Let Virtue Garnish Your Thoughts

    Good Morning, or Good Afternoon, or Good Evening, 

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

This post focuses on October 2009 General Conference talk, and it is called "Let Virtue Garnish Your Thoughts" by H. David Burton. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk. 

Elder Burton has mentioned the following; 

“... Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God” (D&C 121:45). As I neared my 12th birthday, there were several requirements to be completed before I could graduate from Primary. 

One was to recite the thirteen Articles of Faith in the prescribed order. The first twelve articles were relatively easy, but the thirteenth was much more difficult. It was remembering the order of the virtues that presented the challenge. Thanks to a Primary teacher who was patient and persistent, I finally completed the memorization.

Years later my wife and children and I moved into our first home. We were surprised to learn that my former Primary teacher would be our neighbor. For the 40 years we have lived in the same neighborhood, she has kept our little secret concerning my learning disability.

“We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things” (Articles of Faith 1:13).

Today I wish to speak about personal traits we call virtues. Virtuous traits form the foundation of a Christian life and are the outward manifestation of the inner man. The spelling in English of many individual virtues concludes with the letters ity: integrity, humility, charity, spirituality, accountability, civility, fidelity, and the list goes on and on.

Relying on literary license, I refer to the virtues ending in ity as the “ity” virtues. “Ity” is a suffix that means quality, state, or degree of being. We need only look around us to see what is taking place in our communities to realize that personal traits of virtue are in a steep decline. 

Reflect on the behavior of drivers on crowded highways; road rage happens all too often. ... As countries around the world face financial and economic challenges, fidelity and honesty seem to have been replaced with greed and graft. 

"Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly." 
- Doctrine and Covenants 121:45.

... A large segment of our population feel little personal responsibility for their own temporal well-being. Some in financial distress blame bankers and lenders for loaning sums to satisfy insatiable wants rather than affordable needs. 

On occasion our generosity in support of good causes wanes as our appetite to acquire more than we need prevails. Brothers and sisters, we need not be a part of the virtue malaise that is penetrating and infecting society. 

If we follow the world in abandoning Christian-centered virtues, the consequences may be disastrous. Individual faith and fidelity, which have eternal consequences, will diminish. 

Family solidarity and spirituality will be adversely impacted. Religious influence in society will be lessened, and the rule of law will be challenged and perhaps even set aside. ... We need to stand tall and be firmly fixed in perpetuating Christlike virtues, even the “ity” virtues, in our everyday lives. 

Teaching virtuous traits begins in the home with parents who care and set the example. A good parental example encourages emulation; a poor example gives license to the children to disregard the parents’ teachings and even expand the poor example.

... Our 15-year-old grandson, Ben, is a big-time ski enthusiast, having competed in several meets and done very well. Prior to one such competition in Idaho, his parents reminded him that his grades in school would determine whether or not he would be able to compete. A condominium in Sun Valley, Idaho, was reserved, his grandparents were planning to attend, and Ben was feverishly trying to achieve the lofty academic goals both he and his parents expected. 

However, at the end of the day, he fell just short of his goal. Ben missed the ski meet and lost points toward qualifying for the Junior Olympics, but Ben gained a valuable appreciation for responsibility and accountability. By remaining steadfast, parents so very often suffer and agonize more than the children they endeavor to teach.

... It is difficult for a person to display virtuous traits if he or she lacks integrity. Without integrity, honesty is often forgotten. If integrity is absent, civility is impaired. If integrity is not important, spirituality is difficult to maintain. In Old Testament times, Moses counseled the children of Israel that “if a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth” (Numbers 30:2).

President Thomas S. Monson reminded us a few years ago that “most people will not commit desperate acts if they have been taught that dignity, honesty and integrity are more important than revenge or rage; if they understand that respect and kindness ultimately give one a better chance at success” (“Family Values in a Violent Society,” Deseret News, Jan. 16, 1994, A12, as quoted in “Finding Peace,” Liahona and Ensign, Mar. 2004, 4).

... Virtuous traits, especially the “ity” virtues, must never be forgotten or set aside. If forgotten or set aside, they will inevitably become the “lost virtues.” If virtues are lost, families will be measurably weakened, individual faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will soften, and important eternal relationships may be jeopardized. 

Traits of virtue broadly practiced can loosen Satan’s firm grip on society and derail his insidious plan to capture the hearts, minds, and spirits of mortal men. Now is the time for us to join in rescuing and preserving that which is “virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy.” 

As we allow virtue to garnish our thoughts unceasingly and we cultivate virtuous traits in our personal lives, our communities and institutions will be improved, our children and families will be strengthened, and faith and integrity will bless individual lives.

I testify and declare that our Heavenly Father expects His children to exercise integrity, civility, fidelity, charity, generosity, morality, and all the “ity” virtues. May we have the humility to take the opportunity to act upon our responsibility to demonstrate our ability to do so ..."

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/2009/10/let-virtue-garnish-your-thoughts

Stay Tuned until next time.

A Virtuous Life - Step by Step

   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 focuses on April 2009 General Conference talk, and it is called "A Virtuous Life - Step by Step" by Sister Mary N. Cook. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk. 

Sister Cook has mentioned the following; "One of the choicest moments of a mother’s life is when she receives her newborn baby girl in her arms and realizes that this pure spirit has just come from our Father in Heaven. It is a sweet reminder that we are daughters of our Heavenly Father, and having just left His presence, a child comes to earth pure and ready to learn and progress.

... Virtue “is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards” (Preach My Gospel [2004], 118). ... You, my dear young women, have already made many good choices. Now you must establish patterns of virtue that will keep you on this path throughout your life. 

Seek out “example[s] of the believers” (1 Timothy 4:12) who can be at your side to support and help you live a life of virtue. Why is our being virtuous so important not just to our earthly parents but to our Heavenly Father as well? 

Virtue brings peace, strength of character, and happiness in this life. Our Heavenly Father knew that we would be faced with many choices and challenges, and virtuous living would prepare us to succeed. For many of you, the day you were blessed was a first step on your journey of a virtuous life. 

Your choice to be baptized, confirmed, and given the gift of the Holy Ghost and your efforts to worthily partake of the sacrament and renew your baptismal covenant each week are critical forward steps in living a life of virtue. Your next step on this journey is to prepare yourself to be worthy to enter the temple, where you will make additional sacred covenants and receive sacred temple ordinances, including that of celestial marriage. 

This will require you to be virtuous. ... Youth is a defining time in which you can develop patterns of virtue that will help you take necessary steps toward eternal life. In that very well-known vision found in 1 Nephi chapter 8, we are reminded of the difficulty of staying on the strait and narrow path that leads to eternal life. 

Father Lehi described to his sons the challenges facing different groups of people seeking the tree of life, “whose fruit was desirable to make one happy” (v. 10). ... The first group started along the strait and narrow path, but they did not take hold of the iron rod that would keep them on the path, and they got lost in the mists of darkness (see 1 Nephi 8:21–23). 

Some of these mists of darkness, or temptations that Satan uses to obscure the path to eternal life, are specifically directed at women. He makes chastity and moral purity appear old-fashioned. He has made motherhood seem less important. 

