“Words of the Living Prophet,” Liahona, Nov. 1999, 12
Words of the Living Prophet
Education
“The Lord has placed a mandate upon us that we should study and learn, that we should acquire knowledge by study and by faith, that we should acquire knowledge of a secular nature, as well as the things of God (see D&C 88:118). Don’t do anything which would disqualify you from the opportunity of gaining an education. It is a very important part of your religion. Education is the key which unlocks the door of opportunity. If you gain that key, the world will bless you and compensate you according to what it considers to be your worth.”1
Family
“I hope that you parents kneel together with your children every day in prayer. I hope that you mothers read to your children, that you read the scriptures. They won’t understand it all, but there will come into their hearts a feeling, as you read to them the word of God, that will bless their lives forever after. I hope that you have family home evening, that you gather your children together around you, and that you sing and pray and talk together and build faith in one another.”2
Holy Ghost
“How do we recognize the promptings of the Spirit? That which is of Christ does edify, and if we have that feeling of edification, then we may know that the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost, is speaking to us. If we are in an attitude of prayer, if we are in an attitude of anxiously seeking the direction of the Spirit, we will receive it. There isn’t the slightest doubt in my mind concerning this.”3
Missionaries
“Wrote Paul to Timothy, ‘Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine[s]; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee’ (1 Tim. 4:16). That is what happens when you take heed unto yourself and the doctrines—when you do the right things, when you believe the right things, when you say the right things concerning the work of the Lord, you save both yourself and those that hear you. And furthermore, there is another body whom you save, and that is your family. There isn’t any doubt in my mind, every missionary who goes out with a good heart and a great spirit saves himself, saves those whom he teaches, and does something for the family that he leaves behind. Take heed unto thyself, and to the doctrines.”4
Missionary Work
“Young men have an obligation to go on missions. They have an obligation to prepare to go on missions. They have a responsibility to give a tithe of their lives to teaching the gospel. Young women don’t have that same obligation. They need not feel under compulsion to go. If they wish to go, they may speak with their bishops and their stake presidents and make the decision that they desire, in terms of the counsel which they receive from their local ecclesiastical leaders.”5
Priesthood Holders
“What does [the Lord] expect of you men? He expects that you will be honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and that you will do good to all men (see A of F 1:13). He expects you to be kind and considerate husbands. He expects you to be gracious and gentle fathers who rear your children in kindness and love. There is no place for wife abuse. There is no place for child abuse anywhere among the men who hold the priesthood of God in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Brethren, look inside yourselves. Are you living as the Lord would have you live, as those who hold His holy priesthood? God bless you to be true to the great and sacred obligation you hold as those who have been empowered to speak in His holy name for the accomplishment of His divine purposes.”6
Word of Wisdom
“People argue over whether the Word of Wisdom is simply the word of the Lord or a commandment. What difference does it make? The word of the Lord becomes a commandment to me, and I am so very grateful for that marvelous thing which we call the Word of Wisdom.”7
Womanhood
“Women, what does [the Lord] expect of you? He expects of you to live as Latter-day Saints and be virtuous and true and kind. Those of you who are mothers, to rear your children in righteousness and truth; those of you who are wives, to be kind and gracious and good, because if there is not happiness in the home, there cannot be peace in the heart.”8
Photograph of President Hinckley by Jed Clark
Photograph of hands by John Luke
Photographs of graduate and missionaries by Steve Bunderson