This was a bit of counsel I shared with my son as he struggled with the idea of losing the friends he made in high school now that they’re all in college. Sometimes, people are only with us for a short season. Their purpose with us, whatever that may be, is temporary. Even the Good…
People say, “You should be true to your beliefs.” While a noble goal, we are no better than what we know right now. Most of us think we act based on our beliefs, but they are usually our Desires and Self-interest. The problem, however, is that we are sometimes wrong…even if we do what we…
(I was touched by something I heard online about cancer patients and their families, and as I thought about the strength it must take for a cancer patient and their families to go through such a challenge, these were the thoughts that came to my mind.) Cancer? I may not have Strength Health Energy Time……
For everything that you claim to believe, there is something that you do to show that you actually believe it. And if you trust that God will help you out, that Christ will show you how to do it, and that the Spirit of God will guide you, enlighten you, and strengthen you to do…
I know there are a lot of young kids who play Fortnite…my teen kids included. It’s addictively fun to watch, and more addictive to play this mix of Hunger Games violence, Minecraft building, and Sim City avatar-ing. Be anyone, destroy and build anything, and eliminate all others…how does a parent get their kids’ attention as…
when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. (Matthew 6:7) Vain repetition. When our words and our actions don’t really mean anything, but we keep doing them over and over…to make it look like we’re still “compliant”, “obedient”, righteous-looking followers.…
God knows you. You are His child. He loves you. Even when you think that you are not lovable, He reaches out to you. This very day–every day–He reaches out to you, desiring to heal you, to lift you up, and to replace the emptiness in your heart with an abiding joy. He desires to…
I was talking with my 17 year old son who struggles with finding his self-worth. This, despite the fact that… He’s masterful with his violin, viola, piano, and makes piano arrangements of complex orchestral pieces He can dance with Michael Jackson moves He’s looked upon as a leader among his peers He can cook He…
To those of you who seem so sure of yourselves… Think again: You may know some things, but you don’t know everything. To those of you who don’t seem to be sure of things… Don’t despair: You may not know everything, but you know something. So learn to be taught For you may discover something…
It’s hard to teach a child Who already “knows everything”. -Oh, I know that. -I already know that. -I know! I know! -Yeah, I know. It’s equally hard To teach a child Who doesn’t want to know anything. -It’s too hard! -It’s too confusing. -It’s too tedious. Too boring. -It’s too much effort. -I don’t…
I have a young Korean friend named Jennifer. Beautiful young lady, smart, observant, successful in her career. She is curious, confident, and caring. She carries the good qualities of her Korean heritage and upbringing very well. So, as a nickname, I call her Jen-ju…a play on the word jinju…Korean word for pearl….because, to me, she’s…
As I was looking to help motivate my kids for the new school year…because I noticed some of them were struggling and wanted to help them see things a bit differently, I came across some things that Gordon B. Hinckley said that I shared with them last night. And here they are: “If Life Gets…
If it’s the Lord’s will, there’s a way. I heard that statement today, and I loved it. It’s a little spin off from “If there’s a will, there’s a way.” I asked the lady who mentioned it how she got that thought, and she said, “It’s been something on my mind lately…that when the Lord…
My bubble of time is very short with you. It’s fragile, thin, …aaand POP! It’s through. My bubble of time is My bubble of remembrance, too. And that is a very small bubble, I’m tellin’ you. It seems that as you floated into my life You were meant to float away, too, And I fear…
More times than not, You’ll win hearts by being humble and teachable than by being right. Especially when your Mother is talking to you. And your Father. And God. Because when you show that you’re willing to listen to their counsel, no matter how right you may consider you to be, they will be delighted…
OpportunitiesAre windowsAnd doorsOf action. They can beSelf-serving orSelf-giving.We show who we areBy the directionWe choose. OpportunitiesMay present themselvesOpenly, easily…But othersMust be soughtIn the cracks and crevicesOf timeOf circumstanceOf relationshipsOf self. Learn to discernOpportunities that come openlyAnd those that don’t.Those that are manipulatedAnd those that come naturally.Those that serve selfishlyAnd those that point to generosity.Opportunities for…
