byu speeches quotes

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Brigham Young University Speeches Quote s Subjects: Summary: “Kind words will go farther to make men and women rich in this world than any other kind of words” BYU Devotional, January 1, 1950 George Albert Smith Type scripted by me Subjects: Summary: “The price of peace, not only in America but to all nations, is the righteousness of the people.” BYU Devotional, January 1, 1950 George Albert Smith Type scripted by me Subjects: Summary: “Righteousness is just as sure to bring happiness as the coming of the sun brings additional light.” BYU Devotional, January 1, 1950 George Albert Smith Type scripted by me Subjects: Summary: “… The thing that gives us the most joy in life is not the thing for which we are paid. Those eight hours, or more or less, that we work or get money for are not the things that give us joy. The things that give us a deep abiding satisfaction in life are the things we do beyond the call of duty.” BYU Devotional, 3 October 1950 Harold B. Lee, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Type scripted by me. Subjects: Summary: “All who saw Jesus didn’t know him as Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God; there were only a few. There were some who said that He was just the son the Joseph, the carpenter. There were some who saw him, when he performed those miracles, as a wine bibber; he was drunk, they thought. There were some who said that he was possessed of a devil. There were just a chosen few who saw Him as the Son of the Living God. Why did they see him when others didn’t? Because they alone were of the pure in heart. When you see one who is tearing down and finding only the bad in men, seeing nothing of their good qualities, there you may see one whose heart is not pure.” BYU Devotional, 3 October 1950 Harold B. Lee, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Type scripted by me. 1

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I am currently listening to every speech given at BYU Utah. I have started at the year 1949 and am currently at 1958. Each time I hear a profound statement I type script it myself (since BYU didn't publish any speeches until 1960). Hopefully any Latter-day Saint will find this helpful.

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Page 1: BYU Speeches Quotes

Brigham Young University Speeches Quotes

Subjects: Summary:

“Kind words will go farther to make men and women rich in this world than any other kind of words”

BYU Devotional, January 1, 1950George Albert SmithType scripted by me

Subjects: Summary:

“The price of peace, not only in America but to all nations, is the righteousness of the people.”

BYU Devotional, January 1, 1950George Albert SmithType scripted by me

Subjects: Summary:

“Righteousness is just as sure to bring happiness as the coming of the sun brings additional light.”

BYU Devotional, January 1, 1950George Albert SmithType scripted by me

Subjects: Summary:

“… The thing that gives us the most joy in life is not the thing for which we are paid. Those eight hours, or more or less, that we work or get money for are not the things that give us joy. The things that give us a deep abiding satisfaction in life are the things we do beyond the call of duty.”

BYU Devotional, 3 October 1950Harold B. Lee, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me.

Subjects: Summary:

“All who saw Jesus didn’t know him as Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God; there were only a few. There were some who said that He was just the son the Joseph, the carpenter. There were some who saw him, when he performed those miracles, as a wine bibber; he was drunk, they thought. There were some who said that he was possessed of a devil. There were just a chosen few who saw Him as the Son of the Living God. Why did they see him when others didn’t? Because they alone were of the pure in heart. When you see one who is tearing down and finding only the bad in men, seeing nothing of their good qualities, there you may see one whose heart is not pure.”

BYU Devotional, 3 October 1950Harold B. Lee, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me.

Subjects: Summary:

“The Constitution of the United States is something that we cannot discard, and there is no better way to discard it than to do away with the checks and the balances which it provides for in these three great departments of government, the executive, legislative, and judicial.”

BYU Devotional, October 10, 1950Henry D. Moyle

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Page 2: BYU Speeches Quotes

Brigham Young University Speeches Quotes

Type scripted by me.

Subjects: Summary:

“When the government makes a mistake and gives away that which it should retain, it is no virtue on our part to partake of that because someone else does… When they [the government] seek to give people something for nothing we ought to examine those gifts very carefully. It has been said that those who receive gifts from others become subject to the will of those others. All we need to do is have those gifts continue long enough.”

BYU Devotional, October 10, 1950Henry D. MoyleType scripted by me.

Subjects: Summary:

“I can’t tell you the power that he [Joseph Smith] held, but if you read in Doctrine and Covenants 128 you will find that he [Joseph Smith] was administered to, he and Oliver Cowdery, and received all the things that were held by the heads of every dispensation from Adam down. Holding all power, all keys, all rights to perform every ordinance and ceremony necessary for eternal life. Baptism by emersion and the reception by the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost is the entrance to the Church of Jesus Christ, but there are other ordinance which pertain to eternal life; ordinances that we as members of the church and as the children of God should prize higher than anything in all the world; nothing equals those things. We receive them in the temple of God, we receive them there when we go in and receive the endowment; that which will give us the power to pass the angels who stand as the sentinels at the gateway of heaven. It gives us the power to act in all these things that are necessary for our eternal salvation In the temple is the sealing of a wife to a husband, the children of that union born in the covenant of God, children of the covenant with the rights and blessings promised that were given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; the greatest blessings that God can give to mankind come from this sealing of wife to husband and children born in the covenant, if they are faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ, it is all based upon that. These are the things that were given by the prophet Joseph on 4 May, 1842 in the upper room of his store [to the Quorum of the Twelve]. He gave to these men these ordinances in their completeness in that room.”

BYU Devotional, March 6, 1951William A. Lund, Assistant Church Historian Type scripted by me

Subjects: Summary:

“In every case where the keys of priesthood were restored, it was Oliver Cowdery that stood with the prophet Joseph Smith and received the same blessings. Perhaps many of you are not aware of the fact, that when the First Presidency of this church was organized, and Sidney Rigdon and Fredrick G. Williams became councilors to the prophet Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery was not dismissed or set aside, but he maintained his position as the second elder of the church and he preceded in authority, by virtue of his position as the second witness holding the keys jointly with the prophet, over and above the two councilors; Sidney Rigdon and Fredrick G. Williams. Oliver Cowdery was ordained under the hands of the prophet Joseph Smith, after the prophet himself had been ordained as President of the High Priesthood, to likewise hold the keys of presidency in that high priesthood and the prophet made it very clear that his [Oliver’s] authority exceeded and stood above the authority of Sidney Rigdon and Fredrick G. Williams. Now it was necessary, in the beginning, to have two witnesses and both of them holding keys of authority and power; standing at the head of the dispensation of the fullness of times; the most important of all the dispensations from the beginning. If Joseph Smith had been alone, the law would not have been fulfilled. Therefore, The Lord appointed him [Oliver] to hold the keys jointly as the second presiding officer or elder of the church. Oliver Cowdery would have held those keys until the day of his death had he not transgressed. He transgressed and they were taken from him. I have said, and I believe it firmly… that had Oliver Cowdery lived and had been faithful… [Oliver Cowdery] would have gone to his martyrdom with the prophet at Carthage, Illinois.”

Divine WitnessesBYU Devotional, June 20, 1951Joseph Fielding SmithType scripted by me

Subjects: Summary:

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Brigham Young University Speeches Quotes

“For anyone to feel that there will be just no sex, no family, no partnerships in the eternity, they just haven’t caught a vision; their blind.”

“Whom Shall I Marry?”BYU Devotional, March 04, 1952Spencer W. Kimball, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me

Subjects: Summary:

“What we think is the father of what we do.”

“What Men and Women Are Tomorrow Depends upon What You Learn Today”BYU Devotional, March 11, 1952Harold B. Lee, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me; 9:15

Subjects: Summary:

“Someone said, ‘when you are training a boy you are just training an individual, but when you train a girl you’re training a whole family.’ So important is the work of mother.”

“What Men and Women Are Tomorrow Depends upon What You Learn Today”BYU Devotional, March 11, 1952Harold B. Lee, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me; 30:18

Subjects: Summary:

“On May 14th 1948 the Republic of Israel was organized, that is very significant and don’t you forget it. That is a sign to us that the times of the gentiles are drawing to their close and the days for the gathering of the Jews and the preaching of the gospel to the scattered people of Israel, the Lamanites particularly, is at our doors.”

Leadership Week: Fulfillment of ProphecyBYU Devotional, June 16, 1952Joseph Fielding SmithType scripted by me; 40:12

Subjects: Summary:

“I don’t know how you feel my brothers and sisters, but I would rather be dead than to loose my liberty. I have no fear that we will ever loose it because of invasion from the outside, but I do have fear that it may slip away from us because of our own indifference, our own negligence, as citizens of this land. I plead with you this morning that you take an active interest in matters pertaining to the future of this Country.”

The L.D.S. Church and PoliticsBYU Devotional, December 01, 1952Ezra Taft Benson, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me

Subjects: Summary:

After speaking of Senator Smoot and the troubles he had getting elected Ezra Taft Benson said the following:“I sometimes think… that one of the reasons why He [the Lord] permitted, yay directed, some of the early leaders of the church to enter into the sacred relationship of plural marriage was for the purpose of publicizing His people. Men’s ways are not God’s ways.

