Refer your friends to join The LDS Daily WOOL (Words Of Our Leaders)
(3/22/98)
"He is a weak man who will curse or condemn some loved one because of
a little accident. What good does it do him? He would be a man if he
would develop his spirit and control that anger, control his tongue. A
little thing? Trace it, and you will find that not yielding and not
controlling it bring many an unhappy hour in your home." — David O.
McKay, "Gospel Ideals," p.490
(1/05/00)
"...I wish to leave this thought: that every man, every woman, must
bear a part of the responsibility of this Church. Feeling that, does
not necessarily make him imagine that it is resting upon him only.
There is no man so important who cannot sink without making even a
bubble, not a ripple in the great ocean of life; at the same time his
importance is so great that his actions go a long way towards
establishing the power, the dignity, the advancement of God's kingdom
on earth." — "Conference Report," October 1906, p. 115
(1/06/00)
"Oh, let us not deal in personalities and tear down a brother's
reputation and hurt his feelings. We are striving to establish the
kingdom of God: let us hold to that fact as the anchor of our soul and
then breathe forth charity and love to those who may not see just as
we do." — "Conference Report," October 1912, p. 122
(1/07/00)
"It is the duty of parents and of the Church not only to teach but
also to demonstrate to young people that living a life of truth and
moral purity brings joy and happiness, while violations of moral and
social laws result only in dissatisfaction, sorrow, and, when carried
to extreme, in degradation." — "Conference Report," April 1949, p. 12
(1/08/00)
"We believe firmly that the basis upon which world peace may be
permanently obtained is not by sowing seeds of distrust and suspicion
in people's minds; not by engendering enmity and hatred in human
hearts; not by individuals or nations arrogating to themselves the
claim of possessing all wisdom, or the only culture worth having; not
by war with resulting suffering and death from submarines, poison gas,
or explosions of nuclear bombs. No! The peace that will be permanent
must be founded upon the principles of righteousness as taught and
exemplified by the Prince of Peace, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,
'...for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby
we must be saved.' (Acts 4:12.)" — "Conference Report," April 1955, p.
24
(1/09/00)
"Spirituality, our true aim, is the consciousness of victory over self
and of communion with the Infinite. Spirituality impels one to conquer
difficulties and acquire more and more strength. To feel one's
faculties unfolding and truth expanding in the soul is one of life's
sublimest experiences." — "Conference Report," October 1969, p. 8
(1/10/00)
"To no other group of men in all the world is given a better
opportunity to engage in the noblest calling in life than that which
is afforded the elders in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints and to the members of that Church, to establish salvation and
peace to the extent that their individual efforts, their lives are
dedicated, to make the world a better and fitter place for man, their
talents and means are consecrated." — "BYU Speeches," May 18, 1960, p.
8
(1/11/00)
"The law of cause and effect is working in parenthood as it is in any
other law of nature. There is a responsibility upon all, and
especially upon fathers and mothers, to set examples to children and
young people worthy of imitation. Parents must be sincere in upholding
law and upholding the priesthood in their homes, that children may see
a proper example." — "Conference Report," October 1927, p. 12
(7/4/01)
"Next to the bestowal of life itself, the right to direct that life is
God’s greatest gift to man.... Freedom of choice is more to be
treasured than any possession earth can give. It is inherent in the
spirit of man. It is a divine gift to every normal being.... Everyone
has this most precious of all life’s endowments--the gift of free
agency--man’s inherited and inalienable right." — David O.
McKay, "Improvement Era," Feb. 1962, p. 86
(4/9/02)
"Honesty... is the first virtue mentioned in the Thirteenth Article of
Faith. It is founded on the first principles of human society and is
the foundation principle of moral manhood." — David O.
McKay, "Treasures of Life," p. 455
(3/18/03)
"Happiness is one of the aims of the gospel; not pain, not grief, not
gloom, not pleasure. There is a difference between pleasure and
happiness. Happiness is the joy of the soul, always. The Prophet
Joseph Smith declared that, 'Happiness is the object and design of our
existence, and will be the end thereof if we pursue the path that
leads to it.' And this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness,
holiness, and living all the commandments of God." — David O.
