Mormon Musings

You know the history of "Mormonism;" and if this is not the Lord's work, we had better quit it, for we should derive no benefit from remaining in it. If this is the Church of Christ, God will take care of his people and carry on this work. Brother Cannon stated that one gentleman he conversed with said that there is a power in this work beyond the power of Brigham Young. If we did not know this, we should quickly scatter. All that any man can do is to do his duty. No one possesses power in himself to bear off the work of God and build up the Lord's kingdom. It is His work, and the Lord will accomplish it by the means He will employ. Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 8:145

...At Christmastime...we celebrate a special star that announced Jesus' birth at Bethlehem. Thus, the so-called "little star of Bethlehem" was actually very large in its declaration of divine design! It had to have been placed in its precise orbit long, long before it shone so precisely! Persuasive divine design is underscored in what the Lord has said: "All things must come to pass in their time" (D&C 64:32). His overseeing precision pertains not only to astrophysical orbits but to human orbits as well. This is such a stunning thing for us to contemplate as to our obligations to "shine as lights" within our own orbits and personal responsibilities! (See Philippians 2:15.) In Jesus there is a unique blend of both meekness and majesty. Though the Lord of the Universe, Christ was meekly willing to live in this world, which he created under the Father's direction. In Paul's words, he agreed to reside on earth as a person of no reputation (see ...

"From the Atonement of the Savior flows the soothing salve that can heal our spiritual wounds and remove guilt. However, this salve can only be applied through the principles of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, and consistent obedience. The results of sincere repentance are peace of conscience, comfort, and spiritual healing and renewal." —David A. Bednar, " We Believe in Being Chaste "

  43  And  I  now  give  unto  you  a  commandment  to  beware  concerning  yourselves,  to  give  diligent   heed  to  the  words  of  eternal  life.   44  For  you  shall  live  by  every  word  that  proceedeth  forth  from  the  mouth  of  God.   45  For  the  word  of  the  Lord  is  truth,  and  whatsoever  is  truth  is   light ,  and  whatsoever  is  light  is  Spirit ,  even  the  Spirit  of  Jesus  Christ.   46  And  the  Spirit  giveth  light  to  every  man  that  cometh  into  the  world;  and  the  Spirit  enlighteneth  every  man  through...

"Persistence will do what cannot be achieved by force—persistence is the twin sister of excellence. Do not be afraid of struggle. Remember that what is a present struggle is a key to future happiness."  Elder L. Tom Perry, BYU Fireside, March 1990 http://speeches.byu.edu/index.php?act=viewitem&id=539

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...