Below are the quotes that were used in the video.
“The book of Helaman describes a people who were awaiting the coming of Christ. Their society was infiltrated by secret combinations established by the Gadianton robbers and was characterized by great prosperity. Prosperity led to great pride among the people and their pride resulted in the persecution of the humble, the oppression of the poor, the mocking of sacred things, and to all manner of iniquity…The prophets Nephi, Lehi, and Samuel the Lamanite were called to preach repentance to the people and to prepare them for the coming of Christ.” (Book of Mormon Reference Companion, 328).
President Ezra Taft Benson: “Pride results in secret combinations which are built up to get power, gain, and the glory of the world. This fruit of the sin of pride, namely secret combinations, brought down both the Jaredite and Nephite civilizations and has been and will yet be the cause of the fall of many nations.” (General Conference, April 1989).
President M. Russell Ballard: “The Book of Mormon teaches that secret combinations engaged in crime present a serious challenge, not just to individuals and families, but to entire civilizations. Among today’s secret combinations are gangs, drug cartels, and organized crime families…If we are not careful, today’s secret combinations can obtain power and influence just as quickly and completely as they did in the Book of Mormon.” (General Conference, April 1997).
Elder Neal A. Maxwell: “Like Alma, who wished for a trumpet like voice of an angel (see Alma 29:1), we too need to understand our motivations and limitations. Even so, let us use well the season in which we serve. Tolkein put it eloquently:
“Yet it is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succor of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule.’
“Nephi wished, nostalgically, he’d lived in a different time, yet finally concluded, “But behold, I am consigned that these are my days’ (Helaman 7:9). Like Alma, he no doubt realized that he should not “desire more than to perform the work to which he had been called’ (Alma 29:6). Faith in God includes faith in His wisdom in placing us in our particular time and place, “those years wherein we are set.’” (That Ye May Believe, p. 156).
J.R.R. Tolkien: “I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.
“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” (The Fellowship of the Ring).
President Henry B. Eyring: “Sometimes we will receive counsel that we cannot understand or that seems not to apply to us, even after careful prayer and thought. Don’t discard the counsel, but hold it close. If someone you trusted handed you what appeared to be nothing more than sand with the promise that it contained gold, you might wisely hold it in your hand awhile, shaking it gently. Every time I have done that with counsel from a prophet, after a time the gold flakes have begun to appear and I have been grateful”. (Henry B. Eyring, “Finding Safety in Counsel,” Ensign, May 1997, 26)
President Russell M. Nelson: “Sometimes we are accused of being uncaring as we teach the Father’s requirements for exaltation in the celestial kingdom. But wouldn’t it be far more uncaring for us not to tell the truth—not to teach what God has revealed?
“It is precisely because we do care deeply about all of God’s children that we proclaim His truth. We may not always tell people what they want to hear. Prophets are rarely popular. But we will always teach the truth!” (Russell M. Nelson, “The Love and Laws of God” [Brigham Young University devotional, Sept. 17, 2019], speeches.byu.edu)
Elder Neil L. Andersen: “The most important role of the Lord’s prophet is to teach us of the Savior and lead us to Him. …
“A prophet does not stand between you and the Savior. Rather, he stands beside you and points the way to the Savior. A prophet’s greatest responsibility and most precious gift to us is his sure witness, his certain knowledge, that Jesus is the Christ.” (Neil L. Andersen, “The Prophet of God,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 25, 27)
President M. Russell Ballard: “It is important to be still and listen and follow the Spirit. We simply have too many distractions to capture our attention, unlike any time in the history of the world.
