Elder Neal A. Maxwell

Quotes By Elder Neal A. Maxwell

Elder Neal A. Maxwell served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from 1981–2004. Among others, Elder Maxwell’s most prominent books are All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience, Not My Will, but Thine and the Neal A. Maxwell Quote Book. Maxwell was known for his great mind and ability to articulate his thoughts elegantly.

“The strait and narrow path, though clearly marked, is a path, not a freeway nor an escalator. Indeed, there are times when the only way the strait and narrow path can be followed is on one’s knees!”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell | “A Brother Offended,” Ensign, May 1982, p. 37

Topics: Prayer

“The submission of one’s will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God’s altar. The many other things we ‘give’… are actually the things He has already given or loaned to us.”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell | “Swallowed Up in the Will of the Father,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 24.

Topics: Eternal Life, Sacrifice, Salvation, Service

“When we pray, we are not conveying any information to God that he does not already have. Nor, when we confess our sins before him, is it news to him that we have misbehaved. More than we realize, being honest with God in our prayers helps us to be more honest with ourselves.”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell

Topics: Forgiveness, Repentance, Sin

“When the real history of mankind is fully disclosed, will it feature the echoes of gunfire or the shaping sound of lullabies? The great armistices made by military men or the peacemaking of women in homes and in neighborhoods? Will what happened in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling than what happened in congresses?”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell | The Women of God

Topics: Mothers & Motherhood, Politics, Women

“Because our lives are foreseen by God, he is never surprised by developments within our lives. The sudden loss of health, wealth, self-esteem, status, or a loved one – developments that may stun us – are foreseen by God, though not necessarily caused by him.”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell

Topics: Nature of God, Patriarchal Blessings

The Lord loves each of us too much to merely let us go on being what we now are, for he knows what we have the possibility to become!

Elder Neal A. Maxwell | “In Him All Things Hold Together”

Topics: Inspirational Quotes, Plan of Salvation, Potential, Salvation, Short Quotes

“People truly matter more than stars do. Despite their longevity, we have never seen an immortal star, but, thanks to Jesus, we are immortal.”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell

Topics: Potential, Worth of Souls

“Petitioning in prayer has taught me, again and again, that the vault of heaven with all its blessings is to be opened only by a combination lock. One tumbler falls when there is faith, a second when there is personal righteousness; the third and final tumbler falls only when what is sought is, in God’s judgment – not ours – right for us. Sometimes we pound on the vault door for something we want very much and wonder why the door does not open. We would be very spoiled children if that vault door opened any more easily than it does. I can tell, looking back, that God truly loves me by inventorying the petitions He has refused to grant me. Our rejected petitions tell us much about ourselves but also much about our flawless Father. By inventorying our insights, from time to time, it will surprise us what the Lord has done in teaching us. What we have learned in the past can help us to persist in the present. By tallying the truths and keeping such before us, we can also avoid lapsed literacy in spiritual things. If we will let Him, the Holy Ghost will bring all the important insights to our remembrance.”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell | “Insights,” New Era, April 1978, p. 6

Topics: Faith, Personal Revelation, Prayer

“Therefore, what we insistently desire over time, is what we will eventually become and what we will receive in eternity.”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell | “According to the Desire of [Our] Hearts,” Conference October 1996

Topics: Change, Diligence, Perfection

“God does not send thunder if a still, small voice is enough.”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell | Ensign, November 1976, p. 14

Topics: Holy Ghost, Spirit