Forgiveness

“We are not perfect. The people around us are not perfect. People do things that annoy, disappoint, and anger. In this mortal life it will always be that way. Nevertheless, we must let go of our grievances. Part of the purpose of mortality is to learn how to let go of such things. That is the Lord’s way. Remember, heaven is filled with those who have this in common: They are forgiven. And they forgive.”

Dieter F. Utchford, “The Merciful Obtain Mercy," Ensign, April 2012

“For the Master I extend thanks for your work to serve the children of our Heavenly Father. He knows you, and He sees your effort, diligence, and sacrifice. I pray that He will grant you the blessing of seeing the fruit of your labors in the happiness of those you have helped and with whom you have helped for the Lord.”

Henry B. Eyring, “Opportunities to Do Good", Liahona and Ensign, May 2011

“The doctrine is clear. We all depend on the Savior; none of us can be saved without Him. Christ’s Atonement is infinite and eternal. Forgiveness for our sins comes with conditions. We must repent, and we must be willing to forgive others. Jesus taught, ‘forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not … [stands] condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin’ and ‘Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”

Dieter F. Utchford, “The Merciful Obtain Mercy", Ensign, Apr. 2012

“The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans said that those who pass judgment on others are ‘inexcusable.’ The moment we judge someone else, he explained, we condemn ourselves, for none is without sin. Refusing to forgive is a grievous sin—one the Savior warned against. Jesus’s own disciples had ‘sought occasion against [each other] and forgave not one another in their hearts; and for this evil they were afflicted and sorely chastened.”

Dieter F. Utchford, “The Merciful Obtain Mercy,” Ensign, April 2012

“Immersion in the scriptures is essential for spiritual nourishment. The word of God inspires commitment and acts as a healing balm for hurt feelings, anger, or disillusionment.”

Quentin L. Cook, “Can Ye Feel So Now,” Liahona, November 2012

“It is through our Savior’s sacrifice that we can gain exaltation and eternal life. As we accept His ways and overcome our pride by softening our hearts, we can bring reconciliation and forgiveness into our families and our personal lives. God will help us to be more forgiving, to be more willing to walk the second mile, to be first to apologize even if something wasn’t our fault, to lay aside old grudges and nurture them no more.”

    Dieter Utchford, “One Key to a Happy Family,” Ensign, October 2012

“Don’t put your eternal life at risk. Keep the commandments of God. If you have sinned, the sooner you begin to make your way back, the sooner you will find the sweet peace and joy that come with the miracle of forgiveness.”

    Thomas S. Monson, “Preparation Brings Blessings,” April 2010

“It is never too late to strengthen the foundation of faith. There is always time. With faith in the Savior, you can repent and plead forgiveness. There is someone you can forgive. There is someone you can thank. There is someone you can serve and lift. You can do it wherever you are and however alone and deserted you may feel.”

                                                                      Henry B. Eyring, “Mountains to Climb,” April 2012

“And so I challenge you to go for the Lord to someone, despite any fear you may have, to extend love and forgiveness.”

Henry B. Eyring, “Where Is the Pavilion?” Ensign, October 2012

"Repentance and forgiveness of sins and peace of conscience are examples of the tender mercies of the Lord. And the persistence and the fortitude that enable us to press forward with cheerfulness through physical limitations and spiritual difficulties are examples of the tender mercies of the Lord.”
                                  
 David A. Bednar, "The Tender Mercies of the Lord," Ensign, May 2005

Dating

“In a dating and courtship relationship, I would not have you spend five minutes with someone who belittles you, who is constantly critical of you, who is cruel at your expense and may even call it humor.”

                                       Jeffrey R. Holland, “How Do I Love Thee?” New Era, Oct. 2003, 6.

“My single brothers and sisters, follow the simple dating pattern and you don’t need to do your looking through Internet chat rooms or dating services—two alternatives that can be very dangerous or at least unnecessary or ineffective."

Dallin H. Oaks, Dating versus Hanging Out, June 2006 

“You young people … have an important responsibility in choosing not only whom you will date but also whom you will marry. President Gordon B. Hinckley admonished: ‘Your chances for a happy and lasting marriage will be far greater if you will date those who are active and faithful in the Church.’”

                                 Thomas S. Monson, “Whom Shall I Marry?” New Era, Oct 2004, 4–6.

“While you should be friendly with all people, select with great care those whom you wish to have close to you. They will be your safeguards in situations where you may vacillate between choices, and you in turn may save them.”

