(3/31/00)
"It has been the rule of my life to find out if I could, by listening
closely to what they said and by asking the Lord to help me interpret
it, what they had in mind for the Latter-day Saints to do and then do
it. I am happy to say, not boastfully but gratefully, that I have
never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church
even though it crossed my social, professional or political life." —
"Conference Report", April 1941, p.123
(4/03/00)
"Recently I heard a famous character say, 'What the world needs today
is a prophet.' That was a wise statement, but it is not exactly
correct. The things the peoples of the world need today are ears to
hear the living prophet, because we already have one." — "Conference
Report", April 1955, p.31
(4/04/00)
"This gospel has often been spoken of as a way of life. This however
is not quite accurate. Consisting as it does of the principles and
ordinances necessary to man's exaltation it is not just a way of life,
it is the one and only way of life by which men may accomplish the
full purpose of their mortality." — "Conference Report", October 1958,
p.95
(4/05/00)
"The failure of parents to teach their children affects not only them
and their children but whole civilizations." — "Conference Report",
April 1969, p.108
(7/12/01)
"No matter how many stocks and bonds or how much land and other
properties we possess, they are not wholly ours. They are the Lord’s.
He further says that he owns and gives to us all the blessings we have
and that he makes us stewards over them, responsible to him. He makes
it clear that it is his purpose to provide for his Saints, but he
requires that it be done in his way, which way, he explains, is for
those who have to contribute to those who have not. Having made us
stewards, he gives us our agency, however, and then lays down the
condition that if we accept these blessings and refuse to contribute
our share for the care of the poor, we shall go to—well, he tells us
where we shall go." — Marion G. Romney, "Fundamental
Welfare
Services," "Ensign," May 1979, p. 95–96
(11/23/01)
"'Thou shalt not commit adultery.'... The violator of this commandment
suffers a loss second only to the loss suffered by him who kills. With
the loss of the Spirit of the Lord, which always accompanies adultery,
comes a diminution of the power to choose between right and wrong.
Lying, loss of self-respect, and disloyalty are bosom companions of
adultery. If we are seriously interested in being successful in any
endeavor, we shall avoid every type of immorality as we would avoid
the plague." — Marion G. Romney, "A
Glorious Promise," "Ensign," Jan. 1981, p. 3
3/06/03
"Would that every officer in the Priesthood quorums could approach his
labors with the spirit and determination of Nephi.... Observe that he
did not complain that the assignment was difficult, that he had other
work which took all his time, that they had done the best they could,
nor that they had called on Laban once and that it would be useless to
call on him again. What he said was that, 'As the Lord liveth... we
will not go... until we have accomplished the thing which the Lord
hath commanded us.'" — Marion G. Romney, "Conference Report,"
October 1942, p. 43
3/27/03
"The inability of the learning of the world to successfully deal with
our sick society today is due to the fact that both the learned and
the unlearned reckon without knowledge of or belief in the realities
of eternity, past and future. So doing, their prospects for success,
in spite of their boasted advances in behavioral and social sciences,
are no greater than would be those of a playwright writing what he
considered to be a one-act play, but which in fact was to be the
second act of a three-act play. The first act would have already been
presented and would have dealt with matters that he had no knowledge
of or belief in; and the guidelines for the third act, which he
likewise had no knowledge of or belief in, would have already been
irreversibly established." — Marion G. Romney, "Learning for the
Eternities," [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1977], p. 51
(5/19/03)
"The greatest concern of Alma as a father was for the welfare of his
children. In the last year of his mortality, with their welfare in
mind, 'he caused that his sons should be gathered together, that he
might give unto them every one his charge, separately, concerning the
things pertaining unto righteousness.' (Alma
35:16.) In the wisdom borne out of his great
experiences-temporal and spiritual-he taught them many things. The
heart of them all, however, the thing which in his wise judgment would
be of most worth to them, he expressed in his charge: 'Learn wisdom in
thy youth.'" — Marion G. Romney, "Learning for the Eternities," [Salt
Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1977], p. 69
(6/13/03)
"I think I am within the mark when I say that the obtaining of eternal
life by each individual person, including specifically you and me, is
part of the work of God and adds to his glory. His will concerning us
and our affairs cannot be other than for our advancement toward
immortality and eternal life. Submitting to his will in every instance
will be for our own good. And this we must do in faith if we would
have peace and happiness in our present state of imperfect living." —
Marion G. Romney, "Conference Report," October 1944, p. 55-56
(6/30/03)
"At the very pinnacle of success, when he was prosperous, popular,
young, and romantic, he came upon a great temptation—a temptation
that, had he yielded to it, would have ruined his life. His master's
wife became enamored with him and sought to seduce him. From the
record it is clear that Joseph's strength to resist this great
temptation and live true to his convictions was derived from his
faith, based upon a knowledge of what the Lord had said about
adultery. For, said he, 'How... can I do this great wickedness, and
sin against God?' This weighing of Joseph's temptation in terms of
sinning against God was possible only because he was informed as to
God's commandments. And thus, he being fortified with knowledge and
great faith, 'It came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that
he hearkened not unto her.' (Genesis 39:9-10)" — Marion G. Romney,
"The Power of Faith," "Faith," [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co.,
1983], p. 10
(7/14/03)
"We need not expect nor seek open visions and personal interviews....
