Useful quote of the day...

[mackay11]

I wanted to start a new thread to include quotes that support those who answer the question "why stay."

EDIT: I've copied all of these to a searchable blog: http://ldsthoughtfulquotes.blogspot.com
(If you're viewing it on a mobile device you won't be able to see the 'tag cloud' of topics. I've copied them into a blog post, click here)

A few requests:

- Please post each quote in a new post
- Please provide a clear source and, if possible, a web link
- Please only post quotes and avoid discussions about the quote. The thread will be most effective if we focus on collating quotes. If you'd like to discuss a quote, please could you copy it into a new thread
- 'Official' sources (lds.org or byu.edu etc) are ideal if possible, but others are fine if not

Who's with me?

Here's the memorable link to the google doc (not being updated, use the blog link for latest updates): http://tinyurl.com/ldsquotes

Or the full link to the doc: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc ... sp=sharing

[mom3]

Love it. Count me in. I scribble so many of our quotes on note cards so that I can read them in especially challenging times.

[mackay11]

Elder Holland, 2007, PBS interview for 'The Mormons':

PBS: [You say] there are stark choices in beliefs about the origins of the book. Explain why there's no middle way.

Elder Holland: ... If someone can find something in the Book of Mormon, anything that they love or respond to or find dear, I applaud that and say more power to you. That's what I find, too. And that should not in any way discount somebody's liking a passage here or a passage there or the whole idea of the book, but not agreeing to its origin, its divinity. ...

I think you'd be as aware as I am that that we have many people who are members of the church who do not have some burning conviction as to its origins, who have some other feeling about it that is not as committed to foundational statements and the premises of Mormonism. But we're not going to invite somebody out of the church over that any more than we would anything else about degrees of belief or steps of hope or steps of conviction. ... We would say: "This is the way I see it, and this is the faith I have; this is the foundation on which I'm going forward. If I can help you work toward that I'd be glad to, but I don't love you less; I don't distance you more; I don't say you're unacceptable to me as a person or even as a Latter-day Saint if you can't make that step or move to the beat of that drum." ... We really don't want to sound smug. We don't want to seem uncompromising and insensitive.

http://www.pbs.org/mormons/interviews/holland.html

[mackay11]

BRIGHAM YOUNG, made in the Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, January 12, 1862

I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inqure for themselves of God whether they are led by him. I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self-security, trusting their eternal destiny in the hands of their leaders with a reckless confidence that in itself would thwart the purposes of God in their salvation, and weaken that influence they could give to their leaders, did they know for themselves, by the revelations of Jesus, that they are led in the right way. Let every man and woman know, by the whispering of the Spirit of God to themselves, whether their leaders are walking in the path the Lord dictates, or not. (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourse 9:150)

http://pt.fairmormon.org/Journal_of_Discourses/9/27

[Kumahito]

BRIGHAM YOUNG, made in the Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, January 12, 1862

I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inqure for themselves of God whether they are led by him. I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self-security, trusting their eternal destiny in the hands of their leaders with a reckless confidence that in itself would thwart the purposes of God in their salvation, and weaken that influence they could give to their leaders, did they know for themselves, by the revelations of Jesus, that they are led in the right way. Let every man and woman know, by the whispering of the Spirit of God to themselves, whether their leaders are walking in the path the Lord dictates, or not. (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourse 9:150)

Can I get an "Amen!" up in here?!?!?

[mom3]

Amen!!!

[SamBee]

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25 Agree with thine adversary quickly

Matthew 5

[SamBee]

