The Atonement

"No matter what our transgressions have been, no matter how much our actions may have hurt others, that guilt can all be wiped out. To me, perhaps the most beautiful phrase in all scripture is when the Lord said, 'Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.'"

—Boyd K. Packer, "The Atonement"

"There is absolutely nothing in this world that will provide more comfort and happiness than a testimony of the truth."

—Thomas S. Monson, "See Others as They May Become"

"When our commitment is diminished for any reason, part of the solution is repentance. Commitment and repentance are closely intertwined."

—Quentin L. Cook, "Can Ye Feel So Now?"

"The foundational principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ can affect our life’s direction for good, if only we will apply them."

—Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Of Regrets and Resolutions"

"Throughout your life there may be times when you have gone places you never should have gone and done things you never should have done. If you will turn away from sin, you will be able one day to know the peace that comes from following the pathway of complete repentance."

—Boyd K. Packer, "The Atonement"

-"We still do not know how the Savior was able to take upon Himself and bear our transgressions, our foolishness, our grief, our sorrows, and our burdens. It was indefinable and unfathomable. It was almost unbearable. The indescribable agony was so great in Gethsemane that “his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (Luke 22:44.) The haunting cry on the cross, in a loud voice in His native Aramaic, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34) gives but a mere glimpse of His suffering and humiliation. One cannot help wondering how many of those drops of precious blood each of us may be responsible for."    -James E. Faust, "The Supernal Gift of the Atonement"

"The Lord will give His righteous servants opportunities to be bold as lions when they speak in His name and as witnesses in His priesthood."

—Henry B. Eyring, "Help Them Aim High"

"We must develop the capacity to see men not as they are at present but as they may become when they receive testimonies of the gospel of Christ."

—Thomas S. Monson, "See Others as They May Become"

"If you have made no mistakes, then you do not need the Atonement. If you have made mistakes, and all of us have, whether minor or serious, then you have an enormous need to find out how they can be erased so that you are no longer in darkness.

“[Jesus Christ] is the light and the life of the world.” As we fix our gaze on His teachings, we will be guided to the harbor of spiritual safety.

The third article of faith states, “We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.”

—Boyd K. Packer, "The Atonement"

"Jesus Christ lives, knows us, watches over us, and cares for us. In moments of pain, loneliness, or confusion, we do not need to see Jesus Christ to know that He is aware of our circumstances and that His mission is to bless."

—Henry B. Eyring, "Where Is the Pavilion?"

"The plan of salvation could not be brought about without an atonement. “Therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also.”

The atoning sacrifice had to be carried out by the sinless Son of God, for fallen man could not atone for his own sins. The Atonement had to be infinite and eternal―to cover all men throughout all eternity. Through His suffering and death, the Savior atoned for the sins of all men. His Atonement began in Gethsemane and continued on the cross and culminated with the Resurrection."    -C. Scott Grow, "The Miracle of the Atonement"

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The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the only ordinance in which we are able to return to our Heavenly Father. I am so grateful for the Atonement in my life, and for how much peace and assurance it provides to me. When life gets difficult, and my burdens are too heavy to carry on my own, it is so comforting to know that since my Heavenly Father so lovingly atoned for my sins, I can find the strength and peace to overcome my trials. I have felt the atonement in my life personally, and it is such a wonderful feeling to know that my Heavenly Father and Savior are watching over me, and that they provide ways to help me through this life, and that I can feel of their love daily. 

Temples

                                                                                            Washington D.C. Temple

"Worthiness to hold a temple recommend gives us the strength to keep our temple covenants. How do we personally gain that strength? We strive to obtain a testimony of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, the reality of the Atonement, and the truthfulness of the Prophet Joseph Smith and the Restoration. We sustain our leaders, treat our families with kindness, stand as a witness of the Lord’s true Church, attend our Church meetings, honor our covenants, fulfill parental obligations, and live a virtuous life. You may say that sounds like just being a faithful Latter-day Saint! You are right. The standard for temple recommend holders is not too high for us to achieve. It is simply to faithfully live the gospel and follow the prophets."

