The more FALLACIES that anyone believes, accepts and makes use of, the more difficult it becomes to recognize and accept truth, and the more difficult it becomes to depart from error - which could be very costly even with eternal consequences.

To have a closed mind is requesting (even demanding - by many) to remain ignorant and leads to greater darkness, great cost, lost opportunities (and eventually eternal damnation - which is restriction from further knowledge, intelligence, growth, progress - which is all at the individual's own doing / request).

"I am sorry for the man who can't feel the whip when it is laid on the other man's back." ~ Abraham Lincoln

"Reputation through a thousand years may depend on the conduct of a single moment."

"Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us."

"There is so much good in the worst of us and so much bad in the best of us, that it behooves all of us to not talk about any of us." -- Abraham Lincoln

People are like stained glass windows. They sparkle and glow when it is sunny and bright; but when the sun goes down their beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.

Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret. -- Ambrose Bierce

Better to light even one small candle than to curse the darkness. -- gr8ful_2_god

Life is too short to be small. -- Benjamin Disraeli

We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret or disappointment.
-- Jim Rohn

All pain and suffering, from anything - self discipline, challenges, problems, accidents, injustices, cruelty, etc., here (in this life) will be short / temporary, minimal, and will count for something, and will benefit us greatly if and as we endure it faithfully - not let it destroy or degrade us. If it is not endured well, the pain could end up much worse, AND not benefiting us (at all) AND lasting forever.

"I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live up to the light I have. I must stand with anybody who stands right, stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong." -- Abraham Lincoln

"Honesty is the cornerstone of all success, without which confidence and ability to perform shall cease to exist." - Mary Kay Ash

"I could never think well of a man's intellectual or moral character, if he was habitually unfaithful to his appointments." - Nathaniel Emmons

"To have the approval of your conscience when you are alone with your thoughts is like being in the company of true and loving friends. To merit your own self-respect gives strength of character. Conscience is the link that binds your soul to the spirit of God." -- David O. McKay

"Flabbiness of character, more than flabbiness of muscle, lies at the root of most of the problems facing American youth." -- David O. McKay

"If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything." -- M. L. King

"Lord, when we are wrong, make us willing to change, and when we are right, make us easy to live with." -- Peter Marshall

Special Tribute – Statements by Arthur Ash (on Character & Success)
(11/8/06)
• "From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life."

• "True heroism is remarkably sober, very un-dramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost."

• "Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome."

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There is real value and power in virtue / righteousness. All those who pervert themselves for a thrill or some gain – including any sexual activity outside of marriage (as true love requires a full commitment) and other perversions (such as homosexuality) as well as lying, cheating, stealing, etc., in an attempt to shortcut the time and effort required for some gain (monetary, political, a grade in a class, advancement, etc., or pleasure) will always lose something (greater) in the end.

Sexual perversions engender (more / greater degrees of) sexual perversions, as the thrill / excitement diminishes – because of the degradation of the perversions and loss of the enriching spirit of God – until the participants end up emotionally & spiritually deprived & empty – and will lose out on eternal blessings as well, if not fully repented of.

Gratitude:

As you feel grateful, you become attractive, not only in your beauty and radiance, but in your relationships with people. More important, you release a vital energy that draws to you opportunities, employment, and a secure flow of substance. Everything begins to work in your life in an orderly and creative way. . . . Keep centered in a feeling of thanksgiving. -- Eric Butterworth, Spiritual Economics

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turnsdenial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. -- Melody Beattie

To educate yourself for the feeling of gratitude means to take nothing for granted, but to always seek out and value the kindness that stands behind the action. Nothing that is done for you is a matter of course. Everything originates in a will for the good, which is directed at you. Train yourself never to put off the word or action for the expression of gratitude. -- Albert Schweitzer

How wonderful it would be if we could help our children and grandchildren to learn thanksgiving at an early age. Thanksgiving opens the doors. It changes a child's personality. A child is resentful, negative -- or thankful. Thankful children want to give, they radiate happiness, they draw people. -- John Marks Templeton

Wisdom
(Updated 3/11/2013)

"One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf (LDS Pres. - Second Counselor, Address Oct. 2012)

It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.   -- Epictetus

Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.   -- Ralph W. Emerson

When you find that you are going through hell, - - - - - - - - - - - - keep going.
    - -   Winston Churchill

Happiness is like a butterfly. The more you chase it, the more it eludes you. But if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and rest gently on your shoulder.     - -   Thoreau

Change your thoughts and you change your life.

Imagination is more powerful than knowledge.

If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want your children to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales. - Einstein

A mind is like a parachute, it works best when it is open.

