Being Still

"...acknowledging God’s hand includes, in the words of the Prophet Joseph, trusting that God has made “ample provision” beforehand to achieve all His purposes, including His purposes in our lives (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 220). Sometimes He clearly directs; other times it seems He merely permits some things to happen. Therefore, we will not always understand the role of God’s hand, but we know enough of his heart and mind to be submissive. Thus when we are perplexed and stressed, explanatory help is not always immediately forthcoming, but compensatory help will be. Thus our process of cognition gives way to our personal submission, as we experience those moments when we learn to “be still, and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10)."

Neal A. Maxwell, "Swallowed up in the Will of the Father," General Conference, October 1995.

Setting the Pace for Qualifying for Exhaltation

"The Lord’s plan is to exalt you to live with Him and be greatly blessed. The rate at which you qualify is generally set by your capacity to mature, to grow, to love, and to give of yourself."

Richard G. Scott, "Trust in the Lord," General Conference. October 1995.

He Wants Your Happiness Even More Than You do

"Our Father in Heaven has invited you to express your needs, hopes, and desires unto Him. That should not be done in a spirit of negotiation, but rather as a willingness to obey His will no matter what direction that takes. His invitation, “Ask, and ye shall receive” (3 Ne. 27:29) does not assure that you will get what you want. It does guarantee that, if worthy, you will get what you need, as judged by a Father that loves you perfectly, who wants your eternal happiness even more than do you."

Richard G. Scott, "Trust in the Lord," General Conference,October 1995.

The Purpose of Agency

"Your agency, the right to make choices, is not given so that you can get what you want. This divine gift is provided so that you will choose what your Father in Heaven wants for you. That way He can lead you to become all that He intends you to be. That path leads to glorious joy and happiness."

Richard G. Scott, "Finding Joy in Life," General Conference, April 1996.

The Fruit of Keeping Covenants

"The fruit of keeping covenants is the companionship of the Holy Ghost and an increase in the power to love. That happens because of the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ to change our very natures."

Henry B. Eyring, "Witnesses for God," General Conference, October 1996.

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.