Day-to-day Stories
Dear Friend
Dear Friend, I just had to send you a note to tell you how much I love you and care about you.
I saw you yesterday as you were walking with your friends. I waited all day hoping you would want to talk with me also. It hurt me, but I still love you because I am your friend.
I saw you fall asleep last night, and I longed to touch your brow. So I spilled moonlight on your pillow and your face. Again I waited, wanting you to kneel down so that we could talk. I have so many gifts for you, but you awakened late the next day and rushed off to school. My tears were in the rain.
Today you look sad, so alone. It makes my heart ache because I understand. My friends let me down and hurt me so many times too. But, I love you. Oh, if you would only listen to me. I really love you. I try to tell you in the blue sky and in the green grass. I whisper in the leaves on the trees, and breathe it in the color of the flowers. I shout it to you in the mountain streams and give the birds love songs to sing, clothe you in warm sunshine and perfume the air with nature scents. My love for you is deeper than the oceans and bigger than the biggest want or need in your heart.
If you only knew how much I want to help you. I want you to meet my Father. He wants to help you too. My Father is that way, you know. Just call me, ask me, talk with me. Please, please don't forget me. I have so much to share with you. But, I won't hassle you any further. You are free to call me. It's up to you. I'll wait because I love you.
Your Brother, Jesus
Everybody Somebody Anybody And Nobody
Once upon a time, there were four people named EVERYBODY, SOMEBODY, ANYBODY, and NOBODY.
Where there are important job to be done, EVERYBODY was sure that SOMEBODY would do it, ANYBODY could have done it, but NOBODY did it. When NOBODY did it, EVERYBODY got angry because it was SOMEBODY'S job.
EVERYBODY thought that SOMEBODY would do it, but NOBODY realised that NOBODY would do it.
So, it ended up that EVERYBODY blamed SOMEBODY when NOBODY did what ANYBODY could have done it in the first place.
Feeling Island
Once upon a time there was an island where all the feelings lived; happiness, sadness, knowledge, and all the others, including love. One day it was announced to all of the feelings that the island was going to sink to the bottom of the ocean. So all the feelings prepared their boats to leave.
Love was the only one that stayed. She wanted to preserve the island paradise until the last possible moment.
When the island was almost totally under, love decided it was time to leave.
When the island was almost totally under, love decided it was time to leave. She began looking for someone to ask for help. Just then Richness was passing by in a grand boat. Love asked, "Richness, Can I come with you on your boat?" Richness answered, " I'm sorry, but there is a lot of silver and gold on my boat and there would be no room for you anywhere."
Then Love decided to ask Vanity for help who was passing in a beautiful vessel. Love cried out, "Vanity, help me please." "I can't help you", Vanity said, "You are all wet and will damage my beautiful boat." Next, Love saw Sadness passing by. Love said, "Sadness, please let me go with you." Sadness answered, "Love, I'm sorry, but, I just need to be alone now."
Then, Love saw Happiness. Love cried out, " Happiness, please take me with you." But Happiness was so overjoyed that he didn't hear Love calling to him. Love began to cry. Then, she heard a voice say, "Come Love, I will take you with me." It was an elder. Love felt so blessed and overjoyed that she forgot to ask the elder his name. When they arrived on land the elder went on his way.
Love realized how much she owed the elder. Love then found Knowledge and asked, "Who was it that helped me?" "It was Time", Knowledge answered. "But why did Time help me when no one else would?", Love asked. Knowledge smiled and with deep wisdom and sincerity, answered, "Because only Time is capable of understanding how great Love is."
I Am Thankful For
I Am Thankful For ...
The partner who hogs the covers every night, because he/she is not out with someone else.
The teenagers who are not doing dishes, but watching T.V. because that means they're at home and not out on the streets.
For the mess to clean after a party, because it means that I have been surrounded by friends.
For the clothes that fit a little too snug, because it means I have enough to eat.
For the sunshine. For a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need fixing, because it means I have a home.
For all the complaining I hear about the government, because that means we have freedom of speech.
For the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot, because it means I am capable of walking and that I have been blessed with transportation.
For my huge heating bill, because it means I am warm.
For the lady behind me in church that sings off key, because it means that I can hear.
For the pile of laundry and ironing, because it means I have clothes to wear.
For the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours, because it means that I am alive. For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day, because it means I have been capable of working hard.
Finally, for the taxes that I pay, because it means that I am employed.
-- Authors Unknown
Modern Ten Commandments
- Pray morning & night and mealtimes
- Read scriptures every day
- Attend Sacrament Meeting each week
- Pay tithing
- Magnify your calling
- Go Home/Visiting Teaching each month
- Attend the temple often
- Keep the Word of Wisdom
- Read the Ensign
- Be honest in everything
Teen Commandments
- Don't let your parents down - they brought you up.
- Choose your friends with care - you become what they are.
- Be master of your habits - or they will master you.
- Treasure your time - don't spend it, invest it.
- Stand for something - or you'll fall for anything.
- Select only a date that'll make a good mate.
- See what you can do for others - not what they can do for you.
