Forgive- Luke 23:34

Gordon B. Hinckley:

“I plead with you to ask the Lord for strength to forgive. … It may not be easy, and it may not come quickly. But if you will seek it with sincerity and cultivate it, it will come” (“Of You It Is Required to Forgive,” Ensign, June 1991, 5).

There is Power in the Language of the Scriptures

The Language of the Scriptures

1)         President Ezra Taft Benson: "It is important that in our teaching we make use of the language of holy writ" (The Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants, April 1987).

2)         Gospel Teaching and Learning: “Some ways to helps students identify principles and doctrines are … Encourage students to underline in their scriptures key words or phrases that identify principles and doctrinal statements” (5.2.1, bullet #4).

3)         President Ezra Taft Benson: “The words and the way they are used in the Book of Mormon by the Lord should become our source of understanding and should be used by us in teaching gospel principles” (“A Witness and a Warning”, 31-32).

4)         President Boyd K. Packer: “If the language of the scriptures at first seems strange to you, keep reading. Soon you will come to recognize the beauty and power found on those pages (“The Key to Spiritual Protection,” October 2013).

5)         Elder Richard G. Scott: “There is great solace, direction, and power that flow from the scriptures, especially the words of the Lord” (“He Lives,” October 1999)

6)         President Ezra Taft Benson: “King Benjamin caused that his three sons “should be taught in all the language of his fathers.” (Mosiah 1:2.) They needed to understand and use the language of holy writ. If they didn’t know the right words, they wouldn’t know the plan” (General Conference, October 1985)

7)         Sister Susan W. Tanner: “Sometimes the exact words from the scriptures forcefully answer our prayers. Reading the scriptures also opens our minds and hearts to thoughts prompted by the Spirit. We are much more apt to receive such help if we go to the scriptures seeking, desiring, and asking” (“Scriptures—More Precious Than Gold and Sweeter Than Honey,” Sept 11, 2005).

8)         Teaching, No Greater Call: “Help children understand the language of the scriptures. When you read scriptures together, explain the meaning of important words. Help children pronounce difficult words and names. Have them listen for certain words, phrases, or ideas ("Lesson 12: Teaching from the Scriptures," Part B: Basic Principles of Gospel Teaching—Teach the Doctrine).

9)         Elder Richard G. Scott: “When scriptures are used as the Lord has caused them to be recorded, they have intrinsic power that is not communicated when paraphrased” (“He Lives,” Ensign, Nov. 1999, 88).

10)     Acts 20:35: “I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Increase in Faith-Luke 17:1-10

Joseph Smith on Faith:

By way of definition, he taught that faith is "the first principle in revealed religion, and the foundation of all righteousness"; that it is "the assurance which men have of the existence of things which they have not seen, and the principle of action in all intelligent beings"; that it is "the moving cause of all action in ... intelligent beings"; that it is also a principle of power; that it "is the first great governing principle which has power, dominion, and authority over all things; by it they exist, by it they are upheld, by it they are changed, or by it they remain, agreeable to the will of God." (Lectures on Faith, pp. 1-8.)

(From Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, Bruce R. McConkie)

 Deity is the object upon which faith unto life and salvation rests. Such faith is centered in Christ. "Three things are necessary," the Prophet says, "in order that any rational and intelligent being may exercise faith in God unto life and salvation." These he named as (1) "The idea that he actually exists"; (2) "A correct idea of his character, perfections, and attributes"; and (3) "An actual knowledge that the course of life which he is pursuing is according to his will." (Lectures on Faith, p. 33.)

Thus in order to gain faith men must gain a knowledge of God; they must know that he is a personal being in whose image man is created, and that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost -- though one Godhead: one in character, perfections, and attributes -- are separate and distinct personalities.

Then they must gain a correct understanding of both the character and attributes of Deity. As listed by the Prophet, his attributes are: Knowledge, Faith or Power, Justice, Judgment, Mercy, and Truth; and his character is summarized under these headings: (1) "He was God before the world was created, and the same God that he was after it was created"; (2) "He is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abundant in goodness, and ... he was so from everlasting, and will be so to everlasting"; (3) "He changes not, neither is there variableness with him, and ... his course is one eternal round"; (4) "He is a God of truth, and cannot lie"; (5) "He is no respecter of persons"; and (6) "He is love." (Lectures on Faith, pp 39, 42-49.)

