#GIVETHANKS ~ Day One to Day Three

 Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,
this post should take three to five minutes to read from start to finish.

Day 1 - I am GRATEFUL for my husband. I have always appreciate everything that he has done for me. I love having his support, I love hearing his mission stories whenever he feels like talking about his mission, he has helped me to gain a deeper understanding of scripture passages that I didn't fully understood in the past, I love at times when he ensures me that everything will be okay when things aren't going the way that I would like it to. 

I love the ways of how he always me feel happy often, I love the ways of how he always make me laugh often, I have always appreciated that he reminds me often that he cares about me, he's such a great listener whenever he chooses to listen, he listens to my concerns carefully, so close to everytime he knows when it is the best time to give me a priesthood blessing, and so forth. 

He always shared compliments with me so often (each morning after we wake up, and each night before we go to sleep), he has been a wonderful example towards me, he always quick to forgive, he always says "I love you" and he always means it, I always have admired him for having a reliable full-time job (despite how early we wake up from Monday mornings to Friday mornings every week for my husband to go to work), and so forth.

Day 2 - I am GRATEFUL for my Immediate Family members, Extended Relatives, and In-laws. 

To my immediate family members and my extended relatives: 

I have always appreciated your useful advices or suggestions, I have always appreciated your righteous examples to me, your constant love for me, I have always appreciated your constant care for me, I have always appreciated your constant support for me, I have always appreciated your kindness towards me, I have always appreciated for you to be using your time to spend some time with me, I have always appreciated your sacrifices that you have shown, I have always appreciated our conversations (whether it is via phone calls or via handwritten letters or in person or emails or messages via social media account or text messages - I have always enjoyed talking to you, and so forth. 

Thank you to my parents for raising my siblings and myself up with having a religious background and the religion is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I always enjoyed family home evenings (even during times when I don't show that I have enjoyed family home evenings), but I do remember learning so much during family home evenings. 

To my in-laws: 

I would like to apologize of me for not getting to know y'all very well but I am sure that I would have plenty of opportunities to get to know y'all.

I have always appreciated the kindness that y'all have shown to me, I have always appreciated their care for me, I have always appreciated our conversations (whether it is via in person or phone call or Facebook messenger or text messages or in person - I have always enjoyed talking to y'all, and so forth. 

I know that I definitely do appreciate of my mother-in-law and my father-in-law for raising my husband and siblings up in the same religion as me - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 

Day 3: I am GRATEFUL for all of my friends including my close friends and my best friends.

To all of my friends:

To Best Friends: I have two current best friends, and they are my husband and Marah. I have been best friends with Marah for seven years, and I have been best friends with my husband for three years. I love y'all so much. I have always appreciated your constant love that y'all have shown to me, I have always appreciated your constant care towards me, I have always appreciated your kindness that y'all have shown to me, I have always appreciated our conversations (whether it is via emails or in person or phone calls or text messages or social media) - I have always enjoyed our conversations and being grateful that we can communicate to each other about anything, and so forth.

To Close Friends: I seemed to have more than five current close friends. I would just share several of who they are. There is Bethany K, Christine A, Emily S, JaLisa L, Sia L, and Sofronaiia W. I have always appreciated your kindness that y'all have shown to me, I have always appreciated your support for me, I have always appreciated your care towards me, I have always appreciated our conversations (whether it is via emails or phone calls or in person or text messages or social media) - I have always enjoyed our conversations, and so forth. 

To All of my Other Friends: I have always appreciated your kindness that y'all have shown to me, I have always appreciated your care towards me, I have always appreciated your support for me, I have always appreciated our conversations (whether it is via emails or in person or phone calls or text messages or social media) - I have always enjoyed our conversations, and so forth. 

Stay Tuned until next time.

The Choice to Be Grateful

Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 
this post should take approximately three minutes to read from start to finish.

This post is focuses on an article from Liahona, December 2011 and it is called, "The Choice to Be Grateful" by President Henry B. Eyring. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the article. 

President Eyring mentioned,
"Our Father in Heaven commands us to be thankful in all things, and He requires that we give thanks for the blessings we receive. We know that all of His commandments are intended to make us happy, and we also know that to break commandments leads to misery. So to be happy and to avoid misery, we must have a grateful heart.

We have seen in our lives the connection between gratitude and happiness. All of us would like to feel gratitude, yet it is not easy to be consistently grateful in all things in the trials of life. Sickness, disappointment, and the loss of people we love come at times in our lives. Our sorrows can make it hard to see our blessings and to appreciate the blessings God has in store for us in the future.

"Gratitude is the gateway to JOY"
- Elaine S. Marshall.

        It is a challenge to count our blessings because we have a tendency to take good things for granted. When we lose a roof over our heads, food to eat, or the warmth of friends and family, we realize how grateful we should have been when we had them.

Most of all, sometimes it is hard for us to be sufficiently grateful for the greatest gifts we receive: .. the promise of resurrection, the opportunity to enjoy eternal life with our families, the Restoration of the gospel with the priesthood and its keys. 

Only with the help of the Holy Ghost can we begin to feel what those blessings mean for us and for those we love. And only then can we hope to be thankful in all things and avoid the offense to God of ingratitude.

With our Father’s help, all of us can choose to feel more gratitude. We can ask Him to help us see our blessings more clearly, whatever our circumstances. ... I had seen hope and the pure love of Christ shining in their faces, even in their terrible trial.

And I felt the evidence you can feel if you ask God to reveal to you that the Atonement can allow you to feel hope and love. Giving thanks in prayer can allow us to see the magnitude of these blessings and all of our other blessings and so receive the gift of a more grateful heart."

Towards to the end, it shares teaching from this message and I also would like to share with you one thing that was mentioned. "Writing down our experiences and blessings can help us remember them and give us something to refer back to.

Consider asking those you teach to write down what they are grateful for to help them remember the blessings they have received, recognize the blessings of the present, and look forward to the blessings of the future."

That is all from me for now. If you would like to read the whole article in your own time, here is the link. www.lds.org/liahona/2011/12/the-choice-to-be-grateful

Stay Tuned until next time.

Seasons of Choice ~ Part Three

  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 BYU Devotional from February 2003, and it is called "Seasons of Choice" by Brother Randall W. Boothe. This post is part three. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the Devotional. 

Brother Boothe has mentioned; "... At times in our weariness we may catch ourselves saying, “I just don’t care anymore. I don’t want to choose. I’ll go along with whatever you want to do. I’ll embrace whichever marketing approach is more convincing. I am simply too tired to think this through and choose.” 

