On Sunday Sister Welsh gave a wonderful lesson on the importance of healthy communication. Communication is something each of us can improve, whether it be with our families, friends or those we work with.
Sister Welsh opened her lesson with the following quote by George Bernard Shaw:
'The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.' The talk that Sister Welsh chose to use Christlike Communications by Elder Kendrick for the basis of her remarks.
"Heavenly Father has given us a priceless gift in our capacity to communicate with each other. Our communications are at the core of our relationships with others. If we are to return home safely to Heavenly Father, we must develop righteous relationships with His children here in mortality."
What and how we communicate is extremely important. Words have a deep affect on people in ways we may not understand or see. We need to choose our words carefully and consider the spirit in which they are delivered. Sister Welsh brought up the point that we teach communication through example, and we need to put our fears aside.
"Our communications reflect in our countenance. Therefore, we must be careful not only what we communicate, but also how we do so. Souls can be strengthened or shattered by the message and the manner in which we communicate."
Sarcasm replaces good communication. Many years ago whit and a good vocabulary were prized in conversation, now sarcasm is used in everyday speech.
"May we be found communicating with each other in a manner in which the Savior would communicate. Christlike communications are expressed in tones of love rather than loudness. They are intended to be helpful rather than hurtful. They tend to bind us together rather than to drive us apart. They tend to build rather than to belittle.
Christlike communications are expressions of affection and not anger, truth and not fabrication, compassion and not contention, respect and not ridicule, counsel and not criticism, correction and not condemnation. They are spoken with clarity and not with confusion. They may be tender or they may be tough, but they must always be tempered."
Emailing, social media and texting should not be our primary means of communication. We need to practice our one on one communication skills. One of the most important things we can do in communication is listening to the other person- listening without interjecting our opinions shows the other person we truly care about what they are saying. Also we have been asked to limit our electronic usage in church, to limit it only to church related issues, and not abuse the technology during church.
Don't allow social media to run your life. Don't focus on what everyone else is doing online, go out and live your life. Don't allow your phone to ruin your day. Enjoy your family and friends. Social media brings us together but it can be counterproductive. Instead of focusing on real people and real relationships we foster those online.
Technology has it's place, but let's do a better job picking up the phone, talking face to face and fostering our relationships in person.
"The real challenge that we face in our communications with others is to condition our hearts to have Christlike feelings for all of Heavenly Father’s children. When we develop this concern for the condition of others, we then will communicate with them as the Savior would. We will then warm the hearts of those who may be suffering in silence. As we meet people with special needs along life’s way, we can then make their journey brighter by the things that we say.
Christlike communications will help us to develop righteous relationships and ultimately to return to our heavenly home safely. May we treasure the divine gift of communication, and may we use it wisely to build and to assist others on this marvelous journey through mortality."
Sister Welsh closed with the scripture in Proverbs 16:24, Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
