To Bee or not to Bee

Just a few weeks ago, my father in law shared a compilation of quotes from leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints along with his own thoughts related to the teachings of the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount. With the permisson of my father in law, I wish to share his recent writings:

‘To be or not to be’, that is the question? [bold added for emphasis] Hamlet, Act III, Scene 1

Brethren, we need to do better and be better because we are in a battle. I bless you to do better and be better. And I bless you that as you make these efforts, you will experience miracles in your life. [bold added for emphasis]
–Russell M. Nelson, “We Can Do Better and Be Better” General Conference, April, 2019

“I often say, Just be a good boy or be a good girl and go.”
–Elder David A. Bednar, February 2020, Be A Good Boy Girl Let the Holy Ghost Guide.

“I’ll be what you want me to be.” LDS Hymns, I’ll Go Where You Want Me To Go, p. 270

In contrast to the institutions of the world, which teach us to know something, the gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something. I hope the importance of conversion and becoming will cause our local leaders to reduce their concentration on statistical measures of actions and to focus more on what our brothers and sisters are and what they are striving to become. What is essential is that our labors in the workplace of the Lord have caused us to become something.
–The Challenge to Become, General Conference, October, 2000, By Elder Dallin H. Oaks

The more experience I gain in teaching the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, the more I am impressed with the concept of the Beatitudes shared by a friend years ago which deserves a more broad exposure. Each of the Beatitudes represents a specific step in our orderly progression towards perfection, and teaches us how to qualify ourselves for exaltation, for the Bible concludes the chapter on the Beatitudes with the words, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matt. 5:48.) [bold added for emphasis]
–The Beatitudes and Our Perfection, By Elder Royden G. Derrick, Of the First Quorum of the Seventy, General Conference, April 1977.

Be able
Be all in
Be all that you can be! (The Army)
Be an example
Be aware
Be brave
Be careful
Be celestial (Think celestial)
Be charitable
Be childlike
Be christlike
Be clean
Be courteous
Be deliberate
Be diligent
Be fair
Be faithful
Be first (to volunteer/work)
Be forgetful (of others sins)
Be forgiving
Be friendly
Be good or be gone
Be gracious
Be grateful
Be happy
Be helpful
Be honest
Be hopeful
Be humble
Be industrious
Be introspective
Be joyful
Be kind
Be loving
Be malleable
Be mindful
Be mine
Be modest
Be obedient
Be on guard
Be on time
Be one
Be optimistic
Be patient
Be prayerful
Be punctual
Be quick to forgive
Be ready
Be relentless
Be respectful
Be reverent
Be slow to anger
Be slow to judge
Be smart
Be still (and know that I am God)
Be studious
Be thorough
Be thoughtful
Be thrifty
Be tough
Be truthful
Be valiant
Be warned
Be watchful
Be willing
Be wise
Be worshipful
Behave
Beware
Should be?
Could be?
Wanna Be?
Would be?
Has been?
Worker bee vs. drone?
If you can’t “be” . . . you can’t “become”!
Be, Go, Act, Do!
Be ready, willing and able!