Happiness

 Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 

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

This post is focus on April 1986 General Conference talk, and it is called "Happiness" by Elder Jack H. Goaslind. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk.

Elder Goaslind has mentioned, "As I have occasion to be with wonderful people throughout the world, I am often moved by the many individuals I meet who are looking for happiness, but not quite finding it. They yearn and strive and endure, but seem to be asking, “Am I happy yet?”

I desire to assure you that happiness is real. It can be experienced here, and we can know a fulness of joy in the hereafter. May I share with you some insights about the kind of happiness promised by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.” (2 Ne. 2:24–25.)

Our wise and loving Father in Heaven is concerned for the welfare of his children. He desires to see us happy. The very purpose of our lives can be defined in terms of happiness. The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it.” (History of the Church, 5:134.)

Our yearnings for happiness were implanted in our hearts by Deity. They represent a kind of homesickness, for we have a residual memory of our premortal existence. They are also a foretaste of the fulness of joy that is promised to the faithful. We can expect with perfect faith that our Father will fulfill our innermost longings for joy.

In fact, the plan he has given to guide us is called “the plan of happiness.” (Alma 42:16.) In the meridian of time, it was heralded by angelic messengers as “good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” (Luke 2:10.) The Book of Mormon makes it clear that happiness is our destiny. It speaks of dwelling “with God in a state of never-ending happiness.” (Mosiah 2:41.) 

It is also made clear that “all things shall be restored to their proper order, every thing to its natural frame, … raised to endless happiness to inherit the kingdom of God, or to endless misery to inherit the kingdom of the devil.” We also learn that we are “raised to happiness according to [our] desires of happiness.” (Alma 41:4–5.)

"HAPPINESS is letting go of what you
think your life is supposed to look like and
celebrating it for everything that it is." 
- Mandy Hale.

Our happiness is diminished by at least two things: sin and adversity. Of the two, sin is the most tragic. Sin is the most persistent cause of human suffering and of the two brings the deepest remorse. Sin and the temptation to do evil are part of our mortal test. We are being tried to see if we will choose good or evil. It is a hard test, and only those who have resisted temptation can know and gain the strength thereof. 

Sin is sin because it destroys instead of saves; it tears down instead of builds, it causes despair instead of hope. The suffering that results from sin is most tragic because through our own choices we can choose to avoid it. We have that power. We also have the capacity to repent of our sins and to experience the sweet joy of forgiveness.

If we are unhappy, let us examine ourselves to see where we need to repent. If we have questions about what we need to do, or not do, we need only listen to our conscience and follow the promptings of the Spirit. Striving for happiness is a long, hard journey with many challenges. It requires eternal vigilance to win the victory. 

You cannot succeed with sporadic little flashes of effort. Constant and valiant living is necessary. That is why patience and faith are so often associated in the scriptures. You must “withstand every temptation of the devil, with [your] faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Alma 37:33.) But remember, faith is not a magical formula.

It requires that you make a deliberate decision to do good and then carry out your decision. Do it. Simply do it, and do it long enough that you experience success, no matter how hard it may seem. Your victory over self brings communion with God and results in happiness lasting and eternal happiness."

I encourage you to read the whole talk in your own time. Here's the link to the talk below.
www.lds.org/general-conference/1986/04/happiness

Stay Tuned until next time.

Choose Happiness ~ 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 in March 2016, and it is called "Choose Happiness" by Elder Larry R. Lawrence. This post is part two, and I hope that you will be able to learn something new while reading throughout this post. 

Elder Lawrence has mentioned the following; "The prophet Nephi expressed gratitude for his parents in the very first verse of the Book of Mormon. He praised them by saying, “I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father” (1 Nephi 1:1). 

... An excellent way to express gratitude is by giving sincere praise. Praise lifts both the giver and the receiver. ... God showed us the importance of giving praise by His own perfect example. At the baptism of Jesus, Heavenly Father announced, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).

Jesus Himself gave many compliments during His ministry. Some of them are recorded in the scriptures. ... When John the Baptist was in prison, the Savior made a point of praising this good man publicly. Jesus said, “Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist” (Luke 7:28).

... And don’t forget Nephi, son of Helaman. One day when he was especially discouraged, the voice of the Lord came to him and delivered these words of praise: Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee. ... Behold, I will bless thee forever. [Helaman 10:4–5]

If we truly want to emulate the Lord, we need to be looking for the good in others and then voicing it. If there is anything ­virtuous, lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy, we should be seeking after these things (see Articles of Faith 1:13). Praise is a precious gift that costs the giver nothing. So if you see something, say something. 

... President Ezra Taft Benson warned that whenever we are “withholding gratitude and praise that might lift another,” we are manifesting the sin of pride. On the other hand, when we point out the good in others, the Holy Ghost helps us discover the good in ourselves and everybody wins.

... Sincere compliments from parents mean a lot; sometimes they are remembered for a lifetime. Even when a compliment comes from a complete stranger, it can make your whole day. My niece told me about a difficult time she had when she was a single college student. 

"Happiness comes from living the way the Lord wants
you to live and from service to God and others."
- Thomas S. Monson.

The whole week had been a disaster, and she was feeling lonely and discouraged. While saying her prayers one morning, she asked Heavenly Father to help her feel His love that day. 

After praying, she was prompted to go to the temple, so she put on a dress and fixed her hair. On the way there she passed an older woman who smiled and stopped to compliment her beautiful, wholesome appearance. 

The gracious stranger had no idea that a few kind words from her had delivered a message from heaven. My niece immediately felt a feeling of love wash over her and realized that her morning prayer had been answered.

... Years ago President David O. McKay gave this valuable counsel to Latter-day Saints: “Start out to make somebody else happy and see how quickly your own soul is filled with joy.” ... I remember the first time I met President Gordon B. Hinckley. 

I was attending a luncheon held at the Church Office Building. By some tender mercy I found myself seated at the same table as the prophet. During that lunch hour I observed that he rarely talked about himself; he was more interested in learning about others. He directed the conversation by asking questions of each person at our table.

Somehow he knew that I had served as a mission president in Siberia, so he asked me how the Russians heat their big apartment buildings in the winter­time. He was a very gracious listener, sincerely interested in everyone and everything much like the Master whom he served.

Consider the unselfish life of the Savior. ... Try to imagine meeting the Savior in person. How would He greet you? Would He be slouched over, looking intently at His cell phone, or would He smile and look right into your eyes?

I believe He would call you by name and make the conversation about you. He would offer reassurance and help. Most of all, I believe He would radiate love. ... Someday we will meet Jesus and feel His profound love for us. Until then, we have many lessons to learn. 

There are going to be both smooth days and rough days throughout our lives, but the Lord has commanded us repeatedly to “be of good cheer.” Elder Jeffrey R. Holland observed that “we may be more guilty of breaking that commandment than almost any other.” Sometimes we just plain choose to be grumpy. At those times we turn inward instead of outward.

... We realized why the Church members were so kind and outgoing because that’s what the gift of the Holy Ghost does to people. Jesus taught, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). ... I was baptized when I was a young medical student at the University of Arizona. 

The first time I attended Church meetings at the LDS institute, I looked around hoping to find a familiar face. Thank goodness another medical student recognized me and came right over to say hello. His name was Phil Freestone. Phil sat with me and introduced me to other Church members. 

It is not easy to be a newcomer, and Phil’s friendship meant a great deal to me at that important time in my life. I came to understand what the Savior meant when He said, “I was a stranger, and ye took me in” (Matthew 25:35). Latter-day Saints who are guided by the Spirit should be the most congenial people on earth. 

... It takes very little effort to say hello, but whenever you do, you make the world a better place. Today I have pointed out a few practices that can lead to greater happiness: smiling more often, expressing gratitude, looking for and praising the good in others, welcoming the newcomer, and reaching out to those who need a friend.

... All of us need a little cheering up sometimes. Book of Mormon readers are often surprised when they come to the chapter in which Nephi was grieving over his imperfections. He expressed himself in these words: “O wretched man that I am!” (2 Nephi 4:17). 

Most of us on a good day wish we could be as “wretched” as Nephi. His sorrowful lament makes us wonder, “Why do good people even prophets like Nephi occasionally feel discouraged and unworthy?”

Let me tell you a fable about the devil that offers some perspective. The story goes that Satan went into his garage one day and noticed that everything was a complete mess. He couldn’t find what he was looking for because there were so many rusty tools lying around cluttering up the place.

Satan decided on a solution. He would have a garage sale. He cleaned up his old tools and offered them at a discount price for other devils to purchase. Some tools sold right away for example, the hammer of hatred, the wrench of fear, and the clamp of addiction. 

They were very popular items. When he was asked why he was selling off so many of his tools, Satan explained that he had decided to concentrate all of his personal efforts on bringing down the Latter-day Saints. He preferred to use his favorite tool on them. What do you think it was?

It was the wedge of discouragement. Satan boasted about it, saying, “With this one tool I can inflict major damage on the faithful. Discouragement works wonders every time even when nothing else will. It can bring misery to the most conscientious souls those who are striving to keep the commandments.”

Then Satan, using his favorite tool, went about whispering lies. To the humble followers of Christ he said, “You are worthless,” “You never do anything right,” “Give up,” “No one cares about you,” and “You can never change.” Sadly, many good people believed him.

There is a lesson to be learned from this fable. The devil specializes in discouraging the faithful and those who are trying to repent. For that very reason, Church members must continually lift and encourage each other. Don’t forget that Satan wants all men to be “in misery, like unto himself” (2 Nephi 9:9). 

Jesus, on the other hand, wants men and women to “receive a fulness of joy” (D&C 138:17). In summary, Jesus votes for us, Satan votes against us, and we cast the deciding vote. It is my prayer that each of us will use our agency to choose happiness. ..."

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/larry-r-lawrence/choose-happiness/

Stay Tuned until next time.

Choose Happiness ~ Part One

 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 in March 2016, and it is called "Choose Happiness" by Elder Larry R. Lawrence. This post is part one, and I hope that you will be able to learn something new while reading throughout this post. 

Elder Lawrence has mentioned the following; 

"... I was interested to learn that many Saints have been prompted to “be more cheerful” or to “smile more often” or to “count their blessings.” I am convinced that, more than anything else, our Heavenly Father wants His children to be happy. Latter-day prophets have taught that happi­ness is the purpose of our existence. 

Joseph Smith understood this principle. In spite of all his challenges, he chose to be happy, maintaining his cheerful disposition to the end of his life. One who knew him well described the prophet as always wearing “an unconscious smile.” I have known people like that ­individuals who are continually smiling ­without even realizing it. Their faces reflect genuine inner peace. 

... A smiling face in a crowd of strangers is a great comfort. What is the secret of inner happiness? The obvious answer is righteous living. But besides being “temple worthy,” what are some ways that you can increase the joy in your lives?

... For example, President Gordon B. Hinckley taught that the more often a person says thank you, the happier he will be. It might be a worthwhile experiment to keep track of how many times you say thank you in a typical day and then to make an effort to increase it.

The theme of gratitude has been addressed by every latter-day prophet and more often than almost any other topic. Our inspired leaders know that being grateful leads to happiness, and they are compelled to remind us. 

In the scriptures we are commanded to “thank the Lord thy God in all things” (D&C 59:7), and that means to thank Him for trials as well as for obvious blessings. If we look close enough, we discover that there is always something to be grateful for. 

"We live after the matter of HAPPINESS." - 2 Nephi 5:27.

... Besides expressing thanks to our Father in Heaven, President Thomas S. Monson has encouraged us to also thank our friends and family. 

He said: We often take for granted the very people who most deserve our gratitude. Let us not wait until it is too late for us to express that gratitude. 

... Have you ever had a rush of gratitude come over you? Did you make a phone call or write a note or take time for a personal visit? 

Have you experienced the happiness that comes from saying thank you and feeling it with your whole heart?

My father died of cancer when I was just eighteen years old. I was not yet a member of the Church, and I didn’t have the sensitivity that the gift of the Holy Ghost can bring. I never really took the opportunity to thank him for all that he had done for me before he passed away. 

... I wish I had thanked him for working with me night after night when I was learning to read in the first grade. I wish I had thanked him for teaching me how to work and to value family. Please don’t make the same mistake that I made. Thank your parents often while you still have the opportunity. It doesn’t matter if your parents are not perfect.

They still changed thousands of diapers and provided countless meals for you. They taught you how to walk and to talk and a million other things. They gave you plenty of rides and even let you learn to drive by practicing in their cars. .... They deserve your heartfelt thanks, and someday you will realize it when you are doing all these things for someone else." 

Stay Tuned until next time.

It Might Be Hope

 Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 

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

Everyone has different ways of explaining to others for their definition and understanding of the word, "hope" and how they have recognized of applying hope throughout their lives. Sometimes whenever we know that our immediate relatives, and some of our friends are going through difficulties on certain things in life, we always have hope that it would not happen to us. 

Sometimes in life, it is hard to express to show our hope towards our immediate relatives, our extended relatives, our friends, and other people around us. Sometimes I hope for certain things to happen in my timing but I know that I have to lower my expectations and just allow things to happen at different times in my life. 

Prior for me taking the written test of getting my learners permit for driving in Australia, I always hope to learn how to drive in automatic cars only. I felt determined that I would stick to it. I remembered when my mother has shared with me about several real life situations that can happen that requires to have a manual license, it has helped me to change my mind and encouraged myself to learn how to drive in manual cars. 

