Interweaving counsel and stories, President Thomas S. Monson of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints urged members to remove destructive "wedges" from their lives through forgiveness.

"In many families, there are hurt feelings and a reluctance to forgive," President Monson said. "It doesn't really matter what the issue was. It cannot and should not be left to injure. Blame keeps wounds open. Only forgiveness heals."

President Monson told Samuel T. Whitman's story of a tree that was eventually destroyed because a wedge had never been removed from its branches.

Over the course of the years, a wedge once placed between the tree's young branches had been completely enveloped in the tree. When a storm came, what should have been a strong walnut tree was completely destroyed because of the weakening effect of the embedded wedge.

"My brothers and sisters there are hidden wedges in the lives of many whom we know-yes perhaps in our own families," President Monson said."

Unresolved disputes, disappointments, jealousies and arguments can all become wedges in our lives, he said.

"Sometimes we can take offense so easily," President Monson said. "On other occasions we are too stubborn to accept a sincere apology."

We can remove hidden wedges through forgiveness, he said.

"Let's remove any hidden wedges that can do nothing but destroy," President Monson said.

He said some people have a hard time forgiving themselves. Remembering that a loving Heavenly Father is mindful of each of us can help, he said.

"In a day of danger of a time of trial, such knowledge, such hope, such understanding will bring comfort to the troubled mind and the grieving heart," President Monson said. "Shadows of despair are dispelled by rays of hope, sorrow yields to joy, and the feeling of being lost in the crowd of life vanishes with the certain knowledge that our Heavenly Father is mindful of each of us."

Copyright Brigham Young University 6 Apr 2002