SERVICE

“Dedicated missionary service returns a dividend of eternal joy which extends throughout mortality and into eternity.”  ~President Thomas S. Monson, Come, All Ye Sons of God, April 2013 General Conference

 “Every covenant servant of His within His kingdom on earth and in the spirit world will receive His guidance by the Spirit as they bless and serve others for Him.  And they will feel His love and find joy in being drawn closer to Him.” ~President Henry B. Eyring, Come Unto Me, April 2013 General Conference

“Whatever our age, capacity, Church calling, or location, we are as one called to the work to help Him in His harvest of souls until He comes again.” ~President Henry B. Eyring, We Are One, April 2013 General Conference

“Our Savior gave Himself in unselfish service. He taught that each of us should follow Him by denying ourselves of selfish interests in order to serve others.” ~Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Unselfish Service, April 2009 General Conference

“With all your differences in personal circumstances and past experiences, I can tell you something of what lies ahead for you. As you keep the faith, you will find yourself invited by the Lord often to serve someone in need when it will not seem convenient. It may appear to be an unpleasant and perhaps even impossible task. When the call comes, it may seem you are not needed or that someone else could easily give the succor.” ~President Henry B. Eyring, The Caregiver, October 2012 General Conference

“Serving God and our fellowmen will transform us into something greater than we ever thought possible.” ~ President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Four Titles, April 2013 General Conference

“As we seek to increase our love for God and strive to love our neighbor, the light of the gospel will surround and uplift us.  The darkness will surely fade, because it cannot exist in the presence of light.” ~ President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, The Hope of God’s Light, April 2013 General Conference

 

“If our hearts are pure—if we seek not our own glory but the glory of Almighty God, if we seek to do His will, if we desire to bless the lives of our family and fellowman—we will not be left to walk alone. As President Monson has often reminded us, ‘When we are on the Lord’s errand, we are entitled to the Lord’s help.’” ~ President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, The Hope of God’s Light, April 2013 General Conference

 

“My dear brethren, divine blessings for priesthood service are activated by our diligent efforts, our willingness to sacrifice, and our desire to do what is right. Let us be the ones to act and not be acted upon. Preaching is fine, but sermons that do not lead to action are like fires without heat or water that cannot quench thirst.” ~President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, The Why of Priesthood Service, April 2012 General Conference

“It is not enough to serve God with all of our might and strength. He who looks into our hearts and knows our minds demands more than this. In order to stand blameless before God at the last day, we must also serve him with all our heart and mind.” ~Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Why Do We Serve?, October 1984 General Conference

PORNOGRAPHY

“Don’t be deceived and don’t be destroyed. Unless such powers are controlled and commandments kept, your future may be burned; your world could go up in flames. Penalty may not come on the precise day of transgression, but it comes surely and certainly enough.” ~Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Personal Purity, October 1998 General Conference

“When I consider the demons who are twins—even immodesty and immorality—I should make them triplets and include pornography. They all three go together.” ~President Thomas S. Monson, Peace, Be Still, October 2002 General Conference

“Close your eyes, ears, mind, and heart to it. Unchecked, it would surely grow unrelentingly from initial curiosity step-by-step to become a raging monster. That demon would wreck wholesome desires, worthy companionship, noble thoughts and acts until it could destroy you.” ~Elder Richard G. Scott, The Power of Righteousness, October 1998 General Conference

“Do not arouse those emotions in your own body. These things are wrong. Do not do them. Such practices would undermine your ability to be inspired by the Holy Ghost in the vitally important decisions you must make for your future. They lead to binding addictions and grievous transgressions.” ~Elder Richard G. Scott, The Power of Righteousness, October 1998 General Conference

 “The Church is a mooring in this tempestuous sea, an anchor in the churning waters of change and division, and a beacon to those who value and seek righteousness. The Lord uses this Church as a tool in pulling His children throughout the world toward the protection of His gospel.” ~Elder M. Russell Ballard, That the Lost May Be Found, April 2012 General Conference

“You are living in the last days. If your father wanted to get in trouble, he had to go searching for it. Not anymore! Today temptation finds you! Please remember that! Satan desires to have you, and ‘sin lieth at the door.’ How will you resist his aggressive tactics? Put on the whole armor of God.” ~Elder Robert D. Hales, Stand Strong in Holy Places, April 2013 General Conference

