9-8-2026 A Ministering Message

To my family, friends and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

For no other reason than the Lord is attempting to get through to my hard head and heart.

He is trying to teach me. And in turn I invite each of you to spend whatever time you feel appropriate to learn more about the following 3 things.

1. Charity " The Pure Love of Christ"

2. Willingness

3. Finding (searching) for the "One"

What is charity?

How do I receive charity?

Does all charity come only from the Lord?

Charity

How do I receive charity? 

Does all charity come only from the Lord?In scripture, charity is more than generosity or kindness. It is “the pure love of Christ” 

This phrase can mean both: 

1. The perfect love Christ has for every person.2. The Christlike love He gives us so that we can love God and others more purely.(Moroni 7:47).

44. If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.

45. And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

46. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

47.But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

48.Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

Paul describes the qualities of charity:

“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.Charity never faileth” (1 Corinthians 13:4–8).

1.Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2.And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3.And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4.Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5.Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6.Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7.Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8.Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

Charity does not mean approving of sin, ignoring injustice, or allowing others to abuse us. Because charity rejoices “in the truth,” it includes both compassion and moral clarity. Christ Himself showed perfect charity while still teaching repentance and defending righteousness.

Why Charity Is EssentialThe Book of Mormon teaches that charity is necessary for becoming like Christ:“Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him”

 (Moroni 7:46–47). 46.Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

47.But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.Without charity, even impressive spiritual actions lack their proper purpose. Paul taught that a person might have great knowledge, faith, generosity, and sacrifice, yet still be spiritually incomplete without charity (1 Corinthians 13:1–3).

1.Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2.And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3.And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4.Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5.Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6.Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.

7.Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8.Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

Charity is therefore not merely one virtue among many. It is the love that gives spiritual power and eternal purpose to every other virtue

How Do I Receive Charity?Moroni gives the clearest answer:“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ” (Moroni 7:48). 

48.Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.This teaches several principles.Pray specifically for itWe should ask Heavenly Father to fill us with Christ’s love. Moroni does not merely tell us to try harder to feel charitable; he tells us to pray “with all the energy of heart.” Charity is ultimately a spiritual gift.

You might pray for help to:- See another person as God sees them.- Forgive someone.- Serve without seeking recognition.- Feel compassion rather than resentment.- Speak truth without anger or contempt.- Love people who are difficult for you to understand.

Follow Jesus ChristMoroni describes those who receive charity as “true followers” of Jesus Christ (Moroni 7:48). 

48.Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

Charity grows as we accept Christ’s Atonement, keep His commandments, and seek to become like Him.

The Savior taught:“This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12).

9.As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

10.If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

11.These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

12.This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

13.Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.We do not acquire charity solely by studying the definition of love. We receive it by walking with Christ and allowing His character to reshape ours.

Serve othersCharity often comes while we are serving. King Benjamin taught that when we are “in the service of [our] fellow beings,” we are “only in the service of [our] God” (Mosiah 2:17).

16.Behold, I say unto you that because I said unto you that I had spent my days in your service, I do not desire to boast, for I have only been in the service of God.

17.And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.

18.Behold, ye have called me your king; and if I, whom ye call your king, do labor to serve you, then ought not ye to labor to serve one another?

19.And behold also, if I, whom ye call your king, who has spent his days in your service, and yet has been in the service of God, do merit any thanks from you, O how you ought to thank your heavenly King!

20.I say unto you, my brethren, that if you should render all the thanks and praise which your whole soul has power to possess, to that God who has created you, and has kept and preserved you, and has caused that ye should rejoice, and has granted that ye should live in peace one with another—

21.I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants.

22.And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper youService can soften the heart, enlarge our perspective, and help us recognize the divine worth of other people. Sometimes the feeling of love follows faithful service rather than preceding it.

Keep the SpiritCharity is connected with the Holy Ghost and the attributes that come through the Spirit. Paul lists “love” among the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23). 

