What Does It Mean for the Earth to Be full of the Goodness of God?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to the first third of the book of Psalms in a lesson titled “The Lord Is My Shepherd” (Psalms 1-2; 8; 19-33; 40; 46). The following information introduced the lesson. 

We don’t know for certain who wrote the Psalms. Some are attributed to King David, but for most of them, the writers remain anonymous. Yet after reading the Psalms, we feel as if we know the hearts of the psalmists, even if we don’t know their names. We do know that the Psalms were an important part of worship among the Israelites, and we know that the Savior quoted them often. In the Psalms, we get a window into the soul of God’s ancient people. We see how they about God, what they worried about, and how they found peace. As believers today, all over the world, we still use these words in our worship of God. It’s almost like the writers of the Psalms had a window into our souls, because they expressed how we feel about God, what we worry about, and how we find peace.

The scripture block teaches several principles, including: (1) “I have trusted … in the Lord” (Psalms 1; 23; 26-28; 46). (2) Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah (Psalms 2; 22). (3) “The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord” (Psalms 8; 19; 33). (4) The word of the Lord is powerful, “rejoicing the heart” (Psalms 19:7-11; 29). (5) The Savior can help me be pure so I can enter God’s presence (Psalms 24; 26-27). This essay will discuss principle #3 about the earth being full of God’s goodness.

Reading Psalms 8; 19; 33 might inspire you to consider the Lord’s many wonderful creations. I love to be outside where I can enjoy God’s creations, whether I am in my backyard, in the mountains, or at the beach. There is nothing like nature to show us the greatness of God and our smallness.

Elder Gérald Caussé of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared a personal experience in the April 2026 general conference that reminded him of Psalm 8 (“Love All; Love Each,” Liahona , May 2026, 44). 

Years ago, while spending peaceful time in the beautiful countryside, I stepped outside after sunset to rest on a lounge chair. The night was so dark that I could hardly see anything. Instinctively, I looked up and noticed a tiny flickering point of light, then another. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, the sky filled with stars.

I thought, “This is like our relationship with God.” Some think He is distant, and life feels heavy as a result. But if they pause to reflect on His presence in their lives, they will find that He is near—quietly present, far closer than they imagine.

As I pondered this idea, a question from one of David’s psalms came to mind:

“When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars …;

“What is man, that thou art mindful of him?”

The answer that follows is deeply comforting: “Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.”

This is the miracle of God’s relationship with us: The universe is vast beyond comprehension, yet every soul carries infinite worth in the eyes of our Creator. Though we may seem small in a physical sense, each of us is personally known, remembered, and loved by our Eternal Father and by His Son, Jesus Christ.

What experiences have led you to ponder “the miracle of God’s relationship with us”? You might have an experience with music as President Dallin H. Oaks suggested: 

The singing of hymns is one of the best ways to put ourselves in tune with the Spirit of the Lord…. Sacred music has a unique capacity to communicate our feelings of love for the Lord. This kind of communication is a wonderful aid to our worship…. Our hymns contain matchless doctrinal sermons, surpassed only by the scriptures in their truth and poetic impact (“Worship through Music,” Ensign, Nov. 1994, 10, 11).

What hymns related to the Psalms could you listen to or sing to enhance your worship this week? Some suggested hymns are:

·       Psalm 23: “The Lord Is My Shepherd” (Hymns, no. 108)

·       Psalms 23:6; 150: “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” (Hymns, no. 72)

·       Psalm 26:8: “We Love Thy House, O God” (Hymns, no. 247)

·       Psalm 27:1: “The Lord Is My Light” (Hymns, no. 89)

·       Psalm 33:1-6; 95:1-6: “For the Beauty of the Earth” (Hymns, no. 92)

·       Psalm 37:3-9: “Be Still, My Soul” (Hymns, no. 124)

·       Psalm 148: “All Creatures of Our God and King” (Hymns, no. 62)

Why Should Americans Choose Capitalism Over Socialism and Communism?

The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday is that capitalism supports freedom, while socialism and communism destroy freedom. Yet, many young Americans believe the hype that socialism in America would be a good thing. They are part of the reason that communists are being elected to state and federal office.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is campaigning with House Republicans to help Republicans retain majority in the House. On Monday, he was campaigning with Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA). This was just one of the stops as he toured 34 districts in 18 states in 30 days. He calls the mid-term election the choice between “common sense vs. communism.” Virginia Grace McKinnon at The Daily News reported the following information. 

With the rise of Democratic Socialists of America candidates across the country and the divide in the Democratic Party, Republicans believe that if they can communicate the threat of socialism and communism to Americans, it will be winning messaging for the GOP come November. Johnson laid out the threat and what DSA candidates will do if they assume office.

“They want to abolish the border. They want to abolish all prisons in America. They would have abolished the U.S. Senate. They would have removed the president,” Johnson told reporters. “They want to expand the House and make it a unicameral governing body over the entire country because they believe that over two or three cycles, they’ll be able to bring a wave of the Marxist communists into the Congress and take it over.”

These are all policies of the DSA, according to the group’s Workers Deserve More plan. Johnson continued, explaining that if this happens, they will take away and assume the means of production to the government. “That means no more private property ownership. That means the small business owners across America, who provide jobs and opportunity for people, will be taken over by the government. It’s a dangerous game,” he said.

Over the weekend, Johnson published a new website, Contrast for America, to “educate people, especially young voters,” on the long-term threat of communism.

The website lays out the history of socialism, arguing that every attempt led to communism – from famine beginning in Soviet Russia in 1918 to China’s Cultural Revolution in the 1960s, which led to famine, the government closing schools, and silencing free speech. It also mentions North Korea and Venezuela, where food shortages continue today.

“The government that promises everything for free will almost certainly take it away in short order. Definitely in the long term,” Johnson said, highlighting the tens of millions of people killed by communism in the 20^th century. He warned this could soon be America if the Democratic Party accommodates DSA members….

 

 

Articles of Faith: What Do Latter-day Saints Believe About the Fall of Adam 4?

Article of Faith 2

   We believe that men will be punished for their own sins,

                    and not for Adam’s transgression.

This essay is the fourth in teaching about the Fall of Adam and Eve as stated in the second Article of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The first thesis discussed moral agency, or the freedom to choose good or evil. The second treatise discussed sin and punishment for sin. The third essay discussed Satan. This paper will begin a discussion of The Fall, starting with the creation of Adam and Eve and Satan’s great temptation, using the words of Elder James E. Talmage (The Articles of Faith [1890], 63-65).

Our First Parents in Eden – The crowning scene of the great drama of creation was the forming of man in the image of his spiritual Father, God. For the reception of the first man the Creator had especially prepared a choice region of earth, and had embellished it with natural beauties to gladden the heart of its possessor. “The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed” [Gen. 2:8, 9]. Soon after man’s advent upon the earth the Lord created a companion or help meet for him, declaring that it was not good that man should be alone. Thus, male and female, Adam and his wife /eve were placed in the garden. They had been given dominion “over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth” [Gen. 2:18]. With this great power were associated certain commandments, the first of which in point of importance was that they “be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it”; then, that they refrain from eating or even touching the fruit of a certain tree, the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which grew in the midst of the garden; though of all other fruits they were at liberty to freely partake. The words of God concerning this command and the penalty for its violation are: “And I, the Lord God, commanded the man, saying: Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat, But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee; but remember that I forbid it, for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” [P. of G.P., Moses 3:16, 17].

The Temptation to disobey this injunction soon came. Satan presented himself before Eve in the garden, and, speaking by the mouth of the serpent, questioned her about the commandments that God had given respecting the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Eve answered that they were forbidden even to touch the fruit of that tree, under penalty of death. Satan then sought to beguile the woman, contradicting the Lord’s statement and declaring that death would not follow a violation of the divine injunction; but that, on the other hand, by doing that which the Lord had forbidden she and her husband would become like unto the gods, knowing good and evil for themselves. The woman was captivated by these representations; and, being eager to possess the advantages pictured by Satan, she disobeyed the command of the Lord, and partook of the fruit forbidden. She feared no evil, for she knew it not. Then, telling Adam what she had done, she urged him to eat of the fruit also.

Adam found himself in a position that made it impossible for him to obey both of the specific commandments given by the Lord. He and his wife had been commanded to multiply and replenish the earth. Adam had not yet fallen to the state of mortality, but Eve already had; and in such dissimilar conditions the two could not remain together, and therefore could not fulfil the divine requirement as to procreation. On the other hand, Adam would be disobeying another commandment by yielding to Eve’s request. He deliberately and wisely decided to stand by the first and greater commandment; and, therefore, with understanding of the nature of his act, he also partook of the fruit that grew on the tree of knowledge. The fact that Adam acted understandingly in this matter is affirmed by scripture. Paul in writing to Timothy, explained that “Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression” [1 Tim. 2:14].

Some women take offense when they understand that Eve was deceived but Adam was not. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recognizes that mortality would not have happened without the decision of Eve. However, there were consequences to her transgression.

 

 

 

How Should School Districts Motivate Students to Attend School?

 Families are stronger when parents help their children to seek and appreciate education. Strong families strengthen communities, states, and nations.

School is starting in numerous areas in the United States. Schools opened this week in Anchorage. Some schools in other states started last week.

What happens when parents fail to get their children excited about school? According to Jennifer Graham at the Deseret News compared schools in Detroit with those in Iowa and declared, “Detroit schools are paying kids for showing up. Iowa took another approach.” The question is, “Should students be rewarded for going to school?” A better question might be: “What kind of awards should be given to students?” 

The week before the first day of school in Detroit, Mayor Mary Sheffield penned an op-ed for the Detroit Free Press, urging parents to take their children’s attendance in school seriously. With a chronic absentee rate around 60% last year, the city has one of the highest rates of absenteeism in the country.

But in case the mayor’s urging doesn’t work, Detroit schools have another strategy to improve attendance: awarding gift cards for every week [that] students show up.

The program, called “Perfect Attendance Pays,” has drawn the ire of some conservatives who see it as a ploy that coddles children at taxpayer expense. (The district has said that the money for the gift cards, which students in middle and high school can earn, comes from interest earnings on money set aside for capital projects.)

Getting an education is a privilege, the program’s critics say. And the lessons of school aren’t just about math, science, reading and writing, but also about learning to be responsible and punctual, and learning that life involves doing things you might not feel like doing at the time for benefits that come later.

Detroit school officials, however, are happy with the program, which launched in January of 2025, and say it’s paying off in increased attendance.

High school students have to attend every class during the school day for an entire week to qualify. But they can get a $100 Visa gift card for every week they have perfect attendance over 10 weeks, with the possibility of earning $1,000 in rewards….

The district’s chronic absenteeism rate – defined as missing 18 days of class within a school year – had been 70% before the program launched, WXYZ reported.

Absenteeism isn’t just a problem for Detroit. Educators have been wringing their hands over the problem since it peaked during the COVID-19 pandemic. And although the number has been coming down, it hasn’t come down enough….

Nationwide, the chronic absenteeism rate before the pandemic was 15%, according to a recent report form the American Enterprise Institute. It peaked at 28.5% in 2022 and has come down every year since then, now hovering at about 23%. But the rate of improvement has slowed….

Iowa’s approach

Iowa has taken a different approach to the attendance problem. Per The 74, a nonprofit news site about education, Iowa cracked down on absenteeism with a three-pronged plan: When a child misses 10% of days in a grading period, parents will be notified; at 15%, the school will work with parents and the student to create a plan on improving attendance; and at 20%, the case will be referred to the county attorney for possible charges….

A blend of a serious approach with consequences, plus support for families, is likely a combination that will lower absentee rates….

Could a Visa gift card be such a support? For some families, maybe.

