Exercise Patience......

The ultimate purpose of our suffering adversity in this telestial sphere is to give us “EXPERIENCE”THAT WILL BENEFIT US IN WAYS WE CANNOT FORESEE. There is a divine law at work here: without going through certain experiences that are tailored for our own good, we cannot be “exalted on high.” D&C 121:7-8 “My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.” We will recognize some of these experiences in our own lives. For the faithful, trials come in the form of a calling from the Lord, as the scripture clearly says we are “called to pass through tribulations.” Through no fault of our own, we might see many of our hopes frustrated as “the elements combine to hedge up the way.” We might be “cast into the pit” of depression or illness or addiction. Still, tribulations are calculated to help us toward our ultimate exaltation in the intricate plan of the Lord for each of his children. Our task is to “endure it well,” meaning to EXERCISE PATIENCE AND FAITH IN THE SAVIOR. The Apostle Paul understood that when we face adversity and patience, the resulting “experience” is the basis of our hope for eternal progression in the kingdom of God: “We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope.”

Breck England

Eliminate ALL.....

It is possible to live with all your power in the present. You can replace old doubts with new hopes. So clean out that closet in your mind and haul a load of needless negative baggage off to D.I.

You can begin by practicing just three simple exercises in right thinking: (1) Remember that any failure is only temporary in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The decision to carry on in spite of disappointment turns the worst circumstance into success. (2) There can be no self-pity--and that means no self-pity. Nothing dissipates our strength faster or more quickly drives away those who would truly wish to help us than self-pity. (3) Eliminate all "would haves," "could haves," "should haves," and " if onlys." What has happened is past and finished. Leave it there. Profound power will come in living and making things right in the present.

Be Renewed in the Spirit of your Mind PATRICIA T. HOLLAND Brigham Young University on 6 September 1988

Eternal Marrige......

Eternal Marriage!!! If you want something to last forever, you treat it differently. … It becomes special because you have made it so.

Sustaining Power of Faith.....

You can learn to use faith more effectively by applying this principle taught by Moroni: “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.” Thus, every time you try your faith, that is, act in worthiness on an impression, you will receive the confirming evidence of the Spirit. Those feelings will fortify your faith. As you repeat that pattern, your faith will become stronger. The Lord knows your needs. When you ask with honesty and real intent, He will prompt you to do that which will increase your ability to act in faith. With consistent practice, faith will become a vibrant, powerful, uplifting, inspiring force in your life. As you walk to the boundary of your understanding into the twilight of uncertainty, exercising faith, you will be led to find solutions you would not obtain otherwise. I testify that I know that is true.

Richard G. Scott, “The Sustaining Power of Faith in Times of Uncertainty and Testing,” Ensign, May 2003, 75

Power Over Our Myself....

One Day at A Time

We hear and read, over and over again, that we are powerless over the behavior of others, and that their business is not our responsibility. It may seem paradoxical, then, to assert that we, the loved ones, can have a tremendous influence in bring about good behavior, sobriety and helping them to maintain a good way of life.

When we continue to nag and domineer, complain and criticize, taking over their responsibilities, we are assuming, in large measure, the responsibility for deferred sobriety or good behavior.

As we abandon the role of accuser, judge, manager and “helper”, the climate shows marked improvement. A pleasant, cheerful environment, which we can create often creates in our loved ones a desire to get sober and change their behavior.

Being powerless over our loved ones means that it cannot be done by force. A change in our attitude has a limitless power to bring serenity and order to our lives.

“I am not powerless over myself, and the way I act and react. This is, in itself, a power that can work miracles in changing the attitudes of others.”

Men Are, That They Might Have Joy......

Sadness, disappointment, and severe challenge are events in life, not life itself. I do not minimize how hard some of these events are. They can extend over a long period of time, but they should not be allowed to become the confining center of everything you do. The Lord inspired Lehi to declare the fundamental truth, “Men are, that they might have joy.” ¹ That is a conditional statement: “they might have joy.” It is not conditional for the Lord. His intent is that each of us finds joy. It will not be conditional for you as you obey the commandments, have faith in the Master, and do the things that are necessary to have joy here on earth.