He has been successful in confusing women about their roles in the Lord’s divine plan. ... We must study and understand the truths and commandments found in the scriptures. We must listen carefully to the words of our latter-day prophets, whose teachings will give us guidance, direction, and protection. And we must hold to the standards found in For the Strength of Youth.

Those in the second group of people Lehi saw were clinging to the iron rod. ... They tasted true happiness, but unfortunately their happiness did not last long because as they looked around, they saw those who were making fun of them. (See 1 Nephi 8:24–27.) They were ashamed and caved into peer pressure.

This is one of Satan’s greatest strategies with youth. Young women, we must be united in righteousness so that we may stand strong when others mock our actions and beliefs.

One way we can withstand the pressures of the world is to “stand … in holy places, and be not moved” (D&C 87:8). Stay away from situations where you are likely to be tempted, mocked, and scorned. A commitment to remain virtuous will give you strength to withstand peer pressure. 

... What will help you to press forward and continually hold fast to the iron rod? Center your life on the Savior and develop daily habits of righteous living. Come to know the Savior and all He has done for you. ... Remember, it is the cleansing power of the Atonement that makes it possible for us to be virtuous. 

We all make mistakes, but “because the Savior loves you and has given His life for you, you can repent. Repentance is an act of faith in Jesus Christ. … The Savior’s atoning sacrifice has made it possible for you to be forgiven of your sins. 

… Determine to partake worthily of the sacrament each week and fill your life with virtuous activities that will bring spiritual power. As you do this, you will grow stronger in your ability to resist temptation, keep the commandments [remain clean], and become more like Jesus Christ” (Young Women Personal Progress [insert, 2009], 3).

Daily habits of righteous behavior will also help you to continually hold fast to the rod. As a Young Women general presidency we have invited all of the young women in the world to develop three daily habits:

First, pray to your Father in Heaven, morning and night, every day.

Second, read the Book of Mormon for at least five minutes every day.

And third, smile! Why? We have the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, which brings us true happiness.

Now, you must remember that you are not alone on this journey. When you were baptized and confirmed, you were given the gift of the Holy Ghost to guide you in all aspects of your life. You will need that guidance. Virtuous living “at all times and in all things, and in all places” (Mosiah 18:9) qualifies us for the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost.

... Just as loved ones surrounded you when you came into this world, there are many around you now who can influence you for good - your parents, brothers and sisters, Young Women leaders, priesthood leaders, wholesome friends, and even “angels [will be] round about you, to bear you up” (D&C 84:88).

Look around you tonight for those who can help you on this path. They are friends who hold fast to the iron rod in spite of what the world is telling them, who know and live by the word of God and the words of His prophets, who stand in holy places and are not moved by the pressures of the world, who center their lives on the Savior and His atoning sacrifice, and who daily are striving to live righteously. These are your examples of the believers. Learn from them, and, young women, you can be an example of the believers to them and others.

... We must unite and help one another fill our lives with those things that are “virtuous, lovely, or of good report” (Articles of Faith 1:13). ... A few weeks ago, I asked my 86-year-old mother to join me in working on the virtue value. It has been a sweet blessing for both of us. 

As we’ve worked on the value experiences, she’s shared with me her decision as a young woman in the 1930s to strive to live more virtuously. We’ve studied scriptures on virtue, “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” and even For the Strength of Youth together. 

We’ve independently written in our journals the blessings we’ve received as we have strived to live a virtuous life. One key blessing we both identified was being worthy to go to the temple. Young women, this is your next step.

Just as the Salt Lake Temple took 40 years to build, stone by stone, you are building a virtuous life, step by step. You have made covenants to be obedient. You have made some good choices. The patterns of virtue you develop now will help you to continually hold fast to the iron rod. 

You will never be alone on your journey because the Savior will always be with you, and you can repent. You have been blessed with the Holy Ghost to comfort and guide you. 

Look to the examples of the believers in your life, and seek to help others on their journey. ... He loves us and is mindful of each of us, whatever our circumstances. Whether we are 16 or 86, His greatest desire is for our eternal happiness. ..."

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/2009/04/a-virtuous-life-step-by-step

Stay Tuned until next time.

Guardians of Virtue

  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 April 2011 General Conference talk, and it is called "Guardians of Virtue" by Sister Elaine S. Dalton. Sister Dalton was the Young Women's General President when she was sharing her talk. i would like to share some highlights while I was reading the talk. 

Sister Dalton has mentioned the following; "... Your years in Young Women will prepare you for the temple. There you will receive the blessings to which you are entitled as a precious daughter of God. Your Heavenly Father loves you and wants you to be happy. 

... Young women, in a world ever growing in moral pollution, tolerance of evil, exploitation of women, and distortion of roles, you must stand guard of yourself, your family, and all those with whom you associate. You must be guardians of virtue.

What is virtue and what is a guardian? “Virtue is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards. It includes chastity and [moral] purity.” And what is a guardian? A guardian is someone who protects, shields, and defends. Thus, as a guardian of virtue, you will protect, shield, and defend moral purity because the power to create mortal life is a sacred and exalted power and must be safeguarded until you are married. 

Virtue is a requirement to have the companionship and guidance of the Holy Ghost. You will need that guidance in order to successfully navigate the world in which you live. Being virtuous is a requirement to enter the temple. And it is a requirement to be worthy to stand in the Savior’s presence. You are preparing now for that time. 

... What can each of you do to be a guardian of virtue? It starts with believing you can make a difference. It starts with making a commitment. ... Being a guardian of virtue means you will always be modest not only in your dress but also in your speech, your actions, and your use of social media. 

Being a guardian of virtue means you will never text words or images to young men that may cause them to lose the Spirit, lose their priesthood power, or lose their virtue. It means that you understand the importance of chastity because you also understand that your body is a temple and that the sacred powers of procreation are not to be tampered with before marriage. 

"VIRTUE is the STRENGTH and POWER of the
DAUGHTERS OF GOD." - Elaine S. Dalton.

You understand that you possess a sacred power that involves the holy responsibility of bringing other spirits to earth to receive a body in which to house their eternal spirit. ... Be faithful. Be obedient. 

Prepare now so that you may qualify to receive all the blessings that await you in the Lord’s holy temples. For the mothers listening tonight, you are your daughters’ most important example of modesty and virtue thank you. 

Never hesitate to teach them that they are royal daughters of God and that their value is not based on their sensual appeal. And let them see your belief modeled correctly and consistently in your own personal attitude and appearance. You are also guardians of virtue.

... The thirteenth article of faith is what we believe because those are the very things that qualify us to be worthy to enter the temple and to one day stand in our Heavenly Father’s presence - proven, pure, and sealed. This will require that you be “more fit for the kingdom” and that you prepare now and gain the confidence that you can do hard things.

Young women, you are engaged in a great work! And you are not alone! As you guard your virtue and purity, you will be given strength. As you keep the covenants you have made, the Holy Ghost will guide and guard you. You will be surrounded by heavenly hosts of angels.

President Thomas S. Monson reminds us, “Remember that we do not run alone in this great race of life; we are entitled to the help of the Lord.” Prepare for that day when you will come to the Lord’s temple worthy and prepared to make sacred covenants. As guardians of virtue, you will want to seek the Savior in His holy house.

I testify that God lives and that His Beloved Son, our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, lives and because of the redeeming and enabling power of His infinite Atonement, each of you will be guided and guarded on your path to the temple and back into Their presence. I pray that each of you will be strengthened for that work which will be your finest hour. ..."

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/2011/04/guardians-of-virtue

Stay Tuned until next time.

How to access Jesus Christ's Atonement in Our Lives?

 Good Morning, or Good Afternoon, or Good Evening, 

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

~ How does accessing to Jesus Christ's Atonement has been a blessing to all of your friends including your non-member friends? ~ How does accessing to Jesus Christ's Atonement has been a blessing to you in your life so far? ~ How does accessing to Jesus Christ's Atonement has been a blessing to your immediate family members and your extended family members?  

It has been a huge blessing for me to being able to access Jesus Christ's Atonement everyday and every night no matter what time it is throughout the daytime and nighttime. I have access to Jesus Christ's Atonement by choosing and acting upon to forgive others, and myself, seeking repentance through my daily and every morning prayers. 

I know that everyone has made many choices throughout their lives thus far, and most of them are looking forward to making many more choices for the remaining of their lives. I know that they just do not want to think about several or some of the potential consequences can happen in the future based on their current choices. 

Have you ever taken a moment to think about how you have accessed to Jesus Christ's Atonement in the past? Have you ever wondered how you gotten through your past challenging days, your past difficulties, your past struggles, your past trials, your past bad friendships, your past hardships with your relatives, and so forth? 

"All that is unfair about life can be made right
through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
- Linda K. Burton." 

When we have the acknowledge of Jesus Christ's Atonement and knowing how to access to it; it has helps us to know that we can continue getting through the following: our current challenging days, our current difficulties, our current struggles, our current trials, our current bad friendships, our current hardships with our relatives, our current doubts, our current lacking of faith if we have any, our current temptations, our current weaknesses, our bad habits, and so forth.

When was the last time did you face a challenging day? When was the last time did you face a difficulty? 

When was the last time did you face of losing a friendship? When was the last time did you face a hardship? 

When was the last time did you face a temptation? When was the last time did you face a struggle? 

When was the last time did you face a trial? 

Stay Tuned until next time. 

Strengthened by the Atonement of Jesus Christ ~ 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 2015 General Conference talk, and it is called "Strengthened by the Atonement of Jesus Christ" by Elder Dallin H. Oaks. This post is part two, and I hope that you would be able to learn something new while you are reading this post. 

Elder Oaks has mentioned the following; "... What cures us is our Savior and His Atonement? ... 

I am still speaking of mortal infirmities not caused by our sins. Some are born with physical or mental disabilities that cause personal suffering for them and struggles for those who love and care for them. For many, the infirmity of depression is painful or permanently disabling. Another painful affliction is the circumstance of singleness. 

... Few disabilities are more crippling to our temporal or spiritual lives than addictions. ... That disabling grip can also be relieved by the decisive strength available from the Savior. So can the severe challenge experienced by those sent to prison for crimes. ...

IV.

Who can be succored and strengthened through the Atonement of Jesus Christ? Alma taught that the Savior would “take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people ” and “succor his people ” (Alma 7:11, 12; emphasis added). 

Who are “his people” in this promise? Is it all mortals - all who enjoy the reality of resurrection through the Atonement? Or is it only those select servants qualified through ordinances and covenants?

The word people has many meanings in the scriptures. The meaning most appropriate for the teaching that the Savior will succor “his people” is the meaning Ammon employed when he taught that “God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in” (Alma 26:37). 

... Because of His atoning experience in mortality, our Savior is able to comfort, heal, and strengthen all men and women everywhere, but I believe He does so only for those who seek Him and ask for His help. The Apostle James taught, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (James 4:10). We qualify for that blessing when we believe in Him and pray for His help.

“It is a fundamental truth that through the ATONEMENT
OF JESUS CHRIST we can be cleansed.”
 - Elder Richard G. Scott,

There are millions of God-fearing people who pray to God to be lifted out of their afflictions. ... As Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught, “Having ‘descended below all things,’ He comprehends, perfectly and personally, the full range of human suffering.” 

We might even say that having descended beneath it all, He is perfectly positioned to lift us and give us the strength we need to endure our afflictions. We have only to ask.

Many times in modern revelation, the Lord declares, “Therefore, if you will ask of me you shall receive; if you will knock it shall be opened unto you” (for example, D&C 6:5; 11:5; see also Matthew 7:7). 

Indeed, because of Their all-encompassing love, our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, hear and suitably answer the prayers of all who seek Them in faith. 

... I know these things to be true. Our Savior’s Atonement does more than assure us of immortality by a universal resurrection and give us the opportunity to be cleansed from sin by repentance and baptism. His Atonement also provides the opportunity to call upon Him who has experienced all of our mortal infirmities to give us the strength to bear the burdens of mortality. 

... The healing and strengthening power of Jesus Christ and His Atonement is for all of us who will ask. I testify of that as I also testify of our Savior, who makes it all possible. One day all of these mortal burdens will pass away and there will be no more pain (see Revelation 21:4). 

I pray that we will all understand the hope and strength of our Savior’s Atonement: the assurance of immortality, the opportunity for eternal life, and the sustaining strength we can receive if only we will ask ..."

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/2015/10/strengthened-by-the-atonement-of-jesus-christ

Stay Tuned until next time.

Strengthened by the Atonement of Jesus Christ ~ Part One

 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 2015 General Conference talk, and it is called "Strengthened by the Atonement of Jesus Christ" by Elder Dallin H. Oaks. This post is part one, and I hope that you would be able to learn something new while you are reading this post. 

Elder Oaks has mentioned the following; "In mortality we have the certainty of death and the burden of sin. The Atonement of Jesus Christ offsets these two certainties of mortal life. But apart from death and sin, we have many other challenges as we struggle through mortality. Because of that same Atonement, our Savior can provide us the strength we need to overcome these mortal challenges. ...

I.

Most scriptural accounts of the Atonement concern the Savior’s breaking the bands of death and suffering for our sins. ... Alma described ... the Savior’s Atonement: “And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people” (Alma 7:11; also see 2 Nephi 9:21).

Think of it! In the Savior’s Atonement, He suffered “pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind.” As President Boyd K. Packer explained: “He had no debt to pay. He had committed no wrong. Nevertheless, an accumulation of all of the guilt, the grief and sorrow, the pain and humiliation, all of the mental, emotional, and physical torments known to man - He experienced them all.”

Why did He suffer these mortal challenges “of every kind”? ... President James E. Faust taught, “Since the Savior has suffered anything and everything that we could ever feel or experience, He can help the weak to become stronger.” Our Savior experienced and suffered the fulness of all mortal challenges “according to the flesh” ...

He therefore knows our struggles, our heartaches, our temptations, and our suffering, for He willingly experienced them all as an essential part of His Atonement. And because of this, His Atonement empowers Him to succor us to give us the strength to bear it all.

"The enabling power of the ATONEMENT 
strengthens us to do and be good and to serve
beyond our own individual desire and natural
capacity." - David A. Bednar.

II.

