Education

As I embarked on this Pathway Program I felt a need to search out some direction for my future. I wanted to be sure that returning to my education this late in the game was the right thing to do. I was comforted as I found that education is important to our Father in Heaven regardless of how old I am or whether or not I intend to pursue a career outside my home. Because I expect earning my bachelor's degree will take many years, I was especially happy to find this quote by Elder Nelson, “Preparation for your career is not too long if you know what you want to do with your life. How old will you be thirteen years from now if you don’t pursue your education? Just as old, whether or not you become what you want to be!” I don't know what career I want to pursue, but I believe it is better for me to start now and figure it out along the way rather than spending thirteen years figuring it out and then starting on my degree.

1.Because of our sacred regard for each human intellect, we consider the obtaining of an education to be a religious responsibility. . . . Our Creator expects His children everywhere to educate themselves. He issued a commandment: “Seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.” (D&C 88:118.) And He assures us that knowledge acquired here will be ours forever. (See D&C 130:18–19.) Russell M. Nelson “Where is Wisdom?” October 1992

2. “Preparation for your career is not too long if you know what you want to do with your life. How old will you be thirteen years from now if you don’t pursue your education? Just as old, whether or not you become what you want to be!” Russell M. Nelson “Where is Wisdom?” October 1992

3. In approaching any field of learning, remember the Lord’s direction to “seek learning, even by study and also by faith.” (D&C 88:118.) Your faith will sustain you and give added meaning and increased accomplishment to your secular studies if you will live to deserve the blessings of the Lord. Dallin H. Oaks “Strive For Excellence” October 1971

4. There I could finally sit at a desk—by myself—and drink in the information and knowledge that books provide. How I loved to read and learn! In those days I understood firsthand the words of an old saying: Education is not so much the filling of a bucket as the lighting of a fire.

For members of the Church, education is not merely a good idea—it’s a commandment. We are to learn “of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad.” Dieter F. Uchtdorf “Two principles for any Economy” October 2009

5. Education has, of necessity, become a lifelong pursuit. We must, in our scheduling of time, allot sufficient time to educate ourselves for now and for the future. L. Tom Perry “If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear” October 1995

6.education—particularly spiritual education—is constantly stressed by the Lord. We cannot be saved in ignorance, 9 but the Lord can only reveal light and truth to us as we are prepared to receive it. And so it is incumbent upon each of us to do everything we can to increase our spiritual knowledge and understanding by studying the scriptures and the words of the living prophets. M. Russell Ballard “Marvelous are the Revelations of the Lord” April 1998

7.As you discover your gifts and talents, remember that parents and mentors may assist you, but you must let the Spirit guide you. Robert D. Hales “Stand Strong in Holy Places” April 2013

8.He cannot help us remember things we have not labored to learn. David A. Bednar “Act in Doctrine”

9.After all, education continues as long as we live. If there is ever an end to secular learning, surely there is no end to spiritual learning. Boyd K. Packer “To Be Learned is Good If...” October 1992

10.Our purpose is to produce students who have that rare and precious combination of a superb secular education, complemented by faith in the Lord, a knowledge of the doctrines He has revealed, and a testimony that they are true. Boyd K. Packer “To Be Learned is Good If...” October 1992

Personal Revelation

Recognizing answers to prayers is something that I have struggled with my whole life. I have found it important to look back at previous answers to recognize answers to current prayers. I was comforted to learn recognizing personal revelation is a life long process, not something that is learned all at once. Moving forward I plan to follow Elder Nelson advice and ask with “real intent.” Not real intent to receive an answer, but real intent to follow and take action on the answer I am given.

1.Father in Heaven knew that you would face challenges and be required to make some decisions that would be beyond your own ability to decide correctly. In His plan of happiness, He included a provision for you to receive help with such challenges and decisions during your mortal life. That assistance will come to you through the Holy Ghost as spiritual guidance. It is a power, beyond your own capability, that a loving Heavenly Father wants you to use consistently for your peace and happiness.

