The LDS Daily WOOL Home Page
(1/1/99)
"I hope we will not live in the past. People who live
in the past don't have very much future. There is a great tendency for
us to lament about our losses, about decisions that we have made that we
think in retrospect were probably wrong decisions. There is a great
tendency
for us to feel badly about the circumstances with which we are
surrounded,
thinking they might have been better had we made different decisions. We
can profit by the experience of the past. But let us not spend our time
worrying about decisions that have been made, mistakes that have been
made.
Let us live in the present and in the future." — Ezra Taft Benson,
"Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson", p. 387
(1/2/99)
"Would it be far-fetched if we would speak of ten
commandments for the new year, all of which, if you will be mindful of
them, will advance you on your road to perfection?
First: Learn better this new year to talk with God
in fervent prayer.
Second: Make effective your right to the Savior's
atonement through baptism and by truly living the law of
repentance.
Third: Keep the Sabbath day holy by giving service
to the Lord on the
Sabbath day, by attending the meetings which you are
expected to attend and partaking of the sacrament and renewing your
covenants.
Fourth: Obey the Word of Wisdom this year perfectly....
Fifth: Pay a full tithing this year....
Sixth: Fast two meals on the first Sunday of the month
and pay the full value of those two meals from which you have
abstained.
Seventh: Live the law of chastity more perfectly than
you have ever done it before, by thinking pure thoughts....
Eighth: If unmarried, keep yourself pointed for marriage
at the proper time, ...seek the proper companion in the Lord's way...
Ninth: If you are married, live this year more true
to your marriage vows.
Tenth: Give obedience to the counsel of those who
preside in authority over you..." —
Harold B. Lee, "Teachings of Harold B. Lee", p. 608
(1/3/99)
"Among Latter-day Saints there ought to be no occasion
for what is called 'swearing-off' or for the general making of
resolutions
of improvement on New Year's day. Every day should witness with them a
determination to lay aside weaknesses and take on more of the graces of
godliness. Each day furnishes opportunity to look closely into one's
habits,
to examine and discard the worthless and cleave unto that which is
elevating
and holy." — George Q. Cannon, "Gospel Truth", p. 164
(1/4/99)
"We have commenced a new year, and, as the Lord says;
'All victory and glory is brought to pass unto you through diligence,
faithfulness
and prayers of faith,' so we cannot but hope, that you will renew your
exertions, your prayers, and your tithings, for the benefit of Zion,
that
she may arise and shine for the good of all people." — Joseph Smith,
"History of the Church", 7:359
(1/1/01)
"This is a time when we ponder our blessings and when we also prepare
for the new year, for which we should make new resolves and set new
personal goals. This partial inventory of our collective blessings
should help us to be ever more grateful and ever more determined. Please
do the same within your families. Count your blessings, and express your
gratitude to your eternal partners, to your children, and to your
parents for all that they do."
— Spencer W. Kimball, "A Gift of Gratitude," Tambuli, Dec. 1977, p. 2
(1/2/01)
"Should there be anyone who feels he is too weak to change the onward
and downward course of his life, or should there be those who fail to
resolve to do better because of that greatest of fears—the fear of
failure—there is no more comforting assurance to be had than these words
of the Lord: '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.'" — Thomas S.
Monson, "Priesthood Power," Ensign, Nov. 1999, p. 50
(1/3/01)
"Being mortal, and despite our resolve and efforts, we will continue to
fall short of perfection. However, with Nephi of old, conscious of our
weaknesses, temptations, and past mistakes, we may say, 'Nevertheless, I
know in whom I have trusted' (2 Ne. 4:19). There follows a natural
resolve to renew our efforts."
— Ronald E. Poelman, "Divine Forgiveness," Ensign, Nov. 1993, p. 85
(1/4/01)
"In the private sanctuary of one’s own conscience lies that spirit, that
determination, to cast off the old person and to measure up to the
stature of true potential. But the way is rugged and the course is
strenuous."
— Thomas S. Monson, "Happiness—The Universal Quest," Ensign, Oct. 1993,
p. 5
(1/5/01)
"Then there was Saul of Tarsus, a scholar, familiar with the rabbinical
writings in which certain modern scholars find such stores of treasure.
For some reason, these writings did not reach Paul’s need, and he kept
on crying, 'O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body
of this death?' (Rom. 7:24.) And then one day he met Jesus, and behold,
all things became new. From that day to the day of his death, Paul urged
men to 'put off … the old man' and to 'put on the new man, which after
God is created in righteousness and true holiness.' (Eph. 4:22, 24.)" —
Thomas S. Monson, "The Paths Jesus Walked," Ensign, Sept. 1992, p. 6
(12/26/01)
"Isn't that the way life is? We seldom perform to the level of our
knowledge. This brings me to the subject of resolutions--resolutions to
conform
our lives more closely to what we already know about the gospel. While
many of
us take seriously our New Year's resolutions, some of us may not have
made any
because of our prior problems in keeping them. We must not overlook the
power
that making good resolutions can have in helping make our lives happier
and more
successful--regardless of our past performance."
