Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Genesis 33:1 Two brothers didn't talk for 62 years after a quarrel

President Thomas S. Monson:
"Many years ago I read the following Associated Press dispatch which appeared in the newspaper: An elderly man disclosed at the funeral of his brother, with whom he had shared, from early manhood, a small, one-room cabin near Canisteo, New York, that following a quarrel, they had divided the room in half with a chalk line, and neither had crossed the line or spoken a word to the other since that day - 62 years before. Just think of the consequence of that anger. What a tragedy!"
"May we make a conscious decision, each time such a decision must be made, to refrain from anger and to leave unsaid the harsh and hurtful things we may be tempted to say" ("School Thy Feelings, O My Brother," Ensign, Nov. 2009, 68-69).

Genesis 33:4. None of us can afford to pay the price of hatred

Elder Marion D. Hanks of the Seventy:
"What is our response when we are offended, misunderstood, unfairly or unkindly treated,..? Do we resent, become bitter, hold a grudge? Or do we resolve the problem if we can, forgive, and rid ourselves of the burden?
"The nature of our response to such situations may well determine the nature and quality of our lives, here and eternally....
"Even if it appears that another may be deserving our resentment or hatred, none of us can afford to pay the price of resenting or hating, because of what it does to us" (Forgiveness: The Ultimate Form of Love," Ensign,  Jan 1974,20,21.)

Monday, October 26, 2015

Genesis 24:3 Don't shortchange yourself by marrying outside the temple

President Gordon B. Hinckley:
“There is no substitute for marrying in the temple. It is the only place under the heavens where marriage can be solemnized for eternity. Don’t cheat yourself. Don’t cheat your companion. Don’t shortchange your lives. Marry the right person in the right place at the right time” (“Life’s Obligations,” Ensign, Feb 1999,2)

Genesis 24:18-20. If I want to marry someone with spiritual qualities, I also need them.

Elder David A. Bednar:
“If you hope to have an eternal companion who has certain spiritual qualities, then you must strive to develop those spiritual qualities in yourself. Then someone who has those qualities will be attracted to you” (in “Understanding Heavenly Father’s Plan”; lds.org) 

Friday, October 23, 2015

Of all of the creations of the Almighty, none more beautiful than a daughter of virtue.

Gordon B. Hinckley:
"Of all the creations of the Almighty, there is none more beautiful, none more inspiring than a lovely daughter of God who walks in virtue with an understanding of why she should do so, who honors and respects her body as a thing sacred and divine, who cultivates her mind and constantly enlarges the horizon of her understanding, who nurtures her spirit with everlasting truth" (Gordon B. Hinckley, "Our Responsibility to Our Young Women," Ensign, Sept 1988, 11)

Gen 22:9-10. How hard it must have been for Heavenly Father

Elder Melvin J. Ballard:

“In that hour I think I can see our dear Father behind the veil looking upon these dying struggles….His great heart almost breaking for the love that He had for His son. Oh, in that moment when He might have saved His son, I thank Him and praise Him that He did not fail us….I rejoice that He did not interfere, and that His love for us made it possible for Him to endure to look upon the sufferings of His Only Begotten and give Him finally to us, our Saviour and Redeemer. Without Him, without His sacrifice,….we would never have come glorified into His presence….This is what it cost, in part, for our Father in heaven to give the gift of His Son unto men” (Crusader for Righteousness 1966, 137) 

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Genesis 20:6. The Holy Ghost will always warn us before we make a serious mistake

President Boyd K. Packer taught:
“No member of this church – and that means each of you – will ever make a serious mistake without first being warned by the promptings of the Holy Ghost.
“Sometimes when you have made a mistake, you may have said afterward, ‘I knew I should not have done that. It did not feel right,’ or perhaps, ‘I knew I should have done that. I just did not have the courage to act!’ Those impressions are the Holy Ghost attempting to direct you toward good or warning you away from harm” (“How to Survive in Enemy Territory,” New Era, Apr. 2012,3).