Let me share a little bit with you...
"Choose to be happy during trials. It won't make the challenges go away, but then again, neither will being sorrowful!"
"Life is not about waiting for storms to pass, it's learning to dance (and I add "sing") in the rain."
"You can't tell me that worrying doesn't work... Most of the things I worry about never come to pass!"
Wirthlin - "Come what may, and love it!
""Don't compare self to others, only to self.... envision the perfect race and do it!"
"Joy in the journey... like with Zion's Camp, it's the journey where all of the 'becoming' happens."
Things that bring joy in the journey:
- Obedience
- Spirit of Holy Ghost - not an acquaintance, but as a constant companion
- Understand and accept Atonement
- Learn what Jesus' will is for me -- look up!
- Be cheerful, forgive others, be like a cork on water
- Accomplish worthy goals
- Service
Be proactively engaged in His work. The power is within us. God Empowers us when we are anxiously engaged in His work.
You can be strong when your faith is firmly centered in the Savior.
Virtue empowers us to remain in control of our bodies... Satan's campaign is focused on taking that control away from us since he lost the opportunity to have a body of his own. (Pornography, immorality, immodesty, eating disorders, etc.)
A woman read the Book of Mormon and said aloud, "This book is true! Oh, no! It's true!" It meant that she had to change.
Alma asked if we have His image in our countenance, and if we have felt to sing the song of Redeeming love?
Testimony is a beginning, a witness to what is true...
Conversion grows out of testimony and is consistently being true to what we know. We need testimony AND ongoing, continuing, deepening conversion to CHRIST! Lay down weapons of rebellion like King Lamoni's dad and their people.
Be not converted to social, tradition or teachers.... be converted to Christ!
10 Virgins... "lamp of testimony" and "oil of conversion"
Cannot share the personal strength that comes from commitment and conversion in a moment of crisis. When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren... Jesus said to Peter.
Mighty change of heart leaves no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually... King Benjamin's people.
Elder Maxwell said, "Except for the character of Christ, there would be no Atoning Sacrifice."
What is the character of Christ that made it so he would Atone for us?
Example 1:
JST of Matt 4:12 "And now Jesus knew that John was cast into prison, and he sent angels, and behold, they came and ministered unto him, and Jesus departed into Galilee..."Jesus, although having just fasted 40 days and been rendered unto the buffetings of Satan, thought of someone else. He could have prayed for angels to strengthen him, but he prayed for angels to be sent to help John.
Example 2:
At the Last Supper, in anticipation of His facing His greatest agony, He spoke of sending the Comforter for the others. He knew it was going to be hard for them to bear was was about to happen to Him. (John 15:26)
Example 3:
After suffering all that Satan was allowed to inflict upon Him, the agony of our sins, pains, sorrows, for all mankind from all time... still reeling from that experience, then His friend betrays Him with a kiss, and He is being taken away......In the middle of all of this, Peter slices off the ear of a guard, and Jesus takes a tender moment to restore and heal the injury.... Think of it! He probably did it without even thinking twice about it... more like an impulse. A reminder that He was still Himself, no matter what Satan could inflict on Him. His character came through again.
Example 4:
On the cross... After enduring all of that hell again.... He thought of His mother. Now, we cannot expect to develop Christ-like Character simply by setting goals and achieving them... It is the beauty of the Atonement that completes us. By the Grace of God we are strengthened. Going through such spiritual rigors is only possible through Jesus Christ. He enlarges our capacity. He helps us put off the natural man and become a saint... we become more like Him THROUGH Him.
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Mosiah 24:13-15
13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.
14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.
15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.
Covenants are essential to receiving the blessings of the Atonement. Burdens not always taken away, but made light. Submit cheerfully with patience, then testify about what you know. We are strengthened through the power and grace of the Atonement.
Boast of God, for in His strength we can do all things! (Alma 26:12)
12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.
