New Testament LDS Institute Manual

Acts 27:10–44. Safety in Following Prophetic Counsel

            Paul’s warnings of impending danger were ignored. President Henry B. Eyring spoke of people today who choose to disregard prophetic counsel: “Every time in my life when I have chosen to delay following inspired counsel or decided that I was an exception, I came to know that I had put myself in harm’s way. Every time that I have listened to the counsel of prophets, felt it confirmed in prayer, and then followed it, I have found that I moved toward safety. Along the path, I have found that the way had been prepared for me and the rough places made smooth. God led me to safety along a path which was prepared with loving care, sometimes prepared long before” (“Finding Safety in Counsel,” Ensign, May 1997, 25).

Acts 27:11–12. Rejecting the Counsel of Apostles

            Acts 27:11–12 illustrates several reasons why individuals sometimes choose to reject the counsel of Apostles or other Church leaders. (1) Worldly experience and training. Just as “the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship” (Acts 27:11) rather than the counsel of Paul, a tentmaker, people today sometimes reject the words of seers or other Church leaders because their counsel does not coincide with the opinions of “experts” in the world. (2) Convenience. The ship’s crew contended that they should continue their journey because “the haven was not commodious to winter in” (Acts 27:12), meaning it was not a convenient location to spend the winter months. Likewise, adhering to the counsel of Church leaders is not always convenient. (3) Majority mentality. “The more part” of the passengers advised the centurion “to depart” (Acts 27:12). For many individuals, it makes more sense to agree with the majority than to agree with a servant of God, whose words are not meant to be popular.

President Ezra Taft Benson taught the following regarding prophetic teachings:

            “The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time.

            “Sometimes there are those who feel their earthly knowledge on a certain subject is superior to the heavenly knowledge which God gives to His prophet on the same subject. They feel the prophet must have the same earthly credentials or training which they have had before they will accept anything the prophet has to say that might contradict their earthly schooling. …

            “… The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know. …

            “How we respond to the words of a living prophet when he tells us what we need to know, but would rather not hear, is a test of our faithfulness. …

            “… The prophet can receive revelation on any matter--temporal or spiritual” (“Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet,” in Brigham Young University 1980 Speeches [1981], 3–4; speeches.byu.edu).

New Testament LDS Institute Manual

Acts 26:19. “Not Disobedient unto the Heavenly Vision”

Paul declared to Agrippa that he had been true to the heavenly vision he received. Like Paul, we should obey the directions we receive from the Lord, whether they come in the form of promptings from the Holy Ghost, the words of scriptures, or the voice of living prophets.

President Ezra Taft Benson taught:

“The great test of life is obedience to God. ‘We will prove them herewith,’ said the Lord, ‘to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them’ (Abraham 3:25).

“The great task of life is to learn the will of the Lord and then do it.

“The great commandment of life is to love the Lord”  (“The Great Commandment--Love the Lord,” Ensign, May 1988, 4).

Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles counseled Church members to make decisions based on more than mere convenience:

            “Sometimes we are tempted to let our lives be governed more by convenience than by covenant. It is not always convenient to live gospel standards and stand up for truth and testify of the Restoration. It usually is not convenient to share the gospel with others. It isn’t always convenient to respond to a calling in the Church, especially one that stretches our abilities. Opportunities to serve others in meaningful ways, as we have covenanted to do, rarely come at convenient times. But there is no spiritual power in living by convenience. The power comes as we keep our covenants” 

(“Like a Flame Unquenchable,” Ensign, May 1999, 86).

“Healing = Courage + Action + Grace”, Jonathan G. Sandberg, BYU Devotional, Jan 21, 2014

            “My hope today is to encourage you that healing is possible if you apply the principles that lead to healing. I will try to explain clearly—and I ask for your prayers that we can understand one another by the Spirit—three principles that can lead to healing and to knowing that all healing is a gift from Jesus Christ, for, as Isaiah said, “with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

            “My talk is entitled “Healing = Courage + Action + Grace.” And in honor of Martin Luther King Jr., who was recently listed in Ted Stewart’s The Mark of a Giant² as one of seven people who changed the world, I start with an example from his life that so clearly highlights these principles. Look for courage, action, and grace as I read his words:

            Almost immediately after the [bus boycott] started we had begun to receive threatening telephone calls and letters. They increased as time went on. . . .

One night . . . I couldn’t sleep. It seemed that all of my fears had come down on me at once. . . .

