Sufficient Humility

The Eternal Everyday

By Elder Quentin L. Cook

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Having sufficient humility in our lives to help establish the Church is particularly valuable. ...

Sometimes humility is accepting callings when we do not feel adequate. Sometimes humility is serving faithfully when we feel capable of a more high-profile assignment. Humble leaders have verbally and by example established that it is not where we serve but how we faithfully serve. Sometimes humility is overcoming hurt feelings when we feel that leaders or others have mistreated us.....

In our quest for humility, the modern internet creates challenges to avoiding pride. Two examples are the self-indulgent “look at me” approach or attacking others by ranting on social media. One more example is the “humblebrag.” It is defined as “an ostensibly modest or self-deprecating statement [or picture] whose actual purpose is to draw attention to something of which one is proud.”...

When we are truly humble, we pray for forgiveness and forgive others...

Holding a grudge and refusing to forgive and refusing to humbly approach our relationships in a Christlike manner truly brings us under condemnation. Holding a grudge is poisonous to our souls.

Let me also caution against any form of arrogance...

Humility also includes being grateful for our numerous blessings and divine assistance....

 It is my prayer that in this contentious world we will continuously strive for true humility every day.

Choosing Good Media Resources

Related Resources

• A Parent’s Guide on LDS.org has excellent age-by-age help for teaching children about healthy intimacy.
• Go to overcomingpornography.org for family home evening lessons and other helps for parents, including the video for children “What Should I Do If I See Pornography?”

Progress, But Not There Yet

As we build the kingdom of God, I can’t think of anything more important than having a well-prepared sacrament meeting where speakers speak of Christ, testify of Christ, and share testimonies from the apostles and prophets in the scriptures and other sources.

As a Church we’ve been focused on the Sabbath day. We’ve made progress, but we are not there yet. We’ll continue our efforts until every member and missionary is so spiritually motivated during their Sabbath day worship that each says to his or her neighbors, investigators, and relatives, “Come and see. Come and worship with us.” This is where we want to be.

If we could all do this as a Church, those who accept our invitation to “come and see” will feel the power of the message of the restored Church of Jesus Christ. As they worship with us in our sacrament meetings, their hearts will be touched and the light of the gospel will be lit in their hearts and minds.

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Our Sabbath Sanctuary

By President M. Russell Ballard

Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

From “The Chapel: Our Sabbath Sanctuary” at prophets.lds.org.

Communicate Love to Children

 I enjoy praying for my children by name as they listen to me express to Heavenly Father how beloved they are to me. It seems there is no better time to communicate love to our children than when praying with them or blessing them. When families gather in humble prayer, powerful and lasting lessons are taught.

Devin G. Durrant, "Teaching in the Home - A Joyful and Sacred Responsibility," April 2018 Confernce

Don't Judge Servants of the Lord

The Lord Leads His Church

By President Henry B. Eyring

First Counselor in the First Presidency

 It takes faith to believe that He knows the people He calls perfectly, both their capacities and their potential, and so makes no mistakes in His calls.

That may bring a smile or a shake of the head to some in this audience—both those who think their own call to serve might have been a mistake as well as those who picture some they know who seem poorly suited to their place in the Lord’s kingdom. My counsel to both groups is to delay such judgments until you can better see what the Lord sees. The judgment you need to make, instead, is that you have the capacity to receive revelation and to act on it fearlessly.....

Without their faith, the bishop, who was called of God, will find it harder to get the revelation he needs to help them. He will not succeed without the faith of the members to sustain him.....

For a leader to succeed in the Lord’s work, the people’s trust that he is called of God must override their view of his infirmities and mortal weaknesses. ...

I try not to judge servants of the Lord or to speak of their apparent weaknesses....

It takes faith and humility to serve in the place to which we are called, to trust that the Lord called us and those who preside over us, and to sustain them with full faith.

********

"..... their spirit of criticism and jealousy spread like a plague." (DON'T DO!)

If Someone Hurts You

COMMEMORATING THE 1978 REVELATION

The Savior Heals Our Hurts

By Elder Fred A. “Tony” Parker

Of the Seventy, North America Southeast Area

 If someone says something to hurt my feelings, I need to find a way to help him understand why that hurt. It is an opportunity not only to forgive but to build a relationship so that the person doesn’t just look at Tony Parker as an African-American but as a child of God. Jesus taught forgiveness (see Matthew 18:21–35), and He taught us when we have been offended to take it to the individual and work it out (see Matthew 18:15)....

