Quotes to Ponder and Discuss

We talked a lot at the conference about how important it is for us each to seek for and receive personal revelation as we navigate the complexity of our world and our lives. Following are some quotes from leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that are relevant to much of what we discussed, compiled by one of our conference attendees, Elise Jones.

What quotes (religious or secular) have helped guide you as you seek to make decisions in your life?

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The Family: A Proclamation to the World: "By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation." (General Conference, 1995)

Sister Julie B. Beck, General Relief Society President: "A good woman knows that she does not have enough time, energy, or opportunity to take care of all of the people or do all of the worthy things that her heart yearns to do. . . . With personal revelation, she can prioritize correctly and navigate this life confidently. The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life (General Conference, April 2010).

President Gordon B. Hinckley, Former Prophet and President of the Church: "The Lord has placed upon you, as members of this Church, the obligation to study and to learn of things spiritual, yes, but of things temporal also. Acquire all of the education that you can, even if it means great sacrifice while you are young. You will bless the lives of your children. You will bless the Church" (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, 172).

President Gordon B. Hinckley, Former Prophet and President of the Church: "Relief Society stands for education. It is the obligation of every woman of this Church to get all the education she can. It will enlarge her life and increase her opportunities. It will provide her with marketable skills in case she needs them (General Conference, October 2006)."

Elder M. Russell Ballard, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: "There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children. The choice is different and unique for each mother and each family. Many are able to be ‘full-time moms,’ at least during the most formative years of their children’s lives, and many others would like to be. Some may have to work part- or full-time; some may work at home; some may divide their lives into periods of home and family and work. What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else. . . .
It is crucial to focus on our children for the short time we have them with us and to seek, with the help of the Lord, to teach them all we can before they leave our homes. This eternally important work falls to mothers and fathers as equal partners. I am grateful that today many fathers are more involved in the lives of their children. But I believe that the instincts and the intense nurturing involvement of mothers with their children will always be a major key to their well-being" (General Conference, April 2008).

Elder Quentin L. Cook, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: "Women are confronted with many options and need to prayerfully consider the choices they make and how those choices affect the family. . . . These are very emotional, personal decisions, but there are two principles that we should always keep in mind. First, no woman should ever feel the need to apologize or feel that her contribution is less significant because she is devoting her primary efforts to raising and nurturing children. Nothing could be more significant in our Father in Heaven’s plan. Second, we should all be careful not to be judgmental or assume that sisters are less valiant if the decision is made to work outside the home. . . . Husbands and wives should prayerfully counsel together, understanding they are accountable to God for their decisions. . . .
I would hope that Latter-day Saints would be at the forefront in creating an environment in the workplace that is more receptive and accommodating to both women and men in their responsibilities as parents" (General Conference, April 2011).

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: "Homemaking is not just baking bread or cleaning a house. Homemaking is to make the environment necessary to nurture our children toward eternal life, which is our responsibility as parents. And that homemaking is as much for fathers as it is for mothers" (Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting, January 2008).

Sister Julie B. Beck, General Relief Society President: "One of the questions that I get frequently is, 'Is it okay if I work outside of my home or I don’t work outside of my home?'. . . That question isn’t always appropriate in all of the world’s countries. There are many, many places where if our women don’t work, they don’t eat. So of course they have to work. The question of whether or not to work is the wrong question. The question is, 'Am I aligned with the Lord’s vision of me and what He needs me to become, and the roles and responsibilities He gave me in heaven that are not negotiable? Am I aligned with that, or am I trying to escape my duties?'” (BYU Women’s Conference, 2011).