Ezra Taft Benson on enduring in righteousness

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.

"When George A. Smith was very ill, he was visited by his cousin, the Prophet Joseph Smith. The afflicted man reported: 'He [the Prophet] told me I should never get discouraged, whatever difficulties might surround me. If I were sunk into the lowest pit of Nova Scotia and all the Rocky Mountains piled on top of me, I ought not to be discouraged, but hang on, exercise faith, and keep up good courage, and I should come out on the top of the heap.'

"There are times when you simply have to righteously hang on and outlast the devil until his depressive spirit leaves you. As the Lord told the Prophet Joseph Smith: 'Thine adversity and thine afflictions, shall be but a small moment;

"'And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high.' (D&C 121:7-8.)

"To press on in noble endeavors, even while surrounded by a cloud of depression, will eventually bring you out on top into the sunshine. Even our master Jesus the Christ, while facing that supreme test of being temporarily left alone by our Father during the crucifixion, continued performing his labors for the children of men, and then shortly thereafter he was glorified and received a fullness of joy. While you are going through your trial, you can recall your past victories and count the blessings that you do have with a sure hope of greater ones to follow if you are faithful. And you can have that certain knowledge that in due time God will wipe away all tears and that 'eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.' (1 Cor. 2:9.)"

- Ezra Taft Benson, "Do Not Despair," Ensign, Nov. 1974, p. 65
Click here to read the full talk

How do we deal with discouragement and disappointment in our lives? President Benson discusses the concept of "hanging on" in spite of the challenges. This quote is insightful:

Note that it's not just hanging on, but also exercising faith and keeping up good courage. I think the faith is a crucial part of the solution. President Benson adds the encouragement to "outlast the devil until his depressive spirit leaves you." And then he shares the Savior's reassurance that eventually we will realize that the trials are really "a small moment" in the scope of eternity.

The other key is hope—the confidence that it will all be worth it in the end. President Benson reminds up to acknowledge current blessings and to retain the assurance, even ?a sure hope of greater ones to follow if you are faithful."

James E. Faust on finding inward peace in an unstable world

President James E. Faust (1920-2007) was called as a Seventy in 1976, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve in 1978. He served as a counselor to President Hinckley from 1995 until his death in 2007 at age 87.

"I believe the Spirit of the Holy Ghost is the greatest guarantor of inward peace in our unstable world. It can be more mind-expanding and can make us have a better sense of well-being than any chemical or other earthly substance. It will calm nerves; it will breathe peace to our souls. This Comforter can be with us as we seek to improve. It can function as a source of revelation to warn us of impending danger and also help keep us from making mistakes. It can enhance our natural senses so that we can see more clearly, hear more keenly, and remember what we should remember. It is a way of maximizing our happiness.

"The Spirit—the Holy Ghost—will help us work out our insecurities. For instance, it can help us learn to forgive. There comes a time when people must move on, seeking greater things rather than being consumed by the memory of some hurt or injustice. Dwelling constantly on past injuries is, by its nature, limiting to the Spirit. It does not promote peace."

- James E. Faust, "The Gift of the Holy Ghost—A Sure Compass," Ensign, April 1996, pp. 2-6
Click here to read the full article

In an "unstable world" we are often searching for sources of comfort and inward peace. President Faust shares an impressive testimony of what he testifies are the benefits and blessings of the Spirit of the Holy Ghost.

Some of the things I found particularly interesting were:

• the Spirit's ability to "enhance our natural senses." The whole experience of life is enriched and improved through that gift and presence.
• the Spirit can "help us work out our insecurities" including the ability to put an end to "being consumed by the memory of some hurt or injustice." I have personal experience with that need and blessing.
• the Spirit will "breathe peace to our souls." Perhaps this sums it up.  What more do we need in a world becoming more and more confusing and unstable?

Gordon B. Hinckley on standards for life's decisions

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.

"There is involved in such simple decisions the entire question of what we do with our lives. It is not so much the major events as the small day-to-day decisions that map the course of our living....

