President Thomas S. Monson on how to live greatly

President Thomas S. Monson (1927–2018) was sustained to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1963. He served as a counselor in the First Presidency with Presidents Benson, Hunter, and Hinckley and then became Church president in 2008. He led the Church for almost a decade until his passing in January 2018.

"All of us are prone to excuse our own mediocre performance. We blame our misfortunes, our disfigurements, or our so-called handicaps. Victims of our own rationalization, we say silently to ourselves: 'I'm just too weak,' or 'I'm not cut out for better things.' Others soar beyond our meager accomplishments. Envy and discouragement then take their toll. 

"Can we not appreciate that our very business in life is not to get ahead of others, but to get ahead of ourselves? To break our own records, to outstrip our yesterdays by our todays, to bear our trials more beautifully than we ever dreamed we could, to give as we have never given, to do our work with more force and a finer finish than ever—this is the true idea: to get ahead of ourselves. 

"To live greatly, we must develop the capacity to face trouble with courage, disappointment with cheerfulness, and triumph with humility. You ask, 'How might we achieve these goals?' I answer, 'By getting a true perspective of who we really are!' We are sons and daughters of a living God, in whose image we have been created. Think of that truth: 'Created in the image of God.' We cannot sincerely hold this conviction without experiencing a profound new sense of strength and power, even the strength to live the commandments of God, the power to resist the temptations of Satan." 

- Thomas S. Monson, "Yellow Canaries with Gray on Their Wings," Ensign, July 1973
Click here to read the full talk

It's so easy to fall into the traps Pres. Monson describes—looking for a scapegoat for our shortcomings, doubting our personal abilities, comparing our performance or achievement to others around us. Each of those is self-defeating in our attempts to progress and reach our potential.

The real, final key to success in life is to truly understand who we are and what our divine potential is.
His reminders about personal progress are worth pondering; a better perspective is not only healthier as we encounter trials, but enables us to achieve far more than those self-limiting perspectives. Understanding our possibilities as sons and daughters of God brings "a profound new sense of strength and power" enabling us to truly reach our potential.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)

January 12, 2015

President Dallin H. Oaks on being of good cheer

President Dallin H. Oaks (born August 12, 1932) served as president of BYU from 1971-1980.  He was then appointed as a justice of the Utah Supreme Court, and resigned when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1984. He became President of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles and also 1st Counselor in the First Presidency in January 2018.

"Tribulation and challenges are the common experiences of mortality. Opposition is an essential part of the divine plan for helping us grow, and in the midst of that process, we have God’s assurance that, in the long view of eternity, opposition will not be allowed to overcome us. With His help and our faithfulness and endurance, we will prevail. Like the mortal life of which they are a part, all tribulations are temporary....

"On a personal basis, each of us struggles individually with some of the many adversities of mortality, such as poverty, racism, ill health, job losses or disappointments, wayward children, bad marriages or no marriages, and the effects of sin—our own or others’.

"Yet, in the midst of all of this, we have that heavenly counsel to be of good cheer and to find joy in the principles and promises of the gospel and the fruits of our labors. (See D&C 6:31.) That counsel has always been so, for prophets and for all of us. We know this from the experiences of our predecessors and what the Lord said to them....

"There is boundless power in the doctrine of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Our unshakable faith in that doctrine guides our steps and gives us joy. It enlightens our minds and gives strength and confidence to our actions. This guidance and enlightenment and power are promised gifts we have received from our Heavenly Father. By understanding and conforming our lives to that doctrine, including the divine gift of repentance, we can be of good cheer as we keep ourselves on the path toward our eternal destiny—reunion and exaltation with our loving heavenly parents."

- Dallin H. Oaks, "Be of Good Cheer," General Conference October 2020, Women's Session

Click here to read or listen to the full talk

In the midst of tribulation—disappointments, challenges, loneliness, concerns—one of the hardest things we are asked to do certainly must be to "be of good cheer." Keeping the perspective of our place in eternity can make all the difference. The Savior's invitation to be cheerful in a world of hardship because "I have overcome the world" is a great key.