- Guard your thoughts. What you think - you are.
- Don't fill up on this world's crumbs. Feed your soul on living bread.
- Give your all to Christ - He gave His all to you.
Ten Commandments
- Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
- Thou shalt not make any graven image and bow down to it.
- Thou shalt not take the Lord's name in vain.
- Keep the Sabbath day holy.
- Honour thy father and thy mother.
- Thou shalt not kill.
- Thou shalt not commit adultery.
- Thou shalt not steal.
- Thou shalt not bear false witness.
- Thou shalt not covet.
-- Exodus 20: 3-17
Ten Commandments Of Success
- Pray about all things in your life. Alma 34: 19-28
- Gain knowledge from reading good books. D&C 88: 118
- Organise your home and your life. D&C 88: 119
- Go to bed early and get up early. D&C 88:124
- Use your own initiative to do good. D&C 58: 27
- Be gentle, and not aggressive. D&C 121: 39-43
- Persevere and do not give up. D&C 122: 7-8
- Pay tithing straight away. Malachi 3: 8-12
- Seek money to help others less fortunate than yourself. Jacob 2: 18
- Keep the commandments and you will gain wisdom and energy. D&C 89: 18-20
The Snake
A young girl was trudging along a mountain path, trying to reach her grandmother's house. It was bitter cold and wind cut like a knife. When she was within sight of her destination, she heard a rustle at her feet. Looking down, she saw a snake. Before she could move, the snake spoke to her. He said, "I'm about to die. It is too cold for me up here, and I am freezing. There is no food in these mountains, and I am starving. Please put me under your coat and take me with you." "No," replied the girl. If I pick you up, you will bite me, and your bite is poisonous." "No, no." said the snake. "If you help me you will be my best friend, I will treat you differently."
The little girl sat down on a rock for a moment to rest and think things over. She looked at the beautiful markings on the snake and had to admit that it was the most beautiful snake she had ever seen. Suddenly, she said, "I believe you, I will save you. All living things deserve to be treated with kindness." The little girl reached over, put the snake gently under her coat and proceeded toward her grandmother's house.
Within a moment, she felt a sharp pain in her side. The snake had bitten her. "How could you do this to me?" She cried, "You promised that you would not bite me if I would protect you from the bitter cold?"The snake hissed, "you knew what I was when you picked me up," and slithered away.
-- Ann Landers
The Swimsuit
Morning...yuck! Even though there were only a few more days of school left, it sure was hard getting there. The weather had been great all week and besides the only thing going on at school was graduation practice. It wasn't just me, either. All of my senior friends had a bad case of "Senioritis". We really were struggling those last few days. At school my friends devised a plan. "After lunch lets all go over to the outdoors pool and catch some sun," they chimed in. "We're not doing any thing in class anyway," they agreed. What they said made sense, and after all, we had already turned in our books in English anyway.
When the bell rang for lunch we all went and jumped in my car. As I waited in the car while they each went in to get their suits, I wondered to myself, "Why am I doing this?" But then I concluded what could it hurt? School was almost out for the year anyway. We pulled up to my house and I quickly ran inside to get my suit. I reached into my drawer and pulled out my light lavender swim suit. "Lavender....Purple....Integrity," I said to myself. How could I sluff school and go down to the pool wearing this swimsuit? All the things I had been taught in young women's came back slamming me in the face. Right then I knew I couldn't do it. I turned to my friends who were waiting impatiently for me. "Listen you guys, I can't go swimming right now." I told my friends. "If you want to wait till after school I'd love to go, but right now I can't." My lavender swim suit reminded me of how I should act at all times, and in all things, and in all places.
Timmy's Tomato
Timmy had only two pennies in his pocket when he approached the farmer and pointed to a tomato hanging lusciously from a vine.
"Give you two cents for it," the boy offered.
"That kind brings a nickel," the farmer told him.
"This one?" Timmy asked, pointing to a smaller, greener, and less tempting specimen. The farmer nodded agreement. "OK," said Timmy, and sealed the deal by placing his two pennies in the farmer's hand. "I'll pick it up in about a week."
-- James E. Faust, General Conference Nov 1999
Words and Goose Downs
A peasant with a troubled conscience went to a monk for advice. He said he had circulated a vile story about a friend, only to find that the story was not true. "If you would make peace with your conscience," said the monk, "You must first fill a bag with goose downs, go to every door in the village, and drop in each one of them a feather."
The peasant did as he was told. Then he came back to the monk and said he had done penance for his folly. "Not yet," replied the monk. "Take a bag, go two rounds again. And gather up every down that you have dropped." "But the wind must have blown them all away." Said the peasant. "Yes, my son" said the monk. "And so it is with your vile words. Words and goose downs are quickly dropped, but try as hard as you will, you can never get them back."
Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the Lord. -- Leviticus 19:16
Wunsers
- Pray wunser meal
- Study the scriptures wunser day
- Work on your calling wunser week
- Go to the temple wunser fortnight
- Go home teaching or visiting teaching wunser month
- Tithing settlement wunser year
-- Olive Redmond