Mormon Musings

God's extraordinary work is most often done by ordinary people in the seeming obscurity of a home and family. Elder Neal A. Maxwell 

http://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/the-prodigal-son?lang=eng

The laughter of the world is merely loneliness pathetically trying to reassure itself. Elder Neal A. Maxwell

...as we look at the universe, we do not see unexplained chaos or cosmic churn. Instead, the faithful see God “moving in His majesty and power” (D&C 88:47). It is like viewing a divinely choreographed, cosmic ballet—spectacular, subduing, and reassuring! Even so, in the midst of our feeling overcome by the wonder and awe, the “cares of the world” can overcome us (see D&C 39:9). Humdrum routineness and repetition can cause us to look indifferently downward instead of reverently upward and outward. We can become estranged from the Creator, who then seems like a far, distant star: “For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?” (Mosiah 5:13). We know the Creator of the universe is also the Author of the plan of happiness. We can trust Him. He knows perfectly what brings happiness to His children (see Mosiah 2:41; Alma 41:10). ...as some experience daily life situations in which

  30  And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto  himself ; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are  free ; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a  knowledge  and he hath made you free.   31  He hath given unto you that ye might  know  good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might  choose  life or death; and ye can do good and be  restored  unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you. Helaman 14:30

“...be kind regarding human frailty—your own as well as that of those who serve with you in a Church led by volunteer, mortal men and women. Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it. So should we. And when you see imperfection, remember that the limitation is  not  in the divinity of the work. As one gifted writer has suggested, when the infinite  fullness  is poured forth, it is not the oil’s fault if there is some loss because finite vessels can’t quite contain it all. Those finite vessels include you and me, so be patient and kind and forgiving. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland -”Lord, I Believe,”  Ensign , May 2013, 94

It is natural to have questions—the acorn of honest inquiry has often sprouted and matured into a great oak of understanding. There are few members of the Church who, at one time or another, have not wrestled with serious or sensitive questions. One of the purposes of the Church is to nurture and cultivate the seed of faith—even in the sometimes sandy soil of doubt and uncertainty. Faith is to hope for things which are not seen but which are true [see Hebrews 11:1 ;  Alma 32:21 ]. President Dieter http://www.lds.org/prophets-and-apostles/unto-all-the-world/come-join-with-us?lang=eng F. Uchtdorf, October 2013 General Conference