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(9/27/99)
"The war is not a hot one where there are guns and armaments; but the
struggle between the forces of righteousness and of evil for the souls of our
Heavenly Father's children is intense, and the conflict is very real."
"The Making Of A Missionary" General Conference, October 1976
(9/28/99)
"We somehow need to realize the vital importance of feeling the blessings
of the gospel and the peace of the Lord in our lives individually. That is much
more significant than how well the mechanics of a program may be working in our
wards and stakes. Oh, that every parent, teacher, and Church leader would know
that we can bless each other when we administer the Savior's touch to the
benefit of our fellowmen." — "The Savior's Touch," General
Conference, October 1980
(9/29/99)
"You deceive yourself if you believe you can break the promises you have
made with Heavenly Father and suffer no consequence." — "Keeping
Covenants" General Conference, April 1993
(9/30/99)
"We do not need more members who question every detail; we need members who
have felt with their hearts, who live close to the Spirit, and who follow its
promptings joyfully. We need seeking hearts and minds that welcome gospel truths
without argument or complaint and without requiring miraculous
manifestation." — "Hyrum Smith: Firm As The Pillars Of Heaven,"
General Conference, October 1995
(10/1/99)
"For The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to fulfill its divine
mission to assist in bringing 'to pass the immortality and eternal life of man,'
all members need to generate an appetite for gospel sustenance. We must 'hunger
and thirst after righteousness' before we can be filled." —
"Feasting at the Lord's Table," General Conference, April 1996
(10/2/99)
"When we covenant in the waters of baptism to 'stand as witnesses of God at
all times and in all things, and in all places,' we're not talking solely about
fast and testimony meetings. It may not always be easy, convenient, or
politically correct to stand for truth and right, but it is always the right
thing to do. Always." — "Standing For Truth And Right," General
Conference, October 1997
(10/3/99)
"Often the lack of clear direction and goals can waste away our time and
energy and contribute to imbalance in our lives. A life that gets out of balance
is much like a car tire that is out of balance. It will make the operation of
the car rough and unsafe. Tires in perfect balance can give a smooth and
comfortable ride. So it is with life. The ride through mortality can be smoother
for us when we strive to stay in balance." — General Conference, April
1987
(10/4/99)
"Far too many people in the world are starving spiritually. Sadly, most of
them have no idea where to find real spiritual nourishment. They wander to and
fro . . . . Those who yearn for true spiritual light and knowledge can only find
it through the power of the Holy Ghost. The Spirit enlightens and gives
understanding of the eternal purpose of life. By the Spirit, Church members know
the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is true. We should, therefore, feel
compelled to share our spiritual knowledge with all of our Father's children by
inviting them to pull a chair up to the Lord's table and feast on the words of
Christ." — General Conference, April 1996
(2/9/01)
"It is only through the infinite Atonement of Jesus Christ that people can
overcome the consequences of bad choices. Thus Nephi teaches us that it is
ultimately by the grace of Christ that we are saved even after all that we can
do (see 2 Ne. 25:23). No
matter how hard we work, no matter how much we obey, no matter how many good
things we do in this life, it would not be enough were it not for Jesus Christ
and His loving grace. On our own we cannot earn the kingdom of God—no matter
what we do." — M. Russell Ballard,
"Building
Bridges of Understanding," Ensign, June 1998, p. 65
(7/5/01)
"It is the parents’ duty to intervene when they see wrong choices being
made. That doesn’t mean parents take from children the precious gift of
agency. Because agency is a God-given gift, ultimately the choice of what they
will do, how they will behave, and what they will believe will always be theirs.
