Happy 88th Birthday President Monson

In honor of President Monson's 88th birthday today I copied some of his quotes compiled by Deseret News to post on my blog. :-)

I love President Monson. I have always enjoyed his uplifting talks, personal anecdotes, and wise counsel. He truly is a man of God and has dedicated his life to serving the Lord. He is a wonderful example of Christlike service and a wonderful leader as Prophet, Seer and Revelator.

All of the following quotes are from President Thomas S. Monson:

"I know without question, my brothers and sisters, that God lives."

"Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved."

"My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith."

"We are the Lord's hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift his children. He is dependent upon each of us.”

"When challenged or tempted, you do not need to feel alone. Remember that prayer is the passport to spiritual power."

"Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God’s love."

"The all-important and crowning blessings of membership in the church are those blessings which we receive in the temples of God."

"May we show increased kindness one toward another. May we ever be found doing the work of the Lord."

"Believe that remaining strong and faithful to the truths of the gospel is of utmost importance. I testify that it is!"

"We must develop the capacity to see men not as they are at present but as they may become when they receive testimonies of the gospel of Christ."

"May each one of us search the scriptures with diligence, plan his life with purpose, teach the truth with testimony, and serve the Lord with love."

"Whether it is the best of times or the worst of times, he is with us. He has promised that this will never change."

"I would hope that we would strive always to be considerate and to be sensitive to the thoughts and feelings and circumstances of those around us. Let us not demean or belittle. Rather, let us be compassionate and encouraging. We must be careful that we do not destroy another person’s confidence through careless words or actions."

"The lighthouse of the Lord beckons to all as we sail the seas of life. Our purpose is to steer an undeviating course toward our desired goal — even the celestial kingdom of God."

"As I think of temples, my thoughts turn to the many blessings we receive therein. As we enter through the doors of the temple, we leave behind us the distractions and confusion of the world. Inside this sacred sanctuary, we find beauty and order. There is rest for our souls and a respite from the cares of our lives."

Happy Birthday President Monson!

Who Does That Guy Think He Is?

Here are a few recent daily messages I received that I really like.

"Daily reading of the Book of Mormon will lift your spirit."
—Ezra Taft Benson

"Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, exaltation is truly within reach."
—Jorge F. Zeballos

"Among the most effective ways to gain and keep the faith we need today is to read and study the scriptures and to pray frequently."
—Thomas S. Monson

A quick story from a devotional I watched on Sunday. Before I tell the story, a funny anecdote: As I was watching the devotional Dad was in the room and he saw me laughing and said, "Who does that guy think he is, John Bytheway?" I said, "He is John Bytheway". I thought it was pretty funny.

Anyway I will paraphrase the story John Bytheway told and hope I don't butcher it too much. He said there is one thing he's really good at doing every day and never forgetting. And that is eating. :-) He said he never forgets to eat. He does it every day. And in fact usually multiple times a day. He said how many of you have ever said, "I think I better eat something, I haven't eaten since last Thursday." Have you ever forgotten to eat everyday because, "It just slipped my mind or I've been too busy or I've got more important things to do." I doubt it. We seem to make eating a priority. Physical nourishment in reality is not as important as spiritual nourishment in terms of our eternal progression. Yet how many of us have said those things about reading our scriptures? Or praying?

While I was on my mission, I would read my scriptures while eating breakfast. I have acid stains from fresh Florida grapefruit on my scriptures to prove it. :-) Physical and spiritual nourishment simultaneously. For those of you who like to multitask, give it a try.

Another good idea that my sister has recently implemented in her household is putting a spiritual thought on the white board every day. That way, if you do skip your scripture study, you will still get a small dose of spiritual nourishment. Every little bit helps.

Don't forget your daily spiritual nourishment!

That's my two cents.

Bring on the Rain

I've been on a Jo Dee Messina kick lately.  I'm not sure why or how I got on this kick.  :-) My favorite song of hers is "Bring on the Rain".  Tim McGraw did background vocals on the original album version. I always prefer live versions on YouTube where there is also video.  This was the best I could find:



For me, songs always bring back memories from my past.  I associate this song with my Downey years.  I would listen to it on repeat.  I did that with many songs.  :-) This is a beautiful song.  Enjoy.

