Keep Walking, and Give Time a Chance

  Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 

this post should take approximately five minutes to read from start to finish.

This post focuses on a April 1997 General Conference talk, and it is called "Keep Walking, and Give Time a Chance" by Sister Virginia H. Pearce. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk. 

Sister Pearce has mentioned the following; “... Most of our lives are not a string of dramatic moments that call for immediate heroism and courage. Most of our lives, rather, consist of daily routines, even monotonous tasks, that wear us down and leave us vulnerable to discouragement. 

Sure, we know where we’re going, and if it were possible we would choose to jump out of bed, work like crazy, and be there by nightfall. But our goal, our journey’s end, our Zion is life in the presence of our Heavenly Father. And to get there we are expected to walk and walk and walk.

This week-after-week walking forward is no small accomplishment. The pioneer steadiness, the plain, old, hard work of it all, their willingness to move inch by inch, step by step toward the promised land inspire me as much as their more obvious acts of courage. It is so difficult to keep believing that we are making progress when we are moving at such a pace to keep believing in the future when the mileage of the day is so minuscule.

Do you see yourself as a heroic pioneer because you get out of bed every morning, comb your hair, and get to school on time? .... Do you see the greatness in doing the dishes over and over and over? Or practicing the piano? Or tending children? 

Do you recognize the fortitude and belief in the journey’s end that are required in order to keep saying your prayers every day and keep reading the scriptures? Do you see the magnificence in giving time a chance to whittle your problems down to a manageable size?

President Howard W. Hunter said, “True greatness … always requires regular, consistent, small, and sometimes ordinary and mundane steps over a long period of time.”

How easy it is to want quick and dramatic results in exchange for a day’s labor! And yet how happy people are who have learned to bend to the rhythm of paced and steady progress—even to celebrate and delight in the ordinariness of life.

Don’t be discouraged. ... Be the person who reaches out your hand toward others as we all move forward together. When you get into bed at night, rehearse the things you have accomplished during the day. Allow yourself to feel the satisfaction that comes of work completed or even partially completed.

... Are we expected to be cheerful as we do our daily work? Well, maybe not every minute of every day. Certainly we are sad and even angry at times. But we can make a decision to refrain from wallowing in our sadness or anger. 

... Just like the pioneers, just like you and me, it must have been a process of walking forward, step by step, over a long period of time. ... I first met Carly when she was 12 years old. A new and inexperienced Beehive, there were some temporary bumps in her world. 

Listen to her voice as she describes some of her feelings [a short videotaped segment was shown]:

“Change has always been real hard for me. My problems aren’t that bad, but when I look at them it just seems like they are the worst in the world when I have them. Everyone was kind of worrying about themselves, you know. I was kind of alone all the time.

And I didn’t ever want to go to school. I just felt like Heavenly Father didn’t care if I was sad. And he didn’t care if I was upset or didn’t have any friends. And I just felt like he wasn’t there. I just felt like no one really cared.” This is Carly. She is now 16. 

“When I hear my 12-year-old self talk, I remember how big those problems seemed then and how small they are now. I remember how much I wanted a magic solution. I now believe that there isn’t just one thing that can make everything all right. The thing I did know when I was 12 was that I wanted to be good.

That desire kept me reading my scriptures, going to church, and saying my prayers. Now, four years later, I feel so different, mostly because I kept doing those things. I now get answers from the scriptures, I am closer to the Lord through prayer, and I understand the lessons in church so much better.

“My dad has a saying on the wall: ‘Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go’ [William Feather]. I am so glad I hung on! I even think we need those times where we have nothing left in us. They help us build a trust and dependency on the Lord.

“Some popular songs and movies teach us to believe that nothing really matters, that we should give up because everything is temporary anyway. We know differently. We have the gospel. It isn’t temporary. It is eternal. We can’t quit. We can’t give up.

We may not see it now, but everything we do, every day we live is for a purpose. And we have a Heavenly Father who will always be there to lift us up and cheer us on.” We care so much about one another as we walk together on our journey. ..."

If you would like to read the whole talk either now or in your own time, here is the link below.

https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1997/04/keep-walking-and-give-time-a-chance

Stay Tuned until next time.

Never, Never, Never Give Up! ~ Part Two

 Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 

this post should take approximately three minutes to read from start to finish.

This post focuses on a April 2010 General Conference talk, and it is called "Never, Never, Never Give Up!" by Sister Mary N. Cook. I know this post may seem to be targeted to the women in the church but you can do your best to think of ways about how this post applies to you as well. This post is part two, and I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk. 

Sister Cook has mentioned the following; 

"Determine now to do what is required to repent. “Partake worthily of the sacrament each week and fill your life with virtuous activities that will bring spiritual power. As you do this, you will grow stronger in your ability to resist temptation, keep the commandments, and become more like Jesus Christ” (Young Women Personal Progress, 71).

Latter-day prophets are on the earth to help you as well. Prophets speak for today. Be riveted on their words. They will give you the signposts that will warn you of danger and keep you safely on the path. ... One of the great blessings of the plan is that we are organized into families. 

You have parents whose greater wisdom and experience will help you reach your divine potential. Trust them. They want the best for you. Learn from your mother, your grandmother, and other righteous women with strong testimonies. 

The role of a mother in the plan is to be a nurturer. Mothers, no one loves your daughter as you do. You are her best leader, mentor, and example. ... As I learned from working on the virtue value with my mother, your relationship will be strengthened and you both will be blessed by your mutual love,

support, and encouragement.

Young women, choose good friends who will support you in your righteous decision to follow the plan. ... Earning your Honor Bee will give you opportunities to strengthen another young woman with your righteous example and testimony as you mentor her with her Personal Progress.

