April 1992 General Conference Priesthood Session

Neal A. Maxwell -"My Servant Joseph"

• Yes, Joseph received remarkable manifestations, along with constant vexations. True, for instance, there were periodic arrivals of heavenly messengers, but these were punctuated by the periodic arrivals of earthly mobs.
• While Joseph was befriended by heavenly notables, he was also betrayed by some of his earthly friends.
• Latter-day Saints are therefore unsurprised but instead are enriched whenever discoveries are made which show how the Lord grants "unto all nations" to teach a portion of "his word."
• When we are "inclined to be stiff and refractory, ... the Spirit of the Lord is held at a distance from  us" because we are too busy gratifying our own wills, and thus we"interpose a barrier" between us and God.
• President Young said that those who knew Joseph could tell when 'the Spirit of revelation was upon him, ... for at such times there was a peculiar clearness and transparency in his face."
• The Prophet's life was thus one of high achievement amid deep disappointment. Brethren, how will we endure our own peaks and valleys? will we so submit individually, or will we be "stiff and refractory"?

Carlos E. Asay -Be Men!

• It seems that everyone at some time or another is invited by peers to smoke, drink, steal, or engage in other immoral acts, all under the pretense of manhood. And when someone refuses to participate, he is often ridiculed and called names like pansy, mamma's boy, idiot, chicken, sissy, and religious fanatic. Such names are used by peers who equate manliness with the ability to drink liquor, blow tobacco smoke out of all the facial cavities, sow one's wild oats like some animal on the street, and break moral laws without a twinge of conscience.
• Those who use cunning tactics to peddle their wares disregard the souls of young people and love only their money.
• They would have us believe that brute force, or crude behavior, uncontrolled temper, foul language, and dirty appearance make a man, when in reality these characteristics are animalistc at best and the opposite of manhood at worst.
• We who bear the priesthood, must be on guard we must not be influenced by barbarian voices in our quest to become men.
• It is, therefore, our responsibility to climb ever upward and to wear God-given crowns honorably.
• No one becomes in truth a man until he reverences the Father of spirits and allows inner powers to control his thoughts, words, and actions.
• "Arise from the dust, ... and be men."
• "Be determined in one mind and in one heart, united in all things."
• There is a lie--a vicious lie--circulating among the Latter-day Saints and taking its toll among the young. And it is that a "balanced man" is one who deliberately guards against becoming too righteous. This lie would have you believe that it is possible to live successfully and happily as a "double-minded man" with one foot in Babylon and one foot in Zion.
• It is only when he raises himself, and concerns himself with the immortal spirit within him, that he becomes in [very] truth a man.
• Can a man be too righteous? Too Christlike? Impossible! Can the so-called "balanced man" walk successfully the beam between good and evil? No. Each step is shaky, and eventually he will teeter and fall and break himself against the commandments of God.
• Fleshliness never was manliness, and it never will be.
• A real man is one who allows the Spirit to direct the course and to call the cadence in his life.
• Love one another. Love all mankind. Strive for peace and all will be well. Truth will endure. Time is on the side of truth.
• "SILENCE, ye fiends of the infernal pit. In the name of Jesus Christ I rebuke you, and command you to be still; I will not live another minute and bear such language. Cease such talk, or you or I die THIS INSTANT!" -Joseph Smith
• Be men! Be men of Christ! Be men of God!

Vaughn J. Featherstone -A Prisoner of Love

• A strong, principled, and committed generation, which did great things but had the wisdom not to talk about them much.
• I think we will not be tested in the way the pioneers were tested.
• "When you come to a crossroads ... take it."
• After examining a woman's husband, the doctor said, "I don't like the looks of your husband." "Neither do I," said the woman, "but he is good to the children." Some of us may look a little old, but if we get all dressed up we don't look half bad.
• "After we have done all we could do for the cause of truth, and withstood the evil that men have brought upon us, ... it is still our duty to stand. We cannot give up; we must not lie down.
• Have we been "steeled"

L. Aldin Porter -"A Disciple of Jesus Christ"

• "Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind."
• "However, all these considerations did not deter me from the path of duty; the moment I understood the will of my Heavenly Father, I felt a determination to go at all hazards.
• Truly effective missionaries have many talents, varied and beautiful, but one quality they all seem to have is the ability to stick with their commitments--that is, the power to do what they agree to do.
• If you do not strive diligently for the assistance of the Spirit, you will find your missionary work extremely difficult and your results very disappointing.

Thomas S. Monson -To Learn, To Do, To Be

• When the priesthood of this church work together as one in meeting these vexing conditions, near miracles take place.
• A kind Heavenly Father will help us in our quest.
• First: Learn what we should learn!
• Second: Do what we should do!
• Third: Be what we should be!
• Learn what we should learn. Do what we should do. Be what we should be.

Gordon B. Hinckley -"Believe His Prophets"

• "Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's."
• "Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you ... : fear not, nor be dismayed."
• Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
• The law of tithing. If all the world would observe this simple principle, which came as a revelation from God, the needs of the poor over the earth would be met without taxing the people for welfare purposes.
• We must love people into doing what's right.
• No success in life can compensate for failure in the home. Those who followed his counsel have been blessed. Those who scorned it have paid a tragic price.
• The greatest work any of us would ever do would be within the walls of our own homes.
• "Be sensitive to the promptings of the Spirit. Be slow to censure and quick to encourage."
• I am not calling for flashy, temporary differences in our performance levels, but a quiet resolve ... to do a better job, to lengthen our stride."
• There are many little things that test our willingness to accept the word of the prophets.
• I have worked with seven Presidents of this Church. I have recognized that all have been human. But I have never been concerned over this. They may have had some weaknesses. But this has never troubled me. I know that the God of heaven has used mortal men throughout history to accomplish His divine purposes. They were the very best available to Him, and they were wonderful.
• If we have a prophet, we have everything.

Until you next see these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi