Elder Dale G. Renlund on overcoming contention with the love of Christ

Elder Dale G. Renlund (born November 13, 1952) served in the First Quorum of Seventy starting in 2009, until his call to the Quorum of Twelve in October 2015.

"After the Savior’s visit to the Americas, the people were unified; 'there was no contention in all the land' (4 Ne 1:18).  Do you think that the people were unified because they were all the same, or because they had no differences of opinion? I doubt it. Instead, contention and enmity disappeared because they placed their discipleship of the Savior above all else. Their differences paled in comparison to their shared love of the Savior, and they were united as 'heirs to the kingdom of God' (4 Ne 1:17). The result was that 'there could not be a happier people … who had been created by the hand of God' (4 Ne 1:16).

"Unity requires effort. It develops when we cultivate the love of God in our hearts and we focus on our eternal destiny. We are united by our common, primary identity as children of God and our commitment to the truths of the restored gospel. In turn, our love of God and our discipleship of Jesus Christ generate genuine concern for others. We value the kaleidoscope of others’ characteristics, perspectives, and talents. If we are unable to place our discipleship to Jesus Christ above personal interests and viewpoints, we should reexamine our priorities and change.

"We might be inclined to say,'Of course we can have unity—if only you would agree with me!' A better approach is to ask, 'What can I do to foster unity? How can I respond to help this person draw closer to Christ? What can I do to lessen contention and to build a compassionate and caring Church community?'

"When love of Christ envelops our lives, we approach disagreements with meekness, patience, and kindness. We worry less about our own sensitivities and more about our neighbor’s. We 'seek to moderate and unify.' We do not engage in 'doubtful disputations,' judge those with whom we disagree, or try to cause them to stumble. Instead, we assume that those with whom we disagree are doing the best they can with the life experiences they have."

- Dale G. Renlund, "The Peace of Christ Abolishes Enmity," General Conference October 2021, Sunday morning

Click here to read or watch the full talk

Sadly, we live in a very contentious time. We see anger and bitterness, strong language and violence, all resulting from differences of race, politics, nationalities, sexuality, or any of a large number of beliefs and life approaches. The spirit of contention drives away the spirit of the Lord. We need to learn to control that emotion, to overcome it, to replace it with something better.

That somthing is the love of Christ. Elder Renlund taught that when we focus more diligently on the Savior, the blessings of understanding and unity will follow.

This is a great prophetic call to examine our priorities and ensure we are focused on the things that matter most.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland on the first great commandment

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (b. December 3, 1940) served as Church Commissioner of Education from 1976-1980, as the president of BYU from 1980-1989, as a Seventy from 1989-1994, and as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles since 1994.

"Friends, in our present moment we find all manner of divisions and subdivisions, sets and subsets, digital tribes and political identities, with more than enough hostility to go around. Might we ask ourselves if a 'higher and holier' life, to use President Russell M. Nelson’s phrase, is something we could seek? When doing so, we would do well to remember that stunning period in the Book of Mormon in which those people asked and answered that question so affirmatively:

"'And it came to pass that there was no contention among all the people, in all the land … because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.

"'And there were no envyings, nor strifes, … nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.

"'There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God.

"'And how blessed were they!' (4 Nephi 1:13, 15–18; emphasis added.)

"What is the key to this breakthrough in contented, happy living? It is embedded there in the text in one sentence: 'The love of God … did dwell in the hearts of the people.' When the love of God sets the tone for our own lives, for our relationships to each other and ultimately our feeling for all humankind, then old distinctions, limiting labels, and artificial divisions begin to pass away, and peace increases. That is precisely what happened in our Book of Mormon example. No longer were there Lamanites, or Jacobites, or Josephites, or Zoramites. There were no '-ites' at all. The people had taken on just one transcendent identity. They were all, it says, to be known as 'the children of Christ.'

"Of course, we are speaking here of the first great commandment given to the human family—to love God wholeheartedly, without reservation or compromise, that is, with all our heart, might, mind, and strength. (See Mark 12:30.) This love of God is the first great commandment in the universe. But the first great truth in the universe is that God loves us exactly that way—wholeheartedly, without reservation or compromise, with all of His heart, might, mind, and strength. And when those majestic forces from His heart and ours meet without restraint, there is a veritable explosion of spiritual, moral power. Then, as Teilhard de Chardin wrote, 'for [the] second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire.'"

- Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Greatest Possession," General Conference October 2021, Saturday morning

Click here to read or view the full talk

We truly do live in a time of "all manner of divisions and subdivisions." Conflicts related to politics, racial differences, nationalities, belief systems - there are so many divisive issues. These are parallel to the "ites" of the Book of Mormon times. How can we confront, and correct, the anger and bitterness that accompany those divisions?

I have never heard someone propose a solution based on our spiritual focus. But clearly, ultimately, that is the only way to overcome all divisions. If we achieve true unity in Christ, if  "the love of God … did dwell in the hearts of the people", there will be no more divisions. What a truly blessed and happy situation that would be!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)

Elder Ronald A. Rasband on temples and the doctrine of Christ

Elder Ronald A. Rasband (born February 6, 1951) served as a Seventy beginning in 2000.  He was the senior president of the Seventy when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in October 2015.

"By assignment from President Russell M. Nelson, in February of this year I dedicated the Durban South Africa Temple. It was a day I will remember all my life. I was with members who have come to the gospel as Jeremiah prophesied long ago—'one of a city, and two of a family' (Jeremiah 3:14). The doctrine of Jesus Christ unites all of us—around the world—as sons and daughters of God, as brothers and sisters in the gospel. Regardless of how we look or dress, we are one people with a Father in Heaven whose plan from the beginning was and is for His family to be reunited by making and keeping sacred temple covenants.

"To a small gathering of priesthood holders in a schoolhouse in Kirtland, Ohio, in 1834, the Prophet Joseph prophesied, 'It is only a little handfull of Priesthood you see here tonight, but this Church will fill North and South America—it will fill the world.'"

- Ronald A. Rasband, "Fulfillment of Prophecy," General Conference April 2020, Sunday morning

Click here to read or listen to the full talk

The "doctrine of Christ" is a powerful aspect of the Gospel that merits much study as we strive to draw nearer to Him. It is also a great "unifying" power to bring us together into His fold, as brothers and sisters, from throughout the world. Through the covenants of the holy temples, we learn and experience important aspects of that sacred doctrine.

Elder Rasband's witness of the latter-day fulfillment of ancient prophecy helps point us to the doctrine of Christ. They have all testified of Him, and as we learn of those testimonies and strive to follow prophetic teachings, making and keeping sacred covenants, we will be blessed.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2020)

Quentin L. Cook on striving for righteousness and unity

Elder Quentin L. Cook (born September 8, 1940) was called as a Seventy in 1996, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2007.

"In this dispensation, although we live in a special time, the world has not been blessed with the righteousness and unity described in 4 Nephi. Indeed, we live in a moment of particularly strong divisions. However, the millions who have accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ have committed themselves to achieving both righteousness and unity. We are all aware that we can do better, and that is our challenge in this day. We can be a force to lift and bless society as a whole. At this 200-year hinge point in our Church history, let us commit ourselves as members of the Lord’s Church to live righteously and be united as never before. President Russell M. Nelson has asked us 'to demonstrate greater civility, racial and ethnic harmony and mutual respect.' This means loving each other and God and accepting everyone as brothers and sisters and truly being a Zion people.

"With our all-inclusive doctrine, we can be an oasis of unity and celebrate diversity. Unity and diversity are not opposites. We can achieve greater unity as we foster an atmosphere of inclusion and respect for diversity."

- Quentin L. Cook, "Hearts Knit in Righteousness and Unity," General Conference October 2020, Saturday morning

Click here to read or listen to the full talk

There are examples in the world's history of remarkably unified civilizations, when whole groups of people lived in peace and perfect unity, often in spite of the world's evil or challenging circumstances surrounding them. We do not live in such a time. Elder Cook points out that our day is a time of very strong contention and division. But that does not relieve us of the obligation of trying.

