Commonplace Book

A Commonplace Book. “Commonplace”, from the Latin 'locus communis', meaning “a theme or argument of general application.”  For me, it is a collection of thoughts, ideas, anecdotes, poems, observations, and quotes that stood out and caught my attention, some with comment, some without. Essentially a scrapbook, a repository of thoughts too good to just pass over and let go.

"A few little flowers will spring up briefly in the dry gully through which torrents of water pass occasionally. But it is steady streams that bring thick and needed crops. In the agriculture of the soul that has to do with nurturing attributes, flash floods are no substitute for regular irrigation."

(Neal A Maxwell, Not Withstanding my Weakness) 

“There are two influences ever present in the world. One is constructive and elevating and comes from our Heavenly Father; the other is destructive and debasing and comes from Lucifer. We have our agency and make our own choice in life subject to these unseen powers. There is a division line well defined that separates the Lord’s territory from Lucifer’s. If we live on the Lord’s side of the line Lucifer cannot come there to influence us, but if we cross the line into his territory we are in his power. By keeping the commandments of the Lord we are safe on His side of the line, but if we disobey His teachings we voluntarily cross into the zone of temptation and invite the destruction that is ever present there. Knowing this, how anxious we should always be to live on the Lord’s side of the line.”

(George Albert Smith, Improvement Era, May 1935, p. 278) 

"You can't make a drawing without shadows. Not a good one."

(Neal Shin, journalist played by Tim Kang, Madam Secretary, S4:E20, The Things We Get to Say)

"He will work with us if we will work with Him."

(Stake President, Stake Conference, 25 August 2019)

"It doesn't matter when you take the shot, what matters is that you take the shot."

(Kevin J Hathaway, of the Seventy, Stake Conference, 25 August 2019)

"If we seek to live with our Father in Heaven we must be like our Father in Heaven."

(Temple President, Stake Conference, 25 August 2019) 

"Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another."

(Apostle Paul, Romans 14:19) 

"Subdue your appetites, my dear, and you've conquered human nature."

(Charles Dickens, English author, 1811-1870)