The LDS Daily WOOL Home Page
(4/18/97)
You can participate in this glorious endeavor to bring the gospel to all
mankind. You can live the principles of the gospel. The Lord expects this of us.
The Apostle Paul commended, "Be thou an example of the believers, in word,
in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (1 Timothy
4:12). We are grateful that members of the Church for the most part are striving
to live the gospel and dealing justly with their fellowmen. — Teachings of
Ezra Taft Benson, p.338
(4/19/97)
An example of faith was … demonstrated by President David O. McKay when he
requested the prayers of his counselors and the Council of the Twelve just
before departing on a very important mission where he felt the need of divine
assistance. Said President McKay: "Brethren, you pray for me, and I will so
live that the Lord will answer your prayers through me." This suggested to
us that we, too, must so live that the Lord would hear and answer our prayers in
behalf of President McKay. He pledged that he would so live to obtain the
blessings of the Lord as a result of these petitions on his behalf. — Delbert
L. Stapley, BYU Speeches, May 5, 1964
(4/20/97)
And finally the father is to be an example of the highest Christian virtues. To
walk uprightly in the admonition of the Lord requires not only patience and
forebearance, but an exercise in constant practice of all the Christian virtues
by each family member. Perhaps the Lord knew this when he instituted the family.
A man needs the responsibility of a wife and family. He needs the responsibility
of being an example of righteousness. There is wisdom in this requirement. This
kind of gentle persuasion is needed to keep a father "on course" and
gently guide him toward perfection. — President A. Theodore Tuttle, General
Conference, October 1973
(4/21/97)
Jesus' life was the perfect example of dedication and sacrifice. He had no
silver or gold to give, but he gave faith to his disciples, health to the sick,
and hope to the discouraged. His life was in every respect a sacrifice for all.…
Joseph Smith's life was another great example of dedication and sacrifice. While
in Liberty Jail the word of the Lord came to him: ". . . if thou shouldst
be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death
passed upon thee; . . . know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee
experience, and shall be for thy good." (D&C 122:7.) — Franklin D.
Richards, General Conference, April 1967
(4/22/97)
As an example of service I give you the following: The Tabernacle choir began to
sing over a national radio network a little more than four years ago; their
program is now considered to be the outstanding radio program in the world. Why?
Because they receive no other compensation for their work than the joy of
service. There are 273 members, they rehearse Thursday nights, sing over the
Columbia broadcasting network each Sunday morning, and for the regular Church
service Sunday afternoon each week. This requires them to make three trips to
the tabernacle and three home each week, a personal outlay for each, of 50 cents
a week for car fare. Their average attendance is 63.56 per cent. Each Sunday
they are heard from more than 80 stations with combined facilities valued in
millions. The commercial value of each program period is about $10,000.00, and
of the full period they have been on the air $2,500,000.00. Each Sunday they are
heard not only in the United States but also in Europe where the program is
relayed by short wave length, those living on the isles of the sea eagerly look
forward to it. All this because of the devotion of these singers which finds
expression in their faithful attendance and in song and the sweet organ music
mellowed by a divine providence. — David A. Smith, General Conference, October
1933
(4/23/97)
It is interesting to me that Jesus chose a Samaritan as an example of love
unfeigned for the Pharisees. They were so remarkable for their observance of the
letter of the law that this teaching must have caused at least some of them to
see in new ways and with new spirit the freedom to love that Christ was offering
them. That is the challenge for us — to allow Christ's teachings, magnified by
the Holy Spirit, to guide us to his ways of seeing and being. — Sister Aileen
H. Clyde, General Conference, October 1991
(4/24/97)
The Only Begotten Son of our Father, our Savior Jesus Christ, spent His earthly
ministry showing us how to love, bless, and teach all of the family of God. He
taught us that not one soul should be lost. We should follow His example in
loving and blessing our families and doing all we can to see that not one soul
is lost. — President Patricia P. Pinegar, General Conference, April 1997
(4/25/97)
Daniel was an example of courage. As a youth he was taken into Babylon to be
trained by King Nebuchadnezzar. At their peril, he and his three Hebrew
companions refused to break their word of wisdom. They refused to eat the rich
foods and other foods that were not good for them. (See Dan. 15-16.) Later,
Daniel further demonstrated his courage by advising two kings of interpretations
the Lord had revealed to him, Daniel, of manifestations which the kings had
received, manifestations which portended evil for them. Daniel told the first
king that he would lose his mind, and become like a beast of the field, eating
grass as an ox. He told the second king that he would be cut down from the
pinnacle of power. (See Dan. 2:36-45; 4:24-27; 5:26-29.) So advising these
absolute monarchs evidenced great courage in this young man Daniel. He evidenced
superb courage of another kind when, in defiance of the king's edict, he chose
to be thrown into the lions' den rather than neglect to pray to his Father in
Heaven. (See Dan. 6:7-23.) — President Marion G. Romney, General Conference,
April 1978
(4/26/97)
"We ought to say in our hearts let God judge between me and thee, but as
for me I will forgive." That means to say in our hearts, not just lip
service. We must be willing to forgive and forget. Most of us have a natural
ability to forget, especially the things we are supposed to remember. Most of us
work diligently to increase our power to remember. However, in forgiving, we
should increase or attempt to increase and work diligently to increase our power
to forget. Peter asked Jesus: "Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against
me, and I forgive him? till seven times? "Jesus saith unto him, I say not
unto thee, Until seven times: but, until seventy times seven." (Matt.
