162nd Annual General Conference of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Sunday morning,
April 1992
Key Doctrines and Principles:
The moral and spiritual environment
we raise families in is declining while society, as a whole, attempts to absolve
itself from responsibility in the name of agency, rights, and freedoms. Elder Packer explained, “There are both moral
and physical laws “irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this
world” (D&C
130:20) which man cannot overrule. For instance, do you think a vote to
repeal the law of gravity would do any good?”
Prophets have the right and an
obligation to speak out about moral issues to raise a warning voice to guide,
teach, comfort. No matter what mistakes may occur course corrections are
possible through repentance and following their directives.
Favorite Quotes:
“We
find the pollution index is spiraling upward . . . [as] those determined to transgress
. . . seek to have their actions
condoned by making them legal. People who are otherwise sensible say, ‘I do not
intend to indulge, but I vote for freedom of choice for those who do.’”
Flawed
Argument – “Regardless of how lofty and moral the “pro-choice” [or another]
argument sounds, it is badly flawed. With that same logic one could argue that
all traffic signs and barriers which keep the careless from danger should be
pulled down on the theory that each individual must be free to choose how close
to the edge he will go.”
The
Measure of a Successful Parent – “It is a great challenge to raise a family in the darkening mists of our moral
environment. We emphasize that the greatest work you will do will be within the
walls of your home (see Harold B. Lee, Ensign, July 1973, p. 98), and that ‘no
other success can compensate for failure in the home’ (David O.
McKay,Improvement Era, June 1964, p. 445).”
“The measure of our success as parents,
however, will not rest solely on how our children turn out. That judgment would
be just only if we could raise our families in a perfectly moral environment,
and that now is not possible.”
“ Pray for your careless and disobedient
children; hold on to them with your faith. Hope on, trust on, till you see the
salvation of God.” (Orson F. Whitney, in Conference Report, Apr. 1929, p. 110.)”
“We cannot overemphasize the value of
temple marriage, the binding ties of the sealing ordinance, and the standards
of worthiness required of them. President Brigham Young said:
‘Let the father and mother, who are
members of this Church and Kingdom, . . . strive with all their might never to
do a wrong, but to do good all their lives; . . . binding [children] to the
Lord by their faith and prayers, . . . [until] they are bound up to their
parents by an everlasting tie, and no power of earth or hell can separate them
from their parents in eternity; . . .’ (Joseph
Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols.,
2:90–91.)”
No
Free Agency - "The phrase 'free agency' does not appear in scripture. The
only agency spoken of there is moral agency, 'Which,' the Lord said, 'I have
given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day
of judgment.' (D&C 101:78)"
Repentance
– “In the battle of life, the adversary takes enormous numbers of
prisoners, and many who know of no way to escape and are pressed into his
service. Every soul confined to a concentration camp of sin and guilt has a key
to the gate. The adversary cannot hold them if they know how to use it. The key
is labeled Repentance. The twin principles of repentance and forgiveness exceed in
strength the awesome power of the adversary.
“I know of no sins connected with the
moral standard for which we cannot be forgiven.”
So What?
Many truths taught by Elder Packer in 1992 were reiterated
again, almost verbatim, in April 2013 general
conference. Every church member has a duty and obligation similar to those that
President Packer taught that prophets have. They warn and guide. We choose to
obey or suffer the predicted dire consequences.
No comments:
Post a Comment