—Elder Robert D. Hales, "Coming to Ourselves: The Sacrament, the Temple, and Sacrifice in Service"

"Melchizedek Priesthood holders who are fathers in sealed families have been taught what they must do. There is nothing that has come or will come into your family as important as the sealing blessings. There is nothing more important than honoring the marriage and family covenants you have made or will make in the temples of God."

—President Henry B. Eyring, "Families under Covenant"

"As you participate in temple and family history work, you are certain to have the Spirit to comfort you in your challenges and guide you in the important decisions you are making."

—Julie B. Beck, "This Is Your Work"

"The attributes by which we shall be judged one day are all spiritual. These include love, virtue, integrity, compassion, and service to others. Your spirit, coupled with and housed in your body, is able to develop and manifest these attributes in ways that are vital to your eternal progression. Spiritual progress is attained through the steps of faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end, including the endowment and sealing ordinances of the holy temple."

—Elder Russell M. Nelson, "Thanks Be to God"

“A member of the Church who is worthy of a temple recommend should always stand out in whatever professional circles he or she belongs to. Dare to be different. Never worry about offending others by living up to the standards of the Church. I promise you that living up to temple recommend standards will bless and never

hurt you in any situation in which you may find yourself.”

- Elder L. Tom Perry, “The Tradition of Light and Testimony”

“Does it seem reasonable that persons who have lived upon the earth and died without the opportunity of baptism should be deprived throughout eternity? Is there anything unreasonable about the living performing the baptisms for the dead? Perhaps the greatest example of vicarious work for the dead is the Master himself. He gave his life as a vicarious atonement, that all who die shall live again and have life everlasting. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves. In a similar way we can perform ordinances for those who did not have the opportunity to do them in lifetime.

Not only may baptisms be performed for the dead, but endowments; also sealings, by which wives become eternal companions to husbands and their children sealed to them as a family. The sealing of family units can be continued until the family of God is made perfect. This is the great work of the dispensation of the fullness of times, by which the hearts of the fathers are turned to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers. The uniting and redemption of the family of God was the divine plan before the foundations of the earth were laid."  - Howard W. Hunter, “Elijah the Prophet"

“Now, my brothers and sisters, we have built temples throughout the world and will continue to do so. To you who are worthy and able to attend the temple, I would admonish you to go often. The temple is a place where we can find peace. There we receive a renewed dedication to the gospel and a strengthened resolve to keep the commandments.

What a privilege it is to be able to go to the temple, where we may experience the sanctifying influence of the Spirit of the Lord. Great service is given when we perform vicarious ordinances for those who have gone beyond the veil. In many cases we do not know those for whom we perform the work. We expect no thanks, nor do we have the assurance that they will accept that which we offer. However, we serve, and in that process we attain that which comes of no other effort: we literally become saviors on Mount Zion. As our Savior gave His life as a vicarious sacrifice for us, so we, in some small measure, do the same when we perform proxy work in the temple for those who have no means of moving forward unless something is done for them by those of us here on the earth.”

-       President Thomas S. Monson, “Until We Meet Again”

“As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, I leave you my blessing and give you a promise that as you accept and live the values and principles of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, “[you] will be prepared to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.” 10 And the day will come when you turn the final pages of your own glorious story; there you will read and experience the fulfillment of those blessed and wonderful words: ‘And they lived happily ever after.’ Of this I testify in the holy name of Jesus Christ, amen.”

-       President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “You’re Happily Ever After”

“Now, only after this life can I enjoy the fullness of that greatest of all blessings, eternal life. But amidst the challenges of this life, I have been given at least glimpses of what my family in heaven can be like. From those experiences my testimony of the reality of the sealing power exercised in temples has grown and been strengthened.”

