Category Detail for Lds (205 Quotes)

  Author Category Subject Content
1 Abraham Lds Mortality And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;
2 Abraham Lincoln Lds Prohibition Prohibition will work great injury to the cause of temperance. It is a species of intemperance within itself, for it goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man's appetite by legislation, and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our nation was founded.
3 Abraham Lincoln Lds Word of Wisdom Whether or not the world would be vastly benefited by a total banishment from it of all intoxicating drinks seems now not an open question. Three-fourths of mankind confess the affirmative with their tongues, and I believe all the rest acknowledge it in their hearts.
4 Alex Haley Lds Genealogy In all of us is a hunger, marrow-deep, to know our heritage ? to know who we are, and where we have come from. Without this enriching knowledge, there is a hollow yearning. No matter what our attainments in life, there is still a vacuum, and an emptiness, and the most disquieting loneliness?
5 Boyd K. Packer Lds Art But few have captured the spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the restoration of it in music, in art, in literature. They have not, therefore, even though they were gifted made a lasting contribution to the onrolling of the church and kingdom of God in the dispensation of the fullness of times. They have therefore missed doing what they might have done, and they have missed being what they might have become.?
6 Boyd K. Packer Lds Art You who have such talents might well ask, 'Whence comes this gift'? And gift it is. You may have cultivated it and developed it, but it was given to you. Most of us do not have it. You were not more deserving than we, but you are a good deal more responsible. If you use your gift properly, opportunities for service are opened that will be beneficial eternally for you and for others.
7 Boyd K. Packer Lds Military The whole focus of our lives in the military had been on destruction. That is what war is about. We were inspired by the noble virtue of patriotism. To be devoted to destruction without being destroyed yourself spritually or morally was the test of life.
8 Boyd K. Packer Lds War You too live in a time of war, the spiritual war that will never end.
9 Boyd K. Packer Lds Profanity The world seems to be turned upside down...The rules of honesty and integrity and basic morality are now ignored. Conversation is laced with profanity. You see that in art and literature, in drama and entertainment. Instead of being refined, they have become course.
10 Boyd K. Packer Lds Lehi's Dream Lehi's dream or vision of the iron rod has in it everything a Latter-day Saint needs to understand the test of life.
11 Boyd K. Packer Lds Lehi's Dream At your baptism and confirmation, you took hold of the iron rod. But you are never safe. It is after you have partaken of that fruit that your test will come.
12 Boyd K. Packer Lds War We live in a time of war, that spiritual war that will never end.
13 Boyd K. Packer Lds Mocking You who are young will see many things that will try your courage and test your faith. All of the mocking does not come from outside of the church. Let me say that again: all of the mocking does not come from outside of the church. Be careful that you do not fall into the category of mocking.
14 Boyd K. Packer Lds Latter Days You are better than we were. I have the conviction that against what was surely coming and the prophecies that were given, the Lord has reserved special spirits to bring forth at this time to see that His Church and kingdom are protected and moved forward in the world.
15 Brad J. Bushman Lds Media According to film critic Michael Medved, the claim that the entertainment industry merely reflects the level of violence in society simply is not true: If this were true, then why do so few people witness murders in real life but everybody sees them on TV and in Movies? The most violent ghetto isn't in South Central L.A. or Southeast Washington, D.C.; it's on television. About 350 characters appear each night on prime-time TV, but studies show an average of seven of these people are murdered every night. If this rate applied in reality, then in just 50 days everyone in the United States would be killed - and the last left could turn off the TV. If the entertainment industry is a mirror that reflects the level of violence in society, it is a treacherous funhouse mirror that provides a distorted image of reality. There is far more violence in the "reel" world than in the real world.
16 Brigham Young Lds Mortality This is the place where every man commences to acquire the germ of the independence that is enjoyed in the heavens.
17 Brigham Young Lds Science Our religion measures, weighs, and circumscribes all the wisdom in the world - all that God has ever revealed to man. God has revealed all the truth that is now in the possession of the world, whether it be scientific or religious.
18 Brigham Young Lds Science "Mormonism" embraces all truth that is revealed and that is unrevealed, whether religious, political, scientific, or philosophical. It comprehends all true science known by man, angels, and the gods. There is one true system and science of life; all else tends to death. That system emanates from the Fountain of life.
19 Brigham Young Lds Line-upon-line All we are prepared to receive, the Lord gives us; all that the nations of the earth are prepared to receive he imparts unto them.
20 Brigham Young Lds Labor Study to apply your labor to advantage, and you will accomplish much more, without wearing yourselves out so fast. If you have to roll a log, cut down a tree, etc., study how to take advantage of the work. Contrive to accomplish your work with the leaset expenditure of strength.
21 Brigham Young Lds Agency How far does our agency extend? There are certain bounds to it. What we have witnessed in thirty years experience teaches us that man can appoint, but God can disappoint. Man can load his gun to shoot his neighbor, but he cannot make the ball hit him, if the Lord Almighty sees fit to turn it away. He can draw the sword to hew down his fellow-man; but instead of that, he may fall upon it himself.
22 Brigham Young Lds Science Our father, the great God, is the author of the sciences, he is the great mechanic, he is the systemizer of all things, he plans and devises all things, and every particle of knowledge which man has in his possession is the gift of God, whether they consider it divine, or whether it is the wisdom of man; it belongs to God, and he has bestowed it upon us, his children, dwelling here on earth. A fact is a fact, all truth issues forth from the fountain of truth, and the sciences are facts as far as men have proved them.
23 Brigham Young Lds Religion We do not allow ourselves to go into a field to plough without taking our religion with us; we do not go into an office, behind the counter to deal out goods, into a counting house with the books, or anywhere to attend to or transact any business without taking our religion with us. If we are railroading, or on a pleasure trip our God and our religion must be with us.
24 Brigham Young Lds Science Every discovery in science and art, that is really true and useful to mankind has been given by direct revelation from God, though but few acknowledge it. It has been given with a view to prepare the way for the ultimate triumph of truth, and the redemption of the earth from the power of sin and satan. We should take advantage of all these great discoveries, the accumulated wisdom of the ages, and give to our children the benefit of every branch of useful knowledge, to prepare them to step foreward and efficiently do their part in the great work.
25 Brigham Young Lds Wealth When we consider the condition of the Latter-day Saints, and see how many there are who seem to have their eyes fixed upon the things of this world, things that are not lasting, but that perish in the handling, and how anxious they are to obtain them, how do you think I feel about it? We see many of the Elders of Israel desirous of becoming wealthy, and they adopt any course that they think will bring them riches, which to me is as unwise as anything can be-to see men of wisdom, men that seem to have an understanding of the world and of the things of God, searching after minerals throughout these mountains; they traverse the hills, and they dig here and there, and keep digging and picking, and rolling the rocks from morning till night. This chain of mountains has been followed from the north to the south, and its various spurs have been prospected, and what do they find? Just enough to allure them, and to finally lead them from the faith, and at last to make them miserable and poor. Ask the brethren why they do this, and the ready reply will be, "Is it not my privilege to find a gold mine, or a silver mine, as well as others?" As far as I am concerned I would say, "Yes, certainly it is your privilege, if you can find one." But do you know how to find such a mine? No, you do not. These treasures that are in the earth are carefully watched, they can be removed from place to place according to the good pleasure of Him who made them and owns them. He has his messengers at his service, and it is just as easy for an angel to remove the minerals from any part of one of these mountains to another, as it is for you and me to walk up and down this hall.
26 Brigham Young Lds Wealth Now, should you go prospecting for gold or silver, you will find just enough to allure you and to destroy you. But it might be said, "Are not the earth and the treasures the property of the Lord who created them, and will he not, according to the promise, give them to his faithful disciples?" O yes, this is strictly correct; but you mark this-the man who is faithful to his calling and to this holy Priesthood, never goes hunting for gold or silver, unless he is sent. Such men are found following their legitimate pursuits, working in their fields, in their workshops and gardens, making beautiful their habitations; in other words, engaged building up and assisting to establish the Zion of God on the earth, with their minds centered on the true riches and not upon the things of this world. People do not know it, but I know there is a seal set upon the treasures of earth; men are allowed to go so far and no farther. I have known places where there were treasures in abundance; but could men get them? No. You can read in the Book of Mormon of the ancient Nephites holding their treasures, and of their becoming slippery; so that after they had privately hid their money, on going to the place again, lo and behold it was not there, but was somewhere else, but they knew not where. The people do not understand this; I wish they did, for they would then do as I do, pay attention to the legitimate business that God has given them to perform. Do I run after mines or digging holes in the ground? No, not at all. It is like the will-o'-the wisp, a jack o'-lantern. You ask our business men, or go to California, and enquire there whether it pays to hunt for gold. I will venture to say there never was a dollar taken from the mountains of California, neither from these mountains west, nor from out of this Territory, but what cost from ten to one hundred dollars. Do you believe that? It is said a great deal of money has been made here and there. Who has made it? Considerable lead has been taken from here, and a little silver; but when you count the time that has been spent, and after putting a fair valuation upon it, you will find what I say to be a fact, to say nothing of the lives and property that are lost. A little town directly west of here, some fifteen months ago, contained a certain number of men, who followed mining. We calculated their time at the rate of what was paid for common labor; and then we ascertained the amount realized from the treasure taken out of the earth, which was well known; and it was shown that they spent in the neighborhood of seven hundred dollars a day, and got in return about thirty. What they did get was just sufficient to allure them.
27 Brigham Young Lds Science The Gospel of life and salvation which God has revealed to us, incorporates all the systems there are. Every true principle and every true science and every truth there is, are incorporated within the faith of the Latter-day Saints.
28 Brigham Young Lds Mortality This is the place where every man commences to acquire the germ of the independence that is enjoyed in the heavens.
29 Brigham Young Lds Truth It is easier to defend the truth than to defend error. It is necessary that the religions and creeds of the Christian world be defended by the most able and learned students, in order to make them popular and to appear as true. But after these Christian students have been through academies and colleges, and the most famed seminaries in the world, and after they have studied and studied, spending a life-time in the acquisition of a theological education, it takes but one of our boys, with the aid of the Bible and the little Catechism, to wind them up as you would an old clock. This has been the experience of many of our boys, and when they started out from their homes to preach the Gospel, they did not know that they could say anything at all about its principles; but when they have come in contact with those who have professed much and who have undertaken to disprove the Gospel as taught by the Latter-day Saints, their minds have become enlightened and passages of Scripture have come to them, and they have discomfited their opponents, so that they have had nothing to say. I have done so many times myself, and that too with a few words; and the conversation would be turned to something else. With all their study and learning, and with all the philosophy and science there is brought to the aid of false theories, how easy it is to believe the truth! It is much easier than to disbelieve it. Truth commends itself to every honest person, it matters not how simply it is told, and when it is received it seems as though we had been acquainted with it all our lives.
30 Brigham Young Lds Wealth If you were in the Temples of God working for the living and the dead, your eyes and hearts would not be after the fashions of the world, nor the wealth of the world. Yet the whole of this world's wealth belongs to the Lord, and he can give to whomsoever he pleases.
31 Brigham Young Lds Wealth Do not let our minds run after gold and silver, nor upon houses and lands; what the Lord gives us take the very best care of, putting the same to a wise and proper use, or our hearts cannot be for the kingdom.
32 Brigham Young Lds Motivation When I labor in the kingdom of God, I labor for my own dear self, I have self continually before me; the object of my pursuit is to benefit my individual person; and this is the case with every person who ever was or ever will be exalted...
33 Brigham Young Lds Preparation Keep your dish right side up, so that when the shower of porridge does come, you can catch your dish full.
34 Brigham Young Lds Providence Can we realize how this Providence governs and controls the nations of the earth, and marks out the destinies of individual man? If we have not learned these lessons they are before us, and we have them yet to learn. If we have not yet learned that poverty, sickness, pain, want, disappointment, losses, crosses, or even death, should not move us one hair's breadth from the service of God, or separate us from the principles of eternal life, it is a lesson we have to learn. If we have not learned how to handle the things of this world in the light of salvation, we have it yet to learn. Though we have mountains of gold and silver, and stores of precious things heaped up, and could control the elements, and command the cattle on a thousand hills, if we have not learned that every iota of it should be devoted to the building up of the kingdom of God on earth, it is a lesson yet to learn.
35 Brigham Young Lds Philosophy I was led to reflect that there is no act, no principle, no power belonging to the Deity that is not purely philosophical...
36 Brigham Young Lds Philosophy I am a witness that ‘Mormonism’ is true upon philosophical principles. Every particle of sense I have, proves it to be sound natural reason...
37 Brigham Young Lds Philosophy That [which we] call eternal philosophy, God’s philosophy, the philosophy of angels—natural philosophy, reason-able philosophy … commends itself to the human mind, to the intelligence that man possesses...
38 Brigham Young Lds Philosophy This people have embraced the philosophy of eternal lives, and in view of this we should cease to be children and become philosophers, understanding our own existence, its purpose and ultimate design...
39 Brigham Young Lds Philosophy There is no true philosophy in existence which is not embraced in the Gospel, it belongs to the Gospel, it is a part of the Gospel...
40 Brigham Young Lds Philosophy I was led to reflect that there is no act, no principle, no power belonging to the Deity that is not purely philosophical...
41 Bruce Hafen Lds Study You'll always gain more from what you discover than from what you're simply told. Don't just look at the mountain - the doctrine - go climb it. You might just meet the Lord at the summit.
42 Bruce R. McConkie Lds Scripture I sometimes think that one of the best kept secrets of the kingdom is that the scriptures open the door to the receipt of revelation.
43 Bruce R. McConkie Lds America It is our firm conviction as a people that the stars and stripes will be waving triumphantly in the breeze, as a symbol of the greatness and stability of the United States of America, when the Lord comes. This nation was established to be the Lord’s base of operations in this final gospel dispensation. From it the gospel is to go to every other nation and people. The greater its influence among the nations of the world, the more rapidly the gospel spreads. But the Lord has told us that all nations, the United States included, shall cease to be when he comes.
44 Bruce R. McConkie Lds Family True greatness is found only in the family...our greatest joy would be to live together everlastingly as a family unit in eternity. There neither is nor can be anything greater than this.
45 C. S. Lewis Lds Leisure Our leisure, even our play, is a matter of serious concern. [That is because] there is no neutral ground in the universe: every square inch, every split second, is claimed by God and counterclaimed by Satan.
46 Craig C. Christensen Lds Creativity You have to develop under the influence of the spirit if you want the spirit to show through in the final product.
47 D. Todd Christofferson Lds Law Our central quest is to learn and to live the celestial law...If we can learn to abide the celestial law, we become what the scripture calls persons of a celestial spirit.
