The Importance of Devotionals

Marriage and Divorce

"I testify to you that our promised blessings are beyond measure. Though the storm clouds may gather, though the rains may pour down upon us, our knowledge of the gospel and our love of our Heavenly Father and of our Savior will comfort and sustain us and bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the commandments. There will be nothing in this world that can defeat us. My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith. I declare that God lives and that He hears and answers our prayers. His Son, Jesus Christ, is our Savior and our Redeemer. Heaven's blessings await us."

-President Thomas S. Monson

"Turn to the Lord"

"Turn to the Lord. Exercise all of the faith you have in Him. Let Him share your burden. Allow His grace to lighten your load." -Donald L. Hallstrom

"In the most difficult circumstances of life, there is often only one source of peace. The Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, extends His grace with the invitation, 'Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest' (Matthew 11:28)." -Donald L. Hallstrom

"Let us open wide the windows of our hearts, that each family member may feel welcome and 'at home.' Let us open also the doors of our very souls, that the dear Christ may enter. Remember His promise: 'Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him' (Revelation 3:20)." -Thomas S. Monson

"Sometimes we feel that we are weak and lack the strength to rescue others, but the Lord reminds us, 'Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me' (Matthew 25:40)." -Koichi Aoyagi

“Though you may feel that no one can understand the depth of your despair, our Savior, Jesus Christ, understands. He suffered more than we can possibly imagine, and He did it for us; He did it for you. You are not alone.” -Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"Turn to the Lord" By Elder Donald L. Hallstrom

Mosiah 15:18-28

"O how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that is the founder of peace, yea, even the Lord, who has redeemed his people; yea, him who has granted salvation unto his people;

"For were it not for the redemption which he hath made for his people, which was prepared from the foundation of the world; I say unto you, were it not for this, all mankind must have perished.

"..the bands of death shall be broken, and the Son reigneth, and hath power over the dead; therefore, he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead.

"And there cometh a resurrection, even a first resurrection; yea, even a resurrection of those that have been, and who are, and who shall be, even until the resurrection of Christ--for so shall he be called.

"And now, the resurrection of all the prophets, and all those that have believed in their words, or all those that have kept the commandments of God, shall come forth in the first resurrection; therefore, they are the first resurrection.

"They are raised to dwell with God who has redeemed them; thus they have eternal life through Christ, who has broken the bands of death.

"And these are those who have part in the first resurrection; and these are they that have died before Christ came, in their ignorance, not having salvation declared unto them. And thus the Lord bringeth about the restoration of these; and they have a part in the first resurrection, or have eternal life, being redeemed by the Lord.

"And little children also have eternal life.

"But behold, and fear, and tremble before God, for ye ought to tremble; for the Lord redeemeth none such that rebel against him and die in their sins; yea, even all those that have perished in their sins ever since the world began, that have wilfully rebelled against God, that have known the commandments of God, and would not keep them; these are they that have no part in the first resurrection.

"Therefore ought ye not to tremble? For salvation cometh to none such; for the Lord hath redeemed none such; yea, neither can the Lord redeem such; for he cannot deny himself; for he cannot deny justice when it has its claim.

"And now I say unto you that the time shall come that the salvation of the Lord shall be declared to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people."

Abinadi and Alma

I have been reading in Mosiah lately about Adinadi preaching to King Noah and his people and how it trails into the story of Alma the Elder. I absolutely love these stories, they are so inspirational and both Abinadi and Alma are such great examples to me. I urge you to read the stories. It begins in Mosiah 11 (verse 20) and continues on from there. I just think about the remarkable faith that both of these great prophets had and the sacrifices they made for the Lord. Here are just some scriptures that I liked as I read these amazing stories. I hope you enjoy.

