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(3/22/98)
"He is a weak man who will curse or condemn some loved one because of a
little accident. What good does it do him? He would be a man if he
would develop
his spirit and control that anger, control his tongue. A little thing?
Trace it,
and you will find that not yielding and not controlling it bring many
an unhappy
hour in your home." — David O. McKay, "Gospel Ideals," p.490
(1/05/00)
"...I wish to leave this thought: that every man, every woman, must
bear a
part of the responsibility of this Church. Feeling that, does not
necessarily
make him imagine that it is resting upon him only. There is no man so
important
who cannot sink without making even a bubble, not a ripple in the great
ocean of
life; at the same time his importance is so great that his actions go a
long way
towards establishing the power, the dignity, the advancement of God's
kingdom on
earth." — "Conference
Report," October 1906, p. 115
(1/06/00)
"Oh, let us not deal in personalities and tear down a brother's
reputation
and hurt his feelings. We are striving to establish the kingdom of God:
let us
hold to that fact as the anchor of our soul and then breathe forth
charity and
love to those who may not see just as we do." —
"Conference Report," October 1912, p. 122
(1/07/00)
"It is the duty of parents and of the Church not only to teach but also
to
demonstrate to young people that living a life of truth and moral
purity brings
joy and happiness, while violations of moral and social laws result
only in
dissatisfaction, sorrow, and, when carried to extreme, in degradation."
— "Conference Report," April 1949, p.
12
(1/08/00)
"We believe firmly that the basis upon which world peace may be
permanently
obtained is not by sowing seeds of distrust and suspicion in people's
minds; not
by engendering enmity and hatred in human hearts; not by individuals or
nations
arrogating to themselves the claim of possessing all wisdom, or the
only culture
worth having; not by war with resulting suffering and death from
submarines,
poison gas, or explosions of nuclear bombs. No! The peace that will be
permanent
must be founded upon the principles of righteousness as taught and
exemplified
by the Prince of Peace, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, '...for
there is none
other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.'
(Acts
4:12.)" — "Conference
Report," April 1955, p. 24
(1/09/00)
"Spirituality, our true aim, is the consciousness of victory over self
and
of communion with the Infinite. Spirituality impels one to conquer
difficulties
and acquire more and more strength. To feel one's faculties unfolding
and truth
expanding in the soul is one of life's sublimest experiences."
— "Conference Report," October 1969,
p. 8
(1/10/00)
"To no other group of men in all the world is given a better
opportunity to
engage in the noblest calling in life than that which is afforded the
elders in
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and to the members of
that
Church, to establish salvation and peace to the extent that their
individual
efforts, their lives are dedicated, to make the world a better and
fitter place
for man, their talents and means are consecrated." — "BYU
Speeches," May 18, 1960, p. 8
(1/11/00)
"The law of cause and effect is working in parenthood as it is in any
other
law of nature. There is a responsibility upon all, and especially upon
fathers
and mothers, to set examples to children and young people worthy of
imitation.
Parents must be sincere in upholding law and upholding the priesthood
in their
homes, that children may see a proper example." — "Conference
Report," October 1927,
p. 12
(7/4/01)
"Next to the bestowal of life itself, the right to direct that life is
God’s
greatest gift to man.... Freedom of choice is more to be treasured than
any
possession earth can give. It is inherent in the spirit of man. It is a
divine
gift to every normal being.... Everyone has this most precious of all
life’s
endowments--the gift of free agency--man’s inherited and
inalienable
right." — David O.
McKay, "Improvement Era," Feb. 1962, p. 86
(4/9/02)
"Honesty... is the first virtue mentioned in the Thirteenth Article of
Faith. It is founded on the first principles of human society and is
the
foundation principle of moral manhood." — David
O. McKay, "Treasures of Life," p. 455
(3/18/03)
"Happiness is one of the aims of the gospel; not pain, not grief, not
gloom, not pleasure. There is a difference between pleasure and
happiness.
