On Repentance (D&C 82)

(1) Now that you’ve forgiven each other, you can step away from this conflict knowing that you’ve done everything you can, and I make up the difference. My Atonement means that this is swept away, and instead of being broken, you can be better for having gone through this together.

(2) But do be careful. Because you are better, because you have received my grace and gone through the repentance process and become more, the backsliding hurts worse. You’re falling down from higher, is the thing, and the thud will be more resounding. It’s just way of moral physics.

(3) I’ve given you a lot, and I gave it to you so that you would do wonderful things in my name, so that you would work for the good of all. When you climb so high, the fall hurts more. When you’ve seen so much light, the dark is extra blinding.

1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, my servants, that inasmuch as you have forgiven one another your trespasses, even so I, the Lord, forgive you.

2 Nevertheless, there are those among you who have sinned exceedingly; yea, even all of you have sinned; but verily I say unto you, beware from henceforth, and refrain from sin, lest sore judgments fall upon your heads.

3 For of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation.

On Prayer, For Days We're Discouraged (D&C 81)

(4) You all have to pray. Even (especially) the people with the most authority in my church, you have to pray, because that’s what opens the doorway for me to bless you. Come, counsel with me, out loud, in your head, on your knees, in public transport, when your speaking to others, when you’re talking to yourself. (5) When you learn to pray like this—and you do have to learn to do it—to hone the ability to focus yourself in on God, to draw your mind back to Him steadily, you will be so useful to the people around you. You will be part of bringing them back to God and walking them towards salvation.

(6) So be faithful. Try hard, because it’s going to be hard. Plant your feet where I’ve planted you, shoulder to shoulder with those who are hurting.

3 Therefore, verily I acknowledge him and will bless him, and also thee, inasmuch as thou art faithful in counsel, in the office which I have appointed unto you, in prayer always, vocally and in thy heart, in public and in private, also in thy ministry in proclaiming the gospel in the bland of the living, and among thy brethren.

4 And in doing these things thou wilt do the greatest good unto thy fellow beings, and wilt promote the glory of him who is your Lord.

5 Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.

On Fairness (D&C 71:6)

(6) It probably seemed really unfair to you when I said that I would give more to the people who already had and I would take away from the people who lacked, but here’s what I meant: if you accept my gifts, if you reach out for them and use them to make yourself more, if you receive the things that I give you, then I will keep giving. I will trust that you will continue to use my gifts well. I will give you knowledge and abilities and even power, trusting that you will make my world better with them.

6 For unto him that receiveth it shall be given more abundantly, even power.

On Creation and Gratitude (D&C 18-21)

(18) Everything, literally everything you see, is for you (and everyone else, sharing is important, but still, God was thinking about you). God made them specifically for you, to make you happy and so that you could be surrounded by beauty.

(19) God made them for you so that you could be fed and clothed, so that you would have things to taste and smell. God made them so that your body could be strong and your soul could rejoice.

(20) It makes God really happy that He gets to give you these things, and He cares about how you use them. He doesn’t want you to use more than your fair share of creation, and He doesn’t want you to use the things He’s created to hurt his other kids. He wants them to make you happy and to give you ways to make the people around you happy.

(21) There aren’t a lot of things you can do that really hurt God’s feelings, but one of them is not seeing that He put a lot of work into this world, not being careful with His gift.

18 Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;

19 Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.

20 And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extorition.

21 And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.