Thomas S. Monson

Quotes By Thomas S. Monson

Thomas S. Monson was an Apostle and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as the 16th President of the Church from 2008 until his death in 2018. He was known for his emphasis on service, love and compassion, and his emphasis on strengthening families.

Thomas S. Monson

“Let us have the courage to defy the consensus, the courage to stand for principle. Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God’s approval. Courage becomes a living and an attractive virtue when it is regarded not only as a willingness to die manfully, but also as a determination to live decently. A moral coward is one who is afraid to do what he thinks is right because others will disapprove or laugh. Remember that all men have their fears, but those who face their fears with dignity have courage as well.”

Thomas S. Monson  |  The Call for Courage

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Thomas S. Monson

“I hope that you are not afraid of tough classes. I never did have a ‘cinch’ class. … You simply have to apply yourself. I hope that you want to be so well equipped that you can compete in this competitive world. I hope that you will learn to take responsibility for your decisions, whether they be in your courses of study which you elect to take, or whether they be in the direction of the academic attainments which you strive to achieve.

“My young brothers and sisters, don’t take counsel of your fears. Don’t say to yourselves, ‘I’m not wise enough, or I can’t apply myself sufficiently well to study this difficult subject or in this difficult field, so I shall choose the easier way.’ I plead with you to tax your talent, and our Heavenly Father will make you equal to those decisions.”

Thomas S. Monson

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Thomas S. Monson

“I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not.”

Thomas S. Monson  |  "Finding Joy in the Journey"

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Thomas S. Monson

“We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues.”

Thomas S. Monson  |  "An Attitude of Gratitude"

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Thomas S. Monson

“In the game of life a second effort is often required. The happy life is not ushered in at any age to the sound of drums and trumpets. It grows upon us year by year, little by little, until at last we realize that we have it. It is achieved in individuals not by flights to the moon or Mars, but by a body of work done so well that we can lift our heads with assurance and look the world in the eye. Of this be sure: You do not find the happy life . . . you make it.”

Thomas S. Monson  |  “Faces and Attitudes,” New Era, September 1977

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Thomas S. Monson

“To be angry is to yield to the influence of Satan. No one can make us angry. It is our choice.”

Thomas S. Monson  |  "School Thy Feelings, O My Brother"

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Thomas S. Monson

“Faith precedes the miracle. It has ever been so and shall ever be. It was not raining when Noah was commanded to build an ark. There was no visible ram in the thicket when Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac. Two heavenly personages were not yet seen when Joseph knelt and prayed. First came the test of faith – and then the miracle. Remember that faith and doubt cannot exist in the same mind at the same time, for one will dispel the other. Cast out doubt. Cultivate faith.”

Thomas S. Monson  |  “The Call to Serve,” Ensign, Nov. 2000, pp. 48-49

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Thomas S. Monson

“It is not enough to want to make the effort and to say we’ll make the effort. We must actually make the effort. It’s in the doing, not just the thinking, that we accomplish our goals.”

Thomas S. Monson  |  A Royal Priesthood

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Thomas S. Monson

“Your Heavenly Father loves you—each of you. That love never changes. It is not influenced by your appearance, by your possessions, or by the amount of money you have in your bank account. It is not changed by your talents and abilities. It is simply there. It is there for you when you are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful. God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve love. It is simply always there.”

Thomas S. Monson

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Thomas S. Monson
“Our task is to become our best selves. One of God’s greatest gifts to us is the joy of trying again, for no failure ever need be final.”

Thomas S. Monson  |  "The Will Within"

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