Refer your friends to join The LDS Daily WOOL (Words Of Our Leaders)
(3/21/98)
"I speak to fathers and mothers everywhere with a plea to put harshness
behind us, to bridle our anger, to lower our voices, and to deal with mercy and
love and respect one toward another in our homes." — Gordon B. Hinckley,
"Blessed
Are The Merciful," Ensign, May 1990
(11/24/99)
"With the ever-increasing number of converts, we must make an increasingly
substantial effort to assist them as they find their way. Every one of them
needs three things: a friend, a responsibility, and nurturing with 'the good
word of God' (Moro. 6:4). It
is our duty and opportunity to provide these things." — "Converts
and Young Men," Ensign, May 1997
(11/25/99)
"Gratitude is among the greatest of virtues." — "The Widow's Mite," "BYU
Speeches of the Year," 17 September 1985
(11/26/99)
"We have not as yet carried the gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue,
and people. But we have made great strides. We have gone wherever we are
permitted to go. God is at the helm and doors will be opened by His power
according to His divine will. Of that I am confident. Of that I am
certain." — "Stay
the Course--Keep the Faith," Ensign, November 1995
(11/27/99)
"We have never found, and I think we never shall find, an adequate
substitute for the situation in which two wholesome young men meet with a
family, reason with them, teach them, testify to them, and pray with them. We
shall always need missionaries." — General
Conference, April 1959
(11/28/99)
"In remembering together before the Lord the poor, the needy, and the
oppressed, there is developed, unconsciously but realistically, a love for
others above self, a respect for others, a desire to serve the needs of others.
One cannot ask God to help a neighbor in distress without feeling motivated to
do something oneself toward helping that neighbor. What miracles would happen in
the lives of the children of America, and of the world, if they would lay aside
their own selfishness and lose themselves in the service of others. The seed
from which this sheltering and fruitful tree may grow is best planted and
nurtured in the daily supplications of the family." — "Conference Report," April 1963, p.
127
(10/22/00)
"Discipline yourselves. Master your temper. Most of the things that make
you angry are of very small consequence. And what a terrible price you are
paying for your anger. Ask the Lord to forgive you." — Gordon B. Hinckley, "Women
Of The Church," Ensign, November 1996
(10/24/00)
"It is not the macho thing. It is an indication of weakness. Anger is not
an expression of strength. It is an indication of one's inability to control his
thoughts, words, his emotions. Of course it is easy to get angry. When the
weakness of anger takes over, the strength of reason leaves. Cultivate within
yourselves the mighty power of self-discipline." — Gordon B. Hinckley, "Our
Solemn Responsibilities," Ensign, November 1991
(1/17/01)
"Again Paul’s counsel to Timothy, 'Keep thyself pure' (1 Tim. 5:22). Those are
simple words. But they are ever so important. Paul is saying, in effect, stay
away from those things which will tear you down and destroy you spiritually.
Stay away from television shows which lead to unclean thoughts and unclean
language. Stay away from videos which will lead to evil thoughts. They won’t
help you. They will only hurt you. Stay away from books and magazines which are
sleazy and filthy in what they say and portray. Keep thyself pure." — Gordon B. Hinckley, "Converts
and Young Men," Ensign, May 1997, p. 49
(2/11/01)
"The magnificent expression of His love came in His death when He gave His
life as a sacrifice for all men. That Atonement, wrought in unspeakable pain,
became the greatest event of history, an act of grace for which men gave nothing
but which brought the assurance of the Resurrection to all who have or would
walk the earth. No other act in all of human history compares with it. Nothing
that has ever happened can match it. Totally unselfish and with unbounded love
for all mankind, it became an unparalleled act of mercy for the whole human
race." — Gordon B. Hinckley, "At
the Summit of the Ages," Ensign, Nov. 1999, p. 73
(4/19/01)
"There is pollution in our society. It is all about us. It is sweeping
across the world like a flood destroying people. My beloved brothers and
sisters, stay away from it. Stay away from this sleazy pollution. Stay away from
anything which tears you down and makes you less than what you ought to
be." — (meeting, Ottawa, Ontario,
Canada, 5 Aug. 1998). "Latter-day
Counsel: Excerpts from Recent Addresses of President Gordon B. Hinckley,"
Ensign, July 1999, p. 73
(9/22/01)
"I believe in the beauty of personal virtue. There is so much of ugliness
in the world in which we live. It is expressed in coarse language, in sloppy
dress and manners, in immoral behavior which mocks the beauty of virtue and
always leaves a scar. Each of us can and must stand above this sordid and
destructive evil, this ugly stain of immorality." — Gordon B.
Hinckley, "I
Believe," Ensign, August 1992, p. 4
(1/24/02)
"The first article of faith is familiar to all members of the Church. It is
the pivotal position of our religion. It is significant that in setting forth
the primary elements of our doctrine, the Prophet Joseph put this number
one..." — Gordon B.
Hinckley, "The
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost," "Ensign," Mar. 1998, p. 2
(4/2/02)
"Obedience to law, when that law has been declared constitutional, is
incumbent upon the Latter-day Saints and therefore becomes a standard of
eligibility to enter the temples of the Church." — Gordon B. Hinckley, "Keeping
the Temple Holy," Ensign, May 1990, p. 51
(9/13/02)
"If the Book of Mormon is true, the Bible is true. The Bible is the
Testament of the Old World; the Book of Mormon is the Testament of the New. One
is the record of Judah; the other is the record of Joseph, and they have come
together in the hand of the Lord in fulfillment of the prophecy of Ezekiel. (See
Ezek. 37:19.) Together
they declare the Kingship of the Redeemer of the world and the reality of his
kingdom." — Gordon B. Hinckley,
"The
Power of the Book of Mormon," "Ensign," June 1988, p. 6
(9/15/02)
"But if that is not enough, there is another testament. This so-called Book
of Mormon, this scripture of the New World, is before us as an added witness of
the divinity and reality of the Lord Jesus Christ, of the encompassing
beneficence of His atonement, and of His coming forth from the darkness of the
grave. Within these covers is found much of the sure word of prophecy concerning
Him who should be born of a virgin, the Son of the Almighty God. There is a
foretelling of His work among men as a living mortal. There is a declaration of
His death, of the lamb without blemish who was to be sacrificed for the sins of
the world. And there is an account that is moving and inspiring and true of the
visit of the resurrected Christ among living men and women in the western
continent. The testimony is here to handle; it is here to be read; it is here to
be pondered; it is here to be prayed over with a promise that he who prays shall
know by the power of the Holy Ghost of its truth and validity (see Moro. 10:3-5)." — Gordon B. Hinckley, "The
Greatest Miracle in Human History," "Ensign," May 1994, p. 72
(6/18/03)
"If we are to build that Zion of which the prophets have spoken and of
which the Lord has given mighty promise, we must set aside our consuming
selfishness. We must rise above our love for comfort and ease, and in the very
process of effort and struggle, even in our extremity, we shall become better
acquainted with our God. ('Our Mission of Saving,' Ensign, November 1991, p.
