The Race of Life Precious to Her

FIRST PRESIDENCY MESSAGE, MAY 2012

By President Thomas S. Monson immediately that she would spend whatever time she had remaining with her family and friends and with the gospel at the center of her life, for these represented what was most The Race of Life precious to her. Such moments of clarity come Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where do we to all of us at one time or another, go after this life? No longer need these universal questions although not always through so dra- remain unanswered. matic a circumstance. We see clearly what it is that really matters in our lives and how we should be living. Said the Savior: y beloved brothers and significance when times of crisis arise, “Lay not up for yourselves trea- sisters, this morning I wish when loved ones are hurt or injured, sures upon earth, where moth and Mto speak to you of eternal when sickness enters the house of rust doth corrupt, and where thieves truths—those truths which will enrich good health, when life’s candle dims break through and steal: our lives and see us safely home. and darkness threatens. Our thoughts “But lay up for yourselves treasures Everywhere people are in a hurry. become focused, and we are easily in heaven, where neither moth nor Jet-powered aircraft speed their able to determine what is really im- rust doth corrupt, and where thieves precious human cargo across broad portant and what is merely trivial. do not break through nor steal: continents and vast oceans so that I recently visited with a woman “For where your treasure is, there business meetings might be attended, who has been battling a life-threat- will your heart be also.” 1 obligations met, vacations enjoyed, ening disease for over two years. She In our times of deepest reflection or families visited. Roadways every- indicated that prior to her illness, her or greatest need, the soul of man where—including freeways, thru- days were filled with activities such reaches heavenward, seeking a divine ways, and motorways—carry millions as cleaning her house to perfection response to life’s greatest questions: of automobiles, occupied by more and filling it with beautiful furnish- Where did we come from? Why are we millions of people, in a seemingly ings. She visited her hairdresser twice here? Where do we go after we leave endless stream and for a multitude of a week and spent money and time this life? reasons as we rush about the busi- each month adding to her wardrobe. Answers to these questions are ness of each day. Her grandchildren were invited to not discovered within the covers of In this fast-paced life, do we ever visit infrequently, for she was always academia’s textbooks or by checking pause for moments of meditation— concerned that what she considered the Internet. These questions transcend even thoughts of timeless truths? her precious possessions might be mortality. They embrace eternity. When compared to eternal verities, broken or otherwise ruined by tiny Where did we come from? This most of the questions and concerns and careless hands. query is inevitably thought, if not of daily living are really rather trivial. And then she received the shock- spoken, by every human being. What should we have for dinner? ing news that her mortal life was in The Apostle Paul told the Athenians What color should we paint the jeopardy and that she might have on Mars’ Hill that “we are the offspring living room? Should we sign Johnny very limited time left here. She of God.” 2 Since we know that our up for soccer? These questions and said that at the moment she heard physical bodies are the offspring of countless others like them lose their the doctor’s diagnosis, she knew our mortal parents, we must probe for