18:21-22.) The Lord also said: "But I say unto you, Love your enemies,
bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them
which despitefully use you, and persecute you." (Ibid., 5:44.) When the
adulteress was brought before Christ to be stoned, according to the law, he
said: "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at
her." They all then slipped away, leaving the woman alone with Jesus. No
accusers left, Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no
more." Thus giving the woman the opportunity to repent and be forgiven.
(John 8:6-11.) Then, finally, in his agony on the cross, showing the supreme
example of forgiveness, he cried out to his Father in heaven: "Father,
forgive them; for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34.) — Elder
Eldred G. Smith, General Conference, April 1961
(2/25/05)
"Yes, the question is, do our outward devotions translate into a Christlike
life? It is not enough that we just talk of Christ, preach of Christ, or even
prophesy of Christ (see 2 Ne.
25:26). We must live of Christ, for it is by our own personal, everyday
living that the Savior will determine whether we are one of His true disciples,
a friend." - Richard C. Edgley, "A
Disciple, a Friend," Ensign, May 1998, p. 13
(3/18/04)
"What better teaching could a parent provide for a child than that of
following the prophets and building a sure foundation upon Jesus Christ? The
Book of Mormon prophet Jacob instructed that once they have been taught and
'obtained a hope in Christ,' we may then teach them how to earn riches so that
they can use them 'to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry.' (Jacob 2:18-19.) We must
teach them all that they must do to live with Him, and the best teacher is
example." - Dallas N. Archibald, "Born
of Goodly Parents," Ensign, Nov. 1992, p. 26
(5/5/04)
"He calls you and me to serve Him here below and sets us to the task He
would have us fulfill. The commitment is total. There is no conflict of
conscience. As we follow that Man of Galilee-even the Lord Jesus Christ-our
personal influence will be felt for good wherever we are, whatever our
callings." - Thomas S. Monson, "Your
Personal Influence," General Conference, April 2004
(7/5/04)
"Upon our shoulders lies the responsibility to keep the faith through our
own generation. This 'ball' is now in our court! We of modern Israel are
destined to be 'a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation' (Ex. 19:6). We know that we are
children of the covenant (see Acts
3:25; 3 Ne. 20:25-26).
We are remnants of the seed now to be gathered and gleaned into God's eternal
garners (see Alma 26:5)."
- Russell M. Nelson, "The
Exodus Repeated," Ensign, July 1999, p. 13
(8/9/04)
"While his enemies gained power through fraud and deceit, Moroni empowered
the Nephites by teaching them to be faithful to God (see Alma 48:7). How do we, like
Captain Moroni, create places of security for those around us in these sometimes
frightening and perilous times? We can begin by following the admonition found
in 1 Timothy 4:12 [1 Tim. 4:12]:
'Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in
spirit, in faith, in purity.'" - Virginia U. Jensen, "Creating
Places of Security," Ensign, November 1997, p. 90
(9/5/04)
"Ye are the light of the world; a city set upon a hill" (see Matt.
5:14). What does that mean? Well, a commentary on this scripture says: 'The
disciples are to be the light of the world, being the representatives of Him who
is the world's true Light. They are to enlighten it as its teachers, and also by
the examples of their lives. They are contemplated not as individuals but as a
visible society, or Church. The old city set on a hill was Jerusalem. This was
shortly to be trodden under the foot of men as having lost its savour.' (J. R.
Dummelow, ed., A Commentary on the Holy Bible [New York: Macmillan, 1936], p.
