Treasures

What are treasures? I went to Google & found these definitions, among others:

• treasure - accumulated wealth in the form of money or jewels etc.
• treasure - any possession that is highly valued by its owner; "the children returned from the seashore with their shells and other treasures" 
• treasure - a collection of precious things; "the trunk held all her meager treasures"

I also found a cool blog named Rachel's Latter-day Saints Blog with an entry titled What Are Treasures in Heaven? I would like to read this & other entries in the blog, but don't have time tonight.

Readthescriptures dot com has taken another snippet of Elder Oaks' conference address from General Conference 1993:

"The Savior taught that we should not lay up treasures on earth but should lay up treasures in heaven (see Matt. 6:19-21). In light of the ultimate purpose of the great plan of happiness, I believe that the ultimate treasures on earth and in heaven are our children and our posterity."

--Elder Dallin H. Oaks, "The Great Plan of Happiness", Ensign, Nov. 1993, 75

And it still bothers me. What happens if you don't have children or have just one or two children? One of Mother's friends was always bragging about how many grandchildren she had, which I thought was quite insensitive, especially when Mother only has 2 & she's mighty lucky to have those.

Elder DeHaan's conference address was a repeat from Never simply temporal. And seems to go hand in hand with tonight's quote.

Do things in wisdom & order

I thought about not making an entry tonight. One quote is a repeat & the other one bothers me. I took the reference provided for the quote, searched for it & read the address. After I read it in context, it didn't bother me any more, but I found this quote toward the end of it that I really like.

"... we should remember King Benjamin’s caution to “see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength” (Mosiah 4:27). I think of that inspired teaching whenever I feel inadequate, frustrated, or depressed."

--Elder Dallin H. Oaks, "The Great Plan of Happiness", Ensign, Nov. 1993, 75

The next quote was a repeat from here. Elder Baxter counsels to hold fast to that which is good.

Pray always

Prayer is talking to God. Sometimes I think people make it too hard. I know sometimes I start praying & remember something someone said about people with OCD praying too much. This pretty much sums it up:

However, when you feel the need to pray in order to avoid something bad from happening, and you have anxiety if you don't pray then you have OCD.

OCD & Excessive Prayer

However, if you have a problem, pray for the problem. The dog is out & can't be contained in the kennel because he chewed through the door. A new door is almost $100. Something bad might happen to the dog until the kennel can be fixed - he might get hit if he runs out into the highway; he might attack the kids getting on the bus, not because he's a mean dog, but because he craves affection. His neck is 33 inches & the largest collar, chain, whatever is only 30 inches. He's huge, so he can't be chained, even if we had a chain to chain him. So, this quote from President Monson gives me hope:

"Through personal prayer, through family prayer, by trusting in God with faith, nothing wavering, we can call down to our rescue His mighty power. His call to us is as it has ever been: “Come unto me."

--Thomas S. Monson, "Come unto Him in Prayer and Faith", Ensign, Mar 2009, 4–9

There are at least 2 of us praying for the dog. Of course, even if you pray fervently, something still might happen. But you don't KNOW that. This quote from Elder Ashton originally appeared in the Ensign in February 1993.

"I recommend you come to know your Father in Heaven. Come to love Him. Always remember that He loves you and will give you guidance and support if you will but give Him the chance. Include Him in your decision making. Include Him in your heartaches and heartbreaks. Include Him when you take inventory of your personal worth."

--Marvin J. Ashton, "Becoming a Quality Person Now", Ensign, Apr 2010, 28–29

He knows our concerns.

The power of correct principles

I thought of this familiar quote from Joseph Smith, "I teach them correct principles, and they govern themselves."

"Well-taught doctrines and principles have a more powerful influence on behavior than rules."

--Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign, Nov. 1999, 79

And yes, onward ever onward

"The path to eternal life is not on a plateau. Rather, it is an incline, ever onward and upward. Hence, ever-increasing spiritual understanding and energy are required to reach our destination. Because the pernicious opposition by Satan continues, the continuous enlightened guidance of the Holy Ghost is absolutely essential."