“The power of procreation is spiritually significant. Misuse of this power subverts the purposes of the Father’s plan and of our mortal existence. Our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son are creators and have entrusted each of us with a portion of Their creative power. Specific guidelines for the proper use of the ability to create life are vital elements in the Father’s plan. How we feel about and use that supernal power will determine in large measure our happiness in mortality and our destiny in eternity.” ~Elder David A. Bednar, We Believe in Being Chaste, April 2013 General Conference

“The power to create mortal life is the most exalted power God has given his children. Its use was mandated in the first commandment, but another important commandment was given to forbid its misuse. The emphasis we place on the law of chastity is explained by our understanding of the purpose of our procreative powers in the accomplishment of God’s plan. …Outside the bonds of marriage, all uses of the procreative power are to one degree or another a sinful degrading and perversion of the most divine attribute of men and women” ~Elder Dallin H. Oaks, The Great Plan of Happiness, October 1993 General Conference

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

“Significantly, disciplining the natural man in each of us makes possible a richer, a deeper, and a more enduring love of God and of His children. Love increases through righteous restraint and decreases through impulsive indulgence.” ~Elder David A. Bednar, We Believe in Being Chaste, April 2013 General Conference

“In the interpretation of Lehi’s dream, we find a rather apt description of the destructiveness of pornography: “And the mists of darkness are the temptations of the devil, which blindeth the eyes, and hardeneth the hearts of the children of men, and leadeth them away into broad roads, that they perish and are lost.” ~President Thomas S. Monson, Peace, Be Still, October 2002 General Conference

HUMILITY

“The Savior demonstrated genuine love of God by living the perfect life, by honoring the sacred mission that was His.  Never was He haughty.  Never was He puffed up with pride.  Never was He disloyal.  Ever was he humble.  Ever was He sincere.  Ever was he obedient.” ~President Thomas S. Monson, Those Who Love Jesus, April 2013 General Conference

“Humility is a fertile soil where spirituality grows and produces the fruit of inspiration to know what to do. It gives access to divine power to accomplish what must be done. An individual motivated by a desire for praise or recognition will not qualify to be taught by the Spirit. An individual who is arrogant or who lets his or her emotions influence decisions will not be powerfully led by the Spirit.” ~Elder Richard G. Scott, How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life, April 2012 General Conference.

 “Pride is a switch that turns off priesthood power.  Humility is a switch that turns it on.” ~President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Pride and the Priesthood, October 2010 General Conference

“Some suppose that humility is about beating ourselves up. Humility does not mean convincing ourselves that we are worthless, meaningless, or of little value. Nor does it mean denying or withholding the talents God has given us. We don’t discover humility by thinking less of ourselves; we discover humility by thinking less about ourselves. It comes as we go about our work with an attitude of serving God and our fellowman.” ~President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Pride and the Priesthood, October 2010 General Conference

“Humility directs our attention and love toward others and to Heavenly Father’s purposes. Pride does the opposite. Pride draws its energy and strength from the deep wells of selfishness. The moment we stop obsessing with ourselves and lose ourselves in service, our pride diminishes and begins to die.” ~President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Pride and the Priesthood, October 2010 General Conference

“All of us living in the world today need points of reference—even models to follow. John the Baptist provides for us a flawless example of unfeigned humility, as he deferred always to the One who was to follow—the Savior of mankind.” ~President Thomas S. Monson, Models to Follow, October 2002 General Conference

“We must cultivate true humility, not the ability to appear humble, but the sacred gift of true humility.” ~Elder Richard G. Scott, The Plan for Happiness and Exaltation, October 1981 General Conference

“Humility is the precious, fertile soil of righteous character. It germinates the seeds of personal growth. When cultivated through the exercise of faith, pruned by repentance, and fortified by obedience and good works, such seeds produce the cherished fruit of spirituality.” ~Elder Richard G. Scott, The Plan for Happiness and Exaltation, October 1981 General Conference

“God knows that some of the greatest souls who have ever lived are those who will never appear in the chronicles of history. They are the blessed, humble souls who emulate the Savior’s example and spend the days of their lives doing good.”  ~President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, You Matter to Him,  October 2011 General Conference

