#dailythoughts

Apr 27, 2020
2 min

April 27, 2020 – Peace, be still!

“We live in a world that is complex and increasingly contentious. The constant availability of social media and a 24-hour news cycle bombard us with relentless messages. If we are to have any hope of sifting through the myriad of voices and the philosophies of men that attack truth, we must learn to receive revelation. … [I]n coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost. … The

Apr 26, 2020
1 min

April 26, 2020 – Who was my stake patriarch

“As we celebrate this joyous occasion, the 200th anniversary of the First Vision, we should always remember the price Joseph and Hyrum Smith paid, along with so many other faithful men, women, and children, to establish the Church so you and I could enjoy the many blessings and all of these revealed truths we have today. Their faithfulness should never be forgotten!” Elder M. Russell Ballard, “Shall We Not Go On in So Great a Cause?”, General Conference, April 2020 I was stud

Apr 25, 2020
1 min

April 25, 2020 – Fix what we can’t

“Our Heavenly Father, referring to His Beloved Son, said, “Hear Him!” As you act on those words and listen to Him, remember, joyfully and reverently, that the Savior loves to restore what you cannot restore; He loves to heal wounds you cannot heal; He loves to fix what has been irreparably broken; He compensates for any unfairness inflicted on you; and He loves to permanently mend even shattered hearts.” Elder Dale G. Renlund, “Consider the Goodness and Greatness of God”, Gen

Apr 24, 2020
2 min

April 24, 2020 – Are you Christian?

“Suffering is universal; how we react to suffering is individual. Suffering can take us one of two ways. It can be a strengthening and purifying experience combined with faith, or it can be a destructive force in our lives if we do not have the faith in the Lord’s atoning sacrifice. The purpose of suffering, however, is to build and strengthen us. We learn obedience by the things we suffer.” Elder Robert D. Hales, “Your Sorrow Shall Be Turned to Joy”, Ensign, November 1983 In

Apr 23, 2020
2 min

April 23, 2020 – Remember who you are!

“It’s easy to get down on ourselves. We may not like our hair. Or our nose. Or our height. [Or my weight – I added this part]. But one of the most important truths of this life is understanding who we are—a literal son or daughter of God. He created us. He loves us. He thinks we are beautiful and wonderful and capable of great things. With the help of His Son, we can be “crowned . . . with glory and honour” (Psalms 8:5) and return to God’s presence, where “all that [the] Fath

Apr 22, 2020
2 min

April 22, 2020 – An Apostolic Blessing

“During this time of tension and uncertainty, and invoking the authority vested in me, I would like to confer upon you an apostolic blessing. I bless you with peace and increasing faith in the Lord (see John 14:27). I bless you with a desire to repent and become a little more like Him each day (see 3 Nephi 27:27). I bless you to know that the Prophet Joseph Smith is the prophet of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fulness. Should there be illness among you

Apr 21, 2020
2 min

April 21, 2020 – Light is brighter because of the dark

“[F]aith is what gets me through these dark times. Having faith doesn’t mean nothing bad is going to happen. Having faith allows me to believe that there will be light again. And that light will be even brighter because I have walked through the dark. As much darkness as I have witnessed over the years, I have witnessed far more light. I have seen miracles. I have felt angels. I have known that my Heavenly Father was carrying me. None of that would have been experienced if li

Apr 20, 2020
2 min

April 20, 2020 – Write it down

“Embrace your sacred memories. Believe them. Write them down. Share them with your family. Trust that they come to you from your Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son. Let them bring patience to your doubts and understanding to your difficulties. I promise you that as you willingly acknowledge and carefully treasure the spiritually defining events in your life, more and more will come to you. Heavenly Father knows you and loves you.” Elder Neil L. Andersen, “Spiritually Definin

Apr 19, 2020
1 min

April 19, 2020 – Broken things will be fixed

“The magnificent, peace-giving promise of the Book of Mormon and the restored gospel is that the Savior will mend all that we have broken. And He will also mend us if we turn to Him in faith and repent of the harm we have caused. He offers both of these gifts because He loves all of us with perfect love and because He is committed to ensuring a righteous judgment that honors both justice and mercy.” Elder James R. Rasband, “Ensuring a Righteous Judgment”, General Conference,

Apr 18, 2020
3 min

April 18, 2020 – Hold to the rod

As we progress down the covenant path with our hand firmly affixed on the iron rod, we hear and see those “mocking and pointing their fingers” from the great and spacious building (1 Nephi 8:27). We may not consciously intend to do so, but sometimes we pause and shift our gaze to see what all the commotion is. Some of us may even let go of the iron rod and move closer for a better view. Others may fall away entirely “because of those that were scoffing at them. Elder Jack N.

