Provident Living

 “All of us are responsible to provide for ourselves and our families in both temporal and spiritual ways. To provide providently, we must practice the principles of provident living: joyfully living within our means, being content with what we have, avoiding excessive debt, and diligently saving and preparing for rainy-day emergencies.”

Elder Robert D. Hales, “Becoming Provident Providers Temporally and Spiritually,” Ensign, May 2008, 8. 

Nurturing Our Faith

“Serving, studying, praying, and worshiping are four fundamentals in perfecting ‘that which is lacking in [our] faith.’ (1 Thes. 3:10). If we cease nurturing our faith in any of these four specific ways, we are vulnerable. . . .

“In a hardening world, the Lord can pierce our consciousness by using ‘the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.’ (Eph. 6:17); see also Jarom 1:12.) However, hearing must be ‘mixed with faith’ (Heb 4:2) and with Christian service, as we have heard again and again.”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926-2004) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Lest Ye Be Wearied and Faint in Your Minds,” Ensign, May 1991, 88. 

Make Conference A Priority

“Decide now to make general conference a priority in your life. Decide to listen carefully and follow the teachings that are given.”

Elder Paul V. Johnson of the Seventy, “The Blessings of General Conference,” Ensign, Nov. 2005, 52. 

God's Love

 “We can feel God’s love for us every day. Shouldn’t we be able to give a little more of ourselves to our fellowmen as taught in the beloved hymn “Because I Have Been Given Much?” The Lord has opened the door for us to be forgiven. Wouldn’t it be only right to put aside our own egotism and pride and begin to open that blessed door of forgiveness to those with whom we struggle—especially to all of our own family?

“In the end, happiness does not spring from perfection but from applying divine principles, even in small steps.”

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “One Key To A Happy Family,” Ensign, Oct 2012, 6. 

The Prince's Dog

“There is an old Welsh story from the 13th century about a prince who returned home to find his dog with blood dripping down its face. The man rushed inside and, to his horror, saw that his baby boy was missing and his cradle overturned. In anger the prince pulled out his sword and killed his dog. Shortly thereafter, he heard the cry of his son—the babe was alive! By the infant’s side lay a dead wolf. The dog had, in reality, defended the prince’s baby from a murderous wolf.

“Though this story is dramatic, it demonstrates a point. It opens the possibility that they story we tell ourselves about why others behave a certain way does not always agree with the facts—sometimes we don’t even want to know the facts. We would rather feel self-justified in our anger by holding onto our bitterness and resentment. Sometimes these grudges can last months or years. Sometimes they can last a lifetime.”

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “One Key To A Happy Family,” Ensign, Oct 2012, 5. 

Condemning Others' Actions

 “There are many degrees of offense. There are many degrees of hurt. But what I have noticed is that often we justify our anger and satisfy our consciences by telling ourselves stories about the motives of others that condemn their actions as unforgivable and egoistic while, at the same time, lifting our own motives as pure and innocent.”

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “One Key to A Happy Family,” Ensign, Oct 2012, 5. 

Happy Families

 “The great Russian author Leo Tolstoy began his novel Anna Karenina with these words: “ Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” While I do not have Tolstoy’s certainty that happy families are all alike, I have discovered one thing that most have in common: they have a way of forgiving and forgetting the imperfections of others and of looking for the good.”

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “One Key To A Happy Family,” Ensign, Oct 2012, 5. 

The Solutions Are Found In Christ

 "The solutions to life’s problems are always gospel solutions. Not only are answers found in Christ, but so is the power, the gift, the bestowal, the miracle of giving and receiving those answers.”

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “How Do I Love Thee?” in Brigham Young University 1999-2000 Speeches (2000), Feb 15, 2000. 

Staying On the Path

“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 without Father in Heaven.”

President Thomas S. Monson, “The Three Rs of Choice,” Ensign, Nov. 2010, 68.

5 Practices That Can Change Our Lives

 “For both new and old members of the Church, here are five practices that can change our lives. These are commandments of God and will help us remain faithful, even in the face of trials and temptations. If we follow them, these practices will allow the Holy Spirit to continue to strive with us and strengthen us as our testimonies grow:

1.       Hold personal and family scripture study.

2.       Hold personal and family prayer.

3.       Hold family home evening.

4.       Pay an honest tithe.

5.       Serve others by fulfilling Church callings.

“If we establish the traditions of a righteous people, we will overcome our weaknesses, progress in our faith, and not fall away.”

Elder James B. Martino, “Repentance That Brings Conversion,” Ensign, Sept 2012, 61.

Repentance That Brings Conversion

 "The process of repentance, therefore, is more than just asking forgiveness for what we have done wrong. Repentance requires further action on our part. When investigators commit to be baptized, they have felt the Spirit and want to repent. Sometimes, however, they fail to maintain their righteousness because they do not “lay down the weapons of their rebellion” (Alma 23:7), whatever they may be.

