Aug

11

I grew up in Italy during the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union. In 1989 I was still living in Italy and I can vividly remember the impact and the excitement created by the fall of the Berlin Wall. On a particular day I was in my lunch break and I saw those historic images on TV when East Germans started climbing onto and crossed the wall, joined by West Germans on the other side. It really was the ushering of a new era for Europe. In the following year Germany was reunified in a process that seemed impossible even a few months before.

In spite of the importance of the US President Ronald Reagan in the process, I still think that the change was possible mostly because of the reforms of Mikhail Gorbachev in the Soviet Union. It was a lot harder for him than for Ronald Reagan to lead the change in his own country, where the opposition against reforms was a lot stronger and dangerous.

Now, the same day of the opening of the Olympics in China, Russia invaded Georgia. I was looking around in the news and I found this recent comment by Gorbachev: US could start new Cold War. Mikhail Gorbachev has accused the United States of mounting an imperialist conspiracy against Russia that could push the world into a new Cold War.

This is very interesting. We are now in 2008 and we got used to this new situation, post Cold War. However, Russia is still a major world power and even if many changes in Russia happened, it is still a very young democracy and very fluid, I would add.

According to Gorbachev,

“We had 10 years after the Cold War to build a new world order and yet we squandered them.”

“The United States cannot tolerate anyone acting independently.”

“Every US president has to have a war.”

I am not an expert in foreign policies, and I am not sure if I agree completely with Mr. Gorbachev. However, I remember President Gordon B. Hinckley - and before him many others, including President Kimball, warning against putting our trust in the arm of flesh or in the military, while at the same time forgetting that the real protection come from the Lord, who delights himself in protecting a just people, but does not respond to the pleas of an evil nation.

In the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church), in October 2002, Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, gave a talk “Blessed Are the Peacemakers” where he said,

Peace is a prime priority that pleads for our pursuit.The commandments to love God and neighbor are interrelated. We cannot fully love God without loving our neighbor. We cannot fully love our neighbor without loving God. Men really are brothers because God really is our Father. Nevertheless, scriptures are studded with stories of contention and combat. They strongly condemn wars of aggression but sustain obligations of citizens to defend their families and their freedoms.

I am not sure what is the right things to do, and I am glad I am not in the position of making very difficult decisions in terms of war and peace, but I know that hatred, aggression, and war only create more hatred and more wars. Russia is now creating a difficult situation, and the day they choose to attack is quite troubling, but the response to their actions may make a big difference.

If people think that there are too many pages about wars in the Book of Mormon, they simply need to realize that that book was written for our generation. It becomes always more evident why.

May

28

Similarly to the previous video, which was based on the testimonies of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this second amazing video includes the testimonies of the members of the First Presidency of the Mormon Church, President Monson, President Eyring, and president Ucthdorf. Enjoy it, it is great! I know that they are prophets of God.

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.”

Oct

23

There is an amazing series of pictures and comments by a great photographer describing the love among the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints during the last general Conference at Meridian Magazine online:

this is the link to the full photo essay called: Tender Moments

This is the first picture and I have posted it here just to give a little taste of what you can find in the full version on Meridian Magazine. There is a lot more. I suppose that this can be considered fair use since I am only promoting their great photo essay.

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