But as parents we need to make sure they understand appropriate behavior and the
consequences to them if they pursue their wrongful course." — M. Russell Ballard, "Like
a Flame Unquenchable," "Ensign," May 1999, p. 87
(7/7/01)
"From time to time, leaders of the Church endeavor to give you guidance for
your spiritual and temporal welfare. One principle that we teach repeatedly is
the value of the precious freedom the Lord has given to you to make your own
decisions. Moral agency enables the children of God to choose what they will
believe and how they will live in mortality. Based on your obedience in living
gospel principles, you will be judged according to your works. With the
marvelous gift of moral agency, you can study the scriptures and the teachings
of the leaders of the Church and, through the promptings of the Spirit, make
correct choices that will bring peace and eternal joy to your souls." — M. Russell Ballard, "Be
an Example of the Believers," "Ensign," Nov. 1991, p. 96
(1/23/02)
"A fourth area of misunderstanding among some of our friends in
Christianity is that they refer to us as 'polytheists,' meaning that we believe
in a plurality of Gods. Much misunderstanding would be avoided if they
understood that we worship only one Godhead, consisting of God the Father, God
the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. We believe that the biblical record teaches
that God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are separate persons. When
the Savior was baptized, the Father spoke His approval from heaven, and the Holy
Ghost was witnessed to be present by the sign of a dove (see Matt. 3:16-17). Likewise
the Bible records the prayers of Jesus Christ to our Father in Heaven, a
separate being (see John 17:3).
We believe this doctrine is taught in the Bible despite what the creeds of other
Christian denominations may teach." — M.
Russell Ballard, "Building
Bridges of Understanding," "Ensign," June 1998, p. 67-68
(3/29/02)
"Let us reach out in friendship and love to our neighbors, including those
of other faiths, thus helping to build better family-to-family relationships and
greater harmony in our neighborhoods. Remember, too often our behavior is a
bigger deterrent to others than is our doctrine. In the spirit of love for all
men, women, and children, help them to understand and to feel accepted and
appreciated." — M. Russell
Ballard, "Beware
of False Prophets and False Teachers," "Ensign," Nov.
1999, p. 64
(10/19/03)
"Brothers and sisters, refuse to be used. Refuse to be manipulated. Refuse
to support those programs that violate traditional family values. We may be a
small voice to begin with; nevertheless, let us speak out and encourage a more
uplifting, inspiring, and acceptable media." - M. Russell Ballard, "Let
Our Voices Be Heard," General Conference, 4 October 2003
(1/8/04)
"Life isn't always easy. At some point in our journey we may feel much as
the pioneers did as they crossed Iowa--up to our knees in mud, forced to bury
some of our dreams along the way. We all face rocky ridges, with the wind in our
face and winter coming on too soon. Sometimes it seems as though there is no end
to the dust that stings our eyes and clouds our vision. Sharp edges of despair
and discouragement jut out of the terrain to slow our passage. Always, there is
a Devil's Gate, which will swing wide open to lure us in. Those who are wise and
faithful will steer a course as far from such temptation as possible, while
others--sometimes those who are nearest and dearest to us--succumb to the
attraction of ease, comfort, convenience, and rest. Occasionally we reach the
top of one summit in life, as the pioneers did, only to see more mountain peaks
ahead, higher and more challenging than the one we have just traversed. Tapping
unseen reservoirs of faith and endurance, we, as did our forebears, inch ever
forward toward that day when our voices can join with those of all pioneers who
have endured in faith, singing: 'All is well! All is well!' (Hymns, no.
30)." - M. Russell Ballard, "You
Have Nothing to Fear from the Journey," General Conference, April 1997
(1/23/04)
"The doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regarding
grace is forthright. We understand that since we have all become spiritually
unclean because of sin (see 1 Jn.