We have the challenge and opportunity to do better. As disciples of Christ, we should e "a force to lift and bless." We should all consider our own efforts to both seek personal righteousness and to foster unity.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2020)

Elder Quentin L. Cook on united family efforts

Elder Quentin L. Cook (born September 8, 1940) was called as a Seventy in 1996, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2007.

"When a man and woman are sealed in the temple, they enter the holy order of matrimony in the new and everlasting covenant, an order of the priesthood. (See D&C 131:1–4.) Together they obtain and receive priesthood blessings and power to direct the affairs of their family. Women and men have unique roles as outlined in 'The Family: A Proclamation to the World,' (Ensign, May 2017, 145) but their stewardships are equal in value and importance. They have equal power to receive revelation for their family. When they work together in love and righteousness, their decisions are heaven blessed.

"Those who seek to know the will of the Lord as individuals and for their families must strive for righteousness, meekness, kindness, and love. Humility and love are the hallmark of those who seek the Lord’s will, especially for their families."

- Quentin L. Cook, "Great Love for Our Father’s Children," General Conference April 2019
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

Elder Cook discusses the ideal scenario of a man and woman, sealed together in the temple, and striving to direct their family through joint and united revelation. The "equal power" of each partner to receive revelation is key to the process. This also implies equal responsibility to seek that revelation, equal need to live worthily of receiving it, and equal acceptance of the joint process in recognizing the gifts and contributions of one another.

The responsibility to live in "righteousness, meekness, kindness, and love" as well as humility are so key to establishing that kind of ideal companionship. We will all be blessed as we make efforts to develop those characteristics.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2019)

President Boyd K. Packer on finding peace and safety on Zion's Hill

President Boyd K. Packer (1924-2015) served as an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve (a position that no longer exists) from 1961 to 1970, when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.  He served as president of that Quorum from 1994 until his death in 2015 at age 90.

"There is in the Church a central core of power deeper than programs or meetings or associations. It does not change. It cannot erode. It is constant and certain. It never recedes or fades.

"While the Church is housed in chapels, it lives in the heart and soul of every Latter-day Saint.

"Everywhere in the world, humble members draw inspiration from the scriptures to guide them through life, not fully understanding that they have found that 'pearl of great price' (Matt. 13:46) about which the Lord spoke to His disciples.

"When Emma Smith, wife of the Prophet Joseph, collected hymns for the first hymnbook, she included 'Guide Us, O Thou Great Jehovah,' which is, in fact, a prayer:

"When the earth begins to tremble,
Bid our fearful thoughts be still;
When thy judgments spread destruction,
Keep us safe on Zion's hill. (Hymns, no. 83.)

"Every soul who willingly affiliates with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and seeks to abide by its principles and ordinances is standing 'on Zion's hill.'

"Each can receive assurance which comes through inspiration and testifies that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is just as He declared it to be, 'the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth' (D&C 1:30)."

- Boyd K. Packer, "On Zion's Hill," General Conference October 2005
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

I love to ponder what President Packer called a "central core of power" that is fundamental to the Church on earth. That power derives from heaven, through the Lord's prophets, His written word, and His spirit that will bless and guide us. As we discover how to draw upon that "core," we will find safety and peace:

There are times in each of our lives when we seem to feel our earth trembling, when we are almost overcome by "fearful thoughts," and when destruction seems to lie all around us. Those are the times when we can most acutely feel the precious safety of being "on Zion's hill" where we will find true protection.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2019)

President James E. Faust on enriching marriage

President James E. Faust (1920-2007) was called as a Seventy in 1976, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve in 1978. He served as a counselor to President Hinckley from 1995 until his death in 2007 at age 87.

"There is no great or majestic music which constantly produces the harmony of a great love. The most perfect music is a welding of two voices into one spiritual solo. Marriage is the way provided by God for the fulfillment of the greatest of human needs, based upon mutual respect, maturity, selflessness, decency, commitment, and honesty. Happiness in marriage and parenthood can exceed a thousand times any other happiness....

"Our homes should be among the most hallowed of all earthly sanctuaries.