... The Book of Mormon records His healing those “that were afflicted in any manner” (3 Nephi 17:9). ... Isaiah taught that the Messiah would bear our “griefs” and our “sorrows” (Isaiah 53:4). 

Isaiah also taught of His strengthening us: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee” (Isaiah 41:10).

... Speaking of some of his own mortal challenges, the Apostle Paul wrote, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). 

And so we see that because of His Atonement, the Savior has the power to succor to help every mortal pain and affliction. Sometimes His power heals an infirmity, but the scriptures and our experiences teach that sometimes He succors or helps by giving us the strength or patience to endure our infirmities. 

III.

What are these mortal pains and afflictions and infirmities that our Savior experienced and suffered?

- We all have pains and afflictions and infirmities at one time or another. Apart from what we experience because of our sins, mortality is filled with frequent struggles, heartaches, and suffering.

- We and those we love suffer sickness. At some time each of us also experiences pain from traumatic injuries or from other physical or mental difficulties. All of us suffer and grieve in connection with the death of a loved one. We all experience failure in our personal responsibilities, our family relationships, ... 

- When a spouse or a child rejects what we know to be true and strays from the path of righteousness, we experience particularly stressful pain, just like the father of the prodigal son in Jesus’s memorable parable (see Luke 15:11–32)."

Stay Tuned until next time. 

How have I applied courage in my life?

Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 

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

I have asked myself "How have I applied courage in my life?" many times throughout my life. It gets me thinking about how many times hat I have applied courage throughout my life. I would like to share some of those examples about how I have applied courage throughout my life. 

~ I have applied courage by sharing the gospel with some of my non-member friends while I was in High School. I knew that I can trust those friends because I am glad that those friends did not judge me for who I am, I am glad that they have always done their best to not swear when I was around them at lunch breaks, I am glad that they did not peer pressure me into swearing and God's name in vain, I am glad that they did not peer pressure me to go to their parties that always involves of drinking alcohol, and several of my friends really wanted to know what I have learned at church on Sunday. 

~ I have applied courage by saying "no" to a few non-member guy friends who have asked me to go on dates with them before I turned sixteen years old. I kept reminding myself that I have always wanted to date after I turned sixteen years old, whenever I felt ready to commit to go on dates, to go on date with guys who are church members of the same religion as me and who has high standards. 

~ I have applied courage to not let myself down for being born and still have bilateral hip dysplasia (in other words both of my hips are out of socket). I know that I have been teased when I was in school because of me having that condition. 

I am aware of having that condition throughout my life thus far has come with several limitations; such as it makes me feel uncomfortable for sitting down and standing up long periods of time, repetitive heavy lifting, and so forth. I always keep myself positive of having that condition because I know that it does not stop me from having children in the future, it does not stop me driving a car, it did not stop me from doing most sports in school, and so forth. 

"Take courage. Have faith. And believe in 
the promises of God." - Evan A Schmulz.

~ I have applied courage by leaving Australia which means leaving my family, my extended relatives, and most of my friends behind to move over here to Texas, United States towards end of July 2019 when I was twenty-three years old. 

Prior to meeting Jacob for the first time online and in person in Utah, I told myself that I did not ever imagine myself to be fully committed and actually move away from my home country to live in a different country.

~ I have applied courage to be fully committed into my marriage. I have learned so much during my marriage so far, and I know that Jacob and I want our marriage to last a very long time. 

I also know that Jacob and I do want to make it through this life together as married couple while we are still alive and throughout eternities. It takes a lot of patience with one another, a lot of understandings, a lot of supporting each other, a lot of caring each other, and so forth. 

Stay Tuned until next time.

"Be Strong and of Good Courage" ~ 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 BYU (Brigham Young University) Devotional in June 2008, and it is called "Be Strong and of Good Courage" by Elder Donald L. Staheli. This post is part two, and I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the Devotional.

Elder Staheli has mentioned the following; "... Equally important in our pursuit of happiness and a secure testimony is the daily habit of reading and pondering the scriptures. The busier life becomes, the more difficult it is to stay connected to this important part of our spiritual growth. Yet making the scriptures a part of your daily life is another foundation stone of your testimony.

King Benjamin sternly admonished his people, “If you believe all these things see that ye do them” (Mosiah 4:10). Living to be worthy of the Spirit and then responding to its promptings is an essential ingredient to a strong and vibrant testimony. To be worthy of the Spirit embodies the bottom line of obedient living. To truly accomplish this is the quest of a lifetime.

... The important point is that Nephi had made the decision as to how he was going to respond to the Lord’s commandments. From that point forward he was steadfast. I suspect Satan worked on him, just as he does each of us today, yet the scriptures indicate that Satan was totally unsuccessful in affecting Nephi’s decision to do the Lord’s will. ... Great blessings come to those who follow Nephi’s example.

Understanding and responding to the principle of obedience has singular importance in preparing us for success and eternal happiness. As the Lord promised Joshua, He “will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” as long as you are striving daily to obey His commandments. ... The same is true of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

It gives us agency and ample freedom of choices, but the ultimate success of those choices depends on our diligence in keeping the commandments and covenants we have made with the Lord. As you pursue your educational goals, it is essential that you keep focused on your spiritual commitments. 

The challenge with most of us is the tendency to become casual or to lose focus on those non-negotiable or non-compromising commandments from which promised blessings flow. ... Satan works constantly on this principle of blurring our focus relating to gospel principles. 

He seductively encourages our casualness by helping us feel secure that “this won’t matter” or “that won’t taint my mind.” This is especially true as he casually leads young people down the slippery slope of immorality. I believe Satan has a dominant influence on the media - television, movies, and the Internet. 

Each becomes seductive in its own way. ... It is clear that frequent exposure tends to legitimize that which we see and hear. It dulls our sense of conscience between the acceptable and unacceptable. It is Satan’s way of leading you down the slippery slope toward immoral thoughts and actions.

And those parts of the Internet that move you into pornography serve as the devil’s trump card. It only takes a few viewings of pornography and he has you hooked. Then he begins to work his evil power, because what you have seen and heard becomes paramount in your thought processes. And the more you see, the more addicted you become.

You young people, especially you young men, have become Satan’s target audience. ... Pornography can become one of the most destructive elements of your marriage. We plead with any of you who are in any way involved in pornography to see your bishop so that he can help you find your way out of the cesspool of filth that is designed to destroy you.

Be careful that you don’t let Satan use his influence to control your thoughts and actions, and ultimately your future. When you are able to recognize and overcome any personal irritants you may have toward certain principles of obedience, you will feel God endowing you with the power of the Spirit to resist the inappropriate things of the world that Satan would have you enjoy.

When we are able to declare as the people did to King Benjamin that there has been “a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually” (Mosiah 5:2), then we will be well on the road to success and eternal happiness.

The companionship of the Spirit and the strength of your testimonies will depend on daily nurturing of your faith, praying, studying the scriptures, and obeying the commandments. As you do so, you will be moving toward achieving the spiritual and temporal blessings the Lord has in store for you.

... The Lord wants each of you to find joy and happiness and success in your professional and vocational pursuits. But He wants you to do it in a way that your ambitions for success do not supersede your priority for living gospel principles.

"Decisions are constantly before us, to make
them wisely, COURAGE IS NEEDED."
- Thomas S. Monson.

