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Sunday, March 02, 2008

I came across this great talk today and am copying my favorite parts.

Health:

The condition of the physical body can affect the spirit. That’s why the Lord gave us the Word of Wisdom. He also said that we should retire to our beds early and arise early (see D&C 88:124), that we should not run faster than we have strength (see D&C 10:4), and that we should use moderation in all good things.

In general, the more food we eat in its natural state—the less it is refined, and the fewer additives it contains—the healthier it will be for us. (Cadbury eggs??) Food can affect the mind, and deficiencies in certain elements in the body can promote mental depression.

A good physical examination periodically is a safeguard and may spot problems that can be remedied. Rest and physical exercise are essential, and a walk in the fresh air can refresh the spirit. Wholesome recreation is part of our religion and is a necessary change of pace; even its anticipation can lift the spirit. (note to self sign up for October Marathon!)

Friends:

The fellowship of true friends who can hear you out, share your joys, help carry your burdens, and correctly counsel you is priceless. For one who has been in the prison of depression, the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith have special meaning: “How sweet the voice of a friend is; one token of friendship from any source whatever awakens and calls into action every sympathetic feeling.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, comp. Joseph Fielding Smith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1938, p. 134.) (Send Jill thank you note for listening to me yesterday)

Ideally, our family ought to be our closest friends. Most important, we should seek to become the friend of our Father in Heaven and our brother Jesus the Christ. What a boon to be in the company of those who edify us! To have friends, one should be friendly. Friendship should begin at home and then be extended to encompass the home teacher, quorum leader, bishop, and other Church teachers and leaders. To meet often with the Saints and enjoy their companionship can buoy up the heart. (go to church today and stop worrying about the fact you may or may not look pregnant)


Endurance

When George A. Smith was very ill, he was visited by his cousin, the Prophet Joseph Smith. The afflicted man reported: “He [the Prophet] told me I should never get discouraged, whatever difficulties might surround me. If I were sunk into the lowest pit of Nova Scotia and all the Rocky Mountains piled on top of me, I ought not to be discouraged, but hang on, exercise faith, and keep up good courage, and I should come out on the top of the heap.” (George A. Smith Family, comp. Zora Smith Jarvis, Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press, 1962, p. 54)

There are times when you simply have to righteously hang on (hurry warm weather) and outlast the devil until his depressive spirit leaves you. As the Lord told the Prophet Joseph Smith: “Thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

“And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high.” (D&C 121:7–8.)

To press on in noble endeavors, even while surrounded by a cloud of depression, will eventually bring you out on top into the sunshine. Even our Master Jesus the Christ, while facing that supreme test of being temporarily left alone by our Father during the Crucifixion, continued performing his labors for the children of men, and then shortly thereafter he was glorified and received a fullness of joy. While you are going through your trial, you can recall your past victories and count the blessings that follow if you are faithful. And you can have that certain knowledge that in due time God will wipe away all tears and that “eye hath not seen, not ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Cor. 2:9.)

Ezra T. Benson 1987


15 comments:

Quelly said...

Thank you for posting those snippets from that talk. I remember when he said those words (yes I am that old).
I really needed to reminded of those things this morning.

Thanks again!

Jill said...

This is a great talk, thanks for sharing this today.

Is it wrong that when you mentioned Cadbury eggs that reminded me that I had some so I had to eat one? Moderation in all things right? I only had one (the creme egg kind).

I know all of these things are true and can see areas I need to be better in (the physical body especially).

patsy said...

Thank you for sharing this beautiful message today.

patsy said...

Thank you for sharing this beautiful message today.

Mamarazzi said...

my kidlet is sick today so she and i missed church. i am thankful for your post. i feel lifted up and spiritually fed. now i am looking for more. i keep fogetting we can go back and read talks from prophets on lds.org...thanks for the little reminder.

Rachel said...

'outlast the devil until is depressive spirit leaves you..'

Wow! That really hit me. I realize that feelings of inadequecy and "not enough" don't come from the Lord, but the way this was sorded just hit me.

Thank you for sharing!

Becky said...

So much here for me to ponder! You constantly inspire me Kristi--thank you for your example...even from a distance it shines through :)

katherine said...

thanks for stopping by my photo blog, and my sisters blog too! it will be a fun shoot! i am very excited! this message is so great, and your blog is very inspiring, thanks for sharing some goodness! take care!

Carrie said...

Thanks for sharing. This is a nice reminder of some simple things that can make such a huge difference.

By the way, I met your parents at my brother-in-law's wedding this weekend. They were both very nice and a pleasure to talk to.

Liz said...

Love your thoughts and the parts of this talk that you shared. I will have to follow your link to read the full thing. Thanks!

Jessica said...

Hi Kristi,
I am catching up on your last few posts. Yes, I LOVE Easter because of the Cadbury eggs. My hubby knows he can butter me up if he comes home late, as long as he comes home with a Cadbury egg in his hand! Your Leap Day bundles are to die for. I ran out of time this weekend to do mine (daughter got baptized and we had family in town), but loved seeing yours. I am so sorry about the basketball game, poor you and poor Annie Kate. I did smile at SJ's note from nursery -- so many times I have been at wit's end with a child, only to have them say something or show me something from Primary, and it all comes back into perspective. Finally, I loved this post about the Bensen talk, because of your interspersed comments. You crack me up! I hope that you have had a good Monday . . .

Amy said...

thank you for posting this...some things I definitely need to hear today!

Poulsen Family said...

Wow, what a great talk! It has a lot that I need right now. I listened to one this morning called "So, what do you really want to be..." by Robert H. Todd. I loved that he talked about how every person needs four things: Love, Trusted, Understood, and to feel our work is appreciated and if someone is acting out then we should pray to our HF and ask what we can do to help them fill the area they are missing at that moment. He said when we choose to use our agency to give away our love, then we are really like the savior.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for posting this. I needed to read most of it today. So much wisdom packed in there!

michelle said...

Great thoughts, Kristi. Isn't it wonderful when you read/hear something and it feels like it was written just for you?