Day 60

“The value of a country rests upon the values of its people. For

the people of God, for the people who want peace, for their

women and their children, there is only one way,

one church and one Lord.”

~ Elder Charles Didier

Why do the wicked go to war? How are their motives different

from the reasons why the righteous go to war?

Day 59

‘Never before on the face of this earth have the forces of evil and the forces of good been as well organized. … The final outcome is certain—the forces of righteousness will win. But what remains to be seen is where each of us … will stand in the battle—and how tall we will stand. … Great battles can make great heroes and heroines’

President Ezra Taft Benson

Why did Mormon use so much valuable space on the plates to record military intrigue and battle strategy?

 

To read the whole article:

http://www.lds.org/ensign/1992/01/defending-against-evil?lang=eng

Day 58

“How great the wisdom and the love
That filled the courts on high
And sent the Savior from above
To suffer, bleed and die!”
~ Hymn 195

How does understanding the Fall help you more fully love Jesus
and appreciate what He did for us?

Day 57

 

“You cannot do wrong and feel right. It is impossible.”

President Ezra Taft Benson

Alma uses four chapters (39-42) to counsel his son Corianton to

repent. How important is it to you to follow the counsel of your

parents and other righteous priesthood leaders? Re-read Alma 36:20.

During the time Alma was racked with torment for his sins whose

words did he remember that caused him to cry out for forgiveness?

Day 56

“I have little or no fear for the young man or the young woman, who

honestly and conscientiously supplicate God twice a day for the

guidance of His Spirit. I am sure that when the temptation comes they

will have strength to overcome it by the inspiration that shall be given

to them. Supplicating the Lord for the guidance of His Spirit places

around us a safeguard, and if we….honestly seek the guidance of the

Spirit of the Lord, I can assure you that we will receive it.”

~ President Heber J. Grant

 

What are some things you talk to the Lord about?

How does He direct you for good?

Day 55

“The thought of intentionally committing serious sin now and
repenting later is perilously wrong. Never do that. Many start
that journey of intentional transgression and never make it back.
Premeditated sin has greater penalties and is harder to overcome.
If there is sin, repent now—while you can.”
~ Elder Richard G. Scott

What does Satan do to try to keep you from repenting?
How many reasons can you think of for why it’s important to
repent now?

Day 54

“Of all our needs, I think the greatest is an increase of faith”
~ President Gordon B. Hinckley

How often do you exercise faith? What difference can “a particle
of faith” make in our actions? (see Matthew 17:20)

Day 53

“There are few things in life that bring as much joy as the joy that comes from assisting another to improve his or her life. That joy is increased when those efforts help someone understand the teachings of the Savior and that person decides to obey them, is converted, and joins His Church. There follows great happiness as that new convert is strengthened during the transition to a new life, is solidly grounded in truth, and obtains all of the ordinances of the temple with the promise of all the blessings of eternal life” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1997, 45–46; or Ensign, Nov. 1997, 35).

How can keeping this statement in mind help us remember the purpose of missionary work?

Day 52

True converts are those who “listen to the teachings and

testimonies of missionaries and change their lives, leaving the

past behind them, and moving forward into a new life.”

~ President Hinckley

What is zeal? What difference does it make to have “zeal

towards God”?

Day 51

“As children of God we are somebody. He will build us, mold
us, and magnify us if we will but hold our heads up, our arms
out, and walk with him. What a great blessing to be created in
his image and know of our true potential in and through him!
What a great blessing to know that in his strength
we can do all things!”
~ Elder Marvin J. Ashton

What do you think some of the “mighty miracles” may be that
the Lord will work through you?

Day 50

YIPPEE WE ARE HALF WAY!!!

 Full Conversion Brings Happiness

Richard G. Scott

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

---

For me, one of the most poignant passages of scripture describes what then occurred. It is a sobering reminder to each of us that knowing to do right, even ardently desiring to do right, is not enough. It is often very hard to actually do what we clearly know we should do. We read:

“But a certain maid beheld [Peter] … and said, This man was also with him. And he denied … saying, Woman, I know him not. … Another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. … Another confidently affirmed, … Of a truth this fellow also was with him: … And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, … and … went out, and wept bitterly.” ⁴

As painful as that confirmation of prophecy must have been for Peter, his life began to change forever. He became that unwavering, rock-solid servant essential to the plan of the Father after the Crucifixion and Resurrection of the Savior. This tender passage also illustrates how very much the Savior loved Peter. Although He was in the midst of an overpowering challenge to His own life, with all of the weight of what was to transpire upon His shoulders, yet He turned and looked at Peter—the love of a teacher transmitted to a beloved student, giving courage and enlightenment in time of need. Thereafter, Peter rose to the full stature of his calling. He taught with power and unshakable testimony despite threats, imprisonment, and beatings. He was truly converted.

