"… the Savior
taught a new doctrine: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good
to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and
persecute you.”3The disciples were taught to turn from the
ways of the natural man to the loving and caring ways of the Savior by replacing
contention with forgiveness, kindness, and compassion.
The
“new commandment” to “love one another”4 was not always
easy to keep. When the disciples worried about associating with sinners and
certain classes of people, the Savior patiently taught, “Inasmuch as ye have
done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”5 Or, as a Book of
Mormon prophet explained, “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye
are only in the service of your God.”6
As the
Savior’s latter-day disciples, we come unto Him by loving and serving God’s
children. As we do, we may not be able to avoid tribulation, affliction, and
suffering in the flesh, but we will suffer less spiritually. Even in our trials
we can experience joy and peace.
Our
Christian love and service naturally begin in the home. Parents, you are called
to be loving teachers and missionaries to your children and youth. They are
your investigators. You bear the responsibility to help them become converted.
In truth, all of us are seeking to be converted—which means being filled with
our Savior’s love…When
an opportunity comes to share your thoughts about the gospel and the lessons of
life, stop everything, sit down, and talk with your children and grandchildren.
Youth, you are some of our most effective
gospel teachers. You come to church to learn so that you can go home to teach
and serve your family, neighbors, and friends. Don’t be afraid. Have faith to
testify of what you know to be true. Think how full-time missionaries grow
because they are faithfully living a consecrated life—using their time and
talents and bearing testimony to serve and bless others. As you share your
testimony of the gospel, your faith will grow and your confidence will
increase!
Some of our most impactful Christian service is
given by holding family scripture study, family prayer, and family council
meetings. For more than a hundred years, Church leaders have called us to set
aside uninterrupted time each week. But many of us are still missing the
blessings. Family home evening is not a lecture from Mom and Dad. It is our
family time to share simple spiritual concepts and experiences, to help our
children learn to care and share, have fun together, bear testimony together,
and grow and progress together. As we hold family home evening every week, our
love for one another will grow stronger and we will suffer less.
Let us remember, the most important work we do
in our families is through the power of the Holy Ghost. Whenever we raise our voices
in anger, the Spirit leaves our companionships and families. When we speak in
love, the Spirit can be with us. Let us remember that our children and
grandchildren measure our love by how much devoted time we give them. Above
all, don’t lose patience and don’t give up!
The scriptures tell us that when some of
Heavenly Father’s spirit children chose not to follow His plan, the heavens
wept.12 Some parents who have
loved and taught their children also weep when their grown children choose not
to follow the Lord’s plan. What can parents do? We cannot pray away another’s
agency. Remember the father of the prodigal son, who patiently waited for his
son to “[come] to himself,” all the while watching for him.
Brothers and sisters, if we have not fully done
so yet, let us turn more toward forgiveness, kindness, and love. Let us
renounce the war that so often rages in the heart of the natural man and
proclaim Christ’s caring, love, and peace.17"
Con amor,
Vero
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