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(5/1/04)
"Spring is a time for the rebirth of living things from their wintry cover.
It typifies and reminds us of the literalness of the resurrection of all living
things. Significant to me is the fact that our Lord emerged from the tomb in the
springtime!... Spring also with 'her bursting buds, variegated colors and
manifestation of teeming life inspires new hope and gives promise of happy
days.' (David O. McKay, Treasures of Life, Deseret Book Co., p. 146.) Indeed,
this time of nature's rebirth should give us pause for reflection, assessment,
and commitment to life's higher priorities." - Paul H. Dunn, "A
Time for Every Purpose," Ensign, May 1975, p. 61
(8/1/04)
"If, in your case, the physical tends to dominate, all the more reason to
bridle it and find the other dimensions. Bridle is the word that wise father
Alma used in counseling his son Shiblon, and the promise he attached is the key
to understanding: 'Bridle... your passions, that ye may be filled with love.' (Alma 38:12.) Bridling
increases strength, increases power, increases love. There are absolutely two
ways you can control a horse. (We learned a little bit about horses last night.)
One is to kill it; one is to bridle it. Alma never said kill your passions. The
implication is not that passions are evil, that we shouldn't have them. On the
contrary, we bridle something we love, something whose power we respect." -
Paul H. Dunn, "Teach
'the Why,'" Ensign, November 1981, p. 72
(1/27/05)
"As with the bud, so with the blossom. A boy is the only thing known from
which a man can be made. I hope that we as parents are teaching our children
that they are the sons and daughters of God, and that they have the capacity to
become like him. It was the old Edinburgh weaver who prayed, 'O God, help me to
hold a high opinion of myself.' Likewise I would counsel young people to hold a
high opinion of themselves, to remember who they really are, and to put their
faith in their Heavenly Father." - Paul H. Dunn, "Young
People-Learn Wisdom in Thy Youth," Ensign, June 1971, p. 103
(2/23/05)
"I used to wonder, as a teacher so-called, why the Savior would spend time
citing three parables about things that get lost. And then one day it dawned.
People do get lost in various ways, and here in this great chapter of Luke [Luke
15] we find the Savior counseling how to recover them.
"Permit me this observation: The Savior might say to us today, if he were
to teach this parable again, that sheep (or people who get lost) are not
basically sinners by nature or even choice, but people, like sheep, get confused
in what's important. In other words, they have misplaced values. And I am sure
the Savior would say to the teacher in the classroom, to the adviser, 'If you
want to retrieve this kind of person, put a higher value in place of the one he
now elects.' Family, service, brotherhood are all greener pastures for today's
sheep. Feeding here brings them home." - Paul H. Dunn, "What
Is a Teacher?" Ensign, Dec. 1971, p. 119
(3/6/05)
"I'm reminded of something I read just the other day. Let me share it with
you. It seems that a small boy was trying to lift a heavy stone, but couldn't
budge it. His father, watching very interestedly, said, 'Are you sure you're
using all of your strength?'
"'Yes, I am!' the boy cried.
"'No, you're not,' said the father. 'You haven't asked me to help you.'
"Well, let me just tell you that however tight the game seems at the
moment, I know the coach and I know that He can help. There is a personal and
loving God who knows all of the plays. He understands the game of life. He
understands you and me. And he understands what you and I need now to help in
our lives. Talking to him is an easy thing, really. All you have to do is call
time-out. Say to yourself, 'I've had it. I need help.' And be prepared to
listen. Say to him, 'I can't take any more of this running without seeing
clearly where the bases are or the direction I'm headed.'" - Paul H. Dunn,
"Time-Out!"
Ensign, May 1980, p. 38
(6/18/05)
"There are people who care, even when we don't know
it. I wonder how many parents pray silently for their kids? How many sons and
daughters must silently pull for their mom or dad? In how many crises do friends
silently cheer for each other? I am convinced that they are almost innumerable.
Of course, there's only one thing better than rooting silently: that's rooting
silently and vocally; to let those around us know we really care.
"But there are those who feel that they don't get much support, silent or
otherwise. To you in particular I want to give my assurance that there are those
who cheer from on high. God created us and loves us. More than anything else, he
desires our righteous success now and our safe return to him later. When we feel
no other support, we can count on him. To David of old and to us he said, 'Wait
on the Lord: Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thy heart' (Ps.
27:14)." - Paul H. Dunn, "The
Cheering Section," Ensign, June 1980, 5
3/4/09
4/16/09
"Why is it that as humans we tend to emphasize the negative when there is so
much to be positive about? We not only constantly criticize our children and
each other, find fault, are very judgmental, and often seek out and build up
people's weaknesses and failings rather than their strengths and successes, but
in our own personal life-styles there are those of us who are incessant, chronic
worriers. We worry about all the negative things that could happen, but usually
don't, rather than positively trying to face problems with some amount of faith
and hope of success." - Paul H. Dunn, By Faith and Hope, All Things Are
Fulfilled, Ensign (CR), May 1987, p.73
9/3/09
“Why
is it that as humans we tend to emphasize the negative when there is so much to
be positive about? We not only constantly criticize our children and each other,
find fault, are very judgmental, and often seek out and build up people's
weaknesses and failings rather than their strengths and successes, but in our
own personal life-styles there are those of us who are incessant, chronic
worriers. We worry about all the negative things that could happen, but usually
don't, rather than positively trying to face problems with some amount of faith
and hope of success.” – Paul H. Dunn, “By Faith and
Hope All Things Are Fulfilled,” “Hope,” p. 83
1/27/10
“One
of the basic tenets of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that
we believe in continuous revelation. It is our testimony to the world that God
communicates to prophets today the same as he did in ancient times. God’s
revelations in times past have been sustained and revered in holy scripture. New
revelation is the mind and will of the Lord through current prophets, and when
they speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost, it is ‘the will of the
Lord, … the mind of the Lord, … the word of the Lord, … the
voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.’ (D&C 68:4.
Italics added.)” - Paul H. Dunn, “Parents, Teach Your
Children,” Ensign (CR), May 1974, p. 14
3/11/10
“Now,
of course, life is serious. Children must be taught, bills must be paid, we must
live righteously—it is the Lord’s counsel to us. We can’t help but worry
sometimes; there are and always will be never-ending negatives existing all
around us which must be faced, dealt with, and solved. But I wonder if the
constant bombardment of dilemmas and challenges and the often seemingly hopeless
situations, both personal and nationwide, don’t frustrate, discourage, and
depress us sometimes to the point where our minds and attitudes are distracted
from the very principles that would allow us to rise above the negative and find
the positive answers we need.
“In spite of the many negative occurrences in life, there are those who seem to have the knack of seeing the positive side. A young businessman was opening a new branch office, and a friend sent a floral arrangement to help celebrate the occasion. When the friend arrived at the opening, he was appalled to find the wreath bore the inscription ‘Rest in Peace.’ Angry, he later complained to the florist. After apologizing, the florist said, ‘Look at it this way. Somewhere today a man was buried under a wreath that said, ‘Good luck in your new location.’’” - Paul H. Dunn, “By Faith and Hope, All Things Are Fulfilled,” Ensign (CR), May 1987, p. 73