"Why, of course you will be held accountable for your thoughts. That one suggestion
has been a great blessing to me all my life, and it has enabled me upon many
occasions to avoid thinking improperly because I realize that I would be,
when my life's labor is complete, the product of my thoughts."
Fun Fact: Upon returning from his mission, George Albert continued courting his childhood sweetheart, Lucy Woodruff, the granddaughter of President Wilford Woodruff. Although Lucy had many admirers, she wrote in her diary, "Tonight I retire with a thankful heart to God... and pray that he may give me strength to be more deserving of the love of one whom I firmly believe to be one of the best young men that was ever placed on this earth. His goodness and kindness causes tears to come to my eyes." He wrote to her, "If you are interested in marrying someone for money it would not be me, because I have long ago decided that I will not devote myself making money but toward serving the Lord and toward helping His children in this world."
History: As a young man, George Albert Smith was a remarkable man. At age 13,he begins to work in a clothing factory and five years later he begins working for a railroad company but suffers permanent damage to his eyes because of his work. I think it's so interesting that just a few weeks after his marriage to Lucy, he serves a mission in the southern U.S. In 1904, he writes his own personal creed, a list of 11 ideals he commits to live by. in 1922 he is elected vice president of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and helps locate and mark Church historic sites. In 1933, he becomes the president of the Society for the Aid of the Sightless in Utah and a couple years later he supervises the publication of the Book of Mormon in braille. Then in 1945, he is set apart as the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and meets with the U.S President Harry S. Truman to discuss efforts to send aid to Europe in World War II. I also thought it was remarkable that George Albert was the first President of the Church to visit members of the Church in Mexico and presents a copy of the Book of Mormon to the President of Mexico, Manuel Avila Camacho. In 1949, he participated in the first ever televised broadcast of general conference. On his 81st birthday, he dies in Salt Lake City.
Chapter 7: The Immortality of the Soul
One of the most important things President George Albert Smith mentions in his talk is that, "Our life is eternal, and this knowledge helps us make correct choices and comforts us in times of mourning". He begins his teaching with an experience of a loved one passing away and instead of him mourning, he wanted to thank the Lord for the ability to prosper in eternity. This talk was such a humble way to explain things, he states that he stands with us, when perhaps tears may be flowing, his soul stands with comfort and satisfaction. Every one lives through hard times, although I may have not experienced the death of a loved one, there are still trials that sometimes are so hard to bear, but seeking comfort in the Lord is a way through get through the situation. Believing in the Gospel will not allow you to not experience pain or distraught, but our faith is what gets us through these harsh times because this mortal life is not the end, there is eternity after death. We are here on this Earth to prove our righteousness to dwell in the presence of our Heavenly Father. He mentions that "Eternal life is to us the sum of pre-existence, present existence, and the continuation of life in immortality, holding out to us the power of endless progression and increase. I know that for me when I put my life and see it through an eternal perspective, I see more clearly what's important and what I should let go of or not focus too much on. I want my Heavenly Father to say "Well done, good and faithful servant". I know that because of Jesus Christ, we will be resurrected. The purpose of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to prepare every man, woman and child for time when all those who have died will be brought forth from their graves, and when our Heavenly Father will establish his kingdom upon the earth and the righteous will dwell there and Jesus Christ will be our King and Law-giver. I know that for me, our knowledge of the immortality of the soul inspires, encourages and comforts us.