59.)" — Gordon B. Hinckley, "Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley,"
[Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1997], p. 725
(6/27/03)
"Could any language be more explicit? Does it demean God, as some would
have us believe, that man was created in his express image? Rather, it should
stir within the heart of every man and woman a greater appreciation for himself
or herself as a son or daughter of God. Paul's words to the Corinthian Saints
are as applicable to us today as they were to those to whom he wrote. Said he:
'Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth
in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the
temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.' (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)"
— Gordon B. Hinckley, "Faith: The Essence of True Religion," [Salt
Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1989], p. 21
(7/3/03)
"Be not faithless, but believe in Jehovah, he whose finger wrote upon the
tablets of stone amid the thunders of Sinai, 'Thou shalt have no other gods
before me.' (Exodus 20:3) The
Decalogue, which is the basis of all good law governing human relations, is the
product of his divine genius. As you look upon the vast body of legalisms
designed to protect men and society, pause and know that it has its roots in
those few brief and timeless declarations given by the all-wise Jehovah to
Moses." — Gordon B. Hinckley, "Be Thou an Example," [Salt Lake
City: Deseret Book Co., 1981], p. 74
(7/9/03)
"Was there ever adultery without dishonesty? In the vernacular, the evil is
described as "cheating." And cheating it is, for it robs virtue, it
robs loyalty, it robs sacred promises, it robs self-respect, it robs truth. It
involves deception. It is personal dishonesty of the worst kind, for it becomes
a betrayal of the most sacred of human relationships and a denial of covenants
and promises entered into before God and man. It is the sordid violation of a
trust. It is a selfish casting aside of the law of God; and like other forms of
dishonesty its fruits are sorrow, bitterness, heartbroken companions, and
betrayed children." -- Gordon B. Hinckley, "Be Thou an Example,"
[Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1981], p. 44
(8/02/03)
"This, my brethren and sisters, is our divine right—to choose. This is
our divine obligation—to choose the right." — Gordon B. Hinckley,
"Caesar, Circus, or Christ?" "BYU Speeches of the Year,"
1965 p. 8
(9/26/03)
"I believe in the triumph of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the triumph of
the Church and kingdom of God on the earth. If ever your faith is inclined to
weaken as you see the onward march of evil and oppression, read again the story
of Daniel who, putting his trust in the 'God in heaven that revealeth secrets,'
interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dream. He said concerning our day that the God of
heaven shall 'set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom
shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all
these [other] kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.' (Dan. 2:44.)" - Gordon B.
Hinckley, "General Conference Reports," April 1969, p. 114
(10/14/03)
"It is tremendously significant to me that this declaration, this
repetition of the wondrous words of Malachi concerning the work for the dead was
given to the boy Joseph four years before he was allowed to take the plates from
the hill. It was given before he received either the Aaronic or Melchizedek
Priesthood, before he was baptized and well before the Church was organized. It
says much concerning the priority of this work in the plan of the Lord." -
Gordon B. Hinckley, Address given at the 100th anniversary of the Genealogical
Society of Utah, 13 November 1994
(10/15/03)
"To the Latter-day Saints everywhere, as we gather in this great conference
I say, may God bless you. Keep the faith; be true to your covenants. Walk in the
light of the gospel. Build the kingdom of God in the earth." - "State
of the Church," Ensign, November 2003
(11/1/03)
"Everyone who participates in this conference is accountable to a bishop or
a branch president. Tremendous are the burdens which they carry, and I invite
every member of the Church to do all that he or she can to lift the burden under
which our bishops and branch presidents labor." - Gordon B. Hinckley,
"The
Shepherds of Israel," Ensign, November 2003
(11/7/03)
"Within your sphere of responsibility you have as serious an obligation as
do I within my sphere of responsibility. Each of us should be determined to
build the kingdom of God on the earth and to further the work of
righteousness." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "An
Ensign to the Nations, a Light to the World," Ensign, November 2003
(11/14/03)
"This gospel is an intimate thing. It is not some distant concept. It is
applicable in our lives. It can change our very natures." - Gordon B.
Hinckley, "Let
Us Live the Gospel More Fully," Ensign, November 2003
(11/28/03)
"Here is the kernel of the whole matter. We need not worry about consensus,
or reason, or opinion in matters of right and wrong. "The Spirit of Christ
is given to every man, that he may know good from evil." Most of us know
better than we do. As we discipline ourselves in line with our knowledge, in
line with the inner convictions of our hearts, rather than the inclination to
follow the crowd, we grow." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "Caesar, Circus or
Christ?" "BYU Speeches of the Year," 26 October 1965, p. 7
(12/9/03)
The Holy Ghost is the Testifier of Truth, who can teach men things they
cannot teach one another. In those great and challenging words of Moroni, a
knowledge of the truth of the Book of Mormon is promised 'by the power of the
Holy Ghost.' Moroni then declares, 'And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may
know the truth of all things' (Moro.
10:4-5)." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "The
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost," Ensign, Mar. 1998, p. 7
(12/14/03)
"We are living in a wonderful season of the work of the Lord. The work is
growing ever stronger. It is expanding across the world. Each of us has an
important part to play in this great undertaking. People in more than 160
nations, speaking a score of languages and more, worship our Father in Heaven
and our Redeemer, His Beloved Son. This is their great work. It is their cause
and their kingdom." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "May
We Be Faithful and True," Ensign, May 1997
(12/21/03)
"Jesus was in very deed the great Jehovah of the Old Testament, who left
His Father's royal courts on high and condescended to come to earth as a babe
born in the most humble of circumstances. His birth was foretold centuries
earlier by Isaiah, who declared prophetically, "For unto us a child is
born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and
his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting
Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isa.
9:6). This Jesus Christ of whom we solemnly testify is, as John the
Revelator declared, "the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the
dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth." He "loved us, and
washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests
unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever" (Rev. 1:5-6)." - Gordon B.
