Gordon B. Hinckley: Who can calculate the wounds inflicted, their depth and pain, by harsh and mean words spoken in anger? How pitiful a sight is a man who is strong in many ways but who loses all control of himself when some little thing, usually of no significant consequence, disturbs his equanimity. In every marriage there are, of course, occasional differences. But I find no justification for tempers that explode on the slightest provocation. . . . You may think it is the macho thing to flare up in anger and swear and profane the name of the Lord. It is not the macho thing. It is an indication of weakness. Anger is not an expression of strength. It is an indication of one’s inability to control his thoughts, words, his emotions. Of course it is easy to get angry. When the weakness of anger takes over, the strength of reason leaves. Cultivate within yourselves the mighty power of self-discipline. (“Our Solemn Responsibilities,” Ensign, Nov. 1991, 49)

Brigham Young:  Never suffer anger to arise in your bosom; for, if you do, you may be overcome by evil. (Journal of Discourses, 6:290 quoted in “The Case Against Anger,” by Burton C. Kelly, Ensign, Feb. 1980, 9.)

Brigham Young:  Many men will say they have a violent temper, and try to excuse themselves for actions of which they are ashamed. I will say, there is not a man in this house who has a more indomitable and unyielding temper than myself. But there is not a man in the world who cannot overcome his passion, if he will struggle earnestly to do so. If you find passion coming on you, go off to some place where you cannot be heard; let none of your family see you or hear you, while it is upon you, but struggle till it leaves you; and pray for strength to overcome. As I have said many times to the Elders, pray in your families; and if, when the time for prayer comes, you have not the spirit of prayer upon you, and your knees are unwilling to bow, say to them, “Knees, get down there”; make them bend, and remain there until you obtain the Spirit of the Lord. If the spirit yields to the body, it becomes corrupt; but if the body yields to the spirit it becomes pure and holy (DBY, 267 quoted in Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, 28: Exercising Self-Control, 203.)

Brigham Young:  When my feelings are aroused to anger by the ill-doings of others, I hold them as I would hold a wild horse, and I gain the victory. Some think and say that it makes them feel better when they are mad, as they call it, to give vent to their madness in abusive and unbecoming language. This, however, is a mistake. Instead of its making you feel better, it is making bad worse. When you think and say it makes you better you give credit to a falsehood. When the wrath and bitterness of the human heart are moulded into words and hurled with violence at one another, without any check or hindrance, the fire has no sooner expended itself than it is again re-kindled through some trifling course, until the course of nature is set on fire (DBY, 266 quoted in Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, 28: Exercising Self-Control, 203.)

Gordon T. Watts:  A man can rather accurately be measured, it has been said, by the size of a thing that makes him angry. (“Slow to Anger,” Ensign, Feb. 2003, 59)

Lynn G. Robbins:  “He made me mad.” This is another phrase we hear, also implying lack of control or agency. This is a myth that must be debunked. No one makes us mad. Others don’t make us angry. There is no force involved. Becoming angry is a conscious choice, a decision; therefore, we can make the choice not to become angry. We choose! (“Agency and Anger,” Ensign, May 1998, 80.)

L. Lionel Kendrick:  Anger shows a lack of self-control and an inability to relate in a righteous way to others. It is a senseless substitute for self-control. It is sometimes used as a selfish strategy to gain control of a relationship. (“Christlike Communications,” Ensign, Nov. 1988, 23)

ElRay L. Christiansen:  Ungoverned anger is seen too often in daily life. President Spencer W. Kimball, in his excellent book The Miracle of Forgiveness, tells us in effect that anger is “a sin of thought” which, if not controlled, may be the forerunner of vicious and violent acts. (“Be slow to Anger,” Ensign, June 1971, 37)