Maintaining a focus on the Savior and His doctrine brings power to our lives:

As we develop the "unshakable faith" in the Savior and His doctrine, power and blessings come to our lives as promised gifts. His guidance and help are the great key to bringing peace and good cheer.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2020)

Elder Neal A. Maxwell on learning to be of good cheer in life

Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926-2004) served as a Seventy from 1976-1981, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve until his death from cancer in 2004.

"My brothers and sisters, we are living in a time in which we shall see things both wonderful and awful. There is no way that we can be a part of the last days and have it otherwise. Even so, we are instructed by our Lord and Exemplar, Jesus Christ, to 'be of good cheer.' (D&C 61:36; D&C 78:18.)

"Jesus has given that same instruction to others before, when the stressful circumstances in which they found themselves were anything but cheerful. For instance, he told the original Twelve to be of good cheer when, on the surface, there was nothing to be cheerful about. (John 16:33.) The indescribable agonies of Gethsemane were imminent. Judas’s betrayal lay immediately ahead.

"Likewise, Jesus’ arrest and arraignment. The Twelve would be scattered like sheep. Jesus’ unjust and mocking trial and His terrible scourging were but hours away. The shrill and disappointing cry of the mob—to release Barabbas instead of Jesus—would soon echo in the air. Then would come the final, awful moments on Calvary!

"Therefore, how could Jesus expect the Twelve to be of good cheer? Because, the Savior said, 'In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.' (John 16:33; italics added.)"

- Neal A. Maxwell, "Be of Good Cheer," General Conference October 1982
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

"Things both wonderful and awful"—certainly a very accurate description of our time. It's easy to get caught up on the "awful" part of life and of the world around us; and perhaps that is part of the challenge we are being warned against in this message:

Truly, regardless of the circumstances in which we find ourselves, there are always wonderful things to be recognized and for which to be grateful. The key, according to Elder Maxwell, is to recognize that the Savior has overcome the world; the "awful" parts are replaced by the true and lasting joy that He offers. Therefore, He can instruct and invite us to "be of good cheer" because that cheerfulness is available in and through Him. Elder Maxwell's talk is worth reviewing to discover many wonderful suggestions on bringing that power and perspective into our lives.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

Elder Neal A. Maxwell on facing life with good cheer

Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926-2004) served as a Seventy from 1976-1981, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve until his death from cancer in 2004.

"The Lord knows our bearing capacity, both as to coping and to comprehending, and He will not give us more to bear than we can manage at the moment, though to us it may seem otherwise. (See D&C 50:40; D&C 78:18.) Just as no temptations will come to us from which we cannot escape or which we cannot bear, we will not be given more trials than we can sustain. (See 1 Cor. 10:13.)

"Therefore... can we not 'be of good cheer' in spite of stress and circumstance?

"President Brigham Young said of a geographical destination, 'This is the place.' Of God's plan of salvation, with its developmental destination, it can be said, 'This is the process.'

"President Young, who knew something about trial and tribulation but also of man's high destiny, said that the Lord lets us pass through these experiences that we might become true friends of God. By developing our individual capacities, wisely exercising our agency, and trusting God—including when we feel forsaken and alone—then we can, said President Young, learn to be 'righteous in the dark.' (Secretary's Journal, 28 Jan. 1857.) The gospel glow we see radiating from some—amid dark difficulties—comes from illuminated individuals who are 'of good cheer'!"

- Neal A. Maxwell, "Be of Good Cheer," Ensign, November 1982, pp. 66-68
Click here to read or watch the full talk

The Savior's admonition to "be of good cheer" appears several times in the New Testament (e.g., John 16:33, Matt. 9:2, Mark 6:50) and was repeated several times in modern scripture as well (e.g., D&C 68:6, D&C 78:18). Clearly it's a message that is timeless and applicable to all. If we truly understand God's plan for us and His love for us, there is no reason we should not be of good cheer.

At times when we feel burdened with challenges and problems, we may struggle to maintain the "good cheer." Elder Maxwell reminds us to keep the perspective that "the Lord knows our bearing capacity." Any trial we encounter is within our ability to endure, and will surely pass in due time.

