“It is possible to disagree with others without violating the Savior’s injunction to ‘love one another, as I have loved you’ (John 15:12). It is possible to have a different opinion than your neighbor while still loving that neighbor… May we reflect personally on what we can do to eliminate contention from our own lives as we embrace … excellence, friendship, and respect.”
“By living faithfully and keeping the commandments of God, one can receive additional privileges; but they are still given freely, not technically earned.”
“We may soon expect to see flocking to [Nauvoo] . . . Persons of all languages, and of every tongue, and of every color; who shall with us worship the lord of hosts in his holy temple, and offer up their orisons in his sanctuary.”
“Sometimes we unduly offend brothers and sisters of other nations by assigning exclusiveness to one nationality of people over another. Let me cite, as an example of exclusiveness, the present problem in the Middle East—the conflict between the Arabs and the Jews. We do not need to apologize nor mitigate any of the prophecies concerning the Holy Land. We believe them and declare them to be true. But this does not give us justification to dogmatically pronounce that others of our Father’s children are not children of promise. We have members of the Church in the Muslim world. These are wonderful Saints, good members of the Church. They live in Iran, Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and other countries. Sometimes they are offended by members of the Church who give the…
“May I now discuss with you some of the things which have been uppermost in my mind... After his crucifixion the eleven apostles assembled on a mountain in Galilee and the Savior came to them and said:… “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,…” (He said “all nations.”) “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19-20). These words from the lips of the Master know no national boundaries; they are not limited to any race or culture. One nation is not favored above another. The admonition is clear—“teach all nations.” “…These were his last words on earth before he went to his heavenly home….did he mean all the living people of all the world and those spirits assigned to this world to come in centuries ahead? Have…
“The gospel of Jesus Christ transcends nationality and color, crosses cultural lines, and blends distinctiveness into a common brotherhood. . . . All men are invited to come unto him and all are alike unto Him. Race makes no difference; color makes no difference; nationality makes no difference. . . . Our Father does not favor one people over another, but accepts all those of every nation who fear him and work righteousness. . . .These words from the lips of the Master know no national boundaries; they are not limited to any race or culture. One nation is not favored above another. The admonition is clear—“teach all nations.”. . . . Another significant development of recent date is the revelation on extending priesthood blessings to all worthy male members, regardless of…
Joseph Smith called upon the nation to work to “ameliorate the condition of all: black or white, bond or free: for the best of books says. God hath made of one blood all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth.’” (Acts 17:26) -Prophet Joseph Smith.
Elder Boyd K. Packer said in 1987 concerning our entry into third-world nations, “We can’t move there with all the baggage we produce and carry here! We can’t move with a 1947 Utah Church!”
“Lowell Bennion has articulated a useful guideline when the scriptures, or Church leaders, apparently contradict each other. He suggests we look for the great central principles that are repeated again and again, especially by Christ, and judge all other claims or notions by them. He writes, “I do not accept any interpretation of scriptural passages that portrays God as being partial, unforgiving, hateful, or revengeful. It is more important to uphold the character and will of God than it is to support every line of scripture.” In that spirit, it seems to me we must not accept any interpretation or scripture, or any statement by a Church leader or teaching in a Church meeting or Church school class that denies or diminishes the clear, central doctrine that all are alike…
“As world citizens, we have more in common than we might suppose. That is not only true for us as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but also for all children of our Heavenly Father. … If we only would focus on the life experiences and hopes we have in common, it should not be too hard to get along with individuals, communities, and nations—regardless of where we live and regardless of what our backgrounds or life circumstances may be. If world history has taught us anything, we learn that it is a human tendency to think of ourselves as being the ‘good guys’—as the heroes of the story. And those who think and behave differently? Well, they are the ‘bad guys.’ When we see others as…
