righteous desires

If our righteous desires are sufficiently intense, they will motivate us to cut and carve ourselves free from addictions and other sinful pressures and priorities that prevent our eternal progress.
Dallin H. Oaks
April 2011

the atonement

"The one message Satan does not want us to know or understand or apply is what Elder Bednar has called "the enabling power of the Atonement," because without that understanding we are miserable like he is. This is the one message he doesn't want us to get."


Carolyn J. Rasmussen at BYU-Idaho, Oct. 2009

courageous parenting

Parenting teenagers in the latter days is a very humbling assignment. Satan and his followers are striving to bring this generation down; the Lord is counting on valiant parents to bring them up. Parents, “Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid” (Joshua 1:9).

~Larry R. Lawrence

the Holy Ghost

in today's world we must provide quiet, reflective times for our children and teach them how to listen to the still, small voice. with all the blessings our modern age has given to us, let us not give up the things that promote the workings of the Holy Ghost: time alone to pray, ponder, meditate, and read the scriptures; and time with family undisturbed by noise, distrations, and too many activities.

~Elder Neil L. Anderson

scripture study

i had a reminder about scripture study today in our sunday school lesson.
one that applies to me right now in this busy life of mine.

...behold, i will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost...

~Doctrine and Covenants 8:2

the teacher told us that we absolutely have to have both our mind and our heart fully in scripture study or else we will not get anything out of it. meaning we can't just read the words on the page and be upset about something going on in our lives. or have our hearts in it but be thinking about our to-do lists. they have to both be in it. the teacher made it sound more eloquent than that but it made me stop and think about how often than not i will just read to read. instead of taking the time to focus and learn from my scripture study.

our prophet

my brethren, all ye that have assembled yourselves together, you that can hear my words which i shall speak unto you this day; for i have not commanded you to come up hither to trifle with the words which i shall speak, but that you should hearken unto me, and open your ears that ye may hear, and your hearts that ye may understand, and your minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your view.

mosiah 2:9

i read this and immediately thought of general conference as well as the monthly prophet's message in the ensign magazine. how blessed we are to have a prophet of the Lord to direct the gospel on the earth. i enjoyed this reminder to not trifle with the words of any prophet of God, especially our living prophet.

charity

my thanks to all of you wonderful members of the church--and legions of good people not of our faith--for proving every day of your life that the pure love of Christ "never faileth." no one of you is insignificant, in part because you make the gospel what it is--a living reminder of His grace and mercy, a private but powerful manifestation in small villages and large cities of the good He did and the life He gave bringing peace and salvation to other people.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
october 2010