The LDS Daily WOOL© Home Page
(8/7/04)
"In the Book of Mormon Alma tried to help his son Corianton avoid
unnecessary storms by explaining that 'wickedness never was happiness'
(Alma 41:10).
Unfortunately, sin appears occasionally attractive but hides its
destructive nature until it is too late and harm is already done. We
need to understand how to recognize and avoid the evil and be prepared
to detour around it in time. If we do fail, however, there is hope and
relief made possible through the atonement of Jesus Christ. Sincere
repentance brings us forgiveness and peace in this life and puts us
back on course to live again with our Heavenly Father." - Dieter F.
Uchtdorf, "Happy
Landing," New Era, March 1995, p. 7
(4/17/05)
"This is how Joseph Smith's First Vision blesses our own personal
lives, the lives of families, and eventually the whole human family-we
come to believe in Jesus Christ through the testimony of the Prophet
Joseph Smith. Prophets and apostles throughout the history of mankind
have had divine manifestations similar to Joseph's. Moses saw God
face-to-face and learned that he was a son of God 'in the similitude
of [His] Only Begotten' (see Moses
1:1-6). The Apostle Paul testified that the resurrected Jesus
Christ appeared to him on the road to Damascus and made Paul one of
His great missionaries (see Acts
26:9-23). Hearing Paul's witness of his heavenly vision during
the trial at Caesarea, the powerful King Agrippa admitted, 'Almost
thou persuadest me to be a Christian' (Acts
26:28).
"And there were many other ancient prophets who also bore powerful
testimony of Christ. All of these manifestations, ancient and modern,
lead those who believe to the divine source of all righteousness and
hope-to God, our Heavenly Father, and to His Son, Jesus Christ."
- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The
Fruits
of the First Vision," General Conference, April 2005
6/17/06
"There may be times when we may feel overwhelmed, hurt, or on the edge
of discouragement as we are trying so hard to be perfect members of
the Church. Be assured, there is balm in Gilead. Let us listen to the
prophets of our days as they help us to focus on the things that are
central to the Creators plan for the eternal destiny of His children.
The Lord knows us, He loves us, He wants us to succeed, and He
encourages us by saying: 'And see that all... things are done in
wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that [men or women] should
run faster than [they have] strength.... [But] it is expedient that
[they] should be diligent (Mosiah
4:27).'" - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The
Global
Church Blessed by the Voice of the Prophets," Ensign (CR),
November 2002, p.10
10/20/06
"Our motives and thoughts ultimately influence our actions. The
testimony of the truthfulness of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ
is the most powerful motivating force in our lives. Jesus repeatedly
emphasized the power of good thoughts and proper motives: 'Look unto
me in every thought; doubt not, fear not' (D&C
6:36).
"The testimony of Jesus Christ and the restored gospel will help us in
our lives to learn of God's specific plan for us and then to act
accordingly. It gives us assurance of the reality, truth, and goodness
of God, of the teachings and Atonement of Jesus Christ, and of the
divine calling of latter-day prophets. Our testimony motivates us to
live righteously, and righteous living will cause our testimony to
grow stronger." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The
Power
of a Personal Testimony," Ensign, November 2006
5/3/07
"Christ came to save us. If we have taken a wrong course, the
Atonement of Jesus Christ can give us the assurance that sin is not a
point of no return. A safe return is possible if we will follow God's
plan for our salvation." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Point
of
Safe Return," General Conference, April 2007
7/6/07
"God has spoken to Joseph Smith for the purpose of blessing all of
God's children with His mercy and love, even in times of uncertainties
and insecurities, of wars and rumors of wars, of natural and personal
disasters. The Savior said, 'Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended
towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive' (3
Nephi 9:14). And all who accept this
invitation will be 'encircled about with the matchless bounty of his
love' (Alma
26:15).
"Through our faith in the personal witness of the Prophet Joseph and
the reality of the First Vision, through study and prayer, deep and
sincere, we will be blessed with a firm faith in the Savior of the
world, who spoke to Joseph 'on the morning of a beautiful, clear day,
early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty' (Joseph
Smith—History
1:14)." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The
Fruits of the First Vision," Ensign (CR),
April 2005
8/15/07
"The Prophet Joseph Smith explained, 'I teach them correct principles,
and they govern themselves' (quoted by John Taylor, in "The
Organization of the Church," Millennial Star, Nov. 15, 1851, p. 339).
To me, this teaching is beautifully straightforward. As we strive to
understand, internalize, and live correct gospel principles, we will
become more spiritually self-reliant. The principle of spiritual
self-reliance grows out of a fundamental doctrine of the Church that
God has granted us—agency. I believe that moral agency is one of the
greatest gifts of God unto His children, next to life itself." -
Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Christlike
Attributes—the Wind beneath Our Wings,"
(CR) October 2005
10/16/07
"My dear brothers and sisters, aren’t the restored gospel of Jesus
Christ and our membership in His Church great reasons to rejoice?
