My Immediate Audience is Myself

These remarks are addressed to the imperfect but still striving in the household of faith. As always, my immediate audience is myself.

Author: Neal A. Maxwell
Title: Consecrate Thy Performance
Where: Ensign, May 2002, 36
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Time for Scripture Study Requires a Schedule That Will Be Honored

Time for scripture study requires a schedule that will be honored. Otherwise, blessings that matter most will be at the mercy of things that matter least.

Author: Russell M. Nelson
Title: Living by Scriptural Guidance
Where: Ensign, Nov 2000, 16–18

What Does My Membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Mean to Me?

What does my membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints mean to me? It means everything. It influences, enlivens, permeates, and gives purpose and meaning to everything in life that is important to me: my relationship with God, my Eternal Father, and with His Holy Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. It teaches me that through obedience to the principles and ordinances of the gospel, I will find peace and happiness in this life and be invited to live in God’s presence, with my family, in the life that surely will follow mortality, where His mercy will satisfy the demands of justice and encircle me and mine, and you and yours, in the arms of safety. 3

Author: Richard G. Hinckley
Title: Repentance, a Blessing of Membership
Where: Ensign, May 2006, 48–50

Fathers Play an Important Role in Strengthening Gender Identity in Their Children

One authority states: “Studies show that fathers also have a special role to play in building a child’s [self-respect]. They are important too, in ways we don’t really understand, in developing internal limits and control in children.” He continues: “Research also shows that fathers are critical in the establishment of gender in children. Interestingly, fatherly involvement produces stronger sexual identity and character in both boys and girls. It’s well established that the masculinity of sons and the femininity of daughters are each greater when fathers are active in family life.” 5

Author: James E. Faust
Title: Fathers, Mothers, Marriage
Where: Ensign, Aug 2004, 2–7

No Better Way to Ensure Proper Living

We repeat what we have said before: make a habit of going to the house of the Lord. There is no better way to ensure proper living than temple attendance. It will crowd out the evils of pornography, substance abuse, and spiritual atrophy. It will strengthen marriage and family relations.

Author: Gordon B. Hinckley
Title: Closing Remarks
Where: Ensign, May 2005, 102

The Only Way I Have Left to Show the Lord How Much I Love Him

I have a dear friend who served as a stake president. The patriarch in the stake over which he presided had experienced some health challenges and was unable to perform in his calling. The ailing patriarch had difficulty moving about and dressing and caring for himself, and his strength was limited. One Sabbath afternoon this good stake president visited the home of the patriarch to encourage him and check on his well-being. As the stake president entered the home, he found the patriarch dressed in his suit and white shirt and tie, sitting in a recliner in the front room. The stake president greeted the dear patriarch and, knowing how hard it must have been to dress himself, graciously suggested to the patriarch that it was not necessary for him to get dressed up on the Sabbath or to meet visitors. In a kind but firm voice, the patriarch reproved the stake president and said, “Don’t you know that this is the only way I have left to show the Lord how much I love Him?”

Author: David A. Bednar
Title: Quick to Observe
Where: Ensign, Dec 2006, 30–36

Things Have a Way of Working Out.

As a grandfather who has lived a long time, I counsel you to have faith. Things have a way of working out. Stay close to the Church. Keep your children close to the Church.

Author: Boyd K. Packer
Title: Do Not Fear
Where: Liahona, May 2004, 77–80

The Tares are Looking More Like Tares All the Time

Individuals and nations will continue to choose what they want, but they cannot alter the ultimate consequences of what they want.

Therefore, in this hastened ripening process, let us not be surprised that the tares are looking more like tares all the time.

Author: Neal A. Maxwell
Title: Hope through the Atonement of Jesus Christ
Where: Ensign, Nov 1998, 61

Divorce Can Be Justified Only in the Rarest of Circumstances

Divorce can be justified only in the rarest of circumstances. In my opinion, “just cause” for divorce should be nothing less serious than a prolonged and apparently irredeemable relationship that destroys a person’s dignity as a human being. Divorce often tears people’s lives apart and shears family happiness. Frequently in a divorce the parties lose much more than they gain.


Author: James E. Faust
Title: Enriching Your Marriage
Where: Ensign, Apr 2007, 4–8

Single Practice to Happy Marriage

After dealing with hundreds of divorce situations through the years, I am satisfied that the application of a single practice would do more than all else to solve this grievous problem.

If every husband and every wife would constantly do whatever might be possible to ensure the comfort and happiness of his or her companion, there would be very little, if any, divorce. Argument would never be heard. Accusations would never be leveled. Angry explosions would not occur. Rather, love and concern would replace abuse and meanness.

Author: Gordon B. Hinckley
Title: The Women in Our Lives
Where: Ensign, Nov 2004, 82–85

General Authorities Teach General Principles

We can add to that that we are teaching general principles because we are General Authorities and general officers.

Author: Dallin H. Oaks
Title: Building Up a Righteous Posterity
Where: Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting February 9, 2008

We who are General Authorities and general officers are called to teach His general rules. You and we then lead specific lives and must seek the Lord’s guidance regarding specific circumstances. But there would be mass confusion and loss of gospel promises if no general ideal and no doctrinal standard were established and, in our case today, repeated.

Author: Jeffrey R. Holland
Title: Building Up a Righteous Posterity
Where: Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting February 9, 2008

Confession...Eliminates the Deceit Inherit in Wrongdoing.

