What do you think?
Yesterday, Today, and Forever
Elder M. Russell Ballard bears a unique heritage. A descendant of Hyrum Smith and Joseph F. Smith, Elder Ballard was also blessed with two grandfathers who were Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ. Hyrum Mack Smith and Melvin J. Ballard left volumes of their sermons, writings, letters, and family records. In studying their words, Elder Ballard was reminded of this truth: "God is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Mormon 9:9).
His latest book shares a collection of his difficult-to-find messages given during his service as a General Authority, paired with related teachings from his grandfathers. "What I have taught," writes Elder Ballard, "is largely an echo of what was taught by my grandfathers."
As the three Apostles share a common witness of the truths of the restored gospel, one thing becomes clear: although programs and policies may change, doctrine is eternal. It is both timely and timeless. The doctrine of the gospel is forever relevant to disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.
216 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 2, 2015
About the author
M. Russell Ballard
34 books60 followersPresident M. Russell Ballard has served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter–day Saints since October 6, 1985. He was set apart as Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles by President Russell M. Nelson on January 14, 2018.
He was born to Melvin R. and Geraldine Smith Ballard. He attended the University of Utah. He served as a counselor to the president of the British Mission. He has been a bishop twice and a high councilor in two stakes. In 1974, he was called as president of the Canada Toronto Mission, where he was serving when he was called to the First Quorum of the Seventy in April of 1976. He served as a member of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy from Feb. 21, 1980, to Oct. 6, 1985.
Prior to his call as a General Authority, Elder Ballard had interests in automotive, real estate, and investment businesses. He has served on many civic committees and boards. He is the author of two books.
He married Barbara Bowen in the Salt Lake Temple Aug. 28, 1951. They have two sons, five daughters and forty grandchildren.
He was born to Melvin R. and Geraldine Smith Ballard. He attended the University of Utah. He served as a counselor to the president of the British Mission. He has been a bishop twice and a high councilor in two stakes. In 1974, he was called as president of the Canada Toronto Mission, where he was serving when he was called to the First Quorum of the Seventy in April of 1976. He served as a member of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy from Feb. 21, 1980, to Oct. 6, 1985.
Prior to his call as a General Authority, Elder Ballard had interests in automotive, real estate, and investment businesses. He has served on many civic committees and boards. He is the author of two books.
He married Barbara Bowen in the Salt Lake Temple Aug. 28, 1951. They have two sons, five daughters and forty grandchildren.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 28, 2015
These are some neat talks by Elder Ballard. He teaches us to be faithful, trust in the Lord and His gospel, share the gospel, serve others, build kind homes, sacrifice, be happy, and have an eternal perspective. I think the thing I liked best about this book was the fact that it also included related quotes from his two grandfathers who were also apostles - Elder Melvin J. Ballard and Elder Hyrum Mack Smith. These quotes covering different generations help to remind us of the truth that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. As Elder Ballard said, "Programs and even policies may change, circumstances in the world change, especially as we draw closer to the Second Coming of the Lord, but the doctrine of the gospel is eternal in nature."
Here are a few more quotes I liked:
"This faith must be more than the generic dictionary variety. Our faith, for it to be meaningful and effective and to hold us fast, must be centered in Jesus Christ, His life, and His Atonement, and in the restoration of His gospel to the earth in the last days (p. 2)."
"True discipleship requires us to know Jesus Christ, to thoughtfully study the principles of truth, and to find answers to life's questions that can be given only by God. The answers may come through the Holy Ghost directly, or through the inspiration we receive from the scriptures and from Church leaders (p. 7)."
"Testimony and knowledge come as a result of your personal faith and prayers. Ask your Heavenly Father to bless you with faith and courage, and He will help you endure any challenges you may face. He will help you overcome....He will strengthen you when you are simply feeling overwhelmed (p. 8)."
"'It is worth more to any young man in Israel to have in his very heart and soul a burning conviction, a knowledge that God lives, and that Jesus is the Christ, than to be possessed of much wealth and to be devoid of this blessing (Melvin J. Ballard, p. 11).'"
"My life has never been the same since I anchored my soul to Jesus Christ and the truths of His eternal and everlasting gospel (p. 12)."
"'I pray every night that God will see me safely dead with my testimony burning brightly....My boy, no one is safe until we have endured faithfully to the very end (stake patriarch, p. 23).'"
"'There is no sin, no inherited evil--I care not what it is--that the power of God cannot relieve and eliminate from [our souls]. It can redeem us from the errors and evils of mortality, and raise us without sin unto salvation into the presence of Almighty God. Therefore, no Latter-day Saint is justified in continuing in weaknesses and in imperfections....The gospel was given for the purpose of relieving us of them (Hyrum Mack Smith, p. 25).'"