Consider the example of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies burying “the weapons of their rebellion.”

Is there anything in your life that you need to “bury”? If there is, what will you do about it?

Read the whole article: http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2002/04/full-conversion-brings-happiness?lang=eng&query=conversion

Day 49

“No part of walking by faith is more difficult than walking the

road of repentance. However, with ‘faith unto repentance,’ we

can push roadblocks out of the way, moving forward to beg God

for mercy… One simply surrenders, caring only about what God

thinks, not what ‘they’ think… Giving away all our sins is the

only way we can come to know God.”

~ Elder Neal A. Maxwell

What are you willing to give to know Him?

Day 48

“Anger is not an expression of strength. It is an indication of

one’s inability to control his thoughts, words, his emotions…

When the weakness of anger takes over,

the strength of reason leaves.”

~ President Gordon B. Hinckley

When is it most difficult to control your anger? Why is it

important to stay in control of your thoughts, words, and

actions?

Day 47

“Fasting can help us overcome personal flaws and sins. It can help us
overcome our weaknesses—help them become strengths. Fasting can
help us become more humble, less prideful, less selfish, and more
concerned about the needs of others. It can help us see more clearly
our own mistakes and weaknesses and help us be less prone to criticize
others…Throughout the scriptures the term fasting is usually combined
with prayer… Fasting without prayer is just going hungry for 24 hours.
But fasting combined with prayer brings increased spiritual power.”
~ Elder Carl B. Pratt

What experiences have you had with fasting?

Day 46

“The right question to ask is not why good people have trials, but
how shall good people respond when they are tried?”
~ Elder Marion D. Hanks

“Suffering can make saints of people as they learn patience, long
suffering and self-mastery. The sufferings of our Savior were
part of his education.”
~ President Spencer W. Kimball

How do you respond to adversity?

Day 45

“God has saved for the final inning some of His strongest and
most valiant children…Make no mistake about it – you are a
marked generation. There has never been more expected of the
faithful in such a short period of time than there is of us…The
final outcome is certain – the forces of righteousness will finally
win. But what remains to be seen is where each of us personally,
now and in the future, will stand in this battle – and how tall we
will stand. Will we be true to…our foreordained mission?
~ President Ezra Taft Benson

To what callings do you think you’ve been foreordained?

Day 44

“What a comfort to know that all who have been disadvantaged
in life from birth defects, from mortal injuries, from disease, or
from the natural deterioration of old age will be resurrected in
‘proper and perfect frame.’”
~ Elder Dallin H. Oaks

How does it bring you hope knowing that because of Christ we
will all live again?

Day 43

"Alma and Amulek listened to the angel. They responded to the call to missionary service, and they preached repentance. They stood tall in the face of adversity and imprisonment. They are heroes whose lives are worthy of emulation”
Bishop H. David Burton

“All of us have made wrong turns along the way. I believe the kind and merciful God, whose children we are, will judge us as lightly as He can for the wrongs that we have done and give us the maximum blessing for the good that we do. Alma’s sublime utterance [in Alma 9:26] seems to me an affirmation of this” 
President James E. Faust

If you were faced with such anger, hatered, disbelief  regarding your beliefs from others who did not believe your faith, how would you react? What kind of courage would be needed to face those people? What could you say that would best help them?

Day 42

“To succor means to ‘run to.’ I testify that in my fears and in my
infirmities the Savior has surely run to me. I will never be able to
thank Him enough for such personal kindness
and such loving care.”
~ Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Why is it helpful to remember that the Savior knows what it’s like
to have your problems?

Day 41

“The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the

outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ

takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out

of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their

environment. Christ changes men, who then change their

environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ

can change human nature.”

~ President Ezra Taft Benson

What would someone see in your countenance?

Day 40

“I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy. We are The Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him?” Elder Jeffery R. Holland

How do you continue to be a good example (missionary) even amongst discouragement and opposition?

Day 39

“Safety can’t be won by tanks and guns and airplanes and atomic

bombs. There is only one place of safety and that is in the realm

of the Almighty God that he gives to those who keep his

commandments and listen to his voice.”

~ President Harold B. Lee

Why were the Nephites strengthened by the Lord? How can we

receive the Lord’s help in the challenges we face?

