Henry B. Eyring Quotes - 58 quotes

Henry Bennion Eyring is a prominent educational administrator, author, and religious leader. He is currently the second counselor in the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), a position he has held since January 14, 2018. Henry was born on May 31, 1933, i... show more

 As you go back in time, the records become less complete. As others of your family search out ancestors, you will discover that the ancestor you find has already been offered the full blessings of the temple. Then you will have a difficult and important choice to make. You will be tempted to stop and leave the hard work of finding to others who are more expert or to another time in your life. But you will also feel a tug on your heart to go on in the work, hard as it will be. As you decide, remember that the names which will be so difficult to find are of real people to whom you owe your existence in this world and whom you will meet again in the spirit world. When you were baptized, your ancestors looked down on you with hope. Perhaps after centuries, they rejoiced to see one of their descendants make a covenant to find them and to offer them freedom. In your reunion, you will see in their eyes either gratitude or terrible disappointment. Their hearts are bound to you. Their hope is in your hands. You will have more than your own strength as you choose to labor on to find them.
- Henry B. Eyring
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 ...the Lord’s work is not just to solve problems; it is to build people. So as you walk with Him in priesthood service, you may find that sometimes what seems like the most efficient solution is not the Lord’s preferred solution because it does not allow people to grow.
- Henry B. Eyring
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 Moderator Question: We have a question about patriarchal blessings. One youth from Utah said, "I love my patriarchal blessing. But I must admit there are times where the sacred document seems to cause more stress than comfort. There are times where I read the counsel given and wonder if I'm walking up to the promises of the blessing. In what way should I use or view my patriarchal blessing to make sure these feelings don't arise?" Elder Holland (to Elder Eyring): I've heard you on patriarchal blessings. Now, you've got to respond to that. Elder Eyring: Yeah, yeah. I shall. I got a patriarchal blessing when I was 11 years old. And I got it from a patriarch named Gaskell Romney. And he had never - I don't think he'd ever seen me before. I was in the mission field, and so I had to go to Utah to get a patriarch. That was before they had patriarchs everywhere. And so Uncle Gaskell was my grandmother's brother. And I went to Uncle Gaskell, and he put his hands on my head and began to talk about my future and began to describe it in words from 1 Corinthians, the 13th chapter. Charity, of charity. And I opened my eyes because I thought, "How does this old man, whom I've never seen before, know that since I've been a little boy, that scripture has every time" - by the way, it was before the Supreme Court said you couldn't do church things in public schools. And so we had a thing where the kids, everybody got to pick a scripture. So you had 30 kids in the class, so every 30 days it would come my turn. I always picked the same scripture - always the same. The kids must have thought -oh, I don't know what they thought. And then here's this patriarch saying, "You'll have a family someday. This is a description of what will be in that family." And so I'll tell you, the way to look at a patriarchal blessing - my suggestion is, look, it may be kind of tough. I know my wife's patriarchal blessing said, "Be careful when you go to university. Somebody's going to come after your faith. And you'd better protect yourself, and you'd better listen to your parents." So here's this patriarchal blessing. You'd say, "Oh, that's tough." Well, you know, it's a warning. Well, it turns out when she came back to where I was in Boston, and she was there for the summer, the summer that I met her, there was a guy there at Harvard who actually told people, "I'm going to get that girl. I'll get her faith." And I'm telling you, a patriarchal blessing - I would take it very, very seriously but not expect it to be comforting. It could be a warning. And I won't tell other stories. But I can tell others of being a bishop of a girl who had a disaster. And she had said that her patriarchal blessing had warned her in detail of what that was going to be, and it came. And so a patriarchal blessing is whatever the Lord wants it to be for you. But I wouldn't read it - I wouldn't read it for sweetness. I would read it for "What does God know about my life, and what can I do better?" And I would look at it that way. And it's not supposed to make you feel sweet. It's supposed to make you know what it is God has in store for you. And it's a wonderful - I'll just bear you my testimony; they're real. Gaskell Romney knew things he couldn't have known if God hadn't told him. So that's my suggestion. The patriarch is someone who God does direct, and you are wise to take whatever it - if it's a warning, take that. If it's comfort, take that. If it's direction, take that, but just - it's one of the - by the way, speaking of having a conversation with God, a patriarchal blessing comes pretty close.
- Henry B. Eyring
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 We all know that human judgment and logical thinking will not be enough to get answers to the questions that matter most in life. We need revelation from God. And we will need not just one revelation in a time of stress, but we need a constantly renewed stream. We need not just one flash of light and comfort, but we need the continuing blessing of communication with God.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 My hope is to give encouragement when life seems especially difficult and uncertain. For some of you, that time is now. If not, such a time will come. That is not a gloomy view. It is realistic—yet optimistic—because of God’s purpose in the Creation of this world. That purpose was to give His children the opportunity to prove themselves able and willing to choose the right when it is hard. In so doing, their natures would be changed and they could become more like Him.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 For Eyring the supreme good would be to bring happiness to as many people as possible for as long as possible. How? He advised his listeners: first, be “honorable” in all their doings and “have no secrets”; second, make plans to be flexible enough to change; third, “work hard and do everything well,” citing his mother who took her knitting when she visited; and fourth, “compete only with yourself” (“the reason people like you is because you’re helpful, not because you’re smart”)

