Sis. Holland's "One Thing Needful"

This is one of my new favorite talks! I was planning to comment on some of my favorite sections, but I lack the time.  So you should just read all of it.  It's amazing!

https://www.lds.org/ensign/1987/10/one-thing-needful-becoming-women-of-greater-faith-in-christ?lang=eng

BYU Devotional from Sister Beck

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/julie-b-beck_why-we-are-organized-into-quorums-and-relief-societies/

This devotional is four years old, but I don't think I've ever read it before. (It was after my time.) Here are my 3 favorite parts:

[1] About service - In every ward there are always a few dedicated souls who would do all of the work while others would neglect their duty and fail to offer their gifts. Quorum and Relief Society leaders have the responsibility to organize and carry out an inspired ministry to help all brothers and sisters keep their covenants to remember the Savior and consecrate their lives to His work.

If we were left to ourselves, we might prefer to care only for the popular, charming, and grateful people in our wards. It is much more challenging to care for those who are difficult to love, who have grave and complicated challenges, or who do not seem to appreciate our help. The Savior said:

Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

[2] About home and visiting teaching - The only true measures of our success in this effort [visiting teaching] are the confirmations of the Spirit for our efforts and when those we are assigned to watch over can say three important things: (1) “My home teacher or visiting teacher helps me grow spiritually”; (2) “I know my home teacher or visiting teacher cares deeply about me and my family”; and (3) “If I have problems, I know my home teacher or visiting teacher will take action without waiting to be invited.”

[3] About fellowship - Brother George Goates, who in six days lost his son Charles and three of Charles’s small children during the flu epidemic of 1918. That week Brother Goates made the caskets, dug the graves, and helped prepare the burial clothing. His child and grandchildren died during the week he was to harvest his sugar beet crop, which was left freezing in the ground. After the burials, he and another son went to their fields to see if they could salvage any of their crop. When they arrived, they saw the members of his quorum leaving the empty field. His quorum had harvested every sugar beet. It was then that this man who had shown tremendous strength in the previous week sat down and sobbed like a child. He looked up to the sky and said, “Thanks, Father, for the elders of our ward.”

A Good Read for New Year's

I'm sure you've all already read this classic, but I thought it would be a good re-read for today:

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/jeffrey-r-holland_remember-lots-wife/

My favorite part?

As a new year starts and we try to benefit from a proper view of what has gone before, I plead with you not to dwell on days now gone, nor to yearn vainly for yesterdays, however good those yesterdays may have been. The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead, we remember that faith is always pointed toward the future. 

AND

Faith is for the future. Faith builds on the past but never longs to stay there. Faith trusts that God has great things in store for each of us and that Christ truly is the “high priest of good things to come.” 

"Living After the Manner of Happiness"

http://www2.byui.edu/Presentations/Transcripts/Devotionals/2014_09_23_holland.htm

So beautiful

I'm teaching on Sunday, and in doing some last-minute preparations I came across this beautiful talk from Elder Scott. It touched my heart: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/04/temple-worship-the-source-of-strength-and-power-in-times-of-need?lang=eng

Culture, Law, and Religious Liberty

BYU Magazine arrived today. I really liked this commentary: https://www.mesacc.edu/students/tutoring/online-tutoring. I especially like the way the author compared Brown v. Board of Education with Roe v. Wade and drew implications from it.

Ponderize Week 2

This week I will be ponderizing Alma 12: 33-34.