... We might have to expand Joshua’s invitation to say, “Choose you this minute whom ye will serve. Choose you this day, this week, whom ye will serve. Choose hundreds of times every hour to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. We must, of course, enlist the good counsel and influence of the Spirit that we may be directed to those choices that will help us become the woman or man God has planned for us to become. 

It is possible to make every important decision in our lives correctly if we can learn to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. What we choose today will influence eternity. Every choice brings us either a step closer to or further from our eternal destiny. We are not victims of circumstance. We have total control. We are the ones who decide how we will react to the environment we find ourselves in.

President Spencer W. Kimball taught: Some people feel that decisions are really out of our hands, that we merely respond to circumstances without choice, ... And I agree that there can come a time when we no longer have control over our destinies, but I believe that this is only after the cumulation of our own past decisions has left us helpless.

In the beginning, each of us is a bundle of potential that can be developed and shaped by what we choose to do. In youth there is still great malleability. We can choose what we will become. As the years go by, we find our past choices have narrowed the alternatives still open to us and we have less and less control over our future. [TSWK, 165]

We cannot do everything at once, but every act every choice opens the gate and leads us down a specific pathway. With every choice thereafter we progress further down that path. Sometimes we must turn around, take some time out, get back in touch with our eternal map, and hang on as the Savior of mankind draws us back closer to our heavenly home. 

... At those times when we feel very strong and independent, we might close our hearts to those closest to us who could help the most in our journey over life’s treacherous paths. Don’t close up. Open your heart to the wisdom of life’s precious companions.

Can you imagine how excited we all were in the premortal existence as we anticipated the blessing of exercising our free agency while experiencing life together? ... We may feel somewhat overwhelmed with so many good choices. 

I am convinced that there is really only one choice that we must make, and that choice is Jesus Christ. When we choose Him, everything else will naturally follow. The Lord himself outlined His four recommended choices for every season, for every day of our lives: Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am. [D&C 93:1]

These are four simple, righteous choices to make every day. ... Are we ready to choose to commit to the Lord’s plan? Are we ready to choose to forsake our sins and come unto Christ? Will we choose to call on His name? Will our choice be to obey His voice? 

Are we prepared to choose to keep His commandments? ... In verse 28 we are promised that “he that keepeth [the Lord’s] commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things.” We can know all things! 

That has got to be helpful when we are trying to choose wisely. Every season of life is a season of choice. This is not a time for sitting on the sidelines. We must choose to play ball every day, every hour, every season, relying on the merits of our Savior to assist us in this journey of choice.  ..."

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

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/randall-w-boothe/seasons-choice/

Stay Tuned until next time.

Seasons of Choice ~ Part Two

  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 BYU Devotional from February 2003, and it is called "Seasons of Choice" by Brother Randall W. Boothe. This post is part two. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the Devotional. 

Brother Boothe has mentioned; "Choose to Follow the Light
In 1991 Larisa Deeva served as a hostess for two Young Ambassadors on their tour to Riga, Latvia. She recognized the Spirit in the lives of these young men and wanted that spirit to be a part of her life. As she received a copy of the Book of Mormon in Russian from her guests, she proudly displayed it right next to the Bible in her home.

In a letter to Young Ambassador Richard Higbee, Larisa wrote in halting English: I don’t know how to thank you for all that you have done for me. I am so very glad met you. I am happy found fine friends. It was unforgettably for me! I was visit the paradise with you. I have believed in God! ... You have given back me sense in life. I wasn’t know why and what for I lived. And you present me wings! [Letter to Richard Higbee from Larisa Deeva, 1990]

Sister Deeva was baptized on August 22, 1992. In a subsequent letter to Richard Higbee, Larisa wrote: In August of last year I was baptized. I was the first member in the Church here in Riga. Now there are approximately 30 members in this branch. 

I play the piano in our ward. Now I have God in my life, and He helps me deal with all of my struggles. I know that this church is true and know that our Heavenly Father loves us. [Letter to Richard Higbee from Larisa Deeva, 1993]

As the Young Ambassadors returned to Latvia to present a fireside for the new Riga Branch on May 30, 1993, we were pleased to learn that Sister Deeva had been sustained as president of the Relief Society. Larisa Deeva found the truth, was nourished by its power, and with great eagerness made the choice to follow the light.

Choose to Learn from the Word of God

Nearly every morning at 6:30 you will find me walking the streets of Spanish Fork with another of my heroes: my dad, Wayne Boothe. As we exercise, Dad speaks of his experience studying the scriptures that morning before our walk. For 34 years Dad taught seminary and institute classes for the Church Educational System. Through those years he chose to study the scriptures most mornings at 4:00. 

... He enjoys the topical guide and will often approach his study by topic. He loves to encourage us to visualize the scriptural accounts in our minds or to place ourselves in the time and place of the scriptures to explore what it might have felt like to be there. Dad chooses to ponder and pray about those passages he reads. 

... I want to be prepared. The scriptures are helping me to prepare.” At 4:00 a.m. many of us could think of other ways to spend our time, but through all of the years of raising a family of seven children, 40 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren with my beautiful mother, Dad has chosen to consistently learn from the word of God.

"Everything you are comes from your choices." 
- Jeff Bezos.

Choose to Serve

... While serving 14 years as a Relief Society president, Sister Huff learned that folks need to be recognized. In a recent telephone conversation she said, “There are a lot of lonely people in the world. 

I continue to call young and old alike on the phone to congratulate them, and I try to send notes every day to express appreciation for all the good things they are doing for our growing community of Spanish Fork.” Every day Marie Huff chooses to serve.

Choose to Be Firm in the Faith of Christ

... We are told that Moroni “was a man who was firm in the faith of Christ” and that “if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men” (Alma 48:13, 17).

... Will we, like our heroes, be anxiously engaged in choosing to help accomplish the great mission of bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man? Will we choose to follow the Spirit in our own lives? And then will 

we choose to extend our love to our families, our associates, and our neighbors, illuminating their paths in our 

own little corner of the world? What an influence we can collectively have on this world as we choose the right.

... The world is being prepared to receive the Savior, and we are all up to bat. So many of our Father’s children are counting on us to bring them into home plate. This is our time to play the game of life. As you step up to the plate in this game of choice, you must choose to serve, to love, to learn, to follow the light, to share. The choice is not complex. We simply choose the Lord or we choose the opposition and we all know who leads that opposing team.”

Stay Tuned until next time.

Seasons of Choice ~ Part One

 Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 
this post should take four minutes to seven minutes to read from start to finish.

This post focuses on a BYU Devotional from February 2003, and it is called "Seasons of Choice" by Brother Randall W. Boothe. This post is part one. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the Devotional. 

Brother Boothe has mentioned; "... Have you noticed how the seasons of our lives move forward in a never-ending stream? ... Our personal choices are different as we pass through each new season. Do you remember how many of your choices as a small child focused on play, on discovering the world and people around you, and on simple decisions that made you smile? 

As you grew to the age of accountability and beyond, choices became more critical. The adversary knew this, of course, and worked harder than ever to influence your choices as you matured. Progressing through the seasons of childhood into the teenage years and young adulthood, did you notice that the Spirit has a tremendous capacity to guide you, to lead you to productive, righteous choices? 

And as we qualify ourselves to be led by the Spirit in every season of life, the choices we must make become more clear. Through the spring, summer, fall, and winter of our life, one thing remains constant: we are free to choose. We fought for this right. It is ours. 

No matter how sheltered we may have been in our season of childhood, or how much we may have leaned on loved ones and friends to keep us safe, there come countless times in life when we have to choose for ourselves, when we, alone, face the winds of adversity, when we struggle and stand up to temptation, when we must choose which road to travel and then accept the consequences of that choice. 

Trusted friends cannot always go with us. Parents and teachers will not always be watching. Others are not in a position to make our choices or live our lives. In every season of life we have the opportunity to choose for ourselves. 

... Our Heavenly Father was not about to leave His precious sons and daughters on this earth without a means by which they could grow and learn and search and reach to find their way back to Him. The means by which God planned for our return is our free agency—our personal freedom to choose. ... In today’s world we are literally bombarded with choices. 

"All of life is about choices."

In fact, in recent decades the number of choices in our lives have multiplied many times over. ... Today we may choose to shop in hundreds of stores in convenient shopping malls that are filled to overflowing with merchandise from all over the world.

 With so many choices being required of us every day, we may become weary of choosing. This weariness can place us in a rather dangerous position. ... With marketing teams working around the clock to capture our attention, we may occasionally allow someone else to make choices for us. 

Sometimes, however, our inability to make the right choice threatens the very core of our eternal lives. If we allow ourselves to sit back and “go with the flow” of society, we may be surprised to find ourselves somewhere we do not wish to be.

We frequently encounter heroes in our lives. Their examples of righteousness, faith, service, and love wield a tremendous influence on our choices to become more like them. You know them; they are all around us. ... Today I’d like you to become acquainted with six men and women whose lives have influenced their part of the world in an incredible way because they have consistently exercised their power to choose the right.

Choose to Love

... In 1981 two young men in white shirts and dark, conservative ties volunteered to help her with her work. When the missionaries subsequently taught her about the plan of salvation and spoke of life after death, Julia was deeply moved by the message that she could see her husband, John, again. It made sense. She joined the Church, and the gospel became a great strength to her as she faced more tragedy in her family. 

In the 1990s her grandson happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time when gunfire rang through the township, and he was murdered. When Sister Mavimbela’s soul cried out for the healing influence of the Spirit, she left behind the rocky paths of grief and bitterness. Julia Mavimbela chose to love.

Choose to Share

Raj Kumar studied at the University of Punjab in Chandigarh, India. Attending a performance of the Young Ambassadors at his university in 1982, he saw in the faces of our students something different. As he recognized the light of truth and felt the Spirit, he wasted no time in approaching Tom Nelson, our Young Ambassador lighting technician, after the show, asking to know more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

... Dear brother, before I was baptized in this true church of the Savior, I was very reluctant to tell others that I was a Christian. ... I visit hospitals every Friday and spend about three hours there. I pray for sick people admitted over there and visit from one bed to another, introducing them to the Church and the Lord and distributing tracts. 

As you know, we do not have tracts and pamphlets in Hindi or Punjabi languages. I’ve translated the testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith into the Punjabi language. I have applied for the mission. I expect to get the call within a couple of months. You will be glad to know that I have started going to Delhi every weekend to take part in church services. ... [Letter to Tom Nelson from Raj Kumar, 1980]

Brother Raj Kumar received his call and served a mission in Fresno, California. Since his mission he and his wife, Sarala, have been blessed with a beautiful family. Brother Kumar has served as bishop, on the stake high council, and currently is ward mission leader in Toronto, Canada. When blessed to embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, Raj Kumar chose to share."

Stay Tuned until next time.

What Are Some of Your Current Focuses Now?

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

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

Throughout our lives; we make new friends and sometimes we can get carried away to turn on our focuses onto something else. I am positive that each of us as individuals has faced on letting go and moving on from some of the past friends that we have met during our childhood years, our teenage years, and our early adult years. 

We have focused on our time with our studies if we are currently enrolled with education, we have focused on our time with our employment if we are currently employed, our time spent on building relationships, and so forth.

Some of your current focuses can be any or more than one of the following; - You can focus on aiming to start and finish reading The Book of Mormon before end of this year. - You can focus on having more purposeful prayers to Heavenly Father daily often. - You can focus on eating healthier often.

- You can focus on thinking about what you would like to have as short-term goals for 2021. - You can focus on thinking about what you would like to have as long-term goals for 2021. - You can focus on doing more family history more than you have done in the past. - You can focus on staying positive more often. 

- You can focus on finding effective ways of how to have better daily habits. - You can focus on finding effective ways of how to use your time wisely. - You can focus on how to the best person you can be. - You can focus on making new friendships. - You can focus on exercising often. - You can focus on how to be a better friend to your current friends. 

"Always remember your focus determines your
reality." - George Lucas.

I know that my husband and I have been focusing on listening as many past General Conference talks as we can before end of this year, we have been doing very well of making sure that we both are feeling loved, we have been doing our best to focus on agreeing with each other more often, we have been doing very well of making sure that we both have support for each other, we have been doing very well of making sure that we know that we can rely on each other, we have done our best to eat healthier more often which means more homemade meals, to consume less fast foods, and takeaways, I know that my husband and I have done our best to exercise regularly as much as we can but we stopped (because my husband continued working after it gets dark at night times) so I have started exercising on my own at my own pace, and so forth. 

Stay Tuned until next time.

Focus and Priorities ~ Part Two

 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 2001 General Conference talk called, "Focus and Priorities" by Elder Dallin H. Oaks. This post is part two. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk.

