A man recently walked into a diner with his eyes locked forward while carrying on an animated conversation on his cell phone. A young wife trailed a few steps behind.

Soon they were seated. The two perused the menu, placed their orders and, when their food arrived, began eating their lunch. Through it all, the husband never pulled the phone from his ear.

The man's gastronomical multi-tasking meant a dull lunch for his companion. As he jabbered away between bites, the wife stared straight ahead, keeping silent company with the sandwich and French fries in front of her.

The two didn't swap a single word during the entire meal.

Soon the check arrived, the woman paid the bill and the couple filed from the diner. The man continued his cell phone call as he steered the family car out of the parking lot and on to the street.

Who knows what the call was about? Perhaps the husband was touching base with an old friend. He could have been closing a business deal. Or maybe he was simply yapping with a buddy about last night's ball game.

But consider what was lost. Ponder the many things, trivial or significant, that the couple might have talked about during their lunch hour if the man had simply pocketed his phone. He could have caught his wife up on happenings at work. She might have shared a mutual friend's funny story. Together they could have discussed their child's school progress or an upcoming Scout activity.

There was likely a time when the couple at the diner counted down the hours between meals together. But that enthusiasm for the other's undivided and deserved attention had cooled — a victim of life's minutia and, on this day, a single cell phone call. One thing is certain: a busy man passed on an opportunity to enjoy a few quiet moments with his mate. Church leaders have urgently taught that opportunities to focus on family members must be recognized, seized and cherished.

Elder Claudio R.M. Costa of the Presidency of the Seventy warned spouses and parents to beware of leaving for tomorrow what can be done today. "We can lay down our lives for those we love not by physically dying for them but rather by living for them — giving of our time; always being present in their lives; serving them; being courteous, affectionate and showing true love for those of our family and to all men — as the Savior taught.

"We don't know what could happen to us tomorrow, and that is why today is the time to start showing your love through small acts such as a hug and an 'I love you' to your spouse and children and those around you" (October 2007 general conference).

Deciding to, say, spend a few more hours at work or away from home with friends is not necessarily a bad choice — but it may not be the best way to utilize limited, precious free time.

"Consider how we use our time in the choices we make in viewing television, playing video games, surfing the Internet or reading books or magazines," said Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve. "Of course it is good to view wholesome entertainment or to obtain interesting information. But not everything of that sort is worth the portion of our life we give to obtain it. Some things are better, and others are best" (October 2007 general conference).

In a talk delivered in last October's general conference, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency, noted that it's "rather easy to be busy." Everyone can conjure a list of activities and tasks that overwhelm schedules and flood open blocks of time with lists of meetings and minutia. Such complications, however, can lead to frustration, diminished joy and devalued lives.

It is wise to slow down a bit and focus on the things that matter most.

President Uchtdorf then spoke of the key relationships one shares with family members:

"Since 'no success can compensate for failure' here, we must place high priority on our families. We build deep and loving family relationships by doing simple things together, like family dinner and family home evening and by just having fun together. In family relationships love is really spelled t-i-m-e, time.

"Taking time for each other is the key for harmony at home. We talk with, rather than about, each other. We learn from each other, and we appreciate our differences as well as our commonalities."