quentin L. Cook Stewardship—a Sacred Trust General Conferences October 2010)

Why does it matter?: Your stewardship is what we have responsibility over. For your stewardship you have the authority to receive revelation and give direction too. For the next step in my life I will have stewardship over my children so I am thinking to the future of what I should be doing. Knowing what your stewardship is let you realize what your responsibility are. I have a testimony that for our stewardship we will be blessed in our obediences, but we will also be help accountable for the duties which we shirked within them. 

Self reliance

1) "I testify that you will remove barriers to happiness and find greater peace as you make your first allegiance your membership in the Church of Jesus Christ, and His teachings the foundation of your life." (April 1998 removing barriers to happiness)
When your energies are harnessed, when your dreams are focused, marvelous things happen.(President  Hinckley to boys and to men Oct 1998)

2) "I am suggesting that the time has come to get our houses in order.
So many of our people are living on the very edge of their incomes. In fact, some are living on borrowings.[...]There is a portent of stormy weather ahead to which we had better give heed."(President Hinckley to boys and to men Oct 1998)

3) "We are carrying a message of self-reliance throughout the Church. Self-reliance cannot obtain when there is serious debt hanging over a household. One has neither independence nor freedom from bondage when he is obligated to others.[...]I urge you to be modest in your expenditures; discipline yourselves in your purchases to avoid debt to the extent possible. Pay off debt as quickly as you can, and free yourselves from bondage." (to boys and to men Hinckley 1998 Oct)

5) "To provide providently, we must practice the principles of provident living: joyfully living within our means, being content with what we have, avoiding excessive debt, and diligently saving and preparing for rainy-day emergencies. When we live providently, we can provide for ourselves and our families and also follow the Savior’s example to serve and bless others."(Becoming provident providers temporally and spiritually elder hales April 2009)

6) " the four most caring words for those we love are “We can’t afford it.”"(Becoming provident providers temporally and spiritually elder hales April 2009)

7)“Once you have studied the doctrines and principles of the Churchwide welfare plan, seek to apply what you have learned to the needs of those within your stewardship. What this means is that, in large measure, you’re going to have to figure it out for yourself. […]There is no one-size-fits-all answer in Church welfare. It is a self-help program where individuals are responsible for personal self-reliance. Our resources include personal prayer, our own God-given talents and abilities, the assets available to us through our own families and extended family members, various community resources, and of course the caring support of priesthood quorums and the Relief Society. This will lead us through the inspired pattern of self-reliance.” (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf  PROVIDING IN THE LORD’S WAY General Conferences October 2011)

8)"Principles of love, work, self-reliance, and consecration are God given. Those who embrace them and govern themselves accordingly become pure in heart." (Come to Zion! Come to Zion! KEITH B. MCMULLIN OCTOBER 2002)

9)"We are sons and daughters of God and are truly dependent upon Him for all that we have. If we keep His commandments, He will never forsake us. But Heavenly Father does not do for us what we can and should do for ourselves. He expects us to use the means we receive of Him to care for ourselves and our families. When we do so, we are self-reliant." (Come to Zion! Come to Zion! KEITH B. MCMULLIN OCTOBER 2002)

10)"The Lord does help when we go to Him in times of need, especially when we are committed to His work and respond to His will. But the Lord only helps those who are willing to help themselves. He expects His children to be self-reliant to the degree they can be." (Becoming Self-Reliant L. TOM PERRY OCTOBER 1991)

11)"We become more self-reliant when we study the holy scriptures, which teach the principles that provide a divine center to our lives here in mortality."  (Becoming Self-Reliant L. TOM PERRY OCTOBER 1991)

Why does it matter?: Our mortal existences is a test to see what choice we will make with our agency. Part of what we are here to learn is how to take care of ourselves and others. Can we take care of ourselves and our family temporally and spiritually. At times we might not be able to accomplish this, but I have a testimony that if we are trying to be self reliant we will have more opportunities in life. This isn't about just standing alone and not accepting help from others, but getting the help you need striving to be self reliant. 

Revelation

1) "Every one of us can be guided by the spirit of revelation and the gift of the Holy Ghost."(APRIL 2011 GUIDED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT BOYD K. PACKER)

2)“In the end you must do in your area what disciples of Christ have done in every dispensation: counsel together, use all resources available, seek the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, ask the Lord for His confirmation, and then roll up your sleeves and go to work.” (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf  PROVIDING IN THE LORD’S WAY General Conferences October 2011)

3)“Do we say our prayers with only the “amen” or the end in mind? Of course not. We pray to be close to our Heavenly Father, to receive His Spirit and feel His love.” (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf  OF REGRETS AND RESOLUTIONS General Conferences October 2012)

4)“I bear you my testimony that your hope for those days will be justified. The Lord Jesus Christ, through His infinite Atonement, made it possible for each of you. Heavenly Father hears and answers your prayers of faith for guidance and for help to endure in your service for Him.” (President Eyring  The Caregiver Relief Society broadcast October 2012)

5)“This timeless offer to provide personal revelation is extended to all of His children.” (Russell M.  Nelson  Ask, Seek, Knock.  General conference October 2009)

6)“To access information from heaven, one must first have a firm faith and a deep desire. One needs to “ask with a sincere heart [and] real intent, having faith in [Jesus] Christ.” “Real intent” means that one really intends to follow the divine direction given.” (Russell M.  Nelson  Ask, Seek, Knock.  General conference October 2009)

7)“Every one of us can be guided by the spirit of revelation and the gift of the Holy Ghost. “(President  Boyd K. Packer Guided by the holy spirit General Conferences April 2012)

8)“I long have been impressed with the simple and clear definition of truth set forth in the Book of Mormon: “The Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls” (Jacob 4:13; see also D&C 93:24).” ( Things as They Really Are  David A. BednarFrom a Church Educational System fireside address delivered at Brigham Young University–Idaho on May 3, 2009.)

9) “[T]he Lord’s purposes are often accomplished as we pay heed to the guidance of the Spirit. I believe that the more we act upon the inspiration and impressions which come to us, the more the Lord will entrust to us His errands. I have learned, as I have mentioned in previous messages, never to postpone a prompting.” ( Thomas S. Monson Count your blessings General conferences October 2012)

10) “Our Heavenly Father did not launch us on our eternal voyage without providing the means whereby we could receive from Him guidance to ensure our safe return. I speak of prayer. I speak too of the whisperings from that still, small voice; and I do not overlook the holy scriptures, which contain the word of the Lord and the words of the prophets—provided to us to help us successfully cross the finish line.”(The race of life Thomas S. Monson General Conferences April 2012)

11)“Wherever you are, your Heavenly Father is mindful of you. You are not alone, and you have the priesthood and the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (D. Todd Christofferson Brethren, We Have Work to Do General Conferences October 2012)

12) “This personal line of communication with our Heavenly Father through His Holy Spirit is the source of our testimony of truth, of our knowledge, and of our personal guidance from a loving Heavenly Father. It is an essential feature of His marvelous gospel plan, which allows each one of His children to receive a personal witness of its truth.[…] In its fullness the personal line does not function independent of the priesthood line. The gift of the Holy Ghost—the means of communication from God to man—is conferred by priesthood authority as authorized by those holding priesthood keys. It does not come merely by desire or belief. And the right to the continuous companionship of this Spirit needs to be affirmed each Sabbath as we worthily partake of the sacrament and renew our baptismal covenants of obedience and service. […] we cannot communicate reliably through the direct, personal line if we are disobedient to or out of harmony with the priesthood line.[…] the priesthood line of communication has the additional and necessary intermediaries of our Savior, Jesus Christ; His Church; and His appointed leaders.” (Dallin H. Oaks  TWO LINES OF COMMUNICATION General Conferences October 2010)

13)    “the authority that presides in the family—whether father or single-parent mother—functions in family matters without the need to get authorization from anyone holding priesthood keys. That is like the personal line. Both lines must be functioning in our family life and in our personal lives if we are to have the growth and achieve the destiny identified in our Heavenly Father’s plan for His children.” (Dallin H. Oaks  TWO LINES OF COMMUNICATION General Conferences October 2010)

Why does it matter?: There are those who believe that God has stopped talking to us today through prophetic or personal channels. That we must figure out for ourselves what we should do with no heavenly help. I have a testimony of revelation through personal prayer as well as Gods called servants. That we need not go it alone. It may not be instantaneous or it may not be the answer we want, but if we have faith and are obedient to the messages which we receive we will be blessed for it. 