By the way, as a side note I looked it up and Jo Dee is only a few months older than me.  We were born the same year.  For some reason I always thought she was much older than me.  :-)

Quotes from August 2015 Ensign

Here are some quotes I liked from this month's Ensign:

"In order for us to be “an example of the believers” (1 Timothy 4:12), we ourselves must believe. We must develop the faith necessary to survive spiritually and to project a light for others. We must nurture our testimony until it becomes an anchor to our lives.

"Among the most effective ways to gain and keep the faith we need today is to read and study the scriptures and to pray frequently and consistently. To the youth of the Church, I say, if you haven’t done so, develop now a habit of daily scripture study and prayer. Without these two essential practices, outside influences and the sometimes-harsh realities of life can dim or even extinguish your light." --President Thomas S. Monson

“If you pray, if you talk to God, and if you plead for the help you need, and if you thank him not only for help but for the patience and gentleness that come from not receiving all you desire right away or perhaps ever, then I promise you that you will draw closer to him.” -- President Henry B. Eyring

“My beloved brothers and sisters, the eternal blessings of tithing are real. I have experienced them in my life and in the life of my family. The test of our faith is whether we will live the law of tithing by our obedience and sacrifice. For, in the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith, ‘a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation’ [Lectures on Faith(1985), 69].” -- Elder Robert D. Hales

“If you are struggling, confused, or spiritually lost, I urge you to do the one thing I know will get you back on track. Begin again to prayerfully study the Book of Mormon and live its teachings every day, every day, every day! I testify of the profound power in the Book of Mormon that will change your life and strengthen your resolve to follow Christ. The Holy Ghost will change your heart and help you see ‘things as they really are’ [Jacob 4:13].” --Elder Kevin W. Pearson of the Seventy

“We must refrain from making final judgments on people because we lack the knowledge and the wisdom to do so. We would even apply the wrong standards. … The Lord’s way of final judgment will be to apply His perfect knowledge of the law a person has received and to judge on the basis of that person’s circumstances, motives, and actions throughout his or her entire life.”--Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostle

Russell M. Nelson Quote

"Paul added this word of warning: “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12).

"Ponder that! It means that during these perilous times, life will not be comfortable for true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. But we will have His approval. He gave us this assurance: “Blessed are all they who are persecuted for my name’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (3 Nephi 12:10).

"In short, as disciples, each of us will be put to the test. At any hour of any day, we have the privilege of choosing between right and wrong. This is an age-old battle that started in a premortal realm. And that battle is becoming more intense every day. Your individual strength of character is needed now more than ever before.

"The day is gone when you can be a quiet and comfortable Christian. Your religion is not just about showing up for church on Sunday. It is about showing up as a true disciple from Sunday morning through Saturday night—24/7! There is no such thing as a part-time disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.

...The burden of discipleship is heavy." --Elder Russell M. Nelson, Of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles, August 24, 2014

FHE Lesson -- Full-Time Missionary Service

Embedded video can be seen below.

If you're wondering which one is me, I'm the best looking one.  :-)

Below are the notes associated with the above slides.  Numbers correspond to the slide number.

Tammy’s family home evening lesson – The Joys and Blessings of Serving a Full-Time Mission

August 2, 2015

1 –The Field Is Watch Already to Harvest -- Doctrine Covenants 4:4, The Joys and Blessings of Full-Time Missionary Service

2 --“Long before leaving our earthly home to serve a full-time mission, we left heavenly parents to fulfill our mortal mission. We have a Father in Heaven, who knows us—our strengths and weaknesses, our abilities and potential. He knows which mission president and companions and which members and investigators we need in order to become the missionary, the husband and father, and the priesthood holder we are capable of becoming.” The Opportunity of a Lifetime, October 2011,W. Christopher Waddell

Story: “A few years ago, Elder Javier Misiego, from Madrid, Spain, was serving a full-time mission in Arizona. At that time, his mission call to the United States appeared somewhat unusual, as most young men from Spain were being called to serve in their own country.

At the conclusion of a stake fireside, where he and his companion had been invited to participate, Elder Misiego was approached by a less-active member of the Church who had been brought by a friend. It was the first time this man had been inside a chapel in years. Elder Misiego was asked if he might know a José Misiego in Madrid. When Elder Misiego responded that his father’s name was José Misiego, the man excitedly asked a few more questions to confirm that this was theJosé Misiego. When it was determined that they were speaking about the same man, this less-active member began to weep. “Your father was the only person I baptized during my entire mission,” he explained and described how his mission had been, in his mind, a failure. He attributed his years of inactivity to some feelings of inadequacy and concern, believing that he had somehow let the Lord down.

Elder Misiego then described what this supposed failure of a missionary meant to his family. He told him that his father, baptized as a young single adult, had married in the temple, that Elder Misiego was the fourth of six children, that all three boys and a sister had served full-time missions, that all were active in the Church, and that all who were married had been sealed in the temple.

The less-active returned missionary began to sob. Through his efforts, he now learned, scores of lives had been blessed, and the Lord had sent an elder from Madrid, Spain, all the way to a fireside in Arizona to let him know that he had not been a failure. The Lord knows where He wants each missionary to serve.

3 –“No missionary that ever lived failed to influence the lives of many for the better regardless of the number of converts he may have gained.”  -- James M. Dunn October 1983

4 -- In whatever manner the Lord may choose to bless us during the course of a mission, blessings of missionary service are not designed to end when we are released by our stake president. Your mission is a training ground for life. The experiences, lessons, and testimony obtained through faithful service are meant to provide a gospel-centered foundation that will last throughout mortality and into the eternities.

5 --Now to the young men who have yet to serve a full-time mission, I share President Monson’s counsel from last October: “I repeat what prophets have long taught—that every worthy, able young man should prepare to serve a mission. Missionary service is a priesthood duty—an obligation the Lord expects of us who have been given so very much” (“As We Meet Together Again,”Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2010, 5–6).

6 –How to Prepare to Serve a Full-Time Mission

“First, secure your individual testimony of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Know for yourself that you hold the priesthood and that Jesus Christ is your Savior.

Second, study and ponder the Book of Mormon to the point where you can declare that it was received by Joseph Smith from the angel Moroni and that the Prophet Joseph translated the book from the golden plates.

Third, be clean and pure. To those who have slipped, repentance is available if you will approach your bishop and seek his help and counsel.

Fourth, pay your tithes and offerings so that you can bear witness of this great principle of the gospel. Save money so that you can serve a mission. A mission is not free, and each missionary should expect to financially contribute towards the cost of his mission.

Fifth, learn how to work. Be willing to get up early in the morning, work hard all day, and retire on time. As you prepare for your mission, learn how to work.

And sixth, serve as a home teacher in your ward to know the joy of service.” – Earl C.Tingey, April 1998

7 – video presentation –Value of a Full-Time Mission, 5:23

8 –Elder Richard G. Scott, Of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles

"Now may I speak from my heart of what an honorable full-time mission has meant to me personally. I grew up in a home with very good parents, but my father was not a member and my mother was less active. After my mission that changed. They became strong members and served devotedly in the temple—he a sealer, she an ordinance worker. But as a young man, like many of you today, I had no way to judge personally the importance of a mission. I fell in love with an exceptional young woman. At a critical point in our courtship, she made it very clear that she would only be married in the temple to a returned missionary. Duly motivated, I served a mission in Uruguay.

"It was not easy. The Lord gave me many challenges that became stepping-stones to personal growth. There I gained my testimony that God the Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, did in fact visit Joseph Smith to begin a restoration of truth, priesthood authority, and the true Church on earth. I gained a witness that Joseph Smith is a singular prophet. I learned essential doctrines. I discovered what it meant to be led by the Spirit. Many a night I got up as my companion slept to pour my heart out to the Lord for guidance and direction. I pled for the ability to express effectively in Spanish my testimony and the truth I was learning to a people I had come to love. Those prayers were abundantly answered. At the same time, my future eternal companion, Jeanene, was being molded to become an exceptional wife and mother by her own mission.

"Most important, all that I now hold dear in life began to mature in the mission field. Had I not been encouraged to be a missionary, I would not have the eternal companion or precious family I dearly love. I am confident that I would not have had the exceptional professional opportunities that stretched my every capacity. I am certain that I would not have received the sacred callings with opportunities to serve for which I will be eternally grateful. My life has been richly blessed beyond measure because I served a mission.