McKay, "Man May Know for Himself: Teachings of President David O.
McKay," compiled by Clare Middlemiss [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book
Co., 1967], p. 457
(3/22/03)
"Men may choose the right or they may choose the wrong; they may walk
in darkness or they may walk in the light; and, mind you, God has not
left his children without the light. He has given them in the various
dispensations of the world the light of the gospel wherein they could
walk and not stumble, wherein they could find that peace and happiness
which he desires, as a loving Father, his children should enjoy, but
the Lord does not take from them their free agency." — David O.
McKay, "Gospel Ideals: Selections from the Discourses of David O.
McKay," [Salt Lake City: Improvement Era, 1953], p. 301
(9/17/03)
"We are indeed living in a troublous age, and many people in the
Church, as well as millions in the world, are stirred with anxiety;
hearts are heavy with feelings of foreboding. At the crucifixion of
Christ, a little group of men faced a future that was just as
threatening and foreboding to them as that which the world faces
today. Their future, so far as Christ's triumph on earth was concerned
seemed all but blighted. They had been called and set apart to be
'fishers' of men, and to Peter had been given the keys of the kingdom.
Notwithstanding all this, in that hour of despondency, when the
resurrected Christ said to Peter, the discouraged leader of the
Twelve, who had turned to his old vocation of fishing: 'Simon, son of
Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?' Peter answered, 'Yea, Lord;
thou knowest that I love thee.' Said the Lord, 'Feed my sheep.' (John
21:15-16.) On that occasion Peter became conscious of his
responsibility, not only as a fisher of men, but also as a shepherd of
the flock. It was then that he sensed finally and completely the full
meaning of the divine injunction, 'Follow me.' (John
21:19.) With that neverfailing light, those 12 humble men
succeeded in changing the course of human relations." - David O.
McKay, "General Conference Reports," April 1968, p. 9
(1/9/05)
"It is impossible to associate manhood with dishonesty. To be just
with one's self, one must be honest with one's self and with others.
This means honesty in speech as well as in actions. It means to avoid
telling half-truths as well as untruths. It means that we are honest
in our dealings-in our buying as well as in our selling. It means that
an honest debt can never be outlawed, and that a man's word is better
than his bond. It means that we will be honest in our dealings with
the Lord, for 'true honesty takes into account the claims of God as
well as those of man; it renders to God the things that are God's, as
well as to man the things that are man's.'" - David O. McKay,
"Conference Report," April 1968, pp. 7-8
(9/5/05)
"The least child was sacred to
Jesus. 'It is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of
these little ones should perish.' That simple truth in the world,
what would it mean?
"'Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my
brethren, ye have done it unto me.'
"And in this modern day he said:
"'Remember the worth of souls is great.'
"A proper conception of this divine principle would change the
attitude of the world, to the benefit and happiness of all human
beings. It would bring into active operation the Golden Rule: 'Do
unto others as you would have others do unto you.'
"What a different world this were if men would accumulate wealth,
for example, not as an end but as a means of blessing human beings
and improving human relations." - David O. McKay, "Conference
Report," October 1935, Third Day—Morning Meeting p. 101
(9/10/05)
"To curtail evil, to spread love and peace, brotherly kindness
throughout the world is our paramount duty. If we would face the
future, no matter what it may be, with calmness of spirit, with an
assurance that God governs in the affairs of men, let us as
individuals and as a group live exemplary lives.
