I am the Programmer of my Program

Do I sabotage myself daily? I have an opportunity to fill world with what's possible. To be free from the chains of my previous, unhealthy opinions and self-assessments. I am the programmer of my program. I say who I am because I say who I am.

Holy temples are as necessary today as they were in ancient eras

The Truth Shall Set You Free

Joe: How do you know?
Quince: Because she knows the worst thing about me and it's OK.
Joe: It's not just one thing, it's just an idea Joe... um
It's like, you know each other's secrets...you're deepest, darkest secrets.
Joe: You're deepest darkest secrets?
Quince: Yeah, and then your free.
Joe: Free?
Quince: You're free, you're free to love each other completely, totally. No fear... There's nothing that you don't know about each other and it's, it's OK.

The Faith to Reap

I love this quote on the relationship of hope to faith

if you ever find yourselves without enough hope to reach your dreams, don't focus on increasing your hope. Focus on increasing your faith in Christ, and hope will follow automatically.  When we are discouraged, we tend to focus on hope.  Like the high school football coach at halftime, the world would give you a pep talk.  "You can do it." we're told.  "Positive mental attitude." we're told.  "Get out there and go, go, go." But that kind of hope evaporates as soon as we meet with significant challenges.  The hope that comes from faith in Christ is different.  One who has faith in Christ recognizes that even if she or he can't do it, the Savior can.  And from this faith springs the hope that never gives up until the dream comes true.  This is the faith to reap. ("The Faith to Reap" a BYU-Idaho devotional from March 17, 2005 by Elder Wilford W. Andersen)

“That I Might Draw All Men unto Me”

Out of all the talks of conference, this message has had the most impact.

The concept—“the greater the distance between the giver and the receiver, the more the receiver develops a sense of entitlement”—also has profound spiritual applications. Our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, are the ultimate Givers. The more we distance ourselves from Them, the more entitled we feel. We begin to think that we deserve grace and are owed blessings. We are more prone to look around, identify inequities, and feel aggrieved—even offended—by the unfairness we perceive. While the unfairness can range from trivial to gut-wrenching, when we are distant from God, even small inequities loom large. We feel that God has an obligation to fix things—and fix them right now! (“That I Might Draw All Men unto Me”, Dale G. Renlund, Apr 2016)

What is the best way to draw near under God?

To draw closer to the Savior, we must increase our faith in Him, make and keep covenants, and have the Holy Ghost with us. We must also act in faith, responding to the spiritual direction we receive. All of these elements come together in the sacrament. Indeed, the best way I know of to draw closer to God is to prepare conscientiously and partake worthily of the sacrament each week.

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As we draw closer to God, the enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ will come into our lives. And, as with the disciples on the way to Emmaus, we will find that the Savior has been nearby all along.