BLESSINGS OF A MISSION
You are making a sacrifice, but it is not a sacrifice because you will get more than you give up, you will gain more than you give, and it will prove to be an investment with tremendous returns. It will prove to be a blessing instead of a sacrifice. No one who ever served this work as a missionary, who gave his or her best efforts, need worry about making a sacrifice because there will come blessings into the life of that individual for as long as he or she lives. I have not the slightest doubt about that. - From Hawaii Honolulu Missionary Meeting, Feb. 7, 1996.
BOOK OF MORMON
May I extend an invitation to each of you to read the Book of Mormon this year, again, from cover to cover. I know you've read it before. Read it again. Something will come that will be sweet and good and beautiful. Your testimonies will grow and you will find things that you never knew were there before. . . . Take all the time you need. Think about what you are reading. - From priesthood leadership session, BYU Married Student Stakes Regional Conference, Feb. 10, 1996.
DEATH
Death is a part of life. It is a fundamental, basic part of our eternal lives. We can't go on with the great work that lies ahead without stepping over the threshold of death, sorrowful as it is for those who remain. I am satisfied that it is a beautiful experience for those who make that step, who have lived lives of righteousness and faithfulness. - From funeral services for Harry V. Brooks, Feb. 23, 1996.
DISOBEDIENT CHILDREN
Now I know that once in a while, notwithstanding all the things you try to do, there is a rebellious child. But keep at it. Do not ever give up. You have never lost as long as you try. Keep at it. - From first general session, Oahu Hawaii Regional Conference, Feb. 18, 1996.
GOSPEL BOND
Every morning when I kneel before the Lord in prayer I thank Him for the faithful people of this Church. I am very sincere about that. We are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and that bonds us in a brotherhood and sisterhood that is sweet and marvelous and wonderful. - From general session, Corpus Christi Texas Regional Conference, Jan. 7, 1996.
HAPPINESS
The way of the Lord is the way of happiness. Wickedness never was happiness. Transgression never was happiness. Sin never was happiness. Disobedience never was happiness. The way of happiness is following the way of the Lord. I believe this with all my heart. If there is any message that runs through all of the Book of Mormon, it is this great transcendent message, that when the people lived in righteousness they were happy and they were prospered. And when they fell into wickedness they were miserable, they were at war, they were in poverty, they were in trouble. That theme goes all the way through the Book of Mormon. As it was true then, so it is true now. The way of happiness for the people of this Church lies in following the ways of the Lord. - From first general session, Oahu Hawaii Regional Conference, Feb. 18, 1996.
MORAL CLEANLINESS
There are storms blowing around you. There is the clever exploitation of sex and violence to be seen on television, through video tapes, salacious magazines, long distance telephone services and even the Internet. My plea to you, my dear associates in this work, is to distance yourselves from these things. You can change the channel on the TV set. You can shun like a plague the renting or acquisition of video tapes designed to titillate and lead you into regrettable paths. Only the producer profits from such things. The buyer or the renter never does. You don't have to read sleazy literature of any kind. It will not help you. It will only injure you. - From Salt Lake Institute Fireside, Jan. 21, 1996.
TESTIMONY
With all of our doing, with all of our leading, with all of our teaching, the most important thing we can do for those whom we lead is to cultivate in their hearts a living, vital, vibrant testimony and knowledge of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the world, the Author of our salvation, He who atoned for the sins of the world and opened the way of salvation and eternal life. I would hope that in all we do we would somehow constantly nourish the testimony of our people concerning the Savior. I am satisfied, I know it's so, that whenever a man has a true witness in his heart of the living reality of the Lord Jesus Christ all else will come together as it should. . . . That is the root from which all virtue springs among those who call themselves Latter-day Saints. - From priesthood leadership session, BYU Married Student Stakes Regional Conference, Feb. 10, 1996.
TITHING
Some of you have money problems. . . . What is the cure? The only thing I know of is payment of tithing. Now that doesn't mean that you will have a Cadillac and a mansion. But it was God who made the promise that He would open the windows of heaven and pour down blessings upon those who walked honestly with Him in the payment of their tithes and offerings, and He has the capacity to keep His promise. It is my testimony that He does keep that promise. - From first general session, Oahu Hawaii Regional Conference, Feb. 18, 1996.
SABBATH OBSERVANCE
The Sabbath is such a precious thing. It represents the great culmination of the work of Jehovah in the creation of the earth and all that's found therein. When that was completed He looked upon it and saw that it was good and He rested on the Sabbath day. Now, I make a plea to our people to refrain from shopping on Sunday. You may say, "The little bit that I do doesn't make a bit of difference." It makes all the difference in the world to you and to your children who will see your example. - From priesthood leadership session, Charlotte North Carolina Regional Conference, Feb. 24, 1996.