The Importance of Proper Indoctrination

This post is aimed directly at the critics of the Church who attack and mock our deeply held and divinely taught indoctrination techniques.  They think that by pointing these out it will make us look cultish and will have a negative impact on the mission that the Lord has bestowed upon us.  Of course nothing could be further from the truth. 

We are not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ or the way we teach it.  In fact when the word “indoctrination” is used in proper context by Church leaders it is anything but negative.  The intent of this post is to show the world that we as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are honoured to be known as a peculiar people and are proud of the tried and true methods of indoctrination that we use to help our members develop firm testimonies of the restored gospel.

Although most people view the term indoctrination in a negative light the dictionary correctly defines its meaning (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/indoctrinate) as follows:

“To teach (a person or group of people) systematically to accept doctrines, especially uncritically.” 

I couldn’t have said it better myself.  As members we raise our children to accept the doctrines of the church and discourage the negative critical attitudes towards these beliefs that are so prevalent in the world today. 

According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indoctrination)

“Indoctrination….is often distinguished from education by the fact that the indoctrinated person is expected not to question or critically examine the doctrine they have learned.”

This view is of course completely supported by the Church.  In fact Elder M. Russell Ballard after talking about how solidly anchored in our testimonies we must be succinctly stated “We won’t question the doctrines that are part of our belief.”

(http://lds.org/ensign/2011/08/solidly-anchored-in-our-testimonies?lang=eng)

 

Brothers and Sisters I hope you are beginning to see the word indoctrination in its true (non negative) light. 

Wikipedia goes on to state that “indoctrination implies causing people to act and think on the basis of a certain ideology.”

The worldly who tend to oppose such methods are then mentioned in the same article where it states that “Some secular critics maintain that all religions indoctrinate their adherents, as children, and the accusation is made in the case of religious extremism. Sects such as Scientology use personality tests and peer pressures to indoctrinate new members. Some religions have commitment ceremonies for children 13 years and younger, such as Bar Mitzvah, Confirmation, and Shichi-Go-San (baptizing our 8 year olds would also be a good example here). In Buddhism Temple boys are encouraged to follow the faith while still very young (it is the same in our religion too). Critics of religion, such as Richard Dawkins, maintain that the children of religious parents are often unfairly indoctrinated. The process of subjecting children to complex initiation rituals before they are able to critically assess the event is seen by Dawkins and other critics of religion as cruel.”

Now I should state that in the case of other religions I would tend to agree with what has been said but what people like Richard Dawkins will never understand is that members of our Church (which is the only true and living Church upon the face of the earth) are under certain scriptural obligations which carry with them solemn parental warnings.  In D&C 68:25 we are taught: “And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents.”

If any of you doubt the position of the church with regards to indoctrinating our young people the Church’s official website clears up the matter once and for all where it contains President Kimball’s inspiring talk entitled “When the World Will Be Converted” which included comments on the quality of missionaries needed in the field.  Here is what was said on the topic of indoctrination by the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a modern day prophet, seer and revelator:

“When I ask for more missionaries, I am not asking for more testimony-barren or unworthy missionaries. I am asking that we start earlier and train our missionaries better in every branch and every ward in the world…..I am asking for missionaries who have been carefully indoctrinated and trained through the family and the organizations of the Church.”

(http://www.lds.org/ensign/1974/10/when-the-world-will-be-converted?lang=eng)

May we be truly blessed as we indoctrinate a new generation of worthy missionaries who will willingly give up two years of their young lives in the service of the Church.  As a Stake President this is my humble prayer in the holy and sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Should a Man Marry a Man?

I recently came across a discussion on someone’s Facebook wall with regards to the question of whether homosexuals should have the right to marry one another.  The laws of many lands have been altered such that sodomy is no longer even considered a crime and those with same gender weaknesses can openly live with each other.  I am now told that they want to have the right to take their relationships one step further by marrying each other.  I can only assume that if this were to be granted it wouldn't be long until they were lobbying for the right to be sealed for time and all eternity in the temples of our Lord.  This needs to be stopped. 

In the discussion that took place a bishop of the Church presented as evidence (against homosexual marriage) the essential point that Adam and Eve, our first parents, were married by God. 

