The following material from the Spoken Word equals my appreciation for our Pioneer Ancestors & the inspiration they have been to me. Without their example of faith & courage in the face of adversity, I could never have passed through the trials I have endured these past years. In addition, I would give thanks and ultimate credit & appreciation to my Savior, who suffered more than I have, but "nevertheless, drank the bitter cup." How can I then NOT pass through whatever I encounter while in this mortal experience, with faith, with patience, and great courage, and yes, gratitude? For after the test of our Faith, cometh the blessings.

The following comes from The Spoken Word: "We owe so much of what we enjoy today to others. As Gordon B. Hinckley has written, we stand on the shoulders of those who preceded us. These are men and women of courage and conviction, who in the midst of adversity put their trust in the Almighty, and worked endlessly to make their dreams come true.

Whatever we may do today, our opportunities and enjoyments exist, because of the courage of Patriots, the vision of Pioneers, and the inspiration of our Ancestors. Following in their footsteps, we find that the roads to our dreams have been paved by their faith, perseverance and sacrifice. We might echo the words of Sir Isaac Newton, who described his achievements, "If I have seen farther than other men, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants." We've each been able to see further and reach higher because of the efforts of others.

[After] remembering the giants who have blessed our lives, we begin to realize that future generations will learn from our choices, and that ours will be the shoulders upon which they stand. Our efforts need not be grandiose, or well publicized to be important and far reaching. We may never know how many others we lift when we let our dreams reach beyond our circumstances.

A decade after three-year-old Brant Yartley, diagnosed with brain cancer, wrote a book telling his experiences with surgery, radiation treatments, and chemotherapy, to offer hope and comfort to other children facing life-threatening conditions. Like the seeds blown from a dandelion, his book "Brant's Dream" will bless the lives of countless friends he may never meet.

When we look for ways to leave the world better than we found it, we are inviting future generations to stand on our shoulders. Moreover, like the forbearers we revere, the memory of the selfless acts that we have done will far outlive the lives we have lived.

A visitor to several rural communities commented on the size and location of many towering trees. Gazing at them, she could picture the loving hands that had planted and watered seedlings decades before, so that future generations could enjoy the shade. We can each be such a pioneer,

 

Tags: Faith Courage Determination RuntoTomorrow

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