While speaking in parables — in language the people best understood — the mortal Jesus Christ oftentimes referred to home building "in relationship to the lives of those who listened," President Thomas S. Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency, explained.

Speaking Sunday morning, President Monson quoted the words of the Savior from the New Testament: "Every. . . house divided against itself shall not stand." (Matthew 12:25.)

President Monson said that in 1832 the Master counseled the Prophet Joseph Smith: "Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God." (Doctrine and Covenants 88:119.)

"Where could any of us locate a more suitable blueprint whereby he or she could wisely and properly build a house to personally occupy throughout eternity?" President Monson asked with his customary warmth. "In a very real sense, we are builders of eternal houses. We are apprentices to the trade — not skilled craftsmen. We need Divine help if we are to build successfully."

Continuing, he explained that the apostle Paul outlined a way whereby "we could become our better selves" and, at the same time, assist others. "Let us take heed of his wise counsel: 'Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.' (1 Timothy 4:12.)

"Let us examine this solemn instruction which, in a very real sense, is given to us:

"First, be an example in word. Do we remember the counsel of a favorite Sunday School hymn? 'Oh, the kind words we give shall in memory live And sunshine forever impart. Let us oft speak kind words to each other; Kind words are sweet tones of the heart.' "

President Monson then tenderly related a Church News article about Mary Boyson Wall, who celebrated her 105th birthday several years ago and was married 81 years to her husband before he died at age 103. In the article, she attributed her longevity in life and her marriage to speaking kind words. "Here's what she said: 'I think that helped us through because we tried to help each other and not say unkind words to each other.' (Church News, Sept. 21, 1996.)

"Second, be an example in conversation."

President Monson quoted the October 1987 general conference address of President Gordon B. Hinckley, in which the latter counseled: "Foul talk defiles the man who speaks it. If you have that habit, how do you break it? You begin by making a decision to change. The next time you are prone to use words you know to be wrong, simply stop. Keep quiet, or say what you have to say in a different way."

"Third, be an example in charity. Satisfying to the soul is the ready response the Church has made to disasters of nature, such as in Mozambique, Madagascar, Venezuela, and many other locations. There are other organizations which likewise respond in a generous fashion."

President Monson then related an account of President George Albert Smith visiting Welfare Square after World War II to see the results of a Church clothing drive for suffering saints in Europe. As he watched, with tears running down his face, workers packaged donated clothing and shoes; he removed is own new overcoat and said, "Please ship this also." President Monson said that President Smith's "coat, with all the others, was sent to Europe, where the nights were long and dark and food and clothing were scarce. Then the shipments arrived. Joy and thanksgiving were expressed aloud, as well as in secret prayer."

"Fourth, be an example in spirit."

President Monson related, with some amusement, how he enlisted in the Navy when he was 17 years old and attended boot camp in San Diego, Calif. That first Sunday, he was standing with the others in drill formation when the petty officer began to inform the Catholics, Protestants and those of the Jewish faith where they could attend Church services.

Realizing he fit none of those categories, he "elected to stand fast. It seemed as though hundreds of men marched by me. Then I heard the sweetest words which the petty officer ever uttered in my presence. He said, 'And what do you men call yourselves?' He used the plural — men. This was the first time I knew that anyone else was standing behind me on that drill ground."

"We're Mormons," the men announced, and marched away in unison to hold their Church services.

"One could almost count cadence to the rhyme learned in Primary: 'Dare to be a Mormon; Dare to stand alone. Dare to have a purpose firm, And dare to make it known,' " President Monson recalled.

"Fifth, from the apostle Paul, be an example in faith."

President Monson quoted the Minnie Louise Haskins poem: "I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: 'Give me a light, that I may tread safely into the unknown.' And he replied: 'Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than a light and safer than a known way.' "

"Finally, be an example in purity." Continuing, President Monson related how he attended a stake conference in Star Valley, Wyo., many years ago where then-stake President E. Francis Winters was being released. During the proceedings, then-Elder Monson of the Quorum of the Twelve asked all in the congregation to stand who had been helped or blessed by President Winters.

"Every person in the audience rose to his or her feet," he added. "Here, in Francis Winters, was 'an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.' " (1 Timothy 4:12.)