The Good Samaritan and the Inn

 

Room in the Inn

By Elder Gerrit W. Gong

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

However, with compassion, the Good Samaritan stops and binds our wounds with wine and oil. Symbols of the sacrament and other ordinances, the wine and oil point us to the spiritual healing in Jesus Christ.⁵ The Good Samaritan puts us on His own donkey or, in some stained-glass accounts, carries us on His shoulders. He brings us to the inn, which can represent His Church. At the Inn, the Good Samaritan says, “Take care of him; … when I come again, I will repay thee.”⁶ The Good Samaritan, a symbol of our Savior, promises to return, this time in majesty and glory....

As we come with the Good Samaritan to the Inn, we learn five things about Jesus Christ and ourselves.

First, we come to the Inn as we are, with the foibles and imperfections we each have....

Second, He entreats us to make His Inn a place of grace and space, where each can gather, with room for all....

Third, in His Inn we learn perfection is in Jesus Christ, not in the perfectionism of the world....

He invites each of us to be a good Samaritan, less judgmental and more forgiving of ourselves and of each other, even as we strive more fully to keep His commandments....

Fourth, at His Inn we become part of a gospel community centered in Jesus Christ, anchored in restored truth, living prophets and apostles, and another testament of Jesus Christ—the Book of Mormon....

Finally, fifth, we rejoice that God loves His children in our different backgrounds and circumstances, in every nation, kindred, and tongue, with room for all in His Inn.

Rabbit Effect

 

Hearts Knit Together

By Elder Gary E. Stevenson

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

“what affects our health in the most meaningful ways has as much to do with how we treat one another, how we live, and how we think about what it means to be human.”...

For me, this lays another brick in the foundation of kindness as a fundamental, healing gospel principle—one that can heal hearts emotionally, spiritually, and, as demonstrated here, even physically.

Hearts Knit Together

When asked, “Master, which is the great commandment?” the Savior replied to “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,” followed by, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”⁴ The Savior’s response reinforces our heavenly duty. An ancient prophet commanded “that there should be no contention one with another, but that [we] should look forward … , having [our] hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another.”⁵ We are further taught that “power or influence … ought to be maintained … by gentleness and meekness, … by kindness, … without guile.”...

“While bullying is not a new concept, social media and technology have brought bullying to a new level. It becomes a more constant, ever-present threat—cyberbullying.”⁹

Clearly, the adversary is using this to hurt your generation. There is no place for this in your cyberspace, neighborhoods, schools, quorums, or classes. Please do all you can to make these places kinder and safer....

As you extend yourself with kindness, care, and compassion, even digitally, I promise that you will lift up arms that hang down and will heal hearts....

Love Your Enemy

As you strive to extend yourself in love, respect, and kindness, you will undoubtedly be hurt or negatively affected by the bad choices of others. What do we do then? We follow the Lord’s admonition to “love your enemies … and pray for them which despitefully use you.”...

When adversity and affliction are brought upon us by critical, negative, even mean-spirited acts, we can choose to hope in Christ. This hope comes from His invitation and promise to “be of good cheer, for I will lead you along”¹⁷ and that He will consecrate your afflictions for your gain.

Don't Wait to Have Conversation with Your Children

 

Essential Conversations

By Joy D. Jones

Recently Released Primary General President

He trusts us to value, respect, and protect them as children of God. That means we never harm them physically, verbally, or emotionally in any way, even when tensions and pressures run high. Instead we value children, and we do all we can to combat the evils of abuse. Their care is primary to us—as it is to Him....

He trusts us to value, respect, and protect them as children of God. That means we never harm them physically, verbally, or emotionally in any way, even when tensions and pressures run high. Instead we value children, and we do all we can to combat the evils of abuse. Their care is primary to us—as it is to Him....

We cannot wait for conversion to simply happen to our children. Accidental conversion is not a principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Becoming like our Savior will not happen randomly. Being intentional in loving, teaching, and testifying can help children begin at a young age to feel the influence of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is essential to our children’s testimony of and conversion to Jesus Christ; we desire them to “always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them.”

Consider the value of family conversations about the gospel of Jesus Christ, essential conversations, that can invite the Spirit. When we have such conversations with our children, we help them create a foundation, “which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if [they] build they cannot fall.”⁷ When we strengthen a child, we strengthen the family....

Let’s not allow the convenience of electronic devices to keep us from teaching and listening to our children and looking into their eyes.

Stumbles, Bumps, and Bruises

 

God among Us

By Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

If we repent, mistakes do not disqualify us. They are part of our progress.

We are all infants compared to the beings of glory and grandeur we are designed to become. No mortal being advances from crawling to walking to running without frequent stumbles, bumps, and bruises. That is how we learn.

If we earnestly keep practicing, always striving to keep God’s commandments, and committing our efforts to repenting, enduring, and applying what we learn, line upon line, we will gather light into our souls.¹⁰ And though we may not fully comprehend our full potential now, “we know that, when [the Savior] shall appear,” we will see His countenance in us and “shall see him as he is.”

Remove Old Debris In Our Lives

 

Welcome Message

By President Russell M. Nelson

President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

the strength of the Church lies in the efforts and ever-growing testimonies of its members. Testimonies are best cultivated in the home...

 I have thought about the need for each of us to remove, with the Savior’s help, the old debris in our lives....

Part of the gathering of Israel, and a very important part, is the charge for us as a people to be worthy and willing to help prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord.

As we listen to the messages that have been carefully prepared by our leaders under the direction of the Holy Ghost, I invite you to pray to identify the debris you should remove from your life so you can become more worthy.

Our Efforts to Hear Him Need to be Intentional

 

President Russell M. Nelson taught: “As we seek to be disciples of Jesus Christ, our efforts to hear Him need to be ever more intentional. It takes conscious and consistent effort to fill our daily lives with His words, His teachings, His truths.”

Russell M. Nelson, “Hear Him,” Liahona, May 2020, 89.

Success While Enduring Affliction

 

Run the Race with Patience

By Kary Hafen

 I read a general conference talk from President Russell M. Nelson about the Lord’s ways and timing. He testified: “I know that an all-wise Heavenly Father’s perspective is much broader than is ours. While we know of our mortal problems and pain, He knows of our immortal progress and potential. If we pray to know His will and submit ourselves to it with patience and courage, heavenly healing can take place in His own way and time.”¹ I knew I must hold on....

During one of my training runs, I came upon a street sign that validated my healing. The street name at the top of a hill was Success. At that moment, I knew the Lord had kept His promise to me. I had been taught what I should do to endure this affliction: “Bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success” (Alma 26:27).

Positive Relationships with Active Leaders

 

How the Children and Youth Program Strengthens Families

By President Steven J. Lund

Young Men General President

One of the most surprising and helpful things we have learned as a new presidency came to us from a multiyear Church study that asked active adults what important things happened in their youth that helped them identify as active members of the Church.

The key finding is surprising: those youth who grow up to identify within themselves as active members of the Church—as members of the crew rather than as tourists passing through—tell researchers that more important than the quality of activities, more important even than Sunday School lessons, which are very important, was the formation of positive relationships with active leaders who helped them develop a relationship with the Savior and with their Heavenly Father. It is about those second witnesses, about our young people’s ability to connect with them.

The Women at the Crucifixion

 

The Women Who Followed Jesus from Galilee

By Lani and John Hilton

Think of the deep sorrow felt by these women at the cross as they watched the Savior suffer. We all have times when those we love experience tragedy and we are powerless to do anything about it. Although the women at the cross could not change the situation, they remained present with the Savior in His excruciating pain. Their examples show us that one way “to mourn with those that mourn” (Mosiah 18:9) is simply to be with those who suffer....

Referring to the Saturday after the Crucifixion, Christian author Max Lucado asks: “When it’s Saturday in your life, how do you react? When you are somewhere between yesterday’s tragedy and tomorrow’s triumph, what do you do? Do you leave God—or do you linger near him?” ⁵ These women teach us to stay close to Jesus, even in difficult times.

Patiently Enduring

 

The Refining Fire of Affliction

By Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

With divine help, ultimately consolation replaces pain, peace replaces turmoil, and hope replaces sorrow. God will convert trial into blessing and, in Isaiah’s words, “give … beauty for ashes” (Isaiah 61:3). His promise is not to spare us the conflict but to preserve and console us in our afflictions and to consecrate them for our gain (see 2 Nephi 2:2; 4:19–26; Jacob 3:1)....

Patiently Enduring

These and other examples show us that adversity is typically overcome over time. There is a need for enduring and persevering. Still, our Heavenly Father watches over and helps us throughout the course of that enduring—He does not wait until the end.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles once observed: “By itself, of course, the passage of time does not bring an automatic advance. Yet, like the prodigal son, we often need the ‘process of time’ in order to come to our spiritual senses. (Luke 15:17.) The touching reunion of Jacob and Esau in the desert, so many years after their sibling rivalry, is a classic example. Generosity can replace animosity. Reflection can bring perception. But reflection and introspection require time. So many spiritual outcomes require saving truths to be mixed with time, forming the elixir of experience, that sovereign remedy for so many things.” ⁴

President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, stated:

“Waiting upon the Lord does not imply biding one’s time. You should never feel like you are in a waiting room.

