I have been thinking about the sign outside of certain restaurants here in the Philippines. The sign reads, "UNLI RICE." I didn't know what the sign meant for a few months until a missionary explained to me that the sign tells customers there is unlimited rice offered with the purchase of a meal. Now I know why missionaries look for that sign, because they love rice and can eat as much of it as they would like in those establishments.

Today I was thinking about what items, besides rice, that I would like to have unlimited access to. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have unlimited clean water, or ice cold sprite, and fresh fruit? But besides food, what would I like an unlimited supply of?

Time with family, or memories of time spent with family.
Peace.
The Holy Ghost.
The love of God.
Repentance, rescue, and redemption.

Hope.

Spiritual power and protection.

A connection to God through prayer.

Thanks to a loving Heavenly Father and His marvelous plan, we are incredibly blessed, and as we keep our covenants, we have access to marvelous, unlimited blessings from God.

 H  U  M  I  L  I  T  Y

Humility is the Christlike attribute I am concentrating on, and I am learning a lot about it. Here are some things I studied today:

Admit.

Apologize.

Be slow to anger.

Be quick to forgive.

Repent.

Cultivate more love.

Speak kinder.

("Is Pride Stopping You From Being a Loving Spouse?" by Aspen Yip, April 2026 Liahona)

Learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart (Matthew 11:29).

Am I meek and lowly of heart?

I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things (Alma 26:12).

Do I give credit to God for the strength He has provided me?

Always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive (Alma 7:23).

Am I grateful for all that I have received?

I cried unto him in prayer and supplication (Enos 1:4).

Are my prayers earnest and sincere?

When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves (2 Nephi 9:28).

Do I think I have an issue figured out without asking God for counsel?

Submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord (Mosiah 24:15).

Am I patient and cheerful while serving the Lord?

 

Sometimes we speak about the first word of the Restoration being the name Joseph, showing the intimate nature of God—that He knows each of us personally. But perhaps the first and most sacred lesson of the Restoration is that when we kneel in sincerity and call upon God, He delivers.

Each of us will face moments when life feels overwhelming, when we feel burdened by responsibilities and expectations—when the noise and the chaos and the complexity of the world threaten to drown out what matters most.

In those moments, Jesus Christ invites us to come unto Him in prayer, wherein He delivers us—not always by removing the burden but by strengthening us and giving us clarity, peace, and power to move forward with the simplicity found in Him.

I bear witness that Jesus Christ is the source of the abundant life. He is the strength of our roots, the One who brings order and peace and meaning out of complexity.
(“Simplicity that is in Christ,” Steven Shumway, Feb. 3, 2026 BYU Devotional)

I would like to add my testimony to that of Elder Shumway's. Since arriving in the Philippines, I have often felt overwhelmed and burdened, but I have found deliverance and strengthening power through earnest prayer.  The burden is not always lifted, but I am able to deal with the issue or task, and figure it out. Sometimes it is not until a later date that I look back and realize how much I was helped.

 

I did something I have not done for a while. I read a book! Besides Preach My Gospel, Come Follow Me and the scriptures, I have not ventured far in my gospel study these past six months, but I enjoyed this book by Elder Ucthdorf and felt uplifted. Not only is he an optimistic person, but he teaches hope and optimism in a great way. 

Hope is not knowledge, but rather the abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promises to us. It is confidence that if we live according to God’s laws and the words of His prophets now, we will receive desired blessings in the future—even “peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come” (Doctrine and Covenants 59:23). It is believing and expecting that our prayers will be answered. It is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance (pg. 18).

We hope in Jesus Christ, in the goodness of God, in the manifestations of the Holy Spirit, in the knowledge that prayers are heard and answered. Because God has been faithful and kept His promises in the past, we can hope with confidence that God will keep His promises to us in the present and in the future. In times of distress, we can hold tightly to the hope that things will work together for our good (pgs. 19, 20).

