Sadly, many in our world today encourage idleness, especially in the form of mindless, inane entertainment that is on the Internet, on television, and in computer games.
Too many sit at the banquet table of the gospel of Jesus Christ and merely nibble at the feast placed before them. They go through the motions - attending their meetings perhaps, glancing at scriptures, repeating familiar prayers - but their hearts are far away.
We've all met those who seem to radiate happiness. They seem to smile more than others; they laugh more than others - just being around them makes us happier as well.
We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever.
Priesthood lessons are regularly devoted to topics of family leadership, and quorum leaders everywhere are feeling more and more their responsibility to teach and train their quorum members to be better husbands and fathers.
Young people should ponder over problems that might confront them and be prepared to cope with them in a way that their parents, their leaders, and their Heavenly Father would have them cope, that they might keep themselves clean and pure.
The Lord did not people the earth with a vibrant orchestra of personalities only to value the piccolos of the world. Every instrument is precious and adds to the complex beauty of the symphony.
My own great-grandfather suffered so much from asthma that he had to walk a mile or two behind the covered wagons crossing the plains to avoid the dust. However, he always arrived at his destination and did his share of the work.
If we become ill, modern medicine can work healing miracles.
Often what passes for faith in this world is little more than gullibility.
If Satan can weaken or destroy the loving relationships among members of families, he can cause more misery and more unhappiness for more people than he could in any other way.
Desire, burning desire, is basic to achieving anything beyond the ordinary.
Some of the choicest blessings of my life have been the close friendships I have experienced over the years. Often, these friendships have been forged in the fires of shared experience.
I loved my mission in Switzerland and Germany. As I left on the train from Basel, Switzerland, tears flowed down my cheeks because I knew then that my full-time service in the Church had ended.
While we yearn for peace, we live in a world burdened with hunger, pain, anguish, loneliness, sickness, and sorrow.
The Prophet Joseph Smith lived in troubled times.
My parents taught me to react quickly when temptation comes and to say 'No!' instantly and emphatically. I recommend that same counsel to you. Avoid temptations.
When the Savior Himself was born, there were troubled times.
Great sculptors and artists spend countless hours perfecting their talents. They don't pick up a chisel or a brush and palette, expecting immediate perfection. They understand that they will make many errors as they learn, but they start with the basics, the key fundamentals first.
Through the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord has established His Church once again among men.
The sweet companionship of eternal marriage is one of the greatest blessings God has granted to His children.
Lucifer is a master at gradual deception.
Kind words not only lift our spirits in the moment they are given, but they can linger with us over the years.
This I have observed: There are no language barriers in the Church. There is a mighty power that transcends the power of messages conveyed by words alone, and this is the power of messages communicated by the Spirit to our hearts.
We are all busy. It's easy to find excuses for not reaching out to others, but I imagine they will sound as hollow to our Heavenly Father as the elementary school boy who gave his teacher a note asking that he be excused from school March 30th through the 34th.
Many feel discouraged because they have not measured up to their potential.
Even when we make mistakes, we hope others will love us in spite of our shortcomings - even if we don't deserve it.
Many today feel troubled and distressed; many feel that, at any moment, the ships of their lives could capsize or sink.
God truly is our Father, the Father of the spirits of all mankind. We are his literal offspring and are formed in his image. We have inherited divine characteristics from him.
Prophets have no other purpose, no other mission except to serve God.
Fasting, coupled with mighty prayer, is powerful.
Wayward, disobedient children cause their parents grief and anxiety.
Joining a new church and starting a new life is never easy and often frightening.
Gratitude is a mark of a noble soul and a refined character. We like to be around those who are grateful.
Some have been ensnared in the net of excessive debt. The net of interest holds them fast, requiring them to sell their time and energies to meet the demands of creditors. They surrender their freedom, becoming slaves to their own extravagance.
Pride and vanity, the opposites of humility, can destroy our spiritual health as surely as a debilitating disease can destroy our physical health.
Some people are weak in their faith and testimonies but are not even aware of how precarious their situation is. Many of them likely would be offended at the suggestion.
My beloved Elisa, my companion and wife, whom I love and revere, is one of the most noble of our Heavenly Father's handmaidens.
The most cherished and sacred moments of our lives are those filled with the spirit of love.
My parents were hardworking. They made every penny stretch as far as possible. That was probably the major reason everything they gave me was always two or three sizes too large.
Prosperity often leads to pride, which leads to sin.
There is something about prosperity that brings out the worst in some people.
To me, integrity means always doing what is right and good, regardless of the immediate consequences. It means being righteous from the very depth of our soul, not only in our actions but, more importantly, in our thoughts and in our hearts.
Logic itself affirms that a loving Heavenly Father would not abandon His children without providing a way for them to learn of Him.
I don't know whether we Church members fully appreciate the Book of Mormon, one of our sacred scriptures, as we really should.
The Lord Jesus Christ is our partner, helper and advocate.
For each human being, time is a necessary resource. It can neither be ignored nor changed.
You can get people to work by using threats or by promising rewards.
