"All hell cannot hinder me from enjoying Zion in my heart, if my individual will yields obedience to the requirements and mandates of my heavenly Master." - Brigham Young

"It is a mistaken idea to suppose that others can prevent me from enjoying the light of God in my soul; all hell cannot hinder me from enjoying Zion in my own heart, if my individual will yields obedience to the requirements and mandates of my heavenly Master."

"When you were in your native homes in the old countries and in the United States, before you gathered with the people of God, what were your thoughts and expectations, when you looked forward to the period of your being embodied with the Saints?  What were the vision of your mind, and the operations of the Spirit upon your understanding?  When you were gathered with the Saints of the Most High, and became associated as a brother, a sister, and a neighbor with that blessed society, you expected to enjoy the manifestations of the Lord Jesus Christ, to walk in the light of his countenance, and by the power of the Holy Ghost have the oracles of truth revealed to you continually, and that you would be in heaven, and in the Zion of the Lord.  These were your expectations.  You did not expect to hear the name of the God we serve blasphemed from morning until evening; you expected to be delivered from hearing the blasphemies of your wicked shopmates, from the tyranny of your ungodly employers, and from the persecutions of the bigoted religionists, who were all united to pick you to pieces, and destroy you both temporally and spiritually, if it were possible; on one side you were sheared, and on the other shaved.  You were annoyed with the ungodly conversation and filthy deeds of your neighbours, your peace was destroyed, and you could not enjoy that happiness held out to you in the Gospel; yet you felt the influence of the spirit of truth burning in your heart, which kindled in you a longing desire to mingle with the Saints; you would exclaim, 'Oh, that I could enjoy the society of the Saints, and make my escape from this ungodly place.  Oh! that I had means to gather up my little family, and journey to the place of the gathering of the Saints of the Most High.'  This was your feeling, and this your prayer.  You anticipated deliverance from hell, to find a heaven with the Saints; you expected to exchange confusion for a Zion of order and beauty, misery for peace and happiness, blasphemy and tumult for quietness and reverence to the name of God, starvation for plenty; in short, you expected to find a place where all evil had ceased, and iniquity and sorrow were brought to an end, and where you would bask undisturbed in the smiles of the countenance of your Lord from day to day.

"Now, brethren and sisters, what hinders you from enjoying all you anticipated?  The calm reflections of your own minds, and the conclusions of a well balanced judgment, enlightened by the Spirit of the Lord, will give you a correct answer to this question.  I can answer it for myself, and perhaps for many of you.  If I do not enjoy all I anticipated, if my happiness is not as complete as I anticipated, if the light of the Holy Spirit is not in my heart to that degree which I expected it would be, if I have not obtained all I anticipated when I was down in yonder world, mingled with the wicked, the cause is in myself, in my own heart, in my own disposition, in the weakness of human nature; it is my own will that prevents me from enjoying all I anticipated, and more.  It is a mistaken idea to suppose that others can prevent me from enjoying the light of God in my soul; all hell cannot hinder me from enjoying Zion in my own heart, if my individual will yields obedience to the requirements and mandates of my heavenly Master.  He has set me a pattern to copy, which if I imitate faithfully, will yield to me all and more of heaven in my own heart than I anticipate."  - Brigham Young ("The Privileges and Blessings of the Gospel," Salt Lake City, February 20, 1853, Journal of Discourses Vol. 1, p. 310-311)

"Nothing short of the power of the Almighty ... can prove to you that this is the work of God." - Brigham Young

"Nothing short of the power of the Almighty, nothing short of the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ, can prove to you that this is the work of God."

"Nothing short of the power of the Almighty, nothing short of the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ, can prove to you that this is the work of God.  Men uninspired of God cannot by their worldly wisdom disprove it, or prevail against it; neither can they by wisdom alone prove it to be true, either to themselves or to others.  Their not being able to prevail against it does not prove it to be the kingdom of God, for there are many theories and systems on the earth, incontrovertable by the wisdom of the world, which are nevertheless false.  Nothing less than the power of the Almighty, enlightening the understandings of men, can demonstrate this glorious truth to the human mind."  - Brigham Young ("The Privileges and Blessings of the Gospel," Salt Lake City, February 20, 1853, Journal of Discourses Vol. 1, p. 310. )

"So be kind regarding human frailty." - Jeffrey R. Holland

"So be kind regarding human frailty - your own as well as that of those who serve with you in a Church led by volunteer, mortal men and women."

