This is gonna be a long one. I am taking an online class while I am in Alaska. Teaching of the Living Prophets. We got to make an Inspirational Quote Book during the semester and so here is my finished product. Well hopefully it is never finished but here is what I have thus far. I have had such a wonderful experience studying the words of the living prophets on these different subject. It has made my time in Alaska more meaningful. I am surrounded by so much beauty. God truly does bless you and helps you grow in every situation you are in.

Inspirational Quote Book

Family

• ·         That is because the greatest joys and the greatest sorrows we experience are in family relationships. The joys come from putting the welfare of others above our own. That is what love is. And the sorrow comes primarily from selfishness, which is the absence of love. The ideal God holds for us is to form families in the way most likely to lead to happiness and away from sorrow. A man and a woman are to make sacred covenants that they will put the welfare and happiness of the other at the center of their lives. Children are to be born into a family where the parents hold the needs of children equal to their own in importance. And children are to love parents and each other. Henry B. Eyring “Our Perfect Example” Nov 2009
• ·         Each family prayer, each episode of family scripture study, and each family home evening is a brushstroke on the canvas of our souls. No one event may appear to be very impressive or memorable. But just as the yellow and gold and brown strokes of paint complement each other and produce an impressive masterpiece, so our consistency in doing seemingly small things can lead to significant spiritual results. “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great” (D&C 64:33). Consistency is a key principle as we lay the foundation of a great work in our individual lives and as we become more diligent and concerned in our own homes. David A. Bednar “More Diligent and Concerned at Home” Nov 2009
• ·         In these last days it is essential- even critical- that parents and children listen to and learn from one another. M. Russell Ballard “Mothers and Daughters” May 2010
• ·         One hundred years ago, President Joseph F. Smith connected happiness directly to the family and admonished us to focus our efforts there. He said: “There can be no genuine happiness separate and apart from the home. … There is no happiness without service, and there is no service greater than that which converts the home into a divine institution, and which promotes and preserves family life. … The home is what needs reforming” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith [1998], 382, 384). M. Russell Ballard “That the Lost May Be Found” April 2012
• ·         The family unit is fundamental not only to society and to the Church but to our hope for eternal life. Henry B. Eyring “The Family” Ensign Feb 1998
• ·         We need to make our homes a place of refuge from the storm, which is increasing in intensity all about us. Even if the smallest openings are left unattended, negative influences can penetrate the very walls of our homes. L. Tom Perry “The Importance of the Family” April 2003
• ·         The key to strengthening our families is having the Spirit of the Lord come into our homes. The goal of our families is to be on the strait and narrow path. Robert D. Hales “Strengthening Families: Our Sacred Duty” April 1999
• ·         While we may despair when, after all we can do, some of our children stray from the path of righteousness, the words of Orson F. Whitney can comfort us: “Though some of the sheep may wander, the eye of the Shepherd is upon them, and sooner or later they will feel the tentacles of Divine Providence reaching out after them and drawing them back to the fold. Either in this life or the life to come, they will return. They will have to pay their debt to justice; they will suffer for their sins; and may tread a thorny path; but if it leads them at last, like the penitent Prodigal, to a loving and forgiving [mother’s and] father’s heart and home, the painful experience will not have been in vain. Pray for [our] careless and disobedient children; hold on to them with [our] faith. Hope on, trust on, till you see the salvation of God” (Orson F. Whitney, in Conference Report, Apr. 1929, 110).
• ·         Heavenly Father has assigned us to a great variety of stations to strengthen and, when needed, to lead travelers to safety. Our most important and powerful assignments are in the family. They are important because the family has the opportunity at the start of a child’s life to put feet firmly on the path home. Parents, brothers and sisters, grandparents, aunts and uncles are made more powerful guides and rescuers by the bonds of love that are the very nature of a family. Henry B. Eyring “Help Them on Their Way Home” April 2010
• ·         A study of the scriptures will help our testimonies and the testimonies of our family members. Our children today are growing up surrounded by voices urging them to abandon that which is right and to pursue, instead, the pleasures of the world. Unless they have a firm foundation in the gospel of Jesus Christ, a testimony of the truth, and a determination to live righteously, they are susceptible to these influences. It is our responsibility to fortify and protect them. Thomas S. Monson “Three Goals to Guide You” Oct 2007 

