The LDS Daily WOOL Home Page
(8/6/98)
"Dwelling in the world is part of our mortal test. The challenge is to
live in the world yet not partake of the world's temptations which
will lead us away from our spiritual goals. When one of us gives up
and succumbs to the wiles of the adversary, we may lose more than our
own soul. Our surrender could cause the loss of souls who respect us
in this generation. Our capitulation to temptation could affect
children and families for generations to come." — Elder Robert D.
Hales, "Behold, We Count Them Happy Which Endure," General
Conference, April 1998
(8/7/98)
"How shall our people keep themselves unspotted from the world unless
they develop within themselves the spiritual strength and capacity to
resist temptation that is so rampant everywhere we go these days? And
where shall they develop such discipline? I think the meaning of this
revelation [D&C 59:9, 12] is clear: they shall develop such
discipline of self and such desire to live above the stains of the
world in their communion with the Lord as worshipers in sacrament
meetings." — President Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Priesthood Of Aaron,"
General Conference, October 1982
(8/8/98)
"To overcome temptation you and I must control our thoughts. Exit from
your mind bad thoughts. Avoid the wrong way of unrighteous thoughts.
Stop thoughts that lead to behavior unbecoming to a Latter-day Saint.
You do not have to yield to temptation! Discipline what you allow your
eyes to see, your ears to hear, your mouth to speak, and your hands to
touch." — Elder Rulon G. Craven, "Temptation, "General Conference,
April 1996
(8/9/98)
"When you are tempted to do wrong, do not stop one moment to argue,
but tell Mr. Devil to walk out of your barn." — Brigham Young, Journal
of Discourses, 3:359
(6/12/04)
"We will not be tempted beyond our capacity to resist. (See 1
Cor. 10:13.) This principle comes as a promise to those who are
striving to resist and are not reckless in their response to
temptations. (See Alma
13:28.)" - L. Lionel Kendrick, "Our
Moral
Agency," Ensign, March 1996, p. 32
(10/27/04)
"Surely we live in troubled times, but we can seek and obtain the good
despite Satan's temptations and snares. He cannot tempt us beyond our
power to resist. (See 1
Cor. 10:13.) When we seek 'anything virtuous, lovely, or of good
report or praiseworthy,' we are seeking to emulate the Savior and
follow his teachings. Then we are on the path that can lead us to
eternal life." - Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Seeking the Good," Ensign, May
1992, p. 88
(10/28/04)
"God can reveal to us our talents and our strengths so that we will
know what we can build upon. Be assured that in all our righteous
endeavors, we can say, as did Paul: 'I can do all things through
Christ which strengtheneth me.' (Philip.
4:13.) Also be assured, as Paul said further, that there will be
no temptation befall us but what is common to man: but God will, with
each temptation, provide a way to escape. (See 1
Cor. 10:13.)" - Ezra Taft Benson, "In His Steps," Ensign,
September 1988, p. 4
(10/29/04)
"As we see ourselves, and others, passing through fiery trials, the
wisdom of Peter, who had his own share of fiery trials, is very
useful: 'Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial
which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.'
(1 Peter 4:12.)
We do know, however, that God will not suffer us to be tempted above
what we can bear. 'There hath no temptation taken you but such as is
common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be
tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make
a way to escape.' (1
Corinthians 10:13.) God carefully scales 'all these things,'
since we cannot bear all things now. He has told us: 'Behold, ye are
little children and ye cannot bear all things now; ye must grow in
grace and in the knowledge of the truth.' (D&C
50:40.)" - Neal A. Maxwell, "All These Things Shall Give Thee
Experience" [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1979], p. 44
(10/30/04)
"The Lord tests us and tries us. He tests all of His saints. There is
no question that the harder the test, the higher the reward for
passing it. Abraham laid all that he had on the altar, thus proving
himself worthy of exaltation. Our Father knows where we are on the
path, and He knows when it is enough and when to provide the ram. We
never walk alone. Because He loves us, He will not deprive us of the
growth that comes from our tests, however hard they may be. It is
comforting to know that He will never test any of us beyond our
ability to withstand. We know that 'there hath no temptation taken you
but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer
you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation
also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.' (1
Corinthians 10:13.)" - Ardeth Greene Kapp, "My Neighbor, My
Sister, My Friend" [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1990], p. 171
(10/31/04)
"Well might we ponder the source which could be ours if we keep
ourselves worthy. [The source of which I speak is] our Lord and Master
([He was] my consolation on a night over thirty years ago when I faced
the greatest challenge of my life). 'For we have not an high priest
which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was
in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us
therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain
mercy, and find grace to help [us] in [our] time of need.' (Hebrews
4:15-16.) Those timeless words should be written upon the
tablets of our hearts: to likewise give us courage to withstand in our
time of need." - Harold B. Lee, "The Teachings of Harold B. Lee,"
edited by Clyde J. Williams [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1996], p. 190
(3/24/05)
"Enduring temptation is one of the greatest challenges. Jesus endured
temptation but yielded not. (See Mosiah
15:5.) Christ withstood because He gave 'no heed' to
temptations. (D&C
20:22.) You and I tend to dally over and dabble in temptations,
entertaining them for a while, even if we later evict them. However,
to give temptations any heed can set the stage for later succumbing."
- Neal A. Maxwell, "Endure
It
Well," Ensign, May 1990, p. 34
(5/2/05)
"The Prophet Joseph Smith faced temptation. Can you imagine the
ridicule, the scorn, the mocking that must have been heaped upon him
as he declared that he had seen a vision? I suppose it became almost
unbearable for the boy. He no doubt knew that it would be easier to
retract his statements concerning the vision and just get on with a
normal life. He did not, however, give in. These are his words: 'I had
actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two
Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was
hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was
true.... I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it,
and I could not deny it.' (Joseph
Smith-History 1:25.) Joseph Smith taught courage by example. He
faced temptation and withstood it." - Thomas S. Monson, "Be
Thou
an Example," General Young Women's Meeting, March 2005
(8/4/05)
"Our mind,
throughout the day, is continually active. We choose the avenues
of thought that our mind travels. Allowing worldly thoughts to
enter your mind can lead to unrighteous acts. As we travel the
highways of life, our physical senses are continually bombarded
with billboards, posters, magazines, videos, movies, etc., that
entice and tempt the mind and, if allowed, create mental pictures
that are not becoming to a Latter-day Saint.
"When evil thoughts arise—Stop! Think! Control your mind!
Visualize a large EXIT sign in your mind's eye. Immediately change
your thoughts. Get off of that avenue of thinking." - Rulon G.
Craven, "Temptation,"
Ensign,
May 1996, 76
11/10/06
"Like Jesus, we can
decide, daily or instantly, to give no heed to temptation (see D&C
20:22). We can respond to irritation with a smile instead of
scowl, or by giving warm praise instead of icy indifference. By our
being understanding instead of abrupt, others, in turn, may decide to
hold on a little longer rather than to give way. Love, patience, and
meekness can be just as contagious as rudeness and crudeness." - Neal
A. Maxwell, "The
Tugs
and Pulls of the World," Ensign, November 2000
4/14/07
"If we pay close attention to the
uses of the word remember in the holy scriptures, we will recognize
that remembering in the way God intends is a fundamental and saving
principle of the gospel. This is so because prophetic admonitions to
remember are frequently calls to action: to listen, to see, to do, to
obey, to repent. (See 2
Nephi 1:12; Mosiah
6:3; Helaman
5:14.) When we remember in God's way, we overcome our human
tendency simply to gird for the battle of life and actually engage in
the battle itself, doing all in our power to resist temptation and
avoid sinning." - Marlin K. Jensen, "Remember
and
Perish Not," General Conference, April 2007
11/5/09
“To enjoy the
sweet, mankind must know something about the bitter. They must have
the opportunity of exercising their faculties and testing their
powers. Unless they were exposed to temptation they never could know
themselves, their own powers, their own weaknesses nor the power of
God. If Satan had no power to tempt mankind, they would be in a
state where they could neither know good nor evil; they could not
know happiness nor misery. All their powers would lie dormant, for
there would be nothing to arouse them. They would be destitute of
that experience which prepares men to become like God, their Eternal
Father.” - George Q. Cannon, “Gospel
Truth: Discourses and Writings of President George Q. Cannon,”
selected, arranged, and edited by Jerreld L. Newquist, p. 109
2/28/10
“I
have learned by experience that the enemy of truth does not slumber,
nor cease his exertions to bias the minds of communities against the
servants of the Lord, by stirring up the indignation of men upon all
matters of importance or interest.” – “Teachings
of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith,” p. 78
8/4/10
"Yielding
to temptation can lead to the addiction of both body and spirit.
