Finances: Living The Church Welfare Principles

“By living welfare principles, we can develop self-reliance. The welfare program requires that we develop self-reliance and live providently. Provident living requires us to develop proper attitudes—a willingness to forego luxuries, to avoid excess, and to fully use what we have—learning to live within our means.

…Financial need is an important part of welfare, but there are other equally important essential elements that, through love and compassion, build self-reliance—emotionally and physically—helping one to be useful and productive and to be a help.”

Robert D. Hales, “Eternal Plan for the Welfare of Men’s Souls” April 1986 General Conference

Access full talk here.  

Agency: "The Devil Made Me Do It"

"Although the devil laughs, his power is limited. Some may remember the old adage: 'The devil made me do it.' Today I want to convey, in absolutely certain terms, that the adversary cannot make us do anything. He does lie at our door, as the scriptures say, and he follows us each day.  Every time we go out, every decision we make, we are either choosing to move in his direction or in the direction of our Savior. But the adversary must depart if we tell him to depart. He cannot influence us unless we allow him to do so, and he knows that! The only time he can affect our minds and bodies—our very spirits—is when we allow him to do so. In other words, we do not have to succumb to his enticements!

We have been given agency, we have been given the blessings of the priesthood, and we have been given the Light of Christ and the Holy Ghost for a reason. That reason is our growth and happiness in this world and eternal life in the world to come."

Elder Robert D. Hales, “To Act For Ourselves: The Gift and Blessing of Agency”, April 2006 General Conference

Read full address here. 

Faith: Testimony is a Measurement of Faith

"Our testimony is a measurement of our faith. Faith is testimony; testimony is faith….

Generally, testimony emerges over time and through life’s experiences. We can compare testimony to the process of watching a photograph develop. Powerful impressions of the Spirit come like flashes of light on receptive photographic film. Like the chemicals needed to develop the picture, certain spiritual conditions and experiences are needed in our lives for our personal testimony to develop into a certain truth and knowledge. And like a photograph, a testimony, if not carefully preserved, will fade with time.

Testimonies often come when there is willingness to serve where we are called. They come when a decision is made to strive to be obedient. Testimonies come during efforts to help, lift, and strengthen others. They come from prayer and from studying the scriptures and applying them in our lives. Whatever our circumstances, there seem to be moments in each of our lives when we can be given the knowledge that God lives and that Jesus is the Christ. There is no greater search in life that we can embark upon than the quest to gain a testimony of the truth."

Robert D Hales, “The Importance of Receiving a Personal Testimony”, October 1994 General Conference

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1994/10/the-importance-of-receiving-a-personal-testimony?lang=eng

Atonement: He Takes Away the Sins of the World

“He is Jesus Christ, the Holy One of Israel, ‘full of grace, and mercy, and truth. … It is he that cometh to take away the sins of the world, yea, the sins of every man who steadfastly believeth on his name.' (See Alma 5:48) He is the literal Son of God, who rose from the dead on the third day, bringing the reality of resurrection to all who will come to earth.”

Elder Robert D. Hales, "Gaining a Testimony of God the Father; His son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost", April 2008 General Conference. 

Access entire address here. 

Learn more about Robert D. Hales.

*Image Source: http://www.whymormonism.org/1571/jesus-christ-resurrected-for-eternity

Education: Learn to Be Self-Sufficient

“Work hard to obtain an education and to learn technical skills that will allow you to be self-sufficient and support your family.”

Elder Robert D. Hales, “If Thou Wilt Enter Into Life, Keep The Commandments”, April 1996 General Conference

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1996/04/if-thou-wilt-enter-into-life-keep-the-commandments?lang=eng