Agency

• ·         There’s a fine balance between agency and inspiration. We’re expected to do everything in our power and then to seek an answer from the Lord, a confirming seal that we’ve reached the right conclusion; and sometimes, happily, in addition, we get added truths and knowledge that we hadn’t even supposed. Bruce R. McConkie “Agency or Inspiration?” Jan 1975
• ·         God grant us wisdom in these things. God grant us the courage and the ability to stand on our own feet and use our agency and the abilities and capacities we possess; then let’s be sufficiently humble and amenable to the Spirit to bow our will to his will, to get his ratifying, confirming seal of approval, to get in our lives in that way the spirit of revelation. And if we so do, there’s no question about the result; it’s peace in this life; it’s glory and honor and dignity in the life to come. Bruce R. McConkie “Agency or Inspiration?” Jan 1975
• ·         The cost of the Atonement was borne by the Lord without compulsion, for agency is a sovereign principle. According to the plan, agency must be honored. It was so from the beginning, from Eden. There was too much at issue to introduce man into mortality by force. That would contravene the very law essential to the plan. The plan provided that each spirit child of God would receive a mortal body and each would be tested. Adam saw that it must be so and made his choice. “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy” (2 Nephi 2:25). Adam and Eve ventured forth to multiply and replenish the earth as they had been commanded to do. The creation of their bodies in the image of God, as a separate creation, was crucial to the plan. Their subsequent Fall was essential if the condition of mortality was to exist and the plan to proceed. Boyd K. Packer “Who is Jesus Christ?” Mar 2008
• ·         Few concepts have more potential to mislead us than the idea that choice, or agency, is an ultimate goal. For Latter-day Saints, this potential confusion is partly a product of the fact that moral agency—the right to choose—is a fundamental condition of mortal life. Without this precious gift of God, the purpose of mortal life could not be realized. To secure our agency in mortality we fought a mighty contest the book of Revelation calls a “war in heaven.” This premortal contest ended with the devil and his angels being cast out of heaven and being denied the opportunity of having a body in mortal life (see Rev. 12:7–9). But our war to secure agency was won. The test in this postwar mortal estate is not to secure choice but to use it—to choose good instead of evil so that we can achieve our eternal goals. In mortality, choice is a method, not a goal. Dallin H. Oaks “Weightier Matters” Devotional Feb 9, 1999
• ·         It is no ordinary blessing to live in these latter days. These are glorious times foreseen by ancient prophets and attended by watchful, angelic hosts. The Lord is mindful of His Church. He is also mindful of those who follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost and join with their brothers and sisters the world over in helping to bring forth this great work of God. Dieter F. Uchtdorft “The Great Work of God” April 2010
• ·         with the right of choice comes the responsibility to choose. We cannot be neutral; there is no middle ground. The Lord knows this; Lucifer knows this. As long as we live upon this earth, Lucifer and his hosts will never abandon the hope of claiming our souls. Thomas S. Monson “The Three Rs of Choice” Oct 2010
• ·         Communication with our Father in Heaven is not a trivial matter. It is a sacred privilege. It is based upon eternal, unchanging principles. We receive help from our Father in Heaven in response to our faith, obedience, and the proper use of agency. Richard G. Scott “How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration For Your Personal Life” April 2012
• ·         The essential doctrine of agency requires that a testimony of the restored gospel be based on faith rather than just external or scientific proof. Quentin L. Cook “In Tune with the Music of Faith” April 2012
• ·         Some challenges result from the agency of others. Agency is essential for individual spiritual growth and development. Evil conduct is an element of agency. Captain Moroni explained this very important doctrine: “The Lord suffereth the righteous to be slain that his justice and judgment may come upon the wicked.” He made it clear that the righteous are not lost but “enter into the rest of the Lord their God.”²² The wicked will be held accountable for the atrocities they perpetrate. Quentin L. Cook “The Songs They Could Not Sing” Oct 2011
• ·         Whenever we choose to come unto Christ, take His name upon us, and follow His servants, we progress along the path to eternal life. Robert D. Hales “Agengy: Essential to the Plan of Life” Oct 2010

Atonement

• ·         For some reason, we think the Atonement of Christ applies only at the end of mortal life to redemption from the Fall, from spiritual death. It is much more than that. It is an ever-present power to call upon in everyday life. When we are racked or harrowed up or tormented by guilt or burdened with grief, He can heal us. While we do not fully understand how the Atonement of Christ was made, we can experience “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding. Boyd K. Packer “Touch of the Masters Hand” July 2001
• ·         ’Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
  Thought it scarcely worth his while
  To waste much time on the old violin,
  But held it up with a smile:
  “What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried,
  “Who’ll start the bidding for me?”
  “A dollar, a dollar”; then, “Two!” “Only two?
  Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?
  Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;
  Going for three—” But no,
  From the room, far back, a gray-haired man
  Came forward and picked up the bow;
  Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,
  And tightening the loose strings,
  He played a melody pure and sweet
  As a caroling angel sings.
• The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
  With a voice that was quiet and low,
  Said, “What am I bid for the old violin?”
  And he held it up with the bow.
  “A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?
  Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?
  Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice,
  And going, and gone!” said he.
  The people cheered, but some of them cried,
  “We do not quite understand
  What changed its worth.” Swift came the reply:
  “The touch of a master’s hand.”
• And many a man with life out of tune,
  And battered and scarred with sin,
  Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,
  Much like the old violin.
  A “mess of pottage,” a glass of wine,
  A game—and he travels on.
  He’s “going” once, and “going” twice,
  He’s “going” and almost “gone.”
  But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd
  Never can quite understand
  The worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought
  By the touch of the Master’s hand. Boyd K. Packer “Touch of the Masters Hand” July 2001
• ·         Understanding what we can of the Atonement and the Resurrection of Christ helps us to obtain a knowledge of Him and of His mission. Any increase in our understanding of His atoning sacrifice draws us closer to Him. Literally, the Atonement means to be “at one” with Him. The nature of the Atonement and its effects is so infinite, so unfathomable, and so profound that it lies beyond the knowledge and comprehension of mortal man. I am profoundly grateful for the principle of saving grace. Many people think they need only confess that Jesus is the Christ and then they are saved by grace alone. We cannot be saved by grace alone, “for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do. James E. Faust “The Atonement: Our Greatest Hope” Jan 2002
• ·         Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said: “I will not leave you comfortless: [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].” Jeffery  R. Holland “And None Were With Him” May 2009
• ·         Our agency—our ability to choose and act for ourselves—was an essential element of this plan. Without agency we would be unable to make right choices and progress. Yet with agency we could make wrong choices, commit sin, and lose the opportunity to be with Heavenly Father again. For this reason a Savior would be provided to suffer for our sins and redeem us if we would repent. By His infinite Atonement, He brought about “the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice. Robert D. Hales “Agency: Essential to the Plan of Life” Oct 2010
• ·         Through the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, our natures can be changed. Then our power to carry burdens can be increased more than enough to compensate for the increased service we will be asked to give. Henry B. Eyring “O Ye That Embark” Oct 2008
• ·         In this education we experience misery and happiness, sickness and health, the sadness from sin and the joy of forgiveness. That forgiveness can come only through the infinite Atonement of the Savior, which He worked out through pain we could not bear and which we can only faintly comprehend. Henry B. Eyring “Adversity” April 2008
• ·         Heavenly Father’s love for His children is the core message of the plan of happiness, which plan is made active through the Atonement of Jesus Christ—the greatest expression of love the world has ever known.  Dieter F. Uchtdorf “The Love of God” Oct 2009
• ·         Central to God’s eternal plan is the mission of His Son, Jesus Christ.¹¹ He came to redeem God’s children.¹² Because of the Lord’s Atonement, resurrection (or immortality) became a reality.¹³ Because of the Atonement, eternal life became a possibility for all who would qualify. Russell M. Nelson “Thanks Be to God.” April 2012
• ·         That gift of immortality became a reality because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.³⁷ This important word—atonement—in any of its forms, is mentioned only once in the King James Version of the New Testament!³⁸ In the Book of Mormon, it appears 39 times! Russell M. Nelson “Scriptural Witnesses” Oct 2007

