Some of My Favorite Religious Quotes

A couple of years ago, a friend of mine (Rich Alger) wrote a post in which he shared some of his favorite inspirational quotes.  The following are the quotes that came to mind immediately at that time.  There are many more I could share, especially from the writings of C.S. Lewis and Louis L'Amour (a veritable quote machine), but these are the ones of which I thought when I read Rich's post - thinking specifically about "religious" quotes:

"For now we see through a glass, darkly." (Paul, the apostle - I Corinthians 13:12)

"Some are lost because they are different. They feel as though they don’t belong. Perhaps because they are different, they find themselves slipping away from the flock. They may look, act, think, and speak differently than those around them and that sometimes causes them to assume they don’t fit in. They conclude that they are not needed.

Tied to this misconception is the erroneous belief that all members of the Church should look, talk, and be alike. The Lord did not people the earth with a vibrant orchestra of personalities only to value the piccolos of the world. Every instrument is precious and adds to the complex beauty of the symphony. All of Heavenly Father’s children are different in some degree, yet each has his own beautiful sound that adds depth and richness to the whole.

This variety of creation itself is a testament of how the Lord values all His children." (Joseph B. Wirthlin, the apostle - "Concern for the One")

"We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may. (Joseph Smith, 11th Article of Faith - and I wish members of the LDS Church really, fully understood and accepted this statement and ALL of its implications)

"We don't believe what we see; we see what we believe." (not sure of the source)

"In the quiet heart is hidden sorrow that the eye can't see . . . Who am I to judge another? Lord, I would follow thee." (Susan Evans McCloud, "Lord, I Would Follow Thee") 

"I am a child of God." (Naomi W. Randall, "I Am a Child of God")

"I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me, confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me." (Charles H. Gabriel, "I Stand All Amazed") 

Please share any religion-related quotes that are especially meaningful to you. 

A Wonderful Quote about Sharing Sunshine

James Matthew Barrie, the creator of Peter Pan, said something that I really love, and I thought I would share it with everyone here: 

"Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves."

Wise Words from a Woman Acquainted with Sorrow

Elizabeth Edwards died of cancer on December 7th, 2010. She said the following a few days before she died - when it was announced publicly that she only had weeks or days left:

"The days of our lives, for all of us, are numbered. We know that. And yes, there are certainly times when we aren't able to muster as much strength and patience as we would like. It's called being human. But I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And for that I am grateful."  

What a profound statement.  I hope I can say when my time has come that others can say of me that I learned and followed these words in my own life.

A Very Short, Very Profound Statement

I love the following thought:

I try to live so that I may be the second coming of the Lord for someone else.

Receiving God's Image Doesn't Destroy Individuality

I saw a very profound, short statement on the wall of a high school I was visiting yesterday, and I thought how it applies to my New Year's Resolution for this month.  It said:

You were (created) as an original.  Don't become a copy.

 

First, I absolutely LOVE this quote in and of itself, regardless of its application to my New Year's Resolution.  I understand and accept the need for communal conformity to certain, minimal standards; I really do.  However, at the most fundamental level, I am a unique child of God - and that uniqueness is important to me. 

What struck me about this quote and my resolution is that too many people see Zion as total uniformity / unanimity / homogeneity.  They see "being united" as being indistinguishable from each other in any important way.  They see becoming "perfect" as becoming exactly alike in every way.  At least, that is how they appear to believe, based on how they act toward those who are different than they are.

I disagree. 

My favorite General Conference talk of all time (as my children will attest, while rolling their eyes and exclaiming, "I told you so!") is Elder Joseph Wirthlin's "Concern for the One" - and the part that resonates the most within me is the analogy of the multiple instruments and harmonies that are necessary to create a beautiful orshestral sound.  Everyone playing the same instrument all the time - or even different instruments but the exact same notes at the exact same time all the time - even when technically mistake-free and precisely is NOT beautiful music; at best, it is a beautiful melody.  (At worst, it is soul-less.)  All kinds of very different instruments playing intricate harmonies, counter-melodies and even varying rhythms in synch with each other and with passion and expression . . . now THAT is beautiful music. 

I am reminded of the description of the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12 - where each and every part is said to be as important and critical as any other. 

Truly, there is a need for some kind of uniformity and communal standardization, but we were created as originals.  We can't allow ourselves to become copies.

Courage, Zest and Modesty: The First Are Not Above the Last

"I hope that you will develop the questing spirit. Be unafraid of new ideas for they are the stepping stones of progress. You will of course respect the opinions of others but be unafraid to dissent - if you are informed.

Now I have mentioned freedom to express your thoughts, but I caution you that your thoughts and expressions must meet competition in the market place of thought, and in that competition truth will emerge triumphant. Only error needs to fear freedom of expression. Seek truth in all fields, and in that search you will need at least three virtues; courage, zest, and modesty. The ancients put that thought in the form of a prayer. They said, ‘From the cowardice that shrinks from new truth, from the laziness that is content with half truth, from the arrogance that thinks it has all truth - O God of truth deliver us’.”

(Hugh B Brown. Speech at BYU, March 29, 1958)

This past week, I have seen much of courage and zest, but I have seen much less of modesty.

Simplifying Life

The following hung on our wall growing up - and my mother (with 8 children) truly believed and lived it:

Cleaning and scrubbing can wait 'til tomorrow,

for babies grow up we've learned to our sorrow.

So, quiet down cobwebs; dust go to sleep.

I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep.

A couple of years ago, our family was rushing about frantically - trying to get six kids and two parents to every activity we could cram into a schedule for at least five over-achievers (my oldest son and I don't always fit that description). My wife and I made the conscious decision to slow down, let go of everything except the one thing that each child wanted to do most and have more time to spend together as a family.

It was one of the best decisions we have ever made.

A Favorite Quote

One of my favorite quotes of all time is from Hugh B. Brown, when he spoke at BYU in 1958. The speech is entitled "The Questing Spirit", and an excerpt is linked with the title. My favorite part of the speech is:

“I hope that you will develop the questing spirit. Be unafraid of new ideas for they are the stepping stones of progress. You will of course respect the opinions of others but be unafraid to dissent—if you are informed.

…Now I have mentioned freedom to express your thoughts, but I caution you that … in that search you will need at least three virtues; courage, zest, and modesty. The ancients put that thought in the form of a prayer. They said, ‘From the cowardice that shrinks from new truth, from the laziness that is content with half truth, from the arrogance that thinks it has all truth—O God of truth deliver us’.”