Good Morning! There’s so much to be happy about. It’s spring! There is something so hopeful about spring. Beautiful weather, the flowers, the fruits and vegetables that are coming abundantly in the spring and summer months. I just love this time of year. Another thing I love about spring is I usually teach Restoration Classes at BYU-I during Spring Semester.

My heart and mind is turned to the beauty of the Restoration. This week, we’ve been talking about the difference between reforming, protesting, and restoring. In Elder Hale’s Oct. 2005 talk about Restoration, he stated,

“As a young man, Joseph “was called up to serious reflection” on the subject of religion. Because he was born in a land of religious freedom, he could question which of all the churches was right. And because the Bible had been translated into English, he could seek an answer from the word of God. He read in the book of James, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God,” and he did as directed. In answer to Joseph’s prayer, God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to him. This humble farm boy was the prophet chosen by God to restore the ancient Church of Jesus Christ and His priesthood in these latter days. This restoration was to be the last, the dispensation of the fulness of times, restoring all the priesthood blessings which man could possess on earth. With this divine commission, his work was not to reform nor was it to protest what was already on the earth. It was to restore what had been on earth and had been lost.”

(emphasis added, Elder Robert D. Hales, Preparations for the Restoration and the Second Coming: “My Hand Shall Be over Thee”, Oct. 2005).

With that framework in mind, we’ve been studying the vital importance of Communication with God. And how important it is to have two lines of communication open and in unity with each other. So, my Throwback Thursday talk this week is, Two LInes of Communication, by President Dallin H. Oaks, October 2010.

President Oaks talks about the importance of our own personal revelation as the first line of communication. This comes through the ministration of the Holy Ghost as we pray and study God’s word.

“This personal line of communication with our Heavenly Father through His Holy Spirit is the source of our testimony of truth, of our knowledge, and of our personal guidance from a loving Heavenly Father. It is an essential feature of His marvelous gospel plan, which allows each one of His children to receive a personal witness of its truth”

(Two Lines of Communication, by President Dallin H. Oaks, October 2010).

He then talks about cautions of relying only on the personal line. Then introduces the Priesthood Line of Communication.

“The priesthood line is the channel by which God has spoken to His children through the scriptures in times past. And it is this line through which He currently speaks through the teachings and counsel of living prophets and apostles and other inspired leaders. This is the way we receive the required ordinances. This is the way we receive calls to service in His Church. His Church is the way and His priesthood is the power through which we are privileged to participate in those cooperative activities that are essential to accomplishing the Lord’s work. These include preaching the gospel, building temples and chapels, and helping the poor”

(Two Lines of Communication, by President Dallin H. Oaks, October 2010).

Then he gives cautions on relying only on the priesthood line of communication.

“We must use both the personal line and the priesthood line in proper balance to achieve the growth that is the purpose of mortal life. If personal religious practice relies too much on the personal line, individualism erases the importance of divine authority. If personal religious practice relies too much on the priesthood line, individual growth suffers. The children of God need both lines to achieve their eternal destiny. The restored gospel teaches both, and the restored Church provides both”

(Two Lines of Communication, by President Dallin H. Oaks, October 2010).

I love the way that President Oaks lays out his talks. As a former lawyer and judge there is a logical structure and pattern to his messages. As you study this talk, I invite you to think about the importance of the unity of these lines of communication. Especially how if they are both in harmony, they effectively protect us from being misled (see D&C 50: 2-3). Also, some of my most sacred experiences have come as I work in the two lines together. For example, when I study at conference, or worship at the temple and the Sacrament table. Both my individual line of communication with God is being strengthened by the priesthood line.

Have a wonderful Spring Day as you find and restore the lines of communication with God in your life!