Pornography

• ·         [Pornography] is like a raging storm, destroying individuals and families, utterly ruining what was once wholesome and beautiful. Gordon B. Hinckley “A Tragic Evil Among Us” Nov 2004
• ·         We have the capacity and the responsibility to stand as a bulwark between all we hold dear and the fatal contamination of the pornography beetle. May I suggest three specific steps in our battle plan: First, a return to righteousness. An understanding of who we are and what God expects us to become will prompt us to pray—as individuals and as families. Such a return reveals the constant truth: “Wickedness never was happiness.” 6 Let not the evil one dissuade. We can yet be guided by that still, small voice—unerring in its direction and all-powerful in its influence. Second, a quest for the good life. I speak not of the fun life, the sophisticated life, the popular life. Rather, I urge each to seek eternal life—life everlasting with mother, father, brothers, sisters, husband, wife, sons, and daughters, forever and forever together. Third, a pledge to wage and win the war against pernicious permissiveness. As we encounter that evil carrier, the pornography beetle, let our battle standard and that of our communities be taken from that famous ensign of early America, “Don’t tread on me.” 7 Let us join in the fervent declaration of Joshua: “Choose you this day whom ye will serve; … but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” 8 Let our hearts be pure. Let our lives be clean. Let our voices be heard. Let our actions be felt. Thomas S. Monson “Pornography-The Deadly Carrier” First Presidency Message Nov 2001
• ·         The world around you is not equipped to provide the help you need to make it through this often-treacherous journey. So many in our society today seem to have slipped from the moorings of safety and drifted from the harbor of peace. Permissiveness, immorality, pornography, drugs, the power of peer pressure—all these and more—cause many to be tossed about on a sea of sin and crushed on the jagged reefs of lost opportunities, forfeited blessings, and shattered dreams. Thomas S. Monson “Believe, Obey, and Endure” Broadcast
• ·         Stay completely away from pornography. Do not allow yourself to view it, ever. It has proven to be an addiction which is more than difficult to overcome. Avoid alcohol and tobacco or any other drugs, also addictions which you would be hard pressed to conquer. Thomas S. Monson “Priesthood Power” April 2011
• ·         We hope that our parents and leaders will not tolerate pornography. It is really garbage, but today is peddled as normal and satisfactory food. Spencer W. Kimball “God Will Not Be Mocked” Oct 1974
• ·         Satan has become a master at using the addictive power of pornography to limit individual capacity to be led by the Spirit. The onslaught of pornography in all of its vicious, corroding, destructive forms has caused great grief, suffering, heartache, and destroyed marriages. It is one of the most damning influences on earth. Whether it be through the printed page, movies, television, obscene lyrics, vulgarities on the telephone, or flickering personal computer screen, pornography is overpoweringly addictive and severely damaging. This potent tool of Lucifer degrades the mind and the heart and the soul of any who use it. All who are caught in its seductive, tantalizing web and remain so will become addicted to its immoral, destructive influence. For many, that addiction cannot be overcome without help. The tragic pattern is so familiar. It begins with curiosity that is fueled by its stimulation and is justified by the false premise that when done privately, it does no harm to anyone else. For those lulled by this lie, the experimentation goes deeper, with more powerful stimulations, until the trap closes and a terribly immoral, addictive habit exercises its vicious control. Richard G. Scott “To Acquire Spiritual Guidance” Oct 2009
• ·         I plead with you boys tonight to keep yourselves free from the stains of the world. You must not indulge in sleazy talk at school. You must not tell sultry jokes. You must not fool around with the Internet to find pornographic material. You must not dial a long-distance telephone number to listen to filth. You must not rent videos with pornography of any kind. This salacious stuff simply is not for you. Stay away from pornography as you would avoid a serious disease. It is as destructive. It can become habitual, and those who indulge in it get so they cannot leave it alone. It is addictive. Gordon B. Hinckley “Living Worthy of the Girl You Will Someday Marry” April 1998
• ·         The girl you marry is worthy of a husband whose life has not been tainted by this ugly and corrosive material. Gordon B. Hinckley “Living Worthy of the Girl You Will Someday Marry” April 1998
• ·         While the matter of which I speak was a problem then, it is a much more serious problem now. It grows increasingly worse. It is like a raging storm, destroying individuals and families, utterly ruining what was once wholesome and beautiful. I speak of pornography in all of its manifestations. Gordon B. Hinckley “A Tragic Evil Among Us” Oct 2004
• ·         Be faithful in your marriage covenants in thought, word, and deed. Pornography, flirtations, and unwholesome fantasies erode one’s character and strike at the foundation of a happy marriage. Unity and trust within a marriage are thereby destroyed. One who does not control his thoughts and thus commits adultery in his heart, if he does not repent, shall not have the Spirit, but shall deny the faith and shall fear (see D&C 42:23; D&C 63:16). Howard W. Hunter “Being A Righteous Husband and Father” Oct 1994

