Russell M. Nelson Quotes - 166 quotes

Russell M. Nelson is an American religious leader and retired cardiothoracic surgeon. He is the 17th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a position he has held since January 2018. Nelson's early education included a bachelor's degree in biological sciences and a medical deg... show more

 While temple and family history work has the power to bless those beyond the veil, it has an equal power to bless the living. It has a refining influence on those who are engaged in it.
- Russell M. Nelson
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 Over my nine and a half decades of life, I have concluded that counting our blessings is far better than recounting our problems. No matter our situation, showing gratitude for our privileges is a fast-acting and long lasting spiritual prescription.
- Russell M. Nelson
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 We can even give thanks for our trials, from which we learn things we would not know otherwise.
- Russell M. Nelson
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 Now may I offer an important note of caution. An erroneous assumption could be made that if a little of something is good, a lot must be better. Not so! Overdoses of needed medication can be toxic. Boundless mercy could oppose justice. So tolerance, without limit, could lead to spineless permissiveness.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 An understanding of God’s fabulous plan takes the mystery out of life and the uncertainty out of our future.

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 When you make choices, I invite you to take the long view—an eternal view.

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 An understanding of God’s fabulous plan takes the mystery out of life and the uncertainty out of our future.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Here is the great news of God’s plan: the very things that will make your mortal life the best it can be are exactly the same things that will make your life throughout all eternity the best it can be!

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 Mortality is a master class in learning to choose the things of greatest eternal import.

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 In my first message as President of the Church, I encouraged you to begin with the end in mind.

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 Obedience paves the way for a joyful life for you today and a grand, eternal reward tomorrow.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 As you think celestial, you will find yourself avoiding anything that robs you of your agency. Any addiction—be it gaming, gambling, debt, drugs, alcohol, anger, pornography, sex, or even food—offends God. Why? Because your obsession becomes your god.

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 Please do the spiritual work to increase your capacity to receive personal revelation.

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 Much of the world does not believe this, but public opinion is not the arbiter of truth.

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 Most of the disaffected have separated themselves from full fellowship in the Church not because of doctrinal disputations, but because of hurt, neglect, or lack of love. Progress toward full participation in the blessings of the gospel needs no new programs, only a new vision of love that can be rendered best by friends and neighbors.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 How did He define the gospel? The resurrected Lord taught, "This is the gospel which I have given unto you — that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me." Then He amplified that one-sentence definition: "My Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me." This unique mortal mission of the Lord — the gospel as He defined it — we know as the Atonement. The fulness of the gospel, therefore, connotes a fuller comprehension of the Atonement.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 The Book of Mormon...Guard it, know it, read it, study it, teach it and give God thanks for that great gift to us.

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 Jesus suffered deeply because He loves us deeply! He wants us to repent and be converted so that He can fully heal us. “When sore trials come upon us, it’s time to deepen our faith in God, to work hard, and to serve others. Then He will heal our broken hearts. He will bestow upon us personal peace and comfort. Those great gifts will not be destroyed, even by death.”

- Russell M. Nelson

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 If we are well prepared, death brings no terror. From an eternal perspective, death is premature only for those who are not prepared to meet God.

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 Said President Lorenzo Snow, “This is the grand privilege of every Latter-day Saint … that it is our right to have the manifestations of the Spirit every day of our lives.

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 If families fail, many of our political, economic, and social systems will also fail.

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 In God's eternal plan, salvation is an individual matter; exaltation is a family matter.

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 His gift of eternal life is subject to conditions established by Him. Those conditions constitute a plan, or, to use my analogy, a spiritual road map.

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 Your worship in the temple and your service there for your ancestors will bless you with increased personal revelation and peace and will fortify your commitment to stay on the covenant path

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 “Your commitment to follow the Savior by making covenants with Him and then keeping those covenants will open the door to every spiritual blessing and privilege available to men, women, and children everywhere.”

- Russell M. Nelson

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 One of the things the Spirit has repeatedly impressed upon my mind since my new calling as President of the Church is how willing the Lord is to reveal His mind and will. The privilege of receiving revelation is one of the greatest gifts of God to His children. Through the manifestations of the Holy Ghost, the Lord will assist us in all our righteous pursuits.

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 we can pray to our Heavenly Father and receive guidance and direction, be warned about dangers and distractions, and be enabled to accomplish things we simply could not do on our own. If we will truly receive the Holy Ghost and learn to discern and understand His promptings, we will be guided in matters large and small.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 The adversary never stops attacking. So, we can never stop preparing! The more self-reliant we are—temporally, emotionally, and spiritually—the more prepared we are to thwart Satan’s relentless assaults.