-       President Henry B. Eyring, “A Living Testimony”

“We improve our relationship with our Heavenly Father by learning of Him, by communing with Him, by repenting of our sins, and by actively following Jesus Christ, for “no man cometh unto the Father, but by [Christ].” To strengthen our relationship with God, we need some meaningful time alone with Him. Quietly focusing on daily personal prayer and scripture study, always aiming to be worthy of a current temple recommend—these will be some wise investments of our time and efforts to draw closer to our Heavenly Father. Let us heed the invitation in Psalms: ‘Be still, and know that I am God.’”

-       President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Of Things That Matter Most”

"My brothers and sisters, temples are more than stone and mortar. They are filled with faith and fasting. They are built of trials and testimonies. They are sanctified by sacrifice and service."

—Thomas S. Monson, "The Holy Temple–A Beacon to the World"

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            I love temples so much! It makes me so happy that we have the opportunity to perform temple work on this Earth for ourselves, as well as our families. I'm so excited to be able to go to the temple with my future husband, and to be sealed eternally with him and my family. I'm just so grateful for the blessings that Heavenly Father has given to us, and that we even have the chance to perform such sacred ordinances. Families are one of the fundamental aspects to our time here on this earth, and the ordinances performed in the temple allow us to become eternal families; which is the biggest blessing that we could ask for! I'm also so grateful that I can help perform work for those who have passed on already, and that they too can live forever with their families.

                                                         Mormon Message!

Pornography

"Sexual immorality and impure thoughts violate the standard established by the Savior. We were warned at the beginning of this dispensation that sexual immorality would be perhaps the greatest challenge. Such conduct will, without repentance, cause a spiritual drought and loss of commitment. Movies, TV, and the Internet often convey degrading messages and images. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf and I were recently in an Amazon jungle village and observed satellite dishes even on some of the small, simply built huts. We rejoiced at the wonderful information available in this remote area. We also recognized there is virtually no place on earth that cannot be impacted by salacious, immoral, and titillating images. This is one reason why pornography has become such a plague in our day."   -Elder Quentin L. Cook, "Can You Feel So Now?"      

"Brethren, it cannot be this way with us. As men of the priesthood, we have an essential role to play in society, at home, and in the Church. But we must be men that women can trust, that children can trust, and that God can trust. In the Church and kingdom of God in these latter days, we cannot afford to have boys and men who are drifting. We cannot afford young men who lack self-discipline and live only to be entertained. We cannot afford young adult men who are going nowhere in life, who are not serious about forming families and making a real contribution in this world. 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 (ironically being of the world while not being in the world)."  -Elder D. Todd Christofferson, "Brethren, We Have Work To Do"

"Permissiveness, immorality, pornography, drugs, the power of peer pressure—all these and more—cause many to be tossed about on a sea of sin and crushed on the jagged reefs of lost opportunities, forfeited blessings, and shattered dreams."   -President Thomas S. Monson, "Believe, Obey, and Endure"

"Our Heavenly Father has counseled us to seek after “anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy.” Whatever you read, listen to, or watch makes an impression on you. Pornography is especially dangerous and additive. Curious exploration of pornography can become a controlling habit, leading to coarser material and sexual transgression. Avoid pornography at all costs. Don't be afraid to walk out of a movie, turn off a television set, or change a radio station if what's being presented does not meet your Heavenly Father's standards. In short, if you have any question about whether a particular movie, book, or other form of entertainment is appropriate, don't see it. don't read it, don't participate.   -Thomas S. Monson, "Preparation Brings Blessings"

"Stay completely away from pornography. Do not allow yourself to view it, ever. It has proven to be an addiction which is more than difficult to overcome."  -President Thomas S. Monson, "Priesthood Power"

