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It Is Not Enough To Want To Make The Effort And To Say We'll Make The Effort. We Must Actually Make The Effort. It's In The Doing, Not Just The Thinking, That We Accomplish Our Goals. If We Constantly Put Our Goals Off, We Will Never See Them Fulfilled. Someone Put It This Way: Live Only For Tomorrow, And You Will Have A Lot Of Empty Yesterdays Today.

-Thomas S. Monson

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It Is Not Enough

Thomas S. Monson

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It Is Not Enough To Want To Make The Effort And To Say We'll Make The Effort. We Must Actually Make The Effort. It's In The Doing, Not Just The Thinking, That We Accomplish Our Goals. If We Constantly Put Our Goals Off, We Will Never See Them Fulfilled. Someone Put It This Way: Live Only For Tomorrow, And You Will Have A Lot Of Empty Yesterdays Today.

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The Reward Of Eternal Life Requires Effort.

May We Show Increased Kindness Toward One Another, And May We Ever Be Found Doing The Work Of The Lord.

As We Move Toward The Future, We Must Not Neglect The Lessons Of The Past. Our Heavenly Father Gave His Son. The Son Of God Gave His Life. We Are Asked By Them To Give Our Lives, As It Were, In Their Divine Service. Will You? Will I? Will We? There Are Lessons To Be Taught, There Are Kind Deeds To Be Done, There Are Souls To Be Saved.

How Does One Magnify A Calling? Simply By Performing The Service That Pertains To It.

We Can’t Direct The Wind, But We Can Adjust The Sails. For Maximum Happiness, Peace, And Contentment, May We Choose A Positive Attitude.

Gaze Upward, Look Inward, Reach Outward, Press Forward.

Choose Good Friends. Friends Help To Determine Your Future. You Will Tend To Be Like Them And To Be Found Where They Choose To Go. Remember, The Path We Follow In This Life Leads To The Path We Follow In The Next.

Needed Are...[souls] Filled With Compassion, That We Might Communicate Not Only Eye To Eye, Or Voice To Ear, But In The Majestic Style Of The Savior, Even Heart To Heart.

We Can Lift Ourselves, And Others As Well, When We Refuse To Remain In The Realm Of Negative Thought And Cultivate Within Our Hearts An Attitude Of Gratitude.

A Grateful Heart, Then, Comes Through Expressing Gratitude To Our Heavenly Father For His Blessings And To Those Around Us For All That They Bring Into Our Lives. This Requires Conscious Effort-at Least Until We Have Truly Learned And Cultivated An Attitude Of Gratitude. Often We Feel Grateful And Intend To Express Our Thanks But Forget To Do So Or Just Don't Get Around To It. Someone Has Said That "feeling Gratitude And Not Expressing It Is Like Wrapping A Present And Not Giving It."

Courage Becomes A Worthwhile And Meaningful Virtue When It Is Regarded Not So Much As A Willingness To Die Manfully But As A Determination To Live Decently.

Heavenly Father Loves You—each Of You. That Love Never Changes.

Wonderful, Glorious Things Are In Store For You If You Will Only Believe, Obey, And Endure.

I Urge You To Hold Fast To Your Standards. I Plead With You Not To Waver.

The World Around You Is Not Equipped To Provide The Help You Need To Make It Through This Often Treacherous Journey.

Of Course, We Will Face Fear, Experience Ridicule, And Meet Opposition. Let Us Have The Courage To Defy The Consensus, The Courage To Stand For Principle. Courage, Not Compromise, Brings The Smile Of God's Approval.

You Can't Be Right By Doing Wrong; You Can't Be Wrong By Doing Right.

May We All Make The Journey To Bethlehem In Spirit, Taking With Us A Tender Caring Heart As Our Gift To The Savior.

There Are Many Out There Who Plead And Pray For Help. There Are Those Who Are Discouraged, Those Who Are Beset By Poor Health And Challenges Of Life Which Leave Them In Despair. I’ve Always Believed In The Truth Of The Words, ‘god’s Sweetest Blessings Always Go By Hands That Serve Him Here Below.’ Let Us Have Ready Hands, Clean Hands, And Willing Hands, That We May Participate In Providing What Our Heavenly Father Would Have Others Receive From Him.

Self-discipline Is A Rigorous Process At Best; Too Many Of Us Want It To Be Effortless And Painless.

