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The LDS Daily WOOL© Archive - Fellowshipping 1/10/05
"If we had knowledge tonight that some young man was lost, if
anyone knew of someone who was drowning, we wouldn't hesitate one
minute to do all in our power to save that individual, to save the one
who was lost, the one who was drowning, the one who was in need of our
help. These young men and these older men who are inactive in the
Church, who have strayed away from the Church because of inactivity or
for any reason, need our help and need our attention just as much.
They need our prayers and our consideration, and nothing will bring us
greater joy and happiness than to see one come back into activity. By
saving one, we might save a family. We might even save a generation.
By losing one, we may lose not only the individual but a family and
his posterity. The responsibility is great." - N. Eldon Tanner, "Search
for
the Wanderers," Ensign, June 1971, p. 59
12/18/05
"There are many of God's children who are wounded or sick in
spirit. Many once enjoyed fellowship with the body of the Saints, but
for one reason or another are now on the roadside. They are the less
active among us. Generally, we know who they are and have association
with them in various settings, but because they are not physically
sick or injured, we too often play the part of the priest or the
Levite and walk by on the other side.
"In this dramatic parable, Jesus contrasted the response of the two
respected religionists with that of a despised citizen of Samaria.
There is at least a scintilla
of similarity here to an elders president, a high priests group
leader, a member of the bishopric, or a home teacher, and to the
less-active brother or sister who has fallen inactive by the wayside.
Perhaps we do not despise them, but we sometimes ignore them or
otherwise disregard them. Each of us can be a good Samaritan by
dealing compassionately with these neglected brothers and sisters." -
Merlin R. Lybbert, "A
Latter-day Samaritan," Ensign (CR), May 1990, p.81
12/26/05
"In a recent training meeting for stake and ward councils held as
a part of a stake conference I attended, well-prepared presentations
centered on the opportunities to be inclusive rather than exclusive in
reaching out and touching new and less-active individuals, as well as
those not members of our church. Sister Laura Chipman, a stake Young
Women president, suggested five Is to help us to be inclusive in our
outreach. They are: (1) Introspection—Are we inadvertently
communicating an exclusionary attitude? (2) Identify—Do we know the
recently baptized, the less-active, or nonmembers who reside in our
neighborhoods and communities? (3) Individualize—Do we seek to know
the interests, talents, and skills of those we wish to fellowship? (4)
Invite—Do we include neighbors and friends in appropriate activities?
(5) Involve—Are there ways we can utilize the skills, talents, and
abilities of those we wish to include?" - H. David Burton, "A
Season of Opportunity," Ensign (CR), November 1998, p.9
10/12/07
"I rejoice in belonging to such a loving and caring [ward]. No one
knows better how to bear one another’s burdens, mourn with those who
mourn, and comfort those who stand in need of comfort. I choose to
call it “enduring together.” What happens to one happens to all. We
endure together." - Richard C. Edgley, " Enduring
Together," General Conference, 6 October
2007
9/12/08
"We live in a society that feeds
on criticism. Faultfinding is the substance of columnists and
commentators, and there is too much of this among our own people. It is
so easy to find fault, and to resist doing so requires much of
discipline. But if as a people we will build and sustain one another,
the Lord will bless us with the strength to weather every storm and
continue to move forward through every adversity. The enemy of truth
would divide us and cultivate within us attitudes of criticism which, if
permitted to prevail, will only deter us in the pursuit of our great
divinely given goal. We cannot afford to permit it to happen. We must
close ranks and march shoulder to shoulder, the strong helping the weak,
those with much assisting those with little. No power on earth can stop
this work if we shall so conduct ourselves."
- President Gordon B. Hinckley, "Five Million Members—A Milestone
and Not a Summit," Ensign (CR), May 1982, p.44
6/15/09
“The
fact that people are physically nearby, regardless of the setting,
does not always equate to feelings of acceptance, understanding,
inclusion, and fellowship. In too many cases, the reverse may be true.
Feelings of acceptance and inclusion come when someone invites us into
their circle of friendship and activity. Far beyond fun and games,
activities represent at least one nonthreatening way to accept,
include, understand, and fellowship others. Perceived in this manner,
activities become another vehicle to show charity, love, kindness,
forgiveness, service, and to include and not exclude. Amulek said, ‘If
ye do not remember to be charitable, ye are as dross, which the
refiners do cast out, (it being of no worth).’ (Alma 34:29.)” -
Adney Y. Komatsu, “Please Hear the Call!” Ensign (CR),
May 1992, p. 29
8/21/10
"I hope that we welcome and love all of God’s children, including
those who might dress, look, speak, or just do things differently. It is
not good to make others feel as though they are deficient. Let us lift
those around us. Let us extend a welcoming hand. Let us bestow upon our
brothers and sisters in the Church a special measure of humanity,
compassion, and charity so that they feel, at long last, they have
finally found home." - Dieter F.