Marriage/dating

• ·         How do you choose a wife? I’ve heard a lot of young people from Brigham Young University and elsewhere say, “I’ve got to get a feeling of inspiration. I’ve got to get some revelation. I’ve got to fast and pray and get the Lord to manifest to me whom I should marry.” Well, maybe it will be a little shock to you, but never in my life did I ever ask the Lord whom I ought to marry. It never occurred to me to ask him. I went out and found the girl I wanted; she suited me; I evaluated and weighed the proposition, and it just seemed a hundred percent to me as though this ought to be. Now, if I’d done things perfectly, I’d have done some counseling with the Lord, which I didn’t do; but all I did was pray to the Lord and ask for some guidance and direction in connection with the decision that I’d reached. A more perfect thing to have done would have been to counsel with him relative to the decision and get a spiritual confirmation that the conclusion, which I by my agency and faculties had arrived at, was the right one. Bruce R. McConkie “Agency or Inspiration?” Jan 1975
• ·         Knowledgeable observers report that dating has nearly disappeared from college campuses and among young adults generally. It has been replaced by something called “hanging out.” 3 You young people apparently know what this is, but I will describe it for the benefit of those of us who are middle-aged or older and otherwise uninformed. Hanging out consists of numbers of young men and young women joining together in some group activity. It is very different from dating. For the benefit of some of you who are not middle-aged or older, I also may need to describe what dating is. Unlike hanging out, dating is not a team sport. Dating is pairing off to experience the kind of one-on-one association and temporary commitment that can lead to marriage in some rare and treasured cases. Dallin H. Oaks “Dating Verses Hanging Out” CES Fireside May 1, 2005
• ·         “Do you want capability, safety, and security in dating and romance, in married life and eternity? Be a true disciple of Jesus. Be a genuine, committed, word-and-deed Latter-day Saint. Believe that your faith has everything to do with your romance, because it does. You separate dating from discipleship at your peril. Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, is the only lamp by which you can successfully see the path of love and happiness. How should I love thee? As He does, for that way ‘never faileth. Jeffery R. Holland “How Do I Love Thee?” Oct 2003
• ·         “I would admonish you to maintain an eternal perspective. Make certain that the marriage in your future is a temple marriage. There is no scene so sweet, no time so sacred as that very special day of your marriage. Then and there you glimpse celestial joy. Be alert; do not permit temptation to rob you of this blessing.” Thomas S. Monson “Whom Shall I Marry?” Oct 2004
• ·         A proper home, of course, is not created automatically when a boy and girl fall in love and marry. It takes those same virtues that were taught in pioneer homes—faith, courage, discipline, and dedication—to make a marriage successful. L. Tom Perry “The Strength of Our Heritage” July 2012
• ·         Begin to prepare for a temple marriage as well as for a mission. Proper dating is a part of that preparation. In cultures where dating is appropriate, do not date until you are 16 years old. “Not all teenagers need to date or even want to. … When you begin dating, go in groups or on double dates. … Make sure your parents meet [and become acquainted with] those you date.” Because dating is a preparation for marriage, “date only those who have high standards. Thomas S. Monson “Preparation Brings Blessings” April 2010
• ·         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. Thomas S. Monson “Finding Joy in the Journey” Oct 2008
• ·         The subject of marriage is debated across the world, where various arrangements exist for conjugal living. My purpose in speaking out on this topic is to declare, as an Apostle of the Lord, ³ that marriage between a man and a woman is sacred—it is ordained of God. ⁴ I also assert the virtue of a temple marriage. It is the highest and most enduring type of marriage that our Creator can offer to His children. Russell M. Nelson “Celestial Marriage” Oct 2008
• ·         [The] proclamation on the family helps us realize that celestial marriage brings greater possibilities for happiness than does any other relationship. Russell M. Nelson “Celestial Marriage” Oct 2008
• ·         Meanwhile, mortal misunderstandings can make mischief in a marriage. In fact, each marriage starts with two built-in handicaps. It involves two imperfect people. Happiness can come to them only through their earnest effort. Just as harmony comes from an orchestra only when its members make a concerted effort, so harmony in marriage also requires a concerted effort. That effort will succeed if each partner will minimize personal demands and maximize actions of loving selflessness. Russell M. Nelson “Celestial Marriage” Oct 2008

Education

• ·         When we have examined our own interests and abilities and when we have taken counsel from those who know and love us—especially the Lord—we need to seek both education and experience in our chosen career field. Education and training are among the most worthwhile investments anyone can make. Learn to love learning. Just as it is important to continue making deposits to a savings account, it is important to continue educating yourself in your chosen profession or career so that your skills will always be marketable. Just as a sailor keeps an eye on the horizon for changing weather, keeping up-to-date in your career will help you spot changing conditions in your field and make necessary course corrections. H. David Burton “The Blessings of Work” Dec 2009
• ·         Why worry about education? Because learning is how we prepare to serve both now and in eternity. Henry B. Eyring “Education For Real Life” Oct 2002
• ·         Our first priority should go to spiritual learning. For us, reading the scriptures would come before reading history books. Prayer would come before memorizing those Spanish verbs. A temple recommend would be worth more than standing first in our graduating class. But it is also clear that spiritual learning would not replace our drive for secular learning. To keep spiritual learning in its proper place, we will have to make some hard choices of how we use our time. But there should never be a conscious choice to let the spiritual become secondary. Never. That will lead to tragedy. Remember, you are interested in education, not just for mortal life but for eternal life. When you see that reality clearly, you will put spiritual learning first and yet not slight the secular learning. In fact, you will work harder at your secular learning than you would without that spiritual vision. Henry B. Eyring “Real-Life Education” April 2009
• ·         It is clear that for us to have that gift and to be given that trust, we must be transformed through making righteous choices where that is hard to do. We are prepared for so great a trust by passing through trying and testing experiences in mortality. That education can come only as we are subject to trials while serving God and others for Him. Henry B. Eyring “Adversity” April 2009