Hinckley, "A
Testimony of the Son of God," Ensign, December 2002
(12/23/03)
"When all is said and done, when all of history is examined, when the
deepest depths of the human mind have been explored, nothing is so wonderful, so
majestic, so tremendous as this act of grace when the Son of the Almighty, the
Prince of His Father's royal household, He who had once spoken as Jehovah, He
who had condescended to come to earth as a babe born in Bethlehem, gave His life
in ignominy and pain so that all of the sons and daughters of God of all
generations of time, every one of whom must die, might walk again and live
eternally. He did for us what none of us could do for ourselves." - Gordon
B. Hinckley, "The
Wondrous and True Story of Christmas," Ensign, December 2000
(1/5/04)
"It is not God who has given us the spirit of fear; this comes from the
adversary. So many of us are fearful of what our peers will say, that we will be
looked upon with disdain and criticized if we stand for what is right. But I
remind you that "wickedness never was happiness" (Alma 41:10). Evil never was
happiness. Sin never was happiness. Happiness lies in the power and the love and
the sweet simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ." - Gordon B. Hinckley,
"Converts
and Young Men," Ensign, May 1997
(1/9/04)
"At a time when families all across the world are falling apart, let us
solidify our own, let us strengthen them, let us nurture them in righteousness
and truth." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "True
to the Faith," Ensign, May 1997
(1/16/04)
"Let us be good citizens of the nations in which we live. Let us be good
neighbors in our communities. Let us acknowledge the diversity of our society,
recognizing the good in all people. We need not make any surrender of our
theology. But we can set aside any element of suspicion, of provincialism, of
parochialism." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "Our
Testimony to the World," Ensign, May 1997
(3/12/04)
"To every officer, to every teacher in this Church who acts in a priesthood
office, there comes the sacred responsibility of magnifying that priesthood
calling. Each of us is responsible for the welfare and the growth and
development of others. We do not live only unto ourselves. If we are to magnify
our callings, we cannot live only unto ourselves. As we serve with diligence, as
we teach with faith and testimony, as we lift and strengthen and build
convictions of righteousness in those whose lives we touch, we magnify our
priesthood. To live only unto ourselves, on the other hand, to serve grudgingly,
to give less than our best effort to our duty, diminishes our priesthood just as
looking through the wrong lenses of binoculars reduces the image and makes more
distant the object." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "Magnify
Your Calling," Ensign, May 1989, p. 47
(4/10/04)
"'If a man die, shall he live again?' (Job 14:14). This is the great
universal question framed by Job. He spoke what every other living man or woman
has pondered. The Christ alone, of all the millions who up to that time had
walked the earth, was the first to emerge from the grave triumphant, a living
soul complete in spirit and body. He became 'the firstfruits of them that slept'
(1 Cor. 15:20). Were
greater words ever spoken than those of the angel that first resurrection
morn-'Why seek ye the living among the dead?' (Luke 24:5). 'He is not here:
for he is risen, as he said' (Matt.
28:6)." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "The
Victory over Death," Ensign, April 1997, p. 2
(5/9/04)
You have walked the sometimes painful, sometimes joyous path of parenthood. You
have walked hand in hand with God in the great process of bringing children into
the world that they might experience this estate along the road of immortality
and eternal life. It has not been easy rearing a family. Most of you have had to
sacrifice and skimp and labor night and day. As I think of you and your
circumstances, I think of the words of Anne Campbell, who wrote as she looked
upon her children:
You are the trip I did not take;
You are the pearls I cannot buy;
You are my blue Italian lake;
You are my piece of foreign sky.
("To My Child," quoted in Charles L. Wallis, ed., The Treasure Chest
[1965], 54)
You sisters are the real builders of the nation wherever you live, for you have
created homes of strength and peace and security. These become the very sinew of
any nation.
Gordon B. Hinckley
"Women
of the Church"
"Ensign," November 1996, p. 67
(5/16/04)
"The Spirit of the Lord guides this work. This welfare activity is secular
activity, expressing itself in terms of rice and beans, of blankets and tents,
of clothing and medicine, of employment and education for better employment. But
this so-called secular work is but an outward expression of an inward spirit-the
Spirit of the Lord of whom it was said, He 'went about doing good' (Acts 10:38)." - Gordon
B. Hinckley, "'I
Was an Hungred, and Ye Gave Me Meat'," General Conference, April 2004
(5/20/04)
"Why were we then happy? I think it was because good had triumphed over
evil and the whole human family was on the Lord's side. We turned our backs on
the adversary and aligned ourselves with the forces of God, and those forces
were victorious. But having made that decision, why should we have to make it
again and again after our birth into mortality? I cannot understand why so many
have betrayed in life the decision they once made when the great war occurred in
heaven. But it is evident that the contest between good and evil, which began
with that war, has never ended. It has gone on, and on, and on to the present. I
think our Father must weep because so many of His children through the ages have
exercised the agency He gave them and have chosen to walk the road of evil
rather than good." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "The
Dawning of a Brighter Day," General Conference, April 2004
(5/24/04)
"Never assume that you can make it alone. You need the help of the Lord.
Never hesitate to get on your knees in some private place and speak with Him.
What a marvelous and wonderful thing is prayer. Think of it. We can actually
speak with our Father in Heaven. He will hear and respond, but we need to listen
to that response. Nothing is too serious and nothing too unimportant to share
with Him. He has said, 'Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest' (Matthew
11:28). He continues, 'For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light' (v. 30)." - Gordon B.
Hinckley, "Stay
on the High Road," General Young Women Meeting, March 2004
(7/21/04)
"In summary, try a little harder to measure up to the divine within each of
you. As Alma said, 'Awake and arouse your faculties' (Alma 32:27)." - Gordon
B. Hinckley, "The
Light within You," Ensign, May 1995, p. 99
(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
(9/18/04)
"'And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will
build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.' (Matthew
16:13-18.) This rock of revelation is the source of knowledge concerning the
things of God. It is the witness of the Holy Spirit that testifies of eternal
truth, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against any man who seeks it, who
accepts it, who cultivates it, and who lives by it." - Gordon B. Hinckley,
"Be Thou an Example," [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1981], p. 8
(10/5/04)
"Passive acceptance of the Lord is not enough. Vibrant testimony comes of
anxious seeking. Strength comes of active service in the Master's cause. 'Learn
of me,' was Jesus' injunction. He further declared that he that doeth the will
of the Father 'shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I
speak of myself.' (John 7:17.)"
- Gordon B. Hinckley, "With
All Thy Getting Get Understanding,' Ensign, August 1988, p. 5
(11/3/04)
"He was buried in a borrowed tomb and on the third day rose from the grave.
