The LDS Daily WOOL Home Page
Refer your friends to join The LDS Daily WOOL (Words Of Our Leaders)
(10/28/02)
"May God bless you as a generation with a continuing sense of
impending rendezvous with tasks you know not of yet, but for which you
must be prepared. I see you as a generation fitted before you came
here, measured for the challenges to be given to you. I plead with you
to determine to settle in spiritually, by moving along in the pathway
to becoming true believers in Christ." — Neal A. Maxwell, "True
Believers," "New Era," Apr. 1994, p. 24
(10/29/02)
"During an informal fireside address held with a group of adult
Latter-day Saints, the leader directing the discussion invited
participation by asking the question: 'How can you tell if someone is
converted to Jesus Christ?' For forty-five minutes those in attendance
made numerous suggestions in response to this question, and the leader
carefully wrote down each answer on a large blackboard. All of the
comments were thoughtful and appropriate. But after a time, this great
teacher erased everything he had written. Then, acknowledging that all
of the comments had been worthwhile and appreciated, he taught a vital
principle: 'The best and most clear indicator that we are progressing
spiritually and coming unto Christ is the way we treat other people.'"
— Marvin J. Ashton, "The Tongue Can Be a Sharp Sword," "Ensign," May
1992, p. 20
(10/30/02)
"I have no doubt that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
as an institution can meet the challenge of entering into the year
2000. Growth in membership, the number of new temples, and the
inspired organization are all in place to move with strength into the
next century. Having the images of technology in our minds is
commendable, but in order to move forward spiritually we need to have
the Savior's image in our countenances and in our hearts." — James E.
Faust, "This Is Our Day," "Ensign," May 1999, p. 18
(10/31/02)
"The Lord does not want His church to become root bound and stagnant."
— Marvin J. Ashton, "Progress through Change," "Ensign," Nov. 1979, p.
61
(11/01/02)
"Somehow, some of us get it in our heads that if we are not making
great, dramatic leaps forward spiritually, we are not progressing.
Actually, for most of us, the challenge of living the gospel is that
progress comes in almost imperceptible increments. It is very seldom
that we can look back over one day and see great progress. Becoming
like God takes years and years of striving, and trying again." —
Gerald N. Lund, "I Have A Question," "Ensign," Aug. 1986, p. 41
(3/2/04)
"Apathy, or the 'all is well' (2
Ne. 28:21) syndrome, is another snare to be avoided. 'The peril
of this century,' declared Elder David O. McKay (later, President of
the Church) when he was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,
'is spiritual apathy.' (Conference Report, Oct. 1907, p. 62.) This
spiritual apathy, complacency, and procrastination all lead to
spiritual weakness and leave us dangerously susceptible to the ravages
of temptation and sin. Failure to actively seek righteousness can cost
us our exaltation as surely as choosing wickedness." - Clyde J.
Williams, "A
Shield against Evil," Ensign, Jan. 1996, pp. 30-31
(6/17/05)
"The Lord has often used
mountaintops as sanctuaries. In Old Testament times, when temples
were not available the Lord used mountaintops as sacred places in
which to reveal truths to his prophets. Likewise, the New Testament
and the Book of Mormon describe sacred mountaintops where God
revealed truths to his servants. Joseph Smith, kneeling in the
Sacred Grove, was figuratively kneeling at the top of a great
spiritual mountain.
