To Acquire Spiritual Guidance
Elder Richard G. Scott
http://www.lds.org/move/index.html?type=conference&event=Oct179&lang=english
What impressed me the most:
Thomas S. Monson
President of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Elder Richard G. Scott
The first link is to the video (scroll to the right until you reach Elder Scott's address) and the second is to the text:
http://www.lds.org/move/index.html?type=conference&event=Oct179&lang=english
http://www.lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-1117-2,00.html
What impressed me the most:
I witness that as you gain experience and success in being guided by the Spirit, your confidence in the impressions you feel can become more certain than your dependence on what you see or hear.
Spirituality yields two fruits. The first is inspiration to know what to do. The second is power, or the capacity to do it.
I believe that you can leave the most precious, personal direction of the Spirit unheard because you do not respond to, record, and apply the first promptings that come to you.
Sometimes the impressions are just general feelings. Sometimes the direction comes so clearly and so unmistakably that it can be written down like spiritual dictation.
Spirituality yields two fruits. The first is inspiration to know what to do. The second is power, or the capacity to do it.
I believe that you can leave the most precious, personal direction of the Spirit unheard because you do not respond to, record, and apply the first promptings that come to you.
Sometimes the impressions are just general feelings. Sometimes the direction comes so clearly and so unmistakably that it can be written down like spiritual dictation.
Thomas S. Monson
President of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
"My advice . . . is that you should study and prepare for your life's work in a field that you enjoy, because you are going to spend a good share of your life in that field. It should be one which will challenge your intellect and which will make maximum utilization of your talents and your capabilities. Finally, it should be a field that will supply sufficient remuneration to provide adequately for your companion and your children. Now that's a big order. But I bear testimony that these criteria are very important in choosing your life's work.
"While this counsel would apply to young men, it also has relevance to young women. There are situations in life which we cannot predict which will require employable skills. . . .
"Have discipline in your preparations. Have checkpoints where you can determine if you're on course.
"I hope that you are not afraid of tough classes. I never did have a "cinch" class. I hope that you are not afraid of lengthy periods of preparation. Burn the midnight oil. Don't procrastinate. . . .
"You simply have to apply yourself. I hope that you want to be so well equipped that you can compete in this competitive world. I hope that you will learn to take responsibility for your decisions, whether they be in your courses of study which you elect to take, or whether they be in the direction of the academic attainments which you strive to achieve.
"Should you become discouraged or feel burdened down, remember that others have passed this same way; they have endured and then have achieved. When we have done all that we are able to do, we can then rely on God's promised help.
"You have access to the lighthouse of the Lord. There is no fog so dense, no night so dark, no mariner so lost, no gale so strong as to render useless the lighthouse of the Lord. It beckons through the storms of life. It seems to call to you and me: 'This way to safety; this way to home.'" . . .
"My young brothers and sisters, don't take counsel of your fears. Don't say to yourselves, 'I'm not wise enough, or I can't apply myself sufficiently well to study this difficult subject or in this difficult field, so I shall choose the easier way.' I plead with you to tax your talent, and our Heavenly Father will make you equal to those decisions.
"In this life, where we have opportunities to strive and to achieve, I bear witness that on occasion we need to make a second effort -- and a third effort, and a fourth effort and as many degrees of effort as may be required to accomplish what we strive to achieve.
(Life's Greatest Decisions, CES fireside, 7 September 2003)
"While this counsel would apply to young men, it also has relevance to young women. There are situations in life which we cannot predict which will require employable skills. . . .
"Have discipline in your preparations. Have checkpoints where you can determine if you're on course.
"I hope that you are not afraid of tough classes. I never did have a "cinch" class. I hope that you are not afraid of lengthy periods of preparation. Burn the midnight oil. Don't procrastinate. . . .
"You simply have to apply yourself. I hope that you want to be so well equipped that you can compete in this competitive world. I hope that you will learn to take responsibility for your decisions, whether they be in your courses of study which you elect to take, or whether they be in the direction of the academic attainments which you strive to achieve.
"Should you become discouraged or feel burdened down, remember that others have passed this same way; they have endured and then have achieved. When we have done all that we are able to do, we can then rely on God's promised help.
"You have access to the lighthouse of the Lord. There is no fog so dense, no night so dark, no mariner so lost, no gale so strong as to render useless the lighthouse of the Lord. It beckons through the storms of life. It seems to call to you and me: 'This way to safety; this way to home.'" . . .
"My young brothers and sisters, don't take counsel of your fears. Don't say to yourselves, 'I'm not wise enough, or I can't apply myself sufficiently well to study this difficult subject or in this difficult field, so I shall choose the easier way.' I plead with you to tax your talent, and our Heavenly Father will make you equal to those decisions.
"In this life, where we have opportunities to strive and to achieve, I bear witness that on occasion we need to make a second effort -- and a third effort, and a fourth effort and as many degrees of effort as may be required to accomplish what we strive to achieve.
(Life's Greatest Decisions, CES fireside, 7 September 2003)
No comments:
Post a Comment