"I should like to suggest three standards by which to judge each of the decisions that determine the behavior patterns of your lives. These standards are so simple as to appear elementary, but I believe their faithful observance will provide a set of moral imperatives by which to govern without argument or equivocation each of our actions and which will bring unmatched rewards. They are:

"Does it enrich the mind?
"Does it discipline and strengthen the body?
"Does it nourish the spirit?"

- Gordon B. Hinckley, "Caesar, Circus, or Christ," BYU devotional, October 26, 1965
Click here to listen to the full talk
Click here to read a transcript of the talk

This thought by President Hinckley focused not on the major, critical, course-changing decisions that we all encounter from time to time, but on the small, simple, daily, course-setting decisions that are such a part of our daily lives. They help determine the "behavior patterns" that can add meaning and value to life. President Hinckley suggests a thoughtful approach to these things, focusing on three simple questions:

So he is encouraging us to seek habits that will improve our thinking in positive ways; have beneficial effect on our health and physical well-being; and then build up our spiritual strength. If we are routinely involved in something that detracts from one of those areas, we should work to eliminate it!

Howard W. Hunter on loving one another as true disciples of Christ

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

"The world in which we live would benefit greatly if men and women everywhere would exercise the pure love of Christ, which is kind, meek, and lowly. It is without envy or pride. It is selfless because it seeks nothing in return. It does not countenance evil or ill will, nor rejoice in iniquity; it has no place for bigotry, hatred, or violence. It refuses to condone ridicule, vulgarity, abuse, or ostracism. It encourages diverse people to live together in Christian love regardless of religious belief, race, nationality, financial standing, education, or culture.

"The Savior has commanded us to love one another as he has loved us; to clothe ourselves 'with the bond of charity' (D&C 88:125), as he so clothed himself. We are called upon to purify our inner feelings, to change our hearts, to make our outward actions and appearance conform to what we say we believe and feel inside. We are to be true disciples of Christ."

- Howard W. Hunter, "A More Excellent Way," Ensign, May 1992, pp. 61-62
Click here to read the full talk

Many times we are led to ask, "What can I do to help the troubled world I live in?" President Hunter's answer is simple: "exercise the pure love of Christ." He lists some of the characteristics of that love: kind, selfless, meek. Some of the things it does not include are instructive: hatred, bigotry, ridicule, violence. I was especially interested in the statement that the love of Christ "encourages diverse people to live together in Christian love regardless of religious belief, race, nationality, financial standing, education, or culture."

And all of this perfectly follows from the Savior's perfect example. As we become true disciples, as we become like Him, then we will be able to love as He did.

Spencer W. Kimball on the importance of continued study after general conference

President Spencer W. Kimball (1895-1985) was ordained an apostle in 1943 and served as President of the Church from 1973 to 1985.

"Sunday night... the great Tabernacle was closed, the lights turned out, the record[ing] machines stopped, the doors locked, and another historic conference became history. It will have been lost motion—a waste of time, energy, and money—if its messages are not heeded. In the [several] two-hour sessions… , truths were taught, doctrines expounded, exhortations given, enough to save the whole world from all its ills—and I mean from ALL its ills. A rather complete education in eternal verities was given to millions with a great hope that there were ‘ears a’hearing and eyes a’seeing and hearts a’throbing,’ convinced of truth. …

“I hope you young people all heard the messages of the ages delivered. There will be other conferences every six months. I hope you will get your copy of the [Ensign] and underline the pertinent thoughts and keep it with you for continual reference. No text or volume outside the standard works of the Church should have such a prominent place on your personal library shelves—not for their rhetorical excellence or eloquence of delivery, but for the concepts which point the way to eternal life.”

- Spencer W. Kimball, "In the World but Not of It," BYU Devotional, May 14, 1968, pp. 2–3

President Kimball spoke in general conference meetings for over four decades, and must have pondered the impact of his efforts through the years. These observations at a BYU devotional are thought-provoking. Of what benefit is all of the cost and effort to present a conference, if we don't heed the messages? Great truths are taught, doctrines are expounded, and guidance provided "enough to save the whole world from all its ills—and I mean from ALL its ills" if the counsel is only heeded.

I loved President Kimball's longing that there would be "ears a’hearing and eyes a’seeing and hearts a’throbing" in response to conference.