— Joe J. Christensen, "Resolutions",
"Ensign," Dec. 1994, p. 62
(12/27/01)
"Now as we look back in retrospect, we might ask ourselves: Have I made
the
progress I should have? Did I really work to reach my goals? If we
cannot answer
affirmatively, then we should resolve to do better from this moment on.
We
should make definite plans to set new goals, and outline a course by
which they
may be reached, keeping in mind that eternal life should be the ultimate
goal
for each of us. The time is now. This is the day, the hour, the moment
for each
of us to resolve to do better in the future than we have done in the
past."
— N. Eldon Tanner, "Walking in Obedience to the Commandments",
"Ensign," Feb. 1972, p. 2-3
(12/28/01)
"Intellectually (in wisdom and knowledge)
Physically (in stature)
Socially (in favor with man)
Spiritually (in favor with God)
I am convinced that if we make and keep resolutions in these four areas, we will have a happier and more successful new year and every year for the rest of our lives." — Joe J. Christensen, "I Resolve", "New Era," Jan. 1998, p. 4
(12/29/01)
"Remember, ...we all have our own challenges to work out while passing
the
tests of mortality, and we probably often think ours are the most
difficult.
Recognize limitations; no one can do everything. When you have done the
best you
can, be satisfied and don't look back and second-guess, wondering how
you could
have done more. Be at peace within yourselves. Rather than berate
yourself for
what you didn't do, congratulate yourself for what you did."
— M. Russell Ballard, "Be an Example of the Believers",
"Ensign," Nov. 1991, p. 95
(12/30/01)
Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light;
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
For those that here we see no more,
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.
Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.
Ring out the want, the care the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes,
But ring the fuller minstrel in.
Ring out false pride in place and
blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.
Ring out old shapes of foul disease,
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.
Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkenss of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson (Hymns, No. 215)
(12/31/01)
"We do not know the precise time of the Second Coming of the Savior, but
we
do know that we are living in the latter days and are closer to the
Second
Coming than when the Savior lived his mortal life in the meridian of
time. We
should resolve to begin a new era of personal obedience to prepare for
His
return. Mortality is fleeting. We all have much to accomplish in
preparation to
meet Him. As Latter-day Saints, 'we believe all things, we hope all
things....
If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or
praiseworthy, we
seek after these things.' What do we believe that will motivate us to
move
forward? What do we hope for? What are the virtuous, lovely, or
praiseworthy
things we should seek after? I believe we should strive to develop
within
ourselves the traits of the character of the Savior."
— Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Cultivating Divine Attributes",
"Ensign," Nov. 1998, p. 25-26
12/26/06
"During the next few weeks 'Happy New Year' will be, perhaps, the most
frequently repeated phrase in the English language. Every time that it
is spoken sincerely it will throw a ray of sunshine into some life.
Often it will brighten the spark of hope, and give new zest to him whose
spirit was darkened. It will carry with it the message that the Old
Year, with its failings, faults, and failures, had passed forever, and
that a New Year comes laden with fresh opportunities and rich promises
of success." - David O. McKay, "Pathways to Happiness," p.187
12/27/06
"At the beginning of a new year, wise business men take an inventory
of their stock in trade, for only by so doing may they determine
accurately their growth or losses. A careful study of this record will
reveal the strength and weakness of their operations. Based upon this
showing, their plans for future operations are made. And so the old
year passes out with the spirit of good will, and the new year is
ushered in as a time of reckoning. If such methods are good for
business, why not for the individual. Is it not a good thing for me to
take stock and carefully and honestly prepare an inventory, so that
during this period of good will and reckoning I, also, may profitably
ask myself, "What has my Church membership meant to me? What effect
has my example had upon others? How have I magnified my Priesthood?
What has been my contribution toward the growth and spiritual
development of the community in which I live? How may I improve my
spiritual condition? How can I render a greater service to my
fellow-man—by example, through attendance at meetings, by helping to
enlarge the usefulness of my quorum organization, by going out of my
way to visit my brother who is discouraged, careless and neglectful of
duty, and in the spirit of brotherly love encourage him, that he may
have strength to negotiate the difficult road upon which he is
traveling, that he too may safely come upon the road of light and
truth and happiness?" - "Improvement Era," 1929
12/29/11
I say to all,
especially to myself, repent, and let us turn over a new leaf; let us
cease our slothfulness, our indifference, and let it be manifest to
Almighty God that we appreciate His loving kindness, that we appreciate
His redemption, that we appreciate the glorious hope of everlasting
lives, in a glorious resurrection, by our works being coupled with our
faith to the glory of the Father, through Jesus Christ. - George
Teasdale, "Conference Report," April 1898