Marvin J. Ashton Quotes

Be the one who nurtures and builds. Be the one who has an understanding and a forgiving heart one who looks for the best in people. Leave people better than you found them.

— Marvin J. Ashton

“If we could look into each other's hearts and understand the unique challenges each of us faces, I think we would treat each other much more gently, with more love, patience, tolerance, and care.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

“The best and most clear indicator that we are progressing spiritually and coming unto Christ is the way we treat other people.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

“One who practices pure religion soon discovers it is more rewarding to lift a man up than to hold him down.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

One of the great tragedies of life, it seems to me, is when a person classifies himself as someone who has no talents or gifts. When, in disgust or discouragement, we allow ourselves to reach depressive levels of despair because of our demeaning self-appraisal, it is a sad day for us and a sad day in the eyes of God. For us to conclude that we have no gifts when we judge ourselves by stature, intelligence, grade-point average, wealth, power, position, or external appearance is not only unfair but unreasonable.

— Marvin J. Ashton

“The practice of thrift is not outdated. We must discipline ourselves to live within our incomes even if it means going without or making do. The wise person can distinguish ... between basic needs and extravagant wants. Some find budgeting extremely painful, but I promise you, it is never fatal.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

“God knows the feelings in every human heart. He can soften sorrow and lead when there seems to be no light. Prayer can give guidance and confidence. It reminds us that no one need be alone in this world. If all else fails, remember, God and one other person can be a family.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

Good cheer is a state of mind or mood that promotes happiness or joy ... With God's help, good cheer permits us to rise above the depressing present or difficult circumstances. It is a process of positive reassurance and reinforcement. It is sunshine when clouds block the light.

— Marvin J. Ashton

“Undoubtedly our Heavenly Father tires of expressions of love in words only. He has made it clear through his prophets and his word that his ways are ways of commitment, and not conversation. He prefers performance over lip service. We show our true love for him in proportion to our keeping his words ...”

— Marvin J. Ashton

“Everything is given by God. All talent, creativity, ability, insight, and strength comes from him. In our own strength we can do nothing.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

“You owe it to yourself to keep fit. No matter how busy or how involved you are, you should have some type of physical program to keep the body in tune.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

“Blessed is he or she who avoids being offended.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

“Certainly one of our God-given privileges is the right to choose what our attitude will be in any given set of circumstances. We can let the events that surround us determine our actions-or we can personally take charge and rule our lives, using as guidelines the principles of pure religion. Pure religion is learning the gospel of Jesus Christ and then putting it into action. Nothing will ever be of real benefit to us until it is incorporated into our own lives.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

“Love should be a vehicle allowed to travel without limitations.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

“It takes personal sacrifice to communicate when conditions are right for the other person-during the meal preparation, after a date, a hurt, a victory, a disappointment, or when someone wants to share a confidence. One must be willing to forego personal convenience to invest time in establishing a firm foundation for family communication. When communication in the family seems to be bogging down, each individual should look to himself for the remedy.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

“Enduring, or carrying on, is not just a matter of tolerating circumstances and hanging in there, but of pressing forward.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

“We often equate charity with visiting the sick, taking in casseroles to those in need, or sharing our excess with those who are less fortunate. But really, true charity is much, much more. Real charity is not something you give away; it is something that you acquire and make a part of yourself. And when the virtue of charity becomes implanted in your heart, you are never the same again.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

“Commitment is a word that cannot stand alone. We must always ask, "Committed to what?" ... let us be committed to ... using Jesus Christ as our master teacher.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

“Peace is a blessing that comes to those who trust in God. It is established through individual righteousness. True personal peace comes about through eternal vigilance and constant righteous efforts.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

“We are poor in character when we think getting by is a substitute for doing our best.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

A friend in the true sense is not a person who passively nods approval of our conduct or ignores improper behavior. A friend is a person who cares.

— Marvin J. Ashton

“Day-to-day acts of service, whether for good or evil, may not seem important, but they are building cords of love that become so strong they can seldom be broken. Ours is to place our areas of love in proper perspective. Meaningful love always works for our eternal progress and not against it.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

Procrastination is a deadly weapon of human progress.