I am convinced that there is no simple formula or technique that would immediately allow you to master the ability to be guided by the voice of the Spirit. Our Father expects you to learn how to obtain that divine help by exercising faith in Him and His Holy Son, Jesus Christ. Were you to receive inspired guidance just for the asking, you would become weak and ever more dependent on Them. They know that essential personal growth will come as you struggle to learn how to be led by the Spirit. Richard G. Scott “To Acquire Spiritual Guidance” October 2009

2.Revelation is communication from God to His children on the earth and one of the great blessings associated with the gift and constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. David A. Bednar “The Spirit of Revelation” April 2011

3.Think of what a glorious thing it is to reach beyond our earthly limitations, to have the eyes of our understanding opened and receive light and knowledge from celestial sources! It is our privilege and opportunity as bearers of the priesthood to seek personal revelation and to learn how to know the truth for ourselves through the sure witness of the Holy Spirit.

Let us earnestly seek the light of personal inspiration. Let us plead with the Lord to endow our mind and soul with the spark of faith that will enable us to receive and recognize the divine ministering of the Holy Spirit for our specific life situations and for our challenges and priesthood duties. Dieter F. Uchtdorf “Your Potential, Your Privilege” April 2011

4.Even more amazing than modern technology is our opportunity to access information directly from heaven, without hardware, software, or monthly service fees. It is one of the most marvelous gifts the Lord has offered to mortals. It is His generous invitation to “ask, and it shall be given you;seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” Russell M. Nelson “Ask, Seek, Knock” October 2009

5.Personal revelation is the way we know for ourselves the most important truths of our existence: the living reality of God, our Eternal Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ; the truthfulness of the restored gospel; and God’s purpose and direction for us. Robert D. Hales “Personal Revelation: The Teachings and Examples of the Prophets” October 2007

6.We need not worry if we can't simultaneously do all the things that the Lord has counseled us to do. He has spoken of a time and a season for all things. In response to our sincere prayers for guidance, He will direct us in what should be emphasized at each phase of our life. We can learn, grow, and become like Him one consistent step at a time. Richard G. Scott “The Atonement Can Secure Your Peace And Happiness” October 2006

7.To access information from heaven, one must first have a firm faith and a deep desire. One needs to “ask with a sincere heart [and] real intent, having faith in [Jesus] Christ.” “Real intent” means that one really intends to follow the divine direction given. Russell M. Nelson “Ask, Seek, Knock” October 2009

8.This personal line of communication with our Heavenly Father through His Holy Spirit is the source of our testimony of truth, of our knowledge, and of our personal guidance from a loving Heavenly Father. It is an essential feature of His marvelous gospel plan, which allows each one of His children to receive a personal witness of its truth. Dallin H. Oaks “Two Lines of Communication” October 2010

9.The best way of finding truth is simply to go to the origin of all truth and ask or respond to inspiration.1 For success, two ingredients are essential: first, unwavering faith in the source of all truth; second, a willingness to keep God’s commandments to keep open spiritual communication with Him. Richard G. Scott “Truth: The Foundation of Correct Decisions” October 2007

10.Prayer is so essential a part of revelation that without it the veil may remain closed to you. Learn to pray. Pray often. Pray in your mind, in your heart. Pray on your knees. Boyd K. Packer “Personal Revelation: The Gift, The Test, and The Promise” October 1994

Speaking Ill of Others

I chose this subject after attending the temple and noticing a phrase I had not seriously considered before. I have learned to give others the benefit of the doubt because we do not know what is going on in their lives. Not only do I ask myself if something I am about to say is gossip, I also ask others to not share gossip with me and cut them off mid sentence if needed.

1.To begin, show compassionate concern for others. Control the tongue, the pen, and the word processor. Whenever tempted to dispute, remember this proverb: “He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.” (Prov. 11:12; see also Prov. 17:28.) Russell M. Nelson “The Canker of Contention” April 1989

2.If we will go forward, never losing sight of our goal, speaking ill of no one, living the great principles we know to be true, this cause will roll on in majesty and power to fill the earth. Gordon B. Hinckley “Look To The Future” October 1997

3.Gossip is the worst form of judging. The tongue is the most dangerous, destructive, and deadly weapon available to man. . .We never gain anything or improve our own character by trying to tear down another. N. Eldon Tanner “Judge Not, That Ye Be Not Judged” April 1972

4.Recognize the good in others, not their stains. At times a stain needs appropriate attention to be cleansed, but always build on his or her virtues. Richard G. Scott “The Atonement Can Secure Your Peace And Happiness” October 2006

5.By treating each other kindly, speaking words of support and encouragement, and being sensitive to each other’s needs, we can create loving unity among ward members. Where charity exists, there is no place for gossip or unkind words. M. Russell Ballard “Finding Joy Through Loving Service” April 2011

6.A woman’s words can be more piercing than any dagger ever forged, and they can drive the people they love to retreat beyond a barrier more distant than anyone in the beginning of that exchange could ever have imagined. Sisters, there is no place in that magnificent spirit of yours for acerbic or abrasive expression of any kind, including gossip or backbiting or catty remarks. Let it never be said of our home or our ward or our neighborhood that “the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity … [burning] among our members.” Jeffrey R. Holland “The Tongue of Angels” April 2007

7.Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it. So should we. M. Russell Ballard “Lord, I Believe” April 2013

8.When you hear stories, be wise. Unless you are in all the interviews, and hear all the evidence, you are not in a position to really know. Be careful, lest you jump to a confusion. Boyd K. Packer “Judge Not According to Appearance” April 1979

9.Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun who worked among the poor in India most of her life, spoke this profound truth: “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” 5 The Savior has admonished, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” 6 I ask: can we love one another, as the Savior has commanded, if we judge each other? And I answer—with Mother Teresa: no, we cannot. Thomas S. Monson “Charity Never Faileth” September 2010

10.There is really no way we can know the heart, the intentions, or the circumstances of someone who might say or do something we find reason to criticize. Thus the commandment: “Judge not.” Thomas S. Monson “Charity Never Faileth” September 2010

Missionary Preparation/Raising the Bar

As a mother of five sons the subject of missionary preparation is both close to my heart and overwhelming. I feel a huge responsibility to prepare them to be ready and willing to serve our Father in Heaven. I will work with all my might to help my sons to gain and strengthen their testimonies. I will teach them the needed physical skills. I follow the admonition from Elder Ballard and work to teach them the value of being valiant, having courage, having strength, being active, and being true.

1.But once you reach those minimum standards, shouldn’t you try to keep raising the bar? I ask you the same question I asked my son many years ago: “If you don’t raise the bar, how will you ever know your potential?” My challenge to you is to recognize that a minimum standard exists—and you must reach it to serve as a full-time missionary—but don’t stop there. The greatest generation of missionaries will not reach its full potential unless it keeps raising the bar. Elder L. Tom Perry “Raising the Bar” November 2007

2.Please recognize that while your teaching as a missionary may be persuasive, only the Spirit converts. Preach My Gospel gives a good description of what missionary work is all about. It states, “As an authorized representative of Jesus Christ, you can teach people with power and authority that ‘redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah,’ and that no one ‘can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah’ (2 Nephi 2:6, 8)” ([2004], 2). Elder L. Tom Perry “Raising the Bar” November 2007

3.Listen to those words, my young brethren: valiant, courage, strength, active, true. We don’t need spiritually weak and semicommitted young men. We don’t need you to just fill a position; we need your whole heart and soul. We need vibrant, thinking, passionate missionaries who know how to listen to and respond to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit. This isn’t a time for spiritual weaklings. We cannot send you on a mission to be reactivated, reformed, or to receive a testimony. We just don’t have time for that. We need you to be filled with “faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God” (D&C 4:5). M. Russel Ballard “The Greatest Generation of Missionaries” October 2002

4.We expect you to have an understanding and a solid testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. We expect you to work hard. We expect you to be covenant makers and covenant keepers. We expect you to be missionaries to match our glorious message.

Now these are high standards. We understand that, but we do not apologize for them. They reflect the Lord’s standards for you to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, to enter the temple, to serve as missionaries, and to be righteous husbands and fathers. There’s nothing new in them, nothing you haven’t heard before. But tonight we call upon you, our young brethren of the Aaronic Priesthood, to rise up, to measure up, and to be fully prepared to serve the Lord. M. Russel Ballard “The Greatest Generation of Missionaries” October 2002

5.Consequently, if we are “raising the bar” for your sons to serve as missionaries, that means we are also “raising the bar” for you. If we expect more of them, that means we expect more of you and your wife as well. Remember, Helaman’s 2,000 stripling warriors were faithful because “they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him” (Alma 53:21)—and that instruction came in their homes. M. Russel Ballard “The Greatest Generation of Missionaries” October 2002

6.Young people need to commit themselves early in life to the idea of a mission. That way, when they get older and begin to face some of the world’s temptations, those temptations will be less likely to penetrate their hearts or minds. They will resist the temptations because they are focused on becoming a servant of the Lord. M. Russell Ballard “How to Prepare to be a Good Missionary” March 2007

7.What I tell new missionaries is that they need to lock into their minds that the 18 or 24 months they are on their missions are not theirs. That time is the Lord’s. They are going to devote their skills and talents full-time to help build His kingdom. When missionaries think that way, they don’t have trouble following the mission rules. They don’t resist the counsel of the mission president, the guidelines in Preach My Gospel, and the counsel of the General Authorities. They embrace that counsel because they don’t want to waste one minute of the Lord’s time. M. Russell Ballard “How to Prepare to be a Good Missionary” March 2007

8.But, no matter how much an individual or family may sacrifice for a mission or anything else, unless missionaries choose obedience, consecrating all of their time, talents, and resources in the service of the Lord while they are in the mission field, they cannot fully realize all the great blessings the Lord has in store for them. But it will be much more effective if they learn to be obedient before they go to the mission field. Robert D. Hales “The Aaronic Priesthood: Return With Honor” April 1990

9.If you’re not a full-time missionary with a missionary badge pinned on your coat, now is the time to paint one on your hear. . .And returned missionaries, find your old missionary tag. Don’t wear it, but put it where you can see it. The Lord needs you now more than ever to be an instrument in His hands. Neil L. Anderson “It's a Miracle” April 2013

10.Young men, you have no time to waste. You can’t wait to get serious about preparing until you are 17 or 18. Aaronic Priesthood quorums can help their members understand the oath and covenant of the priesthood and get ready for ordination as elders, they can help them understand and prepare for the ordinances of the temple, and they can help them get ready for successful missions. Melchizedek Priesthood quorums and the Relief Society can help parents prepare missionaries who know the Book of Mormon and who will go into the field fully committed. D. Todd Christofferson “Brethren, We Have a Work to Do” October 2012

Anger

Anger is something that I struggle with. I have gotten better over the years at not snapping to anger, but I still struggle at times. Collecting these quotes has given me a renewed desire to banish anger from my life. I expect that my kids will still push my buttons, but I will do everything within my power to keep calm, even walking away if needed.

1.Let's not pass to future generations the grievances, the anger of our time. Let’s remove any hidden wedges that can do nothing but destroy. -Thomas S. Monson, April 2002 General Conference

2.Anger, hatred, and contention are foes not easily subdued. These enemies inevitably leave in their destructive wake tears of sorrow, the pain of conflict, and the shattered hopes of what could have been. Their sphere of influence is not restricted to the battlefields of war but can be observed altogether too frequently in the home, around the hearth, and within the heart. So soon do many forget and so late do they remember the counsel of the Lord: “There shall be no disputations among you, …

“For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.

“Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away.” Thomas S. Monson “The Path to Peace” April 1994

3.We are reminded that “anger doesn’t solve anything. It builds nothing, but it can destroy everything.” Thomas S. Monson “The Path to Peace” April 1994

4.Even silence can be misinterpreted. A story was written of “a little boy [who] looked up at his mother and said, ‘Why are you mad at me?’ She answered, ‘I’m not angry at you. What makes you say that?’ ‘Well, your hands are on your hips, and you are not saying anything.’”  Russell M. Nelson “Listen to Learn” April 1991

5.hatred, despondency, distrust, anger, or revenge must be supplanted by the tender mercies of a loving Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son. Richard G. Scott “To Be Healed” April 1994

6.First, yielding to emotions such as anger or hurt or defensiveness will drive away the Holy Ghost. Those emotions must be eliminated, or our chance for receiving revelation is slight. Richard G. Scott “How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for your Personal Life” April 2012

7.When we do not retaliate—when we turn the other cheek and resist feelings of anger—we too stand with the Savior. We show forth His love. Robert D. Hales “Christian Courage: The Price of Discipleship” October 2008

8.I ask, is it possible to feel the Spirit of our Heavenly Father when we are angry? I know of no instance where such would be the case . . . To be angry is to yield to the influence of Satan. No one can make us angry. It is our choice. If we desire to have a proper spirit with us at all times, we must choose to refrain from becoming angry. I testify that such is possible. Thomas S. Monson “School Thy Feelings, O My Brother” October 2009

9.Anger is the mother of a whole brood of evil actions. Gordon B. Hinckley “Slow to Anger” October 2007

10.Now, my dear brethren, in closing I plead with you to control your tempers, to put a smile upon your faces, which will erase anger; speak out with words of love and peace, appreciation, and respect. If you will do this, your lives will be without regret. Thomas S. Monson, April 2002 General Conference

Mental Health

As I read about mental health I found comfort in the understanding that the brethren have about the subject and their compassion for those that are suffering. If we seek God's light He can lead us out of darkness. Even the burden of depression can be laid at our Savior's feet and he can lighten our load and help us to be free.

There are several members of my family who are currently suffering from depression and I hope that as I share what I have learned, they will feel comforted.

1.It is part of our condition as mortal beings to sometimes feel as though we are surrounded by darkness. We might have lost a loved one; a child might have strayed; we might have received a troubling medical diagnosis; we might have employment challenges and be burdened by doubts or fears; or we might feel alone or unloved.

But even though we may feel lost in the midst of our current circumstances, God promises the hope of His light—He promises to illuminate the way before us and show us the way out of darkness. Dieter F. Uchtdorf “The Hope Of God's Light” April 2013

2.There may be some among you who feel darkness encroaching upon you. You may feel burdened by worry, fear, or doubt. To you and to all of us, I repeat a wonderful and certain truth: God’s light is real. It is available to all! It gives life to all things.1 It has the power to soften the sting of the deepest wound. It can be a healing balm for the loneliness and sickness of our souls. In the furrows of despair, it can plant the seeds of a brighter hope. It can enlighten the deepest valleys of sorrow. It can illuminate the path before us and lead us through the darkest night into the promise of a new dawn. Dieter F. Uctdorf “The Hope Of God's Light” April 2013

3.But as we seek to increase our love for God and strive to love our neighbor, the light of the gospel will surround and uplift us. The darkness will surely fade, because it cannot exist in the presence of light. As we draw near to God, He will draw near to us.6 And day by day, the hope of God’s light will grow within us, “brighter and brighter until the perfect day.” To all who feel they walk in darkness, I invite you to rely on this certain promise spoken by the Savior of mankind: “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”Dieter F. Uctdorf “The Hope Of God's Light” April 2013

4. lay the burden at the feet of the Savior. He has invited you to do that so that you can be free from pointless worry and depression.  As you so act, not only will you find peace but will demonstrate your faith in the power of the Savior to lift the burden . . . Now to you who have been scarred by the ugly sin of abuse. Mental, physical, or sexual abuse can cause serious, enduring consequences unless healed by the Lord. They may include fear, depression, guilt, self-hatred, and a deepening lack of trust in others that becomes a barrier to healing. Your abuse results from another’s unrighteous attack on your moral agency against your will. In justice, the Lord has provided a way for you to overcome the destructive consequences of abuse. That relief can begin with the counsel of parents, priesthood leaders, and, when needed, the help of competent professionals. Yet you need not experience a lifetime of counseling. Complete healing will come through your faith in Jesus Christ and His power and capacity, through His Atonement, to heal the scars of that which is unjust and undeserved. You may find that hard to believe with your current feelings. I have witnessed how the Savior has healed aggravated cases of abuse in that way. Ponder the power of the Atonement.  Pray to understand how it can heal you. Richard G. Scott “To Be Free of Heavy Burdens” October 2002

5. Do you—or someone you love—face disease or depression or death? Whatever other steps you may need to take to resolve these concerns, come first to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Trust in heaven’s promises. In that regard Alma’s testimony is my testimony: “I do know,” he says, “that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions.” Jeffrey R. Holland “Broken Things to Mend” April 2006

6.Open the windows of your heart and let the love of the Savior in. And should ugly thoughts of past abuse come back, remember his love and his healing power. Your depression will be converted to peace and assurance. You will close an ugly chapter and open volumes of happiness. Richard G. Scott “Healing the Tragic Scars of Abuse” April 1992

7.If you are free of serious sin yourself, don’t suffer needlessly the consequences of another’s sins. As a wife, husband, parent, or loved one, you can feel compassion for one who is in the gall of bitterness from sin. Yet you should not take upon yourself a feeling of responsibility for those acts. When you have done what is reasonable to help one you love, lay the burden at the feet of the Savior. He has invited you to do that so that you can be free from pointless worry and depression.  As you so act, not only will you find peace but will demonstrate your faith in the power of the Savior to lift the burden of sin from a loved one through his repentance and obedience. Richard G. Scott “To Be Free of Heavy Burdens” October 2002

8.Without our religious faith, without recognizing the reality and necessity of spiritual life, the world makes no sense, and a nonsense world is a place of horror. Only if the world has meaning at a spiritual level is it possible for human beings to keep going, to keep trying. Jeffrey R. Holland “Look to God and Live” October 1993

9.I think of the disconsolate and downtrodden who feel life has passed them by, or now wish that it would pass them by. To all of these and so many more, I say: Cling to your faith. Hold on to your hope. “Pray always, and be believing.” Jeffrey R. Holland “An High Priest of Good Things to Come” October 1999

10.Even if you cannot always see that silver lining on your clouds, God can, for He is the very source of the light you seek. He does love you, and He knows your fears. He hears your prayers. He is your Heavenly Father, and surely He matches with His own the tears His children shed. Jeffrey R. Holland “An High Priest of Good Things to Come” October 1999

Pornography

Pornography will stay in your mind forever. It is a pollutant that can never be cleansed from our minds. It is not ok to satisfy a curiosity because there will be no way to rid ourselves of the images that we see. It is my responsibility as a parent to do all that I can to protect my children and prevent any access to filthy images. My husband and I must be diligent in using protective software and making sure it is kept current so that we can give our children the best chance possible to keep their minds clean.

1. Pornographic or erotic stories and pictures are worse than filthy or polluted food. The body has defenses to rid itself of unwholesome food. With a few fatal exceptions, bad food will only make you sick but do no permanent harm. In contrast, a person who feasts upon filthy stories or pornographic or erotic pictures and literature records them in this marvelous retrieval system we call a brain. The brain won’t vomit back filth. Once recorded, it will always remain subject to recall, flashing its perverted images across your mind and drawing you away from the wholesome things in life. Dallin H.  Oaks, “Pornography” April 2005

2.Those who seek out and use pornography forfeit the power of their priesthood. Dallin H. Oaks “Pornography” April 2005

3.Today we have a rebirth of ancient Sodom and Gomorrah. From seldom-read pages in dusty Bibles they come forth as real cities in a real world, depicting a real malady—pernicious permissiveness. Thomas S. Monson “Pornography – The Deadly Carrier” October 1979

4.Satan has become a master at using the addictive power of pornographyto limit individual capacity to be led by the Spirit.  Richard G. Scott “To Acquire Spiritual Guidance” October 2009

5.I recently had an insightful conversation with a 15-year-old Aaronic Priesthood holder. He helped me understand how easy it is in this Internet age for young people to almost inadvertently be exposed to impure and even pornographic images. He pointed out that for most principles the Church teaches, there is at least some recognition in society at large that violating these principles can have devastating effects on health and well-being. He mentioned cigarette smoking, drug use, and alcohol consumption by young people. But he noted that there is no corresponding outcry or even a significant warning from society at large about pornography or immorality. Quentin L. Cook “Can Ye Feel So Now?” October 2012

6.Children and youth need to know from parents that pornography of any kind is a tool of the devil; and if anyone flirts with it, it has the power to addict, dull, and even destroy the human spirit. M. Russell Ballard “Like A Flame Unquenchable” April 1999

7.Tragically, the same computer and Internet service that allows me to do my family history and prepare those names for temple work could, without filters and controls, allow my children or grandchildren access to a global cesspool of perceptions that could blast a crater in their brains forever. Jeffrey R. Holland “Place No More For The Enemy Of My Soul” April 2010

8.Because the Spirit whispers to us gently and delicately, it is easy to understand why we should shun inappropriate media, pornography, and harmful, addictive substances and behaviors. These tools of the adversary can impair and eventually destroy our capacity to recognize and respond to the subtle messages from God delivered by the power of His Spirit.  David A. Bednar “The Spirit of Revelation” April 2011

9.My beloved friends, under no circumstances allow yourselves to become trapped in the viewing of pornography, one of the most effective of Satan’s enticements. And if you have allowed yourself to become involved in this behavior, cease now. Seek the help you need to overcome and to change the direction of your life. Take the steps necessary to get back on the strait and narrow, and then stay there. Thomas S. Monson “Until We Meet Again” April 2009

