"In life, the sandpaper of circumstances often smooths our crustiness and patiently polishes our rough edges. There is nothing pleasant about it, however. And the Lord will go to great lengths in order to teach us a particular lesson and to help us to overcome a particular weakness, especially if there is no other way. In such circumstances, it is quite useless for us mortals to try to do our own sums when it comes to suffering. We can't make it all add up because clearly we do not have all the numbers. Furthermore, none of us knows much about the algebra of affliction."

—Neal A. Maxwell, Notwithstanding My Weakness

"Patience is always involved in the spiritual chemistry of the soul, not only when we try to turn the trials and tribulations—the carbon dioxide, as it were—into joy and growth, but also when we use it to build upon the seemingly ordinary experiences to bring about happy and spiritual outcomes.

"Patience is, therefore, clearly not fatalistic, shoulder-shrugging resignation. It is the acceptance of a divine rhythm to life; it is obedience prolonged. Patience stoutly resists pulling up the daisies to see how the roots are doing."

-Neal A. Maxwell,  Patience, BYU Speeches Nov. 27, 1979

 

"God does not begin by asking us about our ability, but only our availability and if we then prove our dependability, he will then increase our capability."

-Neal A. Maxwell

"Isn't it interesting with regard to the matter of individual

fulfillment, a natural and basic human need, that some fail to 

observe that one of the great advantages of being fulfilled is 

that one does not have to spend all of his or her time thinking about being fulfilled?"

Neal A. Maxwell

BYU Devotional

Family Perspectives, 15 January 1974

"I am going to preach a hard doctrine to you now.  The submission of one's will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God's altar.  It is a hard doctrine, but it is true.  The many other things we give to God, however nice that may be of us, are actually things He has already given us, and He has loaned them to us.  But when we begin to submit ourselves by letting our will be swallowed up in God's will, then we are really giving something to Him.  And that hard doctrine lies at the center of discipleship.  There is a part of us that is ultimately sovereign, the mind and heart, where we really do decide which way to go and what to do.  And when we submit to His will, then we've really given Him the one final thing He asks of us.  And the other things are not very, very important.  It is the only possession we have that we can give, and there is no lessening of our agency as a result.  Instead, what we see is a flowering of our talents and more and more surges of joy.  Submission to Him is the only form of submission that is completely safe."

Neal A. Maxwell
Ensign, August 2000 "Insights from My Life"

". . .the Lord's ratio of blessings to our obedience is a very generous ratio indeed.  He is so quick to reward us, so quick to reassure us, and so anxious to take delight when we serve Him."

Neal A. Maxwell
Insights from My Life
Ensign, August 2000