9 -- "If you are a young man wondering whether you ought to fulfill a full-time mission…I know that a mission will provide extraordinary blessings for you now and throughout your life. I urge you not to pray to know whether you should go; rather, ask the Lord to guide you in whatever may be necessary to become a worthy, empowered full-time missionary. You will never regret serving a mission, but you most probably will regret not serving if that is your choice.” – Elder Richard G. Scott, April 2006

10 -- e-mail from MTC friend, Rob McKinney:

“I was a product of divorce and the only one in my house that attended church. I honestly didn't have much of a testimony at the time but my best friend and his family as well as my grandfather kept me in touch with the church. My friend was preparing for a mission and eventually went and I think I might have felt an emptiness in my life. I started kicking around the idea of going on a mission and really wasn't doing anything to prepare but I had devised a plan to get out of going to church and thankfully that plan was foiled by a wonderful young men's president. He kind of railroaded me into taking to the Bishop and before I knew what I was saying I told him I wanted to go on a mission.

I didn't know the difference between going on and serving a mission and I'm not going to say the difference but any young man or young woman that chooses a mission I challenge them to find out on their own the difference. I promise that if they do they will find great blessings in choosing what Heavenly Father wants us to do.

"Anyway, after that meeting came the meeting with the stake president. That meeting didn't go well and I found how my lack of preparation needed to change. I followed his counsel and before I knew it I was in class with Sister Stone in the MTC! The decision to serve a mission was the greatest blessing in my life.

"My mother that had not been to church in over 10 years before I served is now active and a current temple recommend holder. My patriarchal blessing told me my family would be blessed by my service and I testify that they were blessed greater than I could have imagined. Everyone is promised that if they serve. You are not only serving those in the mission but your family more than you could ever imagine.

11 -- "Serving a mission didn't keep my life free from trials because I've had many since my mission but serving helped me to gain a testimony of the Gospel and the Savior's love. I know that no matter what the trial I'm never alone. I experienced things on my mission I could never experience anywhere else. I will NEVER regret serving a mission but I would have had an eternity of regret if I chose not to.” –personal e-mail from Rob McKinney, July 28, 2015

12 --“May I quote from Elder Joe J. Christensen: “The Lord did not say, ‘Go on a mission if it fits your schedule, or if you happen to feel like it, or if it doesn’t interfere with your scholarship, your romance, or your educational plans.’ Preaching the gospel is a commandment and not merely a suggestion. It is a blessing and a privilege. … Remember, … the Lord and his prophets are counting on you” (“The Savior Is Counting on You,” Ensign, Nov. 1996, 41).

13-“There is not anything a young man can do that will be any more important than serving a full-time mission. The good they do as servants of the Lord Jesus Christ will carry on into eternity.

The greatest army of missionaries ever assembled in the history of the world is serving today. These young men, trusted and proven before they came to earth, are not ordinary young men. They are choice spirits that have been held in reserve to come forth in this day.”—H. Bryan Richards, October 1998, As for Me and My House, We Will Serve the Lord

Next slide—number 14

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, October 2011, We Are All Enlisted

 “When we rehearse the grandeur of Joseph Smith’s First Vision, we sometimes gloss over the menacing confrontation that came just prior to it, a confrontation intended to destroy the boy if possible but in any case to block the revelation that was to come. We don’t talk about the adversary any more than we have to, and I don’t like talking about him at all, but the experience of young Joseph reminds us of what every man, including every young man, in this audience needs to remember.

14 --"Number one, Satan, or Lucifer, or the father of lies—call him what you will—is real, the very personification of evil. His motives are in every case malicious, and he convulses at the appearance of redeeming light, at the very thought of truth. Number two, he is eternally opposed to the love of God, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and the work of peace and salvation. He will fight against these whenever and wherever he can. He knows he will be defeated and cast out in the end, but he is determined to take down with him as many others as he possibly can.

"As President Boyd K. Packer taught this morning, Satan cannot directly take a life. That is one of many things he cannot do. But apparently his effort to stop the work will be reasonably well served if he can just bind the tongue of the faithful. Brethren, if that is the case, I am looking tonight for men young and old who care enough about this battle between good and evil to sign on and speak up. We are at war, and for these next few minutes, I want to be a one-man recruiting station.

Do I need to hum a few bars of “We Are All Enlisted”? You know, the line about “We are waiting now for soldiers; who’ll volunteer?