I love the insights from the Brigham Young quotes. First, adding to Brigham's concept of "This is the place," our awareness of "this is the process" will help us to keep a beneficial perspective. And then this thought is also very insightful:

Two phrases from this reference stick out for me. First, through our "trials and tribulations" we can "become true friends of God." What a powerful designation, one to be earnestly sought and treasured.

Learning to be "righteous in the dark" is also an intriguing concept. The dark could include the times of challenge and trial; but also when, for various reasons, we're less able to feel spiritual help and support. At those times, our righteousness must be deeply ingrained, and not superficial. That kind of faith comes from trusting God even when we feel "forsaken and alone."

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)

David O. McKay on facing life with happiness

President David O. McKay (1873-1970) was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1906.  He served as a counselor in the First Presidency to Heber J. Grant and George Albert Smith beginning in 1945, then then as the president of the Church from 1951 to his death in 1970 at age 96.

"I feel like pleading with my brethren and sisters to set their faces firmly to the front and decide to enjoy the blessings with which our Father has blessed us.

"There are seeds of happiness planted in every human soul. Our mental attitude and disposition constitute the environment in which these seeds may germinate. There is as much need for sunshine in the heart as for sunshine in the world. Today as perhaps never before mankind needs encouragement and cheer. One writer says: 'Not having enough sunshine is what ailed the world. Make people happy and there will not be half the quarreling nor a tenth part of the wickedness there is.'

"It is a duty to seek to acquire the art of being cheerful....

"And so, brethren and sisters, what if we do have economic distress, universal almost? Let us ever keep in mind that life is largely what we make it, and that the Savior of men has marked clearly and plainly just how joy and peace may be obtained. It is in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and adherence thereto. Do your duties no matter how humbly, and resolve even in the face of difficulties and discouragements to be:

"Like the man who faces what he must
"With step triumphant and a heart of cheer;
"Who fights the daily battle without fear;
"Sees his hopes fail, yet keeps unfaltering trust
"That God is God."

- David O. McKay, General Conference, October 7, 1934, CR pp. 89-96
Click here to read the full talk

This is great counsel from then a young Elder McKay: we can choose to be happy. We can "decide to enjoy the blessings with which our Father has blessed us." The careful and conscious recognition of God's hand in our lives is one of the great keys to happiness and peace.

Elder McKay shared these thoughts in 1934, when the US and much of the world was in the midst of the Great Depression. He mentions the almost universal "economic distress" faced by so many. But he clarifies that true joy comes as we adhere to the principles of the gospel, faithfully fulfill our duties, and keep "unfaltering trust" in God.

D Todd Christofferson on peace in the Gospel

Elder D. Todd Christofferson (1945- ) was called to the Seventy in 1993, and as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2008.

"Our yielding to God and his right to rule and reign over us brings other blessings. Among the foremost are the faith and confidence that permit us to live with peace....

"Joseph Smith understood this when he said, 'Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed' (D&C 123:17). The promise to those who submit to God is that His arm, His power, will be revealed in their lives. Jesus said:

"'Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me;

"'And none of them that my Father hath given me shall be lost.' [D&C 50:41-42]

"To live with this assurance is a blessing perhaps greater than you can today appreciate. Most of you have not yet lived long enough to know how precious peace is. Others, despite your youth, may have experienced feelings of desperation. But all of us, soon or late, in a moment of looming disaster or wearying confusion, having chosen God as our guide, will be able to sing with conviction, 'Sweet is the peace the gospel brings' (Hymns, 1985, no. 14)."

- D. Todd Christofferson, "Allegiance to God," BYU Devotional, October 19, 1999
Click here to read the full article

The concept of "yielding" ourselves to God is a powerful one. Elder Christofferson says that when we are willing to acknowledge "his right to rule and reign over us," powerful blessings follow. I've always loved this counsel from Joseph Smith, given to the saints while he was in Liberty Jail:

So as we "cheerfully" submit to Him and strive to follow as perfectly as we can, we can wait "with the utmost assurance" for the arm of God to be revealed on our behalf, and for the salvation that will follow.

Elder Christofferson testifies of the sweet peace that comes from living the Gospel with all our hearts, particularly in times of "looming disaster or wearying confusion."  That peace is a sacred gift to be claimed!

Heber C. Kimball on God's cheerfulness

President Heber C. Kimball (1801-1868) was a member of the first Quorum of Twelve Apostles ordained in this dispensation in 1835. He served as first counselor to Brigham Young from 1847 until his death in 1868 at age 67. He was the grandfather of Spencer W. Kimball, who became an apostle in 1943 and served as president of the Church from 1973-1985. His great-great-grandson, Quentin L. Cook, currently serves as an apostle.

"Often when I have been in the presence of brother Brigham, we would feel such a buoyant spirit that when we began to talk we could not express our feelings, and so, 'Hallelujah,' says Brigham, 'Glory to God,' says I. I feel it and say it.

"Some of the brethren kind of turn their noses on one side at me when I make such expressions, but they would not do it if they knew God. Such ones do not even know brothers Brigham and Heber; if they did they would not turn a wry face at us. I am perfectly satisfied that my Father and my God is a cheerful, pleasant, lively, and good-natured Being. Why? Because I am cheerful, pleasant, lively, and good-natured when I have His Spirit. That is one reason why I know; and another is—the Lord said, through Joseph Smith, 'I delight in a glad heart and a cheerful countenance.' That arises from the perfection of His attributes; He is a jovial, lively person, and a beautiful man."

- Heber C. Kimball, discourse in the Salt Lake Tabernacle, February 8, 1857; see JD 4:222
Click here to read the full talk

Heber C. Kimball is one of the truly remarkable men of Church history—one I admire deeply. Though he had minimal education in his youth and worked as a potter, he had profound spiritual insights and a deep commitment to the Gospel. Joseph Smith once said that only two of the original Twelve never rebelled against him—Brigham and Heber. And Brigham would later say, "Heber is my prophet; I love to hear him prophesy."

I have always loved this quote. After expressing how he often feels the joy of the Gospel very deeply, Heber gives us this wonderful deductive insight into the nature of God, based on his own experiences of feeling God's spirit.

And then, after referring to the Lord's statement that we man should have "a glad heart and a cheerful countenance" (D&C 59:15), he closes with this beautiful description of God: "He is a jovial, lively person, and a beautiful man." Heber knew, and understood.

Jeffrey R. Holland on prayer and faithful endurance

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (1940- ) served as Church Commissioner of Education from 1976-1980, as the president of BYU from 1980-1989, as a Seventy from 1989-1994, and as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles since 1994.

"Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ—that is the first principle of the gospel. We must go forward, as it says in K. Newell Dayley's hymn commemorating our pioneers of the past, 'with faith in ev'ry footstep' (see Ensign, January 1997, 15). But like those pioneers, you do have to keep taking them—one step and then another and then the next. That is how tasks are accomplished, that is how goals are achieved, and that is how frontiers are conquered. In more divine language, that is how worlds are created and it is how your world will be created.

"God expects you to have enough faith and determination and enough trust in Him to keep moving, keep living, keep rejoicing. In fact, He expects you not simply to face the future (that sounds pretty grim and stoic); He expects you to embrace and shape the future—to love it and rejoice in it and delight in your opportunities.

"God is anxiously waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams, just as He always has. But He can't if you don't pray, and He can't if you don't dream. In short, He can't if you don't believe."

- Jeffrey R. Holland, "Terror, Triumph, and a Wedding Feast," CES fireside address, 12 September 2004; reprinted as "This, the Greatest of All Dispensations," Ensign, Jul 2007, pp. 52-58
Click here to read the full talk

It's easy to persist, easy to move forward, even easy to endure, when we feel strong, the road is smooth, and conditions are pleasant. It's a whole different story to keep taking steps when each one is filled with agony, frustration, loneliness, or confusion. The concept of "faith in every footstep" is a crucial one; most of us have periods in life when it's only because we have faith that we are able to continue moving.