22.But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23.Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

The Lord also taught that righteous disciples should have their “confidence wax strong in the presence of God” through “the doctrine of the priesthood,” diligence, faithfulness, and “charity” 

(Doctrine and Covenants 121:45).45. Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.

Regular scripture study, sincere prayer, repentance, sacrament worship, and obedience help us remain spiritually receptive.Practice Charity in small decisionsCharity usually develops through ordinary choices:- Listening before judging.- Assuming the best when appropriate.- Refusing to spread damaging information.- Correcting wrongs without humiliating people.- Giving time and attention.- Praying for those who have offended us.- Remembering that every person is a child of God.Moroni teaches that if we do not have charity, we are “nothing” spiritually, but he also teaches that we can “lay hold upon every good gift” through Christ (Moroni 7:46, 48).

46.Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

47.But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

48.Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.Does All Charity Come Only From the Lord?The short answer is yes, if we are speaking of charity in its scriptural and eternal sense: the pure love of Christ is a gift that comes from God.Moroni says that charity is something Christ “bestow[s]” upon His true followers (Moroni 7:48).

48.Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

John likewise taught:“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love” (1 John 4:7–8).The Book of Mormon also teaches that “all things which are good cometh of God” (Moroni 7:12), 

12. Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually.

13. But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.14. Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil.

and that every person receives “the Spirit of Christ” so that they may know good from evil (Moroni 7:16).

16.For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.This means God is the ultimate source of every genuinely good and self-giving form of love.However, people may show kindness, affection, loyalty, compassion, or self-sacrifice without consciously recognizing God as the source. That does not make the goodness unreal. It means that God’s light and influence may be working in their lives even if they do not yet understand it that way. The “Spirit of Christ” is given to “every man” and God’s children can respond to that light in many circumstances.

(Moroni 7:16), 16.For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.

It is also helpful to distinguish charity from natural affection. Family love, friendship, romantic love, and compassion are precious gifts, but they are not automatically the same as perfect charity. Natural affection can sometimes become possessive, conditional, or self-centered. Charity purifies love so that it seeks the true and eternal welfare of others.

Charity and the Atonement of Jesus ChristWe cannot consistently produce Christlike love through willpower alone. Charity comes as the Savior’s Atonement changes our hearts.King Benjamin described this change:“And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name” (Mosiah 5:7).

7.And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.A changed heart gradually changes the way we see people. Instead of viewing others only according to their faults, usefulness, political views, background, or behavior toward us, we begin to see them as souls with divine potential.This does not happen all at once. Charity is often received “line upon line” as we repent, forgive, serve, and return repeatedly to Christ.A Practical Pattern for Seeking CharityYou could use this pattern in personal prayer and scripture study:1. Ask: “Heavenly Father, help me see this person as Thou seest him or her.”2. Repent of resentment, pride, envy, or harsh judgment.3. Study how Christ treated people in the Gospels and the Book of Mormon.4. Do one quiet act of service.5. Speak truth with meekness.6. Continue praying for the gift of charity.7. Notice how the Spirit changes your thoughts over time.Charity is not merely feeling warmly toward everyone. It is choosing, through Christ’s power, to seek the good of others with patience, truth, humility, and endurance.

A concise summary would be: Charity is the pure love of Christ. It comes from God, is received through faith and prayer, grows through discipleship and service, and becomes evident in the way we treat other people. We do not need to wait until we feel perfect love before acting charitably; faithful action often prepares the heart to receive the greater gift.

Willingness:

Question to ask:   How do I find willingness to find and serve Jesus Christ?

Willingness often begins not as a strong feeling, but as a small desire. The Savior honors even that beginning. If you can sincerely pray, “Lord, I want to want to follow Thee,” you have already turned toward Him.

Jesus taught, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). The word “will” reminds us that discipleship involves a choice—but God can strengthen our desire as we act on it.

## 1. Pray honestly and specifically

You might pray:

“Father, please help me desire Jesus Christ more. Help me recognize someone I can serve today, and give me strength to follow through.”

