Highlights for Doctrine & Covenants 12-13

Some verses are full of upward-lifting guidance and reminders, and to become worthy of each line could keep us busy for a while. Doctrine and Covenants 12:7-8 is one of those passages.

If we generated a list of qualities from this one verse, it would include: humble, full of love, faithful, hopeful (upbeat), charitable and temperate.

Temperate

‘Temperate’ is one of my favorite spiritual qualities. I wish I had more of it, so it’s more truthful to say that ‘temperate’ is one of my favorite characteristics in others. Temperate souls are the salt and joy of the earth. As the world disintegrates into more invasive types of chaos, anger, meanness, vindictiveness, and resentment – we desperately need temperate people.

temperate: agreeable, level-headed, pleasant, restrained, checked, composed, discreet

Isn’t it interesting how the Lord asks us to be temperate in ALL things entrusted to us? Temperate is my one-word goal for 2021; I’m determined to conquer it this year. To help, here’s a motto posted in plain sight in my office:

Cultivate the art of the soft answer. It will bless your homes. It will bless your lives.

Gordon B. Hinckley

Elder Renlund

Elder Renlund gave a splendid General Conference talk in October of 2020 titled, “Do Justly, Love Mercy and Walk Humbly with God. His version of ‘do justly’ sounds like our recent definitions of ‘temperate.’ See if you notice some similarities?

To be Christlike, a person does justly, behaving honorably with both God and other people. A just person is civil in words and action and recognizes that differences in outlook or belief do not preclude genuine kindness and friendship. Individuals who do justly “will not have a mind to injure one another, but to live peaceably” one with another.

Did a situation or two come to mind when you read that quote? It certainly did for me.

Takeaway

Perhaps you have heard the phrase, ‘come hell or high-water’? That description may manifest itself more frequently as we head into the last days. I have heartfelt gratitude for the guidance not to get swept up in cultural norms or social currents and lose sight of true peace, confidence, and well-being.

As you achieve more temperance…you become a true saint.