Detroit doesn’t provide school bus service for high school students, and a principal told WXYZ, that one student told her it took him a half-hour to get to school on a bike, and an hour and a half on a city bus. Buying a bike with that gift card, or a good backpack, and school supplies, might indeed improve educational outcomes. Buying video games, not so much.

At this point, Detroit’s program is too new and too novel to tell how it will work over time, and whether educational outcomes will be improved, not just attendance. It’s possible that the rewards will motivate only students who were already motivated, and that those with the highest rates of absenteeism will see perfect attendance as out of reach….

At least the city is trying to solve a problem that, left unchecked, will have serious consequences, not just for individual students but for all of society….

 

Should the US Take Dramatic Action in Iran?

Victor Davis Hanson has a theory that Iran has a dangerous strategy for America’s midterm election. The Trump administration has said seven or eight times that a deal with Iran is close. Each time, Iran denies that there is a deal, lied about being close to an agreement, or start launching missiles at their Middle East neighbors. 

However, “this time, people like [Treasury Secretary] Scott Bessent and [State Secretary] Marco Rubio confirmed [President] Donald Trump’s optimism.” Why are we doing this over and over again? Because “Each side has a position.”

America wants to get the unpopular war over before the midterm election, so Iran wants to talk, talk, talk and negotiate, negotiate, negotiate but continue to launch missiles. They are willing to do anything to prolong the war because they think that the war will give them (Iran) leverage in the negotiations.

The Iranian actions make Trump and his administration angry, so they start launching missiles and dropping bombs. The Iranians get paranoid about being hit hard and want to talk, negotiate, and continue going through cycles, hoping to gain more leverage.

And what is our strategy? Why does Donald Trump put up with it? He has a strategy too, that while they’re talk, talk, talking and they’re breaking their talk, they’re getting poorer. We did not lift the sanctions. We did not lift the embargo. We did not cancel their bank accounts. We have de-banked them, and they have a blockade around them every day. They’re losing $400 million to $500 million a day. They talk all they want, but the facts on the ground show that they’re going broke.

So, the Trump administration’s attitude is, as long as we’re not conducting a full-scale war, and the American people don’t think we’re at war, and as long as we’re negotiating, we’ll negotiate till hell freezes over.

And we don’t really care because we’re winning every single day. They are getting poorer and poorer to the point where they’re either going to implode, there’s going to be a revolution in the streets, or they’re going to collapse and agree to it.

Now, that strategy is pretty smart, but it depends, from the American point of view, on one important thing. As they get to the midterms and Iran sees that while it has increased the unpopularity of the war, and as it has raised the price of gas and it has created global uncertainty, it still has not been able to ensure that Donald Trump will lose the midterms.

So, they need some dramatic event to remind the American people they’re still at war and the price of gas will get higher and the Europeans and our Asian friends will be angrier at us. What will that mean?

I would imagine that we will have a late October surprise. Right before the elections, they will try to do something dramatic. Empty their last missiles, hit the Gulf, attack Israel, try to go after a carrier. Anything that would remind the Americans that the war was not winding down, but with this last gasp, sort of like the German Battle of the Bulge, the Ardennes Offensive, where they marshaled all of their final resources and tried to stage a dramatic counteroffensive to remind the Allies they still could lose this war and they should negotiate, or something to that effect.

So, what does that leave us? I think the Trump administration should keep talking, keep all the sanctions and blockades, keep them on. But because Iran will probably do something dramatic, they should do something dramatic. In other words, if they have a list of targets, command and control, dual-use facilities, missile inventories and caches, and they think Pickaxe Mountain might be vulnerable, they could actually do some damage there, they should do it all and keep talking and get this dramatic element out of the way before the midterms so that Iran would be substantially reduced in its nuclear industrial military capability.

It already is, but try to preempt them and hit them very, very hard, and then keep talking. And then the American people will see they’re getting more and more desperate. But don’t be reactive because, trust us, they are going to try something dramatic to bring home the idea [that] the war is not over, and they’re not defeated, and gas will go up.

            But if you do something dramatic now and keep talking, you may hasten or accelerate the pace                 of negotiations, i.e., the pace at which Iran is losing and is going absolutely broke. And that                     could happen faster than we anticipate, and there’s at least an outside chance that they will be in             a far, far weaker place by the midterm elections in 83 days than they are now. 

Who Is Sara Gonzales?

My VIP for this week is BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales who has exposed alleged H-1B visa fraud in Texas. She has been on the ground there, “knocking on doors of ghost offices, confronting company owners, and uncovering shell companies used to import foreign workers.” Her reporting caught the attention of law enforcement and sparked “state investigations, lawsuits from Attorney General Ken Paxton against dozens of suspect firms, and growing federal attention.” An article by BlazeTV Staff shared the following information. 

Investigative reporting like Sara’s takes time, resources, and a team willing to keep digging when the answers aren’t easy to find….

The Texas native sets her sights on Dallas resident Mohammed Abbas, who has allegedly been scamming people with the promise of sponsoring green cards and H-1B visas.

“My team received tips from multiple people, unrelated, who say that they were scammed by one person who promised to sell them sponsorship for either green cards or H-1B visas. These people were charged thousands of dollars for this. One of the victims even said he paid $60,000, but the sponsorship never came through,” says Sara.

You can find more information about Sara and her exposure of alleged H-1B visa fraud by signing up for the BlazeTV newsletter. Journalists like Sara and Nick Shirley are exposing lots of fraud. What are the so-called journalists of mainstream media doing?

Do Americans Have Freedom of Religion or Not?

The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday concerns the right to invite other people to pray with us in our homes. Lauren Irwin’s article published at Deseret News reports on the case of Daniel Grand, a devout Orthodox Jew who just wanted to pray in his home with a few friends in 2021. The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear his case. 

Daniel Grand, a devout Orthodox Jew, wanted to gather about a dozen people in his home outside of Cleveland in 2021. Instead, the minyan – a prayer gathering of at least 10 men – was stopped by city officials in University Heights, Ohio.

