As God is, man may become! Our enemies have criticized us for believing in this. Gordon B Hinckley, general conference October 1994
As I have said before, we must not be clannish. We must never adopt a holier-than-thou attitude. We must not be self-righteous. We must be magnanimous, and open, and friendly. We can keep our faith. We can practice our religion. We can cherish our method or worship without being offensive to others. I take this occasion to plead for a spirit of tolerance and neighborliness, of friendship and love toward those of other faiths. Gordon B Hinckley, July 2001
Do you wish to marry a girl whose education has been far superior to your own? Gordon B Hinckley
Each of us has to face the matter – either the Church is true, or it is a fraud. There is no middle ground. It is the Church and kingdom of God, or it is nothing. Gordon B Hinckley, April Conference 2003
Husbands, love and treasure your wives. They are your most precious possessions. Wives, encourage and pray for your husbands. They need all the help they can get. Gordon B Hinckley, general conference 2007
I am so grateful that we live in an era of comparative peace. There are no great wars raging across the world. There is trouble here and there but not a great worldwide conflict. We are able to carry the gospel to so many nations of the earth and bless the lives of the people wherever it goes. Gordon B Hinckley, general conference April 2001 (five months before 9/11)
I desire no gifts, but rather I wish to give something to this community in which I have spent most of my life. To this end I am hosting a party. Gordon B Hinckley
I don’t know how the missionaries find some of the people they find. The FBI can’t find them, the police can’t find them, but our missionaries find them [laughter]. Why is that? Gordon B Hinckley
I knew a so-called intellectual who said the Church was trapped by its history. My response was that without that history we have nothing. Gordon B Hinckley, article Ensign November 2002, ‘The Marvelous Foundation of Our Faith’
I submit that it is an uncomely thing, and yet a common thing, to see young men with ears pierced for earrings, not for one pair only, but for several. They have no respect for their appearance. Do they think it clever or attractive to so adorn themselves?
I submit it is not adornment. It is making ugly that which was attractive. Not only are ears pierced, but other parts of the body as well, even the tongue. It is absurd.
We – the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve – have taken the position, and I quote, that ‘the Church discourages tattoos. It also discourages the piercing of the body for other than medical purposes, although it takes no position on the minimal piercing of the ears by women for one pair of earrings’. Gordon B Hinckley, article Ensign Fall 2000, ‘Your Greatest Challenge Mother’
I told the Relief Society of secret underground drug parties that go by the name of Rave. Here with flashing lights and noisy music, if it can be called that, young men and women dance and sway. They sell and buy drugs. The drugs are called Ecstasy. They are a derivative of methamphetamine. The dancers suck on babies’ pacifiers because the drug makes them grind their teeth. The hot music and the sultry dancing … Gordon B Hinckley, article Ensign Fall 2000, ‘Great Shall Be the Peace of Thy Children’
It’s behind us. Look, that’s behind us. Don’t worry about those little flecks of history. Gordon B Hinckley
Likewise the piercing of the body for multiple rings in the ears, in the nose, even in the tongue. Can they possibly think that is beautiful? It is a passing fancy, but its effects can be permanent. Some have gone to such extremes that the ring had to be removed by surgery. The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve have declared that we discourage tattoos and also ‘the piercing of the body for other than medical purposes’. We do not, however, take any position ‘on the minimal piercing of the ears by women for one pair of earrings’ – one pair only. Gordon B Hinckley, article Ensign Fall 2000, ‘Great Shall Be the Peace of Thy Children’
Many of you are mothers, and that is enough to occupy one’s full time.
You are housekeepers ... a job it is to keep a house clean and tidy.
You are shoppers ...
You are the family chauffeur ...
They drive cars, they run computers, they attend the activities of their children, they cook and sew, they teach classes, and they speak in Church.
… Get on your knees and ask for the blessings of the Lord; then stand on your feet and do what you are asked to do ...
Some of you, unfortunately, will never marry in this life ... If that happens, do not spend your life grieving over it ...
Now I speak to you single mothers whose burdens are so heavy because you have been abandoned or have been widowed. Yours is a terrible load. Bear it well ...
Do whatever the Church asks you to do ... Gordon B Hinckley, General Conference October 2003, ‘To the Women of the Church’
Marriage should not be viewed as a therapeutic step to solve problems such as homosexual inclinations or practices. Gordon B Hinckley, General Conference priesthood session April 1987
May I mention earrings and rings placed in other parts of the body. These are not manly. They are not attractive. You young men look better without them, and I believe you will feel better without them. As for the young women, you do not need to drape rings up and down your ears. One modest pair of earrings is sufficient. Gordon B Hinckley
Mormons have become widely respected for their values, and the way they live their lives. Gordon B Hinckley, interview Larry King
My brethren, you will never have in all of your lives a greater asset than the woman into whose eyes you looked as you joined hands over the altar in the house of the Lord. She will be your most precious possession in time or eternity. Gordon B Hinckley, married students’ regional conference 1996
No man who makes disparaging remarks about those of another race can consider himself a disciple of Christ. Gordon B Hinckley, 4th January 2003
Our whole strength rests on the validity of that vision. Gordon B Hinckley
Please, brethren, do not discuss outside of the temple that which occurs in the temple ... But when you leave the doors of the House of the Lord, be true to a sacred trust to speak not of that which is holy and sanctified. Gordon B Hinckley, article Ensign May 1990, ‘Keeping the Temple Holy’
People think in a very critical way before they come into this Church. When they come into this Church they’re expected to conform. And they find happiness in that conformity. Gordon B Hinckley interview David Ransom, Australian Broadcasting Company
Racial strife still lifts its ugly head . . . even right here among us. Gordon B Hinckley, General Conference 2006
The church does not become involved in politics. Gordon B Hinckley, interview Larry King
The First Presidency and the Twelve, after most prayerful and careful consideration, have reached the decision that the present program of missionary farewells should be modified.
The departing missionary will be given opportunity to speak in a sacrament meeting for 15 or 20 minutes. But parents and siblings will not be invited to do so ... There will not be special music or anything of that kind ...
We know this will be a great disappointment to many families ...
However, we ask that there be no public reception to which large numbers are invited. Gordon B Hinckley, General Conference priesthood session October 2002
Don Lattin: There are some significant differences in your beliefs. For instance, don’t Mormons believe that God was once a man?
Gordon B Hinckley: I wouldn’t say that. There was a little couplet coined, ‘As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become’. Now that’s more of a couplet than anything else. That gets into some pretty deep theology that we don't know very much about. San Francisco Chronicle 13th April 1997