- Henry B. Eyring

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 Satan’s attempt to thwart the beginning of the Restoration was so severe because Joseph’s prayer was so important. You and I will have smaller parts to play in the ongoing Restoration. Yet the enemy of the Restoration will try to stop us from praying. The example of Joseph’s faith and his determination can strengthen us in our resolve. This is one of many reasons why my prayers include thanks to Heavenly Father for the Prophet Joseph.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 “You sisters … do not hold a second place in our Father’s plan for the eternal happiness and well-being of His children. You are an absolutely essential part of that plan. “Without you the plan could not function. Without you the entire program would be frustrated. … “Each of you is a daughter of God, endowed with a divine birthright.”

- Henry B. Eyring

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 “It would be impossible to measure the influence that … women have, not only on families but also on the Lord’s Church, as wives, mothers, and grandmothers; as sisters and aunts; as teachers and leaders; and especially as exemplars and devout defenders of the faith. “This has been true in every gospel dispensation since the days of Adam and Eve. Yet the women of this dispensation are distinct from the women of any other because this dispensation is distinct from any other. This distinction brings both privileges and responsibilities.”

- Henry B. Eyring

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 If the past is prologue, at the time of the Savior’s coming, the daughters who are deeply committed to their covenants with God will be more than half of those who are prepared to welcome Him when He comes. But whatever the numbers, your contribution in creating unity among the people prepared for that Zion will be far greater than half.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 We must have believed then that whatever mortal weaknesses we would have and whatever evil forces would be against us, the forces of good would be overwhelmingly greater.

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 Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know and love you. They want you to return to Them and become like Them. Your success is Their success.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 They went on to say: “We feel disposed to go forward and unite our energies for the upbuilding of the Kingdom, and establishing the Priesthood in their fullness and glory. The work which has to be accomplished in the last days is one of vast importance, and will call into action the energy, skill, talent, and ability of the Saints, so that it may roll forth with that glory and majesty described by the prophet [Daniel] [see Daniel 2:34–35, 44–45]; and will consequently require the concentration of the Saints, to accomplish works of such magnitude and grandeur.”2

- Henry B. Eyring

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 He seemed to take particular notice of people who were overlooked and even shunned by society, so we should try to do that too.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 The greatest blessing that will come when we prove ourselves faithful to our covenants during our trials will be a change in our natures.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 Charity is the pure love of Christ. And it is faith in Him and the full effects of His infinite Atonement that will qualify you, and those you love and serve, for the supernal gift to live in that sociality of a long-looked-for and promised Zion.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 You sisters, your daughters, your granddaughters, and the women you have nurtured will be at the heart of creating that society of people who will join in glorious association with the Savior. You will be an essential force in the gathering of Israel and in the creation of a Zion people who will dwell in peace in the New Jerusalem.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 We know that the Savior will come to a people who have been gathered and prepared to live as the people did in the city of Enoch. The people there were united in faith in Jesus Christ and had become so completely pure that they were taken up to heaven.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 A feeling of light will stay with us even as the world around us becomes darker. Joseph Smith is an example of how to grow in such spiritual power. He showed us that the prayer of faith is the key to revelation from God. He prayed in faith, believing that God the Father would answer his prayer. He prayed in faith, believing that only through Jesus Christ could he be freed from the guilt he felt for his sins. And he prayed in faith, believing that he needed to find the true Church of Jesus Christ to gain that forgiveness. Throughout his prophetic ministry, Joseph Smith used prayers of faith to obtain continuous revelation. As we face today’s challenges and those yet to come, we too will need to practice the same pattern. President Brigham Young said, “I do not know any other way for the Latter-day Saints than for every breath to be virtually a prayer for God to guide and direct his people.”5

- Henry B. Eyring

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 Those of you further down the road are smiling because you know something about priesthood service. It is this: the more faithful service you give, the more the Lord asks you. Your smile is a happy one because you know that He increases our power to carry the heavier load. The tough part of that reality, however is that for him to give you that increased power you must go in service to and faith to your outer limits. It is like building muscle strength. You must break down your muscles to build them up. You push muscles to the point of exhaustion. Then they repair themselves, and they develop greater strength.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 When those feelings of inadequacy strike us, it is the time to remember the Savior. He assures us that we don't do this work alone. There are scriptures to put on your mirror and to remember in the moments when you are doubting your capacity.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 When you wonder how much pain you can endure well, remember Him.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 For me, He has most often shown the next step or two to take. Rarely has He given me a glimpse of the distant future...

- Henry B. Eyring

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 At her [Eyring's Mother's] funeral the last speaker was Elder Spencer W. Kimball. After saying something of her trials and her faithfulness, he said essentially this: “Some of you may wonder why Mildred had to suffer so much and so long. I will tell you why. It was because the Lord wanted to polish her a little more.”

- Henry B. Eyring

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 We as a people will become more united amid increasing conflict. We will be gathered in the spiritual strength of groups and families filled with gospel light. Even an unbelieving world will recognize The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and realize the power of God upon it. Faithful and brave disciples will fearlessly, humbly, and openly take upon them the name of Christ in their everyday lives.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 The spiritual strength sufficient for our youth to stand firm just a few years ago will soon not be enough. Many of them are remarkable in their spiritual maturity and in their faith. But even the best of them are sorely tested. And the testing will become more severe.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 We receive the Holy Spirit best when we are focused on serving others. That is why we have the priesthood responsibility to serve for the Savior.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 “Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven."

- Henry B. Eyring

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 The need to open eyes and hearts tells us how we must teach doctrine.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 You might reasonably wonder why a loving and all-powerful God allows our mortal test to be so hard. It is because He knows that we must grow in spiritual cleanliness and stature to be able to live in His presence in families forever.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 My experience has taught me this about how people and organizations improve: the best place to look is for small changes we could make in things we do often. There is power and steadfastness in repetition.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 Think carefully about whether the truth you received requires action. It is by obedience to commandments that we qualify for further revelation of truth and light.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 As part of our preparation for His coming, He will lift each of us so we may rise to spiritual challenges and opportunities unlike any seen in the history of this world.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 Increased spritual strength is a gift from God which He can give when we push in His service to our limits. Through the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, our natures can be changed. Then our power to carry burdens can be increased more than enough to compensate for the increased service we will be asked to give. That helps me understand when I see someone else who makes priesthood service look easy. I know that they have either passed hard tests or that the tests lie ahead. So rather than envying them, I stand ready to help when the going gets harder for them, because it surely will.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 And we know that our eternal happiness depends on our doing our best to offer the same lasting happiness to as many of our kindred as we can.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 My hope is to give encouragement when life seems especially difficult and uncertain. For some of you, that time is now. If not, such a time will come. That is not a gloomy view. It is realistic—yet optimistic—because of God’s purpose in the Creation of this world. That purpose was to give His children the opportunity to prove themselves able and willing to choose the right when it is hard. In so doing, their natures would be changed and they could become more like Him. He knew that would require unshakable faith in Him.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 We owe our families the kind of relationship we can take into the presence of God. We must try not to give offense or take offense. We can determine to forgive quickly and fully. We can try to seek the happiness of others above our own. We can be kind in our speech. As we try to do all these things, we will invite the Holy Ghost into our families and into our lives.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 Now, even with such blessings promised through tribulation, we do not seek tribulation.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 In addition, we must notice the tribulation of others and try to help. That will be especially hard when we are being sorely tested ourselves.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 The Lord saw it all coming. He planned for it, step by step, as He has done with other changes in His Church. He has raised up and prepared faithful people who choose to do hard things well. He has always been lovingly patient in helping us learn “line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little.”9 He is firm in the timing and the sequence of His intentions, yet He ensures that sacrifice often brings continuing blessings that we did not foresee. ... I invite all who hear this message or read these words to have faith that the Lord is leading the Restoration of His gospel and His Church. He goes before us. He knows the future perfectly. He invites you to the work. He joins you in it. He has in place a plan for your service. And even as you sacrifice, you will feel joy as you help others rise to be ready for His coming.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 My mother used to say to me when I complained that things were hard, "If you are on the right path, it will always be uphill."

- Henry B. Eyring

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 In the early days of the Relief Society, the Prophet Joseph Smith said to the sisters, “If you live up to your privileges, the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates.”

- Henry B. Eyring

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 This dispensation is distinct in that the Lord will lead us to become prepared to be like the city of Enoch. He has described through His apostles and prophets what that transformation to a Zion people will entail.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 Sisters, you were given the blessing of being daughters of God with special gifts. You brought with you into mortal life a spiritual capacity to nurture others and to lift them higher toward the love and purity that will qualify them to live together in a Zion society.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 You and I accepted that invitation to be tested and to prove that we would choose to keep the commandments of God when we would no longer be in the presence of our Heavenly Father.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 You might reasonably wonder why a loving and all-powerful God allows our mortal test to be so hard. It is because He knows that we must grow in spiritual cleanliness and stature to be able to live in His presence in families forever. To make that possible, Heavenly Father gave us a Savior and the power to choose for ourselves by faith to keep His commandments and to repent and so come unto Him.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 As you live worthy of the gift of the Holy Ghost, the Lord can direct you to safety even when you cannot see the way. For me, He has most often shown the next step or two to take. Rarely has He given me a glimpse of the distant future, but even those infrequent glimpses guide what I choose to do in daily life.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 It takes effort to distinguish what the Lord wants from what you want and the other person may want.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 The temple is a holy place where revelation comes to us easily if our hearts are open to it and we are worthy of it.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 Now I testify it is a small voice. It whispers, not shouts. And so you must be very quiet inside. That is why you may wisely fast when you want to listen. And that is why you will listen best when you feel, 'Father, thy will, not mine, be done.' You will have a feeling of 'I want what you want.' Then, the still small voice will seem as if it pierces you. It may make your bones to quake. More often it will make your heart burn within you, again softly, but with a burning which will lift and reassure.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 We can expect in our service to have help sent to us at the right time who will see strength in us and lift us up. And we can look forward to being the one sent by the Lord to encourage another.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 [The Lord] has trusted you by letting you hear the gospel in your lifetime, giving you the chance to accept the obligation to offer it to those of your ancestors who did not have your priceless opportunity. Think of the gratitude He has for those who pay the price in work and faith to find the names of their ancestors and who love them and Him enough to offer them eternal life in families, the greatest of all the gifts of God. He offered them an infinite sacrifice. He will love and appreciate those who paid whatever price they could to allow their ancestors to choose His offer of eternal life.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 If you are on the right path, it will always be uphill.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 The great test of life is to see whether we will hearken to and obey God's commands in the midst of the storms of life.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 An LDS woman from Arizona, after reading Eyring’s book and discussing the possibility of pre-Adamites with her husband, asked Eyring’s opinion on the theory that this earth was created from the materials of an older one. He responded: “I was trained as a mining engineer so that the evidence seems to me to point toward an age of the earth between four and five billion years and to the existence of pre-Adamic man. I don’t think that it is reasonable to explain the observed geologic formations on the theory that they were moved from some other worlds. I have no difficulty reconciling myself to the idea of life before Adam and to a great age of the earth. Our scriptural accounts are brief and don’t seem to me to rule out these possibilities. The scriptural emphasis is on God’s dealings with Adam and his descendants and the treatment of pre-Adamic history is sketchy, no doubt for a good reason. It seems, to me, clear that the Lord used the Prophet Joseph to restore His gospel. This is the important thing for me. Just how He runs the world, I’m obliged to leave up to Him. All I can do is find out how he does it by every means available.”18

- Henry B. Eyring

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 He loves you more than your ability to comprehend.

- Henry B. Eyring

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 "I have had prayers answered. Those answers were most clear when what I wanted was silenced by an overpowering need to know what God wanted. It is then that the answer from a loving Heavenly Father can be spoken to the mind by the still, small voice and can be written on the heart."

- Henry B. Eyring

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 The Lord’s work is not just to solve problems; it is to build people

- Henry B. Eyring

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