"A person can never be a good judge without the gospel of Jesus Christ as a reference. The gospel has a long and successful record of guiding people to happiness. Some of the world's ideas leave mankind adrift to try to define their own standards. Because of this, we hear phrases like 'a new morality.' This phrase is deceptive! The standards of morality are eternal and have not changed; neither should we try to discover a new interpretation of them."

No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you with an infinite love. Just think of it! You are known and remembered by the most majestic, powerful and glorious Being in the universe. You are loved by the King of infinite space and everlasting time. He who created and knows the stars knows you and your name. You are the daughters of His kingdom!”
~Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf~

Make Yours a Great Life

Your future is not determined by the conditions around you. It is determined by your faith, your choices, and your efforts.

By Elder Paul V. Johnson

Of the Seventy

Our Children

"Our children take their flight into the future with our thrust and with our aim. And even as we anxiously watch that arrow in flight and know all the evils that can deflect its course after is has left our hand, nevertheless we take courage in remembering that the most important factor in determining that arrow's destination will be the stability, strength, and unwavering certainty of the holder of the bow."

— Jeffrey R. Holland (Created For Greater Things)

You Know Enough Elder Neil L. Andersen

Our spiritual journey is the process of a lifetime. We do not know everything in the beginning or even along the way. Our conversion comes step-by-step, line upon line. We first build a foundation of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We treasure the principles and ordinances of repentance, baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. We include a continuing commitment to prayer, a willingness to be obedient, and an ongoing witness of the Book of Mormon. (The Book of Mormon is powerful spiritual nourishment.)

We then remain steady and patient as we progress through mortality. At times, the Lord’s answer will be, “You don’t know everything, but you know enough”—enough to keep the commandments and to do what is right. Remember Nephi’s words: “I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.” 2

I once visited a mission in southern Europe. I arrived on the day a new missionary was preparing to return home at his own insistence. He had his ticket to leave the next day.

We sat together in the mission president’s home. The missionary told me about his challenging childhood, of learning disorders, of moving from one family to another. He spoke sincerely of his inability to learn a new language and adapt to a new culture. Then he added, “Brother Andersen, I don’t even know if God loves me.” As he said those words, I felt a sure and forceful feeling come into my spirit: “He does know I love him. He knows it.”

I let him continue for a few more minutes, and then I said, “Elder, I’m sympathetic to much of what you’ve said, but I must correct you on one thing: you do know God loves you. You know He does.”

As I said those words to him, the same Spirit that had spoken to me spoke to him. He bowed his head and began to cry. He apologized. “Brother Andersen,” he said, “I do know God loves me; I do know it.” He didn’t know everything, but he knew enough. He knew God loved him. That priceless piece of spiritual knowledge was sufficient for his doubt to be replaced with faith. He found the strength to stay on his mission.

" I promise you that all who faithfully attend to temple work will be blessed beyond measure. Your families will draw closer to the Lord, unseen angels will watch over your loved ones when satanic forces tempt them, the veil will be thin and great spiritual experiences will distill upon this people".

Vaughn J Featherstone

Faith is for the Future

Faith is for the future. Faith builds on the past but never longs to stay there. Faith trusts that God has great things in store for each of us and that Christ is the "high priest of good things to come." I pray you will have a wonderful semester, a wonderful life all filled with faith and hope and charity. Keep your eyes on your dreams, however distant, and live to see the miracles of repentance and forgiveness, trust and divine love transform your life today, tomorrow and forever. I ask you to keep and leave a blessing on you to be able to do, in the name of Him who makes it all possible, even the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

Jeffery R. Holland

Small and Simple Things

Elder Cook Said that "It's more heroic to live righteously, by doing the small and simple things rather than doing some great thing".

Elder Quintin L. Cook

"Drop A Pebble In The Water"

Drop a pebble in the water:
just a splash, and it is gone;
But there's half-a-hundred ripples
Circling on and on and on,
Spreading, spreading from the center,
flowing on out to the sea.
And there is no way of telling
where the end is going to be.

Drop a pebble in the water:
in a minute you forget,
But there's little waves a-flowing,
and there's ripples circling yet,
And those little waves a-flowing
to a great big wave have grown;
You've disturbed a mighty river
just by dropping in a stone.

