Prayers are heard & answered

Both of tonight's quotes are new. On Sunday mornings I spend my time at church in the library. It smells good, paper, books, pictures; some Sundays there isn't very much to do, like today. Today, I pulled out some issues of the Friend, the children's magazine. There was a house & the house was divided into 4 parts. I wish I could remember it, but one of the things to do was pray every night before you go to bed. Get down on your knees & pray.

"The problems of our day loom ominously before us. Surrounded by the sophistication of modern living, we look heavenward for that unfailing sense of direction, that we might chart and follow a wise and proper course. He whom we call our Heavenly Father will not leave our sincere petition unanswered."

--Thomas S. Monson, "Sailing Safely the Seas of Life", Ensign, July 1999, 2 

Another thing to do was study the scriptures. I've done that quite consistently over the past year. I started reading The Book of Mormon a year ago on Feb. 18. The Book of Mormon was nothing compared to the Old Testament. That has been quite the journey.

"Our Heavenly Father never gives up on us … But we must have the desire to open the door, even if it shakes the very foundation of our past beliefs and way of life … Our Father in Heaven will never take away our agency. We must seek after or desire to know our Father and His Son, Jesus Christ."

--Elder Ronald T. Halverson, "I Stand at the Door, and Knock," Ensign, November 2004, 32

And what better way to know our Father & His Son, Jesus Christ, than to read the scriptures.

Wisdom of God

Noah had the unwavering faith to follow God's commandments. Something we need to emulate. When God speaks, we obey, from President Thomas S. Monson here.

President Howard W. Hunter wrote this:

"Because we are being constantly exposed to the world's definition of greatness, it is understandable that we might make comparisons between what we are and what others are - or seem to be - and also between what we have and what others have. Although it is true that making comparisons can be beneficial and may motivate us to accomplish much good and to improve our lives, we often allow unfair and improper comparisons to destroy our happiness when they cause us to feel unfulfilled or inadequate or unsuccessful. Sometimes, because of these feelings, we are led into error and dwell on our failures while ignoring aspects of our lives that may contain elements of true greatness.

"In 1905, President Joseph F. Smith made this most profound statement about true greatness:

" 'Those things which we call extraordinary, remarkable, or unusual may make history, but they do not make real life.

" 'After all, to do well those things which God ordained to be the common lot of all mankind, is the truest greatness. To be a successful father or a successful mother is greater than to be a successful general or a successful statesman.' (Juvenile Instructor, 15 Dec. 1905, p. 752.)"

--Howard W. Hunter, "What Is True Greatness?" Ensign, Sept. 1987, 70

No other success can compensate for failure in the home …

In the world, not of the world

I have a nightshirt that hits me mid-thigh. I keep forgetting to get my pajama bottoms, which are really sweat pants, out of the laundry room, which is the cats' bedroom at night before they have been put to bed. I was feeling immodest, yet when I was in my late teens, early 20s, I wore short-shorts & my skirts barely covered my bottom. I was trying to participate in the styles of the day.

"One of the greatest challenges for all of us is to learn how to live in the world without participating in all that it offers. Worldly standards will always be in a state of flux. The only true and unchanging standards are those set by the Savior and His teachings of the restored gospel."

--Donald L. Staheli, "Achieving Your Full Potential", Ensign, Feb 2009, 57–61

I learned that the Lord is aware of us. The prophets, apostles, even our bishopric & local leaders are literally called of God. We may not have chosen them, but God did & we need to trust in Him.

"I pray that there will enter our hearts the peace that comes from knowing by a power beyond all human ability to transmit that God is aware of us and has raised up servants in our day to lead us under the power and inspiration of his close attention."

--President Boyd K. Packer Ensign, November 1994, page 65.

Eternity is in the process now

Been working & playing on the computer, procrastinating making a call I should have made a week ago. I decided while I was checking my Netflix account & was already in gmail, I'd request another day's assignment in my scripture reading to get caught up. Both thoughts are repeat. Elder Ashton's thought, which can also be found here, is what I needed today. I am sharing it again, even though it does not deal with procrastination.

"Very often in our anxiousness for the joys of the future we run away from the very things we are wanting and needing today. An appropriate examination of the passing moment will prove it leads to eternity. We need to constantly remind ourselves eternity is in process now."

