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Every year on Memorial Day, a young woman visits the small community cemetery in her hometown. She is often drawn to four gravestones standing side by side. They mark the resting places of Clyde, LeRoy, Rolon, and Rulon Borgstrom. She never knew them, but she knows their story. Everyone in the small town of Tremonton, Utah, knows their story.
Joan of Arc was a courageous 15th-century French heroine who faced a martyr’s death at age 19. A play depicting her life has Joan declaring to her accusers just before her execution: “Every man gives his life for what he believes. Every woman gives her life for what she believes. Sometimes people believe in little or nothing, [and so] they give up their lives to that little or nothing. One life is all we have, and we live it as we believe in living it, and then it’s gone. But to surrender who you are, and live without belief—that’s more terrible than dying—more terrible than dying young.”
Mother Teresa possessed a degree of goodness that’s rare in society today. Her acts of compassion began in 1948 in India, but her heart was too big to be confined to one place for long. Eventually her service reached around the world to more than 100 countries, transcending religious and political lines. She, and the thousands she inspired to work at her side, gave comfort to those who were forgotten or set aside—the tattered, diseased, crippled, orphaned, aged, homeless, and hungry. She embraced and loved them with encouragement, tenderness, and compassion. Truly, no better title describes her life and work than “Mother.”
Why is it that life is so hard for some and so much easier for others? Some people seem to have more happiness and opportunities, and others much less. Indeed, life can seem neither fair nor equal.
There may not be a single formula or step-by-step recipe for peace and happiness in this life. And that’s good, because no one’s life is so predictable that it always sticks to the script. A little improvising is often needed. Besides that, each life is as different as each individual. But there are noticeable patterns that can teach us how to cope with life’s difficulties and challenges.
In our efforts to improve the world, or even just improve ourselves, sometimes we need a catalyst.
What is a catalyst? A scientist would tell you it is a substance that starts or hastens a chemical reaction. But the word also has meaning outside the world of chemistry: a catalyst can be an event—or, just as often, a person—that causes change or action, that makes things happen.
Life is full of important things to do. But if we let those to-do’s fill up our lives, we may be missing something essential about what it means to be human. After all, as it is often said, we are human beings, not human doings. In other words, life is more about who we are becoming through our experiences—not just what we’re doing with our time. So while it’s helpful to plan what we are going to do each day, we might also consider what we are going to become each day. How might the person we are at the end of the day be a little different from the person we were at the beginning?
Thousands of years ago, Gautama Buddha became known as a wise teacher with keen insights into human nature. He often compared the mind to a wild monkey: jumping from limb to limb, restless, distracted, and a bit out of control. When we think about how hectic life can be sometimes, with so many important things to do, so many urgent matters clamoring for our attention, the analogy seems pretty accurate. When this happens, we may feel unsettled, anxious, and exhausted as we try to keep up with the little monkey in our mind.
Giving is good for the soul. That’s what a well-known billionaire learned after a life of sharing his wealth with others. Jon M. Huntsman Sr., who recently passed away, made it a habit to give generously throughout his life. Some might think it’s easy for a billionaire to give away money. But in reality, it’s the size of your heart, not the size of your bank account, that matters when it comes to giving.
If the message of Easter were reduced to just one word, that word might be hope. Easter declares, as almost nothing else can, that even in the most desperate situations there is hope. The worst storms eventually subside. The deepest emptiness can be filled. The darkest night soon gives way to the light of dawn.
Everyone wants to be successful, and everyone wants to have a good life. These may sound like the same goal, but depending on your definition of success, they might be quite different. A person can be “successful” in certain areas of life and yet feel miserable and lonely. On the other hand, a truly happy life, a good life, is a successful life in the most meaningful sense.
Researchers have been studying happiness for many years. Everyone wants to know how to be happier, and we wonder if there’s a hidden secret that science can discover for us.
Recently an 80-year Harvard study, the longest study ever done on the subject of happiness, made a conclusion that probably shouldn’t surprise us: “Close relationships, more than money or fame, are what keep people happy throughout their lives.” Strong bonds with loved ones, the study found, “protect people from life’s discontents, help to delay mental and physical decline, and are better predictors of long and happy lives than social class, [intelligence], or even genes.”
As the world becomes more and more electronic, it also becomes less and less connected. Ironically, technology that helps us communicate with almost anyone at all throughout the world has somehow weakened our relationships with those who are closest to us.
For many people of all ages, in-person conversations are being replaced with the screens of hand-held devices. Small talk on a bus, the friendly chatter in line at the store, or just a greeting as we pass on the street seems to have all but disappeared.
Have you ever thought of life as a school? There are some obvious similarities-both give us many opportunities to learn. Both provide teachers and tutors to guide our learning. And in life, as in school, we have experiences that could be considered tests, and they are rarely easy.
