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That We Might Have Joy
In a general conference address in April 1993, President Howard W. Hunter asked members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints "How often do we think of the savior? How deeply and gratefully and how adoringly do we reflect on his life? How central to our lives do we know him to be?" Living a more Christlike life has long been a theme of President Hunter's messages to the Saints.
197 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1994
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About the author
Howard W. Hunter
15 books12 followersHoward W. Hunter was the 14th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 5, 2016
This is a sweet book, full of President Hunter's words of meekness and happiness and peace. He teaches us about Jesus Christ and how only through Him we find true joy.
A few of my favorite quotes:
"Let us follow the Son of God in all ways and in all walks of life. Let us make him our exemplar and our guide (p. 3)."
"How often do we think of the Savior? How deeply and how gratefully and how adoringly do we reflect on his life? How central to our lives do we know him to be (p. 7)?"
"And what of the meek? In a world too preoccupied with winning through intimidation and seeking to be number one, no large crowd is standing in line to buy books that call for mere meekness. But the meek shall inherit the earth, a pretty impressive corporate takeover--and done without intimidation! Sooner or later, and we pray sooner than later, everyone will acknowledge that Christ's way is not only the right way, but ultimately the only way to hope and joy. Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that gentleness is better than brutality, that kindness is greater than coercion, that the soft voice turneth away wrath. In the end, and sooner than that whenever possible we must be more like him. 'To those who fall, how kind thou! How good to those who seek (p. 9)!'"
"In our own great times of need we must not leave unrecognized this unfailing answer to the cares and worries of our world. Here is the promise of personal peace and protection. Here is the power to remit sin in all periods of time. We too must believe that Jesus Christ possesses the power to ease our burdens and lighten our loads. We too must come unto him and there receive rest from our labors (p. 13)."
"Why face life's burdens alone, Christ asks, or why face them with temporal support that will quickly falter? To the heavy laden, Christ's yoke gives the power and peace of standing side by side with a God who will provide the support, balance, and the strength to meet our challenges and endure our tasks here in...mortality (p. 13)."
"'That man is greatest and most blessed and joyful whose life most closely approaches the patter of the Christ. This has nothing to do with earthly wealth, power, or prestige. The only true test of greatness, blessedness, joyfulness is how close a life can come to being like the Master, Jesus Christ. He is the right way, the full truth, and the abundant life (President Ezra Taft Benson, p. 14).'"
"Peace is a state of existence that comes only upon the terms and conditions set by God, and in no other way (p. 29)."
"If we look to the ways of the world, we will find turmoil and confusion. If we will but turn to God, we will find peace for the restless soul....This peace shelters us from the worldly turmoil. The knowledge that God lives, that we are his children, and that he loves us soothes the troubled heart. The answer to the quest lies in faith in God and in his Son, Jesus Christ. This will bring peace to us now and in the eternity to follow (p. 31)."
"Satan continues to temple, taunt, and plead for our loyalty. We should take strength from the fact that Christ was victorious not as a God but as a man (p. 32)."
"There are times in our struggle with the adversities of mortality when we become weary, weakened, and susceptible to the temptations that seem to be placed in our pathways. A lesson for us lies in the account of the life of the Savior....Throughout these days in the wilderness, he chose to fast, so that his mortal body might be completely subjected to the divine influence of his Father's spirit. When Jesus had completed the fast of forty days and had communed with God, he was, in this hungry and physically weakened state, left to be tempted of the devil. That, too, was to be part of his preparation (p. 32)."
"The surest way to lose the blessings of time or eternity is to accept them on Satan's terms (p. 35)."
"As with Jesus, so with us, relief comes and miracles are enjoyed after the trial and temptation of our faith (p. 35)."
"I suppose we have all had occasion, individually or collectively, to cry out on some stormy sea, 'Master, carest thou not that we perish (p. 40)?'"
"Jesus was not spared grief and pain and anguish and buffeting....His ship was tossed most of this life, and, at least to mortal eyes, it crashed fatally on the rocky coast of Calgary. We are asked not to look on life with mortal eyes; with spiritual vision we know something quite different was happening upon the cross. Peace was on the lips and in the heart of the Savior no matter how fiercely the tempest was raging. May it so be with us--in our own hearts, in our own homes, in our nations of the world, and even in the buffetings faced from time to time by the Church. We should not expect to get through life individually or collectively without some opposition (p. 43)."
"This is the church of Jesus Christ, not the church of marrieds or singles or any other group or individual. The gospel we preach is the gospel of Jesus Christ, which encompasses all the saving ordinances and covenants necessary to save and exalt every individual who is willing to accept Christ and keep the commandments that he and our Father in Heaven have given. Each commandment given is for our benefit and happiness. To love and serve God and to love and serve his Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, should be our goal. Our focus of attention should be on these two holy beings, and we should worship them with all our heart, might, mind, and strength. We should be engaged in assisting them in their divine purposes of bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (p. 53)."
