Overcoming Roadblocks

Some say you can be good and at the same time be good for nothing, unless you use that goodness to benefit the world around you; then your good for something. The continuous knowledge you gain is wonderful and if used wisely, has the potential for great things not only for you but your family and community. Elder Robert D. Hales states in a commencement address given Aug. 14, 2003 at Brigham Young University, "You will find that your greatest success and influence won’t come solely from the knowledge you’ve gained. It will come from what you do with that knowledge—the wise use of agency to make sound decisions." His address continues with 10 axioms to help guide and enrich your life. They are as follows:

Axiom 1. "It's not the obstical that counts, its how you over come it." Whatever the circumstance may be, you have the ability to make your own decisions and you can receive guidance through prayer, fasting, scripture study and the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Axiom 2. "Pursue your goals with all your heart, might, mind and strength. So often we are tentative and don’t move forward with conviction. We feel our way along, as if we were afraid in the dark. It is so much better to turn on the light of faith and move ahead with energy and commitment."

Axiom 3. "From a tiny spark can come a large fire." Speak well of others. Derogatory comments about another individual will, in most cases, get back to them. "See the good in people, and develop that goodness by your unwavering friendship, acceptance, loyalty, trust, and love."

Axiom 4. "Our greatest strengths can become our greatest weaknesses." You have skills and talents that can help you in this life, but they can also hinder your progress if they become the only things you rely on.
 

Axiom 5. "Failure is one of the greatest teachers if we have the faith to learn from it." Mistakes will be made, treat them as learning opportunities. Ask questions like, how did this happen? What is the lesson to be learned? What am I going to do to prevent this situation? What will be my response the next time I'm faced with this problem?

Axiom 6. "It is not how you start the race or where you are during the race. It is how you cross the finish line that matters." End each day, week, month, or year with the Apostle Paul's statement in 2 Timothy 4:7, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."

Axiom 7.“'If you wish to get rich, save what you get. A fool can earn money; but it takes a wise man to save and dispose of it to his own advantage.'” Be wise with your earnings and understand the difference between temporal needs and wants.

Axiom 8. "You cannot learn the Lord’s will without exercising your agency and becoming accountable for your decisions." We must continue to think about the decisions we make and live worthily to have the gift of the Holy Ghost with us to help confirm our decisions.

Axiom 9. "The more things change, the more they stay the same... As a member of the Church, you should expect to be different from your peers in the world. You should expect the distance will increase. But don’t be dismayed. Those with eyes to see will recognize you as a light on a hill."

Axiom 10. "The temple of God is the greatest university... In it we are taught where we came from and why we are here on earth, and we are given the promise of achieving life eternal in the celestial kingdom if we obey the commandments and covenants."

*Follow the link to view the entire commencement speech: Ten Axioms to Guide Your Life.