charity

my thanks to all of you wonderful members of the church--and legions of good people not of our faith--for proving every day of your life that the pure love of Christ "never faileth." no one of you is insignificant, in part because you make the gospel what it is--a living reminder of His grace and mercy, a private but powerful manifestation in small villages and large cities of the good He did and the life He gave bringing peace and salvation to other people.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
october 2010

unity

the first presidency message in the friend this month is on unity.

this quote touched me:

if we are to have unity, there are commandments we must keep concering how we feel. we must forgive and bear no malice toward those who offend us. the Savior set the example from the cross: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" {Luke 23:34}. we do not know the hearts of those who offend us. nor do we know all the sources of our own anger and hurt. the apostle Paul was telling us how to love in a world of imperfect people, including ourselves, when he said, "charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil" {1 Corinthians 13:4-5}.

i pray that i will have more charity, more patience and more love towards those around me. especially towards those who offend me. "we do not know the hearts of those who offend us." how so true to remember. everyone has their own burdens they are carrying. it is a command from the Lord to be Christlike and charitable to everyone.