Divine Design

By Divine Design

By Elder Ronald A. Rasband

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

What should you be looking for in your own life? What are God’s miracles that remind you that He is close, saying, “I am right here”? Think of those times, some daily, when the Lord has acted in your life—and then acted again. Treasure them as moments the Lord has shown confidence in you and in your choices. But allow Him to make more of you than you can make of yourself on your own. Treasure His involvement. Sometimes we consider changes in our plans as missteps on our journey. Think of them more as first steps to being “on the Lord’s errand.”

Choose Your Love; Love Your Choice

"Choose a companion carefully and prayerfully; and when you are married, be fiercely loyal one to another. Priceless advice comes from a small framed plaque I once saw in the home of an uncle and aunt. It read, 'Choose your love; love your choice.' "

Thomas S. Monson, April 2011 general conference

Quick to Forgive

Quick to Forgive

Photograph of Spencer W. Kimball by Eldon K. Linschoten

“Marriage partners must be quick to forgive. If we will sue for peace, taking the initiative in settling differences—if we forgive and forget with all our hearts … if we forgive all real or fancied offenses before we ask forgiveness for our own sins—if we pay our own debts, large or small, before we press our debtors—if we manage to clear our own eyes of the blinding beams before we magnify the motes in the eyes of others—what a glorious world this would be! Divorce would be reduced to a minimum; courts would be freed from disgusting routines; family life would be heavenly; the building of the kingdom would go forward at an accelerated pace; and the peace which passeth understanding would bring to us all a joy and happiness which has hardly ‘entered into the heart of man.’”

The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball (1982), 242.

A Happy Marriage

“A happy marriage is not so much a matter of romance as it is an anxious concern for the comfort and well-being of one’s companion.”

Gordon B. Hinckley, “What God Hath Joined Together,” Ensign,May 1991, 73.

What Happily Married Couples Do

• JANUARY 2012
• WHAT HAPPILY MARRIED COUPLES DO

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What HappilyMarried Couples Do

By Douglas Brinley

Having spent my career helping couples strengthen their marriages, I have learned that couples who are experiencing marital troubles often face a twofold problem: they have lost the Spirit of the Lord in their relationship because of contention, and they are not doing the kinds of activities that would bring them closer to each other....

You both must feel comfortable exchanging your thoughts and feelings without fear of criticism, feeling inferior, or being smothered....

 A good therapist [spouse] listens attentively; provides new perspectives on situations; compliments on progress; is patient, kind, and nonjudgmental; and helps us think things through in ways that allow a better solution. ...

When you have a disagreement, realize that both of you have the responsibility to resolve it. Sometimes seeing a situation from the other person’s point of view is difficult. However, with humility and kindness, you can work together to solve problems in a manner that accommodates both of your needs....

New perspectives come with time away from the mundane. ...Above all, recognize that a babysitter is cheaper than a divorce....

Seeking feedback from your spouse about how you are doing and how you could improve might be just what you need to be a better spouse and parent. ...

Anger is a great destroyer of marriages and families....

The key is to seek to support each other through good times as well as those difficult moments.

Let the Light In

Sometimes it helps to talk to someone who cares about our troubles.

Today I wish to speak of spiritual wellness—how we can find healing from stagnation and walk a path of vibrant spiritual health....

But just because spiritual trials are real does not mean that they are incurable.

We can heal spiritually.

Even the deepest spiritual wounds—yes, even those that may appear to be incurable—can be healed.

My dear friends, the healing power of Jesus Christ is not absent in our day.

The Savior’s healing touch can transform lives in our day just as it did in His. If we will but have faith, He can take our hands, fill our souls with heavenly light and healing, and speak to us the blessed words, “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.”...

hen we are in the light, we can make righteous choices based on true principles. When we are in the light, we have “a perfect brightness of hope”2 because we can see our mortal trials from an eternal perspective.

We will find spiritual healing as we step away from the shadows of the world and into the everlasting Light of Christ....

He who humbly follows Jesus Christ will experience and share in His light. ...

The Light of Christ enlightens and saturates the souls of all who hearken to the voice of the Spirit.6

The Light of Christ fills the universe.

It fills the earth.

And it can fill every heart.

“God is no respecter of persons.”7 His light is available to all—great or small, rich or poor, privileged or disadvantaged.

If you open your mind and heart to receive the Light of Christ and humbly follow the Savior, you will receive more light. ...

God will open your eyes.

God will give you a new heart.

God’s love, light, and truth will cause dormant things to spring to life, and you will be reborn into a newness of life in Christ Jesus.9

The Lord has promised, “If your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.”

This is the ultimate remedy for spiritual sickness. Darkness vanishes in the presence of light....

For change to take place, we need to actively let the light in....

Spiritual darkness can draw a veil of forgetfulness around even those who once walked in the light and rejoiced in the Lord....

Every time you turn your hearts to God in humble prayer, you experience His light. Every time you seek His word and will in the scriptures, the light grows in brightness. Every time you notice someone in need and sacrifice your own comfort to reach out in love, the light expands and swells. Every time you reject temptation and choose purity, every time you seek or extend forgiveness, every time you courageously testify of truth, the light chases away darkness and attracts others who are also seeking light and truth....

Share those moments with family, friends, and especially with our youth, who are seeking light. They need to hear from you that with this light come hope and healing, even in a world full of darkness.

Christ’s light brings hope, happiness, and healing of any spiritual wound or ailment....

 it is our quest to seek the Lord until His light of everlasting life burns brightly within us and our testimony becomes confident and strong even in the midst of darkness.