"Wherever you live on this earth and whatever your life’s situation may be, I testify to you that the gospel of Jesus Christ has the divine power to lift you to great heights from what appears at times to be an unbearable burden or weakness. The Lord knows your circumstances and your challenges. He said to Paul and to all of us, 'My grace is sufficient for thee.' And like Paul we can answer: 'My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me' (2 Corinthians 12:9)." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Have We Not Reason to Rejoice?" General Conference, 6 October 2007
4/27/08
"The Lord reminds us that 'unto
whom much is given much is required.'
Those who bear the priesthood of God have a great responsibility to be
examples of goodness to the world. We live up to these expectations when
we quickly recognize the dangers and influences that tempt us to drift
from the Lord’s way and when we courageously follow the promptings of
the Holy Ghost to make decisive corrections that will bring us back on
course." Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "A
Matter of a Few Degrees," General Conference, April 2008
10/7/08
"You
may think you don’t have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we
all have talents and gifts, every one of us. The bounds of creativity
extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not
require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing
into existence something that did not exist before—colorful gardens,
harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter.
"What you create doesn’t have to be perfect. So what if the eggs are greasy or the toast is burned? Don’t let fear of failure discourage you. Don’t let the voice of critics paralyze you—whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside.
"If you still feel incapable of creating, start small. Try to see how many smiles you can create, write a letter of appreciation, learn a new skill, identify a space and beautify it." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Happiness, Your Heritage," General Relief Society Meeting, September 2008
10/19/08
"We hope in Jesus the Christ, in
the goodness of God, in the manifestations of the Holy Spirit, in the
knowledge that prayers are heard and answered. Because God has been
faithful and kept His promises in the past, we can hope with confidence
that God will keep His promises to us in the present and in the future.
In times of distress, we can hold tightly to the hope that things
will 'work together
for [our] good' as we follow the
counsel of God’s prophets. This type of hope in God, His goodness, and
His power refreshes us with courage during difficult challenges and
gives strength to those who feel threatened by enclosing walls of fear,
doubt, and despair." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Infinite Power of
Hope," General Conference, October 2008
10/31/08
"Individual recognition is
rarely an indication of the value of our service. We do not know the
names, for example, of any of the 2,000 sons of Helaman. As individuals,
they are unnamed. As a group, however, their name will always be
remembered for honesty, courage, and the willingness to serve. They
accomplished together what none of them could have accomplished alone.
"That is a lesson for us, brethren of the priesthood. When we stand close together and lift where we stand, when we care more for the glory of the kingdom of God than for our own prestige or pleasure, we can accomplish so much more." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Lift Where You Stand," General Conference, October 2008
2/7/09
"Faith,
hope, and charity complement each other, and as one increases, the
others grow as well. Hope comes of faith, for without faith, there is no
hope. In like manner faith comes of hope, for faith is 'the
substance of things hoped for.'
"Hope
is
critical to both faith and charity. When disobedience, disappointment,
and procrastination erode faith, hope is there to uphold our faith. When
frustration and impatience challenge charity, hope braces our resolve
and urges us to care for our fellowmen even without expectation of
reward. The brighter our hope, the greater our faith. The stronger our
hope, the purer our charity.
"The
things
we hope for lead us to faith, while the things we hope in lead us to
charity. The three qualities—faith,
hope,
and charity—working together,
grounded on the truth and light of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ,
lead us to abound in good works."
- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Infinite Power of Hope," (CR)
October 2008
10/4/09
“We don’t always know the details of our future. We do not know what
lies ahead. We live in a time of uncertainty. We are surrounded by
challenges on all sides. Occasionally discouragement may sneak into
our day; frustration may invite itself into our thinking; doubt might
enter about the value of our work. In these dark moments Satan
whispers in our ears that we will never be able to succeed, that the
price isn’t worth the effort, and that our small part will never make
a difference. He, the father of all lies, will try to prevent us from
seeing the end from the beginning.” - Dieter
F. Uchtdorf, “See the End from the Beginning,” CR, April 2006
12/3/09
“My
dear brothers and sisters, don’t get discouraged if you stumble at
times. Don’t feel downcast or despair if you don’t feel worthy to be a
disciple of Christ at all times. The first step to walking in
righteousness is simply to try. We must try to believe. Try
to learn of God: read the scriptures; study the words of His
latter-day prophets; choose to listen to the Father, and do the things
He asks of us. Try and keep on trying until that which seems difficult
becomes possible—and that which seems only possible becomes habit and
a real part of you.” - Dieter F. Uchtdorf,
“The Love of God,” Ensign, Nov 2009, 21–24
12/12/09
“God
does not look on the outward appearance. I believe that He doesn’t
care one bit if we live in a castle or a cottage, if we are handsome
or homely, if we are famous or forgotten. Though we are incomplete,
God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us
perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God’s love
encompasses us completely.” – Dieter F.