Elder Oaks has mentioned; "Nephi taught, “Feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do." That is focus. Nephi also said that as he taught from the scriptures, “I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning”

.. Overarching all of this is the importance of what the Spirit whispered to us last night or this morning about our own specific needs. Each of us should be careful that the current flood of information does not occupy our time so completely that we cannot focus on and hear and heed the still, small voice that is available to guide each of us with our own challenges today.

.. Brigham Young, who declared: “Every discovery in science and art, that is really true and useful to mankind, has been given by direct revelation from God. ... We should take advantage of all these great discoveries … and give to our children the benefit of every branch of useful knowledge, to prepare them to step forward and efficiently do their part in the great work” We also need priorities. 

Our priorities determine what we seek in life. .. I hope we will heed these teachings. Jesus taught about priorities when He said, “Seek not the things of this world but seek ye first to build up the kingdom of God, and to establish his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you” “Seek … first to build up the kingdom of God” means to assign first priority to God and to His work. 

"Focus on the solution, not on the problem."
- Jim Rohn.

The work of God is to bring to pass the eternal life of His children, and all that this entails in the birth, nurturing, teaching, and sealing of our Heavenly Father’s children. Everything else is lower in priority. 

Think about that reality as we consider some teachings and some examples on priorities. .. Our priorities are most visible in how we use our time. Someone has said, “Three things never come back the spent arrow, the spoken word, and the lost opportunity.”

We cannot recycle or save the time allotted to us each day. With time, we have only one opportunity for choice, and then it is gone forever. Good choices are especially important in our family life. 

For example, how do family members spend their free time together? Time together is necessary but not sufficient. Priorities should govern us in the precious time we give to our family relationships. 

Compare the impact of time spent merely in the same room as spectators for television viewing with the significance of time spent communicating with one another individually and as a family. In terms of priorities for each major decision (such as education, occupation, place of residence, marriage, or childbearing), we should ask ourselves, what will be the eternal impact of this decision? 

Some decisions that seem desirable for mortality have unacceptable risks for eternity. In all such choices we need to have inspired priorities and apply them in ways that will bring eternal blessings to us and to our family members.

The ultimate Latter-day Saint priorities are twofold: 

First, we seek to understand our relationship to God the Eternal Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, and to secure that relationship by obtaining their saving ordinances and by keeping our personal covenants. 

Second, we seek to understand our relationship to our family members and to secure those relationships by the ordinances of the temple and by keeping the covenants we make in that holy place. 

These relationships, secured in the way I have explained, provide eternal blessings available in no other way. No combination of science, success, property, pride, prominence, or power can provide these eternal blessings!"

If you would like to read the whole talk in your own time, here is the link below.
www.lds.org/general-conference/2001/04/focus-and-priorities

Stay Tuned until next time.

Focus and Priorities ~ Part One

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

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

What is your definition and understanding of the word, "focus"? What is your definition and understanding of the word, "priorities"? This post focuses on a April 2001 General Conference talk called, "Focus and Priorities" by Elder Dallin H. Oaks. This post is part one. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk.

Elder Oaks has mentioned, ".. We are accountable and will be judged for how we use what we have received. This eternal principle applies to all we have been given. ... The principle of accountability also applies to the spiritual resources conferred in the teachings we have been given and to the precious hours and days allotted to each of us during our time in mortality.

... Because of increased life expediencies and modern time saving devices, most of us have far more discretionary time than our predecessors. We are accountable for how we use that time. .. we sing in a popular hymn; “we cannot call it back. It comes, then passes forward along its onward track. And if we are not mindful, the chance will fade away, for life is quick in passing. 

’Tis as a single day” The significance of our increased discretionary time has been magnified many times by modern data-retrieval technology. For good or for evil, devices like the Internet and the compact disc have put at our fingertips an incredible inventory of information, insights, and images. 

... With greatly increased free time and vastly more alternatives for its use, it is prudent to review the fundamental principles that should guide us. Temporal circumstances change, but the eternal laws and principles that should guide our choices never change.

He shared a story about a warning and he likes the story because it translates easily into different languages and cultures. .. Because of modern technology, the contents of huge libraries and other data resources are at the fingertips of many of us. Some choose to spend countless hours in unfocused surfing the Internet, watching 

trivial television, or scanning other avalanches of information. But to what purpose?

.. Faced with an excess of information in the marvelous resources we have been given, we must begin with focus or we are likely to become like those in the well-known prophecy about people in the last days—“ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth”. 

"Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape
our choices, and choices determine our actions."
- Elder Dallin H. Oaks.

We also need quiet time and prayerful pondering as we seek to develop information into knowledge and mature knowledge into wisdom. We also need focus to avoid what is harmful. The abundant information and images accessible on the Internet call for sharp focus and control to avoid accessing the pornography that is an increasing scourge in our society. 

... The Internet has made pornography accessible almost without effort and often without leaving the privacy of one’s home or room. The Internet has also facilitated the predatory activities of adults who use its anonymity and accessibility to stalk children for evil purposes. 

Parents and youth, beware! There are many gospel implications of this easily accessible flood of information. For example, our Church Website now provides access to all of the general conference addresses and other contents of Church magazines for the past 30 years. ..

Stay Tuned until next time.

Little Things Count ~ 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 is based on May 1988 New Era, and it is called "Little Things Count" by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin. This post is part two. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the article. 

Elder Wirthlin mentioned, "President Spencer W. Kimball said: “I have learned that it is by serving that we learn how to serve. When we are engaged in the service of our fellowmen, not only do our deeds assist them, but we put our own problems in a fresher perspective. 

When we concern ourselves more with others, there is less time to be concerned with ourselves. So often, our acts of service consist of simple encouragement or of giving mundane help with mundane tasks, but what glorious consequences can flow from mundane acts and from small but deliberate deeds! 

God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other in the kingdom”

"It's the little things that count."

Relationship with God

As children of our Heavenly Father, we each have within us every potential of character, of compassion, joy, and of knowledge that we need in our quest for personal growth. The seeds for each godly character trait are in each of us. 

With that assurance, we are truly able to grow toward godhood as he has commanded us We must give attention to the detail that will help us to grow and develop in our relationship with God. 

We should heed the words of the prophet Alma to his son Helaman, “But behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass” (Alma 37:6). 

Lucifer is a master at step-by-step deception. He can make little things seem so harmless when, in reality, they will quickly bind the soul and destroy the spirit. He can make immodest dress and suggestive behavior seem very acceptable. He can cause us to think that a little indiscretion in speech and manner is still quite wholesome. 

