Elder Boyd K. Packer on the influence of good thoughts

President Packer (1924- ) was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1970.  He currently serves as the president of that Quorum.

"No good thought is ever lost. No turn of the mind, however brief or transitory or illusive, if it is good, is ever wasted. No thought of sympathy, nor of forgiveness, no reflection on generosity or of courage or of purity, no meditation on humility or gratitude or reverence, is ever lost. The frequency with which they are experienced is the measure of you. The more constant they become, the more you are worth, or, in scriptural terms, the more you are worthy. Every clean thought becomes you. Every clean thought becomes you." 

- Boyd K. Packer, "Let Virtue Garnish Your Thoughts," BYU Devotional, Sept. 26, 1967; "That All May Be Edified" [Bookcraft 1982], p. 39

In 1967, Elder Packer gave a landmark address at BYU about the importance of thoughts, controlling our thoughts, and being blessed by appropriate and virtuous thoughts. This paragraph comes near the end of that address, which included the well-known analogy about the mind being a stage that only one actor can occupy. I love this testimony about the power of "good thoughts" and how they bring strength and blessings.

What a powerful goal, to help us increase in worth and worthiness as we fill our minds with virtue!

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

January 13, 2015

Elder Ronald A. Rasband on the companionship of the Holy Ghost

Elder Ronald A. Rasband (b. February 6, 1951) served as a Seventy beginning in 2000.  He was the senior president of the Seventy when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in October 2015.

"Through confirmation and by the laying on of hands, you have already been given the gift of the Holy Ghost. As it states in the Doctrine and Covenants, Section 39:23, 'And again, it shall come to pass that on as many as ye shall baptize with water, ye shall lay your hands, and they shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost…'

"This will be a great privilege for you throughout your lives to have this special gift from the Lord.

"Enjoying the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost is quite a different matter—and a goal for all of us to try and achieve.

"Anger, disunity, contention, lying, and impurity of thoughts and deeds to name a few vices, chase away the holy presence of this Third Member of the Godhead. Such unaltered and unrepentant behavior causes Latter-day Saints to lose the Spirit, and lose confidence....

"I would offer you a little formula today that you can remember easily, that through my experience as a father, student-ward bishop, mission president, and General Authority, almost certainly will enable you to have the Spirit as your constant companion....

"I invite you today to consider your passions and where necessary, bridle them in your life.

"I invite you today to take greater control of your thoughts, garnish them with virtue, such as of the beloved Word of God.

"I invite you to humbly and prayerfully plead with the Lord to bless you with the Holy Ghost.

"I invite you to go before the Lord and ask him to bless you with strength, to be the greatest generation of young people, going into the world with power and authority and the Holy Ghost, inviting people of all lands to come unto Christ.

"I promise you as a servant of the Lord, that he will bless you with the presence and companionship of the Holy Ghost. Bridle your passions, garnish your thoughts, and by the prayer of faith you will be led by the Spirit and join in this magnificent miracle."

- Ronald A. Rasband, "Having the Constant Companionship of the Holy Ghost," BYU-Idaho devotional, February 28, 2006
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

Addressing students at BYU-Idaho when he was serving as a Seventy, Elder Rasband taught and encouraged them on ways to increase the influence and companionship of the Holy Ghost in their lives. Three steps make all the difference in enabling us to have that influence in greater ways:

• Bridling passions - controlling appetites and choosing to obey
• Garnishing thoughts - filling heart and mind with wholesome, uplifting things
• Praying in faith for an increase of spiritual influence

Elder Rasband gives examples and details in these areas in the full transcript of the talk.

When we are promised by one of the Lord's servants that blessings will follow certain actions, we should be eager to choose those actions and claim the blessings! In this case, the blessing of increased companionship with the Holy Ghost is worth any effort we give.

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

Henry B. Eyring on the key to receiving personal revelation

President Henry B. Eyring (born May 31, 1933) served in the Presiding Bishopric from 1985-1992, as a Seventy from 1992-1995, then was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. He has served in the First Presidency since 2007.

"We all know that human judgment and logical thinking will not be enough to get answers to the questions that matter most in life. We need revelation from God. And we will need not just one revelation in a time of stress, but we need a constantly renewed stream. We need not just one flash of light and comfort, but we need the continuing blessing of communication with God....

"That personal revelation of acceptance, for which we all long, does not come easily, nor does it come simply for the asking. The Lord gave this standard for the capacity to receive such witnesses from God. It is a guide for anyone seeking personal revelation, as we all must.

"'Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.

"'The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion.' (D&C 121:45-46)"

- Henry B. Eyring, "Continuing Revelation," Ensign, November 2014, pp. 70-73
Click here to read the full talk

When we talk about "the questions that matter most in life" it's a very different story than the day-to-day decisions we all deal with, and sometimes even the things we think are crises in our lives. The things that really matter are certainly the things of eternity, of spirituality, of "judgment, mercy, and faith" (Matt. 23:23), of obedience and righteousness.

But so many of the other decisions and dilemmas of our lives seem very important to us, and they are in their time and way. I believe that a loving Father understands our feelings and needs, and is eager to respond as we turn to Him for assistance.

President Eyring reminds us that the great gift of ongoing revelation does not come "simply for the asking." There are some prerequisites that include charity, faith, and unceasing virtue. Those we must never forget.

Boyd K. Packer on the influence of good thoughts

President Packer (1924- ) was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1970.  He currently serves as the president of that Quorum.

"No good thought is ever lost. No turn of the mind, however brief or transitory or illusive, if it is good, is ever wasted. No thought of sympathy, nor of forgiveness, no reflection on generosity or of courage or of purity, no meditation on humility or gratitude or reverence, is ever lost. The frequency with which they are experienced is the measure of you. The more constant they become, the more you are worth, or, in scriptural terms, the more you are worthy. Every clean thought becomes you. Every clean thought becomes you."
- Boyd K. Packer, "Let Virtue Garnish Your Thoughts," BYU Devotional, Sept. 26, 1967; "That All May Be Edified" [Bookcraft 1982], p. 39

In 1967, Elder Packer gave a landmark address at BYU about the importance of thoughts, controlling our thoughts, and being blessed by appropriate and virtuous thoughts. This paragraph comes near the end of that address, which included the well-known analogy about the mind being a stage that only one actor can occupy. I love this testimony about the power of "good thoughts" and how they bring strength and blessings. What a powerful goal, to help us increase in worth and worthiness as we fill our minds with virtue!