1 the meaning of Paul’s statement. The discover that there are consequences around it was carried, unable to make Lord has declared that “the spirit and attached to our actions. its way back into the main current. the body are the soul of man.” 3 Thus By obedience to God’s com- At last it came to an uneasy rest amid it is the spirit which is the offspring mandments, we can qualify for that the flotsam and jetsam that sur- of God. The writer of Hebrews refers “house” spoken of by Jesus when He rounded it, held fast by the tentacles to Him as “the Father of spirits.” 4 The declared: “In my Father’s house are of the grasping green moss. spirits of all men are literally His “be- many mansions. . . . I go to prepare The toy boats of childhood had no gotten sons and daughters.” 5 a place for you . . . that where I am, keel for stability, no rudder to provide We note that inspired poets have, there ye may be also.” 7 direction, and no source of power. for our contemplation of this sub- Although we come into mortality Inevitably, their destination was down- ject, written moving messages and “trailing clouds of glory,” life moves stream—the path of least resistance. recorded transcendent thoughts. relentlessly forward. Youth follows Unlike toy boats, we have been William Wordsworth penned the truth: childhood, and maturity comes ever provided divine attributes to guide so imperceptibly. From experience our journey. We enter mortality not Our birth is but a sleep and a we learn the need to reach heaven- to float with the moving currents of forgetting: ward for assistance as we make our life but with the power to think, to The soul that rises with us, our life’s way along life’s pathway. reason, and to achieve. Star, God, our Father, and Jesus Christ, Our Heavenly Father did not Hath had elsewhere its setting, our Lord, have marked the way to launch us on our eternal voyage with- And cometh from afar: perfection. They beckon us to follow out providing the means whereby Not in entire forgetfulness, eternal verities and to become per- we could receive from Him guidance And not in utter nakedness, fect, as They are perfect.8 to ensure our safe return. I speak of But trailing clouds of glory do we The Apostle Paul likened life to a prayer. I speak too of the whisper- come race. To the Hebrews he urged, “Let ings from that still, small voice; and I From God, who is our home: us lay aside . . . the sin which doth so do not overlook the holy scriptures, Heaven lies about us in our easily beset us, and let us run with pa- which contain the word of the Lord infancy! 6 tience the race that is set before us.” 9 and the words of the prophets—pro- In our zeal, let us not overlook the vided to us to help us successfully Parents ponder their responsibility sage counsel from Ecclesiastes: “The cross the finish line. to teach, to inspire, and to provide race is not to the swift, nor the battle At some period in our mortal mis- guidance, direction, and example. to the strong.” 10 Actually, the prize sion, there appears the faltering step, And while parents ponder, chil- belongs to him or her who endures the wan smile, the pain of sickness— dren—and particularly youth—ask to the end. even the fading of summer, the ap- the penetrating question, why are we When I reflect on the race of life, I proach of autumn, the chill of winter, here? Usually it is spoken silently to remember another type of race, even and the experience we call death. the soul and phrased, why am I here? from childhood days. My friends and Every thoughtful person has asked How grateful we should be that a I would take pocketknives in hand himself the question best phrased by wise Creator fashioned an earth and and, from the soft wood of a willow Job of old: “If a man die, shall he live placed us here, with a veil of forget- tree, fashion small toy boats. With a again?” 11 Try as we might to put the fulness of our previous existence so triangular-shaped cotton sail in place, question out of our thoughts, it always that we might experience a time of each would launch his crude craft in returns. Death comes to all mankind. testing, an opportunity to prove our- the race down the relatively turbu- It comes to the aged as they walk on selves in order to qualify for all that lent waters of Utah’s Provo River. We faltering feet. Its summons is heard by God has prepared for us to receive. would run along the river’s bank and those who have scarcely reached mid- Clearly, one primary purpose of watch the tiny vessels sometimes way in life’s journey. At times it hushes our existence upon the earth is to bobbing violently in the swift current the laughter of little children. obtain a body of flesh and bones. and at other times sailing serenely as But what of an existence beyond We have also been given the gift of the water deepened. death? Is death the end of all? Robert agency. In a thousand ways we are During a particular race we noted Blatchford, in his book God and My privileged to choose for ourselves. that one boat led all the rest toward Neighbor, attacked with vigor accepted Here we learn from the hard task- the appointed finish line. Suddenly, Christian beliefs such as God, Christ, master of experience. We discern the current carried it too close to a prayer, and particularly immortality. between good and evil. We differenti- large whirlpool, and the boat heaved He boldly asserted that death was ate as to the bitter and the sweet. We to its side and capsized. Around and the end of our existence and that no

2 one could prove otherwise. Then a God who gave them life. life? No longer need these universal surprising thing happened. His wall of “And then shall it come to pass, questions remain unanswered. From skepticism suddenly crumbled to dust. that the spirits of those who are the very depths of my soul and in all He was left exposed and undefended. righteous are received into a state of humility, I testify that those things of Slowly he began to feel his way back happiness, which is called paradise, which I have spoken are true. to the faith he had ridiculed and a state of rest, a state of peace, where Our Heavenly Father rejoices for abandoned. What had caused this pro- they shall rest from all their troubles those who keep His commandments. found change in his outlook? His wife and from all care, and sorrow.” 13 He is concerned also for the lost died. With a broken heart he went into After the Savior was crucified and child, the tardy teenager, the wayward the room where lay all that was mortal His body had lain in the tomb for youth, the delinquent parent. Tenderly of her. He looked again at the face he three days, the spirit again entered. the Master speaks to these and indeed loved so well. Coming out, he said to The stone was rolled away, and the to all: “Come back. Come up. Come in. a friend: “It is she, and yet it is not she. resurrected Redeemer walked forth, Come home. Come unto me.” Everything is changed. Something that clothed with an immortal body of In one week we will celebrate was there before is taken away. She is flesh and bones. Easter. Our thoughts will turn to not the same. What can be gone if it The answer to Job’s question, “If the Savior’s life, His death, and His be not the soul?” a man die, shall he live again?” came Resurrection. As His special witness, Later he wrote: “Death is not what when Mary and others approached I testify to you that He lives and that some people imagine. It is only like the tomb and saw two men in shining He awaits our triumphant return. going into another room. In that garments who spoke to them: “Why That such a return will be ours, I other room we shall find . . . the dear seek ye the living among the dead? pray humbly in His holy name— women and men and the sweet chil- He is not here, but is risen.” 14 even Jesus Christ, our Savior and our dren we have loved and lost.” 12 As the result of Christ’s victory over Redeemer, amen. My brothers and sisters, we know the grave, we shall all be resurrected. NOTES that death is not the end. This truth This is the redemption of the soul. 1. Matthew 6:19–21. has been taught by living prophets Paul wrote: “There are . . . celestial 2. Acts 17:29. 3. Doctrine and Covenants 88:15. throughout the ages. It is also found bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the 4. Hebrews 12:9. in our holy scriptures. In the Book of glory of the celestial is one, and the 5. Doctrine and Covenants 76:24. Mormon we read specific and com- glory of the terrestrial is another.” 15 6. William Wordsworth, Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of forting words: It is the celestial glory which we Early Childhood (1884), 23–24. “Now, concerning the state of the seek. It is in the presence of God we 7. John 14:2–3. 8. See Matthew 5:48; 3 Nephi 12:48. soul between death and the resur- desire to dwell. It is a forever family 9. Hebrews 12:1. rection—Behold, it has been made in which we want membership. Such 10. Ecclesiastes 9:11. known unto me by an angel, that the blessings are earned through a life- 11. Job 14:14. 12. See Robert Blatchford, More Things spirits of all men, as soon as they are time of striving, seeking, repenting, in Heaven and Earth: Adventures in departed from this mortal body, yea, and finally succeeding. Quest of a Soul (1925), 11. 13. Alma 40:11–12. the spirits of all men, whether they be Where did we come from? Why are 14. Luke 24:5–6. good or evil, are taken home to that we here? Where do we go after this 15. 1 Corinthians 15:40.

3 Teachings for Our Time

elchizedek Priesthood the talk(s). You may be tempted and Relief Society lessons to prepare the lesson using other Mon fourth Sundays will materials, but the conference talks be devoted to “Teachings for are the approved curriculum. Your Our Time.” Each lesson can assignment is to help others learn be prepared from one or more and live the gospel as taught in the talks given in the most recent most recent general conference of general conference (see chart the Church. below). Stake and district pres- Review the talk(s), looking for idents may choose which talks principles and doctrines that meet should be used, or they may the needs of class members. Also assign this responsibility to look for stories, scripture refer- bishops and branch presidents. ences, and statements from the Leaders emphasize the value of talk(s) that will help you teach Melchizedek Priesthood brethren these truths. and Relief Society sisters study- Make an outline of how to ing the same talks on the same teach the principles and doctrines. Sundays. Consider including questions that Those attending fourth-Sunday help class members: lessons are encouraged to study and bring to class the latest general • Look for principles and conference issue of the magazine. doctrines in the talk(s). • Think about their meaning. Suggestions for Preparing a Lesson • Share understanding, ideas, from Talks experiences, and testimonies. Pray that the Holy Spirit will be • Apply these principles and with you as you study and teach doctrines in their lives.

MONTHS LESSONS ARE TAUGHT FOURTH-SUNDAY LESSON MATERIALS April 2012–October 2012 Talks given in the April 2012 general conference * October 2012–April 2013 Talks given in the October 2012 general conference *

* For April and October fourth-Sunday lessons, talk(s) may be selected from the previous conference or from the most recent one. The talks are available in many languages at conference.lds.org.

