Mormon Musings

Repentance means more than simply a reformation of behavior. Many men and women in the world demonstrate great will-power and self-discipline in overcoming bad habits and the weaknesses of the flesh. Yet at the same time they give no thought to the Master, sometimes even openly rejecting Him. Such changes of behavior, even if in a positive direction, do not constitute true repentance. ...True repentance is based on and flows from faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other way. True repentance involves a change of heart and not just a change of behavior (see Alma 5:13). Ezra Taft Benson, Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 71.

“May I suggest three short tests to avoid being deceived… What do the standard works have to say about it?… The second guide is: what do the latter-day Presidents of the Church have to say on the subject–particularly the living President?… The third and final test is the Holy Ghost…This test can only be fully effective if one’s channels of communication with God are clean and virtuous and uncluttered with sin.” President Ezra Taft Benson -Conference Report, Oct. 1963, 16-17

"That man is greatest and most blessed and joyful whose life most closely fits the pattern of the Christ. This has nothing to do with earthly wealth, power, or prestige. The only true test of greatness, blessedness, joyfulness is how close a life can come to being like the Master, Jesus Christ. He is the right way, the full truth, and the abundant life." —President Ezra Taft Benson

"However diligent we may be in other areas, certain blessings are to be found only in the scriptures, only in coming to the word of the Lord and holding fast to it as we make our way through the mists of darkness to the tree of life."  (President Ezra T. Benson, Ensign, May 1986, 79)

“Pray always, and I will pour out my Spirit upon you, and great shall be your blessing—yea, even more than if you should obtain treasures of earth.” ( D&C 19:38 .) During His earthly ministry, Jesus taught us a pattern for prayer: “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. “Give us this day our daily bread. “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” ( Matt. 6:9–13 .) He further instructed, “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” ( Luke 18:1 .) “Watch and pray,” He said, “that ye enter not into temptation.” ( Matt. 26:41 .) In this dispensation He admonished, “Pray always lest that wicked one have power in you, and remove you out of your place.” ( D&C 93:49 .) The Savior declared to  Joseph Smith , “In nothing dot...

http://mormonthoughts.wordpress.com/2010/11/02/the-book-of-mormon-keystone-to-our-religion/

“When we first heard the revelation upon the Word of Wisdom many of us thought it consisted merely in our [not] drinking tea and coffee, but it is not only [not] using tea and coffee and our tobacco and whisky, but it is every other evil which is calculated to contaminate this people.   The Word of Wisdom implies to cease from adultery, to cease from all manner of excesses, and from all kinds of wickedness and abomination that are common amongst this generation—it is, strictly speaking, keeping the commandments of God, and living by every word that proceedeth from His mouth.   This is the way I understand the Word of Wisdom, consequently we have to keep all the commandments…in connection with the Word of Wisdom, in order to obtain the blessings, for unless we do keep the commandments of God, and not offend in any one point, we have not full claim upon the blessings promised in connection with this portion of the word of the Lord.” Ezra T. Benson, “ The Word of Wisdom ”, Ap...