Mormon Musings

This is the true joy in life--being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one. Being a force of nature, instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.    I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.   I want to be thoroughly used up when I die. For the harder I work the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me. It’s a sort of splendid torch which I’ve got to hold up for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations. -George Bernard Shaw

I am perfectly satisfied that my Father and my God is a cheerful, pleasant, lively and good-natured Being.  Why?  Because I am cheerful, pleasant, lively and good-natured when I have His spirit.  That is one reason why I know: and another is that the Lord said, through Joseph Smith, "I delight in a glad heart and cheerful countenance."  That arises from the perfection of His attributes; He is a jovial, lively person..." Heber C. Kimball, February 8, 1857, Journal of Discourses 4:222

http://lds.org/general-conference/2001/10/the-seventh-commandment-a-shield?lang=eng

If men decide firmly what they will not do; then they will be free vigorously to do what they ought to do. -Mencius Whenever you see a job to do, ask yourself these two questions: If not by me--by whom?  If not now--when?                                                                         -Arthur Lagueux If we are ever in doubt what to do, it is a good rule to ask ourselves what we shall wish on the morrow that we had done. -Sir John Lubbock

Retreat is what one does when he has to--just before he begins again. -Richard L. Evans

Men give me some credit for genius. All the genius I have lies in this: When I have a subject in hand, I study it profoundly. Day and night it is before me. I explore it in all its bearings. My mind becomes pervaded with it. Then the effort which I make the people are pleased to call the fruit of genius. It is the fruit of labor and thought. -Alexander Hamilton

Trials and tribulations tend to squeeze the artificiality out of us, leaving the essence of what we really are and clarifying what we really yearn for. Therefore, the record will be clear. -Elder Neal A. Maxwell

Adversity has ever been considered the state in which a man most easily becomes acquainted with himself. -Samuel Johnson