Today in SS we looked at Ezekiel 47:1-12 which I was always taught was about the literal healing of the dead sea. Today it was taught as a parable as how going to the temple increases our understanding and spiritual strength each time we go. Lee thinks both interpretations are good. It was cross referenced to Revelations 22:2 which talked about a river of pure living water flowing through a river lined with 12 trees whose leaves would heal the nations. The symbolism there is pretty obvious. Twelve being the twelve tribes of Israel taking the gospel to the world the thousand years when Christ will reign here upon the earth. I'm sure it's deeper and richer than I am explaining it but I found it very exciting seeing something new in these verses.

What struck me was just how important it is to go as often as possible. There is real strength there and we are made stronger for going. It helps bring peace to our hearts in these times we are living through.

OUR VERY SURVIVAL

When I had my first child I was scared to death cause I hadn't a clue on how to raise him. I began listening very carefully to what was said in General Conference and glean advice on raising children. Elder Kevin R. Duncan gave a talk on having the wisdom to trust in and follow the counsel of the living prophets and apostles. We can't do that unless we know what they are saying.

Times are a changing and the Lord has provided so many resources to help us come through them clean and worthy to return and live with Him as eternal families. Elder Duncan said, "Trusting in and following the prophets is more than a blessing and a privilege. President Ezra Taft Benson declared that 'our very salvation hangs on following the prophet."

What I know after all these years is we really are blessed to have true and living prophets guiding us today and their messages are so important for us to study and read and implement in our lives.

CHOOSE FAITH OVER DOUBT

Every morning while exercising I'm able to read more conference talks. Bishop Edgley spoke about Faith-the choice Is Yours. "Choose faith over doubt, choose faith over fear, choose faith over the unknown and the unseen, and choose faith over pessimism."

I know that making the choice to have faith in Jesus Christ and His love for us and care for our daily lives brings peace. I know He is watching over us and just waiting to bless us. Yes, life throws curve balls at us but just knowing and choosing to believe that it will all work out brings peace and I prefer peace.

Okay, this morning I read three talks from general conference while hiking on the treadmill, and I mean hiking. I always get a better heart rate when I increase the incline and I feel much better at the end then when I start.

The first talk was byElder Claudio R. M. Costa who quoted from Pres. Benson's talk on living prophets, the first of two to do so. I so agree with him on how important it is to be obedient to the counsel of our living prophets.

The second one was by David M. McConkie on Gospel Learning and Teaching. Three principals for better teaching: 1. Immerse yourself in the scriptures, 2. Apply in your life the things that you learn, 3. Seek heaven's help.

I want to share with you what happened to me this last lesson I gave in RS. I had been listening and reading this talk by Elder Uchtdorf since April conference and it thrilled me every time I did so. But what to do with it I did not know for sure. I underlined a few quotes and thought I'll just see where this goes.

The Saturday before a group of sisters went to the temple early in the morning and invited me to go with them. While sitting in the chapel I was reading in Isaiah 50:4 which lead me to Luke 21:14-15 which reads, "Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist." For me that jumped out and reassured me that I would know what to say and what stories to tell in the moment I needed to know. So the next day I waited to hear what the spirit wanted said and tried very hard to follow and I think what needed to be said to encourage the sisters to share what they knew was said.

I actually read four talks but I think I've written enough this morning. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is truly the restored Church of Jesus Christ who leads it through living prophets. I know President Monson is a true prophet of God and I know the brethren who serve with him in the first presidency and quorum of the Twelve are true prophets, seers, and revelators.