Responsibility and Accountability

Strength

Mother Teresa says,

"Be faithful in small things because

it is in them that your strength lies."

Coincidences

Albert Einstein is credited with saying,
"Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous."

Created for Great Things

"Created For Greater Things," by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Deseret Book, 156 pages, $15.99

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve isn't one to mince words. His talks in general conference include his powerful and bold testimony of the gospel and of the Savior.

More than 70 quotes from talks and devotionals presented by Elder Holland during the last 28 years have been compiled into "Created For Greater Things" and published by Deseret Book. Each quote in the 6-inch-by-6-inch book is paired with artwork, including work and photos from Mark Mabry, Simon Dewey, Scott Sumner, Scott Snow and Val Brinkerhoff among others.

Elder Holland served as the president of Brigham Young University from 1980 until he was called to the First Quorum of the Seventy in 1989. He was ordained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve in 1994.

The title comes from this quote: "I believe we all have been created for greater things than we can comprehend. The times call for great things, but great things in the noblest and redemptive sense are predicated upon tolerance, love, respect, understanding, dignity, prayer, God," Elder Holland said.

The quotes and thoughts from Elder Holland offer encouragement and inspiration.

"Be a woman of Christ. Cherish your esteemed place in the sight of God," Elder Holland said. "He needs you. This church needs you. The world needs you. A woman's abiding trust in God and unfailing devotion to things of the Spirit have always been an anchor when the wind and the wave of life were fiercest."

And they offer a little humor, too.

"Yes, life has its problems, and yes, there are negative things to face, but please accept one of Elder Holland's maxims for living — no misfortune is so bad that whining about it won't make it worse."

Love Instead of Judge

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them."

Mother Teresa

Miracles

Brigham Young said:  "Miracles, or these extraordinary manifestations of the power of God, are not for the unbeliever; they are

to console the Saints, and to strengthen and confirm the faith

of those who love, fear, and serve God."

(Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [1941], 341)

Stop Talking

I never learned anything while I was talking.

     --Larry King

Life Made Richer by Faith

Life Made Richer by Faith

February 20, 2011 Broadcast number 4249

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair remembers very clearly the day his faith became personal. When he was 10 years old, his father suffered a severe stroke and was rushed to the hospital. Uncertain if his father would live, he went to school fearful of the future. His teacher, noticing his young student's anxiety, suggested that they kneel and pray for his father's recovery. Tony Blair hesitantly whispered, "I'm afraid my father doesn't believe in God."

The teacher's reply made a lasting impression: "That doesn't matter. God believes in him. He loves him without demanding or needing love in return."

Blair's father recovered, and years later, Tony Blair went on to lead Great Britain during a tumultuous decade. He still points to that conversation with his teacher as a pivotal moment in his life. He realized that his faith gave him a sense of purpose and direction. He came to see why faith is so vital to so many people throughout the world. "Faith matters," he says, "because it inspires people to act and raise their sights beyond themselves."

Faith in something larger than ourselves gives us a reason to hope, a reason to move forward when life wears us down, a reason to love and believe in love. It teaches not only that we have worth in the eyes of our Creator but also that everyone else has the same worth. It's what can unite this great family of humankind.

Tony Blair expresses that hope in these words: "[The] idea of unconditional love, which made such an impression on a frightened young boy so long ago, is at the core of all our great faiths. We need to get back to this guiding light. By understanding one another, [and] respecting one another, . . . we can show why humanity is made not poorer by faith but immeasurably richer."

"Why Faith Matters," Parade, Sept. 12, 2010, 22.