Mormon Musings

"Brothers and sisters, you have and will have worries and challenges of many kinds, but embrace life joyfully and full of faith. Study the scriptures regularly. Pray fervently. Obey the voice of the Spirit and the prophets. Do all that you can to help others. You will find great happiness in such a course. Some glorious day all your worries will be tuned to joys. "As Joseph Smith wrote to the struggling Saints from his cel l in Liberty Jail: "'Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed. [D&C 123:17] "'Fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail. . . . "'Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not' [D&C 6:34–37]." President Howard W. Hunter, BYU Devotional, March 14, 1989

"For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it." Romans 8:24-25

"I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness." John 12:46

"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

"I am the light of the world.  he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 8:12

Why pay tithing? The principle of tithing, or voluntarily giving one-tenth of our income to God’s work, has been known since Old Testament times. Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek (see Genesis 14:18–20). “Tithing is not so much a matter of dollars as it is a matter of faith,” said President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008). “It becomes a privilege and an opportunity, and not a burden.” 1  As we follow the word of God and pay our tithes and offerings, the Lord will open the windows of heaven and pour down blessings that there will not be room enough to receive them (see Malachi 3:8–10). - Ensign,  Jan. 2013, 60 1.  “Messages of Inspiration from President Hinckley,”  Church News,  Dec. 6, 1997, 2;