Family

FAMILY: "Parents, treat your children with great kindness. They are the coming generation who will bring honor to your name."

May there be peace and harmony in your homes. Husbands, love and treasure your wives. They are your most precious possessions. Wives, encourage and pray for your husbands. They need all the help they can get. Parents, treat your children with great kindness. They are the coming generation who will bring honor to your name. — From Sunday afternoon session, general conference, April 1, 2007

Joseph Smith

Though Joseph's life was taken at an early age, his testimony of the Eternal God and the risen Lord lives on with luster and eloquence.

I look to him. I love him. I seek to follow him. I read his words, and they become the standards to be observed in guiding this great Church as it moves forward in fulfilling its eternal destiny. — From First Presidency Christmas Devotional, Dec. 7, 2003

Make good decisions

Tonight I am going to say a few things that I may have said before. If they are observed, your lives will be rich and fruitful and full of happiness. If you fail to observe them, you may expect the opposite. How tragic it is to see a young person waste away his or her life. The great accomplishments of the world were made by men and women little different from those who have wasted their lives. Those who are successful have simply made better decisions. — From New Year's Eve Fireside For Youth, Dec. 31, 2006

Missionary work

Missionary work is hard. It has never been easy. I suppose it never will be easy.... This work, as we all know, is a basic and fundamental part of the Church. It is older than the Church itself, and, we may assume, will continue right into the millennium....

Regardless of the productivity, our responsibility is to the Lord's people everywhere. We go wherever we can....

You were not called to fail. You were called to succeed. And succeed you will. — From Mission Presidents Seminar Sacrament Meeting, June 25, 2006

My life

My life has been one of many interesting facets, with family, friends and associates. What more could one ask for? Nothing, is my reply.... I have now served as the oldest living president of the Church. It has been a wonderful honor and a great responsibility. I thank the many who have blessed my life. I never could have made it alone. My family and many friends have all made it possible. I am profoundly grateful. — From BYU Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni and Visitors Center dedication, June 23, 2007

Temples

I mention the blessings of the house of the Lord, which have come of the restoration of the ancient gospel. These temples, which we have greatly multiplied in recent years, offer blessings that are had nowhere else. All that occurs in these sacred houses has to do with the eternal nature of man. Here, husbands and wives and children are sealed together as families for all eternity. Marriage is not 'until death do ye part.' It is forever, if the parties live worthy of the blessing. Most remarkable of all is the authority to do vicarious work in the house of the Lord. Here, ordinances are performed in behalf of the dead, who did not have opportunity to receive them while in life. — From Sunday morning session, general conference, April 1, 2007