Sunday, September 13, 2009

Greatest Salesman in the world
Discussion questions?:
• Which scroll is your favorite?
• Did you repeatedly read any of it? (read each 3 times a day for 30 days) Was repetition helpful? Reading scriptures daily – do they become “part of our active mind?”
• Was there anything in any of the scrolls that you disagreed with? How would you re-write it?
• Have you ever felt yourself changed through reading this or any other motivational materials? Good/bad permanent/not?
• Does it seem too idealistic, or is it realistic? Is it really possible to begin a new life each day, master emotions, persist, love, etc. etc.?
• President Fronk gave each of us a scroll at the marriage retreat. If you were to write a scroll to read and re-read and inspire you each day, what would it contain?

Cliff notes ;)
Scroll 1: Today I begin a new life.

I will form good habits and become their slave
Live with each scroll for 30 days. As I read the words daily, they will become part of my active mind, but more importantly, they will seep into my other mind, that mysterious source which never sleeps, which creates my dreams, and often makes me act in ways I do not comprehend…. Awake with vitality, overcome fear, react to all situations which confront me as I was commanded in the scrolls to react… I will drink and not spill a drop…

Scroll 2: I will greet each day with love in my heart.
I will look on all things with love, and I will be born again. I will love the sun for it warms my bones; yet I will love the rain for it cleanses my spirit. I will love the light for it shows me the way; yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars. I will welcome happiness for it enlarges my heart; yet I endure sadness for it opens my soul. I will greet this day with love in my heart.

How will I confront each whom I meet? In silence and to myself I will address him and say I love you. Though spoken in silence these words will shine in my eyes, unwrinkled my brow, bring a smile to my lips, and echo in my voice..

Never will I allow my heart to become small and bitter, rather I will share it, and it will grow and warm the earth… all hate is let from my veins, for I have not time to hate, only time to love… I will greet this day with love.

Scroll 3: I will persist until I succeed.
In the orient young bulls are tested according to the number of times he demonstrates his willingness to charge in spite of the sting of the blade…. The prizes in life are at the end of the journey, not near the beginning…always I will take another step…the rain drop which washes away the mountain, the ant who devours a tiger, the star which brightens the earth, the slave who builds a pyramid… small attempts, repeated, will complete any undertaking…When each day is ended, I will attempt one more sale, when others cease their struggle, then mine will begin, and my harvest will be full… Nor will I allow yesterday’s success to lull me into today’s complacency. I will forget the happenings of the day that is gone, and greet the new sun with confidence that this will be the best day of my life… I will persist. I will win.

Scroll 4 I am nature’s greatest miracle.
I am a unique creature. I am rare, and there is value in all rarity. I have unlimited potential. I can accomplish far more than I have, and I will… I will increase my knowledge, practice, improve, polish… I was conceived in love, and brought forth with purpose.

Scroll 5: I will live this day as if it were my last.
This day is all I have, and these hours are now my eternity. I greet this sunrise with cries of joy as a prisoner who is reprieved from death. I lift mine arms with thanks for this priceless gift of a new day. Why have I been allowed to live this extra day when others, far better than I, have departed? Is it that they have accomplished their purpose while mine is yet to be achieved?

I have but one life, and life is a measurement of time. When I waste one, I waste the other. I will avoid with fury the killers of time. To court idleness is to steal food, clothing, and warmth from those I love. Today I will cherish my children, embrace my soul mate, lift up my friends.. I will live this day as if it is my last. And if it is not, I shall fall to my knees and give thanks.

Scroll 6: Today I will be master of my emotions.
Like the tides, my moods will rise and fall. Unless my mood is right, the day will be a failure. How will I master these emotions so that each day will be productive? Weak is he who permits his thoughts to control his actions; strong is he who forces his actions to control his thoughts.


If I feel depressed I will sing.
If I feel sad I will laugh.
If I feel ill I will double my labor.
If I feel fear I will plunge ahead.
If I feel inferior I will wear new garments.
If I feel uncertain I will raise my voice.
If I feel poverty I will think of wealth to come.
If I feel incompetent I will remember past success.
If I feel insignificant I will remember my goals.

