Give More of Yourself

"May I suggest that we give more of ourselves... It might be something as simple as smiling more on your home. What would you think of speaking more cheerfully? Try more often to say please and thank you? What would you think of finding an opportunity for one sincere compliment for each person each day, then watching them respond? What if you decided to be more cheerful at the dinner table, and in spite of what others might do or say, hold to your course. See how long you can uplift your whole family."

H. Burke Peterson

Body of Deity

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has put it this way: “If having a body is not only not needed but not desirable by Deity, why did the Redeemer of mankind redeem His body, redeeming it from the grasp of death and the grave, guaranteeing it would never again be separated from His spirit in time or eternity? Any who dismiss the concept of an embodied God dismiss both the mortal and the resurrected Christ.”

Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent,” Ensign, Nov. 2007, 42.

No Young Woman Should Be Judged For Not Serving a Mission

No Young Woman Should Be Judged for Not Serving a Mission

“President Monson never intended for all of the young women in the Church to go on missions by dropping [the] age [to 19]. We’re very grateful for those who go. It’s changed the face of the Church. … But we do not want anyone feeling inadequate or left out or undignified or tarnished because she did not choose to serve a mission. And we’re a little irritated with young men who say, ‘Well, I’m not going to date you because you didn’t serve a mission.’ … We do not want that kind of climate over dating or marriages. … It isn’t our place to pass a judgment.”

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Face to Face broadcast, Mar. 8, 2016, facetoface.lds.org.

The Promise of Protection

Let’s read in Ezekiel chapter 47:

“Afterward he [an angel] brought me [Ezekiel] again unto the door of the house [of the Lord]; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.

“Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.

“And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles.

“Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins.

“Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over. …

“Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed.

“And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh” (Ezekiel 47:1–5, 8–9).

Ezekiel sees a river that increases as it flows from the house. The water that is moving forth from the temple represents blessings that flow from the temples to heal families and give them life....

ELDER RENLUND: I feel grateful to add my testimony to theirs—to be one more apostolic voice in support of this temple challenge. I extend the promise of protection that has been offered in the past. Brothers and sisters, I promise protection for you and your family as you take this challenge to find as many names to take to the temple as ordinances you perform in the temple and to teach others to do the same.

If you accept this challenge, blessings will begin to flow to you and your family like the power of the river spoken of by Ezekiel. And the river will grow as you continue to perform this work and teach others to do the same. You will find not only protection from the temptation and ills of the world, but you will also find personal power—power to change, power to repent, power to learn, power to be sanctified, and power to turn the hearts of your family members to each other and heal that which needs healing.

• FEBRUARY 2017
• FAMILY HISTORY AND TEMPLE BLESSINGS

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Family History and Temple Blessings

By Elder Dale G. Renlund

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

And by Ruth L. Renlund and Ashley R. Renlund

From a presentation at the RootsTech 2016 Family History Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, on February 6, 2016. To watch a recording of the presentation, visit lds.org/go/217Renlund.

The Goblet Of Gratitude

 “Those who set aside the bottle of bitterness and lift instead the goblet of gratitude can find a purifying drink of healing, peace, and understanding.”

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Grateful in Any Circumstances,” Ensign, May 2014, 70.

Planning Delightful Sunday Activities

Are you searching for Sunday activity ideas to help strengthen your family and make the Sabbath a delight? Family home evening is an ideal time to generate ideas and plan such activities. To help get you started, consider reviewing the online article “20 Do’s for Making the Sabbath a Delight” (lds.org/go/sabbathE217). The article includes a printable “bucket list” of Sunday activities that your family can perform and check off as the activities are completed. The ideas include looking through family photo albums, writing thank-you notes to the people who speak in church, creating a gospel quote book, and taking a Sunday walk.

Experiences to Stimulate Growth

“Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses applied simultaneously. When those trials are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more (see Proverbs 3:11–12). He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding, and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit. To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain. … This life is an experience in profound trust—trust in Jesus Christ.”

Richard G. Scott, “Trust in the Lord,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 16–17.