·          

Trials

• ·         One of the essential doctrines illuminated by the Restoration is that there must be opposition in all things for righteousness to be brought to pass. This life is not always easy, nor was it meant to be; it is a time of testing and proving. As we read in Abraham, “And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them.”Elder Harold B. Lee taught, “Sometimes the things that are best for us and the things that bring eternal rewards seem at the moment to be the most bitter, and the things forbidden are ofttimes the things which seem to be the more desirable. Quinten L. Cook “Hope Ya Know, We Had a Hard Time” Nov 2008
• ·         Believe that remaining strong and faithful to the truths of the gospel is of utmost importance. I testify that it is! Thomas S. Monson “Believe, Obey, and Endure” April 2012
• ·         I cannot promise an end to your adversity in this life. I cannot assure you that your trials will seem to you to be only for a moment. One of the characteristics of trials in life is that they seem to make clocks slow down and then appear almost to stop. There are reasons for that. Knowing those reasons may not give much comfort, but it can give you a feeling of patience. Those reasons come from this one fact: in Their perfect love for you, Heavenly Father and the Savior want you fitted to be with Them to live in families forever. Only those washed perfectly clean through the Atonement of Jesus Christ can be there. Henry B. Eyring “Mountains to Climb” April 2012
• ·         There are many kinds of challenges. Some give us necessary experiences. Adverse results in this mortal life are not evidence of lack of faith or of an imperfection in our Father in Heaven’s overall plan. The refiner’s fire is real, and qualities of character and righteousness that are forged in the furnace of affliction perfect and purify us and prepare us to meet God. Quentin L. Cook “The Songs They Could Not Sing” Oct 2011
• ·         You were prepared for the circumstances you would personally encounter in mortality… your memory of premortal life would be kept from you so it would be a valid test. But there would be guidance to show you how to live. Richard G. Scott
• ·         Mortality is a period of testing, a time to prove ourselves worthy to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father. In order to be tested, we must sometimes face challenges and difficulties. At times there appears to be no light at the tunnel’s end—no dawn to break the night’s darkness. We feel surrounded by the pain of broken hearts, the disappointment of shattered dreams, and the despair of vanished hopes. We join in uttering the biblical plea “Is there no balm in Gilead?” ⁶ We are inclined to view our own personal misfortunes through the distorted prism of pessimism. We feel abandoned, heartbroken, alone. If you find yourself in such a situation, I plead with you to turn to our Heavenly Father in faith. He will lift you and guide you. He will not always take your afflictions from you, but He will comfort and lead you with love through whatever storm you face. Thomas S. Monson “Looking Back and Moving Forward” April 2008
• ·         My beloved brothers and sisters, communication with our Father in Heaven—including our prayers to Him and His inspiration to us—is necessary in order for us to weather the storms and trials of life. The Lord invites us, “Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me.”⁷ As we do so, we will feel His Spirit in our lives, providing us the desire and the courage to stand strong and firm in righteousness—to “stand … in holy places, and be not moved. Thomas S. Monson “Stand in Holy Places” Oct 2011
• ·         In stories, as in life, adversity teaches us things we cannot learn otherwise. Adversity helps to develop a depth of character that comes in no other way. Our loving Heavenly Father has set us in a world filled with challenges and trials so that we, through opposition, can learn wisdom, become stronger, and experience joy. Dieter F. Uchtdorf “ Your Happily Ever After” Broadcast
• ·         Even when you feel the truth of that capacity and kindness of the Lord to deliver you in your trials, it may still test your courage and strength to endure. The Prophet Joseph Smith cried out in agony in a dungeon: “O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place? “How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye, yea thy pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and of thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries?” ²  The Lord’s reply has helped me and can encourage us all in times of darkness. Here it is “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. Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands. “Thou art not yet as Job; thy friends do not contend against thee, neither charge thee with transgression, as they did Job. Henry B. Eyring “Adversity” April 2009
• ·         I bear you my testimony that God the Father lives. He set a course for each of us that can polish and perfect us to be with Him. Henry B. Eyring “Adversity” April 2009

