“As we partake of the sacrament, we can ask ourselves, “What would He have me do?” As we remember Jesus Christ throughout the week and strive to keep His commandments, our lives are gradually refined and reshaped. Our “Why me?” questions will be replaced by “What can I learn, and what can I change?” “
“Love is not stepping back or sanctioning others’ decisions and actions. Love is being interested in their lives, their successes, and their challenges. Love is being there with arms outstretched and a cheerful countenance. Love is lifting with faith and hope in our Lord and Savior. Love relies upon the calming influence of the Holy Ghost. The book of Proverbs teaches, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding … , and he [will] direct thy paths.” The path is marked by love. President Dallin H. Oaks has counseled: “Let us avoid what is harsh and hateful. Let us seek to be holy, like our Savior.” That holiness comes when we are peacemakers, when we are charitable, patient, forgiving, and kind.”
“The Wolfgramms sailed into a storm; a journey that should have taken 16 hours to Vava‘u stretched into two and a half brutal days at sea. From my Gramma’s journal, she wrote: “We were completely soaked, … battered, and sick, … too weak to eat. … I held Vilimanulea to my chest until finally arriving to Vava‘u.” Yet their trial was not over. The storm left the baby severely dehydrated. With no medicine, the Wolfgramms’ precious son died of exposure. Within two days, they buried their baby in Vava‘u and continued their voyage. For the Wolfgramms, burying their infant child was akin to the pioneers who buried their children on the trail to Zion. Like the early pioneers, they yearned to hear and be in the presence of an Apostle.…
“ …each temple uniquely fits its place, culture, and circumstance, everything in each temple testifies of Jesus Christ.”
"God Is Not Silent" Over the years, I have come to love every place where God’s sons and daughters are gathered. Here on this campus, we have you gathered from all over the world—from Europe to Asia, from Africa to Australia, and from the islands of the sea. We each have a story to tell. Our stories may be different from place to place and person to person, but in many ways, they are also very similar. I was born and raised in a small village in a beautiful country called Botswana, on the African continent. It is a place where people still speak of visions and dreams—where heaven has often felt close. One of the greatest blessings of my life is the fact that I was raised by my…
“Living worthy to meet Christ is no easy task. Many current writers characterize the time in which we live as toxic, a time of contempt or hostility toward adversaries. This hostility affects many different relationships in society, involving many whose Christian beliefs should orient them otherwise. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, taught us how to relate to one another. The great commandments in the law, He taught, were to love—God and neighbor (see Matthew 22:37–39). Asked, “Who is my neighbour?” Jesus answered with a parable that praised the merciful action of a Samaritan, who belonged to a group the Jews isolated and held in contempt (see Luke 10:29–37). But Jesus’s teachings about the circle of love went far beyond Samaritans. In the Sermon on the Mount, He declared: “Ye have heard…
Guidance during difficult situations concerning race relations “Several years ago, as a young lawyer, I was involved in resolving a border dispute between countries that had been at war. The work required me to travel on foot through remote areas that were part of the recent war zone. Thousands of land mines had been laid during the war. Expert deminers were there, working to deactivate the mines; however, to my surprise, not all locations of the mines were known. Consequently, on occasion people would accidentally step on them and be injured or killed. To help me complete my work, I’d been provided a special guide named Winta. Winta was well known in the area. He was from a border town that had been attacked. He escaped and then volunteered to stay…
“My surname, Matswagothata, is from Botswana. In my home language, it means “getting out of a difficult situation” or “someone who can do hard things.” And while I haven’t always felt like I can do hard things, my surname is a reminder to me that the Savior can and will guide us through every season of life—especially through difficult times. We all need reminders like that throughout our mortal journey. Perhaps this is why our loving Father in Heaven gives us the opportunity every week to make a covenant with Him as part of the ordinance of the sacrament. He invites us to take upon ourselves the name of His Son, always remember Him, and keep His commandments. He gives us power to rise above mortality’s challenges. Remember Who You…
Unity and the need for attending church as well as having a personal relationship with Christ. “Think about it: None of us could know the true and living Christ without prophetic witness. From Adam to Noah, Moses to Peter, and Joseph Smith to our day, God has chosen to reveal His Son to His children through a prophet. Some say, “I don’t need a prophet or a church to follow Jesus.” But Jesus Himself said to His chosen Apostles, “He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me.” To knowingly reject His prophets is, by His own definition, to reject Him. The Lord warned of a time when “every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god.” Without apostles and prophets,…
“While studying scriptures in English, I noticed dozens of verses in which the words all and each (or every) appear together. For example, we learn in Mosiah: “He [speaking of the Lord] remembereth every creature of [His] creating, [and He] will make [Himself] manifest unto all.” The word all speaks to the universal reach of God’s love. The word each (or every) testifies of His power to care for each individual soul. This dual reality is most clearly manifested in Jesus Christ’s Atonement. All sons and daughters of God, without exception, will receive a full opportunity to access its supernal blessings. Yet it is a remarkably intimate gift, tailored to each individual’s needs and applied to one person at a time. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we bear witness of Him whenever we share His love with all around us—and help it take root in each person we meet. To love all and to…
