2018/01/16

Quotes From the Silver Fox


Today, the leaders of the Church held a press conference to officially announce the new President of the Church and his counselors. While today's announcement held no surprises for me, I can't pretend that I am satisfied and feel good about the direction that the leaders of the church appear to be heading toward. I saw and spoke with many who are hurting (and I am now one of them) who do not understand why certain choices were made and were dismayed by some of the language used at the conference as well as the non-answers to questions asked. I can't make any changes to the leadership nor is my opinion of any import for many reasons- one reason including the fact that my gender has almost no voice in church hierarchy and decision-making. So this evening I sit quietly and reflect on the changes and apparent direction of church policy and I found myself focusing on President Uchtdorf - now Elder Uchtdorf- and the wonderful things that he has said over the last several years that give me hope, focus, and a renewed desire to keep working towards better charity, understanding and joy within my life. Here are many of the talks and quotes from those talks that sprang to mind this evening. Where I can I have provided links to the full talk for those who wish to enjoy more than the small blurb that I have focused on. Over the next few weeks, rest assured I will find myself focusing on the wisdom in this talks as I look at a future that, for at least awhile, will have fewer talks like these.


Compared to God man is nothing; yet we are everything to God - "You Matter to Him", October 2011

When it comes to living the gospel, we should not be like the boy who dipped his toe in the water and then claimed he went swimming. As sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, we are capable of so much more. For that, good intentions are not enough. We must do. Even more important, we must become what Heavenly Father wants us to be. - "Of Regrets and Resolutions", October 2012

But I also recognize that there are some who have a less-than-fulfilling experience—who feel that their membership in the Church sometimes isn’t quite what they had hoped for... We do not need to be 'more' of anything to start to become the person God intended us to become. - "It Works Wonderfully", October 2015

...love...it ought to be at the center of all and everything we do in our own family, in our church callings, and our livelihood. Love is the healing balm that repairs rifts in personal and family relationships. It is the bond that unites families, communities and nations. Love is the power that initiates friendship, tolerance, civility, and respect. It is the source that overcomes divisiveness and hate. Love is the fire that warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope. Love should be our walk and our talk. - "The Love of God", October 2009

I know of no sign on the doors of our meetinghouses that says "your testimony must be this tall" to enter. - "Receiving a Testimony of Light and Truth", October 2014

Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God's love encompasses us completely. ... He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken.
- "The Love of God", October 2009

When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following: Stop it! - "The Merciful Obtain Mercy", April 2012

We must realize that all of God's children wear the same jersey. Our team is the brotherhood of man. This mortal life is our playing field. Our goal is to learn to love God and to extend that same love towards our fellowman.
- "Pride and the Priesthood", October 2010

Don't judge me because I sin differently from you. - "The Merciful Obtain Mercy", April 2012

He is not waiting to love you until you have overcome your weaknesses and bad habits. He loves you today with a full understanding of your struggles. He is aware that you reach up to Him in heartfelt and hopeful prayer. He knows of the times you have held onto the fading light and believed—even in the midst of growing darkness. He knows of your sufferings. He knows of your remorse for the times you have fallen short or failed. And still He loves you
. - "Living the Gospel Joyful", October 2014

And, to be perfectly frank, there have been times when members or leaders in the Church have simply made mistakes. There may have been things said or done that were not in harmony with our values, principles, or doctrine. - "Come Join With Us", October 2013

We sometimes confuse sin with sinner, and we condemn too quickly and with too little compassion. We know from modern revelation that ‘the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.’ We cannot gauge the worth of another soul any more than we can measure the span of the universe. - "You Are My Hands", April 2010

Without this transformational work of caring for our fellowmen, the Church is but a facade of the organization God intends for His people. Without charity and compassion we are a mere shadow of who we are meant to be—both as individuals and as a church. Without charity and compassion, we are neglecting our heritage and endangering our promise as children of God. - "Charity is Core of the Gospel", December 2015

...I wonder if sometimes we misinterpret the phrase “after all we can do. We must understand that 'after' does not equal 'because.' We are not saved 'because' of all that we can do.
- "The Gift of Grace", April 2015

Brothers and Sisters, as good as our previous experience may be, if we stop asking questions, stop thinking, stop pondering, we can thwart the revelations of the Spirit. Remember, it was the questions young Joseph asked that opened the door to the restoration of all things. We can block the growth and knowledge our Heavenly Father intends for us. How often has the Holy Spirit tried to tell us something that we needed to know but couldn't get past the massive iron gate of what we thought we already knew?
- World Leadership Training Video 2012

Tonight I would like to use this little flower as a metaphor. The five petals of the little forget-me-not flower prompt me to consider five things we would be wise never to forget. First, forget not to be patient with yourself. Second, forget not the difference between a good sacrifice and a foolish sacrifice. Third, forget not to be happy now. Fourth, forget not the “why” of the gospel. Fifth, forget not that the Lord loves you.
- "Forget Me Not", October 2011



picture and links from LDS.org

2 comments:

  1. I love Uchtdorf! He’s so loving and compassionate. Thanks so sharing this

    ReplyDelete