In a social media post on Valentine’s Day, President Russell M. Nelson said to “find ways today to emulate the Savior by showing ‘lovingkindness’ to everyone around us.”
Recalling his pain and grief when his wife Dantzel suddenly passed away in 2005, just two days before Valentine’s Day, the leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints acknowledged that for some, the holiday “can be a reminder that things haven’t worked out as they had hoped.”
He testified that “regardless of relationship status, there is one source to whom we can all turn to either enhance the love we feel for others or to mend our hearts when they feel broken — the Savior Jesus Christ.”
President Nelson married his wife Wendy Watson Nelson in April 2006.
Some members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles also published social media posts on Monday, February 14.
“Trust in the Lord’s grace and divine timing,” said a post from Elder Gerrit W. Gong that included a video. “Often, we can only see what’s right in front of us,” he wrote. “In His time and way, God will help assemble the puzzle pieces of our lives. He has only our absolute best interests in mind.”
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland posted, “Surely, we will face moments of disagreement with our spouses and others we love. When we face such times, I encourage each of us to remember to look beyond ourselves. Christ’s Atonement alone was the greatest display of selflessness known to man.”
Elder Quentin R. Cook posted, “On a day like today, I encourage you to not focus on the connections you don’t have — but instead focus on the family connections you do have. As you do so, you will be blessed with more closeness and joy with your loved ones.”
Elder Ronald A. Rasband, who spoke Sunday at a Brigham Young University–Idaho devotional where he surprised his wife, Melanie, with flowers, wrote in a post about four distinct steps found in Joshua 22:5 that teach us how we can love God. “Make the commitment now to love God,” he wrote. “I promise that everything else will fall in line if you put Him first. Loving God is the key to happiness and will prepare you to face whatever comes.”