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.