Gordon B. Hinckley on meditation and choices

President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008) was called to the Quorum of Twelve in 1961. He served as a counselor in the First Presidency from 1981-1995, then as Church President until his death in 2008.

"You need time to meditate and ponder, to think, to wonder at the great plan of happiness that the Lord has outlined for His children. You need to read the scriptures. You need to read good literature. You need to partake of the great culture which is available to all of us.

"I heard President David O. McKay say to the members of the Twelve on one occasion, 'Brethren, we do not spend enough time meditating.'

"I believe that with all my heart. Our lives become extremely busy. We run from one thing to another. We wear ourselves out in thoughtless pursuit of goals which are highly ephemeral. We are entitled to spend some time with ourselves in introspection, in development. I remember my dear father when he was about the age that I am now. He lived in a home where there was a rock wall on the grounds. It was a low wall, and when the weather was warm, he would go and sit on his wall. It seemed to me he sat there for hours, thinking, meditating, pondering things that he would say and write, for he was a very gifted speaker and writer. He read much, even into his very old age. He never ceased growing. Life was for him a great adventure in thinking.

"Your needs and your tastes along these lines will vary with your age. But all of us need some of it. I decry the great waste of time that people put into watching inane television. I am not antisports. I enjoy watching a good football game or a good basketball game. But I see so many men who become absolutely obsessed with sports. I believe their lives would be enriched if, instead of sitting on the sofa and watching a game that will be forgotten tomorrow, they would read and think and ponder."

- Gordon B. Hinckley, "Life's Obligations," Ensign, Feb. 1999, p. 5
Click here to read the full article

We live in a busy, noisy time; President Hinckley is wise to warn us about "run[ning] from one thing to another" and "wear[ing] ourselves out" as we pursue the wrong kinds of goals. He reminds us to slow down, to take time for learning and pondering about the things that matter most.

I love how Pres. Hinckley reminisces about his own father's example of reading and learning, well into his later years. Each of us should know how much our example matters, whether we realize it or not!

Especially worth considering is the caution about how we spend leisure time, including watching "inane television," and his perspective on sports. He admits to enjoying occasional football or basketball games himself, but cautions about excessive focus on fleeting activities when we could "read and think and ponder."

Ezra Taft Benson on the power and blessings of the temple

President Ezra Taft Benson (1899-1994) was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1943, and served as the 13th President of the Church from 1985 until his death in 1994 at age 94.

"Let us make the temple a sacred home away from our eternal home. This temple will be a standing witness that the power of God can stay the powers of evil in our midst. Many parents, in and out of the Church, are concerned about protection against a cascading avalanche of wickedness which threatens to engulf Christian principles. I find myself in complete accord with a statement made by President Harold B. Lee during World War II. Said he: 'We talk about security in this day, and yet we fail to understand that... we have standing the holy temple wherein we may find the symbols by which power might be generated that will save this nation from destruction' (CR April 1942, p. 87).

"Yes, there is a power associated with the ordinances of heaven—even the power of godliness—which can and will thwart the forces of evil if we will be worthy of those sacred blessings. This community will be protected, our families will be protected, our children will be safeguarded as we live the gospel, visit the temple, and live close to the Lord."

- Ezra Taft Benson, Atlanta Georgia Temple Cornerstone Laying, 1 June 1983; see TETB p. 256

All who have traveled appreciate the imagery of "a home away from home" — a place where we find acceptance, serenity, love, and peace when we are far from familiar settings. President Benson provides an interesting analogy about our mortality in view of eternity.

His witness is that the temple will provide "protection against a cascading avalanche of wickedness" in the world. It's a message for parents who desire to protect their children; it's a message for citizens concerned about their nation; and it's a message for each individual who seek divine assistance in life. President Benson offers the promise, and specifies the conditions upon which the blessings are claimed:

Harold B. Lee on knowing and loving the scriptures

President Harold B. Lee (1899-1973) was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1941. He served as a counselor in the First Presidency from 1970-1972, then as Church president from July 1972 until his passing less than 18 months later in December 1973.

