Hymns Console the Mourning

“Some of the greatest sermons are preached by the singing of hymns. Hymns move us to repentance and good works, build testimony and faith, comfort the weary, console the mourning, and inspire us to endure to the end.”

“First Presidency Preface,” Hymns, ix.

Personal Benchmarks

We hear much about benchmarks. A benchmark is “a standard of excellence [or] achievement … against which similar things [are] measured or judged.”¹⁰ There are four benchmarks that can help each of us know if our personal faith in Christ is being “made perfect” by our works. These benchmarks are:

1. 1. 
   The choices we make
2. 2. 
   The devotion we exhibit
3. 3. 
   The obedience we practice
4. 4. 
   The service we give

Bishop Keith B. McMullin, "Faith & Works in a Secular Society," Ensign, Apr 2015, 63.

Prepare a Talk - I Need to DO THIS!

Sometimes I like to pretend that I have been assigned a talk for sacrament meeting. The best part is that I get to assign myself the topic, so I choose something of special interest to me or that might help me overcome a challenge. I study and research the topic, then write the talk—just as if it were the real thing. I save my “talks” in a binder and if appropriate use them for family home evening lessons or in case I’m actually asked to speak in church.

Kristen G. Walton, "13 Ways to Study the Scriptures," Ensign, Apr 2015, 59. 

The Influence of a Righteous Woman

 “There is nothing in this world as personal, as nurturing, or as life changing as the influence of a righteous woman.”

M. Russell Ballard, “Mothers and Daughters,”Ensign, May 2010, 18.

Love Our Fellow Travelers

“We cannot truly love God if we do not love our fellow travelers on this mortal journey.”

Thomas S. Monson, “Love—the Essence of the Gospel,” Ensign, May 2014, 91.

Bless Our Fellow Travelers

As we seek to become even as He is, with a sincere desire to bless “our fellow travelers,” we will be provided opportunities to forget self and lift others. These opportunities may often be inconvenient, testing our true desire to become more like the Master, whose greatest service of all, His infinite Atonement, was anything but convenient....

We may see needs around us but feel inadequate to respond, assuming that what we have to offer is not sufficient. As we seek to become even as He is and as we see needs in our fellow travelers through spiritual eyes, we must trust that the Lord can work through us, and then we must act.

Elder W. Christopher Waddell, "Pure Religion," Ensign, Apr 2015, 46-47.

Optimism and Surety

Meet each of life’s challenges with optimism and surety, and you will have the peace and faith to sustain you now and in the future.

Boyd K. Packer, "The Savior's Selfless and Sacred Sacrifice," Ensign, Apr 2015, 41.