But soon those little steps repeat themselves in an ever-descending pattern until one is at a far-lower level than ever imagined. I suggest, on the positive side, that we watch for all possible little opportunities to overcome evil and increase our spiritual strength. 

We must let virtue garnish our thoughts unceasingly, that our confidence will wax strong in the presence of God (see D&C 121:45) These little things, which, in reality, become such big things, bring perspective to our lives as 

we learn to conquer them one by one in our effort to gain more and more strength. 

And this we do in a spirit of humility and gratitude to our Heavenly Father. We should try to live every day with absolute faith, for we have learned in life that the Lord keeps his promises and watches over those who trust Him. He has been so good to all of us that we should have a profound conviction that He must really love us in spite of our faults."

I encourage you to read the whole article in your own time. Here's the link below.

www.lds.org/new-era/1988/05/little-things-count

Stay Tuned until next time.

Little Things Count ~ Part One

   Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,
this post should take approximately three minutes to read from start to finish.

I encourage you to think about and answer the following two questions in your own time. "How can you make the little things count in your life?" and "What do little things count means to you?" 

This post is based on May 1988 New Era, and it is called "Little Things Count" by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin. This post is part one. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the article. 

Elder Wirthlin mentioned, "I have been impressed recently with the thought that this life is made up of little things - little things that count a great deal. I believe that the little things are of great importance in our relationship with ourselves, in our relationship with others, and in our relationship with God.

The Lord has said, “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great” (D&C 64:33). I have often thought that some of the most common little things in our lives are the minutes that pass in each hour of the day. 

For each human being, time is indeed an indispensable resource. It can neither be ignored nor altered. We are compelled to spend it at a fixed rate of 60 minutes every hour. No spigot can be installed to regulate its flow, 

and no refilling device can replenish its quantity. 

The question is not one of managing the clock, but one of managing ourselves with respect to the time we have. Each minute is a little thing and yet, with respect to our personal productivity, to manage the minute is the secret of success.

Relationship with Self

Let us first consider our relationship with ourselves. You must take proper care in your life to see that the little things regarding your personal life are in order. You must learn to care for your health and your mental well-being. Our bodies are truly the result of what we eat and the exercise we receive. If we are not wise these little things can soon catch up with us to become major health problems that will limit our success and contribution.

"There are SIMPLE THINGS that we do everyday 

and you never know when that little thing is really going 

to MAKE A DIFFERENCE in someone's life." 

- John Hilton.

Relationship with Others

With regard to our relationship with others, I often marvel to think of the perfect example that the Lord Jesus Christ provides in all aspects of our existence. If we were to meet him, we would find him refreshingly pleasant and perfect in all his relationships and dealings with each individual.

Patience and long suffering, considered by some to be little things in this life, are some of the crowning attributes in dealing with our fellowmen. 

Whether it be in athletics, in business, or in our Church associations, if you can acquire these two great attributes, you will find that you really can work with people and have a good influence in their lives."

Stay Tuned until next time.

How to Make Each Day Count?

   Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,
this post should take approximately three minutes to read from start to finish.

I know at times in our lives that we may refuse to make each day count whenever we do not feel like it. 

I know at times in our lives that we may would like to make each day count whenever we do feel like it. 

Throughout our lives; we often do our best to be busy and productive individuals as best as we can be. I know that each day when we wake up, is constantly reminding ourselves that we have another day to be ALIVE and living. I know that each day is a constant reminder for me to know that I have another day to become better person than I was the day before. 

I know that each day gives me another day to love my husband, my immediate relatives, my extended relatives and my true friends. I know that each day gives me another day to miss my immediate relatives, my extended relatives, and my true friends. 

I know that each day gives me another day to be more appreciate about life. I know that each day gives me another day to be more supportive. Each day gives me another day to forgive from my mistakes and so forth. 

You probably were wondering how can you make each day count. Well I would be happy to share with you some great ways of how to make each day count. 

Make each day count.

- You can be grateful for the things that you already have owned. - You can learn something new, whether it's trying out new recipes or learning how to sew. 

- You can do the things that you love and enjoy doing. - You can go out and explore new places. - You can be creative and do something like scrapbooking. - You can do some family history and get to know your ancestors. - You can spend some time by getting to know your neighbors. 

- You can spend some time by getting to know your immediate relatives. - You can spend some time by getting to know your extended relatives. - You can spend some time by getting to know who your true friends are.- You can create short-term goals and long-term goals list (you can take one day at a time to accomplish those goals).

- You can take some time to yourself. - You can call a friend that you haven't spoken to for ages. - You can call an immediate family member. - You can focus on getting things done for your well-being and self-care. - You can focus on getting things done in a timely manner. 

Stay Tuned until next time.

... A Prayer Away

 Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 
this post should take approximately three minutes to read from start to finish.

I would like to encourage you to think about and answer the following questions in your own time.
"When was the last time did you said a prayer for asking Heavenly Father for his help for approval?"
"When was the last time did you said a prayer for asking Heavenly Father for his help for support?"

"When was the last time did you said a prayer for asking Heavenly Father for his help to get through a challenge?"
"When was the last time did you said a prayer for asking Heavenly Father for his help to get through a difficulty?"

"God's help is only a prayer away."

"When was the last time did you said a prayer for asking Heavenly Father for his help for getting instructions to do better?" "When was the last time did you said a prayer for asking Heavenly Father for his help to get through an unexpected trial?"

"When was the last time did you said a prayer for asking Heavenly Father for his help to make you feel loved?" "When was the last time did you said a prayer for asking Heavenly Father for his help to cheer you up?"


If you haven't prayed to ask Heavenly Father for his help recently, I would like to encourage you to do so. I know that he does not always answer my prayers but I know when those times that he does not answer my prayers, I found my prayers has been answered by either someone else or by reading a general conference talk, or so forth. 

I love receiving help from Heavenly Father whenever I do ask him for his help, it comes in handy at times when I really feel desperate for having his help. pray and ask God for his help. I do know that Heavenly Father will be happy to help you out if you ask him for his help, not once a year or occasionally but you do make a habit and ask him often whenever you need some help.  

I strongly encourage do not wait until tomorrow comes when you can say a prayer today. You can even say a prayer after reading this post.

Stay Tuned until next time.

Always Pray and NEVER Give Up

   Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,
this post should take approximately three minutes to read from start to finish.

This week's topic focuses on Pray, Prayer, and make things counts. What is your definition and understanding of the word, "Pray"? What does "Pray" means to an immediate relative? What does "Pray" means to a friend? 

I would like to encourage you to pray always whenever you are seeking answers to your unanswered questions.