He came forth triumphant, in a victory over death, the firstfruits of all that
slept. With his resurrection came the promise to all men that life is
everlasting, that even as in Adam all die, in Christ all are made alive. (See 1
Cor. 15:20-22.) Nothing in all of human history equals the wonder, the
splendor, the magnitude, or the fruits of the matchless life of the Son of God,
who died for each of us. He is our Savior. He is our Redeemer. As Isaiah
foretold, 'His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The
everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.' (Isa.
9:6.)" - Gordon B. Hinckley, "The
Cornerstones of Our Faith," Ensign, November 1984, p. 51-52
(11/30/04)
"Paul wrote concerning the priesthood: 'No man taketh this honour unto
himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.' (Heb.
5:4.) We have not acquired it through purchase or bargain. The Lord has
given it to men who are considered worthy to receive it, regardless of station
in life, the color of their skin, or the nation in which they live. It is the
power and the authority to govern in the affairs of the kingdom of God. It is
given only by ordination by the laying on of hands by those in authority to do
so. The qualification for eligibility is obedience to the commandments of
God." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "The
Cornerstones of Our Faith," Ensign, November 1984, p. 52
(12/4/04)
"Brothers and sisters, as we go forward in our lives, let us never forget
to pray. God lives. He is near. He is real. He is our Father. He is accessible
to us. He is the author of eternal truth, the Master of the universe. The handle
is ready, and the door can be opened to His abundance. 'If any of you lack
wisdom, let him ask of God.' (James
1:5-6.)" - Gordon B. Hinckley, "Pillars
of Truth," Ensign, January 1994, p. 2
(12/12/04)
"Now, I want you to be thoughtful. I urge that you be thoughtful, however,
in a positive and affirmative way concerning this the work of the Lord. This is
not any ordinary cause of which you are a part. It is in very deed the Church
and kingdom of God in the earth. It is the stone which was cut out of the
mountain without hands, as Daniel saw it in vision, which should roll forth and
fill the whole earth (see Dan.
2:44-45; D&C 65:2). It
is the thing of which John the Revelator spoke when he said, 'And I saw another
angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto
them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and
people' (Rev. 14:6)." -
Gordon B. Hinckley, "True
to the Faith," Ensign, June 1996, p. 7
(12/23/04)
"We honor His birth. But without His death that birth would have been but
one more birth. It was the redemption which He worked out in the Garden of
Gethsemane and upon the cross of Calvary which made His gift immortal,
universal, and everlasting. His was a great Atonement for the sins of all
mankind. He was the resurrection and the life, 'the firstfruits of them that
slept' (1 Cor. 15:20).
Because of Him all men will be raised from the grave.... We love Him. We honor
Him. We thank Him. We worship Him. He has done for each of us and for all
mankind that which none other could have done. God be thanked for the gift of
His Beloved Son, our Savior, the Redeemer of the world, the Lamb without blemish
who was offered as a sacrifice for all mankind." - Gordon B. Hinckley,
"A
Season for Gratitude," Ensign, Dec. 1997, p. 4
(12/24/04)
"What a glad season this is when we remember the coming of the Christ
child. There are only a few lines of scripture that tell us of this event, but
their simple words carry with them 'the hopes and fears of all the years' for
people everywhere. ("O Little Town of Bethlehem," Hymns, 1985, no.
208.)" - Gordon B. Hinckley, "Do
Ye Even So to Them," Ensign, Dec. 1991, p. 2
(1/14/05)
"May I quickly suggest four cornerstones upon which to build that house?
There are others, but I choose to emphasize these. They come of the gospel of
Jesus Christ. They are not difficult to understand nor difficult to follow. They
are well within your reach with a little effort; and I do not hesitate to
promise you that if you will establish the home of which you dream on these
foundation stones, the perils of your married life will be diminished, your love
for one another will strengthen through the years, you will bless the lives of
your children and of your children's children, and you will know happiness in
this life and joy eternal....
"The first of these I call Respect for One Another, the kind of
respect that regards one's companion as the most precious friend on earth and
not as a possession or a chattel
to be forced or compelled to suit one's selfish whims....
"The second thing I mention is a very simple thing, but I regard it as a
very basic thing. For want of a better phrase I call it The Soft Answer....
"I turn now to the third cornerstone on which to establish a stable and
happy home. I title it Honesty with God and with One Another....
"Now in conclusion, as the fourth cornerstone I should like to suggest Family
Prayer." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "Except
the Lord Build the House...," Ensign, June 1971, p. 72
(4/10/05)
"'Now, my brethren and sisters, the time has come for us to stand a little
taller, to lift our eyes and stretch our minds to a greater comprehension and
understanding of the grand millennial mission of this The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints. This is a season to be strong. It is a time to move
forward without hesitation, knowing well the meaning, the breadth, and the
importance of our mission. It is a time to do what is right regardless of the
consequences that might follow. It is a time to be found keeping the
commandments. It is a season to reach out with kindness and love to those in
distress and to those who are wandering in darkness and pain. It is a time to be
considerate and good, decent and courteous toward one another in all of our
relationships. In other words, to become more Christlike' ('This
Is the Work of the Master,' Ensign, May 1995, 71).
"You must be the judge of how far we have come in realizing the fulfillment
of that invitation given 10 years ago." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "Opening
Remarks," General Conference, April 2005
(4/27/05)
"The family is a creation of the Almighty. It represents the most sacred of
all relationships. It represents the most serious of all undertakings. It is the
fundamental organization of society." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "The
Great Things Which God Has Revealed," General Conference, April 2005
(5/7/05)
"To you wives and mothers who work to
maintain stable homes where there is an environment of love and respect and
appreciation I say, the Lord bless you. Regardless of your circumstances, walk
with faith. Rear your children in light and truth. Teach them to pray while they
are young. Read to them from the scriptures even though they may not understand
all that you read. Teach them to pay their tithes and offerings on the first
money they ever receive. Let this practice become a habit in their lives. Teach
your sons to honor womanhood. Teach your daughters to walk in virtue. Accept
responsibility in the Church, and trust in the Lord to make you equal to any
call you may receive. Your example will set a pattern for your children. Reach
out in love to those in distress and need." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "Stand
Strong against the Wiles of the World," Ensign, Nov. 1995, p. 99
(6/20/05)
"How difficult it is for any of us to forgive those
who have injured us. We are all prone to brood on the evil done us. That
brooding becomes as a gnawing and destructive canker. Is there a virtue more in
need of application in our time than the virtue of forgiving and forgetting?
There are those who would look upon this as a sign of weakness. Is it? I submit
that it takes neither strength nor intelligence to brood in anger over wrongs
suffered, to go through life with a spirit of vindictiveness, to dissipate one’s
abilities in planning retribution. There is no peace in the nursing of a grudge.
