I hope you enjoy this third installment of quotes from my studies of the General Conference Archives (If you want to read prior installments click HERE). For the first installment and an explanation of the Conference Archives see “55+ Powerful Quotes From My Study of the Oct. 1970 General Conference” To read this conference report PDF from the Church History Catalog click HERE, for the Archive.org PDF (with speech-to-text, click here) I hope you enjoy these quotes from my studies. But more than enjoy them, I hope they serve as a starting point for your own study of the Oct. 1969 General Conference! Use the page number and the above links to access the full talks. Enjoy!
70+ Epic Quotes From My Study of the Oct. 1969 General Conference
“You cannot think of any greater gift that could come to a man or woman than the freedom of choice. You alone are responsible, and by wielding and exercising that freedom of choice, you grow in character, you grow in intelligence, you approach divinity, and eventually you may achieve that high exaltation. That is a great obligation. Very few people appreciate it.”
David O. McKay
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 7
“The roads are clearly marked—one offering animal existence, the other life abundant. Yet, God’s greatest creation—man—often is content to grovel on the animal plane.”
David O. McKay
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 7
“We cannot close our eyes to the fact that the world is ripening in iniquity. The present-day turmoil and bitter strivings threaten to undermine the basic foundations of Christian relationship. Liberty, freedom of speech, self-government, faith in God, and, particularly, faith in the efficacy of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ are facing a bombardment from the ranks of error such as the world has seldom if ever witnessed.”
David O. McKay
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 7
“The most vicious enemy to home life is immorality.”
David O. McKay
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 7
“Chastity, not indulgence, during the premarital years is the source of harmony and happiness in the home, and is the chief contributing factor to the health and perpetuity of the race. All the virtues that make up a beautiful character—loyalty, dependability, confidence, trust, love of God, and fidelity to man—are associated with this diadem in the crown of virtuous womanhood and of virile manhood.”
David O. McKay
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 7
“The Church urges men to have self-mastery to control their appetites, their tempers, and their speech. A man is not at his best when he is a slave to some habit. A man is not his best who lives merely to gratify his passions”
David O. McKay
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 7
“One reason why the Lord has given the Church the revelation of the Word of Wisdom so that, even from boyhood and girlhood, young men and young women may learn to control themselves.”
David O. McKay
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 7
“The youth today face enemies—false ideologies and immoral practices “glossed over” and “seasoned with a text.” Sound preparation is necessary to meet and conquer these enemies. Keep in mind that man’s earthly existence is but a test as to whether he will concentrate his efforts, his mind, his soul upon things which contribute to the comfort and gratification of his physical nature, or whether he will make as his life’s purpose the acquisition of spiritual qualities.”
David O. McKay
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 7-8
“Following that light [of Christ], man soon learns that there is no one great thing that he can do to attain happiness or eternal life. He learns that life is made up, not of great sacrifices and duties, but of little things, in which smiles and kindness and small obligations given habitually are what win and preserve the heart and secure comfort.”
David O. McKay
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 8
“Spirituality, our true aim, is the consciousness of victory over self and of communion with the Infinite. Spirituality impels one to conquer difficulties and acquire more and more strength. To feel one’s faculties unfolding and truth expanding in the soul is one of life’s sublimest experiences.”
David O. McKay
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 8
“The man who sets his heart upon the things of this world, who does not hesitate to cheat his brother, who will lie for gain, who will steal from his neighbor, or who by slander will rob another of his reputation, lives on a low animal plane of existence and either stifles his spirituality or permits it to lie dormant. To be thus carnally minded is to be spiritually dead.”
David O. McKay
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 8
“Jesus sought the welfare of the individual, and individuals grouped and laboring for the general welfare of the whole in conformity with the principles of the gospel constitute the kingdom of God.”
David O. McKay
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 8
“To members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the worth of the individual has a special meaning. Quorums, auxiliaries, wards, stakes, even the Church itself are all organized to further the welfare of man. All are but means to an end, and that end is the happiness and eternal welfare of every child of God”
David O. McKay
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 8
“To the members of the Church everywhere I say, live honest, sincere lives! … The very foundation of all character rests upon the principles of honesty and sincerity. Be true to the Church. Be true to your families—loyal to them! Protect your children and guide them, not arbitrarily, but by example.”
David O. McKay
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 9
“I bear you my witness that the teachings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ contain the true philosophy of living. I make no exception. I love them. There are men who say that they are not applicable to this day, but I say they are as applicable today as they were when he spoke them; and, because they contain eternal truths, they will be applicable through all time.”
