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(9/6/99)
"We come out of the world into the kingdom of God. In the
conversion process, we experience repentance, which brings about humility and a broken
heart and contrite spirit, preparing us for baptism, remission of sins, and
receiving the Holy Ghost. Then, over time and through our faithfulness, we
overcome trials and tribulations and endure to the end." — "When
Thou Art Converted, Strengthen Thy Brethren," General Conference, April 6,
1997
(9/7/99)
"We learn to endure to the end by learning to finish our current
responsibilities, and we simply continue doing it all of our lives. We cannot
expect to learn endurance in our later years if we have developed the habit of
quitting when things get difficult now." — "Behold, We Count Them
Happy Which Endure," General Conference, April 1998
(9/8/99)
"With the restoration of the priesthood in 1829, there was a restoration of
prophets in this dispensation. Living prophets are leading this church today.
The greatest security of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints comes from learning to listen to and obey the words and commandments that
the Lord has given through living prophets. I would hope that the world would
understand the importance of having a living prophet on earth today." —
"Hear the Prophet's Voice and Obey," General Conference, April 1995
(9/9/99)
"Powerful impressions of the Spirit come like flashes of light on receptive
photographic film. Like the chemicals needed to develop the picture, certain
spiritual conditions and experiences are needed in our lives for our personal
testimony to develop into a certain truth and knowledge. And like a photograph,
a testimony, if not carefully preserved, will fade with time." —
"The Importance Of Receiving A Personal Testimony," General
Conference, October 1994
(9/10/99)
"When we return to our Heavenly Father, he does not want us to come back
alone. He wants us to return with honor with our families and those whom we have
helped along the road of life." — "We Can't Do It Alone,"
General Conference, October 1975
(9/11/99)
"Some of us have strayed at one time or another. Some have repented and
come back; but some, for one reason or another, are still looking for the right
moment, the right person, or the right set of circumstances to come back. As
member shepherds of our Father in Heaven's flock, we should not judge why some
have strayed, but rather should try unceasingly to bring them back again into
the fold, knowing Jesus can heal them when none other can." — "Some
Have Compassion, Making a Difference," General Conference, April 1987
(7/10/01)
"All of us influence one another by doing good or evil. We can be a good
example or a poor one. Ultimately we must all answer to the Lord." — Robert D. Hales, "Return
with Honor," "Ensign," June 1999, p. 12–13
(7/11/01)
"So many of the poor decisions we make we want to blame on others. Some of
us come from backgrounds of difficult circumstances, but we can do our utmost to
learn from these experiences and determine not to repeat them in our own
families. We must strengthen ourselves so we will not give in to impulsive
behaviors and then blame others. Ultimately, we must come to the conclusion that
we are responsible for our actions regardless of what circumstances we find
ourselves in." — Robert D.
Hales, "Return
with Honor," "Ensign," June 1999, p. 13
(10/22/03)
"Like Joseph [Smith], many of us find ourselves seeking the light of truth.
Just as the world was prepared for the Restoration, each of us is prepared to
receive the light of the gospel in our own lives. Sometimes that preparation
comes through a change in our circumstances-through meeting a new friend, moving
to a new community, a change of employment, the birth of a child, the death of a
loved one, illness, misfortune, and even tragedy. During these times of
transition, we seek answers to the important questions of life: Who are we?