Often Small Acts Of Service Are All That Is Required To Lift And Bless Another: A Question Concerning A Person's Family, Quick Words Of Encouragement, A Sincere Compliment, A Small Note Of Thanks, A Brief Telephone Call. If We Are Observant And Aware, And If We Act On The Promptings Which Come To Us, We Can Accomplish Much Good.

Love Is The Very Essence Of The Gospel.

Whether It Is The Best Of Times Or The Worst Of Times, He Is With Us. He Has Promised Us That This Will Never Change.

Let Us Not Only Remember The Past And Its Required Sacrifice, Let Us Also Remember That We Are Responsible To Build A Legacy For The Generations Which Follow Us.

My Earnest Prayer Is That You Will Have The Courage Required To Refrain From Judging Others, The Courage To Be Chaste And Virtuous, And The Courage To Stand Firm For Truth And Righteousness. As You Do So, You Will Be ‘an Example Of The Believers’ (1 Timothy 4:12), And Your Life Will Be Filled With Love And Peace And Joy.

One, Two, Three...let's Go Shopping!

Fill Your Mind With Truth; Fill Your Heart With Love; Fill Your Life With Service.

I Acknowledge That I Do Not Understand The Processes Of Creation, But I Accept The Fact Of It.

Can We Somehow Muster The Courage And Steadfastness Of Purpose That Characterized The Pioneers Of A Former Generation? Can You And I, In Actual Fact, Be Pioneers [today]?

I Think There Is No Place In The World Where I Feel Closer To The Lord Than In One Of His Holy Temples.

When We Encounter Challenges And Problems In Our Lives, It Is Often Difficult For Us To Focus On Our Blessings. However, If We Reach Deep Enough And Look Hard Enough, We Will Be Able To Feel And Recognize Just How Much We Have Been Given.

There Are Hearts To Gladden... Kind Words To Say... Gifts To Be Given... Deeds To Be Done.

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It’s Not Enough To Wish, It’s Not Enough To Dream, It’s Not Enough To Promise. We Must Do.

Those Who Understand The Eternal Blessings Which Come From The Temple Know That No Sacrifice Is Too Great, No Price Too Heavy, No Struggle Too Difficult In Order To Receive Those Blessings.

Sometimes We Can Take Offense So Easily. On Other Occasions We Are Too Stubborn To Accept A Sincere Apology. Who Will Subordinate Ego, Pride, And Hurt-then Step Forward With 'i Am Truly Sorry! Let's Be As We Once Were: Friends. Let's Not Pass To Future Generations The Grievances, The Anger Of Our Time'? Let's Remove Any Hidden Wedges That Can Do Nothing But Destroy.

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Times Change; Years Speed By; But Christmas Continues Sacred.

No One Can Make Us Angry. It Is Our Choice.

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Lessons Learned In The Home, Last The Longest.

We Are Never Alone When We Stand With Our Father In Heaven.

Father In Heaven

May We Incorporate Into Our Own Lives The Divine Principles Which He Joseph Smith So Beautifully Taught By Example, That We, Ourselves, Might Live More Completely The Gospel Of Jesus Christ. . . May Our Lives Reflect The Knowledge We Have That God Lives, That Jesus Christ Is His Son, That Joseph Smith Was A Prophet And That We Are Led Today By Another Prophet Of God - Even President Gordon B. Hinckley.

Gordon B Hinckley

With The Birth Of The Babe In Bethlehem, There Emerged A Great Endowment—a Power Stronger Than Weapons, A Wealth More Lasting Than The Coins Of Caesar. This Child Was To Become The King Of Kings And Lord Of Lords, The Promised Messiah—jesus Christ, The Son Of God.

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Some Are Young People Who Don't Know Who They Are, What They Can Be Or Even Want To Be. They Are Afraid, But They Don't Know Of What. They Are Angry, But They Don't Know At Whom. They Are Rejected And They Don't Know Why. All They Want Is To Be Somebody.

If You Will Study The Scriptures Diligently, Your Power To Avoid Temptation And To Receive Direction Of The Holy Ghost In All You Do Will Be Increased.

Christ Instructs Us To Stand Up Bravely For Our Beliefs... He Asks Us To Let Our Lights Shine.

Ideals Are Like The Stars - You Can't Touch Them With Your Hands, But By Following Them You Reach Your Destination.

If You Are Persistent, You Will Succeed

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God And Mother, Partners In Creation, In Love, In Sacrifice, In Service, Are As One.

Stand For Right, Even If You Stand Alone.

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As We Follow That Man Of Galilee-even The Lord Jesus Christ-our Personal Influence Will Be Felt For Good Wherever We Are, Whatever Our Callings.

Work Without Vision Is Drudgery. Vision Without Work Is Dreaming. Work Coupled With Vision Is Destiny.

Few See Beyond The Outward Appearance And Recognize The True Worth Of A Human Soul. When They Do, Miracles Occur.

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Your Mind Is A Cupboard And You Stock The Shelves.

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No Problem Is Too Small For His Attention Nor So Large That He Cannot Answer The Prayer Of Faith. Prayer Surely Is The Passport To Spiritual Power.

Love Should Be The Very Heart Of Family Life.

Mortality Is A Period Of Testing, A Time To Prove Ourselves Worthy To Return To The Presence Of Our Heavenly Father. In Order For Us To Be Tested, We Must Face Challenges And Difficulties. These Can Break Us, And The Surface Of Our Souls May Crack And Crumble-that Is, If Our Foundations Of Faith, Our Testimonies Of Truth Are Not Deeply Embedded Within Us.

Clearly, One Primary Purpose Of Our Existence Upon The Earth Is To Obtain A Body Of Flesh And Bones. We Have Also Been Given The Gift Of Agency. In A Thousand Ways We Are Privileged To Choose For Ourselves. Here We Learn From The Hard Taskmaster Of Experience. We Discern Between Good And Evil. We Differentiate As To The Bitter And The Sweet. We Discover That There Are Consequences Attached To Our Actions.

Decisions Determine Destiny.

Man Has Made Remarkable Strides In Conquering Outer Space, But How Futile Have Been His Efforts In Conquering Inner Space- The Space In Our Hearts And Minds Of Men.

Often We Live Side By Side But Do Not Communicate Heart To Heart.

The Future Will Present Insurmountable Problems- Only When We Consider Them Insurmountable.

Faith Precedes The Miracle. It Has Ever Been So And Shall Ever Be. It Was Not Raining When Noah Was Commanded To Build An Ark. There Was No Visible Ram In The Thicket When Abraham Prepared To Sacrifice His Son Isaac. Two Heavenly Personages Were Not Yet Seen When Joseph Knelt And Prayed. First Came The Test Of Faith–and Then The Miracle. Remember That Faith And Doubt Cannot Exist In The Same Mind At The Same Time, For One Will Dispel The Other. Cast Out Doubt. Cultivate Faith.

Anger Does Not Solve Anything; It Builds Nothing.

Do Not Procrastinate. Someone Has Said That Procrastination Is The Thief Of Time. Actually, Procrastination Is Much More. It Is The Thief Of Our Self-respect. It Nags At Us And Spoils Our Fun. It Deprives Us Of The Fullest Realization Of Our Ambitions And Hopes.

Procrastination

Whenever We Are Inclined To Feel Burdened Down With The Blows Of Life, Let Us Remember That Others Have Passed The Same Way, Have Endured, And Then Have Overcome.

Amidst The Confusion Of The Times, The Conflicts Of Conscience, And The Turmoil Of Daily Living, An Abiding Faith Becomes An Anchor To Our Lives.

Life's Journey Is Not Traveled On A Freeway Devoid Of Obstacles, Pitfalls, And Snares. Rather, It Is A Pathway Marked By Forks And Turnings. Decisions Are Constantly Before Us. To Make Them Wisely, Courage Is Needed: The Courage To Say, 'no,' The Courage To Say, 'yes.' Decisions Do Determine Destiny. The Call For Courage Comes Constantly To Each Of Us. It Has Ever Been So, And So Shall It Ever Be.

You Can Dress Attractively Without Being Immodest. Within The Lord’s Guidelines, There Is Room For You To Be Lively, Vibrant, And Beautiful Both In Your Dress And In Your Actions.

Heavenly Father Has A Picture Of You On His Dresser. He Loves You And Will Help You. Call Upon Him.

Pray Always, And Be Believing, And All Things Shall Work Together For Your Good.

Working Together

Ours Is The Responsibility To Show Our Gratitude By The Actions Of Our Lives.

When We Keep The Spirit Of Christmas, We Keep The Spirit Of Christ, For The Christmas Spirit Is The Christ Spirit.

