Our friends should be companions who inspire us, who help us rise to our best.

Our Father in Heaven does not wish us to cower. He does not want us to wallow in our misery. He expects us to square our shoulders, roll up our sleeves, and overcome our challenges.

Love is the greatest of all the commandments-all others hang upon it. It is our focus as followers of the living Christ. It is the one trait that, if developed, will most improve our lives.

Perseverance is a positive, active characteristic.

Sometimes the greatest love is not found in the dramatic scenes that poets and writers immortalize. Often, the greatest manifestations of love are the simple acts of kindness and caring we extend to those we meet along the path of life.

Occasionally, family members treat each other with less courtesy and kindness than they do acquaintances or even strangers.

As with the butterfly, adversity is necessary to build character in people. As you overcome adversity in your life, you will become stronger.