Quotessence
Home / Books / The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson

The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson

Book by Ezra Taft Benson · 50 quotes · Men, Lord, Spirit

Filter quotes by topic

AllMenLordSpiritHomeIfsChildrenChristFatherMissionaryHeartHeavenNeedsShouldChurchGivingJoyMotherPeopleSoulBlessing

The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson Quotes

“There are blessings in being close to the soil, in raising your own food even if it is only a garden in your yard and a fruit tree or two. Those families will be fortunate who, in the last days, have an adequate supply of food because of their foresight and ability to produce their own.”

IfsTwoLastsAbilityTreeProduceBlessingGardenFruitFortunateSoilYardsAdequateForesightLast DayFruit Trees
Book:The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson
Create image

“Now, brethren, do not expect perfection in your choice of a mate. Do not be so particular that you overlook her most important qualities of having a strong testimony, living the principles of the gospel, loving home, wanting to be a mother in Zion, and supporting you in your priesthood responsibilities. Of course, she should be attractive to you.... And one good yardstick as to whether a person might be the right one for you is this: in her presence, do you think your noblest thoughts, do you aspire to your finest deeds, do you wish you were better than you are?”

ThinkingShouldPersonsImportantHomeMightMotherChoicesCoursesStrongWishQualityResponsibilityPrinciplesParticularPerfectionDeedsAttractiveMatesAspireFinestTestimonyWish YouBetter Than YouBrethrenPriesthoodLdsYardsticksZionLoving Home
Book:The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson
Create image

“Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He can deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their soals, and pour out peace.”

MenLifeMindJoySpiritTurnsOpportunityVisionComfortBlessingMen And WomenIncreaseGods WillLiftsMuscles
Book:The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson
Create image

“The world today speaks a great deal about love, and it is sought by many. But the pure love of Christ differs greatly from what the world thinks of love. Charity never seeks selfish gratification. The pure love of Christ seeks only the eternal growth and joy of others.”

ThinkingWorldTodayJoySpeakGrowthChristDealsPureEternalEternityCharitySelfishSelfishnessGratificationWorld TodayPure Love
Book:The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson
Create image

“Let us never lose sight of the fact that education is a preparation for life - and that preparing for life is far more than knowing how to make a living or how to land on the moon. Preparing for life means building personal integrity, developing a sound sense of values, increasing the capacity and willingness to serve. Education must have its roots in moral principles. If we lose sight of that fact in our attempt to match our educational system against that of the materialists, we shall have lost far more than we could possibly gain.”

IfsMeanFactsLife IsValuesLostSoundLosesMoralPrinciplesKnowingLandBuildingIntegrityMoonGainsCapacityRootsSightEducationalDevelopingPreparationWillingnessPreparingEducational SystemLife MeansMoral PrinciplesPersonal IntegrityWillingness To Serve
Book:The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson
Create image

“Humility responds to God's will-to the fear of His judgments and to the needs of those around us. To the proud, the applause of the world rings in their ears; to the humble, the applause of heaven warms their hearts. Someone has said, "Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man."”

MenWorldNeedsHeartSaidNextHeavenFearPleasureHumilityPrideProudJudgmentEarsHumbleRingsGods WillApplause
Book:The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson
Create image

“If you want to get the spirit of the gospel in your home, support the missionary program. Prepare your sons and daughters through your home evenings; through setting the proper example in your homes. Prepare to send them into the mission field. These young sons and daughters will bless your names forever if you help to make it possible through your training and your example and your willingness to sacrifice just a little, if you can call it sacrifice, to see them go into the mission field.”

IfsWantLittlesHelpingHomeYoungSpiritNamesSupportForeverSacrificeExampleFieldsSonTrainingDaughterProgramMissionsSettingSettingsEveningWillingnessBlessMissionaryYour SonSon And DaughterWillingness To SacrificeYoung Sons
Book:The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson
Create image

“Give me a young man who has kept himself morally clean and has faithfully attended his church meetings. Give me a young man who has magnified his priesthood and has earned the Duty of God Award and is an Eagle Scout. Give me a young man who is a Seminary graduate and has a burning testimony of the Book of Mormon. Give me such a young man, and I will give you a young man who can perform miracles for the Lord in the mission field and throughout his life.”

MenGivingBookYoungChurchLordFieldsDutyMiracleGive MeCleanMeetingsMissionsBurningYoung ManAwardsHave FaithGraduatesTestimonyEaglesPriesthoodSeminaryEagle Scout
Book:The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson
Create image

“Be guided by the Spirit. I have said so many times to my Brethren that the Spirit is the most important single element in this work. With the Spirit, and by magnifying your call, you can do miracles for the Lord in the mission field. Without the Spirit you will never succeed regardless of your talent and ability.”

SaidImportantSpiritCan DoAbilityLordTalentFieldsSucceedElementsMiracleMissionsMissionaryBrethrenMagnifyingTalents And Abilities
Book:The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson
Create image

“We must not lose hope. Hope is an anchor to the souls of men. Satan would have us cast away that anchor. In this way he can bring discouragement and surrender. But we must not lose hope. The Lord is pleased with every effort, even the tiny, daily ones in which we strive to be more like Him. Though we may see that we have far to go on the road to perfection, we must not give up hope.”

MenWayGivingMaySoulLosesEffortLordGoes OnGiving UpPerfectionStriveCastsTinySurrenderSatanNot Giving UpAnchorsDiscouragementCast Away
Book:The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson
Create image

“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
Create image

“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
Create image

“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.”

MenJoyJesusChristMarriagePrinciplesEternalJesus ChristImportanceSacredRewardsGloriousFaithfulnessCovenantHereafterOrdinances
Book:The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson
Create image

“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
Create image

“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
Create image

“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
Create image

“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
Create image

“True to form, many of the people who desire to frustrate God's purposes of giving mortal tabernacles to His spirit children through worldwide birth control are the very same people who support the kinds of government that perpetuate famine. They advocate an evil to cure the results of the wickedness they support.”

PeopleGivingKindChildrenGovernmentFormSpiritDesirePurposeEvilResultsSupportBirthCuresMortalsWickednessFamineBirth Control
Book:The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson
Create image