Grand was issued a cease-and-desist notice demanding that he obtain a permit that would label his home as a “place of religious assembly.” Police then were ordered to monitor his home and asked neighbors to file complaints about visitors to the house….

Grand has spent the last several years in court looking to fight back against what he said took him by surprise….

Grand initially had the idea of hosting the gathering at his home for convenience, since he doesn’t have a synagogue nearby and doesn’t drive on the Sabbath, which is a day of rest.

In June, the Supreme Court agreed to hear Grand’s case in the next term.

[Alliance Defending Freedom] ADF, a legal organization that protects religious freedom, said in a statement that Grand was never trying to establish his home as a synagogue, but rather “simply hosting a prayer gathering with friends.”

After receiving the cease-and-desist notice and being informed about needing a special-use permit, Grand canceled the gathering and tried to comply with the city’s directive by submitting an application for a permit.

His legal team said that neighbors went on to protest that they “do not want our neighborhood labeled as Jewish” and there was a citywide hearing that was marked with “overt hostility to Jewish religious practice.”

Grand later withdrew his application because he didn’t want to be part of an “inevitably hostile public spectacle.”

ADF and co-counsel Orrick, Herrington and Sutcliffe asked the Supreme Court to hear the case after it was dismissed in federal court. They’re asking the justices to clarify whether Americans have to go through permitting processes and can challenge government threat to individuals’ religious freedom.

They’re also arguing that the city officials were specifically targeting Grand’s religious practice, because a permit wouldn’t be required for a nonfaith-centered event, like a birthday party or Super Bowl party.

“Every American has the right to host a prayer gathering in his home, and he certainly doesn’t need a city permit to do so.” ADF Senior Counsel and Vice President of Appellate Advocacy John Bursch said in a statement. “This city’s actions underscore a troubling trend of weaponizing zoning laws against people of faith while allowing other gatherings of the same size, like book clubs or poker nights, to meet without issue.”

This case should concern all people of faith. Grand is a Jew who was being persecuted by government officials in his home city, but the same thing could happen to Latter-day Saints, Catholics, or any other religious group.

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees Freedom of Religion, and it also guarantees Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Press, and Freedom of Assembly. Grand was denied his First Amendment rights, and it could happen to any other person of faith.

How Do We Know That God’s Perspective Is Greater Than Our Own?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to the book of Job in a lesson titled “Yet Will I Trust in Him.” The following information introduced the lesson. 

It’s natural to wonder why bad things happen to good people—or, for that matter, why good things happen to bad people. Why would God, who is just, allow that? The book of Job explores questions like these. Job was one of those good people to whom a lot of bad things happened. Because of Job’s trials, his friends wondered if he really was good after all. Job asserted his own righteousness and wondered if God really is just after all. But despite his suffering and wondering, Job maintained his integrity and faith in Jesus Christ. In the book of Job, faith is questioned and tested but never completely abandoned. That doesn’t mean all the questions are answered. But the book of Job teaches that until they are answered, questions can coexist with faith. And regardless of what happens in the meantime, we can say of our Lord, “Yet will I trust in him” (Job 13:15).

The book of Job teaches several principles, including (1) I can trust God in all circumstances (Job 1-3; 12-13). (2) Jesus Christ is my Redeemer (Job 19). (3) “When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold (Job 21-24). (4) God’s perspective is greater than mine (Job 38-40; 42). This essay will discuss principle #4 about God’s perspective, but I first wish to discuss the question posed in the introduction.

Have you ever wondered why bad things happen to good people? I have. I was about 11 or 12 years old when my oldest sister – 11 years older than me – gave birth to a baby – named Gary John -- who died when he was 24 hours old. He had a problem with his lungs – like the baby of President John F. Kennedy at about the same time.

In August 1963, First Lade Jacqueline Kennedy experienced premature labor pains and was rushed to the hospital. JFK was notified, and he dropped everything to go to the hospital. Patrick Bouvier Kennedy was born, and fear soon overcame celebration.

Patrick was born with Hyaline Membrane Disease (now known as Infant Respiratory Distress Syndrome). A glassy substance coated his lungs and made breathing impossible because the lungs could not expand to absorb oxygen, causing slow motion suffocation. However, most babies born with this problem survive today.

Like the Kennedy family, my immediate and extended family mourned the death of an innocent baby. As a child/young woman, I pondered his death for months. I knew that my sister and her husband were righteous, and I wondered why God did not bless them with a healthy baby. I understand why Job and others ask questions, such as why do bad things happen to good people.

Although we do not know much about Job, we know that he was a real man. When the Prophet Joseph Smith and his companions suffered in the Liberty Jail, he cried out to the Lord for help. As part of His answer to Joseph, the Lord said, “Thou art not yet as Job; thy friends do not contend against thee, neither charge thee with transgression, as they did Job” (Doctrine and Covenants 121:10).

Job was a good person who had a lot of bad things happen to him. Because of his trials, his friends wondered if he really was good after all. Job asserted his own righteousness and wondered if God really is just after all. But despite his suffering and questions, Job maintained his integrity and faith in Jesus Christ. In the book of Job, faith is questioned and tested but never completely abandoned. The author of Job did not answer all the questions, but the book of Job teaches that questions can coexist with faith until they are answered. Like Job, we can say of Jesus Christ, “Yet will I trust in him” (Job 13:15).

We can trust God because His perspective is greater than ours. He sees the big picture, while we struggle with tunnel vision. Job’s friends accused him of sin (see Job 16:1-5; 19:1-3), causing Job to repeatedly ask God why he had to suffer so much (see Job 19:6-7; 23:1-9; 31). God did not give Job an obvious reason – at least it is unknown to us. However, the Lord taught Job an important message.

