This is an assignment for my Teachings of the Living Prophets class. I'm going to be posting quotes from the prophets and apostles throughout this semester under ten different topics. I thought I'd share it on here. Who knows, maybe one of the quotes that means a lot to me will mean a lot to you too.
Things to be grateful for...
"Our Heavenly Father sees our real potential. He knows things about us that we do not know ourselves. He prompts us during our lifetime to fulfill the measure of our creation, to live a good life, and to return to His presence."
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Of Regrets and Resolutions')
"We are commanded “to give thanks in all things.” So isn’t it better to see with our eyes and hearts even the small things we can be thankful for, rather than magnifying the negative in our current condition?"
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Of Regrets and Resolutions')
"It is no small thing, my brothers and sisters, to have a prophet of God
in our midst. … When we hear the counsel of the Lord expressed through
the words of the President of the Church, our response should be
positive and prompt. History shows that there is safety, peace,
prosperity, and happiness in responding to prophetic counsel as did
Nephi of old: ‘I will go and do the things which the Lord hath
commanded’ (1 Nephi 3:7)."
Elder M. Russel Ballard ("His Word ye shall Receive" in Conference Report, Apr. 2001, 84–85; or Ensign, May 2001, 65–66)
“It is through the repeated process of feeling impressions, recording them, and obeying them that one learns to depend on the direction of the Spirit more than on communication through the five senses” (“Helping Others to Be Spiritually Led”
"I suggest that you memorize scriptures that touch your heart and fill your soul with understanding. When scriptures are used as the Lord has caused them to be recorded, they have intrinsic power that is not communicated when paraphrased."
“Consider how we use our time in the choices we make in viewing television, playing video games, surfing the Internet, or reading books or magazines. Of course it is good to view wholesome entertainment or to obtain interesting information. But not everything of that sort is worth that portion of our life we give to obtain it. Some things are better, and others are best”
"What a blessing it is to have the account of the mission of our Lord and
Savior declared in the Book of Mormon to add a second witness to the
doctrine declared in the Bible."
Elder L. Tom Perry (in Conference Report, Apr. 2012, 'The Power of Deliverance')
"Ours is not a feeble message. It is not a fleeting task. It is not
hapless; it is not hopeless; it is not to be consigned to the ash heap
of history. It is the work of Almighty God, and it is to change the
world."
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'The First Great Commandment')
"Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people
are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating
to Him, but He deals with it. So should we."
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (in Conference Report, Apr. 2013, 'Lord, I Believe')
"[W]hen doubt or difficulty come, do not be afraid to ask for help. If we
want it as humbly and honestly as this father did, we can get it. The
scriptures phrase such earnest desire as being of “real intent,” pursued
“with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception
before God.”11 I testify that in response to that kind of importuning, God will send help from both sides of the veil to strengthen our belief."
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (in Conference Report, Apr. 2013, 'Lord, I Believe')
"All of the messages of this conference help us follow in the footsteps
of our Savior, whose example and teachings define the path for every
follower of Jesus Christ."
Elder Dallin H. Oaks (in Conference Report, Apr. 2013, 'Followers of Christ')
[W]e are “heirs … of eternal life” (Titus 3:7) and that if we come to the Father, we are to “inherit all things” (Revelation 21:7)—all
that He has—a concept our mortal minds can hardly grasp. But at least
we can understand that achieving this ultimate destiny in eternity is
possible only if we follow our Savior, Jesus Christ, who taught that “no
man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
Elder Dallin H. Oaks (in Conference Report, Apr. 2013, 'Followers of Christ')
"There is no need for you or for me, in this enlightened age when the
fulness of the gospel has been restored, to sail uncharted seas or to
travel unmarked roads in search of truth."
President Thomas S. Monson (in Conference Report, Apr. 2013, 'Obedience Brings Blessings')
Action Statement: After reviewing the collection of quotes on this topic, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for truth and that I have it in my life. I often take for granted my membership in this church. I must remember who I am and for Whom I stand as a witness. My part in this restoration is to spread the Gospel by my words and example, not to make more people like me, but to show people how to be more like Christ. He is my Savior and his Atonement is real. I am in no way perfect, but I am grateful for the truth that has been restored to this earth because it gives me something to which I can return when I stray from the straight and narrow path back to my Heavenly Father. I know He is omnipotent and I know He can help me, but most importantly, I know that He loves me and actually is my Father. His and the Savior's love is what ties all of the Gospel principles together. Without that pure love, there is no motive. Thank goodness for His plan. My goal is to mirror that love for my fellowmen, that they may partake of the great happiness that comes from knowing.