We do not need them. These great revelations to the Prophets were
given to open dispensations and are for the benefit of all. We are
expected to get our concepts of the true and living God from them,
particularly from the teachings and testimony of the Prophet Joseph
Smith; for the Lord has said that this generation is to receive His
word through the Prophet. (See D&C 5:10) This we can and must do.
But we must go further. We must each obtain for ourselves a personal
witness that the testimonies of the prophets are true." -- Marion G.
Romney, "BYU Speeches of the Year," 1962, p. 6
(7/15/03)
"This clear and certain knowledge of God the Eternal Father and his
Only Begotten Son and man's likeness and relationship to them was
given to Moses at the time he led Israel from Egypt. The revelation
was then necessary, because during their bondage Israel's knowledge of
God had been corrupted." -- Marion G. Romney, "Conference Report,"
April 1970, p. 68
(7/26/03)
"As I read the scripture, I feel that Joshua's obedience to the
teachings of Moses and to the contents of the book of the law was the
test of his strength and courage. The extent to which he was to
prosper, be unafraid and undismayed, and have the Lord with him
depended upon his rating in that test. We can demonstrate our strength
and courage in the same way, and be unafraid and undismayed and have
the Lord with us whithersoever we go, by observing the teachings of
the living prophets and observing to do according to all that is
written in the standard works of the Church." — Marion G. Romney,
"Look to God and Live," [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1971], p.
211
(12/7/03)
"Only by voluntarily giving, out of an abundant love for his neighbor,
can one develop that charity characterized by Mormon as the 'pure love
of Christ.' (Moro.
7:47.) In Mosiah we read: 'And... Alma commanded that the people
of the church should impart of their substance, every one according to
that which he had; if he have more abundantly he should impart more
abundantly; and of him that had but little, but little should be
required; and to him that had not should be given.
'And thus they should impart of their substance of their own free will and good desires towards God.' (Mosiah 18:27-28; italics added.)
Some may ask, 'How do I obtain these righteous feelings in giving? How do I overcome giving grudgingly? How do I obtain the 'pure love of Christ?'' To those I would say: Faithfully live all the commandments, give of yourselves, care for your families, serve in church callings, perform missionary work, pay tithes and offerings, study the scriptures-and the list could go on. As you lose yourself in this service, the Lord will touch and soften your heart and gradually bring you to the feelings with which he blessed the people in King Benjamin's time, which prompted them to say, 'Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.' (Mosiah 5:2.)" - Marion G. Romney, "Living Welfare Principles," Ensign, Nov. 1981, p. 92-93
(4/20/04)
"I assure you, my brothers and sisters, that training our children will
be easier if we can get into their hearts and feelings the attitude and
spirit of this great sermon of King Benjamin. Let us seek to imbue our
children with the spirit of the gospel and then our children will not
have a mind to injure one another and others, but to live peaceably and
to render to everyone that which is his due. Teach them, as Benjamin
said, 'to walk in the ways of truth and soberness;... teach them to love
one another, and to serve one another.' (Mosiah
4:15.)" - Marion G. Romney, "Let
Us
Set in Order Our Own Houses," Ensign, January 1985, p. 6
(7/28/04)
"One of the important things the Lord has told us to do is to be liberal
in our payment of fast offerings. I would like you to know that there
are great rewards for so doing-both spiritual and temporal rewards. The
Lord has said that the efficacy of our prayers depends upon our
liberality to the poor. (See Alma
34:28.)" - Marion G. Romney, "The
Blessings
of the Fast," Ensign, July 1982, p. 2
(8/13/04)
"If our young folks become familiar with the teachings of the Book of
Mormon, they will not only be inspired by the examples of Nephi, the
2,000 sons of Helaman (see Alma
53), and other great Book of Mormon characters to choose the
right, they will also be so schooled in the principles of the gospel of
Jesus Christ that they will be able to know and understand what is
right." - Marion G. Romney, "The
Book
of Mormon," Ensign, May 1980, p. 67
(1/1/05)
"The general acceptance of Satan's declaration, 'I am no devil, for
there is none' (2 Ne.