There is no happiness in living for the day when you can 'get even.'
"Paul speaks of 'the weak and beggarly elements' of our lives (see
Gal. 4:9). Is there anything
more weak or beggarly than the disposition to wear out one's life in an unending
round of bitter thoughts and scheming gestures toward those who may have
affronted us?" - Gordon B. Hinckley, "Of
You It Is Required to Forgive," Ensign, Nov. 1980, 62
(7/16/05)
"I give you my testimony that if you sincerely apply family
prayer, you will not go away unrewarded. The changes may not be readily
apparent. They may be extremely subtle. But they will be real, for God 'is a
rewarder of them that diligently seek him.' (Heb.
11:6.)" - Gordon B. Hinckley, "The
Blessings of Family Prayer," Ensign, Feb. 1991, 5
(7/20/05)
"Be true to our Eternal Father and His Beloved Son. When all
else fails, our Lord is there to help us. He has said, 'Come unto me, all ye
that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest' (Matt.
11:28). Each of you has burdens. Let the Lord help you in carrying those
burdens. Again He has said, 'Take my yoke upon you,... for my yoke is easy, and
my burden is light' (Matt.
11:29–30). He stands ready to help—to help each of us—with every burden. He
loves us so much that He shed drops of blood in Gethsemane, then permitted evil
and wicked men to take Him, to compel Him to carry the cross to Golgotha, to
suffer beyond any power of description terrible pain when He was nailed to the
cross, to be lifted up on the cross, and to die for each of us." - Gordon B.
Hinckley, "Stand
True and Faithful," Ensign, May 1996, 94
(8/8/05)
"Brothers and sisters, all of you out in the wards and stakes
and in the districts and branches, I invite you to become a vast army with
enthusiasm for this work and a great overarching desire to assist the
missionaries in the tremendous responsibility they have to carry the gospel to
every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. 'The field is white [and] ready to
harvest' (D&C 4:4). The Lord
has repeatedly declared this. Shall we not take Him at His word?" - Gordon B.
Hinckley, "Find
the Lambs, Feed the Sheep," Ensign, May 1999, 110
(8/25/05)
"I am asking that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy
more fully the sunlight. I am suggesting that as we go through life we
'accentuate the positive.' I am asking that we look a little deeper for the
good, that we still voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously
compliment virtue and effort. I am not asking that all criticism be silenced.
Growth comes of correction. Strength comes of repentance. Wise is the man who
can acknowledge mistakes pointed out by others and change his course.
"What I am suggesting is that each of us turn from the negativism that so
permeates our society and look for the remarkable good among those with whom we
associate, that we speak of one another's virtues more than we speak of one
another's faults, that optimism replace pessimism, that our faith exceed our
fears. When I was a young man and was prone to speak critically, my father would
say: 'Cynics do not contribute, skeptics do not create, doubters do not
achieve.'" - Gordon B. Hinckley, "The
Continuing Pursuit of Truth," Ensign, Apr. 1986, 2, 4
(8/26/05)
"When the Lord took Moses unto Himself, He then said to
Joshua, 'Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou
dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest' (Josh.
1:9). This is His work. Never forget it. Embrace it with enthusiasm and
affection.
"Let us not be afraid. Jesus is our leader, our strength, and our king." -
Gordon B. Hinckley, "Stay
the Course—Keep the Faith," Ensign, Nov. 1995, 72
(9/1/05)
"One who seeks to please his Heavenly Father will serve the
needs of our Father's kingdom. This Church is a part of His divine plan. It is
the kingdom of God in the earth. Its work is important. Its work is necessary to
the accomplishment of the eternal purposes of our Father. If each of us is to
please our Father in Heaven, we must be responsive to the needs of His kingdom.
We must be willing to work wherever we are called to work and to develop our
talents so that our work will be more effective in reaching out to those who are
not members of the Church or those who are inactive in the Church. We must be
diligent in carrying forward the great work of salvation for the dead and in
every other way giving of our strength and talent and substance to move forward
and strengthen the Church. This may involve some sacrifice, yes, but with every
sacrifice comes a blessing." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "To
Please Our Heavenly Father," Ensign, May 1985, 50–51
(9/26/05)
"We are a covenant people. I have had the feeling that if we
could just encourage our people to live by three or four covenants everything
else would take care of itself; we would not have to have anything else except
to go forward with our program.
"The first of these is the covenant of the sacrament, in which we take upon
ourselves the name of the Savior and agree to keep His commandments with the
promise in His covenant that He will bless us with His spirit. If our people
would go to sacrament meeting every week and reflect as they partake of the
sacrament on the meaning of the prayers which are offered, . . . if they would
listen to the language of those prayers, which were given by revelation, and
live by them, we would be a better people, all of us would be. That is the
importance of the sacrament meeting. The speakers are incidental. The great
thing is that we gather together and partake of the sacrament together...." -
Gordon B. Hinckley, "Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley" [Salt Lake City: Deseret
Book Co., 1997], p. 146
(9/27/05)
"Second, the covenant of tithing. It is a covenant. 'Why have
ye robbed me? Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse... and prove me now
herewith' (Mal.
3:10). The commandment to us is to pay our tithing. The promise on the other
side of that contract, that covenant, is that He will stay the destroyer and
open the windows of heaven and pour down blessings that there will not be room
enough to receive them. I am one who believes in the literalness of that
promise...." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley" [Salt Lake
City: Deseret Book Co., 1997], p. 147
(9/28/05)
"Three, the covenants of the temple: Sacrifice, the
willingness to sacrifice for this the Lord's work—and inherent in that law of
sacrifice is the very essence of the Atonement, the ultimate sacrifice made by
the Son of God in behalf of each of us. Consecration, which is associated with
it, a willingness to give everything, if need be, to help in the on-rolling of
this great work. And a covenant of love and loyalty one to another in the bonds
of marriage, fidelity, chastity, morality.
"If our people could only learn to live by these covenants, everything else
would take care of itself, I am satisfied. We would not have to worry about
sacrament meeting attendance. We would not have to worry about willingness to
serve missions. We would not have to worry about divorce and the many requests
for cancellation of temple sealings. We would not have to worry about any of
those things." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley"
[Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1997], p. 147
(10/15/05)
"We can improve, and when all is said and done that's what
this is all about: improvement, changing our lives so that we can help people
change their lives and be better. And let's build Zion in the earth. That's what
it is all about." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley," p.726
(11/6/05)
"This thing which we call testimony is the great strength
of the Church. It is the wellspring of faith and activity. It is difficult to
explain. It is difficult to quantify. It is an elusive and mysterious thing, and
yet it is as real and powerful as any force on the earth. The Lord described it
when He spoke to Nicodemus and said, 'The wind bloweth where it listeth, and
thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither
it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit' (John
3:8). This thing which we call testimony is difficult to define, but its
fruits are plainly evident. It is the Holy Spirit testifying through us." -
Gordon B. Hinckley, "Testimony,"
Ensign (CR), May 1998, p.69
(11/13/05)
"Let us establish in our lives the habit of reading those things which
will strengthen our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. He
is the pivotal figure of our theology and our faith. Every Latter-day Saint has
the responsibility to know for himself or herself with a certainty beyond doubt
that Jesus is the resurrected, living Son of the living God. The Brethren of the
Council of the Twelve are advocating that we read a chapter a day of the
Gospels—that is,
Matthew,
Mark,
Luke, and
John in the Bible; and
Third Nephi in the Book of Mormon, particularly beginning with the eleventh
chapter of Third Nephi where is found the account of Christ's visit among the
Nephites in this hemisphere. I should like to endorse this program and commend
it to you and urge you to follow it." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "Fear
Not to Do Good," Ensign (CR), May 1983, p.79
11/18/05
"Would you have your children grow in a spirit of unselfishness? Indulgence of
selfish desires will not do it. Rather, let them come to see in their own homes,
and in their most intimate family associations, the truth of the great principle
set forth by the Lord: 'Whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but
whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save
it.' (Mark 8:35.)" - Gordon
B. Hinckley, "Faith: The Essence of True Religion," p.67
11/28/05
"This church does not belong to its President. Its head is the Lord Jesus
Christ, whose name each of us has taken upon ourselves. We are all in this great
endeavor together. We are here to assist our Father in His work and His glory,
'to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man' (Moses 1:39). Your
obligation is as serious in your sphere of responsibility as is my obligation in
my sphere. No calling in this church is small or of little consequence. All of
us in the pursuit of our duty touch the lives of others. To each of us in our
respective responsibilities the Lord has said: 'Wherefore, be faithful; stand in
the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands
which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees' (D&C 81:5)." - Gordon B.
Hinckley, "This
Is the Work of the Master," Ensign (CR), May 1995, p.69
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
1/16/06
Topic: Don't Go It Alone
"Never assume that you can make it alone. You need the help of the Lord. Never
hesitate to get on your knees in some private place and speak with Him. What a
marvelous and wonderful thing is prayer. Think of it. We can actually speak with
our Father in Heaven. He will hear and respond, but we need to listen to that
response. Nothing is too serious and nothing too unimportant to share with Him.
He has said, 'Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will
give you rest' (Matt. 11:28).
He continues, 'For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light' (Matt.
11:30)." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "Stay
on the High Road," Ensign (CR), May 2004, p.112
2/13/06
"The Master taught: 'For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but
whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.' (Luke
9:24.)
"This remarkable and miraculous process occurs in our own lives as we reach out
with love to serve others. Each of us can, with effort, successfully root the
principle of love deep in our being so that we may be nourished by its great
power all of our lives. For as we tap into the power of love, we will come to
understand the great truth written by John: 'God is love; and he that dwelleth
in love dwelleth in God.' (1
John 4:16.)" - Gordon B. Hinckley, Faith: The Essence of True Religion, p.49
6/19/06
"The gospel for me is not complex. It is a beautiful and simple pattern, a
constant source of strength, a wellspring of faith. The keystone of that
doctrine is that God is our Eternal Father and Jesus is the Christ, our living
Redeemer. We are sons and daughters of God. He loves us and invites us to love
him, showing that love through service to others of his children. His Beloved
Son is our Savior, who gave his life on the cross of Calvary as a vicarious
sacrifice for the sins of mankind. By the power of his divine Sonship he rose
from the grave, becoming "the firstfruits of them that slept" (1
Cor. 15:20), assuring for all a resurrection from the dead and inviting each
of us to partake of eternal life according to our obedience to his laws and
commandments." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "Five
Million Members—A Milestone and Not a Summit," Ensign (CR), May 1982, p.44
9/26/06
"We have basic cornerstones on which this great latter-day church has been
established by the Lord and built, 'fitly framed together.' They are absolutely
fundamental to this work, the very foundation, anchors on which it stands. I
should like to speak briefly of these four essential cornerstones which anchor
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I mention first the chief
cornerstone, whom we recognize and honor as the Lord Jesus Christ. The second is
the vision given the Prophet Joseph Smith when the Father and the Son appeared
to him. The third is the Book of Mormon, which speaks as a voice from the dust
with the words of ancient prophets declaring the divinity and reality of the
Savior of mankind. The fourth is the priesthood with all of its powers and
authority, whereby men act in the name of God in administering the affairs of
his kingdom." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "The
Cornerstones of Our Faith," Ensign (CR), November 1984, p.50
9/27/06
"Recently while wrestling in my mind with a problem I thought to be of serious
consequence I went to my knees in prayer. There came into my mind a feeling of
peace and the words of the Lord, 'Be still and know that I am God.' I turned to
the scripture and read this reassuring statement spoken to the Prophet Joseph
Smith 150 years ago: 'Let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all
flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God.' (D&C
101:16.)
"God is weaving his tapestry according to his own grand design. All flesh is in
his hands. It is not our prerogative to counsel him. It is our responsibility
and our opportunity to be at peace in our minds and in our hearts, and to know
that he is God, that this is his work, and that he will not permit it to fail.
"We have no need to fear. We have no need to worry. We have no need to
speculate. Our imperative need is to be found doing our duty individually in the
callings which have come to us. And because, for the most part, the Latter-day
Saints are walking in faith and working with conviction, the Church is
consistently growing ever stronger." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "He
Slumbers Not, nor Sleeps," Ensign (CR), May 1983, p.5
9/30/06
"This has been a most remarkable thing, this conference. We have listened to
twenty-eight different speakers. No one was assigned a topic on which to speak.
Each was free to choose his or her message. There is always the risk of
repetition in that. But isn't it remarkable that all of it seems to have been
woven together into a beautiful fabric of expression of faith and testimony. I
am grateful for what we have heard. I will be a better man if I will put into my
life the things of which I have been reminded in this conference, and I would
like to suggest that each of you will be a better man or woman if you will put
into your lives something of what you have heard in this great conference." -
Gordon B. Hinckley, "The
Fabric of Faith and Testimony," Ensign (CR), November 1995, p.89
10/26/06
"The computer is a wonderful instrument when it is properly used. But when it is
used to deal with pornography or so-called chat rooms or for any other purpose
that leads to evil practices or evil thoughts, then there must be
self-discipline enough to turn it off.
"The Lord has declared, 'Purge ye out the iniquity which is among you; sanctify
yourselves before me' (D&C 43:11).
No one can mistake the meaning of those words.
"He says further, 'The elements are the tabernacle of God; yea, man is the
tabernacle of God, even temples; and whatsoever temple is defiled, God shall
destroy that temple' (D&C 93:35).
There is no equivocation there. The Lord has spoken plainly that we must take
care of our mortal body and avoid that which would do it harm.
"He has made to each of us a great promise. Said He, 'Be thou humble; and the
Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers' (D&C
112:10).
"And further: 'God shall give unto you knowledge by his Holy Spirit, yea, by the
unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost, that has not been revealed since the world
was until now' (D&C 121:26).
"All of us would do well to study the life of the Master and try to emulate His
words and doings. We would likewise do well to study the life of the Prophet
Joseph. From his example, each of us could learn much concerning our own
behavior." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "Rise
Up, O Men of God," Ensign, November 2006
11/2/06
"Faith was the strength of the Prophet Joseph.
"I am grateful for the faith that took him into the grove to pray. I am grateful
for his faith to translate and publish the Book of Mormon. I am grateful that he
went to the Lord in prayer that was answered with the bestowal of the Aaronic
and Melchizedek Priesthoods. I am grateful that in faith he organized the Church
and set it on its course. I thank him for the gift of his life as a testimony to
the truth of this work.
"Faith was also the moving power behind Brigham Young. I often reflect on the
tremendous faith he exercised in bringing a very large number of people to
settle this Salt Lake Valley. He knew very little of the area. He had never seen
it, except in vision. I suppose he had studied what meager information there
was, but he knew almost nothing of the soil or the water or the climate. And yet
when he looked upon it, he said without hesitation, "This is the right place,
drive on" (B. H. Roberts, A Comprehensive History of the Church, 3:224).
"And so it has been with each of the Presidents of the Church. In the face of
terrible opposition, they have moved forward with faith. Whether it was crickets
destroying their crops. Whether it was drought or late frost. Whether it was
persecution by the federal government. Or, more recently, whether it was an
urgent need to extend humanitarian aid to victims of the tsunami, or
earthquakes, or floods in divers places, it has all been the same. Welfare
shelves have been emptied. Cash by the millions has been dispatched to those in
need, regardless of Church membership—all in faith." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "The
Faith to Move Mountains," Ensign, November 2006
12/9/06
"People ask me frequently what is my favorite verse of scripture. I have many
and this is one of them, 'Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee
by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers' (D&C
112:10). What a promise to those who walk without arrogance, to those who
walk without conceit, to those who walk without egotism, to those who walk
humbly. 'Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and
give thee answer to thy prayers.' What a solid and wonderful promise that is.
(Japan Tokyo North, Japan Tokyo South, and Japan Sendai Missionary Meeting, May
18, 1996.)" - Gordon B. Hinckley, "Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley," p.265
12/25/06
"Christmas means 'giving,' and the gift without the giver is bare. Give of
yourselves; give of your substance; give of your heart and mind and strength to
bring to pass His eternal purposes and to spread the cause of His eternal
truth." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "What Shall I Do Then With Jesus Which Is
Called Christ?" December 14, 1960, "BYU Speeches of the Year," 1960, p.3
12/28/06
"The Lord expects great things of His
people. We are among His people. Nearly everyone here has entered the waters of
baptism for the remission of his or her sins. You have been buried in the water
and put away the old man, so to speak, and come out of the water with a newness
of life, your sins remitted, and ready to do that which the Lord would have you
do.
"What does He expect of me and you? What has He commanded us that we do? He
expects us to be good men and women—men and women of honesty, men and women of
integrity, men and women of faith, men and women of goodness. That is His great
teaching, that we might become perfect even as He is perfect. That is one of the
expectations of those who have become members of His Church and kingdom. He
expects us to love Him, to worship Him, to do His will." - Messages of
Inspiration from President Hinckley, LDS Church News, 1998, 06/06/98
1/29/07
"This is a time to ask ourselves
whether, although we have grown in numbers and strength, we are any nearer
perfection in the virtue of our individual lives. The milestone of five million
members has real significance only to the degree that we as a people bring the
gospel into our lives and demonstrate its fruits in our actions. The Lord has
reminded us in no uncertain terms that 'of him unto whom much is given much is
required.' (D&C 82:3.)" -
Gordon B. Hinckley, "Five Million Members—A Milestone and Not a Summit," Ensign
(CR), May 1982, p.44
4/19/07
"A filthy mind expresses itself in filthy and profane language. A clean mind
expresses itself in language that is positive and uplifting and in deeds that
bring happiness to the heart.
"Be clean in body and dress and manner. Do not permit yourself to be tattooed.
If you do, someday you will regret it. Only a painful and costly procedure can
remove the tattoo.
"Be clean and neat and orderly. Sloppy dress leads to sloppy manners. I am not
so concerned about what you wear as I am that it be neat and clean. Remember
Joseph F. Smith's dream. As he was hurrying toward the mansion, he had a little
bundle wrapped in a handkerchief. When he bathed himself and opened it, he found
that it contained clean clothing. Whenever you administer or pass the sacrament,
look your very best. Be sure of your personal cleanliness." - Gordon B.
Hinckley, "I
Am Clean," General Conference, April 2007
4/26/07
"How deeply grateful I am that we of this Church do not rely on any man-made
statement concerning the nature of Deity. Our knowledge comes directly from the
personal experience of Joseph Smith, who, while yet a boy, spoke with God the
Eternal Father and His Beloved Son, the Risen Lord. He knelt in Their presence;
he heard Their voices; and he responded. Each was a distinct personality. Small
wonder that he told his mother that he had learned that her church was not true.
And so, one of the great overarching doctrines of this Church is our belief in
God the Eternal Father. He is a being, real and individual. He is the great
Governor of the universe, yet He is our Father, and we are His children." -
Gordon B. Hinckley, "The
Things of Which I Know," General Conference, April 2007
5/9/07
"Men are born, they live for an hour of glory, and die. Most throughout their
lives are teased by various hopes; and among all the hopes of men in all ages of
time, none is so great as the hope of immortality.
