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4/20/06
"If you remember only one thing I say today, remember to hold on to your
covenants and celebrate them. My covenants are an expression of my
faith; they are why I stand before you today. Covenants help me focus on
the big picture and not just the immediate. As my sons have served
missions, I have seen covenants further the work of the Lord. Covenants
help me make a difference in the lives of others. My covenants are not
negotiable. They make the choice of righteousness easier. I humbly pray
that our covenants might become a greater source of celebration and
strength in our lives; that we may walk uprightly and steadfastly, that
when we most need the Lord's hand, it will be there waiting warmly. I
treasure the covenants He has made with me and with all my heart hope to
live faithful to them." - Bonnie D. Parkin, "Celebrating
Covenants," Ensign (CR), May 1995, p.78
4/13/07
"Gratitude requires awareness and effort, not only
to feel it but to express it. Frequently we are oblivious to the
Lord's hand. We murmur, complain, resist, criticize; so often we are
not grateful. In the Book of Mormon, we learn that those who murmur do
not know 'the dealings of that God who... created them.' (1
Nephi 2:12.) The Lord counsels us not to murmur because it is
then difficult for the Spirit to work with us." - Bonnie D. Parkin, "Gratitude—A
Path to Happiness," General Conference, April 2007
9/22/07
"Covenants—or binding promises between us and Heavenly Father—are
essential for our eternal progression. Step-by-step, He tutors us to
become like Him by enlisting us in His work. At baptism we covenant to
love Him with all our hearts and love our sisters and brothers as
ourselves. In the temple we further covenant to be obedient, selfless,
faithful, honorable, charitable. We covenant to make sacrifices and
consecrate all that we have. Forged through priesthood authority, our
kept covenants bring blessings to fill our cups to overflowing. How
often do you reflect that your covenants reach beyond mortality and
connect you to the Divine? Making covenants is the expression of a
willing heart; keeping covenants, the expression of a faithful heart."
- Bonnie D. Parkin, "With
Holiness of Heart," Ensign (CR), November 2002, p.103
12/31/11
Gratitude is a Spirit-filled
principle. It opens our minds to a universe permeated with the richness
of a living God. Through it, we become spiritually aware of the wonder
of the smallest things, which gladden our hearts with their messages of
God's love. This grateful awareness heightens our sensitivity to divine
direction. When we communicate gratitude, we can be filled with the
Spirit and connected to those around us and the Lord. Gratitude inspires
happiness and carries divine influence. "Live in thanksgiving daily,"
said Amulek, "for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow
upon you." - Bonnie D. Parkin, "Gratitude:
A Path to Happiness," Ensign (CR) April 2007
9/8/2013
It’s not always
easy, and there are things I still don’t understand. But when I look
past all that, craving the Lord’s companionship, the scriptures
infuse my spirit with the Spirit. They will do the same for you.
They will enlighten you, lift you, comfort you, strengthen you. They
will envelop you in a warm blanket of heavenly love. How do I know?
Because they do that for me. It is Heavenly Father’s promise to us.
It is eating at the Lord’s table. - Bonnie
D. Parkin, "Fat-Free
Feasting," Ensign (CR) May 1995
3/13/14
Do
we frequently reject the Lord’s love that He pours out upon us in
much more abundance than we are willing to receive? Do we think we
have to be perfect in order to deserve His love? When we allow
ourselves to feel “encircled about eternally in the arms of his
love,” we feel safe, and we realize that we don’t need to be
immediately perfect. We must acknowledge that perfection is a
process. This is a gospel of eternal progress, and we must remember
to appreciate the journey. Eternal means “without beginning or end,”
so the encircling of His love is there for us every day. Remember,
it’s constant—even when we don’t recognize it. I love Nephi’s
description of this great gift: “The love of God … sheddeth itself
abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the
most desirable above all things … and the most joyous to the soul.”
I testify that this is true. - Bonnie
D. Parkin, “Eternally
Encircled in His Love,” Ensign (CR) November 2006
9/23/14
Covenants
save us from needless suffering. For example, when we obey the
prophet’s guidance, we are keeping a covenant. He has counseled us
to avoid debt, maintain a food supply, and become self-reliant.
Living within our means blesses us beyond that obedience. It teaches
us gratitude, restraint, unselfishness; it brings peace from
financial pressures and protection from materialism’s greed. Keeping
our lamps filled means that unforeseen circumstances do not hinder
opportunities to declare with devotion, “Here am I; send me.” - Bonnie
D. Parkin, “With
Holiness of Heart,” Ensign (CR) November 2002
2/25/15
We
need to know that He sees the good in us. Feeling His love
encourages us to press forward, reassures us that we are His, and
confirms to us that He cherishes us even when we stumble and
experience temporary setbacks. - Bonnie
D. Parkin, “Eternally
Encircled in His Love,” Ensign (CR) October 2006
6/12/15
Sisters, we keep our covenants when we share our life's wisdom to
encourage another, when we visit teach with genuine compassion, when
we help a younger sister know that her fresh perspective will bless
us in Relief Society. We can do that! - Bonnie
D. Parkin, "With
Holiness of Heart," Ensign (CR), November 2002, p. 103
7/24/16
Mercies and blessings come in different forms—sometimes as hard
things. Yet the Lord said, "Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all
things." All things means just that: good things, difficult
things—not just some things. He has commanded us to be grateful
because He knows being grateful will make us happy. This is another
evidence of His love. - Bonnie D.
Parkin, “Gratitude:
A Path to Happiness,” Ensign (CR) May 2007