“Hearts Knit Together,” For the Strength of Youth, May 2021.
Session
Hearts Knit Together
Excerpts
When asked, “Master, which is the great commandment?” the Savior replied to “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,” followed by, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” [Matthew 22:36–39]. The Savior’s response reinforces our heavenly duty. An ancient prophet commanded “that there should be no contention one with another, but that [we] should look forward … having [our] hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another” [Mosiah 18:21, emphasis added]. …
Now, for young men and young women, as you grow older, making fun of others can evolve very dangerously. Anxiety, depression, and worse are often the companion of bullying. …
Clearly, the adversary is using this to hurt your generation. There is no place for this in your cyberspace, neighborhoods, schools, quorums, or classes. Please do all you can to make these places kinder and safer. ...
… As you extend yourself with kindness, care, and compassion, even digitally, I promise that you will lift up arms that hang down and will heal hearts. …
Let each of us, no matter our age, strive to be our best.
As you strive to extend yourself in love, respect, and kindness, you will undoubtedly be hurt or negatively affected by the bad choices of others. What do we do then? We follow the Lord’s admonition to “love your enemies … and pray for them which despitefully use you” [Luke 6:27–28].
When adversity and affliction are brought upon us by critical, negative, even mean-spirited acts, we can choose to hope in Christ. This hope comes from His invitation and promise to “be of good cheer, for I will lead you along” [Doctrine and Covenants 78:18] and that He will consecrate your afflictions for your gain [see 2 Nephi 2:2].