The Doctrine of Desire

"Desire denotes a real longing or craving. Hence righteous desires are much more than passive preferences or fleeting feelings. Of course our genes, circumstances, and environments matter very much, and they shape us significantly. Yet there remains an inner zone in which we are sovereign, unless we abdicate. In this zone lies the essence of our individuality and our personal accountability.

"Therefore, what we insistently desire, over time, is what we will eventually become and what we will receive in eternity...

"Whenever spiritually significant things are under way, righteous desires are present..." (Emphasis added)

Neal A. Maxwell, "According to the Desire of our Hearts," General Conference, October 1996.

Beware the Pattern

"If we are not careful, today’s secret combinations can obtain power and influence just as quickly and just as completely as they did in Book of Mormon times. Do you remember the pattern? The secret combinations began among the “more wicked part” of society, but eventually “seduced the more part of the righteous” until the whole society was polluted."

M. Russell Ballard, "Standing for Truth and Right," General Priesthood Meeting, October 1997.

Hobbies can aid Spiritual Development

"Hobbies can aid in spiritual development. Worthy music, dance, art, and writing are among the creative activities that can enrich the soul. A good hobby can dispel heartache and give zest to life."

Russell M. Nelson, "Spiritual Capacity," General Conference, October 1997.

The Quest for Excellence

"All of us cannot be geniuses, but we can strive for excellence. This quest may be a long one. It may be fraught with much of repentance, and it will take much of effort. Do not sell yourselves short. You are sons and daughters of God, children with a divine potential."

President Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Quest for Excellence," Brigham Young University Devotional Address, November 10, 1998.

Clean Hands and Pure Hearts

"All of our worthy desires and good works, as necessary as they are, can never produce clean hands and a pure heart. It is the Atonement of Jesus Christ that provides both a cleansing and redeeming power that helps us to overcome sin and a sanctifying and strengthening power that helps us to become better than we ever could by relying only upon our own strength. The infinite Atonement is for both the sinner and for the saint in each of us."

David A. Bednar, "Clean Hands and a Pure Heart," General Conference, October 2007.

Ultimate Hope

"Because God wants us to come home after having become more like Him and His Son, part of this developmental process, of necessity, consists of showing unto us our weaknesses. Hence, if we have ultimate hope we will be submissive, because, with His help, those weaknesses can even become strengths (see Ether 12:27).

"It is not an easy thing, however, to be shown one’s weaknesses, as these are regularly demonstrated by life’s circumstances. Nevertheless, this is part of coming unto Christ, and it is a vital, if painful, part of God’s plan of happiness."

Neal A. Maxwell, "Hope Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ," General Conference, October 1999.

Ask Not Why

"I have come to understand how useless it is to dwell on the whys, what ifs, and if onlys for which there likely will be given no answers in mortality. To receive the Lord’s comfort, we must exercise faith. The questions Why me? Why our family? Why now? are usually unanswerable questions. These questions detract from our spirituality and can destroy our faith. We need to spend our time and energy building our faith by turning to the Lord and asking for strength to overcome the pains and trials of this world and to endure to the end for greater understanding."

Robert D. Hales, "Healing Soul and Body," General Conference, October 1998.