Latter-day Saint Life

4 Powerful Messages President Monson Shared on Facebook in 2016

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As a prophet, seer, and revelator in the latter-days, President Monson often shares profound counsel and advice through social media.

His words have uplifted many and, at times, warned us of spiritual pitfalls.

As a way to remember his sacred counsel from this year and apply it in years to come, here are a few of our favorite 2016 social media posts from President Monson that were just what members worldwide needed to hear. 

While many have wondered what it would be like to meet the Savior and speak with Him, a few have wondered: if Jesus were to appear to President Monson today, what question would our prophet ask? 

The powerful answer President Monson shared in response to this question showed great humility and faith as he serves as the servant of the Lord.

From time to time the question has been posed, "If Jesus appeared to you today, what questions would you ask of Him?"
My answer has always been, "I would not utter a word. I would listen to Him."
Down through the generations of time, the message from Jesus has been the same. To Peter by the shores of beautiful Galilee, He said, "Follow me." To Philip of old came the call, "Follow me." To Levi who sat at receipt of customs came the instruction, "Follow me." And to you and to me, if we but listen, shall come that same beckoning invitation, "Follow me."

Sometimes it can be difficult to remember that what we see and hear about a person is not all they are or can be. 

As the Lord told Samuel the Prophet, "Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).

Sharing a portion of his general conference address "Charity Never Faileth," President Monson challenged Latter-day Saints to live with charity and refrain from being judgmental or critical of each other. 

In a hundred small ways, all of you wear the mantle of charity. Life is perfect for none of us. Rather than being judgmental and critical of each other, may we have the pure love of Christ for our fellow travelers in this journey through life. May we recognize that each one is doing her best to deal with the challenges which come her way, and may we strive to do our best to help out.
Charity has been defined as “the highest, noblest, strongest kind of love,” the “pure love of Christ … ; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with [her].”
“Charity never faileth.” May this long-enduring Relief Society motto, this timeless truth, guide you in everything you do. May it permeate your very souls and find expression in all your thoughts and actions.

In just three paragraphs, President Monson shared a message that every Mormon should take to heart. The message, which came from his 2008 talk "Finding Joy in the Journey," gives profound advice and changes how we might see the here and now.

This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone.
I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not.
I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and non-existent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now."

Living in a world with increasing turbulence and strife is difficult, to say the least. With reports of violence and emotional tension around the world, it can be easy to give into anger and frustration.

But President Monson shared a message from his 2009 talk "School Thy Feelings, O My Brother" that provides wise counsel for when we feel like giving into to these emotions.

We are all susceptible to those feelings which, if left unchecked, can lead to anger. We experience displeasure or irritation or antagonism, and if we so choose, we lose our temper and become angry with others. Ironically, those others are often members of our own families—the people we really love the most.
Many years ago I read the following Associated Press dispatch which appeared in the newspaper: An elderly man disclosed at the funeral of his brother, with whom he had shared, from early manhood, a small, one-room cabin near Canisteo, New York, that following a quarrel, they had divided the room in half with a chalk line, and neither had crossed the line or spoken a word to the other since that day—years before. Just think of the consequence of that anger. What a tragedy!
May we make a conscious decision, each time such a decision must be made, to refrain from anger and to leave unsaid the harsh and hurtful things we may be tempted to say.

Lead image from mormonnewsroom.org

What do today’s Prophets, Seers, and Revelators say about facing life’s challenges, recognizing the Spirit, and finding happiness? These are just a few of the important topics featured in the book We're With You: Counsel and Encouragement from Your Brethren. Every member of the current First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is represented in lesson-sized excerpts that deal with issues important and unique to our day.

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