Background Image

...

When You Face Adversity . . . Don't' Ask: Why Does This Have To Happen To Me? Why Do I Have To Suffer This, Now? What Have I Done To Cause This? Rather Ask: What Am I To Do? What Am I To Learn From This Experience? What Am I To Change? Whom Am I To Help? How Can I Remember My Many Blessings In Times Of Trial?

-Richard G. Scott

...

Please Wait....
Translating....

When You Face Adversity

Richard G. Scott

...

When You Face Adversity . . . Don't' Ask: Why Does This Have To Happen To Me? Why Do I Have To Suffer This, Now? What Have I Done To Cause This? Rather Ask: What Am I To Do? What Am I To Learn From This Experience? What Am I To Change? Whom Am I To Help? How Can I Remember My Many Blessings In Times Of Trial?

Views: 84114

Topic

More From Richard G. Scott

To Exercise Faith Is To Trust That The Lord Knows What He Is Doing With You And That He Can Accomplish It For Your Eternal Good Even Though You Cannot Understand How He Can Possibly Do It...your Father In Heaven And His Beloved Son Love You Perfectly.

A Sense Of Humor Is An Escape Valve For The Pressures Of Life.

You Are Making Better Progress Than You Realize.

While There Are Many Things You Can Do To Help A Loved One In Need, There Are Some Things That Must Be Done By The Lord.

Through The Atonement Of Jesus Christ, Each Of Us Can Become Clean And The Burden Of Our Rebellion Will Be Lifted. Remember, Repentance Is Not Punishment. It Is The Hope-filled Path To A More Glorious Future.

With The Gift Of The Holy Ghost Comes The Ability To Develop A Powerfully Sensitive Capacity To Make The Right Choices. Cultivate That Gift. As The Lord Has Said, That Is Accomplished By Consistent, Righteous Living. As You Enhance Your Capacity To Sense The Direction Of That Infallible Influence, You Will Avoid Disappointment, Discouragement, And Even Tragedy.

Righteous Living

Our Father Expects You To Learn How To Obtain That Divine Help By Exercising Faith In Him And His Holy Son, Jesus Christ.

We Become What We Want To Be By Consistently Being What We Want To Become Each Day.

Self Improvement

You Have Times When You Are Extremely Happy, Times Of Testing, And Times Of Trial, But The Lord Guides You Through All Of Those Growth Experiences Together.

If We Are Not Careful, We Will Convey The Message That Investigators Have To Be Perfect. Not True!

No Enduring Improvement Can Occur Without Righteous Exercise Of Agency. Do Not Attempt To Override Agency. The Lord Himself Would Not Do That. Forced Obedience Yields No Blessings.

Set Aside Those Things That Don't Really Matter And Do Something With Eternal Consequences.

Faith In The Atonement Of Jesus Christ Will Provide Strength And Capacity Needed For A Successful Life.

When You Trust In The Lord, When You Are Willing To Let Your Heart And Your Mind Be Centered In His Will, When You Ask To Be Led By The Spirit To Do His Will, You Are Assured Of The Greatest Happiness Along The Way And The Most Fulfilling Attainment From This Mortal Experience. If You Question Everything You Are Asked To Do, Or Dig In Your Heels At Every Unpleasant Challenge, You Make It Harder For The Lord To Bless You.

. . . We Will Never Be Prompted By The Holy Ghost To Do Something We Cannot Do. It May Require Extraordinary Effort And Much Time, Patience, Prayer, And Obedience, But We Can Do It.

Are There So Many Fascinating, Exciting Things To Do Or So Many Challenges Pressing Down Upon You That It Is Hard To Keep Focused On That Which Is Essential? When Things Of The World Crowd In, All Too Often The Wrong Things Take Highest Priority. Then It Is Easy To Forget The Fundamental Purpose Of Life. Satan Has A Powerful Tool To Use Against Good People. It Is Distraction. He Would Have Good People Fill Life With 'good Things' So There Is No Room For The Essential Ones. Have You Unconsciously Been Caught In That Trap?

We Need Not Worry If We Can’t Simultaneously Do All Of The Things That The Lord Has Counseled Us To Do. He Has Spoken Of A Time And A Season For All Things. In Response To Our Sincere Prayers For Guidance, He Will Direct Us In What Should Be Emphasized At Each Phase Of Our Life. We Can Learn, Grow, And Become Like Him One Consistent Step At A Time.