“Everyone needs time to meditate and contemplate. Even the Savior of the world, during His mortal ministry, found time to do so.” (M. Russell Ballard, “Be Still, and Know That I Am God” [Church Educational System devotional for young adults, May 4, 2014], broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
President Henry B. Eyring: “When we ponder, we invite revelation by the Spirit. Pondering, to me, is the thinking and the praying I do after reading and studying in the scriptures carefully.” (Henry B. Eyring, “Serve with the Spirit,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 60)
Elder David A. Bednar: “The word ponder means to consider, contemplate, reflect upon, or think about. Pondering the scriptures, then, is reverent reflecting on the truths, experiences, and lessons contained in the standard works. The process of pondering takes time and cannot be forced, hurried, or rushed. …
Writing down what we learn, think, and feel as we study the scriptures is another form of pondering and a powerful invitation to the Holy Ghost for continuing instruction.” (David A. Bednar, “Because We Have Them before Our Eyes,” New Era, Apr. 2006, 6–7)”
Elder Wilford W. Andersen: “When it seems like we can do no wrong, when all is going well, if instead of becoming proud we become thankful, then we will exit the pride cycle. But … we will exit upward toward God. To exit the pride cycle … , we must recognize that every blessing we receive comes from Heavenly Father. He is the source of all that is good in our lives—the fount of every blessing. … Fill your heart with gratitude for His merciful kindness. Treasure and follow the counsel of His servants. Your gratitude will inoculate you against pride and make a way for your escape from the pride cycle.” (Wilford W. Andersen, “The Pride Cycle” [Brigham Young University devotional, Nov. 7,
2017], 5–6, speeches.byu.edu)
Elder Dale G. Renlund: “Our Heavenly Father wants us to recall His and His Beloved Son’s goodness, not for Their own gratification but for the influence such remembrance has on us. By considering Their kindness, our perspective and understanding are enlarged. By reflecting on Their compassion, we become more humble, prayerful, and steadfast.” (Dale G. Renlund, “Consider the Goodness and Greatness of God,” Liahona, May 2020, 41)
Elder Neal A. Maxwell: It is only by yielding to God that we can begin to realize His will for us. And if we truly trust God, why not yield to His loving omniscience? After all, He knows us and our possibilities much better than do we. “(https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1985/04/willing-to-submit?lang=eng).
Elder Neal A. Maxwell: “The Lord will “work with us,” but only by “educating and training our desires can they become our allies instead of our enemies.” (https://www.thechurchnews.com/archives/1996-10-12/according-to-the-desire-of-their-hearts-132527)
Ideas for teaching:
President Ezra Taft Benson: “Pride results in secret combinations which are built up to get power, gain, and the glory of the world. This fruit of the sin of pride, namely secret combinations, brought down both the Jaredite and Nephite civilizations and has been and will yet be the cause of the fall of many nations.” (General Conference, April 1989).
President M. Russell Ballard: “The Book of Mormon teaches that secret combinations engaged in crime present a serious challenge, not just to individuals and families, but to entire civilizations. Among today’s secret combinations are gangs, drug cartels, and organized crime families…If we are not careful, today’s secret combinations can obtain power and influence just as quickly and completely as they did in the Book of Mormon.” (General Conference, April 1997).
Elder Neal A. Maxwell: “Like Alma, who wished for a trumpet like voice of an angel (see Alma 29:1), we too need to understand our motivations and limitations. Even so, let us use well the season in which we serve. Tolkein put it eloquently:
“Yet it is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succor of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule.’
“Nephi wished, nostalgically, he’d lived in a different time, yet finally concluded, “But behold, I am consigned that these are my days’ (Helaman 7:9). Like Alma, he no doubt realized that he should not “desire more than to perform the work to which he had been called’ (Alma 29:6). Faith in God includes faith in His wisdom in placing us in our particular time and place, “those years wherein we are set.’” (That Ye May Believe, p. 156).
J.R.R. Tolkien: “I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.
“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” (The Fellowship of the Ring).
President Henry B. Eyring: “Sometimes we will receive counsel that we cannot understand or that seems not to apply to us, even after careful prayer and thought. Don’t discard the counsel, but hold it close. If someone you trusted handed you what appeared to be nothing more than sand with the promise that it contained gold, you might wisely hold it in your hand awhile, shaking it gently. Every time I have done that with counsel from a prophet, after a time the gold flakes have begun to appear and I have been grateful”. (Henry B. Eyring, “Finding Safety in Counsel,” Ensign, May 1997, 26)
President Russell M. Nelson: “Sometimes we are accused of being uncaring as we teach the Father’s requirements for exaltation in the celestial kingdom. But wouldn’t it be far more uncaring for us not to tell the truth—not to teach what God has revealed?
