(10/31/98)
"Success in family life calls for parents who take time to enjoy their
children; who read with them; who play with them; who let them
participate in planning special occasions, seeking to make wholesome
family traditions a proud part of family life."
ElRay
L. Christiansen
"Successful Parenthood - A Noteworthy Accomplishment"
General Conference, April 1972
(11/1/98)
"To become a joint heir of the heirship of the Son, one must put away
all his false traditions."
Joseph
Smith
"Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith", p.321
(11/2/98)
"We learn from ancient Israel that there is a place for commemorative
events. Let us build in our families, communities, and nations,
traditions of a lasting nature that will consistently remind us of the
Lord's eternal truths and of our forebears who preserved them for our
day."
L.
Tom Perry
"A Meaningful Celebration"
General Conference, October 1987
(11/3/98)
"Your Heavenly Father assigned you to be born into a specific lineage
from which you received your inheritance of race, culture, and
traditions. That lineage can provide a rich heritage and great reasons
to rejoice. Yet you have the responsibility to determine if there is any
part of that heritage that must be discarded because it works against
the Lord's plan of happiness."
Richard
G. Scott
"Removing Barriers to Happiness"
General Conference, April 1998
(11/4/98)
"On occasion through the years I have enjoyed the blessing of asking
large groups of adult leaders to meditate for a moment on their
conclusion to an unfinished sentence, and then share their thoughts. The
sentence reads: 'The thing I remember best about my childhood at home
with my parents and family is _____________.' I suspect your answers
would be about the same as those that I have heard. Never once has
anyone mentioned a high standard of living, or material possessions.
Always they have spoken, as I would speak, of attention from mom or dad;
of family associations, traditions, sacrifices, adventures together; of
books read aloud, songs sung, work accomplished; of family prayers and
family councils; of small presents lovingly and unselfishly prepared; of
homey and wholesome and happy memories. My single question to them has
always been, and I ask it today, 'What are we giving our own children
that they will remember with equal joy and appreciation?'"
Marion
D. Hanks
General Conference, October 1968
(5/2/04)
"A recurrent theme throughout the Book of Mormon is the constraining
influence of the false 'tradition of their fathers' passed down from
Laman and Lemuel through subsequent generations (see Mosiah
10:11-12; Alma
37:9; Alma
60:32; Hel. 5:51;
Hel. 15:4; Hel.
16:18-20). Tradition can be a double-edged sword. When based upon
the perpetuation of righteous principles, tradition can become a
marvelous support system in helping us employ our moral agency wisely.
On the other hand, many traditions find their origins in the false pride
and foibles of mankind. In modern-day revelation, the Lord has taught:
'Every spirit of man was innocent in the beginning.... [But] that wicked
one cometh and taketh away light and truth, through disobedience, from
the children of men, and because of the tradition of their fathers'
(D&C 93:38-39;
emphasis added)." - Spencer J. Condie, "Agency:
The
Gift of Choices," Ensign, September 1995, p. 21
4/15/08
"I would invite all of us to
take a moment to reflect on the traditions in our lives and how they
might be affecting our families. Our traditions of Sabbath day
observance, family prayer, family scripture study, service and activity
in the Church, as well as patterns of respect and loyalty in the home,
will have a great effect on our children and on their future. If our
parenting is based on the teachings of the scriptures and of the
latter-day prophets, we cannot go wrong. If every time there is a
challenge our hearts turn first and always to our Father in Heaven for
direction, we will be in a safe place. If our children know where we
stand and we always stand on the Lord’s side, we know we are where we
need to be." - Cheryl C. Lant,
"Righteous Traditions," General Conference, April 2008
11/13/09
“Of
traditions which are complementary to the gospel of Jesus Christ, Paul
admonished the Thessalonians, ‘Therefore, … stand fast, and hold the
traditions which ye have been taught’ (2 Thes. 2:15). In the Church,
powerful traditions remind us of the strength and sacrifice of our
ancestors and inspire our efforts. Among them are industry, frugality,
and complete devotion to a righteous cause. Others are based on
doctrine and standards which may seem peculiar to the world but are
consistent with God's pattern. These include chaste behavior, modesty
of dress, unpolluted language, Sabbath observance, adherence to the
Word of Wisdom, and the payment of tithes.” - Donald
L. Hallstrom, “Cultivate Righteous Traditions,” Ensign (CR),
November 2000, p. 27
11/5/15
I believe that starting a
tradition of telling the stories of Jesus to our children and
families is a very special way to keep the Sabbath day holy in our
homes. - Claudio R. M. Costa, “That
They Do Always Remember Him,” Ensign (CR) November 2015
1/19/16
On every continent and across isles of the sea, the faithful are
being gathered into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Differences in cultural background, language, gender, and facial
features fade into insignificance as members lose themselves in
service to their beloved Savior. Paul's declaration is being
fulfilled: "As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have
put on Christ.
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free,
there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ
Jesus.” - Russell M. Nelson, "Teach
Us Tolerance and Love," Ensign (CR), May 1994, p.69
3/24/16
How should we determine what our traditions will be? The scriptures
give us a great pattern. In Mosiah
5:15 it states, "Therefore, I would that ye should be
steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works.” - Cheryl
C. Lant, "Righteous
Traditions,” Ensign, (CR) April 2008
5/8/16
We build the kingdom when we nurture others. However, the first child
of God we must build up in the restored gospel is ourselves. Emma
Smith said, “I desire the Spirit of God to know and understand myself,
that I might be able to overcome whatever of tradition or nature that
would not tend to my exaltation.” We must develop bedrock faith in the
Savior’s gospel and move forward, empowered by temple covenants,
toward exaltation. - Neill F. Marriott, “What
Shall We Do?” Ensign (CR) May 2016