Christmas Spirit

Christmas Is The Spirit Of Giving Without A Thought Of Getting. It Is Happiness Because We See Joy In People. It Is Forgetting Self And Finding Time For Others. It Is Discarding The Meaningless And Stressing The True Values

My Dear Sisters, Do Not Pray For Tasks Equal To Your Abilities, But Pray For Abilities Equal To Your Tasks. Then The Performance Of Your Tasks Will Be No Miracle, But You Will Be The Miracle.

Because He Came To Earth, We Have A Perfect Example To Follow. As We Strive To Become More Like Him, We Will Have Joy And Happiness In Our Lives And Peace Each Day Of The Year. It Is His Example Which, If Followed, Stirs Within Us More Kindness And Love, More Respect And Concern For Others.

Concern For Others

No Member Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints Who Has Canned Peas, Topped Beets, Hauled Hay, Shoveled Coal, Or Helped In Any Way To Serve Others Ever Forgets Or Regrets The Experience Of Helping Provide For Those In Need.

Vice Never Leads To Virtue. Hate Never Promotes Love. Cowardice Never Gives Courage. Doubt Never Inspires Faith.

In The Private Sanctuary Of One's Own Conscience Lies That Spirit, That Determination To Cast Off The Old Person And To Measure Up To The Statue Of True Potential.

Look To The Lighthouse Of The Lord. There Is No Fog So Dense, No Night So Dark, No Gale So Strong, No Mariner So Lost But What Its Beacon Light Can Rescue.

Anxiously You Ask, 'is There A Way To Safety? Can Someone Guide Me? Is There An Escape From Threatened Destruction?' The Answer Is A Resounding Yes! I Counsel You: Look To The Lighthouse Of The Lord. There Is No Fog So Dense, No Night So Dark, No Gale So Strong, No Mariner So Lost But What Its Beacon Light Can Rescue. It Beckons Through The Storms Of Life. It Calls, 'this Way To Safety; This Way To Home.

In Sickness, With Its Attendant Pain, Patience Is Required. If The Only Perfect Man Who Ever Lived-even Jesus Of Nazareth-was Called Upon To Endure Great Suffering, How Can We, Who Are Less Than Perfect, Expect To Be Free Of Such Challenges?

No Temptation, No Pressure, No Enticing Can Overcome Us Unless We Allow Such. If We Make The Wrong Choice, We Have No One To Blame But Ourselves.

Whatever Our Calling, Regardless Of Our Fears Or Anxieties, Let Us Pray And Then Go And Do.

The Book Of Mormon Changes Lives.

Wishing Will Not Make It So. The Lord Expects Our Thinking. He Expects Our Action. He Expects Our Labors. He Expects Our Testimonies. He Expects Our Devotion.

Everyone Can Be Discontented If He Ignores His Blessings And Looks Only At His Burdens.

One Man Said, "i Looked At My Brother Through The Microscope Of Criticism, And I Said, "how Coarse My Brother Is." Then I Looked At My Brother Through The Telescope Of Scorn, And I Said, "how Small My Brother Is." Then I Looked Into The Mirror Of Truth And I Said, "how Like Me My Brother Is."

As You Walk Through Life, Always Walk Toward The Light, And The Shadows Of Life Will Fall Behind You.

One Sees A Blatant Disregard For The Precious Souls Of Mankind.

There Is No Better Time Than Now, This Very Christmas Season, For All Of Us To Rededicate Ourselves To The Principles Taught By Jesus Christ. It Is The Time To Love The Lord, Our God, With All Our Heart – And Our Neighbors As Ourselves. It Is Well To Remember That He Who Gives Money Gives Much; He Who Gives Time Gives More; But He Who Gives Of Himself Gives All.

Work Will Win When Wishy Washy Wishing Won T.

Make Room For The Lord In Your Homes And In Your Hearts, And He Will Be Your Companion. He Will Be By Your Side.

A Friend Is More Concerned About Helping People Than Getting Credit. A Friend Cares. A Friend Loves. A Friend Listens. And A Friend Reaches Out.

Spiritual Strength Frequently Comes Through Selfless Service.

Selfless Service

There Are Feet To Steady, Hands To Grasp, Minds To Encourage, Hearts To Inspire, And Souls To Save

The Most Constant Thing Is Change.