 “Just as we must be cleansed of sin to have the Spirit with us, we must be humble enough before God to recognize our need for it.” ~President Henry B. Eyring, Serve With the Spirit, October 2010 General Conference

HONESTY

“Don’t rationalize away future happiness by taking shortcuts instead of applying sound gospel principles. Remember: little things lead to big things. Seemingly insignificant indiscretions or neglect can lead to big problems. More importantly, simple, consistent, good habits lead to a life full of bountiful blessings.” ~Elder Richard G. Scott, For Peace at Home, April 2013 General Conference

“A consecrated life is a life of integrity. We see it in the husband and wife ‘who honor marital vows with complete fidelity.’  We see it in the father and mother whose demonstrated first priority is to nourish their marriage and ensure the physical and spiritual welfare of their children. We see it in those who are honest.” ~Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Reflections on a Consecrated Life, October 2010 General Conference

 “Think about the impact on society if youth didn’t cheat in school, if adults were honest in the workplace and were faithful to their marriage vows. For us the concept of basic honesty is grounded in the life and teachings of the Savior.” ~Elder Quentin L. Cook, Let There Be Light, October 2010 General Conference

“Hope on. Journey on. Honestly acknowledge your questions and your concerns, but first and forever fan the flame of your faith, because all things are possible to them that believe.” ~Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Lord, I Believe, April 2013 General Conference

“Clearly, moral values with respect to honesty can play a significant role in establishing light and truth and improving society and should be valued by those who do not have faith.” ~Elder Quentin L. Cook, Let There Be Light, October 2010 General Conference

“In almost every instance, people of faith feel accountable to God for being honest.” ~Elder Quentin L. Cook, Let There Be Light, October 2010 General Conference

“The oft-repeated adage is ever true: ‘Honesty [is] the best policy.’  A Latter-day Saint young man lives as he teaches and as he believes. He is honest with others. He is honest with himself. He is honest with God. He is honest by habit and as a matter of course. When a difficult decision must be made, he never asks himself, ‘What will others think?’ but rather, ‘What will I think of myself?’” ~ President Thomas S. Monson, Preparation Brings Blessings, April 2010 General Conference

“Some cultures allow lying, stealing, and other dishonest practices. But dishonesty in any form—whether to appease, to save face, or to get gain—is in direct conflict with gospel commandments and culture. God is a God of truth, and God does not change.” ~Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Repentance and Change, October 2003 General Conference

“When we speak of the demon of dishonesty, we can find it in a variety of locations. One such place is in school. Let us avoid cheating, falsifying, taking advantage of others, or anything like unto it. Let integrity be our standard.” ~President Thomas S. Monson, Peace, Be Still, October 2002 General Conference

“Good men sometimes make mistakes. A man of integrity will honestly face and correct his mistakes, and that is an example we can respect. Sometimes men try but fail. Not all worthy objectives are realized despite one’s honest and best efforts. True manhood is not always measured by the fruits of one’s labors but by the labors themselves—by one’s striving.” ~Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Let Us Be Men, October 2006 General Conference (Presidency of the 70)

GRATITUDE

“Lift up your soul in prayer and explain to your heavenly Father what you are feeling.  Acknowledge your shortcomings.  Pour out your heart and express your gratitude.  Let Him know of the trials you are facing.  Plead with Him in Christ’s name for strength and support.  Ask that your ears may be opened, that you may hear His voice.  Ask that your eyes may be opened, that you may see His light.” ~ President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, The Hope of God’s Light, April 2013 General Conference

“We can lift ourselves and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues.” ~President Thomas S. Monson, An Attitude of Gratitude, April 1992 General Conference

 

“Let us have gratitude for our friends. Our most cherished friend is our partner in marriage. This old world would be so much better off today if kindness and deference were daily a reflection of our gratitude for wife, for husband.” ~President Thomas S. Monson, An Attitude of Gratitude, April 1992 General Conference

“Regardless of our circumstances, each of us has much for which to be grateful if we will but pause and contemplate our blessings.” ~President Thomas S. Monson, The Divine Gift of Gratitude, October 2010 General Conference

“My brothers and sisters, do we remember to give thanks for the blessings we receive? Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God’s love.” ~President Thomas S. Monson, The Divine Gift of Gratitude, October 2010 General Conference

“A grateful heart, then, comes through expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His blessings and to those around us for all that they bring into our lives. This requires conscious effort—at least until we have truly learned and cultivated an attitude of gratitude. Often we feel grateful and intend to express our thanks but forget to do so or just don’t get around to it. Someone has said that “feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” ~President Thomas S. Monson, The Divine Gift of Gratitude, October 2010 General Conference

“Through divine intervention, those who were lepers were spared from a cruel, lingering death and given a new lease on life. The gratitude expressed by one merited the Master’s blessing, the ingratitude by the nine His disappointment.” ~President Thomas S. Monson, Pathways to Perfection, April 2002 General Conference

“Each of us must make an individual evaluation. First, we need to measure the depth of our gratitude for membership in the true Church of Jesus Christ. Second, we need to know by the power of the Holy Ghost in what ways we can do better in keeping the commandments.” ~President Henry B. Eyring, The True and Living Church, April 2008 General Conference

“I have saved the most important part about prayer until the end. It is gratitude! Our sincere efforts to thank our beloved F ather generate wondrous feelings of peace, self-worth, and love. No matter how challenging our circumstances, honest appreciation fills our mind to overflowing with gratitude.” ~Elder Richard G. Scott, Learning to Recognize Answers to Prayer, October 1989 General Conference

“Ours is the responsibility to show our gratitude by the actions of our lives.” ~ President Thomas S. Monson, Gifts, April 1993 General Conference

“Express gratitude for each blessing, for ‘in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.’” ~ Elder Richard G. Scott, He Lives, October 1999 General Conference

FAMILY

 “My promise to you who pray and serve the Lord cannot be that you will have every blessing you may wish for yourself and your family.  But I can promise you that the Savior will draw close to you and bless you and your family with what is best.” ~President Henry B. Eyring, Come Unto Me, April 2013 General Conference

“President Brigham Young explained that our families are not yet ours. The Lord has committed them to us to see how we will treat them. Only if we are faithful will they be given to us forever. What we do on earth determines whether or not we will be worthy to become heavenly parents.” ~Elder L. Tom Perry, The Importance of the Family, April 2003 General Conference

“We need to make our homes a place of refuge from the storm, which is increasing in intensity all about us. Even if the smallest openings are left unattended, negative influences can penetrate the very walls of our homes.” ~Elder L. Tom Perry, The Importance of the Family, April 2003 General Conference

“Many of you have loved ones who are wandering off the path to eternal life. You wonder what more you can do to bring them back. You can depend on the Lord to draw closer to them as you serve Him in faith.”  ~President Henry B. Eyring, Come Unto Me, April 2013 General Conference

 

“Fathers, by divine decree, you are to preside over your family units. This is a sobering responsibility and the most important one you will ever assume, for it is an eternal responsibility. You place the family in its proper priority. It’s the part of your life that will endure beyond the grave.” ~Elder L. Tom Perry, Fatherhood, an Eternal Calling, April 2004 General Conference

“Satan, in his carefully devised plan to destroy the family, seeks to diminish the role of fathers. Increased youth violence, youth crime, greater poverty and economic insecurity, and the failure of increasing numbers of children in our schools offer clear evidence of lack of a positive influence of fathers in the homes. A family needs a father to anchor it.” ~Elder L. Tom Perry, Fatherhood, an Eternal Calling, April 2004 General Conference

 

“Surely we have learned by now, from the experience over centuries, that the basic family provides the most stable and secure foundation for society and is fundamental to the preparation of young people for their future responsibilities. We should have learned by now that alternate styles of family formations have not worked and never will work.” ~Elder L. Tom Perry, Fatherhood, an Eternal Calling, April 2004 General Conference

 

“There came into my mind the warnings spoken by the prophets. We will not always be safe from the adversary’s influence, even within our own homes. We need to protect our nestlings.  We live in a very dangerous world that threatens those things that are most spiritual. The family, the fundamental organization in time and eternity, is under attack from forces seen and unseen. The adversary is about. His objective is to cause injury. If he can weaken and destroy the family, he will have succeeded.” ~ President Boyd K. Packer, These Things I Know, April 2013 General Conference

“We should remember that saying “I love you” is only a beginning. We need to say it, we need to mean it, and most importantly we need consistently to show it. We need to both express and demonstrate love.” ~Elder David A. Bednar, More Diligent and Concerned at Home, October 2009 General Conference

“Feeling the security and constancy of love from a spouse, a parent, or a child is a rich blessing. Such love nurtures and sustains faith in God. Such love is a source of strength and casts out fear (see 1 John 4:18). Such love is the desire of every human soul.” ~Elder David A. Bednar, More Diligent and Concerned at Home, October 2009 General Conference

EDUCATION

“The knowledge which we seek, the answers for which we yearn, and the strength which we desire today to meet the challenges of a complex and changing world can be ours when we willingly obey the Lord’s commandments.” ~President Thomas S. Monson, Obedience Brings Blessings, April 2013 General Conference

“The real question, of course, is about cause and effect. Do some sectors of our society have stronger values and families because they are more educated and prosperous, or are they more educated and prosperous because they have values and strong families? In this worldwide Church we know that it is the latter. When people make family and religious commitments to gospel principles, they begin to do better spiritually and often temporally as well.” ~Elder M. Russell Ballard, That the Lost May Be Found, April 2012 General Conference

“We live in turbulent times. Often the future is unknown; therefore, it behooves us to prepare for uncertainties. Statistics reveal that at some time, because of the illness or death of your husband or because of economic necessity, you may find yourself in the role of financial provider. I urge you to pursue your education and learn marketable skills so that, should an emergency arise, you are prepared to provide.  Your talents will expand as you study and learn. You will be able to better assist your children in their learning, and you will have peace of mind in knowing that you have prepared yourself for the eventualities that you may encounter in life.”  ~President Thomas S. Monson, Be Thou an Example, October 2001 General Conference

“Opposite of what many had thought, prosperity and education seem to be connected to a higher likelihood of having traditional families and values.” ~Elder M. Russell Ballard, That the Lost May Be Found, April 2012 General Conference

“In addition, use your agency to develop yourself personally. As you discover your gifts and talents, remember that parents and mentors may assist you, but you must let the Spirit guide you. Choose and act for yourself. Be motivated from within. Make a plan for your life, including education or vocational training. Explore interests and skills. Work and become self-reliant. Set goals, overcome mistakes, gain experience, and finish what you begin.” ~Elder Robert D. Hales, Stand Strong in Holy Places, April 2013 General Conference

“We encourage our youth in every country to get an education. Even if at times it seems hopeless. With determination and faith in the Lord, you will be blessed with success. It is a dream well worth pursuing.” ~President Boyd K. Packer, “To Be Learned Is Good If . . .”, October 1992 General Conference.

“Students at other schools soon learn that some professors deliberately undermine faith and challenge your moral and spiritual values. You in turn must be free, even in our own schools, to return that challenge and defend your right to believe in God, to keep the covenants you have made through baptism and which you renew through the sacrament.” ~President Boyd K. Packer, “To Be Learned Is Good If . . .”, October 1992 General Conference

”Because of our sacred regard for each human intellect, we consider the obtaining of an education to be a religious responsibility. Yet opportunities and abilities differ. I believe that in the pursuit of education, individual desire is more influential than institution, and personal faith more forceful than faculty.”  ~Elder Russell M. Nelson, Where Is Wisdom?, October 1992 General Conference

“Our Creator expects His children everywhere to educate themselves. He issued a commandment: “Seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.” (D&C 88:118.) And He assures us that knowledge acquired here will be ours forever. (See D&C 130:18–19.)  Measured by this celestial standard, it is apparent that those who impulsively “drop out” and cut short their education not only disregard divine decree but frustrate the realization of their own potential.”   ~Elder Russell M. Nelson, Where Is Wisdom?, October 1992 General Conference

“I read in a newspaper a few weeks ago of the earning potential with increased levels of education. The difference between no high school degree and a high school graduate is an average income increase of 38 percent. From a high school diploma to some college, the increase is 20 percent, and from a high school diploma to a university degree, the increase is 56 percent. Yes, education does pay. It is never too early to determine the direction you want to prepare yourself for. Don’t wait until you register for college to decide what you want to study. It is such a waste of time and money to attempt to pursue an education without having a definite goal.” ~Elder L. Tom Perry, Youth of the Noble Birthright, October 1998 General Conference