--Marvin J. Ashton, "The Time Is Now", Ensign, May 1975, 85

I'm sorry, but Elder Wirthlin's thought, Parents, do you know where your children are? is getting kind of old.

A friend

There are always clever quotes about friends. I like President Monson's definition of a friend,

"A friend is more concerned about helping people than getting credit. A friend cares. A friend loves. A friend listens. And a friend reaches out."

--President Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, May 2001, 50

Elder Halverson's thought, taken from the August 2007 Ensign, was easy to research. There is only this thought, "Obeying the Whisperings of the Holy Ghost," by him. This month Brother Burns, our home teacher, taught that we need to pray for the Holy Ghost to guide us.

Downright solid faith

We are not going to survive this world … without downright solid faith. That is blunt & to the point. Notice the ellipsis. Yes, there are words left out, but the thought is there. We are going to need faith. The whole thought is:

"We're not going to survive in this world, temporally or spiritually, without increased faith in the Lord - and I don't mean a positive mental attitude - I mean downright solid faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. That is the one thing that gives vitality and power to otherwise rather weak individuals."

--A. Theodore Tuttle, "Developing Faith", Ensign, Nov. 1986, 72

Maybe I need to study this talk. Our next thought is Elder Wirthlin's advice on knowing where your children are.

Decide where we're going

Both of the quotes for tonight's reading are repeats. One is from Elder Donald L. Staheli and the other is from Elder Paul V. Johnson.

Elder Johnson exhorts us to make General Conference a priority in our life. Read & listen to the talks, in other words, study them. I need to do a better job of this. I tried reading one of the conference issues of the Ensign last year & didn't make it. You can't just sit down & read one of those issues, one talk right after the other.

Elder Staheli advises "daily obedience to gospel principles is the only sure way to eternal happiness." It makes me wonder how someone can be happy if they willfully choose to disobey God's commandments.

Not without Christ

Another late night with a work day tomorrow. I worked until 8 p.m., a 10-plus hour day, today.

The first quote is from President Thomas S. Monson, I call it his "doubting Thomas" thought. Not because he is doubting, but because of the disciple in the New Testament named Thomas that doubted & the quote begins with the phrase, "If you should have doubting thoughts …"

The next quote, from Elder Dallin H. Oaks,

"Man unquestionably has impressive powers... But after all our obedience and good works, we cannot be saved from the effects of our sins without the grace extended by the atonement of Jesus Christ... Man cannot earn his own salvation."

--Dallin H. Oaks, "What Think Ye of Christ?", Ensign, November 1988

follows President Monson's thought.

Contention is not of the Lord

Tonight when I logged in to read my scriptures, I could have cried. The first quote is so long. I'm tired & want to go to bed. I did not want to read it. I was hoping for 2 short quotes or 2 repeats.

I did get one repeat. President Hinckley telling us the Lord's standards are His. I've been reading how the Israelites would rather ask for help from neighboring countries, than rely on the Lord.

The long quote is really rather appropriate. Our home should be a refuge, but it isn't. I have gone to the library lately, grabbed a book & sat by the fireplace & read. I should be home cleaning or sitting in my own living room reading.

"It is in the home that our behavior is most significant. It is the place where our actions have the greatest impact, for good or ill. Sometimes we are so much at home that we no longer guard our words. We forget simple civility. If we are not on guard, we can fall into the habit of criticizing one another, losing our tempers, or behaving selfishly. Because they love us, our spouses and children may be quick to forgive, but they often carry away in silence unseen injuries and unspoken heartache... When we feel anger or contention in our homes, we should immediately recognize what power has taken control of our lives and what Satan is endeavoring to accomplish. Solomon provided us this wise formula: 'A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger' (Prov. 15:1). Our home should ideally be a refuge where each member feels safe, secure, loved, and insulated from harsh criticism and contention that we so often encounter in the world."

--Elder Wayne S. Peterson, "Our Actions Determine Our Character," Ensign, Nov. 2001, 84

The gospel is a harbor

Two new quotes tonight. They are short but thought-provoking. The first one sounds like something you would be told at baptism …

"No matter what your past has been, you have a spotless future."

