Young couples should not postpone having children, and that in the eternal perspective, children – not possessions, not position, not prestige – are our greatest jewels. Ezra Taft Benson
Ezra Taft Benson, 74, president of the Council of the Twelve Apostles ... said Thursday it is ‘entirely possible’ the president of the Mormon Church will one day declare support for a political candidate .
... In recent years the LDS Church has steered clear of supporting candidates. But President Benson said Mormon President Heber J Grant told church members to vote for Herbert Hoover when Franklin D Roosevelt was running for his first term ... Salt Lake Tribune 22nd February 1974
The writer has been privileged to sit at table with several members of the Catawba tribe of Indians, whose reservation is near the north border of South Carolina. That tribe, or most of its people, are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Those Indians, at least as many as I have observed, were white and delightsome, as white and fair as any group of citizens of our country. I know of no prophecy, ancient or modern, that has had a more literal fulfilment. George Edward Clark, Why I Believe p129
As a special witness of Jesus Christ, I testify that He lives! I also testify that the veil of death is very thin. I know by experiences too sacred to relate that those who have gone before are not strangers to leaders of this Church. Russell M Nelson, article Ensign May 1992, ‘Doors of Death’
Because it is ordained of God, the intimate physical expressions of married love are sacred. Yet all too commonly, these divine gifts are desecrated. If a couple allows lewd language or pornography to corrupt their intimacy, they offend their Creator while they degrade and diminish their own divine gifts. True happiness is predicated upon personal purity. Scripture commands: Be ye clean. Marriage should ever be a covenant to lift husbands and wives to exaltation in celestial glory. Russell M Nelson, general conference April 2006, ‘Nurturing Marriage’
Divine love is also conditional ... The full flower of divine love and our greatest blessings from that love are conditional - predicated upon our obedience to eternal law. Russell M Nelson, article Ensign February 2003, ‘Divine Love, Ensign February 2003’
Indeed, in some instances, the merciful companion to truth is silence. Some truths are best left unsaid. Russell M Nelson
Joseph Smith would put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat, drawing it closely around his face to exclude the light; and in the darkness the spiritual light would shine. A piece of something resembling parchment would appear, and on that appeared the writing. One character at a time would appear, and under it was the interpretation in English. Brother Joseph would read off the English to Oliver Cowdery, who was his principal scribe, and when it was written down and repeated to Brother Joseph to see if it was correct, then it would disappear, and another character with the interpretation would appear. Thus the Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God, and not by any power of man. Russell Nelson, Ensign July 1993, ‘A Treasured Testament’
There are some things the Book of Mormon is not. It is not a textbook of history, although some history is found within its pages. Russell M Nelson, 23rd June 2016
After marrying President Nelson in 2006, Sister Nelson had, on numerous occasions, witnessed him receive revelation from the Lord during the night, especially as general conference approached. But after he was ordained as the Lord’s prophet, the revelation came with frequency and intensity. ‘My husband is trying to get every bit of instruction that he can,’ she said.
For example, early one Saturday morning Sister Nelson awoke and knew she was to get out of bed. She was not done sleeping, but she could feel the prompting to ‘move out of bed now’.
‘So, I went downstairs and did some family history research and then puttered with some other things,’ she recalled. ‘Two hours later, my husband emerged from our bedroom, and said, ‘Wendy, you won’t believe what has been happening for two hours. The Lord has given me detailed instruction about a process I am to follow.’’
Other times the Lord has prompted Sister Nelson to stay close to her husband when he is receiving instruction. ‘My husband will say during the night, ‘OK dear, it is happening.’ I remain quiet and then soon he is sitting up on the side of the bed writing.’
Sister Nelson said she never reads the private messages the Lord has for President Nelson.
