Choose Wisely

Decisions determine destiny.

"When we rationalize wrong choices...

we lose the blessings and protections we need"

Special Edition: 9/11 Rising Above - Music & The Spoken Word

Video highlight

Complete talk

More information: http://www.mormon.org

“Will this make you a better person?”

Stay On The Right Track

     Many years ago I worked for a railroad in the central offices in Denver. I was in charge of what is called head-end traffic. That was in the days when nearly everyone rode passenger trains. One morning I received a call from my counterpart in Newark, New Jersey. He said, “Train number such-and-such has arrived, but it has no baggage car. Somewhere, 300 passengers have lost their baggage, and they are mad.”

     I went immediately to work to find out where it may have gone. I found it had been properly loaded and properly trained in Oakland, California. It had been moved to our railroad in Salt Lake City, been carried to Denver, down to Pueblo, put on another line, and moved to St. Louis. There it was to be handled by another railroad which would take it to Newark, New Jersey. But some thoughtless switchman in the St. Louis yards moved a small piece of steel just three inches, a switch point, then pulled the lever to uncouple the car. We discovered that a baggage car that belonged in Newark, New Jersey, was in fact in New Orleans, Louisiana—1,500 miles from its destination. Just the three-inch movement of the switch in the St. Louis yard by a careless employee had started it on the wrong track, and the distance from its true destination increased dramatically. That is the way it is with our lives. Instead of following a steady course, we are pulled by some mistaken idea in another direction. The movement away from our original destination may be ever so small, but, if continued, that very small movement becomes a great gap and we find ourselves far from where we intended to go.  – Gordon B. Hinkley.

Let Your Light So Shine

“Every person who lives in this world radiates light, which affects and influences every other person in the world. Our choices in life determine what we really are. The radiance of the light that emanates from our countenance is determined by the choices we make, and is a powerful force in human relationships. And every person is the recipient of that radiation. The Savior was conscious of that reality; and to a degree so are we.

Whenever Jesus came into the presence of an individual He was conscious of a light emanating from that person’s soul, and which was mirrored in his countenance. He knew the behavior and conduct, and the choices a person had made because that behavior and those choices were reflected by the radiating light in one’s countenance. My dear brothers and sisters, we must make nobler choices. We must not encourage vile thoughts or low aspirations. We shall radiate them if we do. Every moment of life we are affecting, to a degree, the life of every other person with whom we may come in contact, and who comes within the sphere of our influence.

Every person is affecting every other person who lives. We cannot for one moment escape this emanation, this radiation of light that emanates from our countenance. Life is a constant state of radiation and absorption of light. To exist is to radiate light; to exist is to be the recipient of light. And we choose the qualities we permit to be radiated by the light within us, determined by our behavior, and by the choices we make.”  [The Prayer of Adam and Eve by Jeffrey M. Bradshaw (A. F. Segal, Paul, p. 152. President David O. McKay)]

Freedom to Choose

The Three Rs of Choice

Each of us has come to this earth with all the tools necessary to make correct choices.

Right of choice

Responsibility of choice

Results of choice

 A recent editorial submitted to the Daily Herald / Opinion / Letters to the Editor Posted: Monday, April 2, 2012

Responsibility comes with freedom

Recent events reported by the news media depict how individuals have abused their responsibility to serve and protect. As a retired Army soldier and a recent volunteer for our community's Mobile Watch, I am saddened by individuals who use positions of responsibility to hurt others.

In my community's Mobile Watch, I sacrifice my right to carry a concealed weapon while I am on patrol; we are taught to never be confrontational. As a soldier, I was required to put my life in harm's way for others; this included civilians and enemy combatants too.

Eleanor Roosevelt is quoted as saying, "Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility. For the person who is unwilling to grow up, the person who does not want to carry his own weight, this is a frightening prospect."

Thank you to all those who responsibly serve!   - John DeWolfe Walker, Provo

Read more: http://www.heraldextra.com/news/opinion/mailbag/responsibility-comes-with-freedom/article_37c1bde2-6529-5379-8cca-9917da991285.html#ixzz1r2TBSrz8