The reason these words rang true with me is that I have seen evidence of God being faithful and keeping His promises in my life. Over and over again, I lean on God and ask for His support and I am delivered. I trust that He will keep His promises in the present and future too. I know my prayers are heard, and that God showers us with blessings as seek to draw near to Him.

 

We are having a family discussion tonight about a talk given by Richard Scott titled, "Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer." What marvelous insight Elder Scott provides!

"Think of it: the absolute Supreme Being, the most all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful personage, encourages you and me, as insignificant as we are, to converse with Him as our Father. we need to appointment. our supplication can be brief or can occupy all the time needed. It can be an extended expression of love and gratitude or an urgent plea for help. He has created numberless cosmos and populated them with worlds, yet you and I can talk with Him personally, and He will ever answer. Don't worry about your clumsily expressed feelings, just talk to your compassionate, understanding Father."

"I wonder if we can ever really fathom the immense power of prayer until we encounter an overpowering, urgent problem and realize that we are powerless to resolve it. Then we will turn to our Father in humble recognition of our total dependence on Him."

"Seldom will you receive a complete response all at once.  It will come a piece at a time, in packets, so that you will grow in capacity." 

"Be thankful that sometimes God lets you struggle for a long time before an answer comes. Your character will grow; your faith will increase."

"When you are living righteously and are acting with trust, God will not let you proceed too far without a warning impression if you have made the wrong decision."

We drove from Cebu across the island for a double-zone conference in Toledo. After the conference, we had some interviews, then we dropped the assistants off at an apartment of missionaries where they were spending the night, and then we drove to our hotel. The security guard would not let us in. Even after we showed him our confirmation code, he would not let us in. We found out that the hotel had been booked for the wrong night, and we were out of luck. There was a large golf tournament happening the next day at the resort, so all of the rooms were booked. Oh my! What were we to do? This is not Utah where you drive down I-15 and see multiple options. It was dark and we were in an unfamiliar place. The security guard recommended a place to us and we drove there. It looked completely dead and dark with no lights on and the office locked.  Matthew walked around the hotel property and found some people in the pool who directed him as to where he could find the woman in charge. She took one look at Matthew and said that she most certainly did not have a room with a bed that would fit him. She recommended another place to us, so we set out again to find it. It was down an alley; we pulled in and parked. Matthew inquired about a room and he was shown a sample room. It was a small room with no frills, no hot water, a bucket and a ladle in the shower area, and a foam pad instead of a mattress, but we took it. We had been praying that we could find a clean room to spend the night somewhere and the Lord directed us. 

Maybe you have heard the story about the man who is in a flood. He is stranded on a rooftop and prays to God for help, asking God to save him directly. A small boat comes by and the occupant of the boat yells to the stranded man, offering him a ride. The man declines and explains that he is waiting for the answer to prayer that he had requested. This is kind of how we felt. We had been praying to find a place to stay once we knew our reservation was not valid. The hotel room which we found was not a fancy room, but it was adequate. We slept well and cleaned ourselves off in the morning and were able to arrive at the church a little early for interviews. This was a special miracle for us because we knew of no other options in the town we were in. God led us to the people who could direct us to the hotel that had a room for us.

Thoughts about humility: 

A humble person has a modest estimate of one’s own importance. Being humble doesn’t mean that you put yourself down all day. On the contrary, It means that you think something of yourself and of others. You are important, and the people around you are important too.

A humble person is aware of other people.

People who are humble speak up and state their opinions, but they are also good listeners.

A humble person is grateful and says thank you.

A humble person accepts responsibility. Instead of pointing to someone else, they say, “I’m sorry, that was my fault.”

A humble person recognizes that they do not know everything and they are not perfect. They admit mistakes and ask for help. A humble person is teachable and accepts advice.

A humble person doesn’t need the applause and validation of the world. A humble person can be satisfied with the validation inside of yourself, and/or the validation from God.

