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The Spirit Must Be Freed From Tethers So Strong And Feelings Never Put To Rest, So That The Lift Of Life May Give Buoyancy To The Soul. In Many Families, There Are Hurt Feelings And A Reluctance To Forgive. It Doesn’t Really Matter What The Issue Was. It Cannot And Should Not Be Left To Injure. Blame Keeps Wounds Open. Only Forgiveness Heals. George Herbert, An Early 17th-century Poet, Wrote These Lines: ‘he That Cannot Forgive Others Breaks The Bridge Over Which He Himself Must Pass If He Would Ever Reach Heaven, For Everyone Has Need Of Forgiveness.’

-Thomas S. Monson

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The Spirit Must Be

Thomas S. Monson

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The Spirit Must Be Freed From Tethers So Strong And Feelings Never Put To Rest, So That The Lift Of Life May Give Buoyancy To The Soul. In Many Families, There Are Hurt Feelings And A Reluctance To Forgive. It Doesn’t Really Matter What The Issue Was. It Cannot And Should Not Be Left To Injure. Blame Keeps Wounds Open. Only Forgiveness Heals. George Herbert, An Early 17th-century Poet, Wrote These Lines: ‘he That Cannot Forgive Others Breaks The Bridge Over Which He Himself Must Pass If He Would Ever Reach Heaven, For Everyone Has Need Of Forgiveness.’

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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.

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

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

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

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.'

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.

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.

I Ask You To Make Institute A Priority.

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.

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

Taking Responsibility

Have An Attitude Of Gratitude.

The Lord Is In The Details Of Our Lives.

One Cannot Remember Mother And Forget God.

May We Be People Of Honesty And Integrity Trying To Do The Right Thing At All Times And In All Circumstances.

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.

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.

Who The Lord Calls, The Lord Will Qualify.

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.

…faith Forged In The Furnace Of Trials And Tears Is Marked By Trust And Testimony. Only God Can Count The Sacrifice; Only God Can Measure The Sorrow; Only God Can Know The Hearts Of Those Who Serve Him.

Loving Service Anonymously Given May Be Unknown To Man-but The Gift And The Giver Are Known To God.

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.

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

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

Family And Friends

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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.

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

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

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The Storm Stops At The Door. Love Reigns, Peace Dwells.

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.

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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.

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I Believe That No Concern Of Ours Is Too Small Or Insignificant.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

As We Arise Each Morning, Let Us Determine To Respond With Love And Kindness To Whatever Might Come Our Way.

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.

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

Wherefore, Be Of Good Cheer, And Do Not Fear, For I The Lord Am With You, And Will Stand By You.

The Courage To Say No, The Courage To Say Yes. Decisions Do Determine Destiny.

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

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.

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. .

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.

Graduation Is Not The Conclusion Of An Achievement But Simply The Ending Of One Chapter And The Beginning Of Another Chapter

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.

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.

As I Contemplate All That You Face In The World Today, One Word Comes To My Mind. It Describes An Attribute Needed By All Of Us But One Which You-at This Time Of Your Life And In This World-will Need Particularly. That Attribute Is Courage.

Choose Your Friends With Caution. Plan Your Future With Purpose. Frame Your Life With Faith.

Together We Shall Move Forward Doing [the Lord's] Work

Each Of Us Can Do Something To Help Someone.

Can Do Something

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

Spiritual Peace

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.

This Is A Wonderful Time To Be Living Here On Earth. Our Opportunities Are Limitless. While There Are Some Things Wrong In The World Today, There Are Many Things Right, Such As Teachers Who Teach, Ministers Who Minister, Marriages That Make It, Parents Who Sacrifice, And Friends Who Help. "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. If Ingratitude Be Numbered Among The Serious Sins, Then Gratitude Takes Its Place Among The Noblest Of Virtues."

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

Happiness Comes From Living The Way The Lord Wants You To Live.

The Way To Be With God In Every Season Is To Strive To Be Near Him Every Week And Each Day.

