An abundant biography

With an abundant life, President Thomas S. Monson with the onset of the New Year I suggest saints around the world to begin personal hard and thorough searches for what I call an abundant life - a life filled with an abundance of success, virtue and blessings. Like the alphabet that we study at school, I want to offer you my own alphabet, which will help us achieve an abundant life.

Keep a positive set of letter A in my alphabet - this is our mood. William James, a well -known American psychologist and philosopher, wrote: “The greatest breakthrough of our generation is the discovery that people, changing their inner attitude to life in their own minds, can also change the external aspects of their lives.” 1. A lot in our life depends on our attitude.

Our vision of what is happening and our reaction to others can change everything. The world, peace and satisfaction come to us if we do everything in our power, and then decide to be happy, despite the circumstances. Charles Swindal, a writer, teacher and Christian pastor, said: “I believe that our mood is more important than ... our past, .. This is much more important than our appearance, giftedness or skills that we possess.

Our mood can create or destroy the company, church or family. But the most interesting thing is that we ourselves decide every day as to what this day will be. ” In order to feel maximum happiness, peace, peace and satisfaction, let's decide to maintain a positive mood. Believe the letter B - this is faith. Belief in oneself, in others and in eternal laws. Be honest with yourself, with other people and with your heavenly father.

One of those who was not honest with God until it was too late, was Cardinal Woolsey, who, according to Shakespeare, managed to serve three monarchs during his long life and possessed imperceptible wealth and power. But, in the end, the angry king deprived him of both power and property. And then Cardinal Woolsi exclaimed: “I serve heaven even in a diligence with such a zeal as the monarch served, then in old age he would not betray me, so defenseless, to my enemies” 3.

Thomas Faller, an English theologian and historian, who lived in the seventeenth century, wrote the following wise words: “He who does not live according to his faith has no faith.” 4. Do not limit yourself and do not let others convince you that your capabilities are limited. Believe in yourself and live in such a way as to realize all your possibilities. You can achieve everything that you believe in.

Trust, believe and do not hesitate. Courageously meet the tests of courage - this is a useful and very important advantage, if you consider it not only as a willingness to die bravely, but also as a determination to live worthy. The American essayist and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you choose, there will always be someone who tells you that you are wrong.

There are always difficulties that push you to the idea that your critics are right. To develop an action plan and follow it to the end, the courage of a soldier is required. The world and peace are won their victories, but this needs brave men and women. ”5 will be the times when you will experience fear and disappointment. You may feel defeated. The difficulties through which you will need to go through to get victory may seem insurmountable to you.

At times, you will feel like David fighting Goliath. But remember: David really won! Courage is necessary to take the first step towards the intended goal, but even more courage is required to, having stumbled, take a second step and move on. Have a firm intention to make every effort and purposefully work for the sake of achieving a worthy goal, and also have courage to not only adequately meet the trials that will inevitably arise in your path, but also take a second step, if necessary.

Let us remember in the coming year about these foundations and develop a positive attitude in ourselves, the belief that we can achieve the intended goals and follow the decisions, and the courage necessary to overcome any trials. And then we can find an abundant life. Literature William James, cit. Charles Swindoll, Cit. Johnston, Lessons for Living, Thomas Fuller, Cit. Mencken, ed.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, Cit. By the lesson for this message, invite family members to share their personal experience and tell when a positive attitude, self-confidence or courage helped them in some situation. You can also invite them to find examples of these three principles in the Holy Scriptures. You can prepare for the lesson by prayer for examples from the Holy Scriptures or from your life.

Drawings of Steve Crump.