Uchtdorf, “The Love of God,” Ensign, November 2009
12/22/09
“There
is no sabbatical or retirement program from priesthood
responsibilities—regardless of age or physical capacity. While the
phrase ‘been there, done that’ may work as an excuse to avoid
skateboarding, decline the invitation for a motorbike ride, or bypass
the spicy curry at the buffet, it is not an acceptable excuse for
avoiding covenant responsibilities to consecrate our time, talents,
and resources in the work of the kingdom of God.” – Dieter
F. Uchtdorf, “Two Principles for Any Economy,” Ensign, November 2009
5/8/10
"To
follow Christ is to become more like Him. It is to learn from His
character. As spirit children of our Heavenly Father, we do have the
potential to incorporate Christlike attributes into our life and
character. The Savior invites us to learn His gospel by living His
teachings. To follow Him is to apply correct principles and then witness
for ourselves the blessings that follow. This process is very complex
and very simple at the same time. Ancient and modern prophets described
it with three words: 'Keep the commandments'...nothing more, nothing
less." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf,
"Christlike Attributes—the Wind beneath Our Wings," Ensign, (CR)
November 2005
6/11/10
"And what kind of
existence can we hope for? Those who come unto Christ, repent of their
sins, and live in faith will reside forever in peace. Think of the worth
of this eternal gift. Surrounded by those we love, we will know the
meaning of ultimate joy as we progress in knowledge and in happiness. No
matter how bleak the chapter of our lives may look today, because of the
life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we may hope and be assured that the
ending of the book of our lives will exceed our grandest expectations.
'Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart
of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.'" - Dieter
F. Uchtdorf, "The Infinite Power of Hope," (CR) October 2008
8/18/10
"Waiting can be hard.
Children know it, and so do adults. We live in a world offering fast
food, instant messaging, on-demand movies, and immediate answers to the
most trivial or profound questions. We don’t like to wait. Some even
feel their blood pressure rise when their line at the grocery store
moves slower than those around them.
"Patience—the ability to put our desires on hold for a time—is a
precious and rare virtue. We want what we want, and we want it now.
Therefore, the very idea of patience may seem unpleasant and, at times,
bitter.
"Nevertheless, without patience, we cannot please God; we cannot become
perfect. Indeed, patience is a purifying process that refines
understanding, deepens happiness, focuses action, and offers hope for
peace." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Continue
in Patience," Ensign (CR) May 2010
8/21/10
"I hope that we welcome and love all of God’s children, including
those who might dress, look, speak, or just do things differently. It is
not good to make others feel as though they are deficient. Let us lift
those around us. Let us extend a welcoming hand. Let us bestow upon our
brothers and sisters in the Church a special measure of humanity,
compassion, and charity so that they feel, at long last, they have
finally found home." - Dieter F.
Uchtdorf, "You
Are My Hands," Ensign (CR) May 2010
9/13/10
"Brothers and sisters,
indeed we have great reason to rejoice. If life and its rushed pace and
many stresses have made it difficult for you to feel like rejoicing,
then perhaps now is a good time to refocus on what matters most.
"Strength comes not from frantic activity but from being settled on a
firm foundation of truth and light. It comes from placing our attention
and efforts on the basics of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. It
comes from paying attention to the divine things that matter most." - Dieter
F. Uchtdorf, "Of
Things That Matter Most," Ensign (CR) October 2010
9/23/10
"I also remember one
interesting side effect of President Benson’s influential talk [,
Beware Of Pride]. For a while it almost became taboo among Church
members to say that they were 'proud' of their children or their
country or that they took 'pride' in their work. The very word pride
seemed to become an outcast in our vocabulary.
"In the scriptures we find plenty of
examples of good and righteous people who rejoice in righteousness and
at the same time glory in the goodness of God. Our Heavenly Father
Himself introduced His Beloved Son with the words 'in whom I am well
pleased.'
"Alma gloried in the thought that he
might 'be an instrument in the hands of God.' The Apostle Paul gloried
in the faithfulness of members of the Church. The great missionary
Ammon gloried in the success he and his brothers had experienced as
missionaries.
"I believe there is a difference
between being proud of certain things and being prideful. I am proud
of many things. I am proud of my wife. I am proud of our children and
grandchildren.
"I am proud of the youth of the
Church, and I rejoice in their goodness. I am proud of you, my dear
and faithful brethren. I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with
you as a bearer of the holy priesthood of God.” - Dieter
F. Uchtdorf, "Pride
and the Priesthood,” Ensign (CR) October 2010
7/7/11
"Faith in Jesus Christ
and a testimony of Him and His universal Atonement is not just a
doctrine with great theological value. Such faith is a universal gift,
glorious for all cultural regions of this earth, irrespective of
language, race, color, nationality, or socioeconomic circumstance. The
powers of reason may be used to try to understand this gift, but those
who feel its effects most deeply are those who are willing to accept its
blessings, which come from a pure and clean life of following the path
of true repentance and living the commandments of God." - Dieter
F. Uchtdorf, "The
Fruits of the First Vision," Ensign (CR), April 2005
10/13/11
This is a paradox of
man: compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God.
While against the backdrop of infinite creation we may appear to be
nothing, we have a spark of eternal fire burning within our breast. We
have the incomprehensible promise of exaltation—worlds without
end—within our grasp. And it is God’s great desire to help us reach it.
- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "