Life is not an endless sequence of emotional highs...In this life, at least, joy and sorrow are inseparable companions. Like all of you, I have felt my share of disappointment, sorrow, sadness, and remorse. However, I have also experienced for myself the glorious dawn that fills the soul with joy so profound that it can scarcely be kept in. I have discovered for myself that this peaceful confidence comes from following the Savior and walking in His Way…Joy is the very purpose of God’s plan for His children.
- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, A Higher Joy
Videos:
True Joy is Possible Through Jesus Christ
There is something about prosperity that brings out the worst in some people. In the book of Helaman, we learn of one group of Nephites who experienced great loss and slaughter....The natural consequence that comes to those who depart from the way of the Lord is that they are left to their own strength. While in the heat of our success we might assume that our own strength is sufficient, those who rely upon the arm of the flesh soon discover how weak and unreliable it truly is.
- Joseph B. Wirthlin, Journey to Higher Ground
Videos:
The Prideful Ant | A Story about Pride and Humility
Why did the “Pride Cycle” Destroy the Nephite Nation? (Knowhy #195)
Like the carefully chosen names of Nephi and Lehi, can it be said and written of us that we are true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ? Do we honor the name of Jesus Christ that we have willingly taken upon ourselves? Are we both “a minister and a witness” of His loving-kindness and His redeeming power?
…As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, may we “gladly [take upon us] the name of Christ” by honoring His name with love, devotion, and good works.
- Lisa L. Harkness, Honoring His Name
Videos:
Preparation of George Albert Smith: What Have You Done with My Name?
[T]he foundation of our lives must be connected to the rock of Christ if we are to remain firm and steadfast. The sacred covenants and ordinances of the Savior’s restored gospel can be compared to the anchor pins and steel rods used to connect a building to bedrock. Every time we faithfully receive, review, remember, and renew sacred covenants, our spiritual anchors are secured ever more firmly and steadfastly to the “rock” of Jesus Christ.
- David A. Bednar, “Be Still, and Know That I Am God”
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[L]isten to the Holy Spirit. He can be our constant companion, but He speaks in subtle, quiet tones. The prophet Elijah found that the voice of the Lord was not in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire but was “a still small voice.” It is “not a voice of thunder” but rather “a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper,” and yet it can “pierce even to the very soul.”
- Gary E. Stevenson, Promptings of the Spirit
Videos:
Elijah and the Still Small Voice | Animated
One is moved to declare again with Alma, “And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I [do] behold; yea, my soul [is] filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!” […W]hatever the cost of repentance, it is swallowed up in the joy of forgiveness…I have seen some who have spent a long winter of guilt and spiritual starvation emerge into the morning of forgiveness. When morning came, they learned this: “‘Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more’.”
- D. Todd Christofferson, The Divine Gift of Repentance
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A prophet is not one who displays a smorgasbord of truth from which we are free to pick and choose. However, some members become critical and suggest the prophet should change the menu. A prophet doesn’t take a poll to see which way the wind of public opinion is blowing. He reveals the will of the Lord to us...[Prophets] have no desire or goal other than to assist the Lord in his purpose “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”
- Glenn L. Pace, Follow the Prophet
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[G]reat prophets of the Book of Mormon—in their own way and time—testified of the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ...In a seemingly endless sequence of prophetic proclamations—testimonies of “all the holy prophets” for “a great many thousand years before his coming”—the Book of Mormon makes the solemn declaration that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer.
- President Russell M. Nelson, A Testimony of the Book of Mormon
More Video:
Prophets Testify Of Christ - A Christmas Message
Laman and Lemuel did not have...faith—especially in a Christ yet to come! In contrast, Nephi, “had a great knowledge of the goodness … of God”…Ironically, many like Laman and Lemuel who are the first to demand signs are then the first to discount them. Some demand more miracles even while consuming a daily menu of manna and forgetting its remarkable Source.
- Neal A. Maxwell, Lessons from Laman and Lemuel
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Inspiring Short: The Miracle of the Ordinary | Lawrence E. Corbridge
Our humility and our faith that invite spiritual gifts are increased by our reading, studying, and pondering the scriptures. We have all heard those words. Yet we may read a few lines or pages of scripture every day and hope that will be enough. But reading, studying, and pondering are not the same. We read words and we may get ideas. We study and we may discover patterns and connections in scripture. But when we ponder, we invite revelation by the Spirit.
