By Governing the Tongue, We Gain Perfection

Our mouths can sure get us into a lot of trouble if we are not careful.. But they can also enable us to lift, inspire, and express our love toward others. I hope that we choose the latter.

James 3:4 reads "Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth." Just as a boat can be turned by a small part so can our words significantly effect our lives and the lives of others.

In the same chapter of James in verse 5 it says, "Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!" Fire is another great analogy for our mouths. Just a small flame can start the biggest forest fire. I'm sure we've all seen this happen before. Just look at what gossip can do...

Another part of speaking doesn't necessarily have to do with what is said, but how it is said. I would encourage you to read a talk by President Thomas S. Monson entitled, "School Thy Feelings, O My Brother." It's subtitle reads: If we desire to have a proper spirit with us at all times, we must choose to refrain from becoming angry.

I am grateful for the words of and voices of many people. I'm especially thankful for the words of prophets that show us the way.

15. Take advice

We are given advice on many occassions. Some of those may include: general conference, school, church, or just a small piece of advice from a friend. The advice may be applicable or perhaps it's not. But before you dismiss it be sure to truly ask yourself if it has any merit. Too often we disregard sage advice just because we are to proud to admit that we need to change.

An apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, Neil L. Andersen, has said, "When a loved one or friend suggests things we need to change, the natural man in us sometimes pops up his head and responds, 'Oh, you think I should change? Well, let me tell you about some of your problems.' A better approach is to humbly petition the Lord: 'Father, what wouldst Thou have me do?' The answers come. We feel the changes we need to make. The Lord tells us in our mind and in our heart."

Let us choose to listen to the counsel of friends, family, and the prophets and become better.

10. Don't withhold gratitude

Thomas S. Monson, a prophet, recently gave a talk entitled The Divine Gift of Gratitude. Last October he brought up a rather good point I think. He said, "The loss of loved ones almost inevitably brings some regrets to our hearts. Let’s minimize such feelings as much as humanly possible by frequently expressing our love and gratitude to them. We never know how soon it will be too late."

We never know when the end is. I hope that we don't let our pride hurt our relationships with family and friends here on earth.

To view a video about gratitude please click here.

9. Don't be jealous of anything or anyone

The 10th commandment given to Moses says, "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s."1 Gratitude is the quick cure for jealousy. If we can remember everything that we have been blessed with we will be slow to covet other people's things. President Thomas S. Monson has said, "Regardless of our circumstances, each of us has much for which to be grateful if we will but pause and contemplate our blessings."2

See what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes about gratitude.

Preparing to Be a Full-time Missionary

       President Thomas S. Monson, has declared, "Young men, I admonish you to prepare for service as a missionary."  Then, "... sisters: while you do not have the same priesthood responsibility as do the young men to serve as full-time missionaries, you also make a valuable contribution as missionaries, and we welcome your service."

       Prophets have made the importance of missionary work very clear. But once you've made the decision what can you do to prepare to serve faithfully and effectively?

       The first thing President Monson mentions in his talk, "As We Meet Together Again," is to keep yourself clean, pure, and worthy. Second, maintain your health and strength. Make sure that you are taking care of yourself. As a missionary, you will have 30 minutes a day to exercise. Make those minutes count. Third, go to seminary or institute. There you will learn the basic doctrines of the Church. And last, but not least, study Preach My Gospel. Familiarize yourself with it's pages, it will help you be the most effective missionary you can be.

       If you do these things faithfully, and to your best ability, you can become a great instrument in the Lord's hands.

As We Meet Together Again

How to Prepare to Be a Good Missionary

The Right Way

       Nephi said, "And the words which I have spoken ... are sufficient to teach any man the right way; for the right way is to believe in Christ and deny him not; for by denying him ye also deny the prophets and the law." This scripture is found in 2 Nephi 25:28 so up to this point Nephi has recorded about one hundred pages of scripture. He says, these words are sufficient to teach ANY man the right way. He then explains what the right way is. Then, in the verse immedietly following he explains it even further. He says, "And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul; and if ye do this ye shall in nowise be cast out."

       As we read the words of Nephi and other prophets, especially our prophet today, we will learn the right way. We will learn how to better follow our Savior, Jesus Christ.

A Prophet's Voice

Genesis 13:12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

There is something very significant about this scripture. Note that Lot chooses to pitch his tent toward the wicked city of Sodom. Alright, let's read another scripture:

Mosiah 2:6 And they pitched their tents round about the temple, every man having his tent with the door thereof towards the temple, that thereby they might remain in their tents and hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them;

The people in these passages all have a choice to make. Which way to pitch their tent? We also have that decision to make as well. In a few weeks we have the opportunity to listen to a modern day prophet. We can choose to pitch our tents toward him and other Church leaders or to turn the opposite way and look toward worldly wickedness. The choice is ours. One thing to keep in mind is the different results of these two passages of scripture. Click on the pictures to find out.