"Brothers and sisters, this is a divine work in process, with the manifestations and blessings of it abounding in every direction, so please don't hyperventilate if from time to time issues arise that need to be examined, understood, and resolved.  They do and they will.  In this Church, what we know will always trump what we do not know.  And remember, in this world, everyone is to walk by faith.

"So be kind regarding human frailty - your own as well as that of those who serve with you in a Church led by volunteer, mortal men and women.  Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with.  That must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it.  So should we.  And when you see imperfection, remember that the limitation is not the divinity of the work.  As one gifted writer has suggested, when the infinite fulness is poured forth, it is not the oil's fault if there is some loss because finite vessels can't quite contain it all.  Those finite vessels include you and me, so be patient and kind and forgiving."  - Jeffrey R. Holland ("Lord, I Believe", April 2013 General Conference)

"Stand strong until additional knowledge comes." - Jeffrey R. Holland

"When those moments come and issues surface, the resolution of which is not immediately forthcoming, hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes."

"I would say to all who wish for more faith, remember this man!  In moments of fear or doubt or troubling times, hold the ground you have already won, even if that ground is limited.  In the growth we all have to experience in mortality, the spiritual equivalent of this boy's affliction or this parent's desperation is going to come to all of us.  When those moments come and issues surface, the resolution of which is not immediately forthcoming, hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes.  It was of this very incident, this specific miracle, that Jesus said, 'If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.'  The size of your faith or the degree of your knowledge is not the issue - it is the integrity you demonstrate toward the faith you do have and the truth you already know."  - Jeffrey R. Holland ("Lord, I Believe", April 2013 General Conference)

"I am not asking you to pretend to faith you do not have. I am asking you to be true to the faith you do have." - Jeffrey R. Holland

"I am not asking you to pretend to faith you do not have.  I am asking you to be true to the faith you do have."

"When problems come and questions arise, do not start your quest for faith by saying how much you do not have, leading as it were with your 'unbelief.'  That is like trying to stuff a turkey through the beak!  Let me be clear on this point: I am not asking you to pretend to faith you do not have.  I am asking you to be true to the faith you do have.  Sometimes we act as if an honest declaration of doubt is a higher manifestation of moral courage than is an honest declaration of faith.  It is not!  So let us all remember the clear message of this scriptural account: Be as candid about your questions as you need to be; life is full of them on one subject or another.  But if you and your family want to be healed, don't let those questions stand in the way of faith working its miracle."  - Jeffrey R. Holland ("Lord, I Believe", April 2013 General Conference)

"Asking questions isn't a sign of weakness; it's a precursor of growth." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"Some might feel embarrassed or unworthy because they have searching questions regarding the gospel, but they needn't feel that way.  Asking questions isn't a sign of weakness; it's a precursor of growth."

"What about doubts and questions?  How do you find out that the gospel is true?  Is it all right to have questions about the Church or its doctrines?  My dear young friends, we are a question-asking people because we know that inquiry leads to truth.  That is the way the Church got its start - from a young man who had questions.  In fact, I'm not sure how one can discover truth without asking questions.  In the scriptures you will rarely discover a revelation that didn't come in response to a question.  Whenever a question arose and Joseph Smith wasn't sure of the answer, he approached the Lord, and the results are the wonderful revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants.  Often the knowledge Joseph received extended far beyond the original question.  That is because not only can the Lord answer the questions we ask but, even more importantly, He can give us answers to questions we should have asked.  Let us listen to those answers.

"The missionary effort of the Church is founded upon honest investigators asking heartfelt questions.  Inquiry is the birthplace of testimony.  Some might feel embarrassed or unworthy because they have searching questions regarding the gospel, but they needn't feel that way.  Asking questions isn't a sign of weakness; it's a precursor of growth.

"God commands us to seek answers to our questions (see James 1:5-6) and asks only that we seek 'with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ' (Moroni 10:4).  When we do so, the truth of all things can be manifested to us 'by the power of the Holy Ghost' (Moroni 10:5).

