Saved in ignorance

Two new thoughts tonight & both are thought provoking.

Bishop H. David Burton teaches

"All of us face challenges in our daily lives. Yet in challenges lie some of our greatest opportunities. As we recognize and act on our opportunities, progress, happiness, and spiritual growth follows. We need to be involved in moving the Lord's work forward. The opportunities available to us are endless."

--H David Burton, "A season of opportunity", November 1998 Ensign pg. 9

Sometimes it is awfully hard to face those challenges though.

"Learning and teaching are not optional activities in the kingdom of God. They are the very means by which the gospel has been restored to the earth and by which we will gain eternal life. They provide the pathway to personal testimony. No one can be "saved in ignorance."

--Russell T. Osguthorpe, "Teaching Helps Save Lives", Ensign Nov 2009, 15–17

And I don't think I've ever dug deep enough into my thoughts to have come up with this slant on being saved in ignorance.

Ideals are stars to steer by

This first quote is an oldie but a goldie … couldn't resist that cliché. Sister Smith was the general Relief Society president in 1976, 35 years ago.

"Ideals are stars to steer by; they are not sticks to beat ourselves with."

--Barbara B. Smith, Ensign, March 1976

It's been a long time since I've been that idealistic. I don't know if I ever was.

"We cannot control what others choose to do, and so we cannot force our children to heaven, but we can determine what we will do. And we can decide that we will do all we can to bring down the powers of heaven into that family we want so much to have forever."

--Elder Henry B. Eyring; Ensign, February 1998, Page16

We can only teach our children & hope they will make good choices.

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.

Where are we going?

Wow! This is definitely a quote to ponder

"Periodically one might well ask, “If I continue to travel the road I am currently following, where will it lead me and what will happen to my family?” Are we establishing the foundation for an eternal family, or are we focusing more on the pride of personal accomplishments and a collection of temporal trophies that are taking precedence over the things that should really matter most? Regardless of our age and stage in life, daily obedience to gospel principles is the only sure way to eternal happiness."

--Elder Donald L Staheli, "Life’s Great Challenge", May 1998 Ensign pg 81

How many, many times have I thought about this & pondered it 

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.

Spiritual worthiness

Another day, more quotes.

"Those who 'live without God in the world' anxiously glean their few and fleeting satisfactions, but they are unable to find real happiness...."Ignorant of the plan of salvation, many simply do not know what the journey of life is all about. Therefore, modern selfishness and skepticism brush aside the significance of the Savior..."

--Elder Neal A. Maxwell; Ensign, March 1998, page 9

I love seeing the Lord's hand in my life.

"We do not know the future, but our Father in Heaven does, and He will lead and guide us if we let Him. When we are in tune with the Spirit, we will see many small miracles happen in our lives. I have found that having the ability to see and recognize these small miracles is based upon my spiritual worthiness, my willingness to be obedient, and my desire to not allow myself to become complacent and caught up in worldly and personal pursuits."

--Ronald T. Halverson, "Obeying the Whisperings of the Holy Ghost", Ensign, Aug 2007, 56–58

I copied Elder Maxwell's quote twice & then went to tag (label) them. I thought it was strange both quotes were Maxwell, 1998.