1:8), and since 'there cannot any unclean thing enter into the kingdom of
God' (1 Ne. 15:34), no
individual can receive eternal life solely on the merits of his or her own
effort. We believe that only as we rely on the Savior's grace and demonstrate
our changed nature through obedience to His laws and ordinances may we receive
eternal life." - M. Russell Ballard, "Building
Bridges of Understanding," Ensign, June 1998, p. 65
(2/27/04)
"How can they [children] know of these most important matters unless we
teach them? According to the scriptures, parents should teach children 'that all
men, everywhere, must repent, or they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God'
(Moses 6:57). Children
should learn 'to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord' (D&C 68:28), and 'to walk in
the ways of truth and soberness; . to love one another, and to serve one
another' (Mosiah 4:15). Our children should know 'to what source they may look
for a remission of their sins' (2 Ne. 25:26), and they should
learn that they are to 'love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all
thy soul, and with all thy might' (Deut. 6:5)." - M. Russell
Ballard, "Great
Shall Be the Peace of Thy Children," Ensign, Apr. 1994, p. 60
(4/9/04)
"One of the best ways to be sure we are keeping the first great commandment
is to keep the second great commandment. The Master Himself taught that
'inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have
done it unto me' (Matt. 25:40)
and that 'when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the
service of your God' (Mosiah
2:17). The degree of our love for the Lord and for our fellowman can be
measured by what we are willing to sacrifice for them. Sacrifice is a
demonstration of pure love." - M. Russell Ballard, "The
Law of Sacrifice," Ensign, October 1998, pp. 10-11
(4/21/04)
"But how is that possible? How can Jesus Christ be both the Father and the
Son? It really isn't as complicated as it sounds. Though He is the Son of God,
He is the head of the Church, which is the family of believers. When we are
spiritually born again, we are adopted into His family. He becomes our Father or
leader. To further explain this concept of Jesus also being our 'Father,' let me
use an analogy and say that seven of my premortal spirit brothers and sisters
were born to my wife, Barbara, and me. We are therefore their premortal
spiritual brother and sister and also their earthly physical father and mother.
Similarly, Christ is our spiritual Elder Brother and the Son of God, but He is
also our Father or leader and our God. King Benjamin taught his faithful
followers that 'because of the covenant which ye have made [through the baptism
of fire, or spiritual rebirth] ye shall be called the children of Christ, his
sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you;
for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye
are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters' (Mosiah 5:7)." - M.
Russell Ballard, "Building
Bridges of Understanding," Ensign, June 1998, pp. 66-67
(5/21/04)
"Though this world has a way of diminishing and demeaning men and women,
the reality is we are all of royal, divine lineage. In that unprecedented
appearance of the Father and the Son in the Sacred Grove, the very first word
spoken by the Father of us all was the personal name of Joseph. Such is our
Father's personal relationship with each of us. He knows our names and yearns
for us to become worthy to return to live with Him." - M. Russell Ballard,
"The
Atonement and the Value of One Soul," General Conference, April 2004
(5/29/04)
"Professional advancement, increased income, bigger homes, or newer cars
and recreational equipment do not bring lasting peace and happiness. Happiness
comes from understanding God and knowing that He has a plan for our eternal joy
and peace. Happiness comes from knowing and loving the Savior and living our
lives in accordance with His teachings. Happiness comes from strong family and
Church relationships based on gospel values." - M. Russell Ballard, "The
Essential Role of Member Missionary Work," General Conference, April
2003
(6/2/04)
"Listen to the language of the scriptures as they describe the level of
sacrifice the Lord requires of us: 'Offer your whole souls as an offering unto
[God]' (Omni 1:26; see also
Mosiah 2:24). 'Present
your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God' (Rom. 12:1). The Lord Himself has
said that we should keep our 'covenants by sacrifice-yea, every sacrifice which
I, the Lord, shall command' (D&C
97:8). The sacrifice the Lord asks of us is to wholly rid ourselves of the
'natural man' (Mosiah 3:19)
and all the ungodliness associated with it. When we completely surrender
ourselves to the Lord, then He will cause a mighty change in us and we will
become a new person, justified, sanctified, and born again with His image in our
countenances (see Mosiah 5:2;
Alma 5:14; Moses 6:59-60)." - M.
Russell Ballard, "The
Law of Sacrifice," Ensign, October 1998, p. 13
(7/3/04)
"Samuel Adams, who is sometimes called the father of the American
Revolution, wrote: 'I thank God that I have lived to see my country independent
and free. She may long enjoy her independence and freedom if she will. It
depends upon her virtue.' (Wells, The Life of Samuel Adams, 3:175.)" - M.
Russell Ballard, "Religion
in a Free Society," Ensign, October 1992, p. 68
(7/14/04)
"Truly, the heavens and the earth and all things in them evidence the
handiwork of God, their Creator. In the Book of Mormon we learn of Korihor, an
anti-Christ who was brought to the Prophet Alma. He asked for a sign of God's
existence before he would believe. 'But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs
enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have
the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The
scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea,
even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its
motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do
witness that there is a Supreme Creator' (Alma 30:44). These eternal
evidences continue to testify to us today." - M. Russell Ballard, "God's
Love for His Children," Ensign, May 1988, pp. 57-58
(4/8/05)
"Now, my dear young friends, I understand the struggles you face every day
in keeping the commandments of the Lord. The battle for your souls is
increasingly fierce. The adversary is strong and cunning. However, you have
within your physical body the powerful spirit of a son or daughter of God.
