Gordon B. Hinckley on the power of believing in yourself

President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008) was called to the Quorum of Twelve in 1961, served as a counselor in the First Presidency from 1981-1995, then as Church President until his death in 2008 at age 97.

"Believe in yourself. Believe in your capacity to do great and good things. Believe that no mountain is too high that you cannot climb it. Believe that no storm is too great that you cannot weather it. You are not destined to be a scrub. You are a child of God, of infinite capacity.

"Believe that you can do it, whatever it is that you set your heart on. Opportunities will unfold and open before you. The skies will clear when they have been dark with portent."

- Gordon B. Hinckley, "Be Not Afraid, Only Believe," Commencement Address at BYU-Hawaii, December 11, 2004
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President Hinckley always spoke with unstoppable optimism and confidence — born out of his deep and abiding faith in God and the potential of each individual. This example of encouragement is very typical of his belief that self-confidence and success stem from a correct understanding of who we really are.