641.)
"Just so today, any Latter-day Saint in Church circles, in military service, in social life, or in the business community is looked upon not just as an individual, but as the visible Church today. Someone has said: 'Be careful how you act, because you may be the only standard Church work some people may ever read.'"
"The Teachings of Harold B. Lee," edited by Clyde J. Williams [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1996], p. 588
(9/6/04)
"If we as a people will walk with
integrity, will be honest and moral in our actions, will put into our lives the
simple and basic and wonderful principle of the Golden Rule, others will be led
to inquire and learn. We shall become as a city set upon a hill whose light
cannot be hid. (See Matt. 5:14.)
We shall witness an ever-growing fulfillment of the promise of Isaiah: 'And many
people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will
walk in his paths.' (Isa. 2:3.)"
- Gordon B. Hinckley, “Five
Million Members—A Milestone and Not a Summit,” Ensign, May 1982, p. 45
(9/7/04)
"Each of us possesses an inner light, the light of Christ (see Moro.
7:16-19). We can affect the brightness of that light by our thoughts and
actions. There is a strong suggestion in Matthew 5:16 [Matt.
5:16] that we, by controlling our thoughts and actions, can choose how we
affect the lives of those around us." - LeGrand R. Curtis, "Perfection:
A Daily Process," Ensign, July 1995, p. 30
(9/8/04)
"I believe The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can save the
world if its members will live as saints of God should. Each time we let down in
living gospel principles, someone is sure to observe our conduct and form an
unfavorable opinion about us and the spiritual values of the Church. Our
faithfulness gives meaning to the doctrines we teach. The Savior emphasized this
statement by saying: 'Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your
good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.' (Matt.
5:16.)" - Elder Delbert L. Stapley, "Our
Responsibility: To Save the World," Ensign, December 1971, p. 95
(9/9/04)
"If we are to fulfill the Lord's command to open the windows of heaven to
all of our brothers and sisters, we must prepare to teach the gospel. With study
of the scriptures, fasting, and prayer, we fortify our testimonies. We cultivate
Christlike attributes of 'faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience,
brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, [and] diligence.' (D&C
4:6.) Through exemplary obedience, we can 'let [our] light so shine before
men, that they may see [our] good works, and glorify [our] Father which is in
heaven.' (Matt. 5:16.) By
keeping the commandments, we can light our gospel candle and put it 'on a
candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.' (Matt.
5:15; emphasis added.)" - Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Windows
of Light and Truth," Ensign, November 1995, p. 76
(3/8/05)
"When the Lord used the expression 'savor of men,' he was speaking of those
who represent him. He was referring to those who have repented, who have been
washed clean in the waters of baptism, and who have covenanted to take upon them
his name and his cause. Moreover, he was speaking of those who would share by
covenant his priesthood power. He was speaking of you and me.
"A world-renowned chemist told me that salt will not lose its savor with
age. Savor is lost through mixture and contamination. Similarly, priesthood
power does not dissipate with age; it, too, is lost through mixture and
contamination....
"Flavor and quality flee a man when he contaminates his mind with unclean
thoughts, desecrates his mouth by speaking less than the truth, and misapplies
his strength in performing evil acts. King Benjamin cautioned, 'Watch
yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the
commandments of God' (Mosiah
4:30)." - Carlos E. Asay, "Salt
of the Earth: Savor of Men and Saviors of Men," Ensign, May 1980, p. 42
(6/3/05)
"Jesus, our Savior, was born in the
lowliest of circumstances. For his baptism he was immersed in the lowest body of
fresh water upon the planet. In service and suffering, he also 'descended below'
all things (D&C 122:8), that
he could rise above all things. Near the end of his life, he triumphantly
declared, 'I have overcome the world.' (John
16:33.) 'Look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live; for unto
him that endureth to the end will I give eternal life.' (3
Ne. 15:9.) Scriptures tutor us at least twenty-six times** to endure to the
end to attain eternal life. Then we will obtain a resurrected body—one that is
incorruptible, glorified, and prepared to live in the presence of God.
"To reach your highest destiny, emulate the Savior. He proclaimed, 'What manner
of men ought ye to be?... Even as I am.' (3
Ne. 27:27.) Our loftiest hope is to grow in spirit and attain 'the stature
of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children.' (Eph.
