Walk in obedience

Tonight's quotes are repeats. No surprise there as I've been keeping track of these quotes for several months now.

President Hinckley says God will always make a way where there is no way if we walk in obedience. We must shun sin & hold fast that which is good advises Elder Nelson.

Since Elder Nelson is talking about the evil one & shunning sin, here is a quote from Sister Dew.

"Lucifer is determined to devour marriages and families, because their demise threatens the salvation of all involved and the vitality of the Lord's kingdom itself."

--Sister Sheri L. Dew; Ensign, November 2001, page 12.

I think if the quote had gone farther, there would be encouragement to work on making strong marriages and families. 

Mortalilty is the battlefield

I kind of like the thought that mortality is a battlefield. I sometimes feel like I'm a warrior & sometimes a prisoner.

"The Church exists to exalt the family. And the family is the fundamental unit of the Church."

--Elder Russell M. Nelson; Ensign, November 2001, page 70.

It doesn't say Elder Nelson's thought is taken from a conference address, but given the issue of the Ensign, it must be. I'd like to read the above thought in context.

If we are well prepared

Death seems to be holding a prominent place in my thoughts lately. A cousin's 14-yo daughter died last week & her funeral was Saturday. Two weeks ago a young man who was 25, the same age as Don-Mike, & married to a girl from our ward died, leaving his wife with 2 small children, one a baby 2 months old. Then a man my age dropped over dead of a heart attack. His funeral was yesterday. One of today's thoughts is:

"If we are well prepared, death brings no terror. From an eternal perspective, death is premature only for those who are not prepared to meet God."

--Elder Russell M. Nelson, Ensign, May 2005, 18

My mom is afraid to die. I think the unknown is always terrifying. I know my cousin Floyd Monson confided in his nephew Paul that he was scared. Paul was surprised. If anyone would be prepared to meet God, he thought his Uncle Floyd would be. He asked Floyd about it & Floyd said, "I've never died before."

The 2nd thought is one we've had before. Elder Wirthlin admonishes our future depends on the decisions we make today.

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.

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.

Focus

This is a good word & good advice:

"Our busy lives force us to focus on things we do from day to day. But the development of character comes only as we focus on who we really are."

--Elder Russell M. Nelson, Ensign, Nov. 2000, 17

And President Monson tells us to stop at every crossroad & listen. How can we listen if we don't focus?

"The road signs of life enticingly invite every traveler: This way to fame; this way to affluence; this way to popularity; this way to luxury. Pause at the crossroads before you continue your journey. Listen for that still, small voice which ever so gently beckons, "Come, follow me." This way to Jericho."

--Thomas S. Monson, "Your Jericho Road", Ensign, May 1977

Salvation

Readthescriptures dot com chose one line from Elder Russell M. Nelson's April 2008 Conference talk as a quote.

"In God's eternal plan, salvation is an individual matter; exaltation is a family matter."

--Russell M. Nelson, "Salvation and Exaltation", Ensign, May 2008, 7–10

I added the italics as this statement concerns me. I searched for it to read & ponder it. I also included the link so I can go back & read it fully. The next quote also confused me.

"We cannot have faith without belief, but we can believe without having faith. Belief is the foundation of faith. Faith is trusting in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The scriptures contain many assurances of salvation to those who exercise faith and obey the commandments... Faith is the motivating force that impels action."

--O. Leslie Stone, "The Constant Exercise of Our Faith", July 1973 , Ensign pg. 59

How can we believe without having faith? So, I looked up believe, thinking, "Let's define believe." As a verb phrase, believe means to have faith in. However, as a noun it is to have confidence, without absolute proof. As a verb used with an object it has several meanings. The 4th is to suppose or assume.

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

Hold to the rod

the iron rod;
Tis strong, and bright, and true.
The iron rod is the word of God;
'Twill safely guide us through.

Hymn 274

The first quote tonight reminded me of this hymn. This is the chorus, which will now be running through my head. It will have to compete with Jeanette Isabella though. Today, Nick thought I was trying to sing, LOL.

"Because of Christ there is hope smiling brightly before you, and you need not worry too much about sickness, death, poverty, or other afflictions. The Lord will take care of you. Your responsibility is to keep the commandments, feast upon the words of Christ, and stay in the path to your heavenly home."

--Julie B. Beck, "There Is Hope Smiling Brightly before Us", Ensign, May 2003, 103

the next one is one is good advice. He is a cardiothoracic surgeon & I love the line, "proper diagnosis ..."

"We should not be discouraged or depressed by our shortcomings. No one is without weakness. As part of the divine plan, we are tested to see whether we master weakness or let weakness master us. Proper diagnosis is essential to proper treatment. The Lord gave us this remarkable assurance: “Because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong” (Ether 12:37). But wishing for strength won’t make us strong. It takes faith and work to shore up a weakened cord of integrity."

--Russell M. Nelson, "Integrity of Heart", Ensign, Aug. 1995, 19

Shun sin

More quotes:

"Because the evil one is ever at work, our vigilance cannot be relaxed - not even for a moment. A small and seemingly innocent invitation can turn into a tall temptation which can lead to tragic transgression. Night and day, at home or away, we must shun sin and hold fast that which is good."

--Elder Russell M. Nelson, "Set in Order Thy House", Ensign, Nov. 2001

This next quote is a double dip. It sure goes hand in hand with Elder Nelson's quote above:

"In the absence of a compelling testimony, some have let their daily thoughts and actions become so focused on the things of the world that they have minimized the influence of the light of the gospel in their everyday lives. "And then as Elder Neal A. Maxwell has so eloquently described, also included are those ' "honorable" members who are skimming over the surface instead of deepening their discipleship and who are casually engaged rather than "anxiously engaged" (D&C 76:75; 58:27)' (in Conference Report, Oct. 1992, 89; or Ensign, Nov. 1992, 65). . . "

--Elder Donald L. Staheli, "Securing Our Testimonies," Ensign, Nov. 2004, 37

Two different subjects

More quotes from Read the Scriptures.com

"When you read the Book of Mormon, concentrate on the principal figure in the book . . . the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God."

--Elder Russell M. Nelson, Ensign, Nov. 1999, 69

An another one:

"President David O. McKay put it beautifully when he said, speaking of mothers, 'This ability and willingness properly to rear children, the gift to love, and eagerness, yes, longing to express it in soul development, make motherhood the noblest office or calling in the world. . .' (Gospel Ideals, Salt Lake City: Improvement Era, 1953, pp. 453-54)."

--H. Burke Peterson, "Mother, Catch the Vision of Your Call," Ensign, May 1974, 31-32