heart & death

Several years ago, my wife and I served as mission leaders in Tokyo, Japan. During a visit to our mission by then-Elder Russell M. Nelson, one of the missionaries asked him how best to respond when a person tells them that they are too busy to listen to them. With little hesitation, Elder Nelson said, “I would ask if they were too busy to eat lunch that day and then teach them that they have both a body and a spirit, and just as their body will die if not nourished, so will their spirit if not nourished by the good word of God.”

It is interesting to note that the Japanese word for “busy,” isogashii, is made up of a character with two symbols (忙). The one on the left means “heart” or “spirit,” and the one on the right means “death”—suggesting perhaps, as President Nelson taught, that being too busy to nourish our spirits can lead us to die spiritually.

L. Todd Budge

"Seek Him with All Your Heart" General Conference October 2024

my task is to seek to be a Saint

As a disciple of Christ I may perform at any moment a saving deed. Wherever I am, the world will be there too, and others will need my help. I can bear witness to what is beyond the world. I can testify that God loves every soul. I can be as a little sanctuary for his Spirit. At home, at work, along my way, I can be just. In the midst of compromise I can be constant. I can seek virtue before advancement, endure humiliation rather than cause it, speak kindly to anger. My task is to seek to be a Saint in the most telling way: to forget great feats and to live a common life, performing routine duties and daily chores, all with the attitude of sanctity. 

The Lord’s Question: Thoughts on the Life of Response by Dennis Rasmussen. Brigham Young University Press. April 1985. Chapter Four, “Whom Shall I Send?” p.45

they teach him life itself

The scriptures do not teach man just a way of life – they teach him life itself. Thry surround him with the things of God, both visible and invisible. In scripture common things return to their origin and show themselves anew, fresh from the hand of God. Shepherds and sheep, lilies and seeds, water and bread bear cosmic meaning. They display the Divine signature for all who are willing to see. To the skeptic who asks where God is, his creation responds, where is he not? To Moses the Lord said, “And behold, all things have their likeness, and all things are created and made to bear record of me, both things which are temporal, and things which are spiritual.” (Moses 6:63.) The beginning of wisdom is wonder, and the object of wonder is the created world.

The Lord’s Question: Thoughts on the Life of Response by Dennis Rasmussen. Brigham Young University Press. April 1985. Chapter Two, “Do Not I Fill Heaven and Earth?” p.15

lifted my spirits the most

In addition to the call to teach, all of us will be sent by the Lord to succor those in need....We need not worry about knowing the right thing to say or do when we get there. The love of God and the Holy Spirit may be enough. When I was a young man I feared that I would not know what to do or to say to people in great need.

Once I was at the hospital bedside of my father as he seemed near death. I heard a commotion among the nurses in the hallway. Suddenly, President Spencer W. Kimball walked into the room and sat in a chair on the opposite side of the bed from me. I thought to myself, “Now here is my chance to watch and listen to a master at going to those in pain and suffering.”

President Kimball said a few words of greeting, asked my father if he had received a priesthood blessing, and then, when Dad said that he had, the prophet sat back in his chair.

I waited for a demonstration of the comforting skills I felt I lacked and so much needed. After perhaps five minutes of watching the two of them simply smiling silently at each other, I saw President Kimball rise and say, “Henry, I think I’ll go before we tire you.”

I thought I had missed the lesson, but it came later. In a quiet moment with Dad after he recovered enough to go home, our conversation turned to the visit by President Kimball. Dad said quietly, “Of all the visits I had, that visit I had from him lifted my spirits the most.”

President Kimball didn’t speak many words of comfort, at least that I could hear, but he went with the Spirit of the Lord as his companion to give the comfort.



"Serve with the Spirit" by Henry B. Eyring, General Conference October 2010

the thinking and the praying I do

Our humility and our faith that invite spiritual gifts are increased by our reading, studying, and pondering the scriptures. We have all heard those words. Yet we may read a few lines or pages of scripture every day and hope that will be enough.

But reading, studying, and pondering are not the same. We read words and we may get ideas. We study and we may discover patterns and connections in scripture. But when we ponder, we invite revelation by the Spirit. Pondering, to me, is the thinking and the praying I do after reading and studying in the scriptures carefully.


"Serve with the Spirit" by Henry B. Eyring, General Conference October 2010

because he paddled quietly

Gone… is the woman Zeitoun found in her foyer, the woman whose cries he heard because he paddled quietly…. Zeitoun thinks of the simple greatness of the canoe, of the advantages of moving quietly, of listening carefully.


Zeitoun by Dave Eggers. Random House. 2010.

reserves the decision-making power

In the Book of Mormon we read that the Savior directed, “Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which Is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.” (3 Nephi 18:20.)


This is one of the most significant and distinctive insights given to us in all of the scriptures. Even though we may ask in faith for something, unless it is right for us, God reserves the decision-making power to himself. A perfect, loving, and omniscient Father would do just that. Thus, in addition to having faith, we need to ask for that which is right. This same tonal truth appears in modern revelations. The Lord told the Prophet Joseph Smith, “Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name, it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you.” (D&C 88:64.)

Clearly, the Lord reserves the right to determine that which is best for us, lest we ask for something in our spiritual naiveté that would not conform to the will of God. Nephi, the prophet, understood the importance of precision and propriety in prayer. He knew from happy experience that God would give liberally to him if he, Nephi, prayed in such a way that he “ask not amiss.” (2 Nephi 4:35.)