--Hugh B Brown, Conference April 1969

How many people do that though? It reminds me of Ralph Waldo Emerson's poem

"Finish each day and be done with it.
You have done what you could.
Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in;
forget them as soon as you can. 
Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely 
and with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense."

Many times I have quoted this to myself when I have been embarrassed or feeling down about something that happened.

I really like Elder Wirthlin's thought about the prophet & apostles are lighthouses in the storm.

"The gospel gives us that harbor of enduring safety and security. The living prophet and the apostles today are as lighthouses in the storm. Steer towards the light of the restored gospel and the inspired teachings of those who represent the Lord on earth."

--Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Finding a Safe Harbor", Ensign, May 2000, 59

A priceless legacy

As I was growing up we always attended church on Sunday. Priesthood Meeting was first, because men worked on week days & couldn't attend a meeting during the week. Next came Sunday School. Sacrament Meeting (the worship service) was held at 7 p.m. every Sunday evening. Women had Relief Society on Thursday morning, children had Primary on Tuesday afternoon & the teenagers had Mutual on Tuesday evening. Well, the girls had Mutual & the boys had Scouts. I don't remember ever being taught from the scriptures in my home. We did have family prayer. In high school I attended Seminary, all 4 years of high school, & we were taught from the scriptures there.

"Parents must have a knowledge of the standard works to teach them to their children. A child who has been taught from the scriptures has a priceless legacy."

--President James E. Faust, Ensign, May 1983, 41

I hear families talk about their scripture study & feel bad we didn't do that with our children, nor did my parents do that with us. But we can do our own studying. I try to spend at least half an hour each evening doing just that -- studying the scriptures

"Sadly, many individuals don't know where to find God, and exclude him from their lives. When spiritual needs arise, they may look to the left, the right, or round about. But looking to other people on the same level cannot satisfy spiritual shortages. When the immortal spirit is starved, hunger persists for something more filling. Even when material success comes, there is a hollow ache--if living well falls short of living worthily. Inner peace cannot be found in affluence accompanied by spiritual privation."

--Elder Russell M. Nelson; Ensign, May 1996, Page 14

Or don't feel a need to include God in their lives.

Hope revisited

As soon as I read President Uchtdorf's quote that begins, "Hope is one leg of a three-legged stool, …" I knew we'd had it before. I remembered writing about the analogy we used in the mission field of a testimony being like a three-legged stool here.

President Hinckley's advice given in this talk titled "The Women in Our Lives" is definitely good advice, but hard to follow.

"If every husband and every wife would constantly do whatever might be possible to ensure the comfort and happiness of his or her companion, there would be very little, if any, divorce. Argument would never be heard. Accusations would never be leveled. Angry explosions would not occur. Rather, love and concern would replace abuse and meanness."

--Gordon B. Hinckley, The Women in Our Lives, Ensign, Nov. 2004, 82

Today's decisions

The decisions we make today will impact our future. Sometimes we can't see it immediately. Don-Mikel has a 2004 Chevy Duramax pick-up. A guy in town wanted to trade his 2003 half ton gas vehicle for Don-Mike's 3/4 ton diesel. Don-Mike seriously contemplated it, but has had a very uneasy feeling about it. Once he decided not to do it, he felt at peace with himself.

Elder Wirthlin, in his talk in the 2003 conference entitled "Three Choices," says, "Today is the day of decision."

The second thought today is from Sheri L. Dew. The talk must have been given in the Women's Conference when she was a counselor in the General Relief Society presidency.

"We just can't let the Lord down. And if the day comes when we are the only women on earth who find nobility and divinity in motherhood, so be it. For mother is the word that will define a righteous woman made perfect in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom, a woman who has qualified for eternal increase in posterity, wisdom, joy, and influence."

--Sheri L. Dew, "Are We Not All Mothers?", Ensign, Nov 2001, 96

Sounds nice.

Now we see

decisions determine destiny. Oh, so true, but how do we know? We don't, we need to trust in the Lord in all our doings. President Monson gave the following advice at a fireside in 2005 to young adults.

"Now we see coming into focus the responsibility to choose, that inevitable crisis at the crossroads of life. He who would lead you down waits patiently for a dark night, a wavering will, a confused conscience, a mixed-up mind. Are you prepared to make the decisions at the crossroads? I can't stress too strongly that decisions determine destiny. You can't make eternal decisions without eternal consequences."

--President Thomas S. Monson, "CES Fireside for Young Adults", November 6, 2005

And

"We turn with hope...to Him who walked the dusty paths of villages we now reverently call the Holy Land, to Him who caused the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the lame to walk, and the dead to live. To Him who tenderly and lovingly assured us, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life'(John 14:6)."

--The New Era, April 1991

 Yet, we need to live the commandments, say our prayers & live so that we can have the Lord's guidance at our crossroads.

Celestial Sight

I do not have a prayer blog, but I have a scripture journal & a quotes blog. True, this blog wasn't quite what I envisioned when I first started it, but I enjoy adding to it. This quote by Elder Russell M. Nelson intrigued me:

"With celestial sight, trials impossible to change become possible to endure."

--Russell M. Nelson, "With God Nothing Shall Be Impossible", Ensign, May 1988, p. 35

Facing foreclosure is intimidating, but I am putting my faith in the Lord & hoping for a positive outcome.

"In the meridian of time, among other things, the Savior gave a touch here, a kind word there, food (both real and spiritual) to the hungry, advice and counsel to those in need. He gave prayers with the frightened, kindness to the passed-over, respect and affection for the children, loving care for those who are burdened. "And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things."

--Stephen A. West, "Out of Small Things", Ensign, May 1999, 28

Elder West was a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy from 1998 to 2004.

Lehi's Dream

Both of the quotes tonight are repeats, yet tonight they reminded me of Lehi's dream of the tree of life. President Monson says the road signs of life entice every traveler & he counsels to pause at the crossroads. Tonight I thought of holding to the iron rod when I read this. Pause at the crossroads long enough to know the way you are taking is not letting go of the iron rod.

The first time I read Elder Wirthlin's thought about teaching our children only if we know where they are, made me think of my children when they were younger, wanting to know where they were. Tonight the last sentence in the quote about not leaving the teaching of their children to chance reminded me we need to make sure our children recognize the Holy Ghost, the hand of the Lord in their lives.

Oh, it is wonderful

Both of today's thoughts are from Elder Wirthlin. As I searched for the first quote, I started singing the hymn, "Oh, it is wonderful that He should care for me, enough to die for me …" The quote is:

"Oh, it is wonderful to know that our Heavenly Father loves us — even with all our flaws! His love is such that even should we give up on ourselves, He never will. We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever. Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won't, for He sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming."

--Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, "The Great Commandment", October 2007 General Conference

 And the next one

"Kindness is the essence of a celestial life. Kindness is how a Christlike person treats others."

--Joseph B. Wirthlin, "The Virtue of Kindness", Liahona May 2005, 26–28

Teaching in the home

President Uchtdorf tells us enduring to the end is a never ending process here.

The other quote is from April 2010

"The vital importance of teaching truth in the home is fundamental. The Church is important, but it is in the home where parents provide the required understanding and direction for children. It is truly said that the most important callings in time and eternity are those of father and mother. In time we will be released from all other assignments we receive but not from that of father and mother."

--Elder Richard G. Scott, "He Lives! All Glory to His Name!", April 2010 General Conference

Be an example

I thought only two of the six quotes were repeats, but as I tried to think of a subject for this post, I decided I would use "Ideals are stars to steer by." I was surprised to see it pop up, meaning I had used it somewhere as a subject. I went looking for it once again. I had looked for Smith in the labels, but when I used it the first time, I used Barbara Smith. I'm sure I thought there are plenty of Smiths already. Anyway, it has been used once before here.

Elder Faust spoke about seeking to overcome selfishness in his talk, "A Pattern of Love" here. This time I read it as trying to practice charity. And President Lee's thoughts on trying to help others is so true.

"You cannot lift another soul until you are standing on higher ground than he is. You must be sure, if you would rescue the man, that you yourself are setting the example of what you would have him be. You cannot light a fire in another soul unless it is burning in your own soul."

--Harold B. Lee, "Stand Ye in Holy Places", Ensign, July 1973, 121

You cannot teach something unless you believe it yourself, but you can have faith:

"Faith implies a certain trust, even a reliance, upon the word of our Creator. If you should have doubting thoughts, remember the counsel given by President Stephen L. Richards, a former counselor in the First Presidency, who declared: "Just say to those skeptical, disturbing, rebellious thoughts, 'I propose to stay with my faith, with the faith of my people. I know that happiness and contentment are there and I forbid you, agnostic, doubting thoughts, to destroy the house of my faith. I acknowledge that I do not understand the processes of creation, but I accept the fact of it. I grant that I cannot explain the miracles of the Bible, and I do not attempt to do so, but I accept God's word. I wasn't with Joseph, but I believe him. My faith did not come to me through science and I will not permit science to destroy it."

--President Thomas S. Monson, "Great Expectations", CES Fireside January 2009

Prayer

I requested two reading assignments yesterday & one today. Out of six quotes, only 2 were repeats, both by Elder James E. Faust. Six quotes would make a LONG entry & so I will make two entries.

Elder Faust says "No earthly authority can separate us from direct access to our Creator. There can never be a mechanical or electronic failure when we pray. …

And then Elder Wirthlin asks,

"Will prayers that do not demand much of your thought merit much attention from our Heavenly Father? When you find yourself getting into a routine with your prayers, step back and think. Meditate for a while on the things for which you really are grateful. Look for them. They don't have to be grand or glorious. Sometimes we should express our gratitude for the small and simple things like the scent of the rain, the taste of your favorite food, or the sound of a loved one's voice. Thinking of things we are grateful for is a healing balm. It helps us get outside ourselves. It changes our focus from our pains and our trials to the abundance of this beautiful world we live in."

--Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Improving Our Prayers," Liahona, Aug. 2004, 18

What cool advice … express our gratitude for the small & simple things …

Road signs of life

The first quote tonight is from President Monson about the road signs of life here. He gives good advice. We need to pause, to listen to the still small voice … or the loud commanding voice, whatever it takes, instead of going on our merry way & relying on the arm of flesh.

President Packer's thought is a fitting companion

"You exercise faith by … making your mind accept or believe as truth that which you cannot, by reason alone, prove for certainty."

--President Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, November 1994, page 60.

 Yet, the world tries so hard to shake your faith.

An outpouring of blessings

Looks like tonight's post will be short & sweet as we have a repeat by President Monson here, & a very short quote from Sister Beck:

"All faithful members of the Lord's Church are equally blessed by priesthood ordinances."

--Julie B. Beck, "An Outpouring of Blessings," Ensign, May 2006, 11

President Monson's quote is about filling our days with what matters most.

Willingly follow Christ

Today's quotes seem to center on families, parenting. It reminded me of an entry from my cousin Loraine's blog as she recounted her busy January, a new grandchild, her mother's cancer surgery, her in-laws' health problems & taking them to a grandson's mission farewell.

But the season of my life is to take care of family members. All this other will get done in its own due time.

President's Faust quote fits so perfectly:

"No matter what circumstances you sisters experience, your influence can be marvelously far-reaching. I believe some of you have a tendency to underestimate your profound capacity for blessing the lives of others. More often than not, it is not on the stage with some public pronouncement but in your example of righteousness and the countless gentle acts of love and kindness done so willingly, so often on a one-to-one basis."

--James E. Faust, "You Are All Heaven Sent," Ensign, Nov. 2002, 110

"… countless gentle acts of love and kindness …" shows she is willingly following Christ as President Kimball exhorts us.

"Follow me," the Savior said. And we realize that to follow him is not impossible. The miles which he traveled, each of us can travel, for he took them one step at a time, one journey at a time. You could walk from Jerusalem to Nazareth. You could walk to the Sea of Galilee from Nazareth. You could follow Joseph and Mary and Jesus to Egypt. You could walk to the Mount of Transfiguration and back and forth from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, the Dead Sea, Bethany, the River Jordan. All these, you could do. But this is not the kind of following that he expected. He meant for us to follow his teachings and his example. Anyone with normal health can walk those miles and climb those hills and ford those streams. But it is quite another thing to be "even as I am," (3 Ne. 27:27) as he said to the Nephites."

--Spencer W. Kimball, "A Gift of Gratitude", Tambuli, Dec 1977, 1

One of last night's quotes is a repeat from Bishop H. Burke Peterson quoting President McKay & speaking of mothers here.