President Thomas S. Monson painted the picture as follows: “We have been provided divine attributes to guide our journey. We enter mortality not to float with the moving currents of life, but with the power to think, to reason, and to achieve” (“Invitation to Exaltation,” Ensign, June 1993, 5).

These are the years when you must take responsibility for who you now are and what you want to become. Think carefully about where you are. Remember, education is the key to the door of opportunity. The Savior’s parable of the talents is so applicable to you at this stage in your lives. 

Jesus knows there are differences between you intellectually, emotionally, and physically. Therefore He only expects you to magnify and develop whatever talents and abilities you have. But He expects you to be accountable for your actions in so doing. 

He will not measure your progress against others. He does not grade on the curve! Rather He blesses you for what you are doing to magnify whatever gifts and talents you have been given. ... Take control of your actions and prepare to succeed at whatever you are capable of doing.

... This is also a time in your life when counsel from others can help you decide what you should be doing that will move you toward achieving your full potential. ... As you recall, the Lord counseled Joshua to “be strong and of a good courage” as he took on his new responsibilities. That same counsel applies to you as you prepare to pursue careers that will take you to different parts of the world.

Periodically you will be placed in situations that will require you to “be strong and of a good courage” in order to stay true and faithful to gospel principles. ... Worldly standards will always be in a state of flux. The only true and unchanging standards are those set by the Savior and His teachings and principles of the restored gospel.

... Yet, with a few exceptions, once people understood our principles and standards and our desire to stay true to them, they respected us for them. As you have the courage to be true to your beliefs, your exemplary conduct will not go unnoticed. 

While you will be tried and tested, your faithful adherence to the Lord’s standards will be seen as a beacon in the night to those around you. ... President Hinckley is an impeccable example of courageous leadership. He is steadfast and true to principle and courageously forthright in his convictions. 

Yet with unwavering courage he has the ability to express his commitments to gospel principles in clear but acceptable terms to those not of our faith. Hopefully his example will help you to “be strong and of a good courage” when pushed to compromise your standards. You will be respected for your integrity. 

And if occasionally you are not, you need not worry, because that is not the kind of association you will want or need in your future. “As the finest generation in the history of the Church,” much is expected of you (Gordon B. Hinckley, CR, April 1992, 96; or “A Chosen Generation,” Ensign, May 1992, 69). 

And we have confidence you will live up to those expectations. ... As you keep His commandments and follow the counsel of the prophets and your leaders, He will be there to guide you through the challenges that lie ahead. He “will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” ..."

If you would like to read the whole Devotional, here is the link below.

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/donald-l-staheli/strong-good-courage/

Stay Tuned until next time. 

“Be Strong and of Good Courage” ~ Part One

 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 focuses on BYU (Brigham Young University) Devotional in June 2008, and it is called "Be Strong and of Good Courage" by Elder Donald L. Staheli. This post is part one, and I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the Devotional.

Elder Staheli has mentioned the following; "... The Lord’s hand has truly been in our lives. But with these blessings have come tests and challenges just as most of you periodically experience and will continue to experience in the years ahead.

This is a special time in your life when choices are made and patterns and habits are formed that will have a major impact on who you will become. ... Some of you know exactly what you want to do with your life. Others are still pondering and discovering opportunities for the future. 

In either case, it is essential to your future success and happiness that you keep your minds and your hearts open to the promptings of the Spirit. As you live to be worthy of those spiritual promptings, the Lord has promised that He will be with you.

... As you acknowledge that the Lord “will not fail thee,” as long as you are obedient to His teachings, then I would ask, Are you happy with the present conduct of your life? What changes or course corrections should you make in order to take full advantage of your daily opportunities for learning and personal spiritual growth?

Now is the time to set the course for what you want to be five or 10 years or even 50 years from now. During our few minutes together today, it would be my prayer that something might be said or felt that will help you crystallize your thoughts as to who you are and what you have the potential to become.

It has been said that one of the greatest tragedies of our time is that so many people live so far below their potential. ... President Gordon B. Hinckley continually counsels, “Do your best.” And then he has added: “But I want to emphasize that it be the very best. 

"Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision."
- Winston S. Churchill.

We are too prone to be satisfied with mediocre performance. We are capable of doing so much better” (“Standing Strong and Immovable,” World Leadership Training Meeting, 10 January 2004 [Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2004], 21).

The late Elder Neal A. Maxwell said it another way: “The Lord loves each of us too much to merely let us go on being what we now are, for he knows what we have the possibility to become!” (“In Him All Things Hold Together,” BYU 1990–91 Devotional and Fireside Speeches [Provo: BYU, 1991], 107).

... As you further refine your plans for the future, you will not only find success in a temporal sense but you will be moving toward achieving a relationship with your Father in Heaven and Savior that prepares you for an eternal relationship in the celestial kingdom.

First and foremost in your pursuit is the development and nurturing of a strong personal testimony. 

I assume that each of you has a basic testimony of the gospel. Some periodically struggle. Many are strong as you have returned from missions or have focused on prayer and study that have brought you to an undeniable testimony of the truth. ... Hopefully you feel that your testimony is vibrant and growing stronger each day. 

... I would suspect that many of you are being challenged by the “things of the world” with which you periodically deal. I am referring to the daily bombardment of worldly messages and enticements from the media of TV, movies, and the Internet that tend to tempt or distract you from keeping your testimony strong and staying completely true to gospel principles and covenants. Certain kinds of peer pressures can also be challenging.

... Just claiming to know the gospel is true is not always enough. ... I cannot think of a greater loss to anyone than the loss of the promptings of the Spirit. Our testimonies grow through faith, prayer, scripture study, and obedience to the commandments. The daily exercise and nurturing of these principles is key to a strong and resilient testimony and commitment to gospel principles. Let me comment on each of these principles.

President Gordon B. Hinckley speaks often about our need for faith. ... President Gordon B. Hinckley frequently encourages us to have “the kind of faith that moves one to get on his knees and plead with the Lord and then get on his feet and go to work” (“God Shall Give unto You Knowledge by His Holy Spirit,” Speeches of the Year, 1973 [Provo: BYU, 1974], 109; see also TGBH, 186).

... As we follow his counsel, our testimonies and our commitments to make right choices will grow. When I reflect on my youth and the initial development of my testimony, I realize nothing had a greater impact on its development than the faith of my mother and father and their daily application of that faith in their prayers. 

The Lord responded to their faith and prayers, and as children we witnessed the hand of the Lord in our family. We came to know the meaning of what Moroni meant when he said: “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).

The faith of our family was tried time and again. And, periodically, special spiritual experiences too tender to tell followed. I bear testimony that the Lord does hear and answer prayers - prayers from the hearts of His faithful children. When your lives become crowded with other activities, it is easy to periodically skip a prayer or to use an abbreviated version of your prayers. 

Don’t shortchange the Lord on your prayers. Nothing you will do during any day of your life will be more important to your temporal success or your eternal progress than consistent, humble, sincere prayers offered at least morning and night of every day."

Stay Tuned until next time.

How have I applied agency in my life?

   Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 

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

I have often asked myself "How have I applied agency in my life?" It gets me thinking about the many choices that I have made throughout my life. I would like to share some of those examples about how I have applied agency throughout my life. 

