Elder Dale G. Renlund, “‘How Long Will It Be Ere They Believe Me?’”
“For the past three weeks, Mr. Martin had hovered near death yet was now complaining about the hospital food! (I think when you go through something like Mr. Martin did, you use up all your coping coupons. And I don’t think anybody should be tortured with oatmeal regardless of temperature.) But at that moment, Mr. Martin focused on the cold oatmeal in front of him and seemingly dismissed the miracle he had experienced. He lost sight of the bigger picture, both where he had been and the promise the future now held.”
“Even when [the children of israel] complained about a monotonous diet, the Lord miraculously helped them. They survived because of God’s miracles, yet they repeatedly focused on cold oatmeal. As they overlooked both the Lord’s blessings and His promises, their trust eroded in God and in God’s prophet, Moses.”
“Perhaps you have been served more than your share of cold oatmeal. Perhaps, like the children of Israel, you have doubted God’s care for you, His willingness to succor you, or His capacity to keep His promises. Yet God invites us to trust Him and His promises.”
John 16:33
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
“When our faith is centered on Jesus Christ, He promises spiritual peace no matter our circumstances. We can experience joy in our here and now because of Him and through our covenant relationship with Him.”
2 Nephi 2:3
3 Wherefore, thy soul shall be blessed, and thou shalt dwell safely with thy brother, Nephi; and thy days shall be spent in the service of thy God. Wherefore, I know that thou art redeemed, because of the righteousness of thy Redeemer; for thou hast beheld that in the fulness of time he cometh to bring salvation unto men.
Moroni 10:3
3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
“She said that she would read her scriptures and see remarkable blessings promised by the Lord. In her mind, though, she saw a big asterisk that seemed to say, ‘Those blessings apply to everyone—except Linda.’ Over the years, Linda came to a different realization. She said, ‘I am not extraordinary enough to warrant an exception. The blessings are promised to me too.’”
“The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that Jesus Christ ‘knows the situation of both the living and the dead, and has made ample provision for their redemption, according to their several circumstances, and the laws of the kingdom of God, whether in this world, or in the world to come.’
“‘Ample provision’ means that all human circumstances are within the Savior’s redemptive reach.”
“We can trust the Lord, especially His promises. These promises apply to you.”
President Timothy L. Farnes, “Divine Appointments”
“Elder Oaks responded, ‘I’m sorry, brother. I don’t remember that.’ Then, sensing my disappointment, he added, ‘But it’s what we do. Isn’t it?’”
“In the story, a traveler lay wounded on the road to Jericho. Where others saw an inconvenience or an interruption, one man saw an opportunity to minister—a divine appointment. Seeing awakened compassion. Compassion moved him to act. And his actions changed a life forever.”
“This pattern defined the Savior’s ministry. He turned ordinary encounters with people into extraordinary moments of healing, encouragement, and transformation. To Jesus, these people were not interrupting His mission. They were His mission.”
“Brothers and sisters, let us pray every day for eyes to see the divine appointments God places before us! Let us put compassion into action and minister to the person in front of us. It’s what Jesus did.
“And it’s what we do.”
Elder Christian C. Chigbundu, “Spiritual Immunity”
“[Proving] moments are not evidence that the Lord has abandoned you. Rather, they are evidence that He loves you enough to refine and strengthen you” (President Henry B. Eyring, “Proved and Strengthened in Christ,” October 2025 General Conference).
“We live in troubled times marked by wars, family challenges, and economic uncertainty. Yet, as frightening as these challenges may be, we need not fear! As we build our spiritual immunity, we develop the strength and courage to withstand the challenges of life.”
Alma 37:6
6 Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.
Mosiah 1:6–7
6 O my sons, I would that ye should remember that these sayings are true, and also that these records are true. And behold, also the plates of Nephi, which contain the records and the sayings of our fathers from the time they left Jerusalem until now, and they are true; and we can know of their surety because we have them before our eyes.
7 And now, my sons, I would that ye should remember to search them diligently, that ye may profit thereby; and I would that ye should keep the commandments of God, that ye may prosper in the land according to the promises which the Lord made unto our fathers.
“My dear friends, I invite you to search the scriptures diligently, that you might know the word of God (see Alma 17:2). As we do this, little by little we learn how to become lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ.”
Doctrine and Covenants 88:63
63 Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
“As we remember Jesus Christ throughout the week and strive to keep His commandments, our lives are gradually refined and reshaped. Our ‘Why me?’ questions will be replaced by ‘What can I learn, and what can I change?’”
“As we honor those covenants by keeping [Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s] commandments and following Their plan of redemption, Their promised blessings enable us to soar to celestial heights” (President Dallin H. Oaks, “Following Christ,” October 2024 General Conference).
“Remember that trials may come, yet as we worship in the temple and remember our covenants, we receive personal direction from the Lord that will guide us along the covenant path.”
Elder Patricio M. Giuffra, “Trusting the Lord Through Tithes and Offerings”
“President Caballero read to me the account of the widow’s mite and then said, ‘Elder Giuffra, you are no one to deny this sister the blessings of the law of tithing. There are no exceptions to this commandment.’”
