Top quotes by John Bytheway

Expressions of affection, like putting your arm around someone's shoulder, holding hands, or giving a kiss good night, involve the principle of honesty. Votes: 41

While I am aware of no counsel on whether kissing should be reserved only for post-mission dating or courtship, I am aware of plenty of counsel concerning honesty in our actions and treating others with respect and kindness. Casual attitudes about expressions of affection such as kissing can cause much grief and heartache. Votes: 36

One of the hard lessons to learn in life is that there are some things you can control and some things you can't. If you want a short recipe for being frustrated and miserable, this is it: focus on things you can't control. Votes: 15

Curiosity, rationalization, and laziness are no match against courage, self-control, and mental toughness. Votes: 14

Victory in physical battles requires strength, muscles, and skill; but the fight is never tougher and victory is never sweeter than in the battles over self. Votes: 12

Adversity is simply part of earth life. From it we can grow and progress if we choose to. Yes, some trials come because of our own disobedience, but many trials are simply part of life. Votes: 12

I have to say that it was working with my grandpa, who grew up on a farm in Mountain Home, Idaho, that had the most influence. Witnessing his work ethic and hearing his stories gave me an appreciation for the farm's best lessons. Votes: 11

Sometimes you have to go through the wilderness before you get to the Promised Land. Votes: 11

The topic 'Farm Wisdom' is not a gospel doctrine or scriptural topic, although I found considerable scriptural support for the lessons learned on the farm. Votes: 11

Decide while you're young to keep the commandments of God, and you won't have to think fast, because before temptation even steps up to the bat, you'll have made your decision. You were smart enough to think first. Votes: 10

If your life gets off to a rough start, just know this is helping you develop depth of personality and depth of character. Votes: 10

Popularity ends on yearbook day-Respect stays forever. Votes: 10

Being Christlike guarantees that you'll have the most important friend of all: the Savior. He knows what it's like to be misunderstood, lonely, and rejected. Votes: 9

Our world is drowning in a sea of self-centeredness. You can make yourself quite unique right away by leaving this ocean of selfishness and choosing to be curious about other people. Votes: 8

Sometimes bad things happen to good people. We don't know the meaning of all things, but we know God loves His children! And because He loves us, He will never desert us. Votes: 8

I was never involved in any fights in high school. I'm glad I wasn't. I'm not very big, and I don't find great joy in cuts and bruises. Votes: 8

In the city, we work until quitting time. On the farm, we work until the job is finished. Votes: 7

God already knows what we're made of, but perhaps He wants us to learn what we're made of. I think we would all agree that we learn more from our tough times than from our easy times. Votes: 7

And I, Nephi, took one of the daughters of Ishmael to wife.' Well Mr. Go-And-Do just went and did! Votes: 7

It is better to be respected than it is to be popular. Popularity ends on yearbook day, but respect lasts forever. Votes: 7

An important part of dating is communicating. We communicate by sharing our thoughts, ideas, and feelings. We enjoy being with someone when we have an easy time communicating or when we have a lot to talk about. Votes: 6

Occasionally, we are given a reminder of how precious a gift it is to understand the plan of salvation. Votes: 6

When we die, our spirits go to the spirit world, and our bodies return to the elements of the earth until the resurrection. Votes: 5

Who doesn't love the parables? You know there's a solution, but you have to do some work to find it. Votes: 5

Life is going to hit you some line drives, and sometimes you'll have to think fast. However, it's better to think first than to think fast. Votes: 5

The Lord didn't make Lehi a mere spectator, watching and learning from afar. Instead, the Lord taught his prophet by taking him out of the bleachers and placing him right in the middle of the action. Votes: 3

The best way to prepare for death is to live life to its fullest. Votes: 2

Everyone would like to have stronger faith. By themselves, the scriptures may not strengthen your faith, but being faithful to what they teach, does. In other words, faith cannot be separated from faithfulness. Votes: 2

To have friends who will always take you to higher ground is an incalculable blessing. Votes: 2