— Marvin J. Ashton

“How comfortable some of us become as we nestle in the web of procrastination. It is a false haven of rest for those who are content to live without purpose, commitment, or self-discipline.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

“Straightway is a power word. Straightway is an action word. It means immediately, without delay or hesitation. It means at once. Also, it is associated with having no curve or turn-a straight course, track, or path. Procrastination would be the very opposite of straightway. To procrastinate is to put off intentionally and habitually something that should be done. Procrastination is unproductive delay.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

Many of us are perpetual reactors. We let other people determine our actions and attitudes. We let other people determine whether we will be rude or gracious, depressed or elated, critical or loyal, passive or dedicated.

— Marvin J. Ashton

Shaking off restrictive chains requires action. They cannot be wished away. A declaration will never break chains. It requires commitment, self-discipline, and work.

— Marvin J. Ashton

“God has given each of us one or more special talents ... It is up to each of us to search for and build upon the gifts which God has given.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

“He who invites us to follow will always be out in front of us with His Spirit and influence setting the pace. He has charted and marked the course, opened the gates, and shown the way. He has invited us to come unto Him, and the best time to enjoy His companionship is straightway. We can best get on the course and stay on the course by doing as Jesus did-make a total commitment to do the will of His Father.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

“Satan is ever present, trying to destroy our glory and remove our crown. One of his most powerful tools is discouragement. Don't let your discouragement make Satan rejoice.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

Once upon hearing a friend's bashing comment I said, "Did you reach that conclusion on your own, or did it come through prayer?"

— Marvin J. Ashton

“We invite all to serve the Savior and walk in His paths straightway. There is an urgency for all of us who have this knowledge of His divinity to act upon it without hesitation or delay. The time is now.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

“We need to remove unworthy from our vocabulary and replace it with hope and work.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

“Adaptability cushions the impact of change or disappointment.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

“Often our self-esteem is bruised by criticism.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

If he could have his way, Satan would distract us from our heritage. He would have us become involved in a million and one things in this life-probably none of which is very important in the long run-to keep us from concentrating on the things that are really important, particularly the reality that we are God's children. He would like us to forget about home and family values. He'd like to keep us so busy with comparatively insignificant things that we don't have time to make the effort to understand where we came from, whose children we are, and how glorious our ultimate homecoming can be!

— Marvin J. Ashton

“How often have we ourselves said or have heard others exclaim in times of crisis or trouble, 'I just don't know where to turn'? If we will just use it, there is a gift available to all of us-the gift of looking to God for direction. Here is an avenue of strength, comfort, and guidance.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

“A diet of violence or pornography dulls the senses, and future exposures need to be rougher and more extreme. Soon the person is desensitized and is unable to react in a sensitive, caring, responsible manner, especially to those in his own home and family. Good people can become infested with this material and it can have terrifying, destructive consequences.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

“Difficulties can be a valuable tool in our pursuit of perfection. Adversity need have no necessary connection with failure.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

“One little lie or dishonest act leads to another until the perpetrator is caught in the web of deceit.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

“Ugly reports and conversations are always available to those who would promote the sordid and sensational. None of us are yet perfect. We each have failings that aren't terribly difficult to detect especially if that is the aim.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

“Through microscopic examination one can find in almost every life incidents or traits that can be destructive when they are magnified.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

Many marriage tragedies are caused, not by lack of money, but rather by the mismanagement of it.

— Marvin J. Ashton

“God's love for us is constant and will not diminish, but he cannot rescue us from the painful results that are caused by wrong choices.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

“Young people . , God wants us to be victorious. He wants you to triumph over all of your foes. Stalwart and brave we must stand. God is at the helm. There is no reason for defeat.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

“Some of us are inclined to look to the weaknesses and shortcomings of others in order to expand our own comfort zone.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

A willingness to practice patience. Patience in communication is that certain ingredient of conduct we hope others will exhibit toward us when we fail to measure up. Our own patience is developed when we are patient with others.

— Marvin J. Ashton

“Often parents communicate most effectively with their children by the way they listen to and address each other. Their conversations showing gentleness and love are heard by our ever-alert, impressionable children.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

“Wise is the man who says what needs to be said, but not all that could be said.”

— Marvin J. Ashton

“It is up to each of us to search for and build upon the gifts which God has given. We must remember that each of us is made in the image of God, that there are no unimportant persons. Everyone matters to God and to his fellowmen.”

— Marvin J. Ashton