I’ve found that to overcome hurt, whatever the cause, our source of healing and conversion is Jesus Christ (see 3 Nephi 9:13; D&C 112:13), and the Church is His means to bring us to Him through learning His gospel and participating in ordinances so that we can be healed.1

That healing for me has come through renewing my covenant relationship with Christ on a weekly basis through the sacrament. He can help us if we are willing to take whatever we are hurt by or struggling with and put it on the altar.

“Lord, I’m not perfect. I’ve got this situation that’s bothering me. So I’m going to put this here. And I’m going to commit to do what You direct me to do. So Lord, help me walk this walk with You.”

#aang

Be More Willing Every "One More Day" to...

 “Mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. … Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. … Speak your love and then speak it again” 

(Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Howard W. Hunter [2015], 32; adapted from “What We Think Christmas Is,” McCall’s, Dec. 1959, 82–83).

One More Day

By Elder Taylor G. Godoy

Of the Seventy

April 2018 Conference

 I wonder what it would mean, what effect it would have in my life to know that I had only one more day to live. How would I treat my wife, my children, and others? How patient and polite would I be? How would I take care of my body? How fervently would I pray and search the scriptures? I think that, in one way or another, we all at some point will have a “one more day” realization—a realization that we must use wisely the time we have....

In what ways will sacrifice make our days meaningful and blessed?...

Personal sacrifice drives our actions, our commitments, and our covenants and gives sacred things meaning.

Sacrifice To Do More Temple and Family History Work

Family History and Temple Work: Sealing and Healing

By Elder Dale G. Renlund

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

April 2018 Conference

President Russell M. Nelson, however, cautioned: “We can be inspired all day long about temple and family history experiences others have had. But we must do something to actually experience the joy ourselves.” He continued, “I invite you to prayerfully consider what kind of sacrifice—preferably a sacrifice of time—you can make [to] do more temple and family history work.”17 As you accept President Nelson’s invitation, you will discover, gather, and connect your family. Additionally, blessings will flow to you and your family like the river spoken of by Ezekiel. You will find healing for that which needs healing.

Casualness leads to casualties.

Saving Ordinances Will Bring Us Marvelous Light

By Elder Taniela B. Wakolo

Of the Seventy

April 2018 Conference

The many distractions and temptations of life are like “ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15). It is the true shepherd who will prepare, protect, and warn the sheep and the flock when these wolves are approaching (see John 10:11–12). As undershepherds who seek to emulate the perfect life of the Good Shepherd, aren’t we shepherds of our own soul as well as of others? With the counsel of prophets, seers, and revelators, whom we just sustained, and with the power and gift of the Holy Ghost, we can see the wolves coming if we are watchful and prepared. In contrast, when we are casual shepherds of our own soul and others’ souls, casualties are likely. Casualness leads to casualties. I invite each of us to be a faithful shepherd.

Connect with Self

Cultivating Meaningful Connections

By Faith Sutherlin Blackhurst

The author lives in Utah, USA.

April 2018 Ensign

Find out what it is that helps you feel most like yourself, and it will become easier to find happiness.

We become happier as we experience belonging, acceptance, and love with our families, friends, and neighbors and as we give them the same in return.

Connect with Self

• Get adequate sleep.
• Eat healthy foods.
• Exercise.
• Write in your journal.
• Try a new hobby.
• Meditate and be still.
• Disconnect from social media.
• Read a book.
• Spend time in nature.
• Make a list of your strengths.

Hope Is Not a Magic Wand

When the problems seem too large, remember these lines from an essay by David Batty:

“Hope is not a feeling—it’s not a tidal wave of joy in the middle of a problem.

“… Hope is not the magic wand that makes the problem disappear. Hope is the lifeline that can keep you from being overwhelmed by the storms in your life.

“When you place your hope in Jesus, you place your confidence in His promises that He will never leave you or forsake you—that He will do what is best for you. Even though you may be in the middle of a huge problem, hope enables you to be at peace, knowing that Jesus is with you every step of the way.”

David Batty, “Finding Hope in the Midst of Life’s Problems,” livingfree.org.

Sing the Hymns

"If you love the Lord, if you love his doctrine, you'll love the hymns. And when you love them, you sing them."

Thomas S. Monson, "New Hymnbook," 105

When We are Wrong or Need to Improve

“None of us likes to admit when we are drifting off the right course,” agrees Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “… Consequently, when we do examine our lives, we look through the filter of biases, excuses, and stories we tell ourselves in order to justify unworthy thoughts and actions.”

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Lord, Is It I?” Ensign, Nov. 2014, 58.

#aang