If the Devil can only make you think that you are abused or ill treated, and you begin to fret about it, and you give the Devil power over you - in the end, it is as bad as though you had done wrong yourself.
Brigham YoungRead
I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by Him. I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self-security... Let every man and woman know, by the whispering of the Spirit of God to themselves, whether their leaders are walking in the path the Lord dictates, or not.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote warns against blind trust in leaders without seeking personal revelation or guidance from God.
Brigham Young emphasizes the importance of individual discernment and spiritual inquiry in relation to leadership. He expresses concern that people may develop an excessive reliance on their leaders, failing to question or seek divine confirmation about the directions and teachings they receive. This caution urges individuals to maintain a personal connection with their faith and to seek guidance directly from God rather than passively accepting what they are told by their leaders.
Themes
FaithLeadershipDiscernmentSpiritualityGuidance
In practice
Example use cases
In a religious gathering where the topic of leadership is discussed, one might use this quote to encourage individuals to think independently.
More from Brigham Young
All quotes →Produce what you consume; draw from the native element the necessaries of life. Permit no vitiated taste to lead you into the indulgence of expensive luxuries, which can only be obtained by involving yourselves in debt.
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Any young man who is unmarried at the age of twenty one is a menace to the community.
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Never let a day pass that you will have cause to say, I will do better tomorrow.
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It is for us to do those things which the Lord requires at our hands, and leave the result with him.
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There is no knowledge, no light, no wisdom that you are in possession of, but what you have received it from some source.
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