President Spencer W. Kimball on Gospel perspective in choosing priorities

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

"Some observers might wonder why we concern ourselves with such simple things as service to others in a world surrounded by such dramatic problems. Yet, one of the advantages of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that it gives us perspective about the people on this planet, including ourselves, so that we can see the things that truly matter and avoid getting caught up in the multiplicity of lesser causes that vie for the attention of mankind....

"May I counsel you that when you select causes for which you give your time and talents and treasure in service to others, be careful to select good causes. There are so many of these causes to which you can give yourself fully and freely and which will produce much joy and happiness for you and for those you serve. There are other causes, from time to time, which may seem more fashionable and which may produce the applause of the world, but these are usually more selfish in nature. These latter causes tend to arise out of what the scriptures call 'the commandments of men' rather than the commandments of God. Such causes have some virtues and some usefulness, but they are not as important as those causes which grow out of keeping the commandments of God."

- Spencer W. Kimball, "The Abundant Life," address at Weber State College, Ogden, on Nov 4, 1977; see Ensign, July 1978, pp. 2-7
Click here to read the full article

What concerns the leaders of the Church? Are they aware of the "dramatic problems" that fill the world? Certainly, and they do address those. But they also talk repeatedly about concepts such as serving and blessing those around us. That is because they have the grand perspective the gospel provides to aid in identifying "things that truly matter" and avoid getting caught up in the many "lesser causes" vying for attention.

President Kimball then cautions us specifically to exercise that same judgement and caution as we consider what causes or needs we devote our "time and talents and treasure in service to others." There are many ways we can help, and many voices crying for our contributions; but not all causes are equal, or equally important and productive. We should strive to do the most good we can, using our precious resources of time and means in the best ways we can find.

President Gordon B. Hinckley on joy in selfless temple service

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.

"Generally speaking, the most miserable people I know are those obsessed with themselves; the happiest people I know are those who lose themselves in the service of others....

"I want to commend those of you who are eligible to go to the temple and who go. In this work in the House of the Lord is found the very essence of selfless service. In my judgment, one of the miracles of our day is the great consecration of time and effort on the part of hundreds of thousands of busy people, including many of you busy students, in behalf of the dead. Those of you who engage in this service know that out of it all comes a sweet and satisfying feeling. It becomes literally a medicine to cure many of the ailments of our lives. From such experience we come to realize that only when we serve others do we truly serve the Lord."

- Gordon B. Hinckley, "Forget Yourself," BYU fireside, March 6, 1977
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

This address by President Hinckley to an audience of college students focused on the blessings of service—we must "lose ourselves in the service of others" in order to have a full and rich life. As we are observant and become aware of needs around us, there will be countless opportunities to give and act in kindness and charity.

In this excerpt from the talk, he focuses on the blessings of temple service, where we experience "the very essence of selfless service"—acts given for the benefit of those who are unseen, who don't immediately return gratitude or repayment to us.

From this great service in the temple "comes a sweet and satisfying feeling... medicine to cure many of the ailments of our lives." That is a tender promise, one that I have found to be true!

President James E. Faust on living life with an eternal perspective

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.

"Mortality is a precious drop in the bucket of eternity. Why not make each minute pleasant and fulfilling? We must make our own happiness. As President Spencer W. Kimball once said, 'Happiness does not depend upon what happens outside of you, but on what happens inside of you. It is measured by the spirit with which you meet the problems of life.'

"Problems, challenges, and heartaches come to all of us regardless of gender, whether we are married or single, or whether or not we are limited physically or mentally.... The key to happiness does not lie alone in gender or marital status or parenthood or being free of physical challenges. Happiness comes from living the teachings of the Savior and having the vision to see what He would have us become. Remember what he said: 'He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it' (Matt. 10:39). Because we have been given the challenges of mortality, this life is a proving ground for the eternities."

- James E. Faust, "A Vision of What We Can Be," Ensign, Mar. 1996, p. 10
Click here to read the complete article

"Mortality is a precious drop in the bucket of eternity"—that's a beautiful image to convey the very brief nature of our time here. But yet, how crucial that short time is! And how important to make the best of every minute—to "make each minute pleasant and fulfilling." I continue to be thrilled and impressed at the prophetic understanding and vision of eternity, and how that vision can influence our mortality.

So with that perspective, President Faust teaches how to keep mortal challenges in the divine perspective:

True happiness comes only in "living the teachings of the Savior."

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin on bringing the Holy Ghost into our homes

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (1917-2008) served as a Seventy from 1976 to 1986, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles from 1986 until his passing in 2008 at age 91.

"I invite you to ponder individually in a humble and prayerful manner and ask yourself: 'Do I have the Spirit in my life? Am I happy? Am I doing anything in my life that is offensive to the Spirit and preventing the Holy Ghost from being my constant companion?' Have the courage to repent, if needed, and again enjoy the companionship of the Holy Ghost.

"Do we enjoy the influence of the Holy Ghost in our homes? Are we doing anything as a family that is offensive to the Spirit? Can we more effectively invite the Holy Ghost into our homes?

"Our homes need to be more Christ-centered. We should spend more time at the temple and less time in the pursuit of pleasure. We should lower the noise level in our homes so that the noise of the world will not overpower the still, small voice of the Holy Ghost. One of our greatest goals as parents should be to enjoy the power and influence of the Holy Ghost in our homes. We should pray and study the scriptures. We could sing the hymns of the Restoration to invite the Holy Ghost into our home. Regular family home evening will also help.

