"I Thank the Savior" (~how I miss Elder Maxwell)

 

Part of God's "ample provision" consists of imperfect people like you and me,

committed to shining and serving in our appointed orbits, knowing all the while that we are encircled "in the arms of His love".

Elder Maxwell

Truly converted disciples, though still imperfect, will pursue "the life of the soul" on any day, in any decade, amid any decadence and destruction.

Elder Maxwell

There are clusters of memories embedded in each of your lives. And these can help us to

"remember how merciful the Lord hath been."

Elder Maxwell

"By utilizing the Atonement, we access the gifts of the Holy Ghost, which 'filleth with hope and perfect love'"

Elder Maxwell

Thus within the discipleship allotted to us, we are to overcome the world to finish the work we personally have been given to do; to be able to partake of a bitter cup without becoming bitter; to experience pouring out our souls; to let our wills increasingly be swallowed up in the will of the Father; to acknowledge—tough though the tutoring trials—that, indeed, "All these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good", and to plow enduringly to the end of the furrow—all the while glorifying Him and using the matchless gifts He has given us, including, one day, all that He has.

Elder Maxwell

Perplexing things will still happen, but, like Nephi,

we can still know that God loves us,

a . . . fact which can and will sustain us through so much!

Elder Maxwell

I testify to you that God has known you individually, for a long, long time. He has loved you for a long, long time. He not only knows the names of all the stars; He knows your names and all your heartaches and your joys! By the way, you have never seen an immortal star; they finally expire. But seated by you tonight are immortal individuals—imperfect but who are, nevertheless, "trying to be like Jesus"!

In His name, even Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Maxwell

"The Lord knows our bearing capacity, both as to coping and to comprehending, and He will not give us more to bear than we can manage at the moment, though to us it may seem otherwise. Just as no temptations will come to us from which we cannot escape or which we cannot bear,

we will not be given more trials than we can sustain."

Neal A. Maxwell

"C. S. Lewis pointed out that some people are angry with God for His not existing, and others for His existing but for failing to do as mortals would have Him do. Instead of such childishness, we are urged to know

God and to learn of His attributes."

Elder Maxwell

"Sometimes we are so busy being the hammer or the anvil,

that we forget who really needs the shaping."

Elder Maxwell

"Those of little faith mistake local cloud cover for general darkness. Keeping spiritually intact results in our keeping precious perspective by seeing

'things as they really are.'

Elder Maxwell

"Trials and tribulations tend to squeeze the artificiality out of us,

leaving the essence of what we really are and clarifying what we really yearn for."

Elder Maxwell

"It is only by yielding to God that we can begin to realize His will for us. And if we truly trust God, why not yield to

His loving omniscience? After all, He knows us and our possibilities much better than do we.

Elder Maxwell

"Those who believe for a while make only a brief tour in the kingdom, though thereafter they often feel qualified to inform those who know even less about the Church; but the fact is they were really only tourists

— not natives who really knew the kingdom's countryside."

Elder Maxwell

 "The strait and narrow path, though clearly marked, is a path, not a freeway nor an escalator. Indeed, there are times when the only way the strait and narrow path can be followed is on one's knees! And we are to help each other along the path."

Elder Maxwell

"Think of it, brothers and sisters, even with their extensive longevity, stars are not immortal. But you are."

Elder Maxwell

The astonishing work of God is greater than the known universe.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell

"As we look at the universe, we do not see unexplained chaos or cosmic churning,"

"It is like viewing a divinely choreographed, cosmic ballet spectacular,

subduing and reassuring."

Elder Maxwell

"When our minds really catch hold of the significance of Jesus' atonement, the world's hold on us loosens."

Elder Maxwell

"I thank the Savior personally; for bearing all which I added to His hemorrhaging at every pore for all humanity in Gethsemane. I thank Him for bearing what I added to the decibels of His piercing soul cry atop Calvary."

Elder Maxwell