Story:  For you, let me mix in an athletic analogy. This is a life-and-death contest we are in, young men, so I am going to get in your face a little, nose to nose, with just enough fire in my voice to singe your eyebrows a little—the way coaches do when the game is close and victory means everything. And with the game on the line, what this coach is telling you is that to play in this match, some of you have to be more morally clean than you now are. In this battle between good and evil, you cannot play for the adversary whenever temptation comes along and then expect to suit up for the Savior at temple and mission time as if nothing has happened. That, my young friends, you cannot do. God will not be mocked.

"So we have a dilemma tonight, you and I. It is that there are thousands of Aaronic Priesthood–age young men already on the records of this Church who constitute our pool of candidates for future missionary service. But the challenge is to have those deacons, teachers, and priests stay active enough and worthy enough to be ordained elders and serve as missionaries. So we need young men already on the team to stay on it and stop dribbling out of bounds just when we need you to get in the game and play your hearts out! In almost all athletic contests of which I know, there are lines drawn on the floor or the field within which every participant must stay in order to compete. Well, the Lord has drawn lines of worthiness for those called to labor with Him in this work. No missionary can be unrepentant of sexual transgression or profane language or pornographic indulgence and then expect to challenge others to repent of those very things! You can’t do that. The Spirit will not be with you, and the words will choke in your throat as you speak them. You cannot travel down what Lehi called “forbidden paths”5 and expect to guide others to the “strait and narrow”6 one—it can’t be done.

"But there is an answer to this challenge for you every bit as much as there is for that investigator to whom you will go. Whoever you are and whatever you have done, you can be forgiven. Every one of you young men can leave behind any transgression with which you may struggle. It is the miracle of forgiveness; it is the miracle of the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. But you cannot do it without an active commitment to the gospel, and you cannot do it without repentance where it is needed. I am asking you young men to be active and be clean. If required, I am asking you to get active and get clean.

15 --"Now, brethren, we speak boldly to you because anything more subtle doesn’t seem to work. We speak boldly because Satan is a real being set on destroying you, and you face his influence at a younger and younger age. So we grab you by the lapels and shout as forcefully as we know how:

Hark! the sound of battle sounding loudly and clear;

Come join the ranks! Come join the ranks! 

My young friends, we need tens of thousands of more missionaries in the months and years that lie ahead. They must come from an increased percentage of the Aaronic Priesthood who will be ordained, active, clean, and worthy to serve.

16 --Missionary work isn’t the only thing we need to do in this big, wide, wonderful Church. But almost everything else we need to do depends on people first hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ and coming into the faith. Surely that is why Jesus’s final charge to the Twelve was just that basic—to “go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”8 Then, and only then, can the rest of the blessings of the gospel fully come—family solidarity, youth programs, priesthood promises, and ordinances flowing right up to the temple. But as Nephi testified, none of that can come until one has “enter[ed] into the … gate.”9 With all that there is to do along the path to eternal life, we need a lot more missionaries opening that gate and helping people through it.” – Jeffrey R. Holland, October 2011, We Are All Enlisted

The Law of Chastity YW lesson

1  President Gordon B. Hinckley warned: “You live in a world of terrible temptations. Pornography, with its sleazy filth, sweeps over the earth like a horrible, engulfing tide. It is poison. Do not watch it or read it. It will destroy you if you do. It will take from you your self-respect. It will rob you of a sense of the beauties of life. It will tear you down and pull you into a slough of evil thoughts and possibly of evil actions. Stay away from it. Shun it as you would a foul disease, for it is just as deadly. Be virtuous in thought and in deed. God has planted in you, for a purpose, a divine urge which may be easily subverted to evil and destructive ends. When you are young, do not get involved in steady dating. When you reach an age where you think of marriage, then is the time to become so involved. But you boys who are in high school don’t need this, and neither do the girls” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1997, 71–72; or Ensign, Nov. 1997, 51).—Gospel principles, chapter 39

The video was embedded in PowerPoint but had to download separately for my blog.  See below.  :-)

Stephanie’s rose story

“I wanted to share with you what mom told me when I was a teenage girl that meant so much to me. 

“My mom told me to picture myself as a beautiful, perfect rose. She said and now picture a row of young men, those who you will date, it may be a couple, it may be a few but at the end of the row is your husband, your soul mate. Now the first young man in the row is the first one to take you out on a date so he is holding the rose that represents you. In his other hand is another rose, he is going to treat them both quite different. One rose, he will be able to touch and smell and feel while the other rose is untouched and remains beautiful. The roses will be passed down the row with the same rules for each young man. When the two roses that have been treated much differently come to your husband which one is he going to want? Which one are you going to want to give him? The one that is wilted and losing petals? Or the untouched beautiful rose that was left only for him?