I would like to encourage you to pray always whenever you are seeking forgiveness from your past and present mistakes. I would like to encourage you to pray always whenever you are seeking comfort from facing your fears. 

I would like to encourage you to pray always whenever you are seeking guidance whether to go a new destination or take a different path in life from Heavenly Father. I would like to encourage you to pray always whenever you are wanting to share that you are grateful for everything that you have. I would like to encourage you to pray always whenever you are seeking directions when you are feeling lost. 

I would like to encourage you to pray always whenever you are seeking hope for things to be improved for the better. I would like to encourage you to pray always whenever you feel that you are about to GIVE up on your passions. I would like to encourage you to pray always whenever you know someone is feeling sick or unwell. 

"Always pray and NEVER give up."

When was the last time you said a prayer for seeking answers to your unanswered questions? Was it recently like within the last twenty-four hours? Was it more like a week ago? Was it a month ago? Was it a long time ago?

When was the last time you said a prayer for seeking forgiveness from your past and present mistakes? Was it recently like within the last twenty-four hours? Was it a week ago? Was it a month ago? Was it a long time ago?

When was the last time you said a prayer for seeking comfort from your fears? Was it recently like within the last twenty-four hours? Was it a week ago? Was it a month ago? Was it a long time ago?

When was the last time you said a prayer for seeking guidance whether to go to a new destination or a different path to take from Heavenly Father? Was it recently like within the last twenty-four hours? Was it a week ago? Was it a month ago? Was it a long time ago?

When was the last time you said a prayer for expressing the gratitude for everything you have?
Was it recently like within the last twenty-four hours? Was it more like a week ago? Was it a month ago? Was it a long time ago?

When was the last time you said a prayer for seeking directions when you are feeling lost? 

Was it recently like within the last twenty-four hours? Was it more like a week ago? Was it a month ago? Was it a long time ago?

When was the last time you said a prayer for seeking hope for things to improve better? Was it recently like within the last twenty-four hours? Was it more like a week ago? Was it a month ago? Was it a long time ago?

When was the last time you said a prayer for someone to feel better soon? Was it recently like within the last twenty-four hours? Was it more like a week ago? Was it a month ago? Was it a long time ago?

When was the last time you said a prayer when you were about to give up? 
Was it recently like within the last twenty-four hours? Was it more like a week ago? Was it a month ago? Was it a long time ago?

Always Pray and Never Give Up! 

Stay Tuned until next time.

The Miracle of Repentance ~ Part Two

  Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,
this post should take approximately five minutes to read from start to finish.

This post focuses on June 2013 BYU Devotional, and it is called "The Miracle of Repentance" by D. Kelly Ogden." This post is part two. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the Devotional. I hope that you would be able to learn something whilst reading through this post. 

Brother Ogden has mentioned "Even Joseph Smith confessed that during his youth he struggled, as he wrote, with all kinds of temptations; and, mingling with all kinds of society, I frequently fell into many foolish errors, and displayed the weakness of youth, and the foibles of human nature; which, I am sorry to say, led me into divers temptations, offensive in the sight of God. [JS—H 1:28]

... When you have fully repented of your sins and are converted to the Lord, you are born again—you become a new person. You don’t have to be concerned about your old sins because that old person who committed those sins is buried away. That is not you. You have become a new person who would not commit such sins. Therefore you can forgive yourself, forsake those sins, and forget your past.

... Jesus helps you become a new and different person who has learned the divine principles of forgiving and forgetting. The Hebrew word for atonement is kippur (as in Yom Kippur: the day of atonement), and the basic meaning of kippur is to cover up. The Savior has suffered for, and covered up, the sins of us all—pending our complete repentance.

The Good News of Repentance

The scriptures not only teach that there are awful consequences of not repenting but also that there are extraordinary rewards for repenting. ... The word gospel means “good news”; therefore it is the good news of repentance. We sometimes look upon repentance as a punishment—as a distasteful, negative thing. It does involve some pain, of course, but genuine repentance is a blessing—a happy, positive thing.

Two questions are often asked:
1. How can I know if I have been forgiven of my sins? .. (Mosiah 4:3). By that peace and the Spirit you will know.

2. If the Lord says He will forgive and forget, why can’t I forget? ... The Lord leaves the memory in your mind as an early warning system; it is protection against going back to the old ways, the old sins. Alma didn’t say he could remember his sins no more; he said he could remember his pain no more.

He could remember his sins all right, but he was not harrowed up by the memory of those sins because he had repented of them. When you fully repent you are born again and become a new person (see Mosiah 27:24–29), and the cloud of darkness that once overshadowed you is removed (see Helaman 5:11, 41).

Whatever your past has been, your future is spotless, so tie yourself to your potential, not to your past. One of the most beautiful truths of the plan of happiness is that the Lord ­forgives and forgets (see D&C 58:42). He chooses what He will remember. 

... Unless you have murdered someone (premeditated murder) or committed the sin against the Holy Ghost (as very few have), you can be totally forgiven of all your sins. That is indeed good news. But you must ask! The Lord said, “Thy sins are forgiven thee, according to thy petition” (D&C 90:1; emphasis added).

A Complete Cleansing Is Needed

... In Santiago, Chile, there are at least four ambulance companies in that city of more than six million people. One of the companies is called Rescate Total (“Total Rescue”), and every time I saw one of the ambulances driving by, I thought, “No, I know where total rescue comes from. His name is Jesus Christ.” And His is the only name under heaven whereby salvation comes, from whom a complete cleanse can come—again, because He is the One who paid the price. He can take away all our transgressions.

The Baptism of Repentance

Sometimes we look with envy on the new convert stepping out of the baptismal font; we feel almost jealous of the fact that there goes the cleanest, purest person on earth. ... If we go to sacrament meeting each week, and we go there having thoroughly repented of all our sins and then worthily eat that little piece of bread and drink that little cup of water, we may leave that meeting totally void of sin. We can literally be clean and pure as we walk out of sacrament meeting each week. We experience again and again the baptism of repentance.

True Repentance Requires More Than a Cleansing

Actually, the whole process of repentance requires more than just a cleansing, and we need to do more than just repair all damage done. ... So it is with repentance: we must cleanse ourselves of all that is wrong inside, repair the damage that has been done, and continually strengthen ourselves to become more and more resistant to sin and more and more capable of sustaining light and truth from Him who is our strength. 

It is through daily diligence to prayer and scriptures, along with exact obedience to all other commandments, and serving others and worshiping in the temple that we keep ourselves strong and avoid the sinning. Each of us will stand before our Father and look into His divine eyes and report on what we have done with this brief moment of time. 

