One Brush Stroke

This comes from Elder Bednar's three steps to becoming more diligent and concerned at home. I like the idea that life and spiritual progression does not need to be a miraculous or spectacular event each day. We do not have to plan detailed FHE lessons or provide profound spiritual experiences each time we open the scriptures with our families. While these things are often welcome and exciting, they are not the norm. Our lives are detailed masterpieces, painted carefully and painstakingly, one brush stroke at a time. To read the whole talk, click here.

Express love and show it:

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 and become better.

Just as our love of and for the Lord is evidenced by walking ever in His ways (see Deuteronomy 19:9), so our love for spouse, parents, and children is reflected most powerfully in our thoughts, our words, and our deeds (see Mosiah 4:30).

Bear testimony and live it:

Within the walls of our own homes, we can and should bear pure testimony of the divinity and reality of the Father and the Son, of the great plan of happiness, and of the Restoration.

And our testimonies are proclaimed and lived most powerfully in our own homes.

Be consistent:

Sister Bednar and I thought helping our sons understand the content of a particular lesson or a specific scripture was the ultimate outcome. But such a result does not occur each time we study or pray or learn together. The consistency of our intent and work was perhaps the greatest lesson—a lesson we did not fully appreciate at the time.

Each family prayer, each episode of family scripture study, and each family home evening is a brushstroke on the canvas of our souls. No one event may appear to be very impressive or memorable. But just as the yellow and gold and brown strokes of paint complement each other and produce an impressive masterpiece, so our consistency in doing seemingly small things can lead to significant spiritual results. “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great” (D&C 64:33). Consistency is a key principle as we lay the foundation of a great work in our individual lives and as we become more diligent and concerned in our own homes.

The hypocrisy in our lives is most readily discerned and causes the greatest destruction within our own homes.

As we seek the Lord’s help and in His strength, we can gradually reduce the disparity between what we say and what we do, between expressing love and consistently showing it, and between bearing testimony and steadfastly living it. We can become more diligent and concerned at home as we are more faithful in learning, living, and loving the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.