Faith And Character Are Intimately Related. Faith In The Power Of Obedience To The Commandments Of God Will Forge Strength Of Character Available To You In Times Of Urgent Need.

As You Live High Standards Publicly And Privately, And Even Under Great Pressure Adhere To Them, You Raise The Vision Of Others.

Don't Look For A Life Virtually Free From Discomfort, Pain, Pressure, Challenge, Or Grief, For Those Are The Tools A Loving Father Uses To Stimulate Our Personal Growth And Understanding.

Personally, I Am Enthusiastic About The Future. You Can Be Too. You Are Living In The Most Exciting Period Of Time In History. Many Reasons Could Be Cited For That Optimism. Yet Your Greatest Source Of Hope And Assurance Is That You Have The Fulness Of The Teachings Of The Master. They Will Show You How To Live A Good Life. You Can Receive Ordinances And Covenants That When Righteously Lived Assure True Happiness And Significant Attainment.

When You Face Adversity . . . Don't' Ask: Why Does This Have To Happen To Me? Why Do I Have To Suffer This, Now? What Have I Done To Cause This? Rather Ask: What Am I To Do? What Am I To Learn From This Experience? What Am I To Change? Whom Am I To Help? How Can I Remember My Many Blessings In Times Of Trial?

Create An Atmosphere For The Spirit. The Spirit Must Be Present.

A Tranquil Conscience Invites Freedom From Anguish, Sorrow, Guilt, Shame, And Self-condemnation. It Provides A Foundation For Happiness. It Is A Condition Of Immense Worth.

Jesus Christ Lives. He Is Our Savior, Our Redeemer. He Is A Glorious, Resurrected Being. He Has The Capacity To Communicate Love That Is So Powerful, So Overwhelming As To Surpass The Capacity Of The Human Tongue To Express Adequately. He Gave His Life To Break The Bonds Of Death. His Atonement Made Fully Active The Plan Of Happiness Of His Father In Heaven.

Great Power Can Come From Memorizing Scriptures. To Memorize A Scripture Is To Forge A New Friendship. It Is Like Discovering A New Individual Who Can Help In Time Of Need, Give Inspiration And Comfort, And Be A Source Of Motivation For Needed Change

When He Withholds An Answer, It Is To Have Us Grow Through Faith In Him, Obedience To His Commandments, And A Willingness To Act On Truth.

It's So Hard When Sincere Prayer About Something You Desire Very Much Is Not Answered The Way You Want. It Is Difficult To Understand Why Your Exercise Of Deep And Sincere Faith From An Obedient Life Does Not Grant The Desired Result. At Times It Is Difficult To Recognize What Is Best Or Expedient For You Over Time. Your Life Will Be Easier When You Accept That What God Does In Your Life Is For Your Eternal Good.

How Seriously Have You Personally Taken The Lord's Charge To Share His Gospel? It Is A Lifelong Responsibility ... To Be Addressed Differently According To The Various Seasons Of Your Life.

Peace Is The Precious Fruit Of A Righteous Life. It Is Possible Because Of The Atonement Of The Savior. It Is Earned Through Full Repentance, For That Leads To Refreshing Forgiveness.

No Missionary Can Determine The Lasting Effects Of His Or Her Labors.

Pondering A Passage Of Scripture Can Be A Key To Unlock Revelation And The Guidance And Inspiration Of The Holy Ghost. Scriptures Can Calm An Agitated Soul, Giving Peace, Hope, And A Restoration Of Confidence In One’s Ability To Overcome The Challenges Of Life. They Have Potent Power To Heal Emotional Challenges When There Is Faith In The Savior. They Can Accelerate Physical Healing.

You Are Here On Earth For A Divine Purpose. It Is Not To Be Endlessly Entertained Or To Be Constantly In Full Pursuit Of Pleasure. You Are Here To Be Tried, To Prove Yourself So That You Can Receive The Additional Blessings God Has For You.

If Your Life Is In Disarray And You Feel Uncomfortable And Unworthy To Pray Because You Are Not Clean, Don't Worry. He Already Knows About All Of That. He Is Waiting For You To Kneel In Humility And Take The First Few Steps. Pray For Strength. Pray For Others To Be Led To Support You And Guide You And Lift You. Pray That The Love Of The Savior Will Pour Into Your Heart. Pray That The Miracle Of The Atonement Will Bring Forgiveness Because You Are Willing To Change. I Know That Those Prayers Will Be Answered, For God Loves You. His Son Gave His Life For You. I Know They Will Help You.

