A Mighty Change of Heart - TOTW

"...we must be careful, as we seek to become more and more godlike, that we do not become discouraged and lose hope. Becoming Christlike is a lifetime pursuit and very often involves growth and change that is slow, almost imperceptible.

The scriptures record remarkable accounts of men whose lives changed dramatically, in an instant...

But we must be cautious as we discuss these remarkable examples. Though they are real and powerful, they are the exception more than the rule. For every Paul, for every Enos, and for every King Lamoni, there are hundreds and thousands of people who find the process of repentance much more subtle, much more imperceptible. Day by day they move closer to the Lord, little realizing they are building a godlike life. They live quiet lives of goodness, service, and commitment. They are like the Lamanites, who the Lord said "were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not." (3 Ne. 9:20)."

-- Ezra Taft Benson, “A Mighty Change of Heart,” Ensign, Oct. 1989, 2

A Mighty Change of Heart - TOTW

"We must not lose hope. Hope is an anchor to the souls of men. Satan would have us cast away that anchor. In this way he can bring discouragement and surrender. But we must not lose hope. The Lord is pleased with every effort, even the tiny, daily ones in which we strive to be more like Him. Though we may see that we have far to go on the road to perfection, we must not give up hope."

-Ezra Taft Benson, “A Mighty Change of Heart,” Ensign, Oct. 1989, 2

I so needed this thought today - which came into my Inbox for our own TOTW from On Wings of Faith. Different trials come to us in all shapes and sizes, sometimes easier than others, some really hard to even drag your feet through the mud of it all. I have been through several trials, and in the midst of a few myself right now that have been very trying. But it is so true that we must not lose hope. There are many blessings for each of us as we strive to improve ourselves for the better - spiritually, mentally, and physically. The strength the comes through our trials is an amazing blessing in itself.

TOTW - Our Priceless Heritage

"The Declaration of Independence . . . is much more than a political document. It constitutes a spiritual manifesto -- revelation, if you will--declaring not for this nation only, but for all nations, the source of man's rights. Nephi, a Book of Mormon prophet, foresaw over 2,300 years ago that this event would transpire. The colonies he saw would break with Great Britain and that 'the power of the Lord was with [the colonists],' that they 'were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations' (1 Nephi 13:16, 19).
"The Declaration of Independence was to set forth the moral
justification of a rebellion against a long-recognized political
tradition--the divine right of kings. At issue was the fundamental question of whether men's rights were God-given or whether these rights were to be dispensed by governments to their subjects.
This document proclaimed that all men have certain inalienable rights. In other words, these rights came from God."

(Ezra Taft Benson, "Our Priceless Heritage," Ensign, Nov. 1976, 33)