Happiness is the joy of the soul, always. The Prophet Joseph Smith
declared
that, 'Happiness is the object and design of our existence, and will be
the end
thereof if we pursue the path that leads to it.' And this path is
virtue,
uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and living all the commandments of
God." — David O. McKay, "Man May
Know for Himself: Teachings of President David O. McKay," compiled by
Clare
Middlemiss [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1967], p. 457
(3/22/03)
"Men may choose the right or they may choose the wrong; they may walk
in
darkness or they may walk in the light; and, mind you, God has not left
his
children without the light. He has given them in the various
dispensations of
the world the light of the gospel wherein they could walk and not
stumble,
wherein they could find that peace and happiness which he desires, as a
loving
Father, his children should enjoy, but the Lord does not take from them
their
free agency." — David O. McKay,
"Gospel Ideals: Selections from the Discourses of David O. McKay,"
[Salt Lake City: Improvement Era, 1953], p. 301
(9/17/03)
"We are indeed living in a troublous age, and many people in the
Church, as
well as millions in the world, are stirred with anxiety; hearts are
heavy with
feelings of foreboding. At the crucifixion of Christ, a little group of
men
faced a future that was just as threatening and foreboding to them as
that which
the world faces today. Their future, so far as Christ's triumph on
earth was
concerned seemed all but blighted. They had been called and set apart
to be
'fishers' of men, and to Peter had been given the keys of the kingdom.
Notwithstanding all this, in that hour of despondency, when the
resurrected
Christ said to Peter, the discouraged leader of the Twelve, who had
turned to
his old vocation of fishing: 'Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more
than
these?' Peter answered, 'Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.'
Said the
Lord, 'Feed my sheep.' (John
21:15-16.) On that occasion Peter became conscious of his
responsibility,
not only as a fisher of men, but also as a shepherd of the flock. It
was then
that he sensed finally and completely the full meaning of the divine
injunction,
'Follow me.' (John
21:19.)
With that neverfailing light, those 12 humble men succeeded in changing
the
course of human relations." - David O. McKay, "General Conference
Reports," April 1968, p. 9
(1/9/05)
"It is impossible to associate manhood with dishonesty. To be just with
one's self, one must be honest with one's self and with others. This
means
honesty in speech as well as in actions. It means to avoid telling
half-truths
as well as untruths. It means that we are honest in our dealings-in our
buying
as well as in our selling. It means that an honest debt can never be
outlawed,
and that a man's word is better than his bond. It means that we will be
honest
in our dealings with the Lord, for 'true honesty takes into account the
claims
of God as well as those of man; it renders to God the things that are
God's, as
well as to man the things that are man's.'" - David O. McKay,
"Conference Report," April 1968, pp. 7-8
(9/5/05)
"The least child was
sacred to Jesus. 'It is not the will of your Father in heaven that one
of these little ones should perish.' That simple truth in the world,
what would it mean?
"'Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my
brethren, ye have done it unto me.'
"And in this modern day he said:
"'Remember the worth of souls is great.'
"A proper conception of this divine principle would change the attitude
of the world, to the benefit and happiness of all human beings. It
would bring into active operation the Golden Rule: 'Do unto others as
you would have others do unto you.'
"What a different world this were if men would accumulate wealth, for
example, not as an end but as a means of blessing human beings and
improving human relations." - David O. McKay, "Conference Report,"
October 1935, Third Day—Morning Meeting p. 101
(9/10/05)
"To curtail evil, to spread love and peace, brotherly kindness
throughout the world is our paramount duty. If we would face the
future, no matter what it may be, with calmness of spirit, with an
assurance that God governs in the affairs of men, let us as individuals
and as a group live exemplary lives.
"Let us see to it that the social evils now rampant in the world that
bring such sorrow and degradation to mankind, that spread sorrow and
misery throughout the world are reduced to a minimum in our own
communities." - David O. McKay, "Pathways to Happiness" [Salt Lake
City: Bookcraft, 1957], p. 199
(10/19/05)
"Jesus always sought the
welfare of the individual; and individuals, grouped and laboring for
the mutual welfare of the whole in conformity with the principles of
the gospel, constitute the kingdom of God. Many of the choicest truths
of the gospel were given in conversations with individuals when Jesus
was on the earth. It was while Jesus talked with Nicodemus that he gave
us the message relative to baptism and of being 'born again.' From the
conversation with the woman of Samaria, we have disclosed the truth
that they who worship God must worship him 'in spirit and in truth.'