    Gordon B. Hinckley, “A Prophet’s Counsel and Prayer for Youth,” New Era, Jan. 2001, 11.

“When you are old enough, you ought to start dating. It is good for young men and young women to learn to know and to appreciate one another. It is good for you to go to games and dances and picnics, to do all of the young things. We encourage our young people to date. We encourage you to set high standards of dating.

Boyd K. Packer, “You’re in the Driver’s Seat,” New Era, June 2004, 8.

“In dating treat your date with respect and expect your date to show that same respect for you.”

Thomas S. Monson, “Word of the Prophet,” New Era, May 2010

“Ask someone on a date! Accept an invitation to go on a date! Put yourself in situations that could lead to meeting other like-minded young adults. In short, pursue a course that will lead to greater happiness and peace.”

 

                                          Michael Ringwood, “Faith, Hope, and Relationship,” Liahona, January 2013

“Faith is important in all we do, including dating and courting. Desire, belief, and hope that there is indeed greater happiness and peace waiting for us should incite us to action to develop relationships that lead to marriage.”

                                
                                                        Michael Ringwood, “Faith, Hope, and Relationship,” Liahona, January 2013

 

“Temple marriage should wait until after a young man has served an honorable full-time mission for the Lord. And I would admonish you to date only faithful young women who also believe this and give you that encouragement.”

                                                                     Ezra Taft Benson, “To the ‘Youth of the Noble Birthright,” Ensign, May 1986

“The young women want young men to respect them and show them common, sincere courtesy. Do not hesitate to show good manners by opening a door for them, taking the initiative in inviting them on a date, and standing as they enter a room. Young women, you can also show respect and dignity by being considerate and polite, extending simple courtesies to others.”

                                           Russell Ballard, “Away from the Blinding Dust,” New Era, May 1991, 50.

 

 

Services

“With practice, each of us can become more like the Savior as we serve God’s children.”

Linda K. Burton, “First Observe, Then Serve”, Ensign, Oct. 2012.

“We are the Lord’s hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us.”

Thomas S. Monson, “What Have I Done for Someone Today?” Ensign, Nov. 2009, 86.

“Serving or ministering one by one, following the Savior’s example, doesn’t come easily.”

Linda K. Burton, “First Observe, Then Serve”, Ensign, Oct. 2012.

“Our lives of service and sacrifice are the most appropriate expressions of our commitment to serve the Master and our fellowmen.”

Dallin H. Oaks, “Sacrifice” Ensign, May 2012, 19.

“God knows our gifts. My challenge to you and to me is to pray to know the gifts we have been given, to know how to develop them, and to recognize the opportunities to serve others that God provides us. But most of all, I pray that you will be inspired to help others discover their special gifts from God to serve.”

                  Henry B. Eyring, "Help Them Aim High," Ensign, November 2012

“It is our sacred joy and privilege to serve the Lord and our fellowmen, to commit the best that is within us to the noble cause of lifting others and building the kingdom of God.”

Dieter Utchford, “The Joy of the Priesthood,” October 2012

“When we serve in the [priesthood] with all our heart, might, mind, and strength, we have a promise of sublime knowledge, peace, and spiritual gifts.

Dieter Utchford, “The Joy of the Priesthood,” October 2012

“The Lord doesn’t care at all if we spend our days working in marble halls or stable stalls. He knows where we are, no matter how humble our circumstances. He will use—in His own way and for His holy purposes—those who incline their hearts to Him.”

                 Dieter Utchford, “You Matter to Him,” Ensign, November 2011

“Joy and happiness come from living the way the Lord wants you to live and from service to God and others.”

Thomas S. Monson, “Standards of Strength,” October 2008

“Along your pathway of life you will observe that you are not the only traveler. There are others who need your help. There are feet to steady, hands to grasp, minds to encourage, hearts to inspire, and souls to save."

                                                Thomas S. Monson, "How Firm a Foundation," Ensign, Nov. 2006

Missionary Work

“The work of naturally and normally sharing the gospel with those we care about and love will be the work and joy of our lives.”

David F. Evans, “Was It Worth It?” Ensign, May 2012, 106.

“All missionaries, younger and older, serve with the sole hope of making life better for other people.”

Russell M. Nelson, “Ask the Missionaries! They Can Help You!” Ensign, Oct. 2012, 18.

“Missionaries strive to follow Jesus Christ in both word and deed.”

Russell M. Nelson, “Ask the Missionaries! They Can Help You!” Ensign, Oct. 2012, 19.

“The decision to serve a mission will shape the spiritual destiny of the missionary, his or her spouse, and their posterity for generations to come.”

Russell M. Nelson, “Ask the Missionaries! They Can Help You!” Ensign, Oct. 2012, 18.

“God will put prepared people in the way of His prepared servants who want to share the gospel. You have had that happen in your own life. How often it happens depends on the preparation of your mind and your heart.”

Henry B. Eyring, "Sharing the Gospel Heart to Heart," Ensign, September 2012

“With your guidance, those you lead will be able to see, want, and believe they can achieve their full potential for service in God’s kingdom.”

Henry B. Eyring, “Help Them Aim High,” October 2012

“There is a way for everyone—even the hesitant missionary—to participate in this great work. We can each find a way to use our own particular talents and interests in support of the great work of filling the world with light and truth.”

        Dieter Utchford, “A Word for the Hesitant Missionary,” Ensign 2013

“Consider inviting those you teach to prayerfully set a goal to share the gospel with one or more people this month.”

        Dieter Utchford, “A Word for the Hesitant Missionary,” Ensign 2013

"We ask tremendous things of missionaries. It is so hard for shy and diffident young people to do the things we sometimes ask them to do, but what a marvelous thing that they try. They have the faith to do, the faith to act, the faith to go forward and make the effort. And what a marvelous gift that is to bring home."
        
               Gordon B. Hinckley, "Gifts to Bring Home from the Mission Field," New Era, March 2007

"The issue is not going to church; rather, the issue is worshipping and renewing covenants as we attend church. The issue is not going to or through the temple; rather, the issue is having in our hearts the spirit, the covenants, and the ordinances of the Lord's house. The issue is not going on a mission; rather, the issue is becoming a missionary and serving throughout our entire life with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength."

                                                                David Bednar, “Becoming A Missionary,” October 2005

Eternal Marriage

“Marriage brings greater possibilities for happiness than does any other human relationship.”

Russell Nelson, Nurturing Marriage,” Ensign, April 2006.

“Marriage is the foundry for social order, the fountain of virtue, and the foundation for eternal exaltation.”

Russell Nelson, Nurturing Marriage,” Ensign, April 2006.

“Marriage was intended by the Lord to endure beyond physical death. His plan offers eternal perpetuation of the family in the kingdom of God. His plan provides temples and opportunities to officiate therein for the living and the dead.”

                                         Russell Nelson, Nurturing Marriage,” Ensign, April 2006.

“The Lord declared that marriage is the legal wedding of one man and one woman: “Marriage is ordained of God unto man.”

                                          Russell Nelson, Nurturing Marriage,” Ensign, April 2006.

"I give counsel to husbands and wives. Pray for the love which allows you to see the good in your companion. Pray for the love that makes weakness and mistakes seem small. Pray for the love to make your companion's joy your own. Pray for the love to want to lessen the load and soften the sorrows of your companion."
                        

                   Henry B Eyring, "Our Perfect Example", Ensign,  October 2009

“Begin to prepare for a temple marriage as well as for a mission.”

    Thomas S. Monson, “Preparation Brings Blessings,” April 2010

“The temple sealing has greater meaning as life unfolds. It will help you draw ever closer together and find greater joy and fulfillment.”

   Richard G. Scott, “Marriage,” April 2011

“If you have found someone, you can form an extraordinarily wonderful courtship and marriage and be very, very happy eternally by staying within the bounds of worthiness the Lord has established.”

Richard G. Scott, “Marriage,” April 2011

“Pure love is an incomparable, potent power for good. Righteous love is the foundation of a successful marriage.”

 Richard G. Scott, “Marriage,” April 2011

“Marriage is wonderful. In time you begin to think alike and have the same ideas and impressions. You have times when you are extremely happy, times of testing, and times of trial, but the Lord guides you through all of those growth experiences together.”

   Richard G. Scott, “Marriage,” April 2011

Pornography

 

“Many who are in a spiritual drought and lack commitment have not necessarily been involved in major sins or transgressions, but they have made unwise choices.”

Quentin L. Cook, “Can Ye Feel so Now?” Ensign, Oct. 2012, 6.

“Some involved in pornography apparently minimize its seriousness and continue to exercise the priesthood of God because they think no one will know of their involvement. But the user knows, brethren, and so does the Lord."