"I say that we need to teach our people to find their answers in the scriptures. If only each of us would be wise enough to say that we aren't able to answer any question unless we can find a doctrinal answer in the scriptures! And if we hear someone teaching something that is contrary to what is in the scriptures, each of us may know whether the things spoken are false—it is as simple as that. But the unfortunate thing is that so many of us are not reading the scriptures. We do not know what is in them, and therefore we speculate about the things that we ought to have found in the scriptures themselves. I think that therein is one of our biggest dangers of today.

"When I meet with our missionaries and they ask questions about things pertaining to the temple, I say to them, as I close the discussion, 'I don't dare answer any of your questions unless I can find an answer in the standard works or in the authentic declarations of presidents of the Church.'

"The Lord has given us in the standard works the means by which we should measure truth and untruth. May we all heed his word: 'Thou shalt take the things which thou hast received, which have been given unto thee in my scriptures for a law, to be my law to govern my church' (D&C 42:59)."

- Harold B. Lee, "Find the Answers in the Scriptures", Ensign, December 1972, pp. 2-3
Click here to read the full article

President Lee was widely known for his love for, and deep understanding of, the scriptures. For example, as alluded to in this excerpt, he would meet in the Salt Lake Temple with missionaries as they prepared to depart into the field and allow them to ask him any question they desired, and he would always provide an answer from the scriptures.

He encourages all of us to do what he himself did—learn to find answers in the scriptures. They should be our primary and final source of doctrinal understanding!

A benefit of thorough and in-depth understanding is that we recognize doctrine that isn't sound; it enables us to "measure truth and untruth."

But President Lee worries that too many of us are not taking advantage of that resource.  And though his remarks were offered 40 years ago, I suspect the advice is more needed than ever.

Howard W. Hunter on the magic of thought in determining our lives

President Howard W. Hunter (1907-1995) was called to the Quorum of Twelve in 1959.  He served as Church President from June 5, 1994 to his death on March 3, 1995.

"As a being of power, intelligence, and the master of his own thoughts, a man holds the key to every situation, to make his life what he chooses it to be. When he discovers the divine power within his soul, he can lead his life to a God-like nature. If one dreams lofty dreams, so shall he become. There is magic in the way one thinks. If we expect the worst, we will get the worst. If we expect the best, we will receive the best. If we train our minds to have faith in God and ourselves, we are using one of the great laws of life. If we think and live righteously, happiness will find its place in our lives. It is amazing when we expect the best how forces are set in motion which cause the best to materialize....

"Outward circumstances do not determine the course of our lives as much as the thoughts that habitually occupy our minds. These thoughts carve their impression on our faces, in our hearts, and on the tablet of our eternal souls."

- Howard W. Hunter, "Thoughts Make Us What We Are," Beneficial Life Insurance Company Convention, Victoria, British Columbia, 7 July 1983; see THWH 74

President Hunter believed in the "magic" of how a person thinks about life—that a man can "make his life what he chooses it to be" and in particular, "lead his life to a God-like nature."

"If we life righteously, happiness will find its place in our lives." What a beautiful promise. President Hunter always seemed very calm and serene. I think these thoughts reflect how he lived his life.

Thomas S. Monson on respect for mothers

President Thomas S. Monson (1927- ) was sustained to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1963.  He served as a counselor in the First Presidency with Presidents Benson, Hunter, and Hinckley until becoming Church president in 2008.

"Oh, I recognize there are times when Mother's nerves are frayed, her patience exhausted, and her energies consumed, times when she says, 'My children don't appreciate a single thing I do.' Have you heard that phrase? Have you uttered it?

"Well, I think they do appreciate you. One of the questions after a study of magnets at a junior high school was this: 'What begins with "m" and picks things up?' The obvious answer, of course, was magnet; however, more than a third of the children answered mother.

"There is nothing more touching and beautiful than a mother kneeling with her child, teaching the little one to pray, then, arising from their knees, the child is tucked tenderly in bed and receives a goodnight kiss. Mother gently says, as she closes the door:

Goodnight.
Sleep tight.
Wake up right
In the morning light
To do what's right
With all your might.
I love you.

"I think it is significant that usually the first word a child utters is Mama. In fact, one grandson's first word, pronounced while looking at his father, was Mama. He will soon be a BYU graduate, and I still tease him about that. Historians of battlefields of war, however, state that frequently the last word spoken by a dying combatant is Mama or Mother. Love of mother and her teachings has prompted more bad men to be good and good men to be better than any other motivational force."

