Royden G. Derrick

Presidency of the Seventy (October 5, 1980 – October 6, 1984)
First Quorum of the Seventy (October 1, 1976 – September 30, 1989)

General Conference Addresses

• April 1989 General Conference
  • The Way to Perfection
    • “Resurrection is the reuniting of the body and the spirit. As Jesus was resurrected, eventually every person who was ever born into this world will be resurrected, whether he wants to be or not. When a person is resurrected, he receives immortality, which is to live forever in the resurrected state. Likewise, every person who was ever born into this world will receive immortality regardless of his or her behavior in this life. Thus, resurrection and immortality are synonymous. They are not a reward—they are a gift—for we have rendered no service nor attained any accomplishment to warrant these as a reward. The gift is from the Savior; it comes through His atoning sacrifice.”
    • “When one extends mercy to others, he develops purity of heart.”
    • “Disparagement of others should not exist within our ranks, for each of us is struggling to move forward.”
• October 1984 General Conference
  • By Their Fruits Ye Shall Know Them
    • “To be good, one must seek after truth, for truth is the ingredient which, when inculcated into our lives, changes us for good.”
    • “In my limited experience in the fields of religion and education, it has been my observation that it takes as much intelligence for one to assimilate the principles of the gospel as it does for one to understand the complicated formulas of science. An understanding of the gospel is a quest and must be pursued through study, thought, and prayer.”
    • “Of what value is truth unless it is assimilated into the minds and hearts of men?”
    • “When one is loyal to the truth, we say he is a person of integrity. When one is loyal to the truth under intense opposition, we say he is a person of great integrity. Integrity is a quality or state of being of sound moral principle. Integrity is uprightness, honesty, and sincerity—yes, all that and even more.”
    • “May I suggest a formula for bringing forth good fruit and helping one to gain eternal salvation? (1) have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and in yourself, (2) study eternal truths, (3) ponder and pray for understanding, (4) strive to incorporate principles of truth into daily living, (5) exercise integrity in all that you do, and (6) strive to do everything you do to a standard of excellence.”
• April 1983 General Conference
  • Valiance in the Drama of Life
    • “We have our agency. It is the decision of each of us as to the character we play in this drama—as to what kind of person we are or will become.”
    • “We should organize our family plans to result in a mission for each of our sons, and temple marriage for each of our sons and daughters. Planning missions for our sons might begin at birth when we start their own missionary savings program which will assist significantly in their being financially, morally, physically, and mentally prepared when they reach mission age.”
• April 1981 General Conference
  • Moral Values and Rewards
    • “The basic unit of society is the family. Our moral values are established in our family relations. The responsibility for teaching moral principles rests with the home. But not every home offers the love and guidance necessary to responsible parenthood. In an ideal society, the home should accept the responsibility for teaching moral values.”
• April 1979 General Conference
  • The Heritage of Royal Families
    • “From that day to this, the Saints, whenever circumstances permitted, and even when they didn’t, have built temples, searched out their ancestors, prepared a genealogical record, and performed the necessary saving ordinances for their own salvation and that of their progenitors. This is the turning of the hearts of the children to the fathers, about which both Elijah and Malachi spoke.”
    • “A royal family is a family whose members are honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, temperate, patient, charitable, humble, diligent, well read, and law-abiding.”
    • “A personal history becomes a family treasure that enables children to emulate the virtues and personal characteristics of their forebears. Their forefathers become the David, the Samson, the Moses, and the Abraham of their lineage. Writing family and personal histories is becoming the popular thing to do. More and more people throughout the world are becoming interested in this exciting pastime to them, but sacred responsibility to us. The hearts of the children are indeed turning to the fathers.”
• April 1977 General Conference
  • The Beatitudes and Our Perfection
    • “Serving the Lord is not an individual matter. It is a family affair. Every wife should support her husband in his Church responsibilities; every husband should support his wife in hers; every child his parent; every parent his children; every brother his sister; and every sister her brother. This builds the eternal family.”
    • “There is no more important, exciting, and exhilarating subject than to learn about him who created the worlds and the plan he has prepared for us.”
    • “When a man obtains inner peace he wants peace in his family. He wants peace in his community. He wants peace in the nation. And he wants peace in the world.”

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