Gratitude

“There is something that will take away the bitterness that may come into our lives. There is one thing we can do to make life sweeter, even joyful, even glorious, we can be grateful.”
        President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"We would do well to slow down a little, focus on the significant and truly see the things that matter most."
       President Dieter F Uchtdorf

"When we encounter challenges and problems in our lives, it is often difficult for us to focus on our blessings. However, if we reach deep enough and look hard enough, we will be able to feel and recognize just how much we have been given."
       President Thomas S. Monson, The Diving Gift of Gratitude

"My brothers and sisters, do we remember to give thanks for the blessings we receive? Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God’s love."
       President Thomas S. Monson, "The Divine Gift of Gratitude "

“The spirit of gratitude is always pleasant and satisfying because it carries with it a sense of helpfulness to others; it begets love and friendship, and engenders divine influence. Gratitude is said to be the memory of the heart.”
       President Joseph F. Smith

"A grateful heart is a beginning of greatness. It is an expression of humility. It helps us develop such virtues as prayer, faith, courage, contentment, happiness, love and well-being. Said the Lord, 'And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more' (D&C 78:19)."
       President James E. Faust

"We sometimes think that being grateful is what we do after our problems are solved, but how terribly shortsighted that is. How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain?"
       President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Grateful in Any Circumstances "

"In some quiet way, the expression and feelings of gratitude have a wonderful cleansing or healing nature. Gratitude brings warmth to the giver and the receiver alike."
       Elder Robert D. Hales, "Gratitude for the Goodness of God "

"How much better it would be if all could be more aware of God’s providence and love and express that gratitude to him. Ammon taught, 'Let us give thanks to (God), for he doth work righteousness forever.' Our degree of gratitude is a measure of our love for him."
       Elder Russell M. Nelson, "Thanks Be to God

"Let us give thanks for what we are and for the circumstances God has given us for our personal journey through mortality."
       Elder Dallin H. Oaks, "Give Thanks in All Things"

Position Statement
I have such a strong testimony of the power of gratitude in our lives. Life is so much more enjoyable when we go about life with an attitude of gratitude. When we are grateful we see the beauty of life and are able to overcome the afflictions that face us in our everyday life. Gratitude allows us to focus on the good in life instead of on just the bad.

Personal Revelation

"We all know that human judgment and logical thinking will not be enough to get answers to the questions that matter most in life. We need revelation from God. And we will need not just one revelation in a time of stress, but we need a constantly renewed stream. We need not just one flash of light and comfort, but we need the continuing blessing of communication with God."
       President Eyring, “Continuing Revelation” October 2014

“The Everlasting and Almighty God, the Creator of this vast universe, will speak to those who approach Him with a sincere heart and real intent.He will speak to them in dreams, visions, thoughts, and feelings. He will speak in a way that is unmistakable and that transcends human experience. He will give them divine direction and answers for their personal lives.”
       Elder Uchtdorf, “Receiving a Testimony of Light and Truth”, October 2014

“God cares about you. He will listen, and He will answer your personal questions. The answers to your prayers will come in His own way and in His own time, and therefore, you need to learn to listen to His voice. God wants you to find your way back to Him, and the Savior is the way. God wants you to learn of His Son, Jesus Christ, and experience the profound peace and joy that come from following the path of divine discipleship.”
       Elder Uchtdorf, “Receiving a Testimony of Light and Truth”, October 2014

"We must be sensitive to our spiritual bits. Even with the slightest tug from the Master, we must be willing to completely alter our course. To succeed in life, we must teach our spirit and body to work together in obedience to God’s commandments. If we heed the gentle promptings of the Holy Ghost, it can unite our spirits and bodies in a purpose that will guide us back to our eternal home to live with our eternal Father in Heaven."
        Elder Perry, “Obedience through our faithfulness” April 2014

"We do not need to achieve some minimum level of capacity or goodness before God will help—divine aid can be ours every hour of every day, no matter where we are in the path of obedience. But I know that beyond desiring His help, we must exert ourselves, repent, and choose God for Him to be able to act in our lives consistent with justice and moral agency. My plea is simply to take responsibility and go to work so that there is something for God to help us with."
        Elder Christofferson, Free Forever, To Act for Themselves October 2014

