Author Archives: Candace Salima

Forging Onward Into the Future

“Recounting the faith of that great band of early Saints, Elder Ben E. Rich said, ‘This country was unknown to them. They believed that God had given to President Young a vision of the future home for the Latter-day Saints. They had faith in their leader, and they were willing to go into the unknown with him. . . . Who should ever forget the faith, . . . the bravery, of those who had such confidence in Brigham Young as to follow him into these valleys of the mountains’ (in Conference Report, Apr. 1911, 104). As modern-day pioneers looking … Continue reading →

Peace and Good Tidings

“Peace and good tidings; good tidings and peace. These are among the ultimate blessings that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings to a troubled world and the troubled people who live in it, solutions to personal struggles and human sinfulness, a source of strength for days of weariness and hours of genuine despair. . . . The search for peace is one of the ultimate quests of the human soul.” (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland “The Peaceable Things of the Kingdom” Ensign, November 1996, p.82) My life has been truly insane over the last four months. There are times when I … Continue reading →

Open Invitation

“We can generally do that which we wish to do. A young man can find an immense amount of time to spend with his sweetheart. He can arrange affairs to do that. We can arrange our affairs to get exercise in the shape of golf and otherwise. We can arrange our affairs to have amusements. And if we make up our minds to do so we can arrange our affairs to do temple work, judging from my own experience. “I believe that if I can find the time to go to the temple and to do temple work once a … Continue reading →

Deborah, Prophetess and Judge

“Deborah was a person of tremendous emotional and spiritual strength, great wisdom and prophetic insight.” (Andrew Skinner, Prophets, Priests and Kings, Deseret Book p. 126) Deborah served as judge and prophetess during the Reign of the Judges in the Old Testament (Judges 4). She ministered unto the Israeli people, both in a secular and spiritual fashion. Her story became quite famous. In short, under inspiration from the Lord, she gave Barak the guidance to free Israel from the oppression of King Jabin and his military commander, Sisera. Barak wasn’t the most trusting or faithful of servants and demanded that Deborah … Continue reading →

Integrity

“People of integrity and honesty not only practice what they preach, they are what they preach. And the Savior stands as the finest example.” ( Elder David A. Bednar, “Be Honest,” New Era, Oct. 2005, 7) Integrity is a wonderful character trait in any human being. People of integrity can be counted on when it comes to crunch time. People of integrity can be counted on to stand for what they believe in, regardless of the consequences. People of integrity cannot be swayed from what they know to be right. People of integrity make the best spouses, brothers, sisters, sons, … Continue reading →

The Most Important Role in Life

No one parent, no matter how righteous, can insure that the children they are raising will grow to be righteous, contributing members of society. The free agency clause in the eternal plan of salvation insures that. No one can ever doubt the righteousness of Adam and Eve when Cain turned out so differently from Abel. For our Father in Heaven when Jesus Christ turned out so differently from Satan, the free agency clause came clearly into play. This doesn’t, however, give parents an excuse to step back and “say you will be what you will be.” President James E. Faust … Continue reading →

Through Times of Trial

“Suffering leads toward exaltation. I suppose I am talking to some who have had worry and trouble and heart burnings and persecution, and have at times been caused to think that they never expected to endure quite so much. But for everything you have suffered, for everything that has occurred to you which you thought an evil at that time, you will receive fourfold, and that suffering will have had a tendency to make you better and stronger and to feel that you have been blessed. When you look back over your experiences you will then see that you have … Continue reading →

Remove the Darkness

“If you have any darkness, you have only to ask, and the darkness is removed. It is not necessary that miracle[s] should be wrought to remove darkness. Miracles are the fruits of faith. . . Faith comes by hearing the word of God. If a man has not faith enough to do one thing, he may have faith to do another: if he cannot remove a mountain, he may heal the sick. Where faith is there will be some of the fruits: all gifts and power which were sent from heaven, were poured out on the heads of those who … Continue reading →

When death strikes close to home

Early Friday morning, at 3:42 to be exact, the phone rang, and news every family dreads receiving was delivered. On his way home from work, my brother-in-law was killed in a car accident. A young man, who had been out partying with his uncle, lost control of the car he was driving and killed his own uncle and my brother-in-law in the process. He fled the scene of the accident, probably not even stopping to think that his action had permanently altered not only his own life, the but the life of the wife of the man he’d just killed, … Continue reading →

Thanks, Dad!

Today is Father’s Day. I have been blessed with two fathers in my life. One who is righteous, honorable and loyal to his wife and children, and one, my biological father, who was not. I have seen, within the four walls of my childhood home, opposite ends of the spectrum and therefore, consider myself somewhat of an expert in the area of what a son or daughter looks for in a father: 1. A father who stands ready and worthy at all times to give a priesthood blessing, speaking under the power of the Spirit the words which our Father … Continue reading →