Who am I?

Consider the power of the idea taught in our beloved song “I Am a Child of God” (Hymns, 1985, no. 301), sung so impressively by the choir at the beginning of this session. Here is the answer to one of life’s great questions, “Who am I?” I am a child of God with a spirit lineage to heavenly parents. That parentage defines our eternal potential. That powerful idea is a potent antidepressant. It can strengthen each of us to make righteous choices and to seek the best that is within us. Establish in the mind of a young person the powerful idea that he or she is a child of God and you have given self-respect and motivation to move against the problems of life.

Dallin H. Oaks, “Powerful Ideas,” Ensign, Nov 1995, 25

A Lifetime Pursuit . . .

Good morning all! Such a fabulous day! I thought I'd start it off with a quote by Richard G. Scott.

"President Ezra Taft Benson emphasized the importance of spiritual knowledge, saying:

'We should make daily study of the scriptures a lifetime pursuit. … The most important [thing] you can do … is to immerse yourselves in the scriptures. Search them diligently. … Learn the doctrine. Master the principles. …

'You must … see that … searching the scriptures is not a burden laid upon [us] by the Lord, but a marvelous blessing and opportunity' (Ezra Taft Benson, “Godly Characteristics of the Master,” Ensign, Nov 1986, 45).

President Spencer W. Kimball commented:

'Spiritual learning takes precedence. The secular without the foundation of the spiritual is … like the foam upon the milk, the fleeting shadow. … One need not choose between the two … for there is opportunity to get both simultaneously' (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1982, p. 390)."

Richard G. Scott, “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge,” Ensign, Nov 1993, 86

Your Sphere of Responsibility . . .

"Your obligation is as serious in your sphere of responsibility as is my obligation in my sphere. No calling in this church is small or of little consequence. All of us in the pursuit of our duty touch the lives of others. . . The life you touch in your service will be as valuable to God as any other life. And so how you touch a life is as serious a matter for you as it would be for any other servant of God."

Henry B. Eyring, “To Touch a Life with Faith,” Ensign, Nov 1995, 37

The Calling of Father or Mother . . .

"The calling of father or mother is sacred and carries with it great significance. One of the greatest privileges and responsibilities given to us is that of being a parent—helping to bring to earth a child of God and having the sacred responsibility to love, care, and guide children back to our Heavenly Father. In many ways earthly parents represent their Heavenly Father in the process of nurturing, loving, caring, and teaching children. Children naturally look to their parents to learn of the characteristics of their Heavenly Father. After they come to love, respect, and have confidence in their earthly parents, they often unknowingly develop the same feelings towards their Heavenly Father.

"Our children will remember us by our example. . . Examples become memories that guide our lives."

Robert D. Hales, “How Will Our Children Remember Us?,” Ensign, Nov 1993, 8

Reciprocate the Same Love . . .

". . . We must be more Christlike in our attitude and behavior than what we see in the world. We should be as charitable and considerate with our loved ones as Christ is with us. He is kind, loving, and patient with each of us. Should we not reciprocate the same love to our wives and children?"

Ezra Taft Benson, “What Manner of Men Ought We to Be?,” Ensign, Nov 1983, 42

An Unending Supply of Challenges . . .

"Life is full of difficulties, some minor and others of a more serious nature. There seems to be an unending supply of challenges for one and all. Our problem is that we often expect instantaneous solutions to such challenges, forgetting that frequently the heavenly virtue of patience is required."

Thomas S. Monson, “Patience, a Heavenly Virtue,” Ensign, Sep 2002, 2–7

All That is Really Desirable . . .

"The world defines happiness as pleasure or fun, not the inner peace and joy that come from partaking of the fruit of the tree of life. Elder James E. Talmage (1862–1933) clearly explained the difference: 'Happiness includes all that is really desirable and of true worth in pleasure, and much beside. Happiness is genuine gold, pleasure but gilded brass. … Happiness is as the genuine diamond, which, rough or polished, shines with its own inimitable luster; pleasure is as the paste imitation that glows only when artificially embellished. … Happiness leaves no bad after-taste, it is followed by no depressing reaction; it calls for no repentance, brings no regret, entails no remorse; pleasure too often makes necessary repentance, contrition, and suffering; and, if indulged to the extreme, it brings degradation and destruction.' "

Steven E. Snow, “Book of Mormon Principles: The Sweet Fruits of Obedience,” Ensign, Jan 2004, 24–27

The Contest of Priorities

"Some of our most important choices concern family activities. Many breadwinners worry that their occupations leave too little time for their families. There is no easy formula for that contest of priorities. However, I have never known of a man who looked back on his working life and said, 'I just didn't spend enough time with my job.'"

Dallin H. Oaks, “Good, Better, Best,” Ensign, Nov 2007, 104–8

A Small Act of Kindness . . .

I was reflecting on how Heavenly Father puts little things in our paths to let us know he cares and thought I'd share a neat experience I had.

Yesterday was an all-around bad day. Period. My husband got laid off, the kids were being holy terrors as we tried to kill time waiting for him to call us to go pick him up (we were killing time from 3:15 p.m. to almost 7 p.m.) and my stress level was really high. When the time came to go pick him up, my kids and I were at the library. As I went to open the door of my car, I found a small envelope tucked into the driver's side window. Upon closer inspection, it wasn't an ad for a local business like I thought it would be. Instead, the note on the front read, "To: Whoever finds this. You have an awesome smile - you TOTALLY deserve an ice cream!" Tucked inside was a coupon for a free ice cream cone from a local grocery store.

That may not seem like much, but after I got in the car, I was totally overwhelmed with the thoughtfulness of the person who left it and completely in awe of Heavenly Father for knowing that I needed a small act of kindness right then. So thank you to whomever left that little note. I'm sure you didn't know how much I needed it.

Confronting the Complexities of Life . . .

"Ofttimes we become anxious and fearful as we confront the complexities of life. If we seek divine guidance and follow the gospel path, we will be led to our final destination. Sometimes adversity may seem so overwhelming that we feel powerless to continue. If we appeal for help with humility and faith, our Heavenly Father will provide a way to lovingly help us through."

Tai Kwok Yuen, “‘He Maketh Me to Lie Down in Green Pastures’,” Ensign, May 1993, 86

A Force for Permanant Change . . .

"As we repent and live in accordance with the commandments of God, the Atonement of Jesus Christ becomes a force for permanent change in our lives. We become more pure in heart and true disciples of the Master. Personal prayer, contributions of tithes and offerings, honoring the Sabbath day, and partaking of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper are all regular practices that protect us from the bondage of sin and bring us true freedom and joy."

Russell M. Nelson, “Combatting Spiritual Drift—Our Global Pandemic,” Ensign, Nov 1993, 102–8

A Powerful Idea . . .

"A powerful idea with immediate practical application is the reality that we can pray to our Heavenly Father, and he will hear our prayers and help us in the way that is best for us. Most of us have experienced the terrible empty feeling that comes from being separated from those who love us. If we remember that we can pray and be heard and helped, we can always withstand that feeling of emptiness. We can always be in touch with a powerful friend who loves us and helps us, in his own time and in his own way."

Dallin H. Oaks, “Powerful Ideas,” Ensign, Nov 1995, 25

I'm back!

Hey all! Sorry it's been so long, but I'm back! I'm doing rather well with my scripture reading goals, though it's really been an uphill battle to put them into a routine. Today's a new day! ^.^