I am grateful that I have learned how to drive in manual cars, because sometime after receiving my manual drivers' license, I had to drive home in my family's van from the chapel on a Sunday and the van is a manual. I can barely reach the petals but I was able to drive home safely. Years later, I had another opportunity to be asked by shift runners at the last Domino's store that I was employed at if I can drive a manual car. 

I said "Yes, I can drive a manual car, my own car is a manual car." The shift runners was surprised and they have given me the company car keys for the company car that has manual transmission for me to drive during some shifts. I felt like I was the only female delivery driver who has manual drivers' license and who drives and owns a manual car. 

As growing up, I always have hope that I would get married in Australia and continue living my life in Australia. I did not ever expected about changing my mind about that idea. I am grateful that I have met Jacob when I did, and being committed about the idea together for us being married in Texas US, and continue living my life over here. 

I do hope that one day eventually, that Jacob, myself and our future family to live in Australia. I just know that it wouldn’t happen anytime soon. Whenever I take the time to reflect on my life, I always think about the things that I have achieved because of me having hope to accomplish those things no matter what. 

"Meaning of Hope
H - Helps you to understand and believe
O - On days when all you want to quit
P - Push you again to rise and achieve
E - Ever more we are in need of it. 
- Arun Bahadur Gurung."

Either now or in your own time, you are welcome to watch the video of the link below. I love the song that was playing throughout the video. The song is called, "It Might Be Hope" by Mercy River. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hL6jrWPDGJY&ab_channel=KSLNews

My favorite part of the lyrics was; "Hope has a way of turning it's face to you just when you least expect it." - Mercy River. 

Stay Tuned until next time.

The Infinite Power of Hope ~ Part Two

      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 October 2008 General Conference, and it is called "The Infinite Power of Hope" by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. This post is part two. I hope you will be able to learn something new while reading throughout this post. 

President Uchtdorf has mentioned the following; "What, Then, Is Hope?

The complexities of language offer several variations and intensities of the word hope. For example, a toddler may hope for a toy phone; an adolescent may hope for a phone call from a special friend; and an adult may simply hope that the phone will stop ringing altogether.

... Hope is not knowledge, but rather the abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promise to us. It is confidence that if we live according to God’s laws and the words of His prophets now, we will receive desired blessings in the future.

It is believing and expecting that our prayers will be answered. ... The prophets of old speak of a “firm hope” and a “lively hope.” It is a hope glorifying God through good works. With hope comes joy and happiness. With hope, we can “have patience, and bear … [our] afflictions.”

"Hope is the one thing that can help us get through
the darkest of times."

Things We Hope For, Things We Hope In

The things we hope for are often future events. If only we could look beyond the horizon of mortality into what awaits us beyond this life. 

... Because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we need not fear, for we will live forever, never to taste of death again. ... And what kind of existence can we hope for? 

Those who come unto Christ, repent of their sins, and live in faith will reside forever in peace. Think of the worth of this eternal gift. Surrounded by those we love, we will know the meaning of ultimate joy as we progress in knowledge and in happiness. 

No matter how bleak the chapter of our lives may look today, because of the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we may hope and be assured that the ending of the book of our lives will exceed our grandest expectations. ... The things we hope in sustain us during our daily walk. 

They uphold us through trials, temptations, and sorrow. Everyone has experienced discouragement and difficulty. Indeed, there are times when the darkness may seem unbearable. It is in these times that the divine principles of the restored gospel we hope in can uphold us and carry us until, once again, we walk in the light.

We hope in Jesus the Christ, in the goodness of God, in the manifestations of the Holy Spirit, in the knowledge that prayers are heard and answered. Because God has been faithful and kept His promises in the past, we can hope with confidence that God will keep His promises to us in the present and in the future. 

In times of distress, we can hold tightly to the hope that things will “work together for [our] good” as we follow the counsel of God’s prophets. This type of hope in God, His goodness, and His power refreshes us with courage during difficult challenges and gives strength to those who feel threatened by enclosing walls of fear, doubt, and despair.

Hope Leads to Good Works

We learn to cultivate hope the same way we learn to walk, one step at a time. ... We grow in our ability to “abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost,” as we more perfectly live the gospel. There may be times when we must make a courageous decision to hope even when everything around us contradicts this hope.

... Faith, hope, and charity complement each other, and as one increases, the others grow as well. Hope comes of faith, for without faith, there is no hope. In like manner faith comes of hope, for faith is “the substance of things hoped for.”

Hope is critical to both faith and charity. When disobedience, disappointment, and procrastination erode faith, hope is there to uphold our faith. When frustration and impatience challenge charity, hope braces our resolve and urges us to care for our fellowmen even without expectation of reward. 

The brighter our hope, the greater our faith. The stronger our hope, the purer our charity. The things we hope for lead us to faith, while the things we hope in lead us to charity. The three qualities - faith, hope, and charity working together, grounded on the truth and light of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, lead us to abound in good works.

Hope from Personal Experience

Each time a hope is fulfilled, it creates confidence and leads to greater hope. I can think of many instances in my life where I learned firsthand the power of hope. ... The example of our mother, even in the worst of times, to move forward and put faith and hope into action, not just worrying or wishful thinking, sustained our family and me and gave confidence that present circumstances would give

way to future blessings.

... Hope sustains us through despair. Hope teaches that there is reason to rejoice even when all seems dark around us. ... With Nephi I declare: “Press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.”

This is the quality of hope we must cherish and develop. Such a mature hope comes in and through our Savior Jesus Christ, for “every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as [the Savior] is pure.”... God will wait with “open arms to receive” those who give away their sins and continue in faith, hope, and charity.

And to all who suffer to all who feel discouraged, worried, or lonely - I say with love and deep concern for you, never give in. Never surrender. Never allow despair to overcome your spirit. Embrace and rely upon the Hope of Israel, for the love of the Son of God pierces all darkness, softens all sorrow, and gladdens every heart. ..."

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

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2008/10/the-infinite-power-of-hope

Stay Tuned until next time.

The Infinite Power of Hope ~ 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.

What is your definition of the word, "hope"? Have you applied "hope" throughout your life thus far?

What does "hope" means to a immediate relative? What does "hope" means to a non-member friend? 

This post focuses on a October 2008 General Conference, and it is called "The Infinite Power of Hope" by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. This post is part one. I hope you will be able to learn something new while reading throughout this post. 

President Uchtdorf has mentioned the following; 

"... Toward the end of World War II, my father was drafted into the German army and sent to the western front, leaving my mother alone to care for our family. Though I was only three years old, I can still remember this time of fear and hunger. 

... Finally, during the cold winter of 1944, my mother decided to flee to Germany, where her parents were living. She bundled us up and somehow managed to get us on one of the last refugee trains heading west. Traveling during that time was dangerous. 