Apr 17, 2020
3 min

April 17, 2020 – Everyone has at least one

8 And again, I exhort you, my brethren, that ye deny not the gifts of God, for they are many; and they come from the same God. And there are different ways that these gifts are administered; but it is the same God who worketh all in all; and they are given by the manifestations of the Spirit of God unto men, to profit them. 9 For behold, to one is given by the Spirit of God, that he may teach the word of wisdom; 10 And to another, that he may teach the word of knowledge by th

Apr 16, 2020
2 min

April 16, 2020 – Suffering and adversity

“The divine plan for us to become what we are destined to become requires us to make choices to reject the evil opposition that tempts mortals to act contrary to God’s commandments and His plan. It also requires that we be subject to other mortal opposition, such as from the sins of others or from some defects of birth. Sometimes our needed growth is achieved better by suffering and adversity than by comfort and tranquility. And none of this mortal opposition could achieve it

Apr 15, 2020
2 min

April 15, 2020 – Always retain in remembrance

11 And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yo

Apr 14, 2020
2 min

April 14, 2020 – If all you can give…

I testify to you that “thru cloud and sunshine” the Lord will abide with us, our “afflictions [can be] swallowed up in the joy of Christ,” and “it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.” I testify that Jesus Christ will return to the earth “with healing in his wings.” Ultimately, He “shall wipe away all tears from [our] eyes; and there shall be no more … sorrow.” For all who will “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him,” the “sun shall no more go down; … for t

Apr 13, 2020
2 min

April 13, 2020 – Write down your experiences

“People often use the excuse that their lives are uneventful and nobody would be interested in what they have done. But I promise you that if you will keep your journals and records, they will indeed be a source of great inspiration to your families, to your children, your grandchildren, and others, on through the generations. Each of us is important to those who are near and dear to us—and as our posterity read of our life’s experiences, they, too, will come to know and love

Apr 12, 2020
1 min

April 12, 2020 – Because of Him

“Because of Jesus Christ, we will rise from the despair of death and embrace those we love, shedding tears of overwhelming joy and overflowing gratitude. Because of Jesus Christ, we will exist as eternal beings, worlds without end. Because of Jesus the Christ, our sins can not only be erased; they can be forgotten. We can become purified and exalted. Holy. Because of our beloved Savior, we can forever drink from the fountain of water that springs up into eternal life. We can

Apr 11, 2020
2 min

April 11, 2020 – Pray to be better

“You will have days when you will be discouraged. So pray for courage not to give up! … I promise you that as you follow Jesus Christ, you will find sustained peace and true joy. As you keep your covenants with increasing precision, and as you defend the Church and kingdom of God on the earth today, the Lord will bless you with strength and wisdom to accomplish what only members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can accomplish” President Russell M. Nelson, “T

Apr 10, 2020
2 min

April 10, 2020 – Can I forgive me?

“My beloved brothers and sisters, I testify that forgiving and forsaking offenses, old or new, is central to the grandeur of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I testify that ultimately such spiritual repair can come only from our divine Redeemer, He who rushes to our aid ‘with healing in his wings’ (Malachi 4:2). We thank Him, and our Heavenly Father who sent Him, that renewal and rebirth, a future free from old sorrows and past mistakes, are not only possible, but they have alr

Apr 9, 2020
3 min

April 9, 2020 – Always Remember Him

I invite you to commit to a lifelong process of discipleship. Make and keep covenants. Throw your old ways into deep, churning waterfalls. Completely bury your weapons of rebellion with no handles sticking out. Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, making covenants with a real intent to reliably honor them will bless your life forever. You will become more like the Savior as you always remember Him, follow Him, and adore Him. I testify that He is the firm foundation. He i

Apr 8, 2020
1 min

April 8, 2020 – Search the scriptures

“Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high. They can become the key to open the channel to communion with our Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. They are always available when needed. Their use provides a foundation of truth that can be awakened by the Holy Ghost. Learning, pondering, searching, and memorizing scriptures is like filling a filing cabinet with friends, values, and trut