Because He loves you and wants you to come home to Him, our Father in Heaven has
given you a conscience that tells your spirit when you are keeping the Lord's
commandments and when you are not. If you will pay more attention to your
spiritual self, which is eternal, than to your mortal self, which is temporary,
you can always resist the temptations of Satan and conquer his efforts to take
you into his power." - M. Russell Ballard, "Keeping
Covenants," Ensign, May 1993, 7
(7/4/05)
"That means it depends on us. If we would maintain
the independence and freedom the Founding Fathers intended, we must work to
preserve and protect the moral foundation upon which they built the U. S.
government. We must stand boldly for righteousness and truth, and must defend
the cause of honor, decency, and personal freedom espoused by Washington,
Madison, Adams, Lincoln, and other leaders who acknowledged and loved God.
Otherwise, we will find ourselves in the same predicament President Lincoln
observed in 1863.
"Said Lincoln:'We have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has
ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which
preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we
have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these
blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of their own.
Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel
the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God
that made us!' (A Proclamation 'to designate and set apart a day for national
prayer and humiliation.')" - M. Russell Ballard, "Religion
in a Free Society," Ensign, Oct. 1992, 68–69
(7/12/05)
"How can we as Latter-day Saints be sure that we make
a significant contribution to strengthening the Lord's church? If our
testimonies and service can equal that of the founders of the Church, tomorrow
will be secure and strong. May their examples give us courage so that we will
always be trustworthy and steadfast in our stewardships as we serve God our
Eternal Father. Remember the statement of the Prophet Joseph Smith: 'If we start
right, it is easy to go right all the time' (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph
Smith, p. 343). We must live by this legacy of faith and must pass this legacy
on to our children so the Church will always have faithful men and women who can
continue to prepare for the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." - M.
Russell Ballard, "Anchored
by Faith and Commitment," Ensign, July 1995, 19
(7/15/05)
"We sometimes feel great respect and reverence for creative
genius as expressed in great art or music. How much more should we revere the
power and majesty of our Divine Creator? We may stand in awe of man’s creations
of beautiful buildings or bridges. But remember the Apostle Paul's words to the
Hebrews: 'He who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.
"'For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God' (Heb.
3:3–4).
"Those who feel no reverence for the creations and the divine attributes of God
likely will have little appreciation for other sacred things. Such a lack of
veneration for God's creations may diminish until a person becomes totally
insensitive to the feelings of others. This, I am afraid, is the condition in
some parts of the world." - M. Russell Ballard, "God's
Love for His Children," Ensign, May 1988, 58
(7/18/05)
"We understand the struggles you face every day in keeping
the commandments of the Lord. The battle for your souls is increasingly fierce.
The adversary is strong and cunning. However, you have within your physical body
the powerful spirit of a son or daughter of God. Because He loves you and wants
you to come home to Him, our Father in Heaven has given you a conscience that
tells your spirit when you are keeping the Lord's commandments and when you are
not. If you will pay more attention to your spiritual self, which is eternal,
than to your mortal self, which is temporary, you can always resist the
temptations of Satan and conquer his efforts to take you into his power." - M.
Russell Ballard, "You
Promised," New Era, Feb. 1994, 6
12/24/05
"Doubtless this thought hung heavily in Carthage Jail that June morning
as Joseph and Hyrum awaited their fate. Willard Richards and John Taylor were
visitors in their cell. It is significant to me that at this particular moment
in time, with death looming imminently, Brother Taylor sang 'A Poor Wayfaring
Man of Grief,' a hymn based on the Savior's teaching that 'inasmuch as ye have
done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me' (Matthew
25:40)....
"After Brother Taylor finished singing the song, Joseph asked him to sing it
again. I can't help but think that Joseph and Hyrum both found peace and comfort
in the song's message, knowing they had done their best to serve others and they
could face their Master with 'a conscience void of offense towards God, and
towards all men' (D&C 135:4).
