And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, how long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. - 1 Kings 18:21


Pythagoras is attributed as saying, "Choices are the hinges of destiny". Each day we encounter situations that require us to make decisions. Some of the things that we make decisions about on a daily basis are: what time to get out of bed, what to wear, what to eat, what time to leave for work or school, and what things to accomplish during the day. Brendan Francis said, "Some persons are very decisive when it comes to avoiding decisions." However, said William James, "When you have to make a choice and don't make it, that is in itself a choice." Or, as someone has wisely said, "Indecision becomes decision with time."
Some decisions seem to be harder to make then others. Sometimes we will find ourselves having to choose between two alternatives which make it even harder to make a decision, especially if both alternatives seem favorable. There are also times when we may want to avoid making a decision altogether for fear that the decision we make will be the wrong decision. Roy Disney said, "It's not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are." Someone has also said, "When one bases his life on principle, 99 percent of his decisions are already made."
There are three important things to remember when making decisions. First, we need to realize that every decision that we make will not necessarily be the right or best decision. Second, we need to realize that no matter what decision is made regarding a particular situation, there will always be someone who will be unhappy with the decision that was made. And third, we must realize that with every decision we make, there is a corresponding consequence, whether good or bad. The important thing is that we must be willing to take responsibility for, and be accountable for every decision that we make. For as Flora Whittemore has said, "The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live."
Concerning making decisions, President Thomas S. Monson shared the following story in a BYU devotional on March 11, 1997:
In 1888, Benjamin Landart was 15 years old and an accomplished violinist. Living on a farm in northern Utah with his mother and seven brothers and sisters was sometimes a challenge for Benjamin, because he had less time than he would have liked to play his violin. At times his mother would lock the violin up until he had his farm chores done, so great was the temptation for Benjamin to play it.
In late 1892, Benjamin was asked to travel to Salt Lake City to audition for a place with the territorial orchestra. For him this was a dream come true. After several weeks of practicing and prayers, he went to Salt Lake in March of 1893 for the much-anticipated audition. When the conductor, a Mr. Dean, heard Benjamin play, he told Benjamin that he was the most accomplished violinist he had heard west of Denver. He was told to report to Denver for rehearsals in the fall and learned that he would be earning enough money to provide for himself, with some left over to send home.
A week after Benjamin received the good news; however, his bishop called him into his office and asked if he could put off playing with the orchestra for a couple of years. He told Benjamin that before he started earning money there was something he owed the Lord. He then asked Benjamin to accept a mission call.
Benjamin felt that giving up his chance to play in the territorial orchestra would be almost more than he could bear, but he also knew what his decision should be. He promised the bishop that if there were any way to raise the money for him to serve, he would accept the call.
When Benjamin told his mother about the call, she was overjoyed. She told him that his father had always wanted to serve a mission but had been killed before that opportunity had come to him. Now Benjamin could go in his place. However, when they discussed the financing of the mission, her face clouded over. Benjamin told her he would not allow her to sell any more of their land.
She studied his face for a moment and then said, "Ben, there is a way we can raise the money. This family has one thing that is of great enough value to send you on your mission. You will have to sell your violin."
Ten days later, on March 23, 1893, Benjamin wrote the following in his journal: "I awoke this morning and took my violin from its case. All day long I played the music I love. In the evening when the light grew dim and I could see to play no longer, I placed the instrument in its case. It will be well enough. Tomorrow I leave for my mission."
Forty-five years later, on June 23, 1938, Benjamin wrote the following in his journal: "The greatest decision I ever made in my life was to give up something I dearly loved to serve the God I loved even more. He has never forgotten me for it."
President James E. Faust said, “We do not choose wisely if we use our agency in opposition to God’s will or to priesthood counsel. Tomorrow’s blessings and opportunities depend on the choices we make today.” How many of us, when faced with decisions similar to those which Benjamin had to make, would have made the same choices? Benjamin loved playing his violin and the chance to play in the territorial orchestra was a once in a lifetime opportunity for him. But, he loved God even more, and he knew that even though choosing to serve a mission would mean having to give up that which he so dearly cherished, the sacrifice would be well worth it in the end.
President James E. Faust taught us a valuable life lesson when he said, “In this life we have to make many choices. Some are very important choices. Some are not. Many of our choices are between good and evil. The choices we make, however, determine to a large extent our happiness or our unhappiness, because we have to live with the consequences of our choices. Making perfect choices all of the time is not possible. It just doesn’t happen. But it is possible to make good choices we can live with and grow from. When God’s children live worthy of divine guidance they can become “free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon.””
These humble thoughts I leave with you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

I do not mean to come across as being callous, cruel, or mean-spirited, but the older I get, the more discouraged and dishearten I become as I watch some of our young people - the future of our world, place themselves in a proverbial box called defeatism. Unquestionably, some of us have grown up in unfavorable conditions and in an unkind society that constantly reminds us, and in some cases has thoroughly convinced us, that our father never amounted to much, and our mother has never amounted to much, and so, as the proverbial apple never seems to fall far from the tree, we ourselves can expect to never amount to much either. The tragedy of it all is that society is not alone in painting this picture of hopelessness and despair, but that same picture hangs on the walls in our homes, as well as, in the classrooms of our schools.


I wish to send a very clear, precise, and concise message to our youth of today: the time has come for you to stop wallowing in the mud of hopelessness and slowly drowning yourselves in the sea called despair. Now is the time to break free from that proverbial box that you have found yourselves in, and from the strangling chords of the voices of naysayers who preach negativism and defeatism. Rise above your current station in life. You can if you believe that you can!

Maybe it is true that your father and mother have never done anything to make an honorable name for themselves, or have ever tried to get out of their current situations and better themselves. Maybe it is true that you were born in unfavorable and adverse conditions. Maybe it is true that all of your young life people have done nothing but knock you down and kick you while you were down. However, it does not have to stay that way. Though the night may seem dark and dreary, nighttime only last for a season and then the morning comes. And with the dawning of the morning comes a light of hope that shines bright as the noon day sun.

Now is the time for you to start realizing that you are not your father and you are not your mother. God Almighty has made each of us uniquely YOU. He has meted to you and me a measure of faith, hope, courage, talents, and abilities. It is time for you to put behind you those things that once were, and press forward to obtain those things that can, and (with faith, hope, patience, determination, and endurance) will be. Stop listening to the perpetual lies of those who do not have your best interest at heart, and start believing in yourself. You can do whatever it is you have a mind to do, and you can become whatever it is that you have a desire to become in life, but YOU have to believe that you can do it. If you cannot believe in yourselves, how can you honestly expect anyone else to?

Do not become discouraged if at first you do not succeed at doing something, but try and try again knowing that the road to success is often filled with potholes called failure. Many a success in life has been wrought through heartache and failure, so don't let that stop you. Even along the road of success will be hurdles and discouragement which you will have to get over, but don't let that stop you either. Continue to run your race with your head held high and a song of hope and gladness in your heart. You may not be the first to cross the finishing line, but then the winner of a race is not always necessarily the swiftest runner in the race, but he who runs his race well by remaining focused, staying his course, and enduring to the end.

There will be times along the way when you may become weary. Stop and rest for a little while if you must, but don't give up, give in, or quit. Remain focused on your goals and objectives. The finishing line is just in sight. You can make it. Yes you can! May God give you the hope, courage, faith, and determination to endure to the end. God bless you all!

President Gordon Bitner Hinckley
President Gordon Bitner Hinckley
President Gordon Bitner Hinckley
In Loving Memory Of A Prophet Of The Lord
About Me
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My Mission Statement
1 Peter 3:13-17

13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
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The Joseph Smith Papers
The Joseph Smith Papers

On February 25th, 2008, the Church announced the establishment of a new imprint for publishing works that relate to the origin and growth of the Church.

The first project by the Church Historian's Press is The Joseph Smith Papers. This comprehensive series of journals, letters, legal documents, and business papers chronicles the life of Joseph Smith. When finished, this project will include more than 30 volumes.

The first three volumes are scheduled for publication later this year and will include Joseph Smith's early journals.

In time, the published volumes are expected to be made available in their entirety through the Web site Joseph Smith Papers.
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