“The Holy Ghost will tell you what to do when your own abilities and efforts are not enough (see John 14:26).”

There will always come a point in our lives when even with our best effort, even giving all our strength, it will not be enough.  Personally, I could not say I have had a moment like that, however, I feel I have overcome things that I could not have done without the Lord’s help.

Part of me wants to believe that we are far more capable than we give ourselves credit for.  I think we could do much, much more for good.  I think we spiritually sandbag it at times.  And I suppose we will be held accountable for the good we could have done if we had only pushed ourselves more, sacrificed more, given more effort.

“We knew that we would be tested here. Our determination was to live obediently to be able to return to be with our Father forever. Part of that testing here is to have so many seemingly interesting things to do that we can forget the main purposes for being here.”

“You can progress much more rapidly here on earth with your mortal body in this environment of good and evil than you will as a spirit in the spirit world.”

I love these two quotes from this talk.  The first really puts in sharp focus the problem of having too much fun, too many activities, too much good literature, TV, movies and so on.  The second hits upon a subject that I have spent alot of time thinking about.  I am fascinated with the reasons why this earth had to be, and the reasons why having a body and being here are so crucial to our progression.  What is it about living as we do that gives us the lessons we need to be more like God?

“Development of the spirit is of eternal consequence. The attributes by which we shall be judged one day are those of the spirit. These include the virtues of integrity, compassion, love, and more.  Your spirit, by being housed in your body, is able to develop and express these attributes in ways that are vital to your eternal progression.”

It is always interesting to me to consider the relationship between the spirit and the body.  After all, a tenant of our doctrine is that we came to earth to gain a body.  Which means that obtaining a body is crucial to or progression.  There are lessons we learn through the wise use of a body that we could never, ever learn in a million years as a spirit.  There is truly something special about our bodies.

But it is our spirit which should be in control.  I think of it this way, imagine you are strapped into a massive jet engine.  Imagine the amazing amounts of power you have at your control.  And unless you maintain control, you will most certainly die.  So it is with our bodies, we must learn to keep them under control.

Considering the opposite situation is also interesting.  Think of all those unhappy souls who are victims to an addition.  In their case, their body rules, and their spirit is still learning a lesson, but of the wrong kind.  And when they die, those lessons are ingrained into their spirit, they cannot forget, their spirit is in thrall to a body they no longer have, truly a torture.

“They [converts] come to our wards and branches feeling as though they are strangers. “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God”. We read in the scriptures about seeds and about the sower of seeds. We are taught that a seed can grow, become a tree, and bear fruit. But we have to have good soil to accept the good seed, and that is one of our roles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—that we provide the soil which nurtures the seed so it can grow and bear fruit and that the fruit remains.”

Interesting.  Usually when we talk about the parable of the sower we think of the ground as ourselves, as though we are the ground and need to make sure our hearts and souls are ready for the seed.  But here, Elder Hales, turns that on it’s heel.  And it feels very right, it does make sense that we have to provide the soil, good soil, for them to flourish.  In this way, we are working to help a glorious plant grow.

And I think this really gives a great perspective, because then everyone has a duty.  The plant’s duty is to grow, to push through, to do what it is meant to do, become like our Heavenly Father.  Our duty to others is to water, weed and cultivate.  We can’t provide the sun, that is Christ, he is the Son.  And pruning should be done rarely and with wisdom.

“I recalled the day some years earlier when I picked up the telephone to hear the familiar voice of President Spencer W. Kimball, who carefully extended a call to me to serve as a mission president.

“After the telephone call, I was troubled with great feelings of inadequacy. My wife and I were yet in our 30s, with a young family of six children. I remembered the deep love and respect that I felt and still feel for my mission president. Could President Kimball have made a mistake? Did they really understand who I was?”

“A few days later, we were granted an appointment with Elder Rex D. Pinegar. We explained to him our feelings. I will always remember Elder Pinegar’s answer: “Brother Brough, have you a testimony as to the divine calling of our prophets and other Church leaders?”

“Yes, I do,” I answered. “From my earliest childhood, I have believed in the sacred callings of our Church leaders. From the deepest part of my soul, I believe President Spencer W. Kimball to be a prophet.”

“Elder Pinegar then said, “Now you must gain a testimony as to the divine nature of your own calling. You must come to know that you also have been called of God.”

What an interesting take on this.  Instead of wasting time figuring out if the person who called you to a calling was doing it for any other reason than it being from God, we should spend our time coming to know that the calling came from God.  The only way to do that would be to spend much time in fasting and prayer.

“The study of behaviour is greatly improved when linked to standards and to values. Practical values, useful in everyday life, are found in the scriptures and the doctrines they reveal.”

“You need not know everything before the power of the Atonement will work for you. Have faith in Christ; it begins to work the day you ask!”

“…the day you ask…”  what a wonderful doctrine.  For me this is the same doctrine that is taught by the Savior in the parable of the prodigal son.  For me it would seem ridiculous to think that we somehow get beyond the Lord ability to reach out to us, beyond His ability to be there and love us the moment we decide to turn ourselves to him, regardless of our circumstances.

After all, temptation hounds us all, no matter who we are, no matter where or when.  So to must the Lord’s influence reach out to everyone, at all times, and in all circumstances.  He waits for us to turn to Him.

In addition, I have read the quote about behaviour several times, here Elder Packer adds to the line, I thought that was interesting.

“A fundamental purpose of earth life is personal growth and attainment. Consequently, there must be times of trial and quandary to provide opportunity for that development.”

Two things come to mind.  First, it is our responsibility to grow while here on earth.  I think this is also borne out by Jesus’ parable of the talents.  If we spend our lives in lazy and indolent practices we will be out of luck when the judgement comes around.

Second, that with a little tweak to our perspective every trial we face becomes easier to face.  I have heard it said in many different ways, “Problems are just opportunities in their work clothes!” and so on.  And I am not sure if Elder Scott is saying just that.  I think he is saying that trials are necessary for development.  Not that he is saying we should seek to twist a problem into something it is not, but with a correct idea as to why we are going through something, we should be in a better position to work through it.

“You learned a simple law of nature, which is also a spiritual law: Light and darkness cannot occupy the same space at the same time.”

“Some who choose not to live the commandments make every effort to defame the character of the prophets and demean their personal integrity and reputation. In response, the prophets remain silent and merely turn the other cheek. The world may see this as weakness, but it is one of the greatest strengths a man can have—to be faithful, unyielding, and unwavering to that which he knows to be true, accepting whatever consequences may follow.”

I am currently in process of writing letters to my son, letters where I tell him what I think it takes to make a man.  And in the second quote here, Elder Hales does an amazing job in setting down what he feels is the greatest strength a man can have.  I have included this in my own letter, it is Character Trait #1 in my letters

“A teacher’s goal is greater than just delivering a lecture about truth. It is to invite the Spirit and use techniques which will enhance the possibility that the learner will discover the truth for herself and then be motivated to apply it.”

Another great statement about the REAL role of teachers.  And how often it is when we are in a class and it is boring, dull, and we walk away feeling like we got nothing out of it?  In reality BOTH sides of the communication in the classroom need to function correctly.  Yes, it is up to us to strive to get something out of the lesson, but the teacher also has the responsibility to not let us off the hook (so to speak).

I have always believed that in social settings, we will conform quite quickly to the unspoken expectations of whoever is in charge.  And if a teacher does not feel comfortable, and so they rigorously prepare, and then start to give a lecture, just to get things started–even if that was not their intention–everyone in the classroom will immediately fall into old school habits of sitting back and listening.  But, if you can make the class realize that you are not here to give them info, then they will conform.

And this is more than just the quick statement of “Now I want a discussion.” and then jump into telling. The teacher has to demonstrate their intent.  The best way I know how to do this is to ask a question and then Shut Up.

“It was President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., who in 1936 declared: “The real long term objective of the Welfare Plan is the building of character in the members of the Church, givers and receivers, rescuing all that is finest down deep inside of them, and bringing to flower and fruitage the latent richness of the spirit, which after all is the mission and purpose and reason for being of this Church.”

Nothing really to say to add to this.  I am always happy when the Prophet can make bold, clear, and lucid statements about what our real mission is.