Study Habits
“If we become casual in our study of the scriptures, we will become casual in our prayers. We may not cease to pray, but our prayers will become more repetitive, more mechanical, lacking real intent”
“If we become casual in our study of the scriptures, we will become casual in our prayers. We may not cease to pray, but our prayers will become more repetitive, more mechanical, lacking real intent”
President Henry B. Eyering (in Conference Report, Oct. 2001, 18; or Ensign, Nov. 2001, 17).
"Experience has enabled me to understand that an answer given by another person usually is not remembered for very long, if remembered at all. But an answer we discover or obtain through the exercise of faith, typically, is retained for a lifetime. The most important learnings of life are caught—not taught”
Elder David A. Bednar (“Seek Learning by Faith” [address to CES religious educators, Feb. 3, 2006], 1, 3, 5).
“We prepare to receive personal revelation as the prophets do, by studying the scriptures, fasting, praying, and building faith. Faith is the key”
Elder Robert D. Hales (in Conference Report, Oct. 2007, 94; or Ensign, Nov. 2007, 88).
“It is through the repeated process of feeling impressions, recording them, and obeying them that one learns to depend on the direction of the Spirit more than on communication through the five senses” (“Helping Others to Be Spiritually Led”
Richard G. Scott [address to CES religious educators, Aug. 11, 1998], 3).
"I suggest that you memorize scriptures that touch your heart and fill your soul with understanding. When scriptures are used as the Lord has caused them to be recorded, they have intrinsic power that is not communicated when paraphrased."
Richard G. Scott (in Conference Report, Oct. 1999, 112; or Ensign, Nov. 1999, 87–88).
“Consider how we use our time in the choices we make in viewing television, playing video games, surfing the Internet, or reading books or magazines. Of course it is good to view wholesome entertainment or to obtain interesting information. But not everything of that sort is worth that portion of our life we give to obtain it. Some things are better, and others are best”
Elder Dallin H. Oaks (in Conference Report, Oct. 2007, 111; or Ensign, Nov. 2007, 104–5).
“If you ponder the scriptures and begin to do what you covenanted with God to do, I can promise you that you will feel more love for God and more of His love for you. And with that, your prayers will come from the heart, full of thanks and of pleading. You will feel a greater dependence on God. You will find the courage and the determination to act in His service, without fear and with peace in your heart. You will pray always. And you will not forget Him, no matter whatever the future brings”
President Henry B. Eyering (in Conference Report, Oct. 2001, 18; or Ensign, Nov. 2001, 17).
"The doctrine is taught by all 15 members of the First Presidency and
Quorum of the Twelve. It is not hidden in an obscure paragraph of one
talk. True principles are taught frequently and by many. Our doctrine is
not difficult to find."
Elder Neal L. Anderson (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Trial of Your Faith')
Surely there could not be any doctrine more strongly expressed in the
scriptures than the Lord’s unchanging commandments and their connection
to our happiness and well-being as individuals, as families, and as a
society.
Elder L. Tom Perry (in Conference Report, Apr. 2013, 'Obedience to Law is Liberty')
"The Book of Mormon is in full harmony with the Bible. Both sacred records affirm the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the importance of His Atonement."
Elder Russell M. Nelson (in Conference Report, Apr. 2013, 'Catch the Wave')
Action Statement: This collection of quotes has made it clear to me that I need to be better about following up my scripture study with some kind of change or added behavior. The scriptures are not just there to make us feel good inside. They are there to help us find a change of heart and follow the Savior's example. It isn't enough to just read every day. I feel like that was my goal in seminary and now that I don't go to seminary any more, I have less motivation to read and study. Obviously I missed the point back then. My goal now is to write down something that I can do each day from reading the scriptures. It has to be something measurable and specific. When I study the scriptures again, I have to go back and write down what I did or changed as a way to be accountable. I'm very grateful for the words of modern prophets that we can use as scripture along with the standard works. Another goal I have is to read a conference talk at least once a week, but hopefully more often. I believe that there is indeed revelation from Heavenly Father on the earth today!
Family
"Perhaps the most universal regret dying patients expressed was that they wished they had spent more time with the people they love."
"Perhaps the most universal regret dying patients expressed was that they wished they had spent more time with the people they love."
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Of Regrets and Resolutions')
"The couple works together eternally for the good of the family. They are united together in word, in deed, and in action as they lead, guide, and direct their family unit. They are on equal footing. They plan and organize the affairs of the family jointly and unanimously as they move forward"
Elder L. Tom Perry(in Conference Report, Apr. 2004, 72; or Ensign, May 2004, 71).