"As parenting declines, the need for policing increases. There will always be a shortage of police if there is a shortage of effective parents! Likewise, there will not be enough prisons if there are not enough good homes."

--Neal A. Maxwell, "Take Especial Care of Your Family," Ensign, May 1994, 88

The heartbreak of parents as their children end up in jail, wondering, "Where did I go wrong?" We have been sheltered in Cache Valley. It has been so idyllic with the rural values of the LDS community, yet the world infiltrates us even here. As Dumbledore said:

"It takes much bravery to stand up to our enemies but we need as much bravery to stand up to our friends."

— J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)  

Enduring to the end

Last night I waited until after midnight to do my scripture reading & remember, the internet turns into a pumpkin at midnight, so I just copied last night's quotes into a Notepad document & thought I'd make an entry tonight. Gotta hurry, only have 8 minutes left.

Tonight's More Reading quote is the same as last night's Complete Reading! So, I checked to make sure it hadn't been repeated before & it hasn't.

"I know that God loves us. He allows us to exercise our moral agency even when we misuse it. He permits us to make our own decisions. Christ cannot help us if we do not trust Him; He cannot teach us if we do not serve Him. He will not force us to do what's right, but He will show us the way only when we decide to serve Him. Certainly, for us to serve in His kingdom, Christ requires that we experience a change of thought and attitude."

--Thomas S. Monson, "Looking Back and Moving Forward", Ensign, May 2008, 87–90

Last night's quote from President Uchtdorf was taken from Have We Not Reason to Rejoice? An earlier quote was taken from the same talk.

"Enduring to the end, or remaining faithful to the laws and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout our life, is a fundamental requirement for salvation in the kingdom of God … Therefore, enduring to the end is not just a matter of passively tolerating life's difficult circumstances or "hanging in there." Ours is an active religion, helping God's children along the strait and narrow path to develop their full potential during this life and return to Him one day... Enduring to the end is a process filling every minute of our life, every hour, every day, from sunrise to sunrise. It is accomplished through personal discipline following the commandments of God."

--Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Have We Not Reason to Rejoice?", Ensign, Nov 2007, 18–21

And the final quote is by President Faust,

"Almost every day brings opportunities to perform unselfish acts for others. Such acts are unlimited and can be as simple as a kind word, a helping hand, or a gracious smile."

--President James E. Faust, Ensign, Nov. 2002, 21-22

And sometimes that gracious smile is hard to scrape up.

The time is now

Tonight's quote from Elder Marvin J. Ashton is a repeat. I prayed incoherently during Nick & Don's argument. It escalated, as it frequently does. Then I read Elder Ashton's words & it was like an answer to that incoherent prayer, "We need to constantly remind ourselves eternity is in process now." This next quote is also a repeat,

"Remember, tomorrow is connected with today, and what we do with today determines the tomorrow."

--Marvin J. Ashton, "The Time Is Now", Ensign, May 1975, 85

Both quotes are from the same talk, "The Time is Now." I prayed that I know we can't have HIS spirit if we have contention in our home. Our home is very contentious. As President David O. McKay said, "No other success can compensate for failure in the home." I feel like we have failed.

The next quote is from President Monson.

"Noah had the unwavering faith to follow God's commandments. May we ever do likewise. May we remember that the wisdom of God ofttimes appears as foolishness to men; but the greatest lesson we can learn in mortality is that when God speaks and we obey, we will always be right."

--Thomas S. Monson, "They Marked the Path to Follow", Ensign, Oct 2007, 4–9

The fire of your testimony

I like the sound of "fire of your testimony." I also like we have two new quotes, especially after last night having two repeats.

"Keep the fire of your testimony of the restored gospel and your witness of our Redeemer burning so brightly that our children can warm their hands by the fire of your faith."

--President Boyd K. Packer Ensign, May 2003, 84

And the next one about helps to give us courage.

"We have great helps to give us courage in this life. The greatest is the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Because of what He did, sins can be washed away in the waters of baptism. We can renew that blessing when we partake of the sacrament in faith and with a repentant heart."

--Henry B. Eyring, "Moral Courage", Liahona, Mar 2010, 4–7

We can certainly use all the help we can get to give us courage.