Joe J. Christensen

Presidency of the Seventy (August 15, 1993 – August 15, 1999)
First Quorum of the Seventy (April 1, 1989 – October 2, 1999)

General Conference Addresses

• April 1999 General Conference
  • Greed, Selfishness, and Overindulgence
    • “Money in and of itself is not an evil, but as Paul taught Timothy, it is the love of money that is the root of all evil. There are some of the wealthy who deal with their prosperity very well using their resources to bless others and build the kingdom. For many, however, wealth presents major difficulties.”
    • “In our day, many children grow up with distorted values because we as parents overindulge them. Whether you are well-to-do or, like most of us, of more modest means, we as parents often attempt to provide children with almost everything they want thus taking away from them the blessing of anticipating, of longing for something they do not have. One of the most important things we can teach our children is to deny themselves. Instant gratification generally makes for weak people. How many truly great individuals do you know who never had to struggle?”
    • “How much house do we really need to accommodate our family comfortably? We should not endanger ourselves either spiritually or economically by acquiring homes which are ostentatious, feed our vanity, and go far beyond our needs.”
    • “The more our hearts and minds are turned to assisting others less fortunate than we, the more we will avoid the spiritually cankering effects that result from greed, selfishness, and overindulgence. Our resources are a stewardship, not our possessions. I am confident that we will literally be called upon to make an accounting before God concerning how we have used them to bless lives and build the kingdom.”
    • “There are many worthy individuals and causes to which we might contribute. We should give generously to the fast offering and humanitarian funds of the Church. And, if we desire our families to live lives of depth and meaning, we must have the courage to examine honestly where our treasures lie and avoid the pitfalls that result from greed, selfishness, and overindulgence.”
• October 1996 General Conference
  • The Savior Is Counting on You
    • “First, the Savior is counting on you to be a champion of those who need you.”
    • “Think less about yourself and more about the power you have to assist others, even those within your own family.”
    • “The Lord and his living prophets are counting on you to avoid the trash that surrounds you in the media. When anyone chooses to ignore or defiantly go against the counsel of the living prophet, he is on very shaky ground.”
    • “Preaching the gospel is a commandment and not merely a suggestion. It is a blessing and a privilege and not a sacrifice. Remember, even though for some of you there may be very tempting reasons for you not to serve a full-time mission, the Lord and his prophets are counting on you.”
• April 1995 General Conference
  • Marriage and the Great Plan of Happiness
    • “Don’t be too critical of each other’s faults. Recognize that none of us is perfect. We all have a long way to go to become as Christlike as our leaders have urged us to become.”
    • “Generally each of us is painfully aware of our weaknesses, and we don’t need frequent reminders. Few people have ever changed for the better as a result of constant criticism or nagging. If we are not careful, some of what we offer as constructive criticism is actually destructive.”
    • “Don’t be like the husband who sits around home expecting to be waited on, feeling that earning the living is his chore and that his wife alone is responsible for the house and taking care of the children. The task of caring for home and family is more than one person’s responsibility.”
• October 1993 General Conference
  • Rearing Children in a Polluted Environment
    • “Do not be afraid to set clear moral standards and guidelines. Be sure to say no when it is needed.”
    • “Sending children out of your home without the spiritual protection of prayer is like sending them out into a blizzard without sufficient clothing.”
    • “From a personal standpoint, of what value is it to have living prophets if we do not heed their counsel?”
• October 1989 General Conference
  • Good Memories Are Real Blessings
    • “I am grateful for sons who still come with me to general priesthood sessions. You young brethren who are not with your fathers tonight, for whatever reason, can decide right now that when you are blessed with sons of your own, you will bring them to the general priesthood sessions wherever they may be broadcast.”
    • “Young brethren, we respect you. We have confidence that you will rise to the best that is in you, and we love you.”

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