President Oaks talks about the life and ministry of one of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon, Martin Harris. He begins by talking about the Testimony of Three Witnesses and the significance of heaven's involvement in showing them the plates.

• The three men chosen as witnesses of the Book of Mormon were Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris. Their written “Testimony of Three Witnesses” has been included in all of the almost 100 million copies of the Book of Mormon the Church has published since 1830. These witnesses solemnly testify that they “have seen the plates which contain this record” and “the engravings which are upon the plates.” They witness that these writings “have been translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice hath declared it unto us.” They testify, “We declare with words of soberness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings thereon; and we know that it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld and bear record that these things are true.”
  

In modern day society, the testimony of one witness can lead to harsh penalties and incarceration. So the weight of three men saying the same thing, never denying it, and attesting to their accounts until their death is significant. What makes this difficult to believe for some is the fact that heavenly messengers were involved and that some people reject the idea because of heaven's part.

• People who deny the possibility of supernatural beings may reject this remarkable testimony, but people who are open to believe in miraculous experiences should find it compelling. The solemn written testimony of three witnesses to what they saw and heard—two of them simultaneously and the third almost immediately thereafter—is entitled to great weight. Indeed, we know that upon the testimony of one witness great miracles have been claimed and accepted by many religious people, and in the secular world the testimony of one witness has been deemed sufficient for weighty penalties and judgments.

What is more spectacular and reaffirming of their testimonies is that each of these men left the church but never denied or changed their witness testimony.

• As is well known, because of disagreements or jealousies involving other leaders of the Church, each one of these three witnesses was excommunicated from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by about eight years after the publication of their testimony. All three went their separate ways, with no common interest to support a collusive effort. Yet to the end of their lives—periods ranging from 12 to 50 years after their excommunications—not one of these witnesses deviated from his published testimony or said anything that cast any shadow on its truthfulness.

Most members of the church remember Martin Harris as the person that lost the 116 pages of the manuscript of the Book of Mormon. President Oaks says this is significant but we should remember many of the other significant contributions of Martin Harris after this event.

• About nine months after Martin’s rebuke, the Prophet Joseph received a revelation declaring that there would be three witnesses to the plates and if Martin would humble himself he would be privileged to see them. A few months later, Martin Harris was selected as one of the Three Witnesses and had the experience and bore the testimony described earlier.
  
• He was present at the organization of the Church on April 6, 1830, and was baptized that same day. A year later he was called to journey to Missouri with Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, and Edward Partridge. In Missouri that year—1831—he was commanded to “be an example unto the church, in laying his moneys before the bishop of the church,” thus becoming the first man the Lord called by name to consecrate his property in Zion. Two months later he was named with Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, and others to be “stewards over the revelations and commandments,” a direction to publish and circulate what later became the Doctrine and Covenants.
  
• During 1837 there were intense financial and spiritual conflicts in Kirtland, Ohio. Martin Harris later said that he “lost confidence in Joseph Smith” and “his mind became darkened.” He was released from the high council in September 1837 and three months later was excommunicated.
• Martin’s wife, Lucy, who had been involved in the loss of the manuscript pages, died in Palmyra in 1836. Within a year thereafter, Martin and his family located in Kirtland, and Martin married Caroline Young, a niece of Brigham Young.
  
• When most of the Saints moved on—to Missouri, to Nauvoo, and to the West—Martin Harris remained in Kirtland. There he was rebaptized by a visiting missionary in 1842. In 1856 Caroline and their four children took the long journey to Utah, but Martin, then 73 years of age, remained on his property in Kirtland. In 1860 he told a census taker that he was a “Mormon preacher,” evidence of his continuing loyalty to the restored gospel. Later he would tell a visitor, “I never did leave the Church; the Church left me,” meaning of course that Brigham Young led the Church west and the aging Martin remained in Kirtland.
  
• During part of his remaining years in Kirtland, Martin Harris acted as a self-appointed guide-caretaker of the deserted Kirtland Temple, which he loved. Visitors reported his alienation from the leaders of the Church in Utah but also his fervent reaffirmation of his published testimony of the Book of Mormon.
  
• Finally, in 1870, Martin’s desire to be reunited with his family in Utah resulted in a warm invitation from Brigham Young, a ticket for his passage, and an official escort from one of the Presidents of Seventy.
  
• When he reiterated his testimony of the Book of Mormon in the closing days of his life, Martin Harris declared, “I tell you of these things that you may tell others that what I have said is true, and I dare not deny it; I heard the voice of God commanding me to testify to the same.”

