Decide

1. Definition:
1. 1828: To determine; to form a definite opinion; to come to a conclusion.
1. Determine (choose)
2. Opinion (belief)
3. Conclusion (interpretation)
1. To decide something is basically to form a belief on something and make your own interpretation of that something. It also infers choice. A decision is the point (focus) in which we can choose our future.
2. Quotes:
1. “Each day is a day of decision and our decisions determine our destiny.” (Russell M. Neilson)
1. Every day we make choices and decisions. Every time we decide something, we make ourselves who we are. Ergo, we have total power to decide our futures.
2. “Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it.” (Bill Cosby)
1. To be effective we must not only decide something, but we must truly resolve to follow our belief. Which means we must decide what we believe.
3. “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy who'll decide where to go.” (Dr. Seuss)
1. I agree, except for the part about being on your own. I believe that God is always with us, and we can allow him to guide our decisions if we’ll let him. Like Seuss said, we can steer ourselves where ever we choose, but when we face Christ, He will lead our path to him.
3. Scriptures:
1. “And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it.” (1 Kings 20:40)
1. The servant lived a busy life, and was not focused on the righteous things. In the end, he was judged according to his works or decisions. How important then, it is to watch our actions. Because every action is a decision.
2. “Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.” (2 Nephi 2:27)
1. We are always free to choose. At any point we can decide to change. Even if we can’t impact our circumstances, we can decide our attitude. The interesting thing, however, is that we only really have two decisions to make, the decision of good and evil. All other choices are just measures in the scales of good and evil.
4. Personal Definition:

To decide something is to resolve to act a certain way based on your belief. Every decision we make is either moving us towards good, or towards evil. A life full of decisions will determine what our judgement will look like. It is through Christ that we make the right decisions.

Diligence

1. Definition
1. 1828: Steady in application of business; constant in effort or exertion to accomplish what is undertaken; assiduous; attentive; industrious; not idle or negligent.
1. Steady (Stable)
2. Constant (Persistent)
3. Assiduous (Meticulous)
1. To be diligent is to be focused on obtaining a good result of a project through hard and directed work.
2. Quotes from Prophets
1. “The duty of which I speak is what we are expected to do and to be. It is a moral imperative summoning forth from individuals and communities that which is right, true, and honorable. Duty does not require perfection, but it does require diligence. It is not simply what is legal; it is what is virtuous. It is not reserved to the mighty or high in station but instead rests on a foundation of personal responsibility, integrity, and courage. Doing one’s duty is a manifestation of one’s faith.” ( Keith McMullin, General Conference, April 2010)
1. Diligence is a key part of duty. This is duty to God, others, and self.
3. Scriptures
1. “And it came to pass that after I had prayed and labored with all diligence, the Lord said unto me: I will grant unto thee according to thy desires, because of thy faith.” (Enos 1:12)
1. If we are diligent in good, God-ordained things, then he will grant us our righteous desires.
2. “And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.” (Doctrine and Covenants 130: 19)
1. If we are diligent in learning and gaining intelligence, then we will be more well suited for eternal life.
4. Personal Definition

Diligence is being focused and constant in doing something. If that something is good, then God will bring fruits of your labor to you and you will be blessed for it, now or in the next life.

Desire

1. Definition:
1. 1828: An emotion or excitement of the mind, directed to the attainment or possession of an object from which pleasure, sensual, intellectual or spiritual, is expected; a passion excited by the love of an object, or uneasiness at the want of it, and directed to its attainment or possession.
1. Emotion (heart)
2. Pleasure (appetite)
3. Want (hunger)
1. Desire is the hunger or appetite for the wish of the heart.
2. Quotes:
1. “The starting point of all achievement is desire” (Napoleon Hill)
1. Desire is the basic wish of your heart. That desire drives us to it’s pursuit. Pursuit of desires is the source of goal-making. In the completion of those goals, achievement occurs. Therefore, our desire becomes action, and action brings results.
2. “Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that work has been put in every heart.” (Rumi)
1. We each have a mission on this earth. We receive desires from God to accomplish that mission. We receive desires from the devil telling us to do this contrary to that mission. We need to only heed those which are good and righteous, and dismiss those that are evil.
3. Scriptures:
1. “I ought not to harrow up in my desires the firm decree of a just God, for I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction. Yea, and I know that good and evil have come before all men; he that knoweth not good from evil is blameless; but he that knoweth good and evil, to him it is given according to his desires, whether he desireth good or evil, life or death, joy or remorse of conscience.” (Alma 29:4-5)
1. The desires of our hearts are a large part of what determine our choices, and we are judged according to our choices. Ergo, our desires become our judgement.
4. Personal Definition:

Desire is one of the three parts of oneself; Passion, Logic, and Appetite (or desire). Desire is what drives human existence. Ergo, it is vital that we build our desires on righteousness. We are given desires by God and Satan. We choose which we will heed, and which we will cast off. In the final judgement, we will be judged according to the Desires of our Hearts.

Demonstration

1. Definition
1. 1828: The highest degree of evidence; certain proof exhibited, or such proof as establishes a fact or proposition beyond a possibility of doubt, or as shows the contrary position to be absurd or impossible.
2. How to think like Leo: A commitment to test knowledge through experience, persistence, and a willingness to learn from mistakes
1. Evidence (confirmation)
2. Proof (verification)
3. Test (trial)
1. Demonstration is when you can show someone something and they believe it because of your evidence and the truth in it. Dimostrazione on the other hand is to test something for yourself, and have it proved to you by the Holy Spirit
2. Quotes from Prophets
1. “Jesus gave us demonstration after demonstration of the power of the priesthood. In his first recorded miracle, he turned water into wine.” (MARION G. ROMNEY, General Conference, April 1982)
1. A demonstration is something that physically shows you that something is true, or works. Dimostrazione is something that is proven inside of you, over time.
3. Scriptures
1. O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, because it is discernible, therefore ye must know that it is good; and now behold, after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect?(Alma 32:35)
1. This light that Alma is talking about is one of the things used to test us. Once you’ve felt that light you are shown that it is true by dimostrazione.
4. Personal Definition
1. Demonstration:

Demonstration is when you prove that something is true. Your proof in this is physical. You can prove things to be true through demonstration, but you must have evidence to support it.

2. Dimostrazione:

Dimostrazione is a slower, more meaningful way to learn/teach. It is like a spiritual scientific method (See Alma 32). As you have experiences and trials, we are tested and become better.