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Wise words such as these have reached the pinnacle of their existence now that the internet makes information (yes, even false information) readily available and easily distributed. It then comes as no surprise that quotes thought to come from notable church figures have other origins entirely. Be sure to keep this in mind as you scour Pinterest for a great Relief Society — or Elders Quorum, no judgment — printout to share at your next lesson. To make the lesson planning a bit easier, here are 8 quotes to watch out for.
The Quote:
“Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed. The fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just like people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, and most jobs are more often dull than otherwise.
Life is just like an old time rail journey…delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.”
Who said it? Gordon B. Hinckley
No, who actually said it? Unitarian Minister Jenkin Lloyd Jones
President Gordon B. Hinckley quoted Unitarian Minister Jenkin Lloyd Jones in his BYU speech God Shall Give Unto You Knowledge by His Holy Spirit. President Hinckley gave credit where credit was due, of course, regarding Jones as “one of [his] favorite newspaper columnists”. The quote can be seen all over Facebook and Pinterest, paired with Hinckley’s face and no reference to Jenkin Lloyd Jones anywhere.
The Quote:
“If you vote for the lesser of two evils you are still voting for evil and you will be judged for it. You should always vote for the best possible candidate, whether they have a chance of winning or not, and then, even if the worst possible candidate wins, the Lord will bless our country more because more people were willing to stand up for what is right.”
Who said it? Ezra Taft Benson
No, who really said it? Possibly no one.
This quote does not originate from any talk or official document, but rather, an account given by Mike Thompson in an online forum from 2009. If you’re wondering who Mike Thompson is, no one really knows. Except for Teri.
To read the rest of this article on LDS.net, click here.
Rhonda HairJuly 27, 2016
This article claims that the first quote ("most putts don't drop...") is from Jenkin Lloyd Jones, a Unitarian minister. It's not. That JLJ died in 1918. When Pres. Hinckley used the quote in 1973, he said it was from "a recent column" It's from a later Jenkin Lloyd Jones (the first's grandson), who was editor of the Tulsa Tribune during the time President Hinckley specified. Moral of the story: don't just check sources on quotes, also check sources from the debunkers. One more bit: the fact that we don't have a first hand account does not mean definitely that a particular prophet did not say it, so the article title is misleading. It means we should treat it with caution, and check to see if it is a bonafide quote from someone else.
Christopher WiikwajioJuly 22, 2016
Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost. –John Quincy Adams Nickell, Kelly (2005). Pocket Patriot. Writer's Digest Books, Page 81. ISBN 1582973709.