Everywhere we went, the sound of explosions, the stressed faces, and ever-present hunger reminded us that we were in a war zone. Along the way the train stopped occasionally to get supplies. One night during one of these stops, my mother hurried out of the train to search for some food for her four children. 

When she returned, to her great horror, the train and her children were gone! She was weighed down with worry; desperate prayers filled her heart. She frantically searched the large and dark train station, urgently crisscrossing the numerous tracks while hoping against hope that the train had not already departed.

Perhaps I will never know all that went through my mother’s heart and mind on that black night as she searched through a grim railroad station for her lost children. That she was terrified, I have no doubt. I am certain it crossed her mind that if she did not find this train, she might never see her children again. 

I know with certainty: her faith overcame her fear, and her hope overcame her despair. She was not a woman who would sit and bemoan tragedy. She moved. She put her faith and hope into action. And so she ran from track to track and from train to train until she finally found our train. It had been moved to a remote area of the station. 

There, at last, she found her children again. I have often thought about that night and what my mother must have endured. If I could go back in time and sit by her side, I would ask her how she managed to go on in the face of her fears. 

I would ask about faith and hope and how she overcame despair. While that is impossible, perhaps today I could sit by your side and by the side of any who might feel discouraged, worried, or lonely. ...

"Hope in God, His goodness, and His power refreshes
us with courage during difficult challenges." 

The Importance of Hope

Hope is one leg of a three-legged stool, together with faith and charity. These three stabilize our lives regardless of the rough or uneven surfaces we 

might encounter at the time. 

The scriptures are clear and certain about the importance of hope. ... Hope has the power to fill our lives with happiness. ... Hope is a gift of the Spirit. It is a hope that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the power of His Resurrection, we shall be raised unto life eternal and this because of our faith in the Savior. 

This kind of hope is both a principle of promise as well as a commandment, and, as with all commandments, we have the responsibility to make it an active part of our lives and overcome the temptation to lose hope. Hope in our Heavenly Father’s merciful plan of happiness leads to peace, mercy, rejoicing, and gladness. ...

But Why Then Is There Despair?

The scriptures say that there must be “an opposition in all things.” So it is with faith, hope, and charity. Doubt, despair, and failure to care for our fellowmen lead us into temptation, which can cause us to forfeit choice and precious blessings.

The adversary uses despair to bind hearts and minds in suffocating darkness. Despair drains from us all that is vibrant and joyful and leaves behind the empty remnants of what life was meant to be. ... Despair can seem like a staircase that leads only and forever downward.

Hope, on the other hand, is like the beam of sunlight rising up and above the horizon of our present circumstances. ... It encourages and inspires us to place our trust in the loving care of an eternal Heavenly Father, who has prepared a way for those who seek for eternal truth in a world of relativism, confusion, and of fear." 

Stay Tuned until next time.

Sacrifice Still Brings Forth Blessings ~ 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 October 1971 General Conference talk, and it is called "Sacrifice Still Brings Forth Blessings" by Elder Hartman Rector, Jr. This post is part two, and I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk. 

Elder Rector, Jr has mentioned the following; “It is in vain for persons to fancy to themselves that they are heirs with those, or can be heirs with them, who have offered their all in sacrifice, and by this means obtain faith in God and favor with him so as to obtain eternal life, unless they, in like manner, offer unto him the same sacrifice, and through that offering obtain the knowledge that they are accepted of him.

… “But those who have not made this sacrifice to God do not know that the course which they pursue is well pleasing in his sight; for whatever may be their belief or their opinion, it is a matter of doubt and uncertainty in their mind; and where doubt and uncertainty are there faith is not, nor can it be. 

For doubt and faith do not exist in the same person at the same time; so that persons whose minds are under doubts and fears cannot have unshaken confidence; and where unshaken confidence is not there faith is weak; and where faith is weak the persons will not be able to contend against all opposition, tribulations, and afflictions which they will have to encounter in order to be heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ Jesus; and they will grow weary in their minds, and the adversary will have power over them and destroy them.” (Lectures on Faith, 1891 ed., 6:2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12.)

From this it is apparent that sacrifice, no matter how disagreeable it may be, is absolutely vital, for it is the only means the Lord has provided for his children to gain the faith and assurance necessary to successfully return to his presence in condition to enjoy eternal life.

"God's Blessings go far beyond 
anything we could ever dream."

Now, what would constitute a sacrifice today? All too often when we hear the word sacrifice we think of burnt offerings or one man laying down his life for another as the Master did for us all. 

These are valid examples, but surely there are some very modern sacrifices that the Lord has instituted to bless his children today. 

Some of these might include:

Paying tithing, in a day when prices are increasing at an alarming rate and inflation seems to be running rampant.

Observing the Word of Wisdom, when using stimulants of all kinds is almost a way of life in this and other nations of the world.

Living morally clean and chaste, when these principles are scoffed at from every newsstand and almost every movie screen.

Filling a mission, when serving in the mission field means a break in educational pursuits of our young men and women and sometimes early exposure to military service.

... Holding family home evening might appear to be a sacrifice when, among the myriads of other distractions, a professional football game competes for prime time on Monday night.

Yes, my brothers and sisters, sacrifice is just as integral a part of the economy of God today as it has ever been. And sacrifice still brings forth the blessings of heaven. Without it no blessings come forth, although serving just to earn blessings is not right either. The service should be rendered because we love the Lord and love his children.

May we serve with an eye single to the glory of God and do what the Lord wants us to do instead of endlessly doing what we want to do, and may we do it because we love the Lord. ..."

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/1971/10/sacrifice-still-brings-forth-blessings

Stay Tuned until next time.

Sacrifice Still Brings Forth Blessings ~ Part One

      Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 

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

What is your definition of the word, "sacrifice"? What does "sacrifice" means to a immediate relative? 

What is your definition of the word, "blessings"? What does "blessings" means to a immediate relative? 

This post focuses on October 1971 General Conference talk, and it is called "Sacrifice Still Brings Forth Blessings" by Elder Hartman Rector, Jr. This post is part one, and I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk. 

Elder Rector, Jr has mentioned the following; 

"Last fall the Lord announced through his prophet that the Church would hold family home evening on Monday nights. It is interesting that about the same time, the other side announced that there would be professional football games on Monday nights.

You might be surprised to know how many families tried to work family home evenings in between half time of the football games. ... It appears the prophet’s request required too great a sacrifice. In the fourth section of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord sets forth the qualifications for the labors of the ministry. 

He says that they are “faith, hope, charity, and love, with an eye single to the glory of God.” The faith, hope, charity, and love we know something about. ... But the eye single to the glory of God is probably the most important of those qualifications. 

Generally speaking, “an eye single to the glory of God” means sacrifice. It means that instead of endlessly doing what we want to do, we have to do what the Lord wants us to do, but we have to do it in his way when he wants us to do it. This, of course, is not the natural inclination of man.

