- God intended that men and women would be free to make choices between good and evil. When evil choices become the dominant characteristic of a culture or nation, there are serious consequences both in this life and the life to come. People can become enslaved or put themselves in bondage not only to harmful, addictive substances but also to harmful addictive philosophies that detract from righteous living.
- Bondage, subjugation, addictions, and servitude come in many forms. They can be literal physical enslavement but can also be loss or impairment of moral agency that can impede our progress.
Neil L. Andersen -Power in the Priesthood
- We sometimes overly associate the power of the priesthood with men in the Church. The priesthood is the power and authority of God given for the salvation and blessing of all--men, women, and children.
- A man may open the drapes so the warm sunlight comes into the room, but the man does not own the sun or the light or the warmth it brings. The blessings of the priesthood are infinitely greater than the one who is asked to administer the gift.
- "Deny not the gifts of God, for they are many. ...And there are different ways that these gifts are administered; but it is the same God who worketh [them] all."
David M. McConkie -Teaching with the Power and Authority of God
- After you have prepared yourself and your lesson to the very best of your ability, you must be willing to let go. When the quiet promptings of the Holy Ghost come, you must have the courage to set aside your outlines and your notes and go where those promptings take you. When you do this, the lesson you deliver is no longer your lesson, but it becomes the Savior's lesson.
- A teacher is also a student.
Kevin S. Hamilton -Continually Holding Fast
- We each have many choices to make as to how we observe the Sabbath day. There will always be some "good" activity that can and should be sacrificed for the better choice of Church meeting attendance. This is in fact one of the ways that the adversary "cheateth [our] souls, and leadeth [us carefully] away." He uses "good" activities as substitutes for "better" or even "best" activities.
- Everyday decisions will impact our lives in significant ways. A seemingly small decision such as whether or not to attend a sacrament meeting can have far-reaching, even eternal, consequences.
Adrian Ochoa -Look Up
- "We need to make both temporal and spiritual preparation. ... And the preparation most likely to be neglected is the one less visible and more difficult--the spiritual."
- In particular, I caution you not to view filthy images or give your attention to the false accusers of Christ and the Prophet Joseph Smith. Both actions create the same effect: the loss of the Holy Ghost and His protecting, sustaining power. Vice and unhappiness always follow.
- "By their fruits ye shall know them."
- You and I are living evidence of the redeeming power of the Savior. We are living evidence of the ministry of the Prophet Joseph and the faithfulness of those early Saints who remained strong in their testimony. The Church of Jesus Christ has now expanded all over the world and is growing like never before--embraced, as in the times of Christ, by humble people who do not need to see and touch to believe.
Terence M. Vinson -Drawing Closer to God
- It's not just the thoughts of our hearts that are important but the "intents."
- Behavior and actions reflect the integrity of our intents.
- Why does He warn any of us to remove ourselves from a source of danger when He could simply stop the danger from happening?
- The Lord wants us to develop the faith that will help us rly upon Him in solving our problems and trust Him.
Russell M. Nelson -Decisions for Eternity
- "I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; ... for if they humble themselves ... and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."
- You were chosen not for your bodily characteristics but for your spiritual attributes, such as bravery, courage, integrity of heart, a thirst for truth, a hunger for wisdom, and a desire to serve others.
- A pivotal spiritual attribute is that of self-mastery--the strength to place reason over appetite. Self-mastery builds a strong conscience. And your conscience determines your moral responses in difficult, tempting, and trying situations.
- Civil governments are heavily influenced by social trends and secular philosophies as they write, rewrite, and enforce laws. Regardless of what civil legislation may be enacted, the doctrine of the Lord regarding marriage and morality cannot be changed. Remember: sin, even if legalized by man, is still sin in the eyes of God!
Thomas S. Monson -Till We Meet Again
- May the Spirit we have felt here be and abide with us as we go about those things which occupy us each day. May we show increased kindness toward one another, and may we ever be found doing the work of the Lord.
Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!
-Sarnic Dirchi
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