- Thomas S. Monson, "Timeless Truths for a Changing World," BYU Women's Conference, May 4, 2001
Click here to read the full talk

President Monson has often expressed his deep appreciation for the service and contribution of women and mothers. He was certainly blessed and molded in profound ways by his own mother during his childhood, as many of his personal stories attest.

In this excerpt from a talk at a BYU Women's Conference, he reassures mothers of the critical importance of their role and encourages them to carry on in faithfulness, particularly when they feel unnoticed or unappreciated. This vision of a mother's influence is a particularly tender one:

And this concluding testimony is a valuable reminder of the lasting impact a mother has on her children:

N. Eldon Tanner on the blessed role of mothers

President Nathan Eldon Tanner (May 9, 1898—November 27, 1982) was ordained an apostle in 1962.  A year later he was called as a counselor in the First Presidency, and continued in that role during the administration of four Church presidents until his death in 1982 at age 84.

"A mother has far greater influence on her children than anyone else, and she must realize that every word she speaks, every act, every response, her attitude, even her appearance and manner of dress affect the lives of her children and the whole family. It is while the child is in the home that he gains from his mother the attitudes, hopes, and beliefs that will determine the kind of life he will live and the contribution he will make to society.

"President Brigham Young expressed the thought that mothers are the moving instruments in the hands of Providence and are the machinery that gives zest to the whole man and guides the destinies and lives of men and nations upon the earth....

"President Hugh B. Brown once said at a Relief Society conference, 'There are people fond of saying that women are the weaker instruments, but I don’t believe it. Physically they may be, but spiritually, morally, religiously, and in faith, what man can match a woman who is really converted to the gospel! Women are more willing to make sacrifices than are men, more patient in suffering, more earnest in prayer. They are the peers and often superior to men in resilience, in goodness, in morality, and in faith.' (Relief Society Conference, Sept. 29, 1965.)"

- N. Eldon Tanner, "No Greater Honor: The Woman's Role," New Era, January 1977, p. 31
Click here to read the full article

President Tanner was a noted and respected leader for many years during my youth. This talk reflected some of the cultural perceptions of that era about the role of women in society; but it also presented some of the sound doctrinal foundations that don't change with time. President Tanner had a deep and sincere appreciation for the influence of mothers:

President Tanner also quoted this memorable statement from his friend President Hugh B. Brown, who, like him, was raised in Canada.  President Brown had passed away just a few years before this talk was published.

Jeffrey R. Holland on praise for mothers

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (1940- ) served as Church Commissioner of Education from 1976-1980, as the president of BYU from 1980-1989, as a Seventy from 1989-1994, and as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles since 1994.

"I wish to praise those motherly hands that have rocked the infant's cradle and, through the righteousness taught to their children there, are at the very center of the Lord's purposes for us in mortality....

"Mothers, we acknowledge and esteem your faith in every footstep. Please know that it is worth it then, now, and forever. And if, for whatever reason, you are making this courageous effort alone, without your husband at your side, then our prayers will be all the greater for you, and our determination to lend a helping hand even more resolute....

"I say to mothers collectively, in the name of the Lord, you are magnificent. You are doing terrifically well. The very fact that you have been given such a responsibility is everlasting evidence of the trust your Father in Heaven has in you. He knows that your giving birth to a child does not immediately propel you into the circle of the omniscient. If you and your husband will strive to love God and live the gospel yourselves; if you will plead for that guidance and comfort of the Holy Spirit promised to the faithful; if you will go to the temple to both make and claim the promises of the most sacred covenants a woman or man can make in this world; if you will show others, including your children, the same caring, compassionate, forgiving heart you want heaven to show you; if you try your best to be the best parent you can be, you will have done all that a human being can do and all that God expects you to do."

- Jeffrey R. Holland, "Because She is a Mother", Ensign, May 1997, pp. 35-37
Click here to read the full talk

As "Mother's Day" approaches (in the US at least), we're reminded of the many times Church leaders have spoken in praise and appreciation for the noble work of those who bring children to the world or help to nurture and guide them in a variety of ways. Elder Holland joins in the praise of those who "are at the very center of the Lord's purposes for us in mortality."

Elder Holland next reminds women how to keep perspective in the midst of the demands of motherhood; by remembering the correct priorities, heaven's blessings will follow: