Words of a Prophet

Yesterday, when I heard that President Hinckley had passed away, I was torn between sadness and happiness that he would finally be reunited with his beloved wife again.

How much I will miss our dear prophet! He was the prophet of my youth, whose words and example helped to guide me through my teenage years. He was the prophet who brought temples to new parts of the world and made it easier for many members of the church to have access to a temple. I remember sitting in the stake center in Kennewick when I was about 13 and hearing President Hinckley announce plans for the newest of the "small" temples "somewhere in the Tri-Cities area of Washington state".

Throughout the years I have heard countless stories about President Hinckley and counsel from him that have inspired me. As a small tribute, I would like to share some of my favorites:

Stand a Little Taller
“Stand a little taller and work a little harder and value a little greater the marvelous blessing which you have as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That membership will bring with it a strong and moving testimony of the divinity of the Son of God, the Savior of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ.

You and I are sons and daughters of God, with something of divinity within us. Let us stand tall, my brothers and sisters. Let us live the gospel. Let us be busy in the Church. Let us learn of its doctrine. Let us feed upon its teachings. Let us grow in faith and faithfulness before the world”

Daily Choices
"The course of our lives is seldom determined by great, life-altering decisions. Our direction is often set by the small, day-to day choices that chart the track on which we run. This is the substance of our lives - making choices."

The Value of Good Books
"Good books are as friends, willing to give to us if we are willing to make a little effort."

True Love
"True love is not so much a matter of romance as it is a matter of anxious concern for the well-being of one's companion."

Begin at Home
"Do you want a spirit of love to grow in the world? Then begin within the walls of your own home. Behold your little ones, and see within them the wonders of God, from whose presence they have recently come."

Optimism
“Keep trying. Be believing. Be happy. Don’t get discouraged. Things will work out.”

The Women in Our Lives
"...I am grateful to be able to say that in our long life together I cannot remember a serious quarrel. Small differences occasionally, yes, but nothing of a serious nature. I believe our marriage has been as idyllic as anyone’s could possibly be.

I recognize that many of you are similarly blessed, and I compliment you most warmly, for when all is said and done there is no association richer than the companionship of husband and wife, and nothing more portentous for good or evil than the unending consequences of marriage. I see those consequences constantly. I see both beauty and tragedy...

After dealing with hundreds of divorce situations through the years, I am satisfied that the application of a single practice would do more than all else to solve this grievous problem. If every husband and every wife would constantly do whatever might be possible to ensure the comfort and happiness of his or her companion, there would be very little, if any, divorce. Argument would never be heard. Accusations would never be leveled. Angry explosions would not occur. Rather, love and concern would replace abuse and meanness...

The cure for most marital troubles does not lie in divorce. It lies in repentance and forgiveness, in expressions of kindness and concern. It is to be found in application of the Golden Rule."

The Youth of the Church
"We are particularly proud of our youth. I think we have never had a stronger generation of young men and women than we have today. … They are going forward with constructive lives, nurturing themselves both intellectually and spiritually. We have no fears or doubts concerning the future of this work.”

A Modest Home
"So many of our people are heavily in debt for things that are not entirely necessary. When I was a young man, my father counseled me to build a modest home, sufficient for the needs of my family, and make it beautiful and attractive and pleasant and secure. He counseled me to pay off the mortgage as quickly as I could so that, come what may, there would be a roof over the heads of my wife and children."

Moments of Introspection
“All of us ought to pause once in a while and just stop and think. … We are prone to talk too much and do too little. I think it is a wonderful thing to just indulge once in a while in moments of introspection and see what we are doing with our lives and what contribution we are making and where we could do a little better than we are now doing. I feel we would all benefit from that.”

The Savior
“We belong to this great and marvelous organization which is established on principles which the Lord Himself laid down when He walked the dusty roads of Palestine—the Son of God, who condescended to come to earth, born in a lowly manger in Bethlehem. … The miracle of His life is beyond description. He gave that life for each of us on Calvary’s hill in an act of Atonement greater than we can ever really understand. He alone shed His blood for the sins of which we are guilty, that we might have the opportunity of repenting and expecting forgiveness... God be thanked for the gift of His Son, the Redeemer of the world, the Savior of mankind, the Prince of Life and Peace, the Holy One."

I love and am so thankful for President Gordon B. Hinckley and the life he lived. How grateful I am for living prophets and their teachings and guidance!