Glance Backward, Look Heavenward, Reach Outward, Press Onward

We Find Real Joy When We Keep The Savior The Focus Of The Season.

We Are Surrounded By Those In Need Of Our Attention, Our Encouragement, Our Support, Our Comfort, Our Kindness... We Are The Lord’s Hands Here Upon The Earth, With The Mandate To Serve And To Lift His Children. He Is Dependent Upon Each Of Us

When Firmly Planted, Your Testimony Of The Gospel, Of The Savior, And Of Our Heavenly Father Will Influence All That You Do Throughout Your Life. It Will Help To Determine How You Spend Your Time And With Whom You Choose To Associate. It Will Affect The Way You Treat Your Family, How You Interact With Others. It Will Bring Love, Peace, And Joy Into Your Life.

Don't Forget: One Of The Saddest Things In Life Is Wasted Talent.

Who The Lord Calls, The Lord Will Qualify.

Our Lives Will Depend Upon The Decisions Which We Make, For Decisions Determine Destiny.

I Am Certain That The Lord, Who Notes The Fall Of A Sparrow, Looks With Compassion Upon Those Who Have Been Called Upon To Part, Even Temporarily, From Their Precious Children.

When We Treat People Merely As They Are, They Will Remain As They Are. When We Treat Them As If They Were What They Should Be, They Will Become What They Should Be.

Your Patriarchal Blessing Is Your Passport To Peace In This Life. It Is A Liahona Of Light To Guide You Unerringly To Your Heavenly Home.

A Woman Needs To Be Told She Is Beautiful. She Needs To Be Told She Is Valued. She Needs To Be Told She Is Worthwhile.

She Is Beautiful

The Future Is In Your Hands, The Outcome Is Up To You.

At Times Many Of Us Let That Enemy Of Achievement--even The Culprit 'self-defeat'--dwarf Our Aspirations, Smother Our Dreams, Cloud Our Vision, And Impair Our Lives. The Enemy's Voice Whispers In Our Ears, 'you Can't Do It.' 'you're Too Young.' 'you're Too Old.' 'you're Nobody.' This Is When We Remember That We Are Created In The Image Of God. Reflection On This Truth Provides A Profound Sense Of Strength And Power.

Our Most Significant Opportunities Will Be Found In Times Of Greatest Difficulty.

There Are Lives To Brighten. There Are Hearts To Touch. There Are Souls To Save.

Courage, Not Compromise, Brings The Smile Of God's Approval.

Several Years Ago My Dear Wife Went To The Hospital. She Left A Note Behind For The Children: "dear Children, Do Not Let Daddy Touch The Microwave" - Followed By A Comma, "or The Stove, Or The Dishwasher, Or The Dryer." I'm Embarrassed To Add Any More To That List.

There Will Be Occasions In Each Of Our Lives When We Will Be Called Upon To Explain Or To Defend Our Beliefs. When The Time For Performance Arrives, The Time For Preparation Is Past.

Come From Your Wandering Way, Weary Travelers. Come To The Gospel Of Jesus Christ. Come To That Heavenly Haven Called Home. Here You Will Discover The Truth. Here You Will Learn The Reality Of The Godhead, The Comfort Of The Plan Of Salvation, The Sanctity Of The Marriage Covenant, The Power Of Personal Prayer. Come Home.

We Are A Temple-building And A Temple-attending People.

Those Who Grieve Frequently Find Themselves Alone. Missed Is The Laughter Of Children, The Commotion Of Teenagers, And The Tender, Loving Concern Of A Departed Companion. The Clock Ticks More Loudly, Time Passes More Slowly, And Four Walls Can Indeed A Prison Make. I Extol Those Who, With Loving Care And Compassionate Concern, Feed The Hungry, Clothe The Naked, And House The Homeless. He Who Notes The Sparrow's Fall Will Not Be Unmindful Of Such Service.

A Grateful Heart ... Comes Through Expressing Gratitude To Our Heavenly Father For His Blessings And To Those Around Us For All That They Bring Into Our Lives.

The Problems Of Our Day Loom Ominously Before Us... Surrounded By The Sophistication Of Modern Living, We Look Heavenward For That Unfailing Sense Of Direction, That We Might Chart And Follow A Wise And Proper Course. Our Heavenly Father Will Not Leave Our Sincere Petition Unanswered.

The Power To Lead Is The Power To Mislead, And The Power To Mislead Is The Power To Destroy.

