Daily Thought -- May 3, 2011

"Is it possible to reclaim a life that through reckless abandon has become so strewn with garbage that it appears that the person is unforgivable? Or what about the one who is making an honest effort but has fallen back into sin so many times that he feels that there is no possible way to break the seemingly endless pattern? Or what about the person who has changed his life but just can't forgive himself? . . .

"The Atonement of Jesus Christ is available to each of us. His Atonement is infinite. It applies to everyone, even you. It can clean, reclaim, and sanctify even you. That is what infinite means--total, complete, all, forever."

-Shayne M. Bowen "The Atonement Can Clean, Reclaim, and Sanctify Our Lives," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 33-34

Daily Thought -- May 2, 2011

"As a young boy I discovered amazing power in a small flashlight. . . . To observe the physical properties of light can be exciting, but discovering the properties of spiritual light and truth is even more awe inspiring and essential.

"We live in marvelous times, yet also an hour when peace has been taken from the earth (see D&C 1:35). For us to prosper in these times, spiritual light must burn within us. How do we obtain this spiritual light and ensure that the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ fill our souls? I would like to suggest three ways: (1) learn true doctrine, (2) gain pure testimony, and (3) live the gospel courageously."

-Robert R. Steuer "The Power of Light and Truth," Ensign, May 2008, 99

Daily Thought -- May 1, 2011

"Our Father in Heaven wants each of us to enjoy peace and happiness in mortal life. Our Master, Jesus Christ, and His prophets have taught how to have that peace and happiness, even in a world that is ever more challenging, with increasing conflict and an intense concentration of alluring temptations."

-Richard G Scott "The Atonement Can Secure Your Peace and Happiness," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 40

Daily Thought -- April 21, 2011

“Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said, ‘I will not leave you comfortless. [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].’ ”

-Jeffrey R Holland “None Were with Him,” Ensign, May 2009, 88

Daily Thought -- April 19, 2011

“My purpose today is to assure you that our Heavenly Father and the Savior live and that They love all humanity. The very opportunity for us to face adversity and affliction is part of the evidence of Their infinite love. God gave us the gift of living in mortality so that we could be prepared to receive the greatest of all the gifts of God, which is eternal life. Then our spirits will be changed. We will become able to want what God wants, to think as He thinks, and thus be prepared for the trust of an endless posterity to teach and to lead through tests to be raised up to qualify to live forever in eternal life.

-Henry B Eyring “Adversity,” Ensign, May 2009, 23–24

Daily Thought -- April 18, 2001

"Parents teach and families learn by doing things together. . . .

"It is a striking fact that the family home evening is the ideal time to accomplish almost every type of family togetherness. It is the ideal place for the family to pray together, learn together, counsel together, play together, and even work together. Most of us recognize this, but I wonder how many of us are really using the family home evening to its full potential."

-Dallin H Oaks, "Parental Leadership in the Family," Ensign, June 1985, 10-1

Daily Thought -- April 17, 2011

“Simply stated, testimony--real testimony, born of the Spirit and confirmed by the Holy Ghost--changes lives. It changes how you think and what you do. It changes what you say. It affects every priority you set and every choice you make. To have a real and abiding testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ is to be ‘spiritually . . . born of God,’ to ‘[receive] his image in your countenances,’ and to experience a ‘mighty change in your hearts’ (Alma 5:14).”

-M. Russell Ballard “Pure Testimony,” Ensign, Nov. 2004, 40

Daily Thought -- April 16, 2011

"In this age of one hour dry cleaning and one minute fast food franchises, it may at times seem to us as though a loving Heavenly Father has misplaced our precious promises or He has put them on hold or filed them under the wrong name. . . .

"When heaven's promises sometimes seem afar off, I pray that each of us will embrace these exceeding great and precious promises and never let go. . . . God will remember you."

