- Those who cannot attend Church schools have been counseled by the First Presidency to gather where there is an institute of religion. The institute program will be greatly enhanced for your benefit.
- After all, education continues as long as we live. If there is ever an end to secular learning, surely there is no end to spiritual learning.
- Students at other schools soon learn that some professors deliberately undermine faith and challenge your moral and spiritual values. You in turn must be free, even in our own schools, to return that challenge and defend your right to believe in God, to keep the covenants you have made through baptism and which you renew through the sacrament.
- The Church is not a democracy--it is a kingdom.
- Previous periods of moral decline brought forth divine attention.
- "If we are not governed by God, then we will be ruled by tyrants."
- "Benjamin Franklin ... observed that if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without God's knowledge, 'can an empire rise without his aid?'"
- There should be no question about our standards, our beliefs--about who we are!
- The only sure way to protect ourselves and our families from the onslaught of the teachings of the world is to commit to live the commandments of God, to attend our Church meetings where we can learn and be strengthened in our testimonies and partake of the sacrament to renew our covenants, to prepare ourselves to worthily enter the temple where we may find a refuge from the world and a place of renewal of our capacity to cope with the evils of the world.
- Each of us is a child of God.
- As members of His true church, perhaps we do not need to be taught new things as much as we need to be reminded of what we already know. That is what pondering the birth of our Savior does for all of us. I believe it reminds our mortal minds of things our spirits already know.
- "Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you."
- "Yea, come unto me and bringeth forth works of righteousness."
- The scriptures are the word of God and a light to us and the world, and we can follow this light as if they were our guiding star.
- Prayer provides an opportunity for us to express gratitude. Taking an inventory of our blessings fills us with hope. "Pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love."
- Likely most of you want to feel secure, safe, and quietly live within the boundaries which are familiar and comfortable. However, without the risk of new experiences and challenging calls to serve, we fail to grow, and are not as useful in the work of building the Lord's kingdom as we need to be.
- "Wherefore the voice of the Lord is unto the ends of the earth, that all that will hear may hear.
- Spiritually bankrupt lives of individuals and families stand as mute testimony of the futility of attempting to live in today's society without revealed direction from our Heavenly Father through his prophets and Apostles.
- "Success in righteousness, the power to avoid deception and resist temptation, guidance in our daily lives, ,healing of the soul--these are but a few of the promises the Lord has given to those who will come to His word."
- We should let these conference addresses 'be the guide to [our] walk and talk during the next six months. These are the important matters the Lord sees fit to reveal to this people in this day.
- What the presidency say as a presidency is what the Lord would say if he were here, and it is scripture.
- The scriptures have had a great tendency to lead me to do that which is just; yea, they have had a more powerful effect upon my mind than the sword or anything else which has happened unto me; therefore I have tried the virtue of the word of God.
- "Immerse yourselves in [the scriptures] daily so you will have the power of the Spirit."
- "When we ... read and study the scriptures, benefits and blessings of may kinds come to us. this is the most profitable of all study in which we could engage."
- "We invoke Thy blessing, Father dear, upon the missionaries who shall come here, that Thy Spirit may touch their hearts, that their lives may be clean and virtuous, that their examples may be marvelous before the people, that they may be blessed, as it were, with the 'gift of tongues,' that they shall speak the language of the people, that they shall work with singleness of purpose to Thy name's honor and glory, that they shall go forth without fear, that none shall stay them, and that they shall declare with teaching and testimony, the restoration of Thy children. Father, give them joy and courage and faith and satisfaction in their labors, and make them fruitful.
- "We invoke Thy blessings upon the people of this land, that they shall be friendly and hospitable and kind and gracious to those who shall come here, and that many, yea Lord, we pray that there shall be many thousands who shall receive this message and be blessed thereby. Wilt Thou bless them with receptive minds and understanding hearts, and with faith to receive, and with courage to live the principles of the gospel, and with a desire to share with others the blessings which they shall receive. We pray that there shall be many men--faithful, good, virtuous, true men--who shall join the Church and who shall receive the blessings of the priesthood, and who shall accept and grow in leadership, that Thy work here shall be handled largely by local brethren, under the direction of those who hold the keys in this day and time, according to the law and order of Thy church."
- I wondered if I have sacrificed enough.
- The rescuers went safely to relieve the suffering travelers.
- We all have our moral agency, but if we use it unwisely, we must pay the price.
- "We may use our agency as to whether we shall obey or disobey; and if we disobey we must abide the penalty."
- "We are confident that many have [wanted] to return, but have felt awkward about doing so. We assure you that you will find open arms to receive you and willing hands to assist you."
- The entire Church joins in mighty prayer to our Heavenly Father that you may be cradled in the palm of His hand and blessed according to your need and His divine purposes. We sustain you. We follow you. We love you--our Prophet.