This led to much reflection in my mind and I believe this good bishop has hit the nail on the head.  If Adam and Eve were in fact the first humans, were real people and were married by their (and our) creator, even God the Eternal Father, then we humans have absolutely no right to make alterations to the definition of marriage.  To do so would be to put ourselves above our creator and would cause his judgments and wrath to come upon us.

If on the other hand Adam and Eve were not real people and the story of them is simply made up, and if marriage is in fact simply a man made institution then man does have the right to change the rules. 

So what do we know about Adam and Eve and what are the arguments used by those who do not accept them as real people? Allow me to briefly summarize.

As far as I can tell most Christian groups agree that the Fall of Adam took place about 6,000 years ago.  The Old Testament timeline that we give to our seminary students (and that I will happily attach to this post, if requested) and statements made by Church leaders show that we in the LDS Church also accept this.  We know from the scriptures that no death occurred for any forms of life before Adam’s fall (see “Death” in the bible dictionary), indeed it was his fall that caused death to occur upon the earth.

The so-called learned people of the world scoff at this assumption and claim that humans have been living (and dying) on the earth since well before 4,000 B.C.  The Sumerians for example supposedly had civilizations in operation some 1,300 years before the first human was even created! 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumer

The problem with accepting these conclusions is they can lead us further back in time such that one may even erroneously conclude that man is merely a product of evolution.

All of these theories of men are of course complete and utter nonsense.  The problem with the world is that they look at the evidence and then draw conclusions.  As more evidence comes to light their conclusions change and thus they find themselves being in the unfortunate predicament of ever learning but never coming to a knowledge of the truth. 

As members of the Lord’s church we have the distinct advantage of already having the answers/conclusions through direct revelation.  This allows us to interpret any evidence in such a way that it always supports that which has already been revealed.

Here are some quotes that have been revealed to the world from actual prophets of God and can be found at lds.org:

In the March 2008 Ensign, Apostle Boyd K Packer who may very well become the next President of the Church wrote the following:

“We are taught in Genesis, in Moses, in Abraham, in the Book of Mormon, and in the endowment that man’s mortal body was made in the image of God in a separate creation. Had the Creation come in a different way, there could have been no fall.”

I should add here that if there was no fall then there was no need for man to be redeemed from the fall by a saviour.  This could of course lead one to conclude that Christianity is a completely false man made religion. This line of thought is utterly preposterous.

Below are some quotes from the current Old Testament institute manual with regards to the evils concerning the theory of evolution:

http://institute.lds.org/manuals/old-testament-institute-student-manual-1/ot-in1-02-gen-a-2.asp

“Of course, I think those people who hold to the view that man has come up through all these ages from the scum of the sea through billions of years do not believe in Adam. Honestly I do not know how they can, and I am going to show you that they do not. There are some who attempt to do it but they are inconsistent—absolutely inconsistent, because that doctrine is so incompatible, so utterly out of harmony, with the revelations of the Lord that a man just cannot believe in both.”

“. . . I say most emphatically, you cannot believe in this theory of the origin of man, and at the same time accept the plan of salvation as set forth by the Lord our God. You must choose the one and reject the other, for they are in direct conflict and there is a gulf separating them which is so great that it cannot be bridged, no matter how much one may try to do so. . . .”

Brothers and Sisters I testify to you that Adam and Eve were real people and that they were the first human beings upon the earth.  I know this because the scriptures and modern day leaders within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have told me so.  The scriptures tell us that Adam and Eve were created and placed in the Garden of Eden, a real place that existed in the United States of America.  I know without a shadow of doubt that God married them and that marriage is ordained of God to be between one man and one woman only.  The Church has and always will support this view. 

Let us not defile the sacred institution of marriage by allowing perverted forms thereof. 

We have been warned in a proclamation to the family given to the whole world by our leaders “that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.”  We are seeing the fulfillment of this prophecy right before our eyes. 

To the faithful readers of this blog I beg you to please vote for political leaders who support the equal rights of all of God’s children to be born and raised in a home with both a mother and father.  In this way all families will be able to emulate the exemplary first family that was set up by God Himself, even that of Adam and Eve and their children which included Cain, Abel, Seth and many others.  I leave these thoughts with you in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen. 