48 Dallin H. Oaks Lds Revelation Closely related to the feeling of comfort is the...purpose or function of revelation, to uplift. At some time in our lives, each of us needs to be lifted up from a depression, from a sense of foreboding or inadequacy, or just a plateau of spiritual mediocrity. Because it raises our spirits and helps us resist evil and seek good, I believe that the feeling of uplift that is communicated by reading the scriptures or by enjoying wholesome music, art or literature is a distinct purpose of revelation.
49 Dallin H. Oaks Lds Excellence We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best...
50 Dallin H. Oaks Lds Excellence Most of us have more things expected of us than we can possibly do. As breadwinners, as parents, as Church workers and members, we face many choices on what we will do with our time and other resources. We should begin by recognizing the reality that just because something is good is not a sufficient reason for doing it. The number of good things we can do far exceeds the time available to accomplish them. Some things are better than good, and these are the things that should command priority attention in our lives.
51 Dallin H. Oaks Lds Politics Religious values and political realities are so interlinked in the origin and perpetuation of this nation that we cannot lose the influence of Christianity in the public square without seriously jeopardizing our freedoms...
52 Dallin H. Oaks Lds Judgment Sometimes we are delayed in the receipt of revelation, and sometimes we are left to our own judgment. We cannot force spiritual things. It must be so. Our life’s purpose to obtain experience and to develop faith would be frustrated if our Heavenly Father directed us in every act, even in every important act. We must make decisions and experience the consequences in order to develop self-reliance and faith.
53 Dallin H. Oaks Lds Revelation When one person purports to receive revelation for another person outside his or her own area of responsibility - such as a Church member who claims to have revelation to guide the entire Church or a person who claims to have a revelation to guide another person over whom he or she has no presiding authority according to the order of the Church—you can be sure that such revelations are not from the Lord.
54 Dallin H. Oaks Lds Judgment If a matter appears of little or no consequence, we should proceed on the basis of our own judgment. If the choice is important for reasons unknown to us, the Lord will intervene and give us guidance.
55 Dallin H. Oaks Lds Personal Revelation Even in decisions we think very important, we sometimes receive no answer to our prayers. This does not mean that our prayers have not been heard. It means only that we have prayed about a decision that, for one reason or another, we should make without guidance by revelation. Perhaps we have asked for guidance in choosing between alternatives that are equally acceptable or equally unacceptable. Similarly, the Spirit of the Lord is not likely to give us revelations on matters that are trivial. If a matter appears of little or no consequence, we should proceed on the basis of our own judgment. If the choice is important for reasons unknown to us, the Lord will intervene and give us guidance.
56 Dallin H. Oaks Lds Unconditional Love Some seem to value God's love because of their hope that His love is so great and so unconditional that it will mercifully excuse them from obeying his laws. In contrast, those who understand God's plan for His children know that God's laws are invariable...
57 Dallin H. Oaks Lds Unconditional Love If anyone thinks that godly or parental love for an individual grants the loved one license to disobey the law, he or she does not understand either love or law.
58 Dallin H. Oaks Lds Government All governments formed and administered by imperfect men will be oppressive and limit our freedoms in some measure, since they will inevitably mirror the imperfections of those who rule and those who are ruled. For this reason, we promote the cause of freedom and good government when we fulfill our religious duty to work for good laws, seek diligently for honest and wise rulers, and preach repentance to all citizens.
59 Dallin H. Oaks Lds Government These principles and precedents, and others too numerous to cite in this limited space, are persuasive evidence that even an oppressive government that limits freedom is preferable to a state of lawlessness and anarchy in which the only ruling principle is force and every individual citizen has a thousand oppressors. Abraham Lincoln was espousing this preference when he said, "There is no grievance that is a fit object of redress by mob law." (Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations, p. 635, 14th ed.) There are exceptions. The command of loyalty to laws and rulers does not compel a citizen to participate in or submit to a government edict that runs counter to the common consensus of humanity, such as genocide or other cold-blooded murder. Nor should it require a person to violate the fundamental tenets of religious faith.
60 Daryl Hoole Lds Sabbath I agree with whoever first said, “In order to keep Sunday holy, we must keep Saturday hopping.” It’s wonderful to greet the Sabbath with clothing clean and pressed, hair shampooed, church clothes laid out, and food for dinner prepared in advance.
61 David Haight Lds Excellence We are the people being raised up in this new millennium. We are the ones who have been well educated. We are the ones who have been raised by good parents.The Lord is depending upon us to rise to the occasion. Be as good as you ought to be. Look as good as you ought to look. Be doing the things that you know are needed and are part of a good life.
62 David M. McConkie Lds Teaching One of the most significant ways you can improve learning and teaching is to take the time to orient new teachers, preferably before they give their first lessons.
63 David O. McKay Lds Revelation When the Lord tells you what to do, you've got to have the courage to do it or you had better not ask him again.
64 David O. McKay Lds Priorities In June of 1965, a group of brethren in the Physical Facilities Department of the Church was doing some work outside the Hotel Utah apartment of President David O. McKay. As President McKay stopped to explain to them the importance of the work in which they were engaged, he paused and told them the following: "Let me assure you, Brethren, that some day you will have a personal priesthood interview with the Savior, Himself. If you are interested, I will tell you the order in which He will ask you to account for your earthly responsibilities. "First, He will request an accountability report about your relationship with your wife. Have you been actively been engaged in making her happy and ensuring that her needs have been met as an individual? "Second, He will want an accountability report about each of your children individually. He will not attempt to have this for simply a family stewardship but will request information about your relationship to each and every child. "Third, He will want to know what you personally have done with the talents you were given in the pre-existence. "Fourth, He will want a summary of your activity in your Church assignments. He will not be necessarily interested in what assignments you have had, for in his eyes the home teacher and a mission president are probably equals, but He will request a summary of how you have been of service to your fellowmen in your Church assignments. "Fifth, He will have no interest in how you earned your living, but if you were honest in all your dealings. "Sixth, He will ask for an accountability on what you have done to contribute in a positive manner to your community, state, country and the world."
65 Dr. Louis K. Anspacher Lds Marriage Marriage is that relation between man and woman in which the independence is equal, the dependence mutual, and the obligation is reciprocal.
66 Duane Boyce Lds Parenting I have realized that one essential key to effective parenting is to reverse this order in expenditure of time and energy. In spite of the situation or circumstances, I must begin focusing my energy on helping things go right rather than on handling them once they have gone wrong.
67 Duane Boyce Lds Parenting ..the more effective we are at training our children to make right choices, the easier it is to correct them when they don't. This is because the better we teach our children, the more correcting them becomes merely an extension of that teaching. The particular method of discipline we use will then matter less because: (1) we will be doing it less often, and (2) whichever method we use will feel to our children more like teaching and less like retribution. Far from seeing our children as irritations, or as disloyal and ungrateful burdens who require correction, we will begin to see them instead as children who have not yet learned. The emotional character of our correction will be loving and helpful rather than impatient and angry.
68 Duane Boyce Lds Parenting I have realized that one essential key to effective parenting is to reverse this order in expenditure of time and energy. In spite of the situation or circumstances, I must begin focusing my energy on helping things go right rather than on handling them once they have gone wrong.
69 Eric Hoffer Lds Change In times of change, learners inherit the Earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.
70 Ezra Taft Benson Lds Children in the eternal perspective, children—not possessions, not position, not prestige—are our greatest jewels.
71 Ezra Taft Benson Lds Priorities ...when we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the...demands on our time, the interest we pursue, and the order of our priorities.
72 Ezra Taft Benson Lds Change The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in...The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature"
73 Ezra Taft Benson Lds Constitution We are fast approaching that moment prophesied by Joseph Smith when he said: 'Even this nation will be on the very verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to the ground, and when the Constitution is upon the brink of ruin, this people will be the staff upon which the nation shall lean, and they shall bear the Constitution away from the very verge of destruction'
74 Ezra Taft Benson Lds Constitution The Lord told the Prophet Joseph Smith there would be an attempt to overthrow the country by destroying the Constitution. Joseph Smith predicted that the time would come when the Constitution would hang, as it were, by a thread, and at that time 'this people will step forth and save it from the threatened destruction' (Journal of Discourses, 7:15). It is my conviction that the Elders of Israel, widely spread over the nation, will at that crucial time successfully rally the righteous of our country and provide the necessary balance of strength to save the institutions of constitutional government.
75 Ezra Taft Benson Lds Family Your most important friendships should be with your own brothers and sisters and with your father and mother. Love your family. Be loyal to them. Have a genuine concern for your brothers and sisters. Help carry their load.
76 First Presidency Lds Reformers The great religious leaders of the world such as Mohammed, Confucius, and the Reformers, as well as philosophers including Socrates, Plato, and others, received a portion of God's light. Moral truths were given to them by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of understanding to individuals...We believe that God has given and will give to all peoples sufficient knowledge to help them on their way to eternal salvation.
77 For the Strength of Youth Lds Media Depictions of violence often glamorize vicious behavior. They offend the spirit and make you less able to respond to others in a sensitive, caring way.They contradict the Savior's message of love for one another.
78 G. G. Vandagriff Lds Mission Death is not the ultimate tragedy. The ultimate tragedy is not doing what you were born to do.
79 G. G. Vandagriff Lds Mission When we are living hand in hand with our Savior and Father in Heaven, doors will open so we can accomplish what needs to be done.
80 Gary C. Lawrence Lds Goals Before we get on a bus, we should ask the bus driver a few questions...When we get on the "gospel" bus, we are both passenger and driver. The bus itself is what carries us to our ultimate goal, powered by the most efficient and perfect engine in the universe — the Atonement. But we decide where we are going to go, how fast we get there, and how firmly we put the "pedal to the metal". We all take detours, and it can be a bumpy ride. But this is a "smart bus" with a Gospel Positioning System that invariably points us back to our destination. Our refueling stations are beautiful, and our bus doesn't go very far if we don’t visit them and refuel often enough. And if we can see clearly, we will notice the cheering crowds on either side of our road, smiling and waving as we head toward the Eternal City. And the best thing is that we can invite others along for the ride!
81 Gordon B. Hinckley Lds Optimism I'm an optimist...If you dwell on the negative, it will hurt you, depress you, and even destroy you. If you work on the positive and dwell on it and seek to bring it to pass, it will make you lighter and brighter, younger and even more vigorous. That's my feeling, and that's my program.
82 Gordon B. Hinckley Lds Blind Faith I think the Lord expects us to think...that which comes easily departs easily. That which comes of struggle remains.
83 Gordon B. Hinckley Lds Persistence You have not failed until you quit trying.
84 Gordon B. Hinckley Lds Contention We seldom get into trouble when we speak softly. It is only when we raise our voices that sparks fly and tiny molehills become great mountains of contention.
85 H. Wallace Goddard Lds Excellence Sometimes excellence has come to mean a narrow focus on a single quality. A solitary virtue is a very lonely, austere reality. Godly virtues travel with companions...The focus on a single virtue to the exclusion of others can be very dangerous.
86 Handbook of Instructions Lds Study The Lord has admonished leaders to treasure up in their minds continually the words of God so they will be receptive to the influence of the spirit (see D&C 84:85).
87 Harman Rector Jr. Lds Ignorance Ignorance is expensive; in fact, it is the most expensive commodity we know anything about. Certainly we make many mistakes through ignorance. If it is a violation of a commandment of God which we have never received and thus do not know, then the Lord does not hold us guilty of the sin. ??to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.? (James 4:17.) And in Paul?s words, ??where no law is, there is no transgression.?(Rom. 4:15.)But even though we may not be guilty of the sin because of our ignorance, neither can we receive the blessing, which is predicated on obedience, without rendering obedience to that law. Therefore, we are denied the blessing through our ignorance. If it is a traffic law we have violated through ignorance, the penalty assessed us is exactly the same as if we had known. Also, if we stick a finger in an electric light socket, we will receive the same shock, irrespective of our knowledge of electricity. I repeat, ignorance is expensive. Particularly is this true since the Lord has decreed, ?It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance.? (D&C 131:6.) For surely no man is truly enlightened unless he knows the Lord.
88 Harold B. Lee Lds Priorities Most men do not set priorities to guide them in allocating their time and most men forget that the first priority should be to maintain their own spiritual and physical strength; then comes their family; then the church; and then their professions.
89 Harold B. Lee Lds America Men may fail in this country, earthquakes may come, seas may heave beyond their bounds, there may be great drought, disaster, and hardship, but this nation, founded on principles laid down by men whom God raised up, will never fail. This is the cradle of humanity, where life on this earth began in the Garden of Eden. This is the place of the New Jerusalem...This is the place where the Savior will come to His temple. We are living in a time of great crisis. The Country is torn with scandal and with criticism, with faultfinding and condemnation. There are those who have downgraded the image of this nation as probably never before in the history of the country. I plead with you not to preach pessimism. Preach that this is the greatest country in all the world...It is the nation that will stand despite whatever trials or crises it may yet have to pass through. We must be on the optimistic side. This is a great nation; this is a great country; this is the most favored of all lands. While it is true that there are dangers and difficulties that lie ahead of us, we must not assume that we are going to stand by and watch the country go to ruin. We should not be heard to predict ills and calamities for the nation. On the contrary, we should be providing optimistic support for the nation. You must remember...that this church is one of the most powerful agencies for the progress of the world, and we should...all sound with one voice. We must tell the world how we feel about this land and this nation and should bear our testimonies about the great mission and destiny that it has. If we do this, we will help turn the tide of this great country and lessen the influence of the pessimists. We must be careful that we do not say or do anything that will further weaken the country. It is the negative, pessimistic comments about the nation that do as much harm as anything to the country today. We who carry these sacred responsibilities must preach the gospel of peace, and peace can only come by overcoming the things of the world. Now, we must be the dynamic force that will help turn the tide of fear and pessimism.
90 Henry B. Eyring Lds Progression Those of you further down the road are smiling because you know something about priesthood service. It is this: the more faithful service you give, the more the Lord asks you. Your smile is a happy one because you know that He increases our power to carry the heavier load. The tough part of that reality, however is that for him to give you that increased power you must go in service to and faith to your outer limits. It is like building muscle strength. You must break down your muscles to build them up. You push muscles to the point of exhaustion. Then they repair themselves, and they develop greater strength.
91 Henry B. Eyring Lds Progression Increased spritual strength is a gift from God which He can give when we push in His service to our limits. Through the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, our natures can be changed. Then our power to carry burdens can be increased more than enough to compensate for the increased service we will be asked to give. That helps me understand when I see someone else who makes priesthood service look easy. I know that they have either passed hard tests or that the tests lie ahead. So rather than envying them, I stand ready to help when the going gets harder for them, because it surely will.
92 Henry B. Eyring Lds Inadequacy When those feelings of inadequacy strike us, it is the time to remember the Savior. He assures us that we don't do this work alone. There are scriptures to put on your mirror and to remember in the moments when you are doubting your capacity.