4:13–14.)" - Russell M. Nelson, "Self-Mastery,"
Ensign, Nov. 1985, 32
**Matt. 10:22;
Matt. 24:13;
Mark 13:13;
1 Ne. 13:37;
1 Ne. 22:31;
2 Ne. 9:24;
2 Ne. 31:15–16, 20;
2 Ne. 33:4;
Omni 1:26;
Alma 32:13, 15;
Alma 38:2;
3 Ne. 15:9;
3 Ne. 27:6, 16–17;
Morm. 9:29;
Moro. 8:26;
D&C 10:69;
D&C 14:7;
D&C 18:22;
D&C 20:25;
D&C 20:29;
D&C 53:7.
(7/13/05)
"The Lord has made it clear that each of us has a
responsibility to exert an influence for good in the lives of those who share
this mortal experience with us. We cannot live in isolation from others and
still fulfill the purpose of our existence. Our actions, our words, our
thoughts, and our values will inevitably affect the souls of those whose lives
brush against ours. If fact, the Lord himself said that this influence may
continue to reverberate long after we have departed, even to the ensuing
generations. (See Mosiah
13:13.) This is an awesome prospect. When we contemplate the power we have
for perpetrating both good and evil in the lives of others, we have good reason
to search for careful understanding of this power." - Dean L. Larsen, "Let
Your Light So Shine," Ensign, Sept. 1981, 21
12/16/05
"Look to the Church and its leaders for counsel
and direction. We have only one desire, and that is that you be happy, that your
lives be challenging and satisfying, that you be saved from pitfalls of evil
which could destroy you, that you will be the kind of people who will carry high
the torch of eternal truth and hand it on to the generation which will succeed
you.
"The truths of this gospel are everlasting and eternal. Philosophies change.
Customs change. Culture changes. But with all of these changes, there are gospel
fundamentals that have never changed and never will change." - Gordon B.
Hinckley, "Stand
True and Faithful," Ensign (CR), May 1996, p.91
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
1/9/06
"'My life is my message,' said Mahatma Gandhi. It is so with each of us. The
impressions of what we are and do and feel and believe and live and teach are
carried over to our children. If we depart from principles, may we reasonably
expect our children not to depart?" - Richard L. Evans, Conference Report, April
1969, Afternoon Meeting, p.75
7/23/06
"We must always remember that though we are in the world, we must not be part of it. We just cannot follow the ways of the world. We must dare to be different. We must not be influenced by those who would call us peculiar. The Lord said to the children of Israel:
"'For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.' (Deut. 14:2.)" - N. Eldon Tanner, "Ready to Work Long Hours," Ensign (CR), November 1976, p.73
8/20/06
"'Agree with thine adversary' (Matt.
5:25).
"'Love your enemies' (Matt.
5:44).
"'Judge not' (Matt. 7:1).
"'Love thy neighbour as thyself' (Matt.
22:39).
"'Condemn not' (Luke 6:37).
"'Forgive' (Luke 6:37).
"'Love one another' (John
13:34).
"Those are but a few of the scriptural instructions clearly indicating that Gods
peace is not to be hoarded. Rather, it is to be shared liberally with our
families, our friends, and our communities. It is to be shared with the Church
as well as those who are not members of our Church. While those around us may
not choose to taste the sweetness and peace of the fulness of the restored
gospel for themselves, surely they will be blessed by seeing it in our lives and
feeling the peace of the gospel in our presence. The message of peace will grow
and expand through our example." - M. Russell Ballard, "The
Peaceable Things of the Kingdom," Ensign (CR), May 2002, p.87
8/28/06
"It is one thing to talk about the gospel, but it is quite another to live it.
It is one thing to preach about Christ, but it is another to follow in his
footsteps.
"When the gospel is incorporated in the life of each one of us, it molds our
decisions and determines our actions. We become models and examples who can
teach others the path to follow leading to life eternal only when we live the
principles of the gospel.
"In the great mission to which we have been called, to be saviors of men, may we
follow the admonition of the Lord:
"'Verily I say unto you all: Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a
standard for the nations.' (D&C
115:5.)" - Angel Abrea, "The
Sure Sound of the Trumpet," Ensign (CR), May 1984, p.70
2/15/07
"Standing as a witness in all things means all things—big things,
little things, in all conversations, in jokes, in games played and books read
and music listened to, in causes supported, in service rendered, in clothes
worn, in friends made." - Margaret D. Nadauld, "Stand
as a Witness," Ensign (CR), May 2000, p.93
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
5/12/07
"Growing up on Long Island, in New York, I understood how vital light was to
those traveling in the darkness on the open sea. How dangerous is a fallen
lighthouse! How devastating is a lighthouse whose light has failed!
