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(1/14/04)
"The command 'Be ye... perfect' (Matt.
5:48) is not one that can be executed overnight, or even by the
end of mortality. It takes much, much longer to overcome all our mortal
weaknesses, doing 'all we can do,' so that by grace we may be saved and
attain (see 2 Ne.
25:23) godhood. Christ's resurrection, which assures our own
immortality, provides us time to at least seriously attempt to pursue
the goal of perfection. Had he not been resurrected, or if the
Resurrection had applied to him only and not to the rest of God's
offspring, there would be no hope for us mere mortals. Even if we
subscribed to the possibility of becoming perfect in mortality, there
would be nothing we could do about it. The pathway to perfection is just
too long, the time to walk it exceeding whatever our allotted years in
mortality may be." - Alexander B. Morrison, "I
Am the Resurrection and the Life," Ensign, Apr. 1995, p. 42
(4/27/04)
"The great struggle of life is to overcome the natural man, with his
carnality and selfishness, and to become a Saint of God through the
Atonement of Christ. It is not a struggle once won forever finished, but
a battle that must be engaged every day that we live. As Nephi said, 'If
ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure
to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal
life.' (2 Nephi 31:20;
italics added.) - Alexander B. Morrison, "Visions of Zion" [Salt Lake
City: Deseret Book Co., 1993], p. 20
(5/31/04)
"In the final analysis, then, we show our devotion to Christ, and best
express our discipleship, by the way in which we live and serve Him. The
symbol of Jesus and His place in our hearts must be a life given fully
to His service, to loving and caring; to an unstinting commitment to
Christ and His cause; to a spiritual rebirth that produces a 'mighty
change' in our hearts and prepares us to receive 'his image in [our]
countenances' (Alma
5:13-14)." - Alexander B. Morrison, "For
This
Cause Came I into the World," Ensign, November 1999, p. 27
(6/30/04)
"The fire of faith and testimony soon falters if it is not fed. Few who
have drifted far away have experienced the frequent referral to gospel
principles that is needed to drive essential truths into the soul to the
extent that behavior begins to change. Few are familiar with the
scriptures, those powerful witnesses of Christ. (See John
5:39.) Their knowledge of the saving and redeeming truths found in
the Book of Mormon is especially deficient. In a word, most require
conversion. We have found that without conversion, activation is
fleeting and superficial. These perceptive words from Alma
23:6 say it best: 'As many as believed, or... were brought to the
knowledge of the truth... and were converted unto the Lord, never did
fall away.'" - Alexander B. Morrison, "Fire
Where
Once Were Ashes," Ensign, August 1990, p. 10
(7/9/04)
"In summary, then, finding, bringing back, and caring for lost sheep and
lambs are tasks of supernal significance assigned by the Good Shepherd
to faithful under-shepherds. In the accomplishment of these tasks is
found some of the richest joy of work in the Master's cause. How
thrilling it is to assist in brushing away the ashes of apathy,
indifference, even antagonism, to reveal and revive the still-flickering
flame of faith. Those so involved can exult with Ammon: 'Yea, my heart
is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.' (Alma
26:11.)" - Alexander B. Morrison, "Fire
Where
Once Were Ashes," Ensign, August 1990, p. 11
9/6/06
"Perhaps those who call themselves Christian and harp on what they
claim are inconsistencies in our history and doctrine need to be
reminded that Christianity itself rests upon very meager historic
evidence. The miracles of Christ, including His resurrection and
atonement, the details of His life and preachings, simply are not
recorded in the secular histories available to Christian and
non-Christian alike. Similarly, all Christians must wrestle with the
fact that the teachings and records found in the New Testament (which,
by the way, display their own internal minor inconsistencies) were
written by friends and followers of Jesus, not by objective
historians. None of this should be of inordinate concern to any of us,
Mormon or non- Mormon. The validity of the Christian message rests on
spiritual, rather than secular, foundations.
"Yet we must not dwell too long on those who are our professional
detractors, who make a living (often a very good living!) by
criticizing the Mormons. They will always be with us and will be dealt
with in the Lord's good time and in His way. They will not have any
appreciable impact on the work, 'for the eternal purposes of the Lord
shall roll on, until all his promises shall be fulfilled.' (Mormon
8:22.) Elder Marvin J. Ashton has wisely reminded us that 'no
religion, group, or individual can prosper over an extended period of
time with fault-finding as their foundation.' (Ensign,
November 1982, p. 63.)" - Alexander B. Morrison, "Feed My Sheep:
Leadership Ideas for Latter-day Shepherds," p.133
10/4/07
"At the end of the day, our belief in Christ will best be
reflected to others by the extent to which we practice what we preach.
Elder Neal A. Maxwell has reminded us: 'Overall, the perception
of us as a Church and people will improve in direct proportion
to the degree to which we mirror the Master in our lives.
No media effort can do as much good—over the sweep of
time—as can believing, behaving, and serving members of the
Church! The eloquence of such examples will be felt and seen in
any culture or community.' (Address to Area Office Public
Communications Directors, April 9, 1985.) " - Alexander B. Morrison,
"Feed My Sheep: Leadership Ideas for Latter-day Shepherds," p.134-135
7/1/12
The lesson is clear:
if we do not constantly receive the spiritual nourishment needed
daily, we will soon—as individuals and societies—be in dire straits,
bereft of God’s protection, cut off from the healing influences of the
Spirit. Just as one who is weakened by malnutrition soon may fall prey
to infectious disease, so, too will we, if spiritually weakened, be
ready prey for the adversary and his legions of dupes and devils. - Alexander
B. Morrison, "Nourish
the Flock of Christ," Ensign (CR) May 1992
1/30/13
Whenever I think of the shepherd's loving and caring efforts on
behalf of the one, I'm reminded of the Savior's deep and abiding
love for each of us. Oh, how He rejoices when a lost soul is found
by a faithful undershepherd and then is tenderly and lovingly
brought home again! "The worth of souls is great in the sight of
God." (D&C
18:10.) - Alexander
B. Morrison, "Nourish
the Flock of Christ," Ensign (CR), May 1992, p.13
7/29/13
To
faithful souls who labor in His service, in whatever calling,
Jesus gives the blessing of acting as His undershepherds,
charged with nourishing the sheep of His pasture and the lambs
of His fold. How do wise undershepherds fulfill that sacred
responsibility with honor and energy, striving always to be true
and faithful to the trust reposed in them? The scriptures
provide the guidelines within which faithful servants carry out
sacred tasks. - Alexander
B. Morrison, "Nourish
the Flock of Christ," Ensign (CR) May 1992
5/20/15
Faithful servants nourish by focusing on the individual. God
loves us one by one. How eloquently the Savior taught that
lesson in the masterful parable of the lost sheep found in Luke
15. The parable tells of a shepherd who was prepared to leave
the main flock of sheep—the ninety and nine—and go out into the
wilderness in search of the one straggler which was lost. - Alexander
B. Morrison, "Nourish the Flock of Christ," Ensign (CR), May
1992, p. 13