Be not afraid, only believe.

Photo by Mike Blake

As we have come through the Olympics, I have been so grateful for this Church and its people.

Believe in God our Eternal Father, He who is greatest of all, who stands ever ready to help us and who has the power to do so. Believe in Jesus Christ, the Savior and the Redeemer of mankind, the worker of miracles, the greatest who ever walked the earth, the intercessor with our Father. Believe in the power of the Holy Ghost to lead, to inspire, to comfort, to protect. Believe in the Prophet Joseph, as an instrument in the hands of the Almighty in ushering in this the dispensation of the fulness of times.

Believe in the sacred word of God, the Holy Bible, with its treasury of inspiration and sacred truth; in the Book of Mormon as a testimony of the living Christ. Believe in the Church as the organization which the God of Heaven established for the blessing of His sons and daughters of all generations of time.

Believe in yourselves as sons and daughters of God, men and women with unlimited potential to do good in the world. Believe in personal virtue. There is no substitute for it anywhere under the heavens. Believe in your power to discipline yourselves against the evils which could destroy you. Believe in one another as the greatest generation ever yet to live upon the earth.

— From CES fireside, Sept. 9, 2001

Become missionary minded

Do you know what would happen to these . . . young women, if you get them excited about missionary work? They will become enthusiastic. They will think of their friends in school. They will find a way to talk with them. [Do] you know what will happen to these boys . . . if they become missionary minded, if they become part of a great effort to bring people into the Church? They will become excited in doing it. These girls who do not [generally] go on missions will get the missionary spirit.

These young men will be more desirous of going on missions. And the fathers, and mothers, and ward officers will become more enthusiastic.

— From training meeting, Worcester, Mass., March 23, 2002

Get yourselves ready

Get yourselves ready to be worthy to go to the house of the Lord. Many of you, I know, are, and you go, and you make great sacrifice to go long distances to go. But go. Get a temple recommend in your pocket, in your purse, so that you may go to the house of the Lord. . . . If you don't have it, get it. If you do have it, treasure it.

— From member meeting, New York, N.Y., March 24, 2002

I have a testimony

I have a testimony — real, burning, and vital — of the truth of this work. I know that God our Eternal Father lives and that Jesus is the Christ, my Savior and my Redeemer. It is He who stands at the head of this Church. All I desire is that I go forward with this work as He would have it go forward.

— From conference, Washington Utah Buena Vista Stake, Jan. 20, 2002

Their eyes were opened

As we have come through the Olympics, I have been so grateful for this Church and its people. We have spoken with many of the great of the earth — presidents of nations and kings and rulers, men and women of tremendous influence from across the world.

They came here with misconceptions and suspicion in their minds. Their eyes were opened. They left with appreciation and respect. To the thousands of volunteers. . . . I express deep appreciation.

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

On the anvil of adversity

We all need reminding . . . that our people came here and settled these valleys so that they might worship God according to their desires. They came and stopped here because of the faith they had in their prophet leader. And he came and stopped here because of his faith in the living God. I have not the slightest doubt that Joseph [Smith] had seen this place in vision. I have not the slightest doubt that Brigham Young saw this place in vision. There is no other explanation for what occurred. . . . It was their faith that brought them here. Others came after them and they were made welcome and will continue to be made welcome. But, it was to find a place where those first pioneers and their posterity could continue in the exercise of their worship that they came to this valley. It was their labor, consecrated labor, in causing the desert to blossom as the rose as Isaiah had predicted. On the anvil of adversity they were hammered and shaped and tempered. It was the conviction they carried in their hearts, strong and secure and immovable, that God had restored His work in these latter days, and that from this place where the House of the Lord should be established in the tops of the mountains, the work of God would roll forth to the nations of the earth. . . .

Let us remember with gratitude and reverent respect those who have gone before us, who paid so dear a price in laying the foundation for that which we enjoy this day.

— From Pioneer Day Commemoration Concert, July 22, 2001

Priesthood of God

We believe that the priesthood is not reserved for a few trained and schooled men, but that every man might have the opportunity, if he will live worthy of it, of holding the priesthood of God and speaking in His holy name and in the name of His Beloved Son . . . .

Do you know the strength of this priesthood? . . . It is God's holy power bestowed upon man to act in His behalf in behalf of His sons and daughters. Live worthy of it. Stand taller. Be cleaner. Be a little kinder, a little gentler, a little better to your wives and to your children.

— From conference, Washington Utah Buena Vista Stake, Jan. 20, 2002

Sophistry of the world

Do not be trapped by the sophistry of the world which for the most part is negative and which seldom, if ever, bears good fruit. Do not be ensnared by those clever ones whose self-appointed mission it is to demean that which is sacred, to emphasize human weakness and to undermine faith, rather than inspire strength. "Look to God and live" (Alma 37:47).

— From CES fireside, Sept. 9, 2001

Convert retention

Every man who comes into this Church needs three things. He needs a friend, somebody who will be close to him . . . [someone] who can answer his questions, who can help him as he struggles along the road to becoming a solid member of this Church.

He needs an activity, a responsibility, a job. We only grow in this Church as we serve. Faith and testimony are just like the muscles in my arm. If I exercise them, they grow strong. If I put them in a sling, they become flaccid and soft, but really of no value.

And third, he needs nurturing with the good word of God. He needs to be taught and strengthened and helped along the way.

— Training meeting, Worcester, Mass., March 23, 2002