"Fear not; ask questions.  Be curious, but doubt not!  Always hold fast to faith and to the light you have already received.  Because we see imperfectly in mortality, not everything is going to make sense right now.  In fact, I should think that if everything did make sense to us, it would be evidence that it had all been made up by a mortal mind.  Remember that God has said:

"'My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.  ...

"' For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts' (Isaiah 55:8-9).

"Nevertheless, you know that one of the purposes of mortality is to become more like your Heavenly Father in your thoughts and in your ways.  Viewed from this perspective, searching for answers to your questions can bring you closer to God, strengthening your testimony instead of shaking it.  It's true that 'faith is not ... a perfect knowledge' (Alma 32:21), but as you exercise your faith, applying gospel principles every day under any circumstances, you will taste the sweet fruits of the gospel, and by this fruit you will know of its truth (see Matthew 7:16-20; John 7:17; Alma 32:41-43).  - Dieter F. Uchtdorf ("The Reflection in the Water," CES Fireside for Young Adults, November 1, 2009)

"There are as bad men and women within the pales of this Church as there are upon this earth" - Brigham Young

"There are many of the men and women now before me who have looked for a pure people, and have supposed that that was a proof of the truth of our doctrines, but they will never find such a people until Satan is bound, and Jesus comes to reign with his Saints."

"We have in our community the worst creatures that the world can produce; the Gospel net must gather them of necessity, or the saying of Jesus, and what he knew of the kingdom in the last day would not come to pass.  There are as bad men and women within the pales of this Church as there are upon this earth, and the Gospel being preached to them prepares them to become devils.  As you have frequently been told, that is the only way men become devils; they must have the knowledge to sin against the Holy Ghost, or yet the day of redemption awaits them, one or the other.

"Suppose I was preaching in the world, and they should allege that some of the people in Utah swore, stole, and were wicked in many ways, I would acknowledge it to be the case.  They might then inquire, 'Why do you say that you have got the Gospel of salvation?  And why do you come to us to preach, seeing that your own people do wickedly?'  I would reply that the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net that gathers fish of all kinds, therefore we must have the good and the bad in Utah, or else it cannot be the kingdom of heaven...

"Let me tell you that I have not embraced any man on this earth, in my faith, but I have embraced the doctrine of salvation, and it is no matter what the people do in Utah.  Here is the doctrine of salvation, talk against that, prove that to be false, or find a flaw in it, if you can.  As for the people, they cannot save you.  Never embrace a man in your faith, for that is sectarianism.

"There are many of the men and women now before me who have looked for a pure people, and have supposed that that was a proof of the truth of our doctrines, but they will never find such a people until Satan is bound, and Jesus comes to reign with his Saints.  The doctrine we preach is the doctrine of salvation, and it is that which the Elders of this Church take to the world, and not the people of Utah.

"Some of the Elders seem to be tripped up in a moment, if the wicked can find any fault with the members of this Church, but bless your souls, I would not yet have this people faultless, for the day of separation has not yet arrived.  I have many a time, in this stand, dared the world to produce as mean devils as we can; we can beat them at anything.  We have the greatest and smoothest liars in the world, the cunningest and more adroit thieves, and any other shade of character that you can mention.

"We can pick out Elders in Israel right here who can beat the world at gambling, who can handle the cards, cut and shuffle them with the smartest rogue on the face of God's footstool.  I can produce Elders here who can shave their smartest shavers, and take their money from them.  We can beat the world at any game."  - Brigham Young (Journal of Discourses, Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, November 9, 1856)

"I should be right in matters that involved eternal consequences." - Joseph Smith

"Considering it of the first importance that I should be right in matters that involved eternal consequences."

"Being wrought up in my mind, respecting the subject of religion and looking at the different systems taught the children of men, I knew not who was right or who was wrong and considering it of the first importance that I should be right in matters that involved eternal consequences; being thus perplexed in mind, I retired to the silent grove and bowed down before the Lord."  - Joseph Smith (1835-36 Journal)

"My soul was filled with love." - Joseph Smith

"My soul was filled with love and for many days I could rejoice with great joy, and the Lord was with me."