Day 38

A Mighty Change of Heart

Exerpt from a talk in June 1992 Ensign entitled
"Putting Off the Natural Man: How to Be “Spiritually Born of God” By David W. Hellem

While there are many changes that occur within the human soul as a result of being spiritually born of God, the major change occurs within the human heart. The people of King Benjamin, following their spiritual rebirth, “cried with one voice” proclaiming that the Spirit of the Lord had “wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.” (Mosiah 5:2.)

The Lord told Alma that those who are born of God are “changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, … and thus they become new creatures.” (Mosiah 27:25–26.) This mighty change involves a cleansing and purging, “as if with fire” (Hel. 5:45), of the evil desires of the heart. Thereafter, one so changed begins to walk, as Paul described it to the Romans, “in newness of life.” (Rom. 6:4.) There is a burning desire within the soul to be “zealous for keeping the commandments of God” (Alma 21:23) and to serve the Lord with all your body, mind, and spirit.

If we are thus born of the Spirit, “we are made alive in Christ. … We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ.” (2 Ne. 25:25–26.) We are willing to obey God’s commandments “in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days.” (Mosiah 5:5.) In short, our conduct is characterized by obedience, service, and sacrifice.

To read the whole article:
http://www.lds.org/ensign/1992/06/putting-off-the-natural-man-how-to-be-spiritually-born-of-god?lang=eng&query=mosiah+27+-+29

Have you had a mighty change of heart?

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Day 37

“You always need to confess your sins to the Lord. If they are serious

transgressions, such as immorality, they need to be confessed to a

bishop or stake president. Please understand that confession is not

repentance. It is an essential step, but is not of itself adequate. Partial

confession by mentioning lesser mistakes will not help you resolve a

more serious, undisclosed transgression. Essential to forgiveness is a

willingness to fully disclose to the Lord and, where necessary, His

priesthood judge all that you have done."

~ Elder Richard G. Scott

Why is confession an essential part of repentance?

Day 36

“We should seek to be happy and cheerful and not allow Satan to
overcome us with discouragement, despair, or depression.”
~ Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

“The Lord…loves us…, comforts and strengthens us, and
enables us to bear our afflictions with patience and fortitude.”
~ Elder George Q. Cannon

How can we submit more cheerfully to the will of the Lord?

Day 35

“We show by our behavior what we believe. Surely we are

standing as witnesses of God when we sustain his living

prophets, especially when we know what it means to sustain. We

will abide by the direction and counsel of the prophets. We

indeed become witnesses when we make this solemn covenant.”

~ Sister Janette Hales Beckham

What commitments are part of our baptismal covenant?

In what ways do you try to keep those commitments?

Day 34

“You don’t need to compromise your standards to be accepted by good

friends. The more obedient you are…the more the Lord can help you

overcome temptation. You can also help others because they will feel

your strength. Let them know about your standards by consistently

living them…No one intends to make serious mistakes. They come

when you compromise your standards to be more accepted by others.

You be the strong one. You be the leader. Choose good friends and

resist peer pressure together.”

~ Elder Richard G. Scott

Why did King Noah not resist the pressure from the evil priests?

What helps you to resist peer or society pressures?

Day 33

Likewise, we must make a simple choice with the Book of Mormon: it is either of God or the devil. There is no other option... Would you like to have emblazoned on your soul an undeniable witness that the Savior descended beneath your sins, and that there is no sin, no mortal plight outside the merciful reach of His Atonement—that for each of your struggles He has a remedy of superior healing power?... Then READ THE BOOK OF MORMON."
Elder Tad R. Callister

To Read the whole Conference Address:http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/the-book-of-mormon-a-book-from-god?lang=eng&query=*+(name%3a"Tad+R.+Callister")

Take time to ponder how the Lord Jesus Christ has made an intercession for you.  Do you see the world differently because of the unconditional love given from the Lord?  Do you have more love for your self, family, friends, neighbors and community?

 

Day 32

“When I was a little boy… I came home from school one day, threw
my books on the table, and took the name of the Lord in vain in
expressing my relief that school was out for the day. My mother heard
me. She was shocked. She took me by the hand and led me to the
bathroom…then proceeded to wash my mouth out with that terrible
soap…and then said, ‘Don’t let me ever hear such words from your
lips again.’ The taste was terrible. The reprimand was worse. I have
never forgotten it, and I hope that I have never used the Lord’s name in
vain since that time.”
~ President Gordon B. Hinckley
How can we keep the Lord’s name sacred?