- The family proclamation states that a husband and wife should be equal partners. I feel assured that every wife in the Church would welcome that opportunity and support it. Whether it occurs or not depends upon the husband. Many husbands practice equal partnership with their companion to the benefit of both and the blessing of their children. However, many do not. I encourage any man who is reluctant to develop an equal partnership with his wife to obey the counsel inspired by the Lord and do it. Equal partnership yields its greatest benefit when both husband and wife seek the will of the Lord in making important decisions for themselves and for their family.
- As a bishop, when you counsel with a husband and wife who are in marital difficulty, do you give the same credence to the statements of the woman that you do to the man? As I travel throughout the world, I find that some women are shortchanged in that a priesthood leader is more persuaded by a son rather than a daughter of Father in Heaven. That imbalance simply must never occur.
- The purpose of priesthood authority is to give, to serve, to lift, to inspire--not to exercise unrighteous control or force. In some cultures, tradition places a man in a role to dominate, control, and regulate all family affairs. That is not the way of the Lord. In some places the wife is almost owned by her husband, as if she were another of his personal possessions. That is a cruel, unproductive, mistaken vision of marriage encouraged by Lucifer that every priesthood holder must reject. It is founded on the false premise that a man is somehow superior to a woman. Nothing could be father from the truth. The scriptures confirm that Father in Heaven saved His greatest, most splendid, supreme creation, woman, to the end. Only after all else was completed was woman created. Only then was the work pronounced complete and good.
- Of our wives, mothers, grandmothers, and sisters and other important women in our lives, President Hinckley declared: "Of all the creations of the Almighty, there is none more beautiful, none more inspiring than a lovely daughter of God who walks in virtue with an understanding of why she should do so, who honors and respects her body as a thing sacred and divine, who cultivates her mind and constantly enlarges the horizon of her understanding, who nurtures her spirit with everlasting truth."
- By divine design a woman is fundamentally different from a man in many ways. She is compassionate and seeks the interests of others around her. However, that compassionate nature can become overwhelming for women who identify far more to accomplish than they can possibly do, even with the help of the Lord. Some become discouraged because they do not feel they are doing all they should do. I believe this is a feeling that many worthy, effective, devoted women of the Church experience.
- As a husband, when you sense that your wife needs lifting, hold her in your arms and tell her how much you love her. May each of us ever be tender and appreciative of the special women who enrich our lives.
- You shouldn't have to lose your priesthood to appreciate it more fully.
Jay E. Jensen -Arms of Safety
- Each priesthood holder should remember that he is acting on behalf of the Lord and be reverent and dignified.
- True servants of Jesus Christ are properly groomed and dressed, reflecting always His standards and not the worldly drift of casualness. Having every detail carefully attended to ensures that the Spirit of the Lord will be present. The dress or appearance of those administering the sacrament should not be a distraction for those who are earnestly seeking the blessings of the infinite Atonement.
- It is a privilege to hold the priesthood: "It is a commission to serve, a privilege to lift, and an opportunity to bless the lives of others."
- "For some reason, we think the Atonement of Christ applies only at the end of mortal life to redemption from the Fall, from spiritual death. It is much more than that. It is an ever-present power to call upon in everyday life. When we are racked or harrowed up or tormented by guilt or burdened with grief, He can heal us. While we do not fully understand how the Atonement of Christ was made, we can experience 'the peace of God, which passeth all understanding.'"
James J. Hamula -Winning the War against Evil
- "Being left to choose good or evil," they "[chose] good" and exhibited "exceedingly great faith" and "good works."
- With God's kingdom restored to the earth and your entry into the world, Satan knows that "he hath but a short time." Therefore, Satan is marshalling every resource at his disposal to entice you into transgression. He knows that if he can draw you into transgression, he may prevent you from serving a fulltime mission, marrying in the temple, and securing your future children in the faith, all of which weakens not only you but the Church. He knows that nothing can overthrow God's kingdom "save it [be] the transgression of [his] people." Make no mistake about it--the focus of his war is now on you--you who seek to "keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."
- So, as we enter the final climactic stages of the war against Satan, be sober, my young friends. Understand that you cannot partake of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco. You cannot participate in pornography or other immoral activity. You cannot lie, cheat, or steal. You cannot use false, demeaning, or dirty language. You cannot deface your body with tattoos and other piercings. You cannot do these things and be victorious in the battle for your own soul, let alone be a valiant warrior in the great struggle for the souls of all the rest of our Father's children.
Dieter F. Uchtdorf -Lift Where You Stand
- "Lift where you stand."
- However, there are those who sometimes struggle with this concept. And when they do, they seemed to fall into one of two camps: either they seek to lead, or they seek to hide. They covet a crown or a cave.
- Those who seek to lead may feel they are capable of doing more than what they are currently asked to do. Some might think, "If only I were a bishop, I could make a difference." They believe that their abilities far surpass their calling. Perhaps if they were in an important position of leadership, they would work hard at making a difference. But they wonder, "What possible influence can I have as merely a home teacher or a counselor in the quorum presidency?"
- Those who seek to hide may feel that they are too busy to serve in the Church. When the chapel needs to be cleaned, when the Mendez family needs help moving, when the bishop calls them to teach a class, they always seem to have a ready excuse.
- "The Lord expects each of us to have a calling in His Church so that others may be blessed by our talents and influence."
- Oddly enough, often the root cause of both of these tendencies--seeking to lead or seeking to hide--may be the same: selfishness.
- The Lord judges so very differently from the way we do. He is pleased with the noble servant, not with the self-serving noble.
- When we stand close together and lift where we stand, when we care more for the glory of the kingdom of God than for our own prestige or pleasure, we can accomplish so much more.
- No calling is beneath us. Every calling provides an opportunity to serve and to grow.
- God knows what is best for us.
Henry B. Eyring -O Ye That Embark
- "And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."
- Time and again over your life, the Lord has been giving you the experiences to build strength, courage, and determination. He knew how much you would need that to serve Him.
Thomas S. Monson -To Learn, to Do, to Be
- When there's a will, there's a way.
- "Do your duty, that is best; leave unto the Lord the rest."
- Learn what we should learn, do what we should do, and be what we should be.
Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!
-Sarnic Dirchi
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