President Lorenzo Snow on gradual and steady progress in life

Lorenzo Snow (1814-1901) was an early convert to the Church along with his sister Eliza R. Snow. He was called as an apostle by Brigham Young in 1849. He served as the 5th president of the Church from 1898 until his death in 1901.

"Do not expect to become perfect at once. If you do, you will be disappointed. Be better today than you were yesterday, and be better tomorrow than you are today. The temptations that perhaps partially overcome us today, let them not overcome us so far tomorrow. Thus continue to be a little better day by day; and do not let your life wear away without accomplishing good to others as well as to ourselves."

- Lorenzo Snow, Improvement Era, July 1901, 714.

We are often in a hurry to become perfect—to overcome our challenges and limitations and feel like we are making rapid progress. President Snow reminds us that growth and change often occur more slowly and gradually.

The key is to make our growth and progress "slow and steady" by ongoing small increments. If we are doing just a little better each day, by and by we will achieve the significant growth we seek. That includes dealing with our "temptations" or shortcomings; it is far better to be making small, incremental gains than to just be wishing for dramatic changes that continue to fail and fall short. This is a wise and measured perspective that will bless us as we grow in our discipleship. "Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great" (D&C 64:33).

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)

President Wilford Woodruff on the urgency of latter-day work

Wilford Woodruff (1807-1898) was called as an apostle in 1839 by Joseph Smith, and sustained as the 4th president of the Church in 1889.  He served until his death in 1898 at age 91.

"Joseph Smith visited me a great deal after his death, and taught me many important principles. The last time he visited me was while I was... going on my last mission to preside in England....

"Joseph Smith continued visiting myself and others up to a certain time, and then it stopped. The last time I saw him was in heaven. In the night vision I saw him at the door of the temple in heaven. He came and spoke to me. He said he could not stop to talk with me because he was in a hurry. The next man I met was Father Smith; he could not talk with me because he was in a hurry. I met half a dozen brethren who had held high positions on earth, and none of them could stop to talk with me because they were in a hurry. I was much astonished.

'By and by I saw the Prophet again, and I got the privilege to ask him a question. 'Now,' said I, 'I want to know why you are in a hurry. I have been in a hurry all through my life; but I expected my hurry would be over when I got into the kingdom of heaven, if I ever did.' Joseph said: 'I will tell you, Brother Woodruff. Every dispensation that has had the priesthood on the earth and has gone into the celestial kingdom, has had a certain amount of work to do to prepare to go to the earth with the Savior when He goes to reign on the earth. Each dispensation has had ample time to do this work. We have not. We are the last dispensation, and so much work has to be done, and we need to be in a hurry in order to accomplish it.' Of course, that was satisfactory to me, but it was new doctrine to me."

- Wilford Woodruff, discourse delivered October 19, 1896, recorded in Stuy, Collected Discourses, 5:237–38; see also Wilford Woodruff’s Journal, 3:578–79, October 20, 1850

President Woodruff had a remarkable gift for spiritual experiences, and this excerpt discusses some of the manifestations he had in his life. He had quite a few visions and encounters with heavenly messengers. He talks quite matter-of-factly about his visits with Joseph Smith. With the post-mortal perspective, the Prophet conveyed the urgency of the latter-day work, given all that remains to be done in this dispensation:

Each of us might ask ourselves about our own sense of urgency. As we age and recognize how quickly time passes in our personal life, we start to understand how little time we probably have to accomplish our personal goals and desires—not to mention contribute to the work of salvation on behalf of our Father's plan for His children!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)

President John Taylor on the difference between suffering and experience

President John Taylor (1808–1887) was born in England and immigrated to Canada where he and his wife were converted after hearing Parley P. Pratt preach.  He was ordained an apostle in 1838, and became the third president of the Church in 1880, serving until his death in 1887 at age 78.

"We have learned many things through suffering, we call it suffering; I call it a school of experience, I never did bother my head much about these things; I do not today. What are these things for? Why is it that good men should be tried?

"Why is it, in fact, that we should have a devil? Why did not the Lord kill him long ago? Because he could not do without him. He needed the devil and a great many of those who do his bidding just to keep men straight, that we may learn to place our dependence upon God, and trust in Him, and to observe his laws and keep his commandments....

"I have never looked at these things in any other light than trials for the purpose of purifying the Saints of God, that they may be, as the Scriptures say, as gold that has been seven times purified by the fire."

- John Taylor, discourse at Grantsville, Oct. 29, 1882; see JD 23:336
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Sometimes a change of perspective or interpretation can alter the whole nature of an experience. President Taylor suggests that what we consider suffering, might more properly be considered an episode in the school of experience. With that perspective, when things are hard, we can be looking for the lessons to be learned or the blessings to be gained from the experience.

President Taylor also recognizes the necessity of an adversary in the plan. Having opposition and temptation help us "learn to place our dependence upon God, and trust in Him, and to observe his laws and keep his commandments." If there were no opposition, we might not have opportunity to learn those same lessons.

I am not familiar with a scriptural passage that talks of gold seven times purified; there is one that refers to silver in that sense (see Psalm 12:6). But the message is clear and the application is memorable. Trials will purify the Saints of God in that school of experience—if we allow them to. Joseph Smith was once told, after the Lord listed many of his trials: "know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good" (D&C 122:7), The same applies to us.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)

President Brigham Young on the power of a simple, honest heart

President Brigham Young (1801-1877) was part of the first Quorum of Twelve Apostles of this dispensation, called and ordained in 1835. He served as the second Church president, succeeding Joseph Smith, from 1847 until his death in 1877.

"I care but little as to the outward appearance, if I can know that there is at heart a true feeling to do the will of God—to be honest before God and with one another. And in addressing a congregation, though the speaker be unable to say more than half-a-dozen sentences, and those awkwardly constructed, if his heart is pure before God, those few broken sentences are of more value than the greatest eloquence without the Spirit of the Lord, and of more real worth in the sight of God, angels, and all good men. In praying, though a person's words be few and awkwardly expressed, if the heart is pure before God, that prayer will avail more than the eloquence of a Cicero. What does the Lord, the Father of us all, care about our mode of expression? Mankind have fallen into the deep vortex of darkness. They know not from whence they came. They have sprung from their Father, God, and Savior, and have all gone out of the way. The simple, honest heart is of more avail with the Lord than all the pomp, pride, splendor, and eloquence produced by man. When He looks upon a heart full of sincerity, integrity, and childlike simplicity, he sees a principle that will endure forever—'That is the spirit of my own kingdom—the spirit I have given to my children.'"

- Brigham Young, "Knowledge—Object of Man's Existence on the Earth," remarks at Box Elder, June 7, 1860; see JD 8:283-4
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It's so natural and easy for us to evaluate and judge others based on outward appearances, including not just things like dress and grooming but also manner of speech and apparent level of education. President Young teaches an important truth about these judgments, though, in this excerpt. When a person has a heart that is "pure before God," though he be far from eloquent and persuasive in his communication, his words have the power to convey spiritual truths that is altogether lacking in the most polished orator who speaks without the spirit. And a prayer spoken from a pure heart in true humility and sincerity has the power to reach the heavens and invoke miracles far beyond one that is superficial and uncommitted.

It is the childlike simplicity and sincerity that will both allow man to communicate with God, and to share powerfully with each other. That purity of heart should be cultivated much more earnestly than eloquence and formality of speech.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)

President Spencer W. Kimball on accepting personal responsibility for progress

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

"One of the most serious human defects in all ages is procrastination, an unwillingness to accept personal responsibilities now. Men came to earth consciously to obtain their schooling, their training and development, and to perfect themselves, but many have allowed themselves to be diverted and have become merely 'hewers of wood and drawers of water,' addicts to mental and spiritual indolence and to the pursuit of worldly pleasure.

"There are even many members of the Church who are lax and careless and who continually procrastinate. They live the gospel casually but not devoutly. They have complied with some requirements but are not valiant. They do no major crime but merely fail to do the things required—things like paying tithing, living the Word of Wisdom, having family prayers, fasting, attending meetings, serving. Perhaps they do not consider such omissions to be sins, yet these were the kinds of things of which the five foolish virgins of Jesus' parable were probably guilty. The ten virgins belonged to the kingdom and had every right to the blessings—except that five were not valiant and were not ready when the great day came. They were unprepared through not living all the commandments. They were bitterly disappointed at being shut out from the marriage—as likewise their modern counterparts will be.

"One Church member of my acquaintance said, as she drank her coffee: 'The Lord knows my heart is right and that I have good intentions, and that I will someday get the strength to quit.' But will one receive eternal life on the basis of his good intentions? Can one enter a country, receive a scholastic degree, and so on, on the strength of good intent unsupported by appropriate action? Samuel Johnson remarked that 'hell is paved with good intentions.' The Lord will not translate one's good hopes and desires and intentions into works. Each of us must do that for himself."

- Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness, pp. 7-8

I always loved President Kimball's counsel; he could instruct and reprimand in a way that was frank and blunt but yet gentle and inviting. This is a good example. He points out the common defect of procrastination and laziness that is far too common in many of our lives. We are "addicts to mental and spiritual indolence" who are caught up instead in "the pursuit of worldly pleasure."

As a result, we often live the gospel "casually but not devoutly." That's an interesting statement. What is the difference between the two approaches? Do I see evidence of that in my life? Am I perhaps omitting some of the "weightier matters" of the law?

Yes, our "good intentions" are far too common. We know we'll get around to things eventually. We just never seem to quite do it, though... and so our lives fall short of what they could be. We would be wise to consider President Kimball's counsel carefully as we do an honest and thorough evaluation of our lives, progress, priorities, and level of commitment!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)

President Gordon B. Hinckley on living with happiness and optimism

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.

"The Lord said: 'Wherefore, lift up thy heart and rejoice, and cleave unto the covenants which thou hast made.' (D&C 25:13.)

"I believe he is saying to each of us, be happy. The gospel is a thing of joy. It provides us with a reason for gladness. Of course there are times of sorrow. Of course there are hours of concern and anxiety. We all worry. But the Lord has told us to lift our hearts and rejoice. I see so many people, including many women, who seem never to see the sunshine, but who constantly walk with storms under cloudy skies. Cultivate an attitude of happiness. Cultivate a spirit of optimism. Walk with faith, rejoicing in the beauties of nature, in the goodness of those you love, in the testimony which you carry in your heart concerning things divine."

- Gordon B. Hinckley, "If Though Art Faithful," Ensign, November 1984, p. 92
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This expression is classic President Hinckley. He always encouraged optimism and hope, reminding us of the reasons for joy even in the midst of trails and struggles. He certainly felt that joy in his life, and always radiated the spirit of optimism and confidence.

President Hinckley acknowledges that there will be times of sorrow, concern, anxiety, and worry. But with the perspective of the Gospel, those things never should overshadow our optimism and faith. We need to remember to "see the sunshine" around us. I like the specific suggestions he gives here to accomplish that:

• Rejoice in the beauties of natuer
• Rejoice in the goodness of loved ones
• Rejoice in the testimony of divine things

Those are wonderful reminders, not just for times of sorrow but for all times. We will be blessed with more confidence and peace as we cultivate the spirit President Hinckley is inviting us to have.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)

President Russell M. Nelson on strength through emulating the Savior

President Russell M. Nelson (b. Sept 9, 1924) was an internationally-renowned heart surgeon when he was called to serve as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1984. He was set apart as president of the Quorum of Twelve on July 15, 2015.

"Jesus, our Savior, was born in the lowliest of circumstances. For his baptism he was immersed in the lowest body of fresh water upon the planet. In service and suffering, he also 'descended below' all things (D&C 122:8), that he could rise above all things. Near the end of his life, he triumphantly declared, 'I have overcome the world.' (John 16:33.) 'Look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live; for unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal life.' (3 Ne. 15:9.) Scriptures tutor us at least twenty-six times to endure to the end to attain eternal life. Then we will obtain a resurrected body—one that is incorruptible, glorified, and prepared to live in the presence of God.

"To reach your highest destiny, emulate the Savior. He proclaimed, 'What manner of men ought ye to be? ... Even as I am.' (3 Ne. 27:27.) Our loftiest hope is to grow in spirit and attain 'the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children.' (Eph. 4:13-14.) ...

"When deepening trials come your way, remember this glorious promise of the Savior: 'To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.' (Rev. 3:21.)"

- Russell M. Nelson, "Self-Mastery," Ensign, Nov. 1985, 30
Click here to read or listen to the full article

"To reach your highest destiny, emulate the Savior." That's the disciple's creed in life; the core message of Christianity is in the simple words, "Come, follow me." As we strive with true sincerity and deep commitment to do that, not only does our life change, but our joy increases dramatically.

In spite of, or particularly because of, the "deepening trials" that occasionally beset us in life, we must never forget the promise of divine help and sustaining grace, and the ultimate hope of overcoming all trials with God's help. Truly, all will be well for him who truly strives to follow the Savior.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)