Thoughts and stories, by Pal

 What will be your plan for the New Year? Today, in our Church meetings, one speaker stressed really thinking at this time of the year, what good priorities we could concentrate on in the coming New Year.  His goal was to learn more about our Savior Jesus Christ, by reading scriptures, and other talks, etc., about His life.   In thinking about his challenge, I have realized that we have several books which would help me have a better understanding of His wonderful life, teachings, and atonement.  We have the 3 volumes of "Doctrinal Commentary on the New Testament" and "Mortal Messiah" both by Elder Bruce R. McConkie.  We also have "Jesus the Christ" by Elder James E. Talmadge, and one or two other books about the atonement, etc.  Along with the Book of Mormon, which we will study in Sunday School, I plan to read more of those types of books.  Also, wherever you get the BYUTV station, (channel 15 in St. George, Utah) on Sunday they have 2 half-...

For those of us who stress ourselves trying to be too efficient, and prepared, and wear ourselves out, this is a great article.  This is especially appropriate around Christmas time!  I have had to learn the hard way as it says in Mosiah 4:27---   "And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man (woman) should run faster than he (she) has strength."     You can find blog # 4, written Saturday, November 16, 2013, just after I started this blog, which tells part of my story.  Look under "exhaustion" and/or "balance" in the labels on the right, and it will come up. Are You Weary in Well Doing? By Joni Hilton  · December 2, 2015, in Meridian Magazine A doctor once said to me, “I never ask anyone if they’re tired. Everybody’s tired.” We laughed, but there is great truth in what he said. We live in a push-and-shove world where everyone’s trying to get ahead, and also get their childre...

From LDS Living:  There are a lot of great and wise ideas in this article! 4 Mistakes We Make When Dealing with Trials (That Only Make Them Worse) DANIELLE BECKSTROM -  The most common challenges we face in life—those we see and struggle with on a daily basis—are often self-inflicted. But they don’t have to be. Daily personal challenges are common enough in our culture— things like negativity, doubt, anger, loneliness, jealousy, and selfishness. Despite their commonality, these trials can be the most dangerous and degrading to the soul. They wear us down physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I am not saying that we are to blame for every negative thing we face in life.  But I am saying our attitudes and responses to adversity can lead either to intense satisfaction and lasting peace or continual dissatisfaction and discontent. Don’t let your response to a trial prove to be the biggest trial of all. There are several prevalent mentali...

I found this on mormonchannel.org.  It has a lot of wisdom in it!. Why You've Been Setting Goals Wrong We’ve all set goals at the new year. We’ve all attempted to keep them. We’ve all failed. That might be a sign that you’re doing it wrong. It’s a ritual for a lot of us. Just as you’re packing away the Christmas decorations and drinking the last of the eggnog, you anticipate the new year and picture the possibilities. You dream of all the goals you could accomplish.  • Lose 30 pounds. • Run a marathon. • Start a business and make a million dollars. Setting goals? That’s easy. Achieving goals? That’s another story. Fast-forward a few weeks. You haven’t lost any weight. One of these days, when you finally have some free time, you’re going to start running. And you still can’t figure out what that new business is going to be. You’re too busy making PB&Js, paying the bills, and spot treating laundry. Elder M. Russell Ballard learned a lesson almost 20...

Achieving balance in life:  I have decided that I wanted to state a theme for each post so it will show when you read it.  I have always loved the scripture in Mosiah (Book of Mormon) chapter 4, parts of verse 26, and verse 27:  Page 157. For the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God -- I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.  (Those things are very much needed today in today's world!) And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength.  And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.     When we go...