~ I am very grateful for my parents allowing me to attend schooling from when I was in Preschool until I was grade 12 (senior). Duration of my schooling years; I have chosen to allow my parents, most of my teachers and my teacher aides to help me with my studies. Sometimes I would just encouraged myself to feel motivated to get assignments to be completed and submitted on the due dates. 

I remembered when there was some afternoons and evenings after school when I did not feel like focusing my time on doing homework, assignments, and studying for exams; and I have allowed some distractions to stop me from doing homework, assignments, and studying for exams. Those distractions was spending too much time on one of my family's computer with playing online games and spending too much time on Facebook

~ When I was fourteen years old, I have chosen to do seminary. I am so grateful that I was able to do seminary from when I was fourteen years old to when I was seventeen years old. I have been able to learn so much about the scriptures. It has helped me to gain spiritual knowledge while I was in high school. I am very grateful that I was able to graduate seminary when I was seventeen years old. 

~ I remembered making the choices of attending EFY when I was fifteen years old and SMYC when I was seventeen years old. I am very grateful for attending because I was able to meet and make a lot of new friends. Some of the friends that I have met and made during EFY and SMYC, I was able to see them and catch up with them during my YSA years. It has been a small amount of friends that I still stay in touch these days. 

~ The year that I was turning eighteen years old, I have made the decision to start attending institute. I have made several commitments to make myself available on the same evenings when institute was held because I wanted to continue gaining spiritual knowledge after graduating from seminary. I was able to graduate institute when I was twenty-one years old. 

~ When I was nineteen years old, I have made the decision to move away from my family for temporary. I have been able to stay in Perth for six weeks, I have made some new friendships, and I have made the decisions to go on dates about getting to know other guys. I had more dating opportunities while I was in Perth than I was living in Queensland. 

~ I remembered when I have made the decision and felt right for me to start filling out my full-time mission papers online because I had a very strong desire to serve a full-time mission when I was eighteen years old. I have completed and submitted all the full-time mission papers to the bishop, followed by he passed it onto the stake president. I had both interviews with the bishop and the stake president. 

I have made my decision to feel very upset, and very disappointed when I was twenty-two years old that my full-time mission papers did not got submitted to Salt Lake City Church Headquarters by the stake president who interviewed me. 

I ended up finding out by a phone call that I received from a new stake secretary of the new ward that I was in. Jacob and I had a dream about me leaving to go and serve a full-time mission. Prior to speaking with my new bishop, I have made the decision to get a priesthood blessing for guidance. I felt very strongly and knew from then what Heavenly Father would like me to do. I am very grateful for the priesthood holders to be worthy to give me a blessing. 

I have been guided to take a different path to take and that was not to serve a mission. I went ahead with my plans to fly to visit Jacob, meet his family, Jacob purposed to me, and I felt so happy for being engaged. Of course that engagement ended and turned into Jacob and I to be married. 

~ After graduating institute, I have made the decision to apply BYU (Brigham Young University) Pathways program that was run by the church. I am grateful for getting an email for acceptance into the BYU Pathways program, and I was able to start in the first spring semester. I am grateful for studying BYU Pathways program because I was able to learn so much about things that I did not know before, and it has helped me to continue gaining spiritual knowledge after graduating institute. 

~ When I was twenty years old, I have made the decision to receive my endowments on my twenty-first birthday. I am very grateful for receiving my endowments when I was twenty-one years old because within a few weeks after I have received my endowments, I felt privileged to attend a sealing session with my Mom's parents. My Nanna was able to get SEALED to her parents, my Poppy was the proxy for Nanna's father and I was being the proxy for my Nanna's mother. 

~ When I was twenty-three years old, I have made the decision to get sealed for all time and throughout all eternity with Jacob. I am very grateful for making that decision because I always have been excited and looking forward to be sealed to my eternal companion since during my teenage years. 

I have shared with those examples because it has helped me how I have applied agency in my life that has helped me to become for who I am today, and I have learned so much. Agency can teach us a lot of things that we did not know before but also remembering that whatever decisions that we go with, we can not go back to the past and change our minds to find out what our choices would have been like if we made a different decision and path that we have taken. 

Stay tuned until next time. 

You and Your Free Agency ~ Part Two

  Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 

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

This post focuses on a BYU (Brigham Young University) Devotional in June 1984 and it is called "You and Your Free Agency" by Elder Angel Abrea. This post is part two. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the Devotional. 

Elder Abrea has mentioned the following; "Procrastinators

... What is procrastination? In simple terms it is postponing unnecessarily, and in an irrational way, something that one knows should be done. Why do people procrastinate? Many reasons can be given, but it all boils down to the protection of a vulnerable feeling of self-esteem. ...

Test Avoiders. These are people who fear they will fail in their attempts to reach their own standards, standards which demand outstanding effort each time. By waiting until it is too late to do a great job, they justify the situation by convincing themselves, “I didn’t have sufficient time.” ...

Rebels. These are the people who believe that if they follow in someone else’s footsteps they are being controlled or dominated. For them, to procrastinate becomes a way of retaining a feeling of power and control. ... I think it is much better and more honorable for us, whether children or adults, youthful, middle-aged or old, it is better to live by and better to die by, to have our hearts pure, and to yield strict obedience to the principles of life which the Lord has revealed, than be a slave to sin and wickedness. [JD, 18:246]

Myopics. Some people procrastinate because they believe that certain jobs, obligations, or assignments are not rewarding, or that they demand too much sacrifice. So they decide to put their efforts in other directions that appear to be more worthwhile or necessary. They seek immediate rewards rather than rewards obtained in the long run, though they are more valuable.

The words we find in Doctrine and Covenants 78 show the promised blessings for those who live with their vision toward eternity: ... And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours. And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; ... And he that is a faithful and wise steward shall inherit all things. Amen. [D&C 78:17–22]

... Self-Defeaters. Some people become so depressed that they postpone working toward goals because they have a fear of being successful, then that procrastination guarantees that they don’t attain the success they fear.

If people who behave in this manner would apply the words of the Savior to their lives, it would totally change their attitude. “Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you” (D&C 68:6).

"We have agency. What happens in our lives
and in our pattern of eternal progression is
just what we decide it will be."
- Boyd K. Packer. 

Excuses for Not Acting

If you will analyze the before-mentioned cases, you will notice that without fail each one of them condenses down to fear of doing the job as an excuse for not acting, or to an irrational assumption such as, “I’ll be able to get that work done the night before it is due.” The solution is simple (the Prophet has said it), “Do it now.”

Slaves to Customs

There is another false concept, an idea frequently implanted in the minds of many persons, not necessarily placed there by themselves, but by others and by customs. 

I refer to the tendency to do certain things because everyone else does them. Even though this seems to be a simple matter ... We often become slaves to routines, we act conforming to custom or as the surrounding conditions dictate. 

Just because most of the people do it does not mean that it is right. The important issue in determining our salvation is to be certain and know with a clear conscience what the motives are that move us to actions, and what the thoughts are that we hold within us and which later lead to actions.

