What About the Man?
Sterling W. Sill
- Assistant to the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker discusses the ease of living a righteous life for those who truly desire it, suggesting that the difficulty some experience may be due to their proximity to evil.
There are some people who maintain that it is very difficult to live the religion of Christ, and for some people any righteous effort is difficult. But what kind of person would you expect to be most severely tempted by dishonesty or immorality or profanity? Or what kind of person would you expect to have the most difficulty in abstaining from drunkenness or from betraying his country? The ones suffering the strongest temptations from evil would likely be those living closest to evil. It has bee ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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What About the Man?
Sterling W. Sill
- Assistant to the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker emphasizes the importance of practice in achieving godliness and moral obedience, and the knowledge that comes from living gospel principles.
We become godly or moral or obedient, just as we become anything else, by practice. And only as we live the principles of the gospel can we really know of their truthfulness and value. It is the person who pays his tithing who believes in tithing. It is the one who observes the Word of Wisdom who knows the truth of the Word of Wisdom. It is the person who keeps the Sabbath day holy who champions it. And it is only the person who gives service who knows the joys of serving.
Forgiveness
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What About the Man?
Sterling W. Sill
- Assistant to the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker encourages acting 'as if' one already possesses desired qualities, such as friendliness or faithfulness, to cultivate those qualities in oneself.
In announcing his famous 'as if' principle, William James said that if you want a quality, act 'as if' you already had it. If you want to be friendly, act as if you are already friendly. If you want to be courageous, don't go around talking fear and indulging in negative, un-Christian thinking. If you want to be faithful, act 'as if' you are already faithful. Do the things that faithful people do. Go to church, say your prayers, love God, refrain from evil, study the scriptures, be honest with y ... (continued)
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What About the Man?
Sterling W. Sill
- Assistant to the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker discusses the importance of practicing perfection in small things before aspiring to greatness, and the need to live honorably in all aspects of life.
During the Golden Age of Greece, Pericles said that no one had a right to fill an important office until he had first filled some smaller offices with distinction. Too frequently we want to do some great thing before we have practiced perfection in doing little things well.
If we want to be great souls in heaven, we should practice being great souls here. If we believe that honor is better than dishonor, then we should immediately begin practicing honor, not just in big things, but in all things ... (continued)
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What About the Man?
Sterling W. Sill
- Assistant to the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker predicts the future advancements of machines and cities, but emphasizes that the most important aspect will be the quality of the people, 'What about the man?'
There is no question about the fact that our machines of the future will become more and more efficient. Our standard of living will probably go on increasing; our land will become more and more productive; our cities will become bigger and more beautiful. Recently there was unveiled in this city a master plan for our second century of development. Certainly in the future thousands of people will come here to admire our wide streets, our beautiful parks, and our useful buildings. But far the mos ... (continued)
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What About the Man?
Sterling W. Sill
- Assistant to the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker concludes by stressing that the greatest waste in the world is living below our potential, and calls for lives that are a hymn of praise to God, striving for perfection and eternal glory.
I am sure of this, that the greatest waste there is in the world is not our blighted cities, nor the erosion of our soils, nor the depletion of our natural resources. It isn't the devastation of our wars nor the cost of our crime. The greatest waste there is in the world is that human beings, you and I, live so far below the level of our possibilities; compared with what we might be, we are only half alive. The most important part of any second century plan would be to constitute our lives as a ... (continued)
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What After Death?
Elder LeGrand Richards
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts holding a dying missionary in his arms during his time as president of the Netherlands Mission.
I think of our boys who have died in the mission field. While I was president of the Netherlands Mission, I held one of those wonderful missionaries in my arms as he passed on to eternal glory.
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What After Death?
Elder LeGrand Richards
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares a personal story about the birth and death of his young daughter while he and his wife were on a mission in Holland.
I would like to use my own family as an illustration of what I have in mind. Mother and I were filling a mission together over in Holland when we had a little girl born to us, and after we had been home a few years she passed away. When she was born, my wife has told me over and over again that she felt she saw an angel bring that spirit to her. And yet she is gone.
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What After Death?
Elder LeGrand Richards
- Of the Council of the Twelve
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📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on the faith that his deceased young daughter will achieve glory equal to her sisters who lived longer lives.
When I think of this little one that we laid away when she was three-and-a-half years old, I thank God I have the faith to believe that God reigns in the heavens above and in the earth beneath and that this little one will ultimately enter into her glory and be equal to any of her four sisters who have tarried here upon this earth and raised their families.
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What After Death?
Elder LeGrand Richards
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts the death of his granddaughter at age 16 and his faith in God's plan for her.
Then I think of our little granddaughter who died at the same age; her father and mother are here today and her brothers and sisters. After just a few days of sickness, she passed away at the age of 16, a beautiful little woman. To think that God"™s plan would not ultimately bring to her everything our other children received who tarried here in mortality would lessen my appreciation of my Father in heaven and the perfectness of his plan.
Forgiveness
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What After Death?