"Impressions of the Spirit can come in response to urgent prayer or unsolicited when needed. Sometimes the Lord reveals truth to you when you are not actively seeking it, such as when you are in danger and do not know it. However, the Lord will not force you to learn. You must exercise your agency to authorize the Spirit to teach you. As you make this a practice in your life, you will be more perceptive to the feelings that come with spiritual guidance. Then, when that guidance comes, sometimes when you least expect it, you will recognize it more easily."
         Elder Richard G. Scott, To Acquire Spiritual Guidance, Nov 2009

"Revelation comes on the Lord’s timetable, which often means we must move forward in faith, even though we haven’t received all the answers we desire."
        Robert D. Hales, Personal Revelation: The Teachings and Examples of the Prophets, Oct 2007

"We each have moments of spiritual power, moments of inspiration and revelation. We must sink them deep into the chambers of our souls. As we do, we prepare our spiritual home storage for moments of personal difficulty."
       Elder Neil L. Andersen, You Know Enough, Oct 2008

"We do not always receive inspiration or revelation when we request it. Sometimes we are delayed in the receipt of revelation, and sometimes we are left to our own judgment. We cannot force spiritual things. It must be so. Our life’s purpose to obtain experience and to develop faith would be frustrated if our Heavenly Father directed us in every act, even in every important act. We must make decisions and experience the consequences in order to develop self-reliance and faith."
       Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Eight Ways God Speaks to You

"Even in decisions we think very important, we sometimes receive no answer to our prayers. This does not mean that our prayers have not been heard. It means only that we have prayed about a decision that, for one reason or another, we should make without guidance by revelation. Perhaps we have asked for guidance in choosing between alternatives that are equally acceptable or equally unacceptable.Similarly, the Spirit of the Lord is not likely to give us revelations on matters that are trivial. If a matter appears of little or no consequence, we should proceed on the basis of our own judgment. If the choice is important for reasons unknown to us, the Lord will intervene and give us guidance. Where we are living in tune with the Spirit and seeking its guidance, we can be sure that we will receive the guidance we need to attain our goal. The Lord will not leave us unassisted when a choice is important to our eternal welfare."
       Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Eight Ways God Speaks to You

Position Statement
Our Heavenly Father desires to guide and protect us. Because of this, He has given us the blessing of being able to receive personal revelation. We can receive revelation from our loving Heavenly Father if we sincerely seek for it. Sometimes he may not answer how we like, or when we like, but he will always answer. I have found in my life, he gives me the opportunity to make my own decisions before he guides me in the direction that he wants me to go.

Missionary Work

“We are all in this together. With fellow ward members and missionaries, we plan and pray and help one another. Please keep the full-time missionaries in your thoughts and prayers. Trust them with your family and friends. The Lord trusts them and has called them to teach and bless those who seek him.”
       Elder Neil L. Andersen, "It's a Miracle."

“If you’re not a full-time missionary with a missionary badge pinned on your coat, now is the time to paint one on your heart—painted, as Paul said, ‘not with ink, but with the Spirit of the Living God.’”
      Elder Neil L. Andersen, "It's a Miracle."

Whatever our age, capacity, Church calling, or location, we are as one called to the work to help Him in His harvest of souls until He comes again.”
      President Henry B. Eyring, "We Are One."

“Now is the time for members and missionaries to come together, to work together, to labor in the Lord’s vineyard to bring souls unto Him.”
       President Thomas S. Monson, "Welcome to Conference.

"Kneel down to pray. Step up to serve. Reach out to rescue. Each is a vital page of God’s blueprint to make a house a home and a home a heaven.”
       President Thomas S. Monson, "Heavenly Homes, Forever Families."

"Ward councils can no longer say, ‘There they go.’ No, the hour is upon us when we must now say, ‘Here they come.’”
       Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "Change."

