Background Image

...

The Savior Taught His Disciples, 'for Whosoever Will Save His Life Shall Lose It: But Whosoever Will Lose His Life For My Sake, The Same Shall Save It' (luke 9:24)."i Believe The Savior Is Telling Us That Unless We Lose Ourselves In Service To Others, There Is Little Purpose To Our Own Lives. Those Who Live Only For Themselves Eventually Shrivel Up And Figuratively Lose Their Lives, While Those Who Lose Themselves In Service To Others Grow And Flourish—and In Effect Save Their Lives.

-Thomas S. Monson

...

Please Wait....
Translating....

The Savior Taught His

Thomas S. Monson

...

The Savior Taught His Disciples, 'for Whosoever Will Save His Life Shall Lose It: But Whosoever Will Lose His Life For My Sake, The Same Shall Save It' (luke 9:24)."i Believe The Savior Is Telling Us That Unless We Lose Ourselves In Service To Others, There Is Little Purpose To Our Own Lives. Those Who Live Only For Themselves Eventually Shrivel Up And Figuratively Lose Their Lives, While Those Who Lose Themselves In Service To Others Grow And Flourish—and In Effect Save Their Lives.

Views: 11

Topic

More From Thomas S. Monson

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?

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.

It Is Imperative That We Recognize That Whatever Has Happened To Us Has Happened To Others. They Have Coped And So Must We. We Are Not Alone. Heavenly Father's Help Is Near.

Our Heavenly Father Is Aware Of Our Needs And Will Help Us As We Call Upon Him For Assistance. I Believe That No Concern Of Ours Is Too Small Or Insignificant. The Lord Is In The Details Of Our Lives.

May You Constantly Nourish Your Testimonies Of The Gospel That They Will Be A Protection To You Against The Buffetings Of The Adversary.

Let Us Relish Life As We Live It, Find Joy In The Journey, And Share Our Love With Family And Friends.

Family And Friends

Each Of Us Has Much For Which To Be Grateful If We Will But Pause And Contemplate Our Blessings.

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. Courage Becomes A Living And An Attractive Virtue When It Is Regarded Not Only As A Willingness To Die Manfully, But Also As A Determination To Live Decently. A Moral Coward Is One Who Is Afraid To Do What He Thinks Is Right Because Others Will Disapprove Or Laugh. Remember That All Men Have Their Fears, But Those Who Face Their Fears With Dignity Have Courage As Well.

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.

Love Should Be The Very Heart Of Family Life.

In Short, If You Have Any Question About Whether A Particular Movie, Book, Or Other Form Of Entertainment Is Appropriate, Don’t See It, Don’t Read It, Don’t Participate.

When You’re On The Lord’s Errand, You’re Entitled To The Lord’s Blessings.

I Counseled Many Returning Missionaries. I Interviewed 1,700 Missionaries All Over The World. My Advice To Them Is That You Should Study And Prepare For Your Life's Work In A Field That You Enjoy.

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.

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.

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.

Along Your Pathway Of Life You Will Observe That You Are Not The Only Traveler. There Are Others Who Need Your Help. There Are Feet To Steady, Hands To Grasp, Minds To Encourage, Hearts To Inspire, And Souls To Save.

Now, Some Of You May Be Shy By Nature, Perhaps Feeling Yourselves Inadequate To Respond Affirmatively To A Calling. Remember That This Work Is Not Yours And Mine Alone. It Is The Lord's Work, And When We Are On The Lord's Errand, Brethren, We Are Entitled To The Lord's Help. Remember That The Lord Will Shape The Back To Bear The Burden Placed Upon It.

Avoid Pornography At All Costs!

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.

Noah Heeded God’s Command To Build An Ark…that They Might Be Saved From The Floodwaters. Yet There Was No Evidence Of Rain And Flood. His Actions Were Considered Irrational. The Sun Was Shining And Life Moved Forward As Usual. But Time Ran Out. The Floods Came, The Disobedient Were Drowned. When God Speaks And We Obey, We Will Always Be Right.