We hear much in the world today about “doing our own thing.” ... I think it has been going on since the beginning of time. Perhaps this is just a little different way of saying it. Certainly Lucifer did his own thing, contrary to the will of the Lord. ... The prophet Lehi’s statement that “men are, that they might have joy” (2 Ne. 2:25) is all-inclusive.

"Surely in the work of the Lord, it is what we do after
we think we have done enough that really counts with
him, for that's when the blessings flow." 
- Elder Hartman Rector, Jr.

On the other hand, Abraham was told by God to sacrifice his “only” son Isaac as a burnt offering to the Lord. I presume Abraham could not have received a more disagreeable commandment from his Heavenly Father. Still he arose immediately, took his son and the necessary firewood, and started for the designated place. 

He could not be diverted from his course until an angel of the Lord intervened to stay his hand. And what was the reward for such action? Hear the Lord’s statement to Abraham: “… because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:

“That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore. … “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” (Gen. 22:16–18.)

Jesus, our Lord and Master, was the greatest example of all in following in obedience to his Father’s commandments. His great agony in the Garden I presume has never been approached and cannot be matched by human man. 

... The Master did not want to endure what was before him even though he knew this was the major purpose of his coming to earth but he did what his Father had asked, and because he did, he holds “all power … in heaven and in earth” (Matt. 28:18) and has, as Paul records, become “the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2), and as many as receive him become his sons and daughters.

And how was it done? It was possible only through sacrifice. Truly sacrifice does “bring forth the blessings of heaven.” But how and why it happens seems to be difficult to understand, and perhaps few people really do understand it. 

Maybe this is the reason so few persons are willing to make the required sacrifice to allow the work of the Lord to fully succeed. ... The Prophet said, “An actual knowledge to any person, that the course of life which he pursues is according to the will of God, is essentially necessary to enable him to have that confidence in God without which no person can obtain eternal life

... It was through this sacrifice, and this only, that God has ordained that men should enjoy eternal life; and it is through the medium of the sacrifice of all earthly things that men do actually know that they are doing the things that are well pleasing in the sight of God. …

“It was in offering sacrifices that Abel, the first martyr, obtained knowledge that he was accepted of God. And from the days of righteous Abel to the present time, the knowledge that men have that they are accepted in the sight of God is obtained by offering sacrifice."

Stay Tuned until next time.

An Outpouring of Blessings

     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 April 2006 General Conference talk, and it is called "An Outpouring of Blessings" by Sister Julie B Beck. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk. 

Sister Beck has mentioned the following; "... I am grateful for the outpouring of blessings that has come to each of us through the priesthood of God. By the power of the priesthood, this world and everything in it, including each of us, were created. ... As sons and daughters of God, we each have unique responsibilities and roles, and through the blessings of the priesthood, we are all given equal partnership, gifts, and blessings. 

... The blessings of the priesthood, which “are available to men and women alike,” are woven in and through and around their lives. Each of them is blessed by sacred ordinances, and each of them can enjoy the blessings of spiritual gifts by virtue of the priesthood. All faithful members of the Lord’s Church are equally blessed by priesthood ordinances. 

The first ordinance in a child’s life usually takes place when he or she is a baby and is given a name and a blessing. When children reach the age of accountability, they are baptized. ... The same baptismal ordinance is performed for a young girl and a young boy, who are baptized in the same font. 

When those children are confirmed and receive the Holy Ghost, the same power is given to each of them. They qualify for the help of that holy power through their faithfulness and not in any other way. As members of the Church, we are equal before the Lord as we partake of the sacrament. 

Through our faith in Jesus Christ and the power of His Atonement made possible because of that ordinance, we can all repent and become better. Each of us is equally entitled to a priesthood blessing when we are sick or need added support from the Lord in our lives. 

A young woman who desires a patriarchal blessing is equally entitled to know her lineage and potential as a young man her same age. ... We teach all young men and young women to prepare to go to the temple so they can “receive the blessings of [the] fathers that [they] may be entitled to the highest blessings of the priesthood.” 

... Every man and woman who is willing to serve the Lord and can qualify for a temple recommend makes covenants of obedience and sacrifice. Each is endowed “with power from on high.” Every elder and sister who receives a mission call is set apart to do the Lord’s work, and each is given authority to preach the gospel of Christ. 

A man and a woman who enter into the full partnership of a covenant temple marriage share equally in the blessings of that covenant if they are faithful. The Lord has said that their covenant will be in force after this life, and together they are promised power and exaltation. ... I saw the power of priesthood blessings when I visited a family where the young father lay dying. 

Surrounding him were his wife and beautiful daughters. ... The mother testified of their blessings when she said: “We are empowered and protected by our covenants. Our family will endure forever. The Lord is watching over us, and we are not alone.” 

All faithful members are equally blessed by the outpouring of blessings they receive through priesthood ordinances. Because the priesthood has been restored, we also share equally in the blessings of spiritual gifts. The Lord gives us these gifts for our own benefit and to help each other. 

"All faithful members are equally blessed by the out-
pouring of blessings they receive through priesthood
ordinances."

... I have heard other Church leaders and missionaries bear powerful testimonies in languages they have barely studied. I know people who are given the spiritual gift of a believing spirit. 

When they hear the gospel, it rings true in their hearts. I know others who are given the gift of wisdom or the ability to use knowledge in righteous ways. Some have the ability to work miracles, some are gifted healers, and others have great discernment. When I was a little girl, I often experienced serious illness. My father was always willing and worthy to use the priesthood power he held to bless me. 

But I have also felt that my mother’s special gifts contributed to my healing. She was truly gifted in her ability to minister to my needs and help me get well. Her great faith that the Lord would lead her to answers about medical treatment was a comfort to me. How blessed I was to have two parents who lovingly used their spiritual gifts.

President Wilford Woodruff said that “it is the privilege of every man and woman in this kingdom to enjoy the spirit of prophecy, which is the Spirit of God; and to the faithful it reveals such things as are necessary for their comfort and consolation, and to guide them in their daily duties.”

The blessings of the priesthood make it possible for every person who is set apart to serve in any office in the Lord’s Church to receive “authority, responsibility, and blessings connected with the office.” Spiritual gifts are numerous and varied and come to us as we seek them and use them appropriately. 

We enjoy them because of the power of the Holy Ghost, which is in and around and woven through our lives. Through the blessings of the priesthood, the Lord shows us that He is “no respecter of persons.” ... 

In my travels, I usually have the chance to visit members in their homes. 

Some of those homes are very basic dwellings. ... Then one day I sat in a temple next to a sister who lives in a humble house. I spent two hours at her side. ... As we finished our work in the temple, I had a powerful realization. In all of the eternal blessings, in all of our most important privileges and opportunities, we were equals. I had been “baptized unto repentance,” and so had she. 

