343 Quotes by Neal A. Maxwell

For some Church members the Book of Mormon remains unread. Others use it occasionally as if it were merely a handy book of quotations. Still others accept and read it but do not really explore and ponder it. The book is to be feasted upon, not nibbled (see 2 Nephi 31:20).

If we spent as much time lifting our children as we do criticizing them, how effectively we could help them to see themselves in a more positive light!

God does not begin by asking us about our ability, but only about our availability, and if we then prove our dependability, he will increase our capability.

To think of enduring to the end as ‘hanging in there,’ doing one’s duty relentlessly, is not inaccurate. Yet enduring to the end is more than outlasting and surviving, though it includes those qualities. We are called upon, as was the Prophet Joseph, to ‘endure it well,’ gracefully, not grudgingly. (D&C 121:8.) We are also told that we must ‘endure in faith.’ (D&C 101:35.) These dimensions of enduring are important to note. Likewise, we are asked to endure ‘valiantly.’ (D&C 121:29.)

Patience helps us to view imperfections in others more generously to the end that we may learn to be more wise than they have been.

We should not assume; however, that just because something is unexplainable by us, it is unexplainable.

For the faithful, our finest hours are sometimes during or just following our darkest hours.

The harrowing of the soul can be like the harrowing of the soil; to increase the yield, things are turned upside down.

Consecration thus constitutes the only unconditional surrender which is also a total victory!