Thoughts and stories, by Pal

A better reason to exercise!  This motivates me more than other reasons!  I need to exercise more, and it may help me live longer, and give more service! 3 Ways You Didn't Realize Physical Exercise Can Increase Spiritual Strength by Dr. Rich Tenney  | Feb. 04, 2017 Makes You Think Mormon Life Comments Why are we here? When asked this question in Sunday school, the answer often given is “to receive a  body  and be  tested .” While this is a right answer, have you noticed that the discussion that usually follows tends to pass over the  body  and focus more on how to pass the  test ? I’m sure the adversary appreciates this. Why? Because when we think and act as if we are in our premortal, unembodied state, it undermines our  agency , or what Elder Bednar calls our  capacity to act  (general conference, April 2010). There are a number of subtle physical consequences that co...

I believe I need to "Sharpen my Saw!" Remember Stephen R. Covey? I believe we have all read his books, and benefited so much. I remember one we had years ago which was called "Spiritual Roots of Human Relations." In it he recommends that we include in our planning, an important area on which we must focus which he calls “sharpening the saw.” A story exemplifies what it means to “sharpen the saw.” A man is feverishly sawing away at a tree with his hand saw. A friend walks by and asks the man working so hard on the tree why he doesn't stop for a little while and sharpen his saw so that he can cut the tree more easily. The man cutting the tree replies that he can't stop to sharpen the saw, he is too busy sawing. Have you ever felt like you are continually busy, yet you are not accomplishing anything important? There are things in life that we can do that, if we did them on a regular basis, would help us to sharpen our saw and in so doing, allow us to ...