Your joy in life depends upon your trust in Heavenly Father and His holy Son, your conviction that their plan of happiness truly can bring you joy. Pondering their doctrine will let you enjoy the beauties of this earth and enrich your relationships with others. It will lead you to the comforting, strengthening experiences that flow from prayer to Father in Heaven and the answers He gives in return.

A pebble held close to the eye appears to be a gigantic obstacle. Cast on the ground, it is seen in perspective. Likewise, problems or trials in our lives need to be viewed in the perspective of scriptural doctrine. Otherwise they can easily overtake our vision, absorb our energy, and deprive us of the joy and beauty the Lord intends us to receive here on earth. Some people are like rocks thrown into a sea of problems. They are drowned by them. Be a cork. When submerged in a problem, fight to be free to bob up to serve again with happiness.

Finding Joy in Life , Elder Richard G. Scott, Ensign, May, 1996

Sorrow vs Triumph.....

Sometimes we spend so much time trying to determine what we did wrong in the past to deserve the unpleasant happenings of the moment that we fail to resolve the challenges of the present. Og Mandino wrote in his book The Greatest Miracle in the World. “If we lock ourselves in a prison of failure and self-pity, we are the only jailers…we have the only key to our freedom.” We can let ourselves out of such a prison by turning to the Lord for strength. With His help we can use our trials as stepping stones. The keys are in our hands. “I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise. (D&C 82:10.) If we are offended and resentful, can we believe that He is bound to help us in our tragedies and disappointments? This scripture does not tell us how or when this commitment will be effective or realized, but His promise is real and binding. Our challenge is to endure (progress). There will always be testing’s and trials along life’s paths. Heartaches and tragedies need not defeat us if we remember God’s promise. A worthwhile attitude for all of us could well be, “Help me O Lord, to remember thy love for us and help us to be fortified by thy strength when our eyes are blurred with tears of sorrow and our vision is limited.” It is expedient for all of us, particularly those who may be weighed down by grief because of acts of misconduct or misfortune, to recall that even the Prophet Joseph Smith had hours of despair because of his very trying experiences in the Liberty Jail. Perhaps he too was entitled to question, “What did I do wrong? What have I done to displease Thee, O Lord? Where have I failed? Why are the answers to my prayers and pleas withheld?” In response to the feelings of his heart and mind he cried out; “O God, where art Thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place:” D&C 121:1.) The reassuring response came: “MY SON, PEACE BE UNTO THY SOUL; THINE ADVERSITY AND THINE AFFLICTIONS SHALL BE BUT A SMALL MOMENT; “AND THEN IF THOU ENDURE IT WELL, GOD SHALL EXALT THEE ON HIGH; THOU SHALT TRIUMPH OVER ALL THY FOES.” (d&c 121: 7-8.)

Turmoil and Challeges.......

When all the challenges pour down on you, you will have a quiet inner feeling of support. You will be prompted to know what to do. You can live in a world of turmoil and great challenge and be at peace. You will be inspired to know what to do and to have the power or capacity to do it. Remember  this promise of the Lord as clarified by President Harold B. Lee: “Ye are to be taught from on high. Sanctify yourselves [that is, keep my commandments] and ye shall be endowed with power.” (D&C 43:16.) Richard G. Scott, “Making the Right Decisions,” Ensign, May 1991, 34  

Feelings of a Tender Parent.....

Feelings of a Tender Parent

Every parent faces moments of fear. However, when we exercise our faith by teaching our children and doing what we can to help them, our fears will diminish. Lehi girded up his loins, and with faith “he did exhort [his children] with all the feeling of a tender parent, that they would hearken to his words, that perhaps the Lord would be merciful to them.” And “he bade them to keep the commandments of the Lord.”
We too must have the faith to teach our children and bid them to keep the commandments. We should not let their choices weaken our faith. Our worthiness will not be measured according to their righteousness. Lehi did not lose the blessing of feasting at the tree of life because Laman and Lemuel refused to partake of its fruit. Sometimes as parents we feel we have failed when our children make mistakes or stray. Parents are never failures when they do their best to love, teach, pray, and care for their children. Their faith, prayers, and efforts will be consecrated to the good of their children.

Robert D. Hales, “With All the Feeling of a Tender Parent: A Message of Hope to Families,” Ensign, May 2004, 88

Reactions To Others.......

It is not easy to restrain ourselves from reaction to what others do that seems to affect us. A healthy detachment brings about the very changes we were powerless to make by continually fighting the problem.

