But most of Oaks’ respondents politely sidestepped an even deeper paradox troubling his black-Mormon analogy: the fact that Mormons have our own long and peculiar history of discrimination against African Americans. MSNBC commentator Keith Olbermann alluded to this history when he gave Oaks his daily ‘worst person in the world’ award on October 14. Comparing the Proposition 8 Mormon backlash and the harassment of black voters was especially inappropriate, Olbermann argued, because Mormons had been ‘on the wrong side of integration’ … JW the Inquisitor, board post 27th October 2009, ‘Mormonism's Black Issues’, article Joanna Brooks
3rd Speaker (Dallin H Oaks). OK, he seriously looks evil. He jumped around to quite a few subjects and probably pissed everyone off. He talked about how people are struggling in the economy now and it’s not the church’s job to help people. They were warned and the church’s programs are not there to help them. anon, board post 12th April 2009, ‘Midwest Conference Was Today (Easter), Monson Oaks Spoke, It Was Awful’
I would like to talk tonight about a need for a self-inflicted purging in every single priesthood holder so that we might be pure in heart ...
Now, my young friends, and I am sorry to say, many adults, how about all those of you who have a masturbation problem? ...
And, in a few cases, what if we had the names of those who had a homosexual problem? ...
Again let us talk about a self-inflicting purging. My young friends, how about all of you who have committed fornication? Or have been involved in petting? ...
I am sorry to tell you that there are men in high places who have some fairly major moral problems, even as youth have the same problems. Vaughn J Featherstone, conference report April 2008
Those who espouse perverse principles and deviant behavior are living in sin. Consenting adults that teach contrary to the gospel are wrong even if the majority accepts them. Sin is sin, and that is God’s truth. Vaughn J Featherstone, general conference October 1999, ‘Carry the Torch’; viz also New Era March 2001
Please be careful of becoming so immersed and engrossed in pixels, texting, ear buds, Twittering, online social networking, and potentially addictive uses of media and the Internet that you fail to recognize the importance of your physical body and miss the richness of person-to-person communication. Beware of the digital displays and data in many forms of computer-mediated interaction that can displace the full range of physical capacity and experience.
Beware! To the extent personal fidelity decreases in computer-mediated communications and the purposes of such communications are distorted, perverted, and wicked, the potential for spiritual disaster is dangerously high. I implore you to turn away immediately and permanently from such places and activities. David A Bednar, CES fireside broadcast 4th May 2009
The Book of Mormon is not a book of history. The Book of Mormon is a book about the future. David Bednar, Mormon apostle, 2021
President Thomas S Monson, second Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, shakes hands with East German state and party leader Erich Honecker. President Monson presented Honecker Friday with a gift sculpture In The Family Circle and praised the East German government for its CORPORATION [sic] with Church members. Hansenclassic online news for October 1988
I am certain that our dear Heavenly Father looks down upon his children with perhaps a glint of tear in His eye, as He sees so many disregarding the prophetic counsel against slovenly and immodest dress ... I have spent many nights on my knees, praying for guidance as to how I can help the brethren overcome a serious problem. I speak, of course, of the unkempt and often askew collars of our dress shirts. Many are the times when I’ve sat on the stand in a priesthood meeting and found my spirit troubled by crooked collars. Often the collar doesn’t even cover the tie wrapped around the neck. And, difficult as it may be to believe, some brethren cannot even be troubled to button the top button of their shirts. Surely the Spirit is grieved when the brethren of the Holy Priesthood take such a casual attitude toward their responsibilities. Thomas S Monson, address Brigham Young University August 2009
I like the way the church has coordinated and fully correlated the activities of the young with the instruction we provide in the Aaronic Priesthood ... so that it’s one boy, and one troop, one church and one program. Thomas S Monson
My faith did not come to me through science, and I will not permit so-called science to destroy it. Thomas S Monson, article Ensign February 2001, ‘The Lighthouse of the Lord: A Message to the Youth of the Church’
Now, a word of caution to all – both young and old, both male and female. We live at a time when the adversary is using every means possible to ensnare us in his web of deceit, trying desperately to take us down with him. There are many pathways along which he entices us to go – pathways that can lead to our destruction.
