There is always the hope, and often it is true, that one with an open mind may admit one simple thought: “Could it possibly be true?” Combine that thought with sincere prayer, and one more soul enters a private sacred grove to find the answer to “Which of all the churches is true, and which should I join?”
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Brethren and sisters, never be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Never apologize for the sacred doctrines of the gospel.
Never feel inadequate and unsettled because you cannot explain them to the satisfaction of all who might inquire of you.
Do not be ill at ease or uncomfortable because you can give little more than your conviction.
Be assured that, if you will explain what you know and testify of what you feel, you may plant a seed that will one day grow and blossom into a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
—Boyd K. Packer
The Only True Church
We get nearer to the Lord through music than perhaps through any other thing except prayer.
I have tried to imagine our Lord and Exemplar, Jesus Christ, bustling between meetings or multitasking to get a list of urgent things accomplished.
I can’t see it.
Instead I see the compassionate and caring Son of God purposefully living each day. When He interacted with those around Him, they felt important and loved. He knew the infinite value of the people He met. He blessed them, ministered to them. He lifted them up, healed them. He gave them the precious gift of His time.
Missionary Work: A Major Responsibility
This talk is a bit of an oldie, but it’s such a good one. Anyone wondering why Latter-day Saints focus so much on missionary work or anyone serving a mission or even considering serving a mission really should read this.
Atonement, Agency, Accountability
This talk… I’m blown away by it. I’d heard these principles before of course, but putting them all together this way I can say without a doubt was inspired of God. I wanted to post so many excerpts but they just won’t do it justice. I want everyone to read it. It’s so much more than I ever would have guessed from the title.
Often, however, agency is misunderstood. While we are free to choose, once we have made those choices, we are tied to the consequences of those choices.
(Source: lds.org)
If charity is not always quick to our understanding, it may occasionally be quick to our misunderstanding. It is not charity or kindness to endure any type of abuse or unrighteousness that may be inflicted on us by others. God’s commandment that as we love him, we must respect ourselves, suggests we must not accept disrespect from others. It is not charity to let another repeatedly deny our divine nature and agency. It is not charity to bow down in despair and helplessness. That kind of suffering should be ended, and that is very difficult to do alone. There are priesthood leaders and other loving servants who will give aid and strength when they know of the need. We must be willing to let others help us.
AILEEN H. CLYDE (Charity Suffereth Long)
Love is the measure of our faith, our inspiration for our obedience, and the true altitude of our discipleship.
My brothers and sisters, to express gratitude is gracious and honorable, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven.
No man who breaks the Word of Wisdom can gain the same amount of knowledge and intelligence in this world as the man who obeys that law. I don’t care who he is or where he comes from, his mind will not be as clear, and he cannot advance as far and as rapidly and retain his power as much as he would if he obeyed the Word of Wisdom.
