The devotional this evening was amazing (as always). Each of the members of the First Presidency gave inspiring messages recalling experiences from their lives and sharing spiritual insights. I feel like the season is officially here now that these inspired prophets have ushered it in along with the amazing Mormon Tabernacle Choir! Awesome.
First Presidency Christmas Devotional
Posted in Family, Happiness, LDS Church, Leadership | Tags: Mormon, TeamLaws, Team, Laws, first presidency Christmas devotional, LDS Church, Latter-Day Saints
Free Books!

Free is pretty sweet and there are some really good books here. There’s stuff for youth (Weyland and Bytheway) adults (Holzapfel), stuff on parenting (Top) and even a book about maturation and sex.
Check em out!
Deseret Book Free Books: http://deseretbook.com/free
Mirrored in my Google Docs (in case they are taken down in the future): http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0BzjudQfI411aZGQxZjhmZDAtNTNlMi00MDE2LWJiNDYtMDNlNDY0NDUzYzA5&hl=en
Posted in Cool Stuff, Faith, Family, Free Stuff, Joy, LDS Church, Scriptures | Tags: Brad Wilcox, free agency, Free Stuff, John Bytheway, Laws, LDS Books, LDS Life, Maturation and Sex, Parenting advice, PDF books, Priesthood, Relief Society, Team, TeamLaws
Oct 09 General Conference Highlights
Virtue
These days there are many pressures on our youth (and everyone else) to “go along with the crowd” and participate in activities that ultimately degrade personal character and erode the foundations of personal worthiness. The Lord Jesus Christ has been very clear (through His prophets) what He expects. The tenets in the pamphlet “For the Strength of Youth” give great council for all of us. While researching the topic I came across this great page.
Posted in Covenants, Discipleship, Happiness, Obedience | Tags: cleanliness, Laws, LDS Virtue, LDS Youth, morality, morality for youth, Mormon virtue, standards, Team, TeamLaws, virtue
The Nauvoo Experience
Our clan had a great time visiting Nauvoo and Carthage Illinois this summer for our vacation. They have a great pageant in Nauvoo that is put on each year during the month of July as well as other summer programs highlighting the lives and sacrifices of the early members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Many of the buildings of old Nauvoo have been restored and are available for touring daily. The lodging in Nauvoo is more abundant than ever since the rebuilding of the Nauvoo Temple in 2002. President Gordon B. Hinckley stated in November 02 General Conference:
Under the prompting of the Spirit, and motivated by the desires of my father, who had served as mission president in that area and who wished to rebuild the temple for the centennial of Nauvoo but was never able to do so, we announced in the April conference of 1999 that we would rebuild that historic edifice.
Excitement filled the air. Men and women came forth with a desire to be helpful. Large contributions of money and skills were offered. Again, no expense was spared. We were to rebuild the house of the Lord as a memorial to the Prophet Joseph and as an offering to our God. On the recent 27th of June, in the afternoon at about the same time Joseph and Hyrum were shot in Carthage 158 years earlier, we held the dedication of the magnificent new structure. It is a place of great beauty. It stands on exactly the same site where the original temple stood. Its outside dimensions are those of the original. It is a fitting and appropriate memorial to the great Prophet of this dispensation, Joseph the Seer.
How grateful I am, how profoundly grateful for what has happened. Today, facing west, on the high bluff overlooking the city of Nauvoo, thence across the Mississippi, and over the plains of Iowa, there stands Joseph’s temple, a magnificent house of God. Here in the Salt Lake Valley, facing east to that beautiful temple in Nauvoo, stands Brigham’s temple, the Salt Lake Temple. They look toward one another as bookends between which there are volumes that speak of the suffering, the sorrow, the sacrifice, even the deaths of thousands who made the long journey from the Mississippi River to the valley of the Great Salt Lake.
(We were in Nauvoo the last part of June 1999 just after the rebuilding of the temple had been announced)
We enjoyed thoroughly the pageant (we attended 4 nights in a row) and all of the other sites in the Nauvoo area. If you decide to go prepare to have a great time and leave with a much greater appreciation for the lives and times of the early Saints. Nauvoo is indeed a “beautiful place” or “beautiful city” as the Prophet Joseph named it.
Elder David A. Bednar Apostle of the Lord

- Elder David A. Bednar
Elder David A. Bednar of the Twelve and his wife Susan were in Pensacola this last weekend (6-7 Jun 09) for the Stake Conference held there. Inasmuch as our family just moved to Georgia from the Pensacola area, our oldest child lives there, and we wanted to feel the spirit of the Lord, we made the trip. It was a unique and moving experience. Having the opportunity to be in the presence of one of the “special witnesses of the name of Jesus in all the world” is not to be missed!