Where did we come from? Why are we here on earth? And where we are going after
we die? Joseph was not born with this knowledge, and neither were we. We must
find it." - Robert D. Hales, "Receiving
a Testimony of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ," General
Conference, 4 October 2003
(1/15/04)
"Conversion requires consecrating our lives to caring for and serving
others who need our help and to sharing our gifts and talents. The Lord didn't
say tend my sheep when it is convenient, watch my sheep when you aren't busy. He
said feed my sheep and my lambs; help them survive this world, keep them close
to you. Lead them to safety--the safety of righteous choices that will prepare
them for eternal life." - Robert D. Hales, "When
Thou Art Converted, Strengthen Thy Brethren," General Conference, April
1997
(2/8/04)
"We are taught in the scriptures that there must be opposition in all
things (see 2 Ne. 2:11). It
is not a question of if we are ready for the tests; it is a matter of when. We
must prepare to be ready for tests that will present themselves without
warning." - Robert D. Hales, "Behold,
We Count Them Happy Which Endure," Ensign, May 1998, p. 76
(2/18/04)
"My dear brothers and sisters, when pain, tests, and trials come in life,
draw near to the Savior. 'Wait upon the Lord,... look for him' (Isa. 8:17; 2 Ne. 18:17). 'They that wait
upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as
eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint' (Isa. 40:31). Healing comes in
the Lord's time and the Lord's way; be patient." - Robert D. Hales, "Healing
Soul and Body," Ensign, Nov. 1998, p. 17
(5/25/04)
"To Elijah, Jehovah said, 'Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the
Lord.' Elijah obeyed, and after a storm of wind and earthquakes and fire, he was
finally visited with 'a still small voice.' To Elijah, who had hid himself
inside a cave, the Lord asked, 'What doest thou here, Elijah?' And Elijah
answered, 'Because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown
down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am
left; and they seek my life, to take it away.' But the Lord had important work
for Elijah to do, and therefore 'said unto him, Go, return on thy way.' (See 1 Kings 19:11-15.) So
Elijah went. We too must come forth from our secure caves, for we have important
work to do. Through the still, small voice of His Spirit, the Lord will protect
us, help us, and guide us." - Robert D. Hales, "Faith
through Tribulation Brings Peace and Joy," General Conference, April
2003
(7/11/04)
"Share our testimony. 'O that I were an angel,' proclaimed Alma, 'and could
have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of
God' (Alma 29:1). Let others
know that you know. Bear your testimony in fast meeting. Tell your family; tell
your friends. You will find when you share your testimony it becomes stronger,
and there are many others around you who also want to embrace the truth." -
Robert D. Hales, "The
Importance of Receiving a Personal Testimony," Ensign, November 1994,
p. 22
(12/11/04)
"It is also God's plan that we cannot return to his presence alone, without
the help of someone else. James put it best: 'Faith without works is dead, being
alone.' (James 2:17.) The
gospel plan requires giving and receiving. Faith alone is not enough. We need
'works' to serve and to be served. We can't do it alone." - Robert D.
Hales, "We
Can't Do It Alone," New Era, Jan. 1977, p. 35-36
(6/1/05)
"Pondering takes our thoughts from the trivial things
of this world and brings us closer to the gentle, guiding hand of our Maker as
we heed the 'still small voice' of the Holy Ghost (see
1 Kgs. 19:12;
1 Ne. 17:45;
D&C 85:6). In the Doctrine and
Covenants, the Lord spoke to David Whitmer: 'Your mind has been on the things of
the earth more than on the things of... your Maker... ; you have not given heed
unto my Spirit' (D&C 30:2).
"Pondering the things of the Lord—His word, His teachings, His commandments, His
life, His love, the gifts He has given us, His Atonement for us—brings about a
tremendous feeling of gratitude for our Savior and for the life and blessings He
has given us." - Robert D. Hales, "Healing Soul and Body," Ensign, Nov. 1998, 15
(10/20/05)
"In our day, the steadying arm of the Lord reaches us through
the ordinances of His holy temples. Said the Prophet Joseph to the early Saints
in Nauvoo, 'You need an endowment, brethren, in order that you may be prepared
and able to overcome all things.' How right he was! Being blessed with the
temple covenants and endowed with power made it possible for the Latter-day
Saints to endure tribulation with faith. At the end of her own pioneer journey,
Sarah Rich recorded, 'If it had not been for the faith and knowledge that was
bestowed upon us in that temple... our journey would have been like... taking a
leap in the dark.'" - Robert D. Hales, "Faith through Tribulation Brings Peace
and Joy," Ensign (CR), May 2003, p.15
12/11/05
"Sometimes people ask, 'Why do I have to go to sacrament
meeting?' or 'Why do I have to live the Word of Wisdom, pay tithing? Why can't I
have one foot in Babylon?' May I tell you why? Because spiritual pedaling takes
both feet! Unless you are fully engaged in living the gospel—living it with all
of your heart, might, mind and strength—you cannot generate enough spiritual
light to push back the darkness." - Robert D. Hales, "Out
of Darkness into His Marvelous Light," Ensign (CR), May 2002, p.69
1/10/06
"The generation of spiritual light comes from daily spiritual pedaling. It comes
from praying, studying the scriptures, fasting, and serving—from living the
gospel and obeying the commandments. 'He that keepeth his commandments receiveth
truth and light,' (D&C 93:28)
said the Lord, 'and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth
more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.'
(D&C 50:24) My brothers and
sisters, that perfect day will be when we will stand in the presence of God the
Father and Jesus Christ." - Robert D. Hales, "Out
of Darkness into His Marvelous Light," Ensign (CR), May 2002, p.69
1/11/06 and 1/15/07
"We cannot find Enos-like faith without our own wrestle before God in prayer. I
testify that the reward is worth the effort. Remember the pattern: (1) hear the
word of God, spoken and written by His servants; (2) let that word sink deep
into your heart; (3) hunger in your soul for righteousness; (4) obediently
follow gospel laws, ordinances, and covenants; and (5) raise your voice in
mighty prayer and supplication, asking in faith to know that Jesus Christ is our
Savior. I promise that if you do these things sincerely and unceasingly, the
words Christ spoke to His disciples will be fulfilled in your life: 'Ask, and it
shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto
you.' (Matt.
7:7)" - Robert D. Hales, "Finding
Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ," Ensign (CR), November 2004, p.70
2/4/06
"The Lord is the ultimate caregiver. We must surrender ourselves to the Lord. In
doing so, we give up whatever is causing our pain and turn everything over to
Him. 'Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee' (Ps.
55:22). 'And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light,
through the joy of his Son' (Alma
33:23). Through faith and trust in the Lord and obedience to His counsel, we
make ourselves eligible to be partakers of the Atonement of Jesus Christ so that
one day we may return to live with Him." - Robert D. Hales, "Healing
Soul and Body," CR, November 1998, p. 14
2/25/06
"The law of tithing prepares us to live the higher law of consecration—to
dedicate and give all our time, talents, and resources to the work of the Lord.
Until the day when we are required to live this higher law, we are commanded to
live the law of the tithe, which is to freely give one-tenth of our income
annually.
"To those who faithfully and honestly live the law of tithing, the Lord promises
an abundance of blessings. Some of these blessings are temporal, just as tithes
are temporal. But like the outward physical ordinances of baptism and the
sacrament, the commandment to pay tithing requires temporal sacrifice, which
ultimately yields great spiritual blessings." - Robert D. Hales, "Tithing:
A Test of Faith with Eternal Blessings," Ensign (CR), November 2002, p.26
9/7/06
"With the Holy Ghost dwelling in us, we feel a love for God and all His
children. This love casts out fear and fills us with the desire to open our
mouths. There is no greater gift we can give others than to bear our testimony
to them. There is no greater joy we can have than to bring even one soul unto
Christ. (See D&C 18:15.) And
there is no greater way to strengthen our own testimony than to share our
witness of Him with the world. As we do, our families will be strengthened. Our
wards, stakes, and communities will be filled with peace and love, and,
ultimately, the earth will be prepared for the Second Coming of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ." - Robert D. Hales, "Receiving
a Testimony of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ," Ensign (CR), November
2003, p.28
10/15/06
"As with voices from the dust, the prophets of the Lord cry out to us on earth
today: take hold of the scriptures! Cling to them, walk by them, live by them,
rejoice in them, feast on them. Don't nibble. They are 'the power of God unto
salvation' (Doc and Cov 68:4)
that lead us back to our Savior Jesus Christ.
"If the Savior were among us in the flesh today, He would teach us from the
scriptures as He taught when He walked upon the earth. In the synagogue at
Nazareth, 'there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias.... And
he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.' (Luke
4:17, 21.) Later when the Sadducees and Pharisees posed a difficult
question, 'Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the
scriptures, nor the power of God.' (Matthew
22:29.) And after His Resurrection, on the road to Emmaus, His disciples
'said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us
by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?' (Luke
24:32.) To His disciples then and now, His words ring out: 'Search the
scriptures; for ... they are they which testify of me' (John
5:39.)—a testimony borne by the Holy Ghost, for 'by the power of the Holy
Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.' (Moroni
10:5.)" - Robert D. Hales, "Holy
Scriptures: The Power of God Unto Our Salvation," Ensign, November 2006
2/27/07
"We pray to our Father in Heaven in the name of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the great
Mediator. Though omnipotent and omniscient, all-powerful and all-knowing, He is
our friend. After counseling early Brethren of the Church to 'set in order your
own house,' He said, 'I will call you friends, for you are my friends' (D&C
93:43, 45). With all of His greatness, He has said that He is our friend. We
have been asked to be a friend to our neighbors and to teach them the gospel,
and to be a friend to new converts, that the fruit of our labors may remain (see
John 15:16). Our prophet
has asked us to be a friend. Can our prophet expect anything less?" - Robert D.
