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Thomas S. Monson

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Famous Thomas S. Monson Quotes

“This is a wonderful time to be living here on earth. Our opportunities are limitless. While there are some things wrong in the world today, there are many things right, such as teachers who teach, ministers who minister, marriages that make it, parents who sacrifice, and friends who help. "We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues."”

IfsWorldWellsHeartHelpingTodayEarthOpportunityParentSinAttitudeTeachVirtueTeacherWonderfulSacrificeSeriousGratitudeNegativeRefuseLiftsMinistersRealmsLimitlessWorld TodayNegative ThoughtsIngratitudeWonderful TimesAttitude Of Gratitude
Author:Thomas S. Monson
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“A home is much more than a house built of lumber, brick, or stone. A home is made of love, sacrifice, and respect. We are responsible for the homes we build. We must build wisely, for eternity is not a short voyage. There will be calm and wind, sunlight and shadows, joy and sorrow. But if we really try, our home can be a bit of heaven here on earth. The thoughts we think, the deeds we do, the lives we live not only influence the success of our earthly journey, they also mark the way to our eternal goals.”

IfsThinkingWayTryingMadeHomeEarthJoyHouseHeavenBitsGoalSacrificeJourneyInfluenceWindSorrowEternalShadowBuiltStonesEternityMarkResponsibleCalmDeedsSunlightBricksVoyagesJoys And SorrowsLumberLove Sacrifice
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“In the performance of our responsibilities, I have learned that when we heed a silent prompting and act upon it without delay, our Heavenly Father will guide our footsteps and bless our lives and the lives of others. I know of no experience more sweet or feelings more precious than to heed a prompting, only to discover that the Lord has answered another's prayer through you.”

KnowsFeelingsFatherPrayerResponsibilityLordOur LivesSweetHolyPerformancesSilentGuidesGhostHeavenlyBlessI Have LearnedDelayHeavenly FatherFootstepsHoly GhostHeedLives Of Others
Author:Thomas S. Monson
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“When called to the Council of the Twelve, October 4, 1963, he said in the Salt Lake Tabernacle: I think of a little sister, a French-Canadian sister, whose life was changed by the missionaries as her spirit was touched. As she said good-by to me and my wife in Quebec, she said, "President Monson, I may never see the Prophet. I may never hear the Prophet. But President, far better, now that I am a member of this Church, I can obey the Prophet."”

ThinkingMayLittlesSaidI CanSpiritPresidentChurchWifeChangedMembersMy WifeProphetLakesTouchedTwelveSaltCouncilSisterOctoberLittle SisterBetter NowQuebec
Author:Thomas S. Monson
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“Miracles are everywhere to be found when priesthood callings are magnified. When faith replaces doubt, when selfless service eliminates selfish striving, the power of God brings to pass His purposes. The priesthood is not really so much a gift as it is a commission to serve, a privilege to lift, and an opportunity to bless the lives of others.”

PurposeFoundOpportunityDoubtCallingMiracleUnityStrivePrivilegeSelfishLiftsBlessSelflessSelfless ServiceLives Of OthersPriesthoodPower Of God
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“The spirit must be freed from tethers so strong and feelings never put to rest, so that the lift of life may give buoyancy to the soul. In many families, there are hurt feelings and a reluctance to forgive. It doesn’t really matter what the issue was. It cannot and should not be left to injure. Blame keeps wounds open. Only forgiveness heals. George Herbert, an early 17th-century poet, wrote these lines: ‘He that cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass if he would ever reach heaven, for everyone has need of forgiveness.’”

IfsNeedsGivingShouldMaySoulMatterFeelingsSpiritLeftStrongHeavenHurtLinesBreakIssuesCenturyPoetBlameForgivingWoundsHealLiftsBridgesHurt FeelingsReluctance17th CenturyBuoyancy
Author:Thomas S. Monson
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“The battle for self-discipline may leave you a bit bruised and battered but always a better person. Self-discipline is a rigorous process at best; too many of us want it to be effortless and painless. Should temporary setbacks afflict us, a very significant part of our struggle for self-discipline is the determination and the courage to try again....Eternal life in the kingdom of our Father is your goal, and self-discipline will surely be required if you are to achieve it.”

