President Harold B. Lee on recognizing God's hand

President Harold B. Lee (1899-1973) was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1941. He served as a counselor in the First Presidency from 1970-1972, then as Church president from July 1972 until his passing less than 18 months later in December 1973.

"I read something a while ago that started me thinking along this line. It was that when a man leans to his own understanding and boasts by his own strength... he forgets God and claims he is his own master, [and] the result is untold suffering. Even though one's position is maintained, even though material wealth increases, a success quickly turns to failure when God has been forgotten. There is no peace of mind, no personal satisfaction of inward joy. To 'trust in the Lord with all thine heart' (Proverbs 3:5) is a mark of strength and is the only path to happiness, success, and true fulfillment."

- Harold B. Lee, memorial sermon given February 7, 1957; see Teachings of Harold B. Lee p. 620

The verse President Lee quotes from Proverbs has long been one of my favorite scriptures—simple, yet clear and profound:

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

President Lee warns us of what can happen when we fail to do that:

Learning to "trust in the Lord" is a great key to our happiness in life. It requires that we learn to find His word (in the scriptures and the teachings of inspired leaders) and that we learn to hear and feel His word (though the whisperings of the Spirit directly to our mind and heart). Truly, that is "the only path to happiness, success, and true fulfillment."

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2019)