Elder John A. Widtsoe said…Elder John A. Widtsoe said…

Men who attain Men who attain true greatness true greatness adhere carefully adhere carefully to fundamental, to fundamental, guiding guiding principles.”principles.”

“Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”

Aristotle384-322 B.C.

““Let us be better...”Let us be better...”

“Let us counsel with the Lord in all our undertakings. Let us be better neighbors. Let us be better employers and employees. Let us be men and women of integrity and honesty in business, in education, in government, in the professions, whatever is our place in life.”

President Gordon B. Hinckley

"Latter-day Saints in Very Deed,“ Ensign, Nov. 1997, 85

George Q. Cannon, former member George Q. Cannon, former member of the First Presidency said…of the First Presidency said…

““Speaking Speaking generally, a plan or generally, a plan or a policy that may be a policy that may be inferior in some inferior in some respects is more respects is more effective, if men are effective, if men are united upon it, than united upon it, than a better plan would a better plan would be upon which they be upon which they wereweredivided.”divided.”

Powerful Promise Number 33 from “101 PowerfulPowerful Promise Number 33 from “101 PowerfulPromises from Latter-Day Prophets by Wayne E. BrickeyPromises from Latter-Day Prophets by Wayne E. Brickey

The following was quoted by President Harold B. The following was quoted by President Harold B. Lee in the April 1971 General Conference, in an Lee in the April 1971 General Conference, in an address entitled “The Iron Rod”address entitled “The Iron Rod”

“The late President Dwight D. Eisenhower wrote this: ‘Any man who does his work well, who is justifiably self-confident and not unduly disturbed by the jeers of the cynics and the shirkers, any man who stays true to decent motives and is considerate of others is, in essence, a leader. Whether or not he is ever singled out for prominence, he is bound to achieve great inner satisfaction in turning out superior work.

‘And that, by the way, is what the good Lord put us on this earth for.’”

(“What Is Leadership?” Reader’s Digest, June 1965, p. 54.)

Who said this?Who said this?

“That which we persist in doing becomes easier, not that the task itself has become easier, but that our ability to perform it has improved. “

Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson

"While waiting for "While waiting for promised blessings, one promised blessings, one should not mark time, for should not mark time, for to fail to move forward is to to fail to move forward is to some degree a some degree a retrogression. Be anxiously retrogression. Be anxiously engaged in good causes, engaged in good causes, including your own including your own development."development."

——Howard W. HunterHoward W. HunterTeachings of Howard W. Teachings of Howard W. HunterHunter

President Joseph F. Smith on Leadership

“Leaders must be courageous. One of the highest qualities of all true leadership is a high standard of courage. When we speak of courage and leadership we are using terms that stand for the quality of life by which men determine consciously the proper course to pursue and stand with fidelity to their convictions. There has never been a time in the Church when its leaders were not required to be courageous men; not alone courageous in the sense that they were able to meet physical dangers, but also in the sense that they were steadfast and true to a clear and upright conviction.

Leaders of the Church, then, should be men not easily discouraged, not without hope, and not given to forebodings of all sorts of evils to come. Above all things the leaders of the people should never disseminate a spirit of gloom in the hearts of the people. If men standing in high places sometimes feel the weight and anxiety of momentous times, they should be all the more firmer and all the more resolute in those convictions which come from a God-fearing conscience and pure lives.”

Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, page 155

What does it mean to “learn by What does it mean to “learn by faith?” President Harold B. Lee faith?” President Harold B. Lee offered this explanation…offered this explanation…

“Let no one think that ‘learning by faith’ contemplates an easy or lazy way to gain knowledge and ripen it into wisdom. From heavenly instructions and added to which are the experiences of almost anyone who has sought diligently for heavenly guidance, one may readily understand that learning by faith requires the bending of the whole soul through worthy living to become attuned to the Holy Spirit of the Lord, the calling up from the depths of one’s own mental searching, and the linking of our own efforts to receive the true witness of the Spirit.” (italics added)

“The Iron Rod”, Ensign, June 1971

““If we can pattern our life If we can pattern our life after the Master, and take after the Master, and take his teachings and example his teachings and example as the supreme pattern for as the supreme pattern for our own, we will not find it our own, we will not find it difficult to be consistent difficult to be consistent and loyal in every walk of and loyal in every walk of life, for we will be life, for we will be committed to a single, committed to a single, sacred standard of conduct sacred standard of conduct and belief."and belief."