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 In reality, we are raising our children in enemy-occupied territory. The homes of our members must become the primary sanctuaries of our faith, where each can be safe from the sins of the world.

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 “good inspiration is based upon good information”.

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 While we can teach the need for tolerance of others’ differences, we cannot tolerate their infractions of the laws of God.

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 Our message to the world is simple and sincere. We invite all of God’s children on both sides of the veil to come unto their Savior, receive the blessings of the holy temple, have enduring joy and qualify for eternal life.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Though today’s restrictions relate to a virulent virus, life’s personal trials stretch far beyond this pandemic. Future trials could result from an accident, a natural disaster, or an unexpected personal heartache.

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 You are constantly mindful of the Savior’s atonement and rejoice in His unconditional love.

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 My dear brothers and sisters, I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions—every day. I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own life. I promise that as you daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, you can be immunized against the evils of the day, even the gripping plague of pornography and other mind-numbing addictions.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Brothers and sisters, how can we become the men and women—the Christlike servants—the Lord needs us to be? How can we find answers to questions that perplex us? If Joseph Smith’s transcendent experience in the Sacred Grove teaches us anything, it is that the heavens are open and that God speaks to His children.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 “As we invest time in learning about the Savior and His atoning sacrifice, we are drawn to participate in another key element to assessing His power: we choose to have faith in Him and follow Him. True disciples of Jesus Christ are willing to stand out, speak up, and be different from the people of the world. They are undaunted, devoted, and courageous.”

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 That admonition given to Joseph is for each of us. We are to seek, in every way we can, to hear Jesus Christ, who speaks to us through the power and ministering of the Holy Ghost.

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 “In the Church, we embrace all truth, whether it comes from the scientific laboratory or from the revealed word of the Lord."

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Do whatever it takes to strengthen your faith in Jesus Christ by increasing your understanding of the doctrine taught in His restored Church and by relentlessly seeking truth. Anchored in pure doctrine, you will be able to step forward with faith and dogged persistence and cheerfully do all that lies in your power to fulfill the purposes of the Lord.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Before we can comprehend the Atonement of Christ, however, we must first understand the Fall of Adam.

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 I fear, brethren, that some among us may one day wake up and realize what power in the priesthood really is and face the deep regret that they spent far more time seeking power over others or power at work than learning to exercise fully the power of God.4 President George Albert Smith taught that “we are not here to while away the hours of this life and then pass to a sphere of exaltation; but we are here to qualify ourselves day by day for the positions that our Father expects us to fill hereafter.”

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses—yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. As you repeat this process day after day, month after month, year after year, you will “grow into the principle of revelation.”

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Even though one’s understanding of the truth may be fragmentary, truth itself does not change.

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 In the Church, we embrace all truth, whether it comes from the scientific laboratory or from the revealed word of the Lord. We accept all truth as being part of the gospel.

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 Stand up and speak up for truth — especially when it is not popular.

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 But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 “Do the spiritual work to find out for yourselves, and please do it now. Time is running out.”

- Russell M. Nelson

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 I fear that too many have sadly surrendered their agency to the adversary and are saying by their conduct, “I care more about satisfying my own desires than I do about bearing the Savior’s power to bless others.”

- Russell M. Nelson

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 To Paul’s list I might add the regrettable attitudes of bigotry, hypocrisy, and prejudice. These were also decried in 1834 by early Church leaders who foresaw the eventual rise of this church “amid the frowns of bigots and the calumny of hypocrites.” The Prophet Joseph Smith prayed that “prejudices may give way before the truth.” Hatred stirs up strife and digs beneath the dignity of mature men and women in our enlightened era.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses--yes, the very longings of your heart. And the listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. As you repeat this process day after day, month after month, year after year, you will "grow into the principle of revelation."

- Russell M. Nelson

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 But such is eternal law, and it cannot be altered. Not even for His Beloved Son could God change the law that required the Atonement.