Deiter F. Uchtdorf, "Bearers of Heavenly Light," Ensign Nov 2017, 78-81. 

The Priesthood Covenant: Being Heirs with Abraham (Chapter 9 Lesson Primary Old Testament)

Both the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods are received by covenant.5 God determines the terms and man accepts. Broadly speaking, priesthood holders covenant to help God in His work....

This teaches that the purpose of the priesthood is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel. We have the priesthood so that we can help Heavenly Father’s children be relieved of the burden of sin and become like Him. Through the priesthood, the power of godliness is manifest in the lives of all who make and keep gospel covenants and receive the associated ordinances....

An Aaronic Priesthood holder covenants to avoid evil, help others be reconciled to God, and prepare to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood.9 These sacred responsibilities are fulfilled as he teaches, baptizes, strengthens Church members, and invites others to accept the gospel. These are his “rocket” functions. In return, God promises hope, forgiveness, the ministering of angels, and the keys of the gospel of repentance and baptism.10

A Melchizedek Priesthood holder covenants to fulfill the responsibilities associated with the Aaronic Priesthood and to magnify his calling in the Melchizedek Priesthood.11 He does so by keeping the commandments associated with the covenant. These commandments include giving “diligent heed to the words of eternal life” by living by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God,12bearing testimony of Jesus Christ and His latter-day work,13 not boasting of himself,14 and becoming the Savior’s friend, trusting Him as a friend would.15

In return, God promises that a Melchizedek Priesthood holder will receive keys to understand the mysteries of God. He will become perfect so that he can stand in the presence of God. He will be able to fulfill his role in the work of salvation. Jesus Christ will prepare the way before the priesthood holder and will be with him. The Holy Ghost will be in the priesthood holder’s heart, and angels will bear him up. His body will be strengthened and renewed. He will become heir to the blessings of Abraham and, along with his wife, joint-heir with Jesus Christ to Heavenly Father’s kingdom.16 These are “exceeding great and precious promises.”17 No greater promises can be imagined.

Dale G. Renlund, "The Priesthood and the Savior's Atoning Power," Ensign Nov 2017, 64.

Scripture Stories for Bedtime

To reinforce the principles our children were reading and learning in scripture study, I often used scripture stories as bedtime stories. In later years my daughter shared how influential this was. She said, “I think stories that were told over and over again became favorites for us. You sat beside our beds and shared the stories from the scriptures. We loved them and asked to hear them again and again because even at that young age we could feel the spirit of the message they carried and knew the people you were telling us about were valiant and faithful. We wanted to be like them.”

Clyde J. Williams, "Helping Children Love The Book of Mormon," Ensign Jan 2012, 10. 

The Blessings of Visiting Teaching

The Blessings of Visiting Teaching

Photograph of Sister Thompson © Busath.com

“Many women have reported that the reason they came back into Church activity was because a faithful visiting teacher came month after month and ministered to them, rescuing them, loving them, blessing them. …

“At times the most important blessing about your visit will be to just listen. Listening brings comfort, understanding, and healing. Still another time you may need to roll up your sleeves and go to work in the home or help to calm a crying child.”

Barbara Thompson, second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, “And of Some Have Compassion, Making a Difference,” Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2010, 120.

Small Acts of Service

 “Often small acts of service are all that is required to lift and bless another: a question concerning a person’s family, quick words of encouragement, a sincere compliment, a small note of thanks, a brief telephone call,” taught President Thomas S. Monson. “If we are observant and aware, and if we act on the promptings which come to us, we can accomplish much good. … Countless are the acts of service provided by the vast army of Relief Society visiting teachers.”

Thomas S. Monson, “Three Goals to Guide You,” Liahona andEnsign, Nov. 2007, 120–21.

People Rather than Percentages

“Visiting teaching becomes the Lord’s work when our focus is on people rather than percentages,” explains Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president. “In reality, visiting teaching is never finished. It is more a way of life than a task. Faithfully serving as a visiting teacher is evidence of our discipleship.”

Julie B. Beck, “Relief Society: A Sacred Work,” Liahona andEnsign, Nov. 2009, 114.

Scouting

“It is time we received the training … to help us become better priesthood and Young Men leaders and [it is time we] recognized that Scouting is a vital part of the Aaronic Priesthood activity program and can help greatly to build better-prepared missionaries, better husbands and fathers, [and] help prepare our young men to receive the ordinances of the temple, and help reactivate those who have drifted."

Charles W. Dahlquist II, “Strengthening and Vitalizing Aaronic Priesthood Quorums,” address given at Young Men open house, Sept. 2004.

Fear, Despair, and Pride

Perfect Love Casteth Out All Fear

By Leah Welker

The author lives in Maryland, USA.

Ensign Feb 2018

Instead of reacting in fear, despair, or pride, we can choose to cultivate the feelings God would give to us: faith, hope, and charity. Each of these divine qualities can be answers to the problems of fear, despair, and pride: faith casts out fear, hope dispels despair, and charity—the pure love of Christ—leaves no room for pride....

How often do we feel this pride, a disregard for whole nations, religions, or cultures we think are unworthy or unredeemable? How often, in our fear, are we tempted to do nothing to help other children of God?...

No matter what is occurring in the world, we can be assured that faith, hope, and charity will cast out all fear, despair, and pride that threaten to ruin our peace. Those divine qualities will kindle our souls with a light that is unquenchable by any earthly power....

We can make a difference in the world as we resist the temptations to hide, hate, or despair. Let us reach out to the suffering and be valiant lamps reflecting the Light of the World.

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