I had spiritual gifts, and so did she. I had the opportunity to repent, and so did she. I had received the Holy Ghost, and so had she. I had received temple ordinances, and so had she. If both of us had left this world together at that moment, we would have arrived equal before the Lord in our blessings and potential.

Priesthood blessings are the great equalizer. Those blessings are the same for men and women, for boys and girls; they are the same for married and single, rich and poor, for the intellectual and the illiterate, for the well-known and the obscure.

I am grateful that through the infinite fairness and love of God, all men and women were given equal partnership, gifts, blessings, and potential through priesthood ordinances and spiritual gifts. Because of the priesthood, which is woven in and around and through our lives, every power, every covenant we need to do our life’s work and walk back to our heavenly home has been poured out upon our heads. ..."

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/2006/04/an-outpouring-of-blessings

Stay Tuned until next time.

Courageous Parenting

Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 

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

This post is focuses on a October 2010 General Conference talk called, "Courageous Parenting" by Elder Larry R. Lawrence. I would like to share with you some highlights that I have liked while I was reading the talk. 

Elder Lawrence mentioned, "There are no perfect parents and no easy answers, but there are principles of truth that we can rely on. As we are reminded in the family proclamation, parents are responsible for the protection of their children. That means spiritually as well as physically.

Elder Robert D. Hales has observed, “Sometimes we are afraid of our children, afraid to counsel with them for fear of offending them.” It’s so important for husbands and wives to be united when making parenting decisions. 

If either parent doesn’t feel good about something, then permission should not be granted.

I would like to share with you a letter from a heartbroken mother. Her teenage son gradually lost the Spirit and drifted away from Church activity. She explained how this happened: “All throughout my son’s teenage years, I worried and tried to stop him from playing violent video games. 

I talked to my husband and showed him articles in the Ensign and in the newspaper that cautioned about these games. But my husband felt it was OK. He said that our son wasn’t out using drugs and that I should stop worrying. There were times that I would hide the controllers, and my husband would give them back. 

"What the world really needs is courageous parenting
from mothers and fathers who are not afraid to
speak up and take a stand."
    

It began to be easier for me to give in … than to fight it. I really feel that gaming is just as addictive as drugs. I would do anything to prevent other parents from going through this experience.” Brothers and sisters, if your spouse doesn’t feel good about something, show respect for those feelings. 

When you take the easy way out by saying and doing nothing, you may be enabling destructive behavior. There is a great deal of wisdom displayed when parents stay up and wait for their children to return home. Young men and women make far better choices when they know their parents are waiting up to hear about their evening and to kiss them good night. 

Peer pressure becomes more powerful when our children are away from our influence and when their defenses are weakened late at night. Always be prayerful when it comes to protecting your precious children. One of the most effective ways we can influence our sons and daughters is to counsel with them in private interviews. 

By listening closely, we can discover the desires of their hearts, help them set righteous goals, and also share with them the spiritual impressions that we have received about them. Counseling requires courage. Satan and his followers are striving to bring this generation down; the Lord is counting on valiant parents to bring them up.

I know that God hears and will answer your prayers. I testify that the Lord supports and blesses courageous parents." If you would like to read the whole talk either now or in your own time, here is the link below.

www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/courageous-parenting

Stay Tuned until next time. 

Parents and Children: Listening, Learning, and Loving ~ Part Two

    Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 

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

This post is focuses on a New Era article from February 2011 and it is called, "Parents and Children: Listening, Learning, and Loving" by Elder M. Russell Ballard. This post is part two, and I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the article and I hope you will learn something new while you are reading this post.

Elder Ballard has mentioned, To Mothers and Daughters

Sisters, we, your brethren, cannot do what you were divinely designated to do from before the foundation of the world. We may try, but we cannot ever hope to replicate your unique gifts. There is nothing in this world as personal, as nurturing, or as life changing as the influence of a righteous woman.

But because all women have within their divine nature both the inherent talent and the stewardship to mother, most of what I will say applies equally to grandmothers, aunts, sisters, stepmothers, mothers-in-law, leaders, and other mentors who sometimes fill the gaps for these significant mother-daughter relationships.

Young women, your mothers adore you. They see in you the promise of future generations. Everything you accomplish, every challenge you overcome brings them pure joy. And likewise your worries and heartaches are their worries and heartaches.

Daughters

It is, unfortunately, all too easy to illustrate the confusion and distortion of womanhood in contemporary society. Popular culture today often makes women look silly, inconsequential, mindless, and powerless. It objectifies them and disrespects them and then suggests that they are able to leave their mark on mankind only by seduction easily the most pervasively dangerous message the adversary sends to women about themselves.

Please look to your faithful mothers for a pattern to follow. Model yourselves after them, not after celebrities whose standards are not the Lord’s standards and whose values may not reflect an eternal perspective. Look to your mother.

Learn from her strengths, her courage, and her faithfulness. Listen to her. But when it comes to matters of the heart and the things of the Lord, she has a wealth of knowledge. As you approach the time for marriage and young motherhood, she will be your greatest source of wisdom. No other person on earth loves you in the same way or is willing to sacrifice as much to encourage you and help you find happiness in this life and forever.

Love your mother, my young sisters. Respect her. Listen to her. Trust her. She has your best interests at heart. She cares about your eternal safety and happiness. So be kind to her. Be patient with her imperfections, for she has them. We all do.

Mothers

Teach your daughters to find joy in nurturing children. This is where their love and talents can have the greatest eternal significance. ... Mothers, teach your daughters that a faithful daughter of God avoids the temptation to gossip or judge one another. All youth will be more likely to make and keep covenants if they learn how to recognize the presence and the voice of the Spirit. 

Teach your daughters about things of the Spirit. Point them to the scriptures. Give them experiences that will help them cherish the blessing of priesthood power in their lives. Through keeping covenants they will learn to hear the voice of the Lord and receive personal revelation. God will truly hear and answer their prayers.

Conclusion

Three things you can do to make your relationship with your parents better than it is right now:

1. Trust your parents
2. Take an interest in their lives
3. Ask your parents for advice"

If you would like to read the whole article in your own time, here is the link below.
www.lds.org/new-era/2011/02/parents-and-children-listening-learning-and-loving

Parents and Children: Listening, Learning, and Loving ~ Part One

   Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 

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

This post is focuses on a New Era article from February 2011 and it is called, "Parents and Children: Listening, Learning, and Loving" by Elder M. Russell Ballard. This post is part one, and I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the article and I hope you will learn something new while you are reading this post.

Elder Ballard has mentioned, "To Fathers and Sons, Young men, you are your father’s pride and joy. In you they see a promising future and their hope for a better, improved version of themselves. Your accomplishments are a joy to them. Your worries and problems are their worries and problems.

