Reflections

For the longest time I surmised that the most faithful among us in the gospel were those souls who were the more righteous to start with, and therefore, had the least change to go through to both attain and retain their righteousness. How foolish an idea that has been. On the contrary, such are those souls who have allowed the most change to occur in their lives through their humility, their repentance, their keeping of the commandments, and their willingness to help bring forth and establish the cause of Zion. It is the natural man who resists the will of the Lord and fights change and finds every reason why his/her way is the preferred way. It is the spiritual man/woman who recognizes that living by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God is the only way to fulfill the measure of our creation and return to live with God. This can only occur with change. Repentance provokes change. Selflessness is the manifestation of change. Humility magnifies change.

I am me. I should not spend my life trying to be somebody else. I should, however, seek to daily become a better version of myself through living the gospel of Jesus Christ.

All that is good comes from God. All that comes from God is good.

By the manner of our prayers are we in effect telling God who we want him to be rather than listening for him to guide us to the way he wants us to be?

You will never be happier than you are grateful. *

All evil will be exposed eventually.

A godly sorrow is not to self-loathing.

Neither revel in sin nor wallow in it, but repent of it.

Life is so short there is only time to do what is right.

The indiscretions we allow ourselves become magnified in the succeeding generation.

Should we be true to who we are, or true to who we want to be, or true to who God reveals we can become?

What could be is unfathomable to me; For what now is I cannot comprehend.

I have spoken too much, And done too little.

Freedom is not the power to do whatever you like, Rather it is the opportunity to choose what is right.

Selfishness lurks at the heart of all sin.

Any man can lead you astray. Many men will lead you astray. The only sure guidance is in the Lord.

Exact obedience – Three components: temporal component; i.e., unless otherwise stated inspiration should evoke immediate action on our part. Quality component; we should act with a sincere heart, with real intent, giving our most diligent effort. Quantity component; we should follow through to completion.

It is in pondering that revelation comes.

Wisdom is the reward of repentance.

We tend to want what we haven’t got, and tend to take for granted that which we have.

Speak evil of no one.

There are times for efficiency of thought and action, but there is never a time for panic.

Without the Holy Ghost we are left to founder in our own intellect.

Live Sacredly every day – I had been praying daily for several months to try and know how to live my life in alignment with the will of God. I had had no recognizable insights. Then this morning while pondering during prayer, a request came into my mind from outside my mind to ask that I would “live sacredly” this day. This caused me to stop and began for me an immediate realignment of how I should be structuring my life each day. I will seek to build upon this. I am a slow learner.

As faith increases fear departs. Becoming unafraid is less about overcoming fear, but about building faith.

There are marriages sanctioned by man. There are marriages ordained of God.

Yoked to our Savior, and thus to the will of God, there is no fear, there is no doubt, one’s confidence waxes strong. One does not hesitate. One does not deviate. The path is clear and straight before you.

Whatever the will of the Lord will be, There will I be also.

Real happiness is found in striving for the happiness of others. Real joy is found in the glory of God.