Addiction can be overpowering and lead to enslavement, and enslavement
leads to loss of freedom and inner peace." - Rulon
G. Craven, Temptation, Ensign (CR), May 1996, p. 76
8/22/11
When temptation comes your way, name
that boastful, deceitful giant “Goliath!” and do with him as David did
to the Philistine of Gath. God bless each of you, I humbly pray. -
Gordon B. Hinckley, "Overpowering the Goliaths in Our Lives," Ensign
(CR) April 1983
5/21/12
The question for us now is—will
we succeed? Will we resist? Will we wear the victor’s crown? Satan may
have lost Jesus, but he does not believe he has lost us. He continues
to tempt, taunt, and plead for our loyalty. We should take strength
for this battle from the fact that Christ was victorious not as a God
but as a man. - Howard W. Hunter, "The
Temptations of Christ," Ensign (CR) November 1976
8/26/13
When temptation comes, you can
invent a delete key in your mind—perhaps the words from a favorite
hymn. Your mind is in charge; your body is the instrument of your
mind. When some unworthy thought pushes into your mind, replace it
with your delete key. - Boyd K.
Packer, "Prayer
and Promptings," Ensign (CR) November 2009
3/13/15
The world loves its own, but it loved not the disciples of Jesus
because he called them out of the world. On the same principle the
world cannot love us. Let us realize this fact, and while being just
to all men, let us live the religion of Jesus Christ, and trust in
God. If we are pressed on all sides from without, it will tend to
unite and make us all the more solid. Snow is soft and yielding,
melting easily under the genial rays of the sun, but press it hard
from every side and it congeals into a frozen mass, and in that
state is capable of resisting mighty forces. - Moses
Thatcher, "Journal of Discourses," 26 vols., 23:213
6/16/15
Faith, hope, and charity are godly attributes which, when acquired
and accompanied by participation in essential ordinances, will help
to qualify us for entrance into the celestial kingdom some day. But
in addition these attributes have urgent relevance in helping us to
fend off the fiery darts of the adversary in today's world. Faith
and hope are antidotes for discouragement, depression, and despair,
and charity immunizes us against paranoia and acute high blood
pressure, ulcers, and migraine headaches in the wake of offensive
behavior by others. - Spencer J.
Condie, "Your Agency, Handle with Care," p. 21
7/24/15
Temptation is like a magnetic force which holds a metal object in its
power. It loses its magnetic force and power when you turn away from it.
So we must turn away from temptation; then it will lose its power. - Rulon
G. Craven, "Temptation,"
Ensign (CR), May 1996, p. 76
1/29/16
What about us? We live in a world
of temptation—temptation that seems more real and oppressively
rampant than any since the days of Noah. Are we remaining faithful
in such a world? Every individual in this church should ask himself,
"Am I living so that I am keeping unspotted from the evils of the
world?” - Howard W. Hunter, "The
Temptations of Christ," Ensign (CR), November 1976, p.17
5/3/16
To
illustrate the opposition of temptation, the Book of Mormon
describes three methods the devil will use in the last days. First,
he will “rage in the hearts of the children of men, and stir them up
to anger against that which is good” (2
Nephi 28:20). Second, he will “pacify, and lull [members] away
into carnal security,” saying “Zion prospereth, all is well” (verse
21). Third, he will tell us “there is no hell; and … I am no
devil, for there is none” (verse
22), and therefore there is no right and wrong. Because of
this opposition, we are warned not to be “at ease in Zion!” (verse
24). - Dallin H. Oaks, “Opposition
in All Things,” Ensign (CR) May 2016
5/26/16
It is a frightening realization that the powers of evil will increase in
the world. This brings us to the question, What can we do? Is there a
way to escape from the powers of evil? Yes, there is.
Members of the Church can overcome temptation by (1) obedience to the
guiding principles and doctrines of the gospel of Jesus Christ, (2)
following the counsel of our prophets and leaders, and (3) living in
such a way that our lives are constantly influenced by the power of the
Holy Ghost. - Rulon G. Craven, “Temptation,”
Ensign (CR), May 1996, p.76
7/30/16
To blind the eyes is not to see or acknowledge the consequences of our
actions. To harden the heart is to ignore or not be willing to accept
counsel. To be led into the broad roads is to give in to worldly
enticements and lose the influence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. - Rulon
G. Craven, “Temptation,”
Ensign (CR), May 1996, p.76
4/1/17
The
Savior
gives us a profound key by which we can cope with and even surmount
the debilitating forces of the world. Said the Savior, “I pray not
that thou
shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep
them from the evil.” This grand key then is that, regardless of the
saturation of
wickedness around us, we must stay free from the evil of the world.
The Savior’s prayer both commands us to avoid evil and proffers divine
help to do
so. Through this effort we become one with our Lord. The prayer of the
Savior in Gethsemane was, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father,
art in me, and I
in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe
that thou hast sent me.” – James
E. Faust, “Woman,
Why
Weepest Thou?” Ensign (CR) November 1996