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.

“If we are serious about our discipleship, Jesus will eventually request each of us to do those very things which are most difficult for us to do.”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell

Topics: Discipleship, Trials

Future revelations, brothers and sisters, will include astounding events as well as great and important truths. So much so, that Moses’ and Israel’s exulting song after safely crossing the Red Sea (see Ex. 15) and the Prophet Joseph’s 1842 litany will gladly give way to the crescendo of glorious events associated with Christ’s coming in majesty and power.

The valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman will ring again – this time with the sounds of dispensational reunion, as it glows with gathering (see Dan. 7:13-14; D&C 107:53-57; D&C 116:1)! Those of Enoch’s utterly unique city of “one heart” will greet those of the New Zion with holy embraces and holy kisses amid the sounds of sweet sobbing (see Moses 7:62–63)! The “hills shall tremble” at the presence of the lost tribes, and hearts, as well as ice, will melt, as they come “filled with songs of everlasting joy” (see D&C 133:26–33).

And it will all occur at the direction of the “Redeemer of Israel, our only delight.” Hence, “as children of Zion, good tidings for us. . . . The hour of redemption is near” (Hymns, 1985, no. 6)

Elder Neal A. Maxwell | “God Will Yet Reveal,” Ensign, November 1986

Topics: The Second Coming

Imperfect people are, in fact, called by our perfect Lord to assist in His work. The Lord declared to certain associates of Joseph Smith that He knew that they had observed Joseph’s minor imperfections. Even so, the Lord then testified that the revelations given through the Prophet were true! (See D&C 67:5, 9.)

Unsurprisingly, therefore, we do notice each other’s weaknesses. But we should not celebrate them. Let us be grateful for the small strides that we and others make, rather than rejoice in the shortfalls. And when mistakes occur, let them become instructive, not destructive.

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

Topics: Forgiveness, Joseph Smith

“The laughter of the world is merely loneliness pathetically trying to reassure itself.”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell | The Neal A. Maxwell Quote Book

Topics: Loneliness, Secularism (Worldliness), Sin

“In the physical eye, an astigmatism occurs when light fails to converge or focus on a single point. No wonder some, unfocused, are forever ‘looking beyond the mark.'”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell

Topics: Discipleship

“Disciples, like diamonds, are developed in a process of time and heavy pressures, and both the disciple and the diamond reflect and magnify the light that comes through them.”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell | Wherefore, Ye Must Press Forward, p. 125

Topics: Discipleship

When spiritually aligned, a poise can come, even when we do not know “the meaning of all things.” (1 Ne. 11:17) Such contented assurance produces not arrogance but quiet acceptance, which is its own form of being “anxiously engaged” but without all the bells and whistles (D&C 58:27; see also D&C 58:28).

However, this spiritual contentment rests on our accepting the Atonement of Jesus, because we “have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world” (Mosiah 4:6).

Again, brothers and sisters, seeing Alma move from wanting to be a “trump” to being a humble “instrument” and from wanting to “shake the earth” to “perhaps [bringing] some soul to repentance” is a stunning transition! (See Alma 29:1.) Furthermore, isn’t it wonderful that we are permitted to grow, whether that growth is expressed in the space of nine verses or in a lifetime?

Elder Neal A. Maxwell | “Content with the Things Allotted unto Us,” Ensign, May 2000, p. 72

Topics: Atonement, Repentance

“Perfect love is perfectly patient.”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell | All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience

Topics: Love, Patience

“To boast ‘I can handle it’ without any inner meekness is to set oneself up for failure. The adversary doubtless noses any superficial boasts by women and men alike. Because he was and is so perfectly meek and lowly, Jesus submitted his will to the Father’s will. For us, truly doing likewise may seem so out of reach, partly because we ironically insist on attaching hindering conditions to our submission. There is too much hesitance and holding back.”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell

Topics: Failure, Humility

“Daily hope is vital, since the “Winter Quarters” of our lives are not immediately adjacent to our promised land… Those with true hope often see their personal circumstances shaken, like kaleidoscopes, again and again. Yet with the “eye of faith,” they still see divine pattern and purpose.”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell | Brightness of Hope, Ensign, Nov. 1994

Topics: Hope, Trials