Humility is a moral muscle. It’s not like you are born with it or you are not. You can strengthen it. You can develop humility and get better at it.

Humility has everything to do with being a disciple of Jesus Christ and living the gospel.

Every time you kneel to pray you are showing humility.  You are showing that you do not know everything and that you invite God’s counsel and wisdom.

Every time you bless the food before eating, you are showing humility as you thank God for something to eat.

Every time you  open your scriptures and read, you are showing humility as you obey and open yourself to counsel.

As we follow the counsel of the prophet we are exhibiting humility.

In Alma 7: 23,24, Alma provides a wonderful list of qualities that a disciple of Christ should have and be: submissive, gentle, easy to be entreated, patient, long suffering, temperate, diligent, and grateful. Listen to what quality he lists first: “And now I would that ye should be humble…”

I admit that I do not know all things, but God does. I admit that I cannot face all of the trails and happenings of life on my own, but with His strength, I can face all things. I rely on God the Father, His Son, Jesus Christ, and the companionship of the Holy Ghost.

 

 

 

A thoughtful daughter gifted me this book and there are some nuggets within: 

Have you ever seen a mother comfort a dirty child? Children are dirty at least 50 percent of the time anyway, but it’s still a little surprising to see a fresh and clean mother cradling a child with a bloodied nose or mud-caked trousers.  When a child needs comfort, a mother doesn’t think of maintaining her distance to keep herself clean but scoops up the child and gets right to the business of comforting. In the same way, our Father comforts us, not at a distance, but in His arms, getting bloody and muddy.  Bring your fears and hurts to the One who comforts you.  He does not flinch or retreat from the burdens you bring, from the wounds that undo you.  You will find peace in His loving embrace (pg. 57).

Peace is a stability of mind, not a stability of circumstances. The peace of God keeps our hearts calm in the midst of whatever the world throws at us (pg. 156).

Go to the source.  Don’t begin on the fringes.  When we hesitate to call out to the Lord for help, we put off the one thing that can actually bring healing and justice.  He offers us an end to weeping and a gracious ear when we call for help. Run to your watchful Father, for as soon as He hears, He will answer you.  Bring your darkest fears and your deepest secrets; bring your heartbreak and your embarrassment.  There is One who is attentive to your heart (pg. 126).

The first thing on the list is “Seek God.” Start there.  Wake up each morning with your compass pointing toward Him. Set your feet in His direction. Let the pursuit of God by your first priority…and then live (pg. 188).

 

This was an assigned book for my chaplain course. Dr. Reimer wrote this book for his posterity because he wants them to know how much Jesus means to him. He spends the entirety of the book extolling the virtues of Jesus and explaining how Jesus has been a constant source of strength for him throughout his life. Here are a few quotes:

"I don’t want my children, or you, to just know about Jesus, like we know about a historical figure we read about in the pages of history.  I want them, and you, to know Him up close and personal, to be embraced by His transforming presence, to be revived by His tender love, and to experience Him in real, authentic, and tangible ways" (pg. 2).

"The world has a way of trying to get all of us to take our eyes off of Jesus.  But in my forty years of walking with Jesus, I have discovered that life works better when I have Jesus at the center of my heart, soul, and daily existence" (pgs. 4,5).

"Jesus calls us to come to Him.  Cone with your burdens; come with your weariness.  Come with your emptiness; come with your pain.  Come with your hurts; come with your heartaches.  Come with your questions; come with your despair.  Come as you are.  Come to the man of sorrows who is familiar with suffering and He will give you rest. Jesus can impart His rest to your weary soul.  This is what Jesus is like; this is who He is. He cares for all of us when we carry heavy burdens" (pg. 94).

"Too often pastors teach from the Gospels, and they essentially say, 'This is who Jesus was and hits is what Jesus did.' But I testify to you that this is who Jesus is and this is what Jesus does" (pg. 156).