Howard W. HunterHoward W. HunterEnsignEnsign, May 1990, May 1990

A wise man will hear, and will increase learningProverbs 1:5Proverbs 1:5

Whoso loveth instruction Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledgeloveth knowledgeProverbs 12:1Proverbs 12:1

Wisdom from the Old Testament

In the April 2004 General Conference In the April 2004 General Conference President Monson said this about President Monson said this about decisions and courage.decisions and courage.

"Life's journey is not traveled "Life's journey is not traveled on a freeway devoid of on a freeway devoid of obstacles, pitfalls, and snares. obstacles, pitfalls, and snares. Rather, it is a pathway marked Rather, it is a pathway marked by forks and turnings.by forks and turnings.

Decisions are constantly before Decisions are constantly before

us. To make them wisely, us. To make them wisely, courage is needed: the courage courage is needed: the courage to say, 'No,' the courage to say, to say, 'No,' the courage to say, 'Yes,' Decisions do determine 'Yes,' Decisions do determine destiny. The call for courage destiny. The call for courage comes constantly to each of us. comes constantly to each of us. It has ever been so, and so shall It has ever been so, and so shall it ever be."it ever be."

"The Call for Courage," "The Call for Courage," EnsignEnsign, May , May 20042004

"Fix your attention on your...goals and never look back on your earlier problems... Our energies should be focused not behind us but ahead of us..."

Howard W. HunterEnsign, May 1987

"It is better to be alone than in bad company."—Joseph SmithRules of Behavior for Youth

Elder W. Rolfe Kerr, Commissioner of Elder W. Rolfe Kerr, Commissioner of Church Education offered the following Church Education offered the following recipe for successrecipe for success

“KNOW more than is expected. DO more than is expected. BE more than is expected.”

BYU-Idaho College of Business

& Communication Convocation

23 April 2005

President Gregory Moeller, President of the Rexburg Idaho East Stake said,

“When expectations areraised, performance increases.”Rexburg Idaho East Stake Conference22 May 2005

Additional thoughts from President Additional thoughts from President Gregory Moeller, Rexburg Idaho East Gregory Moeller, Rexburg Idaho East Stake presidentStake president

“Zion is not something that is built brickby brick. So, then, how do we build Zion?It is done one heart at a time.” (italics added)

Rexburg Idaho East Stake Conference22 May 2005

How can you apply this counsel in a professional setting?

President Benson offered this wise counsel on President Benson offered this wise counsel on being patient with ourselves…being patient with ourselves…

“We must be careful, as we seek to become more and more godlike, that we do not become discouraged and lose hope. Becoming Christlike is a lifetime pursuit and very often involves growth and change that is slow…”

Ensign, October 1989

“True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior.”

General Conference, April 2004

Consider this insightful instruction Consider this insightful instruction from President Boyd K. Packerfrom President Boyd K. Packer

President Gordon B. Hinckley on President Gordon B. Hinckley on maintaining our standards...maintaining our standards...

…"While standards generally may totter, we of the Church are without excuse if we drift in the same manner. We have standards--sure, tested, and effective. To the extent that we observe them, we shall go forward. To the extent that we neglect them, we shall hinder our own progress and bring embarrassment to the work of the Lord."

"Pursue the Steady Course," Ensign, January 2005, 4

““If we can pattern our life after the If we can pattern our life after the Master, and take his teachings Master, and take his teachings and example as the supreme and example as the supreme pattern for our own, we will not pattern for our own, we will not find it difficult to be consistent and find it difficult to be consistent and loyal in every walk of life, for we loyal in every walk of life, for we will be committed to a single, will be committed to a single, sacred standard of conduct and sacred standard of conduct and belief."belief."

Howard W. HunterHoward W. HunterEnsignEnsign, May 1990, May 1990

President James E. Faust on paying the President James E. Faust on paying the price for success…price for success…

"I have spoken at some length about things you "I have spoken at some length about things you don't want to happen to you. Now let's consider don't want to happen to you. Now let's consider some of the good things that you do want to some of the good things that you do want to happen to you. If you are willing to pay the price happen to you. If you are willing to pay the price for success, good things, even great things, can for success, good things, even great things, can happen to you, even beyond your fondest happen to you, even beyond your fondest dreams and expectations! Often we do not have dreams and expectations! Often we do not have even a glimpse of our potential for happiness and even a glimpse of our potential for happiness and accomplishment in this life and in eternity accomplishment in this life and in eternity because, as the Apostle Paul said, 'Now we see because, as the Apostle Paul said, 'Now we see through a glass, darkly.' But the lens can be through a glass, darkly.' But the lens can be lightened and become crystal clear through the lightened and become crystal clear through the influence of the Holy Ghost."influence of the Holy Ghost."

