Richard L. Evans was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. In the late 1920s, he served as a missionary for the LDS Church in the United Kingdom. While on his mission, Evans served as associate editor of the Millenial Star, a periodical published by the mission. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Utah. There, he joined Pi Kappa Alpha.
Evans may have been best known as the announcer for the weekly Mormon Tabernacle Choir radio broadcast, Music and the Spoken Word: every week, he wrote, produced, and announced the radio broadcasts, including a short inspirational message. His involvement in these weekly broadcasts spanned from its inception in 1929 until his death in 1971. (via Wikipedia)
Here are a few wise quotes that he said about love, life and death.
On Love:
Indeed, the greatest blessing that can follow the death of those we love is reconciliation. Without it there is no peace. But with it come quiet thoughts and quickened memories. And what else shall a man do except become reconciled What purpose does he serve by fighting what he cannot touch or by brooding upon what he cannot change We have to trust the Lord God for so many things, and it is but one thing more to trust him in the issues of life and death, and to accept the fact that his plans and promises and purposes transcend the bounds of this world and of this life. With such faith the years are kind, and peace and reconciliation do come to those who have laid to rest their loved ones – who, even in death, are not far removed from us, and of whom our Father in heaven will be mindful until we meet again even as we are mindful of our own children.
Marriage requires the giving and keeping of confidences, the sharing of thoughts and feelings, respect and understanding always, marriage requires humility – the humility to repent, the humility to forgive. Marriage requires flexibility (to give and take) and firmness: not to compromise principles. And a wise and moderate sense of humor. Both need to be pulling together in the same direction.
On Life:
May we never let the things we can’t have, or don’t have, or shouldn’t have, spoil our enjoyment of the things we do have and can have. As we value our happiness let us not forget it, for one of the greatest lessons in life is learning to be happy without the things we cannot or should not have.
The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.
Don’t let life discourage you; everyone who got where he is had to begin where he was.
There must be a priority of values in all our lives.
Enjoy life while it is happening.
Live so as to have a quiet conscience.
Life moves in one direction only – and each day we are faced with an actual set of circumstances, not with what might have been, not with what we might have done, but with what is, and with where we are now- and from this point we must proceed; not from where we were, not from where we wish we were – but from where we are.
On Death:
The ever-present expectancy of death is never far removed from any of us whether we realize it or not. None of us can avoid it. It comes alike to the great and to the unknown to the righteous and to the unrighteous. Wherein we differ is not in our ability to avert it, but in the preparedness with which we meet it. At such times some question the judgments of God. Some find bitterness because of the circumstances and because of the seeming untimeliness of death.
Indeed, the greatest blessing that can follow the death of those we love is reconciliation. Without it there is no peace. But with it come quiet thoughts and quickened memories. And what else shall a man do except become reconciled? What purpose does he serve by fighting what he cannot touch or by brooding upon what he cannot change?
Other Quotes:
A boy is the only known substance from which a man can be made.
The interruption we now impatiently put off may be the most important thing we could be doing at this particular time?
The undertaking of a new action brings new strength.
Someone has to do everything that is done.
Whatever you do, do not feel sorry for yourself – things could always be worse and they are for someone else!
Too much pessimism has led too many men into making serious mistakes. And perhaps part of our pessimism comes because we are too close to ourselves to see in proper perspective.
We are what we are, wherever we are.
There’s no pillow quite so soft as a father’s strong shoulder.
Parents sometimes simply don’t have enough hands and time and attention to do all that is urgent. But in all things there is a priority of importance….and one of our urgent opportunities is to respond to a child when he earnestly asks, remembering that they don’t always ask, that they aren’t always teachable, that they won’t always listen.
It sometimes seems that we live as if we wonder when life is going to begin. It isn’t always clear just what we are waiting for, but some of us sometimes persist in waiting so long that life slips by – finding us still waiting for something that has been going on all the time. . . . This is the life in which the work of this life is to be done. Today is as much a part of eternity as any day a thousand years ago or as will be any day a thousand years hence. This is it, whether we are thrilled or disappointed, busy or bored! This is life, and it is passing.