Henry B. Eyring on wise use of time

President Henry B. Eyring (1933- ) served in the Presiding Bishopric from 1985-1992, as a Seventy from 1992-1995, then was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. He has served in the First Presidency since 2007. When this address was given at BYU in 1986, he was serving as a counselor in the Presiding Bishopric.

"Even a moment's reflection will help you see that the problem of using your time well is not a problem of the mind but of the heart. It will only yield to a change in the very way we feel about time. The value of time must change for us. And then the way we think about it will change, naturally and wisely....

"I've come to understand something that happened to me in my early teens. I was in a hurry when I felt, not heard, a voice, an impression, which I knew then was from God. It was close to these words: 'Someday, when you know who you really are, you will be sorry that you didn't use your time better.' I thought then that the impression was odd, since I thought I was using my time pretty well and I thought I knew who I was. Now, years later, I am beginning to know who I am—and who you are—and why we will be so sorry if we do not invest our time well.

"You will develop your ability to invest your precious time well by gaining three confidences. First, you must gain confidence that God keeps his promises. Second, you must gain God's confidence that you will always keep the promises, not that you choose to make, but that he asks you to make. And third, you must help others gain confidence that God keeps his promises.

"You can gain confidence that God keeps his promises by trying them. That's why I so appreciate those commandments to which God has attached an explicit promise. I see those commandments as school masters. And I try to put them high on my list of things to do, because I know their value for changing my heart and building my power to invest my time."

- Henry B. Eyring, "Child of Promise," fireside address at BYU, May 4, 1986; see New Era, August 1993, p. 4
Click here to read the full talk

President Eyring always gets right to the core. In our very busy lives, "the problem of using your time well is not a problem of the mind but of the heart." It's not just a matter of making the intellectual choices, the decisions or plans or schedules.  It's a matter of making sure your heart is in the right place first. The "value of time" must be understood. Then the rest will follow!

I appreciate the distinction between "using time" and "investing time." The impression from Pres. Eyring's youth relates to this principle.

As our relationship with God develops and deepens, we not only have a greater desire to do His will, but also feel more of His guidance and influence.

But I especially appreciate the insight in the final paragraph of this excerpt — how we go about changing our heart and building faith and power.

Robert D. Hales on caring for one another

Elder Robert D. Hales (1932- ) served as a Seventy from 1976 to 1985, when he was called as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.

"Our responsibilities are clear; we are to: 

"Reach out in love and be anxious to forgive those who have wronged us. 

"Help by fellowshipping and caring for those who want to come back, receiving them with open arms and willing hands. 

"We must do as Jude, the brother of James, admonished: 

"'Have compassion, making a difference' (Jude 1:22). 

"There are principles that will help us to 'have compassion, making a difference.' These principles are encompassed in Luke, chapter 15, where Jesus used three parables to give us examples of the importance He placed on finding those who are lost and rendering 'compassion, making a difference.'" 

- Robert D. Hales, "Some Have Compassion, Making a Difference," Ensign, May 1987, p. 75
Click here to read the full talk

I'm intrigued by the simple phrase that Elder Hales quotes from the book of Jude:

Having compassion is the first step—being sensitive and caring, "feeling with" those around us as we strive to understand their challenges or burdens.

And then making a difference. That's a simple statement. We don't have to change the world, make everything all better, fix all the problems. We just need to make a difference. That is often the thing that enables the Savior to then step in and continue the process with more complete healing or re-directing.

And so our call is to "reach out in love and be anxious to forgive." What a great quest. Where would the Lord have me make a difference today?

Jeffrey R. Holland on the obstacles of life

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.

"A life without problems or limitations or challenges—life without 'opposition in all things' (2 Ne 2:11), as Lehi phrased it—would paradoxically but in very fact be less rewarding and less ennobling than one which confronts—even frequently confronts—difficulty and disappointment and sorrow. As beloved Eve said, were it not for the difficulties faced in a fallen world, neither she nor Adam nor any of the rest of us ever would have known 'the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient' (Moses 5:11). 