“It is precisely because we do care deeply about all of God’s children that we proclaim His truth. We may not always tell people what they want to hear. Prophets are rarely popular. But we will always teach the truth!” (Russell M. Nelson, “The Love and Laws of God” [Brigham Young University devotional, Sept. 17, 2019], speeches.byu.edu)
Elder Neil L. Andersen: “The most important role of the Lord’s prophet is to teach us of the Savior and lead us to Him. …
“A prophet does not stand between you and the Savior. Rather, he stands beside you and points the way to the Savior. A prophet’s greatest responsibility and most precious gift to us is his sure witness, his certain knowledge, that Jesus is the Christ.” (Neil L. Andersen, “The Prophet of God,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 25, 27)
President M. Russell Ballard: “It is important to be still and listen and follow the Spirit. We simply have too many distractions to capture our attention, unlike any time in the history of the world.
“Everyone needs time to meditate and contemplate. Even the Savior of the world, during His mortal ministry, found time to do so.” (M. Russell Ballard, “Be Still, and Know That I Am God” [Church Educational System devotional for young adults, May 4, 2014], broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
President Henry B. Eyring: “When we ponder, we invite revelation by the Spirit. Pondering, to me, is the thinking and the praying I do after reading and studying in the scriptures carefully.” (Henry B. Eyring, “Serve with the Spirit,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 60)
Elder David A. Bednar: “The word ponder means to consider, contemplate, reflect upon, or think about. Pondering the scriptures, then, is reverent reflecting on the truths, experiences, and lessons contained in the standard works. The process of pondering takes time and cannot be forced, hurried, or rushed. …
Writing down what we learn, think, and feel as we study the scriptures is another form of pondering and a powerful invitation to the Holy Ghost for continuing instruction.” (David A. Bednar, “Because We Have Them before Our Eyes,” New Era, Apr. 2006, 6–7)”
Elder Wilford W. Andersen: “When it seems like we can do no wrong, when all is going well, if instead of becoming proud we become thankful, then we will exit the pride cycle. But … we will exit upward toward God. To exit the pride cycle … , we must recognize that every blessing we receive comes from Heavenly Father. He is the source of all that is good in our lives—the fount of every blessing. … Fill your heart with gratitude for His merciful kindness. Treasure and follow the counsel of His servants. Your gratitude will inoculate you against pride and make a way for your escape from the pride cycle.” (Wilford W. Andersen, “The Pride Cycle” [Brigham Young University devotional, Nov. 7,
2017], 5–6, speeches.byu.edu)
Elder Dale G. Renlund: “Our Heavenly Father wants us to recall His and His Beloved Son’s goodness, not for Their own gratification but for the influence such remembrance has on us. By considering Their kindness, our perspective and understanding are enlarged. By reflecting on Their compassion, we become more humble, prayerful, and steadfast.” (Dale G. Renlund, “Consider the Goodness and Greatness of God,” Liahona, May 2020, 41)
Elder Neal A. Maxwell: It is only by yielding to God that we can begin to realize His will for us. And if we truly trust God, why not yield to His loving omniscience? After all, He knows us and our possibilities much better than do we. “(https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1985/04/willing-to-submit?lang=eng).
Elder Neal A. Maxwell: “The Lord will “work with us,” but only by “educating and training our desires can they become our allies instead of our enemies.” (https://www.thechurchnews.com/archives/1996-10-12/according-to-the-desire-of-their-hearts-132527)
Ideas for teaching:
- Book of Helaman is written for a people waiting for Christ.
- How can we get out of the ‘pride cycle?’
- If “these are my days” then what will you decide to do with your time this week?
- How can you ‘yield your heart,’ or merge your values and desires to align with the will of God?