I Wasn't With Joseph, But I Believe Him. My Faith Did Not Come To Me Through Science, And I Will Not Permit So-called Science To Destroy It.

It Is Almost Inevitable That Our Faith Will Be Challenged. We May At Times Find Ourselves Surrounded By Others And Yet Standing In The Minority Or Even Standing Alone Concerning What Is Acceptable And What Is Not. Do We Have The Moral Courage To Stand Firm For Our Beliefs, Even If By So Doing We Must Stand Alone?

Family Prayer Is The Greatest Deterrent To Sin, And Hence The Most Beneficent Provider Of Joy And Happiness. The Old Saying Is Yet True: 'the Family That Prays Together Stays Together.'

As We Touch The Temple And Love The Temple, Our Lives Will Reflect Our Faith. As We Go To The Holy House, As We Remember The Covenants We Make Therein, We Will Be Able To Bear Every Trial And Overcome Each Temptation.

My Brothers And Sisters, Do We Remember To Give Thanks For The Blessings We Receive? Sincerely Giving Thanks Not Only Helps Us Recognize Our Blessings, But It Also Unlocks The Doors Of Heaven And Helps Us Feel God's Love.

A Man Without A Purpose Is Like A Ship Without A Rudder - Never Likely To Reach Home Port. To Us Comes The Signal: Chart Your Course, Set Your Sail, Position Your Rudder, And Proceed.

Learn From The Past, Prepare For The Future, Live In The Present.

Youth Need Less Critics And More Models.

This Is Not A Time For Fear, Brethren, But Rather A Time For Faith - A Time For Each Of Us Who Holds The Priesthood To Be His Best Self.

Men And Women Of Integrity, Character, And Purpose Have Ever Recognized A Power Higher Than Themselves And Have Sought Through Prayer To Be Guided By That Power. Such Has It Ever Been. So Shall It Ever Be.

We Must Not Let Our Passions Destroy Our Dreams.

Happiness Comes When We Stop Complaining About The Troubles We Have And Offer Thanks For All The Troubles We Don't Have.

We Are Reminded That Anger Doesn't Solve Anything. It Builds Nothing, But It Can Destroy Everything.

To You Who Are Parents, I Say, Show Love To Your Children. You Know You Love Them, But Make Certain They Know It As Well. They Are So Precious. Let Them Know. Call Upon Our Heavenly Father For Help As You Care For Their Needs Each Day And As You Deal With The Challenges Which Inevitably Come With Parenthood. You Need More Than Your Own Wisdom In Rearing Them.

Charity Is Having Patience With Someone Who Has Let Us Down. It Is Resisting The Impulse To Become Offended Easily. It Is Accepting Weaknesses And Shortcomings. It Is Accepting People As They Truly Are. It Is Looking Beyond Physical Appearances To Attributes That Will Not Dim Through Time. It Is Resisting The Impulse To Categorize Others.

Each Of Us Can Be A Leader. We Need To Remember That The Mantle Of Leadership Is Not The Cloak Of Comfort, But The Robe Of Responsibility. Perhaps Our Service Is To Youth. If So, I Caution: 'youth Needs Fewer Critics And More Models.' One Hundred Years From Now It Will Not Matter What Kind Of A Car We Drove, What Kind Of A House We Lived In, How Much We Had In The Bank Account, Nor What Our Clothes Looked Like. But The World May Be A Little Better Because We Were Important In The Life Of A Boy Or A Girl.

Life By The Yard Is Hard; By The Inch It's A Cinch. Decisions Determine Destiny.

There Will Be Times When You Will Be Frightened And Discouraged. You May Feel That You Are Defeated. The Odds Of Obtaining Victory May Appear Overwhelming. At Times You May Feel Like David Trying To Fight Goliath. But Remember-david Did Win!

Our Problem Is That We Often Expect Instantaneous Solutions To Such Challenges, Forgetting That Frequently The Heavenly Virtue Of Patience Is Required.

Though We May Not Necessarily Forfeit Our Lives In Service To Our God, We Can Certainly Demonstrate Our Love For Him By How Well We Serve Him.

True Love Is A Reflection Of The Savior's Love. In December Of Each Year We Call It The Christmas Spirit.

All That Occurs Within The Walls Of The Temple Is Uplifting And Enobling.

