Latter-day Saint student and film maker Seth Adam Smith has been creating and sharing poignant YouTube videos since the mid 2000′s. Many of these have been featured at Mormon Soprano. This week, Seth released The Testimony of Joseph Smith, which he says took over two years to make, and is as much a statement of his own spiritual witness, as that of the prophet. Continue reading
Cardinal George greeted by LDS Authorities
There’s an old saying: “What a difference a day makes“. In the grand scheme of things, a “day” might be 24 hours, or perhaps a week, a month, a decade, a generation, or even an eon. Biblically speaking, who is to say how long a “day” needs to last for God’s six creative steps, recorded in the first chapter of Genesis? Time is an elusive illusion. A mortal encumbrance. However, once in a while the whole creative process aligns in such a way that we are allowed to glimpse a significant change, and appreciate Gods handiwork.
Yesterday was one of those days. Continue reading
Each year the Young Men and Young Women of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (ages 12-18) receive a scriptural theme which will be a focal point for lessons, activities, youth camps, and firesides. The Theme for 2010 is
“Be Strong and of A Good Courage“
President Thomas S. Monson
Happy ”Valentine’s Eve”! I would like to share the following story about love shared by President Thomas S. Monson,of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Continue reading
Each year the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in conjunction with Brigham Young University, offers a week-long summer program for teens ages 14-18 called “Especially For Youth” (“EFY” for short). The first EFY program was held in 1976 in Provo, Utah. Continue reading
While driving to work, I had a favorite CD playing in my car – a collection of Andrew Lloyd Webber songs. I was preoccupied with the traffic, so the music mainly provided a soothing background. At one point, the lyrics of a particular song caught my attention. I felt moved by the sentiment of the words:
Love,
Love Changes Everything:
Hands and Faces,
Earth and Sky.
Love,
Love changes everything:
How you live and
How you die……Love will never let you be the same
- Lyrics by Don Black & Charles Hart
I realize that these lyrics were meant to refer to romantic love, but I couldn’t help reflect that in relation to the gift of charity, love really does change everything! When we are possessed with pure Christlike love, the way we feel about ourselves, the way we feel about others, and even the way we experience reality is never the same. Christlike love is not the giddy wave of affection we often associate with romantic love. It is something much more subtle, something deeper. It is a love that does not alter with our moods or with external circumstances.
If we continue earnestly, with faith and hope in Christ to seek the gift of charity, it will be granted to us. We can become filled with a love of God and of all people. The apostle Paul gave a beautiful promise:
“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”
- Ephesians 3:17-19
Video: “Love Changes Everything” performed by Michael Ball
We continue this week’s theme of love with a masterful sermon given on the subject by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This message was delivered at the 179th Semi-Annual General Conference on October 3, 2009.
President Uchtdorf
“Our Father in Heaven has given us, His children, much more than any mortal mind can comprehend. Under His direction the Great Jehovah created this wondrous world we live in. God the Father watches over us, fills our hearts with breathtaking joy, brightens our darkest hours with blessed peace, distills upon our minds precious truths, shepherds us through times of distress, rejoices when we rejoice, and answers our righteous petitions.”
The entire text, entitled “The Love of God” is worth careful study. I have included a video clip of the last half of this powerful message for you to ponder and enjoy. May we never forget;
” Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God’s love encompasses us completely….Since “God is love,”the closer we approach Him, the more profoundly we experience love.”
Happy Valentines Week!
Today we share a timely Mormon Messages musical video about love. The song entitled ”Love One Another” is a favorite Latter-day Saint Hymn written in 1961 by Luacine Clark Fox [1914-2002]. It is performed here by Debra Fotheringham and Russ Dixon [lead singer of the band "Colors"].
Happy Valentines Day!
Jesus Teaching
One day while Jesus was preaching, he was approached by a crafty lawyer who thought he could entrap the Savior with a seemingly ‘unanswerable’ question. He asked: “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?”
Perhaps one of the most overlooked of these commands is that we must love ourselves. In the United States the month of February focuses on the theme of love. It culminates with the celebration of St. Valentine’s Day. This year, I encouarge each of us to ponder what it really means to “love thyself“.Pres. James E. Faust
“The commandment given by the Savior was to love others and yourself. Am I secure enough in my love of myself to laugh at myself, to admit mistakes, to graciously accept a compliment? Am I secure in my love of others to smile and say hello to a perfect stranger?
…I testify that God loves each of us—warts and all. I testify that he knows each of our names. I testify that each of us has a potential in this life and beyond the grave that exceeds our fondest dreams. I testify through the gifts of the Holy Spirit that we are engaged in His holy work.- James E. Faust “The Value of Self Esteem“