Seek Out Your Bishop. He Will Show You How To Repent And Will Help You Do It.

While [the] Precious, Vital Message [of The Restoration] Has Been Proclaimed Across The World, Satan Has Been Most Effective In Causing People To Ignore It Or To Look In The Wrong Places For It. The Vast Majority Of Father's Children Have Not Only Forgotten Their Father In Heaven And The Purpose Of Mortal Life, But They Rarely Even Think Of Him Nor Ponder For What Purpose They Are Here In Mortality. They Have Been Led To Be Absorbed By Mundane Things That Distract Them From The Essential Ones. Don't You Make That Mistake.

Humility Is Essential To The Acquiring Of Spiritual Knowledge. To Be Humble Is To Be Teachable. Humility Permits You To Be Tutored By The Spirit And To Be Taught From Sources Inspired By The Lord, Such As The Scriptures. The Seeds Of Personal Growth And Understanding Germinate And Flourish In The Fertile Soil Of Humility. Their Fruit Is Spiritual Knowledge To Guide You Here And Hereafter.

Worthy Character Is Best Forged From A Life Of Consistent, Correct Choices Centered In The Teachings Of The Master.

What I Am Trying To Teach Is That When We Keep The Temple Covenants We Have Made And When We Live Righteously In Order To Maintain The Blessings Promised By Those Ordinances, Then Come What May, We Have No Reason To Worry Or To Feel Despondent.

Make A Goal Box, A Chart Of Positive Daily Contact With A Family When You Are Working With Them.

I Am Convinced That There Is No Simple Formula Or Technique That I Could Give You Or That You Could Give Your Students That Would Immediately Facilitate Mastering The Ability To Be Guided By The Holy Spirit. Nor Do I Believe That The Lord Will Ever Allow Someone To Conceive A Pattern That Would Invariably And Immediately Open The Channels Of Spiritual Communication. We Grow When We Labor To Recognize The Guidance Of The Holy Ghost As We Struggle To Communicate Our Needs To Our Father In Heaven In Moments Of Dire Need Or Overflowing Gratitude.

I Have Never Been Sorry When I Stood For What Was Right-even Against Severe Criticism.

Your Faith In Jesus Christ Gives Life Enduring Meaning. Remember You Are On A Journey To Exaltation. Sometimes You Have Experiences That Yield More Happiness Than Others, But It All Has Purpose With The Lord.

God’s Purpose Is “to Bring To Pass The Immortality And Eternal Life Of Man.”2 That Is Fundamental To All We Do. Sometimes We Get So Wrapped Up In Things That We Find Fascinating Or Become So Consumed By Mundane Responsibilities That We Lose Sight Of God’s Objectives. As You Consistently Focus Your Life On The Most Basic Principles, You Will Gain An Understanding Of What You Are To Do, And You Will Produce More Fruit For The Lord And More Happiness For Yourself.

If You Choose To Concentrate On The Dark Side, This Is What You Will See.

Recognize The Good In Others, Not Their Stains.

Every Time You Make The Right Choice In The Face Of Potential Criticism You Build Strength That Makes Choosing The Right Easier The Next Time. When You Make It Clear That You Will Not Vary From Your Standards, You Will Be Led To Individuals Like Yourself And The Criticism From Others Will Become Less Intense.

I Witness That As You Gain Experience And Success In Being Guided By The Spirit, Your Confidence In The Impressions You Feel Can Become More Certain Than Your Dependence On What You See Or Hear.

Attempt To Be Creative For The Joy It Brings… Select Something Like Music, Dance, Sculpture, Or Poetry. Being Creative Will Help You Enjoy Life. It Engenders A Spirit Of Gratitude. It Develops Latent Talent, Sharpens Your Capacity To Reason, To Act, And To Find Purpose In Life. It Dispels Loneliness And Heartache. It Gives A Renewal, A Spark Of Enthusiasm, And Zest For Life.

In Quiet Moments When You Think About It, You Recognize What Is Critically Important In Life And What Isn't. Be Wise And Don't Let Good Things Crowd Out Those That Are Essential.