"In the enriching of marriage the big things are the little things. It is a constant appreciation for each other and a thoughtful demonstration of gratitude. It is the encouraging and the helping of each other to grow. Marriage is a joint quest for the good, the beautiful, and the divine."

- James E. Faust, "The Enriching of Marriage," General Conference October 1977
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

No external music or other influence can produce "the harmony of a great love." That comes when two souls are joined through marriage into, not a duet, but a "spiritual solo." Through the commitment and sacrifices of a loyal marriage, profound happiness can be found—enough to "exceed a thousand times any other happiness." What a marvelous promise!

Close relationships are built on sacrifice and commitment. But it is little things that enrich a relationship: expressions and demonstrations of gratitude, encouragement in opportunities to grow, seeking the beautiful and the divine.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

President M. Russell Ballard on the power and blessing of unified service

President M. Russell Ballard (born October 8, 1928) was called as a Seventy in 1976, and has served as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles since 1985. He became acting president of the Twelve in January 2018.

"The beehive symbol is found in both the interiors and exteriors of many of our temples. This podium where I stand is made from the wood of a walnut tree grown in President Gordon B. Hinckley’s backyard and is adorned with carved beehive images.

"All of this symbolism attests to one fact: great things are brought about and burdens are lightened through the efforts of many hands 'anxiously engaged in a good cause' (D&C 58:27). Imagine what the millions of Latter-day Saints could accomplish in the world if we functioned like a beehive in our focused, concentrated commitment to the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"The Savior taught that the first and great commandment is:

"'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. …

"'And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

"'On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.' (Matthew 22:37, 39–40).

"The Savior’s words are simple, yet their meaning is profound and deeply significant. We are to love God and to love and care for our neighbors as ourselves. Imagine what good we can do in the world if we all join together, united as followers of Christ, anxiously and busily responding to the needs of others and serving those around us—our families, our friends, our neighbors, our fellow citizens."

- M. Russell Ballard, "Be Anxiously Engaged," General Conference October 2012
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

The Savior's teachings invite us to love God and our fellowman. His example showed that we demonstrate love for one another through unselfish service. President Ballard built upon that thought to encourage greater efforts to serve those around us. Indeed, as our efforts to serve build upon one another, the combined blessing to humanity can become a marvelous thing:

The work of a single bee may seem relatively insignificant; but combined with hundreds and thousands of others who share a beehive, that work becomes profound and meaningful. If we maintain that vision, great things will come to pass through our efforts to serve and bless!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland on an invitation for all to participate in the blessings of the Gospel

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (born December 3, 1940) served as Church Commissioner of Education from 1976-1980, as the president of BYU from 1980-1989, as a Seventy from 1989-1994, and as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles since 1994.

"Brothers and sisters, we live in a mortal world with many songs we cannot or do not yet sing. But I plead with each one of us to stay permanently and faithfully in the choir, where we will be able to savor forever that most precious anthem of all—'the song of redeeming love' (Alma 5:26; see also Alma 26:13).

"Fortunately, the seats for this particular number are limitless. There is room for those who speak different languages, celebrate diverse cultures, and live in a host of locations. There is room for the single, for the married, for large families, and for the childless. There is room for those who once had questions regarding their faith and room for those who still do. There is room for those with differing sexual attractions. In short, there is a place for everyone who loves God and honors His commandments as the inviolable measuring rod for personal behavior, for if love of God is the melody of our shared song, surely our common quest to obey Him is the indispensable harmony in it.

"With divine imperatives of love and faith, repentance and compassion, honesty and forgiveness, there is room in this choir for all who wish to be there. (See 2 Nephi 26:33.) 'Come as you are,' a loving Father says to each of us, but He adds, 'Don’t plan to stay as you are.' We smile and remember that God is determined to make of us more than we thought we could be.

"In this great oratorio that is His plan for our exaltation, may we humbly follow His baton and keep working on the songs we cannot sing, until we can offer those 'carol[s] to [our] King.' (Hymns, no. 227.)"

- Jeffrey R. Holland, "Songs Sung and Unsung," General Conference, April 2017
Click here to watch or read the full talk

In this sermon, Elder Holland spoke beautifully based on the lyrics of the hymn "There is Sunshine in my Soul Today" (Hymns, no. 227). He drew a number of comparisons and analogies that were helpful in thinking about how we confront the challenges of this life.

I thought this section, near the end of his talk, was particularly interesting. He points out the importance for "each one of us to stay permanently and faithfully in the choir" (the symbolic description of faithful discipleship) as we deal with our various situations. And he points out that diversity of needs and backgrounds, of personal situations, is not only acceptable in that "choir," but also very desirable in the formation of the choir. "There is a place for everyone who loves God and honors His commandments as the inviolable measuring rod for personal behavior."

So all who love God and desire to follow Him are invited and welcome:

I hope all members of the Church can feel the power of this message, knowing that not only are we personally needed and wanted in that choir, but also we should be open, welcoming, and loving to all those who likewise come to receive the blessings and benefits of singing together with us.

D. Todd Christofferson on our personal efforts to build Zion

Elder D. Todd Christofferson (b. January 24, 1945) was called to the Seventy in 1993, and as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2008.

"Zion is Zion because of the character, attributes, and faithfulness of her citizens. Remember, 'the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them' (Moses 7:18). If we would establish Zion in our homes, branches, wards, and stakes, we must rise to this standard. It will be necessary (1) to become unified in one heart and one mind; (2) to become, individually and collectively, a holy people; and (3) to care for the poor and needy with such effectiveness that we eliminate poverty among us. We cannot wait until Zion comes for these things to happen—Zion will come only as they happen....

"The Prophet Joseph Smith said, 'We ought to have the building up of Zion as our greatest object' (Teachings: Joseph Smith, 186). In our families and in our stakes and districts, let us seek to build up Zion through unity, godliness, and charity, preparing for that great day when Zion, the New Jerusalem, will arise."

- D. Todd Christofferson, "Come to Zion," Ensign, Nov. 2008, pp. 37-38
Click here to read the whole talk

Building Zion in our homes and communities is a great quest. Elder Christofferson invites us to become "of one heart and one mind" and learn to care deeply for one another, temporally and spiritually. We can hasten the development of Zion as we:

• become unified
• become more righteous, individually and collectively
• learn to care sincerely for all among us

Only as we consciously and actively pursue these efforts will the blessing of Zion begin to be ours.

Marvin J. Ashton on the efforts of mothers and fathers

Elder Marvin J. Ashton (1915-1994) served as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles from 1971 until his death in 1994 at age 78.

"The Lord has promised that he will help us in our pursuit of happiness if we will trust in him and follow his path. The abundant life will be ours if we rely on his strength.... Ammon, in his comments to his brother Aaron in the twenty-sixth chapter of Alma, verse 12, points to a way of life that brings security: 'Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; ...for which we will praise his name forever.' All we need to do to enjoy eternal, happy lives is to live the gospel of Jesus Christ.

"Following one of our recent general conference sessions, a troubled mother approached me and said, 'I need to know what is meant by the statement, "No success can compensate for failure in the home."' Knowing a little of the burdens this friend of mine carries in her mind and heart because of a rebellious, wayward daughter, I shared this meaning with her: I believe we start to fail in the home when we give up on each other. We have not failed until we have quit trying. As long as we are working diligently with love, patience, and long-suffering, despite the odds or the apparent lack of progress, we are not classified as failures in the home. We only start to fail when we give up on a son, daughter, mother, or father."

- Marvin J. Ashton, "Love of the Right," Ensign, June 1971, pp. 31-32
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President David O. McKay was the first to use the famous statement, "No other success can compensate for failure in the home."