…And you realize that you need to make amends… Don’t withhold small actions of love. Forgive someone who doesn’t want to forgive you…yet. A small kiss on the cheek, sincere conversation-unguarded, a smile, while praying for them behind the scenes. Except for the praying part, the others are small enough to be noticeable but not…
Rings and other jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts. The only gift is a portion of thyself. Gifts, Ralph Waldo Emerson
I don’t have have to change the world to match the Lord…but I can be a Light to show the world how the Lord helps me change myself to match him. Lights don’t change things directly. Rather, Light influences things to change themselves. It shows them how they are, and then they choose how they…
In today’s world where everyone is put into some kind of psychological, emotional, mental, educational, social, racial, religious, spiritual category, I have a new name to offer for people who call themselves Perfectionists: Flawlessites. These are those who want everything done right, correctly, the first time, everytime, by self, and by everyone around them. And…
Send that note To the friend You’ve been neglecting; Give your child a hug; Give your parents a hug; Say “I love you” more; Always express your thanks. Never let a problem To be solved Become more important Than a person To be loved. Friends move away, Children grow up, Loved ones pass on. It’s…
Welcome Sunshine! How I love your warmth.. How it comforts me. It lifts me out of cold And brightens my view. It energizes my spirit, And brings life to my limbs. It sheds assurance and clarity From the clouds and fog Of mind, heart, and day. Sunshine, you enlighten me, You show me The truth,…
For me, there is one advantage for having fear when I face uncertainty: It gives me a reason to trust God. And when I trust Him, He shows me just how his power, his ways, his Spirit, His Son, His Son’s Atonement, and his Son’s Gospel, overcome the very thing I’m afraid of.
A helping hand To a friend in need: ‘Tis a softened heart Of a Friend, indeed. To reach out from My self-absorbed view… Not just “look out for me” But “look out for you”. To offer a hand When your going gets tough The Helping Hands that Lift Restore Rebuild And more Are hands of…
As I listened to Presdent Monson’s address to us this past General Conference, some things popped out at me when I heard him say these words: “If you are not reading the Book of Mormon each day, please do so. If you will read it prayerfully and with a sincere desire to know the truth,…
I wrote this letter (prayer?) at a time when I was going through quite a bit of self-doubt and despondency. I’m sure many youth face moments of uncertainty about themselves as well. Fortunately for me, a window of inspiration came to my mind…and it was a short enough yet long enough window for me to…
Each choice has a DECISION –Your Will is “Mine” or “Thine”? Each decision has a COMMITMENT –Your Heart is on the line Each commitment has an ACTION –Your Works are what you show Each action has a CONSEQUENCE –Can’t change or control it, y’know. Each Consequence has a DESTINATION –For how we choose shows what…
You may have heard… Quitters never win and Winners never quit. But have you also heard… Quitters never quit…whining And Winners quit…their whining. Just sayin’…
Perfection is enough…but Perfectionism is too much. Perfection is completeness…but Perfectionism demands flawlessness. Perfection inspires your best, but makes room for failure… Perfectionism compares you to be better than the other, Intolerant of any failure. Perfection highlights your strengths While including your flaws… Perfectionism overemphasizes your strengths And tries to hide your flaws. Perfection takes…
Don’t ever cross A Duck and a Stork Or else, what’ll happen? You’ll get Stuck with a Dork. Watch out for those who twist words For they can turn Serious into Absurd, Turn anything Clear into Blurred, Make anything Said…Unheard. Some are funny on the spot Spinning puns on the dot Working words quite a…
There is a story of a man who was given a great task of building boats to carry him and his family over a great ocean towards another land. God, speaking from within a cloud, gave him this task. There came a point where the boats needed light because they were fully enclosed except for…
Ask the Aged What they’ve learned… And you will get The Lesson of a Lifetime From a lifetime of lessons, Wisdom from Successes And Mistakes Of their own, and others’, too; Ask the Prophet and Apostles, These Aged Men Of God, What they’ve learned… And you will get The Lesson of a Lifetime From a…
Thoughts Esp.For.You.th 