Love is All We Need

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Love is the measure of our faith, the inspiration for our obedience, and the true altitude of our discipleship.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

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Love is a powerful emotion. Whether we're attempting to soothe an emotional child, take care of our bodies or corresponding with a birth mother who has made the ultimate sacrifice, we're showing love. Love comes in all forms and ways, but the most important show of love comes from our Heavenly Father.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said in his October 2009 conference talk, The Love of God:

"Because love is the great commandment, it ought to be at the center of all and everything we do in our own family, in our Church callings, and in our livelihood. Love is the healing balm that repairs rifts in personal and family relationships. It is the bond that unites families, communities, and nations. Love is the power that initiates friendship, tolerance, civility, and respect. It is the source that overcomes divisiveness and hate. Love is the fire that warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope. Love should be our walk and our talk.

"When we truly understand what it means to love as Jesus Christ loves us, the confusion clears and our priorities align. Our walk as disciples of Christ becomes more joyful. Our lives take on new meaning. Our relationship with our Heavenly Father becomes more profound. Obedience becomes a joy rather than a burden."

It's beautifully expressed, right? Do you have a way of showing love to yourself, others and Father in Heaven?

To see the Neighborhood News for Wednesday, 31 August, please click here.

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Trusting

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Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation.

~ D. Elton Trueblood

We have been told by our leaders to trust in the Lord. How do we do that? We have learned to trust people close to us, people we know. To trust in the Lord takes a great leap of faith. Are we ready to make that giant step?

We'd like to share a story told by President Marion G. Romney in his talk Trust in the Lord, Ensign, Nov. 1977:

"President Heber J. Grant tells of a different type of reward that comes from trusting in the Lord. When he was a young man, he heard his bishop in a fast meeting, which was then held on Thursdays (in the early days, we held our fast meetings on Thursdays), make a strong appeal for donations. At that time President Grant had $50 in his pocket which he intended to deposit in the bank. But he was so impressed by his bishop’s appeal that he tendered the whole $50 to the bishop. The bishop took $5 and handed him back $45, stating that $5 was his full share. Then President Grant replied, 'Bishop Wooley, by what right do you rob me of putting the Lord in my debt? Didn’t you preach here today that the Lord rewards fourfold? My mother is a widow and she needs two hundred dollars.'

"'My boy,' queried the bishop, 'do you believe that if I take this other forty-five dollars you will get your two hundred dollars quicker?'

“Certainly, replied President Grant.

"Now here was an expression of trust in the Lord which the bishop could not withstand. He took the remaining $45.

"President Grant testified that on his way back to work, 'an idea popped' into his head, acting upon which he made $218.50. Speaking on this incident years later, he said, “Someone will say that it would have happened anyway.

“I do not think it would have happened. I do not think I would have got the idea.

“I am a firm believer that the Lord opens up the windows of heaven when we do our duty financially and pours out blessings upon us of a spiritual nature, which are of far greater value than temporal things. But I believe He also gives us blessings of a temporal nature.” (Improvement Era 42:457.)"

Absolute faith will open up the windows of Heaven. Can we take the leap?

To see the Neighborhood News for Wednesday, 24 August, please click here.

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For Your Own Good

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We'd like to share this note from the Mormon Messages page:

The Book of Mormon: What the Broadway Musical Misses

You may have heard about the Broadway musical, The Book of Mormon. You probably already know that reviewers have said that it isn't exactly a family friendly play. Here is the Church's response to the play:

The production may attempt to entertain audiences for an evening, but The Book of Mormon as a volume of scripture will change people's lives forever by bringing them closer to Christ.

—Official Church Statement on the Book of Mormon Musical

Experience tells us that years after The Book of Mormon play has faded from the spotlight on Broadway stages and elsewhere, the volume of scripture will continue to quietly strengthen families and promote Christian values.


Share The Book of Mormon

The recent interest in The Book of Mormon gives us a great opportunity to share our beliefs. Mormon.org has a page about the Book of Mormon that describes very clearly what the purpose of the book is. Here are some ways you can share the page, including a video that introduces The Book of Mormon and an opportunity for visitors to request a copy.


• If you have access to a blog or web page, you can describe how The Book of Mormon has influenced your life and include a link to http://mormon.org/book-of-mormon so that people who read your web page can learn more about The Book of Mormon.


• You can embed the video directly into your website or blog as well. Once you've played the video you will see the link to copy the code to your clipboard. Simply paste that code in the appropriate spot on your website or blog.


• You can also visit the Mormon.org Book of Mormon page and "Share" it using your Facebook account. Doing so will allow your Facebook friends to recognize your interest in The Book of Mormon.


The Gospel of Jesus Christ will continue to go forth into the world, and the Internet is becoming a powerful tool for spreading the word. You can help others learn more about The Book of Mormon by sharing your testimony and truthful information through your blog or website, or by sending them an e-mail message containing links to official Church sources.

Send feedback to: mormonmessages@ldschurch.org


Our mailing address is:
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
50 East North Temple St.
Salt Lake City, UT84150


Don't forget to checkout our Free Download Friday from our Positive Music and Downloads.

To see the Neighborhood News for Friday, 12 August, please click here.

We welcome your comments. Post by clicking the link below.

Train Your Body

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Remember the beginning of the year, when we wrote down resolutions, and decided it was time to lose a few pounds? That’s my favorite, every year. There are a lot of opinions on how to go about losing weight. Some of them actually involve using weights. Cami Checketts is a wife, mother, exercise scientist, and author. She blogs at ‘Fitness For Mom.’ Her article is named “Weight Lifting Anyone?” In it, she talks about what some of us women don’t want to do: weightlifting. She tells us: “If you aren't lifting weights you are missing out. Strength training is the most effective way to lose weight, change your shape, and increase daily stamina.”

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Keeping with the same topic, we found this article at ‘Trainer Momma.’ Its contributor is Mandi Reading, and she wrote “Have You Tried This? Body Pump.” She’s really into weight lifting, and she encourages everybody to do it. Her message is this: “I am a huge cheerleader of weight lifting. Old, young, athlete and couch potato alike all need to be lifting weights.” I’ve tried it myself, but I won’t go past 5 lbs. weights. I’m trying very hard not to be a couch potato, and I lift weights when I remember. I guess consistency would give me a better pay off. :o)

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We can try to keep our bodies healthy, but I think we need to go beyond that and enrich our spiritual lives too. Our brother Jesus Christ was called the Bread of Life, and shouldn’t we want to partake of His goodness? From ‘LDS Family Fun,’ we have a Family Home Evening lesson that will help your family learn ways to nourish their spirits. There’s also a barley loaf recipe which will nourish your bodies as well.


As usual, on Fridays Positive Music and Downloads offers Free Download Friday. To enjoy this week's download, please click here."


Have a great time this weekend, and send us a few words in the comments section, we'll love to hear from you.


To view a copy of the Neighborhood News for Friday, 3 September, please click here.