The Family: A Proclamation to

the World

Bulletin

Posted by Bryan Lee Horspool

A few thoughts from President Monson at the October 2009 General Conference:

“Anger doesn’t solve anything. It builds nothing, but it can destroy everything.”

We’ve all felt anger. It can come when things don’t turn out the way we want. It might be a reaction to something which is said of us or to us. We may experience it when people don’t behave the way we want them to behave. Perhaps it comes when we have to wait for something longer than we expected. We might feel angry when others can’t see things from our perspective. There seem to be countless possible reasons for anger.

My brethren, 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.

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.

I love the words of the hymn written by Elder Charles W. Penrose, who served in the Quorum of the Twelve and in the First Presidency during the early years of the 20th century:

School thy feelings, O my brother;
Train thy warm, impulsive soul.
Do not its emotions smother,
But let wisdom’s voice control.
School thy feelings; there is power
In the cool, collected mind.
Passion shatters reason’s tower,
Makes the clearest vision blind.

May we ever be exemplary in our homes and faithful in keeping all of the commandments, that we may harbor no animosity toward any man but rather be peacemakers, ever remembering the Savior’s admonition, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

Bryan Lee Horspool
Cause Creator

Just wanted to add a quick note:

There is no doubt in my mind that the greatest battles we have here on earth deal with emotions, and their control — from little kids to adults -

Especially when things go wrong as they often do –

How we react to problems and people are some of our greatest tests, I often have to silently pray for strength to hold my tongue – and watch what I say or do — so that I’m not causing more problems to the already tough situation –  its  not easy but its possible if we want to work on it -

That is controlling our emotions and reactions to life’s problems etc.

We are not  alone in our battles but we have to constantly work on our weaknesses and sins — both will bring us close to Christ – if we partner up with him to help us through faith, prayers and the obedience to the gift of the holy ghost!

Roger L Martin