Mormon Musings

No man can sincerely resolve to apply to his daily life the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth without sensing a change in his own nature.  The phrase "born again" has a deeper significance than many people attach to it.  This  changed feeling  may be indescribable,  but it is real. President David O. McKay - Conference Report,  Apr. 1962, 7

“The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.” Joseph Smith -History of the Church, 3:30; TPJS, 121

“We are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness. … We are the Lord’s hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us.” President Thomas S. Monson “What Have I Done for Someone Today?”  Ensign,  Nov. 2009, 86

"The Lord is in all of our lives. He loves us. He wants to bless us. He wants us to seek His help. As He guides us and directs us and as He hears and answers our prayers, we will find the happiness here and now that He desires for us." President  Thomas S. Monson, " Consider the Blessings ",   Liahona and Ensign , November 2012

Regardless of whether this inner light, this knowledge of right and wrong, is called the Light of Christ, moral sense, or conscience, it can direct us to moderate our actions–unless, that is, we subdue it or silence it…. “Every man, woman, and child of every nation, creed, or color–everyone, no matter where they live or what they believe or what they do–has within them the imperishable Light of Christ. See also Moroni 7:16-17 President Boyd K. Packer - Ensign,  April 2005, 8, 10

The words written in the scriptures and spoken in general conference are for us to “liken them unto [ourselves],” not for reading or hearing only.   Too often we attend meetings and nod our heads; we might even smile knowingly and agree. We jot down some action points, and we may say to ourselves, “That is something I will do.” But somewhere between the hearing, the writing of a reminder on our smartphone, and the actual doing, our “do it” switch gets rotated to the “later” position. Brethren, let’s make sure to set our “do it” switch always to the “now” position! As you read the scriptures and listen to the words of the prophets with all your heart and mind, the Lord will tell you how to live up to your priesthood privileges. Don’t let a day go by without doing something to act on the promptings of the Spirit. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, April 2011 General Conference  http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/your-potential-your-privilege?lang=eng

"The ancient prophets speak of 'entering into God's rest'; what does it mean? To my mind, it means entering into the knowledge and love of God, having faith in his purpose and in his plan, to such an extent that we know we are right, and that we are not hunting for something else… The man who has reached that degree of faith in God that all doubt and fear have been cast from him, he has entered into 'God's rest,' … rest from doubt, from fear, from apprehension of danger, rest from the religious turmoil of the world." (President Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine , 58).