Eye Single to the Glory of God

Doctrine and Covenants 4:5 "Eye single to the glory of God"

"Imagine, if you will, a pair of powerful binoculars. Two separate optical systems are joined together with a gear to focus two independent images into one three-dimensional view. To apply this analogy, let the scene on the left side of your binoculars represent your perception of your task. Let the picture on the right side represent the Lord's perspective of your task -- the portion of His plan He has entrusted to you. Now, connect your system to His. By mental adjustment, fuse your focus. Something wonderful happens. Your vision and His are now the same. You have developed an "eye single to the glory of God." (Russell M. Nelson, Ensign, May 1988, p. 34.)

Family History

In exchange for the gift of life and other blessings, we promised to provide our "fathers" with the ordinances of eternal life. They are counting on that promise and will do all they can to help us fulfill it, as will the Lord. The help may extend even so far as our own conversions. Often when I am on a speaking assignment, I ask all the converts in a congregation to stand. I then ask all who are the only Church member in their family to remain standing. Remarkably, in every case almost all remain standing. People tend to join the Church one or two in a family.

Elder Melvin J. Ballard reflected on this truth and received an answer to explain it. He taught: "Why is it that sometimes only one of a city or household receives the Gospel? It was made known to me that it is because the righteous dead who have received the Gospel in the spirit world are exercising themselves, and in answers to their prayers elders of the Church are sent to the homes of their posterity . . ., and that descendant in the flesh is then privileged to do the work for his dead kindred. I want to say to you that it is with greater intensity that the hearts of the fathers and mothers in the spirit world are turned to their children now in the flesh than that our hearts are turned to them." (Melvin J. Ballard, Crusader for Righteousness, p. 219.)

We often wonder if our ancestors will accept the gospel. Ironically, in many instances, they accepted it before we did. Their prayers and faithfulness have brought the gospel into our lives instead of the other way around. Officiating in the temple for them is a deep expression of our gratitude and helps bind us to them.

If we are in tune, they will also help us as we try to locate the documents that record their names. As Elder Ballard said: "They know where their records are, and . . . the spirit and influence of your dead will guide those who are interested in finding those records. . . .. If there is anywhere on the earth anything concerning them, you will find it. .. . . If we have done our best and have searched and have discovered all that is available, then the day will come when God will open and part the veil, and the records . . . will be revealed. (Bryant S. Hinckley, Sermons and Missionary Services of Melvin Joseph Ballard, p. 230.)

Recently in general conference, Elder David B. Haight gave an added witness to the truths taught by Elder Ballard: "I believe that when you diligently seek after your ancestors in faith needed information will come to you even when no mortal records of their lives are available." (Ensign, May 1993, p. 25; emphasis added.)

From S. Michael Wilcox, House of Glory: Finding Personal Meaning in the Temple (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 106-107.

Sunday Will Come

"Each of us will have our own Fridays--those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays. But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death--Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come. No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come. In this life or the next, Sunday will come." (Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Sunday Will Come," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 30)

Revelation

Revelation: Doctrine and Covenants 6 

In our day, as in times past, many people expect that if there be revelation it will come with awe-inspiring, earth-shaking display. For many it is hard to accept as revelation those numerous ones in Moses' time, in Joseph's time, and in our own year--those revelations which come to prophets as deep, unassailable impressions settling down on the prophet's mind and heart as dew from heaven or as the dawn dissipates the darkness of night.

Expecting the spectacular, one may not be fully alerted to the constant flow of revealed communication. I say, in the deepest of humility, but also by the power and force of a burning testimony in my soul, that from the prophet of the Restoration to the prophet of our own year, the communication line is unbroken, the authority is continuous, and light, brilliant and penetrating continues to shine. The sound of the voice of the Lord is a continuous melody and a thunderous appeal. For nearly a century and a half there has been no interruption. (Spencer W. Kimball, Ensign, May. 1977, p. 78; or Conference Report, April 1977, p. 115.)

"When there come to you things that your mind does not know, when you have a sudden thought that comes to your mind, if you will learn to give heed to these things that come from the Lord, you will learn to walk by the spirit of revelation." (Harold B. Lee, in Conference Report, Mexico City Area Conference 1972, p. 49.)

Family Home Evening

Turning the Hearts of the Children: Doctrine and Covenants 2:2

Now keep in mind this: that when the full measure of Elijah's mission is understood, that the hearts of the children will be turned to the fathers, and the fathers to the children. It applies just as much on this side of the veil as it does on the other side of the veil. If we neglect our families here in having family home night and we fail in our responsibilities here, how could we feel that we are doing our full duty in turning the hearts of our children to their fathers.

How would heaven be if we lost some of those we love through our own neglect? The blessings in heaven won't be ours until we have done everything we can to save those whom the Lord has sent through our lineage. So, the hearts of your fathers and mothers must be turned to your children right now, if you have the true spirit of Elijah, and not think that it applies merely to those who are beyond the veil. Let your hearts be turned to your children, and teach your children; but you must do it when they are young enough to be properly schooled. If you are neglecting your family home evening, you are neglecting the beginning of the mission of Elijah just as certainly as if you were neglecting your genealogy research work. 
(Harold B. Lee, Priesthood Genealogy Seminar, 1973.)



We have often and fittingly used this exhortation to bolster our efforts in genealogical and temple work, but another dimension of its application could be the family home evening. President Harold B. Lee said, "I would have you consider seriously whether or not that binding with your family will be secure if you have waited until you have passed beyond the veil before your hearts then yearn for your children whom you have neglected to help along the way. It is time for us to think of turning the hearts of parents to children now while living, that there might be a bond between parents and children that will last beyond death. It is a very real principle, and we should consider it. (Ensign, February 1971, p. 11.) [Neal A. Maxwell, That My Family Should Partake (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1974), p. 111.]

The word turn here should be translated bind, or seal (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 330).
 

Sabbath Obbervance

"Our observance or nonobservance of the Sabbath is an unerring measure of our attitude toward the Lord personally and toward his suffering in Gethsemane, his death on the cross, and his resurrection from the dead.  It is a sign of whether we are Christians in very deed, or whether our conversion is so shallow that commemoration of his atoning sacrifice means little or nothing to us."
—Mark E. Petersen, "The Sabbath Day," Ensign, May 1975, 47
 (D&C 68:29)