From the sacred duty of raising children to experiences that bring turmoil and heartache, Church leaders posted this week on a variety of topics in efforts to reach out and strengthen members.
On June 7, President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, shared his experience rededicating the Columbus Ohio Temple. “I hope you will see the temple as a place of refuge and a place of peace,” wrote President Ballard.
Primary General President Susan H. Porter posted a video on Instagram on June 5 with Sister Hannah Morrison, wife of Elder Isaac Morrison, a General Authority Seventy. Sister Morrison shared with President Porter her experience of losing their young son.
“My husband and I kept blaming ourselves for what happened in our home,” Sister Morrison said. Among the many things that helped her to find healing, reading her scriptures and serving in the temple were among the few things that helped Sister Morrison.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, announced June 6 on Twitter that he would slowly be returning to his Church service. “It is the difficult, demanding times of our lives that are the growth periods,” the Apostle said.
Jesus Christ “will offer relief,” said Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson on June 3.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared inspirational messages for parents on both Facebook and Twitter on June 6. Each post offered a different reminder of parents’ unique role in their children’s lives.
On Facebook, Elder Uchtdorf shared a video reminding parents that Jesus Christ is a divine source of help during parenthood.
On June 7, Young Women General President Bonnie H. Cordon invited members in her Instagram post to share with her someone “who has shared their witness of Christ.”
Elder Ulisses Soares tweeted on June 7 about a meeting he had with President Luis Lacalle Pou of Uruguay to talk about how their organizations can help strengthen families.
And on June 5, Elder Soares shared his experience of bearing testimony of Christ’s global Church with the international outlet TV Chile in Santiago.
Sister Michelle D. Craig, second counselor in the Young Women general presidency, posted on June 3 about the destructive messages the world sends that cause feelings of inadequacy. “Feelings of discontent can be divine — but should not be destructive,” Sister Craig said.
On June 8, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared a thought he had while visiting with Church members in Croatia and Poland.
Sister Tracy Y. Browning, second counselor in the Primary general presidency, said on June 8 on Facebook, “When we are struggling to hear the voice of the Lord, who we listen to matters.” She continued, “Focus your eyes and ears on the words and love of our Savior.”
From a previous social media post, Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles had asked members to share with him ways they had been blessed by others. On June 8 he posted some of the replies he received.
On June 4, Sister Rebecca L. Craven, second counselor in the Young Women general presidency, spoke of how easy it is to complicate a testimony of Jesus Christ.
Sharing a story of her grandson Winston, she wrote, “This young boy simply wanted to share his witness about Heavenly Father but did not think he could do it publicly without wrapping it in an exciting story. That’s what all the grownups always did.”
She continued, “I wish Winston had known that testimonies are simple — they are statements of truth that we know about Jesus Christ and His gospel.”
Young Men General President Steven J. Lund shared a video on June 7 that he took in Hong Kong talking with his friend, Elder Benjamin M. Z. Tai , a General Authority Seventy and a counselor in the Asia Area presidency.
“The sky is the limit,” Elder Tai said when asked what the future of the gospel looked like in Asia.
On June 1, Brother Milton Camargo, first counselor in the Sunday School general presidency said, “For me, sacrament time is sacred, and it is the time I take to evaluate my standing before the Lord and how I can improve.”