I have a question' What is the relationship of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints to the non-Christian
religions of the world?
R. Lanier Britsch, vice-president for academics,
Brigham Young University—Hawaii Campus.
In 1975, I received a letter from a young man who was investigating the Church. He was
involved with a popular Hindu group in
America and felt that he had found
considerable truth in Hinduism. He told me
that he was having trouble gaining a
testimony of the restored gospel because of the problem of “diluted truth.” In answer, I wrote, “By ‘diluted truth,’ I
suppose you mean that it seems strange to
you that elements of truth can be found in
more than one church or religious movement.
… Why, then, if [the Latter-day Saints] claim to
have the only true church, is it so easy to see that other religious movements also have
truth in them?” Continuing, I wrote, “We should never be
surprised to find truth anywhere. … The Light
of Christ is in and upon all men, and all men
who are honest have the right to enjoy the
rewards of their goodness.” I quoted Doctrine and Covenants 130:20–21:
“There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven
before the foundations of this world, upon
which all blessings are predicated— “And when we obtain any blessing from God,
it is by obedience to that law upon which it is
predicated.” I then told him that “if anyone obeys any
eternal principle he will automatically reap the
reward for living that law. God will give any
and all men his or their reward.” We as Latter-
day Saints do indeed believe that there is truth
in many religions and philosophies. Many good and great religious leaders have walked
the earth. Through their teachings, they have
raised the spiritual, moral, and ethical
awareness of their people. When we speak of The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints as the only true church,
we mean that it is the only organization
authorized to administer the ordinances of
salvation. We mean that it is the only
organization led by Jesus Christ, through the earthly ministries of prophets and Apostles.
Although the Church teaches the true
doctrines of salvation, we do not mean that it
is the only teacher of truth. Ever since the early days of the Church,
various General Authorities have expressed
the Church’s position toward non-Christian
religions: we should not only be tolerant of
their beliefs, but we should also respect them.
On 15 February 1978, for example, the First Presidency, consisting of President Spencer
W. Kimball and his counselors, President
Marion G. Romney and President N. Eldon
Tanner, issued an official statement regarding
the Church’s position toward other religions.
The statement reads: “Based upon ancient and modern revelation,
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints gladly teaches and declares the
Christian doctrine that all men and women
are brothers and sisters, not only by blood
relationship from mortal progenitors, but also as literal spirit children of an Eternal
Father. “The great religious leaders of the world
such as Mohammed, Confucius, and the
Reformers, as well as philosophers including
Socrates, Plato, and others, received a
portion of God’s light. Moral truths were
given to them by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of
understanding to individuals. “The Hebrew prophets prepared the way for
the coming of Jesus Christ, the promised
Messiah, who should provide salvation for all
mankind who believe in the gospel. “Consistent with these truths, we believe
that God has given and will give to all people
sufficient knowledge to help them on their
way to eternal salvation, either in this life or
in the life to come. “We also declare that the gospel of Jesus
Christ, restored to his Church in our day,
provides the only way to a mortal life of
happiness and a fullness of joy forever. For
those who have not received this gospel, the
opportunity will come to them in the life hereafter if not in this life. “Our message therefore is one of special
love and concern for the eternal welfare of
all men and women, regardless of religious
belief, race, or nationality, knowing that we
are truly brothers and sisters because we are
the sons and daughters of the same Eternal Father.” This statement declares that (1) all human
beings are children of God and therefore
brothers and sisters, (2) the only way to obtain
a fulness of joy is through the gospel as
restored to The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, (3) everyone will have the opportunity to accept the gospel, if not in
mortality, then in the life to come, and (4)
“great religious leaders of the world” (those
specifically listed in the statement, as well as
many others), have received “a portion of
God’s light.” Certainly, Mohammed raised the religious consciousness and ethical awareness
of his nation as well as that of many beyond
its borders. Confucius gave the people of East
Asia a higher ethical standard than existed
throughout most of the world. Of course, there is much in other religions that
we cannot accept or condone. In them, truths
are frequently found side by side with
superstition, sorcery, and error. Within many
religions, one may find ethics, doctrines, or
beliefs that are clearly of worth and that contain eternal truths. At the same time, one
may find incorrect doctrines and possibly
even practices inspired by the powers of
darkness. The phrase “buyer beware” is
certainly appropriate in the study of religions. Simply put, the world is better because good
people of all races, nations, kindreds, and
tongues have recognized truth and appropriate
ways of living and have endeavored to share
those truths. Those truths, in turn, have helped
to prepare the way for the restored gospel. With regard, then, to the religions of the world
—Christian or not—we as Latter-day Saints
need to cultivate an attitude of friendship and
goodwill toward all people of all religions.
“Our message,” as the First Presidency stated,
“is one of special love and concern for the eternal welfare of all men and women.” Re: God's Love for

[SamBee]

MARK 7

15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. 16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

17 And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.

18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; 19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?

20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

John Wesley's commentary:
"7:15 There is nothing entering into a man from without which can defile him - Though it is very true, a man may bring guilt, which is moral defilement, upon himself by eating what hurts his health, or by excess either in meat or drink yet even here the pollution arises from the wickedness of the heart, and is just proportionable to it. And this is all that our Lord asserts."

[Ann]

(I believe wuwei formatted SamBee's quote and linked to it. I only remember because I printed it for myself, my kids at home and our Asia-bound missionary.)