Gordon B. Hinckley on doing our best and not feeling like failures

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.

"I do not ask that you reach beyond your capacity. Please don't nag yourself with thoughts of failure. Do not set goals far beyond your capacity to achieve. Simply do what you can do, in the best way you know, and the Lord will accept of your effort....

"Yes, there are adversities to be overcome, not a few of them. There are trials to be endured. There is much of evil in the world and too much of harshness, even in the home. Do what you can to rise above all of this. Stand up. Speak out against evil and brutality. Safeguard against abuse. Keep out of your homes the filthiness of the world, which can lead to such abuse. Rise up in the stature of your divine inheritance. God bless you."

- Gordon B. Hinckley, "Rise to the Stature of the Divine Within You," Ensign, November 1989, p. 94
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President Hinckley was a enduring optimist. He often encouraged positive outlooks on life in spite of the temporary setbacks and challenges we encounter. I particularly like the counsel in this quote. Recognizing that many are prone to criticize themselves and become discouraged when things don't work out, he reminded us that when we "simply do what [we] can, in the best way [we] know" we can be assured "the Lord will accept of [our] effort."

President Hinckley was also realistic. He recognized the "evil" and "harshness" that abound in the world, and sometimes even in our homes. But he challenged us all to "rise above all of this" as we choose to stand up for hope and righteousness. We do that by combating evil, keeping our homes a safe haven, and always remembering to "rise up to the stature of [our] divine inheritance." Very wise counsel.