President David O. McKay on the blessing of friendship

President David O. McKay (1873-1970) was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1906.  He served as a counselor in the First Presidency to Heber J. Grant and George Albert Smith beginning in 1945, then then as the president of the Church from 1951 to his death in 1970 at age 96.

"Among life's sweetest blessings is fellowship with men and women whose ideals and aspirations are high and noble. Next to a sense of kinship with God comes the helpfulness, encouragement, and inspiration of friends. Friendship is a sacred possession. As air, water and sunshine to flowers, trees, and verdure, so smiles, sympathy and love of friends to the daily life of man. 'To live, laugh, love one's friends, and be loved by them is to bask in the sunshine of life.'

"One of the principal reasons which the Lord had for establishing His Church is to give all persons high and low, rich and poor, strong and feeble an opportunity to associate with their fellow men in an atmosphere of uplifting, religious fellowship. This may be found in Priesthood quorums, Auxiliaries, Sacrament meetings. He who neglects these opportunities, who fails to take advantage of them, to that extent starves his own soul."

- David O. McKay, Conference Report, Apr. 1940, p. 116; see also Gospel Ideals p. 253

Time often helps us recognize how rare a gift and treasure true friendship is. Sometimes what we thought was a close friendship turns out not to be as enduring as we expected. On the other hand, occasionally we discover a deeper friendship than anticipated in a relationship.

But at whatever level of contact we interact with others, we're particularly blessed "to associate with [our] fellow men in an atmosphere of uplifting, religious fellowship" — one of the true blessings of Church membership. We should treasure those opportunities to interact with others who share our "ideals and aspirations."

President McKay challenges us: "He who neglects these opportunities, who fails to take advantage of them, to that extent starves his own soul." We should never make that choice!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2022)
August 8, 2015