            . . . I had heard these things before, but for some reason that night it got to me. . . . I went to the kitchen and . . . I sat there and thought about a beautiful little daughter who had just been born. . . . I started thinking about a dedicated and loyal wife, who was over there asleep. And she could be taken from me, or I could be taken from her. And I got to the point that I couldn’t take it any longer. . . . With my head in my hands, I bowed over the kitchen table and prayed aloud . . . : “Lord, I’m down here trying to do what’s right. I think I’m right. I am here taking a stand for what I believe is right. But Lord, I must confess that I’m weak now, I’m faltering. I’m losing my courage. Now, I am afraid. . . . I have nothing left. I’ve come to the point where I can’t face it alone.”

It seemed as though I could hear the quiet assurance of an inner voice saying: “Martin Luther, stand up for righteousness. Stand up for justice. Stand up for truth. And lo, I will be with you. Even until the end of the world.”

            I tell you . . . I heard the voice of Jesus saying still to fight on. He promised never to leave me alone. At that moment I experienced the presence of the Divine as I had never experienced Him before. Almost at once my fears began to go. My uncertainty disappeared. I was ready to face anything.

            Can you see in this example the pathway to healing? Courage to face a difficult situation and stand for truth, acting in faith by turning to God in prayer, and peace and strength from the Lord through His grace—courage, action, grace.

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/jonathan-g-sandberg_healing-courage-action-grace/

            “Notwithstanding my emotional or physical condition during this talk, please remember as I speak today that it is never about the messenger; it is about the message. I pray I can remember what Martin Luther King Jr. said to himself before his first speech at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church: “Keep Martin Luther King in the background and God in the foreground and everything will be all right. Remember you are a channel of the gospel and not the source.” ( Martin Luther King Jr., The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr., ed. Clayborne Carson (New York: Intellectual Properties Management in association with Warner Books, 2001), 42–43. This book was compiled thirty years after Martin Luther King Jr.’s death and is a beautiful representation of his words and thoughts.)

“Evidences of the Heart”, Rodger Sorensen, BYU Devotional,  July 29, 2008

The Seating Area--Elder Carlos H. Amado spoke of service. He said:

Those who serve with devotion, even when things don’t turn out the way they would like, are not easily discouraged, fatigued, or frustrated because the promise of peace of mind and the companionship of the Holy Spirit will never abandon them.  (Carlos H. Amado, “Service, a Divine Quality,” Ensign, May 2008, 37.)

There is something in service and sacrifice, especially in the face of adversity, that prepares the heart for hearing the Holy Spirit.

Seven years ago I was standing at the crest of the Hill Cumorah. It was before the sets were up and before the cast arrived, and I was visiting with a group of tourists. One of them asked where the audience would sit. I pointed to the empty field at the foot of the hill where, in two weeks, 8,000 chairs would be arranged. Looking closely, I noticed something I had not seen before: there was a pattern on the field showing where the seats go—the aisles in between subtly imprinted in the grass. Later I talked to Brother Paine, who, year after year, was in charge of marking out the location of the chairs and supervising their setup. I asked if he had noticed that the grass in the aisles was darker and hardier than the grass where the seats were located. He told me the grass in the aisles was so distinct he could almost mark the field for the chairs without measuring.

On the day it is marked and the cast members set up the 8,000 chairs, the field is lush and green. During the run of the pageant, thousands and thousands of feet tramp down those aisles. Eleven days later, when those same chairs are placed back into their storage trailers, the field is a modified checkerboard of long green grass where the chairs have been sitting and 10-foot-wide strips of either matted, brown, seemingly dead grass in dry years or muddy bogs in wet years. It grows back stronger every year.

I believe service and sacrifice, especially when performed in the arms of adversity, strengthen our souls and soften our hearts. Mighty struggle prepares us to hear and follow promptings and enlarges our capacity to follow Christ. We experience peace of mind and the assurance that the Holy Spirit will be our constant companion.

“Children and the Family”, Elder W. Eugene Hansen, April 1998

          “So crucial in strengthening families is the realization that strong family relationships don’t just happen. It takes time. It takes commitment, it takes prayer, and it takes work. Parents must realize their responsibility and willingly assume it. The joy and happiness that will result is indescribable.

          “Our beloved prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley, has counseled: “Keep nurturing and loving your children. … Among all the assets you possess nothing is so precious as your children” (quoted in Church News, 3 Feb. 1996, 2).”

Ever since reading a talk by Elder Oaks about "Judge Not and Judging" I have had thoughts about Mary and Martha.   http://speeches.byu.edu/reader/reader.php?id=2548  Elder Oaks talks about Mary and Martha towards the end of his talk.  After hearing his talk, I went to the Devotional address that he mentions in his talk and that speaker gave some more insights.

One thing that has stuck in my mind is that Jesus' rebuke to Martha wasn't necessary about the work she was doing--it was because she was being negative about Mary.  Then later when Lazarus had died, it was Martha who had the faith to say to the Savior, “But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.” (John 11:22.)

“Duet, Mary & Martha” bronze sculpture by Annette Everett, artist

            “I was called as Red Cliffs Stake Relief Society president in 2006. I went to training in Salt Lake City, and as I sat taking notes, the picture came into my mind of the two women [Mary and Martha] back to back, one looking up with scriptures which is one way we sit at the feet of the Savior today, and the other focused down to this Earth and her chores. Both look content and happy. One focused on the Lord, one on serving family and friends, but tied together in movement and inseparable. How could we separate them? We cannot. We are both. I flipped my notebook to the back, drew the picture, and went back to training. It was a gift.

            “In my sculpture, Mary’s gaze is directed upward toward heaven, representing her spiritual and creative intent. One foot is elevated, ascending. Her hair is a crown. There is a feather etched into her skirts, meant to show her elevated attention. The book she holds represents her personal communication with her Father in heaven. Martha’s gaze is directed down, earthward, her arms full of chores that must be done, her offerings of nourishment to the people she cares about. There is a leaf etched into her skirts, showing her earthly intent. She has a pleasant look on her face because there is satisfaction and comfort in accomplishing our daily chores and seeing to the comfort of loved ones.

            “The sculpture is about the Mary and the Martha in each of us. Every woman is both Mary and Martha. Our life is a balance. Our dual concerns may demonstrate “an opposition” in all things, giving us the opportunity to make daily choices. If we neglect either part of ourselves, we are incomplete and unhappy. Both qualities are necessary and both are noble—caring for our loved ones, as well as our spiritual and creative selves. The two figures are tied together with their flowing skirts. Together they form a single whole, graceful and dancing. I hope that this piece will speak to everyone viewing it and that each person will come away with his or her own understanding. “ (Annette Everett, St. George, Utah.  Please follow this link to additional photos and more information about “Duet, Mary and Martha http://www.annette-everett.com/pages/duet.html )

Orson F. Whitney, in Spencer W. Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle (1972), 98.

             “No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God . . . and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we came here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven.”

"How to Discourage Discouragement", Elder Gene R. Cook, New Era, January 2003.

Link:
https://www.lds.org/new-era/2003/01/how-to-discourage-discouragement?lang=eng

“Bind on Thy Sandals”, President Howard W. Hunter, April 1978 general conference address, reprinted New Era, May 2002.

Some years ago I read an article that told of the less-than-spectacular career of a quarterback on the football team of a small rural high school. This young man managed to make the team, but it was clear he was not going to be all-state or all-American. Indeed, it didn’t look like he was going to be all-anything, except perhaps all battered and bruised. He was the fourth of the four quarterbacks.

By season’s end he had never been called into a game and had given up hope. During the final game of the year he pulled off his shoes, wrapped himself in a blanket, and settled on the bench to watch his buddies play.

Midway through the game he heard the coach shout his name. He was startled and wondered if he had been mistaken. Then it came again, right from the coach’s lips, “Hey, you! Get in there and move the ball!”

What should he do? His first impulse was to lapse into a coma. His second was to pretend he didn’t hear. His third was to say, “Wait, coach. Wait while I put on my shoes.” He did the only manly thing. Strapping on his helmet as he ran, he made straight for the huddle; his white-stockinged feet were conspicuous to the players on both teams, as well as to the spectators and the coach, who also must have been ready to lapse into a coma.

He called the play, but the shock of his first game was obviously a little disconcerting. By the time he took the snap from center he had forgotten the play he had called. His teammates moved to the right, but he gamely went left. There, alone against the world, he met the opposition head-on and was swallowed up in the snarl of the onrushing linemen.

He said later, “No one expected me to make a touchdown. Even running the wrong way was understandable. But there was no excuse for a quarterback without shoes” (Improvement Era, Sept. 1969, 44).

Be prepared

I want to invite the young men to keep their gospel shoes on, to believe in the opportunities that lie ahead. I am reminded of what Abraham Lincoln said when he sat on the sidelines for a long time, losing election after election and struggling to make a professional contribution. He said simply, “I will prepare, and perhaps my chance will come.” He lived long enough to learn what everyone learns—that chance always favors the prepared life.

As surely as I know anything, I know you young men are needed and will be called on to help the kingdom in the years ahead. Indeed, we call upon you now. We need your company and your friendship and your service and your standards. Some of your assignments may seem small to you, but they are very important and they prepare you for greater service to come.