“When the Lamanite converts recognized that their traditions were wrong, they realized they had to change. They decided to take their weapons of rebellion and “bury them up deep in the earth” (Alma 24:17).

“In other words, they took away their temptation and placed it where it could not get to them. What about us? Do we likewise remove “the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset [us]” (2 Nephi 4:18)? Do we stay away from people and places that might tempt us to break the Word of Wisdom? Have we installed an Internet filter on our computer and moved it to a public area of our home? Have we figuratively buried habits that keep us from the companionship of the Holy Spirit?

“The Lamanites also began to establish righteous patterns in their lives. This was the key to their success—they filled the vacuum in their lives by implementing new traditions that drew them closer to God.”

Elder James B. Martino, “Repentance That Brings Conversion,” Ensign, Sept 2012, 59-60.

How Do We Learn to Forgive Others?

President George Albert Smith helps answer this question in chapter 23 of Teachings of Presidents of the Church: George Albert Smith (2011):

• -          “Before we get into the glory of our Father and enjoy the blessings that we hope to receive through faithfulness, we will have to live the laws of patience, and exercise forgiveness toward those who trespass against us, and remove from our hearts all feelings of hatred toward them.”
• -          “When we partake of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, . . . let us purge from our hearts all felling of unkindness toward one another and toward our brothers and sisters who are not of our faith.”
• -          “May we have the Spirit of the Master dwelling within us, that we may forgive all men as He has commanded, forgive, not only with our lips but in the very depts. Of our hearts, every trespass that may have been committed against us.”

An Inward Healing

“Most of us have not reached [a Christlike] stage of compassion and love and forgiveness. It is not easy. It requires a self-discipline almost greater than we are capable of. But as we try, we come to know that there is a resource of healing, that there is a mighty power of healing in Christ, and that if we are to be His true servants we must not only exercise that healing power in behalf of others, but, perhaps more important, inwardly.”

President Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Healing Power of Christ,” Ensign, Nov. 1988, 59. 

Covenants

Faith in Christ is an essential prerequisite to entering into divine covenants, but covenants also add to one’s faith in a way that cannot otherwise be attained. By covenant, the great God of heaven permits Himself to be bound to each of us individually (see D&C 82:10). So long as we abide by our covenants with Him, He is obligated to grant us a place in His kingdom and , with the higher covenants, exaltation within the kingdom. He is a God who has all power and who cannot lie. Thus, we can have unbounded faith that He will fulfill His pledges to us. By our covenant with God, we can enjoy a faith in Christ strong enough to see us through any challenge or trial, knowing that in the end our salvation is assured. 

Elder D. Todd Christofferson, “Building Faith in Christ,” Ensign, Sept 2012, 55. 

When the Lord Balances His Books

“There were two farmers once who had adjoining fields. The one never worked in his field on Sunday, and his neighbor used to chide him about it. He said, ‘Your crops aren’t doing as well as mine are. Why don’t you work on Sunday?’

“The other farmer said, ‘Well, I want to do what the Lord said. I want to gain the blessings of the Lord.’

“Then one October day they stood at a fence line. The [neighbor] said, ‘Just look at it, Look at my field. It is beautiful, the grain is tall, the heads are full of wheat, and your field shows little signs of neglect. You haven’t tended yours as well as I’ve tended mine. Look at my harvest compared to yours. What do you say now about the blessings you thought you were earning?’

“The [Sabbath-keeping] farmer thought for a few minutes and said, ‘The Lord doesn’t balance his books in October.’ “

President Boyd K. Packer, Mine Errand from the Lord (2008) 193.

Perilous Times

“Even though times become perilous . . . if we only trust in God and keep his commandments we need have no fear.”

Ezra Taft Benson, in Conference Report, Oct. 1950, 146. 

Trials and Tribulations

“While [God] does not always intervene in the course of events, He has promised the faithful peace even in their trials and tribulations.”

Joseph B. Wirthlin, “Finding a Safe Harbor,” Ensign, May 2000, 59. 

Obedience

“Obedience allows God’s blessings to flow without constraint. He will bless His obedient children with freedom from bondage and misery.”

Russell M. Nelson, “Face the Future with Faith,” Ensign, May 2011, 34-35. 

God Will Protect Us

“God will be with us. He will watch over us. He will protect us . . . if we will be true and faithful and obedient and hearken to His word.”

Gordon B. Hinckley, “God Will Protect Us in There Perilous Times,” Church News, Feb 22, 2003, 3. 

Voting

The First Presidency reminds us that “as citizens we have the privilege and duty of electing office holders and influencing public policy. . . . We urge you to register to vote, to study the issues and candidates carefully and prayerfully, and then to vote.

First Presidency letter, September 11, 2008; see also “Members Encouraged to Register, Study, Vote,” Church News, Sept. 27, 2008, 7.