"Today the Lord provides us with ample space which, in a personal
way, becomes our own spiritual mountaintop where we receive truth
and inspiration. Searching the scriptures, for example, can answer
many of the questions of our day by lifting our spirits to
clarifying heights. Further, the world is dotted with holy temples
which we may enter to receive instruction and inspiration and to
perform sacred ordinances. Conferences such as this one, reports of
the prophetic utterances of our beloved leaders, our own sacrament
meetings and stake conferences—all provide rich, fulfilling
opportunities to hear the truth and allow it to sink deep into our
souls." - Jack H Goaslind, "Spiritual
Mountaintops," Ensign, Nov. 1995, 9
(9/19/05)
"Sometimes we may feel that our
spiritual edge has grown dull. On some very trying days, we may even
feel that God has forgotten us, has left us alone in our confusion and
concern. But that feeling is no more justified for the older ones
among us than it is for the younger and less experienced. God knows
and loves us all. We are, every one of us, his daughters and his sons,
and whatever life's lessons may have brought us, the promise is still
true: 'If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to
all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him' (James
1:5)." - Howard W. Hunter, "The Teachings of Howard W. Hunter,"
edited by Clyde J. Williams [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1997], p. 85
12/29/05
"It would seem of the utmost importance that thinking people
everywhere should conscientiously reflect upon their spiritual assets.
Man is a dual being, spiritual and physical. Whether it be an individual
or a nation, he or it cannot achieve permanent success or happiness
without spirituality. Paul said: 'For to be carnally minded is death;
but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.' (Rom.
8:6.)" - Joseph Anderson, "Strength
of the Spirit," Ensign (CR), May 1974, p.9
1/10/06
"The generation of spiritual light comes from daily spiritual
pedaling. It comes from praying, studying the scriptures, fasting, and
serving—from living the gospel and obeying the commandments. 'He that
keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light,' (D&C
93:28) said the Lord, 'and he that receiveth light, and continueth
in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and
brighter until the perfect day.' (D&C
50:24) My brothers and sisters, that perfect day will be when we
will stand in the presence of God the Father and Jesus Christ." - Robert
D. Hales, "Out
of Darkness into His Marvelous Light," Ensign (CR), May 2002, p.69
4/12/06
"The Lord, who knows all that through which we will pass, will help us
to overcome in our 'small moment' of time (D&C
122:4). If we are settled, we will 'endure it well' (D&C
121:8) and 'hold fast' (1
Thes. 5:21). Endured righteously, 'all these things shall give
[us] experience, and shall be for [our] good' (D&C
122:7). 'Think it not strange' when disciples are called upon to
pass through 'the fiery trial,' said Peter (1
Pet. 4:12).
"Even so, the Saints of God, as prophesied, will eventually 'cry unto
the Lord day and night until deliverance comes' (Prophetic Sayings of
Heber C. Kimball, n.p., n.d., p. 6).
"The spiritually settled will finally overcome, and the glorious promise
is, 'To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne,
even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne' (Rev.
3:21)." - Neal A. Maxwell, "Overcome...
Even As I Also Overcame," Ensign (CR), May 1987, p.70
4/27/06
"So let us look at ourselves. For the Church, the scriptures suggest
both an accelerated sifting and accelerated spiritual and numerical
growth—with all this preceding the time when the people of God will be
'armed with righteousness'—not weapons—and when the Lord's glory will be
poured out upon them (1
Ne. 14:14; see also 1
Pet. 4:17; D&C
112:25). The Lord is determined to have a tried, pure, and proven
people (see D&C
100:16; D&C
101:4; D&C
136:31), and 'there is nothing that the Lord thy God shall take in
his heart to do but what he will do it' (Abr.
3:17).
"How can we, as individual members of the Church, survive spiritually if
we do not honor our covenants? How can we survive spiritually if we
break outright the covenants made at the time of baptism or in the holy
temples? How can we be on the Lord's side during the 'great division' if
we mirror the world's materialism and selfishness (see 2
Ne. 30:10)?" - Neal A. Maxwell, "For
I Will Lead You Along," Ensign (CR), May 1988, p.7
8/9/06
"It matters not what position we may occupy in the Church or out of it.
No man is so safe that he may boast of his own strength, but only as God
shall be our strength and come to our rescue, and then shorten the days,
will we be able to overcome, and finally gain the victory; at least,
that is the way I read the holy scripture. And what is the equipment?
