An obligation and opportunity

The temple:
I have reminded the people of the tremendous obligation. . . afforded them to work in their own behalf and in behalf of those who have gone beyond.

I have now dedicated many temples, scores and scores of them in many lands, and on every occasion I have reminded the people of the tremendous obligation and the marvelous opportunity afforded them to work in their own behalf and in behalf of those who have gone beyond.

— From meeting, Salt Lake Parleys Stake Relief Society, March 20, 2002

Church influence widely felt

I am confident that never before has the influence of the Church been felt so widely and for so much good as it is felt today. We are known and respected. Because of the great faith of the people the Church is financially in good condition. Our young people are better educated. They are stronger in their religious convictions. We send out more missionaries than ever before. We have more converts. Never before have we had such excellent facilities. . . . It is an astonishing and miraculous thing to witness all of this.

— From meeting, Salt Lake Parleys Stake Relief Society, March 20, 2002

Hearts lifted in gratitude

It is a remarkable and wonderful thing that in every one of our sacrament meetings this day the Lord will be spoken of, His plan will be spoken of, faith will be testified of; and hopefully, the hearts of our people will be lifted with gratitude and appreciation for the tremendous gift which the God of heaven has given unto us as a people concerning the eternity of life, the purpose of life, and the great purposes of the restoration of the gospel.

— From Payson Utah Regional Conference, Sept. 16, 2001

Out of the homes of the people

I feel very strongly . . . that society's problems arise, almost without exception, out of the homes of the people. If there is to be a reformation, if there is to be a change, if there is to be a return to old and sacred values, it must begin in the home where it can begin with us.

There is no place, no environment more conducive to the development and enactment of virtue than the family. The health of any society, the happiness of its people, their prosperity and their peace, all find their roots in the teaching of children by fathers and mothers.

— From meeting, ICMA, Sept. 23, 2001

Sense of prioritizing things

You have to establish in your life some sense of prioritizing things, of giving emphasis to the important things and of laying aside the unimportant things that will lead to nothing. Establish a sense of justice, a sense of what is good and what is not good, what is important and is not important; and that can become a marvelous and wonderful blessing in your lives.

— From devotional, Utah Salt Lake City Mission, Dec. 15, 2001

The word of wisdom

You can get along without coffee. You can get along without liquor. You can get along without tobacco. You don't need those things. You will live longer, you will be cleaner, you will be happier, you will be healthier, if you get along without them. . . . I have never in all my life regretted the fact that I haven't smoked or partaken of alcohol.

— From member meeting, New York, New York, March 24, 2002