"Each of us needs to be ever watchful so that none of God's children of whom we are aware will ever feel alone, lost, forgotten, unwanted, unneeded, or unaccepted....I believe that when our life is over here and we report to our Father in Heaven, He will be most interested in what we did in bringing the doctrine and gospel to others. I am not sure there is anything more important we can do than teaching our families, and every child of God that we can, the simple truths of the gospel of Christ (p. 27)."
"I like to think of this spiritual armor not as a solid piece of metal molded to fit the body, but more like chain mail....Chain mail consists of dozens of tiny pieces of steel fastened together to allow the user greater flexibility without losing protection. I like it as a metaphor for our spiritual armor because it has been my experience that there is not one great and grand thing we can do to arm ourselves spiritually. True spiritual power lies in numerous smaller acts woven together in a fabric of spiritual fortification that protects and shields from all evil (p. 32)."
"Every honest and sincere prayer adds another piece to chain-mail armor (p. 34)."
"'I would rather go blind all the rest of my days, than to be spiritually blind, and to be denied the glorious privilege that comes from the light that descends upon my soul as I seek my Father in prayer (Melvin J. Ballard, p. 34).'"
"How do we 'waste' the days of our probation?....The Lord gives a similar warning in these words: 'Thou shalt not idle away they time, neither shalt thou bury they talent that it may not be known' (D&C 60:13)." (p. 44)
"One of the greatest challenges of this life is the ordering of priorities. If we do not do this wisely, then things that matter most in life are at the mercy of things that matter least. Too many people are willing to sit back and let life just happen to them. It takes time to develop the attributes that will help you to be a well-balanced person (p. 45)."
"Reverence is an attitude of mind and heart. It involves a keen sense of God's majesty and infinite goodness and of our unworthiness and need for Him and His redeeming grace. It includes a profound sense of the sacred and a desire to honor and protect it (p. 46)."
"'No generation of men and women have ever had a more serious obligation upon them than the members of this Church--to let the whole world know that God has spoken in this hour of warning, and has offered the means of escape for all His children. It is an obligation that rests upon, not only the man who has a son or daughter whom he sends into the mission field, but upon every man and woman (Melvin J. Ballard, p. 54).'"
"'We want knowledge and wisdom. We want to understand the truth, and understanding the truth rejoice in it. We want to know what the commandments of God are, and knowing them we are determined, as a people, to keep them, that we might come to a knowledge of all truth (Hyrum Mack Smith, p. 61).'"
"Our works consist of placing our full confidence and trust in Jesus Christ and then exercising our desire and willingness to live by His teachings. We do this by repenting of all our sins and obeying the laws and ordinances of Christ's gospel. As we do this faithfully over our lifetime, we are sanctified by the Holy Ghost, and our nature is changed (p. 69)."
"'During the few moments that Joseph Smith stood in the presence of the Father and the Son in the Sacred Grove, he learned more about the Father and about His Son Jesus Christ than all the philosophers and professors of religion of all the ages ever have known, or ever will know, unless they shall have a like privilege and opportunity. So we speak with positiveness upon these subjects, and yet we hope with tolerance; but we know whereof we speak, that we do declare the truth (Melvin J. Ballard, p. 76).'"
"When opportunities present themselves to you in the course of your life, may the Lord bless you to share the gospel generously and kindly with your family, your friends, your work associates, and any others....This is our responsibility as Christians (p. 79)."
"Every righteous man and woman has a significant role to play in the onward march of the kingdom of God (p. 84)"
"'Both a righteous man and a righteous woman are a blessings to all those whom their lives touch....[In] the world before we came here, faithful women were given certain assignments while faithful men were foreordained to certain priesthood tasks. While we do not now remember the particulars...we are accountable for those things which long ago were expected of us (President Spencer W. Kimball, p. 89).'"
"Every sister who stands for truth and righteousness diminishes the influence of evil. Every sister who strengthens and protects her family and the Church is doing the work of God. Every sister who lives as a woman of God becomes a beacon for others to follow and plants seeds of righteous influence that will be harvested for decades to come. Every sister who 'invite[s] others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end' is helping hasten the work of the Lord. Every sister who makes and keeps sacred covenants becomes an instrument in the hands of God (p. 90)."
"Just as the Savior stepped forward to fulfill His divine responsibilities, we have the invitation and responsibility to do likewise. If you are wondering if you make a difference to the Lord, imagine the impact when you make commitments such as...... 'Lord, if you need a woman who will succor the weak, lift up the hands that hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees, here I am, send me (p. 90).'"