A Quiet Impression Could Be A Personal Instruction From The Lord. It Is Personal And Private. It Comes From The Lord. Why Is It Important To Keep Sacred Writings Private? Because Then He Will Give Us More.

I Testify That When The Lord Closes One Important Door In Your Life, He Shows His Continuing Love And Compassion By Opening Many Other Compensating Doors Through Your Exercise Of Faith. He Will Place In Your Path Packets Of Spiritual Sunlight To Brighten Your Way....they Point The Way To Greater Happiness, More Understanding, And Strengthen Your Determination To Accept And Be Obedient To His Will.

I Bear Witness That The Savior Lives. He Loves You. He Will Guide You Through The Holy Ghost As You Steadfastly Choose To Do What Is Right To A Future Glorious Beyond Your Dreams. I Know He Will.

I Will Consistently Strive To Learn By What I Hear, See, And Feel. I Will Write Down The Important Things I Learn, And I Will Do Them.

I Encountered A Large Temporary Sign Declaring Rough Road Ahead, And Indeed It Was. Had I Not Been Warned, That Experience Would Have Been Disastrous. Life Is Like That. It's Full Of Rough Spots. Some Are Tests To Make Us Stronger. Others Result From Our Own Disobedience.... Each One Of Us Encounters Unique Challenges Meant For Growth.

If You Seek His Help, Be Sure Your Life Is Clean, Your Motives Are Worthy, And You're Willing To Do What He Asks-for He Will Answer Your Prayers. He Is Your Loving Father; You Are His Beloved Child. He Loves You Perfectly And Wants To Help You.

Satan Will Try To Use Our Memory Of Any Previous Guilt To Lure Us Back...we Must Be Ever Vigilant To Avoid His Enticements

Strong Moral Character Results From Consistent Correct Choices In The Trials And Testing Of Life. Your Faith Can Guide You To Those Correct Choices.

But The Natural Man Receiveth Not The Things Of The Spirit Of God: For They Are Foolishness Unto Him: Neither Can He Know Them, Because They Are Spiritually Discerned.

Yielding To Emotions Such As Anger Or Hurt Or Defensiveness Will Drive Away The Holy Ghost.

The Key To Successful Missionary Work Is A Close Relationship Between The Missionaries And The Members. Creating An Environment In Working With Members That Will Bring More Into The Church.

It Is Through The Repeated Process Of Feeling Impressions, Recording Them, And Obeying Them That One Learns To Depend On The Direction Of The Spirit More Than On Communication Through The Other Five Senses.

Trials Are Not Consequences Of Your Disobedience, They Are Evidence That The Lord Feels You Are Prepared To Grow More.

I Share A Warning. Satan Is Extremely Good At Blocking Spiritual Communication By Inducing Individuals, Through Temptation, To Violate The Laws Upon Which Spiritual Communication Is Founded. With Some, He Is Able To Convince Them That They Are Not Able To Receive Such Guidance From The Lord.

Express Gratitude For What Your Spouse Does For You. Express That Love And Gratitude Often.

I Know That Every Difficulty We Face In Life, Even Those That Come From Our Own Negligence Or Even Transgression, Can Be Turned By The Lord Into Growth Experiences, A Virtual Ladder Upward. I Certainly Do Not Recommend Transgression As A Path To Growth. It Is Painful, Difficult, And So Totally Unnecessary. It Is Far Wiser And So Much Easier To Move Forward In Righteousness. But Through Proper Repentance, Faith In The Lord Jesus Christ, And Obedience To His Commandments, Even The Disappointment That Comes From Transgression Can Be Converted Into A Return To Happiness.

Your Agency, The Right To Make Choices, Is Not Given So That You Can Get What You Want. This Divine Gift Is Provided So That You Will Choose What Your Father In Heaven Wants For You. That Way He Can Lead You To Become All That He Intends You To Be.

Feelings Of Bitterness And Dissatisfaction Feed Upon Themselves And Give Place To Thoughts And Acts Of Unkindness, Criticism, And Eventually Even Hatred. Criticism Is Often Motivated By A Desire To Rationalize One's Own Shortcomings And To Justify Termination Of Sacred Marriage Covenants.

