Top 200 Ezra Taft Benson Quotes (2026 Update)
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101. “Now, what of the entertainment that is available to our young people today? Are you being undermined right in your homes through your television, radio, slick magazines, and rock music records?”

— Ezra Taft Benson

102. “No society will long survive without mothers who care for their young and provide that nurturing care so essential for their normal development.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

103. “A young woman who knows and loves the Book of Mormon, who has read it several times, who has an abiding testimony of its truthfulness, and who applies its teachings will be able to stand against the wiles of the devil and will be a mighty tool in the hands of the Lord.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

104. “Freedom is an eternal principle. Heaven disapproves of force, coercion and intimidation. Only a free people can be truly a happy people.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

105. “A positive self-image has little relationship to our material circumstances.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

106. “The God of heaven sent some of His choicest spirits to lay the foundation of this government. And he has sent other choice spirits to preserve it.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

107. “You are the one who must decide whose thoughts you will entertain. You are free to choose-but you are not free to alter the consequences of those choices. You will be what you think about what you consistently allow to occupy the stage of your mind.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

108. “Those who are heavy-laden with despair should come unto the Lord.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

109. “Man is at his best when complimented by the influence of a good woman.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

110. “Take care of yourselves physically. Guard your health carefully. It is one of our greatest blessings. I especially encourage some type of exercise program so you can stay physically fit and physically capable in proportion to the demands on your body.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

111. “The devil knows that if the elders of Israel should ever wake up, they could step forth and help preserve freedom and extend the gospel. Therefore the devil has concentrated, and to a large extent successfully, in neutralizing much of the priesthood. He has reduced them to Sleeping Giants.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

112. “Have sufficient food, clothing, and fuel on hand to last at least one year.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

113. “Pride adversely affects all our relationships – our relationship with God and His servants, between husband and wife, parent and child, employer and employee, teacher and student, and all mankind. Our degree of pride determines how we treat our God and our brothers and sisters. Christ wants to lift us to where He is. Do we desire to do the same for others?”

— Ezra Taft Benson

114. “We live in a day of slick, quiet and clever sins.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

115. “There can be no genuine happiness separate and apart from the home.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

116. “We do not find the Savior using force or coercion to accomplish His purposes.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

117. “Nations cannot endure in sin.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

118. “Essentially, pride is a ‘my will’ rather than ‘thy will’ approach to life.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

119. “If we have any criticism of our leaders, we invite Satan into our lives and beliefs.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

120. “The way to feel better about your own situation is to improve someone else’s circumstances.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

121. “Pride is competition-competition between God and Man.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

122. “Ours is a representative republic with a Constitution in which is recognized the natural law and the natural rights of man. It is a republic with a spiritual foundation characterized by freedom – freedom for the individual and for his society.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

123. “It is good strategy to stand up for the right, even when it is unpopular. Perhaps I should say, especially when it is unpopular.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

124. “What does it mean to love someone with all your heart? It means to love with all your emotional feelings and with all your devotion. Surely when you love your wife with all your heart, you cannot demean her, criticize her, find fault with her, or abuse her by words, sullen behavior, or actions.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

125. “A father’s calling is eternal and its importance transcends time. It is a calling for both time and eternity.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

126. “There are times when you simply have to righteous hang on and outlast the devil.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

127. “If we do not feel like praying, then we should pray until we do feel like praying.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

128. “Above all else, children need to know and feel they are loved, wanted, and appreciated. They need to be assured of that often. Obviously, this is a role parents should fill, and most often the mother can do it best.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

129. “Strong families cultivate an attribute of effective communication. They talk out their problems, make plans together, and cooperate toward common objectives.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

Featured in: Strong Quotes

130. “When we set goals, we are in command. Clearly understood goals bring our lives into focus just as a magnifying glass focuses a beam of light into a burning point. Without goals our efforts may be scattered and unproductive.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

131. “Have good associates or don’t associate at all. Be careful in the selection of your friends. If in the presence of certain persons you are lifted to nobler heights, you are in good company. But if your friends or associates encourage base thoughts, then you had best leave them.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

132. “Beware of those who would pit the dead prophets against the living prophets, for the living prophets always take precedence.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

133. “There is no greater Church calling than that of a home teacher. There is no greater Church service rendered to our Father in Heaven’s children than the service rendered by a humble, dedicated, committed home teacher.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

134. “The expression “follow the Brethren” has a broader meaning than some would apply to it. It means not only to agree with the counsel given to the Church by the Brethren, but also to follow their example in appearance and deportment.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

135. “If you turn your life over to the Lord he can do so much more with it than we can.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

136. “There could not be a restoration of the gospel without freedom. God provided this country as the base of his operations in these the last days, a place where there would be freedom, where he could restore his gospel.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

137. “Beguiling voices in the world cry out for ‘alternative lifestyles’ for women. They maintain that some women are better suited for careers than for marriage and motherhood.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

138. “Contention in our families drives the Spirit of the Lord away. It also drives many of our family members away. Contention ranges from a hostile spoken word to worldwide conflicts. The scriptures tell us that “Only by pride cometh contention”.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

139. “Scouting teaches a boy to take care of himself and stand on his own two feet.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

140. “This latter day work is spiritual. It takes spirituality to comprehend it, to love it, to discern it. Therefore, seek the spirit in all you do. Keep it with you continually. That is our challenge.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

141. “The time is long overdue for a massive flooding of the earth with the Book of Mormon for the many reasons which the Lord has given. In this age of electronic media and mass distribution of the printed word, God will hold us accountable if we do not now move the Book of Mormon in a monumental way.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

142. “We must be devoted to sound principles in word and deed: principle above party, principle above pocketbook, principle above popularity.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

143. “If we would truly seek to be more like our Savior and Master, learning to love as He loves should be our highest goal.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

144. “Right and wrong as moral principles do not change. They are applicable and reliable determinants whether the situations with which we deal are simple or complicated. There is always a right and wrong to every question which requires our solution.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

145. “We should know why paternalism, collectivism, or unnecessary federal supervision will hold our standard of living down and reduce productivity just as it has in every country where it has been tried. We should also know why the communist leaders consider socialism the highroad to communism.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

146. “An almost forgotten means of economic self-reliance is the home production of food. We are too accustomed to going to stores and purchasing what we need.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

147. “Any Christian constitutionalist who retreats from this battle jeopardizes his life here and hereafter. Seldom has so much responsibility hung on so few, so heavily; but our numbers are increasing, and we who have been warned have a responsibility to warn our neighbor.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

148. “A mother’s role is God-ordained. Mothers are to conceive, bear, nourish, love, and train. They are to be helpmates and are to counsel with their husbands.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

149. “I grew up believing that the willingness and ability to work is the basic ingredient of successful farming. Hard, intelligent work is the key. Use it, and your chances for success are good.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

150. “Young people, your parents, with their maturity of years and experience you have not had, can provide wisdom, knowledge, and blessings to help you over life’s pitfalls. You may find, that life’s sweetest experiences come when you go to Mom and Dad for help.”

— Ezra Taft Benson