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 Through the years, discrimination based on ethnic or religious identity has led to senseless slaughter, vicious pogroms, and countless acts of cruelty. The face of history is pocked by the ugly scars of intolerance.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 While divine love can be called perfect, infinite, enduring, and universal, it cannot correctly be characterized as unconditional. The word does not appear in the scriptures. On the other hand, many verses affirm that the higher levels of love the Father and the Son feel for each of us — and certain divine blessings stemming from that love — are conditional.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Prayer is a key. Pray to know what to stop doing and what to start doing. Pray to know what to add to your environment and what to remove so the Spirit can be with you in abundance. Plead with the Lord for the gift of discernment. Then live and work to be worthy to receive that gift so that when confusing events arise in the world, you will know exactly what is true and what is not. Serve with love. Loving service to those who have lost their way or who are wounded in spirit opens your heart to personal revelation. Spend more time—much more time—in places where the Spirit is present. That means more time with friends who are seeking to have the Spirit with them. Spend more time on your knees in prayer, more time in the scriptures, more time in family history work, more time in the temple. I promise you that as you consistently give the Lord a generous portion of your time, He will multiply the remainder.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 What does it mean for you that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth? It means that you and your family can be sealed together forever! It means that because you have been baptized by one who has authority from Jesus Christ and have been confirmed a member of His Church, you can enjoy the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. He will guide and protect you. It means you will never be left comfortless or without access to the power of God to help you. It means that priesthood power can bless you as you receive essential ordinances and make covenants with God and keep them. What an anchor to our souls are these truths, especially during these times when the tempest is raging.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 We also hear Him more clearly as we refine our ability to recognize the whisperings of the Holy Ghost. It has never been more imperative to know how the Spirit speaks to you than right now. In the Godhead, the Holy Ghost is the messenger. He will bring thoughts to your mind which the Father and Son want you to receive. He is the Comforter. He will bring a feeling of peace to your heart. He testifies of truth and will confirm what is true as you hear and read the word of the Lord. I renew my plea for you to do whatever it takes to increase your spiritual capacity to receive personal revelation.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 The mountains in our lives do not always move how or when we would like. But our faith will always propel us forward. Faith always increases our access to godly power.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 The Book of Mormon chronicles the classic rise and fall of two major civilizations. Their history demonstrates how easy it is for a majority of the people to forget God, reject warnings of the Lord’s prophets, and seek power, popularity, and pleasures of the flesh.4 Repeatedly, past prophets have declared “great and marvelous things unto the people, which they did not believe.”5 It is no different in our day. Through the years, great and marvelous things have been heard from dedicated pulpits across the earth. Yet most people do not embrace these truths—either because they do not know where to look for them6 or because they are listening to those who do not have the whole truth or because they have rejected truth in favor of worldly pursuits.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 If you ask with real intent, over time the Spirit will whisper the life-changing truth to you. Record those impressions and review them often, and follow through with exactness.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Even this year, when access to our temples has been seriously limited, your endowment has given you constant access to God’s power as you have honored your covenants with Him.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Prayer is a key. Pray to know what to stop doing and what to start doing. Pray to know what to add to your environment and what to remove so the Spirit can be with you in abundance.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 The purpose of this and every general conference is to help us to hear Him. We have prayed, and invite you to pray, that the Spirit of the Lord will be with us in such rich abundance that you can hear the messages that the Savior has especially for you—messages that will bring peace to your soul. Messages that will heal your broken heart. Messages that will illuminate your mind. Messages that will help you know what to do as you move ahead through times of turmoil and trial.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Even though one's understanding of the truth may be fragmentary, truth itself does not change.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 My dear brothers and sisters, construction of these temples may not change your life, but your time in the temple surely will. In that spirit, I bless you to identify those things you can set aside so you can spend more time in the temple. I bless you with greater harmony and love in your homes and a deeper desire to care for your eternal family relationships. I bless you with increased faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and a greater ability to follow Him as His true disciples.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 ...I know that good inspiration is based upon good information...

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Everything good in life—every potential blessing of eternal significance—begins with faith.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 “In today’s world trembling with terror and hatred, our knowledge of divine love is of utmost importance... While divine love can be called perfect, infinite, enduring, and universal, it cannot be characterized as unconditional. The word does not appear in the scriptures…The full flower of divine love and our greatest blessings from that love are conditional—predicated upon our obedience to eternal law.”

- Russell M. Nelson

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 “…many verses affirm that the higher levels of love of the father and the Son feel for each of us – and certain divine blessings stemming from that love – are conditional.”

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Select your own questions. Design your own plan. Act on any of these invitations to prepare yourself for sharing the important messages of the ongoing Restoration.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Not long ago the First Presidency and the Twelve issued a public statement from which I quote: “It is morally wrong for any person or group to deny anyone his or her inalienable dignity on the tragic and abhorrent theory of racial or cultural superiority. We call upon all people everywhere to recommit themselves to the time-honored ideals of tolerance and mutual respect.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 We simply cannot rely upon information we bump into on social media. With billions of words online and in a marketing-saturated world constantly infiltrated by noisy, nefarious efforts of the adversary, where can we go to hear Him?

