Plant Apple Trees

• “Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would still go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” Dr. King uttered those words decades ago, and I live by them. What about you? It's time to show up people! Are you with me? Go!

Value of a Soul

"If we truly understood the Atonement and the eternal value of each soul, we would seek out the wayward boy and girl and every other wayward child of God. We would help them to know of the love Christ has for them. We would do all that we can to help prepare them to receive the saving ordinances of the gospel."
--M. Russell Ballard, "The Atonement and the Value of One Soul," Ensign, May 2004, 86

High Mountain

"Over every high mountain there is a path, though it may not be visible from the valley."
-- Author Unknown

Family Trees

No One comes from the earth like grass,

We come like trees ~

We all have roots.

-Maya Angelou

Choices

Tomorrow's blessings and opportunities depend on the choices we make today."
--President James E Faust, "Choices", May 2004 Ensign pg.51

Parenting and Policing

"As parenting declines, the need for policing increases. There will always be a shortage of police if there is a shortage of effective parents! Likewise, there will not be enough prisons if there are not enough good homes."
--Neal A. Maxwell, "Take Especial Care of Your Family," Ensign, May 1994, 88

Opportunity

"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity."
- Albert Einstein

Thoughts

"Thoughts mold your features. Thoughts lift your soul heavenward or drag you toward hell. … As nothing reveals character like the company we like and keep, so nothing foretells futurity like the thoughts over which we brood. … To have the approval of your conscience when you are alone with your thoughts is like being in the company of true and loving friends. To merit your own self-respect gives strength to character. Conscience is the link that binds your soul to the spirit of God."
-President David O. McKay, "Developing Character", Ensign, Oct. 2001, 22

Forgiveness & Healing

"Receiving the Holy Ghost is the therapy which effects forgiveness and heals the sin-sick soul."
--Marion G. Romney, "The Holy Ghost", Ensign, May 1974, 90

Staying on Course

The more we treasure the words of the prophets and apply them the better we will recognize when we are drifting off course-even if only by a matter of a few degrees."
--Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "A Matter of a Few Degrees", Ensign May 2008, 57–60

Excellence

The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.”
-Michelagniolodi Lodovico di Lionardo di Buonarroti Simone (Michelangelo)

Excellence

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit".
Aristotle

Optimism

"Optimism is not seeing the world through rose-colored lenses, or practicing positive mental attitude. These are distortions, not reflections, of a real worldview. Optimism is a recognition that the greater the problem, the greater the learning, and it's up to us to uncover the learning."
Matt Baldwin in Snow Rising

Leadership

A good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame, a little less than his share of the credit.
-Arnold H. Glasgow

Masters of our Fate

"We are still masters of our fate. We are still captains of our souls."
- Winston Churchill

Jesus Christ

So as I conceive it, we must stand adamant for the doctrine of the atonement of Jesus the Christ, for the divinity of his conception, for his sinless life, and for, shall I say, the divinity of his death, his voluntary surrender of life. He was not killed, he gave up his life. It is our mission, perhaps the most fundamental purpose of our work, to bear constant testimony of Jesus the Christ. We must never permit to enter into our thoughts and certainly not into our teachings, the idea that he was merely a great teacher, a great philosopher, the builder of a great system of ethics. It is our duty, day after day, year in and year out, always to declare that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ who brought redemption to the world and to all the inhabitants thereof"
--Clark, in Conference Report, Oct. 1955, 23

Ye Simple Souls Who Stray

"May I offer counsel of a general nature, first with comments about General Authorities. We recognize them as instruments in the hand of the Lord, yet realize that they are ordinary human beings. They require haircuts, laundry services, and occasional reminders just like anyone else. President Benson once shared with us a story to illustrate. He said:
" 'Orson F. Whitney . . . was a great man to concentrate. One day when he was traveling by train, he was so preoccupied that he did not notice the train pass the station where he was to get off. So he had to [be driven] back to where he should have been. Meanwhile the stake president waited and waited. . . . Finally when he decided that something had more than likely happened to Brother Whitney and he was not going to make it, they commenced the meeting. As Elder Whitney approached, he was greeted by the opening hymn, which was "Ye Simple Souls Who Stray." '
"We honor such a man because of his extraordinary calling. His official acts are valid on earth and in heaven."
--Russell M. Nelson, "Honoring the Priesthood," Ensign, May 1993, 40

Prayer

"Prayer is a privilege and the soul's sincere desire. We can move beyond routine and "checklist" prayers and engage in meaningful prayer as we appropriately ask in faith and act, as we patiently persevere through the trial of our faith, and as we humbly acknowledge and accept "not my will, but Thine, be done."
--David A. Bednar, "Ask in Faith", Ensign, May 2008, 94–97

Faith

"Increased faith is as vital and necessary today as it was when Jesus walked the earth. Our modern world struggles with insufficient faith. President Gordon B. Hinckley said in a conference talk: "This is my prayer for all of us. … Increase our faith to bridge the chasms of uncertainty and doubt. … Grant us faith to look beyond the problems of the moment to the miracles of the future. … Give us faith to do what is right and let the consequences follow."

--James O. Mason, "Faith in Jesus Christ", April 2001 Ensign pg 22

Atonement

"If we truly understood the Atonement and the eternal value of each soul, we would seek out the wayward boy and girl and every other wayward child of God. We would help them to know of the love Christ has for them. We would do all that we can to help prepare them to receive the saving ordinances of the gospel."
--M. Russell Ballard, "The Atonement and the Value of One Soul," Ensign, May 2004, 86

Selflessness

"Selflessness is a key to happiness and effectiveness; it is precious and must be preserved as a virtue which guarantees so many other virtues."
--Spencer W. Kimball, "Privileges and Responsibilities of Sisters", Ensign, Nov 1978, 101