IfsWantShouldTryingMayPersonsSelfFatherBitsProcessGoalStruggleAchieveDisciplineBattleEternalDeterminationSignificantKingdomsTemporarySelf DisciplineOur FatherEternal LifeTry AgainSetbackBetter PersonEffortlessBruisedBatteredPainlessTemporary Setbacks
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“Let us have the courage to defy the consensus, the courage to stand for principle. Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God’s approval. Courage becomes a living and an attractive virtue when it is regarded not only as a willingness to die manfully, but also as a determination to live decently. A moral coward is one who is afraid to do what he thinks is right because others will disapprove or laugh. Remember that all men have their fears, but those who face their fears with dignity have courage as well.”

ThinkingMenWellsRememberFacesDiesMoralPrinciplesLaughingVirtueDeterminationDignityCompromiseAttractiveWillingnessCowardApprovalConsensusHave Courage
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“As parents, we should remember that our lives may be the book from the family library which the children most treasure. Are our examples worthy of emulation? Do we live in such a way that a son or a daughter may say, ‘I want to follow my dad,’ or ‘I want to be like my mother’? Unlike the book on the library shelf, the covers of which shield its contents, our lives cannot be closed. Parents, we truly are an open book in the library of learning of our homes.”

WayWantShouldMayChildrenBookHomeRememberMotherParentOur LivesExampleSonDadDaughterLibraryMy DadWorthyTreasureShelvesShieldsOpen BookEmulation
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“A prominent judge was asked what we, as citizens of the countries of the world, could do to reduce crime and disobedience to law and to bring peace and contentment into our lives and into our nations. He thoughtfully replied, ‘I would suggest a return to the old-fashioned practice of family prayer.’”

WorldCountryLawNationsPrayerPracticeOur LivesCrimeJudgingReturnCitizensContentmentOld FashionedDisobedienceProminentCountries Of The WorldFamily Prayer
Book:Live the Good Life
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“There are many out there who plead and pray for help. There are those who are discouraged, those who are beset by poor health and challenges of life which leave them in despair. I’ve always believed in the truth of the words, ‘God’s sweetest blessings always go by hands that serve him here below.’ Let us have ready hands, clean hands, and willing hands, that we may participate in providing what our Heavenly Father would have others receive from Him.”

MayHelpingHandsFatherChallengesPoorWillingReadyPrayingBlessingDespairCleanHeavenlyProvidingDiscouragedAlways BelieveSweetestHeavenly FatherPoor HealthClean Hands
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“Life's journey is not traveled on a freeway devoid of obstacles, pitfalls, and snares. Rather, it is a pathway marked by forks and turnings. Decisions are constantly before us. To make them wisely, courage is needed: the courage to say, 'No,' the courage to say, 'Yes.' Decisions do determine destiny. The call for courage comes constantly to each of us. It has ever been so, and so shall it ever be.”

DecisionDestinyCourageJourneyNeededDetermineObstaclesTraveledPathwaysForksSnaresPitfallsFreeways
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“At times many of us let that enemy of achievement--even the culprit 'self-defeat'--dwarf our aspirations, smother our dreams, cloud our vision, and impair our lives. The enemy's voice whispers in our ears, 'You can't do it.' 'You're too young.' 'You're too old.' 'You're nobody.' This is when we remember that we are created in the image of God. Reflection on this truth provides a profound sense of strength and power.”

SelfDreamRememberYoungVoiceVisionEnemyOur LivesAchievementReflectionEarsProfoundDefeatCloudsAspirationOur DreamsGod ImageDwarfsOld YouDwarvesCulprit
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“As we move toward the future, we must not neglect the lessons of the past. Our Heavenly Father gave His Son. The Son of God gave His life. We are asked by Them to give our lives, as it were, in Their divine service. Will you? Will I? Will we? There are lessons to be taught, there are kind deeds to be done, there are souls to be saved.”

GivingKindSoulDonePastMovingFatherOur LivesTaughtDivineSonLessonsDeedsSavedHeavenlyNeglectHeavenly FatherKind DeedsLessons Of The Past
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“I know that God loves us. He allows us to exercise our moral agency even when we misuse it. He permits us to make our own decisions. Christ cannot help us if we do not trust Him; He cannot teach us if we do not serve Him. He will not force us to do what's right, but He will show us the way only when we decide to serve Him. Certainly, for us to serve in His kingdom, Christ requires that we experience a change of thought and attitude.”

IfsKnowsWayHelpingShowsForceChristDecisionAttitudeMoralTeachExerciseKingdomsGod LoveAgencyPermitMisuseGod Loves Us
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“We become so caught up in the busyness of our lives. Were we to step back, however, and take a good look at what we’re doing, we may find that we have immersed ourselves in the “thick of thin things.” In other words, too often we spend most of our time taking care of the things which do not really matter much at all in the grand scheme of things, neglecting those more important causes.”

LooksMayImportantMatterCareCausesStepsOur LivesCaughtOur TimeNeglectThickSchemesCaught UpLooking Good
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“We've all felt anger. It can come when things don't turn out the way we want. It might be a reaction to something which is said of us or to us. We may experience it when people don't behave the way we want them to behave. Perhaps it comes when we have to wait for something longer than we expected. We might feel angry when others can't see things from our perspective. There seem to be countless possible reasons for anger….If we desire to have a proper spirit with us at all times, we must choose to refrain from becoming angry.”

PeopleIfsWayWantFeelsMaySaidReasonSeemsMightSpiritDesireTurnsFeltWaitingPerspectiveBecomingAngryExpectedReactionsAll TimeBehaveRefrain
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“Mortality is a period of testing, a time to prove ourselves worthy to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father. In order for us to be tested, we must face challenges and difficulties. These can break us, and the surface of our souls may crack and crumble-that is, if our foundations of faith, our testimonies of truth are not deeply embedded within us.”

IfsMaySoulFacesOrderFatherChallengesBreakReturnPeriodsProveDifficultyFoundationWorthySurfaceHeavenlyCracksMortalityTestimonyTestedTestingHeavenly FatherEmbedded
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“It is necessary to prepare and to plan so that we don’t fritter away our lives. Without a goal, there can be no real success. One of the best definitions of success I have ever heard goes something like this: success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal. Someone has said the trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never cross the goal line.”

SaidRealRunningGoalLinesOur LivesPlansTroubleHeardFieldsIdealsCrossesDefinitionsWorthyRealizationProgressiveUp And DownReal SuccessDefinition Of Success
Author:Thomas S. Monson
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“The passage of time has not altered the capacity of the Redeemer to change men’s lives. As he said to the dead Lazarus, so he says to you and me: “come forth.” Come forth from the despair of doubt. Come forth from the sorrow of sin. Come forth from the death of disbelief. Come forth to a newness of life. Come forth.”

MenSaidSinDoubtSorrowDespairCapacityPassagesDisbeliefAlteredRedeemerPassage Of TimeNewnessLazarusNewness Of Life
Author:Thomas S. Monson
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“Who was this Man of sorrows, acquainted with grief? Who is the King of glory, this Lord of hosts? He is our Master. He is our Savior. He is the Son of God. He is the Author of our Salvation. He beckons, “Follow me.” He instructs, “Go, and do thou likewise.” He pleads, “Keep my commandments.” Let us follow Him. Let us emulate His example. Let us obey His word. By so doing, we give to Him the divine gift of gratitude.”

MenGivingGriefLordExampleDivineSonMastersKingsSorrowGratitudeGlorySalvationSaviorHostCommandmentsFollow MeEmulate
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