Favorite Quotes from Twelve Apostles

Quorum of 12 Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Here is a list of some of my favorite quotes from each member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These are given in the order of seniority among the 12 Apostles.

01
of 12

President Boyd K. Packer

President Boyd K. Packer
President Boyd K. Packer.

"Shortly after I was called as a General Authority, I went to Elder Harold B. Lee for counsel. He listened very carefully to my problem and suggested that I see President David O. McKay. President McKay counseled me as to the direction I should go. I was very willing to be obedient but saw no way possible for me to do as he counseled me to do.

("The Edge of the Light," BYU Today, Mar. 1991, 22-23)

02
of 12

Elder L. Tom Perry

Elder L. Tom Perry
Elder L. Tom Perry.

"Partaking of the sacrament is the center of our Sabbath day observance. In the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord commands all of us:
'And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;
'For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High....
'And on this day thou shalt do none other thing.'1
"As we consider the pattern of the Sabbath and the sacrament in our own lives, there appear to be three things the Lord requires of us: first, to keep ourselves unspotted from the world; second, to go to the house of prayer and offer up our sacraments; and third, to rest from our labors."
("The Sabbath and the Sacrament," General Conference, April 2011; Ensign, May 2011)

03
of 12

Elder Russell M. Nelson

Elder Russell M. Nelson
Elder Russell M. Nelson.

"Let us speak about our worthy and wonderful sisters, particularly our mothers, and consider our sacred duty to honor them....
"Because mothers are essential to God's great plan of happiness, their sacred work is opposed by Satan, who would destroy the family and demean the worth of women.
"You young men need to know that you can hardly achieve your highest potential without the influence of good women, particularly your mother and, in a few years, a good wife. Learn now to show respect and gratitude. Remember that your mother is your mother. She should not need to issue orders. Her wish, her hope, her hint should provide direction that you would honor. Thank her and express your love for her. And if she is struggling to rear you without your father, you have a double duty to honor her."
("Our Sacred Duty," Ensign, May 1999.)

04
of 12

Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Elder Dallin H. Oaks
Elder Dallin H. Oaks.

"We should begin by recognizing the reality that just because something is good is not a sufficient reason for doing it. The number of good things we can do far exceeds the time available to accomplish them. Some things are better than good, and these are the things that should command priority attention in our lives....
"Some uses of individual and family time are better, and others are best. We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families."
("Good, Better, Best," Ensign, Nov 2007, 104-8)

05
of 12

Elder M. Russell Ballard

Elder M. Russell Ballard
Elder M. Russell Ballard.

"The name the Savior has given to His Church tells us exactly who we are and what we believe. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior and the Redeemer of the world. He atoned for all who would repent of their sins, and He broke the bands of death and provided the resurrection from the dead. We follow Jesus Christ. And as King Benjamin said to his people, so I reaffirm to all of us today: 'Ye should remember to retain [His] name written always in your hearts' (Mosiah 5:12).
"We are asked to stand as a witness of Him 'at all times and in all things, and in all places' (Mosiah 18:9). This means that we must be willing to let others know whom we follow and to whose Church we belong: the Church of Jesus Christ. We certainly want to do this in the spirit of love and testimony. We want to follow the Savior by simply and clearly, yet humbly, declaring that we are members of His Church. We follow Him by being Latter-day Saints—latter-day disciples."
("The Importance of a Name," General Conference, October 2011; Ensign, November 2011)

06
of 12

Elder Richard G. Scott

Elder Richard G. Scott
Elder Richard G. Scott.

"We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day....
"Righteous character is a precious manifestation of what you are becoming. Righteous character is more valuable than any material object you own, any knowledge you have gained through study, or any goals you have attained no matter how well lauded by mankind. In the next life your righteous character will be evaluated to assess how well you used the privilege of mortality."
("The Transforming Power of Faith and Character," General Conference, October, 2010; Ensign November, 2010)

07
of 12

Elder Robert D. Hales

Elder Robert D. Hales
Elder Robert D. Hales.

"Prayer is an essential part of conveying appreciation to our Heavenly Father. He awaits our expressions of gratefulness each morning and night in sincere, simple prayer from our hearts for our many blessings, gifts, and talents.
"Through expression of prayerful gratitude and thanksgiving, we show our dependence upon a higher source of wisdom and knowledge.... We are taught to 'live in thanksgiving daily.' (Alma 34:38)."
("Gratitude for the Goodness of God," Ensign, May, 1992, 63)

08
of 12

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland.