"So life has its oppositions and its conflicts, and the gospel of Jesus Christ has answers and assurances. In a time of terrible civil warfare, one of the most gifted leaders ever to strive to hold a nation together said what could be said of marriages and families and friendships. Praying for peace, pleading for peace, seeking peace in any way that would not compromise union, Abraham Lincoln said in those dark, dark days of his First Inaugural, 'Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory,' he said, 'will yet swell... when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.' (First Inaugural Address, 4 Mar. 1861) 

"The better angels of our nature. That is much of what the Church and general conference and the gospel of Jesus Christ are about. The appeal today and tomorrow and forever to be better, to be cleaner, to be kinder, to be holier; to seek peace and always be believing." 

- Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Peaceable Things of the Kingdom," Ensign, Nov. 1996, pp. 82-84
Click here to read the full talk

From another of the wonderful, sensitive, encouraging messages Elder Holland often shares. It's interesting to ponder his opening "paradox":

Again, that's a hard principle to remember when we are deep in the midst of one of those "problems or limitations or challenges" that can so easily suck the joy and hope right out of us. How critical it is to remember that "the gospel of Jesus Christ has answers and assurances"!

So we turn to "marriages and families and friendships" when they are available, as a source to find "the better angels of our nature."

What a beautiful reminder.

Richard G. Scott on finding peace and beauty in life

Elder Richard G. Scott (1928- ) served as a Seventy from 1977-1988, when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.

"Personally, I am enthusiastic about the future. You can be too. You are living in the most exciting period of time in history. Many reasons could be cited for that optimism. Yet your greatest source of hope and assurance is that you have the fulness of the teachings of the Master. They will show you how to live a good life. You can receive ordinances and covenants that when righteously lived assure true happiness and significant attainment. 

"Life is beautiful when you make the effort to find beauty in it. In some of the most materially deprived parts of the world, I have seen the sunrise in all of its splendor and heard birds joyously welcoming a new day. I have seen beauty reflected in a small pot of flowers by a humble shelter or in the shy, beaming grin of a child at play, intent on discovering the world around him. 

"You can become depressed if all of your interests are focused on the media with its explicit details of the most worrisome world events. With care you can find much to reverently appreciate in this world Father in Heaven has given you. Begin by remembering that you are a son or daughter of God with divine potential. He will help you have a joyful, fulfilling life." 

- Richard G. Scott, "The Power of Righteousness," Ensign, November 1998, pp. 68-70
Click here to read the full talk

This excerpt is full of realistic optimism and sound advice. If we understand God's plan for our eternal progress, there certainly is much to be enthusiastic about:

It's a pretty simple formula: righteous living and commitment to covenants will assure true happiness.

Elder Scott often speaks of finding the beauty in the world around us—noticing the grandeur of God's creations. We can find beauty even in "some of the most materially deprived parts of the world." There is much reason to be happy and peaceful when we are surrounded by the evidence of God's love, and we "reverently appreciate" the gifts we receive from God.

M. Russell Ballard on discipleship and scripture study

Elder M. Russell Ballard (1928- ) was called as a Seventy in 1976, and has served as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles since 1985.

"The most important knowledge you can acquire, and the area of learning that will keep everything else in focus for you and bring you true happiness and joy, will be your solid anchor of assurance that you are a true disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"The word disciple comes from the Latin word discipulus; it means to learn or to know. Many people think that being a disciple means simply to follow, with an unfortunate connotation of following blindly. Becoming a true disciple is nothing of the sort! It requires us to learn and to know of Jesus Christ, to study the principles of truth for ourselves and to receive answers—in other words, to receive knowledge. Because President Benson knows this, he has called upon Church members to study the scriptures every day. Once we have knowledge of the simple principles of the Restoration, coupled with a deep and abiding faith in the truths we do not yet know, we become true disciples of Jesus Christ and not simply followers. The difference between a disciple and a follower is like the difference between a ship's anchor that is lodged solidly at the bottom of the sea, holding the ship fast, and an anchor that is merely suspended in water because the chain is too short. Such an anchor may appear to be doing its job when the seas are calm, but serves no purpose during storms or high waves."

- M. Russell Ballard, "Anchor to the Soul," BYU Fireside, September 6, 1992
Click here to read the full talk

It's a bold statement to define "the most important knowledge you can acquire." Perhaps not everyone would agree; but Elder Ballard's explanation of the importance of knowing assuredly "that you are a true disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ" is persuasive. The key is in the qualifier—true disciple.

I've long appreciated the insight of what a disciple really is; not simply a follower, but a learner, one who is devoted to understanding and following the teachings or principles espoused by another.

We become "true disciples," Elder Ballard teaches, by studying the scriptures to learn the "simple principles" of the Gospel, "coupled with a deep and abiding faith" for the areas where knowledge is still pending. And having that personal assurance of our devotion to the Savior will bring us joy along with the anchor of safety in the midst of storms. What a great invitation to us all!

Dallin H. Oaks on the eternal perspective of our lives

Elder Dallin H. Oaks (1932- ) was sustained to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1984.

"The pure in heart have a distinctive way of looking at life. Their attitudes and desires cause them to view their experiences in terms of eternity. This eternal perspective affects their choices and priorities. As they draw farther from worldliness they feel closer to our Father in Heaven and more able to be guided by his Spirit. We call this state of mind, this quality of life, spirituality. 

"Spirituality is a lens through which we view life and a gauge by which we evaluate it.... To be spiritually minded is to view and evaluate experiences in terms of the enlarged perspective of eternity." 

- Dallin H. Oaks, "Pure in Heart" (Deseret 1991), pp. 111-112; see also Dallin H. Oaks, "Spirituality," Ensign, November 1985, pp. 61-63
Click here to read the full talk

Somehow, it seems to be a challenge for many of us to view our more challenging experiences "in terms of eternity." Instead, our tendency is to forget eternity in the midst of trials and difficulties. But Elder Oaks points out that the "pure in heart" find that perspective easy to maintain. The more we are able to separate ourselves from worldliness, the more we can be guided by God's influence and can see things in eternal perspective.

Russell M. Nelson on developing spiritual attributes

Elder Russell M. Nelson (1924- ) has served as a member of the Quorum of Twelve since 1984.

"Your Heavenly Father has known you for a very long time. You, as His son or daughter, were chosen by Him to come to earth at this precise time, to be a leader in His great work on earth. You were chosen not for your bodily characteristics but for your spiritual attributes, such as bravery, courage, integrity of heart, a thirst for truth, a hunger for wisdom, and a desire to serve others. 

"You developed some of these attributes premortally. Others you can develop here on earth as you persistently seek them. 

"A pivotal spiritual attribute is that of self-mastery—the strength to place reason over appetite. Self-mastery builds a strong conscience. And your conscience determines your moral responses in difficult, tempting, and trying situations.... Why the need for self-mastery? God implanted strong appetites within us for nourishment and love, vital for the human family to be perpetuated. When we master our appetites within the bounds of God's laws, we can enjoy longer life, greater love, and consummate joy." 

- Russell M. Nelson, "Decisions for Eternity," Ensign, Nov 2013, pp. 106-109
Click here to read the full talk

It's a comforting thing, I think, that "Heavenly Father has known [us] for a very long time" and has purposes and plans for our mortal experiences. He knows our "spiritual attributes" and knows what we are capable of developing through our efforts here.

Elder Nelson singles out a critical attribute that we should be aware of and seeking to develop in our characters. It's one that seems to be declining in the world today.

I appreciate the promise: "When we master our appetites within the bounds of God's laws, we can enjoy longer life, greater love, and consummate joy."