"The work of our missionaries is a magnificent expressions of the Lord's redeeming love."
       D. Todd Chistofferson, "Redemption"

“The rescue is an invitation for people to rekindle the flame of faith, to again recall what brought them to the initial testimony."
       Elder David A. Bednar, "Rekindling the Flame of Faith."

“This isn’t missionary work. This is missionary fun.”
       Elder Neil L. Andersen, "It's a Miracle."

“It is impossible to fail when you do your best when you are on the Lord’s Errand”
       Elder M. Russell Ballard

Position Statement

Jesus Christ once gave a charge to his apostles to go and preach the word of God among men. Today, that charge is no different. Christ still expects us to share his gospel to the world. We, as his disciples, have so many opportunities to share our testimonies of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We don't necessarily need to say our testimony, some of the most powerful testimonies is through our daily living and examples. The Lord promised that he would hasten his work in his time and now is the time. We must get to work. 

Obedience

"A useful way to think about the commandments is they are loving counsel from a wise, all-knowing Heavenly Father. His goal is our eternal happiness, and His commandments are the road map He has given us to return to Him, which is the only way we will be eternally happy."
       Elder Perry, "Obedience to Law is Liberty" April 2013

"God reveals to His prophets that there are moral absolutes. Sin will always be sin. Disobedience to the Lord’s commandments will always deprive us of His blessings. The world changes constantly and dramatically, but God, His commandments, and promised blessings do not change. They are immutable and unchanging. Men and women receive their agency as a gift from God, but their liberty and, in turn, their eternal happiness come from obedience to His laws. As Alma counseled his errant son Corianton, “Wickedness never was happiness.""
        Elder Perry, “Obedience to Law is Liberty” April 2013

“We need not walk by the shores of Galilee or among the Judean hills to walk where Jesus walked. All of us can walk the path He walked when, with His words ringing in our ears, His Spirit filling our hearts, and His teachings guiding our lives, we choose to follow Him as we journey through mortality. His example lights the way. Said He, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.””
      President Monson, “Ponder the path of thy feet” October 2014

“There is no need for you or for me, in this enlightened age when the fullness of the gospel has been restored, to sail uncharted seas or to travel unmarked roads in search of truth. A loving Heavenly Father has plotted our course and provided an unfailing guide—even obedience. A knowledge of truth and the answers to our greatest questions come to us as we are obedient to the commandments of God.”
       President Monson, “obedience brings blessings” April 2013

"Spiritually mature obedience is “the Savior’s obedience.” It is motivated by true love for Heavenly Father and His Son. When we willingly obey, as our Savior did, we cherish the words of our Heavenly Father: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”9 And we look forward to hearing, upon entering our Heavenly Father’s presence, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: … enter … into the joy of thy lord.”"
       Elder Hales, If ye love me keep my commandments, April 2014

"Too often we think of obedience as the passive and thoughtless following of the orders or dictates of a higher authority. Actually, at its best, obedience is an emblem of our faith in the wisdom and power of the highest authority, even God. When Abraham demonstrated his unwavering faithfulness and obedience to God, even when commanded to sacrifice his son, God rescued him. Similarly, when we demonstrate our faithfulness through obedience, God will ultimately rescue us."
       Elder Perry, “Obedience through our faithfulness” April 2014

"Strong, proactive obedience is anything but weak or passive. It is the means by which we declare our faith in God and qualify ourselves to receive the powers of heaven. Obedience is a choice. It is a choice between our own limited knowledge and power and God’s unlimited wisdom and omnipotence."
       Elder Perry, “Obedience through our faithfulness” April 2014

"Standing obedient and strong on the doctrine of our God, we stand in holy places, for His doctrine is sacred and will not change.”
       Elder Robert D. Hales, "Stand Strong in Holy Places."

“The world changes constantly and dramatically, but God, His commandments, and promised blessings do not change. They are immutable and unchanging."
       Elder L. Tom Perry, "Obedience to Law Is Liberty."

“Let us not give up. Let us be true to our covenants. Let us never lose sight of our Advocate and Redeemer as we walk toward Him, one imperfect step after another.”
       President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Four Titles."

Position Statement
All that the Lord asks of us is that we are obedient to his commandments. With that obedience comes blessings that he has promised us. We can only receive those blessings as we live in such a manner that the Lord sees fit to give us more. Not only will we receive those blessings, but we will feel better about our standing with the Lord and he will help us to continue in our obedience through his Atonement.

Pornography

"Pornography impairs one’s ability to enjoy a normal emotional, romantic, and spiritual relationship with a person of the opposite sex. It erodes the moral barriers that stand against inappropriate, abnormal, or illegal behavior. As conscience is desensitized, patrons of pornography are led to act out what they have witnessed, regardless of its effects on their life and the lives of others."
       Dallin H. Oaks, Pornography, May 2005

"(Pornography) is utterly without redeeming social value. We urge our families to protect their children in every way possible. We live in a permissive world, but we must make certain we do not become a part of that permissive world, that degenerate world."
      Spencer W. Kimball, God Will Not Be Mocked, October 1974

Be Cautious. These same technologies can allow evil influences to cross the threshold of your homes. These dangerous traps are only a mouse click away. Pornography, violence, intolerance, and ungodliness destroy families, marriages, and individual lives. These dangers are distributed through many media, including magazines, books, television, movies, and music, as well as the internet.
       Deiter F. Utchdorf, A Matter of a Few Degrees, April 2008

"Plead with the Lord out of the depths of your soul that He will remove from you the addiction which enslaves you. And may you have the courage to seek the loving guidance of your bishop and, if necessary, the counsel of caring professionals."
       President Gordon B. Hinckley, A Tragic Evil Among Us , October 2004

"Pornography will always repel the Spirit of Christ and will interrupt the communications between our Heavenly Father and His children and disrupt the tender relationship between husband and wife."
      President Boyd K. Packer, Cleaning The Inner Vessel , October 2010

"Don’t accommodate any degree of temptation. Prevent sin and avoid having to deal with its inevitable destruction. So, turn it off! Look away! Avoid it at all costs. Direct your thoughts in wholesome paths. Remember your covenants and be faithful in temple attendance."
       Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Pornography , April 2005

"Like thieves in the night, unwelcome thought can and do seek entrance to our minds. But we don’t have to throw open the door, serve them tea and crumpets, and tell them where the silverware is kept! Throw the rascals out! Replace lewd thoughts with hopeful messages an joyful memories; picture the faces of those who love you and would be shattered if you let them down."
       Jeffery R. Holland, Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul, April 2009


“The priesthood holds consummate power. It can protect you from the plague of pornography—and it is a plague—if you are succumbing to its influence. If one is obedient, the priesthood can show how to break a habit and even erase an addiction. Holders of the priesthood have that authority and should employ it to combat evil influences.”
      President Boyd K. Packer

‘The plague of pornography is swirling about us as never before. Pornography brings a vicious wake of immorality, broken homes, and broken lives. Pornography will sap spiritual strength to endure. Pornography is much like quicksand. You can become so easily trapped and overcome as soon as you step into it that you do not realize the severe danger. Most likely you will need assistance to get out of the quicksand of pornography. But how much better it is never to step into it. I plead with you to be careful and cautious.”  
       Joseph B. Wirthlin

"We cannot afford husbands and fathers who fail to provide spiritual leadership in the home. We cannot afford to have those who exercise the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God, waste their strength in pornography or spend their lives in cyberspace."
       D. Todd Christofferson Conference October 2012

Position Statement
Pornography is a horrible plague that has entered so many homes even those of good people. It is an addiction that can so easily enter into our homes, especially now with all of the technology that is around. Pornography destroys families and is what I believe to be one of the most powerful tools that Satan uses to destroy us. However, we must be sensitive to those who are addicted. They need our love and support to overcome this addiction. They cannot do it alone.