"Let us see to it that the social evils now rampant in the world
that bring such sorrow and degradation to mankind, that spread
sorrow and misery throughout the world are reduced to a minimum in
our own communities." - David O. McKay, "Pathways to Happiness"
[Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1957], p. 199
(10/19/05)
"Jesus always sought the welfare of
the individual; and individuals, grouped and laboring for the mutual
welfare of the whole in conformity with the principles of the gospel,
constitute the kingdom of God. Many of the choicest truths of the
gospel were given in conversations with individuals when Jesus was on
the earth. It was while Jesus talked with Nicodemus that he gave us
the message relative to baptism and of being 'born again.' From the
conversation with the woman of Samaria, we have disclosed the truth
that they who worship God must worship him 'in spirit and in truth.'
From Jesus' conversation with Mary and Martha, we hear the divine
declaration, 'I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in
me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:...' (John
11:25.)
"Jesus' regard for the personality was supreme!
"To the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the
worth of the individual has special meaning. Quorums, auxiliaries,
wards, stakes, even the Church itself, are all organized to further
the welfare of man. All are but a means to an end, and that end is the
happiness and eternal value of every child of God." - David O. McKay,
"Conference Report," October 1962, First Day--Morning Meeting, p.7-8
11/27/05
"A newborn babe is the most helpless creature in the world. The
protecting care of parenthood is essential to its survival, as well as
its growth. It must be led and directed by instruction, discipline,
drill, and proper education. Our most precious possessions are not our
abundant harvests, nor our orchards yielding luscious fruit, nor our
waterways, nor our million miles of paved highways, nor our oil wells,
nor our rich mines of copper, silver and gold, nor even of uranium—our
most precious possessions, our treasures of eternity, are our children.
These merit and should receive our greatest and our most constant care
and guidance." - David O. McKay, "Conference Report," October 1954,
First Day—Morning Meeting, p.8
12/20/05
"Since man's first advent on earth, God has been urging him to
rise above the selfish, groveling life of the purely animal existence
into the higher, more spiritual realm. After several thousand years of
struggling, mankind even now but dimly recognizes the fact that the
greatest of the world's leaders are those who most nearly approach the
teachings of the Man of Galilee. This is psychologically sound, because
the thoughts a man harbors determine the realm in which he serves. 'Be
not deceived,' writes Paul to the Galatians, 'God is not mocked: for
whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to
his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the
Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.' (Galatians
6:7-8.)" - David O. McKay,
Conference Report, April 1951, Morning Session, p.96
1/22/06
"The Church urges men to have self-mastery to control their appetites,
their tempers, and their speech. A man is not at his best when he is a
slave to some habit. A man is not his best who lives merely to gratify
his passions. That is one reason why the Lord has given the Church the
revelation of the Word of Wisdom so that, even from boyhood and
girlhood, young men and young women may learn to control themselves.
That is not always easy. The youth today face enemies-false ideologies
and immoral practices "glossed over" and "seasoned with a text." Sound
preparation is necessary to meet and conquer these enemies. Keep in
mind that man's earthly existence is but a test as to whether he will
concentrate his efforts, his mind, his soul upon things which
contribute to the comfort and gratification of his physical nature, or
whether he will make as his life's purpose the acquisition of
spiritual qualities." - David O.
McKay, "Conference Report," October 1969, First Day—Morning Meeting,
p.8
12/26/06
"During the next few weeks 'Happy New Year' will be, perhaps, the most
frequently repeated phrase in the English language. Every time that it
is spoken sincerely it will throw a ray of sunshine into some life.
Often it will brighten the spark of hope, and give new zest to him whose
spirit was darkened. It will carry with it the message that the Old
Year, with its failings, faults, and failures, had passed forever, and
that a New Year comes laden with fresh opportunities and rich promises
of success." - David O. McKay, "Pathways to Happiness," p.187
1/18/07
"Wisdom comes
through effort. All good things require effort. That which is worth
having will cost part of your physical being, your intellectual power
and your soul power—'Ask, and it shall be given you seek, and ye shall
find knock, and it shall be opened unto you:' (Matt.