On Occasion I Have Observed Parents Shopping To Clothe A Son About To Enter Missionary Service. The New Suits Are Fitted, The New Shoes Are Laced, And Shirts, Socks, And Ties Are Bought In Quantity. I Met One Father Who Said To Me, 'brother Monson, I Want You To Meet My Son.' Pride Popped His Buttons; The Cost Of The Clothing Emptied His Wallet; Love Filled His Heart. Tears Filled My Eyes When I Noticed That His [the Father's] Suit Was Old, His Shoes Well Worn; But He Felt No Deprivation. The Glow On His Face Was A Memory To Cherish.

None Within The Sound Of My Voice Should Be In Any Doubt Concerning What Is Moral And What Is Not, Nor Should Any Be In Doubt About What Is Expected Of Us ... We Have Been And Continue To Be Taught God's Laws. Despite What You May See Or Hear Elsewhere, These Laws Are Unchanging.

May We Be Faithful Followers Of Christ, Examples Of Righteousness, Thus Becoming Lights In The World.

Choose A Field That Will Supply Sufficient Remuneration To Provide Adequately For Your Companion And Your Children. I Bear Testimony That These Criteria Are Very Important In Choosing Your Life's Work.

You Will Never Be Able To Measure Your Influence For Good.

Remember That Ofttimes The Wisdom Of God Appears As Foolishness To Men, But The Greatest Single Lesson We Can Learn In Mortality Is That When God Speaks And A Man Obeys, That Man Will Always Be Right.

The Hand Of A Bride Becomes The Hand Of A Mother. Ever So Gently She Cares For Her Precious Child. Bathing, Dressing, Feeding, Comforting-there Is No Hand Like Mother's. Nor Does Its Tender Care Diminish Through The Years.

Do We Give Thanks To God 'for His Unspeakable Gift' And His Rich Blessings So Abundantly Bestowed Upon Us?

Permissiveness, Immorality, Pornography, Drugs, The Power Of Peer Pressure-all These And More-cause Many To Be Tossed About On A Sea Of Sin And Crushed On The Jagged Reefs Of Lost Opportunities, Forfeited Blessings, And Shattered Dreams.

We've All Felt Anger. It Can Come When Things Don't Turn Out The Way We Want. It Might Be A Reaction To Something Which Is Said Of Us Or To Us. We May Experience It When People Don't Behave The Way We Want Them To Behave. Perhaps It Comes When We Have To Wait For Something Longer Than We Expected. We Might Feel Angry When Others Can't See Things From Our Perspective. There Seem To Be Countless Possible Reasons For Anger….if We Desire To Have A Proper Spirit With Us At All Times, We Must Choose To Refrain From Becoming Angry.

Youth Of The Church, The World Is In Need Of Your Help. There Are Feet To Steady, Hands To Grasp, Minds To Encourage, Hearts To Inspire, And Souls To Save. The Harvest Truly Is Great. Let There Be No Mistake About It; The Missionary Opportunity Of A Lifetime Is Yours.

The Ability To Communicate Is Not Something We Are Born With. We Have To Learn It And Earn It.

Ability To Communicate

It Is In The Home That We Form Our Attitudes, Our Deeply Held Beliefs. It Is In The Home That Hope Is Fostered Or Destroyed. Our Homes Are To Be More Than Sanctuaries; They Should Also Be Places Where God’s Spirit Can Dwell, Where The Storm Stops At The Door, Where Love Reigns And Peace Dwells

Missionary Work Is An Identifying Feature Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints. Always Has It Been; Ever Shall It Be.

Never, Never, Never Postpone Following A Prompting.

To Express Gratitude Is Gracious And Honorable, To Enact Gratitude Is Generous And Noble, But To Live With Gratitude Ever In Our Hearts Is To Touch Heaven.

It Is Impossible To Stand Upright When One Plants His Roots In The Shifting Sands Of Popular Opinion And Approval.

Home Should Be A Haven Of Love. Honor, Courtesy, And Respect Symbolize Love And Characterize The Righteous Family.

How Grateful We Are That The Heavens Are Indeed Open, That The Gospel Of Jesus Christ Has Been Restored, And That The Church Is Founded On The Rock Of Revelation. We Are A Blessed People, With Apostles And Prophets Upon The Earth Today.

Miracles Are Everywhere To Be Found When The Priesthood Is Understood, Its Power Is Honored And Used Properly, And Faith Is Exerted.