From Jesus' conversation with Mary and Martha, we hear the divine
declaration, 'I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in
me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:...' (John 11:25.)
"Jesus' regard for the personality was supreme!
"To the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the
worth of the individual has special meaning. Quorums, auxiliaries,
wards, stakes, even the Church itself, are all organized to further the
welfare of man. All are but a means to an end, and that end is the
happiness and eternal value of every child of God." - David O. McKay,
"Conference Report," October 1962, First Day--Morning Meeting, p.7-8
11/27/05
"A newborn babe is the most helpless creature in the
world. The protecting care of parenthood is essential to its survival,
as well as its growth. It must be led and directed by instruction,
discipline, drill, and proper education. Our most precious possessions
are not our abundant harvests, nor our orchards yielding luscious
fruit, nor our waterways, nor our million miles of paved highways, nor
our oil wells, nor our rich mines of copper, silver and gold, nor even
of uranium—our most precious possessions, our treasures of
eternity, are our children. These merit and should receive our greatest
and our most constant care and guidance." - David O. McKay, "Conference
Report," October 1954, First Day—Morning Meeting, p.8
12/20/05
"Since man's first advent on earth, God has been urging
him to rise above the selfish, groveling life of the purely animal
existence into the higher, more spiritual realm. After several thousand
years of struggling, mankind even now but dimly recognizes the fact
that the greatest of the world's leaders are those who most nearly
approach the teachings of the Man of Galilee. This is psychologically
sound, because the thoughts a man harbors determine the realm in which
he serves. 'Be not deceived,' writes Paul to the Galatians, 'God is not
mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he
that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he
that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.' (Galatians 6:7-8.)"
- David O. McKay, Conference Report, April 1951, Morning Session, p.96
1/22/06
"The Church urges men to have self-mastery to control their appetites,
their tempers, and their speech. A man is not at his best when he is a
slave to some habit. A man is not his best who lives merely to gratify
his passions. That is one reason why the Lord has given the Church the
revelation of the Word of Wisdom so that, even from boyhood and
girlhood, young men and young women may learn to control themselves.
That is not always easy. The youth today face enemies-false ideologies
and immoral practices "glossed over" and "seasoned with a text." Sound
preparation is necessary to meet and conquer these enemies. Keep in
mind that man's earthly existence is but a test as to whether he will
concentrate his efforts, his mind, his soul upon things which
contribute to the comfort and gratification of his physical nature, or
whether he will make as his life's purpose the acquisition of spiritual
qualities." - David O. McKay, "Conference Report," October 1969, First
Day—Morning Meeting, p.8
12/26/06
"During the next few weeks 'Happy New Year' will be, perhaps, the most
frequently repeated phrase in the English language. Every time that it
is spoken sincerely it will throw a ray of sunshine into some life.
Often it will brighten the spark of hope, and give new zest to him
whose spirit was darkened. It will carry with it the message that the
Old Year, with its failings, faults, and failures, had passed forever,
and that a New Year comes laden with fresh opportunities and rich
promises of success." - David O. McKay, "Pathways to
Happiness," p.187
1/18/07
"Wisdom comes through effort.
All good things require effort. That which is worth having will cost
part of your physical being, your intellectual power and your soul
power—'Ask, and it shall be given you seek, and ye shall find
knock, and it shall be opened unto you:' (Matt. 7:7.) But you have to seek, you
have to knock. On the other hand, sin thrusts itself upon you. It walks
beside you, it tempts you, it entices, it allures. You do not have to
put forth effort. It is like the poor, fallen woman who lies in wait to
deceive. It is like the billboard advertising attracting you to drink
and to smoke. It is like the message that comes into your very homes
with the television and radio or the golden packet put right into your
hand. Evil seeks you, and it requires effort and fortitude to combat
it. But truth and wisdom are gained only by seeking, by prayer, and by
effort." - David O. McKay, "Conference Report," October 1965, Afternoon
Meeting, p.145
5/7/07
"There is one responsibility that no
man can evade. That is the responsibility of personal influence. The effect of
your words and acts is tremendous in this world. Every moment of life you are
changing to a degree the life of the whole world. Every man has an atmosphere or
a radiation that is affecting every person in the world. You cannot escape it.