In the Saturday evening session Elder Bednar spoke for just over an hour or so. He shared information pertaining to the following topics:
Covenants and covenant keeping
Obedience and the importance of “choosing God” (Moses Ch 7)
The covenants of baptism (take upon oneself the name of Jesus Christ, Promise to always remember Him, Keep His commandments)
He made several interesting statements concerning misperceptions by Church members namely that many do not understand “Agency” considering it to be not much more than the “ability to choose”. He cited erring parents who don’t train their children effectively by “allowing them to exercise their agency” often to their detriment. He said if parents did not properly teach and guide their children they would lose them. Satan he said, is “swinging and fighting and throwing everything he’s got” at the youth of today and that if parents aren’t doing precisely the same things, they will lose their children. To underscore this point he related an incident from the life of Elder Bruce R. McConkie wherein he (Elder McConkie) told his son who had decided he was going to “exercise his agency” and not attend Church one Sunday that he “could walk or ride” but to “get his coat because he was coming to Church”!
Those of us who are under covenant often mistakenly believe we “have the ability to choose” when in very fact we have already done so and are therefore left with two options: to honor the covenant or to break it. Years ago a righteous set of parents taught us this principle as it relates to children like this.
“We have told our children that we are a Church-attending family; this is the rule in our home. While living in our home all will attend Church each week as this is what we do.” There is great peace and safety in staying close to and in fidelity with our covenants.
Elder Bednar cited the near constant badgering he received from students who were interested in modifying or skirting (no pun intended) the dress code at BYU Idaho when he was President at that university. He would politely listen for a few minutes and then interject: “are you aware of the dress code, did you receive the packet prior to admission, did you sign the agreement stating you would follow this code, and importantly do you now want to break that commitment? He had very little patience for this and related this in an entertaining yet pointed way.
When we are baptized we commit and covenant to take His name, remember Him always, AND keep His commandments. At this point Elder Bednar stated, our agency has been expended and we either keep the covenant or not. He pointed out the stringent and stinging statements in the scriptures about covenant-breakers were enough to “keep you awake all night”.
Agency expended equals commitment and fidelity. Erelong (and in keeping with the theme of previous speakers) he tied this into the law of the tithe which others had bore testimony of. He reminded all that because you pay your tithing DOES NOT mean there will be a “check in the mail” or that your “troubles are over” or that your gas tank will not run dry (a Young Man had testified earlier that between gas money and tithing he paid his tithing and his car ran on a quarter of a tank for two weeks). This is the exception not the rule he said and cautioned all to recognize the exception is not the rule and we should not think it so. Faithful payment of our tithes may not (and almost always will not) result in miraculous events or circumstances but is nonetheless vital to our spiritual growth and progress. Tithing is not about money. The result may be the ability to be strong and go forward in faith he said.
He cautioned all about the “my will not thy will” syndrome we are all guilty of when petitioning our Heavenly Father. All is His. We have nothing to give Him. Absolutely nothing. The two things He wants from us (Moses 7) is for us to love one another and choose him.
During the course of His remarks I was engulfed by feelings of pure inspiration and edification. It was grand!
Posted in Cool Stuff, Faith, Family, Happiness, LDS Church, Prayer, Righteousness, Scriptures | Tags: 12 Apostles, Apostle, choosing God, Covenants, covenants of baptism, David A. Bednar, Jesus Christ, Laws, Obedience, Pensacola Stake Conference, Stake Conference, Team, TeamLaws
“Rise Up, O Men of God”
Priorities
17 Mar 2009
Paul D. Laws
How do you tell someone you love that you’re disappointed in their behavior? How do you broach the subject of behavior you know is unacceptable and must be addressed without incurring unwarranted enmity and at length non-compliance? Prophets and leaders through all of recorded time (as recorded in the scriptures) have had mixed results with calling their people to repentance. Today I stand before you as a High Councilor on assignment from the President of this the Kingsland Georgia Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
It is my desire to share with you some things that have been on the mind and soul of President McDonald for some time concerning the Wards and branches of the Stake as expressed to us as a High Council and to some of you in other meetings; in particular a few ways in which we can surely improve ourselves in our pursuit of our Father’s Kingdom.