We will all have photographic memories (and instant recall!), a perfect recollection of all we’ve done on earth and that perfect awareness will either send us into deep despair and remorse or fill us with happiness and gratitude. It is up to us. We will all live forever no exceptions. And we are determining each day exactly where and with whom we will live forever. 

Whatever has gone wrong in our lives that has tainted or darkened our souls can be erased, cleansed, removed, and purified by the power of sincere repentance. It is a miracle. Any evil words and deeds continue to reverberate through the universe until we pay the price of godly sorrow and total repentance; then they are completely obliterated. They are not there anymore, and we become a new person, full of light. ..."

If you would like to read the whole Devotional in your own time, here's the link below.

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/d-kelly-ogden/the-miracle-of-repentance/

Stay Tuned until next time.

The Miracle of Repentance ~ Part One

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

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

This post focuses on June 2013 BYU Devotional, and it is called "The Miracle of Repentance" by D. Kelly Ogden." This post is part one. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the Devotional. I hope that you would be able to learn something whilst reading through this post. 

Brother Ogden has mentioned the following; "There is no principle of the gospel more important than repentance. ... Driven by faith, repentance is the single most important principle to live in order to make the Savior’s Atonement effective and meaningful in our lives. 

Repentance is not just feeling guilty for having sinned, nor is it mere “forgetfulness,” pushing the sin way back in our mind to conveniently not be reminded of it. ... We repent not only of sins but also of sinning, and we are willing to do whatever is necessary to remove the stain and the pain. We turn to the Savior. He is the only one who can take away our sins because He paid the price for them.

Godly Sorrow and Suffering Are Necessary

In true repentance, godly sorrow and suffering are necessary. ... We have all been through the anguish. ... We hurt inside. And it is not just guilt for being caught or feeling the embarrassment for having to confess. It is godly sorrow we are feeling.

... Alma said, “Let your sins trouble you, with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance” (Alma 42:29). Be glad to suffer the godly sorrow now so you won’t have to suffer the full effects of your sins later.

Confession Is Necessary

President Spencer W. Kimball taught: No one can ever be forgiven of any transgression until there is repentance, and one has not repented until he has bared his soul and admitted his intentions and weaknesses without excuses or rationalizations. He must admit to himself that he has grievously sinned. 

When he has confessed to himself without the slightest minimizing of the offense, or rationalizing its seriousness, or soft-pedaling its gravity, and admits it is as big as it really is, then he is ready to begin his repentance. [“Love Versus Lust,” BYU devotional address, 5 January 1965; ...] We have a worry these days. 

... But Elder Richard G. Scott warned, “The thought of intentionally committing serious sin now and repenting later is perilously wrong. . . . Premeditated sin has greater penalties and is harder to overcome” (“Making the Right Choices,” Ensign, November 1994, 38–39). We must confess and forsake our sins now and not put off our repentance. 

Alma warned us not to procrastinate the day of our repentance. As the old rabbis used to say: You cannot repent the day before you die, because you don’t know what day you will die. ... The fact is, none of us knows exactly when we will be departing this mortal sphere, so we should be ready always never procrastinating the day of 

our repentance but repenting daily and keeping ourselves prepared to meet God.

Don’t wait until the pressure situations of mission and marriage arrive to do your repenting. If the announcements and invitations have already been sent out and you have the interview with the bishop and a member of the stake presidency, and then you realize together that you are not ready for the sacred covenant-making in the house of the Lord then what do you do? 

It could be pretty embarrassing, couldn’t it? The embarrassment doesn’t matter; you don’t ever want to enter the holy temple if you are not worthy. To take upon yourself the most sacred covenants and make the most binding promises of your whole life when you are not spiritually prepared or worthy to do so would bring upon you serious condemnation.

Before going to the temple, before going to sacrament meeting, even before kneeling to pray, be reconciled to Heavenly Father and to the Savior and if there is any conflict or friction between you and any other person, get it resolved now.

REPENTANCE is both our path to FORGIVENESS
and the response that blooms from it."

Forsaking Our Sins Is Necessary

The scriptures teach that forsaking our sins is necessary. ... To forsake means to give up, abandon. Indeed, we must abandon all sin as soon as we can and it might require a lengthy and mighty struggle to rid ourselves of our toughest and most perplexing weaknesses. 

It is essential, as soon as possible, to expel sin from our lives. That is forsaking. ... Although the great majority of the missionaries were prepared and worthy to be there learning to represent the Lord Jesus Christ—I noticed that even among them there were some who caught themselves agonizing over past sins. 

They had fully repented, but they still had a bright recollection of their recent (and sometimes distant) sins, and they became depressed as they remembered the gross sins of their past. 

... Sometimes people will sincerely desire to repent and secure Heavenly Father’s complete forgiveness ... When you have totally repented, you must forsake those sins, forget about them, bury them away, and not bring them up again. ... In other words, when you have planted your life in a more spiritual furrow, keep your eyes straight ahead and don’t look back to the old sins, the old people, the old places. 

Someone has suggested that when Satan reminds you of your past, just remind him of his future! Keep your eyes looking ahead and on the Savior. ... Everyone has problems growing up some worse than others but it is imperative that we forget the shame of our youth. Repent, put it behind you, and move on. "

Stay Tuned until next time.

Let's Not Take the Wrong Way

  Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 

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

I would like to encourage you to ask yourself, think about, and answer the following question either now or in your own time; "what does let's not take the wrong way means to you?" This post is based on a April 2014 General Conference talk and it is called "Let’s Not Take the Wrong Way" by Elder Claudio D. Zivic. 

I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk. Elder Zivic mentioned, "There are some mistakes that may be serious, and if we do not correct them in time, they can permanently lead us off the right path. 

If we repent and accept correction, these experiences will allow us to humble ourselves, change our actions, and once again draw closer to our Heavenly Father. I want to give an example of this concept by making reference to one of the most dramatic moments that the Prophet Joseph Smith experienced. 

Through this experience, the Savior has given us invaluable teachings regarding principles that we ought to keep in mind throughout our lives. It happened when Martin Harris lost the 116 translated pages of the first part of the Book of Mormon. After repenting for not following God’s counsel, the Prophet received the revelation that is found in section 3 of the Doctrine and Covenants. 

From what is written in verses 1 to 10, I wish to highlight three principles that we should always remember:

1. The works and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated.
2. We must not fear man more than God.
3. There is a need of constant repentance.