Drop an unkind word, or careless:
in a minute it is gone;
But there's half-a-hundred ripples
circling on and on and on.
They keep spreading, spreading, spreading
from the center as they go,
And there is no way to stop them,
once you've started them to flow.

Drop an unkind word, or careless:
in a minute you forget;
But there's little waves a-flowing,
and there's ripples circling yet,
And perhaps in some sad heart
a mighty wave of tears you've stirred,
And disturbed a life was happy
ere you dropped that unkind word.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness:
just a flash and it is gone;
But there's half-a-hundred ripples
circling on and on and on,
Bearing hope and joy and comfort
on each splashing, dashing wave
Till you wouldn't believe the volume
of the one kind word you gave.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness:
in a minute you forget;
But there's gladness still a-swelling,
and there's joy circling yet,
And you've rolled a wave of comfort
whose sweet music can be heard
Over miles and miles of water
just by dropping one kind word.

Conversion Story
of
Tokerchuk Nadyazhda Valentinavna

It began when I was 7 years old. My parents decided to baptize me into the Orthodox Church. We came to Apsheronsk church (Krasnodar krai) accidentally met the young couple that were supposed to become the godparents. Talked to the priest and agreed on the ordinance. We didn't have to wait long, the priest called me and my parents to do the ordinance. We walked in circles, and he sprinkled the holy water on us, and was saying a prayer. At that moment my grandmother opened the door and asked him something, he got very mad and yelled at her with uncensored language. That's how I was baptized in the Orthodox Church.
A woman named Vera came into our life very suddenly. She came from Moscow, accidentally met with my mom, they became friends, and she talked to my mom a lot about God, Holy Ghost, Jesus Christ, baptism by immersion. Our grandfather became very interested in it, and he started to read the Bible very actively. Sometime later when he realized everything, he had a revelation come to him in a dream, that he can baptize with the Holy Ghost. When I was 8, grandpa asked me do I want to be baptized, I said yes, so he laid his hands upon my head and said a prayer. I felt very happy at that moment.
My grandfather taught us about some of the signs of the true church of Jesus Christ and encouraged me to look for that church.
Walking on in my life with the word of God, I had many difficulties, some of which I managed, some didn't, but everything with me was turning out the way God wanted. He knows better where we need to go, and what we need to do. You just need to trust Him with your whole life, give Him all your problems, and you'll see how everything is working out fast and great. And remember, that whatsoever a man soweth, that he shall also reap. This law works perfectly.
I found the Church of Jesus Christ in a very interesting way. I lived in Krasnodar, in a rented apartment, and as I was cleaning up, I found a book that had so much dust on it, that I couldn't read the cover. I cleaned off the dust and read – the Book of Mormon. I started to read it, and couldn't come back to my senses. It astonished me so much, especially the vision of the Angel to Joseph Smith. I was motivated to read this book and I did set a goal to find the true Church of Christ. I received a revelation in a dream that I must look for the church, and not back down. How do I find it? Where is this place, and how do I find it? A year passed by, and I happened to be in Krasnodar again. I had a dream, where I saw the church and the people and came to the service and I liked it. This gave me more motivation to search. I thought maybe there was a branch of the church in Krasnodar, so I looked on the Krasnodar web site, and I saw the address right away. That day I went to that address, and I found the church. You can't imagine my feelings when I saw the building and The Church of Jesus Christ (the plaque), and I saw the name Joseph Smith in a window. I was so happy, but I came in a week day, and I couldn't talk to anyone, I just got to pet the church cat.
I came to church on Sunday, and I was more astonished when among the speakers that day I saw the Holy Ghost, and he didn't disappear, and I still see him. When I saw Elder Patterson sitting on the stand, I thought I knew him, but I couldn't remember where I could have seen him. So I was even more motivated to learn more about everything that was going on. The Church of Jesus Christ is great power, when everything is according to God's laws, and all laws are kept – it is a great amount of blessings!
I was baptized on January 22, 2011 in the Krasnodar Branch by Elder Clark Lynn Patterson and the next day I was confirmed a member of the church and received the gift of Holy Ghost.

Water to Wine

Being a stay at home mom has taught me a lot about myself and about God’s love. For example, the other day I was telling Leila about how Jesus turned water to wine. I’ve always wondered why this is the first miracle. In comparison to raising the daughter of Jarius or healing 10 lepers this one seems small and somewhat insignificant. But as I looked into my daughter’s sweet face and remembered how often I have received divine help in raising my children I realized how very important this miracle truly is to me.

In that moment I learned that possibly Jesus was trying to show us that though he truly can do grand miracles still in our day, like healing an illness or raising the dead, he also performs simple miracles in our everyday lives. He has helped me to know what my crying baby needed. He has given me strength to finish my degree while being sick with pregnancy and raising a toddler. He has given me courage to smile and face the day even when my heart is troubled. He has healed my heartaches, and replaced fear with hope. All of these things seem simple, but to me in the moment they were nothing short of a miracle. The miracle of turning water to wine is now a very significant scriptural event to me, and I have resolved to try to see more of the simple miracles that God does for me every day, and thank Him for them.

Little Ethan "The Sweetest Little Man"

Every spirit that comes to this earth to take upon it a tabernacle is a son or a daughter of God, and possesses all the intelligence and all the attributes that any son or daughter can enjoy, either in the spirit world, or in this world, except that in the spirit, and separated from the body, they lacked just the tabernacle of being like God the Father. It is said that God is a spirit, and they who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth [see John 4:24]. But he is a spirit possessing the tabernacle of flesh and bones, as tangible as a man’s and therefore to be like God and Jesus all men must have a body. It matters not whether these tabernacles mature in this world, or have to wait and mature in the world to come, according to the word of the Prophet Joseph Smith, the body will develop, either in time or in eternity, to the full stature of the spirit, and when the mother is deprived of the pleasure and joy of rearing her babe to manhood or to womanhood in this life, through the hand of death, that privilege will be renewed to her hereafter, and she will enjoy it to a fuller fruition than it would be possible for her to do here. When she does it there, it will be with the certain knowledge that the results will be without failure; whereas here, the results are unknown until after we have passed the test. Joseph F Smith

True love

“And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

“And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

“Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18:2–4).

A Teacher

“Each of us, at some time during our membership in the Church, will be a teacher,” President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, told seminary, institute, and religion teachers and educational administrators at a Church Educational System fireside. “That is one of the beauties of this Church,” he said. “The call to teach is an opportunity to follow Jesus Christ, the Master Teacher.”

The fireside was held at the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, Utah, on January 28, 2011.

President Uchtdorf offered five selected topics of counsel for teachers:

First, follow the Master Teacher. Everything we do should center on the Savior—“His gospel, His teachings, His example, and His love.” By expressing our love for the Savior, we help others to develop the same love.

Second, teach the truth with courage and clarity. The world offers many morally-confusing philosophies. Remain committed to the eternal, unchanging doctrines of the gospel and teach them so clearly that they cannot be misunderstood.

Third, teach by the Spirit. Having the Spirit enables teachers to touch hearts and lives and allows those listening to receive eternal learning.

Fourth, teach from the heart. President Uchtdorf recalled the greatest teachers in his life as those who spoke “spirit to spirit, heart to heart . . . with sincerity, passion, and conviction.”

Fifth, testify. “The teacher who bears testimony by the power of the Spirit will be able to touch the hearts and minds of the students,” President Uchtdorf said. He reminded teachers of the example of Brigham Young, the second president of the Church, who felt the Holy Ghost in the testimony of a man without eloquence or talents for public speaking. He quoted Brigham Young: “The Holy Ghost proceeding from that individual [illuminated] my understanding . . . and [I knew] for myself that the testimony of the man [was] true.”

“as if”

I believe in the principle that you ought to act “as if” you were the person you would like to become. As you do that, you will grow into that kind of person. Ultimately your very actions, your attitude, will lead you into being the kind of person that you want to be. George Bernard Shaw said: “People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. People who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them.” (Quoted in John Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations, 15th edition, ed. Emily Morison Beck, Boston: Little, Brown, and Co., 1980 p. 680.) We must learn to become creators of circumstances and not creatures of them. Oh, how important that is at your stage in life.

M Russell Ballard

“You have great expectations, not as the result of an unknown benefactor, but as the result of a known benefactor, even our Heavenly Father.”