I Add My Personal Witness: Our Missionaries Are Not Salesmen With Wares To Peddle; Rather, They Are Servants Of The Most High God, With Testimonies To Bear, Truths To Teach, And Souls To Save. Each Missionary Who Goes Forth In Response To A Sacred Call Becomes A Servant Of The Lord Whose Work This Truly Is. Do Not Fear, Young Men, For He Will Be With You. He Never Fails. He Has Promised: "i Will Go Before Your Face. I Will Be On Your Right Hand And On Your Left, And My Spirit Shall Be In Your Hearts, And Mine Angels Round About You, To Bear You Up"

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.

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.

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

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

We Cannot Truly Love God If We Do Not Love Our Fellow Travelers On This Mortal Journey.

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

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.

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

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.

By Learning Of Him, By Believing In Him, By Following Him, There Is The Capacity To Become Like Him.

We Need To Learn How To Separate Need From Greed.

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.

The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints Sends Forth To You An Earnest Appeal. Open Your Doors To The Missionaries. Open Your Minds To The Words Of God. Open Your Hearts, Even Your Very Souls, To The Sound Of That Still, Small Voice Which Testifies Of Truth.

Missionary Service Is A Priesthood Duty.

When We Deal In Generalities, We Shall Never Succeed. When We Deal In Specifics, We Shall Rarely Have A Failure. When Performance Is Measured, Performance Improves. When Performance Is Measured And Reported, The Rate Of Performance Accelerates.

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.

Remember Who You Are And What God Expects You To Become.

Remember Who You Are

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

Your Future Depends On Your Faith.

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

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

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

Prayer Is The Passport To Peace.

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.

Through Humble Prayer, Diligent Preparation, And Faithful Service, We Can Succeed In Our Sacred Callings.

As We Remember Prayer And Take Time To Turn To The Scriptures, Our Lives Will Be Infinitely More Blessed And Our Burdens Will Be Made Lighter.

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.

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.

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

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.

God Left The World Unfinished For Man To Work His Skill Upon. He Left The Electricity In The Cloud, The Oil In The Earth. He Left The Rivers Unbridged And The Forests Unfelled And The Cities Unbuilt. God Gives To Man The Challenge Of Raw Materials, Not The Ease Of Finished Things. He Leaves The Pictures Unpainted And The Music Unsung And The Problems Unsolved, That Man Might Know The Joys And Glories Of Creation.

None Of Us Will Honor Our Heavenly Father And Our Savior More Than By Serving As A Devoted, Compassionate Missionary, "for Them That Honour Me I Will Honour."

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.

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

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

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

"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."

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

Trust In The Lord

Never, Never, Never Postpone Following A Prompting.

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."

Choose Your Love; Love Your Choice.

Through Tears And Trials, Through Fears And Sorrows, Through The Heartache And Loneliness Of Losing Loved Ones, There Is Assurance That Life Is Everlasting. Our Lord And Savior Is The Living Witness That Such Is So.

Losing A Loved One

As A Result Of The Sacred Ordinances Performed In The Holy House Of God, No Light Need Be Permanently Extinguished, No Voice Permanently Stilled, No Place In Our Heart Permanently Left Vacant.

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.

Courage Is Required To Make An Initial Thrust Towards Ones Coveted Goal, But Even Greater Courage Is Called For When One Stumbles And Must Make A Second Effort To Achieve.

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 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.

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

Oh, Sweet The Joy This Sentence Gives: ‘i Know That My Redeemer Lives!’

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.

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

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?

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

As The Christmas Season Envelops Us With All Its Glory, May We, As Did The Wise Men, Seek A Bright, Particular Star To Guide Us In Our Celebration Of The Savior’s Birth.

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

To Live Greatly, We Must Develop The Capacity To Face Trouble With Courage, Disappointment With Cheerfulness, And Triumph With Humility. You Ask, 'how Might We Achieve These Goals?' I Answer, 'by Getting A True Perspective Of Who We Really Are!' We Are Sons And Daughters Of A Living God In Whose Image We Have Been Created. Think Of That Truth: 'created In The Image Of God!' We Cannot Sincerely Hold This Conviction Without Experiencing A Profound New Sense Of Strength And Power, Even The Strength To Live The Commandments Of God, The Power To Resist The Temptations Of Satan.

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

Ability To Communicate

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.

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.

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

When The Time For Decision Arrives, The Time For Preparation Is Past.

