I am speaking in one week on Diligence. I love the simple but profound truths spoken of here:
"We can begin to become more diligent and concerned at home bytelling the people we love that we love them. Such expressions do notneed to be flowery or lengthy. We simply should sincerely andfrequently express love.
Brethren and sisters, when was the last time you took your eternalcompanion in your arms and said, “I love you”? Parents, when was thelast time you sincerely expressed love to your children? Children, whenwas the last time you told your parents that you love them?
Each of us already knows we should tell the people we love that welove them. But what we know is not always reflected in what we do. Wemay feel unsure, awkward, or even perhaps a bit embarrassed.
As disciples of the Savior, we are not merely striving to know more;rather, we need to consistently do more of what we know is right andbecome better.
We should remember that saying “I love you” is only a beginning. Weneed to say it, we need to mean it, and most importantly we needconsistently to show it. We need to both express and demonstrate love.
President Thomas S. Monson recently counseled: “Often we assumethat [the people around us] must know how much we love them. But weshould never assume; we should let them know. … We will never regretthe kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets willcome if such things are omitted from our relationships with those whomean the most to us” (“Finding Joy in the Journey,” Liahona and Ensign,Nov. 2008, 86).
Sometimes in a sacrament meeting talk or testimony, we hear astatement like this: “I know I do not tell my spouse often enough howmuch I love her. Today I want her, my children, and all of you to knowthat I love her.”
Such an expression of love may be appropriate. But when I hear astatement like this, I squirm and silently exclaim that the spouse andchildren should not be hearing this apparently rare and privatecommunication in public at church! Hopefully the children hear loveexpressed and see love demonstrated between their parents in theregular routine of daily living. If, however, the public statement of loveat church is a bit surprising to the spouse or the children, then indeedthere is a need to be more diligent and concerned at home.
The relationship between love and appropriate action is demonstratedrepeatedly in the scriptures and is highlighted by the Savior’sinstruction to His Apostles: “If ye love me, keep my commandments”(John 14:15). Just as our love of and for the Lord is evidenced bywalking ever in His ways (see Deuteronomy 19:9), so our love forspouse, parents, and children is reflected most powerfully in ourthoughts, our words, and our deeds (see Mosiah 4:30).
Feeling the security and constancy of love from a spouse, a parent, or achild is a rich blessing. Such love nurtures and sustains faith in God.Such love is a source of strength and casts out fear (see 1 John 4:18).Such love is the desire of every human soul.
We can become more diligent and concerned at home as we expresslove—and consistently show it."
