Family Let us . . . honor the special place of the family. As James Q.

Wilson wrote: We learn to cope with the people of this world because we learn to cope with the members of our family. Those who flee the family flee the world; bereft of the [familys] affection, tutelage, and challenges, they are unprepared for the [worlds] tests, judgments, and demands (The Moral Sense [1993], 163).
Neal A. Maxwel, The Tugs and Pulls of the World, Liahona, Jan. 2001, 44

Joseph Smith / Friends "We have in the modern history of the Church contrasting examples of men who were highly favored of the Lord. One, Hyrum Smith, remained totally faithful and committed, even to the giving of his life, while the other, Oliver Cowdery, despite having witnessed 'some great things' in the history of the Restoration, became blinded by his personal ambition and lost his exalted place in the leadership of the Church. ". . . No one except the Prophet Joseph was more honored with the ministering of angels than Oliver Cowdery. "But when the Prophet Joseph fell upon hard times, Oliver was critical of him and became estranged from him. . . . ". . . Even though Oliver came back, he lost his exalted place in the Church. "In contrast, President Heber J. Grant said of Hyrum Smith: 'There is no better example of an older brother's love than that exhibited in the life of Hyrum Smith for the Prophet Joseph Smith. . . . They were as united and as affectionate and as loving as mortal men could be. . . . There never was one particle of . . . jealousy . . . in the heart of Hyrum Smith. No mortal man could have been more loyal, more true, more faithful in life or in death than was Hyrum Smith to the Prophet of the living God' ("Hyrum Smith and His Distinguished Posterity," Improvement Era, Aug. 1918, 85455). "He responded to every need and request from his younger brother, Joseph, who led the Church and received the revelations which we have today. Hyrum was steadfast day to day, month by month, year in and year out." James E. Faust, "Some Great Thing," Ensign, Nov. 2001, 4647 Family / Marriage We can begin to become more diligent and concerned at home by telling the people we love that we love them. Such expressions do not need to be flowery or lengthy. We simply should sincerely and frequently express love.
David A. Bednar, More Diligent and Concerned at Home, Ensign, Nov. 2009, 17

Forgiveness / Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ was the purest and only perfect person who ever lived. He is the one person in all the world from Adam to this present hour who deserved adoration and respect and admiration and love, and yet He was persecuted, abandoned, and put to death. Through it all, He would not condemn those who persecuted Him.
Jeffrey R. Holland, Amazed at the Love Jesus Offers Me, New Era, Dec. 2008, 4

Sacrament

"During sacrament meetingand especially during the sacrament servicewe should concentrate on worship and refrain from all other activities, especially from behavior that could interfere with the worship of others. Even a person who slips into quiet slumber does not interfere with others. Sacrament meeting is not a time for reading books or magazines. Young people, it is not a time for whispered conversations on cell phones or for texting persons at other locations. When we partake of the sacrament, we make a sacred covenant that we will always remember the Savior. How sad to see persons obviously violating that covenant in the very meeting where they are making it."
Dallin H. Oaks, "Sacrament Meeting and the Sacrament," Ensign, Nov. 2008, 1819

Bearing Our Burdens

No matter the burdens we face in life as a consequence of natural conditions, the misconduct of others, or our own mistakes and shortcomings, we are all children of a loving Heavenly Father, who sent us to earth as part of His eternal plan for our growth and progress. Our unique individual experiences can help us prepare to return to Him. The adversity and afflictions that are ours, however difficult to bear, last, from heavens perspective, for but a small moment; and then, if [we] endure it well, God shall exalt [us] on high. We must do everything we can to bear our burdens well for however long our small moment carrying them lasts.
L. Whitney Clayton, That Your Burdens May Be Light, Ensign, Nov. 2009, 13