It seems like tonight is a good night to again do some highlights from conference talks I've been reading. :)
Here are things I marked in the talks given in the April 1990 Sunday Afternoon Conference.
Dallin H. Oaks -World Peace
-Peace is more than the absence of war.
-The peace the gospel brings is not just the absence of war. It is the opposite of war. Gospel peace is the opposite of any conflict, armed or unarmed. It is the opposite of national or ethnic hostilities, of civil or family strife.
-"Peace will come and be maintained only through the triumph of the principles of peace, and by the consequent subjection of the enemies of peace, which are hatred, envy, ill-gotten gain, the exercise of unrighteous dominion of men. Yielding to these evils brings misery to the individual, unhappiness to the home, war among nations."
-"If he walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments,... I will give peace in the land, ... neither shall the sword go through your land."
-Peace is a victim everywhere.
-War and conflict are the result of wickedness; peace is the product of righteousness.
-Democracy does not ensure peace. When a nation is governed according to the voice of its people, its actions will mirror the righteousness or wickedness of its people.
-That makes me responsible for the peace of the world, and makes you individually responsible for the peace of the world. The responsibility cannot be shifted to someone else.
-People who continue to hate one another after a war will have another war, whereas the victor and vanquished who forgive one another will share peace and prosperity.
-The most powerful workers for peace may be faithful mothers and fathers.
-Persons who seek to reduce human suffering and persons who work to promote understanding among different peoples are also important workers for peace.
-That kind of person "will not have a mind to injure one another, but to live peaceably' with all people.
Richard G. Scott -Finding the Way Back
-The purpose of this message is to help many of you find the life you want, not the one you are living.
-I need not define your specific problem to help you overcome it. It doesn't matter what it is. If it violates the commandments of the Lord, it comes from Satan, and the Lord can overcome all of Satan's influence through your application of righteous principles.
-Any lasting improvement must come from your own determination to change.
-If it were possible to make your road very easy, you wouldn't grow in strength. If you were always forgiven for every mistake without effort on your part, you would never receive the blessings of repentance. If everything were done for you, you wouldn't learn how to work, or gain self-confidence, or acquire the power to change.
-If you've tangled your ordered life into a ball of knots, it has taken time to get it that way. It is unreasonable to expect to unravel it all at once. Start knot by knot, decision by decision, and be sure that while you are untying the knots, you don't let any more get put there through transgression.
-You are caging the tiger that has controlled your life. It will shake the bars, growl, threaten, and cause you some disturbance.
-When, through violation of God's laws, you cease to function properly, force and compulsion will not restore you. You must search out the Designer's plan. As you follow it, you will become more pliable. you can be "repaired" more easily, and you will function well again under His divine influence.
-It can be cut short through decisive personal commitment to clean up your life, now. Right now. Once that decision is made, there follow many individual decisions and acts, none of which is overpowering. Yet, taken together, they will kill the monster that's controlling your life.
-A rudder won't control a drifting boat; it must be underway. Similarly, you need to be moving forward to gain control of your life.
-When you decide to change and then discover that there is a way to cheat on your promise without anyone knowing, don't do it.
-To reach a goal you have never before attained, you must do things you have never before done.
-Don't confront your problem armed with only your own experience, understanding, and strength. Count on the infinite power of the Lord by deciding now to be obedient to His teachings.
-If loved ones seem to ignore you, it is because they don't know what to do. Their past attempts to help have been rejected; you have not wanted help. Reach out to them trustingly.
-I wish I could replace your doubt with my certainty, but I can't give it to you. I can provide an invitation: Please, decide now to repent and change your life. I promise you, in the name of the Lord, that He will help you. He will be there in every time of need. He gave His life so that you can change your life. I promise you, that you'll feel His love, strength, and support. Trust Him completely. He is not going to make any mistakes. He knows what He is doing. Please, decide now to change your life. Be obedient to His teachings, and He will bless you. I promise you He will bless you, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Barbara W. Winder -Instruments to Accomplish His Purposes
-In spite of these unsettled feelings, at the conclusion of the training meeting, I felt an excitement difficult to describe.
Elaine L. Jack -"I Will Go and Do"
-In my prayers each day I give thanks for the influence of many good people around me.
-This is a joyous gospel!
Horacio A. Tenorio -Teachings of a Loving Father
-Our Heavenly Father loves us dearly and watches over us in all our needs and cares, following us through life step by step.
-But not having Him with us does not mean that He has left us alone.
-We are not alone.
-In fact, those which teach u the most are those which are the most difficult challenges or trials for us as individuals. This is when, if we are susceptible to the Spirit and have faith,, we can see the hand of God reaching out personally to each of his children.
-Problems form an important part of our lives. They are placed in our path for us to overcome them, not to be overcome by them. We must master them, not let them master us. Every time we overcome a challenge, we grow in experience, in self-assuredness, and in faith.
-If we understand the importance of the obstacles in our individual lives, we begin to see them in a positive light as true challenges to overcome.
-"Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me."
-Verily, verily, i say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things.