Into the hands of every individual is given a marvelous power for good or for
evil. It is simply the constant radiation of what a man really is. Every man by
his mere living is radiating positive or negative qualities. Life is a state of
radiation. To exist is to be the radiation of our feelings, natures, doubts,
schemes, or to be the recipient of those things from somebody else. You cannot
escape it. Man cannot escape for one moment the radiation of his character. You
will select the qualities that you will permit to be radiated." - David O.
McKay, Conference Report, October 1969, General Priesthood Meeting, p.87
5/24/07
"Men may yearn for peace, cry for peace, and work for peace, but there will be
no peace until they follow the path pointed out by the Living Christ. He is the
true light of men's lives." - David O. McKay, "Conference Report," October 1964,
First Day—Morning Meeting, p.5
12/12/07
"I testify to you, and
to all the world, that the inspiration and protecting care of a kind Father in
heaven are real. He is close to the Church, and I know with my whole soul that
he is not just an absent, far-away source, as some may think. He is a kind
Father, solicitous of the welfare of his children, and ready and willing to hear
and answer their call. The answer may be negative, as sometimes a wise parent
gives a negative answer to the pleadings of a child, but he is ever ready to
hear and to answer at a time when it is best for the one concerned." - David O.
Mckay, "Conference Report," April 1968, Afternoon Meeting, p.146
1/15/08
"The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints bears testimony to the world that this will of God has been
made manifest in this dispensation, that the principles of the gospel, the
principles of life, have been revealed. They are in harmony with the principles
that Christ taught in the meridian of time. It is impossible to give here all
the principles that constitute that will, but they are so simple that, as the
scriptures say, 'the wayfaring men,
though fools, shall not err therein.' (Isa.
35:8.)" - David O. McKay, "Conference
Report," October 1966, Afternoon
Meeting, p.137
1/20/08
"The safety of our nation depends upon the purity and strength of the home; and
I thank God for the teachings of the Mormon Church in relation to home building,
and the impression that kind parents have made, that the home must be the most
sacred place in the world. Our people are home-builders, and they are taught
everywhere, from childhood to old age, that the home should be kept pure and
safe from the evils of the world" - David
O. McKay, "Conference Report,"
April 1909, Afternoon Session, p.66
3/26/08
"A lawyer, a Pharisee, asked Christ, on
one occasion, 'Which is the great
commandment in the law?' (Matthew
22:36.) And in answer, most profound, Jesus said the first fundamental law
is to 'love the Lord thy God with all
thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all they
strength.' (Mark
12:30.) 'And the second is like unto
it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.'
(Matthew 22:39.) And the
Pharisee admitted that Jesus had spoken wisely.
"Analyze that and you will find it means
that instead of centering your thoughts on self, God becomes the center of your
existence; your thoughts will be-what you are going to do for him. You will pray
to him at night. You will pray to him when you have some heavy task to perform.
Even in your school work you should pray. I know you may not hear his voice
always, and you may feel that he did not answer your question in your prayer;
but in youth, keep praying and holding to the assurance that God is near you to
help you." - David O. McKay, "Man
May Know for Himself: Teachings of President David O. McKay,"
compiled by Clare Middlemiss, p.15
5/28/08
"Force and compulsion will never
establish the ideal society. This can come only by a transformation within the
individual soul-a life redeemed from sin and brought in harmony with the divine
will. Instead of selfishness, men must be willing to dedicate their ability,
their possessions, their lives, if necessary, their fortunes, and their sacred
honor for the alleviation of the ills of mankind. Hate must be supplanted by
sympathy and forbearance. Peace and true prosperity can come only by conforming
our lives to the law of love, the law of the principles of the gospel of Jesus
Christ. A mere appreciation of the social ethics of Jesus is not
sufficient-men's hearts must be changed!"
- David O. McKay, "Conference Report," October 1962, First Day—Morning Meeting,
p.7 - 8
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