Character = Yardstick

“Character is the manifestation of what you are becoming. Your character will be the yardstick that God will use to determine how well you have used your mortal life. Strong moral character results from consistent correct choices in the trials and testing of life.”

Elder Richard G. Scott, “Living a Life of Peace, Joy, and Purpose,” From a commencement address given at Brigham Young University on April 21, 2011. Speeches.byu.edu

Principles of Faith

 “Some of the principles upon which faith is based include:

·         Trust in God and in His desire to provide help when needed, no matter how challenging the circumstance.

·         Obedience to His commandments and a life that demonstrates that He can trust you.

·         Sensitivity to the quiet promptings of the Spirit and courageous implementation of the resulting impressions.

·         Patience and understanding when God lets you struggle to grow and when answers come a piece at a time over an extended period.”

Elder Richard G. Scott, “Living a Life of Peace, Joy, and Purpose,” From a commencement address given at Brigham Young University on April 21, 2011. Speeches.byu.edu

Rooted Faith

 “God has given you the capacity to exercise faith so that you may find peace, joy, and purpose in life. However, to employ its power, that faith must be rooted in something secure. There is no more solid foundation than faith in the love Heavenly Father has for you, faith in His plan of happiness, and faith in the willingness and power of Jesus Christ to fulfill all His promises.”

Elder Richard G. Scott, “Living a Life of Peace, Joy, and Purpose,” From a commencement address given at Brigham Young University on April 21, 2011. Speeches.byu.edu

(our graduation ceremony!)

Abortion and Moral Relativism

[Anti-Christ Korihor’s] assertions, many of which may be familiar to a modern audience, contain the following:

a.       There is no God (see Alma 30:28, 37-38).

b.      Belief in Christ is “a foolish and a vain hope” (Alma 30:13).

c.       Those who believe in a remission of sins are under the effects of a frenzied or deranged mind (see Alma 30:16).

d.      Their derangement is caused by following the traditions of their fathers and the whims of corrupt leaders (see Alma 30:14, 23-28, 31).

e.      Man is a creature (see Alma 30:17).

f.        One “[fares] in this life according to the management of the creature; . . . and whatsoever a man [does is] no crime” (Alma 30:17).

g.       There is no sin and no need for a Savior (see Alma 30:17-18).

h.      Those who encourage people to keep God’s commandments are stripping away an individual’s “rights and privileges” (Alma 30:27).

This last point is particularly dangerous, for it elevates one’s rights while avoiding any discussion of one’s responsibilities. In purporting to be in favor of individual liberty, moral relativism actually threatens one’s privilege to exercise agency by ignoring the negative consequences of not being cognizant of one’s responsibilities to others.”

Daniel L. Belnap, “The Book of Mormon & Modern Moral Relativism,” Ensign, Feb 2014, 22.

Prayer from the Heart

 “We do not have to cry unto him with many words. We do not have to weary him with long prayers. . . . Let the prayer come from the heart, let it not be in words that are worn into ruts in the beaten tracks of common use, without thought or feeling in the use of those words.”

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith (1998), 23-24. 

Marriage Needs Emotional Nutrition

“A marriage that does not provide nurturance and restorative comfort can die of emotional malnutrition.”

Sandra Blakeslee and Judith S. Wallerstein, The Good Marriage: How  and Why Love Lasts (1995), 240. 

Home and Visiting Teaching

“We need to be given a chance to serve. For those members who have slipped from activity or who hold back and remain noncommittal, we can prayerfully seek for some way to reach them. Asking them to serve in some capacity may just be the incentive they need to return to full activity. But those leaders who could help in this regard are sometimes reluctant to do so. We need to bear in mind that people can change. They can put behind them bad habits. They can repent from transgressions. They can bear the priesthood worthily. And they can serve the Lord diligently.”

President Thomas S. Monson, “See Others as They May Become,” Ensign, Nov. 2012, 68.