Elder LeGrand Richards
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on his wife's sister, who never married but led a noble life, and his belief that she will not miss out on the blessings of the eternities.
Coming back, then, to the family, I think of my wife"™s sister who died here a short time ago. She filled a mission for the Church; she worked in the auxiliaries and she was a noble character. But she never married, and I can"™t believe that the Lord"™s plan is imperfect, that she will not ultimately enjoy all that her sister (my wife) with our wonderful family has enjoyed.
Forgiveness
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What After Death?
Elder LeGrand Richards
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker expresses his anticipation of meeting the future spouse his deceased son may choose in the spirit world.
And so I expect some day to see the bride that my son has selected over there in the spirit world. If he can find one as noble as his little niece I have mentioned (my granddaughter), just think what a glorious day that will be.
Forgiveness
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What After Death?
Elder LeGrand Richards
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker tells the story of losing his son in an accident and the high praise the son received from his school principal.
Coming back to our family, we had four daughters before we got a boy and he grew into beautiful young manhood; we lost him in an accident down at the beach in California while I was the president of the stake there. He was just turning 16 and he stood as tall as his father, and to think now of his own brothers who are here: they have their families, and one of them has just been serving as one of the Regional Representatives of the Twelve. I can"™t believe that boy will come out any less exalt ... (continued)
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What Are People Asking about Us?
President Gordon B. Hinckley
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts an interview on the Larry King Live television program where he was asked about his role as a religious leader.
We are interviewed frequently by the media these days. As many of you know, I recently appeared on theLarry King Livetelevision program. I consented to do so because I felt that while there were possible hazards in it, there also was a great opportunity to speak to the world on issues before us.
In the course of the show Mr. King asked me point-blank, "What is your role? You"™re the leader of a major religion. What"™s your role?"
I replied: "My role is to declare doctrine. My role is to st ... (continued)
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What Are People Asking about Us?
President Gordon B. Hinckley
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker describes the First Vision experienced by the Prophet Joseph Smith, which is fundamental to the Church's doctrine.
The Prophet Joseph declared, "It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the Character of God, and to know that we may converse with him as one man converses with another" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith,sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 345).
"We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost"A of F 1:1This first article of faith epitomizes our doctrine. We do not accept the Athanasian Creed. We do not accept the Nicene C ... (continued)
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What Are People Asking about Us?
President Gordon B. Hinckley
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker addresses the Church's stance on homosexuality, emphasizing love for all as children of God while upholding the Church's moral standards.
People inquire about our position on those who consider themselves so-called gays and lesbians. My response is that we love them as sons and daughters of God. They may have certain inclinations which are powerful and which may be difficult to control. Most people have inclinations of one kind or another at various times. If they do not act upon these inclinations, then they can go forward as do all other members of the Church. If they violate the law of chastity and the moral standards of the Ch ... (continued)
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What Are People Asking about Us?
President Gordon B. Hinckley
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker clarifies the Church's position on polygamy, stating that it is not practiced or accepted by the Church, and those practicing it are excommunicated.
I wish to state categorically that this Church has nothing whatever to do with those practicing polygamy. They are not members of this Church. Most of them have never been members. They are in violation of the civil law. They know they are in violation of the law. They are subject to its penalties. The Church, of course, has no jurisdiction whatever in this matter.
If any of our members are found to be practicing plural marriage, they are excommunicated, the most serious penalty the Church can i ... (continued)
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What Are People Asking about Us?
President Gordon B. Hinckley
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker explains the Church's growth by highlighting the desire for stability in values, the welcoming community, the responsibility given to members, and the demanding nature of the religion.
We are growing. We are growing in a wonderful way. Between natural growth and converts baptized, we are adding about 400,000 per year. On a base of 10 million, that is about 4 percent, which is exceptionally good for a church.
People are looking for a solid anchor in a world of shifting values. They want something they can hold to as the world about them increasingly appears to be in disarray.
They are welcomed as new converts and are made to feel at home. They feel the warmth of the fellowship ... (continued)
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What Are People Asking about Us?
President Gordon B. Hinckley
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker strongly condemns spouse and child abuse, emphasizing the Church's teachings on the responsibility of love and care within the family.
We condemn most strongly abusive behavior in any form. We denounce the physical, sexual, verbal, or emotional abuse of one"™s spouse or children. Our proclamation on the family declares: "Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "¦ Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs. "¦ Husbands and wives"”mothers and fathers"”will be held accountable be ... (continued)
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What Are People Asking about Us?
President Gordon B. Hinckley
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker addresses how the Church finances its operations, emphasizing the principle of tithing and the blessings associated with it.
Brother Faust has spoken on that very ably this morning. Those in the outside world wonder how we are able to do so much. They speak and write of the Church as having great wealth and tremendous assets.
We do have assets. We have houses of worship that dot the earth. We are building a large number of new ones every year. We carry on a great program of higher education, of seminaries and institutes. We have an unequaled family history facility. We foster a tremendous missionary organization that ... (continued)
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