Forgiveness Accomplishes Miracles

"Somehow forgiveness, with love and tolerance, accomplishes miracles that can happen in no other way."

Topics: forgiveness, love, miracles

(Gordon B. Hinckley, "Forgiveness," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 84)

Understanding the Commandments through Personal Study

"It is not sufficient to have a vague understanding of truth or the reality of the Father and His Son, our Savior. Each of us must come to know who They really are. You must feel how very much They love you. You must trust that as you consistently live the truth the best you can, They will help you realize the purpose of your earth life and strengthen you to qualify for the blessings promised. To be obedient to the commandments of God requires an understanding of them. It necessitates faith in them. That comprehension is best obtained through personal study of doctrine."

Topics: prayer, learning, obedience, truth

(Richard G. Scott, "Truth Restored," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 80-81)

The Family Is the Ideal Organization for Teaching Children

"The family circle is . . . the best organization to counteract selfishness and self-indulgence, those obsessive themes that seem to be the siren songs of modern life. In contrast to the selfish individualism that surrounds us, we should seek to model our family life after the self-sacrifice of our Savior. He taught us to give ourselves in service to one another. In his great closing sermon, King Benjamin told his people to teach their children 'to walk in the ways of truth and soberness . . . [and] to love one another, and to serve one another.' (Mosiah 4:15.)

"There is no human relationship more suited to such teachings than a family where parents truly love and give their lives in service to their children. Parents should teach the principles of the restored gospel, including particularly the atoning sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Parents should also teach the smaller-scale sacrifices they are making for their own families. If done in the right spirit--by example as well as by precept--this teaching should help children be more loving and honoring of their parents. It should also help prepare children to be parents themselves."

Topics: family, parents, teaching, home

(Dallin H. Oaks, "Parental Leadership in the Family," Ensign, June 1985, 9-10)

What It Means to Study

"For the gospel to be written in your heart, you need to know what it is and grow to understand it more fully, . . . sometimes reading a few verses, stopping to ponder them, carefully reading the verses again, and as you think about what they mean, praying for understanding, asking questions in your mind, waiting for spiritual impressions, and writing down the impressions and insights that come so you can remember and learn more. Studying in this way, you may not read a lot of chapters or verses in a half hour, but you will be giving place in your heart for the word of God, and He will be speaking to you."

Topic: scripture study

(D. Todd Christofferson, "When Thou Art Converted," Ensign, May 2004, 11)

Coming to an Understanding with Ourselves

"President David O. McKay counseled: ' "The greatest battle of life is fought within the silent chambers of your own soul.". . . It is a good thing to sit down and commune with yourself, to come to an understanding with yourself and decide in that silent moment what your duty is to your family, to your Church, to your country, and . . . to your fellowmen' (in Conference Report, Apr. 1967, 84-85)."

Topics: David O. McKay, duty, decision making

(President Thomas S. Monson, "Choose You This Day," Ensign, November 2004, 68)

Contemplate with Prayer

"None of us should get so busy in our lives that we cannot contemplate with prayer."

(Spencer W. Kimball, "Teachings of Presidents of the Church", 46)

Procrastination

"One of the most serious human defects in all ages is procrastination, an unwillingness to accept personal responsibility now."

Topics: Repentance, Procrastination

(Spencer W. Kimball, "The Teachings of Spencer W. Kinball, ed, Edward L. Kimball [1982], 48 emphasis in original)

Parents Can Best Teach by Example

"Parents are the master teachers. They do their most effective teaching by example. The family circle is the ideal place to demonstrate and learn kindness, forgiveness, faith in God, and every other practicing virtue of the gospel of Jesus Christ."

Topics: parents, teaching, family

(Dallin H. Oaks, "Parental Leadership in the Family," Ensign, June 1985, 9)

We All Progress at Different Rates

"Each one of us will travel a different road during this life. Each progresses at a different rate. Temptations that trouble your brother may not challenge you at all. Strengths that you possess may seem impossible to another.

"Never look down on those who are less perfect than you. Don't be upset because someone can't sew as well as you, can't throw as well as you, can't row or hoe as well as you.

"We are all children of our Heavenly Father. And we are here with the same purpose: to learn to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves (see Mark 12:30-31)."

Topics: ability, growth, eternal perspective

(Joseph B. Wirthlin, "The Virtue of Kindness," Ensign, May 2005, 28)

Encouraging Others to Proceed on the Journey

"As we study the scriptures, we notice that the Savior ministered to people according to their specific needs. . . . "Jesus showed patience and love to all who came to Him seeking relief for their physical, emotional, or spiritual illnesses and who felt discouraged and downtrodden.

"To follow the Savior's example, each one of us must look around and reach out to the sheep who are facing the same circumstances and lift them up and encourage them to proceed on the journey towards eternal life."

Topics: fellowshipping, love, guidance, patience

(Ulisses Soares, "Feed My Sheep," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 98)

The Tender Mercies of the Lord

"I have reflected repeatedly upon the phrase 'the tender mercies of the Lord.' Through personal study, observation, pondering, and prayer, I believe I have come to better understand that the Lord's tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ. Truly, the Lord suits 'his mercies according to the conditions of the children of men' (D&C 46:15)."