If our testimonies are strong onthis point and if we feel the absolute assurance that God loves us, we will change our questons. We won't ask, 'Why did this happen?' or 'Why doesn't God care about me?' Instead, our questions will become, 'What can I learn from this experience?' or 'How does the Lord want me to handle this? Votes: 1

Here are three things you can do, even when you feel like there isn't a friend in sight. You can be curious, you can be clean, and you can be Christlike. Votes: 0

If you are emotionally honest, you should mean what you say but also mean what you do. Votes: 0

Thanks to the restored gospel, we know our spirits lived before we were born into this mortal existence. Votes: 0

Some people will dream big dreams while others will wake up and do them. Votes: 0

What the members of the Church need, more than anything else, are strong testimonies of Jesus Christ and the gospel He restored. They need to know. And they need to know that they know. This is the best protection against the tsunami of temptations and the waves of immorality that crash against us. Perhaps this is just another reason why the first principle of the gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ! Votes: 0

If someone were to ask whether communications skills or meekness is most important to a marriage, I'd answer meekness, hands down. You can be a superb communicator but still never have the humility to ask, 'Is it I?' Communication skills are no substitute for Christlike attributes. As Dr. Douglas Brinley has observed, 'Without theological perspectives, secular exercises designed to improve our relationship and our communication skills (the common tools of counselors and marriage books) will never work any permanent change in one's heart: they simply develop more clever and skilled fighters! Votes: 0

If you're trying to be miserable, it's important you don't have any goals. No school goals, personal goals, family goals. Your only objective each day should be to inhale and exhale for sixteen hours before you go to bed again. Don't read anything informative, don't listen to anything useful, don't do anything productive. If you start achieving goals, you might start to feel a sense of excitement, then you might want to set another goal, and then your miserable mornings are through. To maintain your misery, the idea of crossing off your goals should never cross your mind. Votes: 0

The average American watches more than four hours of television per day. What would happen if we spent more time developing our talents than watching others develop theirs? Votes: 0

Every choice you make has a consequence, every one. It's mathematic. It cannot fail; it never fails. Votes: 0

We're not thinking straight if we say we want to be like Jesus but we don't want to go through anything Jesus went through! Votes: 0

The miserable think that what they have is never enough. Like the Little Mermaid, who owned no more than twenty thingamabobs, they say, "But who cares, no big deal, I want MORE." (How could you be miserable with twenty thingamabobs?) Votes: 0

Say no to parking lots! Votes: 0

Go and do, don't sit and stew. Votes: 0

What will he [Satan] do first? Prevent spirits from coming to earth. How will he do this? He'll do all in his power to promote abortion. He'll convince people to have no children. He will raise fears about over population and encourage governments to make laws that limit the number of children couples can have. He'll do whatever he can to keep those spirits form coming! Votes: 0

Inch by inch, life's a cinch. Yard by yard, life's hard. Votes: 0

We don't LOVE our Grandmas because they look like super models. We love them because of WHO they are Votes: 0

Be prepared. *smacks chest* Votes: 0

Oh, seriously--how could you be miserable with twenty thingamabobs AND a snarfblat?! Votes: 0

The Imagi-Nation is a little country in your head. When you're young, you go there to play. When you get older, you go there to worry. Votes: 0

you cannot find happiness, outside the plan of happiness! Votes: 0

If your only nice to the people that are nice to you, big deal; what do you want, a gist certificate? Everyone does that. And if you only say "hi" in the hall to the people that say hi to you, what are doing more than anyone else? Maybe you know people who are different when they're alone than when they're with their friends. they might say "hi" to you if your alone, but with a group they act like they've never seen you. Votes: 0

Build on the rock before you hit rock bottom! Votes: 0

One way we could describe the struggle of life would be to say it is a battle between agency and addiction. Agency is our power to choose, and addiction is what happens when we have lost that power and we are controlled by something else. Votes: 0

Isaiah taught me that the Lord is very persistent with his people. Votes: 0

I suppose that one of the greatest benefits of studying Isaiah is the process of studying Isaiah. Searching the scriptures puts you in a pondering, searching frame of mind in which inspiration can come, allowing you to find ways to apply scriptural truths to your life. Votes: 0

don't do things that kill you. Votes: 0