Behind the Scene (BTS)
I camped at the temple for hours, waiting out the Bay Area’s rolling fog for a clear sky to include the stars. Patience paid off—and reminded me: I can do better and be better.
Intro
President Nelson’s message, “We Can Do Better and Be Better,” hits me in the best way—direct, hopeful, and actionable. Repentance isn’t a rare event; it’s a daily rhythm that unlocks strength, purity, and joy. Watching the fog clear over the temple, I felt the same invitation: step forward, again, today.
Notes from President Nelson
• Repentance is a process, not a punishment; it is “the key to happiness and peace of mind.”
• When we choose to repent, we choose to change—to become more like Jesus Christ.
• Daily repentance is the pathway to purity, and purity brings power (priesthood power is tied to heaven’s power).
• The adversary is intensifying; we cannot be spiritually asleep. Put on the whole armor of God and get to work.
• Honor your covenants, your body, and the women in your life—put people above screens and distractions.
• The Lord needs selfless, covenant-keeping disciples who hear the Spirit clearly and act with integrity.
Perspective
Repentance is the Lord’s way of lifting, not shaming. A little better each day is heaven’s pace. Stars eventually break through the fog; so does grace when we keep showing up.
Practice (today, not someday)
• Do a 10-minute inventory tonight: What should I stop, start, or continue so I can repent daily? Write one sentence and act on it before bed.
• Honor a body choice: sleep, food, movement, or media—pick one thing and treat your body like a temple today.
• Put people first: one undistracted conversation (no screens).
• Covenant check-in: pray specifically for help to keep one covenant better tomorrow than today.
Final Reflection
The temple stands steady while water moves and stars emerge—that’s what repentance does for a soul. It anchors us while the Lord reshapes us. “Doing better and being better” isn’t grand theater; it’s small, faithful, repeatable steps that invite power from heaven.
Pocket I’m Keeping
“Daily repentance is the pathway to purity, and purity brings power.”
What I Hear Now (direct quotes from President Nelson)
- “Brethren, we all need to repent. We need to get up off the couch, put down the remote, and wake up from our spiritual slumber.”
- “The Lord needs selfless men who put the welfare of others ahead of their own. He needs men who intentionally work to hear the voice of the Spirit with clarity. He needs men of the covenant who keep their covenants with integrity.”
- “I bless you to do better and be better. And I bless you that as you make these efforts, you will experience miracles in your life.”
Link to the Talk
We Can Do Better and Be Better — President Russell M. Nelson, General Conference (April 2019).
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