Inspirational Quotes: Member Missionary Work

“We must prepare ourselves to assist the missionaries in finding those of our Heavenly Father’s children who will embrace the message of the Restoration.” M. Russell Ballard, The Essential Role of Member Missionary Work, April General Conference 2003.

“You and I, today and always, are to bear witness of Jesus Christ and declare the message of the Restoration. … Missionary work is a manifestation of our spiritual identity and heritage.” David A. Bednar, Becoming a Missionary, October General Conference 2005

“Together, members and missionaries invite all to learn of God, of Jesus Christ, and of His gospel.” Russell M. Nelson, Catch the Wave, April General Conference 2013.

“How seriously have you personally taken the Lord’s charge to share His gospel? It is a lifelong responsibility. It is to be addressed differently according to the various seasons of your life. Not everyone can be a full-time missionary. If you can, do it. If not, seek other ways to serve that meet your present circumstances.” Richard G. Scott, Why Every Member a Missionary? October General Conference 1997.

“Your Heavenly Father needs you. His work, under the direction of our Savior Jesus Christ, needs what you are uniquely prepared to give. Every missionary experience requires faith, sacrifice, and service, and these are always followed by an outpouring of blessings.” Robert D. Hales, Couple Missionaries: Blessing from Sacrifice and Service, April General Conference 2005.

“Indeed, one of the axioms of our day is that no mission or missionaries can ultimately succeed without the loving participation and spiritual support of the local members working with them in a balanced effort.” Jeffery R. Holland, Witness Unto Me, April General Conference 2001.

“The most effective missionaries, member and full-time, always act out of love. … If we lack this love for others, we should pray for it..” Dallin H. Oaks, Sharing the Gospel, October General Conference 2001.

“Brethren of the priesthood, the world is in need of your help. There are feet to steady, hands to grasp, minds to encourage, hearts to inspire, and souls to save. The harvest truly is great. Let there be no mistake about it; the missionary opportunity of a lifetime is yours. The blessings of eternity await you. Yours is the privilege to be not spectators but participants on the stage of priesthood service.” Thomas S. Monson, That All May Hear, April General Conference 1995.

“Your mission will be a sacred opportunity to bring others to Christ and help prepare for the Second Coming of the Savior.” Neil L. Anderson, Preparing the World for the Second Coming, April General Conference 2011.

“Let no one underestimate the power of faith in the ordinary Latter-day Saints.” Boy K. Packer, The Least of These, October General Conference 2004.

“Consider missionary work. Young men, you have no time to waste. You can’t wait to get serious about preparing until you are 17 or 18. Aaronic Priesthood quorums can help their members understand the oath and covenant of the priesthood and get ready for ordination as elders, they can help them understand and prepare for the ordinances of the temple, and they can help them get ready for successful missions. Melchizedek Priesthood quorums and the Relief Society can help parents prepare missionaries who know the Book of Mormon and who will go into the field fully committed. And in each ward and branch, these same quorums can lead out in an effective collaboration with the full-time missionaries who are serving there.” D. Todd Christofferson, Brethren We Have Work to Do October General Conference 2012.   

Inspirational Quotes: The Church and Education

“They will not be judged on how many degrees they hold or how extensive their schooling may be, but on how well educated they are in those things which are of eternal value.”  Boyd K. Packer, To Be Learned Is Good If…, October General Conference 1992. 

“My personal experience converts me to the wisdom of the educational philosophy that joins spiritual with secular instruction. At Brigham Young University and in the other institutions of the Church Educational System, we are concerned with teaching the fundaments of spiritual and secular knowledge and with bringing those teachings into harmony in the lives of men and women in order to prepare them for a balanced and full life of service to God and fellowman.” Dallin H. Oaks, Strive for Excellence, October General Conference 1971. 

“Now, a word also to our younger brethren of the Melchizedek Priesthood, who are pursuing the righteous goals of obtaining an education and finding an eternal spouse. These are the correct goals, my brethren, but remember: working diligently in the Lord’s vineyard will greatly upgrade your résumé and increase the probability for success in both of these worthy endeavors.” Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Two Principles for Any Economy, October General Conference 2009.

“The best way I know of to make a contribution to the land we live in is to be prepared for the future. The Lord has promised us if we are prepared we should have no fear. If we make an effort to obtain the best education available to us, we are in a better position to be self-sufficient and not to become a burden on the society in which we live.” L. Tom Pery, Youth of the Noble Birthright, October General Conference 1998.

“I urge you to pursue your education and learn marketable skills so that, should an emergency arise, you are prepared to provide.” Thomas S. Monson, Be Thou an Example, October General Conference 2001. 