“The home is the first and most effective place for children to learn the lessons of life: truth, honor, virtue, self-control; the value of education, honest work, and the purpose and privilege of life. Nothing can take the place of home in rearing and teaching children, and no other success can compensate for failure in the home.”
- Family Home Evening Manual[1968], iii

The intent of the line, of course, was to teach and emphasize priorities in life; achievements in the community or workplace are far less significant than "rearing and teaching children" in the home. Elder Ashton's tender description of a mother who struggled with an apparent "failure" in her childrearing points out how careful we all need to be with generalizations, and he helps provide a better perspective on what the intent of the remark was and is:

There is profound truth in the opening words of this excerpt, that applies to individuals and families:

"The Lord has promised that he will help us in our pursuit of happiness if we will trust in him and follow his path. The abundant life will be ours if we rely on his strength."

Ezra Taft Benson on building a strong and happy marriage

President Ezra Taft Benson (1899-1994) was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1943, and served as the 13th President of the Church from 1985 until his death in 1994 at age 94.

"Marriage itself must be regarded as a sacred covenant before God. A married couple have an obligation not only to each other, but to God. He has promised blessings to those who honor that covenant....

"Prayer in the home and prayer with each other will strengthen [a couple's] union. Gradually thoughts, aspirations, and ideas will merge into a oneness until you are seeking the same purposes and goals.

"Rely on the Lord, the teachings of the prophets, and the scriptures for guidance and help, particularly when there may be disagreements and problems.

"Spiritual growth comes by solving problems together—not by running from them. Today's inordinate emphasis on individualism brings egotism and separation. Two individuals becoming 'one flesh' is still the Lord's standard. (See Gen. 2:24.)

"The secret of a happy marriage is to serve God and each other. The goal of marriage is unity and oneness, as well as self-development. Paradoxically, the more we serve one another, the greater is our spiritual and emotional growth."

- Ezra Taft Benson, "Fundamentals of Enduring Family Relationships,"  Ensign, Nov. 1982, pp. 59, 60
Click here to read the full article

For those who are privileged and blessed to be linked with another in an eternal covenant of marriage, President Benson gave much wise counsel in this address on strengthening marriages and families. He taught first about the sacredness of the marriage covenant, in which two people are bound to each other and to God. Blessings follow faithfulness to that sacred covenant.

He then gives wise counsel on how to succeed in faithful observance of the covenant. I appreciated the thoughts about praying together. It's not just the act of praying that becomes significant; but the outcome, the effects of that act are that a couple grows in unity and oneness towards common goals and purposes.

And learning to work through problems, disagreements, and challenges is so key to successful relationships. Marriages grow strong as two people learn to set aside their own priorities and needs aside while they seek the best for their companion.

What a beautiful goal we truly have in this "sacred covenant" of a celestial marriage!

Wilford Woodruff on loving and helping each other

Wilford Woodruff (1807-1898) was called as an apostle in 1839 by Joseph Smith, and sustained as the 4th president of the Church in 1889.  He served until his death in 1898 at age 91.

"We can best exemplify our love for our God by living our religion. It is vain to profess a love for God while speaking evil of or doing wrong to His children. The sacred covenants we have made with Him strictly impose upon us the duties we owe to one another; and the great office of religion is to teach us how to perform those duties so as to produce the greatest happiness for ourselves and for our fellow-beings. When the obligations of our religion are observed, no words are spoken or acts are committed that would injure a neighbor. If the Latter-day Saints lived as they should do, and as their religion teaches them to do, there would be no feeling in any breast but that of brotherly and sisterly affection and love. Backbiting and evil-speaking would have no existence among us; but peace and love and good will would reign in all our hearts and habitations and settlements. We would be the happiest people on the face of the earth, and the blessing and peace of heaven would rest upon us and upon all that belongs to us.

"If there be unhappiness and heartburnings and quarrelings and hatreds among us, they exist because we do not observe the religion which we profess. They are not its fruits. Where these evils exist there is a crying necessity for repentance."

- Wilford Woodruff, "An Epistle to the Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," Millennial Star, November 14, 1887, 729-30

President Woodruff echoes the Savior's message, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). A true disciple should show evidence in his life of following the Savior's example, in "the duties we owe to one another" to produce the greatest happiness for all. And actions contrary to that spirit, including "speaking evil of or doing wrong to His children" are evidence of a lack of true devotion. If we truly follow God's plan in loving and caring for one another, "We would be the happiest people on the face of the earth."