He will do for you what you cannot do for yourself

"A few years after the pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, a young man took an ox team up Millcreek Canyon on a cold winter day to get logs to build a house. It was extremely cold, and the snow was deep. His sled held five large logs. After he loaded the first one, he turned around to load another. In that instant, the log already on the sled 22 feet long and about 10 inches in diameter slipped off the sled and rolled down on him, striking him in the hollow of his legs. He was thrown face-forward across the four logs still on the ground and pinned there, alone, with no way to extract himself.

He knew he would freeze to death and die alone in the mountains.

"The next thing this young pioneer remembered was waking up, sitting on a load of five logs nicely bound on his sled with his oxen pulling the load down the canyon. In his personal history he wrote, 'Who it was that extricated me from under the log, loaded my sled, hitched my oxen to it, and placed me on it, I cannot say' Thirty-three years later, that young pioneer, Marriner Wood Merrill, was ordained an Apostle.

Dallin H. Oaks

 

"I delight in the examples of those in the scriptures who walk by faith on their earthly journey. Each time I walk with Abraham and Isaac on the road to Mount Moriah, I weep, knowing that Abraham does not know that there will be an angel and a ram in the thicket at the end of that journey. We are each in the middle of our earthly path, and we don't know the rest of our own stories. But we, as Abraham, are blessed with miracles."

Susan W. Tanner

 

"Miracles are everywhere to be found when priesthood callings are magnified. When faith replaces doubt, when selfless service eliminates selfish striving, the power of God brings to pass His purposes.

Whom God calls, God qualifies."

Thomas S. Monson

 

 

 Miracles are not always so immediate. At times we thoughtfully wonder why the miracle we have so earnestly prayed for does not happen here and now. But as we trust in the Savior, promised miracles will occur. Whether in this life or the next, all will be made right. The Savior declares: “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

 

…….as you love Him, trust Him, believe Him, and follow Him, you will feel His love and approval. As you ask, “What thinks Christ of me?” you will know that you are His disciple; you are His friend. By His grace He will do for you what you cannot do for yourself.

 

Neil L. Andersen

 

Spiritual oasis 'a refuge from the storm'

 

 

When we feel the need for encouragement, when we wonder about our worth or our ability, we need a little reassuring note or whisper in the ear, "You are better than you think you are." ….we all face responsibilities that seem overwhelming at times. We all have doubts and fears, drawing on Christ's love for us, we can remove the dark clouds that challenge our confidence, even in adversity.

 

"With the Lord's help we are always far, far better than we can be by ourselves."

 

Ardeth Kapp

 

"Vital spiritual patterns are evident in the life of the Savior, in the scriptures, and in the teachings of living prophets and apostles. These spiritual patterns are now and always have been important aids to discernment and sources of direction and protection for faithful Latter-day Saints."

 David A. Bednar

"The first great decision made on earth was Adam's decision to leave the Garden of Eden. In doing so he essentially left his Father to cleave to his wife. Given the choice of Eden or Eve, the paradise or the person, he chose Eve. He chose the person."

S. Michael Wilcox

"May each of us live our life in such a way so as to be known for tender,

 kind, refined, faithful, good, virtuous, and pure.

In this way we will have demonstrated that choice to forgo

being considered women of the world."

 Ann M. Dibb

"Even though we may not see from minute to minute that we are moving forward and making progress, I believe we will be able to one day look back at our lives and see that we were, in fact, doing just what we needed to be doing at just the right time in just the right place."

 Virginia H. Pearce

The trials of mortality face each of us. Whether we pass those trials or succumb to them largely depends on whom we ally ourselves with do we “trust in the arm of flesh” or are we sustained in the strength of the Lord?

“We have covenanted with the Lord to go where He wants us to go; we will do what He wants us to do, and we will strive to become what we should and must become. ‘In the strength of the Lord’ and through His grace,

I know that you and I can be blessed to accomplish all things.”

 L. Tom Perry

“Mortality, with its losses, sorrows, sicknesses, disappointments, torments, weeds, mistakes, errors, sins, and other afflictions would be a reasonable test in and of itself. But throw in Satan and his minions and now we have a test of faith and obedience that will ensure the Lord knows what we are made of.”

 Sandra Rogers

“We know that we are involved in God’s work every day, and that changes everything.

It changes the way we think. It changes our decisions.

It changes the way we dress. It changes the way we talk.

It changes the way we live.”

 Julie B. Beck

 “I think Babylon is intent on pulling families apart. This is cause for extreme concern. The family is meant to be eternal, but Babylon isn’t. Babylon is the city of the world; Zion is the city of God. Where do you want to live? Where do you want to raise your family?”

 Mary Ellen Edmunds

“One of the most frequent prayers in the scriptures is this, and it is echoed all throughout the scriptures: ‘How long, O Lord?’ Over and over again, prophets cry out from their agony not just ‘Spare me!’ but ‘How long, O Lord? How long?’ We all want to know when our suffering will end. This becomes the trial within the trial.”

