Ezra Taft Benson Quotes (54 Quotes)

As we cleanse the inner vessel, there will have to be changes made in our own personal lives, in our families, and in the Church. The proud do not change to improve, but defend their position by rationalizing. Repentance means change, and it takes a humble person to change. But we can do it.

Ingratitude is one of our great sins.

I counsel you, in the words of Jesus Christ, to 'watch and pray I always lest ye enter into temptation for Satan desireth to have you, that he may sift you as wheat' (3 Nephi 1818). If you will earnestly seek guidance from your Heavenly Father, morning and evening, you will be given the strength to shun any temptation.

One day in the middle of an important examination in high school, the point of my lead pencil broke. In those days we used pocket knives to sharpen our pencils. I had forgotten my penknife and turned to ask a neighbor for his. The teacher saw this he accused me of cheating. When I tried to explain, he gave me a tongue-lashing for lying worse, he forbade me to play on the basketball team in the upcoming game. I could see that the more I protested the angrier he seemed to become. But again and again I stubbornly told what had happened. Even when the coach pleaded my cause, the teacher refused to budge. The disgrace was almost more than I could bear. Then, just minutes before the game, he had a change of heart and I was permitted to play. But there was no joy in it. We lost the game and though that hurt, by far the deeper pain was being branded a cheat and a liar. Looking back. I know that lesson was God-sent. Character is shaped in just such crucibles. My parents believed me they were understanding and encouraging. Supported by them and a clear conscience, I began to realize that when you are at peace with your Maker you can, if not ignore human criticism, at least rise above it. And I learned something else - the importance of avoiding even the appearance of evil. Though I was innocent, circumstance made me look guilty. Since this could so easily be true in many of life's situations, I made a resolution to keep even the appearance of my actions above question, as far as possible. And it struck me, too, that if this injustice happened to me, it could happen to others, and I must not judge their actions simply on appearances.

Have you ever asked yourself why one person is honorable and another dishonorable why one is honest, another dishonest why one is moral, another immoral Most individuals do not intend to be dishonest, dishonorable, or immoral. They seem to allow their characters to erode by a series of rationalizations, lies, and compromises. Then when grave temptation presents itself, they haven't the strength of character to do what they know to be right.

'On my honor' what an ennobling phrase Three short words, nine letters, but the summation of all we call character. From the Boy Scouts Oath.

Acknowledging the Lord's hand in our lives cultivates gratitude....

The key to overcoming aloneness and a feeling of uselessness for one who is physically able is to step outside yourself by helping others who are truly needy. We promise those who will render this kind of service that, in some measure, you will be healed of the loss of loved ones or the dread of being alone. The way to feel better about your own situation is to improve someone elses circumstances.

Pride does not look up to God and care about what is right. It looks sideways to man and argues who is right. Pride is manifest in the spirit of contention. Was it not through pride that the devil became the devil Christ wanted to serve. The devil wanted to rule. Christ wanted to bring men to where He was. The devil wanted to be above men. Christ removed self as the force in His perfect life. It was not my will, but thine be done (see Mark 1436 Luke 2242).

And so today, the undermining of the home and family is on the increase, with the devil anxiously working to displace the father as the head of the home and create rebellion among the children. Isaiah describes the condition when he states, 'As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them.' and then these words followand consider these words seriously when you think of those political leaders who are promoting birth control and abortion 'O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.' Isaiah 312

The world today speaks a great deal about love, and it is sought by many. But the pure love of Christ differs greatly from what the world thinks of love. Charity never seeks selfish gratification. The pure love of Christ seeks only the eternal growth and joy of others.

I remember hearing in a talk that the more we express our gratitude to God for our blessings, the more he will bring to our mind other blessings. The more we are aware of to be grateful for, the happier we become.

In the 1940s while serving as the executive officer of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives in Washington, D. C., I saw in a Hilton Hotel a placard depicting Uncle Sam, representing America, on his knees in humility and prayer. Beneath the placard was the inscription, 'Not beaten there by the hammer and sickle, but freely, responsibly, confidently.... We need fear nothing or no one save God.' That picture has stayed in my memory ever since America on her knees in recognition that all our blessings come from God America on her knees out of a desire to serve the God of this land by keeping his commandments America on her knees, not driven there in capitulation to some despotic government, but on her knees freely, willingly, gratefully This is the sovereign remedy to all of our problems and the preservation of our liberties.

Young people, your parents, with their maturity of years and experience you have not had, can provide wisdom, knowledge, and blessings to help you over lifes pitfalls. You may find, that lifes sweetest experiences come when you go to Mom and Dad for help.

You cannot do wrong and feel right. It is impossible!

Beloved youth, you will have your trials and temptations through which you must pass, but there are great moments of eternity which lie ahead. You have our love and our confidence. We pray that you will be prepared for the reins of leadership. We say to you, 'Arise and shine forth' and be a light unto the world, a standard to others.

Since man created government to help secure and safeguard inalienable rights from God, it follows that man is superior to government and should remain master over it, not the other way around.

Humility responds to God's willto the fear of His judgments and to the needs of those around us. To the proud, the applause of the world rings in their ears to the humble, the applause of heaven warms their hearts. Someone has said, 'Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man.'

There is no place for fear among men and women who Almighty, who do not hesitate to humble themselves in seeking divine guidance through prayer. Though persecutions arise, though reverses come, in prayer we can find reassurance, for God will speak peace to the soul. That peace, that spirit of serenity, is life's greatest blessing. .