93 Henry B. Eyring Lds Service We can expect in our service to have help sent to us at the right time who will see strength in us and lift us up. And we can look forward to being the one sent by the Lord to encourage another.
94 Hugh B. Brown Lds Happiness I think of all the people in the world we should be the happiest. We have the greatest and most joyous message in the world. I think when we get on the other side, someone will meet us with a smile (unless we go to the wrong place and then someone will grin), so let us be happy. But let our happiness be genuine - let it come from within."
95 Hugh Nibley Lds Wealth But exactly what are the things of the world? An easy and infallible test has been given us in the well-known maxim "You can have anything in this world for money." If a thing is of this world, you can have it for money; if you cannot have it for money, it does not belong to this world.
96 Hugh Pinnock Lds Decision The great battles of this world often are not fought on the front lines but in the general?s tent, where tears are shed as difficult decisions are made that mean the expenditure of lives and equipment. Still, those battles must be fought...Make those decisions now...so that when you are on the battlefield all of the tough decisions will have already been made.
97 Hugh W. Pinnock Lds Decision The great battles of this world often are not fought on the front lines but in the general?s tent, where tears are shed as difficult decisions are made that mean the expenditure of lives and equipment. Still, those battles must be fought...Make those decisions now...so that when you are on the battlefield all of the tough decisions will have already been made.?
98 James E. Faust Lds Accomplishment We must recognize that our natural gifts and abilities are limited, but when augmented by inspiration and guidance of The Holy Ghost, our potential increases manyfold. You need help from a power beyond your own to do something extraordinarily useful. You young men can have opportunities and receive blessings beyond your wildest dreams and expectations. Your future may not hold fame or fortune, but it can be something far more lasting and fulfilling. Remember that what we do in life echoes in eternity.
99 James T. Summerhays Lds Aesthetics The word variety is not found in the standard works; the word is reserved for our most sacred houses of worship. We learn there that the Creator glories in variety. This little detail speaks volumes. It practically opens up a whole new subclass of theology. It takes God from the realm where nothing is authorized except strict adherence to narrow and unyielding law, to a realm where anything good and beautiful is possible and permissible. I like to think, for example, that the Creator had an infinite variety of possible choices in how to fashion, say, the lilies of the field. Innumerable choices were sufficiently good and righteous. He simply chose how to form the lily according to what gave him joy. Having a perfect command of all eternal laws and possessing an infinite creativity, his palette was endless. Goodness and beauty was the only requirement. And looking at slugs and grubs and houseflies it’s obvious God’s idea of beauty is infinitely more expansive than mine. This idea of creative process makes perfect sense when we observe the universe around us - every planet, star, and galaxy have some eternal law in common, yet all are different in form and all possess their own distinctive beauty.
100 Janice Kapp Perry Lds Music The combination of a simple gospel truth with an appealing melody is one of the greatest teachers we will ever have.
101 Jeffrey R. Holland Lds Leadership In the most difficult and discouraging days of World War II, Winston Churchill said to the people of England: "To every man there comes...that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a special thing unique to him and fitted to his talent. What a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified for the work which would be his finest hour."
102 JoAnn Larsen Lds Progression Watch for the right time and season, show gratitude for your gifts by magnifying and using them with pure intentions with an eye single to the glory of God and He will bless your efforts.
103 Joseph B. Worthlin Lds Prayer Priciple for Answers to Prayer... (1) Show Faith Through Works: "The legendary football coach Knute Rockne implied the same principle when he said, I've found that prayers work best when you have big players.' (2) Stop Worrying: "When we worry about the future, we create unhappiness in the present." Instead, we should do all we can and "leave the worrying to your Heavenly Father". (3) Do Good: "As we do good, the Lord can bless our efforts. As our actions contradict our professions of faith, our prayers become weak. When we do good, the Lord can work though us and magnify our efforts." (4) Delight in the Lord: Instead of displaying concern about unanswered prayers, be grateful and happy. "Know that the Lord, in his time, will bring about all your righteous desires, sometimes in ways we predict, others in ways we could not have possibly foreseen." (5) Commit to keeping the Lord's commandments. (6) Wait: "The Lord has his own timetable and, although it may frustrate us, his timing is always perfect,"
104 Joseph F. Smith Lds Self-Sufficiency It is true we are all engaged in a warfare, and all of us should be valiant warriors in the cause in which we are engaged. Our first enemy we will find within ourselves. It is a good thing to overcome that enemy first and bring ourselves into subjection to the will of the Father, and into strict obedience to the principles of life and salvation which he has given to the world for the salvation of men. When we shall have conquered ourselves, it will be well for us to wage our war without, against false teachings, false doctrines, false customs, habits and ways, against error, unbelief, the follies of the world that are so prevalent, and against infidelity, and false science, under the name of science, and every other thing that strikes at the foundations of the principles set forth in the doctrine of Christ for the redemption of men and the salvation of their souls. We should war against covetousness, against pride, vanity, haughtiness of spirit, against self-sufficiency, and imagined or supposed almighty power that some people think they possess. God is the greatest man of war of all, and His Son is next unto Him, and their warfare is for the salvation of the souls of men.
105 Joseph Fielding McConkie Lds Truth Any time we declare something to be true, we have picked a fight with that which is untrue.
106 Joseph Smith Lds Tyranny The greatest acts of the mighty men have been to depopulate nations and to overthrow kingdoms; and whilst they have exalted themselves and become glorious, it has been at the expense of the lives of the innocent, the blood of the oppressed, the moans of the widow, and the tears of the orphan...
107 Joseph Smith Lds Politics Our nation, which possesses greater resources than any other, is rent, from center to circumference, with party strife, political intrigues, and sectional interest; our counselors are panic stricken, our legislators are astonished, and our senators are confounded, our merchants are paralyzed, our tradesmen are disheartened, our mechanics out of employ, our farmers distressed, and our poor crying for bread, our banks are broken, our credit ruined, and our states overwhelmed in debt, yet we are, and have been in peace...
108 Joseph Smith Lds Constitution (Words of James Burgess): In the month of May 1843, several miles east of Nauvoo, the Nauvoo Legion was on parade and review, at the close of which Joseph Smith made some remarks upon our condition as a people and upon our future prospects, contrasting our present condition with our past trials and persecutions by the hands of our enemies; also upon the Constitution and government of the United States, stating that the time would come when the Constitution and government would hang by a brittle thread and would be ready to fall into other hands, but the righteous people will step forth and save it. I, James Burgess, was present and testify to the above,
109 Joseph Smith Lds Heaven Could you gaze into heaven for 5 minutes, you would know more than you would by reading all that ever was written on the subject.
110 Joseph Worthlin Lds Debt When we go into debt, we give away some of our precious, priceless agency and place ourselves in self-imposed servitude. We obligate our time, energy, and means to repay what we have borrowed - resources that could have been used to help ourselves, our families, and others...
111 Julie B. Beck Lds Motherhood Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of the world's goods in order to spend more time with their children—more time eating together, more time working together, more time reading together, more time talking, laughing, singing, and exemplifying. These mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all.
112 Kim Crenshaw Sorensen Lds Mercy Then I realized that every time we ask our Father for anything in prayer we are asking for His mercy. We are asking Him to do something for us we cannot do for ourselves. We cannot expect to receive his mercy unless we ourselves are being merciful to others.
