Welcome to 2012! I outlined last blog what I wanted to do with the next year, but do you know what you're going to do? You don't need to know right away! Overall, and I think everyone would agree, I want to live the abundant life. Thomas S. Monson talks about living the abundant life and I would like to share with you that message.
Living the Abundant Life
Living the Abundant Life
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At the
advent of a new year, I challenge Latter-day Saints everywhere to
undertake a personal, diligent, significant quest for what I call the
abundant life—a life filled with an abundance of success, goodness, and
blessings. Just as we learned the ABCs in school, I offer my own ABCs to
help us all gain the abundant life.
Have a Positive Attitude
A
in my ABCs refers to attitude. William James, a pioneering American
psychologist and philosopher, wrote, “The greatest revolution of our
generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner
attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.”
1
So
much in life depends on our attitude. The way we choose to see things
and respond to others makes all the difference. To do the best we can
and then to choose to be happy about our circumstances, whatever they
may be, can bring peace and contentment.
Charles
Swindoll—author, educator, and Christian pastor—said: “Attitude, to me,
is more important than … the past, … than money, than circumstances,
than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or
do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will
make or break a company, a church, a home. The remarkable thing is we
have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that
day.”
2
We can’t direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails. For maximum happiness, peace, and contentment, may we choose a positive attitude.
Believe in Yourself
B is for believe—in yourself, in those around you, and in eternal principles.
Be
honest with yourself, with others, and with your Heavenly Father. One
who was not honest with God until it was too late was Cardinal Wolsey
who, according to Shakespeare, spent a long life in service to three
sovereigns and enjoyed wealth and power. Finally, he was shorn of his
power and possessions by an impatient king. Cardinal Wolsey cried:
Thomas
Fuller, an English churchman and historian who lived in the 17th
century, penned this truth: “He does not believe that does not live
according to his belief.”
4
Don’t
limit yourself and don’t let others convince you that you are limited
in what you can do. Believe in yourself and then live so as to reach
your possibilities.
You can achieve what you believe you can. Trust and believe and have faith.
Face Challenges with Courage
C
is for courage. Courage becomes a worthwhile and meaningful virtue when
it is regarded not so much as a willingness to die manfully but as a
determination to live decently.
Said
the American essayist and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Whatever you do,
you need courage. Whatever course you decide on, there is always someone
to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising
that tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a
course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same
courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes
brave men and women to win them.”
5
There
will be times when you will be frightened and discouraged. You may feel
that you are defeated. The odds of obtaining victory may appear
overwhelming. At times you may feel like David trying to fight Goliath.
But remember—David did win!
Courage
is required to make an initial thrust toward one’s coveted goal, but
even greater courage is called for when one stumbles and must make a
second effort to achieve.
Have
the determination to make the effort, the single-mindedness to work
toward a worthy goal, and the courage not only to face the challenges
that inevitably come but also to make a second effort, should such be
required. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day
that says, “I’ll try again tomorrow.”
May
we remember these ABCs as we begin our journey into the new year,
cultivating a positive attitude, a belief that we can achieve our goals
and resolutions, and the courage to face whatever challenges may come
our way. Then the abundant life will be ours.
Youth
Courage to Weather the Storm
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On
the second night of my stake’s Young Women camp, we had a big rainstorm
and tornado. My ward had about 24 young women attending the camp with
two leaders, and we all had to fit into one small cabin for protection.
The rain was falling hard, and the wind was getting worse. I had to
continually remind myself of the prayer for safety our stake president
had offered earlier. Our ward also said our own group prayer in our
cabin, and I said my own personal prayers.
A
lot of girls were scared, and it was easy to see why. Our cabin was not
very sturdy, and we were right by a river. In about 20 minutes the
storm got so bad that the whole stake had to run from their ward cabins
to the counselors’ cabins, which were on higher ground. My stake
president said another prayer, and we sang hymns, Primary songs, and
camp songs in an attempt to comfort ourselves. Yes, we were scared, but
we felt that everything would be all right. Half an hour later it was OK
to go back to our ward cabins.
We
later found out what had happened to the tornado that night. It had
split into two storms. One of them went around us to the right and the
other to the left. What we got wasn’t even the worst of it!
I
know that God heard our prayers that night and that He protected us
from the worst of the storm. Why would a tornado split unless God needed
it to? I know that in the storms of life, we can always pray to
Heavenly Father and He will hear and answer us, giving us the courage
and protection we need to make it safely through.
How cool is our Prophet?? As you go through your year and start making changes in your life internally and externally, remember Thomas S. Monson's ABC's.. Attitude, Believe, Courage!
I pray for this next year! I pray that it is an amazing year and that it brings about good things for all!
I want to testify for the first time in 2012 that I know that this church is true! I know that Heavenly Father spoke to Joseph Smith and directed him to restore the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I know that we have a living prophet today, Thomas S. Monson. and I know that Heavenly Father loves every single person on this earth today, yesterday and in the future!
I say all these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