"In the press of a multitude, he sensed the singular touch of a woman who sought relief for an ailment from which she had suffered for some twelve years. On another occasion, he saw beyond the narrowly focused prejudice of a condemning crowd and the sin of her who stood accused. Perhaps sensing her willingness to repent, Christ chose to see the worth of the individual and sent her forth to sin no more. On another occasion, 'he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them (p. 55).'"
"How foolish we would be to fail to enjoy the rich gifts of God to us! We could well miss opportunities for providing needed blessings to others because we felt personally deprived of some hoped-for blessing and were blinded by our own self-pity. Not only should we be careful not to deprive others of blessings because of our wanderings in the wastelands of self-pity or self-recrimination, but we should also be careful not to deprive ourselves of other blessings that could be ours. While waiting for promised blessings, one should not mark time, for failure to move forward is to some degree retrogression. Each of us must be anxiously engaged in good causes, including our own development. The personal pursuit of hobbies or crafts, the seeking of knowledge and wisdom, particularly of the things of God, and the development and honing of skills are all things that could productively occupy our time (p. 56)."
"Be kind and considerate of all members. Be thoughtful. Be careful in what you say. Don't allow an insensitive remark or action to harm another. 'And above all things, clothe yourselves with the bond of charity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and peace' (D&C 88:125) (p. 57)."
"'Love is one of the chief characteristics of Deity, and ought to be manifested by those who aspired to be the sons of God. A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race (Joseph Smith, p. 59).'"
"Joseph of Arimathea was a secret disciple only because of what others would think of him. He would not risk his social position or the respect of his associates. It is fear that causes people to be noncommittal. They are afraid to declare their loyalty and assume active responsibility. The easy way is to let someone else be the leader and assume the responsibility. The world needs individuals who are willing to step forward and declare themselves. The world needs individuals who will lift the load of responsibility to their shoulders and carry it high under the banner of Jesus Christ--individuals who are willing to defend the right openly (p. 65)."
"In other words, the Twelve told the disciples that it was not reasonable for them to leave their important office of teaching the gospel in order to provide for the daily welfare of the widows and serve their tables. There were other good men who could look after these duties so that the Twelve could continue to devote themselves to the charge of teaching the gospel to all persons. The result of the decision to call others to assist with the details was this: 'And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith' (Acts 6:7) (p. 72)."
"Abraham Lincoln once asked, 'What constitutes the bulwark of our own liberty and independence?' He then answered, 'It is not our frowning battlements, our bristling sea coasts, our army and our navy....Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in us (p. 76).'"
"Through Christ and his valiant defense of our Father's plan, the course of agency and eternal aspirations prevailed. In that crucial, premortal setting, a major milestone was passed, a monumental victory was won. As a result, we would be allowed to continue to pursue what President David O. McKay once described as 'an eternal principle of progress.' Later Christ himself would come to earth, President McKay noted, 'to perfect society by perfecting the individual, and only by the exercising of Free Agency can the individual even approach perfection (p. 78).'"
"'The Lord cannot violate his own law; were he to do that, he would cease to be God....This is a law which has always existed from all eternity, and will continue to exist throughout all the eternities to come. Every intelligent being must have the power of choice (Brigham Young, p. 78).'"
"To countermand and ultimately forbid our choices was Satan's way, not God's; the Father of us all simply never will do that. He will, however, stand by us forever to help us see the right path, find the right choice, respond to the true voice, and feel the influence of his undeniable Spirit. His gentle, peaceful, powerful persuasion to do right and find joy will be with us 'so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved' (Moroni 7:36) (p. 79)."
"Let us be conscious of the fact that our future is being fashioned by the decisions we make. May we exercise our faith and our agency in choosing the blessings God has set before us in the great plan of our Savior (p. 80)."
"Contrary to what some might say, you have every reason in this world to be happy and to be optimistic and to be confident. Every generation since time began has had some things to overcome and some problems to work out. Furthermore, every individual person has a particular set of challenges that sometimes seem to be earmarked for us personally. We understood that in our premortal existence (p. 91)."
"I think it is incumbent upon us to rejoice a little more and despair a little less, to give thanks for what we have and for the magnitude of God's blessings to us, and to talk a little less about what we may not have or what anxiety may accompany difficult times in this or any generation (p. 92)."
"'You do not need to worry in the least, the Lord will take care of you and bless you. He will also take care of His servants, and will bless them and help them to accomplish His purposes; and all the powers of darkness combined in earth and in hell cannot prevent it....He has stretched forth His hand to accomplish his purposes, and the arm of flesh cannot stay it (President Joseph F. Smith, p. 93).'"
"I promise you in the name of the Lord whose servant I am that God will always protect and care for his people. We will have our difficulties the way every generation and people have had difficulties. But with the gospel of Jesus Christ, you have every hope and promise and reassurance. The Lord has power over his Saints and will always prepare places of peace, defense, and safety for his people. When we have faith in God, we can hope for a better world--for us personally, and for all mankind (p. 95)."
"May God bless us to endure well the purpose for which we were sent (p. 102)."
"'Those things which we call extraordinary, remarkable, or unusual may make history, but they do not make real life. After all, to do well those things which God ordained to be the common lot of all mankind, is the truest greatness. To be a successful father or a successful mother is greater than to be a successful general or a successful statesman (President Joseph F. Smith, p. 105).'"
"To be a...loving neighbor or listening friend is much of what true greatness is all about. To do one's best in the face of the commonplace struggles of life, and possibly in the face of failure, and to continue to endure and to persevere in the ongoing difficulties of life when those struggles and tasks contribute to others' progress and happiness and one's own eternal salvation--this is true greatness (p. 107)."
"True greatness is never a result of a chance occurrence or a one-time effort or achievement. Greatness requires the development of character. It requires a multitude of correct decisions in the everyday choices between good and evil that Elder Boyd K. Packer spoke about when he said, 'Over the years these little choices will be bundled together and show clearly what we value (p. 108).'"
"Where one door shuts, another opens, even for a prophet in prison. We are not always wise enough nor experienced enough to judge adequately all the possible entries and exits. The mansion that God prepares for each of his beloved children may have only certain hallways and banisters, special carpets and curtains that he would have us pass on our way to possess it (p. 126)."
"'No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be call the children of God...and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven (Orson F. Whitney, p. 126).'"
"'If I did not pay my tithing I should expect the Lord to withhold His blessings from me; I pay my tithing, not only because it is a law of God but because I expect a blessing by doing it. By keeping this and other laws, I expect to prosper and to be able to provide for my family (Mary Fielding Smith, p. 136).'"
"The Samaritan gave us an example of pure Christian love. He had compassion. He went to the man who had been injured by the thieves and bound up his wounds, took him to an inn, cared for him, paid his expenses, and offered more if needed for his care. This is a story of the love of a neighbor for his neighbor (p. 145)."
"Surely the Lord loves, more than anything else, an unwavering determination to obey his counsel. Surely the experiences of the great prophets of the Old Testament have been recorded to help us understand the importance of choosing the path of strict obedience (p. 156)."
"Jesus had no definite place of residence. He went from place to place teaching and doing good. It was necessary that the men who were called and set apart for the work should devote their time and attention and forgo worldly affairs. The work of the Master set the great example (p. 165)."
"The world in which we live, whether close to home or far away, needs the gospel of Jesus Christ. It provides the only way the world will ever know peace. We need to be kinder with one another, more gentle and forgiving. We need to be slower to anger and more prompt to help. We need to extend the hand of friendship and resist the hand of retribution. In short, we need to love one another with the pure love of Christ, with genuine charity and compassion and, if necessary, shared suffering, for that is the way God loved us (p. 169)."
"The world in which we live would benefit greatly if me and women everywhere would exercise the pure love of Christ, which is kind, meek, and lowly. It is without envy or pride. It is selfless because it seeks nothing in return. It does not countenance evil or ill will, nor rejoice in iniquity; it has no place for bigotry, hatred, or violence. It refuses to condone ridicule, vulgarity, abuse, or ostracism. It encourages diverse people to live together in Christian love regardless of religious belief, race, nationality, financial standing, education, or culture (p. 171)."
"We need a more peaceful world, growing out of more peaceful families and neighborhoods and communities. To secure and cultivate such peace, as the Prophet Joseph Smith taught us, 'we must love others, even our enemies as well as our friends.' The world needs the gospel of Jesus Christ. Those who are filled with the love of Christ do not seek to force others to do better; they inspire others to do better-indeed, inspire them to the pursuit of God. We need to extend the hand of friendship. We need to be kinder, more gentle, more forgiving, and slower to anger. We need to love one another with the pure love of Christ. May this be our course and our desire (p. 174)."
"True religion to the Christian is demonstrated by a real belief in God and the realization that we are responsible to him for our acts and conduct. A person who lives such religion is willing to live the principles of the gospel of Christ and walk uprightly before the Lord in all things according to his revealed law. This brings to an individual a sense of peace and freedom from confusion in life and gives an assurance of eternal life hereafter (p. 177)."
"Developing spirituality and attuning ourselves to the highest influences of godliness is not an easy matter. It takes time and frequently involves a struggle. It will not happen by chance, but is accomplished only through deliberate effort and by calling upon God and keeping his commandments (p. 182)."
"'We consider that God has created man with a mind capable of instruction, and a faculty which may be enlarged in proportion to the heed and diligence given to the light communicated from heaven to the intellect; and that the nearer man approaches perfection, the clearer are his views, and the greater his enjoyments, till he has overcome the evils of his life and lost every desire for sin; and like the ancients, arrives at the point of faith where he is wrapped in the power and glory of his Maker, and is caught up to dwell with Him. But we consider that this is a station to which no man ever arrived in a moment (Joseph Smith, p. 183).'"
"Part of our difficulty as we strive to acquire spirituality is the feeling that there is much to do and we are falling far short. Perfection is something yet ahead for everyone of us; but we can capitalize on our strengths, begin where we are, and seek after the happiness that can be found in pursing the things of God (p. 184)."
"The place to being is here. The time to start is now. The length of our stride need be but one step at a time. God, who has designed our happiness, will lead us along even as little children, and we will by that process approach perfection (p. 184)."
A few of my favorite quotes:
"Let us follow the Son of God in all ways and in all walks of life. Let us make him our exemplar and our guide (p. 3)."
"How often do we think of the Savior? How deeply and how gratefully and how adoringly do we reflect on his life? How central to our lives do we know him to be (p. 7)?"
"And what of the meek? In a world too preoccupied with winning through intimidation and seeking to be number one, no large crowd is standing in line to buy books that call for mere meekness. But the meek shall inherit the earth, a pretty impressive corporate takeover--and done without intimidation! Sooner or later, and we pray sooner than later, everyone will acknowledge that Christ's way is not only the right way, but ultimately the only way to hope and joy. Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that gentleness is better than brutality, that kindness is greater than coercion, that the soft voice turneth away wrath. In the end, and sooner than that whenever possible we must be more like him. 'To those who fall, how kind thou! How good to those who seek (p. 9)!'"
"In our own great times of need we must not leave unrecognized this unfailing answer to the cares and worries of our world. Here is the promise of personal peace and protection. Here is the power to remit sin in all periods of time. We too must believe that Jesus Christ possesses the power to ease our burdens and lighten our loads. We too must come unto him and there receive rest from our labors (p. 13)."
"Why face life's burdens alone, Christ asks, or why face them with temporal support that will quickly falter? To the heavy laden, Christ's yoke gives the power and peace of standing side by side with a God who will provide the support, balance, and the strength to meet our challenges and endure our tasks here in...mortality (p. 13)."
"'That man is greatest and most blessed and joyful whose life most closely approaches the patter of the Christ. This has nothing to do with earthly wealth, power, or prestige. The only true test of greatness, blessedness, joyfulness is how close a life can come to being like the Master, Jesus Christ. He is the right way, the full truth, and the abundant life (President Ezra Taft Benson, p. 14).'"
"Peace is a state of existence that comes only upon the terms and conditions set by God, and in no other way (p. 29)."
"If we look to the ways of the world, we will find turmoil and confusion. If we will but turn to God, we will find peace for the restless soul....This peace shelters us from the worldly turmoil. The knowledge that God lives, that we are his children, and that he loves us soothes the troubled heart. The answer to the quest lies in faith in God and in his Son, Jesus Christ. This will bring peace to us now and in the eternity to follow (p. 31)."
"Satan continues to temple, taunt, and plead for our loyalty. We should take strength from the fact that Christ was victorious not as a God but as a man (p. 32)."
"There are times in our struggle with the adversities of mortality when we become weary, weakened, and susceptible to the temptations that seem to be placed in our pathways. A lesson for us lies in the account of the life of the Savior....Throughout these days in the wilderness, he chose to fast, so that his mortal body might be completely subjected to the divine influence of his Father's spirit. When Jesus had completed the fast of forty days and had communed with God, he was, in this hungry and physically weakened state, left to be tempted of the devil. That, too, was to be part of his preparation (p. 32)."
"The surest way to lose the blessings of time or eternity is to accept them on Satan's terms (p. 35)."
"As with Jesus, so with us, relief comes and miracles are enjoyed after the trial and temptation of our faith (p. 35)."
"I suppose we have all had occasion, individually or collectively, to cry out on some stormy sea, 'Master, carest thou not that we perish (p. 40)?'"
"Jesus was not spared grief and pain and anguish and buffeting....His ship was tossed most of this life, and, at least to mortal eyes, it crashed fatally on the rocky coast of Calgary. We are asked not to look on life with mortal eyes; with spiritual vision we know something quite different was happening upon the cross. Peace was on the lips and in the heart of the Savior no matter how fiercely the tempest was raging. May it so be with us--in our own hearts, in our own homes, in our nations of the world, and even in the buffetings faced from time to time by the Church. We should not expect to get through life individually or collectively without some opposition (p. 43)."
"This is the church of Jesus Christ, not the church of marrieds or singles or any other group or individual. The gospel we preach is the gospel of Jesus Christ, which encompasses all the saving ordinances and covenants necessary to save and exalt every individual who is willing to accept Christ and keep the commandments that he and our Father in Heaven have given. Each commandment given is for our benefit and happiness. To love and serve God and to love and serve his Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, should be our goal. Our focus of attention should be on these two holy beings, and we should worship them with all our heart, might, mind, and strength. We should be engaged in assisting them in their divine purposes of bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (p. 53)."
"In the press of a multitude, he sensed the singular touch of a woman who sought relief for an ailment from which she had suffered for some twelve years. On another occasion, he saw beyond the narrowly focused prejudice of a condemning crowd and the sin of her who stood accused. Perhaps sensing her willingness to repent, Christ chose to see the worth of the individual and sent her forth to sin no more. On another occasion, 'he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them (p. 55).'"
"How foolish we would be to fail to enjoy the rich gifts of God to us! We could well miss opportunities for providing needed blessings to others because we felt personally deprived of some hoped-for blessing and were blinded by our own self-pity. Not only should we be careful not to deprive others of blessings because of our wanderings in the wastelands of self-pity or self-recrimination, but we should also be careful not to deprive ourselves of other blessings that could be ours. While waiting for promised blessings, one should not mark time, for failure to move forward is to some degree retrogression. Each of us must be anxiously engaged in good causes, including our own development. The personal pursuit of hobbies or crafts, the seeking of knowledge and wisdom, particularly of the things of God, and the development and honing of skills are all things that could productively occupy our time (p. 56)."
"Be kind and considerate of all members. Be thoughtful. Be careful in what you say. Don't allow an insensitive remark or action to harm another. 'And above all things, clothe yourselves with the bond of charity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and peace' (D&C 88:125) (p. 57)."
"'Love is one of the chief characteristics of Deity, and ought to be manifested by those who aspired to be the sons of God. A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race (Joseph Smith, p. 59).'"
"Joseph of Arimathea was a secret disciple only because of what others would think of him. He would not risk his social position or the respect of his associates. It is fear that causes people to be noncommittal. They are afraid to declare their loyalty and assume active responsibility. The easy way is to let someone else be the leader and assume the responsibility. The world needs individuals who are willing to step forward and declare themselves. The world needs individuals who will lift the load of responsibility to their shoulders and carry it high under the banner of Jesus Christ--individuals who are willing to defend the right openly (p. 65)."
"In other words, the Twelve told the disciples that it was not reasonable for them to leave their important office of teaching the gospel in order to provide for the daily welfare of the widows and serve their tables. There were other good men who could look after these duties so that the Twelve could continue to devote themselves to the charge of teaching the gospel to all persons. The result of the decision to call others to assist with the details was this: 'And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith' (Acts 6:7) (p. 72)."
"Abraham Lincoln once asked, 'What constitutes the bulwark of our own liberty and independence?' He then answered, 'It is not our frowning battlements, our bristling sea coasts, our army and our navy....Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in us (p. 76).'"
"Through Christ and his valiant defense of our Father's plan, the course of agency and eternal aspirations prevailed. In that crucial, premortal setting, a major milestone was passed, a monumental victory was won. As a result, we would be allowed to continue to pursue what President David O. McKay once described as 'an eternal principle of progress.' Later Christ himself would come to earth, President McKay noted, 'to perfect society by perfecting the individual, and only by the exercising of Free Agency can the individual even approach perfection (p. 78).'"
"'The Lord cannot violate his own law; were he to do that, he would cease to be God....This is a law which has always existed from all eternity, and will continue to exist throughout all the eternities to come. Every intelligent being must have the power of choice (Brigham Young, p. 78).'"
"To countermand and ultimately forbid our choices was Satan's way, not God's; the Father of us all simply never will do that. He will, however, stand by us forever to help us see the right path, find the right choice, respond to the true voice, and feel the influence of his undeniable Spirit. His gentle, peaceful, powerful persuasion to do right and find joy will be with us 'so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved' (Moroni 7:36) (p. 79)."
"Let us be conscious of the fact that our future is being fashioned by the decisions we make. May we exercise our faith and our agency in choosing the blessings God has set before us in the great plan of our Savior (p. 80)."
"Contrary to what some might say, you have every reason in this world to be happy and to be optimistic and to be confident. Every generation since time began has had some things to overcome and some problems to work out. Furthermore, every individual person has a particular set of challenges that sometimes seem to be earmarked for us personally. We understood that in our premortal existence (p. 91)."
"I think it is incumbent upon us to rejoice a little more and despair a little less, to give thanks for what we have and for the magnitude of God's blessings to us, and to talk a little less about what we may not have or what anxiety may accompany difficult times in this or any generation (p. 92)."
