BEING HAPPY, AS A 'SINGLE' MEMBER OF THE CHURCH

     Reading everything that I could on this topic made it quite clear what I needed to do for myself. Instead of feeling deeply discouraged, I need to forget myself and go to work. I know my Heavenly Father has promised me certain blessings, and I am too impatient. Almost every talk given it says to serve, develop your talents, and that you play a vital role in the Church. I am very grateful for the talents my Heavenly Father has blessed me with. I also see His hand helping me to create new talents, where there wasn't before. Very simply, I need to remember the words of Gordon B. Hinckley's father, when President Hinckley was discouraged on his mission, "Forget yourself and go to work."




"We shouldn't wait to be happy until we reach some future point, only to discover that happiness was already available- all the time! Life is not meant to be appreciated only in retrospect. "This is the day which the Lord hath made..." the Psalmist wrote. "Rejoice and be glad in it."

2012 October General Conference, Of Regrets and Resolutions, Saturday morning session- Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"I feel sorry for any man who hasn't yet made the choice to seek an eternal companion, and my heart weeps for the sisters who haven't had the opportunity to marry. Some of you may feel lonely and unappreciated and cannot see how it will be possible for you to have the blessings of marriage and children or your own family. All things are possible to the Lord, and He keeps the promises He inspires His prophets to declare. Eternity is a long time. Have faith in those promises and live to be worthy of them so that in His time the Lord can make them come true in your life. With certainty, you will receive every promised blessing for which you are worthy."

2011 April General Conference, The Eternal Blessings of Marriage, Sunday afternoon session- Richard G Scott

"I close with a final example of a desire that should be paramount for all men and women-those who are, currently married and those who are single. All should desire and seriously work to secure a marriage for eternity. Those who already have a temple marriage should do all they can to preserve it. Those who are single should desire a temple marriage and exert priority efforts to obtain it. Youth and young singles should resist the politically correct but eternally false concept that discredits the importance of marrying and having children"

2011 April General Conference, Desire, Saturday afternoon session- Dallin H Oaks

"Some of you, unfortunately, will never marry in this life. That turns out to be the case sometimes. If that happens, do not spend you life grieving over it. The world still needs your talents. It needs your contribution. The Church needs your faith. It needs your strong, helping hand. Life is never a failure until we call it such. There are so many who need your helping hands, your loving smile, your tender thoughtfulness. I see so many capable, attractive, wonderful women whom romance has passed by. I do not understand it, but I know that in the plan of the Almighty, the eternal plan which we call God's plan of happiness, there will be opportunity and reward for all who seek them."

2003 October General Conference, To the Women of the Church, General Relief Society Meeting- Gordon B. Hinckley

"The prophets of the Lord have repeatedly promised that no blessing will be denied to the righteous single sisters of the Church if, through no fault of their own, they have not been married in this life and sealed to a worthy priesthood holder. They will be able to enjoy that blessing, forever in the next world. "On occasions when you ache for that acceptance and affection which belong to family life on earth, please know that our Father in Heaven is aware of your anguish, and that one day he will bless you beyond your capacity to express."

2002 October General Conference, You Are All Heaven Sent, General Relief Society Meeting- James E. Faust

"We all long for peace. Peace is not just safety or lack of war, violence, conflict, and contention. Peace comes from knowing that the Savior knows who we are and knows that we have faith in Him, love Him, and keep His commandments, even and especially amid life's devastating trials and tragedies."

2013 April General Conference, Personal Peace: The Reward of Righteousness, Saturday afternoon session- Quentin L. Cook

"But even though we may feel lost amidst of our current circumstances, God promises the hope of His light- He promises to illuminate the way before us and show us the way out of darkness."

2013 April General Conference, The Hope of God's Light, Sunday morning session- Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"You are just as important as any others in the scheme of our Father in Heaven, and under His mercy no blessing to which you otherwise might be entitled will forever be withheld from you. You are precious and important to Him. You are precious and important to the Church. You are precious and important to all of us."

1989 June, Single Adults fireside satellite broadcast, To Single Adults- Gordon B. Hinckley

"Permit me now to say a word to those who have never had the opportunity to be married. I assure you that we are sensitive to the loneliness that many of you feel. Loneliness is a bitter and painful thing. Our hearts reach out to you with understanding and love....There are so many out there who need you. You are needed. There are young people to be taught in the organizations of the Church. Refine your skills. Accept every challenge and assignment. Put time and effort into the preparation of your lessons. Keep your spiritual batteries at full charge and light the lamps of others. It is better to light one candle than curse the dark."

1989 June, Single Adults fireside satellite broadcast, To Single Adults- Gordon B. Hinckley

"The best antidote I know for worry is work. The best medicine for despair is service. The best cure for weariness is the challenge of helping someone who is even more tired. To you wonderful young women I send a charge to reach beyond the routine of your daily work to serve in the Church, in the community, in the society of which you are a part. Though your talents be meager, polish them. Increase your skills, extend you love to help those who need you lifting hand."

1989 June, Single Adults fireside satellite broadcast, To Single Adults- Gordon B. Hinckley