When providing constructive criticism Doctrine and Covenants Section 121 prescribes the following:
No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;
By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile–
Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;
(D&C 121:41-43)
I am under the impression I likely have your rapt attention as your mind catalogs your personal conduct and you seek to know if you are a part of the reason for this talk, (and more importantly its subject matter) today. I invite you to attend to the feelings and impressions you will receive from the Holy Ghost as we discuss these things and having so received guidance from Him I invite you to change your behavior accordingly. I intend to speak frankly and will say in advance I bear no malice toward any one of you personally or indeed to all of you as a group. If you are offended you have chosen such. It is reported that President Brigham Young once said that
he who takes offense when no offense was intended is a fool, and he who takes offense when offense was intended is usually a fool. …there are two courses of action to follow when one is bitten by a rattlesnake. One may, in anger, fear, or vengefulness, pursue the creature and kill it. Or he may make full haste to get the venom out of his system. If we pursue the latter course we will likely survive, but if we attempt to follow the former, we may not be around long enough to finish it.[1]
I am not foolish enough to think that because I say you ought to do “this” or “that” that you will “jump up” and respond on that authority alone. If so, good for you; listen carefully and apply what I will give you and you will be blessed. Those of you have been in the Ward for any real length of time (a small majority) may find you have heard some of this information before.
For everyone not in that category: stay around long enough (if only that were possible!) and I surely would sound to you as I often sound to myself: the same old record, saying the same old thing, hitting a skip point (in this case based on time) and then repeating myself ad nauseam (ie to the point that everyone including myself is sick of hearing it!).
In order to change your behavior for good clearly divine assistance is requested and likely required. What I say to you will be forgotten this afternoon or this evening and surely in a day or two but what the spirit reveals to you and you accept will be yours for a lifetime.
I am intentionally neglecting to give you an overview of the areas which I plan to address that I might maintain your interest and attention more fully for the duration of my remarks.
I would first like to address Timeliness to Ward Meetings (particularly Sacrament Meeting)
Just over 1 of the 168 hours in any given week is spent in Sacrament Meeting. To me there is no other hour in a week that rivals the hour of Sacrament Meeting primarily because of what happens in Sacrament touches and fortifies every other hour and action so directly so as to overshadow them in importance. Hyrum Smith, brother of the Prophet taught of the Sacramental process as
…bestowing spiritual sustenance enough to “last a whole week.” The ordinance was given, President Brigham Young taught, “in order that the people may be sanctified” (JD 19:91-92).[2]
Sacrament Meeting is the primary worship service for all Latter-Day Saints from infant to the aged. We ALL are commanded by the Lord in D&C Section 59 to “offer up our Sacraments on His holy day” (vs 9)
A Sacrament Meeting was held on April 6th, 1830 (the day the Church was organized in this dispensation).
In my opinion anyone who is late to Sacrament Meeting needs to seriously consider where their priorities are misaligned and perform an immediate course correction. Being in place 5 to 10 minutes AHEAD of the 9 AM start time should be the norm in the Kingsland Ward.
This allows everyone to get into the mood for a spiritual experience which should also be the norm for this special meeting. Those of you who are habitually late to Sacrament Meeting need to course correct immediately. I think casualness in punctuality to Sacrament belies an awful pride borne of the idea of your time being more important than the Lord’s designated hour for covenant making. He has given us through revelation this special time and place to make and keep sacred covenants with Him. We should make it a special point to be on time and in place as an indication of our love and deference for Him. There are several ironies associated with this woeful trend I would like to quickly share with you:
- When the Bishopric seek individuals to give the opening and closing prayer it always seems to be the same (ten people) who are available to ask since they are in the appointed place PRIOR to the appointed hour. It is a great opportunity to pray on behalf of the whole congregation and those who are late rarely (if ever) have the opportunity to be called upon to pray.
- It is disruptive to all assembled when individuals arrive late distracting them from their desire to focus on the spiritual nature of the meeting and the sacred covenants they will shortly be making.
- Why is it that an employer gets more respect than the God and Father of us all? How is it that he who dispenses remuneration gets punctuality while the giver of ALL GOOD GIFTS gets tardiness?
We can and must do better in this area.
Those of you who are weak in this area or are habitually late know who you are and I would add so do I and all those who sit near you. Most chapels have 4 doors, two in the front and two in the rear. Transiting in and out of the meeting should also be minimized as even the most reverent movement distracts while careless manipulation of the doors is very distracting. Parents, teach your children by precept AND example that in the meeting is the place to be not going for water, or tissues, or bathroom breaks, or something left in the car. While I am not naïve to the necessity from time to time to exit sacrament meeting once it is underway, this should be the exception NOT the rule!
(David B. Haight of the Twelve incident)
What we do (and not do) during the course of the sacrament meeting also demonstrates to our fellow Saints and importantly our Savior and Heavenly Father how we feel about His primary and most frequently offered opportunity to feel His spirit and be instructed from on high. I imagine at least a few of you are thinking something like this:
“yeah OK so I come to Sacrament meeting and it’s “Dry Council” day, or it’s Bro So-and-So or Sister Such-&-Such and they are Sooooo Boring.I NEVER get anything out of their talk”
I ask you to consider this: President Spencer W. Kimball was once asked:
“What do you do if you find yourself caught in a boring sacrament meeting?”