"We who have the gift of the Holy Ghost must be true to its promptings so we can
be a light to others.
"'Let your light so shine before men,' said the Lord, 'that they may see your
good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.' (Matt.
5:15-16.)
"We never know who may be depending on us. And, as the Savior said, 'we know not
but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of
heart, and I shall heal them; and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation
unto them.' (3 Ne. 18:32.)"
- Robert D. Hales, "Out
of Darkness into His Marvelous Light," Ensign (CR), May 2002, p.69
5/28/07
"Commensurate with our present condition of happiness and advancement, as a
result of the blessings of the Lord upon us, we may expect to find opposition in
the minds of the people of the world. It has been the history of this people
from the first that as they advanced in faith and power through their obedience
to the principles of the Gospel our enemies have increased in their endeavors to
put down the truth and stay the progress of this work. I speak of this as a
matter of history, not to throw any blame upon any individual. We know, my
brethren and sisters, that the powers of evil are upon the face of the land
today, as they have been ever since the organization of the Church; and they
have been more manifest as the people have grown in faith and power. I saw not
long ago a play represented, and in it was the character of Satan. He said, 'I
rule the earth; my power is everywhere.' I thought within my own heart, how true
that is, in a sense; but on further reflection I was led to exclaim in my heart,
'And the power of God is everywhere also." The same thought brought to my
remembrance the sentence that "God and one good man are a majority.'" - Seymour
B. Young, "Conference Report," April 1903, First Day—Morning Session, p.97
7/22/07
"By choosing to
be in His kingdom, we separate—not isolate—ourselves from the world. Our dress
will be modest, our thoughts pure, our language clean. The movies and television
we watch, the music we listen to, the books, magazines, and newspapers we read
will be uplifting. We will choose friends who encourage our eternal goals, and
we will treat others with kindness. We will shun the vices of immorality,
gambling, tobacco, liquor, and illicit drugs. Our Sunday activities will reflect
the commandment of God to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. We will
follow the example of Jesus Christ in the way we treat others. We will live to
be worthy to enter the house of the Lord." - Robert D. Hales, "The Covenant of Baptism: To Be in the Kingdom and of the
Kingdom," Ensign (CR), November 2000,
p.6
8/11/07
"Our culture
tends to determine what foods we like, how we dress, what constitutes polite
behavior, what sports we should follow, what our taste in music should be, the
importance of education, and our attitudes toward honesty. It also influences
men as to the importance of recreation or religion, influences women about the
priority of career or childbearing, and has a powerful effect on how we approach
procreation and moral issues. All too often, we are like puppets on a string, as
our culture determines what is 'cool.'
"There is, of course, a zeitgeist to which we should pay attention, and
that is the ethos of the Lord, the culture of
the people of God. As Peter states it, 'But ye are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the
praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light'
(1 Peter 2:9).
"It is the ethos of those who keep the Lord's commandments,
walk in His ways, and 'live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth
of God' (D&C 84:44). If that makes us
peculiar, so be it." - David R. Stone, "Zion in the Midst of Babylon," CR
April 2006
9/15/07
"We really don't
know how much good we can do until we put forth the effort. Our testimonies can
penetrate the hearts of others and can bring to them the blessings which will
prevail in this troubled world and which will guide them to exaltation." -
Thomas S. Monson, "Pioneers All," Ensign (CR), May
1997, p.93
10/4/07
"At the end of the
day, our belief in Christ will best be reflected to others by the extent
to which we practice what we preach. Elder Neal A. Maxwell has reminded
us: 'Overall, the perception of us as a Church and people will improve in
direct proportion to the degree to which we mirror the Master in our
lives. No media effort can do as much good—over the sweep of time—as
can believing, behaving, and serving members of the Church! The eloquence
of such examples will be felt and seen in any culture or community.'
(Address to Area Office Public Communications Directors, April 9, 1985.) "
- Alexander B. Morrison, "Feed My Sheep: Leadership Ideas for Latter-day
Shepherds," p.134-135
10/13/07
"Example is often the best teacher. Who in your family could
benefit from your example—a brother, a sister, your mom or dad?" - Mary N. Cook,
"Strengthen Home and Family," General Conference, 6
October 2007
11/27/07
"May we always remember and acknowledge that Jesus Christ,
the Son of God, the Savior of the world, came and gave his life for you and me,
and accept his teachings as the way of life and salvation, and be prepared to so
live that we may be found worthy of his sacrifice as we prepare ourselves to
enjoy immortality and eternal life. As we do this, we will bring glory to his
name and salvation to ourselves." - N. Eldon Tanner, "The Importance of Prayer," Ensign
(CR), May 1974, p.50
2/3/08
"Ever since the Salt Lake Temple was
dedicated, we have interpreted that scripture from Isaiah, repeated again in
Micah (see Micah 4:1-2), as
applying to this sacred house of the Lord. And of this place, since the day of
its dedication, an ever-increasing number from across the world have said in
effect, 'Come ye, and let us go up to
the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that He might teach
us of His ways, that we might walk in His paths.'