Repentance

1)“That attitude is somewhat like a man being hit by a club. Offended, he takes up a club and beats himself over the head with it all the days of his life. How foolish! How sad! That kind of revenge is self-inflicting. If you have been offended, forgive, forget it, and leave it alone.” (President  Boyd K. Packer Guided by the holy spirit General Conferences April 2012)

2) "Unfortunately however, additional debt is incurred when we cannot control our wants and addictive impulses. And for both debt and addiction, the hopeful solution is the same—we must turn to the Lord and follow His commandments. We must want more than anything else to change our lives so that we can break the cycle of debt and our uncontrolled wants. I pray that in the next few minutes, and throughout this conference, you will be filled with hope in our Savior, Jesus Christ, and find hope in the doctrines of His restored gospel."(Becoming provident providers temporally and spiritually elder hales April 2009)

3) " We must ask for help from our Heavenly Father and seek strength through the Atonement of His Son, Jesus Christ. In both temporal and spiritual things, obtaining this divine assistance enables us to become provident providers for ourselves and others."(Becoming provident providers temporally and spiritually elder hales April 2009)

4) "Should choices be wrong, they can be rectified through repentance. When its conditions are fully met, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, our Savior, provides a release from the demands of justice for the errors made. It is wondrously simple and so incomparably beautiful. "(How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life General Conferences April 2012)

5)“President Joseph F. Smith taught: “Men cannot forgive their own sins; they cannot cleanse themselves from the consequences of their sins. Men can stop sinning and can do right in the future, and so far [as] their acts are acceptable before the Lord [become] worthy of consideration. But who shall repair the wrongs they have done to themselves and to others, which it seems impossible for them to repair themselves? By the atonement of Jesus Christ the sins of the repentant shall be washed away; though they be crimson they shall be made white as wool [see Isaiah 1:18]. This is the promise given to you.” (President  Boyd K. Packer  Atonement General Conferences October 2012)

6)    “So let us work a little harder at remembering Him—especially that He has “borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows … , [that] he was bruised for our iniquities … ; and with his stripes we are healed.” Surely it would guide our actions in a dramatic way if we remembered that every time we transgress, we hurt not only those we love, but we also hurt Him, who so dearly loves us But if we do sin, however serious that sin may be, we can be rescued by that same majestic figure, He who bears the only name given under heaven whereby any man or woman can be saved..”(Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul General Conferences October 2010)

7)“To set aside cherished “weapons of rebellion” such as selfishness, pride, and disobedience requires more than merely believing and knowing. Conviction, humility, repentance, and submissiveness precede the abandonment of our weapons of rebellion. Do you and I still possess weapons of rebellion that keep us from becoming converted unto the Lord? If so, then we need to repent now.”(Converted unto the Lord (General ELDER DAVID A. BEDNAR Conferences October 2012)

8)“He asserted that Christianity tells people to repent and promises them forgiveness; but until people know and feel they need forgiveness, Christianity does not speak to them. He stated, 'When you know you are sick, you will listen to the doctor.'” (Elder Quentin L. Cook Can Ye Feel So Now? General Conferences October 2012)

9)“Please understand that through the Savior’s Atonement, all can repent and return, like the spring of water, to a clean and pure state. It is difficult to repent; it requires a broken heart and a contrite spirit. But when the steps to repentance are righteously followed, the words spoken by the prophet Alma to his son Corianton, who had been involved in moral transgressions, are applicable: “And now, my son, I desire that ye should let these things trouble you no more, and only let your sins trouble you, with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance.” The Savior has said, “Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.” “(Elder Quentin L. Cook Stewardship—a Sacred Trust General Conferences October 2010)

10)“Without repentance, there is no real progress or improvement in life. Pretending there is no sin does not lessen its burden and pain. Suffering for sin does not by itself change anything for the better. Only repentance leads to the sunlit uplands of a better life. And, of course, only through repentance do we gain access to the atoning grace of Jesus Christ and salvation. Repentance is a divine gift, and there should be a smile on our faces when we speak of it. It points us to freedom, confidence, and peace. Rather than interrupting the celebration, the gift of repentance is the cause for true celebration.” (D. Todd Christofferson The Divine Gift of Repentance General Conferences October 2010)

11)“First, the invitation to repent is an expression of love. […]If we do not invite others to change or if we do not demand repentance of ourselves, we fail in a fundamental duty we owe to one another and to ourselves.[…] Second, repentance means striving to change. It would mock the Savior’s suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross for us to expect that He should transform us into angelic beings with no real effort on our part. […]Surely the Lord smiles upon one who desires to come to judgment worthily, who resolutely labors day by day to replace weakness with strength. Real repentance, real change may require repeated attempts, but there is something refining and holy in such striving. […]Third, repentance means not only abandoning sin but also committing to obedience. […]Without this covenant, repentance remains incomplete and the remission of sins unattained. […] Fourth, repentance requires a seriousness of purpose and a willingness to persevere, even through pain.[…] True repentance is not superficial.[…] Confession is a deep, sometimes agonizing acknowledgment of error and offense to God and man. […]With faith in the merciful Redeemer and His power, potential despair turns to hope. One’s very heart and desires change, and the once-appealing sin becomes increasingly abhorrent.[…] Fifth, whatever the cost of repentance, it is swallowed up in the joy of forgiveness.” (D. Todd Christofferson The Divine Gift of Repentance General Conferences October 2010)

