Filling our Minds with Good Things

"From my youth I have been acutely interested in and tried to be observant of everything around us—birds, animals, and plant life—their species, forms, colors, characteristics, and habits. I found that we can, as the Savior did, draw lessons from everyday occurrences. We can note the behavior of people in all their individuality and sameness. I developed the desire, as a teacher, to share the things I had observed. I found that by diligent, consistent observation, notetaking, and filing, one can store up a vast reservoir of knowledge, examples, lessons, feelings, experiences, and stories. One can come to know the verity of the scripture 'treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man.' (D&C 84:85.) That supply is there whenever one needs to draw from it for teaching or speaking assignments. Whatever else we are in life, we are teachers—as parents, in church service, in all else that we do." - Boyd K. Packer, "That All May Be Edified," p. 6