The importance and power of love was a common theme among posts shared on Church leaders' social media accounts this week.
Also included were words of encouragement to develop talents and make room for the Lord every day.
A message to young adults and youth was shared on Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's Instagram account on Friday, July 6. The accompanying photo showed a room full of young missionaries in Brazil with beaming smiles.
"Those are the smiles and pure happiness that come from living the Gospel of Jesus Christ," the post said. "Young people, we know you have trials and struggles, but we also know that our faith in Christ provides perspective and allows us to feel joy even in the midst of sorrows."
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf's Facebook account shared a post on Friday morning about his trip to Germany.
Utah Senator Orrin Hatch and Elder Uchtdorf participated in a wreath laying honoring Holocaust victims at the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. Approximately 30,000 victims lost their lives at this camp between 1936 and 1945.
The trip reminded Elder Uchtdorf of his experience visiting the execution site of Helmuth Hubener. According to the post, Hubener was a 17-year-old member in Germany during World War II and was executed when the Nazis found him listening to BBC broadcasts and convicted him of treason.
"It is sobering to consider the path that led to unimaginable pain and suffering of those who became victims of Nazi terrorism," the Facebook post said. "It may help us to be more cognizant of those suffering today as the result of intolerance."
The post continued with a message about the importance of love.
"Love is the bond that unites families, communities and nations," Elder Uchtdorf's Facebook post said. "It is the source that overcomes divisiveness and hate. Love is the fire that warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope. Love should be our walk and our talk."
A July 3 post on Elder Ronald A. Rasband's Facebook and Instagram accounts shared a story of how Elder Rasband first discovered and developed one of his talents.
Elder Rasband was not comfortable reading out loud in front of others, but a Primary teacher encouraged him to do so anyway.
"She told me what a nice reading voice I had and how well I read," the Facebook post stated. "What she said and the way she encouraged me helped me gain confidence and realize one of my talents from the Lord at an early age."
The story continued with Elder Rasband wanting to know more about his talents as a young missionary.
"As I studied the scriptures and my patriarchal blessing, prayed fervently and had various missionary experiences, several of my talents were made known to me," Elder Rasband said.
The post encouraged members to allow their day-to-day experiences be "stepping stones" that can assist in finding gifts and talents that will be "used as you progress through mortality here upon the earth."
A series of resources and videos addressing suicide was released by the Church on July 2. On Elder Dale G. Renlund's Facebook page, a video was shared in which Elder Renlund discusses the topic.
"My heart aches for you who are struggling, for you who are wondering how to help someone who is struggling, and for you who are left wondering what you could have done to prevent a tragedy," the accompanying post said.
The post encouraged those who are hurting to visit suicide.lds.org for resources and more information.
The Facebook account for Sister Michelle D. Craig, first counselor in the Young Women general presidency, had a special summer themed message on June 30.
As the summer months and all the activities that go with it arrive, "don't forget to carve out time for those things that are of greatest importance," the post said.
The post encourages being intentional in seeking the Lord every day in order to avoid getting caught in the "thick of thin things."
Elder Ulisses Soares' Facebook account also posted a video this week. The July 1 post shared a video of Elder Soares discussing his own family history and how vital members of the Church were in keeping his family active.
In the video, Elder Soares discussed the importance of diversity and understanding that there are many ways to live around the world, and that it isn't our place to judge.
Nobody should be judged on the way they act or think, Elder Soares said in the video. "We all come from the same spiritual root."
Instead, have empathy and reach out with love, Elder Soares suggested.
"Just love people and respect the way they think, the way they live," Elder Soares said in the video. "Embrace them. That's what the gospel of Jesus Christ is."
"There is no stronger power in the world than the power of love," Elder Soares said in the video.