Sons

1. Trust your father.
He is not perfect, but he loves you and would never do anything he didn’t think was in your best interest. So talk to him. Share your thoughts and feelings, your dreams and your fears. The more he knows about your life, the better chance he has to understand your concerns and to give you good counsel. .. Your Dad wants more than anything for you to be happy and successful, ..

2. Take an interest in your father’s life.
Ask about his job, his interests, his goals. How did he decide to do the work that he does? What was he like when he was your age? How did he meet your mother? Think about what you don’t know about him and find out. Your love, admiration, and understanding will increase by what you learn.

3. Ask your father for advice.
Let’s be honest: he is probably going to give you his advice whether you ask for it or not, but it just works so much better when you ask! .. Nothing shows respect for another person as much as asking for his advice, because what you are really saying is, “I appreciate what you know and the experiences you have had, and I value your ideas and suggestions.”

"Children desperately need parents
willing to listen to them." - M. Russell Ballard.

Fathers

1. Listen to your sons, really listen to them.
Ask the right kind of questions, and listen to what your sons have to say each time you have a few minutes together. You need to know not to guess but to know what is going on in your son’s life. Your sons live in a very different world from the one in which you grew up. As they share with you what’s going on, you will have to listen very carefully and without being judgmental in order to understand what they are thinking and experiencing.

2. Pray with and for your sons.
Give them priesthood blessings. A son who is worried about a big exam or a special event will surely benefit from a father’s priesthood blessing. .. One-on-one prayer and the sharing of testimonies can draw you closer to each other as well as closer to the Lord.

3. Dare to have the “big talks” with your sons.
You know what I mean: talks about drugs and drinking, about the dangers of today’s media, the Internet, cyber technologies, and pornography and about priesthood worthiness, respect for girls, and moral cleanliness. While these should not be the only subjects you talk about with your sons, please don’t shy away from them. Your boys need your counsel, guidance, and input on these subjects.

I am especially concerned that we communicate openly and clearly with our sons about sexual matters. Your sons simply cannot avoid the blatant sexual imagery, messages, and enticements that are all around them. Be positive about how wonderful and beautiful physical intimacy can be when it happens within the bounds the Lord has set, including temple covenants and commitments of eternal marriage." 

Stay Tuned until next time.

Developing Faith ~ 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 actually focuses on October 1986 General Conference talk, and it is called "Developing Faith" by Elder A. Theodore Tuttle. I hope you will be able to learn something new while reading this post. 

Elder Tuttle has mentioned the following; 

"... I would like to read in the Book of Mormon a great example of this kind of faith. ... “And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me [Nephi], saying: Thou shalt construct a ship, after the manner which I shall show thee, that I may carry thy people across these waters” (1 Ne. 17:8).

Listen to the answer of this great Nephi: “And I said: Lord, whither shall I go that I may find ore to molten, that I may make tools to construct the ship after the manner which thou hast shown unto me?” (1 Ne. 17:9).

And when his brothers realized that he was actually going to set about to build a ship, they said: “Why, you’re a fool. You don’t know how to construct a ship” (see 1 Ne. 17:17). And then Nephi set about to teach them a great lesson." 

How do you develop faith?

Let’s learn a great lesson from what transpired with Nephi. He started to recount the things that had happened that they all knew were a part of their heritage. He went back to the coming of the children of Israel out of Egypt. He said: “You know what happened. There they were right against the Red Sea with the Egyptians coming, and the Lord saved them” (see 1 Ne. 17:26–27).

Then he goes on and talks about how they received manna in the wilderness, how they received water from a rock, how the Lord led them by a pillar of cloud in the daytime and a light at night, and how when they crossed the Jordan, it stopped when the feet of the priests touched the water (see 1 Ne. 17:28–30, 32; see also Ex. 13:21, Josh. 3:15–17). 

And then Nephi tells how the Lord scattered the people; and then how, when they came among the flying serpents, Moses fashioned a brazen serpent, raised it, and all they had to do was look at that serpent, and they would be healed. The account says that many perished because they wouldn’t even look (see 1 Ne. 17:32, 41; see also Num. 21:8–9).

He was trying to do what you and I as parents need to do with our families today to develop faith in the Lord. And the way to do it is to recount the examples of faith that have happened in our history and in our heritage and with our people. ... It contains accounts of faith of our own blood and ancestry and of our own people and our children. As has already been said in this conference, we cannot go one generation without losing faith if we do not do this. ...

There’s another principle: that is, that faith precedes the miracle. This lesson is found in Ether, chapter 12. You’ll recall that Moroni was abridging the records of the twenty-four plates, and this is what he records: ... They couldn’t see them; they wouldn’t believe them. They needed to be taught that believing is seeing. 

And then Moroni interpolates here: “And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith” (Ether 12:6; italics added).

We need to learn that. We can’t have just faith. We cannot have the miracle until after the exercise of faith. Moroni sets forth on the next page or so instances of those miracles that have occurred after the trial of the faith of the people. We need to learn that principle as well.

... We’re not going to survive in this world, temporally or spiritually, without increased faith in the Lord and I don’t mean a positive mental attitude - I mean downright solid faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. That is the one thing that gives vitality and power to otherwise rather weak individuals.

I bear you my humble witness that I know that God lives. I know that he lives, that he is our Father, that he loves us. I bear witness that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and our Redeemer. I understand better what that means now. 

I am grateful for his atonement in our behalf and for knowing something about our relationship to him and to our Heavenly Father and about the meaning and purpose of the gospel of Jesus Christ. ..."

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/1986/10/developing-faith

Stay Tuned until next time.

Developing Faith ~ Part One

  Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 

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

How have you developed your faith throughout your life? How have an immediate relative developed his or her faith throughout his or her life? How have a extended relative developed his or her faith throughout his or her life? How have a friend developed his or her faith throughout his or her life?

I know that I have developed faith by multiple ways, and I would like to share with you some ways of how I have developed faith throughout my life. 

Prior to meeting Jacob

I have developed my faith through past testimonies from variety of church members. During youth years but mostly more into my adult years; I always remembered feeling the Holy Ghost promptings for me to go ahead and share my testimony with others and on Fast Sundays - the first Sunday of each month; church members has the opportunities to share their testimonies during sacrament meeting. 

I have developed my faith through my immediate relatives. I am very grateful for my parents raising me up into a true religion on this Earth. I remembered how I felt when I got baptized, and received the gift of the Holy Ghost when I was eight years old. 

I have developed my faith through achieving multiple milestones in the church. I have made the decision for myself to receive my Patriarchal Blessing, I have made the decision for myself when I was ready to receive my endowments, I have made the decision to do seminary via home study and via online and graduating seminary, I have made the decision to attend institute and eventually graduating institute, and so forth. 

I have developed my faith through having close friends, church member friends, and non-member friends. I am grateful for my friends because it has always been great for me to have some people in my life whom I can trust, rely on, and spend some time with. Friends makes life fun and enjoyable sometimes. 