The Big Bang Theory and Mormonism

Some of the things these scientists come up with are so utterly ridiculous that they aren’t even worth mentioning but this so called Big Bang theory of creation seems to have thrown a lot of people off course such that a prophet of the Lord has finally decided to put his foot down and set the record straight once and for all. 

According to Wikipedia (with my comments in brackets) “The Big Bang is a well-tested scientific theory (how on earth they could go about testing an explosion that supposedly occurred billions of years ago is beyond me) which is widely accepted within the scientific community because it is the most accurate and comprehensive explanation for the full range of phenomena astronomers observe. Since its conception, abundant evidence has arisen to further validate the model.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bang

With such nonsense on the Internet leading people astray it is all the more important for our prophets to speak out and one has done so at a time when it will have the most impact, even at the Sunday morning session of the April 2012 General Conference. 

Apostle Elder Nelson in speaking about the wonders of the human body said the following:
* “Yet some people erroneously think that these marvelous physical attributes happened by chance or resulted from a big bang somewhere.”  And then he goes on to show how utterly ridiculous this line of thinking is by saying “Ask yourself, “Could an explosion in a printing shop produce a dictionary?” The likelihood is most remote. But if so, it could never heal its own torn pages or reproduce its own newer editions!”

For the first time in my life I am going to have to admit that I honestly don’t think I could have said it better myself.  In fact from now on whenever someone says that they think our creation is a direct result of some explosion that occurred billions of years ago I will be using this precise example to prove them wrong.   

And once they realize (much to their embarrassment, I might add) just how wrong they are they will be open to learning the truth. And the plain and precious truth of the gospel always makes perfect sense such that even a child can comprehend.  So as a Stake President after teaching them the truths of the gospel I would look them in the eye and ask the following poignant question; "What sounds more plausible to you; that a big bang set in motion the events that led to our creation or that it was done by a glorified human being who according to the scriptural account in Abraham resides in the Kokaubeam right next to the ruling planet named Kolob?"




*http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/thanks-be-to-god?lang=eng

A Stake President Denounces Cross-dressing

An excerpt from an address given by President Paternoster at a recent Stake Relief Society fireside:

.......and this is why we do not complain or murmur that we have no temple here in Ireland whilst the members in America enjoy Church funded malls.

And now I will answer one last question that was submitted in preparation for my presence here today. 

Sisters I must admit that it grieves my soul to have to address this issue.  But, notwithstanding the greatness of the task, as the presiding High Priest in the Stake I cannot shy away from warning you concerning the lures of Satan that surround us in these latter days. 

One of you asked why it was that sisters are counseled not to wear pants to church.  It was mentioned that being the year 2012 surely equal rights ought to be given to the women of the Church in this matter. 

Allow me to address this issue head on.  As the women of the world increasingly leave their homes to follow their husbands into the workforce many have succumbed to the temptation to wear pants.  This, they assume, helps them to look authoritative and has even been attributed in some cases to them being given dominion over the man in the workplace.  I know of several companies that even pride themselves on their policy of paying women the same amount as men for doing similar work.

This trend of women wearing men’s clothing has even infiltrated the Lord’s Church where I have beheld on more than one occasion a sister dressed in pants.  Make no mistake about it; this is displeasing unto the Lord.

In Deuteronomy 22:5 it clearly states that “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man”. 

Quite frankly I do not know how to say it any clearer than that.  And just in case you are wondering, the same goes for men also where it states that “neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment”. 

Sisters this practice of dressing up in the clothing of the opposite sex is commonly known as “Cross-dressing” and the scripture goes on to say (speaking of those who engage in such practices) that “all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God”.

Do you sweet sisters wish to be thought of by the Lord as an abomination? Do you think that God, even He who created the heavens and earth takes such things lightly?  No.  The Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance.

Some may argue that it is man who looketh on the outward appearance but that the Lord looketh on the heart, but ask yourself this; can a woman who wears men’s clothing in opposition to the Holy Scriptures and in open rebellion to the counsel of her priesthood leaders do so and still maintain the guidance of the Holy Spirit?  I say unto you nay.  For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to damnation. 

