Gospel Standards
Young Single Adult Gems - 19 January 2009
The Importance of Setting Goals
"Set your goals—without goals you can't measure your progress. But don't become frustrated if the victories don't come quickly or easily. Remind yourself that striving can be more important than arriving. If you are striving for excellence—if you are trying your best day by day with the wisest use of your time and energy to reach realistic goals—you are a success, and you can feel proud of your accomplishments."
Topics: Gospel Standards
Daily Gems - 31 December 2008
Being an Example of Strength
"Never forget that you are a [child] of God. He loves you. Live by your standards. Stand up for what you believe in. Sometimes it is not easy, and you may be standing alone for a while. Look for friends with integrity and character, then go to them and express appreciation for their examples. You might even find someone who has been feeling as lonely as you. Pray for guidance and protection from the Lord. He will sustain you. He will become a trusted friend, and you will discover that your example will attract many friends who will take courage from your strength of character."
Topics: Honesty and Integrity, Gospel Standards
Young Single Adult Gems - 29 August 2008
Practicing Restraint
“You cannot afford in any degree to become involved with pornography, whatever its form. You simply cannot afford to become involved in immoral practices--or to let down the bars of sexual restraint. The emotions that stir within you which make boys attractive to girls and girls attractive to boys are part of a divine plan, but they must be restrained, subdued, and kept under control, or they will destroy you and make you unworthy of many of the great blessings which the Lord has in store for you.”
Topics: Chastity, Gospel Standards
Young Single Adult Gems - 4 August 2008
Avoiding Pornography
"Suppose a storm is raging and the winds howl and the snow swirls about you. You find yourself unable to stop it. But you can dress properly
and seek shelter, and the storm will have no effect upon you. "Likewise, even though the Internet is saturated with sleazy
material, you do not have to watch it. You can retreat to the shelter of the gospel and its teaching of cleanliness and virtue and purity of life. .
."Now . . . the time has come for any one of us who is so involved [in pornography] to pull himself [or herself] out
of the mire, to stand above this evil thing, to 'look to God and live' (Alma 37:47). We do not have to view salacious magazines. We do
Topics: Chastity, Gospel Standards
Young Single Adult Gems - 25 July 2008
Sacredness of the Prophet's Teachings
"You might ask yourself, 'Do I see the calling of the prophets and apostles as sacred? Do I treat their counsel seriously, or is it a light thing with me?' President Gordon B. Hinckley, for instance, has counseled us to pursue education and vocational training; to avoid pornography as a plague; to respect women; to eliminate consumer debt; to be grateful, smart, clean, true, humble, and prayerful; and to do our best, our very best. "Do your actions show that you want to know and do what he teaches? Do you actively study his words and the statements of the Brethren? Is this something you hunger and thirst for? If so, you have a sense of the sacredness of the calling of prophets as the witnesses and messengers of the Son of God."
Topics: Apostles, Prophets, Gospel Standards
Youth Gems - 15 July 2008
The Word of Wisdom
"The Lord in His wisdom has warned us that substances that are not good for us should be totally avoided. We have been warned not to take the first drink, smoke the first cigarette, or try the first drug. Curiosity and peer pressure are selfish reasons to dabble with addictive substances. We should stop and consider the full consequences, not just to ourselves and our futures, but also to our loved ones. These consequences are physical, but they also risk the loss of the Spirit and cause us to fall prey to Satan."
Topics: Gospel Standards
Youth Gems - 24 June 2008
The Savior's Standards
"As popular culture across the world degenerates, sleaze increasingly saturates the media, entertainment, advertising, and the Internet. But popularity according to the world's prevailing norms is a very perilous scale to use to measure what's right or even what's not dangerous. A movie or television show may be well known and well liked by millions of viewers and nevertheless portray images and conduct that are pornographic. If something in a movie 'isn't too bad,' that automatically means that it isn't too good either. Thus, the fact that others watch movies or open Web sites that aren't appropriate is no excuse for us. Priesthood holders' lives should emulate the standards of the Savior and His Church, not the standards of the world."