" At the top of the list of these values and, therefore, prime targets of
the adversary, are the sanctity of marriage and the central importance
of families. They provide an anchor and the safe harbor of a home where
each child of a loving Heavenly Father can be influenced for good and
acquire eternal values."
Elder L. Tom Perry (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Becoming Goodly Parents')
"The joining together of a man and a woman to be legally and lawfully wed
not only is preparation for future generations to inherit the earth,
but it also brings the greatest joy and satisfaction that can be found
in this mortal experience."
Elder L. Tom Perry (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Becoming Goodly Parents')
"Parents must resolve that teaching in the home is a most sacred and important responsibility."
Elder L. Tom Perry (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Becoming Goodly Parents')
"The
onslaught of wickedness against our children is more subtle and brazen
than it has ever been. Building a strong family culture adds another
layer of protection for our children, insulating them from worldly
influences."
Elder L. Tom Perry (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Becoming Goodly Parents')
"Vicarious baptism can mercifully provide this essential ordinance for all worthy deceased who did not receive it in mortality."
Elder Richard G. Scott (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'The Joy of Redeeming the Dead')
"Be certain that every decision you make, whether temporal or spiritual,
is conditioned on what the Savior would have you do. When He is the
center of your home, there is peace and serenity. There is a spirit of
assurance that pervades the home, and it is felt by all who dwell there."
Elder Richard G. Scott (in Conference Report, Apr. 2013, 'For Peace at Home')
"Doing all we can to invite the gentle, guiding influence of the Holy
Ghost into our lives is critical in our attempts to center our homes on
the Savior. "
Elder Richard G. Scott (in Conference Report, Apr. 2013, 'For Peace at Home')
"As you center your home on the Savior, it will naturally become a refuge
not only to your own family but also to friends who live in more
difficult circumstances. They will be drawn to the serenity they feel
there. Welcome such friends into your home. They will blossom in that
Christ-centered environment. Become friends with your children’s
friends. Be a worthy example to them."
Elder Richard G. Scott (in Conference Report, Apr. 2013, 'For Peace at Home')
Action Statement: I need to be better about what I allow into my home and that includes myself. If I don't exercise self-control and stay away from evil outside of the home, how can I be a good parent inside of the home. I need to stop gossiping, stop listening to inappropriate music, and stop tearing myself down. If my children see that I'm too hard on myself, they will likely be too hard on themselves. It's also difficult for my husband to see his wife rail on herself endlessly. Inside my home, I want to be happier than anywhere else. I need to invite the spirit in by spending a lot of time with my family doing things we all love instead of only working, only doing homework, or just sitting around. The home should be a fun place and a place where all who live in it can revamp and reestablish the peace that might have been taken away while they were outside of the home. I want my children to know Christ and to be able to feel the Spirit in our house. I want them to know their earthly parents love them and would do anything for them. I also want them to rely on each other for friendship and strength.
Atonement
"Our feelings of separation from God will diminish as we become more childlike before Him."
"Our feelings of separation from God will diminish as we become more childlike before Him."
President Henry B. Eyering (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Where is the Pavilion?')
"God Himself said we are the reason He created the universe! His work and
glory—the purpose for this magnificent universe—is to save and exalt
mankind."
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (in Conference Report, Oct. 2011, 'You Matter to Him')
"The Savior can wipe away our tears of regret and remove the burden of our sins. His Atonement allows us to leave the past behind and move forward with clean hands, a pure heart, and a determination to do better and especially to become better.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (in Conference Report, Oct. 2011, 'Of Regrets and Resolutions')
"His Atonement and Resurrection
provide all of us an escape from physical death and, if we repent, an
escape from spiritual death, bringing with it the blessings of eternal
life."
Elder L. Tom Perry (in Conference Report, Apr. 2012, 'The Power of Deliverance')
"It was understood from the beginning that in mortality we would fall
short of being perfect. It was not expected that we would live without
transgressing one law or another."
President Boyd K. Packer (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'The Atonement')
"A Mediator, a Redeemer, was chosen, one who would live His life
perfectly, commit no sin, and offer “himself a sacrifice for sin, to
answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a
contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be
answered.”"
Elder Boyd K. Packer (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'The Atonement')
"I testify that the Spirit of Elijah is touching the hearts of many of
Father’s children throughout the world, causing the work for the dead to
accelerate at an unprecedented pace."