David O. McKay
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 9
“God has placed in every man’s heart a divine spark, which never wholly goes out; it may grow dim, it may become hidden, almost smothered by the ashes of transgression; but the spark still lives and glows and can be fanned into flame by faith, if the heart is touched.”
President J. Reuben Clark, Jr.
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 11
“One day, long ago, we crossed a boundary into a distant city where walls and curtains separated people; and behind the walls, strange ideologies were taught and “pernicious doctrines” promulgated every day in the schools and otherwise.
Every day the children listened to schoolteachers with foreign and strange doctrines, philosophies, and ideals.
Someone said that “constant dripping will wear away the hardest stone.” This I knew, so I asked about the children: “Do they retain their faith? Are they not overcome by the constant pressure of their teachers? How can you be sure they will not leave you and the simple faith in God?”
The answer was unmistakable. “We mend the damaged reservoir every night,” they said. “We teach our children positive righteousness so that the false philosophies do not take hold, and should any have taken lodgment in the day, we dislodge them at night. Our children are growing up in faith and righteousness in spite of the overwhelming pressures from outside.”
Generally, cracked dams can be mended and saved, and sand bags can hold back the flood; and reiterated truth, renewed prayer, gospel teachings, a flood of love, and parental interest can save the child and keep him on the right path. “
Spencer W. Kimball
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 22
“I like to compare the home evening, family prayer, and other associated activities of the Church for the saving of the family, when they are conscientiously carried out, with an umbrella. If the umbrella is not opened up, it is little more than a cane and can give little protection from the storms of nature. Likewise, God-given plans are of little value unless they are used.”
Spencer W. Kimball
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 23
“I suppose disunity in the Church begins when each of us becomes so wrapped up in our own interests and assignments that we lose the full perspective of the gospel of Jesus Christ as a united whole. We become so involved with our own particular interests that we forget that the gospel involves the whole of life. Sunday School, missionary work, priesthood, genealogy, temple work, welfare, home teaching, education, or whatever interest we have or church position we occupy at present is only part of the gospel whole. It is true that we are expected to push our own particular assignment, but not at the expense of others. It is most unwise to try to advance the field in which we are presently interested by downgrading the activities of others. We should never push one organization at the expense of another. An appreciation of diversification is the basis of unity. Though I strive to push priesthood, genealogy, and temple work with all my power, I should never resent any other gospel organization or principle within the Church structure, or sow discord among my brethren.”
Theodore M. Burton
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 34
“We live in a world full of discord and disunity. We need not and must not become a party to that worldly way of living. Our role is that of peacemakers. As the Latter-day Saints of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, we must ‘therefore, renounce war and proclaim peace, and seek diligently to turn the hearts of the children to their fathers, and the hearts of the fathers to the children’ (D&C 98:16)”
Theodore M. Burton
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 35
“When we hear our voices rise in speaking with one another, when we feel our faces getting flushed and red, when our muscles tense and we get warm under the collar, these are danger signals. It is time to repent and change whatever we are saying or doing.”
Theodore M. Burton
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 35
“Temples are holy edifices wherein sacred saving ordinances may be performed in such manner, and by proper authority, as to be acceptable to God our Father in heaven. “
Eldred G. Smith
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 38
“Now what about all those who have not heard the teaching of Jesus, either in his day or since? Are they to be damned if they are not given the opportunity of hearing of baptism? If God is just—and we know he is—then would not God be obligated to provide a way where all his children may hear the gospel plan and partake of his ordinances, regardless of when they lived upon the earth?”
Eldred G. Smith
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 39
“The entire life, crucifixion, and resurrection was a vicarious mission of our Savior. Then is it not right that he should ask us to be Saviors to our fellowmen, to perform, vicariously, saving ordinances for our ancestors?”
Eldred G. Smith
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 39
“Many men spend large sums of money, even buy a special home or a car, just to make their wives happy; but the greatest happiness that could come to either or both of them would be to so live as to be worthy to be sealed together as husband and wife for all eternity.”
Eldred G. Smith
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 40
There is no exaltation without the celestial sealing of marriage. This must be done in the temple of God, either while living or vicariously after death. The home is the only eternal organization. These are the saving ordinances that can be performed only in a temple, built and dedicated unto the Lord. Thus it is absolutely essential to build temples.