- Russell M. Nelson

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 The Creator of us all calls on each of us to abandon attitudes of prejudice against any group of God's children. Any of us who has prejudice toward another race needs to repent!

- Russell M. Nelson

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 We join with many throughout this nation and around the world who are deeply saddened at recent evidences of racism and a blatant disregard for human life. We abhor the reality that some would deny others respect and the most basic of freedoms because of the color of his or her skin.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Our ultimate quest in life is to prepare to meet our Maker. We do this by striving daily to become more like our Savior, Jesus Christ.2 And we do that as we repent daily and receive His cleansing, healing, and strengthening power. Then we can feel enduring peace and joy, even during turbulent times. This is exactly why the Lord has implored us to stand in holy places and “be not moved.”

- Russell M. Nelson

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 We live in the day that “our forefathers have awaited with anxious expectation.”1 We have front-row seats to witness live what the prophet Nephi saw only in vision, that “the power of the Lamb of God” would descend “upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.”2 You, my brothers and sisters, are among those men, women, and children whom Nephi saw. Think of that!

- Russell M. Nelson

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 The adversary is clever. For millennia he has been making good look evil and evil look good.7 His messages tend to be loud, bold, and boastful. However, messages from our Heavenly Father are strikingly different. He communicates simply, quietly, and with such stunning plainness that we cannot misunderstand Him.8 For example, whenever He has introduced His Only Begotten Son to mortals upon the earth, He has done so with remarkably few words. On the Mount of Transfiguration to Peter, James, and John, God said, “This is my beloved Son: hear him.”9 His words to the Nephites in ancient Bountiful were “Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him.”10 And to Joseph Smith, in that profound declaration that opened this dispensation, God simply said, “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!”11 Now, my dear brothers and sisters, consider the fact that in these three instances just mentioned, just before the Father introduced the Son, the people involved were in a state of fear and, to some degree, desperation. The Apostles were afraid when they saw Jesus Christ encircled by a cloud on the Mount of Transfiguration. The Nephites were afraid because they had been through destruction and darkness for several days. Joseph Smith was in the grips of a force of darkness just before the heavens opened. Our Father knows that when we are surrounded by uncertainty and fear, what will help us the very most is to hear His Son. Because when we seek to hear—truly hear—His Son, we will be guided to know what to do in any circumstance.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 When you are faced with temptation—even if the temptation comes when you are exhausted or feeling alone or misunderstood—imagine the courage you can muster as you choose to let God prevail in your life and as you plead with Him to strengthen you.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 As you continue to follow the counsel of those whom the Lord has authorized to guide you, you will feel greater safety.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Simply said, a place of security is anywhere you can feel the presence of the Holy Ghost and be guided by Him.15 When the Holy Ghost is with you, you can teach truth, even when it runs counter to prevailing opinions. And you can ponder sincere questions about the gospel in an environment of revelation.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 When your home becomes a personal sanctuary of faith—where the Spirit resides—your home becomes the first line of defense.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 The Lord placed you here now because He knew you had the capacity to negotiate the complexities of the latter part of these latter days. He knew you would grasp the grandeur of His work and be eager to help bring it to pass.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Turbulent times are opportunities for us to thrive spiritually. They are times when our influence can be much more penetrating than in calmer times.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 What is the price to develop such priesthood power? The Savior’s senior Apostle, Peter—that same Peter who with James and John conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery8—declared qualities we should seek to “be partakers of the divine nature.”9 He named faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity, and diligence.10 And don’t forget humility!11 So I ask, how would our family members, friends, and coworkers say you and I are doing in developing these and other spiritual gifts?12 The more those attributes are developed, the greater will be our priesthood power.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Now, if all of this sounds excessive, please consider how different our relationships with our wife, children, and associates at work would be if we were as concerned about gaining priesthood power as we are in progressing at work or increasing the balance in our bank account. If we will humbly present ourselves before the Lord and ask Him to teach us, He will show us how to increase our access to His power.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Oh, there is so much more that your Father in Heaven wants you to know. As Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught, “To those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, it is clear that the Father and the Son are giving away the secrets of the universe!” Nothing opens the heavens quite like the combination of increased purity, exact obedience, earnest seeking, daily feasting on the words of Christ in the Book of Mormon,14 and regular time committed to temple and family history work. To be sure, there may be times when you feel as though the heavens are closed. But I promise that as you continue to be obedient, expressing gratitude for every blessing the Lord gives you, and as you patiently honor the Lord’s timetable, you will be given the knowledge and understanding you seek. Every blessing the Lord has for you—even miracles—will follow. That is what personal revelation will do for you.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 During these perilous times of which the Apostle Paul prophesied,20 Satan is no longer even trying to hide his attacks on God’s plan. Emboldened evil abounds. Therefore, the only way to survive spiritually is to be determined to let God prevail in our lives, to learn to hear His voice, and to use our energy to help gather Israel.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 When we speak of gathering Israel on both sides of the veil, we are referring, of course, to missionary, temple, and family history work. We are also referring to building faith and testimony in the hearts of those with whom we live, work, and serve. Anytime we do anything that helps anyone—on either side of the veil—to make and keep their covenants with God, we are helping to gather Israel.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 By choosing to let God prevail, she is finding peace.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 With the help of two Hebrew scholars, I learned that one of the Hebraic meanings of the word Israel is “let God prevail.”4 Thus the very name of Israel refers to a person who is willing to let God prevail in his or her life. That concept stirs my soul! The word willing is crucial to this interpretation of Israel.5 We all have our agency. We can choose to be of Israel, or not. We can choose to let God prevail in our lives, or not. We can choose to let God be the most powerful influence in our lives, or not.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 With the Hebraic definition of Israel in mind, we find that the gathering of Israel takes on added meaning. The Lord is gathering those who are willing to let God prevail in their lives. The Lord is gathering those who will choose to let God be the most important influence in their lives.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 For centuries, prophets have foretold this gathering,11 and it is happening right now! As an essential prelude to the Second Coming of the Lord, it is the most important work in the world!

