If a couple in your ward gets divorced, or a young missionary returns home early, or a teenager doubts his testimony, they do not need your judgment.
“If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy” 10 that we can say about another person-whether to his face or behind her back-that should be our standard of communication. Today, I am asking us to interact with others in a higher, holier way. My dear brothers and sisters, how we treat each other really matters! How we speak to and about others at home, at church, at work, and online really matters. “No man can serve two masters.” 9 We cannot support Satan with our verbal assaults and then think that we can still serve God. Make no mistake about it: contention is evil! Jesus Christ declared that those who have “the spirit of contention” are not of Him but are “of the devil, who is the father of contention, and stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.” 8 Those who foster contention are taking a page out of Satan’s playbook, whether they realize it or not. The Savior’s Atonement made it possible for us to overcome all evil-including contention. One of the best ways we can honor the Savior is to become a peacemaker. We are preparing to commemorate the most important and transcendent event ever recorded on earth, which is the Atonement and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. True disciples of Jesus Christ are peacemakers. The Savior’s message is clear: His true disciples build, lift, encourage, persuade, and inspire-no matter how difficult the situation. 4 And then He added, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” 5 1 “Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” 2 And then, of course, He gave the admonition that challenges each of us: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” 3īefore His death, the Savior commanded His Twelve Apostles to love one another as He had loved them. The Savior made this clear in His sermons to followers in both hemispheres. One of the easiest ways to identify a true follower of Jesus Christ is how compassionately that person treats other people.
#War room bible study lessons how to
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are to be examples of how to interact with others- especially when we have differences of opinion. My dear brothers and sisters, this should not be. We hear of those who belittle their spouses and children, of those who use angry outbursts to control others, and of those who punish family members with the “silent treatment.” We hear of youth and children who bully and of employees who defame their colleagues. Regrettably, we sometimes see contentious behavior even within our own ranks. Contention never leads to inspired solutions. Many seem eager to damage another’s reputation with pathetic and pithy barbs!Īnger never persuades. I am greatly concerned that so many people seem to believe that it is completely acceptable to condemn, malign, and vilify anyone who does not agree with them. Too many pundits, politicians, entertainers, and other influencers throw insults constantly.
Vulgarity, faultfinding, and evil speaking of others are all too common. Civility and decency seem to have disappeared during this era of polarization and passionate disagreements. I also vowed that day never to throw anything in anger-whether it be scalpels or words.Įven now, decades later, I find myself wondering if the contaminated scalpel that landed in my arm was any more toxic than the venomous contention that infects our civic dialogue and too many personal relationships today.
In that very hour, I promised myself that whatever happened in my operating room, I would never lose control of my emotions. But this experience left a lasting impression on me. It landed in my forearm!Įveryone in the operating room-except the out-of-control surgeon-was horrified by this dangerous breach of surgical practice. In the middle of his tantrum, he threw his scalpel loaded with germs.
Then, to add to the tension, one of the team performed a task poorly, and the surgeon erupted in anger. I pray that the Holy Ghost will communicate what the Lord wants you to hear as I speak to you now.ĭuring my surgical internship many years ago, I assisted a surgeon who was amputating a leg filled with highly infectious gangrene. During these past six months, you have been constantly on my mind and in my prayers. My dear brothers and sisters, it is a joy to be with you.
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