-Spencer J. Condie "Claim the Exceeding Great and Precious Promises," Ensign, Nov. 2007, 18

Daily Thought -- April 6, 2011

"As we consider various choices, we should remember that it is not enough that something is good. Other choices are better, and still others are best. Even though a particular choice is more costly, its far greater value may make it the best choice of all.

"Consider how we use our time in the choices we make in viewing television, playing video games, surfing the Internet, or reading books or magazines. Of course it is good to view wholesome entertainment or to obtain interesting information. But not everything of that sort is worth the portion of our life we give to obtain it. Some things are better, and others are best. When the Lord told us to seek learning, He said, 'Seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom' (D&C 88:118)."

-Elder Dallin H Oaks, "Good, Better, Best," Ensign, Nov. 2007, 104-105

Daily Thought -- March 5, 2011

"After President Wilford Woodruff joined the Church he desired to serve a mission.

" 'I was but a Teacher,' he wrote, 'and it is not a Teacher's office to go abroad and preach. I dared not tell any of the authorities of the Church that I wanted to preach, lest they might think I was seeking for an office.' (Leaves from My Journal, Salt Lake City: Juvenile Instructor Office, 1882, p. 8.)

"He prayed to the Lord, and without disclosing his desire to any others, he was ordained . . . and sent on a mission. They went to the Arkansas Territory.

"He and his companion struggled through a hundred miles of alligator-infested swamps, wet, muddy, and tired. Brother Woodruff developed a sharp pain in his knee and could go no further. His companion left him sitting on a log and went home. Brother Woodruff knelt down in the mud and prayed for help. He was healed and continued his mission."
Boyd K Packer, "The Aaronic Priesthood," Ensign, Nov. 1981, 30

Daily Thought -- March 4, 2011

“The best way to make a permanent change for good is to make Jesus Christ your model and His teachings your guide for life.”

Richard G Scott “He Lives! All Glory to His Name!” Ensign, May 2010, 78

Daily Thought -- March 3, 2011

"It is not enough to know that God lives, that Jesus Christ is our Savior, and that the gospel is true. We must take the high road by acting upon that knowledge."

-Dallin H Oaks, "Be Not Deceived," Ensign, Nov. 2004, 46

Daily Thought -- March 2, 2011

"When we invite the Holy Ghost to fill our minds with light and knowledge, He 'quickens' us, that is to say, enlightens and enlivens the inner man or woman. As a result we notice a measurable difference in our soul. We feel strengthened, filled with peace and joy. We possess spiritual energy and enthusiasm, both of which enhance our natural abilities. We can accomplish more than we otherwise could do on our own. We yearn to become a holier person."

- Keith K. Hilbig "Quench Not the Spirit Which Quickens the Inner Man," Ensign, Nov. 2007, 38

Daily Thought -- March 1, 2011

"The Church began its first decade with only a few members. Despite intense opposition, 597 missionaries were called during the 1830s, and over 15,000 converts were baptized into the Church. The United States, Canada, and Great Britain were opened to the preaching of the gospel.

"There were many converts during the 1840s while persecutions continued to rage against the Church and especially against the Prophet Joseph. In the midst of these difficulties and despite the great challenges of travel, the restored gospel of Jesus Christ continued to cover more of the earth through the faithful service of 1,454 missionaries called during the 1840s, and Church membership grew to more than 48,000. On June 27, 1844, the persecution of Joseph Smith culminated when he and his brother Hyrum were killed by a mob in the Carthage Jail.

"Soon after the Martyrdom and in fulfillment of Joseph's vision, Brigham Young and the Church began preparations to move to the Rocky Mountains. Hardship, affliction, death, and apostasy were ever present. Still, the work moved forward. In the 1850s some 705 missionaries were called to serve in areas including Scandinavia, France, Italy, Switzerland, and Hawaii. Missionary work also began in such diverse parts of the world as India, Hong Kong, Thailand, Burma, South Africa, and the West Indies."

-M Russell Ballard, "The Truth of God Shall Go Forth," Ensign, Nov. 2008, 81

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