Excerpts from Recent Addresses of President Gordon B. Hinckley

Following are selected excerpts from public expressions and addresses given by President Gordon B. Hinckley during recent months, printed here for the benefit of Church members.

The Happiest and Most Blessed People

“If we will live the gospel, if we will put our trust in God, our Eternal Father, if we will do what we are asked to do as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we will be the happiest and most blessed people on the face of the earth” (Pocatello, Idaho, biregional conference, 4 June 1995).

Happiness in Marriage

“I am satisfied that happiness in marriage is not so much a matter of romance as it is an anxious concern for the comfort and well-being of one’s companion. Any man who will make his wife’s comfort his first concern will stay in love with her throughout their lives and through the eternity yet to come” (Anchorage, Alaska, regional conference, 18 June 1995).

God’s Promises

“Great are the promises of the Lord. The marvelous thing to me is that the Lord never asks us to do anything that He does not attach to it a blessing. It is not a sacrifice to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is never a sacrifice when you get back more than you give. It is an investment. And the living of the gospel of Jesus Christ becomes a greater investment than any of which I know because its dividends are eternal and everlasting” (Tacoma, Washington, regional conference, 20 Aug. 1995).

Our Witness of Christ

“No church in the world speaks up with a stronger witness of the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Redeemer of the World than does this Church which carries His name—The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His gospel is the gospel we teach. The spirit of love which He exemplified is the spirit in which we try to work” (interview with Susan Evans, BBC Radio 4, England, 26 Aug. 1995).

Blessings of Temple Service

“Take advantage of the blessings of the house of the Lord. What a privilege. Every man or woman who goes to the temple comes out of that building a better man or woman than he or she was when entering into it. That’s something that’s remarkable that happens with all of us. Is life filled with cares for you? Do you have problems and concerns and worries? Do you want for peace in your heart and an opportunity to commune with the Lord and meditate upon His way? Go to the house of the Lord and there feel of His spirit and commune with Him and you will know a peace that you will find nowhere else. Take advantage of it. What a great and wonderful blessing it is” (Wandsworth, England, stake conference, 27 Aug. 1995).

Missionary Couples

“I want to thank these older couples—these wonderful dedicated brethren and sisters who have pulled up their roots, left the comforts of home to come here to serve in the mission field. … It isn’t easy, but they go and do such a tremendous work. … I don’t hesitate to say that the memories of these missionary experiences will become the benediction in your lives. You will never forget them” (England Birmingham Mission meeting, 29 Aug. 1995).

Chastity

“The Church expects you to be chaste and virtuous. You know what this means. I am satisfied I need not repeat it here. But I do urge you, with all of the capacity of which I am capable, to avoid the corrosive, destructive forces of evil found in pornography. Pornography is the literature of the devil. Shun it. Stay away from it. Lift your sights and your minds to the higher and nobler things of life. Remember, ‘wickedness never was happiness’ (Alma 41:10). Sin never brought happiness. Transgression never brought happiness. Disobedience never brought happiness” (Brigham Young University devotional, 17 Oct. 1995).

Hold to the Church

“This is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is ‘the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth’ according to the word of revelation [D&C 1:30]. Here lies the truth. Here lies the priesthood. Hold to the Church. Do not ever lose sight of the fact that the Church must ever remain preeminent in your lives if you are going to be happy as the years pass. Never let yourselves be found in the position of fighting The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You cling to it and be faithful to it. You uphold and sustain it. You teach its doctrine and live by it. And I do not hesitate to say that your lives will be the richer and the happier because of that. You cannot find happiness fighting the work of God. Those who have done so have gone down to a dismal end” (Ricks College regional conference, Rexburg, Idaho, 29 Oct. 1995).

Missionary Work

“Be a part of this great process which constantly adds to the vitality of the Church. Every time a new member comes into the Church something happens. There is an infusion of strength and faith and testimony that is wonderful. Think of what this Church would be without the missionary program. … I marvel … at what is happening. I think this is the greatest age in the history of the world. I think this is the greatest time in the history of the Church. … I think there will be greater times in the future. I believe that. We are growing ever and ever stronger. I think that as the world is moving now, the direction in which it is moving, the trends which we see so markedly in this and other countries, that we may be as the few righteous were in the cities of the plains when Abraham bargained with the Lord that they might be saved because of the goodness of a few [see Gen. 18:23–33]. I hope we are worthy of that. And it will take constant effort to keep us worthy of filling that position” (Washington DC North and South Missions meeting, 12 Nov. 1995).

Faith in Ourselves

“We need more faith. More faith in ourselves that we can do what’s expected of us. We may feel terribly inadequate. When the Lord called Moses, Moses said, ‘Don’t call me. I’m a man of slow speech; I can’t do it. Get someone else.’ And what did the Lord say? ‘Who hath made man’s mouth? Now therefore go and do that which I have asked of thee.’ (See Ex. 4:10–12.) … The important thing, the wonderful thing that I see in this Church everywhere I go all over the world, is men and women who are very ordinary, really, by the standards of the world, who are doing marvelous and wonderful things as leaders in this Church. Not of their own strength and capacity, but because the Spirit of the Lord comes into their lives and the Holy Ghost teaches through them. And the Holy Ghost can teach us things that we cannot teach one another. Never forget that” (Tacoma, Washington, regional conference, priesthood leadership meeting, 19 Aug. 1995).

Peace in the World

“The gospel of Jesus Christ is the only element that will destroy the hatred that exists among people. If they will bring this gospel into their lives and recognize the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man and the effects of the Atonement of Christ, there will be a far greater measure of peace in the world. We will not have peace until that happens more generally. That is why you and I are here, brothers and sisters. That is the objective of our work—to teach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and touch the hearts of people so that they can look upon one another as brothers and sisters, as children of our Father in Heaven” (devotional for Church employees, Solihull, England, 30 Aug. 1995).

Sabbath Observance

“I thank the Lord for the Sabbath day. [The Lord’s instruction regarding it] comes from the Ten Commandments, but it is reaffirmed in strong and moving language in the modern revelation of this Church. No one has to shop on Sunday. You don’t have to buy butter on Sunday. You don’t have to buy milk on Sunday. You don’t have to buy clothes on Sunday. You don’t have to buy furniture on Sunday. No, of course not! Thank the Lord for the Sabbath day reaffirmed in this dispensation as the day of the Lord, sacred unto Him as it should be sacred unto us” (fireside, Liverpool, England, 31 Aug. 1995).

Love the Lord

“To love the Lord is not just counsel; it is not just well-wishing. It is a commandment. It is the first and great commandment incumbent upon each of us because love of God is the root from which springs all other types of love. Love of God is the root of all virtue, of all goodness, of all strength of character, of all fidelity to do right. … Love the Lord your God, and love His Son, and be ever grateful for their love for us. Whenever other love fades, there will be that shining, transcendent, everlasting love of God for each of us and the love of His Son, who gave His life for each of us” (Ricks College regional conference, Rexburg, Idaho, 29 Oct. 1995).