Can, you, then, or can I, or can any human soul in all the world, combat
and overcome the temptations of the present day in and of ourselves
without being properly equipped for that great struggle? I answer 'No,
we cannot.' We need the help of God. We need the companionship of His
Holy Spirit. Without these we cannot succeed." - Rulon S. Wells,
Conference Report, April 1922, Third Day—Morning Session, p.142
10/25/06
"Our most important spiritual nutrient is a testimony that God is our
Eternal Father, that Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer, and that the Holy
Ghost is our Comforter. This testimony is confirmed to us by the gift of
the Holy Ghost. From this testimony we derive the spiritual nutrients of
faith and trust in God, which bring forth the blessings of heaven.
Spiritual nutrients come to us from various sources..." - James E.
Faust, "Spiritual
Nutrients," Ensign, November 2006
1/26/07
"So, first of all, we believe in Christ. And the test as to whether we
believe in him is whether we believe his words and whether we believe
those whom he hath sent—the Apostles and prophets of all the ages (D&C
1:38; 84:36).
And then, having believed, we have the obligation of conforming to the
truths that we have thus learned (Mosiah
4:10; Matt. 7:21).
If we do conform we begin to grow in spiritual graces. We add to our
faith virtue, and to our virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance
and patience and godliness and all of the other attributes and
characteristics that are written in the revelations (2
Pet. 1:5). So step by step and degree by degree we begin to become
like God our Heavenly Father." - Bruce R. McConkie, "Sermons and
Writings of Bruce R. McConkie," p.52
3/4/07
"Our thoughts, our words, our deeds make us what we are. King Benjamin,
after his important address to the people gathered at the temple,
summarized his concerns for them: 'If ye do not watch yourselves, and
your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the
commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard
concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye
must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not' (Mosiah
4:30).
"I believe that to perish is to have the Spirit withdrawn, to bear the
burden of darkness and despair. If our whole bodies are to be filled
with light (see D&C
88:67), we must 'cast away [our] idle thoughts' (D&C
88:69). The Lord counsels, 'Look unto me in every thought; doubt
not, fear not' (D&C
6:36). Our doubts and our fears can imprison us and hold us
hostage. We must exchange them for messages that free us—messages of
faith, not fear." - Ardeth Greene Kapp, "Rejoice! His Promises Are
Sure," p.101-102
5/21/07
"I never regard the message of Christ as being harsh. Sometimes it
sounds a little harsh and rigorous, but I never regard it as being
harsh. I always regard the message of Christ as being kindly,
persuasive, forgiving and loving. I can't picture our Lord and Savior in
any atmosphere other than that of love and kindness. I have always
regarded the condemnations and penalties of which we sometimes speak as
being largely in the nature of deprivations and retardations in our
progress, for we are told, in what seems to me to be the very genius of
the Gospel according to modern revelation—in the vision of the
glories—that every one is to receive even more than he anticipates, but
that the highest and the most perfect and the lovely blessings of the
future are in store for those who live the Christly life upon which
those blessings are predicated." - Stephen L. Richards, "Conference
Report," October 1935, Third Day—Morning Meeting, p.97
2/24/08
"Thirty
years' experience has taught me that every moment of my life must be
holiness to the Lord, resulting from equity, justice, mercy, and
uprightness in all my actions, which is the only course by which I can
preserve the Spirit of the Almighty to myself."
- "Discourses of Brigham Young,"
selected and arranged by John A. Widtsoe, p.267
2/29/08
"A
person who has developed spirituality may suffer deeply and know
frustration; but yet he is able to continue in showing forth kindness
and love because of a power that rises up from his spiritual base that
governs his actions and urges him to speak with a new tongue (2
Ne. 31:14), as Nephi said, and to be his best despite obstacles
and setbacks." - David B.
Haight, "Our
Lord and Savior," Ensign
(CR), May 1988, p.21
10/14/08
"The
Lord has given us a beautiful plan about how we can return to Him, but
the completion of our mortal journey requires spiritual fuel. We want
to emulate the five wise virgins, who had stored sufficient fuel to
accompany the bridegroom when he came (see
Matthew 25:6–10).