Who Can Justly Measure The Righteous Influence Of A Mother's Love? What Enduring Fruits Result From The Seeds Of Truth That A Mother Carefully Plants And Lovingly Cultivates In The Fertile Soil Of A Child's Trusting Mind And Heart? As A Mother, You Have Been Given Divine Instincts To Help You Sense Your Child's Special Talents And Unique Capacities.

Just When All Seems To Be Going Right, Challenges Often Come In Multiple Doses Applied Simultaneously. When Those Trials Are Not Consequences Of Your Disobedience, They Are Evidence That The Lord Feels You Are Prepared To Grow More. He Therefore Gives You Experiences That Stimulate Growth, Understanding, And Compassion Which Polish You For Your Everylasting Benefit.

Selfishness Is The Root Of Great Evil.

Father In Heaven Knew That You Would Face Challenges And Be Required To Make Some Decisions That Would Be Beyond Your Own Ability To Decide Correctly…that Assistance Will Come To You Through The Holy Ghost As Spiritual Guidance. It Is A Power, Beyond Your Own Capability, That A Loving Heavenly Father Wants You To Use Consistently For Your Peace And Happiness.

Since The Lord Will Not Force You To Learn, You Must Exercise Your Agency To Authorize The Spirit To Teach You.

Learning, Pondering, Searching, And Memorizing Scriptures Is Like Filling A Filing Cabinet With Friends, Values, And Truths That Can Be Called Upon Anytime, Anywhere In The World.

You Are One Of The Noblest Of God's Creations. His Intent Is That Your Life Be Gloriously Beautiful Regardless Of Your Circumstances. As You Are Grateful And Obedient, You Can Become All That God Intends You To Be.

If You Want To Talk To God, Pray. If You Want Him To Talk To You, Read Your Scriptures.

When Revelation Comes Write It Down.

True Friendship Is Like The Asphalt Of Life. It Fills In The Potholes And Makes The Journey Smooth.

All That I Now Hold Dear In Life Began To Mature In The Mission Field. Had I Not Been Encouraged To Be A Missionary, I Would Not Have The Eternal Companion Or Precious Family I Dearly Love. I Am Confident That I Would Not Have Had The Exceptional Professional Opportunities That Stretched My Every Capacity. I Am Certain That I Would Not Have Received The Sacred Callings With Opportunities To Serve For Which I Will Be Eternally Grateful. My Life Has Been Richly Blessed Beyond Measure Because I Served A Mission.

If You Have Become Entangled In Sin From Poor Choices, Please Decide To Come Back Now. You Know How To Begin. Do It Now. We Love You. We Need You. God Will Help You.

Humility Is A Fertile Soil Where Spirituality Grows And Produces The Fruit Of Inspiration To Know What To Do. It Gives Access To Divine Power To Accomplish What Must Be Done. An Individual Motivated By A Desire For Praise Or Recognition Will Not Qualify To Be Taught By The Spirit. An Individual Who Is Arrogant Or Who Lets His Or Her Emotions Influence Decisions Will Not Be Powerfully Led By The Spirit.

Life Never Was Intended To Be Easy. Rather, It Is A Period Of Proving And Growth. It Is Interwoven With Difficulties, Challenges, And Burdens. We Are Immersed In A Sea Of Persistent, Worldly Pressures That Could Destroy Our Happiness. Yet These Very Forces, If Squarely Faced, Provide Opportunity For Tremendous Personal Growth And Development. The Conquering Of Adversity Produces Strength Of Character, Forges Self-confidence, Engenders Self-respect, And Assures Success In Righteous Endeavor.

Oh, What A Favored People We Are To Have This Light, This Knowledge, These Opportunities For Happiness On Earth And Throughout The Eternities. May We Commit To Share A Knowledge Of This Magnificent Work, Personally Or Through Missionaries, With Our Friends And Neighbors That They May Join This Kingdom Of God On Earth, And Receive The Consummate, Eternal Blessings Available To Them.

When I Marry, It Will Be To A Faithful Returned Missionary In The Temple.

The Lord Sees Weaknesses Differently Than He Does Rebellion.

But What About You? Have You Prayed About Your Own Ancestors’ Work? Set Aside Those Things In Your Life That Don’t Really Matter. Decide To Do Something That Will Have Eternal Consequences. Perhaps You Have Been Prompted To Look For Ancestors But Feel You Are Not A Genealogist. Can You See That You Don’t Have To Be Anymore? It All Begins With Love And A Sincere Desire To Help Those Beyond The Veil Who Can’t Help Themselves. Check Around. There Will Be Someone In Your Area Who Can Help You Have Success.

