Keep life focused on what is important
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Change is one of the most inevitable aspects of life. Some changes are welcome, others are not, said President Thomas S. Monson in his Sunday morning conference address.
"There are changes in our lives which are sudden, such as the unexpected passing of a loved one, an unforeseen illness, the loss of a possession we treasure," he said. "But most of the changes take place subtly and slowly."
The Church president said 45 years have passed since he was called to the Quorum of the Twelve. As the junior member of the Twelve, he looked up to the "exceptional men" who were his seniors. "One by one, each of those men has returned home," he said. "When President Hinckley passed away eight months ago, I realized that I had become the senior apostle. The changes over a period of 45 years that were incremental now seem monumental."
President Monson also spoke of his approaching 60th wedding anniversary with his wife, Sister Frances Johnson Monson. He marveled at how much had changed since the day they were married on Oct. 7, 1948. Their parents have passed on. Their three children have grown and raised families of their own. They have welcomed grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
"The lives of all of us, of course, go through similar alterations and changes. The difference between the changes in my life and the changes in yours is only in the details. Time never stands still; it must steadily march on, and with the marching come the changes."
Each is offered one chance at mortal life, he noted.
"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 to help us distinguish between what is important and what is not," he said. "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."
President Monson quoted a telling line from one of his favorite musicals, The Music Man: "You pile up enough tomorrows, and you'll find you've collected a lot of empty yesterdays."
There will be no tomorrows to remember if individuals don't do something today, President Monson emphasized.
He observed that parents of adult sons and daughters have likely felt occasional pangs of loss, recognizing they didn't fully appreciate their children's childhood, but there is no going back, only forward. "Rather than dwelling on the past, we should make the most of today, of the here and now, doing all we can to provide pleasant memories for the future."
President Monson also counseled young parents in the process of raising children to be aware that "the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface" and other aspects of having children at home will disappear all too soon. Such episodes of parenthood will be missed profoundly.
The stresses of life, he added, will visit all, and they must be dealt with as best as possible.
"But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important — and what is most important almost always involves the people around us," he said. "Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, 'They do not love that do not show their love.' We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us."
President Monson suggested that members send a note to a friend they have been neglecting, and urged parents to hug their children, and children to hug their parents. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved, he counseled. He said that friends move away, children grow up and loved ones pass on. He said it's easy to take others for granted until that day when they're gone, leaving behind feelings of "what if" and "if only."
President Monson advised, "Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey and share our love with friends and family. One day, each of us will run out of tomorrows."
The Church leader also declared that the realization of what is most important in life goes hand in hand with gratitude for blessings.
"May we be found among those who give thanks to our Heavenly Father. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues."
He concluded his talk by emphasizing the importance of showing gratitude to Jesus Christ.
"His glorious gospel provides answers to life's greatest questions: Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where does my spirit go when I die?
It was Christ who taught His people to pray, to serve and how to live their lives. "His life is a legacy of love. The sick He healed; the downtrodden He lifted; the sinner He saved.
"The time came when He stood alone. Some Apostles doubted; one betrayed Him. The Roman soldiers pierced His side. The angry mob took His life. There yet rings from Golgotha's hill His compassionate words, 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."'
President Monson said Christ "is the author of our salvation. He beckons, 'Follow me.' He instructs, 'Go, and do thou likewise.' He pleads, 'Keep my commandments.'
"Let us follow Him. Let us emulate His example. Let us obey His word. By so doing, we give to Him the divine gift of gratitude."