“Fully living the law of chastity yields confidence to stand ‘in the presence of God’ with the Holy Ghost as our ‘constant companion.’ Satan is assaulting virtue and marriage with an avalanche of obscenity. When the Lord warned adulterers to ‘beware and repent speedily,’ His definition extended beyond the physical act of adultery to the lustful thoughts that precede it. Modern prophets and apostles have spoken often and clearly about the plague of pornography. President Gordon B. Hinckley taught: ‘[Pornography] is like a raging storm, destroying individuals and families, utterly ruining what was once wholesome and beautiful. … The time has come for any one of us who is so involved to pull himself out of the mire.’ If you are tempted to violate the law of chastity in any form, follow Joseph of Egypt’s example, who ‘fled, and got him out.’”  -Elder Anthony D. Perkins, "Beware Concerning Yourselves"

“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. The Lord will help you to recognize and avoid those evils. It is the early recognition of danger and a clear course correction that will keep you in the light of the gospel. Minor decisions can lead to major consequences.”   -Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "A Matter of a Few Degrees"

“In daily choices we may prevent certain insidious influences from entering our lives and becoming part of what we are. In an informal discussion that Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) and I had some years ago, we observed that one can avoid most pornography and pornographic images just by making good choices. For the most part it is simply a matter of self-discipline not to go where pornography is likely to be found—physically or electronically. We acknowledged, nevertheless, that because it is so tragically pervasive, pornography could assault a person minding his own business quite by surprise. ‘Yes,’ observed Elder Maxwell, ‘but he can immediately reject it. He does not have to invite it to come in and offer it a chair to sit down.’”  -Elder D. Todd Christofferson, "Recognizing God's Hand in Our Daily Blessings"

      "...pornography—is plaguing our society and families. Just as fiery serpents swept through the camp of Israel, pornography is sweeping through our world, and even the Saints of God are not escaping unharmed. President Thomas S. Monson has aptly called pornography “deadly.”1 President Gordon B. Hinckley called it a “plague” and “poison.” In very real ways, the serpents of addiction are attacking us as fiercely and with as devastating consequences as the fiery serpents attacked the children of Israel."   -Benjamin R. Erwin, "Overcoming Addiction Through the Atonement"

"We hope that our parents and leaders will not tolerate pornography. It is really garbage, but today is peddled as normal and satisfactory food. Many writers seem to take delight in polluting the atmosphere with it. Seemingly, it cannot be stopped by legislation. There is a link between pornography and the low, sexual drives and perversions. We live in a culture which venerates the orgasm, streaking, trading wives, and similar crazes. How low can humans plunge! We pray with our Lord that we may be kept from being in the world. It is sad that decent people are thrown into a filthy area of mental and spiritual pollution. We call upon all of our people to do all in their power to offset this ugly revolution.  - Spencer W. Kimball, “God Will Not Be Mocked”

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Pornography is so destructive and spiritually deadly. It destroys your soul, and it also destroys marriages, families and relationships. I know that it hooks you, and become so addictive, that it consumes you. The Lord has placed sacred sexual feelings within us, and we need to act on these feelings only within the bonds of matrimony, and we can only feel them with our spouses. I hope that for all who are dealing with addictions of pornography, that they seek the divine help of the Lord. Only through the Atonement can people be saved from the heavy chains of pornography, and if people really want to overcome it, then they need to prayerfully and faithfully go to the Lord to ask for this addiction to be taken from them. The power of the priesthood and atonement takes away the addictions and pains of such a dangerous trap. I am so grateful for Priesthood holders who honor the priesthood, and who stay away from the traps of pornography. I'm also so grateful for the Atonement which allows us to repent of all of our sins, and to allow us to feel his love and peace again.

Mormon Messages! :)

Service

"We are all under the Savior’s command to love and care for each other and especially for the weak and defenseless."

—Dallin H. Oaks, "Protect the Children",

"If ye love me, keep my commandments,' Jesus said. So we have neighbors to bless, children to protect, the poor to lift up, and the truth to defend. We have wrongs to make right, truths to share, and good to do. In short, we have a life of devoted discipleship to give in demonstrating our love of the Lord."