10.One of the most damning influences on earth, one that has caused uncountable grief, suffering, heartache, and destroyed marriages is the onslaught of pornography in all of its vicious, corroding, destructive forms. Whether it be through the printed page, movies, television, obscene lyrics, the telephone, or on a flickering personal computer screen, pornography is overpoweringly addictive and severely damaging. This potent tool of Lucifer degrades the mind, heart, and the soul of any who use it. All who are caught in its seductive, tantalizing web and remain so, will become addicted to its immoral, destructive influence. For many, that addiction cannot be overcome without help. The tragic pattern is so familiar. It begins with a curiosity that is fueled by its stimulation and is justified by the false premise that when done privately, it does no harm to anyone else. Lulled by this lie, the experimentation goes deeper, with more powerful stimulations, until the web closes and a terribly immoral, addictive habit is formed. Richard G. Scott “The Sanctity of Womanhood” April 2000

Agency

We choose the right because it is right and will bring us joy and happiness. We must study truth so that we are prepared to make those choices that will allow us to return to our Father in Heaven filled with joy and happiness. I was taught as a child that we need to decide ahead of time that we will not take drugs, drink alcohol, or break the law of chastity. I have realized in my study about agency that I must still prepare and decide ahead of time for the choices that I make every day. I can decide to read my scriptures, pray, repent, and follow Christ each and every day so that I can come closer to living with my Heavenly Father.

1.Agency used righteously allows light to dispel the darkness and enables us to live with joy and happiness. Robert D. Hales “To Act For Ourselves: The Gift and Blessings of Agency” April 2006

2.We have been given agency, we have been given the blessings of the priesthood, and we have been given the Light of Christ and the Holy Ghostfor a reason. That reason is our growth and happiness in this world and eternal life in the world to come.  Robert D. Hales “To Act For Ourselves: The Gift and Blessings of Agency” April 2006

3.Latter-day Saints are not obedient because they are compelled to be obedient. They are obedient because they know certain spiritual truths and have decided, as an expression of their own individual agency, to obey the commandments of God. Boyd K. Packer “Agency and Control” April 1983

4.Moral discipline is the consistent exercise of agency to choose the right because it is right, even when it is hard. D. Todd Christofferson “Moral Discipline” October 2009

5.I have heard a few parents state that they don’t want to impose the gospel on their children but want them to make up their own minds about what they will believe and follow. They think that in this way they are allowing children to exercise their agency. What they forget is that the intelligent use of agency requires knowledge of the truth, of things as they really are (see D&C 93:24). Without that, young people can hardly be expected to understand and evaluate the alternatives that come before them. D. Todd Christofferson “Moral Discipline” October 2009

6.I have been thinking recently about choices and their consequences. Scarcely an hour of the day goes by but what we are called upon to make choices of one sort or another. Some are trivial, some more far-reaching. Some will make no difference in the eternal scheme of things, and others will make all the difference. Thomas S. Monson “The Three R's of Choice” October 2010

7.Next to the bestowal of life itself, the right to direct that life is God’s greatest gift to man. David O'McKay in General Conference April 1950

8.Because of that divine decision which determined your eternal progression, you received a physical body, gained the agency to choose good over evil, and are now growing and preparing to take upon yourselves the attributes of our Savior. Robert D. Hales “To The Aaronic Priesthood: Preparing for the Decade of Decision” April 2007

9.In the decade ahead, your time for preparation will be limited. As you are Aaronic Priesthood bearers, it is important that you prepare now. You must develop your own preconditioned responses for the important decisions you will make in the next decade of your life. You must know what to do and when to do it when each decision presents itself. Remember that making no decision at all could be just as deadly as making the wrong decision. Many of the decisions you make or don’t make will have eternal consequences. Robert D. Hales “To The Aaronic Priesthood: Preparing for the Decade of Decision” April 2007

10.As we learn in the scriptures, the fundamental purposes for the gift of agency were to love one another and to choose God. Thus we became God's chosen and invite His tender mercies as we use our agency to choose God. David A. Bednar

Atonement

Learning more about the atonement has given me an increased appreciation for my Savior and all that he went through. I found it interesting that not only did he experience physical death, but also spiritual death when the Father withdrew. I was also reminded that no matter what you have done or how low you have fallen, you are never beyond the reach of the effects of the atonement.

I have resolved to work to make the atonement a part of my daily life.