What is required to maintain a sufficient store of spiritual fuel? We
must acquire knowledge of God’s eternal plan and our role in it, and
then by living righteously, surrendering our will to the will of the
Lord, we receive the promised blessings."
- L. Tom Perry, "Let Him Do It With Simplicity," General
Conference, October 2008
10/16/08
"Our
spiritual journey is the process of a lifetime. We do not know
everything in the beginning or even along the way. Our conversion comes
step-by-step, line upon line. We first build a foundation of faith in
the Lord Jesus Christ. We treasure the principles and ordinances of
repentance, baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. We
include a continuing commitment to prayer, a willingness to be obedient,
and an ongoing witness of the Book of Mormon. (The Book of Mormon is
powerful spiritual nourishment.)
"We then remain steady and patient as we progress through mortality. At times, the Lord’s answer will be, 'You don’t know everything, but you know enough'—enough to keep the commandments and to do what is right." - Neil L. Andersen, "You Know Enough," General Conference, October 2008
2/24/09
"Spiritual
security will always depend upon how one lives, not where one lives.
Saints in every land have equal claim upon the blessings of the Lord."
- Russell M. Nelson, "The Gathering
of Scattered Israel," CR October 2006
2/26/09
"Looking at vegetable
life, we see plants that grow in darkness. They are pale; they possess
not the beauty of those that grow in open sunlight. When I was a
youth, I remember being sent into the cellar late in the spring to
sprout some potatoes. Every sprout was reaching out for that ray of
sunlight that came through a little aperture! And yet we go through
life and see God's highest creation, man, turning his back on the
light, and not as the potato sprout struggling therefore. I wonder if
we are magnifying our calling and are growing toward the light in a
desire to be warmed by Christ's love? I wonder if we know just who we
are? If we do, let us be obedient unto every commandment of the Lord
our Father."
- Walter P. Monson, "Conference Report,"
April 1917, Outdoor Meeting, p.103
10/20/09
“In
the revelations to the Prophet Joseph Smith, this matter
is made very clear. Man is engaged in an eternal journey. Life on
earth is but an episode in everlasting life. Therefore, all things
that touch this eternal traveler belong to the plan under which he is
moving forward. The distinction between things spiritual and temporal
vanishes; they become merged, as the palm and back of the hand, as the
warp and woof of the cloth. Man’s physical concerns acquire a
spiritual value; and his spiritual activities have temporal
counterparts. ‘Wherefore, verily I say unto you that all things unto
me are spiritual, and not at any time have I given unto you a law
which was temporal ... for my commandments are spiritual; they are not
natural nor temporal, neither carnal nor sensual’ (D. & C. 29:34,
35). This makes the Word of Wisdom, tithing, prayer, or temple work,
principles alike of spiritual essence. In that sense, the Church never
departs from spiritual teachings.” - John
A. Widtsoe, “Evidences and Reconciliations,” p. 279
1/5/10
“Our
most fundamental doctrines impel us to improve, individually and
collectively. We counsel one with another. We pray together and in
secret. We acknowledge our weaknesses, search scriptures, and ponder
course adjustments. We receive the righteous benefits from
heavenly-inspired gifts of science, technology, and art. We correlate,
correct, and realign, bringing all truth we are capable of receiving
to harmonize our lives and the leadership and organization of this
work with the teachings and perfect example of our leader, Jesus
Christ.” - V. Dallas Merrell, “Power of the Church Rooted in
Christ,” Ensign (CR), May 1993, p. 28
2/10/10
“One of those small things, I have learned, is that I must find the
time to fill my own spiritual reservoir each day. It's tempting to
make a massive list of my failings and then to work at them, as a
friend of mine says, as though I am ‘killing snakes.’ Self-improvement
may seem a kind of work project, but it is—at heart—a change of heart.
When we women struggle to keep up with life-raising children,
providing necessities, attending school, dealing with issues of age or
ill health-our own spirituality often ends up at the bottom of our
long ‘to do’ lists.” - Kathleen H. Hughes,
“Out of Small Things,” Ensign (CR), November 2004, p. 109
3/1/10
“I
have learned that where there is a prayerful heart, a hungering after
righteousness, a forsaking of sins, and obedience to the commandments
of God, the Lord pours out more and more light until one finally has
power to pierce the heavenly veil and to know more than man knows.
