“Now, my brethren and sisters, the time has come for us to stand a little taller, to lift our eyes and stretch our minds to a greater comprehension and understanding of the grand millennial mission of this The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is a season to be strong. It is a time to move forward without hesitation, knowing well the meaning, the breadth, and the importance of our mission. It is a time to do what is right regardless of the consequences that might follow. It is a time to be found keeping the commandments. It is a season to reach out with kindness and love to those in distress and to those who are wandering in darkness and pain. It is a time to be considerate and good, decent and courteous toward one another in all of our relationships. In other words, to become more Christlike.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, “This Is the Work of the Master,” Ensign, May 1995, 71)

"The biggest mistake a leader can make is to fail to say, 'Thank You'."

"To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart."

"People are more easily lead than driven." (David Harold Fink)

"The principle question before us is not, do we comprehend the atonement, but, do we accept it." (George Q. Morris, Ensign, April 1956)

"One can still go to the Garden of Gethsemane, but the Lord Jesus cannot be found there, nor is He in the Garden Tomb. He is not on the road to Emmaus, nor in Galilee, nor at Nazareth or Bethlehem. He must be found in one’s heart." (James E. Faust, “The Supernal Gift of the Atonement,” Ensign, Nov 1988)

It was love, not nails that kept Him on the cross.

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, then education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company...a church...a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on one string we have, and that is our attitude...I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you...we are in charge of our attitudes." (Charles Swindoll)

Our Needs

A little more patience

with the faults of other folks,

A little more charity

When a worldly act provokes,

A little more devotion

to the ones whom we should love

A little more reliance

on the God who rules above,

A little more forbearance

with the cross we have to bear,

A little better learning

by all that is right and fair,

A little more giving

of the things we have to give

Would make this world a better place

for you and me to live.

A little less prejudice,

A little less hate,

A little less ridicule,

About our good and great,

A little less vanity,

A little less show,

A little less of telling

All the scandal that we know,

A little less complaining

O'er the ills we have to bear,

A little less of wickedness,

A little less of sin

would make this world a pleasant spot

to be abiding in.

Charles E. Warner

"Ultimately, man is not subject to the conditions that confront him; rather conditions are subject to his decision, wittingly or unwittingly, he decides whether he will face up or give in..." (Victor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning)

"All happiness, all success, all glorious achievements rest with the individual. He can make a heaven or hell upon the earth." (Ezra Taft Benson, Teaching of Ezra Taft Benson)

Ability will enable a man to get to the top. But character is the only thing that will keep him there.

"Keep your face in the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows." (Helen Keller)

You cannot control circumstances in our lives, but we can control our attitudes towards them.

The treasure you put into life, is equal to the attitude you put into it.

"Twixt optimist and pessimist the difference is droll. The optimist sees the doughnut, the pessimist sees the hole!" (Wilson McLandburgh)

"I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart." (Anne Frank, The Diary of Anne Frank)

"The meaning of things lies not in the things themselves, but in our attitude towards them." (Antoine de Saint Exupery)

"Sometimes I go about in pity for myself, and all the while a great wind is bearing me across the sky." (Ojibwa saying)

The King's Highway

Once a king had a great highway built for the members of his kingdom. After it was completed, but before it was opened to the public, the king decided to have a contest. He invited as many as desired to participate. Their challenge was to see who could travel the highway best.

One the day of the contest the people came. Some of them had fine chariots, some had fine clothing, fine hairdos, or great food. Some young men came in their track clothes and ran along the highway. People traveled the highway all day, but each one, when he arrived at the end, complained to the king that there was a large pile of rocks and debris left on the road in one spot, and this got in their way and hindered their travel.

At the end of the day, a lone traveler crossed the finish line and wearily walked over to the king. He was tired and dirty, but he addressed the king with great respect and handed him a bag of gold. He explained, "I stopped along the way to clear away a pile of rocks and debris that was blocking the road. This bag of gold was under it all and I wanted you to return it to its rightful owner."

The King replied, "You are the rightful owner."

The travel replied, "Oh no, this is not mine, I've never known such money."

"Oh yes," said the King, "you've earned this gold, for you won my contest. He who travels the road best is he who makes the road smoother for those who will follow."

"There are no bad herbs, and no bad men; there are only bad cultivators." (Victor Hugo, Les Miserables)

The Painter

by Bernard Palmer

There is an old story which tells of the experiences of a great artist who was engaged to paint a mural for the great cathedral in an old Sicilian town. The subject was to be the life of Christ. For many years the artist labored diligently, and finally the painting was finished except for the most important figures. The Christ Child and Judas Iscariot. He searched far and wide for models for these two figures.