- Russell M. Nelson

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 I assure you that your standing before God is not determined by the color of your skin. Favor or disfavor with God is dependent upon your devotion to God and His commandments and not the color of your skin.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 When your greatest desire is to let God prevail, to be part of Israel, so many decisions become easier. So many issues become nonissues!

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Do not try to control your children. Instead, listen to them, help them to learn the gospel, inspire them, and lead them toward eternal life.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Eve was formed from the rib of Adam. (See Genesis 2:22; Moses 3:22; Abraham 5:16.) Interesting to me is the fact that animals fashioned by our Creator, such as dogs and cats, have thirteen pairs of ribs, but the human being has one less with only twelve. I presume another bone could have been used, but the rib, coming as it does from the side, seems to denote partnership. The rib signifies neither dominion nor subservience, but a lateral relationship as partners, to work and to live, side by side.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 “When the focus of our lives is on God’s plan of salvation … and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives. Joy comes from and because of Him. He is the source of all joy”

- Russell M. Nelson

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 I pray that we as a people are using this unique time to grow spiritually. We are here on earth to be tested, to see if we will choose to follow Jesus Christ, to repent regularly, to learn, and to progress. Our spirits long to progress. And we do that best by staying firmly on the covenant path.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Only a man who has paid the price for priesthood power will be able to bring miracles to those he loves and keep his marriage and family safe, now and throughout eternity.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Ultimately, we realize that only the comprehension of the true Fatherhood of God can bring full appreciation of the true brotherhood of men and the true sisterhood of women. That understanding inspires us with passionate desire to build bridges of cooperation instead of walls of segregation.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 The time of harvest is come. A new era of family history work has arrived. As President Gordon B. Hinckley recently noted, “The Lord has inspired skilled men and women in developing new technologies which we can use to our great advantage in moving forward this sacred work.”

- Russell M. Nelson

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 In the coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Little did I know, when I promised you at the October 2019 general conference that this April conference would be “memorable” and “unforgettable,” that speaking to a visible congregation of fewer than 10 people would make this conference so memorable and unforgettable for me!

- Russell M. Nelson

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 The truths of the Book of Mormon have the power to heal, comfort, restore, succor, strengthen, console, and cheer our souls.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Daily immersion in the word of God is crucial for spiritual survival, especially in these days of increasing upheaval. As we feast on the words of Christ daily, the words of Christ will tell us how to respond to difficulties we never thought we would face.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 The Lord is gathering those who are willing to let God prevail in their lives. The Lord is gathering those who will choose to let God be the most important influence in their lives. For centuries, prophets have foretold this gathering,11 and it is happening right now! As an essential prelude to the Second Coming of the Lord, it is the most important work in the world!