"There are no uninteresting things, only uninterested people." - Gilbert K. Chesterton

"In the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher." - Dalai Lama

If you want a rainbow, you have to put up with the rain.

The game of life is a game of boomerangs. Our thoughts, deeds and words return to us sooner or later with astounding accuracy. -- Florence Scovel Shinn

There is no key to happiness. The door is always open.

Happiness is not the absence of adversity, rather it has to do with attitude. Everyone has adversity, problems, challenges, etc., and in fact they are suited for each individual – to their character (what they need for growth). Success and happiness depend only on the attitude (and perspective) that one decides to employ.

Happiness is not what happens outside of you; it's what happens inside of you. Each of us makes our own weather - determines the color of the skies - the emotional universe which we inhabit.

If the time and energy that is spent on complaining, quarreling over things and trying to take what someone else has was spent instead, on anything constructive, or simply working to improve one's own situation, all of the conflicts and problems in the world would be solved or avoided, everyone would have more than enough of everything and everyone's situation would be immensely improved in every way. Every problem in the world stems from selfishness (greed) and pride (lack of humility, consideration, awareness, respect for others) -- having nothing to do with money, resources, space, etc.

Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life.

A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results.

Isaiah 40:31: But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice.
-- Cherokee Expression

"I want to live in such a way, that when I get up in the morning, Satan says,
'Oh no! … She's awake!' "

Sow seeds of kindness to reap a crop of friends -- Unknown

The world is wide, and I will not waste my life in friction when it could be turned into momentum. -- Frances Willard

Compassion is difficult to give away because it keeps coming back.

He who angers you controls you.

Nothing else ruins the truth like stretching it.

Worry is the darkroom in which negatives can develop.

A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.

I never let anyone rent space in my head. -- guy on Candid Camera.

Silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted.

Laugh every day, it's like inner jogging.

Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.

The most important THINGS in your home are the PEOPLE.

We do not remember days, but moments. Life moves fast - enjoy your precious moments.

Nothing is real to you until you experience it, otherwise it's just hearsay.

It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just be sure to flush when you are done.

More Wisdom (Religeous / Faithful)
“No other written testament so clearly illustrates the fact that when men and nations walk in the fear of God and in obedience to his commandments, they prosper and grow, but when they disregard Him and his word, there comes a decay that, unless arrested by righteousness, leads to impotence and death.”   - Gordon B. Hinckley

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God.

If it were not for the atonement of Christ and the spirit of God working in the world, everyone and everything would continually become more and more degraded - less intelligent, less enlightened - less able to overcome error, mistakes, sin and leave it alone. Everything good and beautiful would be corrupted and overcome by, and turning to ugly, empty, dark, evil.

I knelt to pray but not for long,
I had too much to do.
I had to hurry and get to work
For bills would soon be due.
So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,
And jumped up off my knees.
My Christian duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease.....
All day long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer
No time to speak of Christ to friends,
They'd laugh at me I'd fear.
No time, no time, too much to do,
That was my constant cry,
No time to give to souls in need
But at last the time, the time to die.
I went before the Lord,
I came, I stood with downcast eyes.
For in his hands God! Held a book;
It was the book of life.
God looked into his book and said
"Your name I cannot find
I once was going to write it down...
But never found the time"

As a child of God, prayer is kind of like calling home everyday.

When we get tangled up in our problems, be still; God needs us to be still so He can untangle the knot.

Give God what's right -- not what's left.

A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.

He who kneels before God can stand before anyone.

In the sentence of life, the devil may be a comma - but never let him be the period.

Don't put a question mark where God puts a period.

Are you wrinkled with burden? Come to the church for a face-lift.

When praying, don't give God instructions - just report for duty.

Don't wait for six strong men to take you to church.

We don't change God's message -- His message changes us.

The church is prayer-conditioned.

When God ordains, He sustains.

ADVISORY: Exposure to the Son may prevent burning.

Plan ahead -- It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.

Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory position.

Suffering from truth decay? Brush up on your Bible.

Exercise daily -- walk with the Lord.

Never give the devil a ride -- he will always want to drive.

Give Satan an inch & he'll be a ruler.

Be ye fishers of men -- you catch them & He'll clean them.

God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.

Faith is the ability to not panic.

If you worry, pray. If you pray...don't worry.

Do the math . . . count your blessings.

Man's way leads to a hopeless end -- God's way leads to an endless hope.

“The Lord works from the inside out.   The world works from the outside in.   The world would take people out of the slums.   Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums.   The world would mold men by changing their environment.   Christ changes men, who then change their environment.   The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature.”   - - Ezra Taft Benson

In the breast of a bulb is a promise of spring,
In the little bluebird is a willingness to sing,
In the soul of the seed is the hope of the sod,
And in the heart of a child is the Kingdom of God.

