Three excellent quotes from this week’s Sunday School lesson:
Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace. Whoever will lose his life in the service of God will find eternal life (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 361).
— President Ezra Taft Benson
The power of Satan will increase; we see it in evidence on every hand. …
Now the only safety we have as members of this church is to do exactly what the Lord said to the Church in that day when the Church was organized. We must learn to give heed to the words and commandments that the Lord shall give through his prophet, ‘as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me; … as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.’ (D&C 21:4–5.) There will be some things that take patience and faith. You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. But if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord himself, with patience and faith, the promise is that ‘the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory.’ (D&C 21:6.) (in Conference Report, Oct. 1970, 152; or Improvement Era, Dec. 1970, 126).
— President Harold B. Lee
To be a righteous woman during the winding-up scenes on this earth, before the Second Coming of our Savior, is an especially noble calling. The righteous woman’s strength and influence today can be tenfold what it might be in more tranquil times. She has been placed here to help to enrich, to protect, and to guard the home—which is society’s basic and most noble institution. Other institutions in society may falter and even fail, but the righteous woman can help to save the home, which may be the last and only sanctuary some mortals know in the midst of storm and strife
(The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball [1982], 326–27).
— President Spencer W. Kimball
All day and no comments, huh?
“Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can.”
I had a little Moment this weekend. There’s something I thought I sacrificed a decade ago and I just realized . . . tada! . . . it has come back to me a hundredfold. Now I am wondering what else I would have been reaping if I had been more faithful in the other opportunities that I have been given–but didn’t take–to turn my life over to God.
Another Prop 8 post? :)
Just kidding. I really enjoyed rereading these tonight. Our R.S. lesson was on revelation this week and I was struck/dismayed by how much I take for granted so much wonderful counsel. The last line of President Kimball’s quote hits a tender chord for me. I’ve been thinking about how diverse everyone’s mortal experiences truly are and how much suffering often occurs within the walls of one’s own home. Making a home a sanctuary from the storms of life–what a beautiful concept.
Welcome.
All three of these are familiar to me, but it has been a long time since I’ve heard them. I’m just finishing up a rather trying day, and these quotes all put together are very refreshing to my parched soul. “Consecrate your life, do what the Lord says, and continue to try to be a righteous woman because it’s well worth it.” Thank you.