The Book of Mormon gives this promise: “Yea, and if ye shall ask the Father in my name, with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you” (Moroni 10:4).

You do not need to pretend to have more faith or willingness than you currently possess. Bring your honest feelings to God.

## 2. Come unto Christ in small ways

The Savior said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). You can come to Him through a few verses of scripture, a sincere prayer, repentance, sacrament worship, or quietly remembering Him during the day.

Small, consistent choices can enlarge your desire. Alma compared faith to a seed that grows as we give it “a place” in our hearts and nourish it (Alma 32:27–28, 37–43).

## 3. Serve the person in front of you

Sometimes willingness to serve Christ comes after we begin serving rather than before. King Benjamin taught that when we serve our fellow beings, we are serving God:

“When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God” (Mosiah 2:17).

Look for something simple: listen to someone who is lonely, help at home, forgive, send encouragement, or perform an unnoticed act of kindness. Service becomes more meaningful when you consciously offer it to Jesus Christ.

## 4. Remember that Christ changes the heart

You are not expected to transform yourself by willpower alone. The people of King Benjamin experienced a mighty change because they were willing to submit themselves to the Savior:

“And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts” (Mosiah 5:2).

Ask the Savior to change not only your actions, but also your desires. He can give you compassion, courage, and a greater love for God and others.

## 5. Do not wait until you feel perfect

Nephi said, “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded” (1 Nephi 3:7). His willingness preceded the full knowledge of how everything would work out. Likewise, you can choose the next faithful step without having every feeling or answer already in place.

A simple plan for today could be:

1. Pray for a willing heart.

2. Read one passage about the Savior.

3. Ask, “Whom can I bless today?”

4. Act on the first good prompting you recognize.

5. Thank God for whatever help you received.

The desire to serve Christ is itself something you can ask Him to increase. As you seek Him, study His words, and serve His children, your love for Him can become more natural and joyful. “Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:63).

I the Book of Mormon Moroni 4:3 we read.

3.O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it; that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him, and keep his commandments which he hath given them, that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.

You: What is willingess as stated in the sacrament prayer

Daniel: # Willingness in the Sacrament Prayer

The sacrament prayer for the bread says:

“...that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him, and keep his commandments which he has given them...” (Doctrine and Covenants 20:77).

In this context, “willing” means having a sincere desire and making a deliberate choice to accept Jesus Christ, identify ourselves with Him, remember Him, and strive to keep His commandments. It does not mean that we are already perfect or that we will never make mistakes. It means we are genuinely willing to follow Him and repent when we fall short.

The prayer describes three related commitments:

1. Take upon us the name of Jesus Christ 

This means becoming His disciples and representing Him in our words, choices, and conduct. We covenant to belong to Him and to bear His name honorably.

2. Always remember Him 

We try to keep the Savior, His Atonement, His teachings, and His example in our thoughts and decisions. Remembering Him helps us turn toward Him throughout the week.

3. Keep His commandments 

We covenant to obey Him as an expression of love and faith. The Savior taught, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Because we are imperfect, this also includes being willing to repent and receive His cleansing power.

The Book of Mormon gives a similar description of the covenant made at baptism. Those who were baptized were willing “to come into the fold of God,” “to bear one another’s burdens,” “to mourn with those that mourn,” and “to stand as witnesses of God” (Mosiah 18:8–9). This shows that willingness involves not only private devotion to Christ but also loving service to others.

The sacrament is therefore a weekly opportunity to honestly ask: “Am I still willing to follow Jesus Christ?” Even if our week has been difficult, we can come to the sacrament with humility, renew our commitment, and seek His help. The prayer promises that if we do this, we may “always have his Spirit to be with them” (Doctrine and Covenants 20:77).

One by One written by Elder David A. Bednar and Paul Cardall ABOUT THE HYMN While performing at a fall social for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Cardall was approached by Elder David A. Bednar to write a song he had inside him with a specific phrase that kept going through Bednar's mind. The song has mention to multiple instances in Scripture, where Jesus encountered people, individually and collectively, administering to each person, one by one.