In November 1922, Albert Einstein was on his way to Japan to give a lecture when he was told that he had been awarded the Nobel Prize in physics. People in Japan were already eager to meet the famous physicist, and this news only intensified the excitement. Einstein was somewhat overwhelmed by all the publicity, so when he arrived in Japan he secluded himself in his hotel room to write down his thoughts and feelings.
In the middle of a frigid, snowy night in 1799, George Washington woke his wife and told her that he felt ill. She noticed that his breathing was labored and his voice was faint. Concerned about her husband, Mrs. Washington offered to go for help, but he insisted that she wait until morning.
Have you ever thought of love as an act of courage? It often seems safer to close one's heart, to turn inward and avoid the possibility of heartache. As British writer C. S. Lewis wrote: "To love… is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken." It takes faith and hope to truly love another, because there's always the risk of being hurt as we expose our weaknesses, our worries, and our dreams.
All of us like to succeed at what we do-and we especially like it when others notice how successful we are. But success comes with risks. When the applause is loud and the spotlight is bright, it's harder to see who we really are. Fortunately, life has a way of reminding us.
Can we ever truly know a person just by looking at his or her outward appearance? Is it possible to discern someone's inner self, the private struggles he or she faces? Many people work hard to maintain a flawless or carefree image. Others are simply private and don't always feel comfortable sharing their concerns and cares with others. But even those who present a strong, capable exterior usually have doubts and heartaches they do not share.
Have you ever needed a reset-a chance to wipe the slate clean and approach things from a fresh perspective? This is a little more than just setting goals to try harder or be better. A reset allows us to change direction when we sense that we're off course; it gets us back on track when we've been derailed. And somehow, life has a way of derailing everyone at times. We get too busy, too distracted, too burdened to remember our larger purpose, plans, or perspective.
Frank Capra was a movie director during the golden age of Hollywood decades ago. He is well known for heartwarming films such as It’s a Wonderful Life and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington—classic tales of humble, small-town heroes choosing good over evil, right over wrong.
On January 2, 2018, Thomas S. Monson passed away at his home in Salt Lake City. He was known and loved by millions of people as President Monson, because for 10 years he served as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. To The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, he was also our respected adviser and dear friend.
As one year winds down and another begins, it’s natural to look back—and at the same time look forward. In fact, reflecting for a moment on the past can be a great way to anticipate what lies ahead. Just as most successful retailers take periodic inventories, determining what sold, what didn’t, and what needs to change, we too would do well to take stock of our lives.
Christmas traditions vary throughout the world. Some people light candles. Some hang wreaths. Some set out delicious meals and tasty treats on beautifully decorated tables. Every culture adds its beautiful, rich flavor to the Christmas season. But there’s one thing that seems to be common in nearly all Christmas celebrations—families gathering at the hearth and home. Yes, there’s something about Christmas that brings families together.
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem,
More than a hundred years ago, the beloved English poet Christina Rossetti wrote a simple yet thought-provoking Christmas poem:
Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, Love Divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and Angels gave the sign.1
Every year at this holiday season, we ponder the miracle of the Christmas story. And it certainly is a miraculous story—with angelic visions, a King born in a stable, and a bright new star in the sky. But do miracles belong only to stories from yesteryear, or do they still happen today? If one were to look for modern miracles, perhaps there’s no better place to look than this magical time of year, the Christmas season.
We all appreciate the Golden Rule—Do unto others as you would have them do unto you—and for the most part, we all try to let this principle guide the way we treat other people.
Some time ago, a family was going through a challenging time. Their world seemed to crumble around them, and all of their attention and energy was consumed in their problems. Recognizing that this was not how they wanted to live their lives, they decided to turn to heaven for help.
That’s when a miracle happened. No, their problems didn’t disappear. Rather, a good friend of the family helped them see that they had what she called a “basket” of blessings—and it was “overflowing.” The mother of the family said: “We realized that we were surrounded by goodness and were being cheered on from every side. We began as a family to express our gratitude to each other as well as to the Lord daily.”
On Veterans Day, we give thanks to everyone who has ever donned a uniform of the United States military. This national holiday dates to the close of the First World War and now honors generations of veterans who have fought in many battles in many lands. No matter the conflict, our military men and women of different backgrounds, races, and creeds have long represented the American character at its best: selflessness, honesty, commitment, grit, resilience, and patriotism.
Years ago, a young boy was injured in a terrible car accident. He spent weeks in critical condition and was finally beginning to recover when he contracted a life-threatening virus while in the hospital. Later he was invited to speak to a church congregation about his experiences. Although just 12 years old, he offered insight beyond his years on the problem of pain in the world. He said:
“Some people have asked me what I did wrong to deserve what happened to me. I’m not perfect, but I’m a good boy, and I know this is not something I deserved.