“There could never be enough rules so finely crafted as to anticipate and cover every situation, and even if there were, enforcement would be impossibly expensive and burdensome. This approach leads to diminished freedom for everyone...In the end, it is only an internal moral compass in each individual that can effectively deal with the root causes as well as the symptoms of societal decay. Societies will struggle in vain to establish the common good until sin is denounced as sin and moral discipline takes its place in the pantheon of civic virtues.” IfsWellsEndsEnoughWould BeIndividualCausesSinDealsCommonSituationMoralStruggleVirtueDisciplineApproachRootsVainExpensiveInternalsDecayEnforcementSymptomsCompassAnticipateCivicsCommon GoodRoot CauseMoral CompassPantheonCivic Virtue Author:D. Todd Christofferson
“The scriptures, for example, discredit an ancient philosophy that has come back into vogue in our day-the philosophy of Korihor that there are no absolute moral standards, that "every man prospers according to his genius, and that every man conquers according to his strength; and whatsoever a man does is no crime" and "that when a man is dead, that is the end thereof".” MenDoeEndsPhilosophyMoralCrimeExampleGeniusStandardsAbsolutesAncientEvery ManScriptureConquerVogueDiscreditAbsolutismAncient Philosophy Author:D. Todd Christofferson
“We need strong Christians who can persevere against hardship, who can sustain hope through tragedy, who can lift others by their example and their compassion, and who can consistently overcome temptations. We need strong Christians who can make important things happen by their faith and who can defend the truth of Jesus Christ against moral relativism and militant atheism. What is the source of such moral and spiritual power, and how do we obtain it? The source is God. Our access to that power is through our covenants with Him.” NeedsImportantHappensChristianSpiritualJesusStrongChristCompassionMoralAtheismExampleSourceJesus ChristOvercomingTragedyImportant ThingsAccessThings HappenTemptationLiftsHardshipConsistentlyPersevereCovenantMilitantRelativismSpiritual PowerMoral Relativism Author:D. Todd Christofferson
“Of all your associations, it is your relationship with God, your Heavenly Father, who is the source of your moral power.” SpiritualFatherMoralSourceHeavenlyAssociationOur RelationshipHeavenly FatherRelationship With God Author:D. Todd Christofferson
“A woman’s moral influence is nowhere more powerfully felt or more beneficially employed than in the home. There is no better setting for rearing the rising generation than the traditional family, where a father and a mother work in harmony to provide for, teach, and nurture their children. Where this ideal does not exist, people strive to duplicate its benefits as best they can in their particular circumstances.” PeopleChildrenDoeHomeMotherFatherFeltMoralTeachGenerationsInfluenceParticularCircumstancesBenefitsIdealsHarmonyStriveSettingTraditionalSettingsRisingNurtureEmployedDuplicateTraditional Family Author:D. Todd Christofferson
“Policemen and laws can never replace customs, traditions and moral values as a means for regulating human behavior. At best, the police and criminal justice system are the last desperate line of defense for a civilized society. Our increased reliance on laws to regulate behavior is a measure of how uncivilized we’ve become.” HumansMeanLastsLawValuesLinesJusticeMoralBehaviorTraditionPoliceDefenseCriminalsDesperateCivilizedCustomsHuman BehaviorReliancePolicemenJustice SystemCriminal JusticeMoral ValuesCivilized SocietyCriminal Justice SystemUncivilized Author:D. Todd Christofferson
“By "moral discipline," I mean self-discipline based on moral standards. Moral discipline is the consistent exercise of agency to choose the right because it is right, even when it is hard. It rejects the self-absorbed life in favor of developing character worthy of respect and true greatness through Christlike service.” MeanSelfHardCharacterMoralGreatnessDisciplineExerciseStandardsWorthyFavorsDevelopingAgencyConsistentRejectsSelf DisciplineSelf AbsorbedTrue Greatness Author:D. Todd Christofferson
“Moral discipline is the consistent exercise of agency to choose the right because it is right, even when it is hard.” HardMoralDisciplineExerciseAgencyConsistentSelf Absorbed Author:D. Todd Christofferson
