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8/20/04
"Jesus taught the doctrine that we should pray for those that
despitefully use us; that we should love our enemies; that we should
do good to them that do evil to us; that we should not return evil for
evil, but good for evil. There is no particular credit due to any
person who returns good for good. Even the publicans and sinners did
this, but it is somewhat difficult to return good for evil.
Nevertheless to do so was enjoined by the commandments of the Lord
Jesus. We are to love our enemies; do good to them that hate and
persecute us; and when we are persecuted, persecute not again; when we
are derided, deride not in return; if we are injured, seek not to
injure those who injure us; that which is required at our hands is to
establish peace on earth and good will to man. Hence, when we forget
the object of our calling and step out of the path of duty to return
blow for blow, to inflict evil for evil, to persecute because we may
be persecuted, we forget the injunction of the Lord and the covenants
we have made with God, to keep His commandments." - Joseph F.
Smith, "Journal of Discourses, 26 vols." [London: Latter-day Saints'
Book Depot, 1854-1886], 23:285-286
8/2/06
"It may seem natural to react to a situation by giving back what is
given to us. But it doesn't have to be that way. Reflecting on his
horrendous wartime experiences, Viktor Frankl recalled: 'We who lived
in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the
huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They
may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that
everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the
human freedoms—to choose one's attitude in any given set of
circumstances, to choose one's own way' (Man's Search for
Meaning [1985], 86; emphasis added).
"That is noble behavior and a high expectation, but Jesus expects no
less of us. 'Love your enemies,' He said, 'bless them that curse you,
do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully
use you, and persecute you' (Matt.
5:44)." - Wayne S. Peterson, "Our
Actions Determine Our Character," Ensign (CR), November 2001,
p.83
9/9/06
"In the first section of the Doctrine and Covenants we read 'that the
Lord shall come to recompense unto every man according to his work, and
measure to every man according to the measure which he has measured to
his fellow man.' (D&C
1:10.)
"This teaching deserves the most careful consideration, for on judgment
day the Lord will mete out to us precisely as we have dealt with our
fellowmen, unless we have fully repented. It is a staggering thought,
and yet it is an integral factor in the Lords method of judgment. Do we
realize its broad significance? Do we see how we shall reap what we sow?
"This principle, showing the manner by which God will judge us, puts a
new light upon the commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves, and
should persuade us to take that law seriously.
"It also helps us to understand the deep meaning of the Golden Rule:
'All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so
to them.' This is a commandment, and to further emphasize it the Lord
said: 'This is the law and the prophets.' (3
Ne. 14:12.)" - Mark E. Petersen, "Do
Unto Others...," Ensign (CR), May 1977, p.73
2/4/09
"As
siblings, we must see that our Heavenly Father loves His children
equally, as any good earthly father would. Courtesy, kindness,
generosity, and forgiveness are all elements of proper conduct among
family members. Imagine the disappointment of a perfect, loving Father
who sees His children treating each other badly."
- James M. Dunn, "Words to Live By," Ensign (CR), May 2003,
p.35
3/20/09
"'It
is a full-time job to be decent'—to
be decent to everybody all the time. To be decent is to cease bitterness
jealousy, and hate, to refrain from gossip, refrain from backbiting, and
from passing on untrue comments and unreliable stories about another, to
be considerate, thoughtful, and sympathetic. After all, everyone that I
know of already has a very heavy load to carry."
- Thorpe B. Isaacson, "Conference Report," April 1959, Second
Day—Morning Meeting, p.65
7/2/09
“Brothers and sisters, if we are obedient to the commandment of love,
there will be no disputations, contention, nor hatred between nor
among us. We will not speak ill of one another but will treat each
other with kindness and respect, realizing that each of us is a child
of God. There will be no Nephites, Lamanites, nor other ‘ites’ among
us, and every man, woman, and child will deal justly one with
another.” - Robert F. Orton, "The First and
Great Commandment", Ensign (CR), November 2001, p. 81
5/18/10
"The attitude of revenge is completely counterproductive. It creates a
vicious cycle: If you break off my tooth, then, so help me, I will
break off your tooth! If carried to the extreme, such retribution can
escalate and stretch out to infinity and even lead to a spirit of
destruction. This is apparently the attitude that the wicked reached
in the time of Mormon's last battle. Only when someone is strong
enough, through meekness, to break this chain can the spirit of
retaliation stop. By refusing to seek revenge, those who are meek
stimulate peace within themselves and in society in general, a peace
that can lead to the survival of individuals and of nations." - Robert
E. Wells, "The Mount and the Master," p. 40
7/28/10
"A man who is too busy to notice a neighbor also has no time to smell
the flowers. Smallness of soul keeps us from contemplating both bird
and brother, when God would have us exult over all his creations." - "The
Neal A. Maxwell Quote Book," p. 226
12/14/11
Are we our brothers’ keepers? In other
words, are we responsible to look after the well-being of our neighbors
as we seek to earn our daily bread? The Savior’s Golden Rule says we
are. Satan says we are not. - Dallin
H. Oaks, "Brother's
Keeper," Ensign (CR) October 1986
12/22/12
God desires children who are
like him, reflecting all his perfections. What is God like? He is full
of mercy, compassion, empathy, and charity. He works for his
children’s happiness. He serves and forgives. To become like him, we,
too, must acquire these traits. What experiences of life are most
conducive in developing these qualities? When others suffer, we feel
mercy and compassion. When others sin against us, we learn to forgive.
Through others’ needs, we learn service, empathy, and charity. The
most trying times of our own lives often are the best producers in us
of godlike qualities. - S. Michael Wilcox, "No
Other Gods Before Me," Ensign January 1994
11/13/14
Let us be determined to overcome
selfishness and personal aggrandizement by sharing with others that
which we have, by dedicating ourselves to the work at hand which we
have to do, through dedication of our talents, our time, our
substance, our tithes, and our offerings, our love, our goodness and
kindness one to another, always seeing the good that always may be
found in others. - Elray L.
Christiansen, Conference Report, October 1955, Afternoon Meeting,
p.121
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