Mormon Musings

All beings who have bodies have power over those who have not. The devil has no power over us only as we permit him; the moment we revolt at anything which comes from God, the devil takes power. --Joseph Smith

http://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/the-ten-virgins?lang=eng

“Our Heavenly Father … knows that we learn and grow and become stronger as we face and survive the trials through which we must pass. We know that there are times when we will experience heartbreaking sorrow, when we will grieve, and when we may be tested to our limits. However, such difficulties allow us to change for the better, to rebuild our lives in the way our Heavenly Father teaches us, and to become something different from what we were—better than we were, more understanding than we were, more empathetic than we were, with stronger testimonies than we had before.” -“I Will Not Fail Thee, nor Forsake Thee,” Ensign , Nov. 2013, 87

"It’s not enough to wish, it’s not enough to dream, it’s not enough to promise. We must do." —Thomas S. Monson, " Four Words to Guide You "

“Forgiveness is freeing up and putting to better use the energy once consumed by holding grudges, harboring resentments, and nursing unhealed wounds. It is rediscovering the strengths we always had and relocating our limitless capacity to understand and accept other people and ourselves.” -Sidney B. Simon and Suzanne Simon, as quoted in James E. Faust, “The Healing Power of Forgiveness,” Ensign , May 2007, 68 (this was his last General Conference address)

The designation "chosen", of course, is not just status; it confers great responsibilities upon those chosen to reach their fellowmen.  God gives the picks and shovels to those "chosen" because they are willing to go to work and get callouses on their hands.  They may not be the best or most capable, but they are the most available. Elder Neal A. Maxwell (Deposition of a Disciple, p. 54) It makes sense to me that the Lord would chose out of the world those who are (or who could become) different from the world and, therefore, could lead the world to a different outcome.  We must be different in order to make a difference. Elder Neal A. Maxwell (Deposition of a Disciple, p. 54)

O  then,  my  beloved  brethren,  a come  unto  the  Lord,  the  Holy  One.  Remember  that  his  paths  are    righteous.  Behold,  the  b way  for  man  is  c narrow ,  but  it  lieth  in  a  straight  course  before  him,  and  the  keeper  of  the  d gate  is  the  Holy  One  of  Israel;  and  he  employeth  no  servant  there;  and  there  is  none  other  way  save  it  be  by  the  gate;  for  he  cannot  be  deceived,  for  the  Lord  God  is  his  name. 2 Nephi 9:41