Such a person has a priceless promise that one day he will see the
Lord's face and know that he is (see D&C 93:1).” – “The
Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball,” edited by Edward L. Kimball, p. 73
4/3/10
“I
believe that men and women ought to prepare themselves—that they ought
to know something about the gospel of Christ, and why they are members
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or ‘Mormons,’ as
we are commonly called in the world, we ought to take advantage of
opportunities that are offered us from time to time to learn more of
the gospel and to become acquainted with the truths contained therein.
It is just as necessary for us to learn the words of life that will
bring us spiritual glory and exaltation as it is to labor hard for
temporal things. We need the temporal things of life as taught in this
Church, but we ought not to let the spiritual side of life go
undeveloped. I believe that men and women can be led and are led too
much into the ways of money-making and accumulating of means, to the
expense, often, of their own spiritual welfare.” - Samuel
O. Bennion, “Conference Report,” April 1918, Second Day—Morning
Session, p. 43
5/24/10
"Where do we stand with the Lord? Are we happy with our own
spirituality? Do we like what we see? Is the Holy Ghost our companion in
life? Do we recognize the promptings of the Holy Spirit? The answers to
these and other similar self-examination questions may help us to
diagnose any spiritual illness which we may have."
- Malcolm S. Jeppsen, "A Divine Prescription for Spiritual Healing,"
Ensign (CR), May 1994, p. 17
5/25/10
"By involvement [in the Church] we not only contribute service, but we
accelerate our own spirituality by building a deepened and more direct
personal relationship with our Father in Heaven. We are matured
spiritually, so that even when some individuals in the Church fail or
disappoint us, we are not dismayed. We must not overlook the
significance of the Lord's revelation as contained in the Doctrine and
Covenants, section 4: 'Lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his
might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth
salvation to his soul' (D&C 4:4). No one ever sets out to save
someone else's soul without improving his own spiritual standing."
- Harold B. Lee, "The Teachings of Harold B. Lee," edited by Clyde J.
Williams, p. 179
7/4/10
"There is a means by
which we can measure our progress to meet [the Second Coming]. If the
breach is daily widening between ourselves and the world, as it is
between the community of the Saints and the world, then we may be
assured that our progress is certain, however slow. On the opposite
hand, if our feelings and affections, our appetites and desires, are in
unison with the world around us and freely fraternize with them, if our
faith and our actions are cold and barren of good fruit, we should do
well to examine ourselves. (Oct. 5, 1861, MS 23:645-46)." - George
Q. Cannon, "Gospel Truth: Discourses and Writings of President George
Q. Cannon," selected, arranged, and edited by Jerreld L. Newquist, p.
51
7/5/10
"As we concentrate on pleasing the Lord rather than others and
continue to work hard, doing the things we don't know how to do yet,
we will experience personal growth. We will increase our confidence in
Heavenly Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. This faith assures us that
in the end, we will not only survive but we will know great joy and
happiness." - Virginia H. Pearce, "Fear," Ensign (CR), November
1992, p. 90
7/20/10
"To those who are within the sound of my voice this day and who have
already entered the wicker basket of their spiritual balloon through
baptism into the kingdom of God but who are just sitting there, waiting
inactively for things to happen, cut the cords that hold you back from
lift-off.
"To those who are quietly drifting at the same elevation with little
upward mobility, take a close look at the ballast that prevents you from
going to a higher level of performance. Make a decision and remove the
restraining weight from your spiritual flight.
"I give you a solemn promise that if you do this, you will enjoy a
feeling of spiritual euphoria because you will elevate yourself." - Jacob
de Jager, "Climbing to Higher Spirituality," Ensign (CR), May 1983, p.
75
9/2/10
"Samuel the Lamanite prophet taught that 'whosoever repenteth not is
hewn down and cast into the fire; and there cometh upon them again a
spiritual death, yea, a second death, for they are cut off again as to
things pertaining to righteousness' (Helaman
14:18).
"The tragedy of dying as to things that are spiritual has a greater
impact for those who 'have been once enlightened by the Spirit of God,
and have had great knowledge of things pertaining to righteousness, and
then have fallen away into sin and transgression[;] they become more
hardened, and thus their state becomes worse than though they had never
known these things' (Alma
24:30).
"As parents and leaders we need to watch over our members and families,
helping them to stay away from those things that could lead them to a
spiritual death. We also seek to rescue those who are now dead as to the
things that are spiritual and help them to 'be born again; yea, born of
God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of
righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters' (Mosiah
27:25)." - Francisco J. Viñas, "Things
Pertaining to Righteousness," Ensign (CR) May 2010
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
1/6/13
Obedience to God’s commandments and
our personal integrity and adherence to commitments provide the needed
nutrients for fertile spiritual soil. It should be obvious to all of
us that evil influences such as filthy language, immodest clothing and
appearance, and pornography are bitter poisons that kill the soil and
halt the spiritually subtle process of receiving help from heaven
“line upon line, precept upon precept.” There can be no shortcut
around the law of the harvest; truly, we reap what we sow (see Galatians
6:7). - David A. Bednar, "Line
upon Line, Precept upon Precept (2 Nephi 28:30)," From a
Brigham Young University–Idaho devotional given on September 11,
2001
1/16/13
I believe that each of us needs a spiritual checkup just about as
often as we need a physical checkup; that each of us, the young, and
the rest of us, needs to make an appraisal of himself as a member of
the Church of Jesus Christ, and as the head of a family, or as a
member of a family, from time to time to determine the degree of our
fidelity and our allegiance and adherence to the accepted rules and
doctrines of the Church. - Elray L. Christiansen, Conference
Report, October 1959, Afternoon Meeting, p.68
1/17/13
There are three distinct things needed in the world today as forces to
spiritualize humanity. First, a revival and adherence to the Ten
Commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai; the second is a renewal of
faith in God the eternal father, and his son Jesus Christ; and the
third a divine knowledge that in this day and age of the world the
gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has been restored by
revelation. The priesthood, sacred in its gift, divine in its
influence, and spiritual in its character, has been given to man
directly by the power of God. These are the three great truths that
must be taught to the human race. - Levi Edgar Young, Conference
Report, October 1927, Afternoon Meeting, p.77
2/15/13
In this time of impressive Church growth, it is well for us to look
within our own souls to assess our individual spiritual vital signs.
Too frequently Latter-day Saints of all ages yield to the temptation
to explore and sample forbidden things of the world. Often this is not
done with the intent to embrace these things permanently, but with the
knowing decision to indulge in them momentarily, as though they hold a
value of some kind too important or too exciting to pass by. While
some recover from these excursions, an increasingly large number of
tragedies occur that bring a blight and a despair into many lives. - Dean
L. Larsen, "The
Strength of the Kingdom Is Within," Ensign (CR), November
1981, p.25
2/19/13
In a similar way, we can create lift in our spiritual life. When the
force that is pushing us heavenward is greater than the temptations and
distress that drag us downward, we can ascend and soar into the realm of
the Spirit. - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Prayer
and the Blue Horizon," Ensign, June 2009
3/1/2014
But
what? What is it that needs our personal attention? As I read and
ponder the scriptures and carefully consider the Lord’s counsel to
His followers in every dispensation of time, it appears to me that
the most important thing every one of us can do is to examine our
own commitment and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. We must
carefully guard against spiritual apathy and work to maintain the
full measure of our loving loyalty to the Lord. - M.
Russell Ballard, “How
Is It with Us?” Ensign (CR) May 2000
5/1/14
Perhaps you’re
aware of things in your life that are threatening to slow or stop
your spiritual progress. If so, follow this scriptural counsel: “Let
us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset
us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” -
Gary E. Stevenson, “Your
Four Minutes,” Ensign (CR) May 2014
12/29/14
How
do we develop spiritual capital and reserves? We need to make an
investment in time studying the scriptures and the words of our
living prophets; an investment in more meaningful communication with
our Father in Heaven; an investment in service to others; an
investment in unconditional, unselfish love of others; an investment
in missionary labor, which lays up in store blessings and
forgiveness of our sins; an investment in being wiser parents and
more obedient children; an investment in doubling our performance in
every calling. These investments will provide such spiritual capital
and reserves that the Lord can truly trust us to overcome the
temptations and frustrations of the world. - Robert
E. Wells, “The
Cs of Spirituality,” Ensign (CR) October 1978
1/21/15
Just as gas is
necessary to fill a balloon to push it upward, so must the
individual be filled with inner motivation in order to move upward.
Just as the balloon can rise higher by throwing ballast overboard,
so must a person be willing to rid himself of unnecessary ballast
that limits his rise in spirituality. - Jacob
de Jager, “Climbing
to Higher Spirituality,” Ensign (CR) April 1983
11/30/15
It
is like building muscle strength. You must break down your muscles
to build them up. You push muscles to the point of exhaustion. Then
they repair themselves, and they develop greater strength. Increased
spiritual strength is a gift from God which He can give when we push
in His service to our limits. Through the power of the Atonement of
Jesus Christ, our natures can be changed. Then our power to carry
burdens can be increased more than enough to compensate for the
increased service we will be asked to give. - Henry
B. Eyring, "O
Ye That Embark,” Ensign (CR) October 2008
12/17/15
Life is effort,
struggle, the putting forth of energy. It is by going that we arrive,
by doing that we learn. We live on a slippery slope. If we do not go
forward, we slip back and lose our footing. - Abel S. Rich,
"Conference Report," October 1936, Afternoon Meeting, p.38
2/9/16
We have paused on some plateaus long enough. Let us resume our journey
forward and upward. Let us quietly put an end to our reluctance to
reach out to others—whether in our own families, wards, or
neighborhoods. We have been diverted, at times, from fundamentals on
which we must now focus in order to move forward as a person or as a
people. - Spencer W. Kimball, "Let
Us Move Forward and Upward," Ensign (CR), May 1979, p.82
2/23/16
I am like a huge,
rough stone rolling down from a high mountain; and the only
polishing I get is when some corner gets rubbed off by coming in
contact with something else, striking with accelerated force against
religious bigotry, priestcraft, lawyer-craft, doctor-craft, lying
editors, suborned judges and jurors, and the authority of perjured
executives, backed by mobs, blasphemers, licentious and corrupt men
and women—all hell knocking off a corner here and a corner there.
Thus I will become a smooth and polished shaft in the quiver of the
Almighty, who will give me dominion over all and every one of them,
when their refuge of lies shall fail, and their hiding place shall
be destroyed, while these smooth-polished stones with which I come
in contact become marred. - Joseph
Smith, "Discourses of the Prophet Joseph Smith," compiled by Alma
P. Burton, p.27
4/5/16
Spirituality
is first an attitude of faith toward eternal realities. Faith in God
and the unseen world; faith in man's family relationship to God; and
faith in the great plan under which earth and man have their
existence and destiny. A peaceable life, however virtuous, is not
necessarily spiritual, for in every spiritual life faith is the
first and chief desideratum. As faith increases, based upon rational
considerations, it becomes a basis for greater spirituality. - John
A. Widtsoe, "Program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints," p.63
9/29/16
Spiritual food is necessary for spiritual survival,
especially in a world that is moving away from belief in God and the
absolutes of right and wrong. In an age dominated by the Internet,
which magnifies
messages that menace faith, we must increase our exposure to spiritual
truth in order to strengthen our faith and stay rooted in the gospel.
– Dallin H. Oaks, “The
Parable
of the Sower,” Ensign (CR) May 2015
Refer your friends to join The LDS Daily WOOL (Words Of Our Leaders)