1.The Atonement of Jesus Christ became the immortal creation. He volunteered to answer the ends of a law previously transgressed. And by the shedding of His blood, His and our physical bodies could become perfected. They could again function without blood, just as Adam’s and Eve’s did in their paradisiacal form.  Russell M. Nelson “The Atonement” October 1996

2.There is no greater expression of love than the heroic Atonement performed by the Son of God. Were it not for the plan of our Heavenly Father, established before the world began, in a very real sense, all mankind—past, present, and future—would have been left without the hope of eternal progression. As a result of Adam’s transgression, mortals were separated from God (see Rom. 6:23) and would be forever unless a way was found to break the bands of death. This would not be easy, for it required the vicarious sacrifice of one who was sinless and who could therefore take upon Himself the sins of all mankind. Thankfully, Jesus Christ courageously fulfilled this sacrifice in ancient Jerusalem.  M. Russell Ballard “The Atonement And The Value Of One Soul” April 2004

3.The Atonement was a selfless act of infinite, eternal consequence, arduously earned alone, by the Son of God. Through it the Savior broke the bonds of death. It justifies our finally being judged by the Redeemer. It can prevent an eternity under the dominion of Satan. It opens the gates to exaltation for all who qualify for forgiveness through repentance and obedience. Richard G. Scott “The Atonement Can Secure Your Peace And Happiness” October 2006

4.I believe that no matter how diligently you try, you cannot with your human mind fully comprehend the eternal significance of the Atonement nor fully understand how it was accomplished. We can only appreciate in the smallest measure what it cost the Savior in pain, anguish, and suffering or how difficult it was for our Father in Heaven to see His Son experience the incomparable challenge of His Atonement. Even so, you should conscientiously study the Atonement to understand it as well as you can. You can learn what is needful to live His commandments, to enjoy peace and happiness in mortal life. You can qualify, with obedient family members, to live with Him and your Father in Heaven forever. Richard G. Scott “The Atonement Can Secure Your Peace And Happiness” October 2006

5.The Savior is often referred to as the Great Physician and this title has both symbolic and literal significance. All of us have experienced the pain associated with a physical injury or wound. When we are in pain, we typically seek relief and are grateful for the medication and treatments that help to alleviate our suffering. Consider sin as a spiritual wound that causes guilt or as described by Alma to his son Corianton, “remorse of conscience” (Alma 42:18) Guilt is to our spirit what pain is to our body—warning of danger and a protection from additional damage. From the Atonement of the Savior flows the soothing salve that can heal our spiritual wounds and remove guilt. However, this salve can only be applied throught the principles of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, and consistent obedience. The results of sincere repentance are peace of conscience, comfort, and spiritual healing and renewal. David A. Bednar “We Believe in Being Chaste” April 2013

6.Among the most significant of Jesus Christ’s descriptive titles is Redeemer. As indicated in my brief account of immigrant “redemptioners,” the word redeem means to pay off an obligation or a debt. Redeem can also mean to rescue or set free as by paying a ransom. If someone commits a mistake and then corrects it or makes amends, we say he has redeemed himself. Each of these meanings suggests different facets of the great Redemption accomplished by Jesus Christ through His Atonement, which includes, in the words of the dictionary, “to deliver from sin and its penalties, as by a sacrifice made for the sinner.” D. Todd Christofferson “Redemption” April 2013

7.”however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines.” Jeffrey R. Holland “The Laborers In The Vineyard” April 2012

8.It was required, indeed it was central to the significance of the Atonement, that this perfect Son who had never spoken ill nor done wrong nor touched an unclean thing had to know how the rest of humankind—us, all of us—would feel when we did commit such sins. For His Atonement to be infinite and eternal, He had to feel what it was like to die not only physically but spiritually, to sense what it was like to have the divine Spirit withdraw, leaving one feeling totally, abjectly, hopelessly alone. Jeffrey R. Holland “None Were With Him” April 2009

9.We earnestly hope and pray for universal peace, but it is as individuals and families that we achieve the kind of peace that is the promised reward of righteousness. This peace is a promised gift of the Savior’s mission and atoning sacrifice. Quentin L. Cook “Personal Peace: The Reward of Righteousness” April 2013

10.It is true that we are in many ways ordinary and imperfect, but we have a perfect Master who wrought a perfect Atonement, and we have call upon His grace and His priesthood. As we repent and purge our souls, we are promised that we will be taught and endowed with power from on high. D. Todd Christofferson “Brethren, We Have Work To Do” October 2012

11.By identifying our ancestors and performing for them the saving ordinances they could not themselves perform, we are testifying of the infinite reach of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. D. Todd Christofferson “The Redemption of the Dead and the Testimony of Jesus” October 2000