Uchtdorf, "You
Are My Hands," Ensign (CR) May 2010
8/10/11
Under
the sacred and compelling trust we have as members of the Church of
Jesus Christ, ours is a work of redemption, of lifting and saving
those who need help. Ours is a task of raising the sights of those
of our people who fail to realize the great potential that lies
within them. Ours is the responsibility of building self-reliance,
of encouraging and cultivating happy homes where fathers and mothers
love and respect one another and children grow in an atmosphere of
peace and affection and appreciation. -
8/31/11
We speak of the fellowship of the
Saints. This is and must be a very real thing. We must never permit this
spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood to weaken. We must constantly
cultivate it. It is an important aspect of the gospel. - Gordon
B. Hinckley, "
9/17/11
According to the radius of our activity, or within our sphere of
responsibility, each one of us influences a certain number of God’s sons
and daughters. Our attitudes, actions, and words convey messages to
others which in some way affect their lives, either positively or
negatively. -
8/25/13
In building the kingdom of God,
every positive act, every friendly greeting, every warm smile,
every thoughtful, kind note contributes to the strength of the
whole. It is my prayer that we may be open and outgoing, friendly,
and helpful to all who come among us. But let us give special care
and concern for the new converts to the Church. When we detect a
halting step or a stumble as they begin their journey on the
gospel path, let us be there to lift and support with words of
kindness and concern; let us be available to give gentle, loving
counsel that will strengthen and sustain. Let us conscientiously
look for occasions to show that love which the Savior admonished
us to have when He said, “A new commandment I give unto you, That
ye love one another” (John
13:34). - Carl B. Pratt,
"Care
for New Converts," Ensign (CR) November 1997
8/27/14
How
easy it is to want quick and dramatic results in exchange for a
day’s labor! And yet how happy people are who have learned to bend
to the rhythm of paced and steady progress—even to celebrate and
delight in the ordinariness of life.
Don’t be discouraged. Think of those who reach a hand into the
wagon to give you courage. Be the person who reaches out
your hand toward others as we all move forward together. - Virginia
H. Pearce, “Keep
Walking, and Give Time a Chance,” Ensign (CR) May 1997
12/21/14
In a
lonely world, brotherhood in the Church really means something.
Everyone needs to be loved. Everyone needs to be needed. Everyone
has some kind of talent and wants to use it. Somehow in the magic
of this marvelous organization you can find your place and make
your contribution. When you serve, you find purpose to life. The
Church hath need of every member. - A.
Theodore Tuttle, “Come
Drink the Living Water,” Ensign (CR) April 1975
2/5/15
To be a fellow citizen with the
saints has great meaning. All can receive that citizenship through
the ordinance of baptism, if they will—if they will repent and
prepare themselves. Then, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints, they never need be alone. - Boyd
K. Packer, “The
Saints Securely Dwell,” Ensign (CR) October 1972
4/18/15
Our
ability to stand firm and true and follow the Savior despite the
vicissitudes of life is greatly strengthened by righteous families
and Christ-centered unity in our wards and branches. - Quentin
L. Cook, “The
Lord is My Light,” Ensign (CR) April 2015
9/25/15
Our friends and neighbors are children of a loving Father in
Heaven who desires that all of us return to Him. Can we be content
when not all the members of our quorum are in attendance Sunday
morning? Surely we can extend ourselves to the less active and
those of other faiths and warmly invite them to our Young Men and
Young Women Mutual activities, seminary, Sunday School classes,
and sacrament meetings. - Spencer
J. Condie, "Becoming
a Great Benefit to Our Fellow Beings," Ensign (CR), May
2002, p. 44
11/23/15
Be
one who nurtures and who builds. Be one who has an understanding
and a forgiving heart, who looks for the best in people. Leave
people better than you found them. Be fair with your competitors,
whether in business, athletics, or elsewhere. Don't get drawn into
some of the parlance of our day and try to "win" by intimidation
or by undermining someone's character. Lend a hand to those who
are frightened, lonely, or burdened. - Marvin
J. Ashton, "The
Tongue Can Be a Sharp Sword," Ensign (CR), May 1992, p.18
12/3/15
In this time of rapid change,
we can maintain an equilibrium if we preserve a belief in God and
a love for him, but we cannot love God unless we love his children
also. These are our neighbors, and true love of them knows no
class or culture, race, color, or creed. - Howard
W. Hunter, "Conference Report," October 1970, Third Day-Morning
Meeting, p.131
7/3/16
The personal nature
of the Lord's ministry as the Master Shepherd should be the pattern
for all who shepherd the flocks of Israel. The depth of His love,
His willingness to give freely of Himself, His undeviating loyalty
and devotion to the cause shared so completely with His Father, and
His constant attention to the needs of the one stand as hallmarks of
the true shepherd's calling. - John R. Lasater, “Shepherds
of Israel,” Ensign (CR), May 1988, p.74
8/3/16
When Jesus told the lawyer that in order to inherit eternal life
he must love his neighbor as himself, the lawyer said unto Jesus,
"And who is my neighbour?" Jesus responded with His parable of the
good Samaritan and then asked: "Which now of these three, thinkest
thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he
said, He that shewed mercy on him." With this parable, Jesus
taught that each of us should exhibit an active love and
benevolence towards every one of His Father's children. - Robert
J. Whetten, “Strengthen
Thy Brethren,” Ensign (CR), May 2005
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