Notable quotes:

Summary points:

• Sustainable and flourishing societies are devoted to the two great commandments: to love God and to love one another.
• Even a thriving society can fail if it turns from God and trusts instead in the arm of flesh.
• Teaching and living by the truths in God’s plan of redemption will lead to the success and sustainability of society.

Summary:

A sustainable, flourishing society is one that promotes happiness, progress, peace and wellbeing among its members. There are two examples of such thriving societies found in the scriptures: the city of Enoch, or Zion, and the Nephites and Lamanites for two centuries after the Savior’s ministry in the Americas.

“The societies in these two examples … were obedient to God in their personal lives and they looked after one another’s physical and spiritual welfare.”

A thriving society can fail, however, if it abandons the virtues that uphold its peace and prosperity, turns from a sense of accountability to God and trusts instead in the arm of flesh.

The institutions of family and religion are and have been crucial for endowing individuals and communities with the virtues that sustain an enduring society. 

“These virtues, rooted in scripture, include integrity, responsibility and accountability, compassion, marriage and fidelity in marriage, respect for others and the property of others, service and the necessity and dignity of work, among others.”

In recent years, the perceived importance of religion has declined all over the world. Those who profess no religion are often good, moral people, but this didn’t happen without divine influence.

“Whether aware of it or not, every man, woman and child of every belief, place and time is imbued with the light of Christ and therefore possesses the sense of right and wrong we often call a conscience.”

When society has no greater good than satisfying individuals’ appetites, the detrimental effects will manifest in due course. In contrast, the truth of God points to a better or more excellent way to personal happiness and community wellbeing.

“There is much we can do as neighbors and fellow citizens to contribute to the sustainability and success of the societies we live in, and surely our most fundamental and enduring service will be to teach and live by the truths inherent in God’s great plan of redemption.”

In the news:

• In his June 27 remarks at the 2020 Mission Leadership Seminar, Elder D. Todd Christofferson declared that the “authority of God, the spirit of revelation and the spirit of prophecy” are all crucial to preaching the gospel.
• Speaking from an office occupied by Brigham Young in the late 1800s in downtown Salt Lake City, Elder Christofferson addressed missionaries in online MTC training released May 14 on the topic, “By Small and Simple Things.”
• In an interview with the Church News in May, Elder Christofferson said the COVID-19 pandemic “a great season of opportunity” for members of the Church to “contemplate belonging.”

About the speaker:

• Elder D. Todd Christofferson has been a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles since April 5, 2008. He turned 75 years old on Jan. 24. 
• He has spoken many times to global audiences, including at the G20 International Faith Forum in Argentina on religious freedom and in Washington, D.C., on Watergate.
• In 1968, he married Kathy Jacob. The two met at a football game — at the time, he had been helping with crowd control, and she was a Cougarette. They are the parents of five children.

Recently on Social:

• On July 26, Elder Christofferson posted on Twitter that “the Savior makes all things right” and testified, “No injury, disability, betrayal, or abuse goes uncompensated in the end because of His ultimate justice and mercy.”

• Elder Christofferson posted on Facebook on June 29 about Jason Olson, who almost set fire to the Book of Mormon as a teenager before hearing in his mind the words: “Do not burn my book.” Elder Christofferson testified the Book of Mormon is “the Lord’s instrument of conversion.”

• On May 22, Elder Christofferson wrote in an Instagram post about his concern for single adults and single parents, who may be facing more challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. To help combat “negative physical and mental health consequences,” he suggested serving others, making a phone call and looking for opportunities to share the gospel.

• Along with a photo of him and his wife, Elder Christofferson shared in a Facebook post on Mother’s Day, May 10, that women bring into the world “a certain virtue, a divine gift that makes them adept at instilling such qualities as faith, courage, empathy, and refinement in relationships and in cultures.”

• In a Twitter post on April 5, Elder Christofferson posted a clip from his April general conference talk and testified that “Christ’s Resurrection makes His promises sure.”