Thus we see the importance of what a modern prophet has told us. President Joseph F. Smith asserted that spiritual growth includes “the education of our desires.” Our task is to come to that point in our progress where our very desires are right in the sight of God. When we arrive at that point, we will have the “mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16.) From those with the “mind of Christ” will come perfect prayers.

Continuing to speak of strategic things, we must have the Spirit with us, so that the Holy Ghost prompt us to pray for that which is right. Nephi advised us that the Spirit “teacheth a man to pray.” (2 Nephi 32:8.) There is, therefore, a definite connection between our righteousness and our capacity to draw upon the Spirit so that we will ask for what we should ask for. The Lord told Joseph Smith in 1831, “And if ye are purified and cleansed from all sin, ye shall ask whatsoever you will in the name of Jesus, and it shall be done. But know this, it shall be given you what you shall ask….” (D&C 50:29-30.)



Neal A. Maxwell, “What Should We Pray For?,” Prayer. Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City, UT. 1978. P.44, 45

help us in the most important judgments of our lives

We are given the gift of the Holy Ghost after our baptism, but often we leave this gift on the shelf, forgetting that He will help us in the most important judgments of our lives. The Lord gave us this gift, knowing we would face difficult decisions in life. Listening to this voice is vital in developing good judgment. A relationship of listening often requires a quiet environment in which we can take time to ponder and hear the still, small voice. This peaceful environment is both external and internal. Therefore, it is more than shutting off the music of the world or the blare of other media; it is also shutting off the noise of sin that is internal to our soul. This will open the communication with the Spirit, which is so badly needed.

Christ said: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” The peace that comes from listening to the Holy Spirit removes the fear of making a poor judgment in life.



Gregory A. Schwitzer, "Developing Good Judgment and Not Judging Others." General Conference, April 2010

a noisy, contentious world

We live in a noisy, contentious world, where it is possible to be viewing or listening to information, music, or even pure nonsense virtually every waking hour. If we want to have the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, we must find time to slow down, ponder, pray, and live so we are worthy to receive and act upon His promptings. We will avoid major mistakes if we heed His warnings.

Quentin L. Cook, "We Follow Jesus Christ." General Conference, April 2010

a formula for spiritual success

Ponder deeply and diligently in the scriptures and in the words of living prophets. Persist in prayer for the Holy Ghost to reveal to you the nature of God the Father and His Beloved Son. Plead that the Spirit will show you what the Lord wants you to do. Plan to do it. Promise Him to obey. Act with determination until you have done what He asked. And then pray to give thanks for the opportunity to serve and to know what you might do next.

Henry B. Eyring, "Act in All Diligence", Ensign, May 2010, 60–63

patience is... #2

Patience is a godly attribute that can heal souls, unlock treasures of knowledge and understanding, and transform ordinary men and women into saints and angels. Patience is truly a fruit of the Spirit.

Patience means staying with something until the end. It means delaying immediate gratification for future blessings. It means reining in anger and holding back the unkind word. It means resisting evil, even when it appears to be making others rich.


Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Continue in Patience", Ensign, May 2010, 56–59

ye must pray

...if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray.

But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.

2 Nephi 32:8,9

The spirit of man consists of an organization, or embodiment of the elements of spiritual matter, in the likeness and after the pattern of the fleshly tabernacle. It possesses, in fact, all the organs and parts exactly corresponding to the outward tabernacle.


Parley P. Pratt, Key to the Science of Theology, Ch.14, p.128 Ether 3:14-17

Analogies supporting this doctrine exist in daily life; for example, the forces of nature are many, such as the electric current, radio and magnetic waves, light and heat. However, all these stem from the same fountain of energy, as shown by the fact that they may be converted one into the other. They are one in essence.


John A. Widtsoe, Joseph Smith: Seeker After Truth - Prophet of God. By John A. Witdsoe. 1951. P.147 D&C 131:7-8

The line that divides the temporal from the spiritual - if such a line there be - has never been discovered.


Rudger J. Clawson (March 12, 1857 – June 21, 1943) was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1898 until his death in 1943. Conference Report Oct. 1935 p.106 (see D&C 29:31)

All men receive this Spirit, but not all hearken to its voice. Many choose to walk in carnal paths and go contrary to the enticings of the Spirit. It is possible to sear one's conscience to the point that the Spirit will withdraw its influence and men will no longer know or care about anything that is decent and edifying. "For my Spirit shall not always strive with man, saith the Lord of Hosts." (D&C 1:33.) Such was the case among the Jaredites (Ether 2:15) and the Nephites (Mormon 5:16) in the day the Lord withdrew his power and left them to be destroyed by the sword. It was true among the Jews in Jerusalem when they were led away captive by Nebuchadnezzar. (1 Nephi 7:14.) It is true among any people who reject, totally and completely, the words of the apostles and prophets who are sent to them. Of our modern civilization, with all its evils and carnality, the holy word says: "I, the Lord, am angry with the wicked; I am holding my Spirit from the inhabitants of the earth." (D&C 63:32.) When the day comes that modern man is ripened in iniquity, the Spirit will cease to strive with them and they will be destroyed by the brightness of the Lord's return.


Bruce R. McConkie (1915 – 1985) was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, p.260 Ether 2:15