joefree's quotes

"We cannot teach people anything; we can only help them discover it within themselves."

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a Leader.

Vice is a monster of so frightful mien,
as to be hated needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
we first endure, then pity, then embrace.

When we love the Lord, obedience ceases to be a burden. Obedience becomes a delight. When we love the Lord, we seek less for things that benefit us and turn our hearts toward things that will bless and uplift others.

This is our one and only chance at mortal life–here and now. The longer we live the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come and they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that elusive and non-existent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey–now.

"It doesn't matter whether your computer is able to compile all the family group sheets for everyone that ever lived on the earth, it remains the responsibility of each individual to know his kindred dead. . . Even if the work is done, then it is still each person's responsibility to study and become acquainted with his ancestors."

The intensity of our desire to share the gospel is a great indicator of the extent of our personal conversion.

If the Lord was meek and lowly and humble, then to become humble one must
do what he did in boldy denouncing evil, bravely advancing righteous work,
courageously meeting every problem, becoming the master of himself and the
situations about him, and being near oblivious to personal credit.

“Faith is the power. Obedience is the price. Love is the motive. The Spirit is the key. Christ is the reason.”

"One thing is very clear: the safest place and the best protection against the moral and spiritual diseases is a stable home and family. This has always been true; it will be true forever. We must keep that foremost in our minds.

"The scriptures speak of 'the shield of faith wherewith,' the Lord said, 'ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked' (D&C 27:17).

"This shield of faith is best fabricated in a cottage industry. While the shield can be polished in classes in the Church and in activities, it is meant to be handcrafted in the home and fitted to each individual."

When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, then God will endow us with power from on high.

Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skip broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, "WOW - What a ride!".

...I would that ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions...

...at some moment in the world to come, everyone you will ever meet will know what you know now. They will know that the only way to live forever in association with our families and in the presence of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, was to choose to enter into the gate by baptism at the hands of those with authority from God. They will know that the only way families can be together forever is to accept and keep sacred covenants offered in the temples of God on this earth. And they will know that you knew. And they will remember whether you offered them what someone had offered you.

"Those who have felt the touch of the Master's hand somehow cannot
explain the change which comes into their lives. There is a desire to live
better, to serve faithfully, to walk humbly, and to be more like the
Savior. Having received their spiritual eyesight and glimpsed the promises
of eternity, they echo the words of the blind man to whom Jesus restored
sight: 'One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see'
(John 9:25)."