“Anyway, I know that might be kind of corny but it meant a lot to me and I was so happy with my decision to be the beautiful rose not the wilted one. I know that was the right thing to do even with the [peer] pressures growing up and I'm sure they're probably even worse now but what I found was that the stronger the [peer] pressure was the more power and self confidence I gained from sticking to my guns, it made me stronger to hold firm to what I believed in. And in the end I married a wonderful man who respected my beliefs and is a wonderful husband and father and anyone who didn't respect my decisions in the past well they just weren't half the man he is! So I appreciate them letting their true colors shine so I could move on to much better things! And I feel like I have been greatly rewarded by God with Will and now Weston.”

– personal e-mail received from Stephanie, November 1, 2014

This is the lesson I taught yesterday to be young women in my ward.  I didn't get to the last five slides :-(.  I barely made it to the video and Stephanie's story then I told the girls when I think of the perfect rose I think of a red long stemmed rose.  So I bought them each a red long stemmed rose to take home with them to remind them to keep the law of chastity.  Those are the roses pictured above :-)

I had to double duty yesterday.  After teaching YW at church, I had to teach FHE when we got home.  That PowerPoint is to come.  If I can figure it out again.  It took me forever to figure out how to convert to JPEG to put on my blog.

Panseric Puppets

The moral decline in the world is atrocious.  Seems like nobody stands up for what's right anymore.  More and more people seem to be panseric puppets who care more about what the world--or specific people or groups -- thinks of them than what God thinks or in defending truth and standng for what's right.  And many of those who once stood for something are dropping like flies.  I've seen it firsthand.

Brings to mind a song from a few years back.  Remember this classic?



As Aaron Tippin says in the song, "You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything, you've got to be your own man, not a puppet on a string. Never compromise what's right and uphold your family name, you've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything."

Too many people nowadays are compromising what's right and disgracing their family name.  Too many people are not their own man but relinquish control of their lives to Satan and become puppets on strings. Too many people are falling -- dropping like flies.

Don't be a panseric puppet.  Take control of your life.  Stand for something.  Defend truth. Do what is right.

That's my two cents.

Wonderful Random Quotes

Here are some random quotes I gleaned from daily messages I have received recently. These are a few that stood out to me so I thought I would share them on my blog.  Enjoy!

"A father’s duty is to make his home a place of happiness and joy."

—Ezra Taft Benson

"The secret of a happy marriage is to serve God and each other. The goal of marriage is unity and oneness, as well as self-development."

—Ezra Taft Benson

"Happiness doesn't come from external circumstances. It comes from the inside—regardless of what is happening around us."

—Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"As disciples of Jesus Christ we have a responsibility to work together with like-minded believers, to raise our voices for what is right."

—Robert D. Hales

"Enduring to the end requires total commitment to the Savior and to our covenants."

—Kevin W. Pearson

"We should remember that a loving Heavenly Father is aware of our righteous desires and will honor His promises that nothing will be withheld from those who faithfully keep their covenants."

—Bonnie L. Oscarson

"We can receive inspiration for solutions to our problems during sacrament meeting."

—Don R. Clarke

"Yielding to emotions such as anger or hurt or defensiveness will drive away the Holy Ghost."

—Richard G. Scott

"All of us should banish hateful communications and practice civility for differences of opinion."

—Dallin H. Oak

Interestingly I gave the above advice to someone not too long ago -- it didn't go over well. It's nice to know that I gave the same advice an apostle would give.  :-) Just thought I would add my two cents to the above quote.

"Logical thinking will not be enough to get answers to the questions that matter most in life. We need revelation from God."

—Henry B. Eyring

"Even as we seek to be meek and to avoid contention, we must not compromise or dilute our commitment to the truths we understand."

—Dallin H. Oak

"For decisions that affect eternity, having a gospel perspective is essential."

—Elder Rafael L. Pino

"To be offended is a choice we make; it is not a condition inflicted or imposed upon us by someone or something else."

—David A. Bednar

"The weakest among us, through God’s grace, can become spiritually strong, because God “is no respecter of persons.”

—President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"When we follow the Savior of the world, we flourish … despite the many terrible circumstances around us."