7:7.) But you have to seek,
you have to knock. On the other hand, sin thrusts itself upon you. It
walks beside you, it tempts you, it entices, it allures. You do not
have to put forth effort. It is like the poor, fallen woman who lies
in wait to deceive. It is like the billboard advertising attracting
you to drink and to smoke. It is like the message that comes into your
very homes with the television and radio or the golden packet put
right into your hand. Evil seeks you, and it requires effort and
fortitude to combat it. But truth and wisdom are gained only by
seeking, by prayer, and by effort." - David
O. McKay, "Conference Report," October 1965, Afternoon Meeting,
p.145
5/7/07
"There is one responsibility
that no man can evade. That is the responsibility of personal influence.
The effect of your words and acts is tremendous in this world. Every
moment of life you are changing to a degree the life of the whole world.
Every man has an atmosphere or a radiation that is affecting every
person in the world. You cannot escape it. Into the hands of every
individual is given a marvelous power for good or for evil. It is simply
the constant radiation of what a man really is. Every man by his mere
living is radiating positive or negative qualities. Life is a state of
radiation. To exist is to be the radiation of our feelings, natures,
doubts, schemes, or to be the recipient of those things from somebody
else. You cannot escape it. Man cannot escape for one moment the
radiation of his character. You will select the qualities that you will
permit to be radiated." - David O. McKay, Conference Report, October
1969, General Priesthood Meeting, p.87
5/24/07
"Men may yearn for peace, cry for peace, and work for peace, but there
will be no peace until they follow the path pointed out by the Living
Christ. He is the true light of men's lives." - David O. McKay,
"Conference Report," October 1964, First Day—Morning Meeting, p.5
12/12/07
"I testify to you, and to all the world, that the inspiration and
protecting care of a kind Father in heaven are real. He is close to the
Church, and I know with my whole soul that he is not just an absent,
far-away source, as some may think. He is a kind Father, solicitous of
the welfare of his children, and ready and willing to hear and answer
their call. The answer may be negative, as sometimes a wise parent gives
a negative answer to the pleadings of a child, but he is ever ready to
hear and to answer at a time when it is best for the one concerned." -
David O. Mckay, "Conference Report," April 1968, Afternoon Meeting,
p.146
1/15/08
"The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints bears testimony to the world that this will of God has
been made manifest in this dispensation, that the principles of the
gospel, the principles of life, have been revealed. They are in harmony
with the principles that Christ taught in the meridian of time. It is
impossible to give here all the principles that constitute that will,
but they are so simple that, as the scriptures say, 'the
wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.'
(Isa. 35:8.)"
- David O. McKay, "Conference
Report," October 1966, Afternoon
Meeting, p.137
1/20/08
"The safety of our nation depends upon the purity and strength of the
home; and I thank God for the teachings of the Mormon Church in relation
to home building, and the impression that kind parents have made, that
the home must be the most sacred place in the world. Our people are
home-builders, and they are taught everywhere, from childhood to old
age, that the home should be kept pure and safe from the evils of the
world" - David O.
McKay, "Conference Report,"
April 1909, Afternoon Session, p.66
3/26/08
"A lawyer, a Pharisee, asked
Christ, on one occasion, 'Which
is
the great commandment in the law?'
(Matthew 22:36.)
And in answer, most profound, Jesus said the first fundamental law is
to 'love the Lord thy God
with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and
with all they strength.' (Mark
12:30.) 'And the
second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.'
(Matthew 22:39.)
And the Pharisee admitted that Jesus had spoken wisely.
"Analyze that and you will find
it means that instead of centering your thoughts on self, God becomes
the center of your existence; your thoughts will be-what you are going
to do for him. You will pray to him at night. You will pray to him when
you have some heavy task to perform. Even in your school work you should
pray. I know you may not hear his voice always, and you may feel that he
did not answer your question in your prayer; but in youth, keep praying
and holding to the assurance that God is near you to help you."
- David O. McKay, "Man
May Know for Himself: Teachings of President David O. McKay,"
compiled by Clare Middlemiss, p.15
5/28/08
"Force
and compulsion will never establish the ideal society. This can come
only by a transformation within the individual soul-a life redeemed
from sin and brought in harmony with the divine will. Instead of
selfishness, men must be willing to dedicate their ability, their
possessions, their lives, if necessary, their fortunes, and their
sacred honor for the alleviation of the ills of mankind. Hate must be
supplanted by sympathy and forbearance. Peace and true prosperity can
come only by conforming our lives to the law of love, the law of the
principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. A mere appreciation of the
social ethics of Jesus is not sufficient-men's hearts must be changed!"
- David O. McKay, "Conference Report," October 1962, First
Day—Morning Meeting, p.7 - 8
12/16/08
"And
what is the crowning glory of man in this earth so far as his individual
achievement is concerned? It is character—character
developed through obedience to the laws of life as revealed through the
gospel of Jesus Christ, who came that we might have life and have it
more abundantly. Man's chief concern in life should not be the acquiring
of gold, or of fame, or of material possessions. It should not be the
development of physical prowess, nor of intellectual strength, but his
aim, the highest in life, should be the development of a Christ-like
character. 'In the destiny
of every mortal being,' says
Phelps, 'there is an object
more worthy of God than happiness. It is character, and the grand aim of
man's creation is the development of a grand character. A grand
character is by its very nature the product of a probationary
discipline.'" - David O. McKay,
"Conference Report," October 1926, Afternoon Session, p.111 - 112
12/19/08
"I rejoice this Christmas
season with my brethren and sisters that 'God
so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.'
(John 3:16.) And
under that inspiration he established his Church that mankind might have
peace through obedience to the gospel. There is no other way. Men
everywhere strive for peace, but as they attain it, they do so only to
the extent that they apply the principles of the gospel. The gospel of
Christ is the true philosophy of life; it is the science of living; and
its essence was heralded by the angels two thousand years ago." - David
O.
McKay, "Man May Know for
Himself: Teachings of President David O. McKay,"
compiled by Clare Middlemiss, p.446
12/20/08
"Meditation is the language of
the soul. It is defined as 'a form of private devotion or spiritual
exercise, consisting in deep, continued reflection on some religious
theme.' Meditation is a form of prayer. We can say prayers without
having any spiritual response. We can say prayers as the unrighteous
king in Hamlet, who said: 'My
words fly up, my thoughts remain below: Words without thoughts never to
heaven go.' (William
Shakespeare, "Hamlet," Act III, scene 3.)...
"Meditation is one of the most secret, most sacred doors through which we pass into the presence of the Lord. Jesus set the example for us. As soon as he was baptized and received the Father's approval—'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased' (Matt. 3:17)—Jesus repaired to what is now known as the Mount of Temptation where, during forty days of fasting, he communed with himself and his Father and contemplated the responsibility of his own great mission. One result of this spiritual communion was such strength as enabled him to say to the tempter: 'Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.' (Matt. 4:10.)" - David O. McKay, "Conference Report," April 1967, General Priesthood Meeting, p.85
3/21/09
"A
single, struggling individual may be stalled with his heavy load even
as he begins to climb the hill before him. To reach the top unaided is
an impossibility. With a little help from fellow-travelers, quorums,
or wards he makes the grade and goes on his way in gratitude and
rejoicing."
- David O. McKay, "Conference Report," April 1938, Afternoon
Meeting, p.20
3/24/09
"There
is an old saying that misery likes company. And evil does also and it
doesn't easily let loose. And it sometimes takes a special kind of
courage on the part of young people to turn from ridicule, from the
pointing of fingers, from the accusation of being afraid to take a dare—to
do what shouldn't be done. Yes, life requires many kinds of courage—the
courage
to turn back, to swallow pride, to admit a mistake, to repent, to forgive,
to be reconciled, to leave bad habits behind. Courage is required
sometimes to retreat, and sometimes to stay and stand. But at that
precarious moment when the odds of evil are uppermost, we may most need
the courage to walk out, to close the door, to leave the evil
environment, even as did a young man in ancient Egypt, who 'fled, and
got him out.'"