"Indeed the Atonement of the Only Begotten Son of God in the flesh is the crucial foundation upon which all Christian doctrine rests and the greatest expression of divine love this world has ever been given. Its importance in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints cannot be overstated. Every other principle, commandment, and virtue of the restored gospel draws its significance from this pivotal event."
("The Atonement of Jesus Christ," Ensign, March 2008, 32–38)

09
of 12

Elder David A. Bednar

Elder David A. Bednar
Elder David A. Bednar.

"In many of the uncertainties and challenges we encounter in our lives, God requires us to do our best, to act and not be acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:26), and to trust in Him. We may not see angels, hear heavenly voices, or receive overwhelming spiritual impressions. We frequently may press forward hoping and praying—but without absolute assurance—that we are acting in accordance with God’s will. But as we honor our covenants and keep the commandments, as we strive ever more consistently to do good and to become better, we can walk with the confidence that God will guide our steps. And we can speak with the assurance that God will inspire our utterances. This is in part the meaning of the scripture that declares, 'Then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God' (D&C 121:45)."
("The Spirit of Revelation," General Conference, April, 2011; Ensign, May, 2011)

10
of 12

Elder Quentin L. Cook

Elder Quentin L. Cook
Elder Quentin L. Cook.

"God placed within women divine qualities of strength, virtue, love, and the willingness to sacrifice to raise future generations of His spirit children....
"Our doctrine is clear: Women are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves them. Wives are equal to their husbands. Marriage requires a full partnership where wives and husbands work side by side to meet the needs of the family.
"We know there are many challenges for women, including those striving to live the gospel....
"Sisters have key roles in the Church, in family life, and as individuals that are essential in Heavenly Father's plan. Many of these responsibilities do not provide economic compensation but do provide satisfaction and are eternally significant."
("LDS Women are Incredible!" General Conference, April, 2011; Ensign, May, 2011)

11
of 12

Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Elder D. Todd Christofferson
Elder D. Todd Christofferson.

"I would like to consider with you five of the elements of a consecrated life: purity, work, respect for one's physical body, service, and integrity.
"As the Savior demonstrated, the consecrated life is a pure life. While Jesus is the only one to have led a sinless life, those who come unto Him and take His yoke upon them have claim on His grace, which will make them as He is, guiltless and spotless. With deep love the Lord encourages us in these words: 'Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day' (3 Nephi 27:20).
"Consecration therefore means repentance. Stubbornness, rebellion, and rationalization must be abandoned, and in their place submission, a desire for correction, and acceptance of all that the Lord may require."
("Reflections on a Consecrated Life," General Conference, October, 2010; Ensign, November, 2010)

12
of 12

Elder Neil L. Andersen

Neil L. Andersen
Neil L. Andersen.

"Through the years, I have reflected on these words: 'It's true, isn't it? Then what else matters?' These questions have helped me put difficult issues in proper perspective.
"The cause in which we are laboring is true. We respect the beliefs of our friends and neighbors. We are all sons and daughters of God. We can learn much from other men and women of faith and goodness, as President Faust taught us so well.
"Yet we know that Jesus is the Christ. He is resurrected. In our day, through the Prophet Joseph Smith, the priesthood of God has been restored. We have the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Book of Mormon is what we claim it to be. The promises of the temple are certain. The Lord Himself has declared the unique and singular mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be 'a light to the world' and 'a messenger... to prepare the way before [Him]' 2 even as 'the gospel roll[s] forth unto the ends of the earth.'
"It's true, isn't it? Then what else matters?
"Of course, for all of us, there are other things that matter....
"How do we find our way through the many things that matter? We simplify and purify our perspective. Some things are evil and must be avoided; some things are nice; some things are important; and some things are absolutely essential."
("It's True, Isn't It? Then What Else Matters?" General Conference, April, 2007; Ensign, May, 2007)

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Bruner, Rachel. "Favorite Quotes from Twelve Apostles." Learn Religions, Feb. 8, 2021, learnreligions.com/favorite-quotes-from-twelve-apostles-2159395. Bruner, Rachel. (2021, February 8). Favorite Quotes from Twelve Apostles. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/favorite-quotes-from-twelve-apostles-2159395 Bruner, Rachel. "Favorite Quotes from Twelve Apostles." Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/favorite-quotes-from-twelve-apostles-2159395 (accessed March 29, 2024).