Every day, we are bombarded by words—on social media, on television, on billboards, at work, at school—everywhere. These words vie for our attention, and some may even be interesting. But do they matter?

In Words Matter, Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles invites Latter-day Saints to ponder on the words and principles we prioritize in our lives. Drawing on personal experiences and gospel teachings, he points readers to the words that matter most—the words that will bring us closer to Jesus Christ and to a life in harmony with His teachings.

“Words that testify of Jesus Christ matter,” writes Elder Rasband. “The ‘word of God’ surpasses all other expressions. . . . The words of prophets, words in the temple, words of gospel instruction, words in blessings, words of faith, obedience, righteousness, repentance, forgiveness, and hope; these are words that matter.” Elder Rasband encourages readers to spend more of their time on the messages these words carry and shares how they have shaped his own spiritual journey.

Drowning out the noise of the world by choosing to focus on the things that are truly important is the challenge of a lifetime. But by focusing on the words of the gospel—the words that matter most—Latter-day Saints can create lives of true discipleship, lives marked by spiritual peace and confidence, and lives centered on Jesus Christ.