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Ezra Taft Benson

Ezra Taft Benson Quotes

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Famous Ezra Taft Benson Quotes

“Some men are willing to die for their faith but will not fully live for it. Christ both lived and died for us. By walking in his steps and through his atonement we can gain the greatest gift of all--eternal life--which is that kind of life of the great Eternal One, our Father in heaven.”

MenKindDiesFatherHeavenChristStepsWillingWalkingEternalGainsDiedOur FatherEternal LifeGreatest GiftsAtonementFather In HeavenWilling To Die
Book:The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson
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“Fathers, yours is an eternal calling from which you are never released. Callings in the Church, as important as they are, by their very nature are only for a period of time, and then an appropriate release takes place. But a father's calling is eternal, and its importance transcends time. It is a calling for both time and eternity.”

ImportantFatherChurchPeriodsCallingEternalEternityImportanceReleaseAppropriateEnd Times
Book:Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice
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“I testify to you that God's hand has been in our destiny. I testify that freedom as we know it today is being threatened as never before in our history. I further witness that this land-the Americas-must be protected, its Constitution upheld, for this is a land foreordained to be the Zion of our God. He expects us as members of the Church and bearers of His priesthood to do all we can to preserve our liberty.”

KnowsHas BeensHandsTodayChurchLibertyDestinyLandMembersConstitutionWitnessPreservesProtectedThreatenedOur DestinyPriesthoodZion
Author:Ezra Taft Benson
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“There are certain basic principles regarding the proper role of government. If principles are correct, then they can be applied to any specific proposal with confidence... The true statesman values principle above popularity, and works to create popularity for those political principles which are wise and just.”

IfsGovernmentPoliticalCertainValuesPrinciplesRolesWisePopularityProposalStatesmenBasic PrinciplesRole Of Government
Book:An enemy hath done this
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“For years we have been counseled to have on hand a year's supply of food. Yet there are some today who will not start storing until the Church comes out with a detailed monthly home storage program. Now suppose that never happens. We still cannot say we have not been told. Should the Lord decide at this time to cleanse the Church- and the need for that cleansing seems to be increasing- a famine in this land of one year's duration could wipe out a large percentage of slothful members, including some ward and stake officers. Yet we cannot say we have not been warned.”

NeedsShouldYearsHas BeensStillsHomeHandsSeemsHappensTodayChurchLordLandMembersProgramIncludingOfficersStakesPercentagesWipeFamineDurationCleansingStorage
Book:The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson
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“Marriage. . . is the most glorious and most exalting principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ. No ordinance is of more importance and none more sacred and more necessary to the eternal joy of man. Faithfulness to the marriage covenant brings the fullest joy here and glorious rewards hereafter.”

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Book:The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson
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“From the standpoint of food production, storage, handling, and the Lord's counsel, wheat should have high priority. Water, of course, is essential. Other basics could include honey or sugar, legumes, milk products or substitutes, and salt or its equivalent.”

PeopleShouldMayTodayCoursesWaterLordProductsEssentialsShould HaveSalvationProductionsStoresPrioritiesRevelationsSubstitutesHoneyMilkSugarSaltStandpointWheatBasicsStorageArkFood Production
Author:Ezra Taft Benson
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“When individual members and families immerse themselves in the scriptures regularly and consistently, … other areas of activity will automatically come. Testimonies will increase. Commitment will be strengthened. Families will be fortified. Personal revelation will flow”

IndividualActivityMembersCommitmentAreasFlowIncreaseScriptureRevelationsConsistentlyTestimonyPersonal Revelation
Book:The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson
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“I counsel you, in the words of Jesus Christ, to "watch and pray I always lest ye enter into temptation; for Satan desireth to have you, that he may sift you as wheat" (3 Nephi 18:18). If you will earnestly seek guidance from your Heavenly Father, morning and evening, you will be given the strength to shun any temptation.”

IfsMayFatherJesusGivenChristWatchesMorningPrayingJesus ChristTemptationEveningGuidanceSatanHeavenlyHeavenly FatherWheat
Author:Ezra Taft Benson
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“This is our first interest as a church-to save and exalt the souls of the children of men. There is no richer program anywhere in the world than we have in the Church today for the building of men and women and providing the answers to the problems that face parents, families, and individuals. It is a program that is needed today as never before.”

MenWorldFirstsChildrenSoulProblemTodayFacesIndividualParentInterestChurchAnswersBuildingNeededMen And WomenProgramMissionaryProvidingChurch TodayChildren Of Men
Book:God, family, country: our three great loyalties
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“A missionary should never permit himself to see a movie or (read) cheap literature, or hear music that tends to interfere with or which dampens the spirit of missionary work. There is ample evidence that rock music is offensive to the Spirit and affects adversely the spirituality of the missionaries and thus the success of the proselyting work.”

