What Really Counts

“It’s not so much what happens to us but how we deal with what happens to us.”

President James E. Faust (1920-2007), Second Counselor in the First Presidency, “Where Do I Make My Stand?” Ensign, Nov. 2004, 20. 

The Challenges of Discipleship

“When we promise to follow the Savior, to walk in His footsteps, and be His disciples, we are promising to go where that divine path leads us. And the path of salvation has always led one way or another through Gethsemane. So if the Savior faced such injustices and discouragements, such persecutions, unrighteousness, and suffering, we cannot expect that we are not going to face some of that if we still intend to call ourselves His true disciples and faithful followers.”

Jeffrey R. Holland, “Lessons from Liberty Jail,” Ensign, Sept. 2009, 31. 

Creating Family Cultures

Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught five things parents can do to create stronger family cultures. He said: “These suggestions for creating stronger family cultures work in tandem with the culture of the Church. Our strengthened family cultures will be a protection for our children.”

1.       “Parents can pray in earnest, asking our Eternal Father to help them.”

2.       “They can hold family prayer, scripture study, and family home evenings and eat together as often as possible.”

3.       “Parents can fully avail themselves of the Church’s support network.”

4.       “Parents can share their testimonies often with their children.”

5.       “We can organize our families based on clear, simple family rules and expectations, wholesome family traditions and rituals, and ‘family economics.’”

From “Becoming Goodly Parents,” Ensign, Nov. 2012, 28. 

Finding Strength During Trials

“How do you remain ‘steadfast and immovable’ [Alma 1:25] during a trial of faith? You immerse yourself in the very things that helped build your core of faith:

·         You exercise faith in Christ,

·         You pray,

·         You ponder the scriptures,

·         You repent,

·         You keep the commandments,

·         And you serve others.”

Neil L. Anderson, “Trial of Your Faith,” Ensign, Nov. 2012, 40; bullets added. 

Words

 “I like the idea of our words being clear as a sunny sky and full of grace. Can you imagine what our families, wards, nations, and even the world would be like if we could adopt this simple principle?”

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “A Word For the Hesitant Missionary,” Ensign, Feb 2013, 6. 

Humility

 “Humility is a fertile soil where grows and produces the fruit of inspiration to know what to do.”

Richard G. Scott, “How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life,” Ensign, May 2012, 47. 

The Sacrament

 “If we thoughtlessly partake of the sacrament, we can lose the blessings of the Spirit, which we need in order to experience again a mighty change of heart and receive and retain a remission of sins.”

Elder Wilford W. Anderson, “Receiving and Retaining a Mighty Change,” Ensign, April 2012, 37.