Topics: Gospel Standards
Daily Gems - 26 May 2008
The Same Tongue Can Utter Blessings and Cursing
"At least some things we say can be destructive, even venomous--and that is a chilling indictment for a Latter‑day Saint! The voice that bears profound testimony, utters fervent prayer, and sings the hymns of Zion can be the same voice that berates and criticizes, embarrasses and demeans, inflicts pain and destroys the spirit of oneself and of others in the process. 'Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessings and cursing,' James grieves. 'My brethren [and sisters], these things ought not so to be' (James 3:10)."
Topics: Gospel Standards
Daily Gems - 8 May 2008
The Power of Speech
"Like all gifts 'which cometh from above,' words are 'sacred, and must be spoken with care, and by constraint of the Spirit' (D&C 63:64).
"It is with this realization of the power and sanctity of words that I wish to caution us, if caution is needed, regarding how we speak to each other and how we speak of ourselves.
"There is a line from the Apocrypha which puts the seriousness of this issue better than I can. It reads, 'The stroke of the whip maketh marks in the flesh: but the stroke of the tongue breaketh the bones' (Ecclesiasticus 28:17)."
Topics: Gospel Standards
Family Gems - 14 April 2008
Bringing the Peace of the Lord into Our Homes
"Our families need the peace of God in their lives, and if we
can't or won't invite the Lord into our lives, then our families
become a reflection of our own turmoil. Women are asked to be nurturers to
their families, but we must also be firm; we must be the hard rock footings
on which our homes can stand. Our families need us to speak peace to them,
Topics: Gospel Standards, Peace, Family
Young Single Adult Gems - 31 March 2008
Making A Stand
“So where should each of us make our stand? As we demonstrate our devotion to God by our daily acts of righteousness, He can know where we stand. For all of us this life is a time of sifting and refining. We all face trials. Individual members in the early days of the Church were tested and refined when they had to decide if they had the faith . . . to put their belongings in a wagon or a pioneer handcart and travel across the American plains. Some did not have the faith. Those who did traveled "with faith in every footstep." In our time we are going through an increasingly difficult time of refining and testing. The tests are more subtle because the lines between good and evil are being eroded. Very little seems to be sacred in any of our public communication. In this environment we will need to make sure where we stand all of the time in our commitment to eternal truths and covenants.”
Topics: Gospel Standards, Pioneers
Daily Gems - 5 February 2008
Our Growth in Developing Christlike Attributes
"Developing Christlike attributes in our lives is not an easy task, especially when we move away from generalities and abstractions and begin to deal with real life. The test comes in practicing what we proclaim. The reality check comes when Christlike attributes need to become visible in our lives—as husband or wife, as father or mother, as son or daughter, in our friendships, in our employment, in our business, and in our recreation. We can recognize our growth, as can those around us, as we gradually increase our capacity to 'act in all holiness before [Him]' (D&C 43:9)."
Topics: Discipleship, Gospel Standards
Young Single Adult Gems - 4 January 2008
The Finest Generation
"The world is full of naysayers who think that people your age have lost their way. I disagree. Let me say that I am very proud of you. I think you are the finest generation this Church has ever produced. Because of you, I have no fear concerning the future. You are ambitious. You are trustworthy. You are loyal to the Church and its principles. You have great confidence in one another. You work together with love and appreciation and respect one for another. You are faithful, and you are true."
Topics: Gospel Standards
Youth Gems - 6 December 2007
Gambling
"The pursuit of a game of chance may seem like harmless fun. But there attaches to it an intensity that actually shows on the faces of those who are playing. And in all too many cases this practice, which appears innocent, can lead to an actual addiction. The Church has been and is now opposed to this practice. If you have never been involved in poker games or other forms of gambling, don't start. If you are involved, then quit now while you can do so.
