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.

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.

Daily fervent prayers

Here's a new Staheli quote:

"Daily fervent prayers seeking forgiveness and special help and direction are essential to our lives and the nourishment of our testimonies. When we become hurried, repetitive, casual, or forgetful in our prayers, we tend to lose the closeness of the Spirit, which is so essential in the continual direction we need to successfully manage the challenges of our everyday lives. Family prayer every morning and night adds additional blessings and power to our individual prayers and to our testimonies."

--Donald L. Staheli, "Securing Our Testimonies," Ensign, Nov. 2004, 39

And a Faust quote:

"In the many trials of life, when we feel abandoned and when sorrow, sin, disappointment, failure, and weakness make us less than we should ever be, there can come the healing salve of the unreserved love in the grace of God. It is a love that lifts and blesses. It is a love that sustains a new beginning on a higher level and thereby continues from grace to grace."

--James E. Faust, "A Personal Relationship with the Savior", Ensign, November 1976, p. 59.

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

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