“Waiting upon the Lord implies action. I have learned over the years that our hope in Christ increases when we serve others. …

I pray that each of us will draw close to our Heavenly Father and Savior through our personal adversity. At the same time, may we learn to minister to others in their adversity according to God’s pattern. It was through “suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind” that the Savior came to “know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities” (Alma 7:11–12). As for us, “when, for the moment, we ourselves are not being stretched on a particular cross, we ought to be at the foot of someone else’s—full of empathy and proffering spiritual refreshment.” 

"I Wasn't There For the Weeds"

 "Dad was the senior high counselor in his stake, and he had the responsibility for the welfare farm. And assignment was given to weed a field of onions, so Dad assigned himself to go work on the farm. He never told me how hard it was, but I have met several people who were with him that day. I talked to one of them on the phone, and he said that he was weeding in the row next to Dad through much of the day. He told me the same thing that others who were there that day have told me. he said that the pain was so great that Dad was puling himself along on his stomach with his elbows. He couldn't kneel. The pain was too great for him to kneel. Everyone who has talked to me about that day has remarked how Dad smiled and laughed and talked happily with them as they worked in that field of onions. 

"Now, this is the joke Dad told me on himself afterward. He said he was there at the end of the day. After all the work was finished and the onions were all weeded, someone said to him, "Henry, good heavens! You didn't pull those weeds, did you? Those weeds were sprayed two days ago, and they were going to die anyway."

"Dad just roared. He thought that was the funniest thing. He thought it was a great joke on himself. he had worked through the day in the wrong weeds. They had been sprayed and would have died anyway. 

"When Dad told me this story, I knew how tough it was. So I asked him, "Dad, how could you make a joke out of that? How could you take it so pleasantly?" He said something to me that I will never forget, and I hope you won't. He said, "Hal, I wasn't there for the weeds." "

Henry B. Eyring, from a talk given at a BYU Fireside, 30 September 1990.

"Ask and Receive"

 

Grappling with Unanswered Gospel Questions

By Marissa Widdison

Church Magazines

As I used the Topical Guide to read every verse about food that I could find, I was led to Matthew 7—one of the chapters with the “ask and receive” promise that had always seemed so confusing. But this time, I was reading these verses with food and nutrition in mind. Verses 9–11 say:

“Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

“Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”

I thought about how those verses describe God as a giver of nourishment. And then it dawned on me. All my life, I had read the “ask and receive” promise with a modern mindset. As I read about the child asking for a fish, I pictured my friend’s daughter begging for a pet puppy. But these verses aren’t talking about childish wants. They’re talking about essential nourishment—bread and fish, sources of food. These verses aren’t telling us that God will give us whatever we want and ask Him for. They are teaching us that God will give us whatever we need and ask Him for. He will always nourish His children, strengthening them enough to face the challenges that come their way.

Now I see that Matthew 7 describes God as a giver of nourishment. He will give us not what we want and ask for but what we need and ask for.

After I made that connection, Matthew 7 finally fit in perfectly with my understanding of God and His plan of happiness. I have come to see that when the scriptures invite us to knock and promise that a door will be opened, the doorway they are talking about is not a magical portal to an easier life. Instead, it’s more like a doorway to a roadside soup kitchen, which will appear wherever we are along our mortal journey. If we enter that doorway, we will find the Bread of Life and Living Water, He who provided fish for His disciples and promises us an eventual land of milk and honey.

Always Remember and Recognize the Savior in Your Lives

 

Always Remember Him

By Elder Ulisses Soares

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

The more we remember the Lord, the more power we will have to stay on the correct path, doing what He expects of us. In this sense, when we partake of the sacrament, we witness unto God, the Eternal Father, that we will remember the Savior in our minds and in our hearts at all times and in all places. We promise that we will keep in our hearts vivid emotions and feelings of gratitude for His sacrifice, His love, and His gifts for us. We also promise that we will act upon these memories, feelings, and emotions....

The more we remember the Lord, the more power we will have to stay on the correct path, doing what He expects of us. In this sense, when we partake of the sacrament, we witness unto God, the Eternal Father, that we will remember the Savior in our minds and in our hearts at all times and in all places. We promise that we will keep in our hearts vivid emotions and feelings of gratitude for His sacrifice, His love, and His gifts for us. We also promise that we will act upon these memories, feelings, and emotions....