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Brigham Young University Speeches Quotes

Maybe it’s His way of getting Mormonism before the world. No, this thing has not been done in a corner. The hand of God has been directing His church and His people, and so it will be in the future.”

The L.D.S. Church and PoliticsBYU Devotional, December 01, 1952Ezra Taft Benson, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me

Subjects: Summary:

“The record says that man was made in the exact image and likeness of God. Why? Because we are of the race of God; we are His children. Is it at all unusual that a child should resemble its parent? He was our Father, we His children. The first of our race to enter mortality was placed on the earth. They were in the exact image and likeness of God. Just as the cows that were placed upon the earth and reproduced after their kind had more cows and they were in the exact image and likeness of the parent cows, just as was the case with the horse, and with the sheep, and with the trees, and the birds and the bees, and the flowers each one bringing forth after its kind. Now God brought His own race upon the earth and commanded that they should reproduce after their own kind, in their own likeness and image and they in turn were in the likeness and image of God and therefore as they reproduced they reproduced the race of God, each one being in the exact likeness and image of God. Wasn’t it a marvelous creation! He our Father, we His children, we of the race of God. And after He had made man, male and female, in His own likeness and image he surveyed his work and this time he did not say that it was only good; this time He said it is very good.”

“Chastity”BYU Devotional, February 3, 1953Mark E. Petersen, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me.

Subjects: Summary:

“When God made the birds, and the bees, and the flowers and all types of life, the animals, he made every one male and female. When He created man he made man male and female. God made sex and He pronounced it good and in the case of human kind he pronounced it very good. Sex was sacred, it was holy, actually it was divine; therefore, He pronounced it very good. Sex is so sacred, so divine, sex is so holy, that when it is used in its proper way, those who participate become joint creators with God, they become partners with the Almighty in the great undertaking and enterprise of bringing forth life. It is so sacred; it is so holy, God places it way up on a high plane, so high that all right thinking people will regard it as being sacred. A spark of the deity in every one of us. It is holy; it is part of the function of Almighty God.”

“Chastity”BYU Devotional, February 3, 1953Mark E. Petersen, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me.

Subjects: Summary:

“Terrible as sex sin is, much as we must avoid it, if by some chance any of us have fallen to that type of temptation I would hold out to you this hope, that if you will do what is right God will forgive you.”

“Chastity”BYU Devotional, February 3, 1953Mark E. Petersen, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me

Subjects: Summary:

“The use of sex is ordained of God but only in legal marriage and if we marry properly in the temple then in the eternities we can become the parents of eternal spirits, even as you and I were born as children to God. Sex is so sacred that there is no exaltation in the celestial kingdom without it. Can you see why God places such safeguards about it? Can you see why Satan uses every device at his command to pollute it? May we be true and virtues I humbly pray.

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Brigham Young University Speeches Quotes

The leaders of our church have said that they would rather see their children dead and in their graves clean than to have them live an unclean life. Virtue is more important to you than your life. Protect it above your life. If the time ever comes when you must choose between the two then sacrifice you life but under no circumstance sacrifice your virtue.”

“Chastity”BYU Devotional, February 3, 1953Mark E. Petersen, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me

Subjects: Summary:

“The question that comes to us most frequently is whether or not, when our employer has deducted a withholding tax, if we should pay tithing on our income before the withholding tax is taken out or should we pay tithing on the check we receive. We should pay our tithing on our income before the withholding tax is deducted. We have earned all of that income; it is our income. The employer, by law, is forced to deduct your income tax, but it’s still yours.”

“Tithing”BYU Devotional, March 11, 1953Joseph L. Wirthlin, Presiding BishopType scripted by me: 20:28

Subjects: Summary:

“There is only one way, as I see it, that the gentile nation can ever pay for what they have done to the Lamanite, and that is to bring the gospel to them so that they may receive the blessings now.”

“The Lamanite”BYU Devotional, April 15, 1953Spencer W. Kimball, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me

Subjects: Summary:

Elder McConkie referred to Job 33:24 before saying the following:

Now I would like to read to you, so that it will be in your record, a statement by President Joseph Fielding Smith in which he explains how the atoning sacrifice operates and why Christ alone could be the redeemer. He says, the whole plan of redemption is based on vicarious salvation; one without sin standing for the whole human family, all of whom were under the curse. It is most natural and just that he who commits the wrong should pay the penalty; atone for his wrong doing. Therefore, when Adam was the transgressor of the law, justice demanded that he and none else should answer for the sin and pay the penalty with his life, but Adam in breaking the law himself became subject to the curse and being under the curse could not atone or undue what he had done. Neither could his children, for they also were under the curse and it required one who was not subject to the curse to atone for that original sin. Moreover, since we were all under the curse we were all powerless to atone for our individual sins. It therefore became necessary for the Father to send His Only Begotten Son, who was free from sin to atone for our sins as well as for Adam's transgression, which justice demanded should be done. He accordingly offered himself a sacrifice for sins and through His death upon the cross took upon himself both Adam's transgression and our individual sins, thereby redeeming us from the fall and from our sins on conditions of repentance.

Let us illustrate. A man walking along the road happens to fall into a pit so deep and dark that he cannot climb to the surface and regain his freedom. How can he save himself from his predicament? Not by any exertions on his own part, for there is no means of escape in the pit. He calls for help and some kindly disposed soul, hearing his cries for relief hastens to his assistance and by lowering a latter gives to him the means by which he may climb again to the surface of the earth. This was precisely the condition that Adam placed himself and his posterity in when he partook of the forbidden fruit. All being together in the pit none could gain the surface and relieve the others. The pit was banishment from the presence of the Lord and temporal death the dissolution of the body and all being subject to death none could provide the means of escape. Therefore, in His infinite mercy the Father heard the cries of His children and sent his Only Begotten Son who was not subject to death, nor to sin to provide the means of escape. This he did through His infinite atonement and the everlasting gospel. The Savior voluntarily laid down his life and took it up again to satisfy the demands of justice, which required this infinite atonement. His Father accepted this offering in the stead of the blood of all those who were under the

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Brigham Young University Speeches Quotes

curse and consequently helpless. The Savior said, "…I lay down my life for the sheep… Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." (John 10:15, 17-18)

The AtonementBYU Devotional, May 5, 1953Bruce R. McConkie, First Council of SeventyType scripted by me.

Subjects: Summary:

“Generally when a man makes money he thinks he has achieved that which is greater than any other thing on earth. Money is of course very necessary; it is a necessary evil, I wish I had more of it, but I would rather know how to live and have ideals to live to than acquire wealth because I know when I come to die it does not matter how much money others have, they won’t go with any more than I go with.”

“Achievement”BYU Devotional, May 18, 1953Matthew Cowley, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me.

Subjects: Summary:

“One lesson necessary for all of us to learn in life is to rejoice in the other man’s victory. If we can learn to rejoice in the other man’s victory then sometimes we have achieved something greater than even he or she who has received a reward for outstanding achievement in their scholastic and athletic field.”

“Achievement”BYU Devotional, May 18, 1953Matthew Cowley, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me.

Subjects: Summary:

“There is no such thing as a secret thought. We may think there is; we may think we are having secret thoughts but every secret thought comes out on us; we cannot hold them in. They are an integral part of our character. We act because we’ve thought. So let’s not ever consider that we are having secret thoughts. We are having thoughts that will appear in our face, that will manifest themselves in our character, that will determine our decision on important matters and perhaps in a crises, and more than that God has said that the time will come when our secret thoughts will be declared from the housetops. So let’s give up the idea of any secret thoughts.

Thoughts are the tool with which we shape our character. Just as truly as a great sculpture, with chisel and mallet chips and chips on the rough marble until it’s shaped in perhaps to a Moses or a David; a splendid and perfect work of art. Just so every thought is shaping our character and consequently shaping our destinies and our lives.”

“The Importance of Habits”BYU Devotional, May 20, 1953George Q. Morris, Assistant to the TwelveType scripted by me

Subjects: Summary:

“A day without a problem is a day lost.”

“The Importance of Habits”BYU Devotional, May 20, 1953George Q. Morris, Assistant to the Twelve

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Brigham Young University Speeches Quotes

Subjects: Summary:

“The prophet said… that some day the constitution of this government may hang as by a thread and the elders of Israel will rise up and save it. I have tried to visualize what that means. I can’t think the day will come when we will have to go out and fight as our soldiers fight, not that. But I am not so sure but what the day may come when the world will point to a group of people in the West who are pointing the true way for economic security, and when that day comes it may be possible that in our own government financing we will have reached a point where we will need such a lesson.”

“Live and Help Each Other Live”BYU Devotional, June 15, 1953Clifford E. Young, Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me: 32:32

Subjects: Summary:

“In the business of living, the activity that brings to the normal women the greatest life fulfillment is homemaking which means a mate, children, friends and all the radiating obligations, joys and burdens that these relationships imply. The home is our primary educational institution and homemaking is women’s highest and most important calling. Her second, in my opinion, is the rendering of humanitarian service.”

“Learning to Live”BYU Devotional, June 17, 1953Belle S. Spafford

Subjects: Summary:

“Today’s women has far more freedom to enrich her life by activities and diversions which make her a better wife and a more capable mother. Release from certain kinds of labor, which modern science has granted her, puts upon her the obligation to apply ingenuity, imagination, time and learning in making her home more fully fulfill its function as a molder of character and more adequately meet the changes of an ever-changing world. Viewed in all its aspects women must realize that business careers, political and industrial activities or academic learning should not lure her from her basic work as mother and homemaker nor take second place to it.”

“Learning to Live”BYU Devotional, June 17, 1953Belle S. SpaffordType scripted by me.

Subjects: Summary:

“I am as sure as I live and I can say to you with certainty… that… if you will take from your substance and give to the Lord’s poor liberally, the Lord will never leave you without the necessities of life and it might make the difference between you having homes and you being without homes. Now perhaps that sounds rather radical. I say that however upon the authority of the record of the past. The Lord made that explanation to the saints back in the days when they were driven away from there homes in Missouri in 1834.” (See D&C 105)

“Learning to Live in the Lord’s Way”BYU Devotional, June 17, 1953Marion G. Romney, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me: 38:35

Subjects: Summary:

“When will we build Zion, this second Zion that is going to meet the Zion of Enoch? When we learn obedience to that law” (the welfare program or the law of consecration)

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“Learning to Live in the Lord’s Way”BYU Devotional, June 17, 1953Marion G. Romney, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me: 43:06

Subjects: Summary:

“There is one thing that disturbs me in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints above all else, and that’s to see good and faithful latter day saints who are not happy; that I cannot understand. Man is that he might have joy and when we are obedient to the principles of the gospel we are entitled to joy; we are entitled to happiness and not to be depressed or frustrated.”

“Learn to Live Simply”BYU Devotional, June 19, 1953Matthew Cowley, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me

Subjects: Summary:

“He [God] is a wonderful partner. Did you ever sit down and figure that out? Figure it out some time. Here’s my partner, he provides all of the resources. He says to me, now here it is: sunshine, the earth, life, everything, rain you can’t get along without them, I’m furnishing all that. You run the business, then when the increase comes you give me 10% which is mine, you keep ninety and I’ll put my 10% right back in the business. This is what he does. He doesn’t keep one penny of His money. He lets us keep our ninety percent. We give him his ten and he puts it right back into the business. I would like to be in a partnership with some successful businessman like that. Have him say that I can have 90% of the increase and he’d take ten and puts his ten back in the business. That would be something wouldn’t it. That’s the kind of partner we have.”

“Learn to Live Simply”BYU Devotional, June 19, 1953Matthew Cowley, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me: 28:17

Subjects: Summary:

Bryant Hinckley said that the following was one of Karl G. Maeser’s mottos:

“There is a mount Sinai for every child of God if he will only climb it.”

“Founder’s Day Assembly”BYU Devotional, November 19, 1953Bryant S. HinckleyType scripted by me

Subjects: Summary:

“The law given to Israel was that nothing should be received on the testimony of one alone. There should be two witnesses before a man could be condemned. Likewise, there must be two witnesses, to bear witness of the truth, whenever a dispensation of the gospel is introduced. We don’t know much about the case of Enoch, but there were many witnesses who testified with him, without a doubt, because he alone could not have accomplished the great work of uniting an entire people; not without help.”

“The Divine Law of Witnesses”BYU Devotional, December 1953Joseph Fielding Smith, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me.

Subjects: Summary:

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“The Lord took three of His apostles upon the mount. We call it the mount of transfiguration, and He gave unto them commandments and priesthood and set them apart, if you please, by authority to act as a presidency of the church. Now some people say we didn’t have a presidency of the church in those days. Well, Peter, James and John were given the keys of the priesthood on the mount and yet they and the rest of the twelve were witnesses for Jesus Christ.”

“The Divine Law of Witnesses”BYU Devotional, December 1953Joseph Fielding Smith, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me.

Subjects: Summary:

“Joseph Smith could not stand alone. In the beginning of this dispensation there had to be another witness and Oliver Cowdery was called to be that other witness. In other words, Oliver Cowdery was an assistant president of the church. Had Oliver Cowdery lived and been faithful at the time of the death of the prophet Joseph Smith he would have been the president of the church, but Oliver Cowdery had transgressed and lost his calling... Now I have said, and I think it is absolutely true… that had Oliver Cowdery lived faithful and true to his calling as the second elder or president of the church he would have gone to his martyrdom with the prophet Joseph Smith at Carthage Illinois on June 27, 1844.”

“The Divine Law of Witnesses”BYU Devotional, December 1953Joseph Fielding Smith, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me.

Subjects: Summary:

“What is freedom? I can tell you this, freedom is not the right to do what we please irrespective of what others think or feel or suffer.”

“What is True Freedom?”BYU Devotional, February 9, 1954Marion D. Hanks, First Council of SeventyType scripted by me:24:25

Subjects: Summary:

“Everyone of you, listen to your conscience. It will never lead you astray. My observation in the office of the first presidency is that the great bulk of questions that come to us, to ask us to decide what a given individual should do, is sent to us because the conscience of the individual tells him that what he wants to do is not right.”

“The World is Waiting to Test You”BYU Devotional, April, 20 1954J. Reuben ClarkType scripted by me: 8:24

Subjects: Summary:

“I have heard good brethren argue that we never can become perfect as God is perfect. That He is constantly and continually learning some new truth that He didn’t know before. As one man stated it, He is like a chemist in the laboratory discovering hidden truth that even He did not know. And so the progression of God goes on from degree to degree. I don’t believe a word of it! I don’t think there is any knowledge that He doesn’t know. I think He is perfect in wisdom, in power, in truth. I can’t for the life of me imagine a God who is not a God of absolute truth or who is not a God of absolute virtue. This idea that if He got to the pinnacle that there would be nowhere to go and He would have to come down is not taught in our scriptures. I worship a God who is perfect. Progressive yes, but not in the sense that there is some hidden truth that He has not discovered, for that doctrine makes that truth greater than God.”

“The Knowledge That Saves”BYU Devotional, June 23, 1954Joseph Fielding Smith, President of the Twelve

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Type scripted by me:10:50

Subjects: Summary:

“Every man or women who is baptized into this church and confirmed, and who will be faithful and true to the covenant of baptism, shall enter the celestial kingdom. I get questions sometimes, from our brethren who have been discussing in their priesthood quorums or somewhere else, whether or not a baptized person can enter the kingdom of God. They will argue it and they will be divided on it. Part of the class will say a man cannot enter the celestial kingdom just by being baptized and confirmed, that he has got to have other blessings. Baptism is the door into the celestial kingdom. People baptized and who are not endowed in the temple of the Lord may enter the celestial kingdom.”

“The Knowledge That Saves”BYU Devotional, June 23, 1954Joseph Fielding Smith, President of the TwelveType scripted by me:26:09

Subjects: Summary:

“The greatest gift that a person can have in mortality, without any exception, is the gift of the Holy Ghost. It’s the actual guidance, the actual enjoyment, of the companionship of that member of the Godhead and those who have it have peace and solace and joy here.”

“Hold Fast to That Which is Good”BYU Devotional, June 24, 1954Bruce R. McConkie, First Council of the SeventyType scripted by me:10:50

Subjects: Summary:

“Recent experiences taught that a nation of matchless scientific achievement may fail through lack of humanitarian and spiritual development. Scientific achievement alone, without a corresponding development of the moral spiritual nature of man, may easily furnish the means for destroying civilization.”

“Education and the Charge to Subdue the Earth”BYU Devotional, June 25, 1954Hugh B. Brown, Assistant to the TwelveType scripted by me:14:10

Subjects: Summary:

“Nations tend to sow the seeds of their own destruction, if we can rely on history, oftimes while enjoying great prosperity, while enjoying high standards of living, high income, good business activity. History reveals very clearly, it seems to me, that rarely is a good civilization conquered from without until it has in some way weakened or destroyed itself from within.”

“Responsibilities of Citizenship”BYU Devotional, October 22, 1954Ezra Taft Benson, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me:20:03

Subjects: Summary:

“We must be careful that we do not trade freedom for security. Whenever that is attempted usually we lose both. There is always a tendency when nations become mature for the people to become more interested in preserving their luxuries and their comforts than in safeguarding the ideals and principles which made these comforts and luxuries possible.”

“Responsibilities of Citizenship”BYU Devotional, October 22, 1954

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Ezra Taft Benson, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me:31:06

Subjects: Summary:

“We have four important guides that we should use in checking any proposed policy or program or idea that is offered [by the government]. First of all, is it right as measured by the basic principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ; the principles of righteousness? Secondly, is it right as measured by the basic principles embodied in the Constitution and our Bill of Rights? Thirdly, is it right as measured by the counsel, and the direction, and the admonitions of the living oracles whom God has appointed? Fourthly, is it right as measured by its effect or their effect upon the moral and character of the people of this great country?”

“Responsibilities of Citizenship”BYU Devotional, October 22, 1954Ezra Taft Benson, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me:32:36

Subjects: Summary:

Commenting on John 5:27 President Smith said the following:“Now, if that were properly translated it would not say son of man, it would be Son Ahman or Son of God.”

“The Atonement of Jesus Christ”BYU Devotional, January 25, 1955Joseph Fielding Smith, President of the TwelveType scripted by me:22:07Note: Ahman could be Adamic for Man of Holiness.

Subjects: Summary:

“I could wish that I might live long enough that in some little measure I might pay back to civilization what civilization has so generously given to me.”

“The “Y” in You”BYU Devotional, March 29, 1955Adam S. Bennion, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me:1 8:03

Subjects: Summary:

“Knowledge is good, power is excellent, but inspiration is priceless.”

“The “Y” in You”BYU Devotional, March 29, 1955Adam S. Bennion, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me:25:30

Subjects: Summary:

“Experience is the mother of wisdom. Wisdom comes from experience and from the Lord.”

“As Ye Sow”BYU Devotional, May 3, 1955J. Reuben Clark Jr., Counselor in the First Presidency Type scripted by me:11:22Note: Elder Bennion was quoting an unknown source.

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Subjects: Summary:

“Temptation will never cease while you are mortal.”

“As Ye Sow”BYU Devotional, May 3, 1955J. Reuben Clark Jr., Counselor in the First Presidency Type scripted by me:22:11

Subjects: Summary:

“I have a feeling that when the Lord comes to giving us our rewards and our punishments, that He will give that punishment which is the very least that our transgression will justify. I believe that He will bring into His justice all of the infinite love, mercy, kindness, and understanding which He has. I am sure that all of His idea and dependency will be to be merciful to us; we will get the least that He can possibly give. On the other hand I believe that when it comes to making the rewards for our good conduct, He will give us the maximum that it is possible to give having in mind the offense which we committed. I feel that very, very strongly.”

“As Ye Sow”BYU Devotional, May 3, 1955J. Reuben Clark Jr., Counselor in the First Presidency Type scripted by me:30:17 Note: I couldn’t tell if President Clark used the word “dependency”.

Subjects: Summary:

“You don’t develop faith without learning constantly of the things of God. “

“Faith”BYU Devotional, June 28, 1955Harold B. Lee, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me:14:03

Subjects: Summary:

“The average guy never takes advantage of a girl he really likes.”

“Five Ideals Contributive to a Happy, Enduring Marriage”BYU Devotional, October 11, 1955David O. McKay, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsType scripted by me:18:05

Subjects: Summary:

“Too many couples look upon the covenant at the marriage alter as the end of courtship. It should be the beginning of an eternal courtship and that means consideration in the home; the same consideration for the wife that was given to the sweetheart in courtship.”

“Five Ideals Contributive to a Happy, Enduring Marriage”BYU Devotional, October 11, 1955David O. McKay, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsType scripted by me:34:02

Subjects: Summary:

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A man succeeds and reaps the honors of public applause when in truth a quite little women has made it all possible. Has by her tact and encouragement held him to his best, has had faith in him when his own faith is languished, has cheered him with the unfailing assurance, “you can, you must, you will.”

“Five Ideals Contributive to a Happy, Enduring Marriage”BYU Devotional, October 11, 1955David O. McKay, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsType scripted by me:37:55

Subjects: Summary:

The power of the priesthood is limitless but God has wisely placed upon each of us certain limitations. I may develop priesthood power as I perfect my life, yet I am grateful that even through the priesthood I cannot heal all the sick. I might heal people who should die. I might relieve people of suffering who should suffer. I fear I would frustrate the purposes of God.

Had I limitless power, and yet limited vision and understanding, I might have saved Abinadi from the flames of fire when he was burned at the stake, and in doing so I might have irreparably damaged him. He died a martyr and went to a martyr's reward--exaltation.

I would likely have protected Paul against his woes if my power were boundless. I would surely have healed his "thorn in the flesh." And in doing so I might have foiled the Lord's program. Thrice he offered prayers, asking the Lord to remove the "thorn" from him, but the Lord did not so answer his prayers. Paul many times could have lost himself if he had been eloquent, well, handsome, and free from the things that made him humble. Paul speaks:

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7, 9-10.)

I fear that had I been in Carthage Jail on June 27, 1844, I might have deflected the bullets that pierced the body of the Prophet and the Patriarch. I might have saved them from the sufferings and agony, but lost to them the martyr's death and reward. I am glad I did not have to make that decision.

With such uncontrolled power, I surely would have felt to protect Christ from the agony in Gethsemane, the insults, the thorny crown, the indignities in the court, the physical injuries. I would have administered to his wounds and healed them, giving him cooling water instead of vinegar. I might have saved him from suffering and death, and lost to the world his atoning sacrifice.

I would not dare to take the responsibility of bringing back to life my loved ones. Christ himself acknowledged the difference between his will and the Father's when he prayed that the cup of suffering be taken from him; yet he added, "Nevertheless, not my will but thine be done."

For the one who dies, life goes on and his free agency continues, and death, which seems to us such a calamity, could be a blessing in disguise just as well for one who is not a martyr.

"Tragedy or Destiny?" BYU Devotional, December 6, 1955 Spencer W. Kimball, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Subjects: Summary:

“Chief of all thy wondrous works O God; supreme of all thy plan, thou hast put an upward reach into the heart of man.”

“The Upward Reach”BYU Devotional, January 31, 1956Adam S. Bennion, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me: 25.47

Subjects:

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Summary:

After speaking of atomic energy in today's world Hugh B. Brown made the following comment: "Is it not possible that there is hidden in man's soul a power, which if it could be released would be greater than all the energy of all the atoms of all creation."

"Discover and Actualize Your Potential Self" BYU Devotional, May 31, 1956 Hugh B. Brown, Assistant to the Twelve Type scripted by me:12:10

Subjects: Summary:

In connection with Matthew 5:3 Elder Lee said the following:"I want to submit to you that no person has ever been converted who first didn't have a feeling of spiritual need. No person ever received an answer to his prayer who didn't first have a feeling of deep spiritual need."

"Prayer" BYU Devotional, July 6, 1956 Harold B. Lee, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Type scripted by me:14:31

Subjects: Summary:

"We haven't learned the first principle of revelation until we know that God answers prayers."

"Prayer" BYU Devotional, July 6, 1956 Harold B. Lee, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Type scripted by me

Subjects: Summary:

"If you would obtain the highest success and the most contentment of mind out of life, practice in your daily contacts the ideals of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I do not hesitate to make that statement without modification. I know the results will be what I indicate. They will make you handsomer, young man, more beautiful young women, because your thoughts reveal and modify your features. They may not be the handsomest but they will radiate that which makes a handsome young man and a beautiful young women."

"Gospel Ideals, Life's Surest Anchor" BYU Devotional, October 30, 1956 David O. McKay, President of the Church Type scripted by me: 5:42

Subjects: Summary:

"To change men in the world we must change their thinking."

"Gospel Ideals, Life's Surest Anchor" BYU Devotional, October 30, 1956 David O. McKay, President of the Church Type scripted by me: 17:40

Subjects: Summary:

"Whatever the subject may be the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ may be elaborated upon without any fear of anyone's objection. The teacher can be free to express his honest conviction regarding it. Whether that subject be geology, the history of the

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world, the millions of years that it took to prepare the physical world, whether it be in engineering, literature, or art, any principle of the gospel may be briefly or extensively touched upon to the anchoring of the student who is seeking to know the truth."

"Gospel Ideals, Life's Surest Anchor" BYU Devotional, October 30, 1956 David O. McKay, President of the Church Type scripted by me:23:27

Subjects: Summary:

"My young friends, you are of divine origin, the sons and daughters of God. Your Father resides in the heavens and your Heavenly Mother as well. He is the father of your spirits; that which is really you and Jesus Christ His Son our Elder Brother, the Savior and Redeemer of man is the Lord of this world and all its creations and has given us the plan of life and happiness and if we, may I say, have the gumption to follow it just as sure as we sit here, peace happiness, joy will be the result."

"Fulness of Joy Comes Through Obedience" BYU Devotional, December 4, 1956 ElRay L. Christiansen, Assistant to the Twelve Type scripted by me:18:07

Subjects: Keys of the Priesthood; Restoration; Melchizedek PriesthoodSummary: Peter, James and John restored priesthood power and authority, priesthood keys, and the right to preside.

“In June of 1829… Peter, James and John ministered to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and did three things. They conferred upon them the Melchizedek priesthood, which is power and authority. They gave them the keys of the kingdom of God, meaning they gave them the right to use the priesthood for the purpose of regulating all of the affairs of the church; or in other words of the kingdom. They also gave them the keys of the dispensation of the fullness of times, meaning the right and power to use God’s authority, which is priesthood, to preside over the dispensation.

“The Keys of the Kingdom”BYU Devotional, April 23, 1957Bruce R. McConkie, First Council of the SeventyType scripted by me: 4:35

Subjects: Discouragement; TemptationSummary: One of the Devils greatest tools is discouragement.We should have great comfort that we have the power not to yield to the temptations of the adversary. I think discouragement is one of the great tools that is used by Satan, he has many of them. There is a Chinese legend that speaks about this. ”It was once announced that the devil was going out of business and would offer his tools for sale to whoever would pay his price. On the night of the sale they were all attractively displayed, and a bad looking lots they were. Malice, envy, hatred, jealousy, sensuality, deceit, and all the other implements of evil were spread out, each marked with its price. Apart from all the rest lay a harmless looking, wedge-shaped tool, much worn and priced higher than any of the others.

Someone asked the devil what it was. "That’s discouragement," was the reply.

"Well, why do you have it priced so high?"

"Because," replied the devil, "it is more useful to me than any of the others. I can pry open and get inside a man’s consciousness with that when I couldn’t get near him with any of the others, and when once inside I can use it with nearly everybody, as very few people yet know that it belongs to me!"

"You say you use this wedge of discouragement with nearly everybody – with whom can’t you use it?"

The devil hesitated a long time and finally said in a low voice, "I can’t use it in getting into the consciousness of a grateful man."

It hardly need be added that the devil’s price for discouragement was so high that it was never sold. He still owns it and he is still using it.”

Discouragement is like a baby, the more you nurse it the more it grows.

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“Two Powers”BYU Devotional, December 10, 1957John Longden, Assistant to the TwelveType Scripted by me: 31:03Note: The Chinese legend was partially quoted where as I added the whole legend.

Subjects: Gospel of Jesus Christ; Calling and Election Made Sure; PriesthoodSummary: The fullness of the gospel does not consist of all the doctrines of the church but rather the power that is needed to save and exalt mankind.

The fullness of the gospel does not necessarily consist in having the fullness of knowledge, in knowing all things or having all doctrines revealed or interpreted to us. But the fullness of the gospel in its nature consists in having all of the keys and all of the power and all of the authority that are necessary to seal men up so that they may inherit a fullness of reward, meaning exaltation in the kingdom hereafter.

“The Keys of the Kingdom”BYU Devotional, April 23, 1957Bruce R. McConkie, First Council of the SeventyType scripted by me: 12:57

Subjects: Marriage; Husband/WifeSummary: Those who have spouses that aren’t members of the church may help convert them through righteous living.

“Now I think that in many cases those who have married out of the church could win their companions to the church provided they have the faith and the courage to live their religion religiously after they marry, but its when they are weaned away and go into the ways of the one that they have married that they are unsuccessful along this line.

Leadership Week Devotional (Marriage), June 24, 1957LeGrand Richards, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me: 12:30

Subjects: Eternal Marriage; BlessingsSummary: Temple Marriage offers great blessings to those who enter into it and keep their covenants.

“Now of course I don’t think the Latter-day Saints understand the value of temple marriages. Those of you who have been married know that over the alter in the holy temple men and women are sealed together for time and all eternity and they have sealed upon them kingdoms, thrones, principalities, powers, dominions and exaltations; blessings that couldn’t be purchased with all the wealth of the world. No wonder Jesus said that the gospel was the pearl of great price and one seeking costly pearls sells all else that he has in order that he might be able to acquire it.

Leadership Week Devotional (Marriage), June 24, 1957LeGrand Richards, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me: 14:48

Subjects: Summary:

“There is no life that is full and complete and that continues on through the eternities except that life is governed, not only by all the things that men may tell us, but is governed by the revealed truths of God. That is our safest foundation and it must be our constant foundation.”

“A Foundation of Revealed Truth”Leadership Week Devotional, June 24, 1957George Q. Morris, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me: 3:05

Subjects: Summary:

After commenting on the King Follett Discourse George Q. Morris said the following:

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“…in His [Jesus Christ’s] perfected condition, after living as a man for 33 years, He ascended unto His Father resurrected as His Father had been resurrected, perfected as His Father had been perfected before Him.”

Leadership Week Devotional, June 24, 1957George Q. Morris, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me: 14:14

Subjects: Summary:

“Why would Peter give this counsel; why did he suggest that we add to our faith virtue, because without virtue there is no purity, without purity there is no strength, without strength there is no character, without character there is no spirituality, without spirituality there is no salvation in the kingdom of God. In short, faith without the works of virtue is dead. So, to allow your faith to grow and live, to make room for true spirituality, add to your faith virtue.”

“Add to Your Faith Virtue”BYU Devotional, October 29, 1957Mark E. Petersen, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me: 2:05

Subjects: Summary:

“Science can never make a report about any spiritual reality. The only religion that science can destroy is some false and materialistic creed.”

“God Our Father – His Gospel Plan”BYU Devotional, November 5, 1957David O. McKay, President of the ChurchType scripted by me: 13:24

Subjects: Summary:

“We must ever remember that nations often sow the seeds of their own destruction while enjoying unprecedented prosperity.”

“Pay Thy Debt, and Live”BYU Devotional, February 1962Ezra Taft Benson, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me.

Subjects: Summary:

“… our people have come to look to the federal government as the provider at no cost to them of whatever is needful. If this trend continues the states may be left hollow shells; operating primarily as the field districts of the federal departments and depending upon the federal treasury for their support… History teaches that when individuals have given up looking after their own economics needs and transferred a large share of that responsibility to the government, both they and the government have failed. At least twenty great civilizations have disappeared; the pattern is shockingly similar. All, before their collapse, showed a decline in spiritual values, moral stamina, and in the freedom and responsibility of their citizens. They showed such symptoms as deficit spending, excessive taxation, bloated bureaucracy, government paternalism, and generally a rather elaborate set of support, controls, and regulations effecting prices, wages, production, and consumption.””

“Pay Thy Debt, and Live”BYU Devotional, February 1962Ezra Taft Benson, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me.

Subjects: Summary:

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“Sin is apostasy and apostasy is Anti-Christ”

“Be Ye An Exponent of Christ”BYU Devotional, September 1965Mark E. Petersen

Subjects: Summary:

“I am convinced that the greatest safeguard that we have… is to determinately follow the prophet of God; he who has been appointed as the one to represent our Heavenly Father here upon the earth. If we cannot follow this one representative of the Lord Jesus Christ then how can we conserve our efforts, as a people, to singularly follow the Christ during the Millennium?”

“The Need of a Prophet of God”BYU Devotional, October 1967Alvin R. Dyer, Assistant to the Twelve

Subjects: Summary:

“These temples are not built just to admire from an architectural standpoint, nor are they intended to be places of public worship. They are built and dedicated as sanctuaries; sanctuaries in which sacred ordinances essential to salvation and exaltation, both for the living and for the dead, are administered. These ordinances are the higher ordinances of the priesthood and are administered only in these sacred and holy places dedicated for that purpose. They have been revealed from heaven and are an indispensable part of our means to salvation in the full sense of the word.”

“Temples: Avenues to Exaltation”BYU Devotional, August 1970Elray L. (LaVar) Christiansen, Assistant to the TwelveType scripted by me.

Subjects: Summary:

“Whenever the higher priesthood has been upon the earth, so have temples.”

“Temples: Avenues to Exaltation”BYU Devotional, August 1970Elray L. (LaVar) Christiansen, Assistant to the TwelveType scripted by me.

Subjects: Summary:

“We hear much talk of economic depression these days. Heaven forbid that we should ever slip again into the kind of monetary quagmire through which we struggled in the 1930s. Those were the days of the long soup lines, of suicides that came of discouragement, of a bleakness of life which few of you can understand. I hope and pray that such hard times will never come again. But I think it not impossible or even improbable if enough people, in the spirit of negativism and defeatism, talk about it and predict it. We are the creatures of our thinking. We can talk ourselves into defeat or we can talk ourselves into victory.”

Subjects: Summary:

“Salvation is a family affair.”

Households of FaithBYU Devotional, December 1970Bruce R. McConkie, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

“Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled”BYU Devotional, October 1974

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Gordon B. Hinckley, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Subjects: Summary:

“The most important prophet, so far as we are concerned, is the one who is living in our day and age. This is the prophet who has today's instructions from God to us. God's revelation to Adam did not instruct Noah how to build the ark. Every generation has the need of the ancient scripture plus the current scripture from the living prophet. Therefore, the most crucial reading and pondering which you should do is the latest inspired words from the Lord's mouthpiece. That is why it is essential that you have access to and carefully read his words in Church periodicals.”

“Jesus Christ – Gifts and ExpectationsBYU Devotional, December 1974Ezra Taft Benson, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Subjects: Summary:

“It is my firm conviction that, when joy, sorrow, success, temporary failure, victory, hurt, misunderstanding, and loss come into our lives, what we do with them is the key to the future. What we do with what happens to us is more important than what happens to us. The direction in which we are moving is more important than place or situation. We may have stumbled or been grievously hurt, but we have not fallen if we are willing to get back up.”