From these highlights of his extraordinary life, we learn that Martin Harris was a disciple of the Jesus Christ and a significant influence of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. President Oaks details 3 things we have learned from Martin Harris that can help us in our lives.

• What do we learn from this example? (1) Witnesses are important, and the testimony of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon is impressive and reliable. (2) Happiness and spiritual progress lie in following the leaders of the Church. (3) There is hope for each of us, even if we have sinned and strayed from a favored position. The Lord’s invitation is warm and loving: “Come back and feast at the table of the Lord, and taste again the sweet and satisfying fruits of fellowship with the saints.”

We have great history within the church. We have great men and women that have devoted their lives to the gospel and Martin Harris is one of the great examples of faithfulness to the end of his life. Despite difficulties that lead to a period of time away from the church, he demonstrated the atonement in his life and returned to the gospel, devoted to support and live the gospel throughout his life. We would be wise in remembering the significant contributions made by this great man.

Elder Ballard uses this quote from Brigham Young as the background of his talk.

• “Let the fire of the covenant which you made in the House of the Lord, burn in your hearts, like flame unquenchable”
  

He speaks about living gospel standards.

• The world’s perspective has been so dramatically altered that those who choose to adhere to traditional standards of morality are viewed as  strange, almost as though they must justify their desire to keep the commandments of God. But one thing is certain: the commandments have not changed. Let there be no mistake about that. Right is still right. Wrong is still wrong, no matter how cleverly cloaked in respectability or political correctness. We believe in chastity before marriage and fidelity ever after. That standard is an absolute standard of truth. It is neither subject to public opinion polls nor dependent upon situation or circumstance. There is no need to debate it or other gospel standards.

He says that parents and youth need to stand strong against the influences of Satan.

• Parents and youth must stand together in defense against a clever and devious adversary. We must be just as dedicated, effective, and determined in our efforts to live the gospel as he is in his efforts to destroy it—and us.

Elder Ballard shares four things that "can build a fortress of faith in our homes and particularly help prepare our youth to be clean and chaste and pure, completely worthy to enter the temple."

The first is gospel information.

• The most important, life-changing information that I know of is the knowledge that we are truly children of God our Eternal Father. This is not only doctrinally correct, it is spiritually vital.
• Sometimes we are tempted to let our lives be governed more by convenience than by covenant. It is not always convenient to live gospel standards and stand up for truth and testify of the Restoration. It usually is not convenient to share the gospel with others. It isn’t always convenient to respond to a calling in the Church, especially one that stretches our abilities. Opportunities to serve others in meaningful ways, as we have covenanted to do, rarely come at convenient times. But there is no spiritual power in living by convenience. The power comes as we keep our covenants. As we look at the lives of these early Saints, we see that their covenants were the primary force in their lives.
• We need to become so deeply converted to the gospel of Christ that the fire of the covenant will burn in our hearts like flame unquenchable. And with that kind of faith we will do what is necessary to remain true and worthy.

Second is communication.

• Nothing is more important to the relationship between family members than open, honest communication. This is particularly true for parents trying to teach gospel principles and standards to their children. The ability to counsel with our youth—and perhaps more importantly, to really listen to their concerns—is the foundation upon which successful relationships are built. Often what we see in the eyes and what we feel in the heart will communicate far more than what we hear or say.

Third is intervention.

• It is the parents’ duty to intervene when they see wrong choices being made. That doesn’t mean parents take from children the precious gift of agency. Because agency is a God-given gift, ultimately the choice of what they will do, how they will behave, and what they will believe will always be theirs. But as parents we need to make sure they understand appropriate behavior and the consequences to them if they pursue their wrongful course. Remember, there is no such thing as unlawful censorship in the home. Movies, magazines, television, videos, the Internet, and other media are there as guests and should only be welcomed when they are appropriate for family enjoyment. Make your home a haven of peace and righteousness. Don’t allow evil influences to contaminate your own special spiritual environment. Be kind, thoughtful, gentle, and considerate in what you say and how you treat each other. Then family goals based on gospel standards will make it easier to make good decisions.

Fourth is example.

• Just as it is difficult for a weary sailor to find his way across uncharted seas without the aid of a compass, it is almost impossible for children and youth to find their way through the seas of life without the guiding light of a good example. We cannot expect them to avoid those things that are inappropriate if they see their parents compromising principles and failing to live the gospel.

Elder Ballard concludes with words of hope for families that live the gospel.  He says that we will not be free from trials and difficulties, but we will be blessed as we seek to live the gospel and keep the commandments.

• Families that know, teach, and live gospel principles and standards are more likely to spare themselves the pain of serious mistakes. When long-established patterns of positive communication and faithful example prevail, it is much easier to counsel together about personal problems and to work through the necessary changes that will bless every family member.

