To Learn, To Do, To Be

This talk by President Monson at the Priesthood Session in October 2008 is simply beautiful and inspiring. I went through it this morning and thought these parts were particularly meaningful in my life right now.

"When there's a will, there's a way." (We can do things that seem to be too hard.)

"We urge all Latter-day Saints to be prudent in their planning, to be conservative in their living, and to avoid excessive or unnecessary debt."

"Let us make our homes sanctuaries of righteousness, places of prayer, and abodes of love that we might merit the blessings that can come only from our Heavenly Father. We need His guidance in our daily lives."

We can make a difference in the lives of others as we help them to understand the worth of their souls.

President Monson counseled us to "learn what we should learn...do what we should do...be what we should be." Sounds simple, but it is such a great guide. As in the talk by Elder Eyring, "Education for Real Life," the Lord has particular things He wants us to learn. We have a purpose here on earth, and we need to do what the Lord wants us to do. As we do these things, we shall become the type of person we were intended to become.

Sometimes it is a little intimidating to work on these things we know we ought to do. This counsel is wonderful: "Remember that this work is not yours and mine alone. It is the Lord’s work, and when we are on the Lord’s errand, we are entitled to the Lord’s help. Remember that the Lord will shape the back to bear the burden placed upon it."

“Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence." (D&C 107:99)

President Monson tells the story of a couple who was assigned to prepare for Poland to become a mission of the Church. It was a large assignment, but "They knew their calling was from God. They prayed for His divine help, and they devoted themselves wholeheartedly to their work."

I love this part about how we can discover our purpose through Christ. "I would urge all of us to pray concerning our assignments and to seek divine help, that we might be successful in accomplishing that which we are called to do. Someone has said that “the recognition of power higher than man himself does not in any sense debase him.”10 He must seek, believe in, pray, and hope that he will find. No such sincere, prayerful effort will go unanswered: that is the very constitution of the philosophy of faith. Divine favor will attend those who humbly seek it."

Finally, he shared a story about a man in WWII who was saved from death in the ocean/rescued by his submarine when all odds were against him. It was done by the hand of the Lord and by exercising his priesthood power.

This gospel is wonderful. I am so grateful we have a prophet today.