(3/22/02)
"Both the scriptures and talks given by men of God suggest a cleansing by fire that must come in the last days to purify the earth before the second coming of the Lord. That time is rapidly approaching, although no mortal knows the hour." — Theodore M. Burton, "A Disease Called Pride," Ensign, Mar. 1971, p. 26-27

(1/19/05)
"If we understood completely the designs of the Lord, we would be more patient in our suffering and would not complain as much as we so often do when hardships come and we are asked to sacrifice." - Theodore M. Burton, "Kingdom of God," Ensign, June 1971, p. 84

(2/15/05)
"It has been said that what is needed most today is not the voice of man, but the voice of God. Which generation of men and women have ever needed more the voice of a prophet of God to guide them than we do today? In a time in history when we are beset by a clamor of voices from every side saying 'Lo, here is truth' or 'No, here is truth,' where can we find an authoritative voice saying 'Thus saith the Lord'? Where is a Moses, or an Isaiah, or a Peter, or a Paul who can speak from personal knowledge of God?...

"God's way is the way to solve our political, moral, ethical, even our financial problems. The way of the Lord can eliminate wars, riots, discrimination, suffering, and starvation. What the world then needs is direction from a true prophet who, knowing the mind and the will of God, can speak in his name with power and authority and say, 'Thus saith the Lord!'

"That day has come!" - Theodore M. Burton, "Thus Saith the Lord," Ensign, Dec. 1971, p. 79

(6/10/05)
"Life is soon gone. Grandparents do not live forever. Parents all too soon become grandparents and in turn pass away themselves. They and their influence will then in part be lost as memories begin to fade. All too soon our imprint in the lives of our descendants begins to dwindle. We can keep that flame of love burning brightly if we write down a personal history of our lives and that of our families. By so doing we can pass on to our descendants in a more permanent form the courage, the faith, and the hopes we felt within us as we lived our lives and solved the problems which faced us. Passing an account of these experiences on to them will provide them with vital guidance and direction.

"In these personal histories we can express to them our love, our hopes, and our desires. We can pass on to them a knowledge of our family ancestry and express to them the pride we feel in our family heritage and the blessings we have received through those who went before us. In this manner we can keep the flame of love burning brightly in our children long after we have gone. When we reduce to writing those things that have strengthened our own faith and courage, we strengthen faith and courage in our children and grandchildren." - Theodore M. Burton, "The Inspiration of a Family Record," Ensign, Jan. 1977, 14

5/27/06
"As we plead for mercy, we need to show mercy to others. The injury people do us may appear at the moment to be very great. Yet, just as time heals the wounds of the body, so time also heals the wounds of the soul. As we apply disinfectants to aid in healing the wounds of the body, we need to apply love and understanding in disinfecting the wounds of the soul. To the extent we give forgiveness to others, we can expect to receive forgiveness for ourselves. It is all part of the process of repentance." - Theodore M. Burton, "To Forgive Is Divine," Ensign (CR), May 1983, p.70

2/17/06
"When I was a young boy, I went with my father to inspect a mine in Nevada. We each had flashlights, but took no extra batteries with us, for we did not expect to be in the mine very long. But the tunnel was longer, colder, and deeper than we anticipated. Before we got to the end of the mine, where the mineral was, father told me to turn off my flashlight to save my batteries. By the time father had finished inspecting the mine, his flashlight began to dim, and he suggested we had better turn back. Before long his flashlight gave out completely, and I can still remember—until I again turned on my light—the panic I felt to be in such cold and utter blackness. Although my own batteries gave out before we reached the mine entrance, we were by then guided by the dim light coming from the mouth of the tunnel. How good it felt to see the light increase as we made our way back to the entrance and found ourselves in warm, brilliant sunlight.

"I have since wondered how anyone could knowingly prefer to live where it is dark and cold. How could anybody willingly prefer darkness and misery over light and warmth? Yet darkness, cold, and misery will be the lot of those who willingly and knowingly reject the Lord. John wrote, 'God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.' (1 Jn. 1:5.)" - Theodore M. Burton, "Light and Truth," Ensign (CR), May 1981, p.28

2/1/08
"Just as this life depends upon the previous life, so this life is most important for the future, for life hereafter depends upon our life here in mortality. Jesus has shown us the actuality of the resurrection. We have overwhelming testimony of eternal life. It is not some mysterious nirvana, but an eternal life in the flesh that we will receive as individual beings. Life, therefore, follows death as dawn follows darkness, breaking forth into the light of a perfect day. What kind of life will this be for you?" - Theodore M. Burton, "Conference Report," October 1966, Afternoon Meeting, p.34
 

2/17/09
"Over the library of the Utah State University stands in big gold letters a statement taken from the scriptures: 'Get wisdom, and with all thy getting get understanding.' (Prov. 4:7) We must feed the spirit as well as the mind and as well as the body. I plead with our youth, get learning, and with all your getting get understanding. Get learning of the spirit. Get learning of the mind. Get learning of the soul, and become a rounded man or a rounded woman learned in all ways, for I testify to you this day that security, true security comes from a knowledge of the divinity of Jesus Christ. This is the beginning of all learning and of all wisdom. This is the greatest knowledge, the greatest learning, the greatest comfort that men can have. If men have this knowledge in their hearts, they can withstand all the vicissitudes of life. No trial, no trouble can come, but that a man or a woman can withstand it. He can rise victorious if he has a love of Christ and a testimony of his divinity burning in his heart." -  Theodore M. Burton, "Conference Report," April 1961, Afternoon Meeting, p.129