Thomas S. Monson Quotes

Powerful Thomas S. Monson for Daily Growth

About Thomas S. Monson

Thomas Spencer Monson (1920-2018) was an American religious leader, serving as the 16th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 2008 until his death in 2018. Born on August 21, 1920, in Salt Lake City, Utah, Monson was the son of Gareth and Gladyce Condie Monson. He grew up in a devout LDS family and developed an early interest in church service. Monson attended the University of Utah but left before graduating to serve as a missionary for the LDS Church in Canada from 1938 to 1940. This missionary experience significantly influenced his life, fostering a deep love for sharing the gospel and serving others. After returning from his mission, he finished his education at the LDS Business College and Brigham Young University. In 1948, Monson married Frances Beverly Johnson, with whom he had three children. Throughout his life, family was a significant source of inspiration for him. He held numerous church callings and became well-known within the LDS community. In 1963, Monson was called as an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, a position he held for over five decades until his appointment as the President in 2008. As the president of the LDS Church, Thomas S. Monson was known for his compassionate leadership and emphasis on service and charity. He authored several books, including "The Promise of Chastity," "The Atonement of Jesus Christ," and "Lessons from the Life of George Washington." His quotes, drawn from these works and countless sermons, continue to inspire Latter-day Saints worldwide: - "May we ever choose the higher way—not because it is easy most of the time, but because it is right." - "Happiness is a byproduct of living Christian principles." - "I testify that God lives. He loves His children. He hears and answers prayers." Thomas S. Monson passed away on January 2, 2018, leaving behind a legacy of faith, service, and love within the LDS Church and beyond.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"May we have the courage to stand for what we believe is right, and may our beliefs be influenced more by what we know than by what we want to be true."

This quote emphasizes the importance of standing firmly by one's convictions and making decisions based on factual knowledge rather than personal desires or biases. In other words, it encourages individuals to have the courage to uphold truth and righteousness, not simply what might seem appealing or convenient. The implication is that a life guided by genuine understanding and knowledge will lead to a more authentic and fulfilling existence.


"Discouragement and fear too often leave their unwelcome footprints along the path of life. May each of us look for the good in our brothers and sisters rather than the faults."

This quote by Thomas S. Monson encourages empathy, understanding, and kindness amidst adversity. He suggests that instead of focusing on the flaws or mistakes of others, we should strive to find and appreciate their good qualities. By doing so, we can foster a more harmonious and supportive environment in our personal and professional relationships, reducing discouragement and fear. This perspective not only benefits those around us but also contributes positively to our own emotional well-being.


"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."

This quote by Thomas S. Monson emphasizes the resilience, perseverance, and optimism necessary for achieving success in life. It suggests that true success isn't about avoiding failures or setbacks; rather, it is about maintaining an unwavering enthusiasm even after experiencing numerous failures. The ability to pick oneself up and keep going, rather than becoming discouraged by obstacles along the way, ultimately leads to long-term achievement and fulfillment. In essence, the quote underscores that success is a journey marked by resilience and a positive attitude in the face of adversity.


"The greatest lesson in all things is to love, and those who learn this lesson are rich indeed."

This quote emphasizes that the fundamental essence of life lies in love. It suggests that the capacity to love, not just in romantic or familial sense, but in a broader context - towards oneself, others, and the world at large - is the most valuable lesson one can learn. The richness derived from this lesson is immeasurable as it fosters understanding, empathy, compassion, and happiness, ultimately enriching our lives.


"It's not our job to love Conditions or Circumstances. Love is a verb. Verbs are action words. So, love the person, love without conditions, love unconditionally."

This quote by Thomas S. Monson emphasizes that love is an action, not a passive emotion. It suggests that we should focus our love on people rather than on specific conditions or circumstances in their lives. The idea of "unconditional love" means loving someone regardless of their actions, flaws, or the situation they are in. In essence, the quote encourages us to actively show compassion, kindness, and care towards individuals, and not let external factors limit our capacity for empathy and affection.


Choose your friends with caution; plan your future with purpose, and frame your life with faith.

- Thomas S. Monson

Future, Purpose, Choose, Faith

Each heartfelt prayer, each Church meeting attended, each worthy friend, each righteous decision, each act of service perfomed all precede that goal of eternal life.

- Thomas S. Monson

Goal, Righteous, Attended, Worthy

Should doubt knock at your doorway, just say to those skeptical, disturbing, rebellious thoughts, I propose to stay with my faith, with the faith of my people.

- Thomas S. Monson

Thoughts, Doubt, Knock, Rebellious

The spirit of Christmas is the spirit of love and of generosity and of goodness. It illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world's busy life and become more interested in people than in things.

- Thomas S. Monson

Love, Christmas, Illuminates, Generosity

The priesthood is not really so much a gift as it is a commission to serve, a privilege to lift, and an opportunity to bless the lives of others.

- Thomas S. Monson

Opportunity, Gift, Lives, Priesthood

I hope with all my heart and soul that every young man who receives the priesthood will honor that priesthood and be true to the trust which is conveyed when it is conferred. May each of us who holds the priesthood of God know what he believes.

- Thomas S. Monson

Trust, Soul, Young, Priesthood

As I approached my 18th birthday and prepared to enter military service in World War II, I was recommended to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood.

- Thomas S. Monson

Birthday, Prepared, Receive, Priesthood

Many years ago, it was my opportunity to serve as president of the Canadian Mission. There we had a branch with very limited priesthood. We always had a missionary presiding over the branch. I received a strong impression that we needed to have a member of the branch preside there.

- Thomas S. Monson

Strong, Needed, Very, Priesthood

Never delay a prompting. When you honor a prompting and then stand back a pace, you realize that the Lord gave you the prompting. It makes me feel good that the Lord even knows who I am and knows me well enough to know that if He has an errand to be run, and He prompts me to run the errand, the errand will get done.

- Thomas S. Monson

Honor, Lord, Errand, Delay

May I always be found 'on the Lord's errand.'

- Thomas S. Monson

Always, Found, May, Errand

The principles of living greatly include the capacity to face trouble with courage, disappointment with cheerfulness, and trial with humility.

- Thomas S. Monson

Great, Face, Include, Trial

Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God's approval.

- Thomas S. Monson

Smile, Approval, Brings, Compromise

Amidst the confusion of the times, the conflicts of conscience, and the turmoil of daily living, an abiding faith becomes an anchor to our lives.

- Thomas S. Monson

Living, Conscience, Lives, Turmoil

Work will win when wishy washy wishing won t.

- Thomas S. Monson

Work, Will, T, Wishing

I urge you to hold fast to your standards. I plead with you not to waver.

- Thomas S. Monson

Fast, Standards, Waver, Plead

I remember that our deportment in Primary was not always as it should be. I had a lot of energy and found it difficult to sit patiently in a class.

- Thomas S. Monson

I Remember, Always, Had, Patiently

The sweetest feeling you can have in this world is to feel the hand of the Lord upon your shoulder. In my patriarchal blessing as a boy, I was promised that I would have the gift of discernment. I have to acknowledge that such a declaration has been abundantly fulfilled in my life.

- Thomas S. Monson

Gift, My Life, Been, Shoulder

In reality, we are all travelers - even explorers of mortality.

- Thomas S. Monson

Reality, Mortality, Even, Explorers

My brothers and sisters, true love is a reflection of the Savior's love. In December of each year we call it the Christmas spirit. You can hear it. You can see it. You can feel it.

- Thomas S. Monson

Love, Reflection, Christmas, Savior

What will you and I give for Christmas this year? Let us in our lives give to our Lord and Savior the gift of gratitude by living His teachings and following in His footsteps.

- Thomas S. Monson

Gift, Christmas, Give, Savior

Finding the real joy of Christmas comes not in the hurrying and the scurrying to get more done, nor is it found in the purchasing of gifts. We find real joy when we make the Savior the focus of the season.

- Thomas S. Monson

Christmas, More, Purchasing, Savior

The drive was brief and the conversation limited, but oh, what a legacy of love! Father never read to me from the Bible about the good Samaritan. Rather, he took me with him and Uncle Elias in that old 1928 Oldsmobile and provided a living lesson I have always remembered.

- Thomas S. Monson

Love, Legacy, Rather, Conversation

I am certain that the Lord, who notes the fall of a sparrow, looks with compassion upon those who have been called upon to part, even temporarily, from their precious children.

- Thomas S. Monson

Precious, Been, Notes, Temporarily

When you see people your own age afflicted and experiencing life-threatening illnesses, I think it prompts you to apply to yourself the philosophy, 'I want to do the best I know how to do every day.'

- Thomas S. Monson

Own, I Think, Illnesses, Life-Threatening

Do not pray for tasks equal to your abilities, but pray for abilities equal to your tasks. Then the performance of your tasks will be no miracle, but you will be the miracle.

- Thomas S. Monson

Performance, Pray For, Equal, Tasks

We should strive for steadiness, and for a commitment to God that does not ebb and flow with the years or the crises of our lives.

- Thomas S. Monson

Ebb, Crises, Lives, Flow

I testify that this work in which we're engaged is the Lord's work. I've felt His sustaining influence.

- Thomas S. Monson

Engaged, Sustaining, Which, Testify

The way to be with God in every season is to strive to be near Him every week and each day.

- Thomas S. Monson

God, Week, Strive, Season

There is no better time than now, this very Christmas season, for all of us to rededicate ourselves to the principles taught by Jesus the Christ. It is the time to love the Lord, our God, with all our heart - and our neighbors as ourselves.

- Thomas S. Monson

Love, Christmas, Very, Season

There is absolutely nothing in this world that will provide more comfort and happiness than a testimony of the truth.

- Thomas S. Monson

Will, Absolutely Nothing, Testimony

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