April 2003 General Conference Saturday Morning

Gordon B. Hinckley -The Condition of the Church

• I cannot say enough of good concerning our wonderful young people.

Russell M. Nelson -Sweet Power of Prayer

• Through prayer, we can show our love for God. And He has made it so easy. We may pray to Him any time. No special equipment is needed. We don't even need to charge batteries or pay a monthly service fee.
• Prayers can be offered even in silence. One can think a prayer, especially when words would interfere. We often kneel to pray; we may stand or be seated. Physical position is less important than is spiritual submission to God.
• Not all of our prayers will be answered as we might wish. Occasionally the answer will be no. We should not be surprised. Loving mortal parents do not say yes to every request of their children.

David E. Sorensen -Forgiveness Will Change Bitterness to Love

• President Brigham Young once compared being offended to a poisonous snakebite. He said that "there are two courses of action to follow when one is bitten by a rattlesnake. One may, in anger, fear, or vengefulness, pursue the creature and kill it. Or he may make full haste to get the venom out of his system." He said, "If we pursue the latter course we will likely survive, but if we attempt to follow the former, we may not be around long enough to finish it."
• Let us not hurt the ones we love the most by selfish criticism!
• Forgiveness does not require us to accept or tolerate evil. It does not require us to ignore the wrong that we see in the world around us or in our own lives. But as we fight against sin, we must not allow hatred or anger to control our thoughts or actions.

Kathleen H. Hughes -Blessed by Living Water

• Living water heals. It nourishes and sustains. It brings peace and joy.
• A wellspring is a flowing well, offering continual refreshment--if we drink of it. Pride can destroy its effects, as can mere inattention. But those who drink deeply not only become whole themselves, but they become a fountain to others, as one spirit nurtures and feeds another.
• It may take a lifetime--and longer--to refine our spirits fully, but the living water is available to all, including the young.

Robert D. Hales -Faith through Tribulation Brings Peace and Joy

• We too must come forth from our secure caves, for we have important work to do. Through the still, small voice of His Spirit, the Lord will protect us, help us, and guide us.
• "It is not meet that [the Lord] should command in all things."
• By showing our faith through tribulation, we assure them that the fury of the adversary is not fatal.
• However dark conditions may seem in this world today, whatever the storms we are facing personally, in our homes and our families, this joy can be ours now. Sometimes we don't understand death, illness, mental and physical disabilities, personal tragedies, war, and other conflict.

Thomas S. Monson -In Search of Treasure

• "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
• "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
• "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
• First, learn from the past.
• Second, prepare for the future.
• Remember the promise of the Lord: "If ye are prepared ye shall not fear." Fear is a deadly enemy of progress.
• It is necessary to prepare and to plan so that we don't fritter away our lives. Without a goal, there can be no real success. One of the best definitions of success I have ever heard goes something like this: Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal. Someone has said the trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never crossing the goal line.
• Third, live in the present.
• Daydreaming of the past and longing for the future may provide comfort but will not take the place of living in the present. This is the day of our opportunity, and we must grasp it.
• "You pile up enough tomorrows, and you'll find you've collected a lot of empty yesterdays."
• There is no tomorrow to remember if we don't do something today, and to live most fully today, we must do that which is of greatest importance. Let us not procrastinate those things which matter most.
• "Don't save something only for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a special occasion."
• Let us relish life as we live it.
• Find joy in the journey.
• "Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today" is doubly important when it comes to expressing our love and affection--in word and in deed--to family members and friends.

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

-Sarnic Dirchi