“God helps those who don’t try to take over His work.”

And Nothing Shall Offend Them......

"When we believe or say we have been offended, we usually mean we feel insulted, mistreated, snubbed, or disrespected. And certainly clumsy, embarrassing, unprincipled, and mean-spirited things do occur in our interactions with other people that would allow us to take offense. However, it ultimately is impossible for another person to offend you or to offend me. Indeed, believing that another person offended us is fundamentally false. To be offended is a choice we make; it is not acondition inflicted or imposed upon us by someone or something else.

In the grand division of all of God’s creations, there are things to act and things to be acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:13–14). As sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, we have been blessed with the gift of moral agency, the capacity for independent action and choice. Endowed with agency, you and I are agents, and we primarily are to act and not just be acted upon. To believe that someone or something can make us feel offended, angry, hurt, or bitter diminishes our moral agency and transforms us into objects to be acted upon. As agents, however, you and I have the power to act and to choose how we will respond to an offensive or hurtful situation. 

"David A. Bednar in the November 2006 Conference called "And Nothing Shall Offend Them". I quote:

The idea of 'acting' versus 'being acted upon' is a really cool concept that you can think a lot about. Every time we choose to not get angry, offended, upset, or bitter towards someone we are choosing to act instead of being acted upon. I am grateful that the example Jesus Christ gave was to act, and that by acting we not only better ourselves but are more capable to serve others and bring to pass our missionary purpose. I love this church and I love this restored gospel. I love you all lots too!

-Anziano Benjamin Smith

Judging.......

“It is better that a man should be judged of God than of man, for the judgments of God are always just, but judgments of man are not always just. (Mosiah 29:12)

Even the best of people can make mistakes in judgment. Because our vision is limited and we can never fully know the thoughts and intents of another, our judgments are finite and often less than perfect. How reassuring to know that there is ONE who looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7), One whose judgments are merciful yet just, One who knows the beginning and the end—and everything in between. We can trust our righteous judge (Moses 6:57) because he is perfect and his judgments are flawless. The words of Abinadi echo down the centuries. “The time shall come when all shall see the salvation of the Lord; when every nation, kindred, tongue, and people shall see eye to eye and shall confess before God that his judgments are just” (Mosiah 16:1). Perfect judgment is the province alone of him who is perfect.

The Best Is Yet To Come......

As a new year begins and we try to benefit from a proper view of what has gone before, I plead with you not to dwell on days now gone nor to yearn vainly for yesterdays, however good those yesterdays may have been. The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead and remember that faith is always pointed toward the future. Faith always has to do with blessings and truths and events that will yet be efficacious in our lives.

Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Best Is Yet to Be,” Ensign, Jan 2010, 22–27

Patience.....

I learned that patience was far more than simply waiting for something to happen—patience required actively working toward worthwhile goals and not getting discouraged when results didn’t appear instantly or without effort.
There is an important concept here: patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can—working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Continue in Patience,” Ensign, May 2010, 56–59

The Atonement.....

The Atonement not only benefits the sinner but also benefits those sinned against—that is, the victims. By forgiving “those who trespass against us” (JST, Matt. 6:13) the Atonement brings a measure of peace and comfort to those who have been innocently victimized by the sins of others. The basic source for the healing of the soul is the Atonement of Jesus Christ. This is true whether it be from the pain of a personal tragedy or a terrible national calamity… .
A sister who had been through a painful divorce wrote of her experience in drawing from the Atonement. She said: “Our divorce … did not release me from the obligation to forgive. I truly wanted to do it, but it was as if I had been commanded to do something of which I was simply incapable.” Her bishop gave her some sound advice: “Keep a place in your heart for forgiveness, and when it comes, welcome it in.” Many months passed as this struggle to forgive continued. She recalled: “During those long, prayerful moments … I tapped into a life-giving source of comfort from my loving Heavenly Father. I sense that he was not standing by glaring at me for not having accomplished forgiveness yet; rather he was sorrowing with me as I wept. …
“In the final analysis, what happened in my heart is for me an amazing and miraculous evidence of the Atonement of Christ. I had always viewed the Atonement as a means of making repentance work for the sinner. I had not realized that it also makes it possible for the one sinned against to receive into his or her heart the sweet peace of forgiving.”