The price of discipleship is to forsake evil transgression and enjoy what President Spencer W. Kimball has called “the miracle of forgiveness.” It is never too late. But there can be no remission of sin without a godly sorrow being abundantly manifested in the mind, in the heart, and in the actions of the offender. A major step toward purging oneself of wrongdoing is for the transgressor to confess the transgression to the common judge in Israel, who is the inspired bishop or branch president of the offender. While forgiveness comes only from the Lord, confession is necessary, among other reasons, to eliminate the deceit inherent in wrongdoing.

Author: James E. Faust
Title: The Price of Discipleship
Where: Ensign, Apr 1999, 2

Father Should Do the Ushering of Disruptive Children

The reverence we speak of does not equate with absolute silence. We must be tolerant of little babies, even an occasional outburst from a toddler being ushered out to keep him from disturbing the peace. Unless the father is on the stand, he should do the ushering.

Author:Boyd K. Packer ,” Ensign, Nov 1991, 21
Title: Reverence Invites Revelation
Where: Ensign, Nov 1991, 21

When You Find Who You Are, You Will Be Sorry You Didn’t Try Harder

Elder Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, tells a tender personal story ...When he was a teenager, his family moved from a very comfortable environment for young Henry to a location that was not to his liking. He sulked for a bit until the Spirit spoke directly to him about who he was in God’s plan and how he ought to proceed. One day the Spirit instructed, “When you find who you are, you will be sorry you didn’t try harder.”

Author: Henry B. Eyring as Quoted by Robert C. Oaks
Title: Your Divine Heritage
Where: Ensign, Apr 2008, 46–50

The Stuff of Which Your Dreams are Made

And so, my dear young men, you may not think seriously about it now. But the time will come when you will fall in love. It will occupy all of your thoughts and be the stuff of which your dreams are made. Make yourself worthy of the loveliest girl in all the world. Keep yourself worthy through all the days of your life. Be good and true and kind one to another.

Author: Gordon B. Hinckley
Title: Living Worthy of the Girl You Will Someday Marry
Where: Ensign, May 1998, 49

If You Want Something to Last Forever, You Treat It Differently

If you want something to last forever, you treat it differently. You shield it and protect it. You never abuse it. You don’t expose it to the elements. You don’t make it common or ordinary. If it ever becomes tarnished, you lovingly polish it until it gleams like new. It becomes special because you have made it so, and it grows more beautiful and precious as time goes by.

Author:F. Burton Howard
Title: Eternal Marriage
Where: Ensign, May 2003, 92

We Cannont Expect His Help If We Are Unwilling to Keep His Commandments

We cannot expect His help if we are unwilling to keep His commandments.

Author: Gordon B. Hinckley
Title: If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear
Where: Liahona, Nov 2005, 60–62
Scripture: D&C 101:7

Eliminate "Nonmember" from Our Vocabulary

I believe it would be good if we eliminated a couple of phrases from our vocabulary: "nonmember" and "non-Mormon." Such phrases can be demeaning and even belittling. Personally, I don't consider myself to be a "non-Catholic" or a "non-Jew." I am a Christian. I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That is how I prefer to be identified—for who and what I am, as opposed to being identified for what I am not. Let us extend that same courtesy to those who live among us. If a collective description is needed, then "neighbors" seems to work well in most cases.

Author: M. Russell Ballard
Title: Doctrine of Inclusion
Where: Ensign, Nov 2001, 35
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How Many Kills You Can Make in a Minute with a Computer Game Will Have Zero Effect on Your Capacity to Be a Good Missionary

How many kills you can make in a minute with a computer game will have zero effect on your capacity to be a good missionary

Author: Elder M. Russell Ballard
Title: The Greatest Generation of Missionaries
Where: Ensign, Nov 2002, 46

Second Only to Your Love, They Need Your Limits

The For the Strength of Youth pamphlet is very clear in its call for young women to avoid clothing that is too tight, too short, or improperly revealing in any manner, including bare midriffs. 6 Parents, please review this booklet with your children. Second only to your love, they need your limits

Author: Jeffrey R. Holland
Title: To Young Women
Where: Ensign, Nov 2005, 28

The Inexhaustible Gospel

I am excited to report to you that I am enjoying the scriptures more than ever. I have read a lot in my life—thousands of books, I’m sure. But rarely do I do encore reading except for the holy scriptures. Therefore, I am even more anxiously engaged in the restored gospel than ever because the restored gospel is so engaging. It really does get a grasp on our minds, and there is no end to the exploration that one can make of it. It is, as I said years ago, an “inexhaustible gospel.” To be anxiously engaged really does mean that we are engaged intellectually as well as spiritually, and life in the kingdom, as you all know, is also very engaging. So although some people at my stage of life might say, in effect, “Been there, done that,” not I. I feel instead this sense of anxious engagement in something that I have yet to take the full measure of. As I look back across the sweep of this century, I feel that very strongly.

Author:Elder Neal A. Maxwell
Title: Insights from My Life
Where: Ensign, Aug 2000, 7

Missionary Work Frankly Described

Now, my dear young friends, I hope all of you are pointed in the direction of missionary service. I cannot promise you fun. I cannot promise you ease and comfort. I cannot promise you freedom from discouragement, from fear, from downright misery at times. But I can promise you that you will grow as you have never grown in a similar period during your entire lives. I can promise you a happiness that will be unique and wonderful and lasting. I can promise you that you will reevaluate your lives, that you will establish new priorities, that you will live closer to the Lord, that prayer will become a real and wonderful experience, that you will walk with faith in the outcome of the good things you do.

Author: President Gordon B. Hinckley Title: To the Boys and to the Men
Where: Ensign, Nov 1998, 51