—Jeffrey R. Holland, "The First Great Commandment",

"Imagine what good we can do in the world if we all join together, united as followers of Christ, anxiously and busily responding to the needs of others and serving those around us—our families, our friends, our neighbors, our fellow citizens."

—M. Russell Ballard, "Be Anxiously Engaged"

"With your guidance, those you lead will be able to see, want, and believe they can achieve their full potential for service in God’s kingdom."

—Henry B. Eyring, "Help Them Aim High",

"Great things are brought about and burdens are lightened through the efforts of many hands 'anxiously engaged in a good cause.' Imagine what the millions of Latter-day Saints could accomplish in the world if we functioned like a beehive in our focused, concentrated commitment to the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ."

—M. Russell Ballard, "Be Anxiously Engaged",

"Providing service and extending charity toward others helps us overcome our own difficulties and makes them seem less challenging."

—Silvia H. Allred, "Charity Never Faileth"

"Let us do whatever is required to qualify for the Holy Ghost as our companion, and then let us go forward fearlessly so that we will be given the powers to do whatever the Lord calls us to do. That growth in power to serve may come slowly, it may come in small steps that are difficult for you to see, but it will come."

—Henry B. Eyring, "Serve with the Spirit"

"People can change. They can put behind them bad habits. They can repent from transgressions. They can bear the priesthood worthily. And they can serve the Lord diligently."

—Thomas S. Monson, "See Others as They May Become"

"I have found that, rather than dwelling on the negative, if we will take a step back and consider the blessings in our lives, including seemingly small, sometimes overlooked blessings, we can find greater happiness."

—Thomas S. Monson, "Consider the Blessings"

"As sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, we are capable of so much more. For that, good intentions are not enough. We must do. Even more important, we must become what Heavenly Father wants us to be."

—Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Of Regrets and Resolutions"

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Service is such a powerful act. The Lord has commanded us to serve others, and to help strengthen the weak in any way that we possibly can. Since the Lord physically isn't able to come down and help us with everything that we need, he sends people to help and assist us when we need it. This is why we need to be open to the promptings of the spirit, so that we can know when we need to help and serve others. Sometimes these promptings come unusually, but the Lord knows what his children need, and we need to be instruments in his hand, bringing about his work. I'm so grateful for all of the service that people have done for me, and I'm so grateful that I've also been able to serve others because it makes me happy!

Agency

"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 practice in your life, you will be more perceptive to the feelings that come with spiritual guidance."

—Richard G. Scott, "To Acquire Spiritual Guidance"

"We have implanted in our souls a desire to be free. The Lord understood this when He granted us our mortal probation. With that freedom, however, comes accountability. We are instructed not to idle away our time nor bury our talents and not use them. We are expected to make our lives better through our own initiatives and efforts."

—L. Tom Perry, "Youth of the Noble Birthright"

"Wise parents prepare their children to get along without them. They provide opportunities for growth as children acquire the spiritual maturity to exercise their agency properly. And yes, this means children will sometimes make mistakes and learn from them."

—Elder Larry Y. Wilson, "Only upon the Principles of Righteousness"

"For a moment, think back about your favorite fairy tale. In that story the main character must overcome adversity.You will experience your own adversity.It is your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how your life’s story will develop. Your own wondrous story has already begun. Your ‘once upon a time’ is now.”     - President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Your Happily Ever After”

“The first gift that Adam and Eve received was agency: ‘Thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee’ (Moses 3:17).

You have that same agency. Use it wisely to deny acting on any impure impulse or unholy temptation that may come into your mind. Just do not go there, and if you are already there, come back out of it. ‘Deny yourselves of all ungodliness’ (Moroni 10:32).”

-       President Boyd K. Packer, “How to Survive in Enemy Territory”

“We are surrounded by the messages of the adversary: ‘Just this once won’t matter.’ ‘Don’t worry; no one will know.’ Decisions are constantly before us. To make them wisely, courage is needed—the courage to say no, the courage to say yes. Decisions do determine destiny.”

-       President Thomas S. Monson, “Decide Right Now”

“We have also been given the gift of agency. In a thousand ways we are privileged to choose for ourselves. Here we learn from the hard taskmaster of experience. We discern between good and evil. We differentiate as to the bitter and the sweet. We discover that there are consequences attached to our actions.”

-       President Thomas S. Monson, “General Conference Is For You”

“Precious young women, make every decision you contemplate pass this test: ‘What does it do to me? What does it do for me?’ And let your code of conduct emphasize not ‘What will others think?’ but rather ‘What will I think of myself?’ Be influenced by that still, small voice. Remember that one with authority placed his hands on your head at the time of your confirmation and said, ‘Receive the Holy Ghost.’ Open your hearts, even your very souls, to the sound of that special voice which testifies of truth. As the prophet Isaiah promised, ‘Thine ears shall hear a word … saying, This is the way, walk ye in it.’”

-       President Thomas S. Monson, “Believe, Obey and Endure”

“I am so grateful to a loving Heavenly Father for His gift of agency, or the right to choose. President David O. McKay, ninth President of the Church, said, ‘Next to the bestowal of life itself, the right to direct that life is God’s greatest gift to man.’”

-       President Thomas S. Monson, “The Three Rs Of Choice”

“The Prophet Joseph Smith explained, “I teach them correct principles, and they govern themselves.” To me, this teaching is beautifully straightforward. As we strive to understand, internalize, and live correct gospel principles, we will become more spiritually self-reliant. The principle of spiritual self-reliance grows out of a fundamental doctrine of the Church: God has granted us agency. I believe that moral agency is one of the greatest gifts of God unto His children, next to life itself. When I study and ponder moral agency and its eternal consequences, I realize that we are truly spirit children of God and therefore should act accordingly. This understanding also reminds me that as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are part of a great worldwide family of Saints.”

-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Developing Christ-like Attributes”

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I'm so grateful for agency! The whole point for us to even come to this earth was to gain a body, and to have earthly experiences where we have to choose and make mistakes. If we didn't have agency, then we wouldn't be able to know happiness and sorrow from the consequences of our choices. If we had no agency, then we wouldn't be able to grow and be strengthened; we wouldn't be who we are today. Agency can cause many problems, heartache and sorrow, yet it can also bring much happiness. If we choose the Lord's way, we are showing him how much we love him and want to come unto him; if there was no agency, then we wouldn't have a way to do this. Although agency can be difficult, I really am so grateful for the gift of it, and the freedoms we have with it.

We should be so grateful for the freedoms we have!

Happiness

1.) "None of us makes it through this life without problems and challenges—and sometimes tragedies and misfortunes. After all, in large part we are here to learn and grow from such events in our lives. We know that there are times when we will suffer, when we will grieve, and when we will be saddened. However, we are told, ‘Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.’ How might we have joy in our lives, despite all that we may face? Again from the scriptures: ‘Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you.’ ”   -Thomas S. Monson, Be of Good Cheer

2.) "True, enduring happiness, with the accompanying strength, courage, and capacity to overcome the greatest difficulties, will come as you center your life in Jesus Christ. Obedience to His teachings provides a secure ascent in the journey of life. That takes effort. While there is no guarantee of overnight results, there is the assurance that, in the Lord's time, solutions will come, peace will prevail, and happiness will be yours."  -Richard G. Scott, The Atonement Can Secure Your Peace and Happiness

3.) "In order to have joy, you need to understand that, as a child of your Heavenly Father, you inherited divine traits and spiritual needs--and just like a fish needs water, you need the gospel and the companionship of the Holy Ghost to be truly, deeply happy. Because you are the offspring of God (see Acts 17:28), it is incompatible with your eternal nature to do wrong and feel right. It cannot be done. It is part of your spiritual DNA, as it were, that peace, joy, and happiness will be yours only to the degree you live the gospel."   -Marcus B. Nash, The Great Plan of Happiness

4.) "Don’t you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead. Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven. But for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come. It will be all right in the end. Trust God and believe in good things to come."  -Jeffrey R. Holland, A High Priest of Good Things to Come

5.) "And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness."   -Mosiah 2:41, The Book of Mormon

6.) "From what might appear to you to be small choices, the Lord will lead you to the happiness you want. Through your choices He will be able to bless countless others."  -Henry B. Eyring, A Living Testimony

7.) "But to what end were we created? We were created with the express purpose and potential of experiencing a fullness of joy. Our birthright-and the purpose of our great voyage on this earth-is to seek and experience eternal happiness." Dieter R. Uchtdorf, Happiness, Your Heritage

8.) "Gratitude is a Spirit‑filled principle. It opens our minds to a universe permeated with the richness of a living God. Through it, we become spiritually aware of the wonder of the smallest things, which gladden our hearts with their messages of God's love. This grateful awareness heightens our sensitivity to divine direction. When we communicate gratitude, we can be filled with the Spirit and connected to those around us and the Lord. Gratitude inspires happiness and carries divine influence."  -Bonnie D. Parkin, Gratitude: A Path to Happiness

9.) "The Spirit is the guiding light that brings joy and happiness. May we never be denied the Spirit to be with us because of our conduct. Oh, how I pray that we will never be alone and sad in this “dark and dreary” world"   -Robert D. Hales, Be Wise and Be a Friend

10.) "To find real happiness, we must focus outside ourselves. Many have come into the Church—or at least have come to know and respect the Church—because someone made the effort to reach outward."  -Thomas S. Monson, Reach Out to Others

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When there are so many trials and hardships in this life, it can be difficult to find happiness. However, if we do find this happiness, then it will mean so much! There are many things in this life that detract from our happiness and can bring us down, such as sin, trials, and simply just things that take away our focus from things that matter most. What matters most in this life are our families and loved ones. We need to cherish the blessings of our families, and realize that they are our greatest gifts. Also, we can find so much happiness in service and in doing good to others; when we serve we feel Christ's love! The best way to beat sadness or loneliness is to serve others and help to lift their spirits! I'm so grateful for this gospel which provides a constant flow of happiness and joy in my life; I don't know how I would face life's challenges without it! :)

It would really benefit us to slow down and remember the moments that matter most in our lives. Here's a Mormon Message that I love and I wanted to share! :)

The Plan of Salvation

1.) "At death, righteous spirits live in a temporary state called paradise. Alma the Younger teaches us “paradise [is] a state of rest, a state of peace, where [the righteous] shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.”  The unrighteous spirits dwell in spirit prison, sometimes referred to as hell.  It is described as an awful place, a dark place where those fearful of the “indignation of the wrath of God” shall remain until the resurrection.  However, because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all spirits blessed by birth will ultimately be resurrected, spirit and body reunited, and inherit kingdoms of glory that are superior to our existence here on earth. The exceptions are confined to those who, like Satan and his angels, willfully rebel against God.  At the resurrection, the spirit prison or hell will deliver up its captive spirits. Jesus came into the world “to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness."    -Quentin L. Cook, Our Father's Plan- Big Enough For All His Children

2.) "The Lord's way is not hard. Life is hard, not the gospel."  -Lawrence E. Corbridge, The Way

3.) "The things we hope for are often future events. If only we could look beyond the horizon of mortality into what awaits us beyond this life. Is it possible to imagine a more glorious future than the one prepared for us by our Heavenly Father? Because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we need not fear, for we will live forever, never to taste of death again. Because of His infinite Atonement, we can be cleansed of sin and stand pure and holy before the judgment bar. The Savior is the Author of our Salvation."   -Dieter F. Uchtdorf, The Infinite Power of Hope

4.) "Through tears and trials, through fears and sorrows, through the heartache and loneliness of losing loved ones, there is assurance that life is everlasting. Our Lord and Savior is the living witness that such is so."   -Thomas S. Monson, I Know My Redeemer Lives

5.) "Your Heavenly Father loves each of you and has sent you to earth with a purpose. He has revealed a plan of happiness that, if followed, will ultimately bring you home to His presence, having triumphed over the trials and challenges of this world. Committing yourself now to live by the pattern the Lord has set will give you great strength in the proper use of your moral agency.

The sincere commitments you make to yourself and to the Lord will be vital. We learn from the book of Psalms to 'commit thy way unto the Lord; . . . and he shall bring it to pass' (Psalm 37:5)."   -John B. Dickson, Commitment to the Lord

6.) "[The] test [of life] is part of the purpose God had for us in the Creation.

"The Prophet Joseph Smith gave us the Lord's description of the test we face. Our Heavenly Father created the world with His Son, Jesus Christ. We have these words to tell us about the purpose of the Creation: 'We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell; And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them' (Abraham 3:24-25). So, the great test of life is to see whether we will hearken to and obey God's commands in the midst of the storms of life. It is not to endure storms, but to choose the right while they rage. And the tragedy of life is to fail in that test and so fail to qualify to return in glory to our heavenly home." Henry R. Eyring, Spiritual Preparedness: Start Early and Be Steady

7.) "If you understand the great plan of happiness and follow it, what goes on in the world will not determine your happiness." -Boyd K. Packer, The Father and the Family

8.) "A loving Father has provided a comprehensive and compassionate plan for His children “that saves the living, redeems the dead, rescues the damned, and glorifies all who repent.”  Even though our journey may be fraught with tribulation, the destination is truly glorious."  

 -Quentin L. Cook, Our Father's Plan-Big Enough For All His Children

9.) "The purpose of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to help all of the children of God understand their potential and achieve their highest destiny. This church exists to provide the sons and daughters of God with the means of entrance into and exaltation in the celestial kingdom. This is a family-centered church in doctrine and practices. . . . Our theology begins with heavenly parents. Our highest aspiration is to be like them. Under the merciful plan of the Father, all of this is possible through the atonement of the Only Begotten of the Father, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. . . . The fullness of eternal salvation is a family matter."  -Dallin H. Oaks, Apostasy and Restoration

10.) "Each one of us will travel a different road during this life. Each progresses at a different rate. Temptations that trouble your brother may not challenge you at all. Strengths that you possess may seem impossible to another.Never look down on those who are less perfect than you. Don't be upset because someone can't sew as well as you, can't throw as well as you, can't row or hoe as well as you. We are all children of our Heavenly Father. And we are here with the same purpose: to learn to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves (see Mark 12:30-31)."   -Joseph B. Wirthlin, The Virtue of Kindness

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I'm so grateful for the Plan of Salvation, and the chance that each of us gets to live with our Father in Heaven and families again. What an amazing blessing that is! Through the amazing Atoning sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we all have the opportunity and blessing to be able to return to our Father in Heaven. I think I would be so lost if I didn't have the knowledge of what happens after death. My grandfather passed away recently, and I've been very contemplative about life and the Plan of Salvation. I know that if I wasn't a member of this church, I would feel very lost and sad about the passing of my grandpa. With this surety of the Plan of Happiness that our Father in Heaven has made for us, we can know that we'll see our families again, and that we get to be sealed to them for time and all eternity. I love my family so much, and I'm so grateful that I was blessed to have them in my life! I know that if I didn't have this gospel in my life, I would be so sad to lose them! And even though death is extremely painful and hard to handle, it is much easier and more peaceful knowing that I'm sealed to my family forever through the ordinances and covenants made in the temple. :)

We Can Find Happiness Through the Plan of Salvation :) Here's a Mormon Message!