The Healing Power of the Atonement

“[Jesus Christ] knows of our anguish, and He is there for us. Like the good Samaritan in His parable, when He finds us wounded at the wayside, He binds up our wounds and cares for us (see Luke 10:34). Brothers and sisters, the healing power of His Atonement is for you, for us, for all.”

Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “He Heals the Heavy Laden,” Liahona andEnsign, Nov. 2006, 7.

Diminish the Influence of Evil

To sisters who wonder if these seemingly quiet contributions make a difference, Elder Ballard affirms: “Every sister who stands for truth and righteousness diminishes the influence of evil. Every sister who strengthens and protects her family is doing the work of God. Every sister who lives as a woman of God becomes a beacon for others to follow and plants seeds of righteous influence that will be harvested for decades to come.”

M. Russell Ballard, Liahona, Dec. 2002, 39; Ensign, Mar. 2002, 70.

Deliberate and Consistent

And fortunately, our efforts as individuals and as Relief Societies need not be large and overwhelming, but they should be deliberate and consistent.

• PG 7DECEMBER 2011
• AN EXTENSIVE SPHERE OF ACTION

We Need the Influence of Righteous Women

The Lord, His Church, families, and communities need the influence of righteous women. In fact, Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that “every sister in this Church who has made covenants with the Lord has a divine mandate to help save souls, to lead the women of the world, to strengthen the homes of Zion, and to build the kingdom of God.”

M. Russell Ballard, “Women of Righteousness,”Liahona, Dec. 2002, 39; Ensign, Apr. 2002, 66.

Choose to Feel More Gratitude

With our Father’s help, all of us can choose to feel more gratitude. We can ask Him to help us see our blessings more clearly, whatever our circumstances. 

President Henry B. Eyring

• PG 4DECEMBER 2011
• THE CHOICE TO BE GRATEFUL

Direct Me to Someone I Can Help

What has helped me the most is to ask God in prayer, “Wouldst Thou please direct me to someone I can help for Thee?” It is in helping God bless others that I have seen my own blessings more closely.

President Henry B. Eyring

• PG 4DECEMBER 2011
• THE CHOICE TO BE GRATEFUL

Stuck Under the Smoggy Haze

There are times in our lives when we figuratively find ourselves stuck down in the valley, under the gloom of the dark, smoggy haze. Because of poor choices we have made, behaviors that offend the Spirit, or simply the painful and stretching decisions and challenges common to mortal life, we feel mired in thick, smothering fog. We can’t see clearly, we feel confused, and we sense that we have moved ourselves away from the light and warmth of our Heavenly Father’s love. We forget that the pure light of the Lord awaits us, beckons us, and is only a few steps of faith away. We must recognize that we have the power and capacity to take ourselves out of the filthy air of the valley and into the bright sunlight of the peace and hope that is found only by coming to the Savior.

Elder Patrick Kearon

• pg 30 EnsignDECEMBER 2011
• COME, LET US ADORE HIM