"The empty tomb that first Easter morning brought the most comforting assurance
that can come into man's heart. This was the affirmative answer to the ageless
question raised by Job, 'If a man die, shall he live again?' (Job
14:14.)" - Gordon B. Hinckley, "Conference Report," April 1969, Second
Day—Morning Meeting, p.59
6/26/07
"It has been my
privilege on various occasions to converse with Presidents of the United States
and important men in other governments. At the close of each such occasion I
have reflected on the rewarding experience of standing with confidence in the
presence of an acknowledged leader. And then I have thought, what a wonderful
thing, what a marvelous thing it would be to stand with confidence-unafraid and
unashamed and unembarrassed-in the presence of God. This is the promise held out
to every virtuous man and woman." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "Conference Report,"
October 1970, Second DayMorning Meeting, p.66
7/25/07
"I think the Lord
had in mind our sacrament meetings when, in a revelation given to Joseph Smith
August 7, 1831, he said to us and to all of the people of his
Church:
"'And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the
world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my
holy day;
"'Remember that on this, the Lords day, thou shall offer thine
oblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High, confessing thy sins unto thy
brethren, and before the Lord.' (D&C 59:9,
12.)
"How shall our people keep themselves
unspotted from the world unless they develop within themselves the spiritual
strength and capacity to resist temptation that is so rampant everywhere we go
these days? And where shall they develop such discipline? I think the meaning of
this revelation is clear: they shall develop such discipline of self and such
desire to live above the stains of the world in their communion with the Lord as
worshipers in sacrament meetings." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Priesthood of Aaron," Ensign (CR), November
1982, p.44
9/29/07
"How godlike a
quality is mercy. It cannot be legislated. It must come from the heart. It must
be stirred up from within. It is part of the endowment each of us receives as a
son or daughter of God and partaker of a divine birthright. I plead for an
effort among all of us to give greater expression and wider latitude to this
instinct which lies within us. I am convinced that there comes a time, possibly
many times, within our lives when we might cry out for mercy on the part of
others. How can we expect it unless we have been merciful ourselves?" - Gordon
B. Hinckley, "Blessed Are the Merciful," Ensign (CR), May 1990,
p.68
10/29/07
"Anger is the
mother of a whole brood of evil actions." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "Slow to Anger," General Conference, 6 October
2007
11/5/07
"Today I stand in wonder at the marvelous
things which God revealed to His appointed prophet while he was yet young and
largely unknown. The very language of these revelations is beyond the capacity
of even a man of great learning.
"Scholars not of our faith, who will not accept our singular doctrines, are puzzled by the great unrolling of this work, which is touching the hearts of people across the earth. We owe it all to Joseph the Prophet, the seer and the revelator, the Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, who was foreordained to come forth in this generation as an instrument in the hands of the Almighty in restoring to the earth that which the Savior taught when He walked the roads of Palestine.
"To you, this day, I affirm my witness of the calling of the Prophet Joseph, of his works, of the sealing of his testimony with his blood as a martyr to the eternal truth. Each of you can bear witness of the same thing. You and I are faced with the stark question of accepting the truth of the First Vision and that which followed it. On the question of its reality lies the very validity of this Church. If it is the truth, and I testify that it is, then the work in which we are engaged is the most important work on the earth." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Stone Cut Out of the Mountain," General Conference, 7 October 2007
1/28/08
"Of
these things I give solemn testimony, bearing witness to all within the sound of
my voice that God has spoken again to open this final glorious dispensation;
that his Church is here, the Church which carries the name of his Beloved Son;
that there has come from the earth the record of an ancient people bearing
witness to this generation of the work of the Almighty; that the everlasting
priesthood is among men for their blessing and the governance of his work; that
this is the true and living Church of Jesus Christ, brought forth for the
blessing of all who will receive its message; that it is immovably established
on a foundation of Apostles and prophets, with cornerstones of unshakable
firmness put in place by him for the accomplishment of his eternal purposes,
Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone."
- Gordon B. Hinckley, "The
Cornerstones of Our Faith," Ensign
(CR), November 1984, 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
2/10/08
"We seldom get into trouble when we
speak softly. It is only when we raise our voices that the sparks fly and tiny
molehills become great mountains of contention. To me there has always been
something significant in the description of the prophet Elijah's contest with
the priests of Baal. The scripture records that 'a
great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks but the
Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not
in the earthquake:
"'And
after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the
fire a still small voice.' (1
Kgs. 19:11-12.)
"The
voice of heaven is a still small voice; likewise, the voice of domestic peace is
a quiet voice." - Gordon
B. Hinckley, "Except
the Lord Build the House," Ensign
(CR), June 1971, p.71
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
5/25/08
"You have the potential to become
anything to which you set your mind. You have a mind and a body and a spirit.
With these three working together, you can walk the high road that leads to
achievement and happiness. But this will require effort and sacrifice and faith."
- Gordon B. Hinckley, "Stay
on the High Road," Ensign (CR), May 2004, p.112
7/10/08
"Who among us can say that he or she has not
felt fear? I know of no one who has been entirely spared. Some, of course,
experience fear to a greater degree than do others. Some are able to rise
above it quickly, but others are trapped and pulled down by it and even
driven to defeat. We suffer from the fear of ridicule, the fear of failure,
the fear of loneliness, the fear of ignorance. Some fear the present, some
the future. Some carry the burden of sin and would give almost anything to
unshackle themselves from those burdens but fear to change their lives. Let
us recognize that fear comes not of God, but rather that this gnawing,
destructive element comes from the adversary of truth and righteousness.
Fear is the antithesis of faith. It is corrosive in its effects, even
deadly." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley," p.220
7/30/08
"I challenge every one of you who
can hear me to rise to the divinity within you. Do we really realize what it
means to be a child of God, to have within us something of the divine
nature?
"I believe with all my heart that the Latter-day Saints, generally speaking, are good people. If we live by the principles of the gospel, we must be good people, for we will be generous and kind, thoughtful and tolerant, helpful and outreaching to those in distress. We can either subdue the divine nature and hide it so that it finds no expression in our lives, or we can bring it to the front and let it shine through all that we do." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "Each a Better Person," Ensign (CR), November 2002, p.99
9/12/08
"We live in a
society that feeds on criticism. Faultfinding is the substance of columnists and
commentators, and there is too much of this among our own people. It is so easy
to find fault, and to resist doing so requires much of discipline. But if as a
people we will build and sustain one another, the Lord will bless us with the
strength to weather every storm and continue to move forward through every
adversity. The enemy of truth would divide us and cultivate within us attitudes
of criticism which, if permitted to prevail, will only deter us in the pursuit
of our great divinely given goal. We cannot afford to permit it to happen. We
must close ranks and march shoulder to shoulder, the strong helping the weak,
those with much assisting those with little. No power on earth can stop this
work if we shall so conduct ourselves." - President Gordon B. Hinckley, "Five
Million Members—A Milestone and Not a Summit," Ensign (CR), May 1982, p.44
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