April 2001 General Conference Sunday Morning

James E. Faust -Born Again

• "Since faith can move a stubborn mountain, I had no doubt in my mind that it would mend these limbs of mine."
• Not having the gift of the Holy Ghost is somewhat like having a body without an immune system.

Neal A. Maxwell -"Plow in Hope"

• Much as I lament the resulting and gathering storms, there can be some usefulness in them.
• The Lord is always quietly refining His faithful people individually.
• As you and I observe the valiant cope successfully with severe and relentless trials, we applaud and celebrate their emerging strength and goodness. Yet the rest of us tremble at the tuition required for the shaping of such sterling character, while hoping we would not falter should similar circumstances come to us!
• It may be too late to fix some communities, but not to help those individuals and families willing to fix themselves. It is not too late, either, for some to become pioneer disciples in their families and locations, or for individuals to become local peacemakers in a world from which peace has been taken. If still others experience a shortage of exemplars, they can become such.
• Enduring and submitting are not passive responses at all, but instead are actually more like being braced sufficiently to report for advanced duties, while carrying--meekly and victoriously--bruises from the previous frays.
• What are a few fingers of scorn now anyway, when the faithful can eventually know what it is like to be "clasped in the arms of Jesus?"
• What are mocking words now, if later we hear those glorious words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant?"
• Today's put-down is then placed in the perspective of our being lifted up tomorrow in God's plan of happiness.
• The putting off of the natural man makes possible the putting on  of the whole armor of God, which would not fully fit before!

Keith B. McMullin -An Invitation with Promise

• Therefore, this "voice of warning:"
• Beware of worldly lusts.
• They stimulate the senses but enslave the soul.
• Beware of worldly wealth.
• Its promises are enticing, but its happiness is a mirage.
• Beware of worldly preoccupation with self.
• The highs are counterfeit; the lows are despairing.
• Being saintly is to be good, pure, and upright. For such persons, virtues are not only declared but lived. For Latter-day Saints, the kingdom of God, or the Church, is not a byline; rather, it is the center and the substance of their lives. Home is "a bit of heaven," not a hotel. The family is not merely a societal or biological entity. It is the basic eternal unit in God's kingdom  wherein the gospel of Jesus Christ is taught and lived. Indeed, Latter-day Saints diligently strive to become a little better, a little kinder, a little nobler in the daily affairs of life.
• The things deemed weak by the world overthrow evils that appear so mighty and strong.

Carol B. Thomas -Sacrifice: An Eternal Investment

• "Without sacrifice there is no true worship of God.
• The law of sacrifice is one of the things that sets us apart from the rest of the world.
• We must avoid saturating our children with material things. We may deprive a child of enjoyment when we give him too much. If we never allow him to want something, he will never enjoy the pleasure of receiving it.
• The Church needs you. President Hinckley cannot walk down the halls of your school and teach your friends, but you can, and the Lord is counting on you. We're so proud of the courage you have as you share your love for the gospel with your friends.

M. Russell Ballard -"His Word Ye Shall Receive"

• History has shown that there is safety, peace, prosperity, and happiness in responding to prophetic counsel.
• Be grateful, be smart, be clean, be true, be humble, and be prayerful.
• "Bless them that they may walk acceptably before Thee as Thy cherished sons and daughters. Each is Thy child with the capacity to do great and noble things."

Gordon B. Hinckley -The Miracle of Faith

• It is faith that is the converter. It is faith that is the teacher.
• This precious and marvelous gift of faith, this gift from God our Eternal Father, is still the strength of this work and the quiet vibrancy of its message. Faith underlies it all. Faith is the substance of it all.
• It is the faith within us that is evidenced in all we do.
• Our critics cannot understand it. Because they do not understand, they attack. A quiet inquiry, an anxious desire to grasp the principles behind the result, could bring greater understanding and appreciation.

Until you next see these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

The Dream

I was in a foresty area/over grown building with Captain America, We were rebelling against a leadership that had caused our people to become basic 'zombies.' No care in the world, they either were searching for people to eat, or standing there listening to music unaware of anything else in their path. And we were setting out to overcome it, only we had to get Thor on our side, but he'd been brainwashed and acted like a stupid jerk. We had to create a wax thing on his head and plant a flaming seed that grew, and managed to siphon the bad from Thor, turning his hair and beard red again. Making him himself again. We then ventured into the stone tunnels of the underground school place to go find a specific area to use a gem of sorts to defeat the leaders, only I ended up getting caught in an 'election' where a bunch of other students were picking who they wanted to be in charge of them. It was nearly like a picture mini notebook with a cartoon picture and a name nearby nothing more. So I quickly picked random people based mostly on their names, and was trying to leave when the leaders realized I wasn't a zombie. They called the others to attack us, and I ended up running and dodging through the hallways....

when the unholy tones of daylight pulled me away....
and I became myself again. :)

-S.N.D