"It is interesting—and I don't think at all coincidental—that the Lord Jesus
Christ was similarly focused on compassionate service as he neared the end of
His mortal ministry. And why not? He was about to undertake the most powerfully
compassionate service ever performed in the history of mankind as He walked
through the excruciatingly painful steps and processes of the Atonement. It
seems natural and appropriate that His last instructions to His disciples would
include counsel on the need to serve one another, even as He was about to serve
them in ways they could not comprehend." - M. Russell Ballard, "When Thou Art
Converted"
1/6/06
"Let us remember that the Savior is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and there
can be no greater promise than to know that if we are faithful and true, we will
one day be safely encircled in the arms of His love (see
D&C 6:20). He is always there
to give encouragement, to forgive, and to rescue. Therefore, as we exercise
faith and are diligent in keeping the commandments, we have nothing to fear from
the journey." - M. Russell Ballard, "You
Have Nothing to Fear from the Journey," Ensign (CR), May 1997, p.59
2/1/06
"Perhaps the most important lesson young Joseph learned in the Sacred Grove is
this significant eternal truth: the heavens are not sealed. God does communicate
with mortals. He loves us today just as much as He loved those who lived
anciently. What comfort that sweet assurance provides in a world filled with
confusion and discouragement! What peace and security come to the heart that
understands that God in heaven knows us and cares about us, individually and
collectively, and that He communicates with us, either directly or through His
living prophets, according to our needs." - M. Russell Ballard, "Restored
Truth," Ensign (CR), November 1994, p.65
4/18/06
"Simply stated, testimony—real testimony, born of the Spirit and confirmed by
the Holy Ghost—changes lives. It changes how you think and what you do. It
changes what you say. It affects every priority you set and every choice you
make. To have a real and abiding testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ is to
be 'spiritually... born of God,' to '[receive] his image in your countenances,'
and to experience a 'mighty change in your hearts' (Alma
5:14)." - M. Russell Ballard, "Pure
Testimony," Ensign (CR), November 2004, p.40
6/10/06
"Brothers and sisters, how can every member enjoy the thrill and the blessing
that comes from making a sacrifice to help the work? The answer is very simple,
as are most answers in the Church. Every member of the Church can pay a full,
honest tithing and can attend tithing settlement. The Lord said, 'Verily [now]
is a day of sacrifice, and a day for the tithing of my people' (D&C
64:23)." - M. Russell Ballard, "Sacrifice
and Self-Sufficiency," Ensign (CR), November 1987, p.78
6/13/06
"In my judgment, the greatest motivator that we have in the Church is to have
Church members understand the plan of salvation." - M. Russell Ballard, "The
Kingdom Rolls Forth in South America," Ensign (CR), May 1986, p.12
6/14/06
"The prophet Alma summarized the importance of prayer in these words: 'But that
ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch
and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear,
and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient,
full of love and all long-suffering '(Alma
13:28). When I am in tune spiritually, I find that I can balance everything
in my life much more easily.
"I realize, brothers and sisters, that other suggestions could be added to
these. However, I believe that when we focus on a few basic objectives, we are
more likely to be able to manage the many demands that life makes on us.
Remember, too much of anything in life can throw us off-balance. At the same
time, too little of the important things can do the same thing. King Benjamin
counseled 'that all these things are done in wisdom and order' (Mosiah
4:27)." - M. Russell Ballard, "Keeping
Life's Demands in Balance," Ensign (CR), May 1987, p.13
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
10/8/06
"The Lord in His infinite wisdom has designed His Church to operate with a lay
ministry. ... almost always there is sincere effort to provide meaningful gospel
service.
"Occasionally we find some who become so energetic in their Church service that
their lives become unbalanced. They start believing that the programs they
administer are more important than the people they serve. ...
"As a result of their focusing too much time and energy on their Church service,
eternal family relationships can deteriorate. Employment performance can suffer.