I love Elder Holland's example and encouragement of what that faith is all about.  God actually expects us "to have enough faith and determination and enough trust in Him to keep moving, keep living, keep rejoicing." Not just to plod along in stoic endurance, but to "keep rejoicing." That is a profound vision of the nature of this life.

And this is a tender and beautiful expression of a Father's willingness to help us, if only we ask in faith:

L. Tom Perry on the seasons of life

We acknowledge the passing today (May 30, 2015) of Elder L. Tom Perry.  He was born August 5, 1922 in Logan and grew up in the Cache Valley. He served a mission in the Northern States and then enlisted in the Marine Corps, serving in eastern Asia towards the end of World War II. Following a successful career in retail, he was called as an Assistant to the Twelve in 1972, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1974. At the time of his passing at age 92, he was the oldest living general authority and the third in seniority among the leading quorums.

"Those of us who have been around a while... have recognized certain patterns in life's test. There are cycles of good and bad times, ups and downs, periods of joy and sadness, and times of plenty as well as scarcity. When our lives turn in an unanticipated and undesirable direction, sometimes we experience stress and anxiety. One of the challenges of this mortal experience is to not allow the stresses and strains of life to get the better of us—to endure the varied seasons of life while remaining positive, even optimistic. Perhaps when difficulties and challenges strike, we should have these hopeful words of Robert Browning etched in our minds: 'The best is yet to be' ('Rabbi Ben Ezra,' in Charles W. Eliot, ed., The Harvard Classics, 50 vols. [1909-10], 42:1103). We can't predict all the struggles and storms in life, not even the ones just around the next corner, but as persons of faith and hope, we know beyond the shadow of any doubt that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and the best is yet to come....

"In our search to obtain relief from the stresses of life, may we earnestly seek ways to simplify our lives. May we comply with the inspired counsel and direction the Lord has given us in the great plan of happiness. May we be worthy to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost and follow the guidance of the Spirit as we navigate this mortal journey. May we prepare ourselves to accomplish the ultimate purpose of this mortal test—to return and live with our Heavenly Father."

- L. Tom Perry, "Let Him Do It with Simplicity," Ensign, Nov. 2008, pp. 7-10
Click here to read the full talk

Elder Perry was widely known for his joyful approach to life and his infectious enthusiasm. This quote illustrates some of the reasons behind that optimistic personality: a deep and firm faith in Jesus Christ and His gospel plan.

Thomas S. Monson on how to live greatly

President Monson (1927- ) was sustained to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1963.  He served as a counselor in the First Presidency with Presidents Benson, Hunter, and Hinckley until becoming Church president in 2008.

"All of us are prone to excuse our own mediocre performance. We blame our misfortunes, our disfigurements, or our so-called handicaps. Victims of our own rationalization, we say silently to ourselves: 'I'm just too weak,' or 'I'm not cut out for better things.' Others soar beyond our meager accomplishments. Envy and discouragement then take their toll.
"Can we not appreciate that our very business in life is not to get ahead of others, but to get ahead of ourselves? To break our own records, to outstrip our yesterdays by our todays, to bear our trials more beautifully than we ever dreamed we could, to give as we have never given, to do our work with more force and a finer finish than ever--this is the true idea: to get ahead of ourselves.
"To live greatly, we must develop the capacity to face trouble with courage, disappointment with cheerfulness, and triumph with humility. You ask, 'How might we achieve these goals?' I answer, 'By getting a true perspective of who we really are!' We are sons and daughters of a living God, in whose image we have been created. Think of that truth: 'Created in the image of God.' We cannot sincerely hold this conviction without experiencing a profound new sense of strength and power, even the strength to live the commandments of God, the power to resist the temptations of Satan."
- Thomas S. Monson, "Yellow Canaries with Gray on Their Wings," Ensign, July 1973
Click here to read the full talk

It's so easy to fall into the traps Pres. Monson describes—looking for a scapegoat for our shortcomings, doubting our personal abilities, comparing our performance or achievement to others around us. His reminders about personal progress are worth pondering; a better perspective is not only healthier as we encounter trials, but enables us to achieve far more than those self-limiting perspectives..