28:22), accounts in large measure for the decadence in our
deteriorating society." - Marion G. Romney, "Satan-The
Great
Deceiver," Ensign, June 1971, p. 36
(2/14/05)
"'...when the times of the Gentiles is come in, a light shall break
forth among them that sit in darkness, and it shall be the fulness of my
gospel;
"But they receive it not; for they perceive not the light, and they turn
their hearts from me because of the precepts of men.' (D&C
45:28-29.)
"The fulfillment of this prediction is painfully evident today. The
large majority to whom the gospel has been taken reject it. It is
because of this rejection, and not because there is no guiding light,
that this generation has been and, unless it reverses its course, will
continue to be unable to avoid the calamities foreseen and foretold by
Jesus. For, said he, in that generation-that is, in which the gospel is
preached-'they perceive not the light' (the Gospel of Jesus Christ) and
'turn their hearts from me.'" - Marion G. Romney, "The
Light
Shineth," Ensign, Dec. 1971, p. 75-76
(3/11/05)
"The great overall struggle in the world today is, as it has always
been, for the souls of men. Every soul is personally engaged in the
struggle, and he makes his fight with what is in his mind. In the final
analysis the battleground is, for each individual, within himself.
Inevitably he gravitates
toward the subjects of his thoughts. Ages ago the wise man thus succinctly
stated this great truth: 'As he thinketh in his heart, so is he' (Prov.
23:7).
"If we would escape the lusts of the flesh and build for ourselves and
our children great and noble characters, we must keep in our minds and
in their minds true and righteous principles for our thoughts and their
thoughts to dwell upon.
"We must not permit our minds to become surfeited
with the interests, things, and practices of the world about us." -
Marion G. Romney, "The
Book
of Mormon," Ensign, May 1980, p. 66
(5/22/05)
"We should all give some attention to
the matter of fasting. We haven't really called on the Lord so that we
can reach him intimately if we don't fast occasionally, and pray
often. Many of our personal problems can be solved by so doing. Do you
remember what the Savior said to his disciples who couldn't cast out
the evil spirit, after they had asked why they couldn't do it when
Jesus had done it so easily? He replied, 'This kind goeth not out but
by prayer and fasting.' (Matt.
17:21.)" - Marion G. Romney, "The
Blessings of the Fast," Ensign, July 1982, 4
(5/25/05)
"Notwithstanding the fact that through its misuse, political,
economic, and personal liberty are lost, free agency will always
endure because it is an eternal principle. However, the free agency
possessed by any one person is increased or diminished by the use to
which he puts it. Every wrong decision one makes restricts the area in
which he can thereafter exercise his agency. The further one goes in
the making of wrong decisions in the exercise of free agency, the more
difficult it is for him to recover the lost ground. One can, by
persisting long enough, reach the point of no return. He then becomes
an abject slave. By the exercise of his free agency, he has decreased
the area in which he can act, almost to the vanishing point." - Marion
G. Romney, "The
Perfect Law of Liberty," Ensign, Nov. 1981, 45
(6/26/05)
"How do you get a testimony? I think that Jesus gave the answer as
well or better than it has ever been given. As he taught in the temple
at the Jewish Feast of the Tabernacles, the Jews—although they were
even then plotting his death—marveled at his teachings and said, 'How
knoweth this man letters, having never learned? Jesus answered them,
and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man
will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God,
or whether I speak of myself.' (John
7:15–17.) This statement points the way so clearly and simply
that even 'wayfaring men, though fools,' need 'not err therein.' (Isa.
