Mormon Musings

"At times we may rationalize that the Lord will understand our disobedience because our special circumstances make adherence to His laws difficult, embarrassing, or even painful. However, faithful obedience, regardless of the apparent size of the task, will bring the Lord's guidance, assistance, and peace." Bruce A. Carlson,  "When the Lord Commands," Ensign, May 2010, 39 "...the Lord is able to do all things according to His will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him...Wherefore, let us be faithful to Him." 1 Nephi 7:12

"Now, fathers, I would remind you of the sacred nature of your calling. You have the power of the priesthood directly from the Lord to protect your home. There will be times when all that stands as a shield between your family and the adversary's mischief will be that power. You will receive direction from the Lord by way of the gift of the Holy Ghost." Boyd K. Packer ,  "The Power of the Priesthood," Ensign, May 2010, 9

We should never permit ourselves to do anything that we are not willing to see our children do.  We should set an example for them to imitate.  Do we realize this?  How often we see parents demand obedience, good behavior, kind words, pleasant looks, a sweet voice and a bright eye from a child or children when they themselves are full of bitterness and scolding!  How inconsistent and unreasonable this is! Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 208

“God the Eternal Father did not give that first great commandment because He needs us to love Him. His power and glory are not diminished should we disregard, deny, or even defile His name. His influence and dominion extend through time and space independent of our acceptance, approval, or admiration. “No, God does not need us to love Him. But oh, how we need to love God!” Dieter F. Uchtdorf ,  “The Love of God,” Ensign, Nov. 2009, 21-22

Kind words cost no more than unkind ones...and we may scatter the seeds of courtesy and kindliness around us at so little expense. If you would fall into any extreme let it be on the side of gentleness. The human mind is so constructed that it resists vigor and yields to softness. -Jeremy Bentham

Never act toward someone as though you are never going to come across him again in life...Never sacrifice what the future may hold for some immediate gain. Be yourself with everyone you meet---but be your best self, for you can be sure that before you have lived out your life you are going to meet again....You always meet people a second time. -Samuel Goldwyn

When I look back on my life nowadays, which I sometimes do, what strikes me most forcibly about it is that what seemed at the time most significant and seductive, seems now most futile and absurd. For instance, success in all of its various guises; being know and being praised; ostensible pleasures, like acquiring money or seducing women, or traveling, going to and fro in the world and up and down in it like Satan, exploring and experiencing whatever vanity fair has to offer. In retrospect all of these exercises in self-gratification seem pure fantasy, what Pascal called “licking the earth.” They are diversions, designed to distract our attention from the true purpose of our existence in this world, which is, quite simply: to look for God, an, in looking, to find Him, and, having found Him, to love Him, thereby establishing a harmonious relationship with His purposes for His creation.   (emphasis added) Malcolm Muggeridge