“Our bodies are sacred gifts from our Heavenly Father,” Sister Linda S. Reeves of the Relief Society general presidency said during the Women’s Session of general conference held in the Conference Center on Sept. 26.
“They are personal temples,” she said. “As we keep them clean and pure, we can be worthy to help our Heavenly Father create bodies for His beloved spirit children.”
Recognizing the commandment to “multiply and replenish the earth,” Sister Reeves spoke of the creative power given to men and women to experience a “fullness of joy.”
Using the words of President Boyd K. Packer in his last general conference talk, Sister Reeves said “our happiness in mortal life, our joy and our exaltation are dependent upon how we respond to these persistent, compelling physical desires.”
Drawing from the Book of Mormon, Sister Reeves used the example of Korihor, the anti-Christ, who “did preach … leading away the hearts of many women.”
“Sisters, Satan has raised a ‘Korihor-like’ banner in our day with increasing success,” Sister Reeves said. “What are some of his tools? Seductive romance novels, TV soap operas, married women and old boyfriends connecting on social media, and pornography. We must be so careful, dear sisters! We cannot play with Satan’s fiery darts and not get burned. I know nothing that will qualify us for the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost as much as virtue.”
Sister Reeves said that many in today’s world are looking for instant gratification and knowledge on the Internet.
“In contrast, we will be exceedingly blessed if we exercise faith and patience and go to our Heavenly Father, the source of all truth,” she said. “So many answers and assurances can come through daily searching and studying the scriptures and with sincere and pleading prayer, but there are no such promises on the Internet.”
Drawing from the prophet Jacob in the Book of Mormon, Sister Reeves spoke of “things as they really are, and of things as they really will be.”
“When we are involved in watching, reading, or experiencing anything that is below our Heavenly Father’s standards, it weakens us,” she said. “Regardless of our age, if what we look at, read, listen to or choose to do does not meet the Lord’s standards in For the Strength of Youth, turn it off, rip it up, throw it out and slam the door.”
Recognizing that no one is perfect, Sister Reeves reminded listeners of the promise to all that if they repent of their sins the Lord will forgive and remember them no more. It is through the Savior's Atonement, all scars of sin are removed.
“That means that no matter what we have done or where we have been or how something happened, if we truly repent, He has promised that He would atone. And when He atoned, that settled that,” she said, again quoting President Packer.
In addition to repentance, more tools have been given to help individuals stay clean and virtuous. Reading the scriptures, prayer, attending the temple, observing the Sabbath day, living covenants, listening to the prophet and living a virtuous life.
“There are also great blessings and protecting promises associated with the proper wearing of our temple garment,” Sister Reeves said. “I have come to feel that I am symbolically putting on royal robes given me by my Heavenly Father. ... When we strive to wear the garment properly, I testify that our Father recognizes it as a great sign of our love and devotion to Him.”
To those who feel that Heavenly Father’s promised blessings are just “way too far away,” and that life is overflowing with challenges, Sister Reeves reminded them of Alma teaching his son that “this life is the time … to prepare to meet God.”
“It is not to receive all of our blessings,” Sister Reeves taught.
That is why it is important to have Heavenly Father’s incredible promised blessings as the central focus in everyday life.
“I don't know why we have the many trials that we have, but it is my personal feeling, that the reward is so great, so eternal and everlasting, so joyful and beyond our understanding that in the day of reward, we may feel to say our merciful, loving Father, ‘Was that all that was required?’” she said. “I believe that if we could daily remember and recognize the depth of the love that our Father in Heaven and our Savior have for us, we would be willing to do anything They asked to be back in Their presence again, surrounded by Their love eternally.
“What will it matter, dear sisters, what we suffered here if, in the end, those trials are the very things which qualify us for eternal life and exaltation in the kingdom of God with our Father and Savior.
“I testify that our bodies are sacred gifts from our Heavenly Father and that as we keep our lives pure and clean through the atoning sacrifice of our Savior, and keep the vision of our Father’s promised rewards daily in front of us, we will one day receive ‘all that [the] Father hath.”
mholman@desnews.com @marianne_holman
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