Meekness and Pride

"It is in the cultivation of a broken heart and a contrite spirit that the individual finds the channel of spiritual communication with the Father and honors and accepts the atoning sacrifice of the Son. Pride erects a barrier to the blessings of the Spirit. Meekness dissolves the barrier and invites an influx of glory and joy that can come solely through covenant valor and submission to the will of God."

- Teachings and Commentaries on the Doctrine and Covenants, Authors: Pinegar, Allen, Anderson, p.121

A Time to be Believing

"In the course of life all of us spend time in 'dark and dreary' places, wildernesses, circumstances of sorrow or fear or discouragement. Our present day is filled with global distress over financial crises, energy problems, terrorist attacks, and natural calamities. These translate into individual and family concerns not only about homes in which to live and food available to eat but also about the ultimate safety and well-being of our children and the latter-day prophecies about our planet. More serious than these—andsometimes related to them—are matters of ethical, moral, and spiritual decay seen in populations large and small, at home and abroad. But I testify that angels are still sent to help us, even as they were sent to help Adam and Eve, to help the prophets, and indeed to help the Savior of the world Himself. Matthew records in his gospel that after Satan had tempted Christ in the wilderness 'angels came and ministered unto him [Matt 4:11].' Even the Son of God, a God Himself, had need for heavenly comfort during His sojourn in mortality. And so suchministrations will be to the righteous until the end of time. ... I ask everyone within the sound of my voice to take heart, be filled with faith, and remember the Lord has said He 'would fight [our] battles, [our] children’s battles, and [the battles of our] children’s
children. [D&C 98:37]' And what do we do to merit such a defense? We are to 'search diligently, pray always, and be believing[. Then] all things shall work together for [our] good, if [we] walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith [we] have covenanted. [D&C 90:24]' The
latter days are not a time to fear and tremble. They are a time to be believing and remember our covenants."

- Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Ministry of Angels,” Ensign, Nov 2008, 29–31

Faith, Testimony, and God’s Image in Our Countenance

"[As taught by Alma in Alma 32,] the process [of faith-building] begins with a 'desire to believe.' An individual must then plant the seed, which is the word of God, in his or her heart by searching the scriptures, listening to the words of the prophets, praying and asking for a confirmation of gospel truths, going to church, and obeying the commandments. The result, Alma says, will be a swelling in one’s bosom, an enlightenment of the mind, and warm feelings in the heart (see Alma 32:28). These are the beginnings of a testimony—and the seed is good. Anyone with a sincere desire to know can obtain a testimony by following Alma’s teachings in chapter 32.

After explaining the initial faith-building process, Alma continues with a question in chapter 32: 'After ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect?' (Alma 32:35). No—the process has just begun (see Alma 32:36). The seed has grown but is still only a seedling. Alma explains that if one continues faithful, the seedling will grow into a tree. What tree? The tree of life! (see Alma 32:41). This tree is a symbol of God’s love for His children expressed through the condescension and atoning sacrifice of His Son (see 1 Nephi 11:9–33; John 3:16).

Alma teaches the Zoramites that when the tree is deep within their souls, they will feast upon its fruit and not hunger or thirst (see Alma 32:42–43). In other words, they will have experienced spiritual rebirth—the mighty change of heart—and the tree deep within their soul will produce God’s image in their countenances.

- Elder Merrill J. Bateman, CES Fireside for Young Adults, March 5, 2006

Grounded and Rooted

" 'Will ye also go away?' (John 6:67), the Master asked His disciples after many of his fair-weather followers went back, and 'walked no more with him.' (John 6:66.) The very process of daily living makes and breaks followers. Life's stern seasons and storms overturn those not grounded and rooted (See Eph. 3:17; Col. 1:23; 1 Pet. 5:10). However, those who 'believe and are sure' (John 6:69) about Jesus' divinity do not panic, for instance, at the arrival of a new volley of fiery darts; they merely hold aloft the quenching shield of faith."

- Neal A. Maxwell, "'Answer Me'," Ensign, Nov 1988, 31

"Mine Afflictions Were Great Above All"

We started - again - reading the Book of Mormon at bedtime. My children know that we have done this off and on (mostly on) as a family for the past 35 years. Well, while reading chapters 11-15 of the first book of Nephi, I noticed something I hadn't before. Here's a little background: Nephi, having listened to his father's retelling the dream he had about The Tree of Life and so forth, "desired to know the things that my father had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto me, as I sat pondering in mine heart," the Spirit showed the same vision to him that Lehi had seen. He also was shown the future destruction of his posterity at the hands of the posterity of his brothers, and then the seed of his brothers dwindling "in unbelief" and their becoming "a dark, and loathsome, and a filthy people, full of idleness and all manner of abominations." He was also shown the future abominations and wickedness of the people of the earth.

After returning to the tent of his father, he found his brothers "disputing one with another concerning the things which my father had spoken unto them." Nephi "was grieved because of the hardness of their hearts, and also, because of the things which I had seen, and knew they must unavoidably come to pass because of the great wickedness of the children of men."

Here is where I noticed what I had not before:

Nephi states he was "overcome because of my afflictions, for I considered that mine afflictions were great above all." Overcome by his afflictions, and considered them great above all. I wondered if I had ever felt as overcome by my afflictions. And if so, did I handle it as well as he did (assuredly not), for "after I had received strength [undoubtdly, from the Lord] I spake unto my brethren, desiring to know of them the cause of their disputations." He then helped them with their "disputations;" interpreted their father's dream for them; exhorted "them to give heed unto the word of the Lord; yea, I did exhort them with all the energies of my soul, and with all the faculty which I possessed, that they would give heed to the word of God and remember to keep his commandments always in all things;" and was the instrument in causing them "that they did humble themselves before the Lord."

I pray for such strength. As Gordon B. Hinckley's father wrote to him while on a mission, "I have only one suggestion: forget yourself and go to work."* Nephi forgot himself (and his afflictions) and went to work.

*“Sweet Is the Work: Gordon B. Hinckley, 15th President of the Church,” New Era, May 1995, 8