Motions of a Hidden Fire — Jeffrey R. Holland
God hears every prayer we offer and responds to each of them according to the path He has outlined for our perfection.
Our prayers ought to be vocal when we have the privacy to so offer them.
As we repent of our sins and come boldly to the “throne of grace,” leaving before Him there our alms and our heartfelt supplications, we will find mercy and compassion and forgiveness at the benevolent hands of our Eternal Father and His obedient, perfectly pure Son.
Put Ye On the Lord Jesus Christ — J. Annette Dennis
When we choose to be part of a covenant, it enhances and deepens our relationship with Him.
President Russell M. Nelson has taught that when we choose to make covenants with God, our relationship with Him can become much closer than it was before our covenant, and it enables Him to bless us with an extra measure of His mercy and love.
As we make covenants with God in the house of the Lord, we further deepen our relationship with Him.
I invite you to choose a deeper relationship with God by making covenants with Him in the house of the Lord.
Pillars and Rays — Alexander Dushku
In time and through “great diligence,” we too can have our own pillar of light—one ray at a time.
In the midst of that pillar, we too will find a loving Heavenly Father calling us by name, pointing us to our Savior, Jesus Christ, and inviting us to “Hear Him!”
Covenant Confidence through Jesus Christ — Ulisses Soares
If we change our preparation to enter the temple, we will change our experience in the temple, which will transform our lives outside of the temple.
All of us should intentionally enhance such binding by having our next appointment scheduled with the Lord in His holy house, whether the temple is near or far away.
When the Lord sees even a spark of desire or a flicker of righteous effort in our willingness to center our lives on Him and on the ordinances and covenants we make in His house, He will bless us, in His perfect way, with the miracles and tender mercies we need.
Integrity: A Christlike Attribute — Jack N. Gerard
May we reconcile ourselves “to the will of God” and develop the Christlike attribute of integrity.
May we follow our Exemplar, the Savior of the world, and not shrink but live a life that is true to God, to each other, and to our divine identity.
All Will BeWell Because of Temple Covenants — Henry B. Eyring
I humbly testify that as we attend the temple, we can be reminded of the eternal nature of our spirits, our relationship with the Father and His divine Son, and our ultimate desire to return to our heavenly home.
Frequent participation in the ordinances of the temple can create a pattern of devotion to the Lord.
When you keep your temple covenants and remember them, you invite the companionship of the Holy Ghost to both strengthen and purify you.
We have been promised, “Because of our covenant with God, He will never tire in His efforts to help us, and we will never exhaust His merciful patience with us.”
No matter where you are on the covenant path, I urge you to qualify and become eligible to attend the temple.
Visit as frequently as circumstances will allow.
“Be Still, and Know That I Am God” — David A. Bednar
Every Sunday, if we will, we can be still and know that God is our Heavenly Father, we are His children, and Jesus Christ is our Savior.
Only as we return to our homes with the spiritual perspective and strength obtained in those holy places and activities can we then sustain our focus upon the primary purposes of mortal life and overcome the temptations so prevalent in our fallen world.
I promise that as we build the foundation of our lives on the “rock” of Jesus Christ, we can be blessed by the Holy Ghost to receive an individual and spiritual stillness of the soul that enables us to know and remember that God is our Heavenly Father, we are His children, Jesus Christ is our Savior, and we can be blessed to do and overcome hard things.
Rise! He Calleth Thee — Massimo De Feo
We must stay faithful to what we know, faithful to our covenants, faithful in keeping the commandments and reaffirm our beliefs even stronger.
We need to cry even louder our testimony of the Lord to the world.
Acting in faith means to rely on our Savior, believing that through His Atonement, we can rise above everything at His command.
I promise that as we hear the voice of the Lord and allow Him to guide us on the Savior’s covenant path, we will be blessed with clear vision, spiritual understanding, and peace of heart and mind throughout our lives.
A Record of What I have Both Seen and Heard — Brent H. Nielsen
I am an eyewitness to the ongoing Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the fulfilling of the prophecy of Joseph Smith that “the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear.”
Jesus Christ at the Center of Our Lives — Jose L. Alfonso
By placing Christ at the core of our thoughts and deeds, we align ourselves with His outlook and strength.
