By Elder Richard G Scott
(This will mark my favorite parts)
Many
voices from the world in which we live tell us we should live at a
frantic pace. There is always more to do and more to accomplish. Yet
deep inside each of us is a need to have a place of refuge where peace
and serenity prevail, a place where we can reset, regroup, and
reenergize to prepare for future pressures.
The ideal place for that peace is within the walls of our own homes, where we have done all we can to make the Lord Jesus Christ the centerpiece.
Some
homes have a father who is a worthy priesthood holder joined by a
faithful, devoted mother who together lead in righteousness. Many homes
have a different configuration. Regardless of your circumstances, you
can center your home and your life on the Lord Jesus Christ, for He is
the source of true peace in this life.
Be
certain that every decision you make, whether temporal or spiritual, is
conditioned on what the Savior would have you do. When He is the center
of your home, there is peace and serenity. There is a spirit of
assurance that pervades the home, and it is felt by all who dwell there.
The
fulfillment of this counsel does not rest upon parents alone, although
it is their role to lead. Children can be responsible for improving the
Christ-centered efforts in the home. It is important for parents to
teach children to recognize how their actions affect each individual who
lives in the home. Children who are made to feel accountable for their
actions, whether righteous or otherwise, grow to become trustworthy
citizens in the kingdom of God.
I’m
sure you can identify the fundamental principles that center your home
on the Savior. The prophetic counsel to have daily personal and family
prayer, daily personal and family scripture study, and weekly family
home evening are the essential, weight-bearing beams in the construction
of a Christ-centered home. Without these regular practices it will be
difficult to find the desired and much-needed peace and refuge from the
world.
Be
obedient to the prophetic teachings Christ would have you follow. Don’t
rationalize away future happiness by taking shortcuts instead of
applying sound gospel principles. Remember: little things lead to big
things. Seemingly insignificant indiscretions or neglect can lead to big
problems. More importantly, simple, consistent, good habits lead to a
life full of bountiful blessings.
You
children in the Primary, you young men and women in youth programs, and
you stalwart missionaries now serving are doing many things more
effectively than I was able to do at your age. In the premortal life you
proved to be valiant, obedient, and pure. There you worked hard to
develop talents and capacities to prepare yourselves to face mortality
with courage, dignity, honor, and success.
Not
long ago you came to mortality with all of those magnificent capacities
and endless possibilities. Yet there is real danger in the environment
surrounding you. Your great potential and ability could be limited or
destroyed if you yield to the devil-inspired contamination around you.
However, Satan is no match for the Savior. Satan’s fate is decided. He
knows he has lost, but he wants to take as many with him as he can. He
will try to ruin your goodness and abilities by exploiting your
weaknesses. Stay on the Lord’s side, and you will win every time.
You
live in a world where technological advances occur at an astounding
pace. It is difficult for many of my generation to keep up with the
possibilities. Depending on how technology is used, these advances can
be a blessing or a deterrent. Technology, when understood and used for
righteous purposes, need not be a threat but rather an enhancement to
spiritual communication.
For
example, many of us have a personal electronic device that fits into
our pocket. We are seldom without its company; we may refer to it many
times a day. Unfortunately, these devices can be a source of filth and
wasted time. But, used with discipline, this technology can be a tool of
protection from the worst of society.
Who
could have imagined not very many years ago that the full standard
works and years of general conference messages would fit into your
pocket? Just having them in your pocket will not protect you, but
studying, pondering, and listening to them during quiet moments of each
day will enhance communication through the Spirit.
Be
wise in how you embrace technology. Mark important scriptures on your
device and refer back to them frequently. If you young people would
review a verse of scripture as often as some of you send text messages,
you could soon have hundreds of passages of scripture memorized. :) Those
passages would prove to be a powerful source of inspiration and guidance
by the Holy Ghost in times of need.
Doing
all we can to invite the gentle, guiding influence of the Holy Ghost
into our lives is critical in our attempts to center our homes on the
Savior. Acting obediently on those promptings strengthens us even more.
Greater
peace will come as you couple your efforts to be obedient with serving
those around you. So many individuals who have what they perceive to be
meager talents humbly and generously use those talents to bless the
lives of those around them. Selfishness is the root of great evil. The
antidote for that evil is exemplified in the life of the Savior. He
shows us how to focus our lives outward in unselfish service to others.
I
have learned a truth that has been repeated so frequently in my life
that I have come to know it as an absolute law. It defines the way
obedience and service relate to the power of God. When we obey the
commandments of the Lord and serve His children unselfishly, the natural
consequence is power from God—power to do more than we can do by
ourselves. Our insights, our talents, our abilities are expanded because
we receive strength and power from the Lord. His power is a fundamental
component to establishing a home filled with peace.
As
you center your home on the Savior, it will naturally become a refuge
not only to your own family but also to friends who live in more
difficult circumstances. They will be drawn to the serenity they feel
there. Welcome such friends into your home. They will blossom in that
Christ-centered environment. Become friends with your children’s
friends. Be a worthy example to them.
One
of the greatest blessings we can offer to the world is the power of a
Christ-centered home where the gospel is taught, covenants are kept, and
love abounds.
Years
ago, following a mission tour, my wife, Jeanene, told me about an elder
she had met. Jeanene had asked him about his family. She was surprised
as he responded that he had no family. He further explained that at his
birth, his mother had given him to the government to raise. (sad :()He spent his
childhood going from one foster home to another. He was blessed as a
teenager to find the gospel. A loving ward family had helped him to have
the opportunity to serve a mission.
Later
Jeanene asked the mission president’s wife about this fine elder. She
learned that a few months earlier this elder had been in the mission
home for a few days due to an illness. During that time he had joined
them for a family home evening. Before he left to go back into the
field, he asked the mission president if he could spend two or three
days at the end of his mission in the mission home again. He wanted to
observe how a Christ-centered family functions. He wanted to be able to
pattern his family after theirs.
Do
all you can to have just such a home. Reach out to those living in
adverse circumstances. Be a true friend. This kind of enduring
friendship is like asphalt that fills the potholes of life and makes the
journey smoother and more pleasant. It should not be a resource used to
gain personal advantage but a treasure to be appreciated and shared.
Welcome into your home others who need to be strengthened by such an
experience.
I
offer some final thoughts for those who love a family member who is not
making good choices. That can challenge our patience and endurance. We
need to trust in the Lord and in His timing that a positive response to
our prayers and rescue efforts can occur. We do all that we can to
serve, to bless, and to submissively acknowledge God’s will in all
things. We exercise faith and remember that there are some things that
must be left to the Lord. He invites us to set our burdens down at His
feet. With faith we can know that this straying loved one is not
abandoned but is in the watchcare of a loving Savior.
Recognize
the good in others, not their stains. At times a stain needs
appropriate attention to be cleansed, but always build on his or her
virtues.
When
you feel that there is only a thin thread of hope, it is really not a
thread but a massive connecting link, like a life preserver to
strengthen and lift you. It will provide comfort so you can cease to
fear. Strive to live worthily and place your trust in the Lord.
We
need not worry if we can’t simultaneously do all of the things that the
Lord has counseled us to do. (I'm so glad :))He has spoken of a time and a season for
all things. In response to our sincere prayers for guidance, He will
direct us in what should be emphasized at each phase of our life. We can
learn, grow, and become like Him one consistent step at a time.
I
bear testimony that living an obedient life, firmly rooted in the
gospel of Jesus Christ, provides the greatest assurance for peace and
refuge in our homes. There will still be plenty of challenges or
heartaches, but even in the midst of turmoil, we can enjoy inner peace
and profound happiness. I testify that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is
the source of that abundant peace, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen
