Sunday, September 14, 2014

Less Conspicuous Gifts

I miss Elder Marvin J. Ashton.  He had so much wisdom to share.  He gave a talk in 1987 about helping us to realize the gifts that Heavenly Father has given us that might not be as noticeable or recognizeable, but gifts nonetheless.  I posted about this once before, because he lists one of those gifts as "the ability to weep".  Here is a link to another great talk by Elder Ashton.

Here is the link to the talk:  https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1987/10/there-are-many-gifts?lang=eng

Here are a few quotes from it to think about:

One of the great tragedies of life, it seems to me, is when a person classifies himself as someone who has no talents or gifts. When, in disgust or discouragement, we allow ourselves to reach depressive levels of despair because of our demeaning self-appraisal, it is a sad day for us and a sad day in the eyes of God. For us to conclude that we have no gifts when we judge ourselves by stature, intelligence, grade-point average, wealth, power, position, or external appearance is not only unfair but unreasonable.

God has given each of us one or more special talents. Socrates made the famous statement, “The unexamined life is not worth living” (“Apology,” The Dialogues of Plato, trans. Benjamin Jowett, Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1952, p. 210). It is up to each of us to search for and build upon the gifts which God has given. We must remember that each of us is made in the image of God, that there are no unimportant persons. Everyone matters to God and to his fellowmen.

Taken at random, let me mention a few gifts that are not always evident or noteworthy but that are very important. Among these may be your gifts—gifts not so evident but nevertheless real and valuable.

Let us review some of these less-conspicuous gifts: the gift of asking; the gift of listening; the gift of hearing and using a still, small voice; the gift of being able to weep; the gift of avoiding contention; the gift of being agreeable; the gift of avoiding vain repetition; the gift of seeking that which is righteous; the gift of not passing judgment; the gift of looking to God for guidance; the gift of being a disciple; the gift of caring for others; the gift of being able to ponder; the gift of offering prayer; the gift of bearing a mighty testimony; and the gift of receiving the Holy Ghost.

Okay, so I am basically quoting almost the whole talk.  It really is worth reading and pondering.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

BYU Devotionals- I love them!

In the early morning hours, BYU tv runs BYU devotionals.  These are so inspirational.  I am getting a lot of favorites.  I thought I would use this post as a place to post links to the ones that I wanted to be able to find again easily:

J.B. Haws- Wrestling with Comparisons
Brad Wilcox- His Grace is Sufficient
Gifford Nielson- Rise and Shout and Shine Forth
Todd B. Parker- “True Doctrine, Understood, Changes Attitudes and Behavior”
Lawrence E. Corbridge- Stand Forever



Here is the link to the general site:
http://speeches.byu.edu/index

Weatherford T. Clayton:  Christ: The Rock of our Redeemer

Ed Eyestone: Following Worthy Mentors

Chad Lewis: The World Needs to See and Feel Your Light

Scott Esplin: "Daddy, is Jesus real?" Overcoming Fear Through Faith in Christ


Gordon Limb: Recognizing and Responding to the Promptings of the Holy Ghost

Mike Middleton: Adding Star's to Your Life's Stars

Paul Farnsworth:  Avoiding Spiritual Drift

Elder David Evans
Elder Ron R. Clarke

Celia Peek- "Yea, They May Forget, Yet Will I Not Forget Thee."
http://www.byutv.org/watch/a974c56f-cbd1-483f-9f5f-92b6394add2b/byu-devotional-address-cecilia-m-peek-11910


https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/osguthorpe-russell-t_what-if-love-were-our-only-motive/


Marilyn Berrett
Earnest Prayer

Damon Bahr
https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/bahr-damon-l_the-unique-opportunities-of-living-at-this-time-in/

Jeff Bellison- Gospel Gifts
https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/belliston-c-jeffrey_gospel-gifts/


 Trenton Hickman- Weaknesses into Strengths in our Search for Knowledge
http://speeches.byu.edu/index.php?act=viewitem&id=2183

Richard B. Miller- Repentance and Forgiveness in Marriage
http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=1880

Jane Lassetter- Lead me, Walk Beside Me: Life Lessons with the Holy Ghost
http://speeches.byu.edu/index.php?act=viewitem&id=2169


Barbara Heise- Growing Toward Christ
http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=1885


Brent Nelson- I Know That He Loveth His Children
http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=2189&view=2

Elder Anthony Perkins- Nevertheless, I Went Forth
http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=2164


Bishop Gerald Causse- "For When I Am Weak, Then Am I Strong"
 http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=2157 

Jeff Ringer- Finding Sanctuary
http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=1899