Apr

29


After almost 4 years I graduated in December 2007 with a PhD in Marriage, Family, and Human Development at Brigham Young University. However, since Commencement Exercises are held in April and August only, December graduates are invited to the April commencement following their graduation.

Therefore I went to the April commencement last week. During this ceremony, since I was the only one receiving a PhD, my name was read first and I had to walk across the stage to receive the diploma but only after being “hooded” by my graduate committee chair, Dr. Jeff Hill. It was an interesting experience.

A few pictures:

My wife and I

Last one, Dr. Jason Carroll, myself, Dr. Jeff Hill

Apr

29

I have already blogged about it, but now I have found the link to the complete talk by Elder Ballard. We, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons) need to make sure that our influence is felt not only in person, but also in writing on the Internet. We can reach many more people in this way. The people we will ever meet personally will always be a limited number, but on the Internet we can make a difference in a larger scale.

Quoting from Elder Ballard:

I think most of you know that I have a great concern and love for our full-time missionaries. The leaders of the Church constantly pray for every missionary to be spiritually strong and powerful teachers… The 53,000 missionaries currently serving face the same challenge, I believe most of you had on your missions – that of finding people to teach. You can help them! You can help remove the barriers that stop individuals from learning about and eventually accepting the gospel. Some barriers are geographical and some doctrinal, but many are due to misconceptions or misunderstandings. The Internet enables you to bypass some of these barriers. You can use your testimonies, education, skills and associations to be a great support to the missionaries who are now serving.

Do you know another language? Then you can do even more:

Each of you who know another language can continue through the Internet to prepare people to receive the missionaries. As you visit with them in their own language and share with them your experiences and love of the gospel, you can find more people for the missionaries to teach. This will have the added benefit of keeping your language skills fluent.

Be a member missionary has never been more exciting. Even if we live in Utah, where we often say -as an excuse perhaps - that everybody already knows about the Church, we can do member missionary work by using the Internet and reaching people across the earth who never heard or never really understood what the Mormon Church really teaches and stands for.

This is another way for you to be a member missionary. With more and more people living in apartments and gated communities, we need to use every wise way to make contact with the honest in heart who are seeking the truth and to kindle an interest to know more about the Church.

Link to the full text: Making Your Influence Felt by Elder M. Russell Ballard

Apr

26

The Internet can be used for good or evil. Elder Ballard told the graduates at BYU-Idaho:

“While there is so very much good, informative information on the Internet, one of Satan’s most seductive efforts is the increasingly present pornography appearing in all kinds of media”

However, along with the terrible effects of pornography, the Internet and other media are often used to spread falsehoods.

“Every month there are 60 billion searches for information on the Internet. Many are seeking information about the Church; and while some are finding the truth, others find anti-Mormon sites that mislead them and defame the Church.”

Because of these falsehoods and misconceptions about the Church found online, Elder Ballard urged the graduates to use their knowledge and testimony of the gospel to influence seekers of truth.

“Today I want to encourage you to reach out to others in the world to help change the perception and even the hearts of millions of our Heavenly Father’s children by correcting misunderstandings by sharing with them the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Elder Ballard suggested that graduates join in conversations on the Internet to share the gospel and to explain the message of the Restoration in simple, clear terms. As they participate in these new media, Elder Ballard continued, the graduates should remember first and foremost that they are followers of the Savior Jesus Christ.

Source: Apostle urges BYU-Idaho graduates to make their influence felt in the digital world

Apr

25

Many of the news reports coming from Texas about the problems with the FLDS Church have left the impression that they are ‘Mormons’ in the sense that they are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, they are not. They are a different church, and a very small one. However, several of our non-member friends have asked us quite sincerely about it. Some here who oppose the growth of the Church are promoting the idea to damage the reputation of the Church.
So, for those of you who may have been watching the news lately and may have wondered…

Some Mormon women sing…

Some Mormon women dance…

Julianne Hough – Dancing with the Stars

Some Mormon women write New York Times best sellers that are immediately made into movies…

Stephenie Meyer “Twilight” series

Some Mormon women have lots of money and really great hair…

Marie Osmond

I know hundreds of Mormon women. They do all kinds of different things and live all different kinds of lives. This woman served as a leader in the Mormon Church. She recently spoke to teenage girls worldwide. She encouraged them to stand up to peer pressure, strengthen their families and serve others.

Susan Tanner

None of the Mormon women I know look like this…


None of them are marrying off their teenage daughters and none of them really want to share their husband with anyone.

Furthermore…

Some Mormon guys can throw a ball…

Some Mormon guys yell at the ball…

Andy Reid – Philadelphia Eagles Football Coach

Some Mormons are Democrats and some are Republicans . . .

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Senator Orin Hatch

Some Mormon guys are fun to listen to on radio AND TV . . .

Glenn Beck

Some Mormon guys at 17 are insanely adorable and sing like an angel…

David Archuleta- American Idol

In fact, lots and lots of Mormons sing really, really well . . .

Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Some Mormon guys make funny movies…

Napoleon Dynamite

Some Mormon guys have a lot of money and really great hair…

I know hundreds of Mormon guys. They do all kinds of different things and live all kinds of different lives. This is one of the leaders of the LDS (Mormon) Church. This month he spoke about honoring women, especially mothers, and gave advice to husbands and children about how to treat the women in their lives.