- David O. McKay:, Conference Report,
October 1958, Afternoon Meeting, p.131
4/19/09
"If we desire to learn the ideal life to lead among our fellowmen, we
can find a perfect example in the life of Jesus. Whatsoever our noble
desires, our lofty aspirations, our ideals in any phase of life, we
can look to Christ and find perfection. So, in seeking a standard for
moral manhood, we need only to go to the Man of Nazareth and in him
find embodied all virtues that go to make the perfect man." - David
O. McKay, "Conference Report," April 1968, First Day—Morning
Meeting, p.7
7/22/09
“But
gaining knowledge is one thing, and applying it, quite another. Wisdom
is the right application of knowledge, and true education—the
education for which the Church stands—is the application of knowledge
to the development of a noble and God-like character.” - David
O. McKay, “Conference Report,” April 1968, General Priesthood
Meeting, p. 94
9/26/09
“Inseparable from the acceptance of the existence of God is an
attitude of reverence, to which I wish now to call attention most
earnestly to the entire Church. The greatest manifestation of
spirituality is reverence; indeed, reverence is spirituality.
Reverence is profound respect mingled with love. It is ‘a complex
emotion made up of mingled feelings of the soul.’ [One writer] says it
is ‘the highest of human feelings.’ I have said elsewhere that if
reverence is the highest, then irreverence is the lowest state in
which a man can live in the world. …” – “Teachings
Of Presidents Of The Church: David O. McKay,” p. 29
10/6/09
“Science, unsupported by the refining and restraining influence of
religion, instead of contributing to progress and happiness, as the
electric light, the automobile, the television and radio, and the
airplane, might prove a ‘Frankenstein’ by putting atomic submarines,
jet airplanes, and the H bomb at the disposal of political gangsters
and modern cavemen. Although atomic power opens up boundless
opportunities, it also threatens mankind with limitless perils. As one
thinker put it, ‘All depends upon whether we can match this flood of
new material powers with an equal gain in spiritual forces.’” -
David O. McKay, “Man May Know for Himself: Teachings of
President David O. McKay,” compiled by Clare Middlemiss, p. 196
10/31/09
“Health, happiness, peace of mind and character come through
self-restraint. The only thing that places man above the beast of the
field is his possession of spiritual gifts. Man’s earthly existence is
but a test as to whether he will concentrate his efforts his mind, his
soul, upon things which will contribute to the comfort and
gratification of his physical instincts and passions, or whether he
will make life’s aims and purposes the acquisition of spiritual
qualities.” - David O. McKay, “Conference
Report,” April 1967, First Day–Morning Meeting, p. 8
1/17/10
“The
first and most fundamental virtue in effective prayer is faith. A
belief in God brings peace to the soul. An assurance that God is our
Father, into whose presence we can go for comfort and guidance, is a
never-failing source of comfort.” – “Teachings
Of Presidents Of The Church: David O. McKay,” p. 71
1/20/10
“An
unwavering faith in Christ is the most important need of the world
today. It is more than a mere feeling. It is power that moves into
action, and should be in human life the most basic of all motivating
forces.” - David O. McKay, “Conference
Report,” April 1966, Second Day—Morning Meeting, p. 58
1/23/10
“Sincerity, consistency, self-control, service. Do you know, that was
taught by the pioneers when they crossed the plains? Every morning the
pioneers in the first company, and most companies that followed, knelt
down and asked for guidance and protection for that day. If they were
in the wagon, they knelt in the wagon. Those who were driving teams
knelt there by the side. There was an hour for prayer. That is faith,
sincerity.” - David O. McKay,
“Steppingstones to an Abundant Life,” p. 311
4/2/10
“Undoubtedly, somewhere on the scroll that the new year brings, there
will be marks of disappointment, discouragement, difficulty, and
perhaps sorrow; but we shall try to meet these with unfaltering
determination, relying upon God to strengthen us in weakness and to
give us fortitude in trial. Thus overcoming what we can, and bearing
bravely what we must, we shall experience the joy of mastery akin to