Still, ‘I can say that I am a witness by being present and I am a witness by being absent that the Lord indeed instructs His prophet,’ she said. Church News article 11 March 2019
Also far-reaching is the effect of loss of chastity. Once given or taken or stolen it can never be regained. Even in forced contact such as rape or incest, the injured one is greatly outraged. If she has not cooperated and contributed to the foul deed, she is of course in a more favorable position. There is no condemnation where there is absolutely no voluntary participation. It is better to die in defending one’s virtue than to live having lost it without a struggle. Spencer W Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness
Among the most common sexual sins our young people commit are necking and petting. Not only do these improper relations often lead to fornication, [unwed] pregnancy, and abortions – all ugly sins – but in and of themselves they are pernicious evils, and it is often difficult for youth to distinguish where one ends and another begins. They awaken lust and stir evil thoughts and sex desires. They are but parts of the whole family of related sins and indiscretions. Almost like twins, ‘petting’ and fornication are alike. Spencer W Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness @ p77
As a special witness of Jesus Christ, I testify that He lives! I also testify that the veil of death is very thin. I know by experiences too sacred to relate that those who have gone before are not strangers to leaders of this Church. Russell M Nelson, article Ensign May 1992, ‘Doors of Death’
Generally when we speak of the Word of Wisdom, we are talking about tea, coffee, tobacco, and liquor, and all of the fringe things even though they might be detrimental are not included in the technical interpretation of the Word of Wisdom. I never drink any of the cola drinks and my personal hope would be that no one would.
However, they are not included in the Word of Wisdom in its technical application. I quote from a letter from the secretary to the First Presidency, ‘But the spirit of the Word of Wisdom would be violated by the drinking or eating of anything that contained a habit-forming drug’. With reference to the cola drinks, the Church has never officially taken any attitude on this at but I personally do not put them in the class as with the tea and coffee because the Lord specifically mentioned them [the hot drinks] ... I might say also that strychnine and sleeping pills and opium and heroin are not mentioned in the Word of Wisdom and yet I would discourage them with all my power. Spencer W Kimball, The Teachings of Spencer W Kimball p202
Have large families regardless of social norms. In America and elsewhere in the world, the family limitation program is gaining much strength. Latter-day Saints do not believe in this. We believe in following the admonition of the Lord in having large families and rearing them righteously. We hope that our Latter-day Saints will not trade children for accommodation and luxury. Spencer W Kimball
Homosexual tendencies can be controlled. ‘God made me that way,’ some say, as they rationalize and excuse themselves for their perversions. ‘I can’t help it,’ they add. This is blasphemy. Is man not made in the image of God and does he think God to be ‘that way’? Spencer W Kimball, The Teachings of Spencer W Kimball
How like the mistletoe is immorality. The killer plant starts with a sticky sweet berry. Little indiscretions are the berries – indiscretions like sex thoughts, sex discussions, passionate kissing, pornography. The leaves and little twigs are masturbation and necking and such, growing with every exercise. The full-grown plant is petting and sex looseness. It confounds, frustrates, and destroys like the parasite if it is not cut out and destroyed, for, in time it robs the tree, bleeds its life, and leaves it barren and dry; and, strangely enough, the parasite dies with its host. Spencer W Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness p155
If a person hasn’t suffered, he hasn’t repented. Spencer W Kimball
If adultery or fornication justified the death penalty in the old days, and still in Christ’s day, is the sin any less today because the laws of the land do not assess the death penalty for it? Is the act less grievous? There must be a washing, a purging, a changing of attitudes, a correcting of appraisals, a strengthening toward self-mastery. There must be many prayers, and volumes of tears. There must be an inner conviction giving to the sin its full diabolical weight. There must be increased devotion and much thought and study. And this takes energy and time and often is accompanied with sore embarrassment, heavy deprivations and deep trials, even if indeed one is not excommunicated from the Church, losing all spiritual blessings. Spencer W Kimball, address BYU 5th January 1965, ‘Love Versus Lust’
I have told tens of thousands of young folks that when they marry they should not wait for children until they have finished their schooling and financial desires ... They should live together normally and let the children come [sic] ...
I know of no scriptures where an authorization is given to young wives to withhold their families and to go to work to put their husbands through school. There are thousands of husbands who have worked their own way through school and have reared families at the same time. Spencer W Kimball, address Brigham Young University, ‘Marriage is Honorable’