- Russell M. Nelson

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 When your home becomes a personal sanctuary of faith—where the Spirit resides—your home becomes the first line of defense.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 The Lord taught us how to increase our faith by seeking “learning, even by study and also by faith.”18 We strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ as we strive to keep His commandments and “always remember him.”19 Further, our faith increases every time we exercise our faith in Him. That is what learning by faith means.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Life without God is a life filled with fear. Life with God is a life filled with peace. This is because spiritual blessings come to the faithful. Receiving personal revelation is one of the greatest of those blessings.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Simply said, a place of security is anywhere you can feel the presence of the Holy Ghost and be guided by Him.15 When the Holy Ghost is with you, you can teach truth, even when it runs counter to prevailing opinions. And you can ponder sincere questions about the gospel in an environment of revelation.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 As you continue to follow the counsel of those whom the Lord has authorized to guide you, you will feel greater safety.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 few things build faith more than does regular immersion in the Book of Mormon. No other book testifies of Jesus Christ with such power and clarity. Its prophets, as inspired by the Lord, saw our day and selected the doctrine and truths that would help us most. The Book of Mormon is our latter-day survival guide.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 If you really want to embrace a new normal, I invite you to turn your heart, mind, and soul increasingly to our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Let that be your new normal.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 If you really want to embrace a new normal, I invite you to turn your heart, mind and soul increasingly to our Heavenly Father and His Son,Jesus Christ. Let that be your new normal.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 I bless you to be filled with the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ. His peace is beyond all mortal understanding.6 I bless you with an increased desire and ability to obey the laws of God. I promise that as you do, you will be showered with blessings, including greater courage, increased personal revelation, sweeter harmony in your homes, and joy even amid uncertainty.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 The question for each of us, regardless of race, is the same. Are you willing to let God prevail in your life? Are you willing to let God be the most important influence in your life? Will you allow His words, His commandments, and His covenants to influence what you do each day? Will you allow His voice to take priority over any other? Are you willing to let whatever He needs you to do take precedence over every other ambition?

- Russell M. Nelson

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 As you study your scriptures during the next six months, I encourage you to make a list of all that the Lord has promised He will do for covenant Israel. I think you will be astounded! Ponder these promises. Talk about them with your family and friends. Then live and watch for these promises to be fulfilled in your own life.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 To bear means to support the weight of that which is held. It is a sacred trust to bear the priesthood, which is the mighty power and authority of God. Think of this: the priesthood conferred upon us is the very same power and authority through which God created this and numberless worlds, governs the heavens and the earth, and exalts His obedient children.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 How else can we increase our power in the priesthood? We need to pray from our hearts. Polite recitations of past and upcoming activities, punctuated with some requests for blessings, cannot constitute the kind of communing with God that brings enduring power. Are you willing to pray to know how to pray for more power? The Lord will teach you.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Are you willing to search the scriptures and feast on the words of Christ13—to study earnestly in order to have more power? If you want to see your wife’s heart melt, let her find you on the Internet studying the doctrine of Christ14 or reading your scriptures!

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Only your unbelief will keep God from blessing you with miracles to move the mountains in your life.10 The more you learn about the Savior, the easier it will be to trust in His mercy, His infinite love, and His strengthening, healing, and redeeming power. The Savior is never closer to you than when you are facing or climbing a mountain with faith.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Third, act in faith. What would you do if you had more faith? Think about it. Write about it. Then receive more faith by doing something that requires more faith.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Part of the gathering of Israel, and a very important part, is the charge for us as a people to be worthy and willing to help prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 President Russell M. Nelson said, “Our tears of sorrow … turn to tears of anticipation.”6