4 VISITING TEACHING MESSAGE, MAY 2012

By President Henry B. Eyring “Therefore, hold on thy way, and First Counselor in the First Presidency the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, Mountains to Climb for God shall be with you forever and ever.” 2 If we have faith in Jesus Christ, the hardest as well as the There seems to me no better easiest times in life can be a blessing. answer to the question of why trials come and what we are to do than the words of the Lord Himself, who passed through trials for us more heard President Spencer W. Kimball, faraway day now seems tiny com- terrible than we can imagine. in a session of conference, ask that pared to what has come since—to me You remember His words when IGod would give him mountains to and to those I love. Many of you are He counseled that we should, out of climb. He said: “There are great chal- now passing through physical, men- faith in Him, repent: lenges ahead of us, giant opportuni- tal, and emotional trials that could “Therefore I command you to re- ties to be met. I welcome that exciting cause you to cry out as did one great pent—repent, lest I smite you by the prospect and feel to say to the Lord, and faithful servant of God I knew rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, humbly, ‘Give me this mountain,’ give well. His nurse heard him exclaim and by my anger, and your sufferings me these challenges.” 1 from his bed of pain, “When I have be sore—how sore you know not, My heart was stirred, knowing, tried all my life to be good, why has how exquisite you know not, yea, as I did, some of the challenges and this happened to me?” how hard to bear you know not. adversity he had already faced. I felt You know how the Lord answered “For behold, I, God, have suffered a desire to be more like him, a valiant that question for the Prophet Joseph these things for all, that they might servant of God. So one night I prayed Smith in his prison cell: not suffer if they would repent; for a test to prove my courage. I can “And if thou shouldst be cast into “But if they would not repent they remember it vividly. In the evening the pit, or into the hands of mur- must suffer even as I; I knelt in my bedroom with a faith derers, and the sentence of death “Which suffering caused myself, that seemed almost to fill my heart to passed upon thee; if thou be cast even God, the greatest of all, to trem- bursting. into the deep; if the billowing surge ble because of pain, and to bleed at Within a day or two my prayer conspire against thee; if fierce winds every pore, and to suffer both body was answered. The hardest trial of become thine enemy; if the heavens and spirit—and would that I might my life surprised and humbled me. It gather blackness, and all the elements not drink the bitter cup, and shrink— provided me a twofold lesson. First, combine to hedge up the way; and “Nevertheless, glory be to the I had clear proof that God heard and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall Father, and I partook and finished answered my prayer of faith. But sec- gape open the mouth wide after thee, my preparations unto the children of ond, I began a tutorial that still goes know thou, my son, that all these men.” 3 on to learn about why I felt with such things shall give thee experience, and You and I have faith that the way confidence that night that a great shall be for thy good. to rise through and above trials is blessing could come from adversity to “The Son of Man hath descended to believe that there is a “balm in more than compensate for any cost. below them all. Art thou greater than Gilead” 4 and that the Lord has prom- The adversity that hit me in that he? ised, “I will not . . . forsake thee.” 5

1 That is what President Thomas S. personal integrity. it must needs be that some had faith Monson has taught us to help us and Our choosing the right consistently in him, for he showed himself not those we serve in what seem lonely whenever the choice is placed before unto the world. and overwhelming trials.6 us creates the solid ground under our “But because of the faith of men But President Monson has also faith. It can begin in childhood since he has shown himself unto the world, wisely taught that a foundation of every soul is born with the free gift of and glorified the name of the Father, faith in the reality of those promises the Spirit of Christ. With that Spirit we and prepared a way that thereby takes time to build. You may have can know when we have done what others might be partakers of the seen the need for that foundation, is right before God and when we heavenly gift, that they might hope as I have, at the bedside of someone have done wrong in His sight. for those things which they have not ready to give up the fight to endure Those choices, hundreds in most seen. to the end. If the foundation of faith days, prepare the solid ground on “Wherefore, ye may also have is not embedded in our hearts, the which our edifice of faith is built. The hope, and be partakers of the gift, if power to endure will crumble. metal framework around which the ye will but have faith.” 7 My purpose today is to describe substance of our faith is poured is