Why does it matter?: Part of the atonement of Christ is the fact that we can make mistakes, but through repentance can fix them. Without this mercy justice would claim us all unworthy. However it does take effort. We must truly change our hearts and turn to God. I have a testimony that repentance words and that it isn't just for large transgressions, but for those small things that happen day to day. When we might lie a little or be unkind those things don't have to stay on our soul as a stain as long as we take the time give ourselves over to the savior so he can wash them away. That doesn't mean sin and plan to repent later, it means that we try our best not to sin, but when we ultimately mess of because of the natural man we know we are not lost forever. 

Pornography

1) "What a different world this would be if every young man could and would sign such a statement of promise [to honor the priesthood]. There would be no viewing of pornography, no reading of sleazy literature. You would honor and respect the girls with whom you associate, and they would never have any fear about being alone with you in any set of circumstances. It would be as if the stripling warriors of Helaman had recruited the youth of the world to their way of living." (Hinckley To boys and to men 1998 Oct.)

2) "In seeking to overcome debt and addictive behaviors, we should remember that addiction is the craving of the natural man, and it can never be satisfied. It is an insatiable appetite. When we are addicted, we seek those worldly possessions or physical pleasures that seem to entice us. But as children of God, our deepest hunger and what we should be seeking is what the Lord alone can provide—His love, His sense of worth, His security, His confidence, His hope in the future, and assurance of His love, which brings us eternal joy."(Becoming provident providers temporally and spiritually elder hales April 2009)

3) Through prayer, fasting, obedience to the commandments, priesthood blessings, and His atoning sacrifice, we will feel His love and power in our lives. We will receive His spiritual guidance and strength through the promptings of the Holy Ghost. Only through our Lord’s Atonement can we obtain a mighty change of heart (see Mosiah 5:2; Alma 5:14) and experience a mighty change in our addictive behavior." (Becoming provident providers temporally and spiritually elder hales April 2009)

4) "May the joy of our fidelity to the highest and best within us be ours as we keep our love and our marriages, our society and our souls, as pure as they were meant to be."(Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul Elder Jeffrey R. Holland  April 2010 general conference)

5) “Choose you this day whom ye will serve; … but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Let our hearts be pure. Let our lives be clean. Let our voices be heard. Let our actions be felt." (Pornography, the Deadly Carrier President Thomas S. Monson July 2001 Ensign magazine)

6)• “When we face such temptations in our time, we must declare, as young Nephi did in his, “[I will] give place no more for the enemy of my soul.” 12 We can reject the evil one. If we want it dearly and deeply enough, that enemy can and will be rebuked by the redeeming power of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul General Conferences October 2010)

7)· “Replace lewd thoughts with hopeful images and joyful memories; picture the faces of those who love you and would be shattered if you let them down. More than one man has been saved from sin or stupidity by remembering the face of his mother, his wife, or his child waiting somewhere for him at home. Whatever thoughts you have, make sure they are welcome in your heart by invitation only. As an ancient poet once said, let will be your reason.”  (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul General Conferences October 2010)

8)“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).” (D. Todd Christofferson Brethren, We Have Work to Do General Conferences October 2012)

9)“Movies, TV, and the Internet often convey degrading messages and images. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf and I were recently in an Amazon jungle village and observed satellite dishes even on some of the small, simply built huts. We rejoiced at the wonderful information available in this remote area. We also recognized there is virtually no place on earth that cannot be impacted by salacious, immoral, and titillating images. This is one reason why pornography has become such a plague in our day.” (Elder Quentin L. Cook Can Ye Feel So Now? General Conferences October 2012)


10)“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 Quentin L. Cook Can Ye Feel So Now? General Conferences October 2012)

Why does it matte?: Pornography is being taken so lightly in the world. There is hardly an media which doesn't have a scantily clad person (male or female) trying to be enticing. There are those who say this isn't a bad thing. That it is natural for youth (especially young men) to experiment with such things, but the fact is that the natural man in an enemy of God and has been since the fall of Adam. Pornography is not harmless, it is the destroyer of Love which you have had, do have and will have. No matter how much of it you have it will never bring joy to your life because what you don't need doesn't satisfy. 