113 Larry L. Eastland Lds Second Coming For those of us who believe in the Second Coming of the Savior, the speed with which events can unfold (as evidenced by the collapse of communism in Europe) should not be lost on us.
114 M. Russell Ballard Lds Marriage I'm wondering if many of you parents, you couples, have lost that essential moment of kneeling together at the end of the day, just the two of you, holding hands and saying your prayers. If that has slipped away from your daily routine, may I suggest you put it back - beginning tonight!
115 M. Russell Ballard Lds Marriage Couples unhappy in their marriages tend not to give appropriate gospel instruction in the home. They are less likely to be committed to gospel principles in their own lives.
116 M. Russell Ballard Lds Fatherhood We know that a father's role does not end with presiding, providing, and protecting family members. On a day-to-day basis, fathers can and should help with the essential nurturing and bonding associated with feeding, playing, storytelling, loving, and all the rest of the activities that make up family life.
117 M. Russell Ballard Lds Motherhood A mother's nurturing love arouses in children, from their earliest days on earth, an awakening of the memories of love and goodness they experienced in their premortal existence.
118 M. Russell Ballard Lds Motherhood Because our mothers love us, we learn, or more accurately remember, that God also loves us.
119 M. Russell Ballard Lds Wealth As husbands, wives, and children recognize the difference between basic necessities and material wants, they lessen family financial burdens and contribute to helping mothers be at home.
120 M. Russell Ballard Lds Parenthood Parents should work to create loving, eternal connections with their children. Reproof or correction will sometimes be required. But it must be done sensitively, persuasively, with an increase of love thereafter lest the child esteem the parent to be an enemy (see D&C 121:43).
121 M. Russell Ballard Lds Parenthood It can be equally destructive when parents are too permissive and overindulge their children, allowing children to do as they please. Parents need to set limits in accordance with the importance of the matter involved and the child's disposition and maturity.
122 M. Russell Ballard Lds Parenthood Help children understand the reasons for the rules, and always follow through with appropriate discipline when rules are broken. It is important as well to praise appropriate behavior.
123 M. Russell Ballard Lds Parenthood Parents need to give children choices and should be prepared to appropriately adjust some rules, thus preparing children for real-world situations.
124 M. Russell Ballard Lds Contention If any of you are struggling with contention in your homes, you can change this. Talk with your family. Ask for their help. Tell them you don't want a contentious spirit in the home anymore and discuss what each family member can do to prevent it.
125 M. Russell Ballard Lds Family The family is the basic unit of society; it is the basic unit of eternity. Thus, when forces threaten the family, Church leaders must respond.
126 M. Russell Ballard Lds Media Because of its sheer size, media today presents vast and sharply contrasting options. Opposite from its harmful and permissive side, media offers much that is positive and productive. Television offers histroy channels, discovery channels, education channels. One can still find movies and TV comedies and dramas that entertain and uplift and accurately depict the consequences of right and wrong. The Internet can be a fabulous tool of information and communication, and there is an unlimited supply of good music in the world. Thus our biggest challenge is to choose wisely what we listen to and what we watch.
127 M. Russell Ballard Lds Media The choices we make in media can be symbolic of the choices we make in life. Choosing the trendy, the titillating, the tawdry in the TV programs or movies we watch can cause us to end up, if we're not careful, choosing the same things in the lives we live.
128 M. Russell Ballard Lds Media Often the media's most devistating attacks on family are not direct or frontal or openly immoral. Intelligent evil is too cunning for that, knowing that most people still profess belief in family and in traditional values. Rather the attacks are subtle and amoral - issues of right and wrong don't even come up.
129 M. Russell Ballard Lds Media Besides making our voices heard, let me conclude with seven things that every parent can do to minimize the negative effect media can have on our families: (1) We need to hold family councils and decide what our media standards are going to be. (2) We need to spend enough quality time with our children that we are consistently the main influence in their lives, not the media or any peer group. (3) We need to make good media choices ourselves and set good examples for our children. (4) We need to limit the amount of time our children watch TV or play video games or use the internet each day. Virtual reality must not become their reality. (5) We need to use Internet filters and TV programming locks to prevent our children from "chancing upon" things they should not see. (6) We need to have TVs and computers in a much-used common room in the home, not in a bedroom or a private place. (7) We need to take time to watch appropriate media with our children and discuss with them how to make choices that will uplift and build rather than degrade and destroy.
130 M. Russell Ballard Lds Media We should strive to change the corrupt and immoral tendencies in television and in society by keeping things that offend and debase out of our homes. In spite of all the wickedness in the world, and in spite of all the opposition to good that we find on every hand, we should not try to take ourselves or our children out of the world. Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven," or yeast. (Matt. 13:33.) We are to lift the world and help all to rise above the wickedness that surrounds us.
131 M. Russell Ballard Lds Example The Lord does not need a society that hides and isolates itself from the world. Rather, he needs stalwart individuals and families who live exemplary lives in the world and demonstrate that the joy and fulfillment come not of the world but through the spirit and the doctrine of Jesus Christ.
132 M. Russell Ballard Lds Reflection Find some quiet time regularly to think deeply about where you are going and what you will need to do to get there. Jesus, our exemplar, often 'withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed' (Luke 5:16). We need to do the same thing occasionally to rejuvinate ourselves spritually as the Savior did.
133 M. Russell Ballard Lds Media I believe that the desensitizing effect of such media abuses on the hearts and souls of those who are exposed to them results in a partial fulfillment of the Savior's statement that 'because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.'
134 M. Russell Ballard Lds Motherhood There is no role in life more essential and more eternal than that of motherhood.
135 M. Russell Ballard Lds Motherhood "...I know something of a mother's emotions that accompany her commitment to be at home with young children. There are moments of great joy and incredible fulfillment, but there are also moments of a sense of inadequacy, monotony, and frustration. Mothers may feel they recieve little or no appreciation for the choice they have made. Sometimes even husbands seem to have no idea of the demands upon their wives.
136 M. Russell Ballard Lds Motherhood Recognize the joy of motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times. But amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction.
137 M. Russell Ballard Lds Parenthood Water cannot be drawn from an empty well, and if you are not setting aside a little time for what replenishes you, you will have less and less to give others, even to your children.
138 M. Russell Ballard Lds Parenthood Parents can offer a unique and wonderful kind of prayer because they are praying to the Eternal Parent of us all. There is great power in a prayer that essentially says, "We are steward-parents over Thy children, Father; please help us to raise them as Thou wouldst want them raised."
139 M. Russell Ballard Lds Fatherhood Come home from work and take an active role with your family. Don't put work, friends, or sports ahead of listening to, playing with, and teaching your children.
140 M. Russell Ballard Lds Family I suggest that the bishopric and the ward council members be especially watchful and considerate of the time and resource demands on young mothers and their families. Know them and be wise in what you ask them to do at this time in their lives.
141 M. Russell Ballard Lds Intervention It is the parents' duty to intervene when they see wrong choices being made. That doesn't mean parents take from children the precious gift of agency. Because agency is a God-given gift, ultimately the choice of what they will do, how they will behave, and what they will believe will always be theirs. But as parents we need to make sure they understand appropriate behavior and the consequences to them if they pursue their wrongful course. Remember, there is no such thing as unlawful censorship in the home. Movies, magazines, television, videos, the Internet, and other media are there as guests and should only be welcomed when they are appropriate for family enjoyment. Make your home a haven of peace and righteousness. Don't allow evil influences to contaminate your own special spiritual environment...The same principle applies to you bishops, teachers, and other leaders in the Church as you work to assist families. You don't have to stand idly by as those over whom you have stewardship make poor moral choices. When one of our youth stands at a moral crossroad in life, almost always there is someone - a parent, a leader, a teacher--who could make a difference by intervening with love and kindness.
