Choice #1 (section 64):
Step 1: Use the LDS Scripture Citation Index (scriptures.byu.edu) to find inspiring and edifying teachings (two quotes each for a total of six) from General Authorities related to:
FORGIVENESS---64: 9–11
FORGIVING OTHERS: David E. Sorenson in 2003 April General Conference said, “This is not to say that forgiveness is easy. When someone has hurt us or those we care about, that pain can almost be overwhelming. It can feel as if the pain or the injustice is the most important thing in the world and that we have no choice but to seek vengeance. But Christ, the Prince of Peace, teaches us a better way. It can be very difficult to forgive someone the harm they’ve done us, but when we do, we open ourselves up to a better future. No longer does someone else’s wrongdoing control our course. When we forgive others, it frees us to choose how we will live our own lives. Forgiveness means that problems of the past no longer dictate our destinies, and we can focus on the future with God’s love in our hearts.
May the seeds of unforgivingness that haunted my neighbors never be allowed to take root in our homes. May we pray to our Heavenly Father to help us overcome foolish pride, resentment, and pettiness. May He help us to forgive and love, so we may be friends with our Savior, others, and ourselves. “Even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” (Cor. 3:13) In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.”
FORGIVING OUR SPOUSES: Dallin H. Oaks in 2007 April General Conference said “Don’t treasure up past wrongs, reprocessing them again and again. In a marriage relationship, festering is destructive; forgiving is divine (see D&C 64:9-10). Plead for the guidance of the Spirit of the Lord to forgive wrongs (as President Faust has just taught us so beautifully), to overcome faults, and to strengthen relationships.
If you are already descending into the low state of marriage-in-name-only, please join hands, kneel together, and prayerfully plead for help and the healing power of the Atonement. Your humble and united pleadings will bring you closer to the Lord and to each other and will help you in the hard climb back to marital harmony.
Consider these observations of a wise bishop with extensive experience in counseling members with marriage problems. Speaking of those who eventually divorced, he said:
“Universally, every couple or individual said they recognized that divorce was not a good thing, but they all insisted that their situation was different.
“Universally, they focused on the fault of the spouse and attributed little responsibility to their own behavior. Communication had withered.
“Universally, they were looking back, not willing to leave the baggage of past behavior on the roadside and move on.
“Part of the time, serious sin was involved, but more often they had just ‘fallen out of love,’ saying, ‘He doesn’t satisfy my needs anymore,’ or, ‘She has changed.’
“All were worried about the effect on the children, but always the conclusion was ‘it’s worse for them to have us together and fighting.’ ”
In contrast, the couples who followed this bishop’s counsel and stayed together emerged with their marriages even stronger. That prospect began with their mutual commitment to keep the commandments, stay active in their Church attendance, scripture reading, and prayer, and to work on their own shortcomings. They “recognized the importance and power of the Atonement for their spouse and for themselves,” and “they were patient and would try again and again.” When the couples he counseled did these things, repenting and working to save their marriages, this bishop reported that “healing was achieved 100 percent of the time.”
- I loved both of these quotes because I had never quite thought about forgiveness in that way, especially when it comes to being married and about your spouse. Forgiveness is such a great eternal aspect that when used properly can create amazing and divine relationships between people.
WILLING AND OBEDIENT 64: 33–34
President Howard W. Hunter in a 1979 April General Conference said: “It has always been encouraging to me that the Lord said it is the “willing and obedient [who] shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days.” All of us can be willing and obedient. If the Lord had said the perfect shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days, I suppose some of us would be discouraged and give up.
The Prophet Joseph said, “Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God.” (History of the Church, 5:134–35).
The place to begin is here. The time to start is now. The length of our stride need be but one step at a time. God, who has, “designed our happiness,” will lead us along even as little children, and we will by that process approach perfection.
None of us has attained perfection or the zenith of spiritual growth that is possible in mortality. Every person can and must make spiritual progress. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the divine plan for that spiritual growth eternally. It is more than a code of ethics. It is more than an ideal social order. It is more than positive thinking about self-improvement and determination. The gospel is the saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ with his priesthood and sustenance and with the Holy Spirit. With faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and obedience to his gospel, a step at a time improving as we go, pleading for strength, improving our attitudes and our ambitions, we will find ourselves successfully in the fold of the Good Shepherd. That will require discipline and training and exertion and strength. But as the Apostle Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Phillip. 4:13)
President Gordon B. Hinckley in 1967 April General Conference said: “There is no better association than that with other young men and women of faith who recognize God as their Eternal Father and Jesus Christ as the living Savior of the world.
That association will give you strength. It will give you companionship. It will challenge your abilities. It will afford you opportunity for growth. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints there is office and responsibility for all.
I have seen backward men become giants as they served in the work of the Lord. The cause of Christ does not need critics; it needs workers. And to restate an old quotation, "Whether you think you can, or whether you think you can't, you're right."
To those of this generation the Lord has said: ". . . be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.
"Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind" (D&C 64:3-34
That, my young friends, is the substance of the matter: "the Lord requireth a heart and a willing mind."
- These quotes to me were amazing in that they truly reflected on how vital it is to have a willing heart and mind that is centered on doing the will of the Lord and the Lord’s work. I am getting engaged really soon and it has been amazing to see how much of a difference it has made in my life to have someone around me on a regular basis, that has this willing heart and mindto serve the Lord. It has helped us grow together and will continue to help us grow.
DEBT 64:27
Franklin D. Richards in 1996 October General Conference said “President Brigham Young repeatedly counseled the Saints to get out of debt and stay out of debt. Other Latter-day Prophets have given similar counsel. President Joseph F. Smith told the Saints, "Get out of debt and keep out of debt, and then you will be financially as well as spiritually free."
President Heber J. Grant said in one of his sermons, "If there is any one thing that will bring peace and contentment into the human heart, and into the family, it is to live within our means; and if there is one thing that is grinding, and discouraging and disheartening, it is to have debts and obligations that one cannot meet." (Relief Society Magazine, Vol. 19, page 302.)
One of the Relief Society lessons deals with this subject, and the appropriate title is "Don't Let Your Yearnings Exceed Your Earnings." This lesson is certainly in line with the injunctions of the Lord to his people. Today much unhappiness results from financial problems; they are a major factor in unhappy marriages, many of which result in divorce.
Brigham Young said in Volume 4 regarding the Constitution and debt: “I do not want to go away in debt to our enemies; for the Lord has told us not to go in debt to our enemies. If I can get the brethren to do as we want them to do, in a short time we will not owe a Gentile one half dollar. We never would have been in debt to our enemies, if I could have had my plans carried out. Some others have had their way; and I, with a few others, have had to stand and lift the load. If I could be permitted to have my way, I would always have the dollar on hand to buy my enemy, instead of owing him a dollar and having to be sold for it. I would always have a purse ready to buy those who are for sale, instead of being out of means at the sale. I would make every thousand dollars return two, whereas I cannot do that while letting others have their way.”
- Debt is always something that I have tried to avoid in my life and that my parents have always taught me since a young age. It was really great and interesting to know though that this has been a recurring thing the church since it was first reorganized and continues to be important today. I want to strive to be out of debt at all times and only acquire debt that is necessary such as for a house, schooling and in some cases a car. These quotes just strengthened my testimony of how vital it is to stay out of debt and the rewards that come as a result of it.
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