Advances in many areas that can be used for our good can also be used to speed us along that heinous pathway. I feel to mention one in particular, and that is the internet. On one hand, it provides nearly limitless opportunities for acquiring useful and important information. Through it we can communicate with others around the world. Thomas Monson, general conference April 2009
The backhand, show her the backhand. Every good woman knows the backhand. Thomas S Monson, Mormon Prophet’s Calgary Temple dedication, cited Elder Chris Lyons, further witness testimony needed
How do you spread a faith-promoting falsehood while not verbally lying?
When Tom Monson was worshipping Joseph Smith this morning, he talked about the miraculous translation of the Book of Mormon that took place in under 90 days. To further the idea that the translation was miraculous, he showed a painting of Joseph Smith dictating from the plates by candlelight. Oliver Cowdery is sitting on the other side of the table, his view of the golden plates unobstructed as he transcribed.
Where do these guys get off showing something they know to be false. Lying for the Lord? Anonymous, board post 3rd October 2005, ‘Tricky Tommy – Lying About Joseph Smith’
God doesn’t care nearly as much about where you have been as He does about where you are. Jeffrey Dodo Holland
In such basic matters of faith, prophets do not apologize for requesting unity, indeed conformity. Jeffery Dodo Holland, general conference April 2003
May I suggest that wherever possible a white shirt be worn by the deacons, teachers, and priests who handle the sacrament. For sacred ordinances in the Church we often use ceremonial clothing, and a white shirt could be seen as a gentle reminder of the white clothing you wore in the baptismal font and an anticipation of the white shirt you will soon wear into the temple and on to your missions. Jeffrey Dodo Holland, article Ensign November 1995, ‘This Do in Remembrance of Me’
Now If I can speak, I’ll try to do so. Jeffery Dodo Holland, general conference October 2009
Physical intimacy is not only a symbolic union between a husband and a wife – the very uniting of their souls – but it is also symbolic of a shared relationship between them and their Father in Heaven. He is immortal and perfect. We are mortal and imperfect. Nevertheless we seek ways even in mortality whereby we can unite with Him spiritually. In so doing we gain some access to both the grace and the majesty of His power. These are moments when we quite literally unite our will with God’s will, our spirit with His spirit, where communion through the veil becomes very real. At such moments we not only acknowledge His divinity but we quite literally take something of that divinity to ourselves.
Please, never say: Who does it hurt? Why not a little freedom? ‘Flee fornication,’ Paul cries, and flee ‘anything like unto it’ the Doctrine and Covenants adds. The body is something to be kept pure and holy. Do not be afraid of soiling its hands in honest labor. Do not be afraid of scars that may come in defending the truth or fighting for the right, but beware scars that spiritually disfigure, that come to you in activities you should not have undertaken. Jeffrey Dodo Holland, article Ensign November 1998, ‘Personal Purity’
We do not have penalties in the Temple. We used to. Elder Jeffrey Dodo Holland, interview John Sweeney, This World: The Mormon Candidate, BBC 2012
We’re not a cult. I’m not an idiot, you know. I’ve read a couple of books and I’ve been to a pretty good school, and I have chosen to be in this church because of the faith that I feel and the inspiration that comes. I’ve met people, and if people want to call us a cult, they can call us a cult and you can call us a cult, but we are 14-million and growing, and I’d like to think that your respect for me would be enough to know that this man doesn’t seem like a dodo. Elder Jeffrey ‘Dodo’ Holland, interview John Sweeney, This World: The Mormon Candidate
My faith did not come to me through science, and I will not permit so-called science to destroy it. Thomas S Monson, article Ensign February 2001, ‘The Lighthouse of the Lord: A Message to the Youth of the Church’
Now If I can speak, I’ll try to do so. Jeffery Dodo Holland, general conference October 2009