Every once in awhile Elder Scott shares a spiritual thought within his journal pages that really touches me, and this week he had one that I absolutely loved. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did, and if you would like to read the talks he mentions, I'll include the links at the bottom of the page. They're really good.
I need to talk about a phrase
that I just stumbled upon in the September 2016 Ensign. It’s a quote given by
President Thomas S. Monson that I now want to find and read titled, “Love at
Home-Counsel from our Prophet” from the August 2011 Ensign. The quote goes, “Give your child a compliment and a hug; Say
“I love you” more; always express your thanks. Never
let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved.”
I just love that quote, especially that second part. Never let a problem to be
solved become more important than a person to be loved. How often do we let the
problems drive our way of thinking? This counsel doesn’t just say ‘Don’t always
let a problem’, it specifically says the word “Never”. We should not, in any
circumstance, let the problems overshadow the love we have for another person.
Love
is a feeling that should never fault, ever, no matter how large the problem may
be. The problem never-ever is as important as the love we should always have
for our fellow brothers and sisters, especially our children. Later in this
article Sister Susan T. Tanner gives another amazing quote related towards the
family, “Our Father in Heaven exemplifies the pattern we
should follow. He loves us, teaches us, is patient with us, and entrusts us
with our agency. Sometimes discipline, which means ‘to teach’ is confused with
criticism. Children-as well as people of all ages-improve behavior from love and
encouragement more than from fault-finding.” This is
actually a widely taught principle in educational instruction today. While
there can be some slight improvement in correction through fault-finding, it
has been proven to be much greater to teach and correct through positive
reinforcement. This positive reinforcement is done through love and
encouragement. When we teach, discipline, and correct through love, the results
will always be much greater. It is undoubtedly true. I can testify to this in
my times of being in the BOLTS Leadership Academy while teaching and mentoring
my high school freshman, as well as watching my fellow peers do the same job. While I have to admit that I have not had the grand and sacred
opportunity to apply this counsel in my own propio family, I can say I have
been able to experience it through many leadership positions throughout my high
school career as well as out here in the mission field. I can testify that the
words of Sister Tanner are true, and of the importance of God-given counsel from
President Monson.
No problem is ever, in my circumstance, more important than a
person to be loved. Nor should we correct in any other manner than one given
through encouragement and out of love for that person. I absolutely loved stumbling
upon these articles today and am undoubtedly able to testify of the power that
can be reached when we love our fellow brothers and sisters and choose our
actions solely out of the love we have for them. When we do that, lives will be
changed and we personally will have more love and peace as well as happiness in
our lives. I know that to be true and want to share all of this in the name of
Jesus Christ. Amen.
↓ Links to the talks found here ↓
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