Dallin H. Oaks, “Pornography”, April 2005.

“Avoid any semblance of pornography. It will desensitize the spirit and erode the conscience. We are told in the Doctrine and Covenants, “That which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness.” Such is pornography."

Thomas S. Monson, “True to the Faith”, April 2006.

“Pornography will always repel the Spirit of Christ and will interrupt the communications between our Heavenly Father and His children and disrupt the tender relationship between husband and wife."

Boyd K. Packer, Cleansing the Inner Vessel, October 2010.

“Permissiveness, immorality,  pornography, drugs, the power of peer pressure—all these and more—cause many to be tossed about on a sea of sin and crushed on the jagged reefs of lost opportunities, forfeited blessings, and shattered d­reams.”

      Thomas S. Monson, “Believe, Obey and Endure”, Broadcasts, 2013.

“Pornography is a plague that is detrimental not only to a person’s moral standing with God but can also destroys marriages and families and has an adverse impact on society.”

Quentin L. Cook, “Don’t Wear Masks,” Liahona, March 2013

“People who are involved with pornography often assume a false identity and hide their participation”

      Quentin L. Cook, “Don’t Wear Masks,” Liahona, March 2013

“Pornography is especially dangerous and addictive. Curious exploration of pornography can become a controlling habit, leading to coarser material and to sexual transgression. Avoid pornography at all costs.”

                                        Thomas S. Monson, “Preparation brings blessings,” Liahona, May 2010

“Let us all improve our personal behavior and redouble our efforts to protect our loved ones and our environment from the onslaught of pornography.”

                                                                       Dallin H. Oaks, “Pornography,” Ensign, April 2005

“You cannot afford in any degree to become involved with pornography, whatever its form. You simply cannot afford to become involved in immoral practices--or to let down the bars of sexual restraint.”
                                                  Gordon B. Hinckley, “A Chosen Generation,” Ensign, May 1992

Agency

“Agency used righteously allows light to dispel the darkness and enables us to live with joy and happiness.”

Robert D. Hales, “To Act for Ourselves: The Gift and Blessing of Agency,” Ensign, April 2006.

“Wise parents prepare their children to get along without them. They provide opportunities for growth as children acquire the spiritual maturity to exercise their agency properly.”

Larry Y. Wilson, “Only Upon the Principles of Righteousness,” Ensign,  May 2012, 103.

“It is exciting to realize that we can expand our freedom by perfecting our obedience.”

D. Todd Christofferson, “You Are Free,” March 2013.

“Your eternal destiny will not be the result of chance but of choice. It is never too late to begin to choose eternal life!”

                                               Randall K. Bennett, “Choose Eternal Life,” Ensign, Oct. 2011, 98.

“Communication with our Father in Heaven is not a trivial matter. It is a sacred privilege. It is based upon eternal, unchanging principles. We receive help from our Father in Heaven in response to our faith, obedience, and the proper use of agency.”

Richard G. Scott, “How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life,” April 2012

“So much in life depends on our attitude. The way we choose to see things and respond to others makes all the difference. To do the best we can and then to choose to be happy about our circumstances, whatever they may be, can bring peace and contentment.”

Thomas S. Monson, “Living the Abundance Life,” Ensign, January 2012

“You live in a time of great challenges and opportunities. As spirit sons of heavenly parents, you are free to make the right choices. This requires hard work, self-discipline, and an optimistic outlook, which will bring joy and freedom into your life now and in the future.”

Dieter Utchford, See the End from the Beginning,” Ensign, May 2006 

“You are to do the choosing here and now during this exciting and wonderful time on earth. Moral agency, the freedom to choose, is certainly one of God’s greatest gifts next to life itself. We have the honorable right to choose; therefore, we need to choose the right. This is not always easy.”

Dieter Utchford, Your Right to Choose the Right,” New Era, August 2005

“Accept the responsibility of choice, and ever be conscious of the results of choice.”

      Thomas S. Monson, “The Three Rs of Choice,” October 2012

“Endowed with agency, you and I are agents, and we primarily are to act and not just be acted upon. To believe that someone or something can make us feel offended, angry, hurt, or bitter diminishes our moral agency and transforms us into objects to be acted upon. As agents, however, you and I have the power to act and to choose how we will respond to an offensive or hurtful situation.”

                           David Bednar, “To Act and Not Just Be Acted Upon,” Ensign, November 2006