“Work hard to obtain an education and to learn technical skills that will allow you to be self-sufficient and support your family.” Robert D. Hales, If Thou Wilt Enter into Life, Keep the Commandments, April General Conference 1996.

“I know that to gain knowledge of great worth requires extraordinary personal effort. This is particularly true when our desire is to obtain spiritual knowledge.” Richard G. Scott, Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge, October General Conference 1993. 

“Learning the lessons of the past allows you to build personal testimony on a solid bedrock of obedience, faith, and the witness of the Spirit.” M. Russell Ballard, Learning the Lessons of the Past, April General Conference 2009

“Young men, you need to do well in school and then continue your education beyond high school. Some of you will want to pursue university studies and careers in business, agriculture, government, or other professions. Some will excel in the arts, music, or teaching. Others will choose a military career or learn a trade. Over the years, I have had a number of craftsmen work on projects and repairs at my home, and I have admired the hard work and skill of these men. In whatever you choose, it is essential that you become proficient so that you can support a family and make a contribution for good in your community and your country.” D. Todd Christofferson, Brethern, We Have Work to Do, October General Conference 2012.

“We can become more diligent and concerned at home as we are more faithful in learning, living, and loving the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.” David A. Bednar, More Diligent and Concerned at Home, October General Conference 2009. 

“Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service was first introduced in October 2004. President Hinckley commenced this effort when he called for missionaries to learn the doctrine and to teach the principles by the Spirit. Every member of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve participated to a significant degree. Elder Ballard and I felt that the windows of heaven were opened and the Lord’s inspiration poured out to bring forth this great resource. Over 1.5 million copies of Preach My Gospel have been acquired by the members of the Church. It is a wonderful foundation, and the missionaries are powerful, spiritual teachers. However, if we are to accomplish what President Hinckley has requested, the members, living by faith and not by fear, need to share the gospel with their friends and associates.” Quentin L. Cook, Live by Faith and Not by Fear, October General Conference 2007.

Inspirational Quotes: Self Mastery

“Before you can master yourself, my precious one, you need to know who you are. You consist of two parts—your physical body, and your spirit which lives within your body. You may have heard the expression “mind over matter.” That’s what I would like to talk about—but phrase it a little differently: “spirit over body.” That is self-mastery.” Russell M. Nelson, Self-Mastery, October General Conference 1985.

“Fasting is also one of the finest ways of developing our own discipline and self-control.” L. Tom Perry, The Law of the Fast, April General Conference 1986.

“We always see the guideposts in our life more clearly after we have passed them and have reached a higher vantage point. If we were more alert to the promptings of the Holy Ghost, we would see them before we reach them and thereby be guided more effectively. This process requires self-mastery, self-control, and a heart willing to accept change.”  Richard G. Scott, Happiness Now and Forever, October General Conference, 1979. 

“In this life, certain actions can be perfected. A baseball pitcher can throw a no-hit, no-run ball game. A surgeon can perform an operation without an error. A musician can render a selection without a mistake. One can likewise achieve perfection in being punctual, paying tithing, keeping the Word of Wisdom, and so on. The enormous effort required to attain such self-mastery is rewarded with a deep sense of satisfaction. More importantly, spiritual attainments in mortality accompany us into eternity.”  Russell M Nelson, Perfection Pending, October General Conference 1995.

“The moral realm the only real control you have is self-control.” Jeffery R. Holland, Scantify Yourselves, October General Conference, 2000. 

“Young Latter-day Saints, shape up! Face up! Take hold of your lives! Take control of your mind, your thoughts!” Boyd K. Packer, The Spirit of Revelation, October General Conference 1999.

“If we desire to have a proper spirit with us at all times, we must choose to refrain from becoming angry.” Thomas S. Monson, School They Feelings, O My Brother, October General Conference, 2009. 

“Moral discipline is the consistent exercise of agency to choose the right because it is right, even when it is hard.” D. Todd Christofferson, Moral Discipline, October General Conference 2009.

“Remember—a positive attitude, a well-thought-out plan, and consistent self-discipline can help us improve our circumstances.” M. Russell Ballard, Providing for Our Needs, April General Conference 1981. 

“Our Heavenly Father has given to each of us the power to think and reason and decide. With such power, self-discipline becomes a necessity.” Thomas S. Monson, Pathways to Perfection, April General Conference 2002.

“Small errors and minor drifts away from the doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ can bring sorrowful consequences into our lives. It is therefore of critical importance that we become self-disciplined enough to make early and decisive corrections to get back on the right track and not wait or hope that errors will somehow correct themselves.” Dieter F. Uchtdorf, A Matter of a Few Degrees, April General Conference 2008.

