Baptism for the dead

When you are 12 years of age, you may go to the Lord's house and there stand as a living proxy in behalf of someone who is dead. What a marvelous thing that is that you, an ordinary boy or girl, can stand in the place of some great man or woman who at one time lived upon the earth, but who is now powerless to move forward without the blessing that you can give to him or her. . . . There is no greater blessing that you can have than to stand as a proxy in a great service to those who have gone beyond. And it will be your privilege and your opportunity and your responsibility to live worthy to go to the temple of the Lord and there be baptized in behalf of someone else. — From member meeting, Guayaquil, Ecuador, July 31, 1999

Called to serve

You were . . . sent on a mission . . . to live as great teachers of righteousness to the people among whom you are called to labor. God bless you. May you feel a great happiness in your hearts as you think of the opportunity that is yours to teach the people in this great nation. — From missionary meeting, Maracaibo, Venezuela, Aug. 3 1999

Education

You are moving into the most competitive world this world has ever seen. All around you is competition. You need all the education you can get. The world will in large measure pay you what it thinks you are worth, and your worth will increase as you gain education and proficiency in your chosen field. . . . The Lord wants you to educate your mind and your heart. Your parents want you to educate your mind and your heart. Become a workman, I don't care about the field you choose, but become a workman of integrity in the world that lies ahead of you. — From youth and young single adult meeting, Spokane, Wash., Aug. 22, 1999

Live the gospel

Live the gospel. Live the gospel. That's my counsel to the [members of the] Church. Live the gospel. Look to God and live. That's the sum and substance. Look to God and live. — From interview, Deseret News/Church News, Feb. 25, 2000

Modern-day pioneers

We have pioneers every day in this Church across the world. We have people who do heroic things in supporting the Church, in joining the Church, in becoming a part of this great movement. It is just a marvelous thing wherever you go. And [Spain] is a place where there are pioneers and there will continue to be pioneers as they shake off the things of the past and put on the cloak of righteousness in adherence to the principles of the restored gospel. — From news interview, Madrid, Spain, March 20, 1999

Prayer

Get on your knees and thank God for His goodness to you and express unto Him the righteous desires of your hearts. He hears, He responds, He answers. Not always as we would wish He would answer, but there is no question in my mind that He answers. — From youth and young single adults meeting, Spokane, Wash., Aug. 22, 1999

Sacrament

I hope that once in a while outside of the walls of the chapel we think of the meaning of the sacrament and of the obligations which are repayable in partaking of it. It is a sacred and marvelous and wonderful thing and represents for us the life and the gift of the Son of God. — From sacrament meeting, Monument Park 9th Ward, Dec. 20, 1998

The genius of the Church

You and I, and every other member of this Church, has a local bishop, or branch president, who is shepherd of the flock, who is accountable for his members, and they are accountable to him. I don't care whether you have 200 wards, or 500 wards, or 10,000 wards, or 50,000 wards, you are going to have the same thing, and that is the genius of it to bring the wonder, the majesty, of this great big worldwide organization down into the lives of men and women and boys and girls. — From interview, Deseret News/Church News, Feb. 25, 2000

The Savior, Jesus Christ

We belong to this great and marvelous organization which is established on principles which the Lord Himself laid down when He walked the dusty roads of Palestine, the Son of God who condescended to come to earth, born in a lowly manger in Bethlehem. . . . The miracle of His life is beyond description. He gave that life for each of us on Calvary's hill in an act of Atonement greater than we can ever really understand. He alone shed His blood for the sins of which we are guilty that we might have the opportunity of repenting and expecting forgiveness. — From member meeting, Jerusalem Center, March 21, 1999

Validity of this work

If anybody ever doubted the validity of this work, he only need see what has come to pass, my brothers and sisters. When the Saints were here they were a handful . . . but over the years this cause has grown. This work has moved over the earth in a majestic and marvelous way as the work of the Lord under His inspiration, guidance and direction. I bear witness that God lives and that Jesus is the Christ, and that this is Their work and that Joseph Smith, who walked these grounds years ago, was in very deed a prophet of the living God and spoke under inspiration that came from heaven in setting the foundation work of this Church and pointing its future. — From groundbreaking, Nauvoo Illinois Temple, Oct. 24, 1999