James E. Faust, “The Atonement: Our Greatest Hope,” Ensign, Nov 2001, 18

Obstacles In Receiving Spiritual Direction.....

“We face two particular obstacles in being prepared to receive spiritual direction. The first is when we do not believe that daily inspiration is available to us. Instead of looking at ongoing guidance as something available only to leaders and prominent members, we need to truly believe that we too can access inspiration for our regular lives. “The second thing, of course, is worthiness. The Spirit is not going to help an unworthy person,” he said.

All who do humble themselves and with a sincere heart seek the guidance of our Heavenly Father will receive His inspiration.

Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Speaking at a seminar hosted by the Church’s Human Resources Department, he answered questions about being influenced by the Spirit in our daily work. “Spirit Can Guide All Aspects of Life, Elder Scott Says”

When There Is Nothing Left....

We see such a limited part of the eternal plan He has fashioned for each one of us. Trust Him, even when in eternal perspective it temporarily hurts very much. Have patience when you are asked to wait when you want immediate action. He may ask you to do things which are powerfully against your will. Exercise faith and say, Let Thy will be done. Such experiences, honorably met, prepare you and condition you for yet greater blessings. As your Father, His purpose is your eternal happiness, your continuing development, your increasing capacity. His desire is to share with you all that He has. The path you are to walk through life may be very different from others. You may not always know why He does what He does, but you can know that He is perfectly just and perfectly merciful. He would have you suffer no consequence, no challenge, endure no burden that is superfluous to your good. To gain unshakable faith in Jesus Christ is to flood your life with brilliant light. You are no longer alone to struggle with challenges you know you cannot resolve or control yourself, for He said, “If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.” (Moro. 7:33; italics added.) If you are despondent, racked by transgression, are ill, alone, or desperately in need of comfort and support, I solemnly testify that the Lord will help you when you carefully obey the spiritual law upon which that help is predicated. He is your Father. You are His child. He loves you. He will never let you down. I know He will bless you. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. Richard G. Scott, “Obtaining Help from the Lord,” Ensign, Nov 1991, 84 WHEN THERE IS NOTHING LEFT BUT GOD, THAT IS WHEN YOU FIND OUT THAT GOD IS ALL YOU NEED  

Obtaining Help From The Lord....

Help from the Lord generally comes in increments. He can immediately cure serious illnesses or disabilities or even allow the dead to be raised. But the general pattern is that improvement comes in sequential steps. That plan gives us an opportunity to discover what the Lord expects us to learn. It requires our patience to recognize His timetable. It provides growth from our efforts and trust in Him and the opportunity to express gratitude for the help given.

Often we have difficulty mastering lessons the Lord wants us to learn when things are going too well in our lives. When there is suffering or pain, we ask ourselves a lot of questions. Some of them ought to be: What does the Lord want me to learn from this experience? What do I need to do? What do I need to change? Whom do I need to serve? Or what characteristic must I improve? Pondering and prayer will help us understand what we are to learn from the challenges we are asked to overcome.

Richard G. Scott, “Obtaining Help from the Lord,” Ensign, Nov 1991, 84

Wayward Childrev.......

Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that parents can follow Lehi’s example when dealing with wayward children (and loved ones): “We should not let their choices weaken our faith.  Our worthiness will not be measured according to their righteousness.  Lehi did not lose the blessings of feasting at the tree of life because Laman and Lemuel refused to partake of its fruit.  Sometimes as parents and loved ones we feel we have failed when our children make mistakes or stray.  Parents and loved ones are NEVER failures when they do their best to love, teach, pray and care for their loved ones. 

Receive These Things.....

Mosiah 24:14 “I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs…that you may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.”

Again and again God has miraculously delivered his people from suffering and even certain death. But holy writ also attests that he does not always do so. On many occasions he chooses to strengthen us in the midst of our troubles rather that remove us from them. There are lessons to be learned, experiences to be acquired, compassion and empathy to be developed through suffering. James wrote: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into many afflictions; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” To be sure, few of us would pray for trials, for trials come into our lives without our invitation. At the same time, an elevated perspective upon our difficulties will aid us in our understanding of how God is making us more and more like him. We are then able to bear witness of the power of deliverance that comes into our lives through seeking the Holy One of Israel.