Build Spiritual Strength to Protect You

Elder Russell M. Ballard, CES Fireside, November 10, 2010

The Oak Tree” by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr.

A mighty wind blew night and day.
It stole the oak tree’s leaves away,
Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark
Until the oak was tired and stark.
But still the oak tree held its ground
While other trees fell all around.
The weary wind gave up and spoke,
“How can you still be standing, Oak?”
The oak tree said, “I know that you
Can break each branch of mine in two,
Carry every leaf away,
Shake my limbs, and make me sway.
But I have roots stretched in the earth,
Growing stronger since my birth.
You’ll never touch them, for you see,
They are the deepest part of me.
Until today, I wasn’t sure
Of just how much I could endure.
But now I’ve found, with thanks to you,
I’m stronger than I ever knew.

      "My beloved young brothers and sisters, be like the strong oak tree. Come to know how strong you are. Push your faith and trust in God and Christ down deep in gospel soil. Always be aware of the artificial flies being presented to us by the counterfeit fisher of men, Lucifer. May we have the wisdom and spiritual insight to discern and refuse his many dangerous offerings. Live the doctrine of Christ, the simple and basic principles of the gospel, each day—have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repent, honor the covenant of baptism, live worthy of the Holy Ghost as your companion, and endure to the very end. Do this every day, and the Spirit of the Lord will be with you to keep you safely on the pathway that leads to eternal life."

Protection against Temptation

Elder Russell M. Ballard, CES Fireside, March 3, 2002.

     "I like to think of this spiritual armor not as a solid piece of metal molded to fit the body, but more like chain mail.  Chain mail consists of dozens of tiny pieces of steel fastened together to allow the user greater flexibility without losing protection.  I say that because it has been my experience, covering many more yeas than you have yet been privileged to live, that power lies in numerous smaller acts woven together in a fabric of spiritual fortification that protects and shields from all evil." 

Consequences of Choice

President Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, November 2010

     "...by choosing our path, we choose our destination.  Decisions are constantly before us.  To make them wisely, courage is needed--the courage to say no, the courage to say yes.  Decisions do determine destiny." 

Blessings of Service

President Howard W. Hunter, Ensign, April 1992.

     "If you feel that much of what you do this year or in the years to come does not make you very famous, take heart.  Most of the best people who ever lived weren't very famous either.  Serve and grow, faithfully and quietly."

Serving others brings blessings

Brother Stanley A. Johnson, BYU Devotional, June 5, 2012

     "A loaded train doesn't jump the track."  The principle in this for me is that serving others brings the Spirit into our lives and helps us to remain on the straight and narrow way, especially during times of challenge and stress.  No matter how difficult it gets, just keep working and serving.  Why?  The blessings will come! 

Following Jesus Christ

Stanley A. Johnson, BYU Devotional, June 5, 2012

    Brother Johnson discusses President Marion G. Romney's four-point program for keeping the guidance of the Holy Ghost.

Quoted President Ezra Taft Benson:
     "That man is greatest and most blessed and joyful whose life most closely fits the pattern of the Christ.  This has nothing to do with earthly wealth, power, or prestige.  The only true test of greatness, blessedness, joyfulness is how close a life can come to being like the Master, Jesus Christ.  He is the right way, the full truth, and the abundant life."  (Ezra Taft Benson, BYU Devotional, December 10, 1974.)

Patience and Faith

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Continue in Patience", Ensign, May 2010

     "Brigham Young taught that when something came up which he could not comprehend fully, he would pray to the Lord, 'Give me patience to wait until I can understand it for myself.'  And then Brigham would continue to pray until he could comprehend it. 

     "We must learn that in the Lord's plan, our understanding comes 'line upon line, precept upon precept.'  In short, knowledge and understanding come at the price of patience."


D&C 101: 38 And seek the face of the Lord always, that in patience ye may possess your souls, and ye shall have eternal life.

Faith--
Gordon B. Hinckley, BYU Devotional, September 25, 1973

           "It is so easy to get discouraged while you are here. It seems so natural a thing to drop out or to give in.  The way seems so long, the road so steep, that we are prone to think it not worth the candle....  My dear young friends, never lose faith in yourselves or in your capacity to do worthwhile things.  And call upon the Lord for help that your minds may be enlightened and your understanding quickened. Then go to work with that assurance inside of you that somehow you can do it."

Giving Life, Giving Love

 

Elder Russell T. Osguthorpe, BYU Devotional, March 8, 2011

"My first mission was in Tahiti. I love the way Tahitians greet each other. The literal meaning of their greeting word—ia ora na—means “life to you” or “that you might live.” We are either giving life or taking life from each other as we move forward on our way.

"Harsh words take life away from the one who receives them and even from the one who utters them. But words spoken in love give life....

"[The Savior's] life on the earth was an example of what it means to do good. But it was also a singular example of what it means to do good for the right reason. Every act of the Savior on earth was done out of love. Even in the great premortal council His offer to the Father was motivated by love for others, while the adversary’s was motivated by selfishness. The Savior’s mission was to give us life by allowing us to choose to love the Lord and follow Him. (See Moses 4:1–3.) The adversary’s goal was to take away our agency and thereby make it impossible for us to love, because it is impossible to love unless we choose to love. Love must come from within. It cannot be forced upon us. So for purposes of his own selfish aims, the adversary would have made it impossible for us to keep the first two commandments. He would have made us into nothing.

"Christ had a clear mission in mortality. He came to earth to save each of us. He knew how His life on earth would end and how His act of love for us would change everything. Each of us has a clear mission as well, but, like the Savior, we need to remain open to the needs of others we pass along the way. Our calendars can never be so packed that we don’t have room to show love to those around us."

Relief Society Lesson on "Service", January 6, 2013

Relief Society Lesson, January 6, 2013

Talks about "Service"--How even small acts of service bless our lives.

President Spencer W. Kimball, "Small Acts of Service," Ensign, December 1974.
http://www.lds.org/ensign/1974/12/small-acts-of-service?lang=eng

Elder M. Russell Ballard, "Here I Am, Send Me," BYU Devotional, March 13, 2001.
http://speeches.byu.edu/index.php?act=viewitem&id=269

Brother J. Michael Hunter, "Small Things," BYU Devotional, May 22, 2012.
http://speeches.byu.edu/index.php?act=viewitem&id=2034

Brother Alan L. Wilkins, BYU-Idaho Devotional, October 18, 2011.
http://www2.byui.edu/Presentations/Transcripts/Devotionals/2011_10_18_Wilkins.htm

Sister Sharalene Hardy, "I'll stay with the sheep," Ensign, December 2012.
http://www.lds.org/ensign/2012/12/ill-stay-with-the-sheep?lang=eng

Elder M. Russell Ballard, "Be Anxiously Engaged", Ensign, November 2012.
http://www.lds.org/ensign/2012/11/be-anxiously-engaged?lang=eng

Elder David A. Bednar, "By Small and Simple Things are Great Things Brought to Pass," BYU Women's Conference, April 2011.
http://ce.byu.edu/cw/womensconference/archive/2011/pdf/Elder_David_A._Bednar.pdf

Elder Rex D. Pinegar, "The Simple Things", Ensign, November 1994.
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1994/10/the-simple-things?lang=eng