This is not healthy, spiritually or otherwise. While there may be times when our
Church callings require more intense effort and unusual focus, we need to strive
to keep things in proper balance. We should never allow our service to replace
the attention needed by other important priorities in our lives. Remember King
Benjamin's counsel: 'And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order;
for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength' (Mosiah
4:27)." - M. Russell Ballard, "O
Be Wise," Ensign, November 2006
10/9/06
"First, focus on people and principles—not on programs. One of the most
important things we do through the gospel of Jesus Christ is to build people.
Properly serving others requires effort to understand them as individuals ... so
that the correct help and support can be provided. ... The primary purpose of
Church leadership meetings should be to discuss how to minister to people....
"Our goal should always be to use the programs of the Church as a means to lift,
encourage, assist, teach, love, and perfect people. 'Remember the worth of souls
is great in the sight of God' (D&C
18:10). Programs are tools. Their management and staffing must not take
priority over the needs of the people they are designed to bless and to serve."
- M. Russell Ballard, "O
Be Wise," Ensign, November 2006
10/10/06
"Second, be innovative. As we work to magnify our callings, we should seek the inspiration of the Spirit to solve problems in ways that will best help the people we serve. We have handbooks of instruction, and their guidelines should be followed. But within that framework are substantial opportunities to think, to be creative, and to make use of individual talents. The instruction to magnify our callings is not a command to embellish and complicate them. To innovate does not necessarily mean to expand; very often it means to simplify.
"Being innovative also means that we do not have to be told everything we should do. The Lord said, 'It is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant' (D&C 58:26). We trust you, brothers and sisters, to use inspiration. We trust that you will do so within the framework of Church policies and principles. We trust that you will be wise in counseling together to help build faith and testimony in the lives of those whom you serve." - M. Russell Ballard, "O Be Wise," Ensign, November 2006
10/11/06
"Third, divide the work and delegate
responsibility. There is a difference between being responsible for getting the
work done and doing the work yourself. For example, gone should be the days when
the elders quorum president feels he needs to personally finish the home
teaching visits that others have missed. Home teaching is about love of people
and service to and watch care over our Heavenly Father's children.
"Assignments should be made, responsibilities should be delegated, and members
should be allowed to fulfill their stewardship as best they can. Counsel,
advise, persuade, motivate—but don't do the work for them. Allow others to
progress and grow, even if it means sometimes getting less-than-perfect results
on the reports." - M. Russell Ballard, "O
Be Wise," Ensign, November 2006
10/12/06
"Fifth, we need to thoughtfully
allocate our resources of time, income, and energy. I would like to let you in
on a little secret. Some of you have already learned it. If you haven't, it's
time you knew. No matter what your family needs are or your responsibilities in
the Church, there is no such thing as 'done.' There will always be more we can
do. There is always another family matter that needs attention, another lesson
to prepare, another interview to conduct, another meeting to attend. We just
need to be wise in protecting our health and in following the counsel that
President Hinckley has given often to just do the best that we can.
"The key, it seems to me, is to know and understand your own capabilities and
limitations and then to pace yourself, allocating and prioritizing your time,
your attention, and your resources to wisely help others, including your family,
in their quest for eternal life." - M. Russell Ballard, "O
Be Wise," Ensign, November 2006
10/13/06
"Sixth, a word to you leaders about
extending responsibilities to members and especially to recent converts.
President Hinckley said that every new member of the Church needs a
responsibility. Whatever responsibility may be extended should not overwhelm
new members but should give them ample opportunity to become comfortable in the
Church by learning its doctrine and by rubbing shoulders with friendly members.