Keep in mind this was a man who served as an Apostle for 30 years (1943-1973) prior to being ordained the President of the Church for 12 years (1973-1985). He literally attended thousands of Sacrament Meetings. His reply to the question “What do you do if you find yourself caught in a boring sacrament meeting?”:
“I don’t know; I’ve never been in one.”[3]
We would be well off to adopt such a humble and teachable attitude and disposition. We all will be required to listen to all sorts of talks on all sorts of topics delivered by individuals with great persuasive speaking ability, and the opposite of that. Keeping in mind that the Spirit of the Lord is the most persuasive teacher eliminates our often detrimental judging of speakers anyway. If we come focused on being edified the Holy Ghost will inspire us more frequently and more meaningfully regardless of who happens to be standing behind the podium. An additional benefit in this regard is that as we are inspired and edified we will surely find Sacrament meeting to be even more desirable to our spirits. If you have not felt spiritually fed in Sacrament meeting recently I invite you to adopt a whole new attitude! I believe you will find you will get much more out of the meeting!
Might I add a word about our families?
I am concerned that we as parents are not taking the time to nurture ourselves and our families appropriately in the principles and commandments of the Church and Kingdom of God on the earth. Our private religious practices are what gives strength and vitality to our personal testimonies and also to those timeless bonds that may exist in the family unit. The proclamation to the world on the Family states:
Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.
Over the years our family has enjoyed prolonged periods when we have daily opened and read the scriptures together and we have also had brief periods where we haven’t gotten it done. There is a notable difference when we fail to read scriptures and engage in family prayer together. I have found satan to have enough footholds in our lives and I believe his influence is diminished considerably when we daily inoculate ourselves from his temptations. Family and personal scripture study are a sure way to ensure he is kept at bay. As I recorded in my journal recently under the heading “Scriptural Inoculation”:
As long as I can remember I have been taught & taught again the merit of a daily dose of scriptures. Unlike us satan and his followers (cast out types anyway) never tire of striving to lead us carefully away from our Father & the inheritance he has in store for each of His faithful children. Taken by sight or hearing the effect of the word is undeniable. Pondering carefully what one has read or heard guarantees a therapeutic dosage. Taken daily by mouth or ear this preventative measure will inoculate the recipient against the wiles of the devil.
Have you had your dose today?
I ask each of you…are you getting a daily inoculation against the wiles of the devil? At least two scriptures provide an encouraging text:
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Eph 6:11)
Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked– (Hel 3:29)
Several additional observations and encouragement to note:
The term “wile” is defined as “a cunning strategy: a trick or cunning ruse”. The plural is “wiles” and is defined as “cunning behavior intended to persuade somebody to do something, especially in the form of insincere charm or flattery”. Does this sound at all familiar. I know I have been tricked a time or two by the adversary. Please notice the two descriptive terms used in the second verse to describe the word of God. The two key terms are “QUICK” and “POWERFUL” this sounds like the perfect antidote for what ails us when we neglect those things of the Spirit or succumb to temptation.
I encourage and admonish you to read from the Scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon, daily as individuals and as families. Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve has said in this regard:
No one is immune from Satan’s influence and temptations. Do not be so proud to think that you are beyond the adversary’s influence. Be watchful that you do not fall prey to his deceptions. Stay close to the Lord through daily scripture study and daily prayer. We cannot afford to sit back and take our salvation for granted. We must be anxiously engaged our whole lives.10 These words of President Brigham Young motivate and remind us that we can never give up the fight to endure: The men and women, who desire to obtain seats in the celestial kingdom, will find that they must battle every day [for this sacred goal].[4]
When it comes to family scripture study and Family Home Evening the fruits of our labors may not be fully realized or even savored until erelong we witness the influence in the lives of our grown children. To those of you with small children who wonder if all of the struggle to accomplish it is worth it I say resoundingly: “YES”! It is well to remember that when the word “endure” appears in modern revelation over 75% of the time[5] it is coupled with the phrase “to the end”. This at least gives us an idea of how long we are to continue to strive!
[1] (Elder Marion D. Hanks, Forgiveness: The Ultimate Form of Love, Ensign (CR), January 1974, p.20)
[2] (Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 1-4 vols., edited by Daniel H. Ludlow (New York: Macmillan, 1992), p.1246)
[3] A. Roger Merrill, “To Be Edified and Rejoice Together,” Liahona, Jan 2007, 38–43
[4] (Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, Press On, Ensign (CR), November 2004, p.101)
[5] 9/12 in the BofM and 7/10 in the D&C
Posted in Uncategorized
Happy Easter
Posted in Jesus, Joy, Righteousness | Tags: easter, Jesus Christ, Laws, Love, redeemer, resurrection, savior, Sunday, Team, TeamLaws
