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Talents/Gifts from God

Moroni 10:8-18 (gifts from God)

D&C 60:2 - God is not pleased with those who hide their talents due to fear of man

"Hide not your talents, they for USE were made. What's a sun-dial in the shade?" -Benjamin Franklin

"Too much ego will kill your talent" -anon

Alma 37:6 "By small and simple things are great things brought to pass"

"If you desire to make a difference in the world, you must be different from the world" -Elaine S. Dalton

"Do not pray for tasks equal to your abilities, but pray for abilities equal to your tasks. Then the performance of your tasks will be no miracle, but you will be the miracle" -Thomas S. Monson

"Use what talent you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best" -Henry Van Dyke

Moroni 7:33 "If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me"

Moroni 10:8-18 "Deny not the gifts of God, for they are many; and they come from the same God. And there are different ways that these gifts are administered; but it is the same God who worketh all in all; and they are given by the manifestations of the Spirit of God unto men, to profit them. To one is given by the Spirit of God, that he may teach the word of wisdom. And to another, that he may teach the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; and to another, exceedingly great faith; and to another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; and again, to another, that he may work mighty miracles; and again, to another, that he may prophesy concerning all things; and again, to another, the beholding of angels and ministering spirits; and again, to another, all kinds of tongues; and again, to another, the interpretation of languages and of divers kinds of tongues. And all these gifts come by the Spirit of Christ; and they come unto every man severally, according to all he will… Remember that every good gift cometh of Christ"

Matthew 5:14-16 "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven"

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Temptations

Alma 24:15-16, 19, 30 The Anti-Nephi-Lehi's buried their weapons (temptations) so they would not commit sin any more

Alma 11:23- "Oh thou child of hell, why tempt ye me? Knowest thou that the righteous yieldeth to no such temptations?

Alma 39:14 "Seek not after riches nor the vain things of the world; for you cannot carry them with you

Alma 41:10 "wickedness never was happiness"

"You can find the strength to live all the commandments of God and resist all temptations" -President Monson

Mormon 9:28 "Be wise in the days of your probation; strip yourselves of all uncleanness; ask not, that ye may consume it on your lusts, but ask with a firmness unshaken, that ye will yield to no temptation, but hat ye will serve the true and living God"

Ether 6:10 "No monster of the sea could break them… they did have light continually"

"Start by separating yourself from people, materials, and circumstances that will harm you. As those battling alcoholism know, the pull of proximity can be fatal. So too in moral matters. Life Joseph in the presence of Potiphar's wife, just run- run as far away as you can get from whatever or whoever it is that beguiles you. And please, when fleeing the scene of temptation, do not leave a forwarding address" -Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step… so watch your step" -Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

"Life thieves in the night, unwelcome thoughts can and do seek entrance to our minds. But we don't have to throw open the door, serve them tea and crumpets, and then tell them where the silverware is kept! (You shouldn't be serving tea anyway). Throw the rascals out! Replace lewd thoughts with hopeful images and joyful memories; picture the faces of those who love you and would be shattered if you let them down. More than one man has been saved from sin or stupidity by remembering the face of his mother, his wife, or his child waiting for him at home. Whatever thoughts you have, make sure they are welcome in your heart by invitation only. As an ancient poet once said, let will be your reason" -Jeffrey R. Holland

"We pledge every Sunday of our lives to take upon ourselves His name and promise to "always remember him". So let us work a little harder at remembering him-- especially that He has "borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows… [that] he was bruised for our iniquities… and with his stripes we are healed". Surely it will guide our actions in a dramatic way if we remembered that every time we transgress, we hurt not only those we love, but we also hurt Him, who so dearly loves us. But if we do sin, however serious that sin may be, we can be rescued by that same majestic figure, He who bears the only name given under Heaven whereby any man or woman can be saved" -Elder Holland

"The prophet Joseph Smith faced temptation. Can you imagine the ridicule, the scorn, the mocking that must have been heaped upon him as he declared that he had seen a vision? I suppose it became almost unbearable for the boy. He no doubt knew that it would be easier to retract his statements concerning the vision and just get on with a normal life. He did not, however, give in. There are his words; "I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and thoguh I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true… I had seen a vision; I knew it, and knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it." Joseph Smith taught courage by example. HE faced temptation and withstood it" -President Monson

Daniel 3- "We are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O King, that we will not serve they gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up"

• Nebuchadnezzar wants Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego to worship his golden image, but they refuse
• They were not careful to answer the king, because they had already made decisions on where they stood, what they believed in, and how they felt
• They were confident in their answer and held to their values and commitment, but also to God's will

Matthew 5:28-30 "Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that they whole body should be cast into hell"

• It is better to be blind than to look with an evil eye

Matthew 5:44 "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you"

"Overcoming and gaining spiritual strength… is the only true advancement in man's eternal course of progress" -Jesus the Christ

"See how far you've come, not how far you have to go" -Kent Brooks

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Thankfulness

Alma 34:38 "That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you"

Alma 37:37 "Let thy heart be full of thanks unto God"

"Don't save something for a special occasion. Every day of your life is a special occasion" -Thomas S. Monson

Mormon 9:31 "Condemn me not because of mine imperfection… but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than we have been"

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Tithing

Best Five Reasons to Pay Tithes and Offerings- Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

-First, do so for the sake of your children and grandchildren, the rising generation, who could now, if we are not careful, grow up in the Church with absolutely no understanding as to how their temples, chapels, seminaries, and socials are provided.

-Second, pay your tithing to rightfully claim the blessings promised those who do so.