Many More People Could Ride Out The Storm-tossed Waves In Their Economic Lives If They Had Their Year's Supply Of Food…and Were Debt-free. Today We Find That Many Have Followed This Counsel In Reverse: They Have At Least A Year's Supply Of Debt And Are Food-free.

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.

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.

We Were Not Placed On This Earth To Walk Alone.

Decisions Determine Destiny.

Spiritual Strength Frequently Comes Through Selfless Service.

Selfless Service

The World Can Be A Challenging And Difficult Place In Which To Live. We Are Often Surrounded By That Which Would Drag Us Down. As You And I Go To The Holy Houses Of God, As We Remember The Covenants We Make Within, We Will Be More Able To Bear Every Trial And To Overcome Each Temptation. In This Sacred Sanctuary We Will Find Peace; We Will Be Renewed And Fortified.

If You Want To Give Light To Others You Have To Glow Yourself.

Lessons Learned In The Home, Last The Longest.

Perhaps When We Face Our Maker, We Will Not Be Asked, 'how Many Positions Did You Hold,' But Rather, 'how Many People Did You Help?

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.

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

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.

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.

A Prayerful Life Is The Key To Possessing Gratitude. We Often Take For Granted The People Who Most Deserve Our Gratitude. Let Us Not Wait Until It Is Too Late For Us To Express Our Gratitude. Feeling Gratitude And Not Expressing It Is Like Wrapping A Present And Not Giving It. If I Gratitude Be Numbered Among The Serious Sins, Then Gratitude Takes Its Place Among The Noblest Of Virtues. 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.

May Each Of Us Remember This Truth; 'one Cannot Forget Mother And Remember God. One Cannot Remember Mother And Forget God.' Why? Because These Two Sacred Persons, God And Mother, Partners In Creation, In Love, In Sacrifice, In Service, Are As One.

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.

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.

Have We Been Guilty Of Declaring, 'i've Been Thinking About Making Some Course Corrections In My Life. I Plan To Take The First Step-tomorrow'? With Such Thinking, Tomorrow Is Forever. Such Tomorrows Rarely Come Unless We Do Something About Them Today.

Not A Day Has Gone By That I Have Not Communicated With My Father In Heaven Through Prayer. It Is A Relationship I Cherish-one I Would Literally Be Lost Without. If You Do Not Now Have Such A Relationship With Your Father In Heaven, I Urge You To Work Toward That Goal. As You Do So, You Will Be Entitled To His Inspiration And Guidance In Your Life.

As We Emulate His Example, We Will Bless Lives, Including Our Own.

There Is Absolutely Nothing In This World That Will Provide More Comfort And Happiness Than A Testimony Of The Truth.

Be Of Good Cheer. The Future Is As Bright As Your Faith.

If We Will Put Our Trust In The Lord, He Will Help Us Through Our Difficulties, Whatever They My Be.

Trust In The Lord

Raising Children, Be Aware That The Piles And Piles Of Laundry Will Disappear All Too Soon And That You Will, To Your Surprise, Miss Them Profoundly.

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

A Home Is Much More Than A House Built Of Lumber, Brick, Or Stone. A Home Is Made Of Love, Sacrifice, And Respect. We Are Responsible For The Homes We Build. We Must Build Wisely, For Eternity Is Not A Short Voyage. There Will Be Calm And Wind, Sunlight And Shadows, Joy And Sorrow. But If We Really Try, Our Home Can Be A Bit Of Heaven Here On Earth. The Thoughts We Think, The Deeds We Do, The Lives We Live Not Only Influence The Success Of Our Earthly Journey, They Also Mark The Way To Our Eternal Goals.

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

So Frequently We Mistakenly Believe That Our Children Need More Things, When In Reality Their Silent Pleadings Are Simply For More Of Our Time.

By Choosing Our Path, We Choose Our Destination.

When You're At A Funeral And You're Crying, You're Crying For Yourself

May We Muster Courage At The Crossroads, Courage For The Conflicts, Courage To Say, "no," Courage To Say, "yes," For Courage Counts.

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

When We Qualify For The Help Of The Lord, We Can Build Boys, We Can Mend Men, We Can Accomplish Miracles In His Holy Service. Our Opportunities Are Without Limit.