“What Shall We Do Then?”BYU Devotional, January 1975Marvin J. Ashton, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me. (Search for original)

Subjects: Summary:

We have truths revealed that no other people in all the world have. Just think of the vision of the Prophet Joseph Smith. He didn't know which church to join. That was a reasonable condition, and he read these words in the scriptures: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God" (James 1:5). He went out into the woods and prayed, and a light did appear from heaven brighter than the noonday sun. In the midst of that light were the Father and the Son. The Father pointing to the Son said, "This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!" (Joseph Smith 2:17). No event has transpired in this world, since the resurrection of the Savior, that can compare to that. Why didn't it happen five hundred years ago? Because the Lord hadn't prepared this land for the restoration of the gospel. That boy Joseph Smith was in waiting for many, many years.

If you read and study the scriptures you learn that prophets were ordained prophets even before they came into the world. You remember that Jeremiah, when he was called to be a prophet, couldn't understand it. The Lord said, "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations" (Jeremiah 1:5). In that same sense Joseph Smith was ordained to be a prophet long before he came upon this earth. When you read in the Book of Mormon, you read the account of Lehi in the desert. He told his son Joseph about how the Lord had promised Joseph who was sold into Egypt that in the latter days he would raise up a prophet from his loins like unto Moses (see 2 Nephi 3). We read in the Bible that there was no prophet in Israel like unto Moses because he talked with God face to face (see Deuteronomy 34:10). But that's the kind of prophet he would raise up in the latter days from the loins of Joseph. Obviously that prophet was the Prophet Joseph Smith. That promise, you see, was made to Joseph over three thousand years ago.

The Lord had Joseph Smith in waiting for this, the dispensation of the fulness of times. Lehi said that he would bring forth the word of the Lord. He brought us the Book of Mormon, he brought us the Doctrine and Covenants, and he brought us the Pearl of Great Price and many other wonderful writings. He has given us more revealed truth than any other prophet who has lived upon the face of the earth as far as the history and the records show us. The Lord said, "Unto him will I give power to bring forth my word--and not to the bringing forth my word only, . . . but to the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them" (see 2 Nephi 3:11). What did he mean by that? He would give them to understand the Bible in the spirit in which it was written.

Do you realize that in this nation there are 697 different churches--just in America? (I checked over a year ago.) We have this many just because men couldn't agree in their interpretation of the Bible and were dependent upon their own wisdom. And so the Lord said that this prophet should not only bring forth his word but would bring men to a conviction of his word that had already gone forth among them. He said that he would bring men unto salvation, because he would be the recipient of the restoration of the holy priesthood, the

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power to administer the saving ordinances of the gospel. Then the Lord says: "and he shall be great in mine eyes" (2 Nephi 3:8). Whatever the world may think of the prophet of this dispensation, here is the word of the Lord--"He shall be great in mine eyes."

“Your Fringe Benefits”BYU Devotional, September 1975LeGrand Richards, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Subjects: Summary:

I went on my first mission back in 1905, and four sons of the President of the Church went at the same time. One was my cousin; he was sent up to the Land of the Midnight Sun in Norway, and I was sent to the little land of Holland… This cousin of mine who went to Norway… wrote me when he had been there a few weeks, and he said, “LeGrand, I met a man the other day who knows more about religion that I’ve ever dreamed of, and I told him that if he had something better than I had, I’d join his church.”

I wrote back and, calling him by name, I said, “You told him just the right thing. If he has something better than you have, you ought to join his church. Does he have something better than a personal visitation of God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ, after centuries of darkness, when the heavens had been sealed and not one religious leader believed that there was any direct communication from God upon this earth today? Does he have something better that the coming of Moroni, and the knowledge of the gold plates, and the marvelous message that those plates contain that was translated by the gift and the power of God? Does he have something better than the coming of John the Baptist with the Aaronic Priesthood, the power and the authority to lead men down into the waters of baptism for the remission of their sins? Does he have something better than the coming of Peter, James, and John with the holy Melchizedek Priesthood, the power to organize again the Church and the kingdom of God upon the earth and to bestow the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands?” Then I went on to recall the mission of Moses and Elijah and Elias, and I said: “If he has something better than that, you ought to join his church.” Now, I hope that all of you feel as I do regarding this matter.

It reminds me of an experience I had when I was doing missionary work in New Bedford, Massachusetts. One morning I came to the door of a women who said, “Now, Mr. Richards, what are you trying to do? Are you trying to make Mormons out of all of us?”

“Well,” I said, “I will promise you one thing. I will never ask you to join the Mormon church.” That seemed to put her mind at ease. Then I said, “But if I could show you where you could trade one dollar for five dollars, would I have to ask you to do it?”

She said, “I get you.”

When I had been home a few weeks, I received a letter from her calling me “Brother Richards.” She said, “I decided to trade the dollar for five dollars. I was baptized a member of the Church last Friday night.”

For thirty years or longer I taught every group of missionaries that come through the Salt Lake missionary home before they were all moved down here, and I used to tell those missionaries that if they could not make Mormonism look better than five to one of any religion or philosophy in this world, I would think that they were mighty poor missionaries. I am saying that to these missionaries so that they will know what we expect of them.

“God’s Simple Eternal Truth”BYU Devotional, October, 16 1979LeGrand Richards, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Subjects: Summary:

“How often have you and I really pondered just what it is, therefore, that will rise with us in the resurrection? Our intelligence will rise with us, meaning not simply our I.Q., but our capacity to receive and to apply truth. Our talents, attributes, and skills will rise with us, certainly also our capacity to learn, our degree of self-discipline, and our capacity to work.”

“Grounded, Rooted, Established, and SettledBYU Devotional, September 1981Neal A. Maxwell, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

“I love the youth of the Church. I have great confidence in you. It is my belief that the Lord has held many of you in reserve in the spirit world to come to earth at this particular time when temptations are the greatest and strength of character is most needed. The Lord loves you and has favored you with a royal birthright.”

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“Think on Christ”BYU Devotional, October 1983Ezra Taft Benson, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Subjects: Summary:

“Thoughts lead to acts, acts lead to habits, habits lead to character--and our character will determine our eternal destiny.”

“Think on Christ”BYU Devotional, October 1983Ezra Taft Benson, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Subjects: Summary:

“The mind has been likened to a stage on which only one act at a time can be performed. From one side of the wings the Lord, who loves you, is trying to put on the stage of your mind that which will bless you. From the other side of the wings the devil, who hates you, is trying to put on the stage of your mind that which will curse you.

You are the stage manager--you are the one who decides which thought will occupy the stage. Remember, the Lord wants you to have a fullness of joy like His. The devil wants all men to be miserable like unto himself. You are the one who must decide whose thoughts you will entertain. You are free to choose--but you are not free to alter the consequences of those choices. You will be what you think about--what you consistently allow to occupy the stage of your mind.”

“Think on Christ”BYU Devotional, October 1983Ezra Taft Benson, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Subjects: Summary:

“Our accountability begins with how we handle the evil thought immediately after it is presented. Like Jesus, we should positively and promptly terminate the temptation. We should not allow the devil to elaborate with all his insidious reasoning.

It is our privilege to store our memories with good and great thoughts and bring them out on the stage of our minds at will. When the Lord faced His three great temptations in the wilderness, He immediately rebutted the devil with appropriate scripture which He had stored in His memory.”

“Think on Christ”BYU Devotional, October 1983Ezra Taft Benson, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Subjects: Summary:

“If thoughts make us what we are, and we are to be like Christ, then we must think Christlike thoughts.”

“Think on Christ”BYU Devotional, October 1983Ezra Taft Benson, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

“Indeed, it was Zenos who wrote of the visit of the Lord God of Israel after His resurrection, of the joy and salvation that would come to the righteous among them, of the desolations and destructions that await the wicked among them, of the fires and tempests and earthquakes that would occur in the Americas, of the scourging and crucifying of the God of Israel by those in Jerusalem, of the scattering of the Jews among all nations and of their gathering together again in the last days from the four quarters of the earth. I do not think I overstate the matter when I say, that next to Isaiah himself, who is the prototype, pattern and model for all the prophets, there was not a greater prophet in all Israel than Zenos.”

“Joseph Smith Translation: The Doctrinal Restoration”BYU Devotional, November 1984

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Bruce R. McConkie, Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesType scripted by me.

Subjects: Summary:

“From Joseph Smith, one unlearned and untrained in theology, more printed pages of scripture have come down to us than from any other mortal—in fact… more than the combined pages, as available at present, from Moses, Paul, Luke, and Mormon. But it is not only a matter of impressive quantity, it is also a qualitative matter, since dazzling doctrines came through the Prophet, including key doctrines previously lost from the face of the earth, a loss that caused people to ‘stumble exceedingly.’ Plain and precious things, because of faulty transmission, were kept back or taken away, and thus do not appear in our treasured Holy Bible. What came through Joseph Smith was beyond Joseph Smith, and it stretched him! In fact, the doctrines that came through that "choice seer" (2 Nephi 3:67) by translation or revelation, are often so light-intensive that, like radioactive materials, they must be handled with great care!”

“A Choice Seer”BYU Devotional, March 1986Neal A. Maxwell, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Subjects: Summary:

“…doctrinal illiteracy is a significant cause of murmuring…”

“A Choice Seer”BYU Devotional, March 1986Neal A. Maxwell, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Subjects: Summary:

“After I had come home from school one day, I was sitting in a chair reading the newspaper. My daughter Sarah, who was seven years old, came in and said, ‘Dad, can I have a bike? I’m the only kid on the block who doesn’t have a bike.’

Well, I didn’t have enough money to buy her a bike, so I stalled her and said, ‘Sure, Sarah.’

She said, ‘How? When?’

I said, ‘You save all your pennies, and pretty soon you’ll have enough for a bike.’ And she went away.

A couple of weeks later as I was sitting in the same chair, I was aware of Sarah doing something for her mother and getting paid. She went into the other room and I heard ‘clink, clink.’ I asked, ‘Sarah, what are you doing?’

She came out and she had a little jar all cleaned up with a slit cut in the lid and a bunch of pennies in the bottom. She looked at me and said, ‘You promised me that if I saved all my pennies, pretty soon I’d have enough for a bike. And, Daddy, I’ve saved every single one of them.’

She’s my daughter, and I love her. My heart melted. She was doing everything in her power to follow my instructions. I hadn’t actually lied to her. If she saved all of her pennies she would eventually have enough for a bike, but by then she would want a car. But her needs weren’t being met. Because I love her, I said, ‘Let’s go downtown and look at bikes.’

We went to every store in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Finally we found it—the perfect bicycle, the one she knew in the premortal existence. She got up on that bike; she was thrilled. She then saw the price tag, reached down, and turned it over. When she saw how much it cost, her face fell and she started to cry. She said, ‘Oh Dad, I’ll never have enough for a bicycle.’

So I said, ‘Sarah, how much do you have?’

She answered, ‘Sixty-one cents.’

‘I’ll tell you what. You give me everything you’ve got and a hug and a kiss, and the bike is yours.’ Well, she’s never been stupid. She gave me a hug and a kiss. She gave me the sixty-one cents. Then I had to drive home very slowly because she wouldn’t get off the bike.

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She rode home on the sidewalk, and as I drove along slowly beside her it occurred to me that this was a parable for the Atonement of Christ.”

“Believing Christ: A Practical Approach to the Atonement”BYU Devotional, May 1990Stephen E. Robinson, BYU Professor of Ancient Scripture

Subjects: Summary:

“When we speak of marriage, family life, there inevitably comes to mind, “What about the exceptions? There are always exceptions!” Some are born with limitations and cannot beget children. Some innocent ones have their marriage wrecked because of the infidelity of their spouses. Others do not marry and live lives of single worthiness, while at once the wayward and the wicked seem to enjoy it all.

For now, I offer this comfort: God is our Father! All the love and generosity manifest in the ideal earthly father is magnified, beyond the capacity of mortal mind to comprehend, in Him who is our Father and our God. His judgments are just, His mercy without limit, His power to compensate beyond any earthly comparison.

Remember that mortal life is a brief moment, for we will live eternally. There will be ample—I almost used the word time, but time does not apply here—there will be ample opportunity for all injustices, all inequities to be made right, all loneliness and deprivation compensated, and all worthiness rewarded when we keep the faith. “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15:19). It does not all end with mortal death; it just begins.”

“The Fountain of Life” BYU Devotional, March 1992Boyd K. Packer, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Subjects: Summary:

Abortion is one evil practice that has become socially accepted in our country and, indeed, in the world. Many of today's politicians claim not to favor abortion, but oppose government intervention in a woman's right to choose an abortion.

During a national prayer breakfast in Washington on February third of this year, Mother Teresa gave the most honest and powerful proclamation of truth on this subject I have ever heard. She is the eighty-three-year-old Yugoslavian nun who has cared for the poorest of the poor in India for years. She is now aged and physically frail, but courageous, with immense spiritual strength. Mother Teresa delivered a message that cut to the very heart and soul of the social ills afflicting America, which traditionally has given generously to the peoples of the earth but now has become selfish. She stated that the greatest proof of that selfishness is abortion. Cal Thomas of the Los Angeles Times Syndicate reported on her speech. He said that Mother Teresa had tied abortion to growing violence and murder in the streets by saying,

If we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill each other? . . . Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want.["Mother Teresa Has Anti-Abortion Answer," Salt Lake Tribune, February 15, 1994, p. A11]

Then she alluded to the concern that has been shown for orphan children in India and elsewhere in the world, for which she expressed gratitude. But she continued,

These concerns are very good. But often these same people are not concerned with the millions who are being killed by the deliberate decision of their own mothers. And this is what is the greatest destroyer of peace today--abortion, which brings people to such blindness. [Ibid.]

Cal Thomas, commenting on this powerful message, said:

Why should people or nations regard human life as noble or dignified if abortion flourishes? Why agonize about indiscriminate death in Bosnia when babies are being killed far more efficiently and out of the sight of television cameras? [Ibid.]

In conclusion, Mother Teresa pled for pregnant women who don't want their children to give them to her. She said, "I am willing to accept any child who would be aborted and to give that child to a married couple who will love the child and be loved by the child" (ibid.). What consummate spiritual courage this remarkable old woman demonstrated. How the devil must have been offended!

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“Trying to Serve the Lord Without Offending the Devil”BYU Devotional, November 15, 1995James E. Faust, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Subjects: Summary:

The false belief of inborn sexual orientation denies to repentant souls the opportunity to change and will ultimately lead to discouragement, disappointment, and despair.

“Trying to Serve the Lord Without Offending the Devil”BYU Devotional, November 15, 1995James E. Faust, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Subjects: Summary:

C. S. Lewis gave us a keen insight into devilish tactics. In a fictional letter, the master devil, Screwtape, instructs the apprentice devil Wormwood, who is in training to become a more experienced devil:

You will say that these are very small sins; and doubtless, like all young tempters, you are anxious to be able to report spectacular wickedness. . . . It does not matter how small the sins are, provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. . . . Indeed, the safest road to Hell is the gradual one--the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts. [The Screwtape Letters (New York: Macmillan, 1961), p. 56]

“Trying to Serve the Lord Without Offending the Devil”BYU Devotional, November 15, 1995James E. Faust, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Subjects: Summary:

We need not become paralyzed with fear of Satan's power. He can have no power over us unless we permit it. He is really a coward, and if we stand firm, he will retreat. The apostle James counseled: "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7). He cannot know our thoughts unless we speak them and Nephi states that "he hath no power over the hearts" of people who are righteous (l Nephi 22:26).

We have heard comedians and others justify or explain their misdeeds by saying, "The devil made me do it." I do not really think the devil can make us do anything. Certainly he can tempt and he can deceive, but he has no authority over us that we do not give him.

“Trying to Serve the Lord Without Offending the Devil”BYU Devotional, November 15, 1995James E. Faust, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles(note: the quote “He cannot know our thoughts unless we speak them” was spoken by Elder Faust but not recorded in the transcript.)

Subjects: Summary:

I testify that there are forces that will save us from the ever-increasing lying, disorder, violence, chaos, destruction, misery, and deceit that are upon the earth. Those saving forces are the everlasting principles, covenants, and ordinances of the eternal gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. These same principles, covenants, and ordinances are coupled with the rights and powers of the priesthood of Almighty God. We of this church are the possessors and custodians of these commanding powers that can and do roll back much of the power of Satan on the earth. We believe and hold that these mighty forces are in trust for all who have died, for all who are now living, and for the yet unborn.

“Trying to Serve the Lord Without Offending the Devil”BYU Devotional, November 15, 1995James E. Faust, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Subjects: Summary:

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Taken upon us the identity of Christ is the only identity theft God approves of… (My thought)

“In as many ways as possible, both figuratively and literally, we try to take upon us his [Jesus Christ’s] identity.”

“Come unto Me”BYU Devotional, March 1997Jeffrey R. Holland, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Subjects: Summary:

Nothing in this world is more burdensome than sin. It is the heaviest cross men and women ever bear… To anyone struggling under the burden of sin, we say again with the Prophet Joseph that God has "a forgiving disposition" (Lectures on Faith 3:20). You can change. You can be helped. You can be made whole--whatever the problem. All he asks is that you walk away from the darkness and come into the light, his light, with meekness and lowliness of heart. That is at the heart of the gospel. That is the very center of our message. That is the beauty of redemption. Christ has "borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows," Isaiah declared, "and with his stripes we are healed"--if we want to be (Isaiah 53:45; Mosiah 14:45).

For anyone out there seeking the courage to repent and change, I remind you that the Church is not a monastery for the isolation of perfect people. It is more like a hospital provided for those who wish to get well. Do whatever you have to do to come into the fold and be blessed.