“Throughout my life, I have learned to trust in the Lord, and I have seen innumerable blessings come to my family and me as we have sought to faithfully live the law of tithing and offerings. Some blessings have been temporal, others spiritual, but all have strengthened our testimony that the Lord always fulfills His promises and that the windows of heaven are opened according to our obedience.”
“President Dallin H. Oaks taught: ‘The payment of tithing … brings the individual tithe payer unique spiritual blessings. Tithe paying is evidence that we accept the law of sacrifice. It also prepares us for the law of consecration and the other higher laws of the celestial kingdom.’”
“These laws are fulfilled as we keep the covenants made in the house of the Lord, which deepens and perpetuates our relationship with Jesus Christ.”
Malachi 3:8, 10
8 ¶ Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Elder Jeremiah J. Morgan, “The Infinite Power of God in Our Covenants”
“But more than any words that I heard or did not hear, I knew the Book of Mormon was important to my mother. And I knew she knew it was true.”
“Because of my mother’s extraordinary efforts, I knew the Book of Mormon was true and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God.”
Doctrine and Covenants 84:57
57 And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written—
My Thoughts
{
The bible is full of covenants that God made with his people and with individuals. It is also full of reference to the temple. Jesus was very serious about the temple. Yet in general, making covenants and temples are not a part of churches today.
}
Doctrine and Covenants 2:2
2 And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers.
“Covenants with God are filled with incalculable power.”
“If you are wondering whether you or a loved one has wandered so far away that the love of God and His covenantal power cannot reach you—I say to you, you have not.”
“You have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines.” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Laborers in the Vineyard,” April 2012 General Conference)
“I testify that the infinite power of God is in our covenants. Don’t ever give up.”
Elder Hutch U. Fale, “I Am a Child of God”
The Family: A Proclamation to the World
“All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.”
“In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.”
“The divine pattern of families teaches us of our Father’s love and our relationship to Him. In fact, ‘our relationship to God … [is] explained in terms of the family.’”
“We need you to always remember that what we feel is but a small fraction of what your Heavenly Father feels for you. You are His child and He loves you. He loved you before you were born, He loves you today, and He will love you tomorrow. He wants you to prepare to be like Him. You must never forget this.”
“Even when a loving family is not part of our earthly experience, knowing that our Heavenly Father loves us can provide power, peace, and comfort, especially as we remember the eternal blessings that await all who make and keep sacred covenants—including all the blessings of an eternal family.”
“understanding our Father’s love helps us better understand Jesus Christ. We better understand why He did what He did and why He loves us the way He does.”
“We become quick to repent, slow to judge, and ever hopeful that the best is yet before us. We are forever willing to love and to make sure that no one is ever sitting, standing, or walking alone.”
“Today Christ shows us our Father’s love through priesthood keys held by living prophets and apostles. These priesthood keys allow access to sacred ordinances and covenants that prepare us to return to our Father. Living prophets and apostles stand as witnesses that the resurrected Christ is evidence of the continuing and immeasurable love of our Eternal Father.”
John 3:16
16 ¶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Elder Patrick Kearon, “Jesus Lives to Lift”
“But even more important than using visual cues to find rising air is to learn to feel it.”
“Through the amazing grace of Jesus Christ, we can avoid spiritual sink and find spiritual lift. Spiritual lift cannot be seen, but as we learn to discern and act upon the sensitive impressions of the Holy Spirit, we can feel it—as surely as I felt the rising air lift a wing beneath me.”
“Can you identify moments when you have felt undeniable spiritual lift?”
“Through the amazing grace of Jesus Christ, we can avoid spiritual sink and find spiritual lift.”
“Can you likewise identify moments when you have felt spiritual sink?”
“In gliding, if you are not actively climbing in lift, you are descending. This is an uncomfortable fact. A descent can be so gradual that, unless you watch your altitude, you may not notice you are sinking.
“Isn’t it the same in our lives? How easy it is to slowly slip from spiritual heights we have worked so hard to climb when we neglect the practices and behaviours that brought us there. We rarely intend to sink. We want lift—its joy and blessings—but we may not recognise the quiet cost of neglecting vital communion with our Father, Saviour, and the Holy Spirit.”
Alma 26:16
16 Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel.
“But lift and sink in the spiritual realm are nevertheless real. Pay close attention to the sweet, peaceful feelings that come when you choose spiritual lift, the rising forces that bring you into the Saviour’s loving upward pull.
“Likewise, pay attention to the dim and dampening feelings that lead away from the Redeemer and His infinite love.”
“What does living in lift actually look like? A few simple things. Find a faithful guide and learn from them where lift is found. Actively tune in to the sweet feelings of the Holy Spirit and the things in your life that lead you there. Join those who are climbing. Do what they do.”
