We are in bondage to that which overcomes us. See also 2 Peter 2:19. Neal A. Maxwell More Quotes by Neal A. Maxwell More Quotes From Neal A. Maxwell We are vulnerable if we can be taken by a wave of emotion, invaded by an invidious impulse, roughed up by resentment, or engulfed by a surge of selfishness. Neal A. Maxwell resentmentselfishtaken It is possible to know when, at least basically, we please God. In fact, Joseph Smith taught that one of the conditions of genuine faith is to have "an actual knowledge that the course of life which [one] is pursuing is according to [God's] will." Neal A. Maxwell taughtfaithlife Just as meekness is in all our virtues, so is pride in all our sins. Whatever its momentary and alluring guise, pride is the enemy, "the first of the sins." One reason to be particularly on guard against pride is that "the devilish strategy of Pride is that it attacks us, not in our weakest points, but in our strongest. It is preeminently the sin of the noble mind." Not only of the noble mind, but also of the semi-righteous. Neal A. Maxwell pridemindenemy Therefore, as we strive to become as the Father is and as Jesus is, we are to become more gracious and merciful, more kind and considerate. Even more, we are to do this in a world which does little to encourage such qualities of character. Neal A. Maxwell characterfatherjesus The Book of Mormon is to be feasted upon, not nibbled. Neal A. Maxwell book The mortal experience . . . is not like a college course which we can passively audit. Instead, we are taking life's course for credit and there are no summers off - not even semester breaks. Neal A. Maxwell collegesummerlife . . . just as God cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance, as we become more like Him, neither can we. The best people have a heightened awareness of what little of the worst is still in them! Indeed, the divine discontent, the justifiable spiritual restlessness that we feel, is a natural follow-on feeling in the disciple who has taken the Lord's counsel to "make you a new heart and a new spirit." (Ezekiel 18:31.) Neal A. Maxwell takenspiritualheart When one comes to know God and His Son Jesus Christ through the scriptures, the Spirit, and personal revelation, it is impossible to feel anything other than overwhelmed by the attributes so perfectly developed in them and so tentatively and superficially developed in oneself. Even so, we are told to strive to become like them. Neal A. Maxwell scripturesonjesus There are also flat periods in life which may well be the periods during which-before new lessons come- the past lessons of life are allowed to seep, quietly and deeply, into the marrow of the soul. These outwardly flat periods, when enduring well may not seem very purposeful,, are probably the times when needed attitudinal alignments are quietly occurring. Neal A. Maxwell life-lessonsoulpast There are certain mortal moments and minutes that matter. Certain hingepoints in the history of each human. Some seconds are so decisive they shrink the soul, while others are spent, so as to stretch the soul. Neal A. Maxwell choicessoulmatter We must endure the contempt of others without reciprocating that contempt. Neal A. Maxwell endurecontempt At the center of our agency is our freedom to form a healthy attitude toward whatever circumstances we are placed in! Neal A. Maxwell adversityfreedomattitude I am as I am, And so is a stone; Them that don't like me, Must leave me alone. Neal A. Maxwell dont-like-mestonesleave-me-alone The charity of good women is such that their 'love makes no parade'; they are not glad 'when others go wrong'; they are too busy serving to sit statusfully about, waiting to be offended. Neal A. Maxwell good-womancharitywaiting Our God does not indulge us, but He is merciful toward our weaknesses as He strives to tutor us. Neal A. Maxwell striveweaknessdoe The acceptance of the reality that we are in the Lord's loving hands is only a recognition that we have never really been anywhere else. Neal A. Maxwell acceptancehandsreality We can be walking witnesses and standing sermons to which objective onlookers can say a quiet amen. Neal A. Maxwell amenwitnessquiet It's service, not status, that counts. Neal A. Maxwell True discipleship is for volunteers only. Only volunteers will trust the Guide sufficiently to follow Him in the dangerous ascent which only He can lead. Neal A. Maxwell ascentvolunteerguides Empathy during agony is a portion of divinity. Neal A. Maxwell divinityagonyempathy
