Howard W. Hunter

Life—every life—has a full share of ups and downs. Indeed, we see many joys and sorrows in the world, many changed plans and new directions, many blessings that do not always look or feel like blessings, and much that humbles us and improves our patience and faith. We have all had those experiences from time to time, and I suppose we always will.

that we might have joy, p. 122

President Kimball refers to closing doors upon certain experiences in life. That image brings to mind a line from Cervantes’ great classic, Don Quixote, that has given me comfort over the years. In that masterpiece, we find the short but very important reminder that where one door closes, another opens. Doors close regularly in our lives, and some of those closings cause genuine pain and heartache. But I do believe that where one such door closes, another opens (and perhaps more than one), with hope and blessings in other areas of our lives that we might not have discovered otherwise.

that we might have joy, p. 123

“For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, ?righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad.” (2 Ne. 2:2,11.) I have taken great comfort over the years in this explanation of some of life’s pain and disappointment. I take even great comfort that the greatest of men and women, including the Son of God, have faced such opposition in order to better understand the contrast between righteousness and wickedness, holiness and misery, good and bad.

that we might have joy, p. 125

Where one door shuts, another opens?. We are not always wise enough nor experienced enough to judge adequately all the possible entries and exits. The mansion that God prepares for each of his beloved children may have only certain hallways and banisters, special carpets and curtains that he would have us pass on our way to possess it.

that we might have joy, p. 126

To the heavy laden, Christ’s yoke gives the power and peace of standing side by side with a God who will provide the support, balance, and the strength to meet our challenges and endure our tasks here in the hardpan field of mortality.

that we might have joy, p. 14

The key is to love our neighbor, including the neighbor who is difficult to love. We need to remember that though we make our friends, God has made our neighbors—everywhere. Love should have no boundary; we should have no narrow loyalties.

that we might have joy, p. 145

Those who are filled with the love of Christ do not seek to force others to do better; they inspire others to do better—indeed, inspire them to the pursuit of God. We need to extend the had of friendship. We need to be kinder, more gentle, more forgiving, and slower to anger. We need to love one another with the pure love of Christ. May this be our course and our desire.

that we might have joy, p. 174

To love one’s neighbor is noble and inspiring, whether the neighbor is one who lives close by or, i n a broader sense, a fellow being of the human race. It stimulates the desire to promote happiness, comfort, interest, and the welfare of others. It creates understanding. The ills of the world would be cured by understanding. Wars would cease and crime would disappear. The scientific knowledge now being wasted in the world because of the distrust of men and nations could be diverted to bless mankind?.

We need more understanding in our relationships, between management and labor, between government and the governed. We need understanding in the most important of all social units, the family; understanding between children and parents and between husband and wife. Marriage would bring happiness, and divorce would be unknown if there were understanding hearts. Hatred tears down, but understanding builds up.

that we might have joy, p. 190

The gospel of Jesus Christ, which gospel we teach and the ordinances of which we perform, is a global faith with an all-embracing message. It is neither confined nor partial nor subject to history or fashion. Its essence is universally and eternally true. Its message is for all the world, restored in these latter days to meet the fundamental needs of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people on the earth.

that we might have joy, p. 58

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ, we seek to bring all truth together. We seek to enlarge the circle of love and understanding among all the people of the earth. Thus we strive to establish peace and happiness, not only within Christianity but among all mankind.

that we might have joy, p. 59

Mormonsim, so called, is a world religion, not simply because its members are now found throughout the world, but chiefly because it has a comprehensive and inclusive message based upon the acceptance of all truth, restored to meet the needs of all mankind. We believe there is a spiritual influence that emanated from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space. (See D&C 88:12.) All human beings share an inheritance of divine light. God operates among his children in all nations, and those who seek God are entitle to further light and knowledge, regardless of their race, nationality, or cultural traditions. Elder Orson F. Whitney, in a conference address, explained that many great religious leaders were inspired. He said: “[God] is using not only his covenant people, but other peoples as well, to consummate a work, stupendous, magnificent, and altogether too arduous for this little handful of Saints to accomplish by and of themselves?.”

that we might have joy, p. 60

The world needs individuals who are willing to step forward and declare themselves. The world needs individuals who will lift the load of responsibility to their shoulders and carry it high under the banner of Jesus Christ.

that we might have joy, p. 65

As members of the Lord’s church, we need to lift our vision beyond personal prejudices. We need to discover the supreme truth that indeed our Father is no respecter of persons. Sometimes we unduly offend brothers and sisters of other nations by assigning exclusiveness to one nationality of people over another.

that we might have joy, p. 74

We can always, even in our darkest hour and most disastrous errors, look to the Son of God and live.

that we might have joy, p. 79

Contrary to what some might say, you have every reason in this world to be happy and to be optimistic and to be confident. Every generation since time began has had some things to overcome and some problems to work out. Furthermore, every individual person has a particular set of challenges that sometimes seem to be earmarked for us personally. We understood that in our premortal existence.

that we might have joy, p. 91

We have more respect for one who honestly doubts than for one who fears to declare loyalty. I have sympathy for young men and women when honest doubts enter their minds and they engage in the great conflict of resolving doubts. These doubts can be resolved, if they have an honest desire to know the truth, by exercising moral, spiritual, and mental effort. They will emerge from the conflict into firmer, stronger, larger faith because of the struggle. They have gone from a simple, trusting faith, through doubt and conflict, into a solid, substantial faith that ripens into testimony.

that we might have joy