“If our lives were smooth sailing without painful hardships, unexpected disappointments or frustrating challenges, we wouldn't have our own personal testimony as credible evidence revealing God's omnipotent power.”

“Our hearts takes us to places we wish we had never journeyed; but, without struggle in our lives, we would not evolve. We would not have a testimony for the person behind us, next to us, and in front of us.”

“If the focus of our testimony is our changed life, we as well as our hearers are bound to be disappointed.”

“The power of words is the power of change. Like a flood in the desert a great story surges into our lives and upsets what we thought we knew. It washes away the dust in our hearts and reveals something buried—showing us things we might never have known and challenging our naïve comfort. It takes us away to a new place and when we return home our world looks forever different.”

“As much as God loves his children, it is misplaced faith that asks him to prevent all pain in this life, especially the pain we created for ourselves. When we ask God to remove the natural consequences of our own behavior, we set ourselves up for disappointment and frustration. As a wise friend once said, "It is foolish to think you can sow your wild oats on Saturday and pray for crop failure on Sunday.”

“God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, but we are not. Each day, ours is the challenge to access the power of the Atonement so that we can truly change, become more Christlike, and qualify for the gift of exaltation and live eternally with God, Jesus Christ, and our families. For these powers, privileges, and gospel gifts, thanks be to God!”