• Alma 29: 4…God granteth unto men according to their will and desire, whether they be unto salvation or destruction
  • Alma 19:33…You experience a change of heart when you have no more desire to do evil.
  • Galatians 5:16-18…Carnal desires and Spirit clash
  • Alma 29:4…Men will receive according to desire
  • Mosiah 13: 24…Don’t covet anything from your neighbor
  • Mosiah 4: 24-25…God judges us by our desires in our hearts
  • “Is there not something deep in our hearts that longs to draw nearer to God, to be more like Him in our daily walk, to feel His presence with us constantly? If so, then the Book of Mormon will help us do so more than any other book.” (Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, Nov. 1986, 7)
  • “Zen teacher Jakusho Kwong suggests becoming “an active participant in loss.” We’re conditioned to seek only gain, to be happy, and to try to satisfy all our desires, he explains. But even though we may understand on some level that loss is a catalyst for growth, most people still believe it to be the opposite of gain and to be avoided at all costs. If I’ve learned anything in my years of practicing Zen and coaching basketball, it’s that what we resist persists. Sometimes the letting go happens quickly; other times it may take several sleepless nights. Or weeks.”Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success (Phil Jackson and Hugh Delehanty) Page 333
  • April 28th, 1995 – Friday.  Quito, Ecuador… “Elder Hanks & I had a good study.  I kind of realized how special we really are.  If you think of all the people that chose to be on Christ’s side are now living in millions of different worlds.  The strongest spirits were sent here to this world because this is where they sacrificed Jesus Christ.  This was the only world wicked enough to do it.  On this world, in the Last Days, the valiant were sent here to be able to live in the most wicked time.  The next most valiant would be the church members.  Out of all of these valiant spirits only a few go on a mission.  They’re the chosen of the valiant.  If you could just imagine how special we actually are.  Then, on top of that, to be a leader among the chosen is something mind boggling.  I don’t know what I did in the pre-existence but the Lord has blessed me a ton.  He has helped me want to be the best I can.  I have this deep desire to be righteous.  I want to be like the Apostles, just because they’re so righteous and so smart & so spiritual & so right.  I’m realizing little by little my potential.  I’m very far from it but I’ll keep striving for it.  I’m so glad to be an Elder, and I feel very privileged to be a leader.  Man, I pray that the Lord guides my words, thoughts & action.  I want to help Him & His work so bad.  I pray I can.  I love this work.  I’m blessed all day & every day.  Even during the tests.”  – Clinton Brown Missionary Journal
  • “Every trial a man goes through, if he is faithful in that trial and does honor to God and his religion he has espoused, at the end of that trial or affliction that individual is nearer to God, nearer in regard to the increase of faith, wisdom, knowledge and power, and hence is more confident in calling upon the Lord for those things he desires. I have known individuals who have trembled at the idea of passing through certain ordeals who after they were through the temptation have said they could approach the Lord in more confidence and ask for such blessings as they desired.” Teachings of the President of the Church: Lorenzo Snow, Chapter 7, Faithfulness in Times of Trial from the Shadows into the Glorious Sunshine