Quotessence
Home / Authors / Ezra Taft Benson
Ezra Taft Benson

Ezra Taft Benson Quotes

Farmer

Filter quotes by topic

AllMenLordIfsChildrenPrideSpiritFatherPeopleShouldChristHomeKnowsBookChurchNationsNeedsWorldBlessingMayConstitution

Famous Ezra Taft Benson Quotes

“I have often said one of the greatest secrets of missionary work is work! If a missionary works, he will get the Spirit; if he gets the Spirit, he will teach by the Spirit; and if he teaches by the Spirit, he will touch the hearts of the people and he will be happy. There will be no homesickness, no worrying about families, for all time and talents and interests are centered on the work of the ministry. Work, work, work-there is no satisfactory substitute, especially in missionary work.”

PeopleIfsHeartSaidSpiritInterestSecretTeachWorryTalentAll TimeSubstitutesMissionaryMinistryAbout FamilyHomesicknessMissionary Work
Book:The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson
Create image

“The proud depend upon the world to tell them whether they have value or not. Their self-esteem is determined by where they are judged to be on the ladders of worldly success. They feel worthwhile as individuals if the numbers beneath them in achievement, talent, beauty, or intellect are large enough.”

IfsWorldFeelsSelfEnoughValuesIndividualNumbersTalentSelf EsteemDependsProudAchievementIntellectDeterminedEsteemJudgedWorthwhileWorldlyLadders
Author:Ezra Taft Benson
Create image

“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

“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

“If America is destroyed, it may be by Americans who salute the flag, sing the national anthem, march in patriotic parades, cheer Fourth of July speakers - normally good Americans, but Americans who fail to comprehend what is required to keep our country strong and free, Americans who have been lulled away into a false security.”

IfsMayHas BeensCountryAmericaStrongFailingSecurityDestroyedOur CountryNationalismMarchPatrioticCheerFlagsFourthSpeakersJulyParadesSaluteAnthemNational Anthem
Book:An enemy hath done this
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

“Prepare yourselves mentally. A mission requires a great deal of mental preparation. You must memorize missionary discussions, memorize scriptures, and oftentimes learn a new language. The discipline to do this is learned in your early years. Establish now the daily practice of reading the scriptures ten to fifteen minutes each day. If you do so, by the time you reach the mission field, you will have read all four of the standard works. I urge you to read particularly the Book of Mormon so that you can testify of its truthfulness as the Lord has directed.”

IfsYearsBookReadingLanguageDealsLordPracticeFourMinutesFieldsDisciplineTenStandardsMissionsScripturePreparationDiscussionEach DayUrgesMissionaryFifteenTruthfulnessReading The Scriptures
Author:Ezra Taft Benson
Create image

“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
Create image

“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
Create image

“If there is one word that describes the meaning of character, it is the word honor. Without honor, civilization would not long exist. Without honor, there could be no dependable contracts, no lasting marriages, no trust or happiness. What does the word honor mean to you? To me, honor is summarized in this expression by the poet Tennyson, "Man's word [of honor] is God in man."”

IfsMenMeanLongDoeCharacterHappinessTrustPoetExpressionHonorCivilizationLastingContractsOne WordDependableLasting MarriageNo TrustTennyson
Author:Ezra Taft Benson
Create image

“I wish that every Latter-day Saint could say and mean it with all his heart: 'I'll go where you want me to go. I'll say what you want me to say. I'll be what you want me to be'. If we could do that, we would be assured of the maximum happiness here and exaltation in the celestial kingdom of God hereafter.”

IfsWantHeartMeanWould BeWishSaintWhat You WantKingdomsLatterWant MeAssuredMaximumKingdom Of GodCelestialHereafterYou Want MeExaltationLatter DaysLatter Day Saints
Book:The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson
Create image

“Have good associates or don't associate at all. Be careful in the selection of your friends. If in the presence of certain persons you are lifted to nobler heights, you are in good company. But if your friends or associates encourage base thoughts, then you had best leave them.”

IfsPersonsCertainFriendshipCompanyCarefulHeightBe CarefulAssociatesSelectionGood Company
Book:God, family, country: our three great loyalties
Create image

“If we keep a goal firmly in mind, we will know when we have reached it. This gives us a sense of accomplishment and the challenge of establishing fresh, new goals - always keeping the long-range objective in mind. If we can state our goals clearly, we will gain a purpose and meaning in all our actions.”

IfsKnowsGivingMindLongStatesActionPurposeGoalChallengesGainsObjectivesGenerosityRangeAccomplishmentOur ActionsSense Of AccomplishmentNew GoalPurpose And Meaning
Author:Ezra Taft Benson
Create image

“If we are to achieve long-range goals, we must learn to set up and accomplish short-range goals that will move us along the way. If we do not consciously select our goals, we may be controlled by goals not of our own choosing - goals imposed by outside pressures (such as the expectations of others) or by our habits (such as procrastination) or by our desire for the approval of the world.”

IfsWorldWayMayLongMovingDesireGoalAchieveHabitExpectationsPressureAccomplishGenerosityRangeControlledApprovalProcrastinationSelect
Author:Ezra Taft Benson
Create image