“Come unto Me”BYU Devotional, March 1997Jeffrey R. Holland, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Subjects: Summary:

“I submit to you that [seeking the Savior’s peace] may be one of the Savior's commandments that is, even in the hearts of otherwise faithful Latter-day Saints, almost universally disobeyed; and yet I wonder whether our resistance to this invitation could be any more grievous to the Lord's merciful heart. I can tell you this as a parent: As concerned as I would be if somewhere in their lives one of my children were seriously troubled or unhappy or disobedient, nevertheless I would be infinitely more devastated if I felt that at such a time that child could not trust me to help, or should feel his or her interest were unimportant to me or unsafe in my care. In that same spirit, I am convinced that none of us can appreciate how deeply it wounds the loving heart of the Savior of the world when he finds that his people do not feel confident in his care or secure in his hands or trust in his commandments.”

“Come unto Me”BYU Devotional, March 1997Jeffrey R. Holland, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Subjects: Summary:

“The temple provides the most solemn covenant opportunities for Latter-day Saints. Although one would expect to learn a lot of details and specifics about temple covenants during the endowment session, the covenants themselves are usually just introduced and briefly defined and explained in the temple. However, we are told where we can learn more about them--in the scriptures! Thus a conscientious study of the scriptures is an excellent preparation for going to the temple so we can review the covenant framework and the Lord's expectations before we go into his house and make solemn promises to keep specific temple covenants. Like the ancient Israelites, we Latter-day Saints are indeed a covenant people.”

“Covenant Teachings of the Scriptures”BYU Devotional, October 1998Victor L. Ludlow, Professor of Ancient Scripture at BYU

Subjects: Summary:

“The Savior's second sermon, found in 3 Nephi 15 and 16, is referred to as the "Law and Covenant Discourse." In it, Jesus clarifies some important distinctions between the law and the covenant. He explains that the law, which was given to Moses about 1300 years

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earlier, had been fulfilled by him, the Savior. Yahweh, the premortal Lord, had given the law to Moses at Mount Sinai. And Jesus, the Anointed One, had fulfilled the law at Gethsemane, Golgotha, and the Garden Tomb. But, Christ goes on to explain, the covenant he had made with his people was not yet all fulfilled. The covenant, which was given to Abraham around 1900 b.c., had been partially fulfilled in the intervening two millennia, but there were many wonderful covenant promises waiting to be fulfilled, especially in these latter days.

The Law and Covenant Discourse distinguishes the Mosaic law, which was completed at Christ's first coming, from the Abrahamic covenant, which will be fulfilled at his second coming. In the classic pattern of "the last shall be first, and the first shall be last," the covenant that was made earlier with Abraham will be fulfilled in the end of days, whereas the law, made later with Moses, was already completed in the meridian of time.”

“Covenant Teachings of the Scriptures”BYU Devotional, October 1998Victor L. Ludlow, Professor of Ancient Scripture at BYU

Subjects: Summary:

“The kingdom of the devil, brothers and sisters, must be regarded as a collective, generic designation. We must not confuse it with any of its subsets, as ominous and bad as they may be for their season in human history. We must not confuse the subsets with the whole of it.”

“Sharing Insights From My Life”BYU Devotional, January 1999Neal A. Maxwell, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Subjects: Summary:

“Even today I encounter scores of people who believe they will witness the Second Coming in their lifetime. For my part, I am now somewhat reserved and wiser. I teach my students these guiding principles: prepare a will, buy life insurance, put funds away in a retirement program, and, if they really want to be nice to their family, purchase a pre-need funeral program that includes a cemetery plot! For many of my students, this last bit of advice is a little morbid, but it makes my point. Live today as if you will meet Jesus this evening, but plan your life as though you will live to be 100 years old.”

“The Glass is Half Full: The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ”BYU Devotional, July 2001Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, Professor of Religion at BYU

Subjects: Summary:

“As you and I come to understand and employ the enabling power of the Atonement in our personal lives, we will pray and seek for strength to change our circumstances rather than praying for our circumstances to be changed. We will become agents who ‘act’ rather than objects that are ‘acted upon’ (2 Nephi 2:14).”

“In the Strength of the Lord”BYU Devotional, October 2001David A. Bednar, President of BYU-Idaho

Subjects: Summary:

“The young boy Joseph Smith instinctively understood what it meant to seek learning by faith… [The boy Joseph] retire[d] to a grove of trees near his home to pray and to seek for spiritual knowledge… [Joseph’s] very first question centered on action and what was to be done. His prayer was not simply which church is right, his question was which church should he join. Joseph went to the grove to learn by faith and he was determined to act.”

“Seek Learning by Faith”Address to CES Religious Educators, February 2006David A. Bednar, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

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Type scripted by me. (Search for original)

Subjects: Summary:

“Motherhood is the ideal opportunity for lifelong learning. A mother’s learning grows as she nurtures the child in his or her development years. They are both learning and maturing together at a remarkable pace. It’s exponential, not linear. Just think of the learning process of a mother throughout the lifetime of her children. Each child brings an added dimension to her learning because their needs are so varied and far-reaching.

For example, in the process of rearing her children, a mother studies such topics as child development; nutrition; health care; physiology; psychology; nursing with medical research and care; and educational tutoring in many diverse fields such as math, science, geography, literature, English, and foreign languages. She develops gifts such as music, athletics, dance, and public speaking. The learning examples could continue endlessly. Just think of the spiritual learning that is required as a mother teaches about gospel principles and prepares for teaching family home evening and auxiliary lessons in Primary, Relief Society, Young Women, and Sunday School.

My point is, my dear sisters—as well as for the brethren, who I hope are listening carefully—a mother’s opportunity for lifelong learning and teaching is universal in nature. My dear sisters, don’t ever sell yourself short as a woman or as a mother.

It never ceases to amaze me that the world would state that a woman is in a form of servitude that does not allow her to develop her gifts and talents. Nothing, absolutely nothing, could be further from the truth. Do not let the world define, denigrate, or limit your feelings of lifelong learning and the values of motherhood in the home—both here mortally and in the eternal learning and benefits you give to your children and to your companion.”

“The Journey of Lifelong Learning”BYU Devotional, August 2008Robert D. Hales, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Subjects: Summary:

“Our earth was chosen to be the place where the Savior was to be born. The Lord, Himself, came to this special small planet earth—to redeem the whole universe. You and I cannot intrude too closely into this scene; it was so sacred, so profound, that no footstep may penetrate. His Disciples’ senses were confused. Likewise, our perceptions may not be clear regarding His redeeming love. As I meditate and ponder the sacred mission of the Savior, and what He went through in the Garden, I too, am sometimes half-awake, half oppressed by my daily life, like an irresistible weight of troubled slumber.”

“Atonement of the Lord – Do We Know How Much He Went Through?”BYU Devotional, October 28, 2008Yoshihiko Kikuchi, Member of the First Quorum of the Seventy

Subjects: Summary:

Can you see His face upon the ground? Can you hear His voice wailing? Can you see His fingernails scratching the bark of the olive tree, because it was so painful? Can you hear His murmurous and broken agonizing voices? Do His utterances of atoning cries pierce your soul? Do you feel the deep everlasting atoning love that He has for us? Are we ever grateful for His redeeming love through His atoning blood? Are we expressing our deep humility of reverence to His redeeming love? Can you show humble adoration for His mercy? Are our souls penetrated by His eternal grace? … Why must He go through this? Can you see His anguish and the great drops of atoning blood, which were shed from His body? Under dark shadows of olive trees, you may not see Him clearly, as an angel supports Him to rise from those prayers? It is almost four hours of agonized failings of His heart. His fearful amazement and the horror of darkness almost brought Him down to the grave. I cannot speak lightly of the price, which He paid for each of us. His redeeming act in the Garden and crucifixion is so deep and profound. I am confused at His mercy. It is so sacred. It is so deeply meaningful. This is such a solemn matter. It requires a sublime and holy spirit to feel His redemptive act for us…

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I testify His atoning utterance cleanses our broken hearts and makes us contrite. I know His atoning blood and His eternal offering in the Garden and at the sacred altar Golgotha on the cross purify and sanctify our souls. I testify our Father offered His life on the Altar of Mount Moriah. I know He is the only source of PEACE. I testify His pure love now ransoms all of us. I know He is our Savior. He died for you and me.”

“Atonement of the Lord – Do We Know How Much He Went Through?”BYU Devotional, October 28, 2008Yoshihiko Kikuchi, Member of the First Quorum of the Seventy

“There is no scriptural description, however, in the center of the universe, imagine our loving and kind Heavenly Father must have wiped His holy tears. Imagine the great gratitude of the Father for His and His willingness to give Himself for all the Father’s children. The Father could have sent multitudes of the hosts of heaven to rescue His Son from that awful situation in the Garden and on the tree. But our Father must have closed His eyes and ears in those final and eternal moments pass by, in order that you and I, and the other sons and daughters, could have HOPE for eternal life.”

“Atonement of the Lord – Do We Know How Much He Went Through?”BYU Devotional, October 28, 2008Yoshihiko Kikuchi, Member of the First Quorum of the Seventy

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