One day while walking in an old part of the city, he came upon some children playing in the street. Among them was a twelve year old boy whose face stirred the painter's heart. It was the face of an angel - a very dirty one, perhaps, but the face he needed.

The artist took the child with him, and day after day the boy sat patiently until the face of the Christ Child was finished.

But the painter failed to find a model for Judas. For years, haunted by the fear that his masterpiece would remain unfinished, he continued to search. One afternoon in a tavern, the painter saw a gaunt and tattered figure stagger across the threshold and fall on the floor, begging for a glass of wine. The painter lifted his head and looked into a face that startled him. It seemed to bear the mark of every sin of man.

"Come with me," the painter said, "I will give you wine, food and clothing." Here at last was his model for Judas! For many days and parts of many nights, the painter worked feverishly to complete his masterpiece.

As the work went on, a change came over the model. A strange tension replaced the spurious languor, and his bloodshot eyes were fixed with horror on the painted likeness of himself. One day, perceiving is agitation, the painter paused saying, "My son, I'd like to help you. What troubles you so?"

The model sobbed and buried his face in his hands. After a long moment he lifted pleading eyes to the old painters face. "Do you not remember me? Years ago I was your model for the Christ Child!"

You are the one that has to decide,

Whether you'll do it or toss it aside,

You are the one who makes up your mind

Whether you'll lead or will linger behind.

Whether you'll try for the goal that's afar

Or just be contended to stay where you are.

Take it or leave it. Here's something to do.

Just think it over - it's all up to you!

Nobody here will compel you to rise;

No one will force you to open your eyes;

No one will answer for you, yes or no,

Whether to stay there or whether to go.

Life is a game, but it's you who must say

Whether to cheat or as sportsman you'll play.

Fate may betray you, but you settle first

Whether to live to your best or your worst.

So whatever it is you are wanting to be,

Remember to fashion to choice you are free.

Kindly or selfish, or gently or strong;

Keeping the right way or taking the wrong.

Careless of honor or guarding your pride,

All these are questions which you must decide.

Yours the selections, whichever you do;

The thing man calls character is all up to you.

(Author Unknown)

"The Lords requires us to do much because we have been given much. It has been said that the greatest gift we have been given, next to life itself, is the ability to direct that life. Our free agency is what allows us to 'bring to pass much righteousness.'" (T. Scott Ennis)

"You have a choice. It may not be a choice you like, but it is still a choice." (Dangerous Minds. Dir. John N. Smith. Perf. Michelle Pfeiffer. Geroge Dzundza. Courtney B. Vance. 1995. Film)

"Usually the Lord gives us the overall objectives to be accomplished and some guidelines to follow, but he expects us to work out most of the details and methods." (Ezra Taft Benson)

"The greatest power that a person possesses is the power to choose." (J. Martin Kohe)

'The road is rough' I said, 'dear Lord',

'There's stones that hurt me so';

And He said, 'Dear child I understand,

I walked it long ago...'

'But there is a cool green path' I said,

'Let me walk there for a time';

'No child,' He gently answered me

'The green road does not climb.'

'My burden' I said, 'is far too great,

How can I bear it so?'

'My child' said he, 'I remember it's weight,

I carried my cross you know.'

But said I, 'I wish there were friends with who would make my way their own.'

'Oh yes' he said, 'Gethsemane was hard to face alone.'

And so I walked that stony path

Content to know,

That where my master had not gone,

I would not need to go...

And strangely then I found my friends,

The burden grew less sore,

As I remembered long ago, that He had

Walked that way before...

(poem taken from President Harold B. Lee's talk - GCR 1964)

"Dwelling in the world is part of our mortal test. The challenge is to live in the world yet not partake of the world's temptations which will lead us away from our spiritual goals. When one of us gives up and succumb to the wiles of the adversity, we may lose more than our own soul. Our surrender could cause the loss of souls who respect us in this generation. Our capitulation to temptation could affect children and families for generations to come." (Elder Robert D. Hales "Behold, We Count Them Happy Which Endure", Ensign, April 1998)

"The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it." (Moliere)

You are not stopped by the mountain in your path, but by the small rock in your shoe.

"We cannot alway understand the plan of the Almighty - the things that seem like a disaster is often a blessing in disguise." (Marvin J. Ashton)

You can't keep trouble from coming, but you needn't give it a chair to sit on.

"The time will come when we will look back and be satisfied with the events that seemed so hard to comprehend at the time." (Spencer W. Kimball)

"...from a distance we make every little thing seem like a mountain." (Victor Hugo, Les Miserables)

Do not fear the challenges of life, but approach them patiently, with faith in God. He will reward your faith with power not only to endure, but also overcome. (Rex D. Pinegar, "Faith - The Force of Life." Ensign, November 1982)

Persistence prevails when all else fails.