'Thou shalt not bear false witness' Exodus 2016. When we speak of morality, we imply that a man is true to his wordtrue to his signature on a contract. The violations of God's laws are evidence that lying and misrepresentation are not absent from us.

Be cheerful in all that you do. Live joyfully. Live happily. Live enthusiastically, knowing that God does not dwell in gloom and melancholy, but in light and love.

An honorable man or woman is one who is truthful free from deceit above cheating, lying, stealing, or any form of deception. An honorable man or woman is one who learns early that one cannot do wrong and feel right. A man's character is judged on how he keeps his word and his agreements.

When you are tempted to look elsewhere for greener pastures, just remember someone else is probably looking at yours. And if another pasture looks greener, perhaps it is getting better care and attention. Grass is always greener ... where it is watered.

You must keep your honor You can't speak for the country you can do little about the national economy or actions of moral weaklings who excuse themselves with the expression, 'That is politics nor can you be responsible for deception in others. But you are responsible for yourself There are no collective panaceas only individual ones.

The high cost of low living.

One of Satan's greatest tools is pride to cause a man or a woman to center so much attention on self that he or she becomes insensitive to his Creator or fellow beings. It is a cause for discontent, divorce, teenage rebellion, family indebtedness, and most other problems we face.

This latter day work is spiritual. It takes spirituality to comprehend it, to love it, to discern it. Therefore, seek the spirit in all you do. Keep it with you continually. That is our challenge.

Someone has said it is better to appreciate the things you don't own than to own things you don't appreciate. I hope we will have with us a spirit of appreciation for all of the good things we enjoy, all the blessings that we have, many of which have come so easy to us, with very little effort on our part, and yet they are very real and very choice and are truly rich blessings.

If a man does not control his temper, it is a sad admission that he is not in control of his thoughts. He then becomes a victim of his own passions and emotions, which lead him to actions that are totally unfit for civilized behavior, let alone behavior for a priesthood holder.

Thoughts lead to acts, acts lead to habits, habits lead to character and our character will determine our eternal destiny.

We can choose to humble ourselves by loving God, adjusting our will to His, and putting Him first in our lives.

Be right, and then be easy to live with, if possible, but in that order.

Some of the greatest battles will be fought within the silent chambers of your own soul.

I hope we can be happy where we are, be grateful for our blessingsnowhere, accept the challenge that is ours and make the most of it, and don't be envious of others. God help us to be grateful.

I never travel across this great nation without experiencing a feeling of gratitude and thanksgiving for all that we have and are. As I see its broad fruitful farms, its humming factories, its gleaming cities, certainly it is easy to realize that we have achieved unequaled material progress in this great country.

If we have any criticism of our leaders, we invite Satan into our lives and beliefs.

We are recipients of God's choicest blessings. We enjoy an abundance of material things beyond that enjoyed by any other nation in the history of the world but unless we keep alive a realization that all these blessings come from God and are a part of our great spiritual heritage, they may crumble as ashes in our hands. 'In nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things and obey not his commandments.' (DC 5921)

Many of us have a tendency to forget the Gracious Hand which has preserved our nation, enriched it, strengthened it. Many of us imagine in the foolishness of pride, that our manifold blessings are due not to God's goodness, but to our own wisdom and virtue. Too many of us have been so drunk with self-sufficiency as no longer to feel the need of prayer.

If there is one word that describes the meaning of character, it is the word honor. Without honor, civilization would not long exist. Without honor, there could be no dependable contracts, no lasting marriages, no trust or happiness. What does the word honor mean to you To me, honor is summarized in this expression by the poet Tennyson, 'Man's word of honor is God in man.'

In the scriptures there is no such thing as righteous pride. It is always considered as a sin. We are not speaking of a wholesome view of self-worth, which is best established by a close relationship with God. But we are speaking of pride as the universal sin, as someone has described it.... Essentially, pride is a 'my will' rather than 'thy will' approach to life. The opposite of pride is humbleness, meekness, submissiveness, or teachableness.

Clean hearts and healthful food, exercise, early sleep and fresh air, wholesome recreation and meditation combined with optimism that comes from fighting for the right and knowing you'll eventually win for keeps this is the tonic every true Christian patriot needs and deserves.

We can choose to humble ourselves by receiving counsel and chastisement, ... by forgiving those who have offended us, ... by rendering selfless service....

We can choose to humble ourselves by conquering enmity toward our brothers and sisters, esteeming them as ourselves, and lifting them as high or higher than we are....

We can choose to humble ourselves by confessing and forsaking our sins and being born of God....

More than ever before, we need to learn and apply the principles of economic self-reliance. We do not know when the crisis involving sickness or unemployment may affect our own circumstances. We do know that the Lord has decreed global calamities for the future and has warned and forewarned us to be prepared. For this reason the Brethren have repeatedly stressed a 'back to basics' program for temporal and spiritual welfare.

We need to be more grateful. I think there is no true character without gratitude. It is one of the marks of a real strong character to have a feeling of thanksgiving and gratitude for blessings. We need more of that spirit in our homes, in our daily associations, in the church, everywhere. It doesn't cost anything, and it is so easy to cultivate.

You must not allow yourselves to become discouraged. Missionary work brings joy, optimism, and happiness. Don't give Satan an opportunity to discourage you. Here again, work is the answer. The Lord has given us a key by which we can overcome discouragement 'Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.' (Matthew 1128-30.)

Unless we do his teachings, we do not demonstrate faith in him.

Pride is characterized by 'What do I want out of life' rather than by 'What would God have me do with my life' It is self-will as opposed to God's will. It is the fear of man over the fear of God.

Bad experience is a school that only fools keep going to.