By Making Choices Consistent With Eternal Truth You Will Develop Righteous Character.

A Key To Improved Prayer Is To Learn To Ask The Right Questions. Consider Changing From Asking For The Things You Want To Honestly Seeking What He Wants For You. Then As You Learn His Will, Pray That You Will Be Led To Have The Strength To Fulfill It.

I Have Been Taught That We Can Make Many Choices In Life, But We Cannot Choose Our Final Destiny. Our Actions Do That.

To Reach A Goal You Have Never Before Attained, You Must Do Things You Have Never Before Done.

Fill Your Life With Service To Others. As You Lose Your Life In The Service Of Father In Heaven’s Children, Satan’s Temptations Lose Power In Your Life. Because Your Father In Heaven Loves You Profoundly, The Atonement Of Jesus Christ Makes That Strength Possible. Isn’t It Wonderful? Many Of You Have Felt The Burden Of Poor Choices, And Each Of You Can Feel The Elevating Power Of The Lord’s Forgiveness, Mercy, And Strength.

A True Principle Makes Decisions Clear Even Under The Most Confusing And Challenging Circumstances.

The Conquering Of Adversity Produces Strength Of Character, Forges Self-confidence, Engenders Self-respect, And Assures Success In Righteous Endeavor.

Freedom Requires No Effort To Enjoy But Requires Heroic Efforts To Preserve.

There Are Powerful Emotions That Bring Two People Together In Wonderful Harmony In A Marriage. Satan Knows This, And Would Tempt You To Try These Emotions Outside Of Marriage. Do Not Stir Emotions Meant To Be Used Only In Marriage.

As You Lose Your Life In The Service Of Father In Heaven's Children, Satan's Temptations Lose Power In Your Life.

Prayer Is A Supernal Gift Of Our Father In Heaven To Every Soul. Think Of It: The Absolute Supreme Being, The Most All-knowing, All-seeing, All-powerful Personage, Encourages You And Me, As Insignificant As We Are, To Converse With Him As Our Father. Our Supplication Can Be Brief Or Can Occupy All The Time Needed. It Can Be An Extended Expression Of Love And Gratitude Or An Urgent Plea For Help. He Has Created Numberless Cosmos And Populated Them With Worlds, Yet You And I Can Talk With Him Personally, And He Will Ever Answer.

Find The Compensatory Blessings In Your Life When, In The Wisdom Of The Lord, He Deprives You Of Something You Very Much Want… You Will Discover Compensatory Blessings When You Willingly Accept The Will Of The Lord And Exercise Faith In Him.

Be Wise And Don't Let Good Things Crowd Out Those That Are Essential.

A Knowledge Of Truth Is Of Little Value Unless Lived In Full Measure.

Do Not Become So Absorbed With Trivial Things That You Miss Learning The Doctrine And Teachings Of The Lord.

The Endowment And Sealing Ordinances Of The Temple Are So Gloriously Rich In Meaning That You Will Want To Allow Significant Time To Receive Those Ordinances And To Ponder Their Meaning.

Lay The Burden At The Feet Of The Savior.

Knowledge Carefully Recorded Is Knowledge Available In Time Of Need. Spiritually Sensitive Information Should Be Kept In A Sacred Place That Communicates To The Lord How You Treasure It. This Practice Enhances The Likelihood Of Receiving Further Light.

Marriage Provides An Ideal Setting For Overcoming Any Tendency To Be Selfish Or Self-centered. I Think One Of The Reasons That We Are Counseled To Get Married Early In Life Is To Avoid Developing Inappropriate Character Traits That Are Hard To Change.

There Are Few Things In Life That Bring As Much Joy As The Joy That Comes From Assisting Another Improve His Or Her Life.

Don't Let The Workings Of Adversity Totally Absorb Your Life. Try To Understand What You Can. Act Where You Are Able; Then Let The Matter Rest With The Lord For A Period While You Give To Others In Worthy Ways Before You Take On Appropriate Concern Again. Please Learn That As You Wrestle With A Challenge And Feel Sadness Because Of It, You Can Simultaneously Have Peace And Rejoicing.

You Are Here On Earth For A Divine Purpose. It Is Not To Be Endlessly Entertained Or To Be Constantly In Full Pursuit Of Pleasure. You Are Here To Be Tried, To Prove Yourself So That You Can Receive The Additional Blessings God Has For You. . . Some Blessings Will Be Delivered In This Life; Others Will Come Beyond The Veil. The Lord Is Intent On Your Personal Growth And Development. That Progress Is Accelerated When You Willingly Allow Him To Lead You Through Every Growth Experience You Encounter, Whether Initially It Be To Your Individual Liking Or Not.

Something Extraordinary Is Happening. Do You Sense It? Truly, As Obedience And Morality Decline In The World, The Lord Is Sending More Exceptional Spirits To Earth. As A Body They Excel The Average Capacity Of Their Forebears. Their Potential For Personal Growth And Positive Contribution Is Enormous.

Do You Young People Want A Sure Way To Eliminate The Influence Of The Adversary In Your Life? Immerse Yourself In Searching For Your Ancestors, Prepare Their Names For The Sacred Vicarious Ordinances Available In The Temple, And Then Go To The Temple To Stand As Proxy For Them To Receive The Ordinances Of Baptism And The Gift Of The Holy Ghost. As You Grow Older, You Will Be Able To Participate In Receiving The Other Ordinances As Well. I Can Think Of No Greater Protection From The Influence Of The Adversary In Your Life

You Don't Need To Compromise Your Standards To Be Accepted By Good Friends. The More Obedient You Arethe More The Lord Can Help You Overcome Temptation. You Can Also Help Others Because They Will Feel Your Strength. Let Them Know About Your Standards By Consistently Living Themno One Intends To Make Serious Mistakes. They Come When You Compromise Your Standards To Be More Accepted By Others. You Be The Strong One. You Be The Leader. Choose Good Friends And Resist Peer Pressure Together.

There Is No Doctrine More Fundamental To Our Work Than The Atonement Of Jesus Christ. At Every Appropriate Opportunity, Testify Of The Savior And Of The Power Of His Atoning Sacrifice. Use Scriptures That Teach Of Him And Why He Is The Perfect Pattern For Everyone In Life.4 You Will Need To Study Diligently. Do Not Become So Absorbed With Trivial Things That You Miss Learning The Doctrine And Teachings Of The Lord. With A Solid, Personal Doctrinal Foundation, You Will Be A Powerful Source For Sharing Vital Truths With Others Who Desperately Need Them.

He [the Lord] Will Always Hear Your Prayers And Will Invariably Answer Them. However, His Answers Will Seldom Come While You Are On Your Knees Praying, Even When You May Plead For An Immediate Response. Rather, He Will Prompt You In Quiet Moments When The Spirit Can Most Effectively Touch Your Mind And Heart. Hence, You Should Find Periods Of Quiet Time To Recognize When You Are Being Instructed And Strengthened.

There Are Few Things In Life That Bring As Much Joy As The Joy That Comes From Assisting Another Improve His Or Her Life. That Joy Is Increased When Those Efforts Help Someone Understand The Teachings Of The Savior And That Person Decides To Obey Them, Is Converted, And Joins His Church.

Try Reading The Book Of Mormon Because You Want To, Not Because You Have To. Discover For Yourself That It Is True.

If One Of You Has Seriously Sinned, Repent-now. It Is Not Good To Violate The Commandments Of The Lord. It Is Worse To Do Nothing About It. Sin Is Like Cancer In The Body. It Will Never Heal Itself. It Will Become Progressively Worse Unless Cured Through The Medicine Of Repentance.

It Really Does No Good To Ask Questions That Reflect Opposition To The Will Of God. Rather Ask, What Am I To Do? What Am I To Learn From This Experience? What Am I To Change? Whom Am I To Help? How Can I Remember My Many Blessings In Times Of Trial? Wiling Sacrifice Of Deeply Held Personal Desires In Favor Of The Will Of God Is Very Hard To Do. Yet, When You Pray With Real Conviction, "please Let Me Know Thy Will" And "may Thy Will Be Done," You Are In The Strongest Position To Receive The Maximum Help From Your Loving Father.

Scriptures Are Like Packets Of Light That Illuminate Our Minds And Give Place To Guidance And Inspiration From On High.