Elder Eldred G. Smith Patriarch to the Church
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 40
“It is important to understand that we are here to prove ourselves, to prepare ourselves to go back into the presence of our Heavenly Father, and the choices we make will determine our future happiness”
President N. Eldon Tanner
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 52
“Latter-day Saints know that much of pain and suffering would be avoided if the people would accept and follow the Savior. Our mission, as a church, is to bring people to a knowledge of Christ and thus avoid all unnecessary suffering. We are aware, however, that should all men accept and live his teachings, adversity and affliction would still abound because, in the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith, ‘Men have to suffer that they may come upon Mount Zion and be exalted above the heavens’”
Marion G. Romney
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 57
“The intensity of Christ’s suffering was induced by the withdrawal from him of the Father’s Spirit.”
Marion G. Romney
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 57
“The Father’s plan for proving his children did not exempt the Savior himself. The suffering he undertook to endure, and which he did endure, equaled the combined suffering of all men.”
Marion G. Romney
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 57
“Just as Jesus had to endure affliction to prove himself, so must all men endure affliction to prove themselves.”
Marion G. Romney
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 58
“I have sought the Lord in my own extremities and learned for myself that my soul has made its greatest growth as I have been driven to my knees by adversity and affliction.”
Marion G. Romney
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 60
“We may be charitable and forbearing to the sinner, but must condemn the sin”
David O. McKay (as quoted by Ezra Taft Benson)
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 61
“While most Americans continue to enjoy their comfortable complacency, the fact remains that the American way of life, with its spiritual foundation, is under powerful attack.”
Ezra Taft Benson
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 61
“Some of the most prominent targets now under withering fire in this war against us are the Ten Commandments, the Sermon on the Mount, the Constitution of the United States, the institution of private property, and the basic concepts of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Ezra Taft Benson
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 61
“Today we face insidious, devastating evils that are widespread. Aimed especially at the destruction of America—the last great bastion of freedom—with emphasis on our youth … Never has evil been presented in such an array of appealing forms.”
Ezra Taft Benson
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 61
“Atrocious, destructive evils are now revealed in our music, in our art, in sex perversion and so-called sex education in the schools, in destructive sensitivity training”
Ezra Taft Benson
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 61
“As citizens of the greatest nation of the world, we face a deadly serious crisis. We must do battle with these evil forces on every front, now. Any delay will be disastrous. ‘We must begin aggression against evil. The time for procrastination and permissiveness is long past.’”
Ezra Taft Benson
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 61
“We may, as adults, close our eyes to them and keep our heads in the sand, hoping they will go away; but these evils are here, close by, working insidiously and destructively day by day, hour by hour, without ceasing. Will parents who have abandoned their responsibilities for the training and guidance of their children awaken and act before it is too late?”
Ezra Taft Benson
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 62
“We may cry, ‘peaceful coexistence,’ but there is no such thing with the devil and his emissaries. We are at war—not a cold war, but a burning, searing hot war, the most serious war in the memory of man. We must win this war now. Will parents bestir themselves before it is too late? Will our political leaders really awaken to the danger? Will courageous action come before destruction falls? Will we as citizens rally prayerfully and actively to courageous leadership?”
Ezra Taft Benson
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 62
“The commandments haven’t been repealed; the laws of morality, the spiritual laws, the laws of life are still in force and effect.”
Richard L. Evans
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 67
“All of us ought to decide firmly what we will not do. We shouldn’t have to argue with ourselves at each time of temptation. Taught as we are, our decisions against evil ought to be more or less automatic.”
Richard L. Evans
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 68
“In many, the appetites are controlling their brains and minds, rather than the God-given human mind controlling the appetites. Love is often turned into lust. Love is from God and lust is from Satan.”
Bernard P. Brockbank
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 70
“Death is just as necessary as birth in this great plan.”
James A. Cullimore
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 72
“The selfish man suffers eternally from his selfishness, for never can a selfish man become like God”
Hartman Rector, Jr.
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 74
“If we face facts, we will realize we are all afflicted with the same malady. It is the root cause of all the problems and suffering in the world, both collectively and individually, and has always been. What is this cause? It is a very simple, one-word answer — selfishness.”
Hartman Rector, Jr.
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 74
“All of the commandments given us by the Lord are calculated to make us good. This is to help us become like him. Only as we live in obedience to these commandments will we be able to know real love for others and real joy ourselves.”
Hartman Rector, Jr.
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 76-77
“True religion comes by revelation; there is no other source.”
Bruce R. McConkie
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 80
“I must see and believe and know for myself.
I must know God.
