For it must needs be

"Life is never easy, and we cannot escape our own case of 

feeble knees from time to time. It is thus essential 

that we love and support one another."

Marvin J. Ashton

"Life will not be free from challenges, some of them bitter and hard to bear. We may wish to be spared all the trials of life, but that would be contrary to the great plan of happiness, 'for it must needs be, 

that there is an opposition in all things'. 

This testing is the source of our strength."

Boyd K. Packer

"What's in it for me?" This is an almost universal question.  All of us who embark on a new adventure, who try a new job, who make concessions in a relationship, who put forth extra effort in an assignment, who give up something desirable, are inclined to want to know the answer to this question  before we begin.   But in the beginning of Matthew 6, the Savior teaches another law--a higher law--a law which requires us to look for benefit and welfare for others rather than for ourselves.  The overriding sense of the first 21 verses of Matthew 6 is that we ought to deal with others much like a friendly clerk in a neighborhood market: "What can I do for you?"  If we mean to take advantage of the gospel and its teachings and opportunities, we must turn the focus of our lives away from ourselves.

TED L. GIBBONS

"Happiness here and now consists in freely, lovingly, joyfully acknowledging God's will for us—and doing it in all ways and all affairs big and small."  

 Ezra Taft Benson

There is no place for mediocrity here. The Sermon on the Mount demands our best efforts in discipleship. "Good enough" will likely never be good enough. Our commission is to serve God with our hearts, minds, might, and strength. I found a poster of the leaning tower of Pisa showing two men regarding the perfectly upright tower of Pisa: One of the men said to the other, "And we saved 800 Lira by omitting the soils test." The truth is, we must build on a reliable foundation.  If we do not, someone, someday, will notice.  

You can count on it.

TED L. GIBBONS