My family knows next to nothing about gardening and landscaping. Plants need sun, water, food, and pruning to survive. That's the extent of our expertise. So, you can imagine our surprise this past summer when, after three years of living in our home, one of the smallest trees in our backyard sprouted a single, pretty pear. Prior to that, we had no idea it was a pear tree.

"By their fruits ye shall know them." (Matthew 7:20)

Sometimes I wonder if I'm the type of tree that's recognizable to others who may not know much about God or Jesus Christ.

Today, we're introducing a new Good Word Friday theme: Fruitful. The next month's scriptures will focus on bearing spiritual fruit.

Those of you with green thumbs know what plants need to flourish and produce fruit. John 15:5 reveals the most important thing we need to produce: spiritual fruit. We need to abide in Christ.

"Abide" means "to continue to be in a place for a significant amount of time." (Many major translations use the word "abide." Several use "remain.")

Have you ever said, "I need that!" but you didn't need it at all? In our modern, crazy world, we're bombarded with messages telling us that we need things. When we get the things, life will be better. We're convinced that more is more, and we have a profound fear of missing out. There's also a forceful drive to compete with others for the best life and the best stuff. We reach and grasp and stretch for this "better life."

Today's Good Word reminds us that only one thing is needful. Jesus said it, so it must be true.

If you Google, "how to have peace," here are some of the top results:

• How to Find Inner Peace: 15 Things You Can Start Doing Today
• 40 Ways to Create Peace of Mind
• How to Find Peace of Mind in 4 Simple Steps
• 13 Steps to Inner Peace (Even in a Busy Stressful World)

It's no secret that we are a people who are searching for peace. The world is indeed busy and stressful and filled with things that rob us of the very peace we seek. People struggle with anxious and depressing thoughts that trouble them without end. We want to find peace, and we want it to be a simple fix. (Notice that most of the headlines above include actionable steps?)

Today's verse continues the theme of "Simplify." What we've given you in the accompanying image is just one slice of a larger thought. Here is Hebrews 12:1-2 in whole:

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

We've got a question for all you runners out there; (maybe you're more of a 5k person or a marathoner). Here's the question: What do you carry with you when you run? Hopefully the answer is nothing. Or, if you do carry something, it's probably small and nearly weightless. You don't want anything to drag you down, especially if you're covering some serious distance.

Today's Good Word starts a brand-new theme, which we've named "Simplify." This isn't about simplifying your possessions (decluttering) or your schedule (saying no more). Instead, it's about simplifying your mindset — how you think.

Do you ever feel like life is more complicated than it's supposed to be? There are so many conflicting views, opinions, and data points floating around in our minds, and it's all very noisy and chaotic. Sometimes just the act of thinking alone in a quiet room can feel weighty and leave you heavy.

Today's verse tells us that the load of discipleship is light. Or, it should be.

If you can't play an instrument, read music, or even carry a tune, then this Good Word series on music may not have been your cup of tea. But, don't lose heart. Today's verse describes a "new song" from God that anyone can "sing," even the musically challenged.

What is that new song? It's praise to God. It's the song of redeeming love. It's amazing grace.

"He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord."

It will never be a song that tops the charts, but it will resonate with those who are seekers of truth. It's a song that can never be wholly ignored. It's a song that inspires awe. It's a song that draws people to God.

Today, we're putting a different spin on our Good Word theme of music and song. This psalm tells us that the earth itself — the natural world — makes a joyful noise to the Lord.

Musicians make music, yes, but this verse implies that God's other creations are also designed to "praise" Him.

If you take a moment to think, you'll probably be able to recollect many times when you've heard sounds in nature that are so lovely that they could be on par with a song.

Today, we're continuing our Good Word theme of music and song. Today's scripture describes how singing to God brings joy to the soul.

Have you ever experienced the opposite, though? You've listened to (worldly) music that brings you down, feeds your fears, ignites your lust, plays up cynicism, and puts you in a negative frame of mind?

This verse from Psalms isn't talking about just any kind of music. You can't just turn on the radio and rejoice. (Reality is often the reverse.)

Today, we're kicking off a new theme for Good Word Friday. For the rest of August, we'll be focusing on scriptures that relate to music and song.

Music is one of God's great gifts to humankind, don't you agree?

For one, music brings so much pleasure, whether you're singing, playing, or listening — or all three simultaneously.

And music provides a way to praise God in a way that we can't achieve with words alone. Music conveys feeling and expression that's tough to capture even in poetry.

Today, we wrap up our series of Good Words on free will. This scripture from Helaman tells us that God has given us "a knowledge" and He's made us "free." What do these two things have to do with one another?

Well, at this point in The Book of Mormon, Samuel has shared all of the predictions that God gave him regarding Christ's birth and death.

Samuel says the reason why God wants the people to know these predictions is "to the intent that there should be no cause for unbelief among the children of men" (verse 28) and also so that God's righteous judgment falls upon the people — those who believe are saved and those who don't aren't. They have all the information they need to make a decision in faith.

This month, we've chosen scriptures that illustrate the free will that God has given us as humans to either believe or not believe in Him and His Son Jesus Christ.

Today's scripture is actually more full-bodied than what we've put in today's graphic. The full verse says, "Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?"

We're continuing our July theme of free will with this scripture from Mosiah. It says that the people who are willing to bear the name of Jesus are blessed.

The word "willing" stands out here, demonstrating that choice is part of the equation. You can't be willingly forced to serve God.

2 Nephi 31:13 and Mosiah 21:35 both describe how baptism is the external witness of the internal willingness of the heart. After baptism, we bear the name of the Lord (we are called by His name).

If you've already been baptized, then you've demonstrated that you're willing to serve God and bear the name of Christ. As you've pressed on in life, has God asked you to be willing to do other things — specific things — for Him?

It's a new month, and you know what that means. A new set of scriptures for Good Word Friday. In honor of Independence Day, our next theme focuses on a specific type of freedom: free will.

We believe that God created us with a free will to make choices.

God has His own will for each life that He creates, but He doesn't force us to puppet the perfect plan He's laid out. We are free to follow — or not.

It's the beauty and tragedy of every human life.

For our last Good Word Friday on the topic of "learning," we bring to you the famous advice that Alma gave to his son, Helaman.

This statement seems pretty basic — learn the ways of God when you're young — but how often is it really followed? How many children and young people today are taught to keep the commandments of God?

In many instances, when people are young, they learn how to break the commandments of God — or circumvent them or alter them or ignore them. Then, later as adults, they come to themselves and decide to truly learn the ways of God. Alma says that we don't have to live this life of heartache.