(8/26/03)
"I appeal to all Latter-day Saints to come to these places of worship and there in deep humility and with contrite hearts make of the Lord a confidential friend, tell Him of our weaknesses, confess our shortcomings and seek devoutly for forgiveness, remembering that one great glorious and comforting principle of the Gospel is repentance and forgiveness." — Richard R. Lyman, "General Conference Reports," April 1941, p. 67

(8/27/03)
"George R. Wendling has said that the most wonderful work in the world is not to take iron and steel and brass and with these make a locomotive; that the most wonderful work in the world is not to take gold and diamonds and cog-wheels and with these make a watch; nor is the most wonderful work in the world to take canvas and colors and brush and with these paint an Angelus; nor even yet is the most wonderful work in the world to take pen and parchment and write an Iliad or a Hamlet. No, indeed, says he, infinitely more wonderful and infinitely greater than any one or all of these combined is that something is accomplished by living in accordance with the teachings of the of the Master. The prayerful, devoted, honest, sincere, unselfish Christian life has such remarkable power that it can take an ignoble, cruel, impure and dishonest human being and transform that cruel, ignoble, impure and dishonest person into an upright, gentle, pure, honest and dependable human soul. 'Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.' (Isaiah 1:18) Such transformations show the glory, the grandeur, the power and the mystery of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is this rebirth, it is this rebuilding, it is this reconstruction of lost and broken souls into upright and glorious men and women that is infinitely greater than anything else which this age of mechanical miracles can do. In the presence of accomplishments thus marvelous, we bow humbly before the mastery of our Lord. His Gospel is most wonderful. We who have felt its touch and inspiration can say boldly in the language of the Bible, 'For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.' (Romans 1:16)" — Richard R. Lyman, "General Conference Reports," April 1936, p. 100

(12/18/04)
"'And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.' (Rev. 14:6-7) That is the prophecy. Who in all the world should receive the angel? A philosopher, a statesman, a wise man, a scholar? No, a boy; place your trust in boys and they will not fail you. When the Father himself, the great Creator of the heavens and the earth, wanted to deliver an important message to the world, he called a boy. The angel flew through the midst of heaven; the angel delivered the message. Was it done by divine providence or by the wisdom of Joseph Smith, a boy-age fourteen?" - Richard R. Lyman, "Conference Report," April 1924, p. 142

5/6/07
"To all who are devoutly religious, to those who remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy, to those who partake of the sacrament of the Lord's supper regularly and partake of it worthily, to those who go to our places of worship frequently and there in their hearts appeal to Providence for a forgiveness of their sins, for strength to overcome weaknesses, for vision to see the straight and narrow way and for strength to walk therein, to those who close each day's labors with a prayer of thanks to Divine Providence and to those who begin the labors of the day with an appeal for divine help and light, truly, verily to all such 'every day is a fresh beginning, every morn is the world made new.' (Susan Coolidge)" - Richard R. Lyman, Conference Report, April 1933, Second Day—Morning Meeting, p.49