Mosiah 12

"I know if ye keep the commandments of God ye shall be saved; yea, if ye keep the commandments which the Lord delivered unto Moses in the mount of Sinai, saying: I am the Lord thy God, who hath brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.." (V.33-34)

Mosiah 13

"They stood forth and attempted to lay their hands on [Abinadi]; but he withstood them, and said unto them: 'Touch me not, for God shall smite you if ye lay your hands upon me, for I have not delivered the message which the Lord sent me to deliver; neither have I told you that which ye requested that I should tell; therefore, God will not suffer that I shall be destroyed at this time. But I must fulfill the commandments wherewith God has commanded me; and because I have told you the truth ye are angry with me. And again, because I have spoken the word of God ye have judged me that i am mad.'..for the Spirit of the Lord was upon him..he spake with power and authority from God" (V.2-6)

"'I perceive that it cuts you to your hearts because I tell you the truth concerning your iniquities..my words fill you with wonder and amazement, and with anger. But I finish my message; and then it matters not whither I go, if it so be that I am saved.'" (V.7-9)

"'And moreover, I say unto you, that salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement, which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses.'" (V.28)

Mosiah 14

"'Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows..But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all.'" (V.4-6)

"'for he shall bear their iniquities..he bore the sins of many'" (V.11-12)

Mosiah 15

"'All those who have harkened unto their words and believed that the Lord would redeem his people, and have looked forward to that day for a remission of their sins, I say unto you, that these are his seed, or they are the heirs of the kingdom of God.'" (V.11)

"'And now I say unto you that the time shall come that the salvation of the Lord shall be declared to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.'" (V.28)

Mosiah 16

"'He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death.'" (V.9)

"'If they be good, to the resurrection of endless life and happiness; and if they be evil, to the resurrection of endless damnation, being delivered up to the devil, who hath subjected them, which is damnation'" (V.11)

"'Ought ye not to tremble and repent of your sins, and remember that only in and through Christ ye can be saved?..redemption cometh through Christ the Lord, who is the very Eternal Father.'" (V.13 &15)

Mosiah 17

"'I will not recall the words which I have spoken unto you concerning this people, for they are true; and that ye may know of their surety I have suffered myself that I have fallen into your hands. Yea, and I will suffer even until death, and I will not recall my words, and they shall stand as a testimony against you. And if ye slay me ye will shed innocent blood, and this shall also stand as a testimony against you at the last day.'" (V.9-10)

(Abinadi is being put to death by fire)

"'Thus God executeth vengeance upon those that destroy his people. O God, receive my soul.'..Yea, having been put to death because he would not deny the commandments of God, having sealed the truth of his words by his death." (V.19-20)

Mosiah 18

(Alma preaches to the people in private and began to baptize them)

"They should observe the sabbath day, and keep it holy, also every day they should give thanks to the Lord their God." (V.23)

"They did walk uprightly before God" (V.29)

"Trials and tribulations tend to squeeze the artificiality out of us, leaving the essence of what we really are and clarifying what we really yearn for." 

-Neal A. Maxwell

"Each trial we overcome is to strengthen, not destroy us. The Lord will never allow us to suffer beyond what we can endure."

-Robert D Hales

"Many today feel troubled and distressed; many feel that, at any moment, the ships of their lives could capsize or sink. It is to you who are looking for a safe harbor that I wish to speak today, you whose hearts are breaking, you who are worried or afraid, you who bear grief or the burdens of sin, you who feel no one is listening to your cries, you whose hearts are pleading, 'Master, carest thou not that I perish?' To you I offer a few words of comfort and of counsel.

"Be assured that there is a safe harbor. You can find peace amidst the storms that threaten you. Your Heavenly Father--who knows when even a sparrow falls--knows of your heartache and suffering. He loves you and wants the best for you. Never doubt this. While He allows all of us to make choices that may not always be for our own or even others' well-being, and while He does not always intervene in the course of events, He has promised the faithful peace even in their trials and tribulations."

-Joseph B. Wirthlin

"Sometimes we live our lives normally but then, suddenly, we have several trials piled on us all at once. During these times a lot of stretching is required. When this happens, it is evidence that the Lord is confident that you are ready to learn and grow, and if we do our best to overcome these challenges, we are given strength and knowledge and wisdom."

Mosiah 2:41; 4:9 & 10

These are just some scriptures that I liked a lot that I have read within the past couple of days in my personal scripture study. I hope you enjoy :)

"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of neverending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it." (41)

"Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend. (9)

"And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them." (10)