As we strive to place Him at the center of our lives, revelations unfold to us, His profound peace envelops us, and His infinite Atonement brings about our forgiveness and healing.
All Things For Our Good — Gerrit W. Gong
Indeed, as we walk uprightly and remember our covenants, “all things shall work together for your good.”
When we trust God and His love for us, even our greatest heartbreaks can, in the end, work together for our good.
When we are still, open, and reverent, we may feel the beauty, purpose, and serenity of the covenant belonging the Lord offers.
In Support of the Rising Generation — Michael T. Nelson
The entire ward will be blessed and strengthened as members focus on the rising generation.
By following the direction of the Holy Ghost in reaching out to the youth, we become witnesses of Heavenly Father’s love in their lives.
Be One With Christ — Quentin L. Cook
By following the direction of the Holy Ghost in reaching out to the youth, we become witnesses of Heavenly Father’s love in their lives.
The most significant choices can be made by almost everyone regardless of talents, abilities, opportunities, or economic circumstances.
We should strive to include others in our circle of oneness.
Differences in culture, language, gender, race, and nationality fade into insignificance as the faithful enter the covenant path and come unto our beloved Redeemer.”
Miracles, Angels, and Priesthood Power — Shayne M. Bowen
I know that while not all circumstances turn out like we may hope and pray for, God’s miracles will always come according to His will, His timing, and His plan for us.
If you desire the blessings of the priesthood, including miracles and the ministry of angels, I invite you to walk the path of covenants God has made available to each of us.
Foredained to Serve — Steven R. Bangerter
For Latter-day Saint young men, missionary service is a priesthood responsibility.
Before you were born, God appointed each of you to fulfill specific missions during your mortal life upon the earth. If you remain worthy, the blessings of that premortal decree will enable you to have all kinds of opportunities in this life, including opportunities to serve in the Church and to participate in the most important work happening on the earth today: the gathering of Israel.
My young brothers and sisters, as you protect the private times of your life with wholesome recreation; listening to uplifting music; reading the scriptures; having regular, meaningful prayer; and making efforts to receive and ponder your patriarchal blessing, you will receive revelation.
Our Father in Heaven will answer your prayers, especially your prayers offered during the private times of your life.
As you protect the private times of your life, your participation in the ordinances and covenants of the gospel will be more meaningful.
Faithful to the End — Andrea Munoz Spannaus
Our love for God and our close relationship with Him give us the strength we need to transform our hearts and more easily overcome our challenges.
Having faith in Jesus Christ means to fully trust His wisdom, His timing, His love, and His power to atone for our sins.
Our personal connection to Jesus Christ will give us the courage and confidence to move forward amid people who do not respect our beliefs or who bully us.
I invite you to meet with your class, quorum, or family and think about what other strengths you need to acquire to remain faithful to God and, therefore, overcome the world.
Dear friends, Christ is eager to accompany us on the journey of our lives. I promise you, as you hold on to the iron rod, you will walk hand in hand with Jesus Christ.
Fruit That Remains — Matthew L. Carpenter
Christ directed us to “go and bring forth fruit, … that your fruit should remain.”
The Holy Ghost, in His divine role as the Holy Spirit of Promise, will seal each ordinance upon those who are faithful to their covenants so that it will be valid after mortality.
If you remain faithful to the covenants you made when you were endowed, you will receive the personal blessings promised to you in the endowment even if your spouse has broken his or her covenants or withdrawn from the marriage.
For those who are single members of the Church, please remember that “in the Lord’s own way and time, no blessings will be withheld from His faithful Saints.
Those who enter into the new and everlasting covenant of marriage and keep that covenant can become perfected and eventually receive the fulness of the glory of the Father, regardless of circumstances beyond their control.
A Higher Joy — Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Our Father in Heaven has not hidden the path to happiness. It is not a secret. It is available to all!
I invite you to embark on the journey of following Jesus Christ and His Way. It is a journey of a lifetime—and beyond.
If we seek joy—if we look for reasons to rejoice and to happily follow the Savior, we will find them.
During the coming days, weeks, and months, may I invite you to:
- Spend time in a sincere, full-hearted effort to draw near to God.
- Seek diligently for everyday moments of hope, peace, and joy.
- Bring joy to others around you.