35:8.)" - Marion G. Romney, "How
to Gain a Testimony," New Era, May 1976, 12
(8/10/05)
"It has always seemed somewhat paradoxical to me that we must
constantly have the Lord command us to do those things which are for
our own good. The Lord has said, 'He that findeth his life shall lose
it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.' (Matt.
10:39.) We lose our life by serving and lifting others. By so
doing we experience the only true and lasting happiness. Service is
not something we endure on this earth so we can earn the right to live
in the celestial kingdom. Service is the very fiber of which an
exalted life in the celestial kingdom is made." - Marion G. Romney, "The
Celestial Nature of Self-Reliance," Ensign, June 1984, 6
11/30/05
"The time will come when we shall know the will of God before
we ask. Then everything for which we pray will be 'expedient.'
Everything for which we ask will be 'right.' That will be when as a
result of righteous living, we shall so enjoy the companionship of the
spirit that he will dictate what we ask. On this point the Lord has
said, 'He that asketh in the Spirit asketh according to the will of God;
wherefore it is done even as he asketh' (D.
& C. 46:30), and again, 'And if ye are purified and cleansed
from all sin, ye shall ask whatsoever you will in the name of Jesus and
it shall be done. But know this, it shall be given you what you shall
ask.' (D. & C.
50:29-30.) Nephi, the son of Helaman, so lived. He with
unwearyingness declared the word of God. He sought not his own life but
the will of God, and to keep his commandments continually, and to him
the Lord said, '...all things shall be done unto thee according to thy
word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.' (Helaman
10:5.)" - Marion G. Romney, "Conference Report," October 1944,
Second Day—Morning Meeting, p.56
3/22/06
"... to Thomas B. Marsh [the Lord said]: 'Pray always, lest you enter
into temptation and lose your reward.' (D&C
31:12.)...
"The purpose of prayer... is not to appease a vindictive Deity; nor is
it to court favors from an indulgent Father. It is to attune oneself
with the spirit or light which 'proceedeth forth from the presence of
God to fill the immensity of space.' (D&C
88:12.) In that light is to be found sure answers to all our
needs." - Marion G. Romney, "Prayer
and Revelation," Ensign (CR), May 1978, p.48
12/20/06
"The importance of caring for the poor and needy is dramatically
emphasized in the revelation received by the Prophet in
Kirtland June 7, 1831, in which the Lord paired off the brethren he was
sending to Missouri. These brethren, all but destitute, were to make
their way as best they could across four states. The Prophet himself
walked almost the whole distance from St. Louis to Independence, a
distance of about 300 miles. Nevertheless, and notwithstanding the fact
that they were facing these hardships, the Lord thus concluded his
instructions to them: 'And remember in all things the poor and the
needy, the sick and the afflicted, for he that doeth not these things,
the same is not my disciple' (D&C
52:40).
"Since these brethren in their extremity could not qualify as his
disciples without remembering 'the poor and the needy, the sick and the
afflicted,' what will be our plight if we fail to remember them?" -
Marion G. Romney, Look to God and Live , p.184
2/23/07
"Just as each individual is accountable for his choices and actions in
spiritual matters, so also is he accountable in temporal matters. It is
through our own efforts and decisions that we earn
our way in this life. While the Lord will magnify us in both subtle and
dramatic ways, he can only guide our footsteps when we move our feet.
Ultimately, our own actions determine our blessings or lack of them. It
is a direct consequence of both agency and accountability." - Marion G.
Romney, "The
Basic Principles of Church Welfare," Ensign (CR), May 1981, p.90
2/2/08
"Getting people's spirits healed
through conversion is the only way they can be healed. I know this is an
unpopular doctrine and a slow way to solve the problems of men and
nations. As a matter of fact, I am convinced that relatively few among
the billions of earth's inhabitants will be converted. Nevertheless, I
know and solemnly witness that there is no other means by which the
sin-sick souls of men can be healed or for a troubled world to find
peace. I know that the unbelieving will reject this divine way. But this
is nothing new. They have been rejecting it ever since the time of Cain.
They have from the beginning refused to accept Christ and his gospel.
They killed the ancient prophets. They burned Abinadi. They stoned
Samuel the Lamanite. They crucified the Lord himself. In our own day
they martyred Joseph Smith, Jun., the great prophet of the restoration.
But all that has happened in the past has not, and all that occurs in
the future will not change the truth that conversion to Jesus Christ and
his gosel is the one and only way; for still it must be said that 'there
is none other way given under heaven by which men must be saved.'
(See Acts 4:12.)
To this I witness in solemn testimony."
- Marion G. Romney, "Conference
Report," October 1963, Afternoon
Meeting, p.26
3/22/08
"To
the Lord Jesus, who bought us with a great price, we owe an undying
debt of gratitude. It is impossible for us, weak mortals as we are, to
fully comprehend and appreciate the suffering he endured on the cross
so that he might gain for us victory over death. And even less can we
understand the suffering he endured in Gethsemane so that we might
obtain forgiveness of our sins. 'Which
suffering,' he said, 'caused
myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and
to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and
would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink.'
(D&C 19:18.)
"But
nevertheless, he endured it for our sake. None of us could have
endured that suffering. No mortal man nor any number of men together
could have endured it. All people who understand what Jesus did for us
ought to love him and demonstrate that love by rendering to him, in a
realistic manner, thanks and gratitude."
- Marion G. Romney, "Gratitude
and Thanksgiving,"
Ensign (CR), November 1982, p.49
3/25/09
"As
we seek to understand the Father's will, it may be well for us to keep
in mind some well-known fundamentals. The first to which I invite your
attention is that the rules of conduct prescribed for us in the
revelations contained in the Doctrine
and Covenants are
statements of the Father's will as to how we should live our mortal
lives, and that these standards were not formulated by men, and
therefore men cannot change them. Their observance is a purifying and
sanctifying process, by which we come into union with God and thereby
enjoy peace and happiness. To know them and fail to strive to live
them is to invite certain distress and unhappiness."
- Marion G. Romney, "Conference Report," April 1945, Afternoon
Meeting, p.88
4/27/09
"I
believe the attention many of us pay to gospel principles fluctuates
as our circumstances in life change. However, the principles remain
constant and are true, whether or not we live up to them. The
consequences of not living these principles also remain constant." - Marion
G. Romney, “Work and Welfare: A Historical Perspective,” Ensign
(CR), May 1982, p.87
10/15/09
“Of
the Nephites who survived the cataclysm which accompanied the
crucifixion of Jesus and thereafter lived the program, the record
says, ‘And it came to pass the people were all converted unto
the Lord and there were no contentions and disputations among
them, and every man did deal justly one with another.
“’And they had all things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift. And surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.’ (4 Ne. 1:2, 3, 16.)
“Why were these people so happy? Because they were free of the shackles of selfishness and had learned what the Lord knows–that ultimate joy comes only through service.” - Marion G. Romney, “Living Welfare Principles,” Ensign (CR), November 1981, p. 92
7/1/10
"The theory that
man is other than the offspring of God has been, and, so long as it is
accepted and acted upon, will continue to be, a major factor in blocking
man's spiritual growth and in corrupting his morals." - Marion
G. Romney, "Man—A Child of God," Ensign (CR), July 1973, p. 11
7/24/11
We should keep in mind that there is
more than one source of knowledge. There is the knowledge obtainable
through man’s normal sensory organs. Such knowledge should be sought
after. The Lord has commanded us to get all such knowledge we can in
this manner.
There is also knowledge of divine things which comes through direct
revelation—religious knowledge, it is sometimes called. And there are
two aspects to religious knowledge. One of them concerns the great store
of religious knowledge which we have in the scriptures. Ever since the
beginning, from Father Adam’s time until now, the Lord has given through
his prophets, by revelation, religious knowledge. Such knowledge
concerns the verities of life. It deals with God and his Beloved Son,
the great gospel plan, and the mission of Jesus as Savior and Redeemer.
The other aspect to religious knowledge is the personal witness
available through inspiration, a form of revelation that comes to each
individual. - Marion G. Romney, "Except
a Man Be Born Again," Ensign (CR) October 1981
8/1/11
Just as following wrong alternatives
restricts free agency and leads to slavery, so pursuing correct
alternatives widens the scope of one’s agency and leads to perfect
liberty. As a matter of fact, one may, by this process, obtain freedom
of the soul while at the same time being denied political, economic, and
personal liberty. - Marion G. Romney,
"