Finding the "One". Most likely at sometime in your life you have been or will be the one. Maybe even several times throughout your life! i invite you to read an excerpt from a talk by Elder David B. Haight of the Quorum of the 12 apostles

"True disciples of Jesus Christ have always been concerned for the one. Jesus Christ is our greatest example. He was surrounded by multitudes and spoke to thousands, yet He always had concern for the one. “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost,” He said. “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?”

This instruction applies to all who follow Him. We are commanded to seek out those who are lost. We are to be our brother’s keeper. We cannot neglect this commission given by our Savior. We must be concerned for the one.

Today I would like to talk about those who are lost—some because they are different, some because they are weary, and some because they have strayed.

Some are lost because they are different. They feel as though they don’t belong. Perhaps because they are different, they find themselves slipping away from the flock. They may look, act, think, and speak differently than those around them, and that sometimes causes them to assume they don’t fit in. They conclude that they are not needed.

Tied to this misconception is the erroneous belief that all members of the Church should look, talk, and be alike. The Lord did not people the earth with a vibrant orchestra of personalities only to value the piccolos of the world. Every instrument is precious and adds to the complex beauty of the symphony. All of Heavenly Father’s children are different in some degree, yet each has his own beautiful sound that adds depth and richness to the whole.

This variety of creation itself is a testament of how the Lord values all His children. He does not esteem one flesh above another, but He “inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; … all are alike unto God.”

I remember when I was young, there was an older boy who was physically and mentally disabled. He had a speech impediment and walked with difficulty. The boys used to make fun of him. They teased and taunted him until sometimes he would cry.

I can still hear his voice: “You’re not kind to me,” he said. And still they would ridicule him, push him, and make jokes about him.

One day I could bear it no longer. Although I was only seven years old, the Lord gave me the courage to stand up to my friends.

“Don’t touch him,” I said to them. “Stop teasing him. Be kind. He is a child of God!”

My friends stepped back and turned away.

I wondered at the time if my boldness would jeopardize my relationship with them. But the opposite happened. From that day onward, my friends and I became closer. They showed increased compassion for the boy. They became better human beings. To my knowledge, they never taunted him again.

Brothers and sisters, if only we had more compassion for those who are different from us, it would lighten many of the problems and sorrows in the world today. It would certainly make our families and the Church a more hallowed and heavenly place.

Some are lost because they are weary. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed. With all the pressures and demands on our time and the stress we face each day, it’s little wonder we get tired. Many feel discouraged because they have not measured up to their potential. Others simply feel too weak to contribute. And so, as the flock moves on, gradually, almost imperceptibly, some fall behind.

Everyone has felt tired and weary at one time or another. I seem to feel more so now than I did when I was younger. Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, even Jesus Christ knew what it meant to be tired. I do not wish to underestimate the weight that members of the Church bear upon their shoulders, nor do I minimize the emotional and spiritual trials they face. These can be heavy and often difficult to bear.

I do, however, have a testimony of the renewing power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The prophet Isaiah proclaimed that the Lord “giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.” When I feel tired, I remember the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith:

“Shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing. …

“… Let the woods and all the trees of the field praise the Lord; … and let all the sons of God shout for joy!”

For you members of the Church who hold back because of feelings of inadequacy, I plead with you to step forward, put your shoulder to the wheel, and push. Even when you feel that your strength can add little, the Church needs you. The Lord needs you. Remember that the Lord often chooses “the weak things of the world” to accomplish His purposes.

To all who are weary, let the comforting words of the Savior console you: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Let us rely on that promise. The power of God can infuse our spirits and bodies with energy and vigor. I urge you to seek this blessing from the Lord.

Draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you, for He has promised that “they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

When we show concern for those who are weary, we “succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.” Caring Church leaders are mindful of individual limitations yet eager to utilize members to the extent of their strength and abilities. Leaders teach and support but do not bring pressure to “run faster or labor more than” strength allows.

