"Christmas means giving. The Father gave his Son, and the Son gave his life. Without giving there is no true Christmas, and without sacrifice there is no true worship."

(Gordon B. Hinckley, "What Shall I Do Then with Jesus Which Is Called Christ?" Ensign, Dec. 1983, 3)

"This month, we commemorate the historic trek of the Mormon pioneers who, 130 years ago, left the beautiful city of Nauvoo, Illinois, and their comfortable homes to escape their persecutors and march 2300 kms. across a hostile wilderness in order to worship their God according to the dictates of their own conscience. In July of 1847, they reached ( Read more... )

"Two companion qualities evident in the lives of our pioneers, early and modern, are unselfishness and sacrifice. Our Utah pioneers excelled at putting 'the general welfare and community goals over individual gain and personal ambition' (Carol Cornwall Madsen, Journey to Zion: Voices from the Mormon Trail [1997], 6). That same quality is evident in ( Read more... )

"None of us will forget that gray morning in January when our beloved teacher announced to us that the mother of one of our classmates had passed away. We thought of our own mothers and how much they meant to us. We felt sorrow for Billy Devenport in his great loss ( Read more... )

"We have much reason to hope. Joy can be ours if we are willing to sacrifice all for the Lord. Then we can look forward to the infinitely priceless possibility of overcoming all the challenges of this life. Then we will be with the Savior forever and, as President Brigham Young also said, 'anticipate enjoying the glory, excellency and exaltation ( Read more... )

"Our ancestors, along with many other faithful Saints, sacrificed everything because of their testimonies and faith in Jesus Christ. They knew that the gospel had been restored to the earth once more and that they were led by a prophet of God. They knew that the Book of Mormon was true and understood its message and witness. They knew that through ( Read more... )

"I have wondered why these intrepid pioneers had to pay for their ( Read more... )

"May we not shrink when we discover, paradoxically, how dear a price ( Read more... )