Elder Michael A. Dunn, “The Ninety and Ten”
Isaiah 53:4
4 ¶ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
“And even when we don’t perceive Him at our side, He enlists the Teds—both of this world and sometimes even the Teds beyond—with His heartening promise of angels all around us to bear us up.”
“I promise that as you expend even your last drops of energy to ask, His helping hand will ultimately give you that much-needed leg up. And even when the outcome or the timing is not what you plead for, take solace knowing that feeling broken does not mean you’ve been abandoned by God.”
“Or, as President Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught: ‘Often the deep valleys of our present will be understood only by looking back on them from the mountains of our future experience. Often we can’t see the Lord’s hand in our lives until long after the trials have passed.’”
“Through ‘him who is mighty to save,’ you will find ‘strength beyond [your] own.’ In other words, don’t confuse the perceived invisibility of the Lord’s hand with the inveterate nature of the Lord’s heart. Peace will come even when hoped-for outcomes do not.”
“I’m reminded that sometimes the God who makes the impossible possible can part seas and move mountains. Other times He simply sends us a Ted. But most often He tops off our courage, capacity, and confidence by empowering us to ‘lay aside every weight’ so we can ‘run with patience the race that is set before us.’”
Elder Matthew J. Eyring, “Comfort from the Holy Ghost”
“We are trained from a young age to solve problems, to be independent, to have perseverance and resilience. But our apparent self-reliance masks a deeper reality: All of us, regardless of experience, talent, or willpower, will sooner or later encounter burdens we cannot possibly carry ourselves.”
Doctrine and Covenants 88:63
63 Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
“We have received repeated prophetic warnings that in coming days we will not survive spiritually without the constant influence of the Holy Ghost. One reason is that in a world of increasing temporal and spiritual turbulence, true sources of comfort will become more scarce. Without divine comfort, we risk losing hope; and without hope, we can lose our faith and stop trying. Our hearts can fail us.”
“President Dallin H. Oaks said recently: ‘I wonder if we fully appreciate the enormous significance of this belief in a literal, universal resurrection. The conviction that death is not the conclusion of our identity changes the whole perspective of our mortal life. It affects how we look on the physical challenges of mortality. It gives us the strength and perspective to endure the mortal challenges faced by each of us and by those we love. It signifies that mortal deficiencies are only temporary! It also gives us the courage to face our own death or that of loved ones—even deaths we might call premature.’”
“Someday we will more fully realize how generous and kind the Lord has been to each of us. We will better understand and appreciate the depth of the Savior’s sacrifice and the reality that He and the Father are truly givers of good gifts.”
1 Corinthians 2:9
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
“The Savior’s peace is made manifest through the comforting power of the Holy Ghost. That comfort will help us when we go through the inevitable hardships of life and times when we can’t fix things on our own. Living worthy of the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost should be one of our highest priorities.”
Elder Ronald A. Rasband, “Love Like Jesus”
“The adversary’s deceit leads to confusion and misery. He can promise no life eternal, no life with God the Father, and no peace. Not now. Not ever!
“How do we reset the clock while the adversary works overtime to destroy God’s plan of happiness?
“Gratefully, the answer is in the Old Testament: “Be not afraid nor dismayed … ; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
“As the Primary song says, ‘As I have loved you, love one another.’”
“Love is not stepping back or sanctioning others’ decisions and actions. Love is being interested in their lives, their successes, and their challenges. Love is being there with arms outstretched and a cheerful countenance. Love is lifting with faith and hope in our Lord and Savior. Love relies upon the calming influence of the Holy Ghost.”
Proverbs 3:5–6
5 ¶ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
“President Dallin H. Oaks has counseled: ‘Let us avoid what is harsh and hateful. Let us seek to be holy, like our Savior.’”
Mosiah 27:11, 14
11 And as I said unto you, as they were going about rebelling against God, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto them; and he descended as it were in a cloud; and he spake as it were with a voice of thunder, which caused the earth to shake upon which they stood;
14 And again, the angel said: Behold, the Lord hath heard the prayers of his people, and also the prayers of his servant, Alma, who is thy father; for he has prayed with much faith concerning thee that thou mightest be brought to the knowledge of the truth; therefore, for this purpose have I come to convince thee of the power and authority of God, that the prayers of his servants might be answered according to their faith.
“His father, Alma, had prayed for weeks, months, years, maybe decades.”
“Brothers and sisters, Jesus Christ pulls more than His weight. His Atonement is witness of His all-encompassing love for each one of us. Brutal as it was for Him, His Atonement was crucial for our eternal journey. Remember, ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’”
Matthew 11:28
28 ¶ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
“First, let go of any guilt. We fail only when we give up and stop trying, so never, never give up on those you love. Remember the example of Alma praying for his son.”
“Second, follow the admonition of President Thomas S. Monson: “Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved.””
“Third, remember Jesus Christ is the answer.”
“Pray mightily to our Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ. He will not leave us ‘comfortless.’”
“I promise you, as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, that when the devil sends ‘forth his mighty winds’ pulling loved ones off course, ‘his mighty storm … shall have no power … to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built.’ If that rock is Jesus Christ.”
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