Atonment

“If we have faith in Jesus Christ, the hardest as well as the easiest times in life can be a blessing. In all conditions, we can choose the right with the guidance of the Spirit. We have the gospel of Jesus Christ to shape and guide our lives if we choose it. And with prophets revealing to us our place in the plan of salvation, we can live with perfect hope and a feeling of peace. We never need to feel that we are alone or unloved in the Lord’s service because we never are. We can feel the love of God. The Savior has promised angels on our left and our right to bear us up. And He always keeps His word.”
       President Eyring, “Mountains to Climb” April 2012

“The mercy and grace of Jesus Christ are not limited to those who commit sins either of commission or omission, but they encompass the promise of everlasting peace to all who will accept and follow Him and His teachings. His mercy is the mighty healer, even to the wounded innocent.”
President Boyd K Packer, “The Reason For Our Hope” October 2014

“Those who will repent and forsake sin will find that His merciful arm is outstretched still. Those who listen to and heed His words and the words of His chosen servants will find peace and understanding even in the midst of great heartache and sorrow. The result of His sacrifice is to free us from the effects of sin, that all may have guilt erased and feel hope.”
President Boyd K Packer, “The Reason For Our Hope” October 2014

“Sin is the willful transgression of divine law. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the gift of God to His children to correct and overcome the consequences of sin. God loves all of His children, and He will never cease to love and to hope for us. The plan of our Heavenly Father is clear, and His promises are great: “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world … might be saved” (John 3:17). Christ came to save us. If we have taken a wrong course, the Atonement of Jesus Christ can give us the assurance that sin is not a point of no return. A safe return is possible if we will follow God’s plan for our salvation.”
       President Uchtdorf, “Point of Safe Return” April 2007

“It is not repentance per se that saves man. It is the blood of Jesus Christ that saves us. It is not by our sincere and honest change of behavior alone that we are saved, but “by grace that we are saved, after all we can do” (2 Nephi 25:23). True repentance, however, is the condition required so that God’s forgiveness can come into our lives. True repentance makes “a brilliant day [out] of the darkest night” (Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness [1969], 362).”
       President Uchtdorf, “Point of Safe Return” April 2007

"Because Adam and Eve did fall, we have temptation, trials, and death as our universal inheritance. However, our loving Heavenly Father gave us the gift of His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, as our Savior. That great gift and blessing of the Atonement of Jesus Christ brings a universal inheritance: the promise of the Resurrection and the possibility of eternal life to all who are born.
      President Eyring, “A Priceless Heritage of Hope” April 2014

"We are not and never need be alone. We can press forward in our daily lives with heavenly help. Through the Savior’s Atonement we can receive capacity and “strength beyond [our] own” (“Lord, I Would Follow Thee,” Hymns, no. 220). As the Lord declared, “Therefore, continue your journey and let your hearts rejoice; for behold, and lo, I am with you even unto the end” (D&C 100:12).
       Elder Bednar, "Bear Up Their Burdens With Ease," April 2014

"Not only does the Atonement of Jesus Christ overcome the effects of the Fall of Adam and make possible the remission of our individual sins and transgressions, but His Atonement also enables us to do good and become better in ways that stretch far beyond our mortal capacities. Most of us know that when we do things wrong and need help to overcome the effects of sin in our lives, the Savior has made it possible for us to become clean through His redeeming power. But do we also understand that the Atonement is for faithful men and women who are obedient, worthy, and conscientious and who are striving to become better and serve more faithfully? I wonder if we fail to fully acknowledge this strengthening aspect of the Atonement in our lives and mistakenly believe we must carry our load all alone—through sheer grit, willpower, and discipline and with our obviously limited capacities."
       Elder Bednar, "Bear up Their Burdens With Ease," April 2014

"We are forever grateful that the Savior’s Atonement overcame original sin so that we can be born into this world yet not be punished for Adam’s transgression. Having been thus redeemed from the Fall, we begin life innocent before God and “become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for [ourselves] and not to be acted upon.” We can choose to become the kind of person that we will, and with God’s help, that can be even as He is."
Elder Christofferson, "Free Forever, To Act for Themselves," October 2014

“The Savior is the source of true peace. Even with the trials of life, because of the Savior’s Atonement and His grace, righteous living will be rewarded with personal peace.”
       Elder Quentin L. Cook, "Personal Peace: The Reward of Righteousness."

Position Statement
The atonement of Jesus Christ is the source of all things good. We could not return to our Father in Heaven without this ultimate sacrifice. It is infinite and eternal. Infinite meaning it is for every person that will ever live, and eternal because it spans through out all time. The atonement blesses us in ways that we can't even imagine. There is a redeeming and enabling power that comes from the atonement of our Savior. It redeems us from our sins, meaning that one day we can return to live with our Heavenly Father. It has an enabling power as well which many of us forget. With the enabling power we are able to have the strength to do things we otherwise couldn't.

Agency

“President Harold B. Lee said, “Next to life itself, free agency is God’s greatest gift to mankind.” Then it was no small thing for Satan to disregard man’s agency. In fact, it became the principal issue over which the War in Heaven was fought. Victory in the War in Heaven was a victory for man’s agency.”
Elder L. Tom Perry, “Obedience to Law is Liberty”, April 2013

"As our understanding of obedience deepens, we recognize the essential role of agency. When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed three times to His Father in Heaven, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”8 God would not override the Savior’s agency, yet He mercifully sent an angel to strengthen His Beloved Son. The Savior met another test on Golgotha, where He could have called upon legions of angels to take Him down from the cross, but He made His own choice to obediently endure to the end and complete His atoning sacrifice, even though it meant great suffering, even death.”
       Elder Hales, “If Ye Love Me Keep My Commandments" April 2014

"But God intends that His children should act according to the moral agency He has given them, “that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment.”2 It is His plan and His will that we have the principal decision-making role in our own life’s drama. God will not live our lives for us nor control us as if we were His puppets, as Lucifer once proposed to do. Nor will His prophets accept the role of “puppet master” in God’s place.
       Elder Christofferson, "Free Forever, to act For Themselves," October 2014

“[God] knows what each will do under given conditions, and sees the end from the beginning. His foreknowledge is based on intelligence and reason. He foresees the future as a state which naturally and surely will be; not as one which must be because He has arbitrarily willed that it shall be.”
       James E. Talmage

“We have been given agency, we have been given the blessings of the priesthood, and we have been given the Light of Christ and the Holy Ghost for a reason. That reason is our growth and happiness in this world and eternal life in the world to come.”
       Robert D. Hales, To Act for Ourselves: The Gift and Blessings of Agency

“Agency used righteously allows light to dispel the darkness and enables us to live with joy and happiness.”
      Robert D. Hales, To Act for Ourselves: The Gift and Blessings of Agency

“The battle over man’s God-given agency continues today. Satan and his minions have their lures all around us, hoping that we will falter and take his flies so he can reel us in with counterfeit means. He uses addiction to steal away agency. According to the dictionary, addiction of any kind means to surrender to something, thus relinquishing agency and becoming dependent on some life-destroying substance or behavior.”
      Elder M. Russell Ballard “O That Cunning Plan of the Evil One”

“God has given unto all of His children … individual agency. … [We] possessed it in the heaven of heavens before the world was, and the Lord maintained and defended it there against the aggression of Lucifer. … By virtue of this agency you and I and all mankind are made responsible beings, responsible for the course we pursue, the lives we live, the deeds we do.”
      President Wilford Woodruff

“All must use [this agency] in order to gain exaltation in [God’s] kingdom; inasmuch as [we] have the power of choice [we] must exercise that power.”
      President Brigham Young

“The choices we make determine our destiny.”
      President Thomas S. Monson

Position Statement
Agency is one of the greatest gifts that God has given to man. It is the one thing that God cannot take from us but we can give to him freely. Satan tried to take away our agency and continues to try to take that away from us by tempting us to make wrong choices. With every choice comes a consequence. When we make good choices we receive more freedom, but when we make bad choices, our agency is slowly taken away due to our own will. With our agency we can choose God which is what he wants.