Enriching Lives through Online Training

If I were to leave soon, this is what I would like to say to you and remind you of:

You are in the world, but be not of the world. The desire to be accepted by others often makes this difficult, but who do we most want to please … who can give us the greatest blessing – that of eternal life? It is better to appear "foolish" at times, to the world and please Heavenly Father than to lower our standards. We must be a light that leads others through a world of darkness. The only way to do this is to obey Heavenly Father and be guided by His Spirit.

To exercise faith and live the Gospel you must first learn it. Study the scriptures every day for at least 15 to 30 minutes and apply the principles. "Be ye doers of the word, not hearers only."

In this life, we were meant to have difficulties so that, in overcoming them, we can grow. In reality, they are opportunities "in disguise." Be humble. We need Heavenly Father’s help to succeed. Ask him for guidance every day. Thank him every day for his blessings. Take enough time to talk with him and be sure to pause to listen. Only this way do you give him the chance to reveal his will to you – through your thoughts, and in other ways.

All things go according to his will and are for your benefit. There is never any need to fear … unless you displease him. If you do, He withdraws his Spirit and you are left to the buffetings of Satan. Satan will do all he can to take advantage of your discouragement to make you feel worthless and hopeless. Be not deceived. You are a child of God. Repent and come back to him. He will forgive you. His joy will be great. He will encircle his arms around you in eternal love and, step-by-step, help you back, as you rely on him. Step-by-step He will bestow more of his Spirit upon you until you truly become as He is.

Love others. This is the second greatest commandment. To do this, you must first understand others. This takes patience and a willingness to listen, to see things from their point of view. It is by listening to and serving others that we come to love them; and, just as important, we come to love ourselves. Always look for the good. If you do you will bring it out. All this especially applies to your younger brothers and sisters. Often they require the most patience and love. The key is to understand them. There is always a reason why people act the way they do. If we just take the time and make the effort, we can discover it. So often their actions are just to find out if anyone cares.

Use your time wisely. Set goals and write them down. Concentrate on those of highest priority. For each goal list possible ideas on how to accomplish them, select the best and make a plan, setting specific times by which to obtain the desired results. Time is wasted unless, by this means, it is controlled.

Marry in the temple. Decide now that you will settle for nothing less. It is one of the most important decisions you will ever make -- it effects eternity. It determines whether you will enter into the highest degree of glory in the Celestial Kingdom, or something less. The greatest sadness in the next life comes from seeing what you might have been and what you might have had, and realizing its too late. For this reason, be friends with young women outside the church and share the gospel with them, but don't date them. If you rely on Heavenly Father, he will help you find the right person to marry at the right time.

I want you to know I love you. I'm not perfect ... and if anyone realized it, I know you do. forgive me for my shortcomings. I admit I haven't always shown my love, but there have been a number of times I've realized how special you are and how much you mean to me and I hope, in some ways, I have made you feel how much I really do love you.

I know the church is true. It has been the greatest blessing in my life. I know it truly is Christ's restored church ... the only one containing the priesthood authority necessary to enable us to receive eternal life and exaltation.

I Love You,
Dad