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.

“True faith is not to be brought about by overwhelming and intimidating intervention from God”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell | “Not My Will, But Thine.” Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988.

Topics: Faith, Miracles, Work

“The less love, the less service.”

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

Topics: Charity, Love, Service

“Jacob, in 2 Nephi 9:41, in speaking of the straight and narrow, reminds us that ‘the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel’ and that Jesus ‘employeth no servant there.’ The emphasis rightly is on the fact that Jesus ‘cannot be deceived.’ There is another dimension of reassurance, too: not only will the ultimate judgment not be delegated in order to serve the purposes of divine justice, but also divine mercy can best be applied by him who knows these things what only he can know.”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell | For the Power Is in Them (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1970), 37.

Topics: Final Judgement, Justice, Mercy

“Real hope is much more than wishful musing. Hope is realistic anticipation taking the form of determination – a determination not merely to survive but to “endure . . . well” to the end. In the geometry of restored theology, hope has a greater circumference than faith. If faith increases, the perimeter of hope stretches correspondingly. Hope keeps us “anxiously engaged” in good causes even when these appear to be losing causes. 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. Whatever our particular furrow, we are to “plow in hope,” without looking back or letting yesterday hold tomorrow hostage.”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell | Ensign, November 1994

Topics: Faith, Hope, Work

“Whether young or old, we need to be good friends, but also to pick our friends carefully. By choosing the Lord first, choosing one’s friends becomes easier and much safer. Consider the contrasting friendships in the city of Enoch compared to peers in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah! The citizens of the city of Enoch chose Jesus and a way of life, then became everlasting friends. So much depends on whom and what we seek first.”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell

Topics: Friendship, Secularism (Worldliness), Wisdom

“In the end, if you have not chosen Jesus Christ, it will not matter what you have chosen.”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell

Topics: Jesus Christ

“We are so busy constantly checking our own temperatures, we fail to notice the burning fevers of others.”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell

Topics: Happiness, Service

In the same vein, God’s second commandment, love thy neighbor, clearly leaves no room for racism.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell | "Deny Yourselves of All Ungodliness”

Topics: Race & Racism

“We could not learn love in the abstract any more than we could learn patience and the other cardinal virtues. Just as we cannot know the “fellowship of his sufferings” without suffering, we also come to know real fellowship with our fellowmen only by serving them.”

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

Topics: Service, Trials

“Christ’s Atonement, being the central act of human history, benefits super-sinners, sinners, and all of us makers of mistakes. Taking up the cross daily, rather than quarterly or semi-annually, helps us in the isometrics of discipleship.”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell

Topics: Atonement, Discipleship