"I
believe and testify that it is the mission of this Church to stand as an ensign
to the nations and a light to the world. We have had placed upon us a great,
all-encompassing mandate from which we cannot shrink nor turn aside. We accept
that mandate and are determined to fulfill it, and with the help of God we shall
do it." - Gordon
B. Hinckley, "An
Ensign to the Nations, a Light to the World,"
Ensign (CR), November 2003, p.82
2/20/08
"My brothers
and sisters, in this marvelous dispensation of the fulness of times, as we
journey through mortality and face the trials and challenges of the future, may
we remember the examples of these models to follow which I have referred to this
morning. May we have the unfeigned humility of John the Baptist, the
unquestioning obedience of Abraham, the unlimited patience of Job, the
unwavering faith of Noah, the undeviating loyalty of Ruth, the unflagging
determination of Nephi, the undaunted courage of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and
the unfailing optimism of President Hinckley. Such will be as a fortress of
strength to us throughout our lives." - Thomas
S. Monson, "Models
to Follow," Ensign (CR), November
2002, p.60
3/6/08
"Fathers,
grandfathers, are we reading to our sons and grandsons the word of the Lord?
Returned missionaries, do your messages and your lives inspire others to stand
up and serve? Brethren, are we sufficiently in tune with the Spirit that when
the Lord calls, we can hear, as did Samuel, and declare, 'Here
am I?' Do we have the fortitude and the
faith, whatever our callings, to serve with unflinching courage and unshakable
resolve? When we do, the Lord can work His mighty miracles through us."
- Thomas S. Monson, "The
Priesthood in Action," Ensign (CR),
November 1992, p.47
3/14/08
"There is no end to the good we can do,
to the influence we can have with others. Let us not dwell on the critical or
the negative. Let us pray for strength; let us pray for capacity and desire to
assist others. Let us radiate the light of the gospel at all times and all
places, that the Spirit of the Redeemer may radiate from us."
- Gordon B. Hinckley, "The
Need for Greater Kindness," CR April
2006
3/28/08
"Because we love the Lord, we should be
spiritually sensitive to moments when the powerful and important truths of the
gospel can be shared with others. Perhaps more importantly, however, we should
seek at all times to purify ourselves and to lead such worthy lives that the
Light of Christ emanates from us in all that we say and do. Our day-to-day lives
should stand as immutable witness of our faith in Christ. In the words of the
Apostle Paul, 'Be thou an example of the
believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.'
(1 Tim. 4:12)"
- M. Russell Ballard, "How
Is It with Us?," Ensign (CR), May
2000, p.31
4/27/08
"The Lord reminds us that 'unto
whom much is given much is required.'
Those who bear the priesthood of God have a great responsibility to be examples
of goodness to the world. We live up to these expectations when we quickly
recognize the dangers and influences that tempt us to drift from the Lord’s way
and when we courageously follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost to make
decisive corrections that will bring us back on course."
Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "A
Matter of a Few Degrees," General Conference, April 2008
4/28/08
"Ours is the task to be fitting
examples. We are strengthened by the truth that the greatest force in the world
today is the power of God as it works through man. If we are on the Lord's
errand, ... we are entitled to the
Lord's help. Never forget that truth. That divine help, of course, is predicated
upon our worthiness. Each must ask: Are my hands clean? Is my heart pure? Am I a
worthy servant of the Lord?" - Thomas S.
Monson, "Examples
of Righteousness," General Conference, April 2008
5/2/08
"It was said of the Savior that He 'went
about doing good . . . for God was with him.' (Acts
10:38) May we follow that perfect example. In this sometimes
precarious journey through mortality, may we also follow that advice from the
Apostle Paul which will help to keep us safe and on course: “Whatsoever things
are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever
things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good
report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these
things.' (Philippians
4:8)" - Thomas S. Monson, "Looking
Back and Moving Forward," General Conference, April 2008