Epidemic of Lonliness and Needing Love

This Morning I found this 2023 Interview between Scripture Central's Stephen Jones and LDS Young Men's leader Brad Wilcox.  This Youtube video is about why Brother Wilcox believes God's grace is the key to overcoming the current epidemic of loneliness, needing love, and not knowing where to find it.  He shares memories of his childhood in Ethopia and thoughts on love.   I found it well worth the time to listen:

Scriptures of the Day December 1, 2025

 Thus came the voice of the Lord unto me, saying:  All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if thye had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God.

 Doctrine and Covenants  137:7

And these are those who have part in the first resurrection; and these are they that have died before Christ came, in their ignorance, not having salvation declared unto them.  And thus the Lord bringeth about the restoration of these ; and they have a part in the first resurrection, or have eternal life, being redeemed by the Lord. 

Mosiah 15:24

Lifelong discipleship of Jesus Christ begins in our homes -- and in Primary as early as 18 months of age.  We want our children to believe in Jesus Christ, belong to Jesus Christ and His Church through covenant, and strive to become like Jesus Christ.  

Thou Art The Christ 

By Sister Amy Wright
First Counselor in the Primar General Presidency

Light the World For Christmas This Year

 I love the Christmas Season, don't you?   The food, the decorations, the lights, the music, the family get togethers and family traditions, the shopping and selecting of gifts for friends and loved ones!   It has been my blessing to have experienced many happy Christmas Seasons.  I've shared some of our family Christmas Traditons in previous blog posts, so this post isn't about those traditions.

Of course some people don't actually celebrate Christmas, and for those that do, many don't find the season very enjoyable, for a variety of reasons.  Financial situations,  personal and family issues, the loss of loved ones, and just the general stress of trying to prepare and do it all.  I understand.  I've also experienced most of the forementioned issues in the past.  Often the true meaning of Christmas, the celebration of the birth and life of Jesus Christ, Savior of the World gets lost amongst all of the doing of Christmas.   

I'm so grateful for the Light the World Program, a special invitation to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ by sharing His light with others throughout the Christmas Season through acts of kindness.  Looking for ways to make the season brighter?  The Light the World website has many ideas of  simple and inexpensive ways you can share the light throughout the season, including this list of ideas that you can print out and hang on your refrigerator.  Don't try to do them all, unless you really have the time and means to do so, but the more light and love that you share, the more light and love you feel!

Wishing you a very lovely, light filled December and holiday season!

Our Thankful Tree

Thankful Tree 2024

Thankful Tree 2025

 We have a Thanksgiving tradition in our family of  taking a few minutes on Thanksgiving Day to write down things that we are grateful for on colored leaves that we then attach to our Thankful Tree.  Some families that I know use their Thankful Tree all during the month of November.  What are you grateful for this year?

Giving Thanks for our Savior Jesus Christ -- (then) Elder Dallin H Oaks -- current President of the Church of Jesus  Christ of Latter Day Saints 

The Healing Power of Gratitude:  Russell M Nelson:

The Divine Gift of Gratitude -- Thomas S Monson

Grateful in any Circumstance -- Elder Dieter F Uchtdorf

Wishing you all a very blessed and Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Scriptures of The Day November 27, 2025

Cease to content one with another; cease to speak evil one of another. 
Doctrine and Covenants 136:23

Cherishing Life
 By Elder Neil L. Anderson
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

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I try to spend at least a bit of time each morning and each evening reading scripture and listening to the words of living prophets.   I usually check the verse of the day and the quote of the day that are posted on the Gospel Library app that I have loaded onto my phone.  If I have the time, I will listen to the talk referenced in the quote of the day.  I also take some time each week to read the outline from Come Follow Me as DD1 and I prepare to teach our primary class.  I also try to read a bit  from The Book of Mormon sometime everyday, usually in the evenings before sleep.  I love the scriptures and the words of the prophets, and spending time each day helps me to keep everything else that is happening in our life and world into persepctive.   Do you have a schedule for reading and studying the word of God?

I'm Grateful For a Living Prophet

 Last month in October 2025,  President Dallin H Oaks was announced as the 18th President and Prophet of  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Saints.   We are never to fear that we will ever be without a Prophet of God and Heavenly Father's guidance here on the earth.   We have been blessed for many years to listen to his wise and kind counsel in his General Conference talks, but in the past few weeks we have had many opportunities to learn more him.  His wife, Sister Kristen M Oaks recently spent some time with Sherrie Dew to share some of her insights about President Oaks and her testimony of the Temple and of Jesus Christ.  Who better to help us understand our prophet than his wife? 

And here are a few recent words of encouragement from our prophet himself:

Scriptures of the Day November 26, 2025

 Seek ye; and keep all your pledges one with another; and covet not that which is thy brother's.  
Doctrine and Covenants 136:20

"You may remember the Lord's promise to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon when they were away from their families on His Errands:  'My friends Sidney and Joseph, your families are well; they are in mine hands, and I will do with them as seemeth me good; for in me there is all power.'  (D&C 100:1)

As you bind up the wounds of those in need, the Lord's power will sustain you.  
"Draw Near Unto Me"
By  President Henry B Eyring, April 2025 General Conference

Nevertheless, I did look unto my God, and I did praise him all the day long; and I did not murmer agains the Lord because of mine afflictions.  

1 Nephi 18: 16

    --- 

I try to spend at least a bit of time each morning and each evening reading scripture and listening to the words of living prophets.   I usually check the verse of the day and the quote of the day that are posted on the Gospel Library app that I have loaded onto my phone.  If I have the time, I will listen to the talk referenced in the quote of the day.  I also take some time each week to read the outline from Come Follow Me as DD1 and I prepare to teach our primary class.  I also try to read a bit  from The Book of Mormon sometime everyday, usually in the evenings before sleep.  I love the scriptures and the words of the prophets, and spending time each day helps me to keep everything else that is happening in our life and world into persepctive.   Do you have a schedule for reading and studying the word of God?