In The Performance Of Our Responsibilities, I Have Learned That When We Heed A Silent Prompting And Act Upon It Without Delay, Our Heavenly Father Will Guide Our Footsteps And Bless Our Lives And The Lives Of Others. I Know Of No Experience More Sweet Or Feelings More Precious Than To Heed A Prompting, Only To Discover That The Lord Has Answered Another's Prayer Through You.

In The Temple We Can Find Peace. The Blessings Of The Temple Are Priceless.

I Plead With You To Have The Courage To Refrain From Judging And Criticizing Those Around You, As Well As The Courage To Make Certain That Everyone Is Included And Feels Loved And Valued.

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

Your Future Depends On Your Faith.

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.

Physically Walking Where Jesus Walked Is Less Important Than Walking As He Walked.

As We Seek Christ, As We Find Him, As We Follow Him, We Shall Have The Christmas Spirit, Not For One Fleeting Day Each Year, But As A Companion Always.

It Was By Faith, Nothing Wavering, That Joseph Saw God Our Eternal Father And Jesus Christ, His Son.

Do Not Yield To Satan's Enticements; Rather, Stand Firm For Truth. The Unsatisfied Yearnings Of The Soul Will Not Be Met By A Never-ending Quest For Joy Amidst The Thrills Of Sensation And Vice. Vice Never Leads To Virtue. Hate Never Promotes Love. Cowardice Never Gives Courage. Doubt Never Inspires Faith.

I Dreamt And Saw That Life Was Joy. I Awoke And Saw That Life Was Duty. I Served And Found That Duty Was Joy. See Life A Duty, Ellen Sturgis Hooper, (1816-1841) Topics: Beauty, Duty & Life I Slept, And Dreamed That Life Was Beauty; I Woke, And Found That Life Was Duty.

Every Bishop Can Testify To The Promptings That Attend Calls To Serve In The Church. Frequently The Call Seems To Be For The Benefit Not So Much Of Those To Be Taught Or Led As For The Person Who Is To Teach Or Lead.

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.

I Urge You To Live Within Your Means. One Cannot Spend More Than One Earns And Remain Solvent. I Promise You That You Will Then Be Happier Than You Would Be If You Were Constantly Worrying About How To Make The Next Payment On Nonessential Debt.

So Much In Life Depends On Our Attitude. The Way We Choose To See Things And Respond To Others Makes All The Difference. To Do The Best We Can And Then To Choose To Be Happy About Our Circumstances, Whatever They May Be, Can Bring Peace And Contentment. We Can't Direct The Wind, But We Can Adjust The Sails. For Maximum Happiness, Peace, And Contentment, May We Choose A Positive Attitude.

The Effectiveness Of An Inspired Bishop, Adviser, Or Teacher Has Very Little To Do With The Outward Trappings Of Power Or An Abundance Of This World's Goods. The Leaders Who Have The Most Influence Are Usually Those Who Set Hearts Afire With Devotion To The Truth, Who Make Obedience To Duty Seem The Essence Of Manhood, Who Transform Some Ordinary Routine Occurrence So That It Becomes A Vista Where We See The Person We Aspire To Be.

The Teacher Not Only Shapes The Expectations And Ambitions Of Her Pupils, But She Also Influences Their Attitudes Toward Their Future And Themselves. If She Is Unskilled, She Leaves Scars On The Lives Of Youth, Cuts Deeply Into Their Self-esteem, And Distorts Their Image Of Themselves As Human Beings. But If She Loves Her Students And Has High Expectations Of Them, Their Self-confidence Will Grow, Their Capabilities Will Develop, And Their Future Will Be Assured.

To Be Angry Is To Yield To The Influence Of Satan. No One Can Make Us Angry. It Is Our Choice. If We Desire To Have A Proper Spirit With Us At All Times, We Must Choose To Refrain From Becoming Angry. I Testify That Such Is Possible.

We Learn To Pray By Praying. One Can Devote Countless Hours To Examining The Experiences Of Others, But Nothing Penetrates The Human Heart As Does A Personal Fervent Prayer And Its Heaven Sent Response.

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.

When Called To The Council Of The Twelve, October 4, 1963, He Said In The Salt Lake Tabernacle: I Think Of A Little Sister, A French-canadian Sister, Whose Life Was Changed By The Missionaries As Her Spirit Was Touched. As She Said Good-by To Me And My Wife In Quebec, She Said, "president Monson, I May Never See The Prophet. I May Never Hear The Prophet. But President, Far Better, Now That I Am A Member Of This Church, I Can Obey The Prophet."

Never, Never, Never Postpone Following A Prompting.

Like The Vital Rudder Of A Ship, We Have Been Provided A Way To Determine The Direction We Travel. The Lighthouse Of The Lord Beckons To All As We Sail The Seas Of Life. Our Home Port Is The Celestial Kingdom Of God. Our Purpose Is To Steer An Undeviating Course In That Direction. 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.

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

Each Of Us Can Do Something To Help Someone.

Can Do Something

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

We Can Bolster Human Spirits, Clothe Cold Bodies, Feed Hungry People, Comfort Grieving Hearts, And Lift To New Heights Precious Souls.

Prayer Is The Passport To Peace.

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.

We Laugh, We Cry, We Work, We Play, We Love, We Live. And Then We Die. ... And Dead We Would Remain But For One Man And His Mission, Even Jesus Of Nazareth. ... With All My Heart And The Fervency Of My Soul, I Lift Up My Voice In Testimony As A Special Witness And Declare That God Does Live. Jesus Is His Son, The Only Begotten Of The Father In The Flesh. He Is Our Redeemer; He Is Our Mediator With The Father. He It Was Who Died On The Cross To Atone For Our Sins. He Became The Firstfruits Of The Resurrection. Because He Died, All Shall Live Again.

There Is No Better Time Than Now, This Very Christmas Season, For All Of Us To Rededicate Ourselves To The Principles Taught By Jesus The Christ.

The Knowledge Which We Seek, The Answers For Which We Yearn, And The Strength Which We Desire Today To Meet The Challenges Of A Complex And Changing World Can Be Ours When We Willingly Obey The Lord’s Commandments.

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

How Much Better The World Would Be If We All Gave Gifts Of Understanding, And Compassion, Of Service, And Friendship, Of Kindness And Gentleness.

The Journey Of A Thousand Miles Begins With A Single Step. Watch Your Step.

I Read With Keen Interest The Words Of A Bumper Sticker Readily Visible On The Highly Polished Chrome Bumper Of A Car Which Was Weaving In And Out Of The Traffic Stream. The Words Were These: "honk If You Love Jesus." No One Honked. Perhaps Each Was Disturbed By The Thoughtless And Rude Actions Of The Offending Driver. Then, Again, Would Honking Be An Appropriate Manner In Which To Show One's Love For The Son Of God, The Savior Of The World, The Redeemer Of All Mankind? Such Was Not The Pattern Provided By Jesus Of Nazareth.

Be Not Weary In Well-doing. … Out Of Small Things Proceedeth That Which Is Great. Behold, The Lord Requireth The Heart And A Willing Mind.

Our Task Is To Become Our Best Selves. One Of God's Greatest Gifts To Us Is The Joy Of Trying Again, For No Failure Ever Need Be Final.

No One Has Learned The Meaning Of Living Until He Has Surrendered His Ego To The Service Of His Fellow Man. Service To Others Is Akin To Duty, The Fulfillment Of Which Brings True Joy.

The Battle For Self-discipline May Leave You A Bit Bruised And Battered But Always A Better Person. Self-discipline Is A Rigorous Process At Best; Too Many Of Us Want It To Be Effortless And Painless. Should Temporary Setbacks Afflict Us, A Very Significant Part Of Our Struggle For Self-discipline Is The Determination And The Courage To Try Again....eternal Life In The Kingdom Of Our Father Is Your Goal, And Self-discipline Will Surely Be Required If You Are To Achieve It.

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.

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.

The Question Each Of Us Must Answer Is ... What Shall I Do With Jesus? He Himself Has Provided Us The Answer: "follow Me, And Do The Things Which Ye Have Seen Me Do"

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

Christmas Spirit

If Ingratitude Be Numbered Among The Serious Sins, Then Gratitude Takes Its Place Among The Noblest Of Virtues.