- The Master hasn't been absent from us.
- This is his church. ... He isn't an absentee master; he is concerned about us. He wants us to follow where he leads.
Aillen H. Clyde -Confidence through Conversion
- Because of the restored gospel, each of us has, or has available to us, a kind of knowledge that assures our survival, even our triumphant survival of the unsettling conditions that may threaten our balance and our progress.
- "Personal decision making is one of the sources of the growth we are meant to experience in mortality. Persons who try to shift all decision making to the Lord and plead for revelation in every choice will soon find circumstances where they pray for guidance and don't receive it."
- "We should pray for guidance and act upon it if we receive it, and upon our own best judgement if we do not."
- Each of us can take seriously the importance of our daily lives and decisions as we choose to follow God.
- Many of us will find--either through music, the spoken word, or simply the camaraderie of friend around us--answers and encouragement that will help us move forward.
- Fear has been a part of the history of individuals ever since the world began.
- Perhaps our Heavenly Father's greatest hope is that through our fears we may choose to turn to him. The uncertainties of earth life can help to remind each of us that we are dependant is not automatic. It involves our agency. We must choose to take our fears to him, choose to trust him, and choose to allow him to direct us. We must make these choices when what we feel most inclined to do is to rely more and more on our own frantic and often distorted thinking.
- Pray to him, there are things he will direct us to do that will help calm our fears. These actions often require great courage and direction from the Holy Ghost.
- He will support us as we face our fears and try to do things that we have never done before.
- As women, we like very much to please others--sometimes seeking approval so frantically that we become torn and confused by the conflicting needs of those around us. Concentrating on pleasing Heavenly Father brings peace, a respite from fear and anxiety.
- "I am always doing what I can't do yet in order to learn how to do it."
- "Working increases our abilities, and as you feel your abilities increase, you will feel more secure."
- You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.
- 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.
- "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
- Our physical presence and attention is vital to the children in our families.
- One busy Sunday with the meetinghouse hallway crowded with people, a bishop noticed a little boy sitting on the floor crying. Disregarding his busy schedule, the bishop immediately focused his attention on the weeping child. He sat right down on the floor and held the little boy close until the crying subsided and the boy was able to explain what was wrong. Then, comforted, the child went off down the hall holding the hand of his earthly ministering angel.
- I recognize that many of your unselfish and compassionate deeds are unknown, unheralded, and at times unthanked.
- Kindly deeds done in secret shall one day be openly rewarded by our Father in Heaven.
- The Lord is not unmindful of you.
- Thank you for making our lives so much better because of who you are. Your steady example of righteousness stands in contrast to the ways of the world.
- We, his servants all across the Church, need you, the women of the Church, to stand with us and for us in stemming the tide of evil that threatens to engulf us. Together we must stand faithful and firm in the faith against superior numbers of other-mined people.
- Sisters, continue to seek opportunities for service. Don't be overly concerned with status.
- It is important to be appreciated. But our focus should be on righteousness, not recognition; o service, not status.
- Visibility does not equate to value.
- No greater recognition can come to you in this world than to be known as a woman of God. no greater status can be conferred upon you than being a daughter of God.
- You are chosen to be faithful women of God in our day, to stand above pettiness, gossip, selfishness, lewdness, and all other forms of ungodliness.
- Be one who heals with your words as well as your hands.
- May the Lord bless you as you continue to serve him by serving others and as you strive to become all that you have the potential to become.
- "I desire to impress on you daughters of God ... that if this world is to endure, you must keep the faith. If this world is to be happy, you will have to set the pace for that happiness. ... If we are to maintain our physical strength and mental power and spiritual joy, it will have to be on the Lord's terms."
- "What we really and truly need is less criticism and more models to follow."
- True love can alter human lives and change human nature.
- Our opportunities lie before us here and now. But they are perishable.
- To those who are not yet married, I counsel: People who marry in the hope of forming a permanent partnership require certain skills and attitudes of mind. They must be skillful in adapting to each other. They need capacity to work out mutual problems. They need willingness to give and take in search for harmony. They need unselfishness of the highest sort, with thought for one's partner taking the place of desire for oneself.
- Many of our young people are tugged in the wrong direction and enticed to partake of the sins of the world. Yearningly such individuals seek for the strength of those who have the ability to stand firm for truth. Through righteous living and by extending the helping hand and the understanding heart, you can rescue, you can save.
- While the Apostle Paul urged that we be examples of the believers, he didn't restrict the boundaries of our service or limit the extent of our influence.
- She seems to always be smiling.
- "This is Flip's life, and I want to be part of it. He counts on me."
- "Lois is the light of my life. She's my eternal partner."
- "Good night, angels."
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!
-Sarnic Dirchi
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