-Third, pay your tithing as a declaration that possession of material goods and the accumulation of worldly wealth are not the uppermost goals of your existence.

-Fourth, pay your tithes and offerings out of honesty and integrity because they are God's rightful due.

-This leads to a fifth reason to pay our tithes and offerings. We should pay them as a personal expression of love to a generous and merciful Father in Heaven. (see Malachi 3:8-12)

Malachi 3:8-12 - Will a man rob God?

3 Nephi 24:8- "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say: Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings… pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it"

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Trials

2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 "And ye said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong"

Mosiah 24:15- "The lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully with patience to al the will of the Lord"

Alma 34:41- "But that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions"

Jacob 3:1 - pray unto him with exceeding faith and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause

"Often it's the deepest pain which empowers you to grow into your highest self" -Karen Salmansohn

"Some blessings come soon, some blessings come late, and some don't come until Heaven. But for those who embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they come" -Jeffrey R. Holland

"Just when all seems to be gong right, challenges often come in multiple doses applied simultaneously. When those trials are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more… He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding, and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit. To get from where you are to where he wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain. If all matters were immediately resolved at your first petition, you could not grow. Your Father in Heaven and His beloved son love you perfectly. They would not require you to experience a moment more of difficulty than is absolutely needed for your personal benefit or for that of those you love" -Elder Scott

"I'm not afraid of storms, for I am learning to sail my ship". -Louisa May Alcott

"Don't give up. Don't you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead. You keep your chin up. It will all be alright in the end. Trust God and believe in good things to come". -Jeffrey R. Holland

"You will come to know that what appears today to be a sacrifice will prove instead to be the greatest investment that you will ever make" Gordon B. Hinckley

"Everything happens for a reason. People change, so you can learn to let go. Things go wrong, so you can appreciate when they're right. Good things fall apart so better things can fall together" -Marilyn Monroe

"We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us" -Joseph Campbell

"Those who move forward with a happy spirit will find that things always work out" -Gordon B. Hinckley

"All this trying leads up to the vital moment at which you turn to God and say, "You must do this. I can't"'. -CS Lewis

"As we give, we find that sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven, and in the end, we learn it was no sacrifice at all" -Spencer W. Kimball

Alma 36:3 "...whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day"

"Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny" -CS Lewis

"Although his time is not always our time, we can be sure that the Lord keeps his promises" -Henry B. Eyring

"When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer" -Corrie ten Boom

"Sometimes we need a personal crisis to reinforce in our minds what we really value and cherish"-M. Russell Ballard

"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple" -Dr. Seuss

"To live greatly, we must develop the capacity to face trouble with courage, disappointment with cheerfulness, and triumph with humility" -Thomas S. Monson

Alma 61:9 "it mattereth not"

“Every calamity that can come upon mortal beings will be suffered to come upon the few, to prepare them to enjoy the presence of the Lord. … Every trial and experience you have passed through is necessary for your salvation" -Brigham Young

"If for a while the harder you try, the harder it gets, take heart. So it has been with the best people who ever lived" -Jeffrey R. Holland

"If we have faith in Jesus Christ, the hardest as well as the easiest times in life can be a blessing" -Henry B. Eyring

"There is no obstacle too great, no challenge too difficult, if we have faith" -Gordon B. Hinckley

"How do you remain steadfast and immoveable during a trial of great faith? You immerse yourself in the very things that helped build your core of faith; you exercise your faith in Christ, you ponder the scriptures, you repent, you keep the commandments, and you serve others" -Neil A. Anderson

"Not shrinking is more important than surviving" -Neil A Maxwell

"Don't give up when the pressure mounts. Face your doubts. Master your fears" -Jeffery R. Holland

"Come what may and love it" -Joseph B. Wirthlin

Ether 6:5-7 "God caused that there should be a furious wind blow upon the face of the waters towards the promised land"

• Wind (trials)- the Lord takes you where he wants you- he moves you forward. You may feel buried at times, but the Lord will always bring you back up

John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. . . . Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid"

Ether 12:6 "Faith is things which are hoped for, and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith"

Moroni 7:33 "If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me"

"Stars can't shine without darkness" -anon

"Think about your particular assignment at this time in your life. It may be to get an education, it may be to rear children, it may be to be a grandparent, it may be to care for a relieve the suffering of someone you love, it may be to do a job in the most excellent way possible, it may be to support someone who has a difficult assignment of their own. Our assignments are varied and they change from time to time. Don't take them lightly. Give them your full heart and energy. Do them with enthusiasm. Do whatever you have to do this week with your whole heart and soul" -Marjorie P. Hinckley

"No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow" -Proverb

“If our lives and our faith are centered on Jesus Christ and his restored gospel, nothing can ever go permanently wrong. On the other hand, if our lives are not centered on the Savior and his teachings, no other success can ever be permanently right" -President Howard W. Hunter

"Overcoming and gaining spiritual strength… is the only true advancement in man's eternal course of progress" -Jesus the Christ

Matthew 11:28-30 "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" 

"If we have faith in Jesus Christ, the hardest as well as the easiest times in life can be a blessing" -Henry B. Eyring

"Darkness exists, but you do not have to dwell there" -Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"Expecting a trouble-free life because you are a good person is like expecting the bull not to charge you because you are a vegetarian" -Jeffrey R. Holland

"From time to time, our lives may seem to be touched by darkness... Nevertheless, I bear witness that our living hope is in Jesus Christ. I testify that with Christ, darkness cannot succeed" -Dieter F. Uchtdorf