- President Henry B. Eyring, Serve with the Spirit
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Daily Scripture Study: How can I better understand and feast on the scriptures? (Eyring & Holland)
What is the source of such moral and spiritual power, and how do we obtain it? The source is God. Our access to that power is through our covenants with Him...God binds Himself to sustain, sanctify, and exalt us in return for our commitment to serve Him and keep His commandments…Our covenant commitment to Him permits our Heavenly Father to let His divine influence, “the power of godliness”, flow into our lives…He will strengthen and finish your faith. He will, by His Holy Spirit, fill you with godly power.
- D. Todd Christofferson, The Power of Covenants
Videos:
God Has More to Share with You
My brothers and sisters, may we have a commitment to our Heavenly Father that does not ebb and flow with the years or the crises of our lives. We should not need to experience difficulties for us to remember Him, and we should not be driven to humility before giving Him our faith and trust. May we ever strive to be close to our Heavenly Father... May His promise ever be our watchword: “I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
- President Thomas S. Monson, “I Will Not Fail Thee, nor Forsake Thee”
More Videos:
Inspiring Short: Always Remember Being Saved | Thomas B. Griffith
It is the Spirit which will bear record to your heart as you read the scriptures, as you hear the Lord’s authorized servants, and as God speaks directly to your heart. You can listen and hear if you believe that the scriptures are accurate…You might prefer that God simply tell you how well you are doing. But he loves you, wants you to be with him, and knows you must have a mighty change in your heart… As you have listened to God’s servants…you have felt pricked in your heart to do something…
- President Henry B. Eyring, To Draw Closer to God
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Repentance is not an event; it is a process. It is the key to happiness and peace of mind. When coupled with faith, repentance opens our access to the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ...Experience the strengthening power of daily repentance—of doing and being a little better each day. When we choose to repent, we choose to change! We allow the Savior to transform us into the best version of ourselves. We choose to grow spiritually and receive joy—the joy of redemption in Him.
- President Russell M. Nelson, We Can Do Better and Be Better
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Wouldn’t it be nice if there were…an expert who could take a look at [our lives] and say: “Basically, you’re doing great. But if you would just do this one little thing, it would make a big difference”? Who could be trusted more than this combination: the Lord, his mouthpiece, and the Holy Ghost?…Read and reread the messages [of conference]. Is the Lord using his prophets to answer your prayers? Is the Lord using his prophets to send you a message that you are loved and are on the right road…? Is the Lord using his prophets to give you some instructions to practice or warnings to act on?
- Virgina H. Pearce, Listening with New Ears
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Watchful unto prayer continually (cheetah and topis animation)
From the beginning of time, prophets have known that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, of His mortal mission, and of His Atonement for all mankind. Sacred records give the prophecies of thousands of years…If we had lived in the days of these prophets of old, would we have believed on their words? Would we have had faith in the coming of our Savior?
- Robert D. Hales, Finding Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
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[T]he words of prophets matter. Prophets testify of the divinity of Jesus Christ. They teach His gospel and show His love for all. I bear my witness that our living prophet...hears and speaks the word of the Lord…I promise that if we “feast upon the words of Christ” that lead to salvation [and] our prophet’s words that guide and encourage us…the powers of heaven will pour down upon us.
- Ronald A. Rasband, Words Matter
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What a great blessing it is to have prophets in our day! ...The Lord promised us that if we believe in the holy prophets, we should have eternal life...To believe means to have faith and confidence in them and to follow and do what the prophets ask us to do...Pay attention and follow their instruction and suggestions, and I testify to you that your life will be completely blessed.
- Claudio R. M. Costa, Obedience to the Prophets
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Why does God give us commandments?
[T]he Lord’s timing is different than ours. Sometimes we seek for a blessing and set a time limit for the Lord to fulfill it. We cannot condition our faithfulness to Him by imposing upon Him a deadline for the answers to our desires...We need to trust the Lord enough to be still and know that He is God, that He knows all things, and that He is aware of each of us.
- Ulisses Soares, Take Up Our Cross
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Inspiring Short: Trusting in God, Day by Day | D. Todd Christofferson
Jesus is the High Priest of Good Things to Come... Today, as our world is frequently polarized and divided, there is a great need for us to preach and practice positivity, optimism, and hope. Despite any challenges in our past, faith always points toward the future, filled with hope, allowing us to fulfill Jesus’s invitation to be of good cheer. Joyfully living the gospel helps us to become disciples of good things to come.