Elder Ballard gives us great parental advice about how to raise our family in the crazy world we live in.  I have recently been helping a friend who is trying to figure out how to deal with children that are making some decisions that he doesn't agree with.  I am going to share this talk with him in the hope that he will find some peace and guidance on working with his wayward child.

Elder Hales talks about the need for each of us to strengthen our families.  It is our duty to build the family up and make the family unit a strength to all that are a part of our families.

• Strengthening families is our sacred duty as parents, children, extended family members, leaders, teachers, and individual members of the Church.
  

Elder Hales talks about a letter that was written in 1999 by the First Presidency about the need to strengthen our families.  He points of several highlights from the letter and how it is inline with the Proclamation on the Family.

• In February of this year, the First Presidency issued a call to all parents “to devote their best efforts to the teaching and rearing of their children in gospel principles which will keep them close to the Church. The home is the basis of a righteous life, and no other instrumentality can take its place or fulfill its essential functions in carrying forward this God-given responsibility.”
• In the February letter, the First Presidency taught that by teaching and rearing children in gospel principles, parents can protect their families from corrosive elements. They further counseled parents and children “to give highest priority to family prayer, family home evening, gospel study and instruction, and wholesome family activities. However worthy and appropriate other demands or activities may be, they must not be permitted to displace the divinely-appointed duties that only parents and families can adequately perform.”
  

He reminds us that any issue that we have in our families can be overcome through the help of the Savior.  Our best advice and counsel for how to raise our families can be learned by studying the words of our prophets and apostles.

• With the help of the Lord and His doctrine, all the hurtful effects from challenges a family may meet can be understood and overcome. Whatever the needs of family members may be, we can strengthen our families as we follow the counsel given by prophets.

Elder Hales provides a series of ideas that we can do to strengthen our families.  I would encourage you to try to implement some of these in your life to strengthen your family and show them how much they mean to you.

• Make our homes a safe place where each family member feels love and a sense of belonging.
• Remember, “a soft answer turneth away wrath.”
• Spend individual time with our children, letting them choose the activity and the subject of conversation.
• Encourage our children’s private religious behavior, such as personal prayer, personal scripture study, and fasting for specific needs.
• Pray daily with our children.
• Read the scriptures together.
• Read the words of the living prophets and other inspiring articles for children, youth, and adults in Church magazines.
• Fill our homes with the sound of worthy music as we sing together from the hymnbook and the Children’s Songbook.
  
• Hold family home evening every week.
  
• Hold family councils to discuss family plans and concerns.
• Invite missionaries to teach less-active or nonmember friends in our homes.
• Show that we sustain and support Church leaders.
• Eat together when possible, and have meaningful mealtime discussions.
• Work together as a family, even if it may be faster and easier to do the job ourselves.
• Help our children learn how to build good friendships and make their friends feel welcome in our homes.
• Teach our children by example how to budget time and resources.
• Teach our children the history of our ancestors and of our own family history.
• Build family traditions. Plan and carry out meaningful vacations together, considering our children’s needs, talents, and abilities.
• By word and example, teach moral values and a commitment to obeying the commandments.
• Set temple goals as a family.
• Be worthy of the priesthood which you hold, brethren, and use it to bless the lives of your family.
• Through the power of the Melchizedek Priesthood, dedicate our homes.
• Encourage our children to serve in the Church and community.
• Talk to our children’s teachers, coaches, counselors, advisers, and Church leaders about our concerns and the needs of our children.
• Know what our children are doing in their spare time.
• Encourage worthwhile school activities.
• Young women: Attend Relief Society when you reach your 18th birthday.
• Young men: Honor the Aaronic Priesthood. It is the preparatory priesthood, preparing you for the Melchizedek Priesthood.
• Act with faith; don’t react with fear.
• Pray for [our] careless and disobedient children; hold on to them with [our] faith. Hope on, trust on, till you see the salvation of God.
• Unmarried adult members can often lend a special kind of strength to the family, becoming a tremendous source of support, acceptance, and love to their families and the families of those around them.
• Grandparents, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, cousins, and other family members can have great impact on the family. I want to express my appreciation for those in my own extended family who have guided me by their example and testimony.

Elder Hales ends his talk reminding us that our trials in life are to bring us together with the Lord and with each other.

• Our trials are to draw us closer to the Lord and to one another.
  

I love this list of things that we can do in our homes to invite the spirit and strengthen our families.  I am personally going to adopt several of these into my life to help my children strengthen their testimonies.  Each item on the list will provide strength to our family relationships.  Let us know which of these items you will be working on in the coming months.