I must learn the truths of salvation.
I must feel the power of his priesthood.
I must receive the gifts of his Spirit.
I must be born again.
I must receive revelation.”
Bruce R. McConkie
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 80
“There are goals to gain, summits to climb, revelations to receive. In the eternal scope of things we have scarcely started out on the course to glory and exaltation. The Lord wants his saints to receive line upon line, precept upon precept, truth upon truth, revelation upon revelation, until we know all things and have become like him.
Let us press forward in making our callings and elections sure, until, as Joseph Smith said, we shall have the personage of Jesus Christ to attend us, or to appear to us from time to time, and until even he will manifest the Father unto us. (See Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 151.)
I know man can commune with his Maker, can petition the throne of grace and receive answers to his prayers, because I have done so.
I know man can receive revelations, because I have received them. God has spoken to me, not for the guidance of the Church, not for your benefit, but for mine. The same thing has or can or should happen in the life of every member of his kingdom.
God be praised that, unworthy though we are, he stands ready to and does in fact reveal himself to those of us who are sons and daughters in his kingdom.”
Bruce R. McConkie
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 82
“Missionary work is an identifying feature of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It has always been so; it shall ever be.”
Thomas S. Monson
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 92
“May I suggest… a formula that will ensure your success:
First: Search the scriptures with diligence!
Second: Plan your life with purpose!
Third: Teach the truth with testimony!
Fourth: Serve the Lord with love!”
Thomas S. Monson
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 93
“The kind of men we want as bearers of this gospel message are men who have faith in God; men who have faith in their religion; men who honor their priesthood; men in whom the people who know them have faith, and in whom God has confidence. . . . We want men full of the Holy Ghost and the power of God. . . . Men who bear the words of life among the nations ought to be men of honor, integrity, virtue and purity; and this being the command of God to us, we shall try to carry it out.”
John Taylor (as quoted by Thomas S. Monson)
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 93
“Your confidence will be directly related to your knowledge of God’s word. Oh, I am sure you have heard of some missionaries who were lazy, less than effective, and anxious for their missions to conclude. A careful examination of such instances will reveal that the actual culprit is not laziness, nor disinterest, but is the foe known as fear.”
Thomas S. Monson
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 93
“Each year, our young men in uniform [of the armed forces] bring thousands of souls into the kingdom of God.”
Thomas S. Monson
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 95
“While pursuing your formal education, do not overlook your privilege to be missionaries. Your example as a Latter-day Saint is being observed, weighed, and ofttimes will be emulated.”
Thomas S. Monson
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 95
“Lift up your voices and testify to the true nature of the Godhead. Declare your witness concerning the Book of Mormon. Convey the glorious and beautiful truths contained in the plan of salvation. Regarding your testimony, remember, that which you willingly share you keep, while that which you selfishly keep you lose.”
Thomas S. Monson
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 95
“Have the courage and the kindness, as did Jesus, to teach the Nicodemuses whom you may meet that baptism is essential to salvation. Teach and testify. There is no better combination.”
Thomas S. Monson
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 95
“Serve the Lord with love.”
Thomas S. Monson
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 96
“Through your dedicated devotion at home or abroad, those souls whom you help to save may well be those whom you love the most.”
Thomas S. Monson
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 96
“To believe that there is an all-wise Father in charge of the universe and that we are related to him, that we are in fact children of God with the ‘hallmark’ of divinity upon us, is to live in a different world from those who believe that man is a mere animal concerned only with requirements for creature existence, which must end at death.”
Hugh B. Brown
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 105
“Some think religious people are impractical and live in the clouds of unjustified hope. The notion that science is all fact and religion all faith is fiction. Science, as well as religion, is based upon faith, for faith is ever ‘the evidence of things not seen.’”
Hugh B. Brown
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 105
“I had a companion, a fellow officer, who was a very rich man, highly educated. He was a lawyer, had great power, was self-sufficient, and he said to me as we often talked of religion (because he knew who I was), ‘There is nothing in life that I would like to have that I cannot buy with my money.’
Shortly thereafter he and I with two other officers were assigned to go to the city of Arras, France, which was under siege. It had been evacuated, and upon arrival there we thought there was no one in the city. We noted that the fire of the enemy was concentrated on the cathedral. We made our way to that cathedral and went in. There we found a little woman kneeling at an altar. We paused, respecting her devotion. Then shortly she arose, wrapped her little shawl around her trail shoulders, and came tottering down the aisle. The man among us who could speak better French said, ‘Are you in trouble?’