"'You do not need to worry in the least, the Lord will take care of you and bless you. He will also take care of His servants, and will bless them and help them to accomplish His purposes; and all the powers of darkness combined in earth and in hell cannot prevent it....He has stretched forth His hand to accomplish his purposes, and the arm of flesh cannot stay it (President Joseph F. Smith, p. 93).'"
"I promise you in the name of the Lord whose servant I am that God will always protect and care for his people. We will have our difficulties the way every generation and people have had difficulties. But with the gospel of Jesus Christ, you have every hope and promise and reassurance. The Lord has power over his Saints and will always prepare places of peace, defense, and safety for his people. When we have faith in God, we can hope for a better world--for us personally, and for all mankind (p. 95)."
"May God bless us to endure well the purpose for which we were sent (p. 102)."
"'Those things which we call extraordinary, remarkable, or unusual may make history, but they do not make real life. After all, to do well those things which God ordained to be the common lot of all mankind, is the truest greatness. To be a successful father or a successful mother is greater than to be a successful general or a successful statesman (President Joseph F. Smith, p. 105).'"
"To be a...loving neighbor or listening friend is much of what true greatness is all about. To do one's best in the face of the commonplace struggles of life, and possibly in the face of failure, and to continue to endure and to persevere in the ongoing difficulties of life when those struggles and tasks contribute to others' progress and happiness and one's own eternal salvation--this is true greatness (p. 107)."
"True greatness is never a result of a chance occurrence or a one-time effort or achievement. Greatness requires the development of character. It requires a multitude of correct decisions in the everyday choices between good and evil that Elder Boyd K. Packer spoke about when he said, 'Over the years these little choices will be bundled together and show clearly what we value (p. 108).'"
"Where one door shuts, another opens, even for a prophet in prison. We are not always wise enough nor experienced enough to judge adequately all the possible entries and exits. The mansion that God prepares for each of his beloved children may have only certain hallways and banisters, special carpets and curtains that he would have us pass on our way to possess it (p. 126)."
"'No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be call the children of God...and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven (Orson F. Whitney, p. 126).'"
"'If I did not pay my tithing I should expect the Lord to withhold His blessings from me; I pay my tithing, not only because it is a law of God but because I expect a blessing by doing it. By keeping this and other laws, I expect to prosper and to be able to provide for my family (Mary Fielding Smith, p. 136).'"
"The Samaritan gave us an example of pure Christian love. He had compassion. He went to the man who had been injured by the thieves and bound up his wounds, took him to an inn, cared for him, paid his expenses, and offered more if needed for his care. This is a story of the love of a neighbor for his neighbor (p. 145)."
"Surely the Lord loves, more than anything else, an unwavering determination to obey his counsel. Surely the experiences of the great prophets of the Old Testament have been recorded to help us understand the importance of choosing the path of strict obedience (p. 156)."
"Jesus had no definite place of residence. He went from place to place teaching and doing good. It was necessary that the men who were called and set apart for the work should devote their time and attention and forgo worldly affairs. The work of the Master set the great example (p. 165)."
"The world in which we live, whether close to home or far away, needs the gospel of Jesus Christ. It provides the only way the world will ever know peace. We need to be kinder with one another, more gentle and forgiving. We need to be slower to anger and more prompt to help. We need to extend the hand of friendship and resist the hand of retribution. In short, we need to love one another with the pure love of Christ, with genuine charity and compassion and, if necessary, shared suffering, for that is the way God loved us (p. 169)."
"The world in which we live would benefit greatly if me and women everywhere would exercise the pure love of Christ, which is kind, meek, and lowly. It is without envy or pride. It is selfless because it seeks nothing in return. It does not countenance evil or ill will, nor rejoice in iniquity; it has no place for bigotry, hatred, or violence. It refuses to condone ridicule, vulgarity, abuse, or ostracism. It encourages diverse people to live together in Christian love regardless of religious belief, race, nationality, financial standing, education, or culture (p. 171)."
"We need a more peaceful world, growing out of more peaceful families and neighborhoods and communities. To secure and cultivate such peace, as the Prophet Joseph Smith taught us, 'we must love others, even our enemies as well as our friends.' The world needs the gospel of Jesus Christ. Those who are filled with the love of Christ do not seek to force others to do better; they inspire others to do better-indeed, inspire them to the pursuit of God. We need to extend the hand of friendship. We need to be kinder, more gentle, more forgiving, and slower to anger. We need to love one another with the pure love of Christ. May this be our course and our desire (p. 174)."
"True religion to the Christian is demonstrated by a real belief in God and the realization that we are responsible to him for our acts and conduct. A person who lives such religion is willing to live the principles of the gospel of Christ and walk uprightly before the Lord in all things according to his revealed law. This brings to an individual a sense of peace and freedom from confusion in life and gives an assurance of eternal life hereafter (p. 177)."
