http://stephenmbird.com In the spring of 1893, I finished my Master's degree in counseling at BYU and was accepted into the Navy as an LDS Chaplain. My first assignment was with the 3rd Marine Infantry Battalion at Camp Pendleton, California. One Friday during lunch, a young black Marine knocked at my office door. I could tell from his troubled countenance that he was in trouble. Stephen M. Bird November 24, 2014 http://stephenmbird.com/library/my-book/every-day-is-thanksgiving.php One of the biggest reasons we don’t get more miracles is that we don’t recognize or appreciate the ones we already have. We don’t give the fitting and required credit to God. Thanksgiving, praise, glory, and credit are things we owe our Heavenly Father, and they are things he requires of us. Thankfulness simply acknowledges our debt to God. A lack of thankfulness tells him either that we think that we owe him nothing at all or that we don’t appreciate what he has given us. To credit a blessing to our own hard work is a denial of the truth. It robs us of honest humility and it robs God of the appreciation we owe him. Such a course is not likely to encourage his help. Stephen M. Bird April 15, 2012 http://stephenmbird.com/library/gospel-doctrine/gospel-talks/jesus-christ-easter-one-solitary-life.php Just last week, a dear friend passed away in St. George. He was only 60 years old. He was three years younger than me. While working in North Dakota he began experiencing congestion in his lungs and pain in his stomach. He thought he had bronchitis and an ulcer. The symptoms became severe and his wife drove him home to St. George. Doctors at the hospital there diagnosed him with stage-four esophageal cancer and he died a few days later. News of his death came to Peggy and I as a complete surprise and Peggy wept in my arms for a long time. Stephen M. Bird April 5, 2013 http://stephenmbird.com/library/my-book/humility-precedes-the-miracles-part1.php Look at the prodigal son's approach to his father when he returned home for help. Stephen M. Bird January 2, 2013 http://stephenmbird.com/library/religion-society/two-tales-of-300-warriors.php If you had to join an army, would you rather join the 300 Spartans led by King Leonidas or the 300 Israelites led by Gideon? Stephen M. Bird December 15, 2012 http://stephenmbird.com/library/religion-society/our-christmas-angels.php I will never forget that moment when I knew a speeding truck was going to hit us on my side of the car. It happened during the Christmas season of 1969, while I served an LDS mission in Bakersfield, California. Stephen M. Bird November 19, 2012 http://stephenmbird.com/library/inspirational-stories/miracle-meal-for-600-unexpected-guests.php During a famine, a widow with just enough meal and oil for one last meal "did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word, which he spake by Elijah" (1 Kings 17:15-16). Stephen M. Bird April 15, 2012 http://stephenmbird.com/library/gospel-doctrine/gospel-talks/jesus-christ-easter-one-solitary-life.php Just last week, a dear friend passed away in St. George. He was only 60 years old. He was three years younger than me. While working in North Dakota he began experiencing congestion in his lungs and pain in his stomach. He thought he had bronchitis and an ulcer. The symptoms became severe and his wife drove him home to St. George. Doctors at the hospital there diagnosed him with stage-four esophageal cancer and he died a few days later. News of his death came to Peggy and I as a complete surprise and Peggy wept in my arms for a long time. Jarren Bird and John Packer April 5, 2012 http://stephenmbird.com/library/religion-society/stolen-watch-broken-heart.php Comment: My son Jarren and his friends filmed a short movie in downtown Pleasant Grove, Utah a few years ago. I keep watching it and I keep thinking about the ending. There is healing power in remembering Christ and His healing power can bless our life in countless ways. When we remember Christ as we make our choices, we are more inclined to make the best choice. This can't fail to to make our life better. Stephen M. Bird Ramona Zabriskie March 27, 2012 http://stephenmbird.com/library/marriage-family/toughing-it-out-happy-marriages-need-time-to-grow.php Back in London, I received a text from a wife who was ready to leave her husband. "HE'S NOT WORTH IT," she screamed in capital letters. "Ever since I married this terrible man, I have been miserable!" http://stephenmbird.com/library/marriage-family/how-not-to-talk-to-your-kids-the-inverse-power-of-praise.php March 24, 2012 Po Brunson "According to a survey conducted by Columbia University, 85 percent of American parents think it’s important to tell their kids that they’re smart… But a growing body of research--and a new study from the trenches of the New York public-school system--strongly suggests it might be the other way around. Giving kids the label of “smart” does not prevent them from underperforming. It might actually be causing it." http://stephenmbird.com/library/religion-society/prayer/i-was-a-bishop-before-i-really-learned-to-pray.php [A personal note from me, Stephen M. Bird: Richard's story changed my life. When I first read his story, I was a 26-year-old army sergeant stationed in Germany… I felt stressed and afflicted being away from my family. I began to pray the way Richard did and I received the same results.] http://stephenmbird.com/library/religion-society/gratitude-thanksgiving/three-great-reasons-to-give-thanks.php Reason #1: Being Grateful Makes You Happier and Healthier http://stephenmbird.com/library/religion-society/prayer/what-is-mighty-prayer.php Although I prayed every day, I’d never felt like my prayers could be described as anything but ordinary. I wondered if the heroes in the scriptures were the only ones whose prayers could be described as “mighty.” http://stephenmbird.com/library/religion-society/prayer/mighty-prayer-brings-the-spirit.php Maybe, when times are easy we can get by with routine or weak prayer, but when we face trials to our faith and challenges in our life; when we experience suffering or frustrated desires; then we might wish we knew how to offer something more than routine prayers. http://stephenmbird.com/library/gospel-doctrine/gospel-talks/the-joy-of-becoming-grateful.php During General Conference in April of 1992, President Monson said, “This is a wonderful time to be living here on earth. Our opportunities are limitless. While there are some things wrong in the world today, there are many things right, …" http://stephenmbird.com/library/marriage-family/prayer-can-bring-miracles-to-our-marriages.php In Marriage Makes Us Richer, Part 2, I wrote that many more marriages could be successful. I said "it may require a miracle. Yet I am certain prayers can bring miracles." I also said that God is unlikely to change your spouse, but "He can and will change you, if you let Him and frequently, when we change ourselves, we change the relationship." http://www.ldsmag.com/church/article/8757?ac=1 Benjamin Franklin said "A single man is like half a pair of scissors." Poll after public opinion poll reveals that married persons are happier than those unmarried, and healthier, and more satisfied with life, and that they live longer. Marriage can create a state of commitment and of contentment that is absent in single life. http://stephenmbird.com/library/financial-ark/confession-i-was-a-financial-disaster.php It was the summer of 2007. My (then) husband S, 9-year-old Jayden (awww, so long ago!), and I were leaving the county fair and Jay asked for ice cream. So we went to McDonald's, ordered food for us and a McFlurry for him, and drove around to the window. S gave the girl his debit card and we watched her swipe it, wait, then swipe it again. We looked at each other and knew that we didn't have $14 in the bank to pay for our food. http://stephenmbird.com/library/inspirational-stories/prayer-turned-our-marriage-around.php My wife and I had been married for seven years, and we lived in a tiny trailer with our three children. I felt burdened by schoolwork and school loans. I also felt a rising resentment toward my lovely wife because I thought she was failing in her homemaking responsibilities. I voiced my disappointment freely, but though I didn't know it, my faultfinding was driving a big wedge between us. http://stephenmbird.com/library/marriage-family/marriage-makes-us-richer-part2.php In my "Marriage Makes Us Richer, Part 1" post, I linked to an article "10 Ways Getting Married will Make You Richer." Of the ten ways mentioned in that article, cohabitants can participate in the first two ways, i.e. "1. Getting together and splitting the bills," and "2. Combining the furnishings." However, the other eight ways appear to be inaccessible to cohabitants. Research currently indicates that cohabitants to not appear to benefit nearly as much financially from their coupled living arrangement as do married couples. Why? http://stephenmbird.com/library/inspirational-stories/an-honored-and-invited-guest.php "My marriage was over," wrote Naida Tims. She been married in the temple twenty years earlier and had four children, but she felt she could no longer live with the strife and contention in her marriage so she met with a lawyer. http://stephenmbird.com/library/inspirational-stories/miracle-garden.php James Maybury was our home teacher for two years in Ogden, Utah, but he grew up in England. While he was there, he spent a great deal of time in the home of George H. Bailey who at one time was very ill with rheumatic fever in England about 1934-35 sometime before WWII. http://stephenmbird.com/library/reading/index.php Nicholas Carr says his time spent on the internet is re-wiring his mind. He's losing the mental abilities and benefits of deep reading. The link at my website will take you to his article in: The Atlantic. http://stephenmbird.com/library/marriage-family/marriage-makes-us-richer.php At the library I browsed Money magazine and noticed an article "Do You Have What It Takes To Be Wealthy?" I wanted to be wealthy so I read the article which, presented 15 questions designed to tell me whether or not I had the potential to become wealthy. The 8th question asked if I was married and the article's explanation for the question caught my attention http://stephenmbird.com/prayersthatbringmiracles.php In the spring of 1893, I finished my Master's degree in counseling at BYU and was accepted into the Navy as an LDS Chaplain. My first assignment was with the 3rd Marine Infantry Battalion at Camp Pendleton, California. One Friday during lunch, a young black Marine knocked at my office door. I could tell from his troubled countenance that he was in trouble.