Bring Again Zion

Hello family:

Today in Priesthood meeting, our High Priest Group Leader, Wayne Cardon, quoted from a talk Spencer W. Kimball gave in the April, 1978, conference, entitled, "Becoming the Pure in Heart." Although President Kimball was talking to the Church as a whole, I believe we can apply this directly to our Zion Family:

"May I suggest three fundamental things we must do if we are to “bring again Zion,” three things for which we who labor for Zion must commit ourselves.

"First, we must eliminate the individual tendency to selfishness that snares the soul, shrinks the heart, and darkens the mind. ...

"Second, we must cooperate completely and work in harmony one with the other. There must be unanimity in our decisions and unity in our actions. ...

"Third, we must lay on the altar and sacrifice whatever is required by the Lord. We begin by offering a “broken heart and a contrite spirit.” We follow this by giving our best effort in our assigned fields of labor and callings. We learn our duty and execute it fully. Finally we consecrate our time, talents and means as called upon by our file leaders and as prompted by the whisperings of the Spirit. ...

"My brothers and sisters, if we can do this, then we will find ourselves clothed in the mantle of charity “which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

"'But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.' (Moro. 7:46–47.)

"Let us unite and pray with all the energy of heart, that we may be sealed by this bond of charity; that we may build up this latter-day Zion, that the kingdom of God may go forth, so that the kingdom of heaven may come."

I would encourage each of us to read the entire talk and hope that all of us can apply this to our efforts to build an eternal Zion family and prepare for the Second Coming of our Savior.

Love,

Dad/Mark

Prayer - a Joyous, Lifetime Experience

Dear Family:

As I have studied the book of Enos during this past week, I have thought much about power of personal prayer. This week's Zion Family quotation comes from President Spencer W. Kimball (Spencer W. Kimball,'Pray Always’,Tambuli, Mar 1982):

"There is a knowledge that our Father in Heaven wants each of us to have, and that is a personal knowledge that he hears and answers our prayers. I have always had very tender feelings about prayer and the power and blessings of prayer. And for this I thank our Heavenly Father and my dear parents and teachers, who taught me by word and example about righteous and heartfelt prayer.

"I am sure that if we pray fervently and righteously, individually and as a family, when we go to bed at night and when we arise in the morning, and around our tables at mealtime, we will not only be closer or more united as loved ones but we will grow spiritually through communion with our Heavenly Father.

"We each have so much need for his help as we seek to learn gospel truths and then live them, as we seek his help in the major decisions of our lives, decisions involving schooling, marriage, employment, place of residence, raising our families, serving with each other in the work of the Lord, and seeking his forgiveness and continual guidance and protection in all we do. Our list of needs is long and real and deeply felt.

...

"Learning the language of prayer is a joyous, lifetime experience. Sometimes ideas flood our mind as we listen after our prayers. Sometimes feelings press upon us. A spirit of calmness assures us that all will be well. But always, if we have been honest and earnest, we will experience a good feeling—feeling of warmth for our Father in Heaven and a sense of his love for us. I have felt sorrow because some of us have not learned the meaning of that calm, spiritual warmth, for it is a witness to us that our prayers have been heard. And since our Father in Heaven loves us with more love than we have even for ourselves, it means that we can trust in his goodness, we can trust in him; it means that if we continue praying and living as we should, our Father’s hand will guide and bless us."

I hope that all of us can seek the "joyous, lifetime experience" in prayer that President Kimball challenged us to find.

Love,

Dad/Mark

P.S. A complete archive of all the Zion Family Quotations are on the "We are a Zion Family" blog.