—Quentin L. Cook

I guess that's enough for one blog post.  I hope you enjoyed these quotes as much as I did.  :-)

22 Years

22 years ago today I caught a plane from Tampa Florida to Salt Lake City at the completion of my full-time mission.  You may wonder why I post the anniversary of my mission departure and homecoming on my blog twice a year.  It is because I consider it my greatest accomplishment thus far in mortality.  And, believe it or not, I've actually accomplished quite a bit in my life.

Pictures of me towards the end of my mission in Largo, Florida (Seminole area) 1993

From the Mouths of Babes

My sister told me a cute story about my nephew that I wanted to share.  I hope I get it right.

Last Saturday my sister took her kids to the park to play.  My seven year old nephew met a new acquaintance/friend.  My nephew was asking his new friend what he was going to do later that day.  His friends said he was going to church.  My nephew asked him which church he goes to.  His friend told him he didn't know.  To which my nephew replied, "I go to the true church".  :-)

That's my nephew!  Just like his aunt -- direct, honest, and straightforward.;-)  He'll make a great missionary someday. :-)

Thoughts

"I believe reading the scriptures is the best washing machine for unclean or uncontrolled thoughts." -- President James E. Faust (“The Power of Self-Mastery,” April 2000 general conference).

I really liked that quote from an article I read this morning. Here is a story from that same article on LDS.org by Sister Linda S. Reeves of the General Relief Society Presidency:

"On the day my husband, Mel, and I moved into the mission home in Riverside, California, a 30-foot pine tree was uprooted from the front yard by a tree-removal company.

We were told that one week earlier, two other pine trees of similar height had also been removed. The top branches of the trees had become yellowed and diseased. These mighty trees were decades old. What was the cause of their demise? Bark beetles—tiny insects, each about the size of a piece of cooked rice! How could something so small kill something so big? These tiny beetles burrow their way into the bark of the tree, weakening them and eventually killing the tree. I felt drawn to compare the tiny bark beetles to thoughts that we allow into our minds that can infest our spirits, cause spiritual illness and lead to sin."-- Linda S. Reeves

The following quotes are from the same article by Sister Reeves, quoting President Packer from 1973:

“Probably the greatest challenge to people of any age, particularly young people, and the most difficult thing you will face in mortal life is to learn to control your thoughts. As a man ‘thinketh in his heart, so is he’ (Proverbs 23:7). One who can control his thoughts has conquered himself.” -- President Boyd K. Packer

“If you let them, they will devise the most clever persuasions to hold your attention. ... Even convince you that it is innocent—for they are but thoughts.

“If you can control your thoughts, you can overcome habits, even degrading personal habits. If you can learn to master them you will have a happy life." -- President Boyd K. Packer, October 1973 General Conference

Sister Reeves goes on to mention the tragedy of the story David:

"One of the most tragic and well-known stories in the Bible is that of King David and Bathsheba. The scriptures tell us that “at the time when kings go out to battle,” David “tarried still at Jerusalem.” In other words, David wasn’t out leading his troops, as he should have been, but stayed home at the palace. “At eventide” he got up out of his bed and walked upon the roof. Perhaps he had earlier seen something he should not have seen or looked at and hoped he might see it again. As David looked upon the beautiful Bathsheba bathing, he did not look away as he should have. His unrighteous thoughts and desires eventually led to adultery and a web of deceit that cost him his eternal inheritance." -- Linda S. Reeves



"Remember that YOU are the master of your thoughts. Satan cannot force you to do anything you don’t want to do. Take control of your life!" -- Linda S. Reeves

That's my two cents. -- Actually it's Sister Reeves' two cents but I wholeheartedly agree. :-)

Smooth Sailing

I've been on a TG Sheppard kick lately.  Great music from my childhood.

Apparently this song, Smooth Sailing, is the story of my life.  :-)

It's too bad I couldn't find a live 80s perm fluff head version.  That would've been tight!  :-) The song is still awesome regardless. Enjoy!

Filled with Life and Energy

I read an article in the Ensign this month that I want to share with you.  I'm going to put a few of the quotes here but if you want to read the whole article click on this link.

I have done a blog post before about early to bed and early to rise but this article is much better and there are quotes from apostles and prophets to back up the claims.

