• Importance of books: "How marvelous a thing is a book.... Books represent the accumulated workings of the human mind, the endless treasure of man's thoughts as he has contemplated himself and the phenomena with which he is surrounded. How grateful I am for books and for those who have tenderly watched over and guarded them through the centuries."

• Missionary work: "What a wonderful program to take a young man at the most impressionable time of his life and, at a time when he is most prone to think of himself, send him out in the world to lose himself in the service of others. That's a tremendous thing in its own right, this great (missionary) program."

• On education: "Education unlocks the door of opportunities. You will rise according to your education. Work at it. Sacrifice for it. Do it. Pray about it, and the Lord will bless you. You will see yourselves rise and become men and women of strength and capacity."

• Be good parents: "(The Lord) expects us to be good parents, fathers and mothers, husbands and wives. He expects husbands to treat their wives with deference and respect. He expects wives to treat their husbands with kindness and helpfulness. He expects us to be good parents to our children."

• Peace, friendship, respect: "I don't like bigotry. I don't like hate. They are so incompatible with the spirit of the gospel and the teachings of the Lord. I like peace. I like friendship. I like mutual respect. As we have these things, I don't think that is going to slow down the growth of the church — it may enhance it. I believe that we can do much, and I think we are doing much. I think we are making very substantial headway."

• America: "Do not lose faith in America. ... I dare to say that this nation is the greatest stabilizing force in the world. It leads in military power. It leads in economic growth. It is not a perfect nation, but it is a great nation."

• Catastrophes across the world: "I don't know the reason for many of the catastrophes (across the world) but I do know this, that the God of heaven has imposed upon us as Christians the responsibility to look after those who become the victims of these terrible disasters. ... If we are followers of the Christ, we will follow him in doing what he would have us do as his followers in our daily living."