I believe in the sun when it's not shining. I believe in love when not feeling it. I believe in God when He is silent. -- Unknown

Faith is to believe what you do not yet see; the reward for this faith is to see what you believe. -- St. Augustine

When you're down to nothing, God is up to something
- - and then you better check with Him. And when the answer(s) or help comes, - acknowledge where it comes from, believe it and appreciate it, -- and this is growth - more valuable than anything else.

Where but from the source of everything should we look for what we need and want - especially if we hope to keep it for a long period of time, or, for eternity.

. . . Fools mock, but they shall mourn; and my grace is sufficient for the meek, that they shall take no advantage of your weakness;

And if men come unto me, I will show unto them their weakness.   I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. - - Ether 12: 26 – 27

. . . . and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost.

And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. - - Moroni 10: 4 - 5

- - then, if, and as you don't, - -

" . . . pain (perhaps economic collapse) is God's megaphone to a deaf world." - - C. S. Lewis:

“The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich. The learned may feel the prophet is only inspired when he agrees with them; otherwise, the prophet is just giving his opinion—speaking as a man. The rich may feel they have no need to take counsel of a lowly prophet.”   - Ezra Taft Benson

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Article (Dec. 2001):

Did you see where Billy Graham's daughter was being interviewed on the Early Show a few days ago about the September 11th terrorist attack and Jane Clayson asked her "How could God let something like this happen?" Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said:

"I believe that God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman that He is, I believe that He has calmly backed out.

How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand that He leave us alone?"   Let's see, I think it started when Madeline Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body was found recently) complained she didn't want any prayer in our schools, and we said OK.
Then, someone said you better not read the Bible in school... the Bible that says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself.   And we said, OK.
Then, Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide) and we said, an expert should know what he's talking about so we said OK.
Then, someone said teachers and principals better not discipline our children when they misbehave.   And the school administrators said no faculty member in this school better touch a student when they misbehave because we don't want any bad publicity, and we surely don't want to be sued (There's big difference between disciplining and touching, beating, smacking, humiliating, kicking, etc.) and we said, OK.
Then someone said, let's let our daughters have abortions if they want, and they won't even have to tell their parents.   And we said, OK.
Then some wise school board member said, since boys will be boys and they're going to do it anyway, let's give our sons all the condoms they want, so they can have all the fun they desire, and we won't have to tell their parents they got them at school.   And we said, OK.
Then some of our top elected officials said it doesn't matter what we do in private as long as we do our jobs. And agreeing with them, we said it doesn't matter to me what anyone, including the President, does in private as long as I have a job and the economy is good.
And then the entertainment industry said, let's make TV shows and movies that promote profanity, violence, and illicit sex.   And let's record music that encourages rape, drugs, murder, suicide, and satanic themes. And we said it's just entertainment, it has no adverse effect, and nobody takes it seriously anyway, so go right ahead.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.   Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out.   I think it has a great deal to do with "WE REAP WHAT WE SOW."

Then there was the student who wrote:

"Dear God, Why didn't you save the little girl killed in her classroom?"

Sincerely,
Concerned Student...

AND THE REPLY:   "Dear Concerned Student, I am not allowed in schools."

Sincerely,
God.

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God, or just ignore Him, and then wonder why the world's going to hell.   Funny how we are quick to judge but not to be judged.     Funny how the lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but the public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.   Funny how people can believe and be so concerned about what the newspapers say, but question or ignore what the Scriptures say.   Funny how someone can be so fired up for Christ on Sunday, but be an invisible Christian the rest of the week.   Funny how many believe they're going to heaven, but do not follow the roadmap, or study how to get there.   Funny how someone can say "I believe in God" but still follow Satan who, by the way, also "believes" in God.

Are you laughing yet??  . . . .   Are you thinking yet???

Are you not inclined to bring these concerns to the attention of others - in hopes that more people will (more often) make more of an effort to make a stand for what is good, right and true? - and/or to find out what God might have to do with everything, and what He might do to help? - - to help deter this great country (and the world) from its downward spiral morally, economically, etc.,

If you're not part of the solution, ......
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If your main purpose in life is to get what you want and if you focus on that, working on it (totally / exclusively) you will probably get it, and maybe quickly, though you may also never get it and in any case it will always be fleeting - temporary - this life only.   Whereas if you seek what you need & want on a secondary basis - while focusing mainly on what the Lord/God wants and serving Him, then you will achieve/gain what you desire for sure - eventually, and for good - forever.   This is glorifying God and becoming "one" with Him.