"As a new General Authority, Elder Marion G. Romney (1897–1988) felt inadequate in fulfilling his important calling, so he sought advice from his friend Elder Harold B. Lee (1899–1973) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The counsel offered that day both surprised and motivated Elder Romney. Elder Lee said: “If you are to be successful as a General Authority, you will need to be inspired. You will need to receive revelation. I will give you one piece of advice: Go to bed early and get up early.If you do, your body and mind will become rested and then in the quiet of those early morning hours, you will receive more flashes of inspiration and insight than at any other time of the day.”"

The article mentions many scriptural examples of rising early. I won't mention them here but click on the link to read the article.

“Cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated” (D&C 88:124)  Invigorate means “to fill with life and energy.”

"The ancient philosopher Aristotle suggested other benefits to those who keep an early schedule: “It is well to be up before day-break, for such a habit contributes to health, wealth and wisdom.”2 Early U.S. statesman Benjamin Franklin later put that thought into his well-known maxim: “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”3 Most people put health, wealth, and wisdom toward the top of things most desired in life."

"Former Brigham Young University president Ernest L. Wilkinson suggested that keeping an early schedule is associated with health benefits. Referring to President David O. McKay (1873–1970), President of the Church at the time, he said: “One of the great reasons, I am sure, why President McKay has lived to such a good, ripe, and vigorous old age has been the fact that as a young man he developed habits of retiring to bed early, arising early, generally before sun up, when his mind was clear and his body vigorous, to do the day’s work.”5"

"Connections have also been made between keeping an early schedule and mental and emotional health. Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has said, “To those who feel defeated and downtrodden, look to the early hours of the day for your rescue.”6"

"The connection between sleep patterns and wisdom is not just a theory. A study conducted by researchers at Brigham Young University looked at the effect of several variables—such as exercise, nutrition, and sleep habits—on students’ grade point average (GPA). The researchers found that of all the variables, “weekday and weekend wake-up times had the largest relative effects on semester GPA. For each hour of delay in reported average weekday wake-up time, the predicted GPA decreased by 0.132 on a standard 0.00 to 4.00 grading scale. … Each hour of delay in average weekend wake-up time corresponded to a decrease in predicted GPA of 0.115.”7"

"Have we become like the children of Israel, who refused to follow the Lord’s antidote for snakebites “because of the simpleness of the way”? (1 Nephi 17:41; see alsoHelaman 8:14–15)."

"Consider the counsel President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, gave related to gaining wisdom: “I counsel our children to do their critical studying in the early hours of the morning when they’re fresh and alert, rather than to fight physical weariness and mental exhaustion at night. I’ve learned the power of the dictum, ‘Early to bed, early to rise.’”8"

Interesting sidenote -- at President Packer's funeral Elder Ballard mentioned Sister Packer encouraging her husband not to call the brethren before 5 AM. He said for that he was grateful to her. :-)

"During a fireside address at Brigham Young University, Elder Christensen further stated: “Some of you are not getting the rest that you need. Some are habituated to going to bed late and sleeping much longer than your system really needs, thus missing out on some of the personal inspiration you could be receiving.”10"

"President Hinckley added another promise to the obedient: “If you go to bed at 10:00 and get up by 6:00 a.m., things will work out for you.”11"

Quotes taken from the following article: Filled with Life and Energy, Randal A.Wright, Ensign, July 2015

There is some pretty powerful evidence that getting up early and going to bed early is good for you. I guess Ben Franklin and Aristotle were both onto something.  :-)

That's my two cents.

Religious Liberty

I was reading the Ensign the other day and since religious liberty is being attacked and has been in the news lately this quote by Elder Hales really stood out to me.

Elder Robert D. Hales
Quorun of the 12 Apostles

“As we walk the path of spiritual liberty in these last days, we must understand that the faithful use of our agency depends upon our having religious freedom. …

“There are four cornerstones of religious freedom that we as Latter-day Saints must rely upon and protect.

“The first is freedom to believe. No one should be criticized, persecuted, or attacked by individuals, or governments either, for what he or she believes about God. …

“The second … is the freedom to share our faith and our beliefs with others. …

“The third … is the freedom to form a religious organization, a church, to worship peacefully with others. …

“The fourth … is the freedom to live our faith—free exercise of faith not just in the home and chapel but also in public places.”

Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Preserving Agency, Protecting Religious Freedom,” Ensign, May 2015, 112.

Taken from: April 2015 Conference Notebook, July 2015 Ensign