President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

“Be honest with your mother and your father. One reflection of such honesty with parents is to communicate with them. Avoid the silent treatment. The clock ticks more loudly, its hands move more slowly when the night is dark, the hour is late, and a precious son or daughter has not yet come home. If you are detained, make a telephone call: ‘Mom, Dad, we’re OK. Just stopped for something to eat. Don’t worry; we’re fine. Be home soon.’”
(“A Code to Live By,” New Era, Sep 2005, 4)

“In making a decision as momentous as whom you will marry, I suggest you seek the help of your parents. Take the time to confide in them, for they will not leave you nor forsake you. They love you dearly and want for a precious daughter or stalwart son the best in life and the ultimate promises of eternity.”
(”Whom Shall I Marry?,” New Era, Oct 2004, 4)

“Of course we will face fear, experience ridicule, and meet opposition. Let us have the courage to defy the consensus, the courage to stand for principle. Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God’s approval. Courage becomes a living and an attractive virtue when it is regarded not only as a willingness to die manfully, but as the determination to live decently. A moral coward is one who is afraid to do what he thinks is right because others will disapprove or laugh. Remember that all men have their fears, but those who face their fears with dignity have courage as well.”
(”Courage Counts,” New Era, Sep 2006, 2-6)

“It has been said that the gate of history turns on small hinges, and so do people’s lives. The choices we make determine our destiny.” Read the rest of this entry »

“‘Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God.’

This description of such a universal goal was provided by the Prophet Joseph Smith. It was relevant then. It is relevant now. With such a clear road map to follow, why then are there so many unhappy people? Frequently, frowns outnumber smiles and despair dampens joy. We live so far below the level of our divine possibilities. Some become confused by materialism, entangled by sin, and lost among the passing parade of humanity. Others cry out in the words of the convert of Philip of old: ‘How can I [find my way], except some man should guide me?’

Happiness does not consist of a glut of luxury, the world’s idea of a “good time.” Nor must we search for it in faraway places with strange-sounding names. Happiness is found at home.
All of us remember the home of our childhood. Interestingly, our thoughts do not dwell on whether the house was large or small, the neighborhood fashionable or downtrodden. Rather, we delight in the experiences we shared as a family. The home is the laboratory of our lives, and what we learn there largely determines what we do when we leave there.

Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, former prime minister of Great Britain, expressed the profound philosophy: ‘The family is the building block of society. It is a nursery, a school, a hospital, a leisure center, a place of refuge and a place of rest. It encompasses the whole of the society. It fashions our beliefs; it is the preparation for the rest of our life.’ ‘Home is where the heart is.’ It does take “a heap o’ livin” to make a house a home. “Home, home, sweet, sweet home, Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home.’

We turn from the reverie of such pleasant recollections. We contemplate parents gone, family grown, childhood vanished. Slowly but surely we face the truth that we are responsible for the home we build. We must build wisely, for eternity is not a short voyage. There will be calm and wind, sunlight and shadows, joy and sorrow. But if we really try, our home can be a bit of heaven here on earth. The thoughts we think, the deeds we do, the lives we live influence not only the success of our earthly journey; they mark the way to our eternal goals.”

(Thomas S. Monson, “Hallmarks of a Happy Home,” Ensign, Oct. 2001.)

“There are some who have difficulty forgiving themselves and who dwell on all of their perceived shortcomings. I quite like the account of a religious leader who went to the side of a woman who lay dying, attempting to comfort her—but to no avail. ‘I am lost,’ she said. ‘I’ve ruined my life and every life around me. There is no hope for me.’ The man noticed a framed picture of a lovely girl on the dresser. ‘Who is this?’ he asked.

The woman brightened. ‘She is my daughter, the one beautiful thing in my life.’

‘And would you help her if she were in trouble or had made a mistake? Would you forgive her? Would you still love her?’

‘Of course I would!’ cried the woman. ‘I would do anything for her. Why do you ask such a question?’

‘Because I want you to know,’ said the man, ‘that figuratively speaking, Heavenly Father has a picture of you on His dresser. He loves you and will help you. Call upon Him.’A hidden wedge to her happiness had been removed.

In a day of danger or a time of trial, such knowledge, such hope, such understanding will bring comfort to the troubled mind and grieving heart. The entire message of the New Testament breathes a spirit of awakening to the human soul. Shadows of despair are dispelled by rays of hope, sorrow yields to joy, and the feeling of being lost in the crowd of life vanishes with the certain knowledge that our Heavenly Father is mindful of each of us.”

(Thomas S. Monson, “The Peril of Hidden Wedges,” Ensign, Jul 2007, 4–9

“At times there appears to be no light at the tunnel’s end, no dawn to break the night’s darkness. We feel surrounded by the pain of broken hearts, the disappointment of shattered dreams, and the despair of vanished hopes. We join in uttering the biblical plea, “Is there no balm in Gilead?” (Jeremiah 8:22). We are inclined to view our own personal misfortunes through the distorted prism of pessimism. We feel abandoned, heartbroken, alone.

How can we build a foundation strong enough to withstand such vicissitudes of life? How can we maintain the faith and testimony which will be required, that we might experience the joy promised to the faithful? Constant, steady effort is necessary…

May I offer three guidelines to help us in our quest.

First, fortify your foundation through prayer. “Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire, uttered or unexpressed” (“Prayer Is the Soul’s Sincere Desire,” Hymns, no. 145).

As we pray, let us really communicate with our Father in Heaven. It is easy to let our prayers become repetitious, expressing words with little or no thought behind them. When we remember that each of us is literally a spirit son or daughter of God, we will not find it difficult to approach Him in prayer. He knows us; He loves us; He wants what is best for us. Let us pray with sincerity and meaning, offering our thanks and asking for those things we feel we need. Let us listen for His answers, that we may recognize them when they come. As we do, we will be strengthened and blessed. We will come to know Him and His desires for our lives. By knowing Him, by trusting His will, our foundations of faith will be strengthened. If any one of us has been slow to hearken to the counsel to pray always, there is no finer hour to begin than now. William Cowper declared, “Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees” (in William Neil, comp., Concise Dictionary of Religious Quotations , 1974, 144).

…My second guideline: Let us study the scriptures and “meditate therein day and night,” as counseled by the Lord in the book of Joshua (1:8).

Spending time each day in scripture study will, without doubt, strengthen our foundations of faith and our testimonies of truth…

My third guideline for building a strong foundation of faith and testimony involves service.”

(Thomas S. Monson, “How Firm a Foundation,” Ensign, Nov 2006, 62, 67–6.)

“Following… spiritual promptings, often in the briefest and most crucial window of opportunity, has become one of the most important hallmarks of Thomas S. Monson’s life and ministry.”

(Jeffrey R. Holland, Liahona, October 1994.)