If I become overconfident, I will recall my failures.
If I overindulge I will think of past hungers.
If I feel complacency I will remember my competition.
If I enjoy moments of greatness, I will remember moments of shame.
If I feel all-powerful I will try to stop the wind.
If I attain great wealth I will remember one unfed mouth.
If I become overly proud I will remember a moment of weakness.
If I feel my skill is unmatched I will look at the stars.

I will understand and recognize the moods of him on whom I call. I will recognize and identify the mystery of moods in all mankind, and in me. I will become master of myself. I will become great.

Scroll 7: I will laugh at the world.
Come What May, and Love It - Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin’s last talk, Nov 2008 “Learn to Laugh… The next time you’re tempted to groan, you might try to laugh instead. It will extend your life and make the lives of all those around you more enjoyable.”

I will paint this day with laughter, I will frame this night in song. I will smile and my digestion will improve, I will chuckle and my burdens will be lightened for this is the great secret of long life and now it is mine. How can I laugh when confronted with man or deed which offends? With these four words: “This too shall pass.” All worldly things shall indeed pass. With my laughter all things will be reduced to their proper size. Smiles bring forth smiles from others. I will be happy, I will be successful. I will be the greatest salesman the world has ever known.

Scroll 8: Today I will multiply my value a hundredfold.
A mulberry leaf becomes silk, clay becomes a castle,. Cyprus tree becomes a shrine, sheep’s hair becomes King’s raiment. Leaves and clay and wood have their value multiplied a hundredfold, cannot I do the same with the clay which bears my name?

Wheat – fed to swine, ground for bread, or planted to multiply? I will not let my life be fed to swine, or ground under rocks, I will multiply my value a hundredfold. Planted in darkness of failures, nurtured with rain/sun/warm winds of goals and objectives. If I stumble I will rise. Only a worm is free from the worry of stumbling. I am not a worm. My words will announce my goals. Once spoken, I dare not recall them, there will be no escape for me until my words become accomplished deeds. I will announce my goals, yet never proclaim my accomplishments. One grain of wheat multiplied can feed cities. Am I not more than a grain of wheat? Today I will multiply my value a hundredfold. And when it is done, I will do it again.

Scroll 9: I will act now.
My dreams are worthless, my plans are dust, my goals are impossible. All are of no value unless they are followed by action. I will act now. Never has there been a map which carried its owner over even one inch of ground. Action ignites dreams, plans, goals, into living force. To conquer fear, act without hesitation. It is better to fail than not to act. The firefly only gives off life when it is in action. I will be a firefly. I will act now. I will act now. I will act now. I will act now. I will repeat these words again and again and again until actions become as instinctive as blinking. When I awake I will say them and leap from my cot. When I enter the market I will say them and immediately confront my first prospect. When I face a closed door I will say them and knock. When I face temptation I will say them and immediately remove myself from evil. When I am tempted to quit I will say them, I will multiply my actions. I will command and I will obey my own command. I will act now. This is the time, this is the place, I am the man, I will act now.
Do it.
Do it right.
Do it right now.

Scroll 10: I will pray to God.
Who is of so little faith that in a moment of great disaster or heartbreak has not called to their God? From where has this deep instinct come? My life need not be filled with religion in order to recognize why we possess this instinct, this gift.

Never will I pray for material things. I am not calling on a servant to bring me food. Only for guidance will I pray, that I may be shown the way, and my prayers will always be answered.

My Father in Heaven, creator of all things, help me. For this day I go out into the world naked and alone, and without your hand to guide me I will wander far from the path which leads to success and happiness. Teach me how to hunt with words and prosper with love. Guide me that I may acquire ability equal to my opportunities. Help me to remain humble, yet hide not from mine eyes the prize of victory. Confront me with fears that will temper my spirit, yet endow me with courage to laugh at my misgivings. Spare me sufficient days to reach my goals, yet help me to live this day as though it were my last. Discipline me in the habit of trying and trying, favor me with alertness, endow me with patience. Bathe me in good habits, grant me compassion for others, suffer me to know that all worldly things must pass, yet help me count my blessings of today. Fill my cup with love to turn strangers into friends. All these things only if thy will. I am a small and a lonely grape clutching the vine, there must be a special place for me. Guide me. Help me. Show me the way. Let me become all you planned for me when my seed was planted and selected by you to sprout in the vineyard of the world. Thank you for all that you have given me. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.