When We Obey The Commandments Of The Lord And Serve His Children Unselfishly, The Natural Consequence Is Power From God—power To Do More Than We Can Do By Ourselves. Our Insights, Our Talents, Our Abilities Are Expanded Because We Receive Strength And Power From The Lord. His Power Is A Fundamental Component To Establishing A Home Filled With Peace.

One Of The Greatest Blessings We Can Offer To The World Is The Power Of A Christ-centered Home Where The Gospel Is Taught, Covenants Are Kept, And Love Abounds.

Simple, Consistent Good Habits Lead To A Life Full Of Bountiful Blessings.

All Who Are Caught In Its Seductive, Tantalizing Web And Remain So Will Become Addicted To Its Immoral, Destructive Influence. For Many, That Addiction Cannot Be Overcome Without Help. The Tragic Pattern Is So Familiar. It Begins With Curiosity That Is Fueled By Its Stimulation And Is Justified By The False Premise That When Done Privately, It Does No Harm To Anyone Else. For Those Lulled By This Lie, The Experimentation Goes Deeper, With More Powerful Stimulations, Until The Trap Closes And A Terribly Immoral, Addictive Habit Exercises Its Vicious Control.

Sadness, Disappointment, And Severe Challenges Are Events In Life, Not Life Itself. I Do Not Minimize How Hard Some Of These Events Are. They Can Extend Over A Long Period Of Time, But They Should Not Be Allowed To Become The Confining Center Of Everything You Do.

With All My Capacity I Encourage You To Discover Who You Really Are. . . . I Urge You To Discern Through The Spirit Your Divinely Given Capacities.

Sometimes The Impressions Are Just General Feelings. Sometimes The Direction Comes So Clearly And So Unmistakably That It Can Be Written Down Like Spiritual Dictation.

Pure Love Is An Incomparable, Potent Power For Good. Righteous Love Is The Foundation Of A Successful Marriage.

Don't Yield To Satan's Lie That You Don't Have Time To Study The Scriptures. Choose To Take Time To Study Them. Feasting On The Word Of God Each Day Is More Important Than Sleep, School, Work, Television Shows, Video Games, Or Social Media. You May Need To Reorganize Your Priorities To Provide Time For The Study Of The Word Of God. If So, Do It!

Understand And Apply This Vital Principle To Your Life: Your Exercise Of Faith Builds Character. Fortified Character Expands Your Capacity To Exercise Greater Faith. Thus, Your Confidence In Making Correct Decisions Is Enhanced. And The Strengthening Cycle Continues. The More Your Character Is Fortified, The More Enabled You Are To Exercise The Power Of Faith For Yet Stronger Character.

Your Perspective Is Vital To Your Happiness. Some, Blind To The Bountiful Opportunities Around Them, Live Lives Of Sadness And Despair With Brief Moments Of Joy. Be Alive To The Abundant Potential That Surrounds You So That You Live A Life Of Peace And Happiness With Periods Of Challenging Growth.

Two Of The Vital Pillars That Sustain Father In Heaven’s Plan Of Happiness Are Marriage And The Family. Their Lofty Significance Is Underscored By Satan’s Relentless Efforts To Splinter The Family And To Undermine The Significance Of Temple Ordinances, Which Bind The Family Together For Eternity. The Temple Sealing Has Greater Meaning As Life Unfolds. It Will Help You Draw Ever Closer Together And Find Greater Joy And Fulfillment In Mortality.

When You Push Against The Boundaries Of Experience Into The Twilight Of The Unknown, The Lord Will Strengthen You. The Beauty Of Your Eternal Soul Will Begin To Unfold.

Some Missionaries Are Giants In The Spirit And Pygmies In Skills In The Spirit. Work Hard To Develop A Balance. Your Leaders, And You, Should Teach The Skills To Each Other.

When We Seek Inspiration To Help Make Decisions, The Lord Gives Gentle Promptings. These Require Us To Think, To Exercise Faith, To Work, To Struggle At Times And To Act. Seldom Does The Whole Answer To A Decisively Important Matter Or Complex Problem Come All At Once. More Often, It Comes A Piece At A Time, Without The End In Sight.

The Demands Of Justice For Broken Law Can Be Satisfied Throughmercy, Earned By Your Continual Repentance And Obedience To The Laws Ofgod... Through The Atonement You Can Live In A World Where Justiceassures That You Will Retain What You Earn By Obedience.

Trending Author

Rocco DiSpirito

Category