When the Lord finally spoke with Job, He asked Job where he was when the earth was created and other such questions. The Lord’s questions show that there was a premortal existence. There God taught His spirit children about His plan for their eternal happiness. The plan of salvation was developed before the foundations of the earth were laid. There “the morning stars sang together, and all of the sons of God shouted for joy” (Job 38:7). Heavenly Father selected Jesus Christ to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world, and all the spirit children of God shouted for joy at the prospect of coming to earth and receiving physical bodies and experience unavailable in the spirit world.

After God gave Job a wider picture of His plan, Job understood that God’s perspective was greater than his own. Job better understood the nature of suffering and that man must sometimes endure suffering without understanding why. Because God’s perspective is greater than man’s, He knows and understands more than we do. Job was humbled, and at the end of the book of Job, he received greater blessings than he had in the beginning.

What Behaviors Show That There Is Trouble Between Partners?

Strong families begin with strong marriages. The strength of a marriage can be seen in the presence or absence of six behaviors. According to Dr. John Gottman of the Gottman Institute, any marriage is in trouble if any of the six behaviors appear between marital partners.

Dr. John Gottman and his wife Dr. Julie Gottman run the Gottman Institute in Seattle. They have worked with different couples in their institute for more than forty years. They developed a model with which they can predict the likelihood of divorce with high accuracy, and they do it by simply watching couples communicate. Their research identified six specific behavioral patterns, some more obvious than others, that consistently appear in marriages that are heading toward divorce. When couples understand the patterns and are willing to change behavior, they have an opportunity to start working on the behaviors early in the marriage. Robles Agustin shared the following information about the six troublesome behaviors. 

Criticism

Criticism, according to Dr. Gottman, involves attacking a partner’s character rather than addressing a specific behavior, transforming complaints like I wish you had called into broader accusations about who a partner fundamentally is as a person. Gottman’s research found that frequent criticism erodes goodwill steadily over time, making partners increasingly defensive and less willing to engage constructively with legitimate concerns raised during everyday conversation, gradually replacing curiosity with quiet resentment on both sides.

Defensiveness

Defensiveness, the second pattern Gottman identifies, typically emerges as a response to criticism, with partners deflecting responsibility rather than genuinely hearing the concern being raised during a disagreement. His research found that defensiveness, while a natural instinct, tends to escalate conflict rather than resolve it, since it signals to the other partner that their concern is not being taken seriously or heard, which often causes the original issue to resurface again later.

Contempt

Contempt, which Gottman considers the single most damaging of his identified patterns, involves treating a partner with disrespect through sarcasm, mockery, or eye rolling, communicating a sense of superiority rather than equality within the relationship. His long-term studies found contempt to be the strongest single predictor of divorce among all behaviors observed, more damaging even than frequent open conflict between partners, largely because it erodes affection and respect at their foundation.

Stonewalling

Stonewalling, the fourth pattern, occurs when a partner withdraws entirely from a conversation, shutting down emotionally rather than engaging, often as a response to feeling overwhelmed by conflict. Gottman’s research found that stonewalling frequently emerges after repeated criticism and contempt, functioning as a final defensive wall once a partner feels there is no longer any productive way to participate in the conversation, leaving both people feeling isolated even while sitting in the same room together.

A Shrinking Ratio of Positives

A declining ratio of positive to negative interactions, according to Gottman’s research, is another key warning sign, with his studies finding that stable couples maintain roughly five positive interactions for every negative one during everyday life together. When that ratio drops significantly, Gottman found [that] relationships become measurably more vulnerable to escalating conflict and eventual separation over time, since small positive gestures stop offsetting the accumulating weight of daily friction between partners.

Failed Repair Attempts

Failed repair attempts, the sixth pattern Gottman identifies, occur when one partner tries to de-escalate tension, through humor, an apology, or a simple pause, and the other partner does not accept the gesture. Gottman found that couples who successfully navigate conflict are not those who avoid disagreement entirely, but those who can successfully repair tension once it begins to build between them, turning what could become resentment into a manageable, resolved disagreement instead.

The first four of the six behaviors are known as the Four Horsemen of Gottman. Recognizing and mitigating the Four Horsemen is important. The following strategies can be useful. 

·       Replace Criticism with Complaints: Focus on specific behaviors rather than personal attacks. Use “I” statements to express feelings without blaming your partner.

·       Counter Contempt with Respect: Foster a culture of appreciation and respect in the relationship. Avoid sarcasm and focus on positive interactions.

·       Address Defensiveness: Take responsibility for your part in conflicts and approach discussions with a mindset of collaboration rather than competition.

·       Combat Stonewalling: If you feel overwhelmed, take a break to calm down before re-engaging in the conversation. This can help prevent emotional flooding and promote constructive dialogue.

When couples are aware of the Four Horsemen and then working actively to “counteract their effects,” they can overcome those problems, “strengthen their relationships, and improve their communication skills.”

Why Are Fake Marriages Being Exploited to Enter the US?

The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday concerns the importance for government leaders to not only follow the law but to ensure that other people also follow the law. Today, Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters about the arrest of eleven people who have been charged with being involved in fake marriages. He said that more than 1,000 fake marriages for the purpose of gaining legal status in the United States over the last decade. Fred Lucas at The Daily Signal reported on the announcement. 

The two-count indictment alleges that some foreign nationals paid as much as $100,000 to be in the sham marriages, according to the Justice Department. The scheme was primarily for Chinese nationals.

“This scheme was not a quick, fly-by-night operation, but rather a years long, multimillion-dollar cottage industry to criminally assist people who would not, or legally could not, otherwise become citizens of the United States,” Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters Wednesday. “The men and women who facilitated this scheme were all naturalized citizens, originally from China, and one green card holder.”

The attorney general added, “Not only are we protecting our physical borders from unlawful crossings, but we are also preventing immigration fraud schemes that are just another way to skirt the immigration laws of the United States.”

The 11 arrests occurred Wednesday morning. The indictment covers a period from at least 2016 through July 2026, with an investigation led by U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald for the Southern District of New York.

“Today’s arrests have dismantled a central component of one of the largest marriage fraud schemes charged in United States history,” McDonald said.