Elder Richard G. Scott (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'The Joy of Redeeming the Dead')
"Did you, like they, think the cross and the nails and the tomb were the
end of it all and each could blissfully go back to being whatever you
were before? Children, did not my life and my love touch your hearts
more deeply than this?"
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'The First Great Commandment')
"And if at such a moment we can stammer out, “Yea, Lord, thou knowest
that I love thee,” then He may remind us that the crowning
characteristic of love is always loyalty."
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'The First Great Commandment')
"Not only is the priesthood the power by which the heavens and the earth
were created, but it is also the power the Savior used in His mortal
ministry to perform miracles, to bless and heal the sick, to bring the
dead to life, and, as our Father’s Only Begotten Son, to endure the
unbearable pain of Gethsemane and Calvary—thus fulfilling the laws of
justice with mercy and providing an infinite Atonement and overcoming
physical death through the Resurrection."
Elder M. Russell Ballard (in Conference Report, Apr. 2013, 'This is My Work and My Glory')
Atonement: I may not completely understand how the Atonement works, but I know that it does. I have seen and felt its power on several occasions and I know it has given me strength to overcome. I believe that the Savior loves us because He willingly undertook this awfully painful task. I know Christ and the Father are one in purpose and they both love us and long for us to return to heaven. In the future, I don't want to become independent of the Atonement, but I don't want to have to use it so much for forgiveness. Rather, I want to use it to lighten my burdens. I hope to learn from the infinite love the Father and the Savior showed us when the Atonement occurred. I know I will sin in the future, but I hope I don't sin as much. In particular, I hope I can quit committing the same sins over and over again. I know the Atonement can help me do that and I know it is Heavenly Father's wish that I use that beautiful gift of repentance. We are his children and He and his Son have provided a way for us to be free from weakness.
Pornography
"In the New Testament the Savior lifted the moral standard for His followers when He declared, “Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” He taught us not to condemn others, but He was unafraid to speak directly: “Go,” He said, “and sin no more.”"
"In the New Testament the Savior lifted the moral standard for His followers when He declared, “Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” He taught us not to condemn others, but He was unafraid to speak directly: “Go,” He said, “and sin no more.”"
Elder Neal L. Anderson (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Trial of Your Faith')
"We can be delivered from the ways of evil and wickedness by turning to
the teachings of the holy scriptures. The Savior is the Great Deliverer,
for He delivers us from death and from sin."
Elder L. Tom Perry (in Conference Report, Apr. 2012, 'The Power of Deliverance')
"From the Pearl of Great Price, we understand that “no unclean thing can dwell [in the kingdom of God],”3 and so a way was provided for all who sin to repent and become worthy of the presence of our Father in Heaven once more."
Elder Boyd K. Packer (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'The Atonement')
"If you have made mistakes, and all of us have, whether minor or serious,
then you have an enormous need to find out how they can be erased so
that you are no longer in darkness."
Elder Boyd K. Packer (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'The Atonement')
"Throughout your life there may be times when you have gone places you
never should have gone and done things you never should have done. If
you will turn away from sin, you will be able one day to know the peace
that comes from following the pathway of complete repentance."
Elder Boyd K. Packer (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'The Atonement')
"Denying ourselves of ungodly behavior is the beginning of repentance,
which brings a mighty change of heart until “we have no more disposition
to do evil.”"
Elder Robert D. Hales (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Being a More Christian Christian')
"To Christians who have returned to their old, less faithful ways,
consider the faithful example of Peter. Do not delay. Come hear and
recognize the Master’s voice calling. Then straightway return to Him and
receive His abundant blessings once again."
Elder Robert D. Hales (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Being a More Christian Christian')
"Why is lust such a deadly sin? Well, in addition to the completely
Spirit-destroying impact it has upon our souls, I think it is a sin
because it defiles the highest and holiest relationship God gives us in
mortality—the love that a man and a woman have for each other and the
desire that couple has to bring children into a family intended to be
forever."
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul')
"Love comes with open hands and open heart; lust comes with only an open appetite."
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul')
"Like Joseph in the presence of Potiphar’s wife,
4
just run—run as far away as you can get from whatever or
whoever it is that beguiles you. And please, when fleeing the scene of
temptation, do not leave a forwarding address."
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul')
" If a TV show is indecent, turn it off. If a movie is crude, walk out.
If an improper relationship is developing, sever it. Many of these
influences, at least initially, may not technically be evil, but they
can blunt our judgment, dull our spirituality, and lead to something
that could be evil."