Hales, "In
Remembrance of Jesus," Ensign (CR), November 1997, p.24
5/12/07
"Growing up on Long Island, in New York, I understood how vital light was to
those traveling in the darkness on the open sea. How dangerous is a fallen
lighthouse! How devastating is a lighthouse whose light has failed!
"We who have the gift of the Holy Ghost must be true to its promptings so we can
be a light to others.
"'Let your light so shine before men,' said the Lord, 'that they may see your
good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.' (Matt.
5:15-16.)
"We never know who may be depending on us. And, as the Savior said, 'we know not
but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of
heart, and I shall heal them; and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation
unto them.' (3 Ne. 18:32.)"
- Robert D. Hales, "Out
of Darkness into His Marvelous Light," Ensign (CR), May 2002, p.69
7/22/07
"By choosing to
be in His kingdom, we separate—not isolate—ourselves from the world. Our dress
will be modest, our thoughts pure, our language clean. The movies and television
we watch, the music we listen to, the books, magazines, and newspapers we read
will be uplifting. We will choose friends who encourage our eternal goals, and
we will treat others with kindness. We will shun the vices of immorality,
gambling, tobacco, liquor, and illicit drugs. Our Sunday activities will reflect
the commandment of God to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. We will
follow the example of Jesus Christ in the way we treat others. We will live to
be worthy to enter the house of the Lord." - Robert D. Hales, "The Covenant of Baptism: To Be in the Kingdom and of the
Kingdom," Ensign (CR), November 2000,
p.6
11/6/07
"Each of us has
been sent to earth by our Heavenly Father to merit eternal life: 'And this is
life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ,
whom thou hast sent.' (John
17:3) How do we know the Father and the Son for
ourselves? By personal revelation. Personal revelation is the way Heavenly
Father helps us know Him and His Son, learn and live the gospel, endure to the
end in righteousness, and qualify for eternal life—to return back into Their
presence." - Robert D. Hales, "Personal Revelation: The Teachings and Examples of the
Prophets," General Conference, 7 October
2007
12/4/07
"Zion is
characterized in scripture as a city in which the people 'were of one heart and
one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.'
(Moses
7:18.) Zion is 'every man seeking the interest of his
neighbor, and doing all things with an eye single to the glory of God.'
(D&C
82:19.) This promised Zion always seems to be a little
beyond our reach. We need to understand that as much virtue can be gained in
progressing toward Zion as in dwelling there. It is a process as well as a
destination. We approach or withdraw from Zion through the manner in which we
conduct our daily dealings, how we live within our families, whether we pay an
honest tithe and generous fast offering, how we seize opportunities to serve and
do so diligently. Many are perfected upon the road to Zion who will never see
the city in mortality." - Robert D. Hales, "Welfare Principles to Guide Our Lives: An Eternal Plan for the Welfare of
Men's Souls," Ensign (CR), May 1986,
p.28
12/6/07
"Choose to put
yourself in a position to have experiences with the Spirit of God through
prayer, in scripture study, at Church meetings, in your home, and through
wholesome interactions with others. When you feel the influence of the Spirit,
you are beginning to be cleansed and strengthened. The light is being turned on,
and where that light shines, the darkness of evil cannot remain." - Robert D.
Hales, "To Act for Ourselves: The Gift and Blessings of Agency," CR, April 2006
3/5/08
"The
calling of father or mother is sacred and carries with it great significance.
One of the greatest privileges and responsibilities given to us is that of being
a parent—helping to bring to earth a
child of God and having the sacred responsibility to love, care, and guide
children back to our Heavenly Father. In many ways earthly parents represent
their Heavenly Father in the process of nurturing, loving, caring, and teaching
children. Children naturally look to their parents to learn of the
characteristics of their Heavenly Father. After they come to love, respect, and
have confidence in their earthly parents, they often unknowingly develop the
same feelings towards their Heavenly Father."
- Robert D. Hales, "How
Will Our Children Remember Us?",
Ensign (CR), November 1993, p.8
4/20/08
"It
is of special significance that whenever Heavenly Father wants to introduce His
Son to us, He commands us to listen—to 'hear'
the words of Jesus."
- Robert D. Hales, "Gaining
a Testimony of God the Father; His Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost,"
General Conference, April 2008
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