May we all seek and find the higher joy that comes from devoting our lives to our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son.
Words Matter — Ronald A. Rasband
Believing and heeding the word of God will draw us closer to Him.
Let me suggest three simple phrases that we can use to take the sting out of difficulties and differences, lift, and reassure each other:
“Thank you.”
“I am sorry.”
And “I love you.”
I promise that if we “feast upon the words of Christ” that lead to salvation, our prophet’s words that guide and encourage us, and our own words that speak of who we are and what we hold dear, the powers of heaven will pour down upon us.
Pray, He is There — Susan H. Porter
President Russell M. Nelson has invited you to “pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father. … And then listen!” Listen to what you feel in your heart and to thoughts that come to your mind.
When you know that Heavenly Father is real and that He loves you, you can live with courage and hope!
Perhaps you are praying for blessings for your family and others you love. Don’t give up! Heavenly Father will show you what you can do.
I invite you to pray to know Heavenly Father is there, pray to grow to become like Him, and pray to show His love to others.
The Powerful, Virtuous, Cycle of the Doctrine of Christ — Dale G. Renlund
Our faith in Jesus Christ needs to be nourished daily.
As the Holy Ghost exerts a greater influence in our lives, we progressively and iteratively develop Christlike attributes. Our hearts change. Our disposition to do evil diminishes. Our inclination to do good increases until we only want “to do good continually.” And we thereby access the heavenly power needed to endure to the end. Our faith has increased, and we are ready to repeat the powerful, virtuous cycle again.
Our job is to love—to love and minister in such a way that others are drawn to Jesus Christ.
I invite you to live the doctrine of Christ repeatedly, iteratively, and intentionally and help others on their way.
Trust in the Lord — Paul P. Pieper
Notwithstanding God’s trust in us, our relationship with Him will grow only to the degree we are willing to place our trust in Him.
The good news is that regardless of the trust we may or may not have chosen to place in God in the past, we can choose to trust God today and every day going forward. I promise that each time we do, God will be there to catch us, and our relationship of trust will grow stronger and stronger until the day that we become one with Him and His Son.
God’s Intent Is to Bring You Home — Patrick Kearon
My friends, my fellow disciples on the road of mortal life, our Father’s beautiful plan, even His “fabulous” plan,1 is designed to bring you home, not to keep you out.
If you are prone to worry that you will never measure up, or that the loving reach of Christ’s infinite Atonement mercifully covers everyone else but not you, then you misunderstand. Infinite means infinite. Infinite covers you and those you love.
The veil of the temple was rent in twain when Jesus died upon the cross, symbolising that access back to the presence of the Father had been ripped wide open—to all who will turn to Him, trust Him, cast their burdens on Him, and take His yoke upon them in a covenant bond.
Swallowed Up in the Joy of Christ — Brian K. Taylor
Coming to trust in God’s divine purposes breathes hope into weary souls and kindles determination in seasons of anguish and heartache.
One—stronger faith comes by putting Jesus Christ first.
Two—brighter hope comes by envisioning our eternal destiny.
Three—greater power comes by focusing on joy.
I testify that our Heavenly Father hears your tearful pleadings and will always respond in perfect wisdom.
Covenants and Responsibilities — Dallin H. Oaks
Persons who wear their garments faithfully and keep their temple covenants continually affirm their role as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I testify of Jesus Christ, who is the head of that Church, and invoke His blessings on all who seek to keep their sacred covenants.
The Testimony of Jesus — D. Todd Christofferson
Being valiant in the testimony of Jesus surely includes nurturing and strengthening that testimony. True disciples do not ignore the seemingly small things that sustain and strengthen their testimony of Jesus, such as prayer, study of the scriptures, Sabbath observance, partaking of the sacrament, repentance, ministering, and worship in the house of the Lord.
Being valiant also suggests being open and public about one’s witness.
One aspect of being valiant in the testimony of Jesus is to heed His messengers.
Being valiant in the testimony of Jesus means encouraging others, by word and example, to likewise be valiant, especially those of our own families.
My invitation is to act now to secure your place as one who is valiant in the testimony of Jesus.
Call, Don’t Fall — Taylor G. Godoy
Is there a promise more powerful than the one the Savior Himself made when He declared, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock,” or call, “and it shall be opened unto you”?