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul')
"Replace lewd thoughts with hopeful images and joyful memories; picture
the faces of those who love you and would be shattered if you let them
down."
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul')
Action Statement: In the past few years, I've realized that pornography has become a problem for more people than I ever would have thought. Even scarier, I've found that people all over are becoming openly accepting of it, saying it's normal. I've always known the horrible consequences that can occur because of the addiction to pornography and I think it's pretty obvious nothing good can come from viewing it. This just proves that the adversary is working hard to convince us that there is no such thing as right and wrong. However, there is something that nobody can fight and that is there is such a thing as truth and its opposite. Satan is a liar and would have us believe that there are no consequences to a bad choice except pleasure and personal gain. This is simply not true. Pornography has torn apart families, the very thing that can bring us happiness in this life and progression in the next. Pornography needs to be "shunned like the plague" as President Gordon B. Hinckley said. It will ensnare its victims and hold them captive, bringing their thoughts down into its filth. I plan to make outside influences minimal in our home and making sure my kids can be free of this in our home. I plan to be honest with them and make sure they know the consequences of viewing this garbage.
Agency
" I pray that we will not wait until we are ready to die before we truly learn to live."
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (in Conference Report, Oct. 2011, 'Of Regrets and Resolutions')
"There is no friendship more valuable than your own clear conscience”
President Thomas S. Monson (in Conference Report, Apr. 2008, 66; or Ensign, May 2008, 65).
"Most of the problems that Lot later encountered in his life, and there
were several, can be traced back to his early decision to position the
door of his tent to look upon Sodom."
Elder L. Tom Perry (in Conference Report, Apr. 2012, 'The Power of Deliverance')
"I am not certain just what our experience will be on Judgment Day, but I
will be very surprised if at some point in that conversation, God does
not ask us exactly what Christ asked Peter: “Did you love me?” "
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'The First Great Commandment')
"As we follow Him, He blesses us with gifts, talents, and the strength to
do His will, allowing us to go beyond our comfort zones and do things
we’ve never before thought possible. This may mean sharing the gospel
with neighbors, rescuing those who are spiritually lost, serving a
full-time mission, working in the temple, raising a child with special
needs, loving the prodigal, serving an ailing companion, enduring
misunderstandings, or suffering affliction. It means preparing ourselves
to answer His call by saying, “I’ll go where you want me to go; I’ll
say what you want me to say; I’ll do what you want me to do; I’ll be
what you want me to be.”"
Elder Robert D. Hales (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Being a More Christian Christian')
"Despite temptations, trials, and persecutions, the Savior trusted our
Heavenly Father and chose to be faithful and obedient to His
commandments."
Elder Robert D. Hales (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Being a More Christian Christian')
We are agents blessed with moral agency and are defined by our divine
heritage as children of God—and not by sexual behaviors, contemporary
attitudes, or secular philosophies.
Elder David A. Bednar (in Conference Report, Apr. 2013, 'We Believe in Being Chaste')
"Not one soul would be lost, and Satan was confident he could deliver on
his proposal. But there was an unacceptable cost—the destruction of
man’s agency, which was and is a gift given by God (see Moses 4:1–3)."
Elder L. Tom Perry (in Conference Report, Apr. 2013, 'Obedience to Law is Liberty')
"Each choice you and I make is a test of our agency—whether we choose to
be obedient or disobedient to the commandments of God is actually a
choice between “liberty and eternal life” and “captivity and death.”"
Elder L. Tom Perry (in Conference Report, Apr. 2013, 'Obedience to Law is Liberty')
"Men and women receive their agency as a gift from God, but their liberty
and, in turn, their eternal happiness come from obedience to His laws."
Elder L. Tom Perry (in Conference Report, Apr. 2013, 'Obedience to Law is Liberty')
Action Statement: I think the concept of agency proves that our Heavenly Father wants us to progress. Through the gift of agency, we learn the laws of the universe and truth through consequences of our actions. I believe Heavenly Father meant agency to prepare us for greater roles than we have here on this earth. My goals including agency are to stop committing sins knowingly. If I'm in the car and a bad song comes on, I need to simply turn it off. If I'm getting frustrated with something, I shouldn't take it out on somebody else and hurt them. If I'm thinking something I know I shouldn't, I should replace that thought with something more positive. I know that as we do these things and obey all the commandments that our testimony of God's love for us will grow because we will be happy with the outcome of our choices. Also, in the future we will be more likely to make the correct choice again and we will gradually experience a change which will make us more eligible to be in God's presence once more. We will be able to better serve our fellow men and
we will have a clear conscience as we live our day-to-day lives.
Humility
"[A] person’s true value has little to do with what the world holds in high esteem.
"[A] person’s true value has little to do with what the world holds in high esteem.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (in Conference Report, Oct. 2011, 'You Matter to Him')
"Those who will “inherit the kingdom of God”11 are those who become “as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love.”"
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (in Conference Report, Oct. 2011, 'You Matter to Him')
"[W]e can’t insist on our timetable when the Lord has His own."
President Henry B. Eyering (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Where is the Pavillion?')
"Sometimes our insistence on acting according to our own timetable can obscure His will for us."
President Henry B. Eyering (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Where is the Pavillion?')
"Everything that is done in the Church—the leading, the teaching, the
calling, the ordaining, the praying, the singing, the preparation of the sacrament, the counseling, and everything else—is done by ordinary members, the “weak things of the world.”"
President Boyd K. Packer (in Conference Report, Oct. 2007, 'The Weak and the Simple of the Church')
"[Y]ou can’t tell by looking at a frog how high he is going to jump!'
President Boyd K. Packer (in Conference Report, Oct. 2007, 'The Weak and the Simple of the Church')
"Only when our testimony transcends what is in our mind and burrows deep
into our heart will our motivation to love and to serve become like unto
the Savior’s."
Elder M. Russell Ballard (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Be Anxiously Engaged')
"When our hearts are no longer set upon the things of this world, we will
no longer aspire to the honors of men or seek only to gratify our pride."
Elder M. Russell Ballard (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Be Anxiously Engaged')
"They would have known the Savior spoke of them. And then in their
humility they would have found that they were given power to proclaim
his name."
Elder Henry B. Eyering (in Conference Report, Apr. 1995, 'Always Remember Him')
" Humility is the recognition and attitude that one must rely on the
Lord’s assistance to make it through this life. We cannot endure to the
end on our own strength. Without Him, we are nothing."
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (in Conference Report, Oct. 2004, 'Press On')
Action Statement: I usually think of humility as not thinking too much of yourself and not bragging or thinking you're better than others. After collecting these quotes, though, I think humility means letting the will of God be your influence on your actions more than your own will. Since God is perfect, everything else is encompassed in this. You would never do anything evil in the name of the will of God. Sometimes I think I take humility in the wrong direction and think I have to hate myself each time I make a mistake. That is the influence of Satan, not Heavenly Father. It is important to distinguish between humility and being so self-conscious you don't have any confidence. The Lord wants us to love ourselves. Satan would have us believe we are worthless. Humility is simply turning your life over to God for the purpose of making yourself more than you could be by yourself. I am resolving now to be less selfish with my time. I don't want to spend so much time on what I want to get finished, even if it's a good thing. The best thing for me to do with my time is dedicate it to more service.
Obedience
"When it comes to living the gospel, we should not be like the boy who
dipped his toe in the water and then claimed he went swimming."
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Of Regrets and Resolutions')
“When we love the Lord, obedience ceases to be a burden.”
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (in Conference Report, Oct. 2007, 30; or Ensign, Nov. 2007, 30).
"Submitting fully to heaven’s will, as this young mother did, is
essential to removing the spiritual pavilions we sometimes put over our
heads. But it does not guarantee immediate answers to our prayers."
President Henry B. Eyering (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Where is the Pavillion?')
"Have you prayed about your own ancestors’ work? Set aside those things
in your life that don’t really matter. Decide to do something that will
have eternal consequences."
Elder Richard G. Scott (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'The Joy of Redeeming the Dead')
"Perhaps you have been prompted to look for ancestors but feel you are
not a genealogist. Can you see that you don’t have to be anymore? It all
begins with love and a sincere desire to help those beyond the veil who
can’t help themselves."
Elder Richard G. Scott (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'The Joy of Redeeming the Dead')
" Imagine what the millions of Latter-day Saints could accomplish in the
world if we functioned like a beehive in our focused, concentrated
commitment to the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ."
Elder M. Russell Ballard (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Be Anxiously Engaged')
" In your morning prayer each new day, ask Heavenly Father to guide you
to recognize an opportunity to serve one of His precious children. Then
go throughout the day with your heart full of faith and love, looking
for someone to help. Stay focused, just like the honeybees focus on the
flowers from which to gather nectar and pollen."