142 Malcolm Muggeridge Lds Death Now, the prospect of death overshadows all others for me. I am like a man on a sea voyage nearing his destination. When I embarked, I worried about having a cabin with a porthole, whether I should be asked to sit at the captain's table, who were the more attractive and important passengers. All such considerations become pointless, however, when I shall soon be disembarking.
143 Man's Search For Happiness (video) Lds Truth Prove all things, hold fast to that which is good. Only if you are unafraid of the truth can you find it. (See 1 Thessalonians 5:21)
144 Man's Search For Happiness (video) Lds Preexistence Your knowledge of your life before birth will be restored.
145 Marion G. Romney Lds Contention I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart.
146 Marion G. Romney Lds Agency God wants men to do good, but he never forces them and does not want them to be forced. He placed in and left with them the power of election. When they do good, he honors them because they could have done evil. When they are coerced, they are entitled to no such honor. God allows men to make their own choices, and he has reserved to himself the judgment as to the correctness of their choices. Free agency has always had rough going, however. Over it the War in Heaven was fought. In the earth it has been abridged by almost all governments, civil and ecclesiastical. Apostate churchmen, kings, and other rulers have from the beginning arrogated judgment unto themselves. They have, contrary to God's law of liberty, preempted man's right, with or without his consent, to determine what would be best for them to do and by every means within their power have undertaken to force men to do their bidding.
147 Marvin R. VanDam Lds House of Israel The scriptures clearly give to understand that the elect of Israel, together with Abraham and all of the foreordained prophets, were the more obedient and valiant spirits in their pre-mortal defense of Jehovah, the pre-mortal Christ, and of his gospel plan of individual freedom and exaltation. They were those who followed him, seeking truth and righteousness. God is no respecter of persons. His organization and foreordination of the house of Israel (or Jacob) in pre-mortality to become his elect and covenant people on earth was justly occasioned by obedience and valor. God identified, among all of the pre-mortal hosts, those who had qualified themselves to be counted among his chosen people.
148 Marvin R. VanDam Lds House of Israel The house of Israel is paramount in the history of mankind. It has the leading role on the stage of religious mortality. The sacred history of this world will someday be written in terms of Israel — God's covenant with Israel; God's struggles with wayward Israel; God's subsequent scattering of Israel; God's latter-day restoration of the gospel to Israel; God's gathering of Israel, and Israel's ultimate habitation of this world when it becomes celestialized.
149 Mary Ellen Edmunds Lds Priorities We don't put first things first to get them done and out of the way - we put them first because of the critical effect they have on everything that follows.
150 Mary Ellen Edmunds Lds Planning Whatever it is, figuring out your own best time will save you time. I find that when I'm tired, when my battery is running low, when I'm exhausted and weary, is not a good time to plan because I don't always make my best decisions then. Everything looks bigger and harder.
151 Mary Ellen Edmunds Lds Priorities I'm often extremely busy, and yet I'm wasting time. How about you? Other times I can be relaxing, thinking and feeling, pondering - and I'm using time very, very well! I don't want to mistake busyness for being effective or using time well. More busyness is not evidence that I'm good at using my time.
152 Mary Ellen Edmunds Lds Judgement Let's be supportive and kind to each other because we may be in a different season than our neighbor, our sister, our mother at our age, or whatever. We can't judge each other because we're in different seasons and situations.
153 Mary Ellen Edmunds Lds Priorities Somehow, when we do what God asks us to do, the best we can, keeping first things first, out time seems to come back to us, added upon and multiplied. It's a miracle.
154 Mary Ellen Edmunds Lds Leisure We may enjoy a few do-nothing days, but there are no do-nothing seasons.
155 Maurine Jensen Proctor Lds Answers God sometimes answers your pleas for help in invisible ways, like a silent hand upon your shoulder, a waft of light across your heart, a moment of sudden clarity. It is subtle. Sometimes, however, his interventions are direct and tangible and so evident you can remember it years later.
156 Neal A. Maxwell Lds Boredom Thus when life is viewed superficially, it seems routine and even pedestrian...Bothers and sisters, when anciently we shouted for joy in anticipation of this mortal experience, we did not then think it would be ordinary and pedestrian at all. We sensed the impending high adventure.
157 Neal A. Maxwell Lds Mortality Remaining settled and established is not easy, for we are crowded by the cares of the world. We are diverted by the praise of the world; we are buffeted by the trials of the world, drawn by the appetites and temptations of the world, and bruised by the hardness of the world. But when we are grounded, rooted, established, and settled, we can have a precious perspective which puts other things in their proper place.
158 Neal A. Maxwell Lds Choices What seams commonplace seldom is.
159 Neal A. Maxwell Lds Mortality Before we complain about the curriculum in mortality, or more particularly our current class schedules, we would do well to remember who designed the curriculum and to allow for however many other places it has been successfully used.
160 Neal A. Maxwell Lds Time When the veil which now encloses us is no more, time will also be no more (see D&C 84:100). Even now, time is clearly not our natural dimension. Thus it is that we are never really at home in time...Whereas the bird is at home in the air, we are clearly not at home in time - because we belong to eternity! Time, as much as any one thing, whispers to us that we are strangers here. If time were natural to us, why is it that we have so many clocks and wristwatches?
161 Neal A. Maxwell Lds Focus In my Primary days, we sang “ ‘Give,’ Said the Little Stream” (Children’s Songbook, 236)—certainly sweet and motivating but not exactly theologically drenched. Today’s children, as you know, sing the more spiritually focused “I’m Trying to Be like Jesus” (Children’s Songbook, 78–79).
162 Nicholeen Peck Lds Emotion Learning the power of calmness was one of the greatest lessons I learned. From the beginning of time, the forces of evil have tried to get the forces of good to lose control of their emotions. If we lose emotional control, then we are easily manipulated by the evil force. The evil forces would have us selfishly destroy all our most precious relationships by losing control of our emotions...Years ago, when I had troubled foster teens living with me I made a conscious choice. I decided that behaviors were not people, they were behaviors. I knew I had to love the person with or without the behavior, so I could not allow the behavior to manipulate my emotions or my relationship.
163 Orson Whitney Lds Art We will yet have Miltons and Shakespeares of our own. God's ammunition is not exhausted. His brightest spirits are held in reserve for the latter times. In God's name and by His help we will build up literature whose top shall touch heaven, though its foundation may now be low on earth.
164 Parley P. Pratt Lds Apostacy The sooner the present generation lose all reverence and respect for modern "Christianity" with all its powerless forms and solemn mockeries, the sooner they will be prepared to receive the kingdom of God. The sooner the treasuries of nations, and the purses of individuals, are relieved from the support of priestcraft and superstitions, so much sooner will they be able and willing to devote their means and influence to print and publish the glad tidings of the fullness of the Gospel, restored in this age, to assist in the gathering of the house of Israel, and in the building of the cities and temples of Zion and Jerusalem.
165 Preach My Gospel Lds Family Heaven is a continuation of the ideal home.
166 Proverbs Lds Speech He that hath knowledge spareth his words. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace is counted wise; and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
167 Proverbs Lds Foreknowledge A man's heart deviseth his way, but the Lord directeth his footsteps
168 Rev. Robert Schuler Lds Prayer God's delays are not always God's denials.
169 Richard G. Scott Lds Friends Choose good friends, those who have made similar decisions in their lives, those like yourself who are wise enough to live a life of order and restraint. When one gets off track, it is generally because the other kind of friends were chosen. Be surrounded by true friends who accept you the way you are and leave you better because of their association.