She straightened her shoulders, pulled in her chin, and said, ‘No, I’m not in trouble. I was in trouble when I came here, but I’ve left it there at the altar.’
‘And what was your trouble?’
She said, ‘I received word this morning that my fifth son has given his life for France. Their father went first, and then one by one all of them have gone. But,’ straightening again, ‘I have no trouble; I’ve left it there because I believe in the immortality of the soul. I believe that men will live after death. I know that I shall meet my loved ones again.’
When the little soul went out, there were tears in the eyes of the men. who were there, and the one who had said to me that he could purchase anything with money turned to me and said, ‘You and I have seen men in battle display courage and valor that is admirable, but in all my life I have never seen anything to compare with the faith, the fortitude, and the courage of that little woman.’
Then he said, ‘I would give all the money I have if I could have something of what she has.’
I tell that story for two reasons. One is that today many parents are getting word that their sons have been lost. We ourselves went through that experience. I tell it for the reason that I hope every parent who has a son in danger in Vietnam will have faith in the hereafter, faith in God, faith in themselves, faith in the immortality of the soul. I tell it secondly because my own beloved companion, and you will excuse this personal reference, is lying after long illness listening to this service. I greet her, for she had exactly that kind of courage and faith when our son was taken from us.
God help us to arise to a point where we can retain faith in the future, whatever it may hold. We need most of all, when suffering, to remember there is an explanation, though we may not know exactly what it is.
Religious faith gives confidence that human tragedy is not a meaningless sport of physical forces. Life is not what Voltaire called it, ‘a bad joke’; it is really a school of discipline whose author and teacher is God.”
President Hugh B. Brown
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 106-107
“If I know that law, it is my duty to obey it, though I suffer death in consequence. Many a man has gone to the stake in obedience, as he believed, to the commandments of the Lord. Not one of the ancient disciples who were chosen by Jesus Christ escaped martyrdom, except Judas and John… All the others were put to death — some crucified, some dragged in the streets of Rome, some thrown from pinnacles, and some stoned to death. For what? For obeying the law of the Lord and bearing testimony to that which they knew to be true.”
Joseph Fielding Smith
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 109
“My soul is always lifted up, and my spirit cheered and comforted, when I hear good music.”
Joseph Fielding Smith
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 110
“Yes, this work requires sacrifice, it requires effort, it means courage to speak out and faith to try. This cause does not need critics; it does not need doubters. It needs men and women of solemn purpose.”
Gordon B. Hinckley
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 115
“If we are to discover him, we must discover the kind of Christianity that he established and be willing to accept it as it is, whether or not it upsets old traditions that have become dear to our hearts.”
Mark E. Petersen
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 118
“Our day-to-day, month-to-month, and year-to-year goals should contribute to our long-term objective — eternal life.”
Franklin D. Richards
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 122
“The majority of the people have never been able to recognize a living prophet. In each generation they idolized the prophets of the past, while they stoned the living prophets of the present.
Can you believe with me that God could speak to men who were the common clay of our generation? If you do, you are unusual, because the rest of the people follow the human tendency to look back and honor only the prophets who are dead. And look at the way they usually honor them:
They place these prophets of the past on imaginary pedestals.
They make a selection from their teachings that suit their own particular fancy.
And while honoring a few popular phrases that identify them with these great servants of God, they smugly go along their own wad.
But you cannot do this with living prophets. Why? Because living prophets will denounce those who profess allegiance to God, but follow the rashness of their own selfish lives. They will not allow men to pick their teachings to pieces and construct aCRazy-quilt pattern of personal interpretation that suits fashion and private folly.
Perhaps that is why prophets are never very popular while they are alive to defend the teachings that God has given to them.”
Paul H. Dunn
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 128
“The home is the teaching unit of the Church. The parents are the teachers. The course is more extensive than a university curriculum. Always parents are venturing through it for the first time. The classes start at birth and never terminate. There are some graduations, but the schooling continues.”
A. Theodore Tuttle
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 131
“The whole program of the Church is correlated to supplement the teachings of the home.”
A. Theodore Tuttle
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 131
“The mother is queen of the home.”
A. Theodore Tuttle
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 132
“Couples are to continue to court, to pray, to be one. They are to keep alive the magic and thrill of romance and learn how to express love. Couples young and old must learn to communicate with one another. This one thing alone can solve most marital problems.”
A. Theodore Tuttle
CR, Oct. 1969, pp. 132
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