Elder M. Russell Ballard (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Be Anxiously Engaged')
"What I need, Peter, are disciples—and I need them forever. I need someone to feed my sheep and save my lambs. I need someone to preach
my gospel and defend my faith. I need someone who loves me, truly,
truly loves me, and loves what our Father in Heaven has commissioned me
to do."
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'The First Great Commandment')
"[W]e have a life of devoted discipleship to give in demonstrating our love
of the Lord. We can’t quit and we can’t go back. After an encounter
with the living Son of the living God, nothing is ever again to be as it
was before. The Crucifixion, Atonement, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ mark the beginning of a Christian life, not the end of it."
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'The First Great Commandment')
"A loving Heavenly Father has plotted our course and provided an unfailing guide—even obedience. A knowledge of truth and the answers to our greatest questions come to us as we are obedient to the commandments of God."
President Thomas S. Monson (in Conference Report, Apr. 2013, 'Obedience Brings Blessings')
Action Statement: President Thomas S. Monson's last conference talk, "Obedience Brings Blessings" taught a principle that is central to this church. Many nonmembers ask, "How can you be members of a church that is so restrictive?" In view of the consequence of each choice, however, I think it's clear that obedience to the laws of the Gospel bring greater potential to each of us and disobedience to those laws is only a path to unhappiness, a dead end, so to speak. The fact that members of the church are admonished to abstain from drinking, drugs, extramarital sex, lying, stealing, swearing, immodesty, and several other sins is simply a testament to me that Heavenly Father cares about us and what happens to us. That's why he warns us away from actions that will keep us away from Him and the influence of His Holy Spirit. We may be on a straight and narrow path, but if that path leads to happiness, then I'm just fine with staying on it. In the end, the things that the world thinks we're missing out on don't lead to where I want to go. I will continue down the road that will get me back to my Father.
Happiness
"Discipleship is the pursuit of holiness and happiness. It is the path to our best and happiest self."
"So
often we get caught up in the illusion that there is something just
beyond our reach that would bring us happiness: a better family
situation, a better financial situation, or the end of a challenging
trial.
The older we get, the more we look back and realize that external circumstances don’t really matter or determine our happiness."
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (in Conference Report, Oct. 2011, 'Of Regrets and Resolutions')
"Discipleship is the pursuit of holiness and happiness. It is the path to our best and happiest self."
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (in Conference Report, Oct. 2011, 'Of Regrets and Resolutions')
"[P]lease understand that what you see and experience now is not what
forever will be. You will not feel loneliness, sorrow, pain, or
discouragement forever. We have the faithful promise of God that He will
neither forget nor forsake those who incline their hearts to Him."
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (in Conference Report, Oct. 2011, 'You Matter to Him')
"As we do what He would have us do for His Father’s children, the Lord
considers it kindness to Him, and we will feel closer to Him as we feel
His love and His approval. In time we will become like Him and will
think of the Judgment Day with happy anticipation."
President Henry B. Eyering (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Where is the Pavillion?')
"Any work you do in the temple is time well spent, but receiving
ordinances vicariously for one of your own ancestors will make the time
in the temple more sacred, and even greater blessings will be received."
Elder Richard G. Scott (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'The Joy of Redeeming the Dead')
"Our troubled world needs this love of Christ today more than ever, and it will need it even more in the years ahead."
Elder M. Russell Ballard (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Be Anxiously Engaged')
"This integrity simplifies our lives and amplifies our sensitivities to
the Spirit and to the needs of others. It brings joy into our lives and
peace to our souls—the kind of joy and peace that comes to us as we
repent of our sins and follow the Savior by keeping His commandments."
Elder M. Russell Ballard (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Be Anxiously Engaged')
"At the end of each day, may we be able to say yes to the questions:
“Have I done any good in the world today? Have I helped anyone in need?”"
Elder M. Russell Ballard (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Be Anxiously Engaged')
"As one of His special witnesses on the earth, I give my Christian testimony that He is calling to you today, “Come, follow me.”16 Come walk the path that leads to eternal happiness, joy, and everlasting life in the kingdom of our Heavenly Father."
Elder Robert D. Hales (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Being a More Christian Christian')
"Heavenly Father is able to accomplish these two great goals—the
immortality and eternal life of man—because He is a God of creation and
compassion. Creating and being compassionate are two objectives that
contribute to our Heavenly Father’s perfect happiness. Creating and
being compassionate are two activities that we as His spirit children
can and should emulate."
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf (in Conference Report, Apr. 2008, 'Happiness, Your Heritage')
Action Statement: I love the last quote listed under happiness from Elder Uchtdorf. I think a lot of times I see Heavenly Father as someone who is always worried about his wayward children or disappointed in our actions. I was glad for the reminder that He experiences joy, and a lot of it, because He is perfect. He no longer worries about the burden of sin. He is free of it. Of course, I'm sure He is saddened when we, his beloved children, make mistakes, but that is because it makes us unhappy. Our happiness increases His. So...He wants us to be happy! I want to better my relationship with my Father in Heaven because I want to learn from Him how to be happy. I probably can't even wrap my mind around the joy our Heavenly Father has, not in our imperfect state. But as I progress, I hope to find more joy in living the Gospel by doing more for others. Heavenly Father has done so much for us. I can emulate Him by serving those in need (everybody). I will pray every day for Heavenly Father to open my eyes to the needs of others then report to him each night before bed about how I have been a disciple of his son, Jesus Christ.
Self-Reliance
"[A]lways the Lord’s way to help those in temporal need requires people who
out of love have consecrated themselves and what they have to God and
to His work."
President Henry B. Eyering (in Conference Report, Apr. 2011, 'Opportunities to Do Good')
"[A]ll people are happier and feel more self-respect when they can provide
for themselves and their family and then reach out to take care of
others. I have been grateful for those who helped me meet my needs. I
have been even more grateful over the years for those who helped me
become self-reliant. And then I have been most grateful for those who
showed me how to use some of my surplus to help others."
President Henry B. Eyering (in Conference Report, Apr. 2011, 'Opportunities to Do Good')
"I have learned that the way to have a surplus is to spend less than I
earn. With that surplus I have been able to learn that it really is
better to give than to receive."
President Henry B. Eyering (in Conference Report, Apr. 2011, 'Opportunities to Do Good')
"A second gospel principle that has been a guide to me in welfare work is
the power and blessing of unity. When we join hands to serve people in
need, the Lord unites our hearts."
President Henry B. Eyering (in Conference Report, Apr. 2011, 'Opportunities to Do Good')
"[W]e can organize our families based on clear, simple family rules and
expectations, wholesome family traditions and rituals, and “family
economics,” where children have household responsibilities and can earn
allowances so that they can learn to budget, save, and pay tithing on the money they earn."
Elder L. Tom Perry (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Becoming Goodly Parents')
"[G]reat things are brought about and burdens are lightened through the efforts of many hands “anxiously engaged in a good cause.”
Elder M. Russell Ballard (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Be Anxiously Engaged')
"We are to love God and to love and care for our neighbors as ourselves.
Imagine what good we can do in the world if we all join together, united
as followers of Christ,
anxiously and busily responding to the needs of others and serving
those around us—our families, our friends, our neighbors, our fellow
citizens."
Elder M. Russell Ballard (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Be Anxiously Engaged')
"And remember, like the little honeybee’s one-twelfth teaspoon of honey
provided to the hive, if we multiply our efforts by tens of thousands,
even millions of prayerful efforts to share God’s love for His children
through Christian service, there will be a compounding effect of good
that will bring the Light of Christ to this ever-darkening world."
Elder M. Russell Ballard (in Conference Report, Oct. 2012, 'Be Anxiously Engaged')
"If a member is unable to sustain himself, then he is to call upon his own family, and then upon the Church, in that order, and not upon the government at all."
Elder Boyd K. Packer (in Conference Report, Apr. 1978, 'Solving Emotional Problems in the Lord's Own Way')
"The simple rule has been to take care of one’s self. This couplet of
truth has been something of a model: “Eat it up, wear it out, make it
do, or do without.”"
Elder Boyd K. Packer (in Conference Report, Apr. 1978, 'Solving Emotional Problems in the Lord's Own Way')
Action Statement: Self-reliance means a lot more than I thought it did. Not only is it taking care of yourself physically, but you need to watch out for others and contribute to them as well. I believe tithing and fast-offering is part of self-reliance not just because it ensures blessings on your own head, but it is a way of blessing others in their times of need. The law of consecration will work when everyone is willing to take care of those around them just as much as they are willing to take care of themselves. I have often wondered if it is right to take advantage of government programs available to students. After reading the second to last quote from Elder Packer, I'm not so comfortable with it. It's definitely a personal application for everybody, but for my goal, I'd like to be more conservative with my money. If I find we're having a hard time making ends meet, I want to try harder to do without some things rather than cry for help from another resource. We are so blessed and I'm sure we could cut some excess spending easy enough if we needed to. I also want to be more generous in fast offering donations. Since God gave us all we have, it's important to be selfless with the material possessions we're blessed with.
