Gordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995, until his death. Profoundly inspirational Gordon B. Hinckley quotes will challenge the way you think, and make your life worth living.
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Famous Gordon B. Hinckley Quotes
There would be no Christmas if there was no Easter. Gordon B. Hinckley
Life is to be enjoyed, not endured. Gordon B. Hinckley
I am suggesting that as we go through life, we accentuate the positive. I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still our voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment and endorse virtue and effort. Gordon B. Hinckley
Try a little harder to be a little better. Gordon B. Hinckley
Marriage, in its truest sense, is a partnership of equals, with neither exercising dominion over the other, but, rather, with each encouraging and assisting the other in whatever responsibilities and aspirations he or she might have. Gordon B. Hinckley
True love is not so much a matter of romance as it is a matter of anxious concern for the well being of one’s companion. Gordon B. Hinckley
You have to establish in your life some sense of prioritizing things, of giving emphasis to the important things and of laying aside the unimportant things that will lead to nothing. Gordon B. Hinckley
Generally speaking, the most miserable people I know are those who are obsessed with themselves; the happiest people I know are those who lose themselves in the service of others. By and large, I have come to see that if we complain about life, it is because we are thinking only of ourselves. Gordon B. Hinckley
Life is precious. Life is sacred. And it ought so to be observed. Gordon B. Hinckley
It isn’t as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don’t worry. I say that to myself every morning. It all works out in the end. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers. Gordon B. Hinckley
The work of the Lord is done by ordinary people who work in an extraordinary way. Gordon B. Hinckley
Aim high, but do not aim so high that you totally miss the target. What really matters is that he will love you, that he will respect you, that he will honor you, that he will be absolutely true to you, that he will give you the freedom of expression and let you fly in the development of your own talents. He is not going to be perfect, but if he is kind and thoughtful, if he knows how to work and earn a living, if he is honest and full of faith, the chances are you will not go wrong, that you will be immensely happy. Gordon B. Hinckley
If there were more temple work done in the Church, there would be less of selfishness, less of contention, less of demeaning others. Gordon B. Hinckley
If Life Gets Too Hard To Stand, Kneel. Gordon B. Hinckley
Dishonesty of any kind will create a blemish. Gordon B. Hinckley
You have not failed until you quit trying. Gordon B. Hinckley
I have many friends of other religions, and I am satisfied that they are very conscientious, good people who are trying to do good. I appreciate that. Gordon B. Hinckley
Let us never forget to pray. God lives. He is near. He is real. He is not only aware of us but cares for us. He is our Father. He is accessible to all who will seek Him. Gordon B. Hinckley
The problem is, I think, that so many of us pray as if we are ordering groceries. We pick up the telephone and say, Is this the right place to place my order? and we proceed right to dictating our order. When we have then ended that list, we hang up. Gordon B. Hinckley
In all of living, have much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured. Gordon B. Hinckley
Sister Hinckley and I are learning that the so called golden years are laced with lead. Gordon B. Hinckley
The willingness to forgive is a sign of spiritual and emotional maturity. It is one of the great virtues to which we all should aspire. Imagine a world filled with individuals willing both to apologize and to accept an apology. Is there any problem that could not be solved among people who possessed the humility and largeness of spirit and soul to do either or both when needed? Gordon B. Hinckley
We all know that education unlocks the door of opportunity for the young. Gordon B. Hinckley
The best antidote I know for worry is work. The best cure for weariness is the challenge of helping someone who is even more tired. One of the great ironies of life is this: He or she who serves almost always benefits more than he or she who is served. Gordon B. Hinckley
At the end of our lives, we step across the threshold or death and enter into a new and better world. I believe that. It’s just that simple. Gordon B. Hinckley
Cultivate an attitude of happiness. Cultivate a spirit of optimism. Walk with faith, rejoicing in the beauties of nature, in the goodness of those you love, in the testimony which you carry in your heart concerning things divine. Gordon B. Hinckley
Choose your friends carefully. It is they who will lead you in one direction or the other. Gordon B. Hinckley
Good books are as friends, willing to give to us if we are willing to make a little effort. Gordon B. Hinckley
We’re all sons and daughters of God, and therefore in a very literal sense, brothers and sisters. And we ought to treat each other that way. Gordon B. Hinckley
Stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. Gordon B. Hinckley
I spent one night in the hospital in my life. I was past 75 when that occurred. Gordon B. Hinckley
Be believing, be happy, don’t get discouraged. Things will work out. Gordon B. Hinckley
God gave us our agency. He taught us a way. He showed us what to do. But he gave us our agency and left us free to act as we choose to do. Gordon B. Hinckley
Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, but with great purpose in heart. Gordon B. Hinckley
I think the world would be much poorer without religion, speaking generally. Gordon B. Hinckley
Mediocrity will never do. You are capable of something better. Gordon B. Hinckley
I promise you that the time will come, if you have tattoos, that you will regret your actions. They cannot be washed off. They are permanent. Only by an expensive and painful process can they be removed. If you are tattooed, then probably for the remainder of your life you will carry it with you. Gordon B. Hinckley
Be grateful, be smart, be clean, be true, be humble, be prayerful. Gordon B. Hinckley
Small aberrations in doctrinal teaching can lead to large and evil falsehoods. Gordon B. Hinckley
You can be smart and happy or stupid and miserable it’s your choice. Gordon B. Hinckley
You can’t build a great building on a weak foundation. You must have a solid foundation if you’re going to have a strong superstructure. Gordon B. Hinckley
The remedy for most marital stress is not in divorce. It is in repentance and forgiveness, in sincere expressions of charity and service. It is not in separation. It is in simple integrity that leads a man and a woman to square up their shoulders and meet their obligations. It is found in the Golden Rule, a time honored principle that should first and foremost find expression in marriage. Gordon B. Hinckley
Every good citizen adds to the strength of a nation. Gordon B. Hinckley
You are good. But it is not enough just to be good. You must be good for something. You must contribute good to the world. The world must be a better place for your presence. And the good that is in you must be spread to others. Gordon B. Hinckley
The major work of the world is not done by geniuses. It is done by ordinary people, with balance in their lives, who have learned to work in an extraordinary manner. Gordon B. Hinckley
Love is the very essence of life. It is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Yet it is not found only at the end of the rainbow. Love is at the beginning also, and from it springs the beauty that arched across the sky on a stormy day. Love is the security for which children weep, the yearning of youth, the adhesive that binds marriage, and the lubricant that prevents devastating friction in the home; it is the peace of old age, the sunlight of hope shining through death. How rich are those who enjoy it in their associations with family, friends, and neighbors! Love, like faith, is a gift of God. It is also the most enduring and most powerful virtue. Gordon B. Hinckley
If every man would make his prime concern the comfort and well being of his wife and every wife make her chief concern the comfort and well being of her husband, we would have very little divorce in the land. Gordon B. Hinckley
Without hard work, nothing grows but weeds. Gordon B. Hinckley
To you wives who are constantly complaining and see only the dark side of life, and feel that you are unloved and unwanted, look into your own hearts and minds. If there is something wrong, turn about. Put a smile on your faces. Make yourselves more attractive. Brighten your outlook. Gordon B. Hinckley
Get on your knees and pray, then get on your feet and work. Gordon B. Hinckley
The whole essence of the Christian religion is based on the atonement of Christ, his death and his resurrection. Gordon B. Hinckley
It is both relaxing and invigorating to occasionally set aside the worries of life, seek the company of a friendly book from the reading of good books there comes a richness of life that can be obtained in no other way. Gordon B. Hinckley
People are looking for stability in a shaky world. They want something they can get hold of that’s firm and sure and an anchor in the midst of all of this instability in which they’re living. Gordon B. Hinckley
If we could follow the slogan that says, Turn off the TV and open a good book we would do something of substance for a future generation. Gordon B. Hinckley
Today is a part of eternity. Gordon B. Hinckley
You can’t plow a field simply by turning it over in your mind. Gordon B. Hinckley
I feel to invite women everywhere to rise to the great potential within you. I do not ask that you reach beyond your capacity. I hope you will not nag yourselves with thoughts of failure. I hope you will not try to set goals far beyond your capacity to achieve. I hope you will simply do what you can do in the best way you know. Gordon B. Hinckley
Do your best, and be a little better than you are. Gordon B. Hinckley
I am satisfied that every man or woman who goes to the temple in a spirit of sincerity and faith leaves the house of the Lord a better man or woman. Gordon B. Hinckley
The time has come for us to stand a little taller, to lift our eyes and stretch our minds to a greater comprehension and understanding of the grand millennial mission of this, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. Gordon B. Hinckley
Parents have no greater responsibility in this world than the bringing up of their children in the right way, and they will have no greater satisfaction as the years pass than to see those children grow in integrity and honesty and make something of their lives. Gordon B. Hinckley
Being humble means recognizing that we are not on earth to see how important we can become, but to see how much difference we can make in the lives of others. Gordon B. Hinckley
The Lord is forgiving, but sometimes life is not forgiving. Gordon B. Hinckley
Gratitude is a sign of maturity. Where there is appreciation there is also courtesy and concern for the rights and property of others. Gordon B. Hinckley
The smallest gesture can mean to much to those who may need a little lift in their lives. Gordon B. Hinckley
I am the last leaf on the tree, and the wind is blowing. Gordon B. Hinckley
There is far too much of divorce, wherein hearts are broken, and sometimes lives are destroyed. Gordon B. Hinckley
How sweet is the assurance, how comforting is the peace that come from the knowledge that if we marry right and live right, our relationship will continue, notwithstanding the certainty of death and the passage of time. Men may write love songs and sing them. They may yearn and hope and dream. But all of this will be only a romantic longing unless there is an exercise of authority that transcends the powers of time and death. Gordon B. Hinckley
Every individual in the church is free to think as he pleases. Gordon B. Hinckley
If we are worried about the future, then we must look today at the upbringing of children. Gordon B. Hinckley
We do not wonder that there is conflict in the world. There is now, and has been from the time that Cain slew Abel, so much of hatred. Gordon B. Hinckley
When I say do your best, I mean your very best. You are capable of so much more. Gordon B. Hinckley
There is no substitute under the heavens for productive labor. It is the process by which dreams become realities. It is the process by which idle visions become dynamic achievements. Gordon B. Hinckley
Imagine how our own families, let alone the world, would change if we vowed to keep faith with one another, strengthen one another, look for and accentuate the virtues in one another, and speak graciously concerning one another. Imagine the cumulative effect if we treated each other with respect and acceptance, if we willingly provided support. Such interactions practiced on a small scale would surely have a rippling effect throughout our homes and communities and, eventually, society at large. Gordon B. Hinckley
I cannot understand why any young man or young woman, for that matter would wish to undergo the painful process of disfiguring the skin with various multicolored representations of people, animals, and various symbols. Gordon B. Hinckley
Work at our responsibility as parents as if everything in life counted on it. Gordon B. Hinckley
It is difficult for me to understand the tragic accounts of troubled marriages that come to me. Gordon B. Hinckley
It is not so much the major events as the small day to day decisions that map the course of our living. Our lives are, in reality, the sum total of our seemingly unimportant decisions and of our capacity to live by those decisions. Gordon B. Hinckley
Jesus said, Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. There are no exceptions. Baptism is a necessary ordinance. Gordon B. Hinckley
There are few things more pathetic than those who have lost their curiosity and sense of adventure, and who no longer care to learn. Gordon B. Hinckley
We live in a world that is filled with filth and sleaze, a world that reeks of evil. You cannot afford that filthy poison to touch you. Stay away from it. Avoid it. Gordon B. Hinckley
God has brought us together as families to bring to pass His eternal purposes. We are part of this plan in this marriage relationship. let us love and respect and honor one another. We can do it, and we will be the better for it. Gordon B. Hinckley
Without hard work, nothing grows but weeds. Gordon B. Hinckley
There is something wonderful about a book. We can pick it up. We can heft it. We can read it. We can set it down. We can think of what we have read. It does something for us. We can share great minds, great actions, and great undertakings in the pages of a book. Gordon B. Hinckley
Life is meant to be enjoyed, not just endured. Gordon B. Hinckley
Through all of living have much joy and laughter, life is to be enjoyed, not just endured. Gordon B. Hinckley
Pray in faith. Gordon B. Hinckley
Marriage in its truest sense, is a partnership of equals, with neither exercising dominion over the other, but, rather, with each encouraging and assisting the other in whatever responsibilities and aspirations he or she might have. Gordon B. Hinckley
Conflict grows out of ignorance and suspicion. Gordon B. Hinckley
I feel to invite women everywhere to rise to the great potential within you. I do not ask that you reach beyond your capacity. I hope you will not nag yourselves with thoughts of failure. I hope you will not try to set goals far beyond your capacity to achieve. I hope you will simply do what you can do in the best way you know. If you do so, you will witness miracles come to pass. Gordon B. Hinckley
A tattoo is graffiti on the temple of the body. Gordon B. Hinckley
Forget yourself and get to work. Gordon B. Hinckley
Some of our finest work comes through service to others. Gordon B. Hinckley
There is something almost sacred about a great library because it represents the preservation of the wisdom, the learning, and the pondering of men and women of all the ages, accumulated under one roof. Gordon B. Hinckley
Eternal vigilance is the price of eternal development. Gordon B. Hinckley
What I am suggesting is that each of us turn from the negativism that permeates our society and look for the remarkable good among those with whom we associate, that we speak of one another’s virtues more than we speak of one another’s faults, that optimism replace pessimism, that our faith exceed our fears. When I was a young man and was prone to speak critically, my father would say Cynics do not contribute, skeptics do not create, doubters do not achieve. Gordon B. Hinckley
Do you feel gloomy? Lift your eyes. Stand on your feet. Say a few words of appreciation and love to the Lord. Be positive. Gordon B. Hinckley