that which Jesus felt when he said: ‘. . . Be of good cheer, I have
overcome the world.’ (John 16:33.)” - David
O. McKay, “Man May Know for Himself: Teachings of President David O.
McKay,” compiled by Clare Middlemiss, p. 463
4/7/10
“There is more spirituality expressed in giving than in receiving. The
greatest spiritual blessing comes from helping another. If you want to
be miserable, just harbor hate for a brother, and if you want to hate,
just do your brother some injury. But if you would be happy, render a
kind service, make somebody else happy. The poet was right when he
expressed the truth in these lines:
“If you sit down at set of sun/ And count the acts that you have
done,/ And, counting, find/ One self- denying deed, one word/ That
eased the heart of him who heard/ One glance most kind,/ That fell
like sunshine where it went/ Then you may count that day well spent.
“But if, thru all the livelong day,/ You've cheered no heart, by yea
or nay,/ If through it all,/ You've nothing done that you can trace/
That brought the sunshine to one face/ No act most small/ That helped
some soul and nothing cost/ Then count that day as worse than lost.”
- David O. McKay, “Conference Report,” October 1936, Church of the
Air Broadcast, p. 105
4/17/10
"If we contribute to the bishop the value of two meals once a month,
we are certainly no poorer financially than we would be if we had
consumed those meals as we regularly do. There cannot be any loss to
our own family in a financial way, and we have given at least a mite
towards alleviation of hunger, perhaps distress, in some home that is
less fortunate, less blessed than we. There is no loss to us
financially, no man is poorer, no man is deprived of one blessing, no
child is deprived of anything that he would have had if he refrained
from giving that small contribution. Financially then, nobody who
gives it is any the poorer." - David O.
McKay, "Conference Report," April 1915, Afternoon Session, p. 104
5/16/10
"If you have that testimony of truth on your side, you can pass through
the dark valley of slander, misrepresentation, and abuse, undaunted as
though you wore a magic suit of mail, that no bullet could enter, no
arrow could pierce. You can hold your head high, toss it fearlessly and
defiantly, look every man calmly and unflinchingly in the eye, as though
you rode, a victorious king returning at the head of your legions, with
banners waving and lances glistening and bugles filling the air with
music. You can feel the great expansive world of more health surging
through you as the quickened blood courses through the body of him who
is gladly, gloriously proud of physical health. You will know that all
will come right in the end, that it must come, that all must flee before
the great white light of truth, as the darkness slinks away into
nothingness in the presence of the sunburst." - David O. McKay,
"Conference Report," April 1958, Afternoon Meeting, p. 130
5/26/10
"We cannot truly believe that we are the
children of God, and that God exists, without believing in the final
inevitable triumph of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. If we
believe that, we shall have less worry about the destruction of the
world and the present civilization, because God has established his
Church never to be thrown down nor given to another people. And as God
lives, and his people are true to him and to one another, we need not
worry about the ultimate triumph of truth." - David O. McKay,
"Conference Report," April 1969, Afternoon Session, p. 152
12/21/11
No worry or anxiety over
the choosing and giving of gifts; no enjoyment of holiday feasts; no
decorations however modern or attractive; no social parties however
jovial, should ever overshadow the fact that Christmas is the
celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ who came to give life, light,
and peace to all mankind, and who marked the way by which these eternal
blessings may be obtained. Let us ever remember that ". . . God so loved
the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John
3:16.) - David O. McKay, "Man
May Know for Himself: Teachings of President David O. McKay," compiled
by Clare Middlemiss, p.434
1/22/12
These are the signposts along life's
highway which if followed will lead any man to do the Lord's will, to
know his Son, the Redeemer of the world, to know whom is eternal life.
