His Goodness Made Him Stop

 "Here's a truth I'm still trying to grasp: stopping on the road to Jericho was not what made the Samaritan good; it was his goodness that made him stop."

"Good Enough," Joey C. Franklin, Y Magazine Summer 2021, 42.

Use Music

 President Dallin H. Oaks said: "The singing of hymns is one of the best ways to put ourselves in tune with the Spirit on the Lord... Sacred music has a unique capacity to communicate our feelings of love for the Lord. This kind of communication is a wonderful aid to our worship.... Our hymns contain matchless doctrinal sermons, surpassed only by the scriptures in their truth and poetic impact." 

"Worship through Music," Ensign, Nov. 1994, 10, 11. 

Our Heavenly's Goal is to Have His Children Choose to Do What is Right

 

The Divine Signature of the US Constitution

By Laureen Naylor Simper

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

“Our Heavenly Father’s goal in parenting is not to have His children do what is right; it is to have His children choose to do what is right and ultimately become like Him. If He simply wanted us to be obedient, He would use immediate rewards and punishments to influence our behaviors.

“But God is not interested in His children just becoming trained and obedient ‘pets’ who will not chew on His slippers in the celestial living room. No, God wants His children to grow up spiritually and join Him in the family business.”

Good Things Can Take Our Time, But What Is Needful? Be Flexible with Your To-Do List

 

Trust in the Lord That You May Not Run Faster Than You Have Strength

By Sister Kristin M. Yee

Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency

When I paint, it’s hard for me to walk away from what I’m doing, because I always see something that needs to be fixed or changed, some hue, value, shape, or texture that needs to be adjusted or refined. I realized early on that I needed to literally turn my painting to face the wall before I could go to sleep at night.

Sisters and brothers, the Lord can help us to find rest and to know when to “turn it to the wall.” We have many, many good things that can take our time, but what is needful? The Spirit of the Lord can help us to know what is enough, what is most important, and what can fall to the wayside. Let us be flexible with our “to do” lists and be open to what the Lord may bring our way each day. (See Jacob 4:10; Alma 37:36–37.)...

The prophet Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) taught that the Lord “will help us as we decide from day to day on the allocation of our time and talent. We will move faster if we hurry less. We will make more real progress if we focus on the fundamentals.”

Focusing on the fundamentals includes spending time with the Lord in personal and family prayer, studying His word, ministering as He would, worshipping in His holy house, repenting often and sincerely, and engaging in blessed family history work. These sacred efforts fill our souls and bring the power of the Savior’s atoning sacrifice into our lives and into the lives of our families on both sides of the veil.

When we trust our time and energies to Him, and let Him prevail in this way, He will bring great peace, perspective, power, guidance, and joy into our lives. We will move faster in the ways that matter most.

What Mission Does the Lord Have For You?

 

The Joy of Sharing the Gospel

By Elder Ronald A. Rasband

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Brothers and sisters, what mission does the Lord have for you? He knows your capacity to serve, and His Church offers a variety of lengths, assignments, and locations for senior missionaries. If you, like Elder Christensen, wonder whether you are needed, the answer is a decisive yes! The Lord needs your experience, knowledge, and maturity to build His kingdom....

The Lord Needs Your Service

By Elder W. Mark Bassett, Executive Director of the Missionary Department

Whether you served a mission decades ago or have never worn a missionary name tag, the Lord can use your service. You can prepare now to be among His most effective instruments, embracing three suggestions months or even years before you plan to serve:

1. Strengthen your skills. Maintain and improve any language skills you may have had. (Freshen up from your earlier missions or high school language courses). Open your computer and learn how to use it, especially the internet and standard office computer programs and applications. Become familiar with the technology the Church offers. Digital fluency multiplies your ability to serve.

2. Care for your health. Your body is your instrument of service. Schedule that medical checkup, address lingering health concerns, and build sustainable habits. The missionary work ahead needs you at your best.

3. Study leadership. Watch how your local leaders minister, delegate, and build unity. Practice supporting them wholeheartedly. Build up local members and leaders with encouragement, service, and example. Missionaries worldwide are serving as catalysts to help leaders succeed. Every senior missionary supports and strengthens local leadership. We don’t replace it; we sustain and magnify it.

The need for senior missionaries—both couples and singles—is urgent and vast. We could fill multiple stake centers with senior missionaries and still have needs going unmet worldwide.

The Church has thousands of members who could serve, but only a fraction of them are currently serving. The need isn’t just large; it’s now—and it’s waiting for you!

Elder Bassett passed away unexpectedly on May 11, 2026, while this issue was in production.

Peace and Rest Amidst Our To Do List

This whole thing was amazing and really pinged my soul. 

 

Helping Our Children Love the Temple

 Helping our children prepare for the temple can be a natural and normal part of our lives. As the temple and its blessings are important to us, our actions and our words will teach our children to love the temple as well. When children understand the importance of making covenants with God, their desire to prepare for those covenants is likely to increase.

Teaching Your Children to Love the Temple

By Nancy Dance and Dana Wright

Former Members of the Primary General Advisory Council

October 2021