[the Lord] Has Indicated That The Greatest Work We Parents Can Do Is Performed In Our Homes, And Our Homes Can Be Heaven, Particularly When Our Marriages Are Sealed In The House Of God.

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.

The Spirit Must Be Freed From Tethers So Strong And Feelings Never Put To Rest, So That The Lift Of Life May Give Buoyancy To The Soul. In Many Families, There Are Hurt Feelings And A Reluctance To Forgive. It Doesn’t Really Matter What The Issue Was. It Cannot And Should Not Be Left To Injure. Blame Keeps Wounds Open. Only Forgiveness Heals. George Herbert, An Early 17th-century Poet, Wrote These Lines: ‘he That Cannot Forgive Others Breaks The Bridge Over Which He Himself Must Pass If He Would Ever Reach Heaven, For Everyone Has Need Of Forgiveness.’

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.

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

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.

Let Us Open Wide The Windows Of Our Hearts, That Each Family Member May Feel Welcome And 'at Home.' Let Us Open Also The Doors Of Our Very Souls, That The Dear ________ May Enter. Remember His Promise: 'behold, I Stand At The Door, And Knock: If Any Man Hear My Voice, And Open The Door, I Will Come In To Him' (revelation 3:20).

We Do Not Find Truth Groveling Through Error.

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 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.

Perhaps The Surest Test Of An Individual's Integrity Is His Refusal To Do Or Say Anything That Would Damage His Self-respect.

Blame Keeps Wounds Open; Only Forgiveness Heals

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.

Let Us Respect Others No One Lives Alone In A City, A Nation, Or A World.

Respecting Others

Lessons Learned In The Home, Last The Longest.

The Goal Of Gospel Teaching... Is Not To 'pour Information' Into The Minds Of Class Members... The Aim Is To Inspire The Individual To Think About, Feel About, And Then Do Something About Living Gospel Principles.

The Book Of Mormon Changes Lives.

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

Finding The Real Joy Of #‎ Christmas Comes Not In The Hurrying And The Scurrying To Get More Done, Nor Is It Found In The Purchasing Of #‎ Gifts . We Find Real Joy When We Make The Savior The Focus Of The Season.

Things Which Provide Deep And Lasting Happiness And Gratitude Are The Things Which Money Cannot Buy: Our Families, The Gospel, Good Friends, Our Health, Our Abilities, The Love We Receive From Those Around Us.

Lasting Happiness

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.

Avoid Any Semblance Of Pornography. It Is Dangerous And Addictive. If You Continue To View Pornography, Your Spirit Will Become Desensitized And Your Conscience Will Erode.

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

We Truly Need Him Every Hour, Whether They Be Hours Of Sunshine Or Of Rain.

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"

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

Christmas Is A Glorious Time Of The Year, Simple In Origin, Deep In Meaning, Beautiful In Tradition And Custom, Rich In Memories, And Charitable In Spirit.

Youth Need Less Critics And More Models.

On Occasion We Need To Make A Second Effort - And A Third Effort, And A Fourth Effort, And As Many Degrees Of Effort As May Be Required To Accomplish What We Strive To Achieve.

The Spirit Of Christmas Is The Spirit Of Love And Of Generosity And Of Goodness. It Illuminates The Picture Window Of The Soul, And We Look Out Upon The World's Busy Life And Become More Interested In People Than In Things.

Merry Christmas

Remember To Pray Fervently.

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.

There Is No More Beautiful Sight In All This World Than To See A Family Praying Together. There Is Real Meaning Behind The Oft-quoted ‘the Family That Prays Together Stays Together.

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.

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.'

Don't Save Something For A Special Occasion. Every Day Of Your Life Is A Special Occasion.

My Brothers And Sisters, May The Spirit Of Love Which Comes At Christmas Time Fill Our Homes And Our Lives And Linger There Long After The Tree Is Down And The Lights Are Put Away For Another Year.

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.

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.

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

This Is My Philosophy On All Life, Not Just When It Comes To Love. All The Best Things Are Terrifying, But That's Why They're The Best Things. Nothing Worth Having Comes Easy. You Have To Be Afraid To Want It, Afraid To Lose It, Afraid To Try. If You Feel That, Then You Know You're On To A Winner.

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