I suggest you consider the following:
- Always think of the Lord as your first option for help.
- Call, don’t fall. Turn to God in sincere prayer.
- After praying, do all you can to obtain the blessings you prayed for.
- Humble yourselves to accept the answer in His time and His way.
- Don’t stop! Keep moving forward on the covenant path while you wait for an answer.
As we pray we can feel the embrace of our Heavenly Father, who sent His Only Begotten Son to relieve our burdens, because if we call out to God, I testify we will not fall.
Bridging the Two Great Commandments — Gary E. Stevenson
The first, to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind.
Loving the Lord leads to eternal happiness!
Love of the Lord is not complete if we neglect our neighbors.
To love your neighbor includes Christlike deeds of kindness and service. Can you let go of grudges, forgive enemies, welcome and minister to your neighbors, and assist the elderly? You will each be inspired as you build your tower of love for neighbor.
Over time, with prayerful and thoughtful planning, rough ideas are refined. New actions become habits. Early drafts become polished blueprints. We build our personal spiritual bridge with hearts and minds devoted to Heavenly Father and His Only Begotten Son as well as to our brothers and sisters with whom we work, play, and live.
Opposition in All Things — Mathias Held
We correct our wrong choices when we repent. This is where growth happens. Heavenly Father’s plan for all of us is about learning, developing, and progressing toward eternal life.
We can choose to build our foundation on the rock that is Jesus Christ so that when the whirlwind comes, “it shall have no power over [us].” He has promised that “whosoever will come [to Him], him will [He] receive; and blessed are those who come unto [Him].”
Temples, Houses of the Lord Dotting the Earth — Neil L. Andersen
As we come with willing hearts to the house of the Lord, the most holy place on earth, we grow up in the Lord and can “receive a fulness of the Holy Ghost.” Through the power of the Holy Ghost, we are filled with peace and joy and unspeakable hope. We receive the strength to remain His disciples even when we find ourselves outside of holy places.
My beloved friends, if we are able and have not already increased our attendance at the temple, let us regularly find more time to worship in the house of the Lord. Let us pray for the temples that have been announced, that properties can be purchased, that governments will approve plans, that talented workers will see their gifts magnified, and that the sacred dedications will bring the approval of heaven and the visit of angels.
I promise you as you come worthily and prayerfully to His holy house, you will be armed with His power, His name will be upon you, His angels will have charge over you, and you will grow up in the blessing of the Holy Ghost.
It is Wisdom in the Lord That We Should Have the Book of Mormon — Mark L. Pace
Reading the Savior’s teachings in the scriptures helps us transform our homes into sanctuaries of faith and centers of gospel learning. It invites the Spirit into our homes. The Holy Ghost fills our souls with joy and converts us into lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ.
This is the only dispensation that will not end in an apostasy.
We study the scriptures so the Holy Ghost, the great teacher, can deepen our conversion to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and help us become more like Them.
“I promise,” he said, “that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions—every day. I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own life.” President Russell M. Nelson
It is my prayer that reading the Book of Mormon this year will be a joy and a blessing for each of us and will draw us ever nearer to the Savior.
Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys — President Russell M. Nelson
I invite you to consider carefully the following three statements:
- The gathering of Israel is evidence that God loves all of His children everywhere.
- The gospel of Abraham is further evidence that God loves all of His children everywhere. He invites all to come unto Him—“black and white, bond and free, male and female; … all are alike unto God.”
- The sealing power is supernal evidence of how much God loves all of His children everywhere and wants each of them to choose to return home to Him.
Time in the temple will help you to think celestial and to catch a vision of who you really are, who you can become, and the kind of life you can have forever. Regular temple worship will enhance the way you see yourself and how you fit into God’s magnificent plan. I promise you that.
Finally, we are promised that “no combination of wickedness” will prevail over those who worship in the house of the Lord.
My dear brothers and sisters, here is my promise. Nothing will help you more to hold fast to the iron rod than worshipping in the temple as regularly as your circumstances permit. Nothing will protect you more as you encounter the world’s mists of darkness. Nothing will bolster your testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Atonement or help you understand God’s magnificent plan more. Nothing will soothe your spirit more during times of pain. Nothing will open the heavens more. Nothing!