In verse 13, the Lord teaches us four actions that we should never do:
1. Set at naught the counsels of God.
2. Break the most sacred promises made before God.
3. Depend upon our own judgment.
4. Boast in our own wisdom.

"I pray that we will not lose sight of the way, so
that we may ALWAYS be connected with the 
heavens." - Claudio D. Zivic.

If any one of you reaches the point of abandoning the Lord’s way at any point along that way with great remorse you will feel the bitterness of having set at naught the counsels of God, of having broken the most sacred promises made before God, of having trusted in your own judgment, or of having boasted in your own wisdom.

If this is the case, I exhort you to repent and come back to the right way. During childhood and youth, people think they will never become old; the idea of death never takes root that is for very, very old people and reaching that point is still an eternity away. 

As time goes on, months and seasons go by until the wrinkles begin to appear, energy is reduced, the need for doctor visits becomes more frequent, and so on.

The day will come in which we shall again meet up with our Redeemer and Savior, Jesus Christ. I plead that on that sacred and sublime occasion we can recognize Him because of the knowledge we have of Him and because of having followed His teachings. He will show us the marks in His hands and feet, and we will join together in a lasting embrace, weeping for joy at having followed His way."

I encourage you to read the whole talk in your own time and here is the link to the talk below.
www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/lets-not-take-the-wrong-way

Stay Tuned until next time.

The Brilliant Morning of Forgiveness ~ Part Two

 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 October 1995 General Conference talk and it is called, "The Brilliant Morning of Forgiveness" by Elder Boyd K. Packer. This post is part two.I would like to share with you some highlights

while I was reading the talk.

Elder Packer has mentioned; 

"It is easy to understand how helpless and hopeless you then feel and why you might want to give up, just as Alma did. The thought that rescued Alma, when he acted upon it, is this: Restoring what you cannot restore, healing the wound you cannot heal, fixing that which you broke and you cannot fix is the very purpose of the atonement of Christ.

When your desire is firm and you are willing to pay the “uttermost farthing,” the law of restitution is suspended. Your obligation is transferred to the Lord. He will settle your accounts. I repeat, save for the exception of the very few who defect to perdition, there is no habit, no addiction, no rebellion, no transgression, no apostasy, no crime exempted from the promise of complete forgiveness. That is the promise of the atonement of Christ. 

How all can be repaired, we do not know. It may not all be accomplished in this life. We know from visions and visitations that the servants of the Lord continue the work of redemption beyond the veil.

"Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself."
- Suzanne Somers.

 This knowledge should be as comforting to the innocent as it is to the guilty. I am thinking of parents who suffer unbearably for the mistakes of their wayward children and are losing hope.

... In the most tender of sermons in the revelations on kindness and long-suffering, on meekness, gentleness, on love unfeigned, the Lord instructs us to reprove “betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then [show] forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved.”

The Lord provides ways to pay our debts to Him. In one sense we ourselves may participate in an atonement. When we are willing to restore to others that which we have not taken, or heal wounds that we did not inflict, or pay a debt that we did not incur, we are emulating His part in the Atonement.

So many live with accusing guilt when relief is ever at hand. ... Do not give up if at first you fail. Often the most difficult part of repentance is to forgive yourself. Discouragement is part of that test. Do not give up. That brilliant morning will come. Then “the peace of God, which passeth … understanding” comes into your life once again. Then you, like Him, will remember your sins no more. How will you know? You will know!

... “‘Jesus had not finished his work when his body was slain, neither did he finish it after his resurrection from the dead; although he had accomplished the purpose for which he then came to the earth, he had not fulfilled all his work. And when will he? 

Not until he has redeemed and saved every son and daughter of our father Adam that have been or ever will be born upon this earth to the end of time, except the sons of perdition. That is his mission. We will not finish our work until we have saved ourselves, and then not until we shall have saved all depending upon us; for we are to become saviors upon Mount Zion, as well as Christ. We are called to this mission.’”

“There is never a time,” the Prophet Joseph Smith taught, “when the spirit is too old to approach God. All are within the reach of pardoning mercy, who have not committed the unpardonable sin.” And so we pray, and we fast, and we plead, and we implore. We love those who wander, and we never give up hope. ...."

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

www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1995/10/the-brilliant-morning-of-forgiveness

Stay Tuned until next time.

The Brilliant Morning of Forgiveness ~ Part One

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

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

This week's topics for this blog is "Forgive, Forgiveness, and Repentance." This post focuses on a October 1995 General Conference talk, and it is called "The Brilliant Morning of Forgiveness" by Elder Boyd K. Packer. This post is part one. I would like to share with you some highlights whilst I was reading the talk. 

Elder Packer mentioned the following; "...The gospel teaches us that relief from torment and guilt can be earned through repentance. Save for those few who defect to perdition after having known a fullness, there is no habit, no addiction, no rebellion, no transgression, no offense exempted from the promise of complete forgiveness. 

... Even that grace of God promised in the scriptures comes only “after all we can do.” You may tell yourself that your transgressions are not spiritually illegal. That will not work; neither will rebellion, nor anger, nor joking about them. You cannot do that. 

And you don’t have to do it. There is a way back. It will not help if, out of tender regard for your feelings, I avoid telling you about the hard part. ... Most mistakes can be settled between us and the Lord, and that should be done speedily. It requires a confession to Him, and whatever obvious repairs need to be made.

With sincere repentance as a pattern in our lives, measured by our willingness to “confess them and forsake them,” the Lord has promised that we may “always retain a remission of [our] sins.” ... The punishment may, for the most part, consist of the torment we inflict upon ourselves. It may be the loss of privilege or progress. 

We are punished by our sins, if not for them. There are some transgressions which require a discipline which will bring about the relief that comes with the morning of forgiveness. If your mistakes have been grievous ones, go to your bishop. Like the rescuers who brought John Breen down from the mountaintops, bishops can guide you through the steps required to obtain forgiveness insofar as the Church is concerned.

"When you FORGIVE, you don't change
the PAST, but you do change the
FUTURE."

Each one of us must work out individually forgiveness from the Lord. To earn forgiveness, one must make restitution. That means you give back what you have taken or ease the pain of those you have injured. 

But sometimes you cannot give back what you have taken because you don’t have it to give. ... There are times you cannot mend that which you have broken. 

Perhaps the damage was so severe that you cannot fix it no matter how desperately you want to. .. Your repentance cannot be accepted unless there is a restitution. If you cannot undo what you have done, you are trapped. 

Stay Tuned until next time.