Our Challenge Is To Join Forces Of The Old And The New- Experience And Experiment, History And Destiny, The World Of Man And The New World Of Science- But Always In Accordance With The Never-changing Word Of God.

New Experiences

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

The Good You Have Done, The Kind Words You Have Spoken, The Love You Have Shown To Others, Can Never Be Fully Measured.

You Can Achieve What You Believe You Can. Trust And Believe And Have Faith.

You May Sometimes Be Tempted To Say, ‘will My Influence Make Any Difference? I Am Just One. Will My Service Affect The Work That Dramatically?’ I Testify To You That It Will. You Will Never Be Able To Measure Your Influence For Good.

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.

We Need Learn What We Need To Learn, Know What We Need To Know, And Do What We Need To Do.

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?

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.

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. I Plead With You To Make A Determination Right Here, Right Now, Not To Deviate From The Path Which Will Lead To Our Goal: Eternal Life With Our Father In Heaven.

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.

The Book Of Mormon Changes Lives.

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.

There Is Much That Is Difficult And Challenging In The World Today, My Brothers And Sisters, But There Is Also Much That Is Good And Uplifting. As We Declare In Our Thirteenth Article Of Faith, 'if There Is Anything Virtuous, Lovely, Or Of Good Report Or Praiseworthy, We Seek After These Things.' May We Ever Continue To Do So.

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.

Dedicated Missionary Service Returns A Dividend Of Eternal Joy Which Extends Throughout Mortality And Into Eternity.

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.

We Tend To Become Like Those Whom We Admire.

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

I Promise You That One Day You Will Stand Aside And Look At Your Difficult Times, You Will Realize That He Was Always There Beside You.

Your Mind Is A Cupboard And You Stock The Shelves.

So Much In Life Depends On Our Attitude. The Way We Choose To See Things And Respond To Others Makes All The Difference.

One Day Each Of Us Will Run Out Of Tomorrows. Let Us Not Put Off What Is Important.

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

Forgiveness Should Go Hand-in-hand With Love.

Courage Is Required To Make An Initial Thrust Toward One's Coveted Goal, But Even Greater Courage Is Called For When One Stumbles And Must Make A Second Effort To Achieve. Have The Determination To Make The Effort, The Single-mindedne Ss To Work Toward A Worthy Goal, And The Courage Not Only To Face The Challenges That Inevitably Come But Also To Make A Second Effort, Should Such Be Required.

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

We Must Learn To Separate Need From Greed...we Must Not Allow Our Yearnings To Exceed Our Earnings.

I Like This Thought: Your Mind Is A Cupboard, And You Stock The Shelves. Let Us Make Certain That Our Cupboard Shelves, And Those Of Our Family Members, Are Stocked With The Things Which Will Provide Safety To Our Souls And Enable Us To Return To Our Father In Heaven. Such Shelves Could Well Be Stocked With Gospel Scholarship, Faith, Prayer, Love, Service, Obedience, Example, And Kindness

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.

One Cannot Remember Mother And Forget God.

We Cannot Know What Faith Is If We Have Never Had It, And We Cannot Obtain It As Long As We Deny It. Faith And Doubt Cannot Exist In The Same Mind At The Same Time, For One Will Dispel The Other.

May We Give As The Savior Gave. To Give Of Oneself Is A Holy Gift. We Give As A Remembrance Of All The Savior Has Given.

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

Avoid The Philosophy And Excuse That Yesterday's Luxuries Have Become Today's Necessities. They Aren't Necessities Unless We Ourselves Make Them Such. . . . It Is Essential For Us To Live Within Our Means.

There Is Really No Way We Can Know The Heart, The Intentions, Or The Circumstances Of Someone Who Might Say Or Do Something We Find Reason To Criticize. Thus The Commandment: 'judge Not.'

There Are Rules And Laws To Help Ensure Our Physical Safety. Likewise, The Lord Has Provided Guidelines And Commandments To Help Ensure Our Spiritual Safety So That We Might Successfully Navigate This Often-treachero Us Mortal Existence And Return Eventually To Our Heavenly Father.