Remember, sometimes those who start out the slowest end up going the farthest.

Some are lost because they have strayed. Except for the Lord, we have all made mistakes. The question is not whether we will trip and fall but, rather, how will we respond? Some, after making mistakes, stray from the fold. This is unfortunate. Do you not know that the Church is a place for imperfect people to gather together—even with all their mortal frailties—and become better? Every Sunday in every meetinghouse throughout the world, we find mortal, imperfect men, women, and children who meet together in brotherhood and charity, striving to become better people, to learn of the Spirit, and to lend encouragement and support to others. I am not aware of any sign on the door of our meetinghouses that reads “Restricted Entrance—Perfect People Only.”

Because of our imperfections, we need the Lord’s Church. It is there that His redemptive doctrines are taught and His saving ordinances are administered. The Church encourages and motivates us to be a better and happier people. It is also a place where we can lose ourselves in the service of others.

The Lord knows we will make mistakes. That is why He suffered for our sins. He wants us to get back on our feet and strive to do better. There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

To you who have strayed because you have been offended, can you not set your hurt and anger aside? Can you not fill your hearts with love? There is a place for you here. Come, join the fold, consecrate your abilities, talents, and skills. You will be better for it, and others will be blessed by your example.

To those who have strayed because of doctrinal concerns, we cannot apologize for the truth. We cannot deny doctrine given to us by the Lord Himself. On this principle we cannot compromise.

I understand that sometimes people disagree with doctrine. They even go so far as to call it foolish. But I echo words of the Apostle Paul, who said that sometimes spiritual things can appear as foolishness to men. Nevertheless, “the foolishness of God is wiser than men.”

In truth, things of the Spirit are revealed by the Spirit. “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

We testify that the gospel of Jesus Christ is here upon the earth today. He taught of His Father’s doctrine, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”

I know that each of you bears a concern for a loved one. Give encouragement, service, and support to them. Love them. Be kind to them. In some cases, they will return. In others, they will not. But in all cases, let us ever be worthy of the name we take upon ourselves, even that of Jesus Christ.

To all who inhabit this beautiful earth, I raise my voice and bear solemn witness that God lives and that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and King! He restored His truth and His gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith. He speaks to His prophets and apostles. President Thomas S. Monson is the Lord’s anointed and guides His Church today. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen." (Elder David B. Haight

You: What is seeking in the as contained in scriptures: Does that include me and is the one possibly many individuals to find

What “Seeking” Means in Scripture

Yes, the scriptural invitation to seek includes you personally. The Savior taught:

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7).

Seeking is more than looking for information. It means turning your heart toward God through prayer, scripture study, obedience, repentance, and sincere desire to know truth. The Lord promises, “If ye shall seek me with all your heart,” He will let Himself be found (Jeremiah 29:13).

The Book of Mormon gives a similar invitation:

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (3 Nephi 13:33).

# Is “the One” One Person or Many?

If you mean the person we are ultimately seeking, the scriptures point us to Jesus Christ. He declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). We seek Him, and through Him we come to the Father.

However, Christ also seeks individuals—many individuals, one by one. In the parable of the lost sheep, the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to find “that which is gone astray” (Matthew 18:12–14). The Savior’s work is both universal and intensely personal. He seeks and saves many, but He knows and loves each person individually.

The Book of Mormon expresses this beautifully:

“He inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him” (2 Nephi 26:33).

So the answer is yes: you are included. You may seek Christ, and you may trust that He is also seeking you. As you continue studying the scriptures, watch for the ways the Lord invites, guides, corrects, and personally reassures you. Sharing those discoveries with others can help them recognize that they too are included in His invitation.

Again I invite you to following whatever promptings you may have to search the above and feast upon the "Words of Christ". In your own time and way as directed by the spirit to you heart and mind.

We love and pray for each of you

Debbie and Steve

Note: I used AI to help me find scriptures and some notes