While peacemaking does not always come easily or naturally, it is a prize worthy of our finest and most determined efforts.

Revelation from God is not always received at the times or in the ways we might expect. Sometimes our prayers are answered quickly with the outcome we hope for. Sometimes our prayers are not answered in the way we hope for, yet with time we learn that God had greater blessings prepared for us than we initially anticipated. When the Lord answers yes to our petitions, it gives confidence. When the answer is no, maybe it is to prevent error. When the Lord withholds an answer, maybe it is to have us grow through faith in Him, obedience to His commandments, and a willingness to act on truth. Heavenly guidance is a reality, but it is important to understand that it comes in the Lord’s way and according to His timetable.

Friendship does not require us to share identical religious beliefs or always agree with one another. In a recent conversation with my dear friend, Pastor Bob Roberts, at the Global Faith Forum in Washington, D.C., we discussed our shared interest in religious freedom and working together to accomplish good in our communities. Spending time with friends who have different views and trying to understand their perspective offers at least three benefits beyond just enjoying friendship: 1. It strengthens our love and compassion for one another. 2. It broadens our perspective and can lead to greater insight. 3. It helps clarify and strengthen our own beliefs, allowing us to express them more clearly and confidently. The world would be better and more peaceful if more people joined together and sincerely tried to understand the perspectives of those who think or believe differently. We are all children of God, which makes each of us spiritual brothers and sisters.

Just like a smartphone needs to be connected with a network to function properly, we need to connect with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to receive guidance from heaven and spiritually survive in this complex world. Our eternal progress depends on receiving personal guidance from the Holy Ghost. When we believe and trust that God wants to send us direction through the Holy Ghost, then, as we earnestly center our lives on pursuing heaven’s help, we will receive the guidance we need according to the Lord’s will and time.

The word “light” is always connected to Jesus Christ. Living in a world with increasing darkness, Jesus Christ is always the light that lights our life (see Psalm 27:1).

As we forget ourselves in service of others, even during difficult moments, we invoke the power of the Savior in our lives.

Leça da Palmeira is a special place for me. I used to bring some of our new missionaries here to see the lighthouse guide the boats that were navigating to shore. To me, it serves as a reminder that the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ can guide us to the promises God has for His children and help us navigate the storms of life.

As I spoke with missionaries in France, I shared a personal experience of how the lessons I learned about trusting in Jesus Christ during my mission helped me to not only endure trials as a missionary—but also later in my life.

I was touched to see the resilience of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Valencia, Spain following devastating floods just a few days ago. I invited them once again to trust in the Savior Jesus Christ and in His atoning sacrifice as their source of spiritual resilience.

I had a great opportunity to meet with Rabbi Ariel Stofenmacher from Argentina to share some of our beliefs about family history, the connection that we have with each other.

42 years ago today, my dear Rosana and I covenanted with the Lord in His holy house to live by sacred covenants, to be sealed together for eternity. It has been a beautiful and marvelous journey together, and we are committed to continue to live by those sacred covenants, that bind in heaven what is bound on earth. I love my wife dearly, and she has been everything to my family and to me. She is inspiring, loving, devoted, and has brought our family close to Christ through her Christlike example. I love her very much!

We are excited to invite you to the worldwide youth broadcast on October 27. As we gather for this special event, we hope to reflect on how this year's youth theme, "I am a disciple of Jesus Christ" (3 Nephi 5:13), has inspired each of us to become more like the Savior. You can view this broadcast by going to Afterward, we invite you to meet with your ward or branch for a testimony meeting. We hope you will share one thing you have learned about Jesus Christ this year. We are so grateful for your diligence in being disciples of Christ. The Lord loves you—and we do too. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Prior to the Sunday morning conference session, I had the privilege of welcoming Pastor Bob Roberts from the Baptist Church to the session. Pastor Bob Roberts is a good friend of mine who I first met in Dallas, Texas at an interfaith dinner a couple of years ago. He is a man of great faith in God, a man who is a peacemaker and a promoter of understanding among all faiths. What a joy to be reunited with this faithful and devoted disciple of Christ!

