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.

Charity

1. Definition:
1. 1828: In a general sense, love, benevolence, good will; that disposition of heart which inclines men to think favorably of their fellow men to think favorably of their fellow men, and to do them good. In a theological sense, it includes supreme love to God, and universal good will to men.
1. Love (devotion)
2. Benevolence (compassion)
3. Do (act)
1. Charity is love in it’s purest form. It is an action showing your devotion to others and your God.
2. Quotes:
1. “Every good act is charity. A man's true wealth hereafter is the good that he does in this world to his fellows.” (Moliere)
1. Charity is an action, as I said before. It is doing something, anything, good for another person because of your love for them.
2. “In necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas” ("unity in necessary things; liberty in doubtful things; charity in all things") (Philipp Melanchthon)
1. There is a time and a place for all things. Every action has it’s place. Liberty must be confined so it, like a kite, can soar. Unity must also, else it strangles the freedoms of others. Charity is the exception to this rule. It is a way of living, and is appropriate always.
3. Scriptures:
1. “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)
1. Charity is greater than both faith and hope. I think because it is the application of those things.
2. “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.” (Moroni 7:46-47)
1. Charity is an attribute of Christ. This is how He shows His love to us. We must strive to develop Charity or else we cannot return to our Father.
4. Personal Definition:

“Charity is the pure love of Christ,” an action and a way of living. It is an application of Faith and Hope. Charity is required for entrance to the Celestial Kingdom. It is the strongest rock you can build yourself on.

Remember

1. Definition:
1. 1828:To have in the mind an idea which had been in the mind before, and which recurs to the mind without effort.
1. Mind (intellect)
2. Recurs (return)
3. Memory (remembrance)
1. To remember is to bring an thought or impression back to your focus.
2. Quotes:
1. “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” (George Santayana)
1. Remembrance is key to changing our futures.
2. “If you remember, you won’t forget to pray. You won’t forget to serve or love. You will remember to read the scriptures. You will not forget your family and friends. You will remember to obey the prophet. You’ll keep in your heart the knowledge that Jesus Christ sacrificed his life for us, and you will love him as he loves you. You will remember why you came to this earth. And you will remember you are sons and daughters of God. You can return home to him if you remember to keep his commandments and live your lives the way he has asked.” (Laura Kay Worthlington, New Era, September 1992)
1. Remembering seems to hold the essence of the Gospel. It is the process of returning to something we have left for a time.
3. Scriptures:
1. “Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O Lord.” (Psalms 25:7)
1. Just as everything good, the devil will twist it to his own devices. He would have us focus our remembrance on the things which keep us from putting God first.
2. “Remember, Remember...” (Many scriptures)
1. So many times God has this repeated possibly more than anything else. It is always in conjunction with other commandments which we must remember to become better.
4. Personal Definition:

Remember is the most important word, according to president Kimball. It is an analogy of life. Returning to something which we have temporarily forgotten. We must remember only those things which will help us to grow towards our Father.

Work

1. Definition:
1. 1828: To be in action or motion; as the working of the heart.
1. Action (activity)
2. Motion (progress)
1. To work is to engage in the activity of progress.
2. Quotes from Prophets:
1. “the gospel of work is part of “the fulness of the gospel.” Though joyful, missionary work is work. Though joyful, temple work is work. Alas, a few of our underwhelmed youth work all right, but mostly at trying to please themselves.” (Neal A. Maxwell, General Conference, April 1998)
1. Work is essential to living the gospel. Work requires effort. It is rewarding.
2. “A balance of work needs to be orchestrated, because some forms of work tend to dominate other forms, like fathers working late at the office too often. Our preferred chores need little encouragement just as in Elder Spencer Condie’s paraphrase of Strauss’s warning to orchestra conductors: “Never give an encouraging nod to the brass section, or you’ll never hear the strings again!”” (Neal A. Maxwell, General Conference, April 1998)
1. We need to prioritize our work. If we don’t the important things are left out. Our work is for nothing.
3. Scriptures:
1. “And by your hands I will work a marvelous work among the children of men, unto the convincing of many of their sins, that they may come unto repentance, and that they may come unto the kingdom of my Father.” (Doctrine  and Covenants 18: 44)
1. This verse shows that 1) God works for us, and 2) He works through us to aid those he needs.
4. Personal Definition:

Work is ordained of God, in fact even he does it. We need to balance the different forms of work. God uses us in his work, if we are willing and worthy.

Water

1. Definition
1. 1828: A fluid, the most abundant and most necessary for living beings of any in nature, except air. water when pure, is colorless, destitute of taste and smell, ponderous, transparent, and in a very small degree compressible. It is reposited in the earth in inexhaustible quantities, where it is preserved fresh and cool, and from which it issues in springs, which form streams and rivers. But the great reservoirs of water on the globe are the ocean, seas and lakes, which cover more than three fifths of its surface, and from which it is raised by evaporation, and uniting with the air in the state of vapor, is wafted over the earth, ready to be precipitated in the form of rain, snow or hail.
1. Water is water. The end.
2. Quotes from Prophets
1. “The living water is the gospel of Jesus Christ; its communicator is the Holy Ghost. My friend knew what was right. She had said the appropriate words to her family. But only when she humbled herself enough to drink of the water—to feel the Holy Spirit—could she begin to heal.” (Kathleen H. Hughes, General Conference, April 2003)
1. The water that can quench thirst is the gospel, the holy ghost is the one that can deliver it to you. Without it, you can see the water, but can not lift the vessel to your parched lips.
3. Scriptures
1. “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:14)
1. The water is the gospel, just as water grants life, so does this eternal water grant eternal life.
4. Personal Definition

Water is a representation of the gospel. It brings life, the gospel brings eternal life. It helps seeds grow, the gospel helps us to grow. In every aspect water is closely associated with the gospel.

War

1. War:
1. Definition:
1. 1828: Hostility; state of opposition or contest; act of opposition.
1. Hostility (Enmity)
2. Opposition (Resistance)
3. Contest (Challenge)
2. Heart at War
1. Definition:
1. Anatomy of Peace: “Where we see others as objects...to be conquered, and to justify ourselves in our own actions”
1. Objects (item)
2. Conquer (defeat)
3. Justify (defend)
3. Quotes:
1. “There was never a good war, or a bad peace” (Ben Franklin)
1. War is always bad, peace is always good.
2. “If we are going to find lasting solutions to difficult conflicts or external wars we find ourselves in, we first need to find our way out of the internal wars that are poisoning our thoughts, feelings, and attitudes toward others. If we can’t put an end to the violence within us, there is no hope for putting an end to the violence without.” (Yusuf al-Falah, Anatomy of Peace, Pg 64)
1. The only real solution to any war, is this, you must find peace in yourself, before you can create it.
4. Personal Definition:

A Heart at War is a heart that causes problems. When we are at war inside, we cannot do anything to do good. Once we achieve inner peace, however, we can start to make real lasting changes to the world around us, as well as the world inside.