The Person Who Is Working On His Or Her Family History Fits The Description Of One Who Is Fulfilling His Or Her Duty. I Know The Effort, I Know The Expense. I Know The Difficulties Through Which One May Go To Uncover One Name. I Know Our Heavenly Father Is Aware Of These Efforts. And Those For Whom We Perform Sacred Ordinances Are Aware Of Our Efforts. Oftentimes, In A Miraculous Way, There Shall Appear Before Us A Clear Pathway Through A Field Of Turbulence.

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.

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.

I Hope That You Will Learn To Take Responsibility For Your Decisions. Don't Take Counsel Of Your Fears.

Taking Responsibility

In The Search For Our Best Selves, Several Questions Will Guide Our Thinking: Am I What I Want To Be? Am I Closer To The Savior Today Than I Was Yesterday? Will I Be Closer Yet Tomorrow? Do I Have The Courage To Change For The Better?

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.

May Your Homes Be Filled With Peace, Harmony, Courtesy, And Love. May They Be Filled With The Spirit Of The Lord.

When We Ponder That Vast Throng Who Have Died Honorably Defending Home And Hearth, We Contemplate Those Immortal Words, 'greater Love Hath No Man Than This, That A Man Lay Down His Life For His Friends.' The Feelings Of Heartfelt Gratitude For The Supreme Sacrifice Made By So Many Cannot Be Confined To A Memorial Day, A Military Parade, Or A Decorated Grave.

Despite The Changes Which Come Into Our Lives And With Gratitude In Our Hearts, May We Fill Our Days-as Much As We Can-with Those Things Which Matter Most. May We Cherish Those We Hold Dear And Express Our Love To Them In Word And In Deed.

There Is No Tomorrow To Remember If We Don’t Do Something Today, And To Live Most Fully Today, We Must Do That Which Is Of Greatest Importance. Let Us Not Procrastinate Those Things Which Matter Most.

Sometimes We Let Our Thoughts Of Tomorrow Take Up Too Much Of Today. Daydreaming Of The Past And Longing For The Future May Provide Comfort But Will Not Take The Place Of Living In The Present. This Is The Day Of Our Opportunity, And We Must Grasp It

Find Someone Who Is Having A Hard Time Or Is Ill Or Lonely, And Do Something For Him Or Her.

The Sweetest Feeling In Mortality Is To Realize That God, Our Heavenly Father, Knows Each One Of Us And Generously Permits Us To See And To Share His Divine Power To Save.

If Any Has Stumbled In His Journey, There Is A Way Back. The Process Is Called Repentance. Our Savior Died To Provide You And Me That Blessed Gift. Though The Path Is Difficult, The Promise Is Real: 'though Your Sins Be As Scarlet, They Shall Be As White As Snow' (isaiah 1:18).

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

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.

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.

It Has Been Said That The Gate Of History Turns On Small Hinges, And So Do People's Lives. The Choices We Make Determine Our Destiny.

There Is A Golden Thread That Runs Through Every Account Of Faith From The Beginning Of The World To The Present Time. Abraham, Noah, The Brother Of Jared, The Prophet Joseph Smith, And Countless Others Wanted To Be Obedient To The Will Of God. They Had Ears That Could Hear, Eyes That Could See, And Hearts That Could Know And Feel. They Never Doubted. They Trusted.

Your Heavenly Father Loves You-each Of You. That Love Never Changes. It Is Not Influenced By Your Appearance, By Your Possessions, Or By The Amount Of Money You Have In Your Bank Account. It Is Not Changed By Your Talents And Abilities. It Is Simply There. It Is There For You When You Are Sad Or Happy, Discouraged Or Hopeful. God's Love Is There For You Whether Or Not You Feel You Deserve Love. It Is Simply Always There.

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.

All Of Us Remember The Home Of Our Childhood. Interestingly, Our Thoughts Do Not Dwell On Whether The House Was Large Or Small, The Neighborhood Fashionable Or Downtrodden. Rather, We Delight In The Experiences We Shared As A Family. The Home Is The Laboratory Of Our Lives, And What We Learn There Largely Determines What We Do When We Leave There.

