My days were full of forgettable things like folding laundry, reading children’s books, and putting casseroles together for dinner. Sometimes in the harbor of our homes, we can’t see that by the simple, consistent acts—including family prayer, scripture study, and family home evening—great things are brought to pass. But I testify that these very acts […]
Faith in God and in His Son, Jesus Christ, is absolutely essential for us to maintain a balanced perspective through times of trial and difficulty. Remember, nothing will occur in our lives that He does not understand. Alma taught, “And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this […]
Quickly forgotten by those who are offended is the fact that the Church is “for the perfecting of the saints” (Eph. 4:12); it is not a well-provisioned rest home for the already perfected. Likewise, unremembered by some is the reality that in the kingdom we are each other’s clinical material; the Lord allows us to […]
The foremost quality of our pioneers was faith. With faith in God, they did what every pioneer does—they stepped forward into the unknown: a new religion, a new land, a new way of doing things. With faith in their leaders and in one another, they stood fast against formidable opposition. When their leader said, “This […]
Life is beautiful when you make the effort to find beauty in it. In some of the most materially deprived parts of the world, I have seen the sunrise in all of its splendor and heard birds joyously welcoming a new day. I have seen beauty reflected in a small pot of flowers by a […]
Let me share with you some suggestions for alleviating contention: Pray to have the love of God in your heart. Sometimes this is a struggle, but the Spirit of the Lord can soften hard feelings and mellow a callous spirit. Learn to control your tongue. There is an old maxim and an excellent one: “Think […]
Moses became aware of the magnitude of the creation and its purpose firsthand, by talking face to face with God and beholding his works. There are few who have had that experience. But others have beheld God’s majesty through his works. Abraham Lincoln stated his conviction when he said that he could not conceive how […]
I should like to name first the duty that rests upon every parent and upon every teacher within this Church to arouse within the mind of the child, a sense of responsibility toward other individuals and towards society. The sacredness of personality is a fundamental teaching of Jesus Christ. One great writer in this age, […]
Our homes can be, and should be, a refuge and a sanctuary from the troubled world we live in; may they become such by striving daily to keep sacred the holy covenants we have made. – Eran A. Call, “The Home: A Refuge and Sanctuary,” Ensign (CR) November 1997
It was Thomas Mann who said, “Time cools, time clarifies; no mood can be maintained quite unaltered through the hours.” (The Magic Mountain.) Our moods do change, so we need to distinguish between a mood and a basic belief. The Book of Mormon doesn’t become untrue because we have had a bad day! When one […]