We are remarkably blessed now, that with modern technology, we can almost instantly access conference talks right after the conference occurs. We can view the transcripts online, listen to the audio or watch video, download to personal devices, etc. It's easier than ever to have access to the talks; but will we truly study, ponder, and heed?

Neal A. Maxwell on heeding the counsel of prophets

Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926-2004) served as a Seventy from 1976-1981, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve until his death from cancer in 2004.

"Prophets have a way of seeing more deeply and more distantly than the rest of us. They can, under the direction of the Spirit (to refer to an episode in the Old Testament), see a thundercloud when it is no larger than a man's hand. (1 Kings 18:44.) Their mortal sense of anticipation is sharpened by the divine, fully developed and perfected anticipation of God Himself....

"Prophets as well as those who follow them have sometimes even had to wrench free of a whole society... Drawing people away from destruction and sadness is one of the great duties of prophets, and it calls for the cardinal virtue of followership....

"Staying close to the prophets will be vital since, in some ways, the last days in this last dispensation may come to resemble the first days in this dispensation. The middle period through which the Church has recently passed has been essentially a pleasant period—full of growth, understanding, and even some acclaim from the world. But the last days, although they will be characterized by much growth, will also be characterized by much tribulation and difficulty. There will be both wonderful and awful things....

"We cannot fully respond to the divine invitation, 'Come follow me,' unless we are willing to follow the Brethren. And it will be most helpful to us all if we renew and reassure ourselves by noting how it has always been the case—that the Lord has raised up men as His prophets who have just the cluster of talents needed for a particular time. It is no different in the culminating days of the dispensation of the fulness of time. The Lord measured and ordained these men before they came here. Knowing perfectly the conditions that would obtain, He has sent, and will send, men to match the mountains of challenges that are just ahead of us."

- Neal A. Maxwell, All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience, pp. 116, 121-2

There are some wonderful insights in this excerpt.

• Prophets, with a divine gift of seership, can see "more deeply and more distantly"
• Sometimes prophets are told to "wrench free" of society, and they have the important task of helping us pull away from the dangers and sadness of the world.
• One of the great things for us to learn is "the cardinal virtue of followership"
• The Church has been through a period of relative peace and building; but the future will be more like the early beginnings with persecution and trials, with both "wonderful and awful things." The need to follow prophetic counsel is more critical than ever.
• Following prophetic counsel is a required step in following the Savior.
• The Lord raises up prophets with a "cluster of talents" to help "match the mountains of challenges" of the time. What an insightful phrase; together, they collectively can accomplish exactly what He needs and what we need

George Albert Smith on sustaining church leaders

President George Albert Smith (1870-1951) was the son of John Henry Smith (1848-1911) and grandson of George A. Smith (1817-1875), both of whom served as members of the Twelve. He was called as an apostle in 1903, and then served as the 8th president of the Church from 1945 until his death in 1951.

"It must be a source of strength to the President of this Church to look into the faces of thousands of honest men and women and observe them raise their hand in covenant with our Father in heaven, and sustain him in the office to which he has been called as president of this great Church.

"The obligation that we make when we raise our hands under such circumstances, is a most sacred one. It does not mean that we will go quietly on our way and be willing that the prophet of the Lord shall direct this work, but it means—if I understand the obligation I assumed when I raised my hand—that we will stand behind him; we will pray for him; we will defend his good name, and we will strive to carry out his instructions as the Lord shall direct him to offer them to us while he remains in that position."

- George Albert Smith, Conference Report, June 1919, 40; see Teachings of the Presidents of the Church—George Albert Smith, p. 64

As a relatively young apostle, then-Elder George Albert Smith pondered on the strength the president of the Church must feel as he witnesses a congregation raise their hands as a sign of sustaining him. He would have that experience himself a few decades later. Any member of the Church who has been sustained has felt the same comfort and reassurance, perhaps to a lesser degree but just as meaningfully.

So what does it mean to raise our hands to sustain the Church president?  Elder Smith went on to give some thoughts:

This is a good thing for us to consider as we have that same opportunity!

• stand behind him
• pray for him
• defend his good name
• strive to carry out his instructions as the Lord shall direct him to offer