One of the best quotes ever - until I find the next best quote! :)

We started adult institute last week (9-14-2009). Once again we will take the most recent conference issue of the Ensign and study each talk. This proved to be a fantastic experience all last year. We study the scriptures in church but we don't always take the time to study the General Conference talks. In his closing remarks at the April conference, President Monson said, "I remind you that the messages will be printed in the next month's Ensign. I urge you to study the messages and to ponder their teachings and then to apply them in your life." p. 112

As I have studied these talks in preparation to teach them, I have been impressed with the need to refine my discipleship to our Lord Jesus Christ. "The Way of the Disciple" by President Uchtdorf (p. 75) was particularly inspiring. Some of the quotes we studied last week include:

"It is not enough merely to speak of Jesus Christ or proclaim that we are His disciples. It is not enough to surround ourselves with symbols of our religion. Discipleship is not a spectator sport."

"Ours is not a secondhand religion. We cannot receive the blessings of the gospel merely by observing the good that others do. We need to get off the sidelines and practice what we preach."

The first step on the path of discipleship begins, luckily enough, in the exact place where we stand!" Think about that one...

THE BEST QUOTE (he quoted Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin
"Oh, it is wonderful to know that our Heavenly Father loves us - even with all our flaws! His love is such that even should we give up on ourselves, He never will. We [might] see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever...The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of transformation. It takes us as men and women of the earth and refines us into men and women for the eternities."