However, the case covered alleged sham marriages arranged in other states as well, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida.

Marriages were also allegedly arranged abroad in China and the Pacific island of Vanuatu. The network included alleged facilitators who oversaw the scheme and foreign-national customers; recruiters who found willing U.S. citizens; and assistants who prepared immigration paperwork, such as green card applications, for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The defendants were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and immigration fraud. If convicted, they could face a maximum penalty of five years in prison. They were also each charged with one count of conspiracy to encourage the unlawful residence of aliens in the United States. If convicted, this crime carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

The indictment alleges foreign nationals paid facilitators as much as approximately $100,000 for a sham marriage and assistance in obtaining lawful permanent resident status.

Facilitators allegedly paid participating U.S. citizens up to $30,000 and paid recruiters commissions of as much as approximately $5,000 for each citizen recruited, according to the Justice Department.

In total, the defendants and their co-conspirators recruited hundreds of U.S. citizens to enter into sham marriages, the Justice Department said. [Emphasis added.]

Lucas listed the names and ages of the defendants who were arrested this morning, but I will not. They are all from New York and are aged: 72, 64, 52, 43, 48, 61, 47, 35, 26, 32, and 43.

Articles of Faith: What Do Latter-day Saints Believe About the Fall of Adam 3?

Article of Faith 2

   We believe that men will be punished for their own sins,

                    and not for Adam’s transgression.

This essay is the third in teaching about the Fall of Adam and Eve as stated in the second Article of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The first essay discussed moral agency, or the freedom to choose good or evil. The second essay discussed sin and punishment for sin. This essay will discuss Satan using the words of Elder James E. Talmage (The Articles of Faith [1890], 62-63).

Satan – We have had occasion to refer frequently to the author of evil among men. This is Satan, the adversary or opponent of the Lord, the chief of evil spirits, called also the Devil, Beelzebub, or the Prince of Devils, Perdition, and Belial. The figurative appellations dragon and serpent are applied to Satan when reference is made to his fall. We learn from the revealed word that Satan was once an angel of light, then known as Lucifer, a Son of the Morning; but his selfish ambition led him to aspire to the glory and power of the Father, to secure which he made the pernicious proposition to redeem the human family by compulsion; and, failing in this purpose, he headed an open rebellion against the Father and the Son, drawing a third of the hosts of heaven into his impious league. These rebellious spirits were expelled from heaven, and have since followed the impulses of their wicked natures by seeking to lead human souls into their own condition of darkness. They are the devil and his angels. The right of free agency, maintained and vindicated by the war in heaven, prevents the possibility of compulsion being employed in this fiendish work of degradation; but the powers of these malignant spirits to tempt and persuade are used to the utmost. [Emphasis added.] Satan tempted Eve to transgress the law of God; it was he who imparted the secret of murder for gain to the fratricide, Cain.

Satan exerts a mastery over the spirits that have been corrupted by his practices; he is the foremost of the angels who were thrust down, and the instigator of the ruin of those who fall in this life; he seeks to molest and hinder mankind in good efforts, by tempting to sin; or it may be by imposing sickness, or possibly death. Yet in all these malignant doings, he can go no farther than the transgressions of the victim may enable him, or the wisdom of God may permit; and at any time he may be checked by the superior power. [Emphasis added.] Indeed, even the operations of his utmost malice may be turned to the accomplishment of divine purposes. The scriptures prove to us that the days of Satan’s power are numbered; his doom has been pronounced, and in the Lord’s own time he will be completely overcome. He is to be bound during the millennial reign, and after that thousand years of peace he will be loosed for a little season; then his defeat will be complete, and his power over the children of God will be destroyed.

The above information is depressing to me, so I want to end this essay on a positive note. We do not need to wait until the Millennium to bind Satan. Satan can be bound by righteousness, according to 1 Nephi 22:26 (Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ): “And because of the righteousness of his people, Satan has no power; wherefore, he cannot be loosed for the space of many years; for he hath no power over the hearts of the people, for they dwell in righteousness, and the Holy One of Israel reigneth.”

This verse of scripture is, of course, describing the Millennium, but the principle is the same. We can “bind Satan” in this life by living righteously. When our hearts are set on righteousness, we will keep God’s commandments and refuse to commit evil. According to Latter-day Saint belief, Satan’s binding is a spiritual restraint rather than a physical one. Righteous living removes Satan’s power to influence our hearts. Obedience to God weakens Satan’s power to influence us. 

What Is Really Happening with the 2026 Iran War?

Iraq has been fighting America for more than 47 years. America’s 2026 Iran War – Operation Epic Fury -- began on February 28 when joint US and Israeli strikes hit Iranian military and nuclear installations and has passed through several periods of active fighting alternating with times of negotiation.

This site has a timeline of everything that has happened in the war – from February 28, 2026, “Khamenei killed in opening strikes” to August 11, 2026, “Trump demands Iran pay compensation, claims Hormuz “open” as deal stalls.” 

Americans do not want war – particularly long, drawn-out ones. One in three Americans support the Iran war, according to this site. Approval ratings go only so far with President Donald Trump. He looks at a problem, and he finds a possible solution. If it works, good. If it does not work, he looks for another possible solution. He is not afraid to act when he thinks that he is right. He recognizes that there have been numerous US Presidents over the past 47 years who saw the problem with Iran but failed to solve it. Now that Iran was close to having a nuclear weapon, Trump felt that he had no other choice. 

Victor Davis Hanson is a wise and honest man who sees things in ways that most people do not. He recently discussed the following information on his podcast, “Iran Has One Last Chance Before Trump Hits Back.” 

[Leaks from government sources about depletion of our weaponry to fight Iran]

… people have been leaking that there are not enough Patriot missiles, for example, or Harpoon missiles, older ones, Tomahawk missiles. We’ve heard there are not enough bunker busters. I don’t know if any of this is true, but it’s been leaking.