Oliver Cowdery was one who, for just a moment, slipped his shoes off while the game was still going, and it led to one of the great disappointments in Church history. He had been serving as scribe for the Prophet Joseph Smith as the Book of Mormon was being translated, and the Lord told him that he, too, would be granted the gift of translation (see D&C 6:25).

Oliver was not as ready as he might have been—or as he once had been. His belief in himself and in this great latter-day work had faltered just a bit, and he cried out, “Wait while I get ready.” But he learned that eternal work can seldom wait for long. The Lord eventually replied to him, “Because … you did not continue as you commenced, … I have taken away this privilege. … You feared, and the time is past, and it is not expedient now” (D&C 9:5, 11). The opportunity of a lifetime had not been seized, and it was gone forever.

President Kimball

Certainly President Spencer W. Kimball was not ambitious to be President of the Church, but when the call came, unexpected as it may have been, he was ready. He never slipped off his shoes while the game was still on—not ever.

Let me cite just one example of that preparation which started many years ago, when President Kimball was the age of many of you. When he was 14 years old, a Church leader visited a conference of the stake over which his father presided and told the congregation that they should read the scriptures.

President Kimball, in recalling that experience, said: “I recognized that I had never read the Bible, [so] that very night at the conclusion of that very sermon I walked to my home a block away and climbed up in my little attic room in the top of the house and lighted a little coal-oil lamp that was on the little table, and I read the first chapters of Genesis. A year later I closed the Bible, having read every chapter in that big and glorious book. … It was formidable, but I knew if others did it that I could do it.

“I found,” said President Kimball, “that there were certain parts that were hard for a 14-year-old boy to understand. There were some pages that were not especially interesting to me, but when I had read the 66 books and the 1,189 chapters and 1,519 pages, I had a glowing satisfaction that I had made a goal and that I had achieved it.

“Now I am not telling you this story to boast,” President Kimball concluded, “I am merely using this as an example to say that if I could do it by coal-oil light, you can do it by electric light. I have always been glad I read the Bible from cover to cover” (Ensign, May 1974, 88). In this and a thousand other ways, young Spencer Woolley Kimball silently and efficiently prepared, never dreaming of what lay ahead.

Be ready

I say once more to the youth of the Church—prepare, believe, be ready, have faith. Do not say or do or be that which would limit your service or render you ineffective in the kingdom of God. Be ready when your call comes, for surely it will come. Keep your gospel shoes on, or as Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “Stand therefore, having … your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (Eph. 6:14–15). The Lord would say to you tonight what the angel said long ago to Simon Peter: “Arise. … Bind on thy sandals. … Follow me” (Acts 12:7–8).

What a glorious thing it is to have the privilege of bearing the priesthood. God does live and Jesus Christ is His Son—our Lord and Savior.

I have had conversations with several people about "loud laughter".  I love to laugh and enjoy the joyous laughing of others.  So these conversations have been about the quesiton--"What does the expression "loud laughter" mean?"  This article was sent to me to aid in answering the question.

“A Serious Look at Humor”, Peter B. Rawlins, New Era, August 1974

Since ancient times it has been recognized that “a merry heart doeth good like a medicine.” (Prov. 17:22.) Humor is used in many situations, and anyone who has ever laughed should be able to recognize the intrinsic worth of mirth. Sharing witty remarks or humorous experiences can ease tense, uncomfortable situations and can create a subtle bond of fellowship between strangers. This may grow into the special kind of private joke that friends share.

The suffering, the discouraged, and those who mourn can be cheered through humor. Thus, it becomes a means of fulfilling our commitment to “comfort those that stand in need of comfort.” (Mosiah 18:9.)

Puns, exaggeration, understatement, irony, and clever twists on common situations teach profound lessons on life, stimulate the imagination, school the emotions, and reveal hidden relationships.

The fact that these good effects flow from wise use of humor argues for the Lord’s acceptance of this medium of communication.

As with all gifts, however, humor can be misused and abused, and the Lord has seen fit to caution us in its use. We are counseled to live with “cheerful hearts and countenances,” but to avoid “much laughter, for this is sin.” (D&C 59: 15.)

Again, we are told to “cease from all … light speeches, from all laughter … and light-mindedness” (D&C 88:121) and to “cast away … your excess of laughter far from you” (D&C 88:69). It would not be wise to attempt to define “excess of laughter” or “much laughter” in terms of decibel levels or time limits. It would also be presumptuous to define the line between the sublime and the ridiculous. However, we may profitably consider types of humor that may detract from spirituality.

