Beloved

byVicki F. Matsumori

A Sunbeam teacher wrapped

each of her class members one by one in a blanket

to teach them how the Spirit feels like the

comfort and security of that covering.

A visiting mother also heard the lesson.

Many months later the mother thanked the teacher.

She told how she had been less active

when she accompanied her young daughter to Primary.

Several weeks after the lesson, the mother suffered a miscarriage.

She was overcome with grief when suddenly she felt a great warmth and peace.

It felt like someone had covered her with a warm blanket.

She recognized the reassurance of the

Spirit and knew that Heavenly Father

 was aware of her and that He loved her.

When we come to understand the whisperings of the Spirit,

we will be able to hear Him teach us "the peaceable things of the kingdom"

and "all things what we should do."  

We will recognize answers to our prayers

and know how to live the gospel more fully each day.

We will be guided and protected.

And we can cultivate this gift in our lives

as we follow those spiritual promptings.

Most importantly, we will feel Him witness to us

 of the Father and of the Son.

He loves each of us.

He knows us individually and personally.

He hears the pleadings of our hearts,

and He answers those sincere prayers.

By Elder Neil L. Andersen

We love President Thomas S. Monson, the Lord's prophet.

I will forever remember his kindness as he extended my call last April.

At the conclusion of our interview,

he opened his arms to embrace me. President Monson is a tall man.

As he wrapped his long arms around me and pulled me close,

I felt like a little boy being held in the protective arms of a loving father.

Thomas Monson hugging Brother Joseph Wirthlin

-

In the months since that experience,

I have thought of the Lord's invitation

to come unto Him and to

spiritually be wrapped in His arms.

He said, "Behold, my arms of mercy are extended towards you,

and whosoever will come,

him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me."

The scriptures speak of His arms being open,

extended, stretched out, and encircling.

 They are described as mighty and holy, arms of mercy,

arms of safety, arms of love, "lengthened out all the day long."

We have each felt to some extent these spiritual arms around us.

We have felt His forgiveness, His love and comfort.

The Lord has said, "I am he who comforteth you."

The Lord's desire that we come unto Him and

be wrapped in His arms is often an invitation to repent.

"Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men,

 for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith:

Repent, and I will receive you."

He knows. He has felt your pain. He has declared,

"I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands."

The Savior is there, reaching out to each of us, bidding us:

"Come unto me." We can repent. We can!

1 Peter4:12-13

12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery ^atrial which is to try you,

as though some strange thing happened unto you:

13 But ^arejoice, inasmuch as ye are ^bpartakers of Christ's ^csufferings; that, when his glory shall be

 ^drevealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.