PRIORITIES
AND BALANCE
SELECTED TEACHINGS
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
“The highest challenge we have in mortality is to
use our free agency well, making right choices in
the interplay of time and talents. Time is one of the
blessings we are given. Generally speaking, it is we
who let ourselves get fragmented too much. It is the
result of not establishing (and then persisting in)
certain priorities in our life. I am not denying the
reality of the challenge you put, but neither do I think
it is unmanageable” (Deposition of a Disciple,68).
“Does all this mean that in letting go of the world,
it will be easy to set priorities? No! It is often harder,
for now we choose, notbetween task A, which is
a tainted task, and B, which is good; but now we
must allot time and talent between C, which is
important and good, and D, which is good and
important” (Wherefore, Ye Must Press Forward,19).
“Just as the Lord was able to summarize His priorities
so succinctly that it is his ‘work and... glory to bring
topass the immortality and eternal life of man’ (Moses
1:39), so we, too, will need to be able to manage our
time and talents in such a way that we, too, know
our real priorities and focus on them. When we are
settled in our hearts on that which really matters,
then our talent and time as well as our treasure will be
thus deployed!” (We Will Prove Them Herewith,66–67).
Spiritual Priorities
President Spencer W. Kimball
“I am impressed that our various Church programs
are like keys on the keyboard of a piano. Some of
the keys are used much more often than others, but
all of them are needed from time to time to produce
harmony and balance in our lives. So often, therefore,
what we are doing in our various talks and meetings
is to remind ourselves of the need for balance, the
need for fresh emphasis here or there, and the need
to do the things that matter most without leaving
the other things undone” (in Conference Report,
Apr. 1976, 70; or Ensign,May 1976, 46).President Ezra Taft Benson
“When we put God first, all other things fall into
their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love
of the Lord will govern the claims of our affection,
the demands on our time, the interests we pursue,
and the order of our priorities” (in Conference
Report, Apr. 1988, 13; or Ensign,May 1988, 4).
“To be successful, we must have the Spirit of the
Lord. We have been taught that the Spirit will not
dwell in unclean tabernacles. Therefore, one of our
first priorities is to make sure our own personal lives
are in order” (Come unto Christ,92).Elder Dallin H. Oaks
“Our priorities determine what we seek in life.
‘Wherefore, seek not the things of this world but
seek ye first to build up the kingdom of God, and to
establish his righteousness’ (JST Matthew 6:38), Jesus
taught his disciples. As we read in modern revelation:
‘Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold, the
mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and
then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath
eternal life is rich.’ (D&C 6:7.)” (Pure in Heart,6).Elder M. Russell Ballard
“Sometimes we need a personal crisis to reinforce in
our minds what we really value and cherish. The
scriptures are filled with examples of people facing
crises before learning how to better serve God and
others. Perhaps if you, too, search your hearts and
courageously assess the priorities in your life, you
may discover, as I did, that you need a better balance
among your priorities” (in Conference Report, Apr.
1987, 14–15; or Ensign,May 1987, 13).Family Priorities
President Spencer W. Kimball
“The Lord says in definite terms: ‘Thou shalt love
thy wife with all thy heart, and shall cleave unto
her and none else.’ (D&C 42:22.)Search your hearts
and courageously assess the
priorities in your life.
—Elder M. Russell Ballard276