 

I really liked reading what Brother Wilcox had to say about grace. I recommend this book. Here are some lines that resonated with me, and I could list many more:

God is a “God of grace." His gift is not a prize for the righteous. His help is not a reward for the worthy. It is not waiting for us once we change.  It is the power we need throughout the entire perfecting process. No wonder we sing with all our hearts, “Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!” (pg. 5, referencing Hymns no. 88 and 193).

Think of a child in school who has been assigned to write a story.  He is not better off by leaving his paper clean with no marks on it. A clean sheet of paper is not the goal.  He needs to write his first draft.  The teacher then suggests he add in more description and detail.  Maybe she suggests that he use a different word here or there and fix some spelling and punctuation errors.  The student returns to his desk and makes changes.  A perfect first draft is not the goal. The teacher knows that improving the writing is only a way of improving the writer. It is the same for us as we choose to engage with Christ in the repentance process (pgs. 153, 154).

It may take us years to realize that some of the greatest evidences of God’s love are the closed doors He sends when we are praying for open ones. His delays are not always denials.  If we can look back and see His hand in our lives in the past, we must press forward believing that same hand will be evident in the future. If we can see He has brought us to this point, we must believe He does not intend to drop us now (pg. 118).

 

7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess
By Jen Hatmaker

Ms. Hatmaker decides to go without something each month for seven months in order to rid herself of unnecessary baggage in life and to come closer to Christ. What an interesting endeavor! A few grand quotes from the book:

Hospitality: There is something so nourishing about sharing your living space with people where they see your junk mail pile and pee wee football schedule on the fridge and pile of shoes by the front door. Opening your home says, “You are welcome into my real life.” This square footage is where we laugh and hold family meetings and make homemade corn dogs and work through meltdowns.  Here is the railing our kids pulled out of the wall. These are the pictures we frame, the books we’re reading, the projects we’re undertaking—the raw material of our family.  It’s unsanitized and truthful. We invite you into this intimate place, saturated with our family character (pg. 176).

Prayer: What happens in the spiritual realm when we pray? It’s such a mystery.  What words prompt the Spirit to move? What goodness do we join Him on when we pray for peace? How powerful are our prayer words? They are a catalyst for miracles, the impetus for healing. Does God wait for us to pray in His will, primed to move for righteousness? How many relationships is He waiting to mend? How much turmoil is He poised to soothe? How much peace is He ready to administer? Are we withholding the necessary words to trigger God’s intervention? (pg. 196)

Materialism: What I know now is this: less.  I don’t need to have the most, be the best, or reach the top.  It is okay to pursue a life marked by obscurity and simplicity.  It doesn’t matter what I own or how I’m perceived (pg. 109).

As you know, David Bednar is a master teacher. I learned many things about personal revelation from his book The Spirit of Revelation. Here are a few nuggets:

Why would the Lord not make the voice of the Spirit easy to recognize all the time? I would suggest a simple answer—because God trusts us and wants us to grow (pg. 5). 

We all acknowledge that receiving a big answer quickly and all at once is possible and, in fact, does occur in some exceptional circumstances.  But most typically, we receive a series of seemingly small and incremental spiritual impressions and nudges, which in totality constitute the desired confirmation about the correctness of the path we are pursuing (pg. 21). 

We may not know before hand how to proceed, but we do not just sit and wait for something to happen. We press forward with a steadfastness in Christ (pg. 29).

And I really appreciated this:

In many of the uncertainties and challenges we encounter in our lives and in this great latter-day work, God requires us to do our best, to be anxiously engaged and act and not simply wait to be acted upon, and to trust in Him.  We may not see angels hear heavenly voices, or receive overwhelming spiritual impressions.  We frequently may press forward hoping and praying—but without absolute assurance—that we are acting in accordance with God’s will and timing.  But as we honor our covenants and keep the commandments, as we strive ever more consistently to do good and to become better, we can walk with the confidence that God will guide our steps (pg. 64).