His love and concern for people have been evident in President Ezra Taft Benson's addresses during his presidency. He has included many different groups of people among his topics, including:
CHILDREN
"Just like the beautiful Primary song you sing, each of you truly is a child of God. For you, rich blessings are in store, and if you learn to do His will, you will live with Him once more. I know this to be true. . . .
"You need to know that even when it seems that no one else cares, your Heavenly Father does. He will always love you." - General Conference, April 2, 1989
ELDERLY
"The Lord knows and loves the elderly among His people. It has always been so, and upon them He has bestowed many of His greatest responsibilities. In various dispensations He has guided His people through prophets who were in their advancing years. He has needed the wisdom and experience of age, the inspired direction from those with long years of proven faithfulness to His gospel." - General Conference, Sept. 30, 1989
FATHERS
"Fathers, yours is an eternal calling from which you are never released. Callings in the Church, as important as they are, by their very nature are only for a period of time, and then an appropriate release takes place. But a father's calling is eternal, and its importance transcends time. It is a calling for both time and eternity." - General Conference, priesthood session, Oct. 3, 1987
MOTHERS
"No more sacred word exists in secular or holy writ than that of mother. There is no more noble work than that of a good and God-fearing mother." - Churchwide fireside for parents, Feb. 22, 1987
SINGLE ADULT BRETHREN
"I can assure you that the greatest responsibility and the greatest joys in life are centered in the family, honorable marriage and rearing a righteous posterity." - General Conference, priesthood session, April 2, 1988
SINGLE ADULT SISTERS
"Single adult sisters throughout the Church, I want you to know of my deep love and appreciation for you - for your goodness, for your faithfulness, for your desire to serve the Lord with all your heart. . . .
"I assure you that if you have to wait even until the next life to be blessed with a choice companion, God will surely compensate you." - General Women's Meeting, Sept. 24, 1988
YOUNG MEN
"Young men of the Aaronic Priesthood, you have been born at this time for a sacred and glorious purpose. Your birth at this particular time was foreordained in the eternities. You are to be the royal army of the Lord in the last days." - General Conference, priesthood session, April 5, 1986
YOUNG WOMEN
"Building on the foundation of the past and with a vision of the future, I issue a call to you dear young sisters: Prepare yourselves that you may be fit and pure vessels to bear triumphantly the responsibilities of the kingdom of God. Make a commitment to read the Book of Mormon. Apply its teachings so you will be able to stand against the wiles of the devil and you will be a mighty tool in the hands of the Lord." - 120th anniversary celebration of Young Women organization, Nov. 18, 1989
HOME TEACHERS
"Home teaching is not to be undertaken casually. A home teaching call is to be accepted as if extended to you personally by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
"The Savior Himself was a teacher. The only perfect man to walk the face of the earth was a humble, dedicated, inspired teacher who brought to His followers salvation and exaltation.
Oh, that all the brethren of the Church would catch that vision of home teaching!" - General Conference, priesthood session, April 4, 1987