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Faith takes work. Receiving revelation takes work. But “every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”13 God knows what will help your faith grow. Ask, and then ask again. A nonbeliever might say that faith is for the weak. But this assertion overlooks the power of faith. Would the Savior’s Apostles have continued to teach His doctrine after His death, at the peril of their lives, if they had doubted Him?14 Would Joseph and Hyrum Smith have suffered martyrs’ deaths defending the Restoration of the Lord’s Church unless they had a sure witness that it was true? Would nearly 2,000 Saints have died along the pioneer trail15 if they did not have faith that the gospel of Jesus Christ had been restored? Truly, faith is the power that enables the unlikely to accomplish the impossible.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Present restrictions on gathering will eventually end. However, your commitment to make your home your primary sanctuary of faith should never end. As faith and holiness decrease in this fallen world, your need for holy places will increase. I urge you to continue to make your home a truly holy place “and be not moved”8 from that essential goal.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Through your faith, Jesus Christ will increase your ability to move the mountains in your life,9 even though your personal challenges may loom as large as Mount Everest. Your mountains may be loneliness, doubt, illness, or other personal problems. Your mountains will vary, and yet the answer to each of your challenges is to increase your faith. That takes work. Lazy learners and lax disciples will always struggle to muster even a particle of faith. To do anything well requires effort. Becoming a true disciple of Jesus Christ is no exception. Increasing your faith and trust in Him takes effort. May I offer five suggestions to help you develop that faith and trust.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 I urge you to stretch beyond your current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation, for the Lord has promised that "if thou shalt see, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things - that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth eternal life.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 I fear that there are too many priesthood bearers who have done little or nothing to develop their ability to access the powers of heaven. I worry about all who are impure in their thoughts, feelings, or actions or who demean their wives or children, thereby cutting off priesthood power.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 I urgently plead with each one of us to live up to our privileges as bearers of the priesthood. In a coming day, only those men who have taken their priesthood seriously, by diligently seeking to be taught by the Lord Himself, will be able to bless, guide, protect, strengthen, and heal others. Only a man who has paid the price for priesthood power will be able to bring miracles to those he loves and keep his marriage and family safe, now and throughout eternity.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 And if you truly want more priesthood power, you will cherish and care for your wife, embracing both her and her counsel.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Understanding that divine love and blessings are not truly "unconditional" can defend us against common fallacies such as these: "Since God’s love is unconditional, He will love me regardless..."; or "Since 'God is love,' He will love me unconditionally, regardless..." These arguments are used by anti-Christs to woo people with deception.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Before we can comprehend the Atonement of Christ, we must first understand the Fall of Adam. And before we can comprehend the Fall of Adam, we must first understand the Creation. These three pillars of eternity relate to one another.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 The increasing darkness that accompanies tribulation makes the light of Jesus Christ shine ever brighter.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 "Take your questions directly to your Heavenly Father in prayer. Ask Him, in the name of Jesus Christ, to guide you. You can learn for yourself—right now—how to receive personal revelation. And nothing will make a bigger difference to your life than that! "I promise you—not the person sitting next to you—but you, that, wherever you are in the world, wherever you are on the covenant path—even if, at this moment, you are not centered on the path—I promise you that if you will sincerely and persistently do the spiritual work needed to develop the crucial, spiritual skill of learning how to hear the whisperings of the Holy Ghost, that you will have all the direction you will ever need in your life. You will be given the answers to the questions of your heart, in the Lord’s own way and time. "When you know your life is being directed by God, regardless of the challenges and disappointments that may come, you will feel joy and peace."

- Russell M. Nelson

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 “We invite all of God’s children on both sides of the veil to come unto their Savior, receive the blessings of the holy temple, have enduring joy, and qualify for eternal life.”

- Russell M. Nelson

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 “While divine love can be called perfect, infinite, enduring, and universal, it cannot be characterized as unconditional. The word does not appear in the scriptures … These arguments [suggesting God’s love is unconditional] are used by anti-Christ’s to woo people with deception.”

- Russell M. Nelson

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 “In today’s world trembling with terror and hatred, our knowledge of divine love is of utmost importance... While divine love can be called perfect, infinite, enduring, and universal, it cannot be characterized as unconditional. The word does not appear in the scriptures … The full flower of divine love and our greatest blessings from that love are conditional—predicated upon our obedience to eternal law.”

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Through this wrestle, Jacob proved what was most important to him. He demonstrated that he was willing to let God prevail in his life. In response, God changed Jacob’s name to Israel,7 meaning “let God prevail.” God then promised Israel that all the blessings that had been pronounced upon Abraham’s head would also be his.8

- Russell M. Nelson

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 We can also hear Him in the temple. The house of the Lord is a house of learning. There the Lord teaches in His own way. There each ordinance teaches about the Savior. There we learn how to part the veil and communicate more clearly with heaven. There we learn how to rebuke the adversary and draw upon the Lord’s priesthood power to strengthen us and those we love. How eager each of us should be to seek refuge there.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 We live in a time prophesied long ago, when “all things shall be in commotion; and surely, men’s hearts shall fail them; for fear shall come upon all people.”13 That was true before the pandemic, and it will be true after. Commotion in the world will continue to increase. In contrast, the voice of the Lord is not “a voice of a great tumultuous noise, but … it [is] a still voice of perfect mildness, [like] a whisper, and it [pierces] even to the very soul.”14 In order to hear this still voice, you too must be still!

