"By removing the slivers of sin and the thorns of worldly temptation in our lives, and by denying ourselves, taking up our own cross and following the Savior, we can change a crown of thorns to a crown of glory," said Elder James E. Faust of the Council of the Twelve.

Speaking Sunday morning, Elder Faust said, "The denial of our own sins, of our own selfishness, of our own weakness, is like a crown of thorns which keeps us from moving up one more step in personal growth."Perhaps worse than sin is the denial of sin. If we deny that we are sinners, how can we ever be forgiven? How can the atonement of Jesus work in our lives if there is no repentance? If we do not promptly remove the slivers of sin and the thorns of carnal temptation, how can the Lord ever heal our souls?

". . . As we grow and mature and keep close to Him who was crowned with thorns our souls seem to get stronger in withstanding the challenges, our resolve hardens, our wills become firmer, and our self-discipline increases to protect us from evils of this world.

"Many of us delight in flirting with temptation, only later to learn how we and others have sown the seeds of our own unhappiness, and how we can also affect our neighbor's happiness.

"There is a defense mechanism to discern between good and evil. It is called conscience. It is our spirit's natural response to the pain of sin, just like pain in our flesh is our body's natural response to a wound - even a small sliver. Conscience strengthens through use. A sensitive conscience is a sign of a healthy spirit.

"How are the thorns and slivers of life removed?" Elder Faust asked. "The power to remove the thorns in our own lives and in the lives of others begins with ourselves.

"Too often we seek bandages to cover the guilt, rather than removal of the thorn causing the pain. How much we resist the momentary pain of removing a sliver, even though it will relieve the longer lasting pain of a festering sore. Everyone knows that if thorns and briars and slivers are not removed from the flesh, they will cause sores that fester and will not heal.

All irritants of the flesh and the soul should be removed before they fester, he counseled. "When the infection is healed, the soreness will leave. That process is known as repentance. Repentance and forgiveness are among the greatest fruits of the atonement. It is not easy to remove the thorns of pride, the thistles of selfishness, the slivers of ego, the briars of appetite.

"I would challenge all to put the thorns, slivers, and thistles we encounter in life in proper perspective. We should deal with them but then concentrate on the flowers of life, not on the thorns. To savor the sweet aroma of the blossoms we need to live righteous and disciplined lives.

"In our constantly changing world, may we continually cling to those things that do not change: to prayer, to faith, to saving covenants, to love of families and to brotherhood."