And even worse than wearing pants to Church is the audacity that we occasionally see of sisters wearing them to the sacred and holy temples of the Lord.  This gross error in judgment has caused the leaders of the Church, even our prophets, seers and revelators, to take the necessary steps to nip this in the bud by addressing it right in the temple preparation manual. 

Under the section “Special Preparations for the First Temple Visit” it addresses the very important issue of dress wherein it instructs members to “Plan to dress as you would when attending Sunday meetings”. (And just to avoid any confusion amongst the sisters this includes the counsel that “Women should not wear pants to the temple”.  See this link: http://www.lds.org/manual/endowed-from-on-high-temple-preparation-seminar-teachers-manual/lesson-6-preparing-to-enter-the-holy-temple?lang=eng ).

I am thankful for those sisters who meekly and obediently follow the inspired counsel of the priesthood brethren as they lovingly show us how to become more Christlike in our outward appearance.  I testify that you will be blessed as you avoid the temptation to cross-dress and I leave these thoughts with you in the sacred and holy name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Keeping Funerals in Accordance with Church Policy

Opportunities to reactivate those who have fallen away from the true path of the gospel are all around us.  When 66 year old Sister Kennedy passed away last month I knew this would be an ideal opportunity to encourage her only daughter to return to full activity in the Church.

Carrie hasn’t attended Church in over two years.  She has been unable to overcome her feelings of disgust concerning the Prophet Joseph Smith who while in the prime of his life meekly submitted to the will of the Lord in marrying several young teenage brides and humbly took upon himself the burden of marrying the wives of other men while they were serving the Lord on full time missions. 

When we met in my office to discuss funeral arrangements I knew that this would be a great opportunity to encourage her to use the atonement to overcome her negative feelings towards the prophet and invite her to return to full activity in the Church.  I even had a calling in mind for her so that she would know that she is both needed and loved and that I, even the Stake President, am willing to overlook her harsh and self destructive initial reaction towards the man whom we praise as having communed with Jehovah.  
  
Carrie was well prepared for our meeting and knew exactly how she wanted the funeral service to go.  She seemed so much more assertive than she used to be as an active member and I wondered what had happened to the submissive Carrie I used to know.  I shan’t get into details but she had a family ritual dating back centuries and a presentation she wanted to do.  She also wanted her non member Aunt to speak about Sister Kennedy’s life.  I quickly let her know that as per the newly updated and inspired instruction manual given to Church leaders a funeral is in fact a Church meeting presided over by priesthood authority.  I quoted from the manual (feel free to follow along http://www.lds.org/handbook/handbook-2-administering-the-church/meetings-in-the-church?lang=eng&query=funeral#186) where it states that “Many religions and cultures have rituals, ordinances, and customs associated with death and mourning for the dead. The restored gospel of Jesus Christ has no such rituals or ordinances. Church leaders should not incorporate rituals of other religions or groups (and I mentioned that this includes family groups) into Church services for deceased members.”

Afraid that she might say something negative about the Church were she allowed to speak and concerned that her aunt may not keep her comments in harmony with the restored gospel of Jesus Christ I took the opportunity to assure Carrie that as a Church we understand more than anyone how difficult this time must be and that this is reflected in our manual where it specifically instructs that “Members of the family should not feel that they are required to speak or otherwise participate in the service.”

I also read the important part of the manual where the Lord inspired our leaders to write that “Having large numbers of people share tributes or memories can make a funeral too long and may be inappropriate for a Church service.”  I have always felt the importance of not boring the congregation with all sorts of personal memories of the deceased.

I did assure her though that she and her aunt would get front row seats while I and a few other priesthood leaders spoke of the glorious plan of salvation that Joseph Smith restored to the earth.  I further assured her that my remarks would include the requirements associated with each kingdom of glory and would focus specifically on the state of joy and happiness of those such as the late Sister Kennedy who, unlike so many others, endured in the gospel until the end. 

Carrie seemed to be getting a little agitated at this point but calmly asked if as part of the service she could at least show a short video she had made on her mother’s life.  I was able to inform her that the Church has a clear policy on this matter instructing that “Video recordings and computer or other electronic presentations should not be used as part of a funeral service.”

Carrie mentioned that videos are often shown at baptismal services while the people are getting changed, after the baptism takes place.  I had to explain to her that funerals are very different from baptisms and that while the reasons aren’t given in the manual, the prophets, seers and revelators have, in their infinite wisdom, expressly forbidden videos being shown at funerals.  I testified that I knew we would be blessed as we exercised the faith required to follow these instructions. 

Carrie then expressed an interest in setting up a live video feed so that the many relatives in America could see the service.  I was pleased to inform her that the manual specifically addresses this very issue where it states “Nor should the service be broadcast on the Internet or in any other way.” I suggested that the relatives in America might enjoy the service a lot more were they to attend in person.

Carrie asked whether the funeral services of apostles (and even that of Church president’s such as Gordon B. Hinckley) were broadcast to the world and I was able to confirm that in the case of high ranking Church officials who have righteously served the Lord all their lives broadcasts serve as an excellent missionary tool and a reminder of what each of us can become should we keep our lives in harmony with the Lord.

I then brought up the topic of clothing and Carrie mentioned that she and her aunt intended to go to the funeral home to put on her mothers best Sunday dress in preparation for the service and burial.  This was of course completely unacceptable and I will admit that by this point I started having second thoughts about extending her a Church calling.  I patiently explained to Carrie that since her mother had been through the temple she “should be buried in temple clothing” and that this could be done only by worthy endowed members of the Church.

When asked why being buried in the clothes of the temple was so important I explained to Carrie that the mysteries of the Kingdom are only given unto those who are prepared to hear them and if she would like to participate in the temple preparation class that will soon be starting in our ward she can ask this question there.

At this point Carrie stood up and quickly thanked me for my time saying she had another appointment to get to.  I haven’t heard from her or the funeral home for well over three weeks now and must remember to follow up to see when we can move forward with the service.

A Plea to Africa; Cease Your False Traditions!

The one thing that would really get under my skin when I was living in Africa was when the people would waste their precious money on tribal traditions (related mainly to marriage and funeral ceremonies) that were obviously not in harmony with the gospel of Jesus Christ, and then would be unable to give their hard earned money to the Church.   

Finally an apostle of the Lord, even Dallin H Oaks, has addressed this issue head on, appealing to the people of Africa to give up their false traditions such that they can worthily donate to the Lord’s Kingdom upon the earth.  Brothers and Sisters please open up your copy of this month’s Ensign and find the article entitled “The Gospel Culture”, or follow along at this link: http://www.lds.org/ensign/2012/03/the-gospel-culture?lang=eng

Allow me to quote directly from the article:
“To help its members all over the world, the Church teaches us to give up any personal or family traditions or practices that are contrary to the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ and to this gospel culture.…we appeal to our older members to put away traditions and cultural or tribal practices that lead them away from the path of growth and progress.  We ask all to climb to the higher ground of the gospel culture, to practices and traditions that are rooted in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.”

One of the main areas in which the people of Africa need to climb to the higher ground of the gospel is with the issue of marriage.  Africans just don’t do it the right way and Elder Oaks is forced to ask: “Marriage is essential, but in Africa we must ask, what kind of marriage?”

Finally someone who is willing to stand up to the African people and bluntly ask them what on earth they think they are doing!  Finally someone who has the courage to lovingly invite them to relinquish their long held traditions and do things the right way!  If ever you have doubted the divine calling of Dallin H. Oaks as an Apostle of the Lord now would be a good time to repent of, and forsake such feelings. 

With regards to the false cultural practices surrounding weddings and funerals Oaks goes on to lovingly counsel Africans to “Avoid expensive feasts and extensive travel.”

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of not having expensive feasts at these once in a lifetime events.  A simple African meal consisting of fried bananas wrapped in Plantain leaves with perhaps a little fish should be more than sufficient for the occasion.  Family members including parents who do not live close by need not waste precious resources to attend.

This counsel is especially important as it will help keep members out of debt. Debt, warns Oaks, “will weaken or prevent your ability to pay tithing, to attend the temple, and to send your children on missions. Make plans that will strengthen—not weaken—your future Church activity.”

The people of Africa clearly have a choice; either they can have memorable feasts on special occasions or they can be obedient to the counsel of an inspired Apostle of the Lord by giving their money to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  To me the choice is crystal clear. 

Africans need to keep in mind the following words of Elder Oaks “When the people of God withheld their tithes and offerings, God condemned the “whole nation” (Malachi 3:9).”  Church members ought to understand that to a certain extent they are personally responsible for the poverty, natural disasters, political unrest and other condemnations that the Lord pours out upon their nation if they are not full tithe payers, but there is much hope in the following words of the Lord's anointed: “I believe that when many citizens of a nation are faithful in the payment of tithes, they summon the blessings of heaven upon their entire nation.”  Surely truer words have never been spoken.

I would invite all to follow my personal example by sending a letter to Elder Oaks thanking him for lovingly counseling Africans in this way.  The time has come for them to stop using the sacred funds of the Church from America and to stand on their own two feet.  And to the critics that will surely accuse us of cultural genocide (claiming that we have no right to change the long held tribal traditions that exist in Africa), I testify that only in climbing to the higher ground of the gospel culture can the nations of the earth be blessed.  This solemn testimony I leave with you all, in the sacred and holy name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Follow President Paternoster; He Knows the Way

Words cannot express the sweet feeling of the spirit that was felt by all at our recent Stake Conference as the Stake President entered the Chapel to a standing audience while the primary children joyfully sang the words:
"Follow President Paternoster, follow President Paternoster,
follow President Paternoster; don't go astray.
Follow President Paternoster, follow President Paternoster,
follow President Paternoster; he knows the way."

Following local and General Authorities is the one sure path of happiness and safety.  If there is one thing that saddens a Stake President it is when he sees members reap the disappointment and despair that could so easily have been avoided had they obediently heeded his loving counsel in the first place.  Today we will discuss the important topic of following the counsel of the brethren to have a one year supply of food storage.

When I asked the O'Donoghues, a newly wed couple who are both full time students, to prayerfully consider cutting off their Internet service so that they could afford to buy a one year supply of wheat and honey they came back to me and said they didn’t have the space for all that food in their rented bedroom.  They also claimed they “needed” the Internet for school work.  I haven’t heard from them since telling them about how Sister Paternoster used to make lovely cushions and pillows filled with wheat and how back in our day we got through school just fine using encyclopedias. 

Obeying the Lord by obeying priesthood leaders often takes great sacrifice.  When the famines, storms and pestilences of the last days come upon us I fear that prayer alone may not be sufficient to save the O'Donoghues.    

There are those even in the Church who murmur and even mock such counsel, but with the help of this month’s Ensign such murmurings will surely be put to silence.  In the article entitled *“Follow the Prophet” Elder Bennett of the Seventy discusses how when he and his new bride were students the prophet at the time counseled all families to have a one year supply of food. 

We learn from the article that the Bennett’s had very little money but they did have one unnecessary possession that could be sold – an engagement ring.  Please carefully consider what Elder Bennett had to say about that time in their lives:

    

"Unbeknownst to each other, both of us were thinking about how to start home storage for our family. To obey the counsel of that time, we needed to start acquiring a year’s supply of food. But how were we supposed to do it? We were students—and would be for years to come—and didn’t have a lot of money. But how was I supposed to ask Shelley to do that? I had just given her the ring. What would she think about my asking her to sell it so we could buy some oats and flour and rice?"

Elder Bennett goes on to say “I was so grateful for her willingness to make such a sacrifice to follow the prophet…..We became accustomed to lugging buckets of wheat from apartment to apartment, house to house, and city to city”.

My favourite quote from the article that shows the true spirit of obedience to Church leaders is as follows:“An engagement ring usually represents a commitment.  But for my wife and me, not having an engagement ring represented our commitment to the Lord and His prophets.”

Brothers and Sisters let us not be like the heathens who put their trust in men, for the scriptures plainly tell us: "I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm." (2 Nephi 4:34)

Please take some time this week to consider some of the sacrifices you might make to follow the loving and inspired counsel of your Church leaders.

Ever your servant,

President Paternoster

*http://www.lds.org/ensign/2012/03/follow-the-prophet?lang=eng