Finally, live to be worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost. ... You will need that peace and assurance when Satan tries to confuse you with winds of doubt, when you are tempted to take

another path, or when others are unkind or mock you for your beliefs.

Let me share with you the experience of Julie, a young woman who was able to face a challenge by following the promptings of the Holy Ghost. She was studying the Old Testament one day, and the thought came to her mind, “Read Matthew 5. Read Matthew 5.” She thought, “Why would the thought come to me to read the New Testament?” 

She acted on that prompting and read in Matthew, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). The next day she had some difficulties with her friends who were unkind and betrayed her. 

At first she was very upset, and then she thought, “I’ve been prepared for this. The Spirit prompted me to read Matthew, and I must love and pray for my friends.” The small step of reading the scriptures prepared her to respond in a Christlike way. 

From that experience, she was assured that the Lord knew her, and through the promptings of the Holy Ghost, she knew what she was to do. My dear young women, I have met many of you who, just like Julie, have not given up when faced with difficult circumstances but have chosen to follow the plan. 

I pray that step by step you will continue to strengthen your testimony. Seek the help of our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, prophets, and others who will support you in your decision to follow the plan. Live a virtuous life so that you may have the companionship of the Holy Ghost to safely guide you. 

I testify that if you will do these things, the Lord will be with you and you will be able to stay on the path that leads to the temple and to eternal life. “Be strong and of a good courage” (Joshua 1:9) and never, never, never give up! ..."

If you would like to read the whole talk either now or in your own time, the link is below.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2010/04/never-never-never-give-up

Stay Tuned until next time.

Never, Never, Never Give Up! ~ Part One

 Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 

this post should take approximately three minutes to read from start to finish.

Have you ever felt discouraged and felt like you are going to fail on certain things in life? 

I would like to suggest to you for do your best to not feel discouraged, stay motivated and instead of telling yourself that you are going to fail on certain things in life, start telling yourself that you are

going to be successful in those things in life. 

This post focuses on a April 2010 General Conference talk, and it is called "Never, Never, Never Give Up!" by Sister Mary N. Cook. I know this post may seem to be targeted to the women in the church but you can do your best to think of ways about how this post applies to you as well. This post is part one, and I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk. 

Sister Cook has mentioned the following; 

" ... Have you ever been afraid and discouraged as you’ve faced a challenge that seemed far beyond your ability? Have you ever wanted to give up? Imagine how Joshua, the successor to the great prophet Moses, must have felt, knowing that he was to lead the children of Israel to the promised land. 

At times I’m sure he wanted to give up. But the Lord comforted him by reminding him three times to be strong and courageous (see Joshua 1:6–9). With faith that God would be with them, the children of Israel committed, “All that thou commandest … we will do” (Joshua 1:16). 

The scriptures are full of accounts of men and women who showed great courage to do whatever the Lord commanded, even when the tasks seemed impossible, even when they may have wanted to give up. What does the Lord want you to do? 

He wants you to be a valiant and virtuous daughter of God, dedicated to living each day so that you can be worthy to receive the blessings of the temple and return to Him. In today’s world that will take courage. ... Moral agency, the ability to choose, is an essential part of this plan. 

You’ve already made some good choices. Before you were born, you made the choice to come to earth to receive a body and to prove yourself. You’ve made the choice to be baptized, which is the first ordinance required on the path to eternal life. 

You are now experiencing mortal life, where you continue to make choices, to learn, and to grow. Making sacred covenants and receiving the ordinances of the temple is another important step in the plan. As you are growing older, young women, the path is becoming steeper, and you may want to give up. 

"What does the Lord want you to do?"

Life is more challenging, filled with decisions and temptations at every turn. ... You may be tempted to try another route, even when signs of danger are posted. 

You may doubt your abilities ... And my counsel to you is similar to that given by Winston Churchill during World War II: never, never, never give up! (see “Never Give In” [speech, Harrow School, London, England, Oct. 29, 1941]).

This will take great courage, but you have His plan! What will help you follow the plan and be a valiant and virtuous daughter of God? First, gain a strong testimony, step by step. Second, seek the help of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, your family, and others who will support you in your decision to

follow the plan. 

And finally, live to be worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Of the importance of gaining a strong testimony, President Thomas S. Monson promised the young women, “Your testimony, when constantly nourished, will keep you safe” (“May You Have Courage,” Liahona and Ensign, May 2009, 126).

Your testimony is strengthened “gradually through your experiences. No one receives a complete testimony all at once” (True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference [2004], 179). ... To gain a testimony, 

you must nourish it step by step. “[Your testimony] will increase as you make decisions to keep the commandments. 

As you lift and strengthen others, you will see your testimony continue to develop.” As you establish personal habits of prayer, scripture study, obedience to the commandments, and service to others, “you will be blessed with moments of inspiration that will [strengthen] your testimony” (see True to the Faith, 179–80).

Personal Progress provides a wonderful way for you to nourish your testimony step by step. Value experiences and projects are small steps that will nourish your testimony of Jesus Christ as you learn His teachings and regularly apply them in your life. This constant nourishment will keep you safely on the path.

Second, seek the help of others to give you added strength and support. Look first to your Heavenly Father through prayer. You are His daughter. He knows you and loves you. He hears and answers your prayers. ... As you pray, the Lord will be with you just as the Lord was with Joshua.

We each need the help of the Savior to follow the plan and return to our Father in Heaven. Perhaps you have made some mistakes or started down another path. "... The Savior’s atoning sacrifice has made it possible for you to be forgiven of your sins” (Young Women Personal Progress [booklet, 2009], 71). “The sooner you repent, the sooner you will find the blessings that come from forgiveness” (For the Strength of Youth [pamphlet, 2001], 30)."

Stay Tuned until next time.