Merlin R. Lybbert -A Latter-day Samaritan
-There are many of God's children who are wounded or sick in spirit.... and if they're not physically sick or injured, often we just walk by 'on the other side."
-"An enterprising turkey gathered the flock together and, following instructions and demonstrations, taught them how to fly. All afternoon they enjoyed soaring and flying and the thrill of seeing new vistas. After the meeting, all of the turkeys walked home."
H. Burke Peterson -Preparing the Heart
-Simply stated, he told his sons if they would pursue the course and gain a testimony of the divinity of the Lord, Jesus Christ, there would be no test or trial come to them in life that they could not conquer.
-We do not, however, have the capacity to force matters of the heart.
-We cannot force love and respect and admiration.
-We cannot force faith and testimony of truth.
-Even those we cannot force are things that matter most, there are ways we can help one another. That is, we can prepare hearts.
-Look for the good in each person, and mention it in a sincere and consistent way. It is amazing how hearts can be softened, testimonies implanted, and relationships improved when we begin to give a daily portion of heartfelt appreciation.
-By the way, it may take you all day to find something, but it is there.
-Criticism is a destroyer of self-worth and esteem. It is demeaning and cutting.
-Listening is a part of showing love.
James E. Faust -Gratitude As a Saving Principle
-One of the advantages of having lived a long time is that you can often remember when you had it worse.
-Such sacrifice becomes your heritage also, for it is the inheritance of a people who have faults and imperfections but have a great nobility of purpose.
-I acknowledge with great gratitude the peace and contentment we can find for ourselves in the spiritual cocoons of our homes, our sacrament meetings, and our holy temples. In these peaceful environments, our souls are rested. We have the feeling of having come home.
-Social protocol is observed in many places, but the expression of kindness is universally appropriate.
-It seems as though there is a tug-of-war between opposing character traits that leaves no voids in our souls. As gratitude is absent or disappears, rebellion often enters and fills the vacuum. I do not speak of rebellion against civil oppression. I refer to rebellion against moral cleanliness, beauty, decency, honesty, reverence, and respect for parental authority.
-A grateful heart is a beginning of greatness.
-"Use it or lose it."
-"Think to thank"
Gordon B. Hinckley -"Sacred Resolves"
-"He asked forgiveness for His tormentors and then willingly gave up his life."
-"In the minds of his stunned followers over and over echoed some of his last words,'...be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
The Next Three Talks were in given in a Member Finances Fireside, included in the April 1990 Conference.
Boyd K. Packer -Teach Them Correct Principles
-We should not, according to the scriptures, need to be commanded in all things.
-Most of the deciding must be left to you.
-Nothing essential will be lost; rather, essential things will be rediscovered, be found!
-Those resourceful souls will have cause to repent once they understand the spirit of the decision. Those clever practices will soon fade as you learn the purpose for it all.
-Sometimes more can be less, and sometimes less is more.
-Meetings and activities can multiply until they take "strength unto themselves" at the expense of the gospel--of true worship.
-This is a difficult balance because some families need more support than others. Perhaps we have been over-programming stable families to meet the needs of those with problems. We must seek a better way.
-It is a course correction; it is an inspired move.
Thomas S. Monson -The Lord's Way
-Open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing.
-"This thing was not done in a corner."
-To measure the goodness of life by its delights and pleasures is to apply a false standard. The abundant life does not consist of a glut of luxury. It does not make itself content with commercially produced pleasure, mistaking it for joy and happiness.
-To find real happiness, we must seek for it in a focus outside ourselves.
-The same moon, the same stars shine forth from the heavens from hilltops close to home as the ones which shine over the Himalayas.
-Each youth had determined to be a pioneer--even one who goes before, showing others the way to follow.
-Then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday.
Gordon B. Hinckley -Rise to a Larger Vision of the Work
-There may have been a few murmurings, but the faith of the people overrode all of these. They gave generously, notwithstanding the stresses of their own circumstances, and the Lord blessed them in a remarkable way.
-We have strengthened our base at home in a very substantial way, while at the same time planting and nurturing this work in a hundred nations across the earth.
-Great is the trust, tremendous is the responsibility.
-We may be as free as we wish with our own funds, but not with the Lord's.
-It should be recognized that this church is not a social club. This is the kingdom of God in the earth.
-Now, brethren and sisters, I invite you to look beyond the narrow boundaries of your own wards and rise to the larger vision of this, the work of God.
Until you next see these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!
-Sarnic Dirchi
The Dream
I was with my family on vacation, but also with extended family Aunt L, Aunt G, Uncle K and Uncle B as well as my grandparents I think were with my family on this vacation. We were walking along path in a forest that also had some rock areas as well. At one point Aunt L, and Uncle B stopped to sit in a pool of water I think it was a hot spring. They were enjoying it and said that we could join them, I think Aunt G did join them as they waited for some show to start. I didn't stay, I wanted to continue onward, and I think my family followed me...
Then the unholy tones of daylight pulled me away....
and I became myself again. :)
-S.N.D
No comments:
Post a Comment