Loud laughter, light-mindedness, and flippancy often betray a state of mind that is lacking in seriousness. “Empty levity,” as Brigham Young called it, detracts from the dignity of those who indulge in it to excess. Such people “have little sense, and know not the difference between a happy smile of satisfaction to cheer the countenance of a friend, or a contemptuous sneer that brings the curses of man upon man.” (Journal of Discourses 9:290.) A person given to such frivolity would find it difficult to follow the Lord’s counsel to “look unto me in every thought” (D&C 6:36) or to “let the solemnities of eternity rest upon your minds” (D&C 43:34). He would be impaired in receiving revelation and would be weakened in the hour of temptation. C. S. Lewis has written that “if prolonged, the habit of flippancy builds up around a man the finest armour plating against [God] that I know. It is a thousand miles from joy; it deadens, instead of sharpening, the intellect; and it excites no affection between those who practise it.” (Screwtape Letters [New York: The MacMillan Co., 1962], p. 52.)

A key in judging the propriety of humor is given by Brigham Young, who seemed to approve of “joy and gladness that is full of meat and marrow, or, in other words, full of meaning and sense” as opposed to “vain” or meaningless laughter. (JD 9:290.)

Closely akin to flippancy is irreverence. Making light of sacred things indicates a lack of affection for and faith in God. President McKay had much to say about reverence and often quoted John Ruskin, who said:

“Reverence is the noblest state in which a man can live in the world. Reverence is one of the signs of strength; irreverence, one of the surest indications of weakness. No man will rise high who jeers at sacred things. The fine loyalties of life must be reverenced or they will be foresworn in the day of trial.” (John Ruskin in David O. McKay, Man May Know for Himself [Deseret Book Co., 1967], p. 18.)

Irreverence differs from profanity and taking the name of the Lord in vain only in degree, not in quality. Carried to the extreme, this form of humor is manifest among those hardhearted people who speak contemptuously against the prophets of the Lord, who revile, persecute, and reject them. This nature was demonstrated among the mourners who laughed Christ to scorn when he stated that Jairus’ daughter was not dead, but sleeping. (Luke 8:53.) Such a faithless spirit spews forth as sneers, jeers, revilings, and ridicule. This can hardly be considered humor but is instead a cruel form of berating.

The weakening aspect of humor in the time of temptation is illustrated best in the area of dirty jokes, which relate to irreverence in that they make light of the sanctity of the body and the holy relationship of marriage. Humor hides a multitude of sins. Lust and perversion, for example, are normally shameful, but under the guise of humor, many people can laugh without blushing. Off-color stories are an effective tool in weakening a persons’s resistance to temptation, for virtue is one of those “fine loyalties of life” that “must be reverenced or they will be foresworn in the day of trial.” Even pure minds, when exposed to such filthiness, must struggle to avoid its recurring memory, and he who tempts another by exposing him to unclean stories must share in the guilt if the victim falls.

As with lust, cruelty becomes acceptable to the world when cloaked as a practical joke. Practical jokes are commonplace and are usually well received by the victim. Caution must be exercised, however, that the victim is not injured emotionally, spiritually, or physically. The effects of practical jokes have ranged from embarrassment to actual death in some instances. Pranks and malicious mischief are merely extensions of this same spirit. It would be well to consider the Golden Rule when planning such jokes.

A most damaging form of humor is sarcasm, or cutting, hostile, or contemptuous remarks. Such humor is usually based on inordinate pride and is usually aimed at some person or group thought to be inferior, such as minority races, ethnic groups, and the physically handicapped. Occasionally some good comes from these jokes when taken in good humor by the object of the joke—tense race relations have been relaxed and physical handicaps have been placed in proper perspective. But this occurs only when the feelings of all concerned are considered.

Though often meant to be harmless, sarcasm denotes insensitivity to the feelings of others, stemming either from thoughtlessness or maliciousness. Recall the perverted brand of humor of the soldiers who mocked our Savior by putting a crown of thorns on his head, clothing him in a purple robe, and saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” (John 19:2–3.) It is interesting to note that in prophesying of his death, the Lord included the mental torture of mocking with the physical tortures of scourging and crucifixion. (Mark 10:34.) How does a “humorous” remark designed to degrade or hurt another person differ from this? Remember, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matt. 25:40.)

To avoid using humor as a dangerous weapon, we must be compassionately considerate of all that is frail, and humbly mindful of all that is sublime. Would it not be better to “lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees” (D&C 81:5) than to humiliate and disgrace one of our neighbors? When humor is such a powerful tool in building subtle bonds of brotherhood, in cheering those who suffer, and in teaching profound and memorable lessons, why should it be used to belittle and discourage? Those who profess belief in Christ should shape their humor in the light of Christ’s teachings. Being rejected from His kingdom because of a warped sense of humor would not be funny.