Agency Regarding Our Minds

We exercise our agency in our thinking process just as much as we use our agency in our actions. ... If we do not learn to grow from within and make effective use of our agency regarding our thoughts, our actions will lack direction; they will lack significant meaning, since what we wish to accomplish will not be clearly defined in our mind, and our mind will not be trained in setting goals, desires, and objectives.

Opposition

There is also another of Satan’s snares which lures many people, another of the common phrases used as justification for not acting, for not getting the job done, for not exercising fully the right of free agency. How many people do you know that say (with a type of defeat and resignation), “The opposition is strong, and I’m only human.”

... How can anyone justify himself with such reasoning to fail or to not act positively? How can anyone think of the opposition as a limiting factor or condition in exercising our free agency?

... The trials, the opposition, the conditions which some would define as unfavorable, will ever be with us throughout this life of probation. It is a principle which has been with us from the first; therefore we must not complain we must not lament or fail to act positively when we are confronted with one of these situations in our lives.

There are those who believe that because we are human, that is justification for our weaknesses. This is to deny the wisdom and justice of God, since that is implicitly saying or thinking that he has sent us here to earth on the preconceived condition that we would fail, yielding inevitably to the temptations of Satan. ...

Let us see what the Prophet Joseph Smith said in regard to this point. 

He commenced his observations by remarking that the kindness of our Heavenly Father called for our heartfelt gratitude. He then observed that Satan was generally blamed for the evils which we did, but if he was the cause of all our wickedness, men could not be condemned. The devil could not compel mankind to do evil; all was voluntary.

Those who resisted the Spirit of God, would be liable to be led into temptation, and then the association of heaven would be withdrawn from those who refused to be made partakers of such great glory. God would not exert any compulsory means, and the devil could not; and such ideas as were entertained [on these subjects] by many were absurd. [Teachings, p. 187]

There are various other examples which we could analyze. However, we will consider only one more aspect of free agency.

Proceed with Vigor

In the Doctrine and Covenants we read: For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward. Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness. ... [D&C 58:26–29]

I believe that these verses clearly indicated the attitude which we should develop as we confront each task or undertaking an attitude of proceeding with enthusiasm, vigor and good will. In that quotation from the Savior we find several word phrases such as compelled in all things, anxiously engaged, own free will, the power is in them, and do good, ... but all of them together motivating us to use our talents and our free agency willingly.

In those words the Savior indicated that we should serve willingly because of a desire to do so which we have developed, rather than doing the job dutifully because we are obligated. In order to find the joy of living in accordance with the Savior’s will, there should be a sincere desire to please him, doing it correctly, since this will bring us peace of mind and a rewarding feeling which cannot be obtained in any other way.

... And so we have reviewed several concepts which I am sure are well known by you, but at times forgotten the purpose being to pause in the midst of our daily careers and meditate on the great blessing that free agency is in our lives.

Be Found on the Lord’s Side

It is my desire that in our daily struggle to make decisions, we will always be found on the Lord’s side. As President George Albert Smith expressed it, There are two influences ever present in the world.

One is constructive and elevating and comes from our Heavenly Father; the other is destructive and debasing and comes from Lucifer. We have our agency and make our own choice in life subject to these unseen powers. ... If we live on the Lord’s side of the line Lucifer cannot come there to influence us, but if we cross the line into his territory we are in his power. 

By keeping the commandments of the Lord we are safe on His side of the line, but if we disobey His teachings we voluntarily cross into the zone of temptation and invite the destruction that is ever present there. ... [George Albert Smith, “Our M.I.A.,” Improvement Era, May 1935, 38:278]

Brothers and sisters, the purpose of this life is to prove ourselves, to allow us the opportunity of choosing and to gain a dwelling place in the mansions of our Father. I testify to you that this will be our reward if we have the faith, the determination, and the deep desire to follow the words of the Lord to Enoch, “Choose ye this day, to serve the Lord God who made you” (Moses 6:33). ..."

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

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/angel-abrea/free-agency/

Stay tuned until next time.

You and Your Free Agency ~ Part One

  Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 

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

What is your definition of the word agency? What does agency means to a immediate relative? 

What does agency means to a friend? How do you apply agency in your life? 

This post focuses on a BYU (Brigham Young University) Devotional in June 1984 and it is called "You and Your Free Agency" by Elder Angel Abrea. This post is part one, and I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the Devotional. 

Elder Abrea has mentioned the following; "... A Good Moral

There’s a story told to the children in Argentina that will serve to introduce the theme I wish to present. ... A pack of dogs was gathered on a street corner. The dogs were telling each other the woes and troubles they had suffered in their lives. There was a large number of them and the conversation became very loud. 

Suddenly the most observant one let out a loud cry, “The dog-catcher!” Immediately animals scattered in every direction as fast as they could go. About one or two blocks away one of them stopped and asked, “Why am I running? I’m a cat.” It’s a story for children, but it has a good moral, don’t you think?

Many times we act like that cat of that group that are swept along with the current, as the style may be, and, because of what others do, we lose our individuality and don’t exercise one of the greatest gifts God has given to man, that of making choices the gift of free agency, or standing on one’s own feet.

We all have our free agency and we will each be responsible before our Heavenly Father for what we gain from it, since our exaltation depends on it. Let us see if with the help of some good examples, some reasoning, and a few passages and comments from the scriptures, we can stop for a few moments and ask ourselves, “Why am I running?” and analyze the use we are making of our free agency.

We Are Constantly Faced with Decisions

Concerning the misuse of free agency, I have observed many times that the error is not necessarily what others do to limit our free agency, but rather our lack of making the correct decisions; it is the lack of courage to exercise this agency.

From the time the power of reasoning first begins in the early stages of the journey through life, men are continually faced with decisions, with the constant challenge of choosing, of determining which of two roads to take the right one leading to progress and happiness or the wrong one leading to frustration and unhappiness.

Man determines his own destiny by the decisions and choices he makes, which is definitely an eternal law. Our success or our failure, our peace of mind or our anxiety, all depend upon the choices we make day by day.

Certainly Samuel the Lamanite expressed emphatically and clearly that same concept:

... He hath given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might choose life or death; and ye can do good and be restored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you. [Helaman 14:30–31]

President Wilford Woodruff emphasized the responsibility that each individual assumes when he exercises his right of free agency: This agency has always been the heritage of man under the rule and government of God. ... By virtue of this agency you and I and all mankind are made responsible beings, responsible for the course we pursue, the lives we live, the deeds we do in the body. [Millennial Star 51:642]

President David O. McKay said, “So fundamental in man’s eternal progress is his inherent right to choose, that the Lord would defend it even at the price of war” (CR, April 1942, p. 73). The reason is that without this gift the responsibilities of men having to answer for their own acts would be totally invalid. 

"As precious as life itself is our heritage of individual
freedom; for man's free agency is a God given gift."
- David O McKay."

No one can be judged for acts committed under circumstances and conditions which deprive the individual from exercising completely his ability to choose, in determining the direction to follow.

President John Taylor explained this idea in the following manner: If man be not a moral agent, he cannot be responsible for the present position of the world; and it would be unjust in God to punish him for acts that were not his and for circumstances over which he had no control. [Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., Latter-day Prophets Speak (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1977), p. 157]

So free agency then makes it possible to exercise justice to the fullest extent, and this results in what James E. Talmage explains: Man’s accountability for his individual acts is as complete as is his agency to elect for himself. 