One of the most glorious moments of mortality occurs when we discover the joy that comes when “what works for the Lord” and “what works for us” become one and the same! To irrevocably and unquestioningly make the Lord’s will our own requires majestic and heroic discipleship! At that sublime moment, we become consecrated to the Lord, and we totally yield our wills to Him. Such spiritual submissiveness, so to speak, is beautiful, powerful, and transformational. I testify to you that following the Lord’s will in our life will enable us to find the most precious pearl in the world—the kingdom of heaven. I pray that each of us, in our time and turn, will be able to declare, with covenant confidence, to our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ that “what works for Thee works for me.”

How wonderful it was to recognize the construction of the Salvador Brazil Temple with friends during a Legislative Assembly of Bahia, Brazil last month. Gatherings such as this to celebrate a house of the Lord are inspiring and divine because they help more people to come closer to Jesus Christ. During a time when humanity has been suffering from wars and afflictions of all kinds, the construction of temples reminds us of the healing and strength of our spiritual freedom to worship God. We all have a divine nature and potential and are seen as equals before God. In the temple, these truths are reinforced, especially for the youth who will play an important role in the future of humanity.

Earlier this week, I participated in a panel at the G20 Interfaith Forum in Brasília, Brazil. I spoke about how moral individuals and faith-based communities can powerfully bring people together, break down barriers, and help promote peace. Using an example of nature in Brazil, I compared how mangrove forests filter toxins and provide stability around tropical coastlines to how extraordinary people from a pluralistic society can filter toxic behaviors around the world. As a collective moral mangrove, we can protect future generations from forces of addiction, isolation, narcissism, and moral relativism that could consume them. Each one of us is crucial to the fabric that strengthens and holds our society together and gives us faith in the future of the world. It is my hope that people, communities, and countries around the world can work together to overcome polarization, the lack of civility, and roadblocks burdening our future that has been affecting the world.

Those who gain genuine confidence in the covenants made in the house of the Lord through Jesus Christ possess one of the most powerful forces that we can access in this life.

When President @NelsonRussellM invited us to reach out to “the one,” I thought of this story of a faithful young girl who quietly left the 99 to serve someone in need. I encourage all of you to take heed of this inspired invitation from our prophet. Turning our hearts outward as the Savior did will bless us with limitless opportunities to give of ourselves quietly and kindly to people who need us. #99plus1

This past week I had the privilege to be with members, leaders, and missionaries in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and in Kyoto, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Sapporo, and Tokyo, Japan. In every meeting or personal interaction, I felt the incredible love and faith these people have for the Lord. Their marvelous conversion stories touched me deeply and strengthened my testimony of Jesus Christ and of His restored gospel on earth. My love for the Japanese and Mongolian people increased immensely as I had this wonderful opportunity to be with them during my assignment in Asia North Area. I want to express my deep gratitude and admiration for the examples of devotion to the Lord of these people and for being such a beautiful light to the world. What a blessing it was for me to feel the Spirit of the Lord and His love among these great disciples of Christ in these countries. Oh, how much I loved this experience.

Motherhood is a divine opportunity from the Lord to nourish, teach, and support family members. Dedicated mothers help them to learn gospel truths and to develop deep and abiding faith in their Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. In my life, I have been richly blessed by the influence of two amazing mothers—my mother, Mercedes Carecho Soares, and my dear wife Rosana. These two incredible women have changed my life, made me a better person than I ever could have been without them, and most importantly of all, led me closer to Jesus Christ. My beautiful mother has passed on from this life, and I am so grateful for our Heavenly Father’s miraculous plan that allows for my relationship with her—and all of my family members who have passed on—to extend into eternity. I rejoice every day in the relationship I have with my wife, and I often find myself on my knees thanking the Lord for her companionship. Happy Mother’s Day to all!