Russell Ballard

None of the Mormon men I know look like this…

The Mormon men I know are honest and hard-working. They don’t cheat, smoke, drink or gamble. And TRUST ME….the last thing any of them want is another wife.

The leaders of our church, along with the 13 million members worldwide, want the world to know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are not the FLDS practicing polygamy where the federal government just raided and took over 400 children into state custody to protect them. In fact, we have absolutely no connection with them at all.

Get the word out to everyone who may be confused!

Your Mormon Friend

Apr

7

General conferences of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church) take place every six months, originating in the 21,000-seat Conference Center in Salt Lake City and reaching a global audience estimated to be in the millions.

Speakers at this weekend’s general conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints focused on subjects such as faith, strengthening families and fostering righteous traditions.

Among the many great talks these are a few thoughts from my favorites talks.

“Do not try to control your children,” Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles encouraged parents. “Instead, listen to them, help them to learn the gospel, inspire them, and lead them toward eternal life.”

President Thomas S. Monson

President Thomas S. Monson - © 2008 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

Sister Cheryl C. Lant, Primary General President asked parents, “Are we consciously creating righteous traditions, or is life just happening to us?” She added, “Are our traditions being created in response to the loud voices of the world, or are they influenced by the still small voice of the Spirit?”

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles encouraged attendees at conference to have: “more compassion for those who are different from us.” He added that if we were to do that: “it would lighten many of the problems and sorrows in the world today.”

Elder Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency noted that: “Families across the Church are searching for ways to strengthen and protect their children against the evils around them.” He added that he was: “confident that there will be, increasingly, a reward given by God for their efforts. Those who never give up will find that God never gave up and that He will help them.”

Elder Gerald N. Lund of the Seventy said: “The heart is a tender place. It is sensitive to many influences, both positive and negative. It can be hurt by others. It can be deadened by sin. It can be softened by love.” He added: “the condition of our hearts directly affects our sensitivity to spiritual things,” and encouraged attendees to: “make it a part of our everyday striving to open our hearts to the Spirit.”

“If you are currently being abused or have been in the past, find the courage to seek help,” encouraged Apostle Elder Richard G. Scott. “Have the courage to act now. Seek the support of someone you can trust. Get help now. The Lord will help you, but you must reach out for that help.”

Speaking to the young men of the Church, President Thomas S. Monson said: “My young friends, be strong. The philosophies of men surround us. The face of sin today often wears the mask of tolerance.” He added the caution: “Do not be deceived; behind that façade is heartache, unhappiness and pain. You know what is right and what is wrong, and no disguise, however appealing, can change that.”

President Monson continued: “There is no friendship more valuable than your own clear conscience, your own moral cleanliness — and what a glorious feeling it is to know that you stand in your appointed place clean and with confidence that you are worthy to do so.”

President Thomas S. Monson extended an invitation to Latter-day Saints who are not fully engaged in the Church. “Come back,” he offered. “We reach out to you in the pure love of Christ and express our desire to assist you and to welcome you into full fellowship. To those who are wounded in spirit or who are struggling and fearful, we say, let us lift you and cheer you and calm your fears.”

“Take literally the Lord’s invitation,” he continued. “‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’”

In the Sunday afternoon session, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said: “Some Christians, in large measure because of their genuine love for the Bible, have declared that there can be no more authorized scripture beyond the Bible.”

He added: “In thus pronouncing the canon of revelation closed, our friends in some other faiths shut the door on divine expression that we in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hold dear — the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price and the ongoing guidance received by God’s anointed prophets and apostles.”

Elder W. Craig Zwick of the Seventy said: “It requires courage to make good choices, even when others around us choose differently.” He continued: “As we make righteous choices day by day in little things, the Lord will strengthen us and help us choose the right during more difficult times.”

Apostle Elder M. Russell Ballard said: “While women live in homes under many different circumstances — married, single, widowed, or divorced, some with children and some without — all are beloved of God.” He added: “He has a plan for His righteous daughters to receive the highest blessings of eternity.”

Apr

5

Today during the Solemn Assembly Thomas Spencer Monson was sustained as the 16th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 5, 2008, following the death of President Gordon B. Hinckley.

During the meeting Elder D. Todd Christofferson was sustained as the most recent member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the second-highest governing body of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Christofferson was born in Pleasant Grove, Utah, on January 24, 1945. He graduated from high school in New Jersey and attended Brigham Young University as an Edwin S. Hinckley Scholar. After receiving his bachelor’s degree from BYU, Christofferson earned a law degree from Duke University School of Law. After graduating from law school, he clerked for Chief Judge John Sirica of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

During his career, Christofferson practiced law in Washington, D.C., North Carolina, and Tennessee. While in Charlotte, North Carolina, Christofferson was associate general counsel for NationsBank Corp. (now Bank of America). He has also worked in various civic capacities, including chairman of Affordable Housing of Nashville, Tennessee.

Elder Christofferson has served in many positions in the Church, including those of bishop, stake president, and regional representative. On April 3, 1993, he was sustained as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. On April 15, 1998 he was called as a member of the Presidency of the Seventy, and was sustained in that position on October 3, 1998. While serving in the Presidency of the Seventy, Elder Christofferson had supervisory responsibility for the North America Northwest and North America West Areas.

Elder Christofferson is married to Katherine Jacob Christofferson. They have five children.

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