There are all sorts of people who are willing to alibi
or to make excuse for a failure. During World War II,
a vital decision was made by one of the great leaders
of the Allied military, Viscount Slim from Great
Britain. He made this statement after a defeat occurred
in a battle for Khartoum in 1940 against the Italians:
“I could find plenty of excuses for failure, but only
one reason—myself. When two courses of action were
open to me I had not chosen, as a good commander
should, the bolder. I had taken counsel of my fears”
(William Slim, Unofficial History (1959), 148).
My young brothers and sisters, don’t take counsel
of your fears. Don’t say to yourselves, “I’m not wise
enough, or I can’t apply myself sufficiently well to
study this difficult subject or in this difficult field, so I
shall choose the easier way.” I plead with you to tax
your talent, and our Heavenly Father will make you
equal to those decisions.
In this life, where we have opportunities to strive
and to achieve, I bear witness that on occasion we
need to make a second effort—and a third effort, and a
fourth effort, and as many degrees of effort as may be
required to accomplish what we strive to achieve.
If you should stumble, if you should take a course and get less than the A grade that you desire, I hope you won't let it become a discouraging thing to you. I hope that you will rise and try again.
2003 CES Broadcast, Thomas S. Monson, Life's Greates Decisions
A Prophets Voice - Messages From Thomas S. Monson p. 340
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