"My soul was filled with love and for many days I could rejoice with great joy, and the Lord was with me, but could find none that would believe the heavenly vision, nevertheless I pondered these things in my heart."  - Joseph Smith (1832 History)

"Joseph, my son, thy sons are forgiven thee." - Joseph Smith 1832 Account of First Vision

"The Lord opened the heavens upon me and I saw The Lord and he spake unto me saying, 'Joseph, my son, thy sins are forgiven thee.'"

"And when I considered all these things and that that being seeketh such to worship him as worship him in spirit and in truth, therefore I cried unto the Lord for mercy for there was none else to whom I could go and obtain mercy.  The Lord heard my cry in the wilderness and while in the attitude of calling upon the Lord in the 16th year of my age, a pillar of fire light above the brightness of the sun at noon day came down from above and rested upon me and I was filled with the spirit of god and the Lord opened the heavens upon me and I saw the Lord and he spake unto me saying, "Joseph, my son, thy sins are forgiven thee.  Go thy way, walk in my statutes and keep my commandments.  Behold, I am the Lord of glory.  I was crucified for the world that all those who believe on my name may have Eternal life.  Behold, the world lieth in sin at this time and none doeth good, no not one.  They have turned aside from the gospel and keep not my commandments.  They draw near to me with their lips while their hearts are far from me and mine anger is kindling against the inhabitants of the earth to visit them according to their ungodliness and to bring to pass that which hath been spoken by the mouth of the prophets and Apostes.  Behold and lo I come quickly as it is written of me in the cloud, clothed in the glory of my Father."  - Joseph Smith (1832 History)

"Helpless before the puzzle." - Josiah Quincy

"I myself stand helpless before the puzzle."

"I have endeavored to give the details of my visit to the Mormon prophet with absolute accuracy.  If the reader does not know just what to make of Joseph Smith, I cannot help him out of the difficulty.  I myself stand helpless before the puzzle."  - Josiah Quincy (Figures of the Past, 1883)

"Remember, I am a prophet!" - Joseph Smith (Josiah Quincy)

"In your hands or that of any other person, so much power would, no doubt, be dangerous.  I am the only man in the world whom it would be safe to trust with it.  Remember, I am a prophet!"

"I should not say quite all that struck me about Smith if I did not mention that he seemed to have a keen sense of the humorous aspects of his position.  'It seems to me, General,' I said, as he was driving us to the river, about sunset, 'that you have too much power to be safely trusted to one man.'  'In your hands or that of any other person,' was the reply, 'so much power would, no doubt, be dangerous.  I am the only man in the world whom it would be safe to trust with it.  Remember, I am a prophet!"  The last five words were spoken in a rich, comical aside, as if in hearty recognition of the ridiculous sound they might have in the ears of a Gentile."  - Josiah Quincy (Figures of the Past, 1883)

"Absurd as it doubtless seems" - Josiah Quincy

"And the reply, absurd as it doubtless seems to most men now living, may be an obvious commonplace to their descendants."

"It is by no means improbably that some future text-book, for the use of generations yet unborn, will contain a question something like this: What historical American of the nineteenth century has exerted the most powerful influence upon the destinies of his countrymen?  And it is by no means impossible that the answer to that interrogatory may be thus written: Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet.  And the reply, absurd as it doubtless seems to most men now living, may be an obvious commonplace to their descendants." - Josiah Quincy (Figures of the Past, 1883)

"All these bear testimony" - Joseph Smith

"All these bear testimony and bespeak an omnipotent and omnipresent power."

"I looked upon the sun the glorious luminary of the earth and also the moon rolling in their majesty through the heavens and also the stars shining in their courses and the earth also upon which I stood and the beast of the field and the fowls of heaven and the fish of the waters and also man walking forth upon the face of the earth in majesty and in the strength of beauty whose power and intelligence in governing the things which are so exceeding great and marvelous even in the likeness of him who created them, and when I considered upon these things my heart exclaimed well hath the wise man said it is a fool that saith in his heart there is no God, my heart exclaimed all these bear testimony and bespeak an omnipotent and omnipresent power." - Joseph Smith (1832 History)