And the problem, why Trump is so angry, is we have enough, we have about 40% or 50%, likely, of our arsenal, which is too low. This has been going on for a long time. [He said that Obama and Biden cut the defense budget], and we don’t have enough stuff. But the problem that makes people angry is we have enough to handle Iran. We don’t have enough to handle Iran, give Ukraine enough to protect Kyiv, and then deter Cina from attacking Taiwan. So, the more you say that and leak it, the more likely China might believe it and want to try.

While we’re engaged with Ukraine and Iran, they might want to try to see if they could go into Taiwan, and we wouldn’t have enough missiles. That’s the worry.

The second thing about Trump and the Iran war, we’ve had five or six of these where he says the negotiations are going great. And then they break down, and then he hits them once or twice, and then they beg him, beg him, beg him to get back, and then everything’s close to an agreement. But the Iranians don’t tell the truth, and then he gets frustrated.

And the problem with this is that on Feb. 28, you know, we had 250 days before the midterms. So, after 38 days of kinetic operations, we stopped. We stopped because about 80%, 90% of everything they had was destroyed. But we didn’t know that they had these little mosquito boats hidden everywhere, and we didn’t know to what degree they had drones and missiles hidden. And they had a lot.

So, when we kept saying we’re destroying 90% of their air capacity as far as missiles and drones, we didn’t know what the denominator was. We didn’t know 90% of what. 10,000? 20,000? It could be a lot, 10%. And so, they started threatening the Gulf.

At that point, the Gulf freaked out. And they had wanted us to go in there and eliminate Iran. But now that they got hit, they didn’t want to commit with their 600 aircraft and join us because they thought we wouldn’t take them out completely. So, then people came to Trump, I guess, this week and said, you’re out of time. We’re only 90 days. If you’re going to solve this, you can’t keep saying this because – so, last week they dreamed up, we’re going to unload the greatest military campaign in the air since World War II. And they were. And then that panicked Iran. And they say now they’re going to open the Strait of Hormuz. I don’t think you can trust them. But the point is they got the message that now this was the last chance. So, if they break this, and I think they will, Trump will have no choice, if he is to have any credibility, unless he continues with that program.

 

Who Is Todd Blanche?

My VIP for this week is Todd Blanche, the newly confirmed attorney general. The Senate vote was 50-49 to approve his nomination. His confirmation faced hurdles placed by Republicans. Cami Mondeaux discussed the confirmation and the problems in her article published in the Deseret News. 

Blanche first faced an uphill battle in the Senate Judiciary Committee where Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina threatened to tank his nomination over the Justice Department’s proposed $1.78 billion “anti-weaponization” fund. That program was intended to aid individuals who felt they were unfairly targeted by the federal government, which could have included those charged for their involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.

Blanche came to agreement with the duo last week to formally terminate the fund, writing in an agreement that it “is rescinded and shall have no force or effect.” The acting attorney general was later advanced out of committee Tuesday morning.

From there, a handful of other Republican senators were faced with the decision on whether to back his nomination….

Utah Sen. John Curtis, who met with Blanche twice to discuss the fund as well as Utah-specific issues, announced on Tuesday he would back his nomination. Later that day, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said she would vote against [Blanche].

That left [Sen. Bill] Cassidy [R-La.] and Sen. Lisa Murkowski [R-AK] to decide. With razor-thin margins in the Senate and the prolonged absence of Sen. Mitch McConnell, Blanche could only afford to lose one of them – otherwise his nomination would fail. [Emphasis added.]

Murkowski announced in a statement early Friday that she would vote against Blanche, raising [that] the anti-weaponization fund could be revived at a later date once the negotiations over his position were over. [As usual, RINO Murkowski voted with the Democrats. Alaskan Republicans hope to Primary her in 2028.]

Although Cassidy said Blanche showed “poor judgment” related to the anti-weaponization fund, he noted the acting attorney general has since called that decision a mistake. While there are still concerns about the DOJ being used to weaponize political enemies, Cassidy said “this will be true no matter who the Attorney General is.” [It was already true during the Biden administration when they went after Trump.]

“Mr. Blanche is not perfect, and he will tell you this,” Cassidy said in a highly anticipated floor speech on Friday. “But the choice is not between perfection and Mr. Blanche. It is between Mr. Blanche and another acting attorney general who may not run the department effectively under President Trump, and who indeed may not be as good as Mr. Blanche.”

With his nomination now approved, the White House is set to formally swear him into the position in the coming days.

Cassidy did some critical thinking about his decision to vote for Blanche. Critical thinking is rare behavior by politicians. America would be much better off if all public servants would use the critical thinking skill. Blanche has performed well as acting attorney general. He is well-qualified for the position.

 

Why Are State SAVE Acts Valuable?

The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday concerns election integrity. The Trump administration worked to pass a law that would bring integrity to American elections. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill, but the U.S. Senate has not. However, seven states enacted laws in 2025 and 2026 that “include key provisions of the SAVE America Act, an election integrity measure that the Senate has failed to pass despite President Donald Trump’s insistence.” Fred Lucas at The Daily Signal explained as follows. 

The federal SAVE America Act would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections and photo ID when casting federal ballots. SAVE is an acronym for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act; the bill has passed the House multiple times but stalled in the Senate.

In addition to the seven states with new mandates for both proof of citizenship and voter ID in elections, five states previously enacted laws requiring documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration, according to Ballotpedia.

However, a 2013 Supreme Court ruling limited states’ ability under the National Voter Registration Act to demand proof of citizenship for voting in federal elections. The NVRA is better known as the “motor voter law” because it set up most voter registration at state Department of Motor Vehicle offices.

Here are the states that passed versions of the SAVE America Act.

1. Thune’s Home State

While Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has had difficulty corralling his caucus to support the SAVE America Act, his home state’s Legislature passed the South Dakota SAVE Act. Gov. Larry Rhoden signed Senate Bill 175 in March, requiring an individual registering to vote to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. Acceptable documents include certain driver’s licenses and identification cards, tribal identification, birth certificates, passports, consular reports of birth abroad, and naturalization certificates.

