When We Plead for Relief

"Sometimes we may ask God for success, and He gives us physical and mental stamina. We might plead for prosperity, and we receive enlarged perspective and increased patience, or we petition for growth and are blessed with the gift of grace. He may bestow upon us conviction and confidence as we strive to achieve worthy goals. And when we plead for relief from physical, mental, and spiritual difficulties, He may increase our resolve and resilience."

-Elder David A. Bednar, "The Windows of Heaven"

Meekness Is Not Weakness

"Meekness is vital for us to become more Christlike...Being meek does not mean weakness, but it does mean behaving with goodness and kindness, showing strength, serenity, healthy self-worth, and self-control. Meekness was one of the most abundant attributes in the Savior's life."

-Elder Ulisses Soares, "Be Meek and Lowly of Heart"

Believe.

"And the Lord said unto him: Believest thou the words which I shall speak?
     "And he answered: Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie.
     "And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord showed himself unto him, and said: Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you."

-Ether 3:11-13


"...[A]nd now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them."

-Mosiah 4:10

And the Woman Was Made Whole

"But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour."

-Matthew 9:22

Believe in Christ

"And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul."

-2 Nephi 25:29

My Favorite Scripture Right Now

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

-John 14:27

More Courageous

Pink Sherbet Photography via Compfight cc

"Every reversal can be turned to our benefit and blessing and can make us stronger, more courageous, more godlike." 

-President Ezra Taft Benson

We Choose

[photo by c_ambler via Compfight]

"Good experience, bad experience, happy experience, painful experience--it's all for our good, and we can accept it, deal with it, come to terms with it, and learn from it because it is part of why we came here. No experience is so painful that the Savior has not been there before us. We cannot have an experience that will destroy us unless we choose to let it."

-Chieko Okazaki

Much Brighter

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"The future will be essentially the same as the past, only much brighter and greatly enlarged."

-President Gordon B. Hinckley, "Look to the Future"

Where Men and Women Grow

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"It is not on the pinnacle of success and ease where men and women grow most. It is often down in the valley of heartache and disappointment and reverses where men and women grow into strong characters."

-President Ezra Taft Benson, quoted by Elder Dallin H. Oaks in "Adversity"

This Way or That Way

[photo by janet isn't real via Compfight]

"So you are the focus of two conflicting patterns trying to influence you in your life, trying to have you go this way or that way. You are the one who makes the decision...On one hand, you have inspiration from the Holy Ghost, and, on the other hand, you have what President Ezra Taft Benson called 'sinspiration' from the angels of the devil. They are with you all of the time."

-Elder Boyd K. Packer, "The Instrument of Your Mind and the Foundation of Your Character"

All That Appears Wrong

[photo by Grant MacDonald via Compfight]

"Most of the heartache, pain, and suffering we would not choose today. But we did choose. We chose when we could see the complete plan. We chose when we had a clear vision of the Savior's rescue of us. And if our faith and understanding were as clear today as it was when we first made that choice, I believe we would choose again.

"Therefore, perhaps the challenge is to have the kind of faith during the hard times that we exercised when we first chose. The kind of faith that turns questioning and even anger into acknowledging the power, blessings, and hope that can come only from Him who is the source of all power, blessings, and hope. The kind of faith that brings the knowledge and assurances that all that we experience is part of the gospel plan and that for the righteous, all that appears wrong will eventually be made right. The peace and understanding to endure with dignity and clarity of purpose can be the sweet reward. This kind of faith can help us to see the good, even when life's path seems to be layered only with thorns, thistles, and craggy rocks."

-Bishop Richard C. Edgley, "For Thy Good"

Refueling, Regeneration, Encouragement, Hope

“It would be nice if life were so calm and consistent that we never had occasion to feel discouraged or depleted. If there were no tribulation in our lives, no difficult or taxing circumstances that consumed our spiritual and emotional capital, we would have little need for any restoration to our soul. But life isn’t calm or consistent, and we all face times that drain us of strength. Fatigue is a debilitating fact for all of us. We all get tired. This is why we all need sleep, we all need a break from our routines, we all need a vacation, however brief or inexpensive it might be.

"Certainly this is the reason God ordained a Sabbath. Rabbi Harold S. Kushner has written regarding Exodus 31:17: 'In six days the Lord made heaven and earth and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.' He notes that in Hebrew, the verbs that translate 'rest' and 'refreshed' are shavat, meaning He stopped (from which the word Sabbath comes) and yinafash, meaning literally He got his soul back.

"If God needs rest and refreshing, needs to 'get His soul back' (if only symbolically and as an example for us), then surely we do as well. Every one of us needs refueling, regeneration, encouragement, hope. Fortunately, God has structured life in ways that we can get these if we will.”

-Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

My Work and My Glory

"For behold, this is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."

-Moses 1:39

Music That Is Dark and Noisy

"When some ugly thought from the nether kingdom tries to get into my mind, I move it out with good music, hymns. That is one of the reasons why you are very, very, very, very, very, very foolish when you like to participate in music that is dark and noisy. Worthy inspiration cannot get through to you where you are. No matter how popular it may be or how much you want to belong, just remember that there are those angels of the devil using you."

-Elder Boyd K. Packer

Don't You Quit

"Don't you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead...You keep your chin up. It will be all right in the end. Trust God and believe in good things to come."

-Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Teach Your Children in Such a Way

"The future of this kingdom will rest on our offspring; and its power and ultimate triumph, on their education and proper training. If we wish to sway a proper influence over our families, we must show them good examples as well as give them good precepts. We should be able to say, do as I do, as well as to say, do as I say. Strive to teach your children in such a way, both by example and precept, that they will unhesitatingly follow in your footsteps and become as valiant for the truth as you have been."

-President Lorenzo Snow

Parents Must Have the Courage

"Parents must have the courage to filter or monitor Internet access, television, movies, and music. Parents must have the courage to say no, defend truth, and bear powerful testimony. Your children need to know that you have faith in the Savior, love your Heavenly Father, and sustain the leaders of the Church. Spiritual maturity must flourish in our homes...[T]he moral issues of our day must be addressed in the family."

-Elder Quentin L. Cook

Light Will Burst upon Them

"Every man and woman who serves the Lord, no matter how faithful they may be, have their dark hours; but if they have lived faithfully, light will burst upon them and relief will be furnished."

-President Lorenzo Snow

He Lives!

I just can't find anything better to express my feelings about Easter than this painting and video that I've posted on Easters past.

This video is beautiful:



And I love this painting of Peter and John running to the tomb.

The artist, Liz Lemon Swindle, said about this painting:

"When Mary came to the tomb, she found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. She ran to the disciples crying, "They have taken away the Lord…and we know not where they have laid him" (John 20:2). Peter and John immediately ran to the tomb.

"What did they think as they ran? Were they simply curious to see for themselves? Did they fear, like Mary, that their enemies had stolen the body? Or did they remember His promise, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up"?

"The decision that faced Peter and John that Sunday morning is the same decision that faces each one of us today. Will we doubt? Will we hope? Or will we know that He lives? I know that He lives."

I know, too, that He lives. Happy Easter!