QUOTES

Elder M. Russell Ballard
One of the things that’s important in all of this, Mike, is that I think that God’s going to
judge us according to our knowledge. And one of the greatest problems that we have in
the Church is the total—not total—but the extreme apathy—indifference. People are so
much more interested in the NBA playoffs than they are “what is my purpose here?”
(Elder M. Russell Ballard, Bloomberg Television Interview with Mike Schneider, April
18, 2008)
President Gordon B. Hinckley
(italicized text is quoting Charles H. Malik)
I respect all men, and it is from disrespect for none that I say there are no great leaders
in the world today. In fact, greatness itself is laughed to scorn…To become a leader
today, even a mediocre leader, is a most uphill struggle. You are constantly and in every
way and from every side pulled down.
…Respect for the high, the noble, the great…is gone. Respect at all is gone! If you ask
whom and what people do respect, the answer is literally nobody and nothing. This is
simply an unrespecting age—it is the age of utter mediocrity.
…You are good. But it is not enough just to be good…in this world so filled with
problems, so constantly threatened by dark and evil challenges, you can and must rise
above mediocrity, above indifference.
(President Gordon B. Hinckley, Stand Up for Truth, BYU Devotional Address, 17
September 1996)
President Gordon B. Hinckley
There is much more to be achieved than statistical improvement…Such improvement is,
of course, desirable, and must be worked for. But, more importantly, we should be
concerned with the spiritual dimension of our people and the enlargement of this
dimension. There is a tendency in all of us to ask for better statistical performance. There
is a tendency to impose quotas, behind which usually lies imposition of pressure to
achieve improved statistics. In the work of the Lord there is a more appropriate
motivation than pressure. There is the motivation that comes of true conversion.
When there throbs in the heart of an individual Latter-day Saint a great and vital
testimony of the truth of this work, he will be found doing his duty in the Church. He will
be found in his sacrament meetings. He will be found in his priesthood meetings. He will
be found paying his honest tithes and offerings. He will be doing his home teaching. He
will be found in attendance at the temple as frequently as his circumstances will permit.
He will have within him a great desire to share the gospel with others. He will be found
strengthening and lifting his brethren and sisters. It is conversion that makes the
difference.
(President Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, May 1984, p. 99)
Elder M. Russell Ballard
Brothers as sisters…focus on people and principles—not on programs. One of the most
important things we do through the gospel of Jesus Christ is to build people…Frankly,
it’s much easier to just manage programs than it is to understand and truly serve people.
Brothers and sisters…what is most important in our Church responsibilities is not the
statistics that are reported…but whether or not individual people—ministered to one at a
time just as the Savior did—have been lifted and encouraged and ultimately changed. Our
task is to help others find the peace and the joy that only the gospel can give them.
(Elder M. Russell Ballard, “O Be Wise,” Ensign, Nov 2006, 17–20)
Elder Dallin H. Oaks
Members of the Quorum of the Twelve have stressed the importance of exercising
inspired judgment in Church programs and activities…Church leaders should be aware
that Church meetings and activities can become too complex and burdensome…Stake
presidencies and bishoprics need to exercise their authority to weed out the excessive and
ineffective busyness that is sometimes required of the members of their stakes or wards.
Church programs should focus on what is best (most effective) in achieving their
assigned purposes without unduly infringing on the time families need for their “divinely
appointed duties.”
(Elder Dallin H. Oaks, “Good, Better, Best,” Ensign, Nov 2007, 104–108)
President Ezra Taft Benson
Christ taught that we should be in the world but not of it. Yet there are some in our midst
who are not so much concerned about taking the gospel into the world as they are about
bringing worldliness into the gospel. They want us to be in the world and of it.
… They do not feel the Church is progressive enough—they say that it should embrace
the social and socialist gospel of apostate Christendom. They are bothered that President
McKay believes that "the social side of the Restored Gospel is only an incident of it; it is
not the end thereof." (Letter of the First Presidency to Dr. Lowry Nelson, July 17, 1947.)
(Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, April 1969, First Day—Morning Meeting 11.)
The First Presidency
All about us we see evidence of the corrosive elements targeted to injure our youth…We
are deeply concerned.
…We call upon parents to devote their best efforts to the teaching and rearing of their
children in gospel principles which will keep them close to the Church. The home is the
basis of a righteous life, and no other instrumentality can take its place or fulfill its
essential functions in carrying forward this God-given responsibility.
…However worthy and appropriate other demands or activities may be, they must not be
permitted to displace the divinely appointed duties that only parents and families can
adequately perform.
We urge bishops and other Church officers to do all they can to assist parents in seeing
that they have time and help, where needed, as they nurture their families and bring them
up in the way of the Lord…As we strengthen families, we will strengthen the entire
Church.
(First Presidency Letter to the Church, February 11, 1999. See Ensign, June 1999, p. 80)
President Boyd K. Packer
Bishops, keep constantly in mind that fathers are responsible to preside over their
families. Sometimes, with all good intentions, we require so much of both the children
and the father that he is not able to do so. If my boy needs counseling, bishop, it should
be my responsibility first, and yours second. If my boy needs recreation, bishop, I should
provide it first, and you second. If my boy needs correction, that should be my
responsibility first, and yours second. If I am failing as a father, help me first, and my
children second. Do not be too quick to take over from me the job of raising my children.
Do not be too quick to counsel them and solve all of the problems. Get me involved. It is
my ministry.
(Elder Boyd K. Packer, “Solving Emotional Problems in the Lord’s Own Way,” Ensign,
May 1978, 91)
Elder Dallin H. Oaks
Here is a caution for families…Team sports and technology toys like video games and
the Internet are already winning away the time of our children and youth. Surfing the
Internet is not better than serving the Lord or strengthening the family. Some young men
and women are skipping Church youth activities or cutting family time in order to
participate in soccer leagues or to pursue various entertainments. Some young people are
amusing themselves to death—spiritual death.
(Elder Dallin H. Oaks, “Good, Better, Best,” Ensign, Nov 2007, 104-108)
Elder M. Russell Ballard
Don’t Waste the Days of Your Probation…In the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord gave
a similar warning in these words: “Thou shalt not idle away thy time…”
…One of the ways Satan lessens your effectiveness and weakens your spiritual strength
is by encouraging you to spend large blocks of your time doing things that matter very
little. I speak of such things as sitting for hours on end watching television or videos,
playing video games night in and night out, surfing the Internet, or devoting huge blocks
of time to sports, games, or other recreational activities.
… What will you say to the Lord when He asks what you have done with the precious
gift of life and time?
(Elder M. Russell Ballard, “Be Strong in the Lord,” Ensign, Jul 2004, 8–15)
President Boyd K. Packer
You may think that Lehi’s dream or vision has no special meaning for you, but it does.
You are in it.
… One word in this dream or vision should have special meaning to you young Latterday
Saints. The word is after…
“And after they had tasted of the fruit they were ashamed, because of those that were
scoffing at them; and they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost. . . .
And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building. And after they did
enter into that building they did point the finger of scorn at me and those that were
partaking of the fruit also.” [1 Nephi 8:28, 33]
…All of the mocking does not come from outside of the Church. Let me say that again:
All of the mocking does not come from outside of the Church. Be careful that you do not
fall into the category of mocking.
…Largely because of television, instead of looking over into that spacious building, we
are, in effect, living inside of it…You are living in that great and spacious building.
(President Boyd K. Packer, “Lehi’s Dream and You”, BYU Devotional Address, 16
January 2007)