Obedience

1) "Now, my dear young friends, I hope all of you are pointed in the direction of missionary service. I cannot promise you fun. I cannot promise you ease and comfort. I cannot promise you freedom from discouragement, from fear, from downright misery at times. But I can promise you that you will grow as you have never grown in a similar period during your entire lives. I can promise you a happiness that will be unique and wonderful and lasting. I can promise you that you will reevaluate your lives, that you will establish new priorities, that you will live closer to the Lord, that prayer will become a real and wonderful experience, that you will walk with faith in the outcome of the good things you do." ( To boys and To men Hinckley 1998 Oct)

2)“The two great commandments—to love God and our neighbor—are a joining of the temporal and the spiritual. It is important to note that these two commandments are called “great” because every other commandment hangs upon them.4 In other words, our personal, family, and Church priorities must begin here. All other goals and actions should spring from the fountain of these two great commandments—from our love for God and for our neighbor.” (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf  PROVIDING IN THE LORD’S WAY General Conferences October 2011)

3)“But it will help us recognize this truth: God is close to us and aware of us and never hides from His faithful children.” (President Eyring Where Is the Pavilion? General Conferences October 2012)

4)“Part of being prepared is to know and obey the relevant teachings of the Lord.” (Russell M.  Nelson  Ask, Seek, Knock.  General conference October 2009)

5)"Your Father in Heaven expects your loyalty and your love at every stage of your life.” (Jeffrey R. Holland The First Great Commandment General Conferences October 2012)

6)“the key characteristics associated with conversion are experiencing a mighty change in our hearts, having a disposition to do good continually, going forward in the path of duty, walking circumspectly before God, keeping the commandments, and serving with unwearied diligence. Clearly, these faithful souls had become deeply devoted to the Lord and His teachings.” (Converted unto the Lord (General ELDER DAVID A. BEDNAR Conferences October 2012) 

7)You and I are to be valiant and “obedient to Him under all circumstances.” Thus, obedience is the principal weapon upon which the rising generation must rely in the latter-day battle between good and evil.”(President  Boyd K. Packer Guided by the holy spirit General Conferences April 2012)

8)   ” Obedience opens the door to the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. And the spiritual gifts and abilities activated by the power of the Holy Ghost enable us to avoid deception—and to see, to feel, to know, to understand, and to remember things as they really are. You and I have been endowed with a greater capacity for obedience precisely for these reasons.”(President  Boyd K. Packer Guided by the holy spirit General Conferences April 2012)

9)  "Obedience is liberty" (L. Tom Perry 2013 April) 

10)“This feeling of accountability, which is encompassed by the first great commandment to love God, has been described by some as “obedience to the unenforceable.” 3 We try to do what is right because we love and want to please our Father in Heaven, not because someone is forcing us to obey.” “We live in perilous times when many believe we are not accountable to God and that we do not have personal responsibility or stewardship for ourselves or others. Many in the world are focused on self-gratification, put themselves first, and love pleasure more than they love righteousness. They do not believe they are their brother’s keeper. In the Church, however, we believe that these stewardships are a sacred trust.” (Elder Quentin L. Cook Stewardship—a Sacred Trust General Conferences October 2010)

11)“ repentance means not only abandoning sin but also committing to obedience.” (D. Todd Christofferson The Divine Gift of Repentance General Conferences October 2010)

12)“We also understand how obedience to the commandments ultimately protects our agency.” (Elder Hales Agency: Essential to the Plan of Life General Conferences October 2010)

 Why does it matter?: Obedience seems to be such a simple term, someone says do it and you do. When it comes to obeying Gods commandments it seems equally as simple, but Satan is there to trip us up on the simple things of the gospel.  When I say simple I mean understandable, not easy. We know what we should do, but accomplishing this goal through the temptations of the world is difficult. I have a testimony though that if we are obedient that God blesses us even more than we can imagine. That when we sacrifice what we think is the best opportunity that we will get something much better. It may not be in the worldly aspect, but it will be in the eternal one. 

Family

1) President Heber J. Grant spoke repeatedly on this matter from this pulpit. He said: “If there is any one thing that will bring peace and contentment into the human heart, and into the family, it is to live within our means. And if there is any one thing that is grinding and discouraging and disheartening, it is to have debts and obligations that one cannot meet” (Gospel Standards, comp. G. Homer Durham [1941], 111).

