True Greatness

"True greatness...always requires regular, consistent, small, and sometimes ordinary and mundane steps over a long period of time."
--Howard W. Hunter, "True Greatness", Ensign, May 1982, 19

Joy in Life

"Sadness, disappointment, and severe challenge are events in life, not life itself. I do not minimize how hard some of these events are. They can extend over a long period of time, but they should not be allowed to become the confining center of everything you do. The Lord inspired Lehi to declare the fundamental truth, "Men are, that they might have joy." 1 That is a conditional statement: "they might have joy." It is not conditional for the Lord. His intent is that each of us finds joy. It will not be conditional for you as you obey the commandments, have faith in the Master, and do the things that are necessary to have joy here on earth."
--Richard G. Scott, "Finding Joy in Life", Ensign, May 1996, 24

Good or bad

"There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so."
~ William Shakespeare

Elden's Birthday

Today May 17 is my Dad's birthday. He would be 88 if he were still with us. We celebrated his 87th birthday last year and then he passed away on May 23, 2009. We will be thinking about him a lot this next week.

Gratitude

"This is a wonderful time to be living here on earth. Our opportunities are limitless. While there are some things wrong in the world today, there are many things right, such as teachers who teach, ministers who minister, marriages that make it, parents who sacrifice, and friends who help. "We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues."
--Thomas S. Monson, "An Attitude of Gratitude," Ensign, Feb. 2000, 2
 

Forgiveness

"He that cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass if he would ever reach heaven, for everyone has need of forgiveness."  George Herbert (seventeenth-century poet)

Perseverance

"Perseverance is demonstrated by those who keep going when the going gets tough, who don't give up even when others say, it can't be done."
--James E. Faust, "Perseverance", Ensign, May 2005, 51

Exercise

Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it."
~ Plato

Key to Failure

“I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.” –Bill Cosby

Faith

"We cannot have faith without belief, but we can believe without having faith. Belief is the foundation of faith. Faith is trusting in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The scriptures contain many assurances of salvation to those who exercise faith and obey the commandments... Faith is the motivating force that impels action."
-O. Leslie Stone, "The Constant Exercise of Our Faith", July 1973 , Ensign pg. 59