I witness the reality and divinity of our Eternal Father, of His Only Begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Ghost. I testify that our Father hears and answers our prayers. May each of us strive with greater resolve to ask in faith and thereby make our prayers truly meaningful.

David A. Bednar

Categorized in : Jesus Meaningful Prayer

If today you are a little bit better than you were yesterday, then that's enough. And, if tomorrow you are a little bit better than you were today, then that's enough.

David A. Bednar

self-improvement progress yesterday

Ordinary people who faithfully, diligently, and consistently do simple things that are right before God will bring forth extraordinary results.

David A. Bednar

christian faith god

One of the greatest indicators of our own spiritual maturity is revealed in how we respond to the weaknesses, the inexperience, and the potentially offensive actions of others.

David A. Bednar

maturity inexperience spiritual

When we believe or say we have been offended, we usually mean we feel insulted, mistreated, snubbed, or disrespected. And certainly clumsy, embarrassing, unprincipled, and mean-spirited things do occur in our interactions with other people that would allow us to take offense. However, it ultimately is impossible for another person to offend you or to offend me. Indeed, believing that another person offended us is fundamentally false. To be offended is a choice we make; it is not a condition inflicted or imposed upon us by someone or something else.

David A. Bednar

offending mean believe

People of integrity and honesty not only practice what they preach, they are what they preach.

David A. Bednar

honesty practice integrity

Character is revealed in the power to discern the suffering of other people when we ourselves are suffering; in the ability to detect the hunger of others when we are hungry; and in the power to reach out and extend compassion for the spiritual agony of others when we are in the midst of our own spiritual distress.

David A. Bednar

compassion spiritual character

A grateful person is rich in contentment. An ungrateful person suffers in the poverty of endless discontentment.

David A. Bednar

contentment grateful suffering

Pray and seek for strength to change our circumstances rather than praying for our circumstances to be changed

David A. Bednar

changed praying circumstances

Each family prayer, each episode of family scripture study, and each family home evening is a brushstroke on the canvas of our souls. No one event may appear to be very impressive or memorable. But just as the yellow and gold and brown strokes of paint complement each other and produce an impressive masterpiece, so our consistency in doing seemingly small things can lead to significant spiritual results.

David A. Bednar

prayer spiritual home

Knowing that the gospel is true is the essence of a testimony. Consistently being true to the gospel is the essence of conversion.

David A. Bednar

being-true knowing essence

A grateful person is rich in contentment.

David A. Bednar

rich contentment grateful

The issue is not going to church; rather, the issue is worshipping and renewing covenants as we attend church. The issue is not going to or through the temple; rather, the issue is having in our hearts the spirit, the covenants, and the ordinances of the Lord's house. The issue is not going on a mission; rather, the issue is becoming a missionary and serving throughout our entire life with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength.

David A. Bednar

issues house heart

I testify that the tender mercies of the Lord are real and that they do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence. Often, the Lord's timing of His tender mercies helps us to both discern and acknowledge them.

David A. Bednar

timing real helping

Prayer becomes more meaningful as we counsel with the Lord in all of our doings, as we express heartfelt gratitude, and as we pray for others.

David A. Bednar

gratitude prayer meaningful

Strong faith in the Savior is submissively accepting of His will and timing in our lives, even if the outcome is not what we hoped for or wanted.

David A. Bednar

timing outcomes strong

In the strength of the Lord we can do and endure and overcome all things.

David A. Bednar

endure lord overcoming

The tender mercies of the Lord are available to all of us and...the Redeemer of Israel is eager to bestow such gifts upon us.

David A. Bednar

israel mercy lord

Regardless of our age, experience, or station in life, we are all missionaries.

David A. Bednar

stations age

Sometimes we may ask God for success, and He gives us physical and mental stamina. We might plead for prosperity, and we receive enlarged perspective and increased patience, or we petition for growth and are blessed with the gift of grace. He may bestow upon us conviction and confidence as we strive to achieve worthy goals.

David A. Bednar

thanksgiving goal blessed

There is no physical pain, no spiritual wound, no anguish of soul or heartache, no infirmity or weakness you or I ever confront in mortality that the Savior did not experience first. In a moment of weakness we may cry out, “No one knows what it is like. No one understands.” But the Son of God perfectly knows and understands, for He has felt and borne our individual burdens.

David A. Bednar

pain spiritual son