It is time to raise our sights, to get a vision of the magnitude of this great work. The Lord expects it of us. It is not enough just to be members of the Church and go to sacrament meeting. That is good--but that is not enough. The Lord expects us to be missionaries, to live the gospel--yes, wholly, and to help to build up His kingdom. - Ezra Taft Benson, “Of the Most Worth,” New Era, July 2002
Tag Archives: potential
Our Potential (Eyring)
Paul gave good counsel for all of us. Don't worry about how inexperienced you are or think you are, but think about what, with the Lord's help, you can become. - Henry B. Eyring, “Preparation in the Priesthood: “I Need Your Help,” Ensign (CR) October 2011
If We Live the Religion of Heaven… (Taylor)
“What is man? A God, even the son of God, possessing noble aspirations, holy feelings, that may be governed by virtuous principles, possessing elevated ideas, wishing to realize everything that God has destined, to submit to all his laws, to endure every kind of privation and affliction and suffering . . .
“This is what man is, if he lives the religion of heaven, and performs faithfully those things God has appointed him to do, that he may increase from intelligence to intelligence, and go on with that eternal progression, not only in this world, but in worlds without end” (John Taylor, The Gospel Kingdom, p. 54-55).
Failing to Live Up to Our Potential Weakens Us (McKay)
“Oh, I know we are swayed by our weaknesses, and by influences from without; but it is our duty to walk in the straight and narrow path in the performance of every duty! And mark this: Every time we have opportunity and fail to live up to that truth which is within us, every time we fail to express a good thought, every time we fail to perform a good act, we weaken ourselves, and make it more difficult to express that thought or perform that act in the future. Every time we perform a good act, every time we express a noble feeling, we make it more easy to perform that act or express that feeling another time” (David O. McKay, Gospel Ideals,p. 140).
Be Ready To Give Up What You Are For What You Might Become
“The most important thing to remember is this: To be ready
at any moment to give up what you are for what you might
become.” -W.E.B. Du Bois
Do Well Those Things Which God Ordained (Hunter)
“Because we are being constantly exposed to the world’s definition of greatness, it is understandable that we might make comparisons between what we are and what others are-or seem to be-and also between what we have and what others have. Although it is true that making comparisons can be beneficial and may motivate us to accomplish much good and to improve our lives, we often allow unfair and improper comparisons to destroy our happiness when they cause us to feel unfulfilled or inadequate or unsuccessful. Sometimes, because of these feelings, we are led into error and dwell on our failures while ignoring aspects of our lives that may contain elements of true greatness.
“In 1905, President Joseph F. Smith made this most profound statement about true greatness:
” ‘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.’ (Juvenile Instructor, 15 Dec. 1905, p. 752.)”
–Howard W. Hunter, “What Is True Greatness?” Ensign, Sept. 1987, 70