- Jonathan S. Schmitt, That They Might Know Thee
Videos:
Inspiring Short: Facing Tribulation: "Be of Good Cheer" | Camille Fronk
A Message of Hope in Jesus Christ | #BecauseOfHim
Faith and fear cannot coexist. One gives way to the other. The simple fact is we all need to constantly build faith and overcome sources of destructive disbelief...our net usable faith is what we have left to exercise after we subtract our sources of doubt and disbelief...Consider carefully the Savior’s promise: “If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me”.
- Kevin W. Pearson, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
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Inspiring Short: Fear Not: Good Tidings of Great Joy | Lloyd D. Newell
Ropes are made from strands of fabric, plants, wire, or other materials that are each individually twisted or braided together. Interestingly, substances that may be quite unexceptional can be woven together and become exceptionally strong…[The prophet has] instructed members of the Church to build up the strength of Zion throughout the world. He counseled the Saints to...establish strong stakes by gathering the family of God and teaching them the ways of the Lord.
- David A. Bednar, Gather Together in One All Things in Christ
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Jesus called [the rich young ruler] to become a part of His work—the work of a disciple. Our work is the same...Regardless of what Satan would try to persuade us to think about who we are, our true identity is that of a disciple of Jesus Christ!…Think what a blessing it is to be called to give our gift of daily discipleship to the Lord, declaring in word and deed, “Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ!”
- Linda K. Burton, Wanted: Hands and Hearts to Hasten the Work
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Here I Am, I Will Follow Jesus Christ | Music Video
True conversion is more than merely having a knowledge of gospel principles and implies even more than just having a testimony of those principles. It is possible to have a testimony of the gospel without living it. Being truly converted means we are acting upon what we believe and allowing it to create “a mighty change in us, or in our hearts.”...It takes time, effort, and work.
- Bonnie L. Oscarson, Be Ye Converted
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No one is more on our side than the Savior.…[His] grace is ever ready and ever present…But just how many times will He forgive us?...On one occasion Peter asked the Savior, “Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?”… “Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”…The Lord used the math of seventy times seven as a metaphor of His infinite Atonement, His boundless love, and His limitless grace.
- Lynn G. Robbins, Until Seventy Times Seven
Videos:
Temptation Fades as We Seek Christ in Every Thought
[O]ne of the fundamental needs we have in order to grow is to stay connected to our source of light—Jesus Christ. . He is the source of our power, the Light and Life of the World...Jesus said, “I am the light [that] shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.” That means no matter how hard it tries, the darkness cannot put out that light. Ever. You can trust that His light will be there for you.
- Sharon Eubank, Christ: The Light That Shines in Darkness
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Ultimately, the Lord wants our hearts; He wants us to become new creatures in Christ. As He instructed the Nephites, “Ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit.” Sacrifice is less about “giving up” and more about “giving to” the Lord...As we observe our covenants by sacrifice, we are made holy through the grace of Jesus Christ; and at the altars of the holy temple, with broken hearts and contrite spirits, we give our holiness to the Lord.
- L. Todd Budge, Giving Holiness to the Lord
Videos:
Why Did Jesus Tell All People to Sacrifice a Broken Heart and a Contrite Spirit? (Knowhy #198)
We will find our Father’s voice in many places. We will find it when we pray, study the scriptures, attend church, engage in faithful discussions, or go to the temple…Seeking His voice in any one of these places is good, but seeking it in many of them is even better. And when we hear it, we need to follow the direction that is given...The more diligently we seek His voice, the easier it becomes to hear. It is not that His voice gets louder but that our ability to hear it has increased.
- David P. Homer, Hearing His Voice
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#HearHim: President Nelson Invites Us to Hear the Voice of the Lord
When Christ physically visited the Nephites at their temple, His invitation was not to stand at a distance and look upon Him, but to touch Him, to feel for themselves the reality of the Savior of humankind. How can we draw close enough to gain a personal witness of Jesus Christ?... Look for Christ everywhere―I promise He is there! True joy rests on our willingness to come closer to Christ and witness for ourselves.
- Bonnie H. Cordon, Never Give Up an Opportunity to Testify of Christ
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Luke 24 | The Risen Lord Jesus Christ Appears to the Apostles | The Bible
During the Lord’s…ministry in the New World, He...succinctly summarized the fundamental principles of His gospel…The Savior also taught the people to come unto Him through sacred covenants...He emphasized the eternal importance of the ordinances of baptism and of receiving the Holy Ghost. In a similar manner, you and I are admonished to turn toward and learn from Christ and to come unto Him through the covenants and ordinances of His restored gospel.
- David A. Bednar, Clean Hands and a Pure Heart
Videos:
Jesus Christ Invites All to Believe and Be Baptized | 3 Nephi 12:1–2