And while we are gaining this great knowledge which leads to
immortality, we find the greatest joy in mortality that can be
experienced by the human soul. - David
O. Mckay, "Conference Report," October 1950, Third Day—Morning
Meeting, p.111
12/15/12
What does it mean to keep the faith? It means first, that we accept
Jesus Christ, not merely as a great teacher, a powerful leader, but as
the Savior, the Redeemer of the world. Now, there is much associated
with that, for I know that many students are reading comments from
reputably great educators who say that in order to be a christian it is
not necessary to accept Christ as the literal Son of God, it is not
necessary to believe in the immaculate conception, it is not necessary
to believe in the literal resurrection from the grave. But he who keeps
the faith will accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the Redeemer of
the world. I would have all men keep that faith. I think it is
fundamental to man's happiness, fundamental to his peace of mind. I
think it is the cardinal principle of the Church of Jesus Christ. - David
O. McKay, Conference Report, October 1928, Afternoon Meeting, p.37
3/27/15
Real life is
response to the best within us. To be alive only to appetite,
pleasure, pride, money-making, and not to goodness and kindness,
purity and love, poetry, music, flowers, stars, God and eternal
hopes, is to deprive one's self of the real joy of living. - Teachings
Of Presidents Of The Church: David O. McKay, p.11
6/6/15
O how glorious is the gospel! How great our responsibility to let
the world glimpse its magnificence, its comprehensiveness, its
divinity! I pray with all my soul that our temples will radiate
further interest and a desire to know God's will in the hearts of
thousands and tens of thousands of noble people who want to know the
truth. God help us all to increase our ability to spread this truth
and to help mankind to know it. - Teachings
Of Presidents Of The Church: David O. McKay, p. 125
6/21/15
Benevolence in its fullest sense is the sum of moral excellence, and
comprehends every other virtue. It is the motive that prompts us to
do good to others and leads us to live our life for Christ's sake.
All acts of kindness, of self-denial, of self-devotion, of
forgiveness, of charity, of love, spring from this divine attribute.
So when we say "we believe in being benevolent," we declare a belief
in all the virtues that go to make a Christ-like character. A
benevolent man is kind and true to his family, is active for good in
his city and state, and is a faithful worker in the Church. - David
O. McKay, "Conference Report," April 1968, First Day—Morning
Meeting, p. 8
9/29/15
Recognizing the fact that the
Creator is the eternal and everlasting source of this power, that he
alone can direct it, and that to possess it is to have the right, as
an authorized representative, of direct communion with God, how
reasonable, yet sublime, are the privileges and blessings made
possible of attainment through the possession of the power and
authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood! They are the most glorious
that the human mind can contemplate. - David
O. McKay, "Conference Report," October 1967, General Priesthood
Meeting, p. 95
1/11/16
I feel that when we hold the priesthood we are set apart from the
rest of the world. We have more strength to stand alone if
necessary. We develop this strength automatically if we honor the
priesthood. We will not be swayed by the opinion of the crowd. When
the gang says yes we have the courage to say no if they are wrong. -
David O. McKay, "Conference
Report," April 1964, General Priesthood Meeting, p.43
3/7/16
Courtesy, respect, deference, and kind consideration are all
pleasing attributes that may be shown on all occasions, and wherever
manifested contribute to the pleasure and sweetness of human
relations. - David O. McKay,
"Conference Report," October 1955, First Day-Morning Meeting, p.5
3/13/16
We are told that service to others is service to God. That is the
antithesis of pure nature. Nature's law is the survival of the
fittest. God's law is—use your personal power and possessions for
the advancement and happiness of others. This is the highest ideal
ever given! - David O. McKay,
"Man May Know for Himself: Teachings of President David O. McKay,"
compiled by Clare Middlemiss, p.179
3/19/16
If only men would "do his will," instead of looking hopelessly at
the dark and gloomy tomb, they would turn their eyes heavenward and
know that Christ is risen! - David
O. McKay, Conference Report, April 1966, Second Day-Morning
Meeting, p.58
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