Relative to the perfections of God, the record says: "What we mean by perfections is, the perfections which belong to all the attributes of his nature." (Lectures on Faith, p. 50.) For instance, the perfection of God consists in his possession of all knowledge, all power, and all truth. It follows that if a person believes that God is progressing and gaining new knowledge, or that he does not yet have all power, or that there are new truths for him to learn, that person cannot attain perfect faith. Or, as the Prophet expressed it: "If it were not for the idea existing in the minds of men that God had all knowledge it would be impossible for them to exercise faith in him." (Lectures on Faith, p. 44.)

Finally, in obtaining or increasing faith, the great governing principle is personal righteousness. A man's faith cannot exceed his righteousness and obedience. The greater the adherence to the truth, the greater is the faith of an individual. "An actual knowledge to any person, that the course of life which he pursues is according to the will of God, is essentially necessary to enable him to have that confidence in God without which no person can obtain eternal life." (Lectures on Faith, p. 57.)

Such then is the course by which the apostles of old, or the saints in any age, have power to gain faith, to increase such faith as they may have, and to gain favor with the Lord. And since faith is a principle of power, when men do gain it, they have power to perform miracles, heal the sick, raise the dead, move mountains, or command a sycamore tree to be plucked up and planted in the sea. Signs, miracles, and gifts are the effects which flow from faith; where these are, there is faith; where these are not, there is no faith. "When faith comes," the Prophet said, "it brings its train of attendants with it -- apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, gifts, wisdom, knowledge, miracles, healings, tongues, interpretation of tongues, etc. All these appear when faith appears on the earth, and disappear when it disappears from the earth; for these are the effects of faith, and always have, and always will, attend it. For where faith is, there will the knowledge of God be also, with all things which pertain thereto -- revelations, visions, and dreams, as well as every necessary thing, in order that the possessors of faith may be perfected, and obtain salvation." (Lectures on Faith, pp. 70-71; Mormon Doctrine, pp. 242-248.)

Luke 15:11-32 The Prodigal Son

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:

“The tender image of this boy’s anxious, faithful father running to meet him and showering him with kisses is one of the most moving and compassionate scenes in all of holy writ. It tells every child of God, wayward or otherwise, how much God wants us back in the protection of His arms” (“The Other Prodigal,” Ensign, May 2002, 62).

Luke 10:25-37

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency:

“The people around us are not perfect. People do things that annoy, disappoint, and anger. In this mortal life it will always be that way” (“The Merciful Obtain Mercy,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2012, 77).

Luke 7:11-16 The Widow of Nain

President Thomas S. Monson:

“Few accounts of the Master’s ministry touch me more than His example of compassion shown to the grieving widow at Nain. …

“What power, what tenderness, what compassion did our Master thus demonstrate! We, too, can bless if we will but follow His noble example. Opportunities are everywhere. Needed are eyes to see the pitiable plight and ears to hear the silent pleadings of a broken heart. Yes, and a soul filled with compassion, that we might communicate not only eye to eye or voice to ear but, in the majestic style of the Savior, even heart to heart” (“Meeting Life’s Challenges,” Ensign, Nov. 1993, 71).

Luke 7:36-50 Forgiveness

 Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:

“There are many degrees of personal worthiness and righteousness. Yet repentance is a blessing to all of us. We each need to feel the Savior’s arms of mercy through the forgiveness of our sins.

“Years ago, I was asked to meet with a man who, long before our visit, had had a period of riotous living. As a result of his bad choices, he lost his membership in the Church. He had long since returned to the Church and was faithfully keeping the commandments, but his previous actions haunted him. Meeting with him, I felt his shame and his deep remorse at having set his covenants aside. Following our interview, I placed my hands upon his head to give him a priesthood blessing. Before speaking a word, I felt an overpowering sense of the Savior’s love and forgiveness for him. Following the blessing, we embraced and the man wept openly.

“I am amazed at the Savior’s encircling arms of mercy and love for the repentant, no matter how selfish the forsaken sin. I testify that the Savior is able and eager to forgive our sins. Except for the sins of those few who choose perdition after having known a fulness, there is no sin that cannot be forgiven. What a marvelous privilege for each of us to turn away from our sins and to come unto Christ. Divine forgiveness is one of the sweetest fruits of the gospel, removing guilt and pain from our hearts and replacing them with joy and peace of conscience” (“Repent … That I May Heal You,”Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2009, 40–41).

Luke 5:6-9 Trust in the Lord

Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:

“This life is an experience in profound trust—trust in Jesus Christ, trust in His teachings, trust in our capacity as led by the Holy Spirit to obey those teachings for happiness now and for a purposeful, supremely happy eternal existence. To trust means to obey willingly without knowing the end from the beginning (see Prov. 3:5–7). To produce fruit, your trust in the Lord must be more powerful and enduring than your confidence in your own personal feelings and experience” (“Trust in the Lord,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 17).