Dear Brothers & Sisters, As we transition into the holiday season, I’m reminded of the goodness of our community and the love our family has felt living in this beautiful area. Thirty years ago we moved from northern Utah to Washington City. Like so many others, we immediately noticed a different kind of feeling here. It started on the day I pulled the moving truck up in front of our house and a kind neighbor walked over to ask if I needed help. That afternoon an army of neighborhood angels showed up to unload the truck and help me move in. For me, that day defined the prevailing spirit of our community as I witnessed the inherent characteristics of hard work, determination, kindness, charity, compassion, respect and volunteerism. In my profession I frequently interact with visitors from outside the area. Over and over, people who come here for the first time tell me they “feel” something different here. I believe the qualities they sense originated in the character of early pioneers who, despite harsh conditions and changing circumstances, found a way to stay focused on what was good and to radiate that good as they worked together to build something better. These good people had faith in the teaching of Christ and they were trying to be like Him. They were taught to “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,” and to “love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:37–39). They understood that one of the keys to survival here was to support each other through adversity. The core attributes I see in our community suggest an attitude of connecting, building and lifting - not dividing or tearing down. People new to this area may not fully understand where the spirit of our community comes from, but they can’t help but feel the authentic emotion that resounds when we live these ideal characteristics as taught by the Savior. Like me, you may have been disheartened in recent years by an increase in divisive rhetoric in our community. Voices of derision seem to be distracting us from our over-arching purpose to love God and love our neighbors. When this happens, welcoming attitudes of kindness, love and support for one another get lost on the stage of discontent. If we’re not careful, we can lose sight of the core values we are known for. Last month in General Conference, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland spoke about this. “Friends,” he said, “in our present moment we find all manner of divisions and subdivisions, sets and subsets, digital tribes and political identities, with more than enough hostility to go around” (Oct. 2021). Elder Dale G. Renlund echoed these concerns. “In some instances,” he said, “the spiritual stress test has shown tendencies toward contention and divisiveness. This suggests that we have work to do to change our hearts and to become unified as the Savior’s true disciples” (Oct. 2021). Christ explained that His doctrine was not “to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another;” (3 Nephi 11:30), in fact, it is just the opposite. “Of all people on this earth,” said Elder M. Russel Ballard, “we should be the most loving, the kindest, and the most tolerant because of that doctrine” (Oct. 2001). Elder Renlund counseled: “If I am quick to take offense or respond to differences of opinion by becoming angry or judgmental, I ‘fail’ the spiritual stress test” (Oct. 2021). Counsel like this is certainly worth our consideration. When we find ourselves in these sensitive discussions, perhaps we could consider President Russell M. Nelson’s admonition to seek a “higher and holier way” (Oct. 2019). Our world is shaded in tension, but there are still many whose lives remain beacons of kindness and temperance. Your purity and goodness inspire me to do better. Like the valiant people who established this area, and like so many others I’ve come to know here, I believe we can live these “higher and holier” attributes as we navigate through the changing dynamics of our day. Perhaps we can use the spirit of the holiday season to reframe our perspectives and rekindle the light and goodness that our community is so richly known for. “My invitation,” said Elder Renlund, “is to be valiant in putting our love of God and discipleship of the Savior above all other considerations.” As we do, “our witness of Jesus Christ to the world will be strengthened, and we will remain spiritually healthy” (Oct. 2021). This Christmas season, let’s commit to strengthen our witness of Jesus Christ to the world. Let’s touch hearts and change lives by doing the things that Jesus did. Let’s put aside the political and social divisiveness and truly light the world with His love. As we focus on living “higher and holier” principles, we can step away from the fervor of the day and continue to be an oasis of unity and kindness in an increasingly divisive world. For more inspiration and ideas I encourage you to
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