Love is a fragile thing. Life has many elements in it that test the strength of love. Much damage occurs if we are not in tender, caring and loyal hands. The need for pure love in relationships is reflected in our partner's future that is placed in our hands for safekeeping. In showing how we love others, we would never allow someone to rain on their parade, be critical of ones we love, cast gloom, doubt, or defeat upon them.

Love is the remedy for ailing families, ill communities, and sick nations. Love is a smile, a wave, a kind comment, and a compliment. Love is sacrifice, service, and selflessness.

I will laugh at the world, and most importantly, at myself.

Knowing that we are all children of God gives us a vision of the worth of others and the ability to rise above prejudice.  His message is love.  His life on earth was love.  His resurrection is love.  Love for each and everyone.  We are all alike unto God.

Did you know learning any concept or principle or changing any behavior pattern requires five important steps?  First, you have to expose a person. Second is the law of repetition. Third is to give understanding, the why. People of all ages want to know the why's when asked to support a change or to change.

As the Savior said, “Go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon these things … that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow." Clothing for the soul comes by living principles of righteousness, pondering and praying about that which we learn as we seek to be followers of Jesus Christ.

It is not always easy to achieve an appropriate balance. In addition to what we read in social media posts, we can have brought right into our homes in color most of the problems of an entire world. We also have our own personal ups and downs and challenges. The stresses of life are real and rather constant. There is, however, a defense against much of this.

There are significant numbers of youth who are striving to identify a path that will bring them satisfaction—a sense of belonging and of self-worth. A sense of belonging is critical to the wellbeing of our children. Ensuring that home is a safe and stable place, a place where belonging means being seen valued and appreciated. I have come to learn to be fully present to children no matter what other demands are pressing upon my time.

When encountering those who have a rebirth of spiritual life, my eyes are often teary with happiness for their journey to the Savior and partaking of His atoning sacrifice. How beautiful, how tender it is to see the heart changed, the lost found, and the blind restored to sight. Though we may not understand how it happens, we know why—because God loves His children. A love that transcends our doubts, our sins, our afflictions, our worries. A love that is never removed.

excerpts for this podcast taken from writing of Lloyd D. Newell

The Atonement cleanses us and it also completes us. The Atonement brings us comfort and it also compensates for our shortcomings in mortality. The Atonement liberates us from death and it also lifts us higher on Christ's path as we follow Him back home.