"Developing spirituality and attuning ourselves to the highest influences of godliness is not an easy matter. It takes time and frequently involves a struggle. It will not happen by chance, but is accomplished only through deliberate effort and by calling upon God and keeping his commandments (p. 182)."
"'We consider that God has created man with a mind capable of instruction, and a faculty which may be enlarged in proportion to the heed and diligence given to the light communicated from heaven to the intellect; and that the nearer man approaches perfection, the clearer are his views, and the greater his enjoyments, till he has overcome the evils of his life and lost every desire for sin; and like the ancients, arrives at the point of faith where he is wrapped in the power and glory of his Maker, and is caught up to dwell with Him. But we consider that this is a station to which no man ever arrived in a moment (Joseph Smith, p. 183).'"
"Part of our difficulty as we strive to acquire spirituality is the feeling that there is much to do and we are falling far short. Perfection is something yet ahead for everyone of us; but we can capitalize on our strengths, begin where we are, and seek after the happiness that can be found in pursing the things of God (p. 184)."
"The place to being is here. The time to start is now. The length of our stride need be but one step at a time. God, who has designed our happiness, will lead us along even as little children, and we will by that process approach perfection (p. 184)."
October 15, 2021
So I put this book in my car so that whenever I was waiting for kids, carpooling or waiting for them at the dentist, I would have a book with me always. I couldn’t have chose a better book!
I believe that we would all, everyone in the world, have Joy if we were to just do the things that are in this book.
It’s written by the 14th Prophet from the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints. He is someone that I didn’t know a lot about - but very much respect now!
Some of my favorite lines from the book:
“The world in which we live would benefit greatly if men and women everywhere would exercise the pure love of Christ, which is kind, meek, and lowly. It is without envy or pride. It is selfless because it seeks nothing in return. It does not countenance evil or ill will, nor rejoice in iniquity -it has no place for bigotry, hatred, or violence. It refuses to Condone ridicule, Vulgarity, abuse, or ostracism. It encourages diverse people to live together in Christian love regardless of religious belief, race, nationality, Financial standing, education, or culture”
“hatred tears down, but understanding builds up”
“Let us be conscious of the fact that our future is being fashioned by the decisions we make”
“when these experiences (personal difficulties) humble us and refine us and teach us and bless us, they can be powerful instruments in the hands of God to make us better people, to make us more grateful, more loving, and more considerate of other people in their own times of difficulty”
He reminded us that The book of James tells us that “true religion is devotion to God, demonstrated by love and compassion for fellowmen, coupled with unworldliness”
I found myself laughing, crying, and joyful 😏😊throughout the whole book
I believe that we would all, everyone in the world, have Joy if we were to just do the things that are in this book.
It’s written by the 14th Prophet from the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints. He is someone that I didn’t know a lot about - but very much respect now!
Some of my favorite lines from the book:
“The world in which we live would benefit greatly if men and women everywhere would exercise the pure love of Christ, which is kind, meek, and lowly. It is without envy or pride. It is selfless because it seeks nothing in return. It does not countenance evil or ill will, nor rejoice in iniquity -it has no place for bigotry, hatred, or violence. It refuses to Condone ridicule, Vulgarity, abuse, or ostracism. It encourages diverse people to live together in Christian love regardless of religious belief, race, nationality, Financial standing, education, or culture”
“hatred tears down, but understanding builds up”
“Let us be conscious of the fact that our future is being fashioned by the decisions we make”
“when these experiences (personal difficulties) humble us and refine us and teach us and bless us, they can be powerful instruments in the hands of God to make us better people, to make us more grateful, more loving, and more considerate of other people in their own times of difficulty”
He reminded us that The book of James tells us that “true religion is devotion to God, demonstrated by love and compassion for fellowmen, coupled with unworldliness”
I found myself laughing, crying, and joyful 😏😊throughout the whole book
March 12, 2015
This is a book that simply won't go out of date. Its essence is that supernal joy can be found by those willing to study and emulate the life of Jesus. Broken down into four parts, the book is a compilation of 32 addresses the author gave over his lifetime--addresses that range from the value of unity to an unshakable conviction that seeking to live as Christ lived can provide hope in the darkest of situations.
Hunter points out here that every generation has had its challenges and problems. The World War II generation faced uncertainty at the beginning of that conflict; you can extrapolate from his remarks in the adversity section that the current generation will face its share of foundation-rocking challenges and uncertainties, and that it, too, will find better solutions to the degree that it seeks a more Christ-like existence.