Forgiveness and Judgment

• ·         Forgiveness for our sins comes with conditions. We must repent, and we must be willing to forgive others. Jesus taught: “Forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not … [stands] condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin”³ and “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” Dieter F. Uchtdorf “The Merciful Obtain Mercy” April 2012
• ·         No temptation, no pressure, no enticing can overcome us unless we allow such. If we make the wrong choice, we have no one to blame but ourselves. President Brigham Young once expressed this truth by relating it to himself. Said he: “If Brother Brigham shall take a wrong track, and be shut out of the Kingdom of heaven, no person will be to blame but Brother Brigham. I am the only being in heaven, earth, or hell, that can be blamed.” He continued: “This will equally apply to every Latter-day Saint. Salvation is an individual operation. Thomas S. Monson “The Three Rs of Choice” Oct 2010
• ·         In this education we experience misery and happiness, sickness and health, the sadness from sin and the joy of forgiveness. That forgiveness can come only through the infinite Atonement of the Savior, which He worked out through pain we could not bear and which we can only faintly comprehend. Henry B. Eyring “Adversity” April 2009
• ·         My earnest prayer is that you will have the courage required to refrain from judging others, the courage to be chaste and virtuous, and the courage to stand firm for truth and righteousness. Thomas S. Monson “May You Have Courage” April 2009
• ·         The only difference between a saint and a sinner is the saint has a past and the sinner has a future.
• ·         In this education we experience misery and happiness, sickness and health, the sadness from sin and the joy of forgiveness. That forgiveness can come only through the infinite Atonement of the Savior, which He worked out through pain we could not bear and which we can only faintly comprehend. Henry B. Eyring “Adversity” April 2009
• ·         Forgiveness of one another is essential to this unity. Jesus said, “I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men” (D&C 64:10). D.Todd Christofferson “Come To Zion” Oct 2008
• ·         Ponder on that for a moment. Have you realized that? There can be no forgiveness without real and total repentance Spencer W. Kimball “To Bear the Priesthood Worthily” April 1975
• ·         If you are suffering from feelings of guilt or remorse, bitterness or anger, or loss of faith, I invite you to seek relief. Repent and forsake your sins. Then, in prayer, ask God for forgiveness. Seek forgiveness from those you have wronged. Forgive those who have wronged you. Forgive yourself. C. Scott Grow “The Miracle of the Atonement” April 2011
• ·          Somehow forgiveness, with love and tolerance, accomplishes miracles that can happen in no other way. Gordon B. Hinckley “Forgiveness” Oct 2005
• ·         I wish today to speak of forgiveness. I think it may be the greatest virtue on earth, and certainly the most needed. There is so much of meanness and abuse, of intolerance and hatred. There is so great a need for repentance and forgiveness. It is the great principle emphasized in all of scripture, both ancient and modern. Gordon B. Hinckley “Forgiveness” Oct 2005

Personal Revelation

• ·         The message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is that we can and must become better as long as we live. Henry B. Eyring “Our Perfect Example” Nov 2009
• ·         When it is for the Lord’s purposes, He can bring anything to our remembrance. That should not weaken our determination to record impressions of the Spirit. Inspiration carefully recorded shows God that His communications are sacred to us. Recording will also enhance our ability to recall revelation. Such recording of direction of the Spirit should be protected from loss or intrusion by others. Richard G. Scott “How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life” April 2012
• ·         Because He came, there is meaning to our mortal existence. Because He came, we know how to reach out to those in trouble or distress, wherever they may be. Because He came, death has lost its sting, the grave its victory. We will live again because He came. Because He came and paid for our sins, we have the opportunity to gain eternal life. Thomas S. Monson “Because He Came” Nov 2011
• ·         Our Heavenly Father did not launch us on our eternal journey without providing the means whereby we could receive from Him God-given guidance to assist in our safe return at the end of mortal life. I speak of prayer. I speak too of the whisperings from that still, small voice within each of us, and I do not overlook the holy scriptures, written by mariners who successfully sailed the seas we too must cross. Thomas S. Monson “The Three Rs of Choice” Oct 2010
• ·         Why does the Lord want us to pray to Him and to ask? Because that is how revelation is received. Richard G. Scott “How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life” April 2012
• ·         As you seek to live the gospel and doctrine of Christ, the Holy Ghost will guide you and your family. M. Russell Ballard “That the Lost May Be Found” April 2012
• ·         A sure testimony of Jesus Christ and of His restored gospel takes more than knowledge—it requires personal revelation, confirmed through honest and dedicated application of gospel principles. The Prophet Joseph Smith explained that the priesthood is a “channel through which the Almighty commenced revealing His glory at the beginning of the creation of this earth, and through which He has continued to reveal Himself to the children of men to the present time. Dieter F. Uchtdorf “Your Potential, Your Privilege” April 2011
• ·         In our learning, let us not neglect the fountain of revelation. The scriptures and the words of modern-day apostles and prophets are the sources of wisdom, divine knowledge, and personal revelation to help us find answers to all the challenges in life. Let us learn of Christ; let us seek out that knowledge which leads to peace, truth, and the sublime mysteries of eternity. Dieter F. Uchtdorf “Two Principles for Any Economy” Oct 2009
• ·         Personal revelation is the way Heavenly Father helps us know Him and His Son, learn and live the gospel, endure to the end in righteousness, and qualify for eternal life—to return back into Their presence. Robert D. Hales “Personal Revelation: The Teachings and Examples of the Prophets” Oct 2007
• ·         Personal revelation is the way we know for ourselves the most important truths of our existence: the living reality of God, our Eternal Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ; the truthfulness of the restored gospel; and God’s purpose and direction for us. Robert D. Hales “Personal Revelation: The Teachings and Examples of the Prophets” Oct 2007
• ·         We prepare to receive personal revelation as the prophets do, by studying the scriptures, fasting, praying, and building faith. Faith is the key. Robert D. Hales “Personal Revelation: The Teachings and Examples of the Prophets” Oct 2007

Faith

• ·         We reach toward the unknown, but faith lights the way. If we will cultivate that faith, we shall never walk in darkness. Gordon B. Hinkley “We Walk by Faith” July 2002
• ·         Faith is the very fiber that gives strength to this work. Wherever this Church is established across this broad world, it is evident. It is not limited to one country or one nation or one language or one people. It is found everywhere. We are a people of faith. We walk by faith. We move forward on our eternal journey, one step at a time. Gordon B. Hinckley “We Walk by Faith” July 2002
• ·         It is never too late to strengthen the foundation of faith. There is always time. With faith in the Savior, you can repent and plead for forgiveness. There is someone you can forgive. There is someone you can thank. There is someone you can serve and lift. You can do it wherever you are and however alone and deserted you may feel. Henry B. Erying
• ·         How grateful we should be that a wise Creator fashioned an earth and placed us here, with a veil of forgetfulness of our previous existence so that we might experience a time of testing, an opportunity to prove ourselves in order to qualify for all that God has prepared for us to receive.  Thomas S. Monson “The Race of Life” April 2012
• ·         Miracles are everywhere to be found when the priesthood is understood, its power is honored and used properly, and faith is exerted. Thomas S. Monson “Willing and Worthy to Serve” April 2012
• ·         Believe that you are a daughter of Heavenly Father, that He loves you, and that you are here for a glorious purpose—to gain your eternal salvation. Believe that remaining strong and faithful to the truths of the gospel is of utmost importance. I testify that it is! Thomas S. Monson “Believe, Obey, and Endure” April 2012 Broadcast
• ·         Clearly, a dividing line between those who hear the music of faith and those who are tone-deaf or off-key is the active study of the scriptures. I was deeply touched years ago that a beloved prophet, Spencer W. Kimball, emphasized the need to continually read and study the scriptures. He said: “I find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no divine ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far away. If I immerse myself in the scriptures the distance narrows and the spirituality returns. Quentin L. Cook “In Tune with the Music of Faith” April 2012
• ·         But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance” (1 Nephi 1:20). L. Tom Perry “The Power of Deliverance” April 2012
• ·         Remove any of your fear with faith. Trust the power of God to guide you. M. Russell Ballard “That the Lost May Be Found” April 2012
• ·         You are a believer in the gospel of Jesus Christ. You believe enough to come here to hear His servants and have enough faith to hope that something you will hear or feel will move you toward a better life. You felt in your heart that following Jesus Christ was the way to greater happiness. Henry B. Eyring “A Living Testimony” Broadcast

I extol you who, with loving care and compassionate concern, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and house the homeless. He who notes the sparrow’s fall will not be unmindful of such service. The desire to lift, the willingness to help, and the graciousness to give come from a heart filled with love. Serve willingly. Thomas S. Monson “Three Goals to Guide You” Oct 2007

President Thomas S. Monson has said: “To find real happiness, we must seek for it in a focus outside ourselves. No one has learned the meaning of living until he has surrendered his ego to the service of his fellow man. Service to others is akin to duty—the fulfillment of which brings true joy. Russell M. Nelson “Celestial Marriage” Oct 2008