Perspective

Talks

Quotes

Stephen Covey once said, “Most of us think we see the world as it is, but I believe this is not the case.  We each see not with the eye but with the soul.  Each person sees the world not as it is but as he or she is.  When he opens his mouth to describe what he sees, he in effect describes himself, that is, his perception.  Each person’s interpretation of the facts represents his prior experiences, and the facts have no meaning whatsoever apart from this interpretation.”

Sydney J. Harris;

The art of living successfully consists of being able to hold two opposite ideas in tension at the same time; first, to make long-term plans as if we were going to live forever; and second, to conduct ourselves daily as if we were going to die tomorrow. – Field Newspaper Syndicate

Neal A. Maxwell said, “It is very important that we not assume the perspectives of mortality in making the decisions that bear on eternity!  We need the perspectives of the gospel to make decisions in the context of eternity.  We need to understand we cannot do the Lord’s work in the world’s way.

Spencer W. Kimball once said, “If we looked at mortality as the whole of existence, then pain, sorrow, failure, and a short life would be a calamity.  But if we look upon life as an eternal thing stretching far into the premortal past and on into the eternal post-death future, then all happenings may be put in proper perspective.”

Elder Dallin H. Oaks declared, “Seen with the perspective of eternity, a temporal setback can be an opportunity to develop soul power of eternal significance.  Strength is forged in adversity.  Faith is developed in a setting where we cannot see what lies ahead.”

“When compared to eternal verities, the questions of daily living are really rather trivial.  What shall we have for dinner?  Is there a good movie playing tonight?  Have you seen the television log?  Where shall we go on Saturday?  These questions pale in their significance when times of crisis arise, when loved ones are wounded, when pain enters the house of good health, or when life’s candle dims and darkness threatens, then truth and trivia are soon separated. The soul of man reaches heavenward, seeking a divine response to life’s greatest questions. (The Race of Life – Thomas S. Monson.  Conference 2012)

Think about your future.  That’s where you’re going to spend most of your time.