Not Surprisingly, As The Pioneer Theme Is Presented, Each Goes Back In Memory To His Or Her Own Family Line. There Are Usually Examples To Identify And Which Fit The Definition Of A Pioneer: "one Who Goes Before, Showing Others The Way To Follow." Some, If Not All, Made Great Sacrifices To Leave Behind Comfort And Ease And Respond To That Clarion Call Of Their Newly Found Faith.

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

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

The Road Back To God Is Not Nearly So Steep Nor Is It So Difficult As Some Would Have Us Believe.

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.

No Force In This World Can Stop The Work Of God.

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.

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

Christmas Is The Spirit Of Giving Without A Thought Of Getting.

Cooperativeness Is Not So Much Learning How To Get Along With Others As Taking The Kinks Out Of Ourselves, So That Others Can Get Along With Us.

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

Don’t Limit Yourself And Don’t Let Others Convince You That You Are Limited In What You Can Do. Believe In Yourself And Then Live So As To Reach Your Possibilities. You Can Achieve What You Believe You Can. Trust And Believe And Have Faith.

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.

Who Was This Man Of Sorrows, Acquainted With Grief? Who Is The King Of Glory, This Lord Of Hosts? He Is Our Master. He Is Our Savior. He Is The Son Of God. He Is The Author Of Our Salvation. He Beckons, “follow Me.” He Instructs, “go, And Do Thou Likewise.” He Pleads, “keep My Commandments.” Let Us Follow Him. Let Us Emulate His Example. Let Us Obey His Word. By So Doing, We Give To Him The Divine Gift Of Gratitude.

Choose Your Friends Carefully, For You Will Tend To Be Like Them And Be Found Where They Choose To Go.

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

Ability To Communicate

In Reality, We Are All Travelers - Even Explorers Of Mortality.

Difficulties Allow Us To Change For The Better.

Change For The Better

Let Us Make Of Our Homes Sanctuaries Of Righteousness, Places Of Prayer, And Abodes Of Love, That We Might Merit The Blessings That Can Come Only From Our Heavenly Father.

We Should Strive For Steadiness, And For A Commitment To God That Does Not Ebb And Flow With The Years Or The Crises Of Our Lives.

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

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

I Testify That When We Do All We Can To Accomplish The Work That Is Before Us, The Lord Will Make Available To Us The Sacred Key Needed To Unlock The Treasure Which We So Much Seek.

The Lighthouse Of The Lord Sends Forth Signals Readily Recognized And Never Failing

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

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.

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

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.

I Have Found That, Rather Than Dwelling On The Negative, If We Will Take A Step Back And Consider The Blessings In Our Lives, Including Seemingly Small, Sometimes Overlooked Blessings, We Can Find Greater Happiness.

May I Share With You A Formula That In My Judgment Will Help You And Help Me To Journey Well Through Mortality... First, Fill Your Mind With Truth; Second, Fill Your Life With Service; And Third, Fill Your Heart With Love.

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

We Forget How The Greeks And Romans Prevailed Magnificently In A Barbaric World And How That Triumph Ended-how A Slackness And Softness Finally Overcame Them To Their Ruin. In The End, More Than They Wanted Freedom, They Wanted Security And A Comfortable Life; And They Lost All-comfort And Security And Freedom.

Security And Freedom

Who The Lord Calls, The Lord Will Qualify.

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.

I Testify To You Today That Turning Away From God Brings Broken Covenants, Shattered Dreams, And Crushed Hopes. Such A Quagmire Of Quicksand I Plead With You To Avoid. You Are Of A Noble Birthright. Eternal Life In The Kingdom Of Our Father Is Your Goal.

The Reward Of Eternal Life Requires Effort.

Recent Surveys Of Church Members Have Shown A Serious Erosion In The Number Of Families Who Have A Year's Supply Of Life's Necessities. Most Members Plan To Do It. Too Few Have Begun... It Is Our Sacred Duty To Care For Our Families, Including Our Extended Families.

Trending Author

Taylor Caldwell

Guy Gavriel Kay

Category