ShouldSpiritSpiritualityLiteratureRocksMusic IsEvidencePermitMissionaryInterfereOffensiveRock MusicMissionary Work
Author:Ezra Taft Benson
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“A missionary who is inspired by the Spirit of the Lord must be led by that Spirit to choose the proper approach to be effective. We must not forget that the Lord Himself provided the Book of Mormon as His chief witness. The Book of Mormon is still our most powerful missionary tool. Let us use it.”

StillsBookUseSpiritForgetPowerfulLordApproachToolsInspiredChiefsWitnessMost PowerfulMissionary
Book:The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson
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“Someone has said it is better to appreciate the things you don't own than to own things you don't appreciate. I hope we will have with us a spirit of appreciation for all of the good things we enjoy, all the blessings that we have, many of which have come so easy to us, with very little effort on our part, and yet they are very real and very choice and are truly rich blessings.”

LittlesSaidRealSpiritChoicesHopeEasyEnjoyEffortRichBlessingAppreciateGood ThingsAppreciation
Author:Ezra Taft Benson
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“Pride does not look up to God and care about what is right. It looks sideways to man and argues who is right. Pride is manifest in the spirit of contention. Was it not through pride that the devil became the devil? Christ wanted to serve. The devil wanted to rule. Christ wanted to bring men to where He was. The devil wanted to be above men. Christ removed self as the force in His perfect life. It was not my will, but thine be done”

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Author:Ezra Taft Benson
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“In the scriptures there is no such thing as righteous pride. It is always considered as a sin. We are not speaking of a wholesome view of self-worth, which is best established by a close relationship with God. But we are speaking of pride as the universal sin, as someone has described it. . . . Essentially, pride is a "my will" rather than "thy will" approach to life. The opposite of pride is humbleness, meekness, submissiveness, or teachableness.”

LifeSelfSinViewsPrideApproachOppositesUniversalScriptureSelf WorthRighteousRelationship With GodHumblenessMeeknessClose Relationship
Author:Ezra Taft Benson
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“Many of us have a tendency to forget the Gracious Hand which has preserved our nation, enriched it, strengthened it. Many of us imagine in the foolishness of pride, that our manifold blessings are due not to God's goodness, but to our own wisdom and virtue. Too many of us have been so drunk with self-sufficiency as no longer to feel the need of prayer.”

NeedsFeelsHas BeensSelfWisdomHandsNationsPrayerForgetVirtueImaginePrideBlessingGoodnessDuesTendenciesDrunkFoolishnessGraciousSelf SufficiencySufficiencyManifold
Book:The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson
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“Clean hearts and healthful food, exercise, early sleep and fresh air, wholesome recreation and meditation combined with optimism that comes from fighting for the right and knowing you'll eventually win for keeps - this is the tonic every true Christian patriot needs and deserves.”

NeedsHeartChristianFightingWinningSleepKnowingMeditationAirExerciseDeserveOptimismCookingCleanPatriotRecreationFresh AirVery TrueClean Heart
Book:God, family, country: our three great loyalties
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“The key to overcoming aloneness and a feeling of uselessness for one who is physically able is to step outside yourself by helping others who are truly needy. We promise those who will render this kind of service that, in some measure, you will be healed of the loss of loved ones or the dread of being alone. The way to feel better about your own situation is to improve someone else's circumstances.”

WayLoveFeelsKindHelpingFeelingsAbleLossSituationStepsKeysCircumstancesPromiseOvercomingHelping OthersLoved OnesDreadFeel BetterHealedNeedyUselessnessLoss Of A Loved OneLove Loss
Author:Ezra Taft Benson
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“We need to be more grateful. I think there is no true character without gratitude. It is one of the marks of a real strong character to have a feeling of thanksgiving and gratitude for blessings. We need more of that spirit in our homes, in our daily associations, in the church, everywhere. It doesn't cost anything, and it is so easy to cultivate.”

ThinkingNeedsRealCharacterFeelingsHomeSpiritStrongEasyChurchGratitudeBlessingCostMarkGratefulAssociationThanksgiving And GratitudeTrue CharacterStrong Character
Book:God, family, country: our three great loyalties
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“I never travel across this great nation without experiencing a feeling of gratitude and thanksgiving for all that we have and are. As I see its broad fruitful farms, its humming factories, its gleaming cities, certainly it is easy to realize that we have achieved unequaled material progress in this great country.”

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Author:Ezra Taft Benson
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“You must not allow yourselves to become discouraged. Missionary work brings joy, optimism, and happiness. Don't give Satan an opportunity to discourage you. Here again, work is the answer. The Lord has given us a key by which we can overcome discouragement: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."”

GivingHeartSoulLightHappinessJoyOpportunityGivenEasyWorkAnswersLordKeysLaborOptimismOvercomingBurdenHeavyYour SoulSatanMissionaryDiscouragedDiscouragingDiscouragementMeekYokeMissionary Work
Book:The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson
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