170 Richard G. Scott Lds Priciples Then, when you find yourself in the battlefield of life, don't change your standards.
171 Richard G. Scott Lds Rationalization Satan will use rationalization to destroy you. That is, he will twist something you know to be wrong so that it appears to be acceptable and thus progressively lead you to destruction.
172 Richard G. Scott Lds Knowledge Knowledge carefully recorded is knowledge available in time of need.
173 Richard G. Scott Lds Example As you live high standards publicly and privately, and even under great pressure adhere to them, you raise the vision of others, helping them realize more of their divine capacity. Like a worthy magnet, you will draw others to a higher standard.
174 Richard G. Scott Lds Worthiness Your quiet, uncompomising determination to live a righteous life will couple you to inspiration and power beyond your capacity now to understand.
175 Richard G. Scott Lds Principles Life is a workshop where you can test the correctness of the principles you have chosen to guide your life. Now is the time to set your course, to establish fundamental priorities.
176 Richard G. Scott Lds Growth Upward growth occurs in cycles that build upon each other in an ascending spiral of capacity and understatnding.
177 Richard G. Scott Lds Foreknowledge The whole course of your life may be altered for your happiness and the Lord's purposes.
178 Richard G. Scott Lds Wealth When the things that you acquire are used as tools to help others, they won't rule your life.
179 Robert D. Hales Lds Family It is not enough just to save ourselves. It is equally important that parents, brothers, and sisters are saved in our families. If we return home alone to our Heavenly Father, we will be asked, 'Where is the rest of the family?' This is why we teach that families are forever. The eternal nature of an individual becomes the eternal nature of the family.
180 Robert D. Hales Lds Restoration Because of great men and women who were willing to use their unique gifts and talents and make sacrifices for the benefit of mankind, Joseph was born in a free land where people were allowed to worship as they pleased. The Restoration took place when all was prepared here on earth...
181 Robert Henri Lds Children Whoever approaches a child without humility, without wonderment and without infinite respect, misses his judgment of what is before him...Children are greater than the grown man. All grown men have more experience, but only a very few retain the greatness that was theirs before the system of compromises began in their lives.
182 Ronald Rasband Lds Thoughts It has been my experience that very little occurs in the way of transgression that is not first rehearsed and debated in one's own own mind. A key to avoiding these pitfalls is to let virtue guide our thoughts and deeds always, not allowing our minds to wander into places where they should not go.
183 Ronald Rasband Lds Experience As experiences accumulate in our lives, they add strength and support to each other.
184 Russell M. Nelson Lds Activation Most of the disaffected have separated themselves from full fellowship in the Church not because of doctrinal disputations, but because of hurt, neglect, or lack of love. Progress toward full participation in the blessings of the gospel needs no new programs, only a new vision of love that can be rendered best by friends and neighbors.
185 Russell M. Nelson Lds Family If families fail, many of our political, economic, and social systems will also fail.
186 Russell M. Nelson Lds Parenthood When giving necessary correction, do it quietly, privately, lovingly, and not publicly. If a rebuke is required, show an increase of love promptly so that seeds of resentment may not remain.
187 Russell M. Nelson Lds Parenthood Do not try to control your children. Instead, listen to them, help them to learn the gospel, inspire them, and lead them toward eternal life.
188 Russell M. Nelson Lds Salvation In God's eternal plan, salvation is an individual matter; exaltation is a family matter.
189 Russell M. Nelson Lds Law We cannot wish our way into the presence of God. We are to obey the laws upon which those blessings are predicated.
190 Russell M. Nelson Lds Children ...the future of nations is linked to children. Families with children need to be re-enthroned as the fundamental unit of society.
191 Russell M. Nelson Lds Unconditional Love While divine love can be called perfect, infinite, enduring, and universal, it cannot correctly be characterized as unconditional. The word does not appear in the scriptures. On the other hand, many verses affirm that the higher levels of love the Father and the Son feel for each of us — and certain divine blessings stemming from that love — are conditional.
192 Russell M. Nelson Lds Unconditional Love Understanding that divine love and blessings are not truly "unconditional" can defend us against common fallacies such as these: "Since God’s love is unconditional, He will love me regardless..."; or "Since 'God is love,' He will love me unconditionally, regardless..." These arguments are used by anti-Christs to woo people with deception.
193 Spencer W. Kimball Lds Education Education is the continuing process of learning which carries on long after the classrooms close behind you.
194 Steven E. Snow Lds Adversity Sometimes, life's greatest lessons come to us at the most dreadful times of our lives...How we respond at such times of crisis determines if such challenges will be times for progression or merely times of suffering.
195 Steven E. Snow Lds Success Much of the success in life comes from simply showing up, working hard and paying attention. Invariably, what we learn in school or on the job can assist us later, sometimes in circumstances we do not expect...But the 'school of hard knocks' will not teach us all we need to know to return back to the presence of the Father. The Lord does not desire we simply be acted upon in order to learn.
196 Steven E. Snow Lds Growth You, alone, are responsible for your spiritual growth and accumulation of worldly knowledge...
197 Steven E. Snow Lds Education ...studying shouldn't stop with the scriptures. Education comes as individuals seek to understand all points of view and study out of all of the 'best books'. The Lord does not want the members of His Church to be ignorant and uninformed. We have a responsibility to know what is going on in our world. We cannot be experts in all things, but an expanded general knowledge will help us to be better parents, citizens, teachers and members of the Church.
198 Steven E. Snow Lds Discussion Participate in class discussions in Sunday School, Priesthood and Relief Society. The Spirit comes in greater abundance when class members come prepared to act, not just be acted upon. By participating in class discussions during Sunday worship, individuals fulfill the charge in the Doctrine and Covenants to teach one another. Read the lessons beforehand, and come prepared to share your insights in the class discussion. Participation in a gospel-teaching setting provides added opportunities for the Holy Ghost to act upon those in attendance. A question or comment expressed during a class discussion can many times be more effective than the best and most well-prepared gospel lecture. We cannot afford to come to gospel classes simply expecting to be entertained. Real learning occurs if we come prepared and then to participate in the gospel discussion.
199 Steven E. Snow Lds Knowledge The Lord has promised us that which we learn in this world will be a benefit to us in the worlds to come.
200 Thomas S. Monson Lds Scripture Let the scriptures be your guide, and you will never find yourself on the road to nowhere.
201 Thomas S. Monson Lds Now I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and non-existent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey — now.
202 Thomas S. Monson Lds Future It would be easy to become discouraged and cynical about the future — or even fearful of what might come — if we allowed ourselves to dwell only on that which is wrong in the world and in our lives. Today, however, I'd like us to turn our thoughts and our attitudes away from the troubles around us and to focus instead on our blessings as members of the Church. … My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith.
203 Thomas S. Monson Lds Positive ...As you walk through life, always walk toward the light, and the shadows of life wil fall behind you...
204 Unknown Lds Humor Our 5-year-old son came home from Primary one day singing "Keep the Commandments." We overheard him sing, "Keep the commandments, keep the commandments, unless there is safety, unless there is peace."
205 Unknown Lds Line Upon Line We sometimes have a tendency to drown the seedling when a light watering is adequate.