2)" As rising generations diminish in numbers, cultures and even nations are hollowed out and eventually disappear." (Protecting the children Oct, 2012 elder oaks)

3) "Children need the emotional and personal strength that come from being raised by two parents who are united in their marriage and their goals. As one who was raised by a widowed mother, I know firsthand that this cannot always be achieved, but it is the ideal to be sought whenever possible."(Protecting the children Oct  2012 elder oaks)

4) "I pray that we will humble ourselves as little children and reach out to protect our little children, for they are the future for us, for our Church, and for our nations. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."(Protecting the children Oct, 2012 elder oaks)

5) "Of all the joys of life none other equals that of happy parenthood. Of all the responsibilities with which we struggle, none other is so serious. To rear children in an atmosphere of love, security, and faith is the most rewarding of all challenges. The good result from such effort becomes life’s most satisfying compensation".
(President Gordon B. Hinckley OCTOBER 1994 SAVE THE CHILDREN)

6) “The onslaught of wickedness against our children is more subtle and brazen than it has ever been. Building a strong family culture adds another layer of protection for our children, insulating them from worldly influences.”  (President L. Tom Perry Becoming Goodly Parents General conferences October 2012)

7)“Let us resolve to cherish those we love by spending meaningful time with them, doing things together, and cultivating treasured memories.” (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf  OF REGRETS AND RESOLUTIONS General Conferences October 2012)

8) “If you have concerns about your family, ask the missionaries! They can help you! Strengthening marriages and families is of utmost importance to Latter-day Saints. Families can be together forever. Ask the missionaries to teach you how this is possible for your family.” (Russell M.  Nelson  Ask the Missionaries! They can help. General conference October 2012)

9)“The great plan of happiness” centers on family life. The husband is the head of the home and the wife the heart of the home. And marriage is an equal partnership. A Latter-day Saint man is a responsible family man, faithful in the gospel. He is a caring, devoted husband and father. He reveres womanhood. The wife sustains her husband. Both parents nurture the spiritual growth of their children.” (President  Boyd K. Packer Guided by the holy spirit General Conferences April 2012)

10) "One of Satan’s most effective approaches is to demean the role of wife and mother in the home. This is an attack at the very heart of God’s plan to foster love between husband and wife and to nurture children in an atmosphere of understanding, peace, appreciation, and support. Much of the violence that is rampant in the world today is the harvest of weakened homes. Government and social plans will not effectively correct that, nor can the best efforts of schools and churches fully compensate for the absence of the tender care of a compassionate mother and wife in the home.[...] Moreover, as you teach truth by word and example, those children will come to understand who they are and what they can obtain as divine children of Father in Heaven."(The Joy of Living the Great Plan of Happiness RICHARD G. SCOTT OCTOBER 1996) 

11)"I know I have been speaking of the ideal, and you may be disturbed because your life may not now fit that mold. I promise you that through your obedience and continuing faith in Jesus Christ and your understanding of the whole plan of happiness, even if important parts of it aren’t fulfilled in your life now, they will be yours in the Lord’s due time. I also promise you that you can have significant growth and happiness now in your present circumstances. As a daughter or son of God, live whatever portion of the plan you can to the best of your ability."(The Joy of Living the Great Plan of Happiness RICHARD G. SCOTT OCTOBER 1996) 

12)“You adult men—fathers, single adults, leaders, home teachers—be worthy models and help the rising generation of boys become men. Teach them social and other skills: how to participate in a conversation, how to get acquainted and interact with others, how to relate to women and girls, how to serve, how to be active and enjoy recreation, how to pursue hobbies without becoming addicted, how to correct mistakes and make better choices.” (D. Todd Christofferson Brethren, We Have Work to Do General Conferences October 2012)

13)“When we follow the prophets’ counsel to hold family home evening, family prayer, and family scripture study, our homes become an incubator for our children’s spiritual growth. There we teach them the gospel, bear our testimonies, express our love, and listen as they share their feelings and experiences. By our righteous choices and actions, we liberate them from darkness by increasing their ability to walk in the light.” (Elder Hales Agency: Essential to the Plan of Life General Conferences October 2010)

Why does it matter?: Family is the most important goal on earth. It is through families that the great plan of happiness or plan of salvation is accomplished. We are given commandments to multiple and replenish the earth and our goal is to go to the temple and be sealed to our families for all eternity. There is no other way to gain exaltation or to fulfill our godly gifts (Priesthood for men and creation for women) without getting married and striving to have a family.  I have a testimony that I will be able to have an eternal family with my husband because we were married in the temple and the children we do have will be born into that covenant and it will  help protect them. 

atonement

1) "Our challenges, including those we create by our own decisions, are part of our test in mortality. Let me assure you that your situation is not beyond the reach of our Savior. Through Him, every struggle can be for our experience and our good (see D&C 122:7). Each temptation we overcome is to strengthen us, not destroy us. The Lord will never allow us to suffer beyond what we can endure (see 1 Corinthians 10:13)."(Becoming provident providers temporally and spiritually elder hales April 2009)

2)“What was the difference between the people of Alma and the people of King Limhi? Obviously, there were several differences: the people of Alma were peaceful and more righteous; they had already been baptized and entered into a covenant with the Lord; they humbled themselves before the Lord even before their tribulations started. All these differences made it appropriate and fair that the Lord would deliver them quickly in a miraculous way from the hand which kept them in bondage. These scriptures teach us of the Lord’s power of deliverance.” (President L. Tom Perry The Power of Deliverance General conferences  April  2012)

3)“Jesus Christ lives, knows us, watches over us, and cares for us. In moments of pain, loneliness, or confusion, we do not need to see Jesus Christ to know that He is aware of our circumstances and that His mission is to bless.” (President Eyring Where Is the Pavilion? General Conferences October 2012) 

4)“ a way was provided for all who sin to repent and become worthy of the presence of our Father in Heaven once more.[...]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.“[Jesus Christ] is the light and the life of the world.”6 As we fix our gaze on His teachings, we will be guided to the harbor of spiritual safety.” (President  Boyd K. Packer  Atonement General Conferences October 2012)

5)“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  Boyd K. Packer  Atonement General Conferences October 2012)

6)“If you are carrying some burden, forget it, let it alone. Do a lot of forgiving and a little repenting, and you will be visited by the Spirit of the Holy Ghost and confirmed by the testimony that you did not know existed. You will be watched over and blessed—you and yours. This is an invitation to come unto Him. This church—The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth,” by His own declaration—is where we find “the great plan of happiness.” Of this I bear witness in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.” (President  Boyd K. Packer Guided by the holy spirit General Conferences April 2012)

7)“So we have neighbors to bless, children to protect, the poor to lift up, and the truth to defend. We have wrongs to make right, truths to share, and good to do. In short, we have a life of devoted discipleship to give in demonstrating our love of the Lord. We can’t quit and we can’t go back. After an encounter with the living Son of the living God, nothing is ever again to be as it was before. The Crucifixion, Atonement, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ mark the beginning of a Christian life, not the end of it.” (Jeffrey R. Holland The First Great Commandment General Conferences October 2012)

8)“We need to bear in mind that people can change. They can put behind them bad habits. They can repent from transgressions. They can bear the priesthood worthily. And they can serve the Lord diligently.[...] The same principle, brethren, applies to those who are not yet members. We should develop the capacity to see men not as they are but as they can become when they are members of the Church, when they have a testimony of the gospel, and when their lives are in harmony with its teachings.”

9)“Youth who have been exposed to immoral images at a very early age are terrified that they may have already disqualified themselves for missionary service and sacred covenants. As a result, their faith can be severely impaired. I want to assure you young people, as Alma taught, that through repentance you can qualify for all the blessings of heaven. That is what the Savior’s Atonement is all about. Please talk with your parents or a trusted adviser, and counsel with your bishop.” (Elder Quentin L. Cook Can Ye Feel So Now? General Conferences October 2012)

10)“It is true that we are in many ways ordinary and imperfect, but we have a perfect Master who wrought a perfect Atonement, and we have call upon His grace and His priesthood. As we repent and purge our souls, we are promised that we will be taught and endowed with power from on high (see D&C 43:16).”  (D. Todd Christofferson Brethren, We Have Work to Do General Conferences October 2012)

11)“I bear you my testimony that your hope for those days will be justified. The Lord Jesus Christ, through His infinite Atonement, made it possible for each of you. Heavenly Father hears and answers your prayers of faith for guidance and for help to endure in your service for Him.” (President Eyring The Caregiver Relief Society broadcast October 2012) 

Why doses it matter?: The Atonement is more than just repentance. It is the fact that no matter what you are going through, no matter how alone, discontented or abandoned you feel  that their is someone who knows exactly what you are going through. That Christ can relate not only to sin, but to sickness, grief or any discomfort you are feeling. I have a testimony that  Jesus Christ Atoned not only for the whole world, but for me individually and that there is nothing I can take to him that he would think is trivial because he knows how I feel about it and will help me through it. And that if I want to repay that great favor in any small measure I need to first use the atonement and second strive to be like Christ so others may know of it. 