"I have always been impressed with a statement made by President George H. W. Bush in his inaugural address. He said, 'Our purpose today is to make kinder the face of the nation and gentler the face of the world.' I believe that wonderful vision can be realized only if the homes of the world become kinder and gentler, worthy abodes for the precious sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father. Fathers and mothers and children must foster the spirit of gentleness and kindness within the walls of their own homes (p. 100)."
"Are you praying individually with your children over problems in their lives that perhaps only Heavenly Father can solve? Some of the most impressive experiences that occurred with our seven children were those magic moments when I found myself with just one of my daughters or sons as we knelt quietly in the study or in my office at home and as I held that child's hand and supplicated a special blessing on his or her behalf (p. 103)."
"I pray, then, my dear brethren and sisters who are parents, that you might have the wisdom to not feel obligated to know the answers to all things in the lives of your children. There are many questions that will come to you from your children that perhaps you can't answer, but you can pray for guidance, you can pray for help, and you can pray for direction, which is a blessing Heavenly Father will grant to all His children who humbly go before Him (p. 105)."
"Sisters, sometimes I think you feel like you have to be 'super mom.' I ask you to not feel that way. Just be calm and gentle and approachable. And be there for the appropriate needs of your husband and your children--just as your husband and children need to be there to meet your appropriate needs (p. 108)."
"Parents, perhaps one of the most vital and important principles that you and I need to understand is the principle of listening--being willing to listen with an open, kind, and gentle spirit (p. 110)."
"'I am sure that it was not the thought of our Heavenly Father that He would issue certain mandates to us just to see us in action, to discover whether or not we should be competent. I am sure that every requirement that He has made was essential to prepare us to come into His presence (Melvin J. Ballard, p. 115).'"
"'A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation....It is through the medium of the sacrifice of all earthly things that men do actually know that they are doing the things that are well pleasing in the sight of God (Joseph Smith, p. 117).'"
"Sacrifice allows us to learn something about ourselves--what we are willing to offer to the Lord through our obedience (p. 118)."
"It is interesting to note that the word sacrifice means literally 'to make sacred' or 'to render sacred.' The purposes of the law of sacrifice are eternal. The ways it has been practiced, however, have varied according to the Lord's will (p. 119)."
"'When I think of this offering of Jesus Christ, in that he took upon himself the sins of the world, I cannot think of it and stand aloof from it not a participator; neither do I think that men [and women] can properly comprehend the mission of Jesus Christ who merely are interested in reading the story and are onlookers. Every man and woman who lives must be participators in this great sacrifice, if they are to be benefactors of that great atoning offering of the Lord Jesus Christ (Melvin J. Ballard, p. 123).'"
"When we overcome our own selfish desires and put god first in our lives and covenant to serve Him regardless of the cost, then we are living the law of sacrifice. One of the best ways to keep the first great commandment is to keep the second great commandment....The degree of our love for the Lord and for others can be measured by what we are willing to sacrifice for them (p. 127)."
"I would like to encourage you with all the strength of my soul to work to build a real, personal relationship with the Savior of the world. I do not know of anything that is more important than to know you are in tune with Him. It takes fasting, it takes mighty prayer, it takes diligent and committed service, it takes searching and pondering the scriptures, and it takes obedience to His commandments (p. 133)."
"President Tanner took my arm and asked, 'Russ, would you like to come in and have prayer with us?' Can you imagine the impact on me in closing the day with the First Presidency of the Church? I went into President Tanner's room with President Kimball. It was but a moment before President Marion G. Romney and the other Brethren came in. I was overwhelmed. Tears welled up in my eyes as we knelt down around President Tanner's bed....And then I heard our dear prophet pray. I learned a great lesson from that simple, humble prayer. I felt the Spirit as I had never felt it before as I listened to a prophet talk to God. It seemed like two close friends speaking to each other (p. 135)."
"As I study the Savior's life, I see in Him a man who was so committed to His cause and His mission, whose eye was so single to the glory of our eternal Heavenly Father, that regardless of the circumstances or the pressures that came into His life, regardless of those who persecuted Him and reviled Him and tried to harm Him, He was somehow able to set all of that aside and see the good in every man and woman (p. 136)."
"'We ought to rely a little more than we do upon the Lord and upon the intelligence He has given us to develop the light within us, to become better informed, to be more faithful than we are, notwithstanding good testimony of our faithfulness may be borne now (Hyrum Mack Smith, p. 141).'"
