{"id":9422,"date":"2018-02-26T20:30:38","date_gmt":"2018-02-27T02:30:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ldswomenofgod.com\/?p=9422"},"modified":"2018-02-26T21:55:38","modified_gmt":"2018-02-27T03:55:38","slug":"identifying-myself-as-a-true-saint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.reliefsocietywomen.com\/blog\/2018\/02\/26\/identifying-myself-as-a-true-saint\/","title":{"rendered":"Identifying Myself As a True Saint"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is a General Conference Odyssey post for April 1979, Saturday afternoon.<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

This session taught such doctrine as to make it possible to clearly identify myself<\/span>\u00a0as a true Saint. We might all ask ourselves the following questions to see where our heart really lies.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Do I Accept Russell M. Nelson as the living prophet and spokesman of the Lord, Jesus Christ?<\/span><\/h3>\n

We hear, in General\u00a0<\/span>Conference a lot, the importance of following the prophet. Is this something we think about in between conferences? What does it mean to follow the prophet? What can it mean to us when we actually do what he asks us to do? Why is\"\"<\/a> accepting President\u00a0<\/span>Nelson as our prophet so important?<\/span><\/p>\n

Identifying myself as a true Saint means that I will remember what the prophet has asked me to do, and \u201cdo it.\u201d Pres. Monson\u2019s final words<\/a> to us were to read the Book of Mormon and to be kind to everyone. Pres. Nelson has spoken much about keeping the family strong, both here on earth as well as providing saving ordinances to those in the Spirit World.<\/span><\/p>\n

As confirmed in Mark E. Petersen\u2019s talk, \u201cSigns of the True Church,\u201d<\/a> I am a true Saint because I believe in modern revelation revealed by a living prophet, as well as additional revealed scripture. These are two hallmarks of the LDS church, and I choose to align myself with this belief.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Do I Labor to Live by the Spirit?<\/span><\/h3>\n

The key word is \u201clabor.\u201d It isn\u2019t easy to live by the spirit and it takes consistent practice, especially needed in difficult circumstances. Howard W. Hunter quoted President Woodruff in his talk, \u201cDeveloping Spirituality.\u201d<\/a> It is important to note that these words were printed in the newspaper!<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201c\u2026This is the Spirit that we must have to carry out the purposes of God on the earth. We need that more than any other gift. \u2026 We are in the midst of enemies, in the midst of darkness and temptation, and we need to be guided by the spirit of God\u201d (Deseret Weekly, 1896).<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Can you imagine reading this in the newspaper today? How would it be received? Why do you think some people would have such a hard time with this advice?<\/span><\/p>\n

Elder Hunter admits it is difficult to develop spirituality. \u201cIt takes time and frequently involves a struggle. \u2026 is accomplished only through deliberate effort and by calling upon God and keeping his commandments.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Identifying myself as a true Saint means I will labor toward the struggle of feeling\u2014daily\u2014the Holy Ghost, <\/span>because I know that I need His guidance every day to recognize good from evil, staying focused enough to carry out the purposes of God.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Do I Realize and Perform the Labor Intended to Seal My Family in the House of the Lord?<\/span><\/h3>\n

At the opening of this last and final dispensation, Moroni came to visit Joseph Smith four times with the same message (see JS-H 1:30-50<\/a>). This message is the focus of our church today: to spread the gospel across the earth, as well as the Spirit World, in order to link everyone into a giant chain that will one day be presented to the Lord.<\/span><\/p>\n

An overwhelming, but glorious, work of performance by a true Saint, to be sure.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Do I Claim Jesus Christ as My Savior?<\/span><\/h3>\n

This question can simply be answered in testimony through word and action. Hartman Rector, Jr. gave us some thoughtful questions in his talk, \u201cFollowing Christ to Victory\u201d:<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n