It should anchor them to the restored gospel through increasing their testimony
and giving meaningful service." - M. Russell Ballard, "O
Be Wise," Ensign, November 2006
12/10/06
"It is no small thing, my brothers
and sisters, to have a prophet of God in our midst. Great and wonderful are the
blessings that come into our lives as we listen to the word of the Lord given to
us through him. At the same time, knowing that President Gordon B. Hinckley is
God's prophet also endows us with responsibility. When we hear the counsel of
the Lord expressed through the words of the President of the Church, our
response should be positive and prompt. History has shown that there is safety,
peace, prosperity, and happiness in responding to prophetic counsel as did Nephi
of old: 'I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded' (1
Ne. 3:7)." - M. Russell Ballard, "His
Word Ye Shall Receive," Ensign (CR), May 2001, p.65
4/5/07
"While we should be pleased to
testify to the truthfulness of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to all who
will hear our message, there are times when all that we can hope to accomplish
is to help those who are not members of the Church better understand our basic
beliefs. There are many people who know a little about us, who are curious and
who wonder about us but who are not ready to change their lifestyle or make
eternal commitments. We need to be prepared to teach them in ways that they can
understand and appreciate, even if they are not prepared as yet to respond to
spiritual promptings and to accept the gospel in their lives." - M. Russell
Ballard, "How
Is It with Us?," Ensign (CR), May 2000, p.31
4/25/07
"It is a miracle that we have the
Bible's powerful doctrine, principles, poetry, and stories. But most of all, it
is a wonderful miracle that we have the account of the life, ministry, and words
of Jesus, which was protected through the Dark Ages and through the conflicts of
countless generations so that we may have it today.
"It is a miracle that the Bible literally contains within its pages the
converting, healing Spirit of Christ, which has turned men's hearts for
centuries, leading them to pray, to choose right paths, and to search to find
their Savior.
"The Holy Bible is well named. It is holy because it teaches truth, holy because
it warms us with its spirit, holy because it teaches us to know God and
understand His dealings with men, and holy because it testifies throughout its
pages of the Lord Jesus Christ." - M. Russell Ballard, "The
Miracle of the Holy Bible," General Conference,
April 2007
9/28/07
"We need to remember Edmund Burke's
statement: 'The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to
do nothing.' We need to raise our voices with other concerned citizens
throughout the world in opposition to current trends. We need to tell the
sponsors of offensive media that we have had enough. We need to support programs
and products that are positive and uplifting. Joining together with neighbors
and friends who share our concerns, we can send a clear message to those
responsible. The Internet Web sites and their local affiliates will have their
addresses. Letters and e-mails have more effect than most people realize,
especially those like one sent by a Relief Society sister that stated, 'I
represent a group of over a hundred women that meets every week and often talks
about the harm your program is doing to our children.'" - M. Russell Ballard,
"Let Our Voices Be Heard," Ensign (CR), November
2003, p.16
10/17/07
"The growing
prominence of the Church and the increasing inquiries from others present us
with great opportunities to build bridges, make friends, and pass on accurate
information. But it can also present a greater possibility of misunderstanding
and sometimes even prejudice if we allow others to define who we are and what we
believe rather than presenting it ourselves.
"Generally, there is no problem with those who are personally acquainted with our members. But there are millions upon millions who are not acquainted with any members of our faith. I would hope that those who know very little about the Church would seek to learn more about us. I would hope they would get to know our members rather than judging us by the misinformation given by those who do not know and in some cases by those who would deliberately mislead or defame.
"You as members can help this to happen by reaching out and sharing with others the basic information found in the Articles of Faith, along with such things as the facts, faith, families, and fruits of the gospel.
"We should also remember that sometimes the best way to answer people’s interest can be by how we live, how we radiate the joy of the gospel in our lives, how we treat others, and how sincerely we follow the teachings of Christ." - M. Russell Ballard, "Faith, Family, Facts and Fruits," General Conference, 6 October 2007
11/19/07
"There are as many different kinds of family
councils as there are different kinds of families. Family councils can consist
of one parent and one child, one parent and several children, two parents and
one child, two parents and several children, or just two parents. Regardless of
the size or makeup of the family council, the things that really matter are
loving motivations, an atmosphere that encourages free and open discussion, and
a willingness to listen to the honest input of all council members-as well as to
the whisperings of the Holy Spirit as it comes to confirm truth and direction."
- M. Russell Ballard, "Counseling with Our Councils: Learning to Minister
Together in the Church and in the Family," p.157
3/11/08
"When we truly understand how great a
blessing the gospel of Jesus Christ is in our lives, when we accept and embrace
these eternal truths and allow them to sink deep into our hearts and souls, we
experience a 'mighty change'
(Alma 5:14) in our hearts.
We are filled with love and gratitude. As the prophet Alma wrote, we feel 'to
sing the song of redeeming love' (Alma
5:26) to all who will hear it." - M.
Russell Ballard, "Creating
a Gospel-Sharing Home," 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
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