"There are better ways to spend one's time. There are better pursuits to occupy one's interest and energy. There is so much of wonderful reading available. We are not likely to ever get too much of it. There is music to be learned and enjoyed. There is just having a good time together--in dancing, in hiking, in cycling, or in other ways--boys and girls together enjoying one another's company in a wholesome way."
Topics: Gospel Standards
Daily Gems - 19 October 2007
Emulating Jesus to Become Men
"When we consider the admonition to be men, we must think of Jesus Christ. When Pilate brought Jesus forth wearing a crown of thorns, he declared, 'Behold the man!' (See John 19:4-5). Pilate may not have fully understood the significance of his own words, but the Lord indeed stood before the people then as He stands today--the highest ideal of manhood. Behold the man!
"The Lord asked His disciples what manner of men they should be and then answered, 'Verily I say unto you, even as I am' (3 Nephi 27:27; see also 3 Nephi 18:24). That is our ultimate quest."
Topics: Gospel Standards
Young Single Adult Gems - 15 October 2007
Warned to Avoid Evil
"Just as a fish in a mountain stream must be careful of the lures placed in its path to avoid being pulled away from the water, so must you and I be wise in order to avoid being pulled away from a happy, gospel-centered life. Remember that, as Lehi observed, the devil 'seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself' and obtains 'power to captivate' (2 Nephi 2:27, 29) us when we involve ourselves in unclean and evil things. Thus, do not be deceived into even nibbling at unworthy things, for Satan stands ready to set the hook. It was the very real risk of the hook being set subtly or suddenly that let the ancient prophet Moroni--who actually saw our day (see Mormon 8:35)--to pointedly warn you and me to 'touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing' (Moroni 10:30).
"There is much that is evil and unclean in music, the Internet, movies, magazines, and in alcohol, drugs, and tobacco. As to any evil and unclean thing, my young friends, do not even touch it!"
Topics: Temptation, Gospel Standards
Family Gems - 6 August 2007
Plain and Simple Gospel Principles
"Among the old and sacred values to which we should return are the plain and simple principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. These should be firmly established in our homes to ensure happiness in family life.
"President Wilford Woodruff declared: 'The Lord has a great many principles in store for us, and the greatest principles which he has for us are the most simple and plain. The first principles of the gospel which lead us unto eternal life are the simplest and yet none are more glorious or important unto us' ("Remarks," Deseret News, 1 Apr. 1857, 27).
"It is precisely because these principles are plain and simple that many times they are not considered when there are challenges to face that affect family life. At times we have the tendency to think that the more serious the problem, the bigger and more complex the solution should be. That idea can lead us, for example, to seek help from people or institutions outside the home when in reality the most effective solution will come by applying the glorious principles of the gospel in our homes in the small actions and duties of everyday life. The scriptures remind us 'that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass' (Alma 37:6)."
Topics: Gospel Standards
Youth Gems - 29 May 2007
The Strength of Youth
"Living the standards set in For the Strength of Youth will make you feel good about yourself. Write those standards into your heart and mind, and live accordingly. Compare each of those standards with where you are today. Listen to the Spirit, who will teach you what you need to do to become more like Jesus."
Topics: Gospel Standards
Young Single Adult Gems - 23 April 2007
Games of Chance Appear Innocent But Can Lead to Addiction
"The pursuit of a game of chance may seem like harmless fun. But there attaches to it an intensity that actually shows on the faces of those who are playing. And in all too many cases this practice, which appears innocent, can lead to an actual addiction. The Church has been and is now opposed to this practice."
Topics: Gospel Standards
Young Single Adult Gems - 13 April 2007
We Have Been Warned
"President Hinckley, noting the immoral conditions in the world, stated, 'I do not know that things were worse in the times of Sodom and Gomorrah. . . .
" 'I think our Father must weep as He looks down upon His wayward sons and daughters ("Standing Strong and Immovable," Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting, Jan. 10, 2004, 20).
"I do not know how much more our prophet has to say for us to consider ourselves warned."
Topics: Gospel Standards
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