President Wilford Woodruff (1807–98) testified:

“When we get to the other side of the veil, we shall know something. We now work by faith. We have the evidence of things not seen. The resurrection, the eternal judgment, the celestial kingdom, and the great blessings that God has given in the holy anointings and endowment in the temples, are all for the future, and they will be fulfilled, for they are eternal truths. We will never while in the flesh, with this veil over us, fully comprehend that which lies before us in the world to come. It will pay any man to serve God and to keep His commandments the few days he lives upon the earth” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff[2004], 154).

From lds.org “Viewpoint: Be a Voice of Gladness”, Contributed By the Church News, 9 NOVEMBER 2014

President Gordon B. Hinckley said: “We have every reason to be optimistic in this world. Tragedy is around, yes. Problems everywhere, yes. … You can’t, you don’t, build out of pessimism or cynicism. You look with optimism, work with faith, and things happen” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “President Gordon B. Hinckley: Stalwart and Brave He Stands,” Ensign, June 1995).

In his April 1991 general conference address, Elder Marvin J. Ashton of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: “In the world, where there are often voices of pessimism and negative feelings, the voice of gladness is welcome indeed. … If it is our nature to criticize or demean, we can cause the voices of gladness to be silenced. We need those who bring gladness into our lives. We need those who give encouragement and reflect optimism.

“Sincere yet simple words of praise can lift souls and bring gladness. Mark Twain remarked that he could live two months on one good compliment. In the words of the biblical proverbs of Solomon: ‘A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver’ (Proverbs 25:11).

“Encouragement can be quick and simple, but it is a voice of gladness that is needed by everyone” (“A Voice of Gladness,” Ensign, May 1991).

President Thomas S. Monson, in an article in the February 2000 issue of the Ensign, wrote of what he called the plagues of today: “They linger; they debilitate; they destroy. They are to be found everywhere. Their pervasiveness knows no boundaries. We know them as selfishness, greed, indulgence, cruelty, and crime, to identify but a few. Surfeited with their poison, we tend to criticize, to complain, to blame, and, slowly but surely, to abandon the positives and adopt the negatives of life.”

He recited the lyrics of a Johnny Mercer song, “Accentuate the Positive”:

Accentuate the positive;

Eliminate the negative.

Latch on to the affirmative;

Don’t mess with Mr. In-between.

“Good advice then. Good advice now,” President Monson declared (“An Attitude of Gratitude”).

Sister Patricia T. Holland, former member of the Young Women general presidency and wife of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, shared her personal insights about the importance of not comparing ourselves with others:

            “My greatest misery comes when I feel I have to fit what others are doing, or what I think others expect of me. I am most happy when I am comfortable being me and trying to do what my Father in Heaven and I expect me to be.

            “For many years I tried to measure the oft-times quiet, reflective, thoughtful Pat Holland against the robust, bubbly, talkative, and energetic Jeff Holland and others with like qualities. I have learned through several fatiguing failures that you can’t have joy in being bubbly if you are not a bubbly person. It is a contradiction in terms. I have given up seeing myself as a flawed person because my energy level is lower than Jeff’s, and I don’t talk as much as he does, nor as fast. Giving this up has freed me to embrace and rejoice in my own manner and personality in the measure of my creation” (Jeffrey R. Holland and Patricia T. Holland, On Earth as It Is in Heaven [1989], 69–70).

“The Constitution for a Perfect Life” Harold B. Lee, "Decisions for Successful Living" pp. 56-63

 1. Blessed are the Poor in Spirit- To be poor in spirit is to feel yourselves as the spiritually needy, ever dependent upon the Lord for your clothes, and your food and the air you breathe, your health, your life; realizing that no day should pass without fervent prayer of thanksgiving, for guidance and forgiveness and strength sufficient for each day's need.

2. Blessed are they that Mourn (for sin)- To mourn, as the Master's lesson here would teach, one must show that 'godly sorrow that worketh repentance' and wins for the penitent a forgiveness of sins and forbids a return to the deeds of which he mourns.

3. Blessed are the Meek- A meek man is defined as one who is not easily provoked or irritated and forbearing under injury or annoyance. Meekness is not synonymous with weakness. The meek man is the strong, the mighty, the man of complete self-mastery. He is the one who has the courage of his moral convictions, despite the pressure of the gang or the club.