Inspirational Quotes: Homosexuality

“We are not offended at all of these things. All of these things may be set aside—overcome. Whoever you are and whatever you are, we reach out to extend to you the hand of fellowship so that we can lift one another and lift others.” Boyd K. Packer, Where Much Is Given, Much Is Required, General Conference October 1974. 

“Satan seeks to discredit the Savior and divine authority, to nullify the effects of the Atonement, to counterfeit revelation, to lead people away from the truth, to contradict individual accountability, to confuse gender, to undermine marriage, and to discourage childbearing (especially by parents who will raise children in righteousness).” Dallin H. Oaks, The Great Plan of Happiness, October General Conference 1993.

“Satan tempts one to believe that there are allowable levels of physical contact between consenting individuals who seek the powerful stimulation of emotions they produce, and if kept within bounds, no harm will result. As a witness of Jesus Christ, I testify that is absolutely false.” Richard G. Scott, Making the Right Choices, October General Conference, 1994. 

“You should be attracted to one another and to marry. Then, and only then, may you worthily respond to the strong and good and constant desire to express that love through which children will bless your lives. By commandment of God our Father, that must happen only between husband and wife—man and woman—committed to one another in the covenant of marriage (see 1 Cor. 7:2; D&C 42:22). To do otherwise is forbidden and will bring sorrow.” Boyd K. Packer, Ye Are the Temple of God, October General Conference, 2000.

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a single, undeviating standard of sexual morality: intimate relations are proper only between a man and a woman in the marriage relationship prescribed in God’s plan. Such relations are not merely a curiosity to be explored, an appetite to be satisfied, or a type of recreation or entertainment to be pursued selfishly. They are not a conquest to be achieved or simply an act to be performed. Rather, they are in mortality one of the ultimate expressions of our divine nature and potential and a way of strengthening emotional and spiritual bonds between husband and wife. We are agents blessed with moral agency and are defined by our divine heritage as children of God—and not by sexual behaviors, contemporary attitudes, or secular philosophies.” David A. Bednar, We Believe in Being Chaste, April General Conference, 2013.

“There shouldn’t be a perception or an expectation that the Church’s doctrines or position have changed or are changing. It’s simply not true, and we want youth and all people to understand that. The doctrines that relate to human sexuality and gender are really central to our theology. And marriage between a man and a woman, and the families that come from those marriages – that’s all central to God’s plan and to the opportunities that He offers to us, here and hereafter. So homosexual behavior is contrary to those doctrines – has been, always will be – and can never be anything but transgression.”  Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Purpose of This Website, mormonandgays.org.

“No family who has anybody who has a same-gender issue should exclude them from the family circle. They need to be part of the family circle.”  Elder Quentin L. Cool, mormonandgays.org

“If your life is in harmony with the commandments, then you are worthy to serve in the Church, enjoy full fellowship with the members, attend the temple, and receive all the blessings of the Savior’s Atonement.” Jeffery R. Holland, Helping Those Who Struggle with Same-Gender Attraction, October, 2007.

“All of us are subject to feelings and impulses. Some are worthy and some of them are not; some of them are natural and some of them are not. We are to control them, meaning we are to direct them according to the moral law.” Boyd K. Packer, Covenants, October General Conference 1990.

“People inquire about our position on those who consider themselves so-called gays and lesbians. My response is that we love them as sons and daughters of God.” Gordon B. Hinckley, What Are People Asking about Us?, October General Conference, 1998

“Young people struggling with any exceptional condition, including same-gender attraction, are particularly vulnerable and need loving understanding—not bullying or ostracism.” Dallin H. Oaks, Protect the Children, October General Conference 2012.

“The following statement of 1 February 1994 has been released by the First Presidency under the title of “Same Gender Marriages.” 

The principles of the gospel and the sacred responsibilities given us require that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints oppose any efforts to give legal authorization to marriages between persons of the same gender.

Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God to fulfill the eternal destiny of His children. The union of husband and wife assures perpetuation of the race and provides a divinely ordained setting for the nurturing and teaching of children. This sacred family setting, with father and mother and children firmly committed to each other and to righteous living, offers the best hope for avoiding many of the ills that afflict society.

We encourage members to appeal to legislators, judges, and other government officials to preserve the purposes and sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman, and to reject all efforts to give legal authorization or other official approval or support to marriages between persons of the same gender.” First Presidency Statement Opposing Same Gendar Marriage, Ensign Magazine April 1994