--Elder Keith K. Hilbig, "Quench Not the Spirit Which Quickens the Inner Man", October 2007 General Conference

I went searching for Joseph Smith's quote & found this in Elder Richard G. Scott's talk, The Power of Correct Principles.

Joseph Smith’s inspired statement, “I teach them correct principles, and they govern themselves,” still applies. (Quoted by John Taylor, in Millennial Star, 15 Nov. 1851, p. 339.) The Lord uses that pattern with us. 

- Elder Richard G. Scott, "The Power of Correct Principles", Ensign, May 1993, 32

Tithing

I love the name of the talk this first quote came from, "Tithing, a Commandment Even for the Destitute." I think it should have been titled, "Especially for the Destitute." I see the Lord's hand in so many things these last few months when our cupboard has been "bare." The garnishments of Don's wages, the foreclosure on the house. Yet, each pay period tithing comes out of his check first. I, on the other hand, have a harder time, yet I am striving to pay my tithing also. It isn't as "easy" as it is with Don's check. His comes out by bill pay. We set it up & don't have to worry about it. My savings account doesn't have that option.

"...the truer measure of sacrifice isn't so much what one gives to sacrifice as what one sacrifices to give. Faith isn't tested so much when the cupboard is full as when it is bare. In these defining moments, the crisis doesn't create one's characterit reveals it."

--Lynn G. Robbins, "Tithing, a Commandment Even for the Destitute," Ensign, May 2005, 34 

This next story is something I should've had 34 years ago when I started working in the Missionary Department in the Church Office Building. I had a very hard time with the "human-ness" of the General Authorities.

"May I offer counsel of a general nature, first with comments about General Authorities. We recognize them as instruments in the hand of the Lord, yet realize that they are ordinary human beings. They require haircuts, laundry services, and occasional reminders just like anyone else. President [Ezra Taft] Benson once shared with us a story to illustrate. He said:

" 'Orson F. Whitney . . . was a great man to concentrate. One day when he was traveling by train, he was so preoccupied that he did not notice the train pass the station where he was to get off. So he had to [be driven] back to where he should have been. Meanwhile the stake president waited and waited. . . . Finally when he decided that something had more than likely happened to Brother Whitney and he was not going to make it, they commenced the meeting. As Elder Whitney approached, he was greeted by the opening hymn, which was "Ye Simple Souls Who Stray." '

"We honor such a man because of his extraordinary calling. His official acts are valid on earth and in heaven."

--Russell M. Nelson, "Honoring the Priesthood," Ensign, May 1993, 40

Help is available

if we but ask for it.

"In our life's journey to return to and become more like our Father, we are not left alone. God has given us the necessary gifts to help us in our mortal experience...These gifts help us navigate our lives toward eternal goals. What a comfort it is to know that there is a plan providing us with a Savior, Jesus Christ. His sacrifice makes it possible for all people who comply with His gospel teachings to be forgiven through repentance. What a comfort it is to know that help is available for us to succeed in our endeavors to return to live with our Father in Heaven. What a comfort it is to know that we are not alone sailing uncharted waters as we go through life's experiences."

--Elder José A. Teixeira, "Gifts to Help Us Navigate Our Life",
April 2009 General Conference

Parents & families are another resource God has given us.

"Every home is a house of learning either for good or otherwise. Family members may learn to be obedient, honest, industrious, self-reliant, and faithful in living gospel principles, or they may learn something else. "Learning the gospel in the homes of Church members should be centered on the scriptures and on the words of the latter-day prophets. The Lord has commanded parents to teach their children."

--Joseph B. Wirthlin, Ensign, May 1993, p. 70

By our actions

Tonight's quotes are:

"Ours is the responsibility to show our gratitude by the actions of our lives."

--Thomas S. Monson, "Gifts", Ensign, May 1993, 59

and another:

"We should not allow our personal values to erode, even if others think we are peculiar. "

--President James E. Faust Ensign, May 1998, 19

When my cousin, Floyd Monson, died, his nephew Paul spoke in his funeral. He said people considered his uncle Floyd as odd. He said he preferred to think of Floyd as peculiar & quoted a scripture about the Lord's people being peculiar.