66 (5-13-24) Less about me and power of words

 66 (5-13-24) Less about me and power of words

Hello Family,

This week in my personal study I reviewed Elder Rasband’s talk from this past conference: Words Matter. I love this talk. I think everyone can benefit from not only choosing our words more carefully and thoughtfully, but finding more ways that we can lift and build others by offering words of praise and love.

What we say and how we say it very often shapes how we feel and act with others.

I like this quote from Elder Rasband, “Words set a tone. They voice our thoughts, feelings, and experiences, for good or bad. Unfortunately, words can be thoughtless, hasty, and hurtful. Once said, we cannot take them back. They can wound, punish, cut down, and even lead to destructive actions. They can weigh heavily on us. On the other hand, words can celebrate victory, be hopeful and encouraging. They can prompt us to rethink, reboot, and redirect our course. Words can open our minds to truth.”

Invitation: In all our relationships, especially those most important to us, our family, let us strive to be more careful in our words. Let us all try to build more, criticize less, be less sarcastic, and express words of love and encouragement more readily. I know that I most certainly can improve in doing this.

As I was studying Come Follow Me this week there was something that jumped out at me in connection with Elder Rasband’s talk. It was a contrast between the feelings of Zeniff in Chapter 9:1, and the overall feelings of the Lamanites in Ch 10:12-16

Zeniff stated that even though he had been sent to fight and destroy the Laminites he had a change of heart. He stated in vs 1, “but when I saw that which was good among them I was desirous that they should not be destroyed.” As he looked outward, to the needs of others, the Holy Ghost was able to inspire him, giving him direction how to move forward in his decision making. 

Contrast that with how the feelings of the Laminites are described in these 4 versus below:

12 They were a wild, and ferocious, and a blood-thirsty people, believing in the tradition of their fathers, which is this—Believing that they were driven out of the land of Jerusalem because of the iniquities of their fathers, and that they were wronged in the wilderness by their brethren, and they were also wronged while crossing the sea;

13 And again, that they were wronged while in the land of their first inheritance, after they had crossed the sea, and all this because that Nephi was more faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord—

14 And his brethren were wroth with him because they understood not the dealings of the Lord; they were also wroth with him upon the waters because they hardened their hearts against the Lord.

15 And again, they were wroth with him when they had arrived in the promised land, because they said that he had taken the ruling of the people out of their hands; and they sought to kill him.

16 And again, they were wroth with him because he departed into the wilderness as the Lord had commanded him, and took the records which were engraven on the plates of brass, for they said that he robbed them.

In just 4 short versus we see a very strong example of a people with a “me” focused perspective. Their beliefs were that others had caused their difficult circumstances. And because they felt wronged they blamed others, anger became rooted in their hearts. They had chosen to be acted upon instead of exercising their agency to act, to forgive and seek peace and reconciliation.

When we focus on ourselves and our lenses see the world through a  “me, me, me” perspective, we lose the companionship of the Holy Ghost, and unhappiness begins to set in. We can easily point to someone else or something else that has brought on this unhappiness. We believe we have been wronged and we feel wroth or angry about it. 

The connection between these scriptures and Elder Rasband’s talk for me has been that the more I look outward, concerned more about others rather than myself, are the times I feel happiest. This is when the Holy Ghost can speak more clearly to me, and encourage and direct my thoughts and actions. I know this isn’t a new concept, but one that has been reinforced in my mind through scripture study and prayer. I am so thankful for the scriptures and living prophets which constantly teach us how to draw closer to the Savior.

I love you all so much, and hope you have an amazing week. Love,

Dad