The ultimate result of good deeds is happiness, the consequence of evil is misery; these follow in every man’s life by inviolable laws. ... [The Articles of Faith, 12th ed. (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1924), p. 55]

Through Our Choices We Determine Our Future

We need to remember when we make decisions that as we sow, so shall we reap. ... We cannot sow seeds of the slothful and of less effort and expect to receive the blessings of dedication and diligent effort. By our daily decisions we determine whether we will live according to God’s commandments or whether we will just follow along with, as Paul said, “commandments of men, that turn from the truth” (Titus 1:14).

Each day of our life, through the choices we make, we determine whether we will augment the building of our eternal dwelling with Heavenly Father or whether we want to slide along on a path which deprives us of the blessings of life eternal.

As everyone knows, frequently it is easier to go along with the current than to row upstream toward the mountain. However, once recognizing the importance of free agency, we come to the conclusion that self-discipline is fundamentally important in the task of making decisions.

We often see examples of how free agency is inhibited. For instance, sometimes we slip backward, instead of going forward, by letting others make decisions for us. We follow the decisions and goals of others and do not appreciate the blessings of free agency.

We Have All the Time There Is

Let us consider first those who go along with commonly used phrases, those who use them without reasoning through their meaning phrases which become popular, and in many cases determine one’s manner of action.

Let’s talk a few minutes about those who say, “There is not time for anything,” and see if they are not a typical example of those who unthinkingly leave it to others to make their decisions for them. ... Many persons declare daily that they do not have sufficient time. Nevertheless, each one has all that there is.

Others say that time flies when actually it moves at a set rate. Or they speak of saving time, but time cannot be saved, lost, or borrowed. How many times have you heard someone say that they want to make up for lost time? Once time has passed it cannot be replaced. Still others say, “The time just goes.” The truth is that we are the ones who go, and time remains the same.

... The fact is that time is on our side the very minute we have it organized. You have heard it said, “There is not sufficient time.” We have all the time that there is; it all depends on how we distribute it. All of these erroneous ideas lead to wrong actions, and if we think about that for a moment, we realize they are commonly used in some cases we ourselves use them unthinkingly. 

What we need to ask ourselves is this: “Is the problem with the time or is it with myself?” ... Unless we use our head and are not fooled by these meaningless phrases, we will be caught in the current with those who do not make decisions, but allow others to make them for them; we will not be standing on our own feet. ..."

Stay Tuned until next time. 

A Joyful Heart ~ 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 BYU (Brigham Young University) Devotional in June 2004, and it is called "A Joyful Heart" by Elder Dale E. Miller. This post is part three and I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the Devotional. 

Elder Miller has mentioned the following; 

"Peace and joy come from pondering scripture. You can sense the joy that prophets describe within themselves. It is a marvelous thing to contemplate the joys coming to Joseph Smith as revelation after revelation poured upon him from heaven. What joy he expressed in receiving visits from the Savior and the great prophets of old! 

Just one example in his life can give you a flavor: Immediately on our coming up out of the water after we had been baptized, we experienced great and glorious blessings from our Heavenly Father. ... We were filled with the Holy Ghost, and rejoiced in the God of our salvation. [JS—H 1:73; emphasis added]

... There is a great spiritual enrichment in pondering scripture not just reading nor just studying but truly pondering. When you get it fixed right in your minds, your hearts begin to open up to feelings that bring lasting joy. Pondering scripture also stores up great knowledge useful throughout life in solving the everyday problems that vex you.

It helps keep a pure conduit to heaven, allowing joy to replace indecision and lack of direction. Pondering scripture is a discipline to learn early in life and insist on maintaining throughout. Now let’s talk about love. It seems like such a short time ago that Laurel and I were sitting in your seats listening to similar speakers. 

We were engaged to be married and very much in love. Over the years we have learned much more about love. We have learned that “being in love” is a wonderfully blissful state. But eternal companionship is much more. The term being in love uses the word love as a noun, a state of being. 

"Stay joyful."

The other meaning of love is in its condition as an action verb. To love and be loved transcends “being” in love. ... Although you may feel love toward the Savior, feeling love is not enough. You must demonstrate your love in a contractual way. 

It is the giving of that love that brings true and lasting joy. The same is true in marriage. Paul’s counsel to the Saints in Ephesians underscores this principle: Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; ... Loving others means helping them to become better. Lasting joy comes from combining the “being in love” with a loving behavior. 

In the words of C. S. Lewis: Love as distinct from “being in love” is not merely a feeling. It is a deep unity, maintained by the will and deliberately strengthened by habit; reinforced by (in Christian marriages) the grace which both parents ask, and receive, from God. 

... “Being in love” first moved them to promise fidelity: this quieter love enables them to keep the promise. It is on this love that the engine of marriage is run: being in love was the explosion that started it. [C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York: Macmillan, 1952) 99; emphasis added]

Love is both a noun and a verb in the celestial kingdom. ... Let us return now to our earlier statement: “Certainly the power of the Atonement, coupled with our true and full conversion, is the greatest ingredient in finding joy.” Our baptism does not necessarily indicate conversion. Having a testimony does not necessarily indicate conversion. 

I quote from President Marion G. Romney’s general conference talk given October 4, 1963: As used in the scriptures, “converted” generally implies not merely mental acceptance of Jesus and his teachings but also a motivating faith in him and in his gospel - a faith which works a transformation, an actual change in one’s understanding of life’s meaning and in his allegiance to God - in interest, in thought, and in conduct. 

While conversion may be accomplished in stages, one is not really converted in the full sense of the term unless and until he is at heart a new person. “Born again” is the scriptural term. [CR, October 1963, 23; emphasis in original]

... President Romney continued: Conversion ... is the fruit of, or the reward for, repentance and obedience. ... His spirit is healed. ... Sometimes there is also a healing of the nervous system or of the mind. But always the remittance of sins which attends divine forgiveness heals the spirit. 

... “And after their temptations, and much tribulation, behold, I, the Lord, will feel after them, and if they harden not their hearts, and ... they shall be converted, and I will heal them.” (D&C 112:12–13. [Emphasis] added.) ... Somebody recently asked how one could know when he is converted. 

The answer is simple. He may be assured of it when by the power of the Holy Spirit his soul is healed. When this occurs, he will recognize it by the way he feels, for he will feel as the people of Benjamin felt when they received [a] remission of sins. 

The record says, “The Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience.” (Mosiah 4:3.) [CR, October 1963, 24–25]

President Romney concluded by saying: Getting people’s spirits healed through conversion is the only way they can be healed. I know this is an unpopular doctrine and a slow way to solve the problems of men and nations. ..."[CR, October 1963, 26]

... True and full conversion is the only way to bring complete peace and healing to the soul. ... Laurel and I find great joy in the great goodness of God. He is merciful. He stands ready to heal you when you need healing. He offers peace of soul through the Atonement of His Son, Jesus Christ. 

Truly joy and happiness are the objects of our existence. May you capture the pathway to that happiness, becoming “as a river” in your constancy of pursuit. ..."

If you would like to read the whole Devotional, here is the link below. 

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/dale-e-miller/joyful-heart/

Stay Tuned until next time.