Perhaps There Has Never Been A Time When We Had Greater Need To Pray And To Teach Our Family Members To Pray. Prayer Is A Defense Against Temptation. It Is Through Earnest And Heartfelt Prayer That We Can Receive The Needed Blessings And The Support Required To Make Our Way In This Sometimes Difficult And Challenging Journey We Call Mortality.

Prayer Continues To Provide Power--spiritual Power. Prayer Continues To Provide Peace--spiritual Peace.

Spiritual Peace

You Have A Heritage Honor It. You Have Posses A Testimony Share It. You Will Face Temptations Withstand It. You Know The Truth Live It.

To Live With Gratitude Ever In Our Hearts Is To Touch Heaven.

Remember To Pray Fervently.

Turning The Pages Of Scriptural History From Beginning To End, We Learn Of The Ultimate Pioneer-even Jesus Christ. His Birth Was Foretold By The Prophets Of Old; His Entry Upon The Stage Of Life Was Announced By An Angel. His Life And His Ministry Have Transformed The World. . . . May We Ever Follow Him.

Let Me Begin Now, This Very Night, To Emulate Christ. Cast Off Forever Will Be The Old Self And With It Defeat, Despair, Doubt, And Disbelief. To A Newness Of Life I Come--a Life Of Faith, Hope Courage, And Joy. No Task Looms Too Large; No Responsibility Too Heavy; No Duty Is A Burden. All Things Become Possible.

Let Us Not Demeanor Or Belittle. Rather, Let Us Be Compassionate And Encouraging,. We Must Be Careful That We Do Not Destroy Another Person's Confidence Through Careless Words. Or Actions.

With A Strong Testimony Of The Savior And His Restored Gospel, You Have Limitless Opportunities To Shine.

The Road To Anywhere Is The Road To Nowhere, And The Road To Nowhere Leads To Dreams Sacrificed, Opportunities Squandered, And A Life Unfulfilled. In Our Journey We Will Encounter Forks And Turnings In The Road.

Along That Straight And True Path There Are Other Goals: Missionary Service, Temple Marriage, Church Activity, Scripture Study, Prayer, Temple Work. There Are Countless Worthy Goals To Reach As We Travel Through Life. Needed Is Our Commitment To Reach Them.

We May Not Only Find Faith In God In Our Sorrow. We May Also Become Faithful To Him In Times Of Calm.

When We Safeguard (the Heavenly Virtue Of Freedom), When We Honor It, When We Protect It, We Will Walk With Washington, We Will Pray With Patriots, And We Shall Have Peace On Earth, Good Will To Men.

Without A Goal There Can Be No Real Success.

The Battle For Self-discipline May Leave You A Bit Bruised And Battered But Always A Better Person.

With All The Strength Of My Soul, I Testify That God Lives, That His Beloved Son Is The Firstfruits Of The Resurrection, That The Gospel Of Jesus Christ Is That Penetrating Light That Makes Of Every Hopeless Dawn A Joyful Morning.

Think To Thank. In These Three Words Are The Finest Capsule Course For A Happy Marriage, Formula For Enduring Friendship, And A Pattern For Personal Happiness.

Serving Throughout The World Is A Great Missionary Force Going About Doing Good. Missionaries Teach Truth. They Dispel Darkness. They Spread Joy. They Bring Precious Souls To Christ.

Each Heartfelt Prayer, Each Church Meeting Attended, Each Worthy Friend, Each Righteous Decision, Each Act Of Service Perfomed All Precede That Goal Of Eternal Life.

Miracles Are Everywhere To Be Found When Priesthood Callings Are Magnified. When Faith Replaces Doubt, When Selfless Service Eliminates Selfish Striving, The Power Of God Brings To Pass His Purposes. The Priesthood Is Not Really So Much A Gift As It Is A Commission To Serve, A Privilege To Lift, And An Opportunity To Bless The Lives Of Others.

The Greatest Force In The World Today Is The Power Of God As It Works Through Man.

All Of Us Are Prone To Excuse Our Own Mediocre Performance. We Blame Our Misfortunes, Our Disfigurements, Our So-called Handicaps. Victims Of Our Own Rationalization, We Say Silently To Ourselves, 'i'm Just Too Weak,' Or 'i'm Not Cut Out For Better Things.' Others Soar Beyond Our Meager Accomplishments. Envy And Discouragement Take Their Toll. .

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Bill Richardson

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