Thomas S. Monson
Great Expectations for Youth of Church

EXAMPLE

“You can preach a better sermon with your life then your lips”

Sometimes it is necessary to be obedient even when we do not understand the reason for the law. It takes faith to be obedient. The Prophet Joseph Smith, in teaching obedience, said that whatever God requires is right, though we may not know the reason until much later (see Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 256).

Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread Elder D. Todd Christofferson Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles CES Fireside for Young Adults • January 9, 2011 • B

In the 1950s my mother survived radical cancer surgery, but difficult as that was, the surgery was followed with dozens of painful radiation treatments in what would now be considered rather primitive medical conditions. She recalls that her mother taught her something during that time that has helped her ever since: “I was so sick and weak, and I said to her one day, ‘Oh, Mother, I can’t stand having 16 more of those treatments.’ She said, ‘Can you go today?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Well, honey, that’s all you have to do today.’ It has helped me many times when I remember to take one day or one thing at a time.”
The Spirit can guide us when to look ahead and when we should just deal with this one day, with this one moment. If we ask, the Lord will let us know through the Holy Ghost when it may be appropriate for us to apply in our lives the commandment He gave His ancient Apostles: “Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof” (3 Nephi 13:34; see also Matthew 6:34).

"Anxiously Engaged"

When I was a boy, I used to ride my bicycle home from basketball practice at night. I would connect a small pear-shaped generator to my bicycle tire. Then as I pedaled, the tire would turn a tiny rotor, which produced electricity and emitted a single, welcome beam of light. It was a simple but effective mechanism. But I had to pedal to make it work! I learned quickly that if I stopped pedaling my bicycle, the light would go out. I also learned that when I was “anxiously engaged” in pedaling, the light would become brighter and the darkness in front of me would be dispelled.
The generation of spiritual light comes from daily spiritual pedaling. It comes from praying, studying the scriptures, fasting, and serving—from living the gospel and obeying the commandments. “He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light,” said the Lord, “and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.” My brothers and sisters, that perfect day will be when we will stand in the presence of God the Father and Jesus Christ.
Robert D Hales

Sweet Bubalicious

"Amidst the terrible hostilities in Missouri that would put the Prophet in Liberty Jail and see thousands of Latter-day Saints driven from their homes, Sister Drusilla Hendricks and her invalid husband, James, who had been shot by enemies of the Church in the Battle of Crooked River, arrived with their children at a hastily shaped dugout in Quincy, Illinois, to live out the spring of that harrowing year.

"Within two weeks the Hendrickses were on the verge of starvation, having only one spoonful of sugar and a saucerful of cornmeal remaining in their possession. In the great tradition of LDS women, Drusilla made mush out of it for James and the children, thus stretching its contents as far as she could make it go. When that small offering was consumed by her famished family, she washed everything, cleaned their little dugout as thoroughly as she could, and quietly waited to die.

"Not long thereafter the sound of a wagon brought Drusilla to her feet. It was their neighbor Reuben Allred. He said he had a feeling they were out of food, so on his way into town he'd had a sack of grain ground into meal for them.

"Shortly thereafter Alexander Williams arrived with two bushels of meal on his shoulder. He told Drusilla that he'd been extremely busy but the Spirit had whispered to him that 'Brother Hendricks' family is suffering, so I dropped everything and came [running].'

"May God, who has blessed all of us so mercifully and many of us so abundantly, bless us with one thing more. May he bless us to hear the often silent cries of the sorrowing and the afflicted, the downtrodden, the disadvantaged, the poor."
"A Handful of Meal and a Little Oil," Ensign, May 1996, 31

Jeffery R Holland

Future

“We cannot see the future with precision, but we can know what the Lord intends and what it will take [for] each of us to qualify personally to participate.”

Henry B. Eyring

SO TRUE!

It is better to deserve honours and not have them, than to have them and not deserve them.

Mark Twain

In Photo: George Robert and Annie Elizabeth London Thackeray

Simple Obedience (James Burnett)

"God has set guide lines for us to follow that we may come back into his presence. If we don't abide by his counsel, we cannot be with him. He set the example to be baptized, to join His Church and do His will".
James Burnett 1825 to 1892

This good man lost 3 wives and 10 children to early death, and he never lost his faith or complained. We need to look to him as a wonderful example for the rest of us. 10 children...........Can you imagine. What a GOOD MAN.

The Father in this photo is James Burnetts son, (Samuel Henry Burnett) My Great Great Grandfather.