Quote Journal: FAMILY

1) "The family is ordained of God. Families are central to our Heavenly Father’s plan here on earth and through the eternities. After Adam and Eve were joined in marriage, the scripture reads, ‘And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.’ In our day prophets and apostles have declared, ‘The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force.’” (Neil L. Andersen, Children, October 2011 General Conference, http://www.lds.org)

2) "In a world of turmoil and uncertainty, it is more important than ever to make our families the center of our lives and the top of our priorities. Families lie at the center of our Heavenly Father’s plan.” (L. Tom Perry, The Importance of the Family, May 2003 Ensign, http://ww.lds.org)

3) "With the Lord, families are essential. He created the earth that we could gain physical bodies and form families. He established His Church to exalt families. He provides temples so that families can be together forever.” (Russell M. Nelson, Set in Order Thy House, January 2002 Ensign, http://www.lds.org)

4) "The family unit is fundamental not only to society and to the Church but also to our hope for eternal life.” (Henry B. Eyring, The Family, October 1998 Ensign, http://www.lds.org)

5) "So fundamental is the family unit to the plan of salvation that God has declared a warning that those ‘individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God [their maker]. … The disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets’ (Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102).” (Robert D. Hales, The Eternal Family, November 1996 Ensign, http://www.lds.org)

6) "Strengthening families is our sacred duty as parents, children, extended family members, leaders, teachers, and individual members of the Church.” (Robert D. Hales, Strengthening Families: Our Sacred Duty, April 1999 Ensign, http://www.lds.org)

7) "World leaders and court judges agree that the family must endure if we are to survive. At the same time, they use the words freedom and choice as tools to pry apart the safeguards of the past and loosen up the laws on marriage, abortion, and gender. In so doing, they promote the very things which threaten the family.” (Boyd K. Packer, The Father and the Family, April 1994 Ensign, http://www.lds.org)

8) "Strong family relationships don’t just happen. It takes time. It takes commitment, it takes prayer, and it takes work.” (W. Eugene Hansen, Children and the Family, April 1998 Ensign, http://www.lds.org)

9) "Family love is wonderful. Nothing is as specific as the love of a baby for its mother. Nothing is as predictable as the love of children for their parents or the love of parents for their children.” (Russell M. Nelson, A New Harvest Time, April 1998 Ensign, http://www.lds.org)

10) "Today we are reaping a harvest of family love from seeds sown years ago. Preparations to strengthen family ties came in 1823, when the angel Moroni first appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith. Moroni announced the coming of Elijah, who would cause the hearts of children to be turned to their fathers.” (Russell M. Nelson, A New Harvest Time, April 1998 Ensign, http://www.lds.org)

Quote Journal: Modesty

1) "The For the Strength of Youth pamphlet is very clear in its call for young women to avoid clothing that is too tight, too short, or improperly revealing in any manner, including bare midriffs. Parents, please review this booklet with your children. Second only to your love, they need your limits. Young women, choose your clothing the way you would choose your friends—in both cases choose that which improves you and would give you confidence standing in the presence of God.  Good friends would never embarrass you, demean you, or exploit you. Neither should your clothing.” (Jeffrey R. Holland, To Young Women, October 2005 Ensign, http://www.lds.org)


2) "President N. Eldon Tanner once cautioned us with these words: ‘Modesty in dress is a quality of mind and heart, born of respect for oneself, one’s fellowmen, and the Creator of us all. Modesty reflects an attitude of humility, decency, and propriety. Consistent with these principles and guided by the Holy Spirit, let parents, teachers, and youth discuss the particulars of dress, grooming, and personal appearance, and with free agency accept responsibility and choose the right’ (“Friend to Friend,” Friend, June 1971, 3).” (L. Tom Perry, Let Him Do It with Simplicity, October 2008 Ensign, http://www.lds.org)


3) "For example, they need to understand that when they wear clothing that is too tight, too short, or too low cut, they not only can send the wrong message to young men with whom they associate, but they also perpetuate in their own minds the fallacy that a woman’s value is dependent solely upon her sensual appeal. This never has been nor will it ever be within the righteous definition of a faithful daughter of God. They need to hear this—clearly and repeatedly—from your lips, and they need to see it modeled correctly and consistently in your own personal standards of dress, grooming, and modest living.” (M. Russell Ballard, Mothers and Daughters, April 2010 Ensign, http://www.lds.org)


4) "Modesty is not a matter of being “hip.” It is a matter of the heart and being holy. It is not about being fashionable. It is about being faithful. It is not about being cool. It is about being chaste and keeping covenants. It is not about being popular, but about being pure. Modesty has everything to do with keeping our footing securely on the path of chastity and virtue.” (Elaine S. Dalton, Stay on the Path, April 2007 Ensign, http://www.lds.org)


5) "Modesty is more than a matter of avoiding revealing attire. It describes not only the altitude of hemlines and necklines but the attitude of our hearts. The word modesty means “measured.” It is related to moderate. It implies ‘decency, and propriety … in thought, language, dress, and behavior’ (in Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 5 vols. [1992], 2:932).” (Susan W. Tanner, The Sanctity of the Body, October 2005 Ensign, http://www.lds.org)


6) "I know some young women who had questions about modest clothing. To find answers to their questions, they followed this exact pattern: they prayed to Heavenly Father, they studied the scriptures and the words of our latter-day prophets, and they were obedient in living the standard of modesty. As they received answers to their questions, their faith increased and their testimonies were strengthened. I would invite each of you to follow this pattern.” (Mary N. Cook, Anchors of Testimony, April 2008 Ensign, http://www.lds.org)


7) "You are your daughter’s guardian in more than the legal sense. Be present in your daughter’s life. Let her know your standards, your expectations, your hopes and dreams for her success and happiness. Interview her, get to know her friends and, when the time comes, her boyfriends. Help her understand the importance of education. Help her understand that the principle of modesty is a protection.” (Elaine S. Dalton, Love Her Mother, October 2011 Ensign, http://www.lds.org)


8) "We are daughters of our Heavenly Father. He loves us, and we love Him. I am humbled and grateful to be in your presence. The Lord has blessed me with a very clear understanding of who you are and why you are here on the earth at this time. The Lord loves you, and I know you love Him. It shows in your countenance, in your modesty, in your desire to choose the right, and in your commitment to remain virtuous and pure.” (Elaine S. Dalton, Remember Who You Are! April 2010 Ensign, http://www.lds.org)


9) "Jacob taught that the Lord delights ‘in the chastity of women’ (Jacob 2:28). I delight in the chastity and purity of all women and men. How it must grieve the Lord to see virtue violated and modesty mocked on every side in this wicked world.” (Susan W. Tanner, My Soul Delighteth in the Things of the World, April 2008 Ensign, http://www.lds.org)


10) "The kind of young woman who can be a terrific torchbearer has high standards all the time, not just in her prom dress, but every, ordinary day. There are so many of you who are like that, and I salute you tonight. You have made modesty your way of life. It is more than how you dress. It includes at least six things that I can think of: (1) your behavior is decent and modest, and yet you are very fun to be with; (2) your language is never crude but happy and interesting; (3) you are well groomed, and that is appealing; (4) you are focused on developing your talents and achieving your goals, not piercing and tattooing and flaunting your body; (5) you play sports with gusto but never lose control; (6) you don’t seem to care about what the latest pop star wears or does because you have a certain style of your own. In summary, you do not imitate the world’s standards because you know a higher standard. You know who you are, and that puts you at a real advantage. You know that you really are a daughter of Heavenly Father. You know that He knows you and that He loves you; you want to please Him and honor His love for you. You know that even if you make foolish mistakes, He will help you if you turn to Him.” (Margaret D. Nadauld, Hold High the Torch, April 2002 Ensign, http://lds.org)