As I watched conference a few weeks ago, I focused in particular on how I can try to start further developing Christlike attributes in my life. In particular, I want to know how I can gain the type of Christlike charity that I need to be a good husband and father. The truth is, that the natural man is difficult to overcome. Our best efforts are not enough to change our innate selfishness into selflessness. We may control our outward actions, but we need the gift of the spirit of change our inner desires, temperament and character.

I was especially grateful for President Eyring’s instruction on developing greater unity and love in our lives and in our families.

Your power to do good … will depend, to a great degree, on the unity and love that exist among you. This is another gift of peace that comes through the Holy Ghost.

Alma understood this. That is why he pleaded with his people “that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another” (Mosiah 18:21).

Unity is necessary for us to have the Spirit in our class and in our family. But you know from experience, as I do, that such loving unity is hard to maintain. It takes having the Holy Ghost as a companion to open our eyes and temper our feelings.

President Eyring then told a story that I believe every parent can relate to:

I remember once a seven- or eight-year-old son of ours jumping on his bed hard enough that I thought it might break. I felt a flash of frustration, and I moved quickly to set my house in order. I grabbed my son by his little shoulders and lifted him up to where our eyes met.

The Spirit put words into my mind. It seemed a quiet voice, but it pierced to my heart: “You are holding a great person.” I gently set him back on the bed and apologized.

Now he has become the great man the Holy Ghost let me see 40 years ago. I am eternally grateful that the Lord rescued me from my unkind feelings by sending the Holy Ghost to let me see a child of God as He saw him.

I testify that the transformative power of the Holy Ghost is real and can allow us to see others as God sees them. In moments of frustration and anger we really can turn to the Lord and have our hearts turned and our understanding opened. We can see as God sees.

The unity we seek in our families and in the Church will come as we allow the Holy Ghost to affect what we see when we look at one another—and even when we think of each other. The Spirit sees with the pure love of Christ.



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