"It Can't Happen to Me," Ensign, May 2002, 46"It Can't Happen to Me," Ensign, May 2002, 46

Referring to the students of BYU-Idaho Referring to the students of BYU-Idaho Elder Bednar quoted Elder George Q. Elder Bednar quoted Elder George Q. Cannon on August 27, 2002Cannon on August 27, 2002

““God has reserved spirits for this God has reserved spirits for this dispensation who have the courage and dispensation who have the courage and determination to face the world and all determination to face the world and all the powers of the evil one, visible and the powers of the evil one, visible and invisible…to proclaim the Gospel and invisible…to proclaim the Gospel and maintain the truth and establish and build maintain the truth and establish and build up the Zion of our God fearless of all up the Zion of our God fearless of all consequences. He has sent these spirits consequences. He has sent these spirits in this generation to lay the foundation of in this generation to lay the foundation of Zion never more to be overthrown…and Zion never more to be overthrown…and to raise up a seed that will honor God to raise up a seed that will honor God and honor him supremely and and honor him supremely and be be obedient to Him under all obedient to Him under all circumstances.” circumstances.” (emphasis added)(emphasis added)

Journal of Discourses, 11:230, May 6, 1866Journal of Discourses, 11:230, May 6, 1866

Consider this counsel from Pres. Hinckley…Consider this counsel from Pres. Hinckley…

“ “It is so important that you young men and you It is so important that you young men and you young women get all of the education that you young women get all of the education that you can. The Lord has said very plainly that His can. The Lord has said very plainly that His people are to gain knowledge of countries and people are to gain knowledge of countries and kingdoms and of things of the world through kingdoms and of things of the world through the process of education, even by study and the process of education, even by study and by faith. Education is the key which will by faith. Education is the key which will unlock the door of opportunity for you. It is unlock the door of opportunity for you. It is worth sacrificing for. It is worth working at, worth sacrificing for. It is worth working at, and if you educate your mind and your hands, and if you educate your mind and your hands, you will be able to make a great contribution to you will be able to make a great contribution to the society of which you are a part, and you the society of which you are a part, and you will be able to reflect honorably on the Church will be able to reflect honorably on the Church of which you are a member. My dear young of which you are a member. My dear young brothers and sisters, take advantage of every brothers and sisters, take advantage of every educational opportunity that you can possibly educational opportunity that you can possibly afford…”afford…”

Ensign – June 1999, page 4Ensign – June 1999, page 4

““The only thing that is The only thing that is necessary for the necessary for the triumph of evil is for triumph of evil is for good men to do good men to do nothing.”nothing.”

Edmund Burke, 1729-97Writer, Lawyer, Politician

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.

““True genius lies not in True genius lies not in doing extraordinary doing extraordinary things, but in doing things, but in doing ordinary things in an ordinary things in an extraordinaryextraordinaryway.”way.”

Major General Louis H. WilsonMajor General Louis H. WilsonU.S. marine corps, retired andU.S. marine corps, retired andMedal of honor holderMedal of honor holder

Does this sound Does this sound familiar?familiar?

"One can be sincerely "One can be sincerely grateful for his major grateful for his major blessings but regularly blessings but regularly murmur over minor murmur over minor irritations. One can have irritations. One can have humility that is humility that is hierarchical: being hierarchical: being humble up, but not humble up, but not humble down. Enduring humble down. Enduring large tests while failing large tests while failing the seemingly small the seemingly small quizzes just won’t do."quizzes just won’t do."

Elder Neal A. MaxwellElder Neal A. MaxwellEnsignEnsign, November 1997, November 1997

COLIN POWELL'S RULES

1. It ain't as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning. 2. Get mad, then get over it. 3. Avoid having your ego so close to your position that, when

your position falls, your ego goes with it. 4. It can be done! 5. Be careful what you choose, you may get it. 6. Don't let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision. 7. You can't make someone else's choices. You shouldn't let

someone else make yours. 8. Check small things. 9. Share credit. 10. Remain calm. Be kind. 11. Have a vision. Be demanding. 12. Don't take counsel of your fears or naysayers. 13. Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.

AIR FORCE Magazine / March 1991

Colin PowellFormer Chairmanof the Joint Chiefs and Secretary of State