4. Blessed are they that Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness- Did you ever hunger or thirst for water when just a crust of stale bread or a sip of tepid water to ease the pangs that distressed you seem to be the most prized of all possessions? If you have so hungered then you may begin to understand how the Msster meant we should hunger and thirst after righteousness. It's that hungering and thirsting that leads those away from home to seek fellowship with saints in sacrament services and that induces worship on the Lord's Day wherever we are. It is that which prompts fervent prayer and leads our feet to holy temples and bids us be reverent therein.

5. Blessed are the Pure in Heart- If you would see God, you must be pure. There is in Jewish writings the story of a man who saw an object in the distance, an object that he thought was a beast. As it drew nearer he could perceive it was a man and as it came still closer he saw it was his friend. You can see only that which you have eyes to see. Some of the associates of Jesus saw him only as a son of Joseph the carpenter. Others thought him to be a wine-bibber or a drunkard because of his words. Still others thought he was possessed of devils. Only the righteous saw him as the Son of God. Only if you are the pure in heart will you see God, and also in a lesser degree will you be able to see the 'God' or good in man and love him because of the goodness you see in him. Mark well that person who criticizes and maligns the man of God or the Lord's anointed leaders in his Church. Such a one speaks from an impure heart.

6. Blessed are the Merciful- Our salvation rests upon the mercy we show to others. Unkind and cruel words, or wanton acts of cruelty toward man or beast, even though in seeming retaliation, disqualify the perpetrator in his claims for mercy when he has need of mercy in the day of judgment before earthly or heavenly tribunals. Is there one who has never been wounded by the slander of another whom he thought to be his friend? Do you remember the struggle you had to refrain from retribution? Blessed are all you who are merciful for you shall obtain mercy!

7. Blessed are the Peacemakers- Peacemakers shall be called the children of God. The toublemaker, the striker against law and order, the leader of the mob, the law-breaker are prompted by motives of evil and unless they desist will be known as the children of Satan rather than God. Withhold yourselves from him who would cause disquieting doubts by making light of sacred things for he seeks not for peace but to spread confusion. That one who is quarrelsome or contentious, and whose arguments are for other purposes than to resolve the truth, is violating a fundamental principle laid down by the Master as an essential in the building of a full rich life. Peace and goodwill to men on earth was the angel song that heralded the birth of the Prince of Peace.

8. Blessed are they which are Persecuted- May people everywhere remember that warning when you are hissed and scoffed because you refuse to compromise your standards of abstinence, honesty and morality in order to win the applause of the crowd. If you stand firmly for the right despite the jeers of the crowd or even physical violence, you shall be crowned with the blessedness of eternal joy. Who knows but that again in our day some of the saints or even apostles, as in former days, may be required to give their lives in defense of the truth? If that time should come, God grant they would not fail!

Elder Todd D. Christoffersen, October 2013

            "…This lovely woman radiated a moral authority, born of goodness, that influenced all around her for good. With her husband, she sacrificed a number of pleasures and possessions for their higher priorities, seemingly without a second thought. Her ability to perform feats of lifting, bending, and balancing with her children was near superhuman. The demands on her were many and her tasks often repetitive and mundane, yet underneath it all was a beautiful serenity, a sense of being about God’s work. As with the Savior, she was ennobled by blessing others through service and sacrifice. She was love personified."  

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, 9^th Archbishop of Philladelphia, "Awakenings: Living as Believers in the Nation We Have Now", BYU Forum, March 22, 2016

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/charles-j-chaput_awakenings-living-as-believers-in-the-nation-we-have-now/

Brother Dave Reeser, Rolling Hills Ward Sacrament meeting, September 11, 2011

          “[The educational idea of] Scaffolding is the idea that instructional activities are set up so that the students can’t do them without assistance, but also – that they aren’t so difficult that the student just gives up.  That “area” between being able to do it alone and becoming frustrated and quitting is called the “Zone of Proximal Development” and that is where optimal learning occurs. 

          “I believe that we live in the “Zone of Proximal Development.”  We can’t do it alone and our Father in Heaven knows this.  So, he has provided scaffolding in the form of commandments to give us direction and structure.  His Son – our Brother, Jesus Christ, has given us the Atonement which allows us to repent when we make a mistake and to develop the strength to move forward and continue to “become” more like Him.”

James E. Faust, “Gratitude as a Saving Principle”, April 1990.

          “A grateful heart is a beginning of greatness. It is an expression of humility. It is a foundation for the development of such virtues as prayer, faith, courage, contentment, happiness, love, and well-being.”

From New Testament Institute Manual

            Luke stated the main message of the parable of the importuning widow and unjust judge—“men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1). The Greek word translated as “to faint” means to become discouraged or weary or to tire of something. In the parable, praying without giving up is represented by a widow who repeatedly appeals to a judge to remedy an injustice.

          Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “When lonely, cold, hard times come, we have to endure, we have to continue, we have to persist. That was the Savior’s message in the parable of the importuning widow. … Keep knocking on that door. Keep pleading. In the meantime, know that God hears your cries and knows your distress. He is your Father, and you are His child” (“Lessons from Liberty Jail,” Ensign, Sept. 2009, 30).

          Perseverance is rooted in the foundational gospel principles of faith and hope. Perseverance reflects our faith that our actions will bring the Lord’s blessings into our lives.

Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained that one reason the Lord does not always shield His servants from persecution is that trials allow us to experience refining, strengthening blessings:

            “There is meaning and purpose in our earthly challenges. Consider the Prophet Joseph Smith: throughout his life he faced daunting opposition—illness, accident, poverty, misunderstanding, false accusation, and even persecution. One might be tempted to ask, ‘Why didn’t the Lord protect His prophet from such obstacles, provide him with unlimited resources, and stop up the mouths of his accusers?’ The answer is, Each of us must go through certain experiences to become more like our Savior. In the school of mortality, the tutor is often pain and tribulation, but the lessons are meant to refine and bless us and strengthen us, not to destroy us” (“Faith through Tribulation Brings Peace and Joy,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2003, 17).

Trusting in the Lord’s Timing by Shannon Volmar, Ensign, January 2017

I was a recently returned missionary, struggling to find the next step in my life. I had graduated from college before my mission, and I returned home with confidence and a determination to pursue righteous goals.

Those first several months following my return proved much more difficult than I had anticipated, and my optimism dwindled. I attempted several different pathways that I thought were good and right, none of which came to fruition.

As each disappointment mounted, I felt confused and sad. Despite my efforts, my righteous desires seemed to go unfulfilled. Meanwhile, many of my peers already seemed to be acquiring the blessings I desired and was working for. I prayed earnestly for understanding and guidance.

The answer to my prayer came in a simple but powerful manner. I felt impressed to search through a box of family photographs, where I happened upon an old envelope containing pictures of my sixth-grade graduation. As I stared at them for a minute, a memory of that ceremony suddenly flooded my mind.

It was nearing the conclusion of the awards presentation, and the teachers announced the distribution of certificates for students they felt earned a spot on the “honor roll.” I had worked hard to excel in school, so I anticipated being on that list. As the names were called, I got ready to stand to retrieve my award.

Then suddenly the reading was finished. I looked around in surprise at those students sitting near me. One of them, holding her award, looked at me in confusion and said, “Why didn’t youget one?” The only response I could muster was, “I don’t know …”

I sat in silent disappointment.

What happened next had a profound impact on my 11-year-old life. My teacher stood and announced that there were two students who she felt had gone above and beyond her expectations, and they would therefore be given the “Student of the Year” award instead of an honor roll certificate. One of the awards was presented to another student in my class.

The other was given to me.

Though I had long forgotten this episode, the Spirit helped me realize how surprisingly similar my current situation was to that of my elementary school graduation. I had been comparing my circumstances with those of others, wondering if I had been forgotten. In that moment, a wave of peace washed over me. I could picture a loving, merciful God listening to my doubts and wanting me to have the patience and faith to see that He hadn’t forgotten me. Yes, I was doing my best to achieve righteous goals, and someday the Lord would bless me. I just had to trust in His timing. Blessings don’t always come when we think they will—sometimes not even in this life—but they do come.

Not even a month passed after I had this experience when I met an amazing young man who soon became my best friend and eternal companion. We had a beautiful courtship and were sealed together in the temple. We have been blessed in many ways, and I find that my goals have become clearer and that my path is far better than the one I originally anticipated as a struggling returned missionary.

This and other righteous desires were fulfilled in the Lord’s timing. If the course of events had happened in the way I had wanted them to, I wouldn’t have learned to rely not only on the Lord’s plan for me but also on His timing. I also think it would have been much harder for the Lord to bless me in the ways He knew would ultimately make me the most happy. And those blessings have always been something significantly better than what I thought I wanted—just like a “Student of the Year” award instead of an honor roll certificate.

Even returned missionaries need reminders about the principle of faith. I know I did, and I was reminded of it in a powerful and comforting way when I found myself in an old photograph.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, “Continue in Patience,” Ensign, May 2010, 58.  “God’s promises are not always fulfilled as quickly as or in the way we might hope; they come according to His timing and in His ways. … The promises of the Lord, if perhaps not always swift, are always certain.”