"Both the Apostle Paul and Joseph Smith taught that if there is anything lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy, we should seek after these things. The phrase 'seeking after' suggests active participation, not passive acceptance. We should be active in our communities. We should join groups where we can exert a positive influence. We should embrace those who have similar values and try to better understand those who don't. We should join the conversations on the Internet or anywhere else where we can clarify the great purpose of God in restoring to the earth the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the Prophet Joseph Smith (p. 144)."
"You know, there is something about you that is absolutely beautiful. I want you to understand that the real you is radiating a beautiful spirit. Don't you ever lose that. Don't curse God because of the challenges you have. Rather, let this wonderful spirit, captured inside this crippled body, soar (p. 149)."
"'How often do parents have to deny the prayers and petitions of their own children? Notwithstanding the child desires a thing greatly, and can see no reason why he should not have it, yet in the greater wisdom of the parent his request is denied and the supposed blessing is withheld. But that is no evidence that the prayer was not considered by the parent; it is simply an evidence that the parent knows best when to give and when to withhold (Hyrum Mack Smith, p. 153).'"
"'A soul redeemed and sanctified and worthy to enter into the highest degree of celestial glory is of greater intrinsic worth than all the wealth of all the world (Melvin J. Ballard, p. 166).'"
"I had the impression that somebody ought to paint the porch for her. I went back to my father and said, 'Will you buy the paint if I paint the porch?' He was glad to do it. I went down and painted her porch (p. 167)."
Here are a few more quotes I liked:
"This faith must be more than the generic dictionary variety. Our faith, for it to be meaningful and effective and to hold us fast, must be centered in Jesus Christ, His life, and His Atonement, and in the restoration of His gospel to the earth in the last days (p. 2)."
"True discipleship requires us to know Jesus Christ, to thoughtfully study the principles of truth, and to find answers to life's questions that can be given only by God. The answers may come through the Holy Ghost directly, or through the inspiration we receive from the scriptures and from Church leaders (p. 7)."
"Testimony and knowledge come as a result of your personal faith and prayers. Ask your Heavenly Father to bless you with faith and courage, and He will help you endure any challenges you may face. He will help you overcome....He will strengthen you when you are simply feeling overwhelmed (p. 8)."
"'It is worth more to any young man in Israel to have in his very heart and soul a burning conviction, a knowledge that God lives, and that Jesus is the Christ, than to be possessed of much wealth and to be devoid of this blessing (Melvin J. Ballard, p. 11).'"
"My life has never been the same since I anchored my soul to Jesus Christ and the truths of His eternal and everlasting gospel (p. 12)."
"'I pray every night that God will see me safely dead with my testimony burning brightly....My boy, no one is safe until we have endured faithfully to the very end (stake patriarch, p. 23).'"
"'There is no sin, no inherited evil--I care not what it is--that the power of God cannot relieve and eliminate from [our souls]. It can redeem us from the errors and evils of mortality, and raise us without sin unto salvation into the presence of Almighty God. Therefore, no Latter-day Saint is justified in continuing in weaknesses and in imperfections....The gospel was given for the purpose of relieving us of them (Hyrum Mack Smith, p. 25).'"
"Each of us needs to be ever watchful so that none of God's children of whom we are aware will ever feel alone, lost, forgotten, unwanted, unneeded, or unaccepted....I believe that when our life is over here and we report to our Father in Heaven, He will be most interested in what we did in bringing the doctrine and gospel to others. I am not sure there is anything more important we can do than teaching our families, and every child of God that we can, the simple truths of the gospel of Christ (p. 27)."
"I like to think of this spiritual armor not as a solid piece of metal molded to fit the body, but more like chain mail....Chain mail consists of dozens of tiny pieces of steel fastened together to allow the user greater flexibility without losing protection. I like it as a metaphor for our spiritual armor because it has been my experience that there is not one great and grand thing we can do to arm ourselves spiritually. True spiritual power lies in numerous smaller acts woven together in a fabric of spiritual fortification that protects and shields from all evil (p. 32)."
"Every honest and sincere prayer adds another piece to chain-mail armor (p. 34)."
"'I would rather go blind all the rest of my days, than to be spiritually blind, and to be denied the glorious privilege that comes from the light that descends upon my soul as I seek my Father in prayer (Melvin J. Ballard, p. 34).'"
"How do we 'waste' the days of our probation?....The Lord gives a similar warning in these words: 'Thou shalt not idle away they time, neither shalt thou bury they talent that it may not be known' (D&C 60:13)." (p. 44)
"One of the greatest challenges of this life is the ordering of priorities. If we do not do this wisely, then things that matter most in life are at the mercy of things that matter least. Too many people are willing to sit back and let life just happen to them. It takes time to develop the attributes that will help you to be a well-balanced person (p. 45)."
"Reverence is an attitude of mind and heart. It involves a keen sense of God's majesty and infinite goodness and of our unworthiness and need for Him and His redeeming grace. It includes a profound sense of the sacred and a desire to honor and protect it (p. 46)."
"'No generation of men and women have ever had a more serious obligation upon them than the members of this Church--to let the whole world know that God has spoken in this hour of warning, and has offered the means of escape for all His children. It is an obligation that rests upon, not only the man who has a son or daughter whom he sends into the mission field, but upon every man and woman (Melvin J. Ballard, p. 54).'"
"'We want knowledge and wisdom. We want to understand the truth, and understanding the truth rejoice in it. We want to know what the commandments of God are, and knowing them we are determined, as a people, to keep them, that we might come to a knowledge of all truth (Hyrum Mack Smith, p. 61).'"
"Our works consist of placing our full confidence and trust in Jesus Christ and then exercising our desire and willingness to live by His teachings. We do this by repenting of all our sins and obeying the laws and ordinances of Christ's gospel. As we do this faithfully over our lifetime, we are sanctified by the Holy Ghost, and our nature is changed (p. 69)."
"'During the few moments that Joseph Smith stood in the presence of the Father and the Son in the Sacred Grove, he learned more about the Father and about His Son Jesus Christ than all the philosophers and professors of religion of all the ages ever have known, or ever will know, unless they shall have a like privilege and opportunity. So we speak with positiveness upon these subjects, and yet we hope with tolerance; but we know whereof we speak, that we do declare the truth (Melvin J. Ballard, p. 76).'"
"When opportunities present themselves to you in the course of your life, may the Lord bless you to share the gospel generously and kindly with your family, your friends, your work associates, and any others....This is our responsibility as Christians (p. 79)."
"Every righteous man and woman has a significant role to play in the onward march of the kingdom of God (p. 84)"
"'Both a righteous man and a righteous woman are a blessings to all those whom their lives touch....[In] the world before we came here, faithful women were given certain assignments while faithful men were foreordained to certain priesthood tasks. While we do not now remember the particulars...we are accountable for those things which long ago were expected of us (President Spencer W. Kimball, p. 89).'"
"Every sister who stands for truth and righteousness diminishes the influence of evil. Every sister who strengthens and protects her family and the Church is doing the work of God. Every sister who lives as a woman of God becomes a beacon for others to follow and plants seeds of righteous influence that will be harvested for decades to come. Every sister who 'invite[s] others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end' is helping hasten the work of the Lord. Every sister who makes and keeps sacred covenants becomes an instrument in the hands of God (p. 90)."
"Just as the Savior stepped forward to fulfill His divine responsibilities, we have the invitation and responsibility to do likewise. If you are wondering if you make a difference to the Lord, imagine the impact when you make commitments such as...... 'Lord, if you need a woman who will succor the weak, lift up the hands that hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees, here I am, send me (p. 90).'"
"I have always been impressed with a statement made by President George H. W. Bush in his inaugural address. He said, 'Our purpose today is to make kinder the face of the nation and gentler the face of the world.' I believe that wonderful vision can be realized only if the homes of the world become kinder and gentler, worthy abodes for the precious sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father. Fathers and mothers and children must foster the spirit of gentleness and kindness within the walls of their own homes (p. 100)."
"Are you praying individually with your children over problems in their lives that perhaps only Heavenly Father can solve? Some of the most impressive experiences that occurred with our seven children were those magic moments when I found myself with just one of my daughters or sons as we knelt quietly in the study or in my office at home and as I held that child's hand and supplicated a special blessing on his or her behalf (p. 103)."
"I pray, then, my dear brethren and sisters who are parents, that you might have the wisdom to not feel obligated to know the answers to all things in the lives of your children. There are many questions that will come to you from your children that perhaps you can't answer, but you can pray for guidance, you can pray for help, and you can pray for direction, which is a blessing Heavenly Father will grant to all His children who humbly go before Him (p. 105)."
"Sisters, sometimes I think you feel like you have to be 'super mom.' I ask you to not feel that way. Just be calm and gentle and approachable. And be there for the appropriate needs of your husband and your children--just as your husband and children need to be there to meet your appropriate needs (p. 108)."
"Parents, perhaps one of the most vital and important principles that you and I need to understand is the principle of listening--being willing to listen with an open, kind, and gentle spirit (p. 110)."
"'I am sure that it was not the thought of our Heavenly Father that He would issue certain mandates to us just to see us in action, to discover whether or not we should be competent. I am sure that every requirement that He has made was essential to prepare us to come into His presence (Melvin J. Ballard, p. 115).'"
"'A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation....It is through the medium of the sacrifice of all earthly things that men do actually know that they are doing the things that are well pleasing in the sight of God (Joseph Smith, p. 117).'"
"Sacrifice allows us to learn something about ourselves--what we are willing to offer to the Lord through our obedience (p. 118)."
"It is interesting to note that the word sacrifice means literally 'to make sacred' or 'to render sacred.' The purposes of the law of sacrifice are eternal. The ways it has been practiced, however, have varied according to the Lord's will (p. 119)."
"'When I think of this offering of Jesus Christ, in that he took upon himself the sins of the world, I cannot think of it and stand aloof from it not a participator; neither do I think that men [and women] can properly comprehend the mission of Jesus Christ who merely are interested in reading the story and are onlookers. Every man and woman who lives must be participators in this great sacrifice, if they are to be benefactors of that great atoning offering of the Lord Jesus Christ (Melvin J. Ballard, p. 123).'"
"When we overcome our own selfish desires and put god first in our lives and covenant to serve Him regardless of the cost, then we are living the law of sacrifice. One of the best ways to keep the first great commandment is to keep the second great commandment....The degree of our love for the Lord and for others can be measured by what we are willing to sacrifice for them (p. 127)."
"I would like to encourage you with all the strength of my soul to work to build a real, personal relationship with the Savior of the world. I do not know of anything that is more important than to know you are in tune with Him. It takes fasting, it takes mighty prayer, it takes diligent and committed service, it takes searching and pondering the scriptures, and it takes obedience to His commandments (p. 133)."
"President Tanner took my arm and asked, 'Russ, would you like to come in and have prayer with us?' Can you imagine the impact on me in closing the day with the First Presidency of the Church? I went into President Tanner's room with President Kimball. It was but a moment before President Marion G. Romney and the other Brethren came in. I was overwhelmed. Tears welled up in my eyes as we knelt down around President Tanner's bed....And then I heard our dear prophet pray. I learned a great lesson from that simple, humble prayer. I felt the Spirit as I had never felt it before as I listened to a prophet talk to God. It seemed like two close friends speaking to each other (p. 135)."
"As I study the Savior's life, I see in Him a man who was so committed to His cause and His mission, whose eye was so single to the glory of our eternal Heavenly Father, that regardless of the circumstances or the pressures that came into His life, regardless of those who persecuted Him and reviled Him and tried to harm Him, He was somehow able to set all of that aside and see the good in every man and woman (p. 136)."
"'We ought to rely a little more than we do upon the Lord and upon the intelligence He has given us to develop the light within us, to become better informed, to be more faithful than we are, notwithstanding good testimony of our faithfulness may be borne now (Hyrum Mack Smith, p. 141).'"
"Both the Apostle Paul and Joseph Smith taught that if there is anything lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy, we should seek after these things. The phrase 'seeking after' suggests active participation, not passive acceptance. We should be active in our communities. We should join groups where we can exert a positive influence. We should embrace those who have similar values and try to better understand those who don't. We should join the conversations on the Internet or anywhere else where we can clarify the great purpose of God in restoring to the earth the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the Prophet Joseph Smith (p. 144)."
"You know, there is something about you that is absolutely beautiful. I want you to understand that the real you is radiating a beautiful spirit. Don't you ever lose that. Don't curse God because of the challenges you have. Rather, let this wonderful spirit, captured inside this crippled body, soar (p. 149)."
"'How often do parents have to deny the prayers and petitions of their own children? Notwithstanding the child desires a thing greatly, and can see no reason why he should not have it, yet in the greater wisdom of the parent his request is denied and the supposed blessing is withheld. But that is no evidence that the prayer was not considered by the parent; it is simply an evidence that the parent knows best when to give and when to withhold (Hyrum Mack Smith, p. 153).'"
"'A soul redeemed and sanctified and worthy to enter into the highest degree of celestial glory is of greater intrinsic worth than all the wealth of all the world (Melvin J. Ballard, p. 166).'"
"I had the impression that somebody ought to paint the porch for her. I went back to my father and said, 'Will you buy the paint if I paint the porch?' He was glad to do it. I went down and painted her porch (p. 167)."
April 21, 2026
In 1991, Natalie Cole stepped into a recording studio with audio engineers and, through pioneering technology, blended her voice with recordings of her father, Nat King Cole—who had been gone for decades. The result was the landmark album Unforgettable… with Love. Natalie later described the project as a way of “reconnecting with my dad,” a beautiful and magical reunion, and a moment when she felt “reunited with my father’s spirit.” She cried in the studio; so did her mother and the engineers. It was, she said, her “thank you” to him.
In much the same way, Elder M. Russell Ballard’s Yesterday, Today, and Forever weaves his own messages with the wisdom and words of his two grandfathers—bridging generations so the voices of the past speak directly into the present. Both projects turn “yesterday” into a living, breathing “today and forever.”
This book is a compilation of essays that read like adapted addresses Elder Ballard gave over the years. He supports his thoughts with quotes from two grandfathers who also served in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: Melvin J. Ballard and Hyrum Mack Smith. Elder Ballard himself served in that same quorum from 1985 until his death in 2023. Because these three men walked such similar paths of faith and service, it feels natural and powerful that their voices mingle across the decades.
The first chapter explores the importance of anchors. Just as anchors stabilize ships in stormy seas, spiritual anchors keep us steady and prevent us from drifting into danger. Ballard draws from the Book of Mormon and quotes Hebrews 6:19 in the New Testament, which speaks of “the hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast.” He then shares a powerful passage from his grandfather Melvin J. Ballard urging believers to continue the work of bringing the world to Christ.
In another chapter, Ballard encourages us to keep our worship focused and simple. Quoting the Apostle Paul, he warns against letting our minds be corrupted from “the simplicity that is in Christ.” He reminds readers that while Church policies may evolve, core doctrinal principles remain constant. Once again, he brings in the supporting voices of his grandfathers from decades earlier.
Other chapters address meaningful topics such as the infinite worth of each soul, building bridges of understanding, creating kinder and gentler homes, finding happiness amid polarization, and the power of selfless service.
One of my favorite sections comes when Elder Ballard talks about what will matter most when we look back on our lives. He says:
“I submit to you that as you look back on your life, you will think about the time you visited the widow or the time you helped the orphan or the time you helped the unfortunate or took a loaf of bread to the neighbors. Those are the things that have eternal meaning.
“Do you remember the last movie you went to or the score of the last ball game you attended? Those memories fade quickly. But you never forget the things you do for other people. They stay with you. They are eternal.”
His grandfather Hyrum Mack Smith added this insight decades earlier: “Not until the kingdom of God is found within us as well as outside of us can we hope for peace on Earth and good will for men.”
As I read this book, I couldn’t help feeling that Elder Ballard and Natalie Cole had similar experiences. She shed tears in a recording studio as engineers stripped away the years and united a father and daughter in song. I have no doubt Elder Ballard felt moments of deep joy and wonder as he erased the distance of time and brought his grandfathers’ voices into his own work to strengthen and enrich his message.
I give this book five stars. Elder Ballard’s messages have always lifted me, and this collection is no exception.
In much the same way, Elder M. Russell Ballard’s Yesterday, Today, and Forever weaves his own messages with the wisdom and words of his two grandfathers—bridging generations so the voices of the past speak directly into the present. Both projects turn “yesterday” into a living, breathing “today and forever.”
This book is a compilation of essays that read like adapted addresses Elder Ballard gave over the years. He supports his thoughts with quotes from two grandfathers who also served in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: Melvin J. Ballard and Hyrum Mack Smith. Elder Ballard himself served in that same quorum from 1985 until his death in 2023. Because these three men walked such similar paths of faith and service, it feels natural and powerful that their voices mingle across the decades.
The first chapter explores the importance of anchors. Just as anchors stabilize ships in stormy seas, spiritual anchors keep us steady and prevent us from drifting into danger. Ballard draws from the Book of Mormon and quotes Hebrews 6:19 in the New Testament, which speaks of “the hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast.” He then shares a powerful passage from his grandfather Melvin J. Ballard urging believers to continue the work of bringing the world to Christ.
In another chapter, Ballard encourages us to keep our worship focused and simple. Quoting the Apostle Paul, he warns against letting our minds be corrupted from “the simplicity that is in Christ.” He reminds readers that while Church policies may evolve, core doctrinal principles remain constant. Once again, he brings in the supporting voices of his grandfathers from decades earlier.
Other chapters address meaningful topics such as the infinite worth of each soul, building bridges of understanding, creating kinder and gentler homes, finding happiness amid polarization, and the power of selfless service.
One of my favorite sections comes when Elder Ballard talks about what will matter most when we look back on our lives. He says:
“I submit to you that as you look back on your life, you will think about the time you visited the widow or the time you helped the orphan or the time you helped the unfortunate or took a loaf of bread to the neighbors. Those are the things that have eternal meaning.
“Do you remember the last movie you went to or the score of the last ball game you attended? Those memories fade quickly. But you never forget the things you do for other people. They stay with you. They are eternal.”
His grandfather Hyrum Mack Smith added this insight decades earlier: “Not until the kingdom of God is found within us as well as outside of us can we hope for peace on Earth and good will for men.”
As I read this book, I couldn’t help feeling that Elder Ballard and Natalie Cole had similar experiences. She shed tears in a recording studio as engineers stripped away the years and united a father and daughter in song. I have no doubt Elder Ballard felt moments of deep joy and wonder as he erased the distance of time and brought his grandfathers’ voices into his own work to strengthen and enrich his message.
I give this book five stars. Elder Ballard’s messages have always lifted me, and this collection is no exception.
February 16, 2025
4.5 stars
My issue with this book was not the content. President Ballard took talks that he gave in places other than Conference and he decided to include quotes from his two grandfathers who had also been members of the Quorum of the Twelve. The talks were wonderful. However, the formatting of it was a little difficult. The quotes were all sidebars on the page, so there was no real place to stop and read them without interrupting the flow of what he was saying. (And I have to admit that sometimes I didn't quite know how they fit with what he had on the page...) After the first chapter, I started off by reading the quotes from Hyrum Mack Smith and Melvin J. Ballard and then I would go back and read what he'd written.
The talks/chapters were inspirational and worth the read.
My issue with this book was not the content. President Ballard took talks that he gave in places other than Conference and he decided to include quotes from his two grandfathers who had also been members of the Quorum of the Twelve. The talks were wonderful. However, the formatting of it was a little difficult. The quotes were all sidebars on the page, so there was no real place to stop and read them without interrupting the flow of what he was saying. (And I have to admit that sometimes I didn't quite know how they fit with what he had on the page...) After the first chapter, I started off by reading the quotes from Hyrum Mack Smith and Melvin J. Ballard and then I would go back and read what he'd written.
The talks/chapters were inspirational and worth the read.
December 2, 2023
My Mom gave this to me several years ago. With Elder Ballard’s recent passing I thought it would be a good time to finally read this book. It was interesting to read a little about his experiences and be inspired by his counsel. As many people have mentioned recently, Elder Ballard was a unifying figure and truly loved people of all backgrounds.
February 24, 2015
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you see the title?
If you are like me you thought "the Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever."
But are we? Or have we somehow gotten off the path?
This book is filled with powerful reminders to stay the course.
It has insights into how to keep ourselves anchored in the gospel.
I loved the personal stories and additional quotes from Elder M. Russell Ballard's grandfathers, Hyrum Mack Smith and Melvin J. Ballard.
I was amazed at all the specific counsel that is given on how to remain faithful in such circumstances as ways to study the scriptures, how to set boundaries with friends of the opposite sex, how to protect yourself from addictions, especially pornography, and more.
I really appreciated the chapter on "Building Bridges of Understanding" where Elder Ballard explains why other faiths sometimes misunderstand our beliefs and claim that we are not "Christians."
There are even chapters on helping make our home life more enjoyable, what it means to sacrifice, what you can do to be truly happy, and how to keep an eternal perspective.
This book is definitely "timely and timeless."
A true MUST-READ book!
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!
If you are like me you thought "the Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever."
But are we? Or have we somehow gotten off the path?
This book is filled with powerful reminders to stay the course.
It has insights into how to keep ourselves anchored in the gospel.
I loved the personal stories and additional quotes from Elder M. Russell Ballard's grandfathers, Hyrum Mack Smith and Melvin J. Ballard.
I was amazed at all the specific counsel that is given on how to remain faithful in such circumstances as ways to study the scriptures, how to set boundaries with friends of the opposite sex, how to protect yourself from addictions, especially pornography, and more.
I really appreciated the chapter on "Building Bridges of Understanding" where Elder Ballard explains why other faiths sometimes misunderstand our beliefs and claim that we are not "Christians."
There are even chapters on helping make our home life more enjoyable, what it means to sacrifice, what you can do to be truly happy, and how to keep an eternal perspective.
This book is definitely "timely and timeless."
A true MUST-READ book!
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!
March 5, 2015
Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints gives some great insights in this book. He quotes from one of his two grandfathers on almost every page, which was really interesting. He talks about keeping the right perspective and how we should be treating others and he also reminds us to serve people.
June 7, 2015
I need to search for the eternal gold! I loved this book.
July 21, 2015
It was OK. I like the author and I liked the content as extracted, individual pieces, but as a cover-to-cover book, it was not the best thing I have ever read.
January 8, 2016
What a nice read. Elder Ballard's wisdom and his ease of story telling is in top form.
January 27, 2016
Written mainly for those of the Mormon faith it can also be used by everyone who has a deep abiding love for God and in his son Jesus Christ. I highly recommend it to everyone! I rated it 5 stars
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