Topics: Love of God, prayer, mercy

(David A. Bednar, "The Tender Mercies of the Lord," Ensign, May 2005, 99)

Families Must Find Meaningful Time Together

"Families unite when they do meaningful things together. Children should work together under the leadership of parents. Common employment, even on a part-time basis, is valuable. So is a family garden. Common projects to help others are also desirable. Families may establish a perpetual missionary fund. They can research and write family histories and share them with others. They can organize family reunions. They can educate family members in the basic skills of living, including managing finances, maintaining property, and broadening their general education. The learning of languages is a useful preparation for missionary service and modern life. The teachers of these subjects can be parents or grandparents or other members of the extended family.

"Some may say, 'But we have no time for that.' As for time to do what is truly worthwhile, I suggest that many parents will find that they can turn their family on if they will turn their television off. . . .

"President David O. McKay taught:

"'The home is the first and most effective place for children to learn the lessons of life: truth, honor, virtue, self-control; the value of education, honest work, and the purpose and privilege of life. Nothing can take the place of home in rearing and teaching children, and no other success can compensate for failure in the home.' (Family Home Evening Manual 1968-69, p. iii.)"

Topics: home, children, teaching, parents

(Dallin H. Oaks, "Parental Leadership in the Family," Ensign, June 1985, 9)

Sweethearts Dance Day

Acceptance Note

Making COOKIES

Cookie Remains

Dinner Preparations

Table is set

Preparations continue

Now aren't they cute

Dinner is served

After dance activity

After dance activity group

To Become More Like Christ Is Both Complex and Simple

"Jesus Christ instructed His Apostles, clearly and directly, at the beginning of His mortal ministry, '[Come,] follow me, and I will make you fishers of men' (Matthew 4:19). This was also the beginning of the ministry of the Twelve Apostles, and I suspect that they had a feeling of inadequacy. . . . The Savior Himself teaches us here a lesson about core doctrine and priorities in life. Individually, we need to first 'follow Him,' and as we do this, the Savior will bless us beyond our own capacity to become what He wants us to be.

"To follow Christ is to become more like Him. It is to learn from His character. As spirit children of our Heavenly Father, we do have the potential to incorporate Christlike attributes into our life and character. The Savior invites us to learn His gospel by living His teachings. To follow Him is to apply correct principles and then witness for ourselves the blessings that follow. This process is very complex and very simple at the same time. Ancient and modern prophets described it with three words: 'Keep the commandments'--nothing more, nothing less."

Topics: priorities, personal growth, obedience, commandments

(Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Christlike Attributes--the Wind beneath Our Wings," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 102)

Parents Have a Responsibility to Teach Their Children

"As parents in Zion we are responsible to teach our posterity the gospel of Jesus Christ, including the necessity of keeping the commandments of God and obtaining the saving ordinances of the gospel. "We all desire to improve our performance as parents. No task is more common, yet none is more important. President Joseph F. Smith gave us this counsel:

" 'We should never be discouraged in those daily tasks which God has ordained to the common lot of man. Each day's labor should be undertaken in a joyous spirit and with the thought and conviction that our happiness and eternal welfare depend upon doing well that which we ought to do, that which God has made it our duty to do.'

"President Smith applied that principle to parenting as follows: " 'After all, to do well those things which God ordained to be the common lot of all mankind, is the truest greatness. To be a successful father or a successful mother is greater than to be a successful general or a successful statesman.' "Success in an occupation--even a lofty one--is only temporary, President Smith concluded, whereas success as a parent is 'universal and eternal greatness.' (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1939, p. 285.)"

Topics: family, teaching, home, parenthood

(Dallin H. Oaks, "Parental Leadership in the Family," Ensign, June 1985, 7)

Our Unique Gift to God

"The submission of one's will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God's altar. The many other things we 'give,' . . . are actually the things He has already given or loaned to us. However, when you and I finally submit ourselves, by letting our individual wills be swallowed up in God's will, then we are really giving something to Him! It is the only possession which is truly ours to give!"

Topics: submissiveness, sharing, humility

(Neal A. Maxwell, "Swallowed Up in the Will of the Father," Ensign, Nov. 1995, 24)

Spiritual Eyesight from the Touch of the Master's Hand

"Those who have felt the touch of the Master's hand somehow cannot explain the change which comes into their lives. There is a desire to live better, to serve faithfully, to walk humbly, and to be more like the Savior. Having received their spiritual eyesight and glimpsed the promises of eternity, they echo the words of the blind man to whom Jesus restored sight: 'One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see' (John 9:25)."

Topics: plan of salvation, God, commitment

(President Thomas S. Monson, "Anxiously Engaged," Ensign, November 2004, 58)

Spirituality

"Spirituality is not acquired suddenly. It is the consequence of a succession of right choices. It is the harvest of a righteous life."

(Dallin Oakes)

Measured By One's Striving

"Good men sometimes make mistakes. A man of integrity will honestly face and correct his mistakes, and that is an example we can respect. Sometimes men try but fail. Not all worthy objectives are realized despite one's honest and best efforts. True manhood is not always measured by the fruits of one's labors but by the labors themselves--by one's striving."

(D. Todd Christofferson, "Let Us Be Men," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 47-48)