After meeting Jacob

I have developed my faith through fulfilling all of my responsibilities as a Temple Ordinance Worker in Brisbane Temple from December 2018 to July 2019. Duration my time as a Temple Ordinance Worker; it has helped me to strengthened the main purposes of why I wanted to become a Temple Ordinance Worker when I did, it has helped me to start a habit of regular temple attendance, and so forth. 

I have developed my faith through the full duration of my relationship with Jacob, the full duration of my engagement with Jacob, and duration of my marriage with Jacob thus far, so forth. Jacob has taught me a lot of things that I did not know before, and I am grateful for his understanding, his love, his support, his care, and so forth." 

Stay Tuned until next time.

Make the Exercise of Faith Your First Priority ~ 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 2014 General Conference talk, and it is called "Make the Exercise of Faith Your First Priority" by Elder Richard G. Scott. This post is part two. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk. 

Elder Scott has mentioned the following; "Family Home Evening

While you are working to strengthen your family and cultivate peace, remember this third tool: weekly family home evening. ... Decide that on Monday night your family will be together at home for the evening. Do not let employment demands, sports, extracurricular activities, homework, or anything else become more important than that time you spend together at home with your family.

... The gospel should be taught both formally and informally. Make it a meaningful experience for each member of the family. Family home evening is a precious time to bear testimony in a safe environment; to learn teaching, planning, and organizational skills; to strengthen family bonds; to develop family traditions; to talk to each other; and more important, to have a marvelous time together! ...

"Despite all of the negative challenges we have in life,
we must take time to actively exercise our faith."

Temple Attendance

The fourth tool is to go to the temple. We all know there is no more peaceful place on this earth than in the temples of God. If you don’t have a temple recommend, qualify to get one. 

When you have a recommend, use it often. Schedule a regular time to be in the temple. Don’t let anyone or anything prevent you from being there. While you are in the temple, listen to the words of the ordinances, ponder them, pray about them, and seek to understand their meaning. The temple is one of the best places to come to understand the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 

... Remember that many more blessings come from providing your own family names in the temple. ... When we are consistently praying morning and night, studying our scriptures daily, having weekly family home evening, and attending the temple regularly, we are actively responding to His invitation to “come unto Him.”

The more we develop these habits, the more anxious is Satan to harm us but the less is his ability to do so.Through the use of these tools, we exercise our agency to accept the full gifts of His atoning sacrifice. I am not suggesting that all of life’s struggles will disappear as you do these things. We came to mortal life precisely to grow from trials and testing. Challenges help us become more like our Father in Heaven, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ makes it possible to endure those challenges. ..."

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/2014/10/make-the-exercise-of-faith-your-first-priority

Stay Tuned until next time.

Make the Exercise of Faith Your First Priority ~ Part One

 Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 

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

What are your top priorities in life? Is one of your top priorities in life is exercising faith? 

What is your definition and understanding of the word "faith"? 

What does "faith" means to a immediate relative?

This post focuses on a October 2014 General Conference talk, and it is called "Make the Exercise of Faith Your First Priority" by Elder Richard G. Scott. This post is part one. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk. 

Elder Scott has mentioned the following; 

"When Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden, all that they needed for daily sustenance was abundantly given to them. They had no difficulties, challenges, or pain. Because they had never experienced hard times, they did not know they could be happy. They had never felt turmoil, so they could not feel peace.

Eventually Adam and Eve transgressed the command to not eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. By so doing they were no longer in a state of innocence. They began to experience principles of opposition. They began to encounter sickness that weakened their health. 

They began to feel sadness as well as joy. Through Adam and Eve’s partaking of the forbidden fruit, knowledge of good and evil was introduced into the world. Their choice made it possible for each of us to come to this earth to be tried and tested. 

We are blessed with agency, which is our ability to make decisions and to become accountable for those decisions. The Fall made possible in our lives feelings of both happiness and sadness. We are able to understand peace because we feel turmoil. Our Father in Heaven knew this would happen to us. 

It is all part of His perfect plan of happiness. He prepared a way through the life of His perfectly obedient Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior, for His Atonement to overcome every difficulty that we may experience in mortality. We live in trying times. 

... It is not necessary to describe all of the possible challenges and heartaches that are a part of mortality. Each of us is intimately aware of our own struggles with temptation, pain, and sadness. We were taught in the premortal world that our purpose in coming here is to be tested, tried, and stretched. 

We knew we would face the evils of the adversary. Sometimes we may feel more aware of the negative things of mortality than we are of the positive. ... Despite all of the negative challenges we have in life, we must take time to actively exercise our faith. 

Such exercise invites the positive, faith-filled power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ into our lives. Our Father in Heaven has given us tools to help us come unto Christ and exercise faith in His Atonement. When these tools become fundamental habits, they provide the easiest way to find peace in the challenges of mortality.

Today I have chosen to discuss four of these tools. As I speak, consider evaluating your personal use of each tool; then seek the guidance of the Lord to determine how you could make better use of each one of them.

Prayer

The first tool is prayer. Choose to converse with your Father in Heaven often. Make time every day to share your thoughts and feelings with Him. Tell Him everything that concerns you. ... Share with Him your full range of feelings and experiences.

Because He respects your agency, Father in Heaven will never force you to pray to Him. But as you exercise that agency and include Him in every aspect of your daily life, your heart will begin to fill with peace, buoyant peace. That peace will focus an eternal light on your struggles. It will help you to manage those challenges from an eternal perspective.

Parents, help safeguard your children by arming them morning and night with the power of family prayer. Children are bombarded every day with the evils of lust, greed, pride, and a host of other sinful behaviors. Protect your children from daily worldly influences by fortifying them with the powerful blessings that result from family prayer. ...

"Faith"

Scripture Study

The second tool is to study the word of God in the scriptures and the words of the living prophets. We talk to God through prayer. He most often communicates back to us through His written word. To know what the voice of the Divine sounds and feels like, read His words, study the scriptures, and ponder them.

... If you want your children to recognize, understand, and act on the promptings of the Spirit, you must study the scriptures with them. ... Choose to take time to study them. Feasting on the word of God each day is more important than sleep, school, work, television shows, video games, or social media. 

You may need to reorganize your priorities to provide time for the study of the word of God. ... I add my voice with this promise: as you dedicate time every day, personally and with your family, to the study of God’s word, peace will prevail in your life. That peace won’t come from the outside world. 

It will come from within your home, from within your family, from within your own heart. ... I do not declare that your life will cease to have challenges. Remember when Adam and Eve were in the garden, they were free from challenges, yet they were unable to experience happiness, joy, and peace.

Challenges are an important part of mortality. Through daily, consistent scripture study, you will find peace in the turmoil around you and strength to resist temptations. You will develop strong faith in the grace of God and know that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ all will be made right according to God’s timing."

Stay Tuned until next time.