"In these perilous times, we need this unspeakable gift in our lives."

- Joseph B. Wirthlin, "The Unspeakable Gift," Ensign, May 2003, pp. 26-29
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

This is a wonderful reminder and challenge from Elder Wirthlin. Am I feeling the happiness we should? Am I feeling the companionship of the Spirit we deserve and need? If not, is there something preventing that influence in my life? That kind of honest self-evaluation can lead to change and repentance that will bless us immeasurably.

He then suggests things that individuals and families can do to increase the influence of the Holy Ghost in the home:

So by giving more consideration to temple attendance, worldly noise and distractions, prayer, scripture study, sacred music, and home evenings, we can bring more of the "unspeakable gift" of the Holy Ghost into our lives. Each individual and family would be blessed by a sincere consideration or discussion of how we can do that!

President Howard W. Hunter on lives centered on 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.

"My message to you today is to 'fear not, little flock.' It is to encourage you to rejoice in the great blessings of life. It is to invite you to feel the great thrill of gospel living and our Father in Heaven's love. Life is wonderful, even in the hard times, and there is happiness, joy, and peace at stops all along the way, and endless portions of them at the end of the road.

"Sure, there are plenty of things to worry about—some of them very serious things—but that is why we speak in gospel terms of faith, and hope, and charity. As Latter-day Saints, ours is 'the abundant life,' and we try to emphasize our blessings and opportunities while we minimize our disappointments and worries. 'Search diligently, pray always, and be believing,' the scripture says, 'and all things shall work together for your good' (D&C 90:24). I want to remind you of that promise....

"Please remember this one thing. If our lives and our faith are centered upon Jesus Christ and his restored gospel, nothing can ever go permanently wrong. On the other hand, if our lives are not centered on the Savior and his teachings, no other success can ever be permanently right."

- Howard W. Hunter, "Fear Not, Little Flock," BYU Devotional, March 14, 1989
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

I've always loved the words President Hunter quotes, given anciently by the Savior (Luke 12:32) and then re-emphasized in modern revelation:

"Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail." (D&C 6:34)

It does not matter what is happening around us, or to us. "Life is wonderful, even in the hard times." With the perspective of eternal hope and the understanding of God's love for us, there truly is "happiness, joy, and peace at stops all along the way, and endless portions of them at the end of the road."

However, the reminder from D&C 90:24 is also very important. All things will work together for our good, if we demonstrate to God our willingness to follow in faith and obey with diligence.

President Ezra Taft Benson on finding happiness in life

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.

"'Men are that they might have joy' (2 Nephi 2:25). Our Heavenly Father wants us to be happy. He expects us to be happy. But there is no happiness in a letting down of standards. There is no happiness when you fail to live according to your convictions, according to that which you know to be right. It is so easy to form the habit of taking it just a little easy on certain things. It is so easy to form the habit of faultfinding, or criticizing, of carrying in our hearts reservations regarding certain things in the Church. It is so easy for us to become a bit bitter, and then dwell on that, to become sad and carry a sad face with us. A sad face never won a battle in war or love."

- Ezra Taft Benson, "The Home and Family," BYU Religious Life Series, September 1960; see TETB 361

We are intended to be happy! We should have joy in this life as well as in the world to come. Presiden Benson reminds us of an important obstacle to our happiness: lowering our standards and convictions, not living up to what we know to be right. Wickedness—even in the smallest forms—"never was happiness" (Alma 41:10).

But President Benson also warns about the attitudes we carry. If we carry attitudes of criticism or fault-finding in our hearts, we can become bitter and unhappy. We should avoid those traps in order to increase our joy!

President Brigham Young on living close to the Lord's Spirit

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.

"If you live near to God, and every moment have your minds filled with fervent desires to keep the law of God, you will understand the Spirit that comes to you; you will know how to build up the Lord's kingdom, and increase in every good thing; and it will be one continual scene of rejoicing instead of mourning....

"The persons who enjoy that Spirit are never sorrowful nor cast down. They never endure afflictions and mourn because they suppose that they have sacrificed for the Gospel, but they are always joyful, always cheerful, with a happy smile on their faces, and, as brother Robert said, it does make the devil mad. That is true, it makes him mad that he cannot afflict this people so as to make them have a sad countenance.

"When you come across those who have a wonderful sight of trouble, trouble with their wives and with their neighbors, it is those who do not live their religion. Those who have the Spirit of their religion feel hope bound in their feelings, and have a word of comfort for themselves, their families, and their neighbors, and all is right with them. Let us make the building up of the kingdom of heaven our first and only interest, and all will be well, sure."

- Brigham Young, discourse in the Bowery, Great Salt Lake City, March 29, 1857; see JD 4:299
Click here to read the full talk

Those who learn to "live near to God" with "minds filled with fervent desires to keep the law of God" discover the truth of this principle, one that President Young taught regularly: there is great joy in righteous living. The Spirit that comes from God blesses and enriches, bringing strength and perspective to life.

The last statement provides an appropriate summary of the process that leads to the joyful life: "Let us make the building up of the kingdom of heaven our first and only interest, and all will be well, sure."