A Poor Exchange

“One man I know of was called to a position of service in the Church, but he felt that he couldn’t accept because his investments required more . . . of his time than he could spare for the Lord’s work. He left the service of the Lord in search of Mammon, and he is a millionaire today.

“But I recently learned an interesting fact: If a man owns a million dollars worth of gold . . . , he possesses approximately one 27-billionth of all the gold that is present in the earth’s thin crust alone. This is an amount so small in proportion as to be inconceivable to the mind of man. But there is more to this: The Lord who created and has power over all the earth created many other earths as well, even “worlds without number” (Moses 1:33); and when this man received the oath and covenant of the priesthood (see D&C 84:33-34), he received a promise from the Lord of “all that my Father hath” (D&C 84: 38). To set aside all these great promises in favor of a chest of gold and a sense of carnal security is a mistake in perspective of colossal proportions. To think that he has settled for so little is a saddening and pitiful prospect indeed; the souls of men are for more precious than this.”

President Spencer W. Kimball, “Worship the True and Living God,” Ensign, June 2013, 10-11.

He Understands

“There is nothing that we are enduring that Jesus does not understand, and He waits for us to go to our Heavenly Father in prayer. I testify that if we will be obedient and if we are diligent, our prayers will be answered, our problems will diminish, our fears will dissipate, light will come upon us, the darkness of despair will be dispersed, and we will be close to the Lord and feel of His love and of the comfort of the Holy Ghost.”

Elder Robert D. Hales, “Behold, We Count Them Happy Which Endure,” Ensign, May 1998, 77. 

Guidance

 “Our Heavenly Father did not launch us on our eternal voyage without providing the means whereby we could receive from Him guidance to ensure our safe return. I speak of prayer. I speak too of the whisperings from that still, small voice.”

Thomas S. Monson, “The Race of Life,” Ensign, May 2012, 92. 

Your Patriarchal Blessing

 “Your [patriarchal] blessing is not to be folded neatly and tucked away. It is not to be framed or published. Rather, it is to be read. It is to be loved. It is to be followed. Your patriarchal blessing will see you through the darkest night. It will guide you through life’s dangers.”

Thomas S. Monson, “Your Patriarchal Blessing: A Liahona of Light,” Ensign, Nov. 1989, 66. 

Inspired Messages

 “Occasionally I ask myself, “Did I listen to the words given by the men and women who spoke at the most recent general conference of the Church?  Have I read and reread their words? Have I pondered them and applied them to my life? Or have I just enjoyed the fine talked and neglected to apply their inspired messages in my personal life?”

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Walking in Circles,” Ensign, June 2013, 4. 

Guardians of Virtue

What can each of you do to be a guardian of virtue? It starts with believing you can make a difference. It starts with making a commitment. When I was a young woman, I learned that some decisions need to be made only once. I wrote my list of things I would always do and things I would never do in a small tablet. It included things like obeying the Word of Wisdom, praying daily, paying my tithing, and committing to never miss church. I made those decisions once, and then in the moment of decision, I knew exactly what to do because I had decided beforehand. When my high school friends said, “Just one drink won’t hurt,” I laughed and said, “I decided when I was 12 not to do that.” Making decisions in advance will help you be guardians of virtue. I hope each of you will write a list of things you will always do and things you will never do. Then live your list.

Elaine S. Dalton, “Guardians of Virtue,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 121–24

Rear Your Children With Confidence in the Lord

“The measure of our success as parents . . . will not rest solely on how our children turn out. That judgment would be just only if we could raise our families in a perfectly moral environment, and that now is not possible. . . . When parents keep the covenants that have made at the altar of the temple, their children will be forever bound to them.”

President Boyd K. Packer, “Our Moral Environment,” Ensign, May 1992, 68.