 John S. Tanner

"The Lord knows who we are, where we are, and what our mission is, and what we need in order to accomplish that mission." "Not only has He known us for a long, long time, He has loved us for a long, long time. We are here now because we are supposed to be here now. No one else can have the influence or do the good that we were prepared and foreordained to have and do. No one else can fulfill our individual missions."

Sheri Dew

“I have found in my own personal life, when I have been struggling and feeling weighed down either emotionally, spiritually, or physically that the partaking of the sacrament was a source of great spiritual strength and that those quiet, reverent moments during its administration serve as a spiritual oasis

‘a refuge from the storm’

Brent L. Top

“The sweetest experience in mortality is to know that our Heavenly Father has worked through us,” says President Thomas S. Monson. But he does more than say it — he lives it. Throughout his life, he has been an instrument in the Lord's hands, one through whom the work of the kingdom of God is lovingly carried out.

President Monson cares about people by the millions; he has traveled the earth to bless countless lives in unnumbered lands. He may be known best, though, for caring about people one by one. He takes time for those who may have been mostly forgotten by others. He recognizes the person in the crowd who might need the extra bit of attention he can provide. He goes where the Spirit leads him — even if it means traversing continents to offer a priesthood blessing to a suffering friend.

~

“I testify that each one of us can feel the Lord's inspiration as we live worthily and strive to serve Him”

Thomas S. Monson

 

His eye upon us

 

 

The personal love of the Savior is one thing to hear about or imagine, another thing to experience in His presence. Once we have actually seen the patient focus of His eye upon us, once we have witnessed His smile approving and enveloping and renewing our personal life, once the strong tide of His light has flowed from His own being into ours, we will long as Alma did, to have it so always.

 

Wayne E. Brickey

 

 

I testify to you this day that the time will come when every man,

woman, and child will look into the Savior’s loving eyes.

 On that day, we will know with a surety the worth of our decision to straightway follow Him.

 

Joseph B. Wirthlin

 

 

They who reach down into the depths of life where, in the stillness,

the voice of God is heard, have the stabilizing power

which carries them poised and serene through the hurricane of difficulties.

 

Spencer W. Kimball

 

 

The voice of God, whispering beneath the hurricane,

doesn’t just tell us what to do and what to skip.

It teaches us who we are and who we don’t have to be. 

By assuring us of our high origin and purpose,

it makes us stronger than the storms.

 

Wayne E. Brickey

 

 

Do we realize that in our daily walk and work we are not alone, but that angels attend us wherever our duty causes us to go? It is only when we stray into unholy places, only when we tread upon forbidden ground, that they leave us to ourselves, and then watch us from the distance with sorrow and tears. Those holy beings think it not beneath their state to abide in the hovels of the poor, to stand by us in the most menial labor, provided it be honorable employment.

 

James E. Talmage

 

 

"Though we cannot understand “the meaning of all things,” we do “know that God loveth his children” because He has said, “Behold, this is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Heavenly Father is able to accomplish these two great goals the immortality and eternal life of man because He is a God of creation and compassion. Creating and being compassionate are two objectives that contribute to our Heavenly Father’s perfect happiness. Creating and being compassionate are two activities that we as His spirit children can and should emulate."

 

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

 

 

"Always remember that if this were not the Lord's work,

the adversary would not pay any attention to us."

Spencer W. Kimball

 

"Commandments and covenants of God are like navigational instructions from celestial heights

and will lead us safely to our eternal destination. It is one of beauty and glory beyond understanding.

It is worth the effort. It is worth making decisive corrections now and then staying on course."

 

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

 

Jesus perfected his life and became our Christ. Priceless blood of a god was shed, and he became our Savior; his perfected life was given, and he became our Redeemer; his atonement for us made possible our return to our Heavenly Father, and yet how thoughtless, how unappreciative are most beneficiaries! Ingratitude is a sin of the ages.
Great numbers profess belief in him and his works, and yet relatively few honor him. Millions of us call ourselves Christians, yet seldom kneel in gratitude for his supreme gift, his life.:

 

Spencer W. Kimball

 

 

"Service to others deepens and sweetens this life while we are preparing to live in a better world. It is by serving that we learn to serve. When we are engaged in the service of our fellowmen, not only do our deeds assist them, but we put our own problems in a fresher perspective. When we concern ourselves more with others, there is less time to be concerned with ourselves! In the midst of the miracle of serving,

 

there is the promise of Jesus that by losing ourselves, we find ourselves!"

Spencer W. Kimball

 

 

“To be a righteous woman during the winding up scenes on this earth, before the second coming of our Savior, is an especially noble calling. The righteous woman’s strength and influence today can be tenfold what it might be in more tranquil times. She has been placed here to help to enrich, to protect, and to guard the home---which is society’s basic and most noble institution. Other institutions in society may falter and even fail, but the righteous woman can help to save the home, which may be the last and only sanctuary some mortals know in the midst of storm and strife.”  

 

 Spencer W. Kimball

 

 

The Father gave His Son, and the Son gave His life, and we do not worship unless we give- give of our substance, give of our time, give of our strength, give of our talent, give of our faith,  give of our testimonies.

 

Gordon B. Hinckley

 

Will fill us with faith as a living fire

 

 

"Fill your mind with truth. Fill your life with service. Fill your heart with love."

 

Vaughn J. Featherstone

 

"The season of the world before us will be like no other in the history of mankind. Satan has unleashed every evil, every scheme, every blatant, vile perversion ever known to man in any generation. Just as this is the dispensation of the fullness of times, so it is also the dispensation of the fullness of evil. We and our wives and husbands, our children, and our members must find safety. There is no safety in the world: wealth cannot provide it, enforcement agencies cannot assure it, membership in this Church alone cannot bring it.

As the evil night darkens upon this generation, we must come to the temple for light and safety. In our temples we find quiet, sacred havens where the storm cannot penetrate to us. There are hosts of unseen sentinels watching over and guarding our temples. Angels attend every door. As it was in the days of Elisha, so it will be for us: “Those that be with us are more than they that be against us.”

Before the Savior comes the world will darken. There will come a period of time where even the elect will lose hope if they do not come to the temples. The world will be so filled with evil that the righteous will only feel secure within these walls. The saints will come here not only to do vicarious work, but to find a haven of peace. They will long to bring their children here for safety’s sake.

I believe we may well have living on the earth now or very soon the boy or babe who will be the prophet of the Church when the Savior comes. Those who will sit in the Quorum of Twelve Apostles are here. There are many in our homes and communities who will have apostolic callings. We must keep them clean, sweet and pure in an oh so wicked world. There will be greater hosts of unseen beings in the temple. Prophets of old as well as those in this dispensation will visit the temples. Those who attend will feel their strength and feel their companionship. We will not be alone in our temples.

Our garments worn as instructed will clothe us in a manner as protective as temple walls. The covenants and ordinances will fill us with faith as a living fire. In a day of desolating sickness, scorched earth, barren wastes, sickening plagues, disease, destruction, and death, we as a people will rest in the shade of trees, we will drink from the cooling fountains. We will abide in places of refuge from the storm, we will mount up as on eagle’s wings, we will be lifted out of an insane and evil world. We will be as fair as the sun and clear as the moon.

The Savior will come and will honor his people. Those who are spared and prepared will be a temple-loving people. They will know Him. They will cry out, “Blessed be the name of He that cometh in the name of the Lord; thou are my God and I will bless thee; thou are my God and I will exalt thee.”

Our children will bow down at His feet and worship Him as the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings. They will bathe His feet with their tears and He will weep and bless them for having suffered through the greatest trials ever known to man. His bowels will be filled with compassion and His heart will swell wide as eternity and He will love them. He will bring peace that will last a thousand years and they will receive their reward to dwell with Him. Let us prepare them with faith to surmount every trial and every condition. We will do it in these holy, sacred temples. Come, come, oh come up to the temples of the Lord and abide in His presence."

So I will call on Heaven's Help

A single footstep will not make a path on earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path we walk again, and again. To make a deep mental path we must think over and over, the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives.

 

"Waiting for someone else to make you happy is the best way to be sad."

 

Why fit in when you were born to stand out!

Dr Seuss

“And this is the confidence that we have in him,
that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hearth us:
and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask,
we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

(1 John 5:14-15)

by Emily Freeman

I echo her very words love Susan

This morning I woke up with a lot on my mind.  There is so much I need help with.  

Situations beyond my capacity to resolve.

So I will call on Heaven’s Help.

I know He will hear me, because He has heard me before.

And I will be patient to wait for His answers…because I have learned to trust His timing.

My asking may be simple, and ordinary, and common…but I trust His power to do great things, in exceptional ways.

And I pray my eyes will be open to see the holy.

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace,
that we may obtain mercy,
and find grace to help in time of need.”

(Hebrews 4:16)

 

Let us relish life as we live it

 

Give me patience when little hands tug at me with ceaseless, small demands.

Give me gentle words and smiling eyes, to keep my lips from hasty, sharp replies.

Let not fatigue, confusion or noise obscure my vision of life’s fleeting joys

So when in years to come my house is still, beautiful memories its rooms may fill.

 

Love is kind anything less isn’t love at all.

 

 

Sometimes the littlest things take up the most room in your heart.

 

Winnie the Pooh

 

 

“God is eagerly waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams, just as he always has. But he can't if you don't pray, and he can't if you don't dream. In short, he can't if you don't believe.”

 

Jeffrey R. Holland

 

 

The ordinary acts we practice every day at home are of more importance

to the soul than their simplicity might suggest.

 

Thomas Moore

 

 

Ordinary people who faithfully, diligently and consistently

do simple things that are right before God

will bring forth extraordinary results.

 

David A. Bednar

 

 

At any given moment you have the power to say

this is not how the story is going to end.

 

 

It is not happy people who are thankful. 

It is thankful people who are happy.

 

 

“Be the heroine of your life, not the victim.”

 

 

 “Give your child a compliment and a hug; say, ‘I love you’ more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It’s so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they’re gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of ‘what if’ and ‘if only.’ … “Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey and share our love with friends and family. One day, each of us will run out of tomorrows.

Let us not put off what is most important.”

 

Thomas S. Monson