Always remember and recognize the Savior in your lives. Always remember to come unto Him, to allow His influence to guide your thoughts, your feelings, and your decisions, and to always follow Him. Always look to Him in moments of distress, in moments of difficulties, in moments of depression, and in moments of challenges. Feel of the Savior’s love and His real concern for your well-being.

I plead with you to remember that you are precious children of our Heavenly Father, reserved to come to earth at this point in history. Remember that you were chosen by the Father to come at this time because you have the power to face the challenges of this era. Please remember that happiness and peace in this life and in the world to come depend upon daily remembering the Savior and your covenants with Him.

Sacrifice Requires Overcoming the Natural Man

Sacrifice, a Fruit of Righteousness

By Elder Adeyinka A. Ojediran

Of the Seventy

Sacrifice is a fruit of righteousness. It requires overcoming the natural man as we yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit (see Mosiah 3:19). 

As we hold nothing back in fulfilling the Lord’s commands, we grow to become more like Him, and we become Israel, as President Russell M. Nelson taught. He asked: “Are you willing to let God prevail in your life. … Are you willing to let whatever He needs you to do take precedence over every other ambition? Are you willing to have your will swallowed up in His?”³

When we allow God to prevail in our lives, we see our offering to Him as an appreciation of His love. We see service in His kingdom as a privilege, not a burden. Sacrifice becomes easy through faith in the Lord as we bask in His redeeming love.

He Will Warn Us When We are Too Close to Babylon

 

Flood Warning

By Don L. Searle

Build above the Flood

Those houses along the Mississippi River suggest that if you choose to build a home near the river, you may escape danger for a time, but sooner or later the floods will come. Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles once spoke of members who want to establish a residence in Zion while trying to maintain a summer cottage in Babylon.¹ The Lord has warned His people to flee from Babylon or risk being destroyed (see Doctrine and Covenants 64:24; 133:14). If we listen for the whisperings of the Holy Ghost, He will warn us when we are too close to Babylon.

Our only protection is to build on a firm foundation well above the floodplain.

Trust in His Promises

 

Living “as Though” God’s Promises Have Been Fulfilled

By Lori Newbold

Young Women General Advisory Council

2. Recognize His Hand

I think there have been many times in life when I was so focused on the seemingly more significant promises or a specific promise I was hoping for that I missed what the Lord was doing for me in the present. We tend to find evidence for whatever we are looking for. If we look for fulfillment, we will see the Lord’s companionship in our day. We will see doors He opened for us. We will see “assurances” (Alma 58:11) He sent us.

One way I learned to see His companionship came from President Henry B. Eyring, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, who taught about keeping a daily record of how we’ve seen the hand of God reaching out to bless us each day.⁴ This daily reflection and recording may have changed me more than any one thing. Through this, I began to see that the Lord was walking with me each day and was fulfilling more promises than I could have imagined.

We live in a world where many focus on the lack in their lives. Too many of us start the day with thoughts that we aren’t enough and end it feeling like we’ve fallen short. We may feel like we don’t have enough time, money, energy, courage, hope, faith, and so on. This type of perspective makes it very hard to see any fulfillment of promises.

The hymn “As Now We Take the Sacrament” states, “We contemplate thy lasting grace, thy boundless charity.”⁵ For years, my preparation for the sacrament focused on the mistakes I had made the week(s) before and the lack I had demonstrated. All I could see was how far I was from being like Christ. After the Spirit taught me through these lyrics, I began to focus on how I had seen His “lasting grace” and “boundless charity” during the past week. As I reflected, I saw the fulfillment of promises. I saw that He had been with me. He had comforted, enabled, and strengthened me. He had kept His promises....

Trusting in His promises is not always an easy choice. Waiting upon the Lord requires a faith in Jesus Christ that can feel, at times, like it is almost more than we can muster. Yet Alma testified, “He will fulfil all his promises which he shall make unto you, for he has fulfilled his promises which he has made unto our fathers” (Alma 37:17). God’s promises are sure, and I know that the Savior will offer any help and support we need as we seek to come to know and trust our Father in Heaven, who will verify “his word … in every particular” (Alma 25:17). For truly “there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart” (1 Kings 8:23).

Lori Newbold, "Living as Though God's Promises Have Been Fulfilled," Liahona, Feb 2022, pg 34-35.