Witnesses

1. Witnesses www.kevinhinckley.com

2. Guide to understanding Texan A possum is a flat animal that sleeps in the middle of the road. There are 5,000 types of snakes and 4,998 of them live in Texas . If it grows, it'll stick ya. If it crawls, it'll bite cha. "Onced" and "Twiced" are words. People actually grow and eat okra. "Fixinto" is one word. “Backwards and forwards” means "I know everything about you." The word "jeet" is actually a phrase meaning "Did you eat?" "No. Jew?" Correct answer to “jeet?" You measure distance in minutes. You switch from heat to A/C in the same day. The local papers cover national and international news on one page, but require 6 pages for local high school sports. 100 degrees Fahrenheit is "a bit warm". You know all four seasons: Almost summer, summer, still summer, and Christmas. Going to Wal-Mart is a favorite past time know as "goin' Wal-Martin" or "off to Wally World". You describe the first cool snap (below 70 degrees) as good chile weather.

3. Who Else Saw What Joseph Saw? First Vision Gold Plates John the Baptist Peter, James and John Section 76 (Three Degrees) Vision of Kirtland Temple Section 110 Father bore witness of Son Twelve Others Oliver Cowdrey Oliver Cowdrey Sidney Rigdon Hyrum, Frederick Williams Oliver Cowdrey

4. Question Why is the “Law of Witnesses” so critical?

5. “Cunning Devices” Argumentum Ad-hominem: “Shoot the messenger”

6. Alma in Ammonihah Alma 9: 1-7

7. Former Client I’m a recovering Mormon. Why won’t they leave me alone? Question: Why didn’t the Lord leave Ammonihah alone?

8. Reason #1 Alma 8: 15-17

9. 1st Presidency 1942 Satan is making war against all the wisdom that has come to men through their ages of experience. He is seeking to overturn and destroy the very foundations upon which society, government, and religion rest. He aims to have men adopt theories and practices which he induced their forefathers, over the ages, to adopt and try, only to be discarded by them when found unsound, impractical, and ruinous. He plans to destroy liberty and freedom—economic, political, and religious, and to set up in place thereof the greatest, most widespread, and most complete tyranny that has ever oppressed man. He is working under such perfect disguise that many do not recognize either him or his methods. . . . Without their knowing it, the people are being urged down paths that lead only to destruction. Satan never before had so firm a grip on this generation as he has now." The Improvement Era, Nov. 1942, p. 761.)

10. Reason #2 Alma 9:21, 25-27

11. Lawrence Flake A bishop recently related a truly disturbing incident. He said that while making his way through the hallway toward the chapel to begin sacrament meeting, a young woman from his ward stopped him and said, “Bishop, I really need to talk to you. It will just take a minute.” Thinking it would be some minor item, he stopped and listened. “Last night,” she blurted out, “I was involved in a violation of the law of chastity.” She said just enough more that he knew it was a major violation of the law. Before he could stop her and set up an appointment for a proper interview, she continued, “But it’s okay because I stayed up all night going through the steps of repentance. Confessing to you is the only one I had left on the list. So now I think I am ready to partake of the sacrament.”

12. Question In the “6 R’s” of repentance, what R is frequently left out? And its not “relocate…” 2 Nephi 25:26 1. Recognizethe sin. 2. Feel remorsefor the transgression. 3. Resolveto change the behavior. 4. Relate the sin to the proper priesthood leader when it is of a serious nature. 5. Make restitution, as far as possible, to those who have been injured by the sin. 6. Refrainfrom the sin thereafter.

13. Finally How do we avoid “Recipe Repentance”?

14. One last thought… When I am hot and rebellious, bitter and cynical and sarcastic; when it seems as though evil can win in the world and the battle is to the strong; when it seems as though pride possesses all the high places, and greatness belongs to those who can grab the most; when it seems as if faith is mocked, love fails miserably and humility is trodden in the dust; when pity seems weakness and sympathy folly; when a foul egotism rises up within me and would bid me assert myself, plan for myself, serve my own interests, play for my own hand and "take care of number one"; then, O my Lord, may I hear in imagination the gentle splashing of water falling into a basin, and see the Son of God washing His disciples' feet! (Leslie D. Weatherhead, The Eternal Voice, pp. 81-82.)