I normally shy away from compilations of speeches like this because they often seem herky-jerky. Indeed, if they are badly edited or thoughtlessly compiled, they can give any reader a feeling of being repeatedly shaken and banged about--a bit like riding with someone learning to use a stick shift. But this book lacked that segmented leap-without-warning-from-topic-to-topic kind of experience. It is logically and carefully laid out, and that's what you would expect of this author.
Howard W. Hunter was arguably among the most cerebral of the LDS faith's 20th-century leaders. You didn't merely listen to his remarks in the background while you did other things. You had to turn up the audio, focus on it, then listen to it again later so you could truly digest and analyze the deepest and best parts. This book reflects Hunter's rich life experiences. You see the lawyer he was in his younger years, and yes, you see the musician, too. His love for the hymns of his faith is obvious, and he quotes liberally from them in this collection of his addresses.
Although Hunter was a thoughtful student of scripture, his book is highly readable. It's one of those books you could pick up in five years and see entirely differently. For me, at least in the present, the section on adversity and uncertainty stood out with a vivid clarity and left me with much to think about. Despite his obvious intellect, Hunter doesn't talk down to his audience; you won't need a massive dictionary at hand to look up all those ten-dollar words he used when simpler words would have sufficed. That simply wasn't his speaking style, and this book is, after all, a compilation of his remarks at various times throughout his life. In short, his style is highly approachable, and virtually anyone of any faith could find something in here that would add value to his or her life.
The audio copy to which I had access was recorded by prisoners at the Utah State Penitentiary. There are some glaring mispronunciations as a result, but the chapters were short and compelling. The actual book content more than made up for the sometimes-distracting errors in the narration.
Hunter points out here that every generation has had its challenges and problems. The World War II generation faced uncertainty at the beginning of that conflict; you can extrapolate from his remarks in the adversity section that the current generation will face its share of foundation-rocking challenges and uncertainties, and that it, too, will find better solutions to the degree that it seeks a more Christ-like existence.
I normally shy away from compilations of speeches like this because they often seem herky-jerky. Indeed, if they are badly edited or thoughtlessly compiled, they can give any reader a feeling of being repeatedly shaken and banged about--a bit like riding with someone learning to use a stick shift. But this book lacked that segmented leap-without-warning-from-topic-to-topic kind of experience. It is logically and carefully laid out, and that's what you would expect of this author.
Howard W. Hunter was arguably among the most cerebral of the LDS faith's 20th-century leaders. You didn't merely listen to his remarks in the background while you did other things. You had to turn up the audio, focus on it, then listen to it again later so you could truly digest and analyze the deepest and best parts. This book reflects Hunter's rich life experiences. You see the lawyer he was in his younger years, and yes, you see the musician, too. His love for the hymns of his faith is obvious, and he quotes liberally from them in this collection of his addresses.
Although Hunter was a thoughtful student of scripture, his book is highly readable. It's one of those books you could pick up in five years and see entirely differently. For me, at least in the present, the section on adversity and uncertainty stood out with a vivid clarity and left me with much to think about. Despite his obvious intellect, Hunter doesn't talk down to his audience; you won't need a massive dictionary at hand to look up all those ten-dollar words he used when simpler words would have sufficed. That simply wasn't his speaking style, and this book is, after all, a compilation of his remarks at various times throughout his life. In short, his style is highly approachable, and virtually anyone of any faith could find something in here that would add value to his or her life.
The audio copy to which I had access was recorded by prisoners at the Utah State Penitentiary. There are some glaring mispronunciations as a result, but the chapters were short and compelling. The actual book content more than made up for the sometimes-distracting errors in the narration.
August 29, 2018
This is a collection of beautiful addresses given by President Howard W. Hunter of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. There are so many beautiful concepts taught in this book. I highly recommend this book.
November 14, 2025
Slow read, but lots of great messages
March 2, 2010
I would have enjoyed this much better if I hadn't waited till right before Book Review night - it took me 2 days where I wish I would've spent 2+ weeks with it. President Hunter was more of a scriptorian than I knew - loved how he pulled me into the scriptures.
March 4, 2008
I gained a real love and admiration for Pres. Hunter after reading this book. So much so. . . I did a book review on it, I wanted everyone to read it!
March 20, 2008
So good! So many inspiring insights by a prophet of God. Joy is all around us--we just need to see, feel and appreciate it. Great book.
June 25, 2008
Love this book and this prophet!
February 9, 2010
Excellent series of essays by Pres. Howard W. Hunter. His faith, his testimony, and his love for everyone really come out beautifully in these essays.
October 31, 2012
Who really knows what happiness is?
April 30, 2015
Wonderful in sight.
January 28, 2016
I have found deep spiritual renewal in the words of a man I consider a prophet.
November 14, 2016
Great collection of sermons based on scripture and relevant to modern day. Enjoyed reading it for a few minutes each morning.
November 3, 2008
I love his teachings and his perspective on things.
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