2. Saving Kansas From Democrat Veto

In 2011, Kansas enacted a law requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration. However, a federal appeals court ruled that requiring additional documentation to register for federal elections violated the National Voter Registration Act.

In 2026, Kansas adopted a new measure known as the SAVE Kansas Act, which requires the secretary of state to compare the state’s voter registration list with the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, or SAVE, database to clear its lists of ineligible voters.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed the bill, but the Republican-controlled state Legislature overrode her veto.

3. Sunshine for SAVE Act in Florida

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Florida SAVE Act in April, and the law takes effect in 2027. The act requires the state to check the citizenship status of new and updated voter registrants against Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles records. If citizenship cannot be verified, the voter can be required to provide documentary proof of citizenship, including a birth certificate, passport, or naturalization document.

Florida’s law also requires election officials to verify citizenship using available state and federal government sources when necessary and establishes procedures for removing voters determined to be ineligible.

4. Mississippi SHIELD

Mississippi enacted Senate Bill 2588, known as the SHIELD Act, requiring election registrars to compare voter registration information against state driver’s license and identification records and, when necessary, the federal SAVE database. Applicants flagged as potential noncitizens can be required to provide proof of citizenship. The law took effect July 1, 2026.

Mississippi’s law also requires the secretary of state to conduct an annual comparison of the statewide voter registration system with the SAVE database.

5. Utah Citizenship Proof

Republican Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed HB 209, which allows voters who have provided documentary proof of citizenship to cast a standard ballot; voters who have not provided such documentation may vote only in federal races.

The law also authorizes election officials to use the federal SAVE database to determine whether registered voters are U.S. citizens.

6. Ohio Transportation

Ohio’s 2025 law, part of a transportation bill, required proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at the state’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

The legislation nevertheless received criticism and was the subject of litigation.

7. GOP Clash in Wyoming

Wyoming enacted a proof-of-citizenship mandate in 2025 that also included a 30-day residency requirement to register to vote. Republican Gov. Mark Gordon supported parts of the legislation while questioning the 30-day requirement, but he let the bill become law without his signature.

Other States

Other states enacted laws addressing documentary proof of citizenship before 2026, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

In Arizona, voters approved Proposition 200 in 2004, requiring evidence of citizenship for voter registration.

Georgia, a key battleground state, required proof of citizenship in a 2010 law.

Alabama enacted such a requirement in 2011, while Louisiana and New Hampshire enacted versions of the law in 2024. However, these states have yet to implement these proofs of citizenship requirements based on various legal and procedural challenges, according to Ballotpedia.

Despite limiting states’ ability to police noncitizens voting in federal elections, the Supreme Court’s 2013 ruling still gives states flexibility in verifying citizenship. That in turn could help them maintain their voter rolls….

The above noted actions by states are important even if the federal SAVE Act is made law because a future president and/or future Congress could act to change the law.

Did You Come “for Such a Time as This”: Esther”?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to the book of Esther in a lesson titled “Thou Art Come … for Such a Time as This.” The following information introduced the lesson. 

Many events in the book of Esther might seem like luck or coincidence. How else do you explain how an orphaned Jewish girl became the queen of Persia at just the right time to save her people from slaughter? What are the chances that Esther’s cousin Mordecai would happen to overhear a plot to assassinate the king? Were these coincidences, or were they part of a divine plan? Elder Ronald A. Rasband noted: “What may appear to be a random chance is, in fact, overseen by a loving Father in Heaven. … The Lord is in the small details of our lives” (“By Divine Design,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 56). We might not always recognize the Lord’s influence in these “small details.” But we learn from Esther’s experience that He can guide our path and prepare us “for such a time” (Esther 4:14) when we can be instruments in His hands to fulfill His purposes.

This scripture block teaches several principles, including (1) The Lord puts me in situations where I can bless others (Esther). (2) Pride and anger can lead to downfall (Esther; 5:9-14; 7). (3) Fasting Shows that I trust and rely on the Lord (Esther 3-4; 5:2-3; 8:11-12). (4) Doing the right thing often requires great courage (Esther 3:1-11; 4:10-17; 5:1-4; 9:17-19). This essay will discuss principle #4 about doing the right thing and exercising courage.

When Mordecai and Esther stood up for their beliefs and their people, they put their lives at risk. Our choices might have less severe consequences, but doing the right thing can still require courage. What can we learn from Esther about having courage to do the right thing?

The short story is that an evil man by the name of Haman was promoted by the king, and he thought that Mordacai, Esther’s uncle, should bow to him as commanded by the king. However, Mordecai did not, which made Haman angry. Haman learned that Mordecai was a Jew and decided that all the Jews should die. He convinced the king to decree the massacre.

Mordecai heard of the king’s decree and got word to Esther, and she asked him what she should do. He explained that she needed to get word to her husband, the king. When Esther expressed fear, Mordecai said, “… who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14). Knowing that she could die if the king refused to see her, Esther agreed to do as her uncle suggested and asked that Mordecai and all the Jews throughout the kingdom join Esther and her maidens in fasting for three days and three nights. Here is the rest of the story as found in Esther 5:1-8 and 7:1-6, 10.

1 Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, over against the king’s house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.

2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.

3 Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.

4 And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.

5 Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

6 ¶ And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.

7 Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is;

8 If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king hath said.

1 So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.

2 And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.

3 Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:

4 For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king’s damage.

5 ¶ Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?

6 And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.

10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified.

Esther showed great courage because she knew that she was on a life-or-death mission. However, both Mordecai and Esther also knew that God could protect her if He so chose, and they put their trust in Him. What opportunities has God given to you for you to bless other people.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then-Second Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, taught that each of us “stands at a unique place and has an important task that only [we] can perform…. The Lord gave you your responsibilities for a reason. There may be people and hearts only you can reach and touch. Perhaps no one else could do it in quite the same way” (“Lift Where You Stand,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 56).