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Please know this: if everything and everyone else in the world whom you trust should fail, Jesus Christ and His Church will never fail you. The Lord never slumbers, nor does He sleep.16 He “is the same yesterday, today, and [tomorrow].”17 He will not forsake His covenants,18 His promises, or His love for His people. He works miracles today, and He will work miracles tomorrow.19 Faith in Jesus Christ is the greatest power available to us in this life. All things are possible to them that believe.20 Your growing faith in Him will move mountains—not the mountains of rock that beautify the earth but the mountains of misery in your lives. Your flourishing faith will help you turn challenges into unparalleled growth and opportunity.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Between now and the time the Lord comes again, we all need our homes to be places of serenity and security.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 My dear brothers and sisters, the strength of the Church lies in the efforts and ever-growing testimonies of its members.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 The Lord does not require perfect faith for us to have access to His perfect power. But He does ask us to believe.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 We cannot wish our way into the presence of God. We are to obey the laws upon which those blessings are predicated.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 In God’s eternal plan, salvation is an individual matter; exaltation is a family matter.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 ...the future of nations is linked to children. Families with children need to be re-enthroned as the fundamental unit of society.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 When ordained to an office in the priesthood, you are granted authority. But power comes from exercising that authority in righteousness.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Even this year, when access to our temples has been seriously limited, your endowment has given you constant access to God’s power as you have honored your covenants with Him.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 According to eternal law, that atonement required a personal sacrifice by an immortal being not subject to death.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 The very first word in the Doctrine and Covenants is hearken.12 It means “to listen with the intent to obey.”13 To hearken means to “hear Him”—to hear what the Savior says and then to heed His counsel. In those two words—“Hear Him”—God gives us the pattern for success, happiness, and joy in this life. We are to hear the words of the Lord, hearken to them, and heed what He has told us!

- Russell M. Nelson

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 When giving necessary correction, do it quietly, privately, lovingly, and not publicly. If a rebuke is required, show an increase of love promptly so that seeds of resentment may not remain.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints invites all people “to come unto their Savior, to be blessed by the ordinances of the temple and have enduring joy and qualify for that greatest of all blessings — that of eternal life,”

- Russell M. Nelson

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 “Everyone has challenges in the world. That is why we are here,” said President Nelson. “This part of the world has always been contested. … But whether you live here or anywhere else in the world, there are going to be challenges. That’s why the gospel of Jesus Christ is so very important. Because it will help fortify an individual to face whatever challenges he has in life.”

- Russell M. Nelson

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 While divine love can be called perfect, infinite, enduring, and universal, it cannot correctly be characterized as unconditional. The word does not appear in the scriptures. On the other hand, many verses affirm that the higher levels of love the Father and the Son feel for each of us—and certain divine blessings stemming from that love—are conditional. Before citing examples, it is well to recognize various forms of conditional expression in the scriptures.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 "To be sure, there may be times when you feel as though the heavens are closed. But I promise that as you continue to be obedient, expressing gratitude for every blessing the Lord gives you, and as you patiently honor the Lord's timetable, you will be given the knowledge and understanding you seek. Every blessing the Lord has for you---even miracles---will follow. That is what personal revelation will do for you"

- Russell M. Nelson

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 You were taught in the spirit world to prepare you for anything and everything you would encounter during this latter part of these latter days. That teaching endures within you! You are living in the “eleventh hour.” The Lord has declared that this is the last time that He will call laborers into His vineyard to gather the elect from the four quarters of the earth. And you were sent to participate in this gathering. Again and again I have seen firsthand the powerful influence of True Millennials as they bring others to a knowledge of the truth. This is part of your identity and your purpose as the seed of Abraham!

- Russell M. Nelson

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 "If you think the Church has been fully restored, you're just seeing the beginning...Wait till next year, and then the next year," President Nelson says. "Eat your vitamin pills. Get some rest. It's going to be exciting."

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Be patient with yourself. Perfection comes not in this life, but in the next life. Don’t demand things that are unreasonable, but demand of yourself improvement. As you let the Lord help you through that, He will make the difference.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Make your apartment, your dorm, your home, or your room your holy place where you can safely retreat from the dark distractions of the world.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 ...the blessing of aging, with visible reminders that we are mortal beings destined one day to leave this 'frail existence'... remind us that we are mortal children of God, with a 'manufacturer’s guarantee' that we shall not be stranded upon the earth forever.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 It is usually easy to forgive one who sincerely and humbly seeks your forgiveness. But the Savior will grant you the ability to forgive anyone who has mistreated you in any way. Then their hurtful acts can no longer canker your soul.

- Russell M. Nelson

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 Why do we need such resilient faith? Because difficult days are ahead. Rarely in the future will it be easy or popular to be a faithful Latter-day Saint. Each of us will be tested. The Apostle Paul warned that the latter days, those who diligently follow the Lord "shall suffer persecution." (2 Tim. 3:12) That very persecution can either crush you into silent weakness or motivate you to be more exemplary and courageous in your daily lives.

- Russell M. Nelson

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