No man knows my history

This afternoon when I went over to Mother's she was listening to the book, "Praise to the Man" by Gerald N. Lund. It is book #6 of The Work & the Glory series. She wanted to pause the CD because they were  getting ready to kill Joseph Smith & she didn't want to have to listen to that point again. I was interested to see this quote tonight.

"You don't know me; you never knew my heart. No man knows my history. I cannot tell it: I shall never undertake it. I don't blame any one for not believing my history. If I had not experienced what I have, I would not have believed it myself. I never did harm any man since I was born in the world. My voice is always for peace."

--Joseph Smith, Nauvoo, Illinois, April 7, 1844, History of the Church, 6:317

This was penned just weeks before the martyrdom. I have heard the phrase, "No man knows my history." But have never seen it in context. Still don't know that this is really in context, but at least it's more than I've seen before. (Unless, of course, I wasn't paying attention in D&C in Seminary either.)

"Our task is to become our best selves. One of God's greatest gifts to us is the joy of trying again, for no failure ever need be final."

--Thomas S. Monson, "The Will Within," Ensign, May 1987, 67

 This is comforting. And I like "joy of trying again."

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 …

Eye of faith

I like that phrase. It sounds even better in context.

"We must not allow the things of the world to blinker our vision of the eternal destination. Nor must we permit the "voices in the world" to lead us off course (1 Cor. 14:10). Rather, we must allow the hope of Christ's glory and of eternal life to rest in our minds forever. We must reaffirm the goal that matters most and press toward it looking forward with an eye of faith."

--Carlos E. Asay, "Stay on the True Course", Ensign, May 1996, 59

And this quote from President Benson

"Our Father in Heaven planned the coming forth of the Founding Fathers and their form of government as the necessary great prologue leading to the restoration of the gospel... America, the land of liberty, was to be the Lord's latter-day base of operations for His restored church."

--President Ezra Taft Benson, "Our Divine Constitution", Ensign, Nov. 1987, 4

Fatherhood

Today's quotes are:

"No man achieves the supernal exalting status of worthy fatherhood except as a gift from his wife."

--President Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, May 1998, 73

Couldn't we turn that around & say motherhood is a gift from our husband?

"Fathers, yours is an eternal calling from which you are never released. Callings in the Church, as important as they are, by their very nature are only for a period of time, and then an appropriate release takes place. But a father's calling is eternal, and its importance transcends time. It is a calling for both time and eternity."

--Ezra Taft Benson, "To the Fathers in Israel,", Ensign, Nov 1987, 48

Wow! What a way to look at it. I have NEVER thought of it in quite that way before.

Scraps of paper

Here is one of tonight's quotes. I put the first one over on RaDoMiNic. The last couple of nights, I haven't taken the time to stash the quotes here, I've been putting them on "scraps of paper" again.

"Our task is to become our best selves. One of God's greatest gifts to us is the joy of trying again, for no failure ever need be final."

--Thomas S. Monson, "The Will Within," Ensign, May 1987, 67

Here is one from Oct. 13:

"Simply stated, testimony - real testimony, born of the Spirit and confirmed by the Holy Ghost - changes lives. It changes how you think and what you do. It changes what you say. It affects every priority you set and every choice you make."

--Elder M. Russell Ballard, "Pure Testimony", Ensign, Nov. 2004, 40

And another one:

"Parents can plant seeds in the hearts and minds of their children only if they know where the children are and what they are doing. Parents should not leave the teaching of their children to chance."

--Joseph B. Wirthlin, Ensign, May 1989, p. 9

My kids were not happy when they were younger because I wanted to know where they were at all times. If they changed play locations, I wanted to know where they were going. And look! This was given in 1989. Nick was just 2 & Don-Mike would have been almost 4. Of course, at that point in their lives, I knew where they were, at Frances' or home, :)

Positive thinking

Today's quotes from readthescriptures.com

"We should learn to be patient with ourselves. Recognizing our strengths and our weaknesses, we should strive to use good judgment in all of our choices and decisions, make good use of every opportunity, and do our best in every task we undertake. We should not be unduly discouraged nor in despair at any time when we are doing the best we can. Rather, we should be satisfied with our progress even though it may come slowly at times."

--Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Patience, a Key to Happiness", Ensign, May 1987, 30

and another one:

"The Lord has directed, Bring up your children in light and truth. To me, there is no more important human effort. Being a father or a mother is not only a great challenge; it is a divine calling. It is an effort requiring consecration. President David O. McKay (1873-1970) stated that being parents is the greatest trust that has been given to human beings."

--President James E. Faust, A Thousand Threads of Love, Ensign, Oct. 2005, 3