Agency

1) "Today I speak to all whose freedom to choose has been diminished by the effects of ill-advised choices of the past. I speak specifically of choices that have led to excessive debt and addictions to food, drugs, pornography, and other patterns of thought and action that diminish one’s sense of self-worth. All of these excesses affect us individually and undermine our family relationships. "(Becoming provident providers temporally and spiritually elder hales April 2009)

2)“Most of the problems that Lot later encountered in his life, and there were several, can be traced back to his early decision to position the door of his tent to look upon Sodom.” (President L. Tom Perry The Power of Deliverance General conferences  April  2012)

3)" good intentions are not enough. We must do. Even more important, we must become what Heavenly Father wants us to be.[...]We do matter. We determine our happiness[...] it is my testimony that many of the deepest regrets of tomorrow can be prevented by following the Savior today.” (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf  OF REGRETS AND RESOLUTIONS General Conferences October 2012)

4)“If we serve with faith, humility, and a desire to do God’s will, I testify that the judgment bar of the great Jehovah will be pleasing. We will see our loving Father and His Son as They see us now—with perfect clarity and with perfect love. “(President Eyring Where Is the Pavilion? General Conferences October 2012) 

5)“Patience and perseverance are part of our eternal progression.” (Russell M.  Nelson  Ask, Seek, Knock.  General conference October 2009)

6)“[O]ur Heavenly Father is aware of our needs and will help us as we call upon Him for assistance. I believe that no concern of ours is too small or insignificant. The Lord is in the details of our lives.” ( Thomas S. Monson Count your blessings General conferences October 2012)

7)“Although we live in increasingly perilous times, the Lord loves us and is mindful of us. He is always on our side as we do what is right. He will help us in time of need.[...] The purpose of mortality is to learn and to grow to be more like our Father, and it is often during the difficult times that we learn the most, as painful as the lessons may be. Our lives can also be filled with joy as we follow the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ."  (God be with you until we meet again Thomas S. Monson General Conferences October 2012)  

8)“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (The race of life Thomas S. Monson General Conferences April 2012)

9)“As our youth follow President Monson’s counsel by preparing to serve missions, and as we all live the principles the Savior taught and prepare to meet God, we win a much more important race. We will have the Holy Ghost as our guide for spiritual direction. For any whose lives are not in order, remember, it is never too late to make the Savior’s Atonement the foundation of our faith and lives.” (Elder Quentin L. Cook Can Ye Feel So Now? General Conferences October 2012)

10)“The War in Heaven was fought after Satan said that he would force everyone to obey his ideas. That was rejected. As a result, we have our moral agency and the freedom to choose our course in this life. But we also are accountable for that agency.” (Elder Quentin L. Cook Stewardship—a Sacred Trust General Conferences October 2010)

11)“We teach that agency is the ability and privilege God gives us to choose and ‘to act for [ourselves] and not to be acted upon.’ Agency is to act with accountability and responsibility for our actions. Our agency is essential to the plan of salvation. With it we are ‘to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil.’ ” (Elder Hales Agency: Essential to the Plan of Life General Conferences October 2010)

12)“in our premortal state we chose to follow the Savior Jesus Christ! And because we did, we were allowed to come to earth. I testify that by making the same choice to follow the Savior now, while we are here on earth, we will obtain an even greater blessing in the eternities. But let it be known: we must continue to choose to follow the Savior. Eternity is at stake, and our wise use of agency and our actions are essential that we might have eternal life.” “We teach that agency is the ability and privilege God gives us to choose and ‘to act for [ourselves] and not to be acted upon.’ Agency is to act with accountability and responsibility for our actions. Our agency is essential to the plan of salvation. With it we are ‘to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil.’ ” (Elder Hales Agency: Essential to the Plan of Life General Conferences October 2010)

Why does it matter?: Though Agency in the worlds view is either a business organization or making choice it is actually much more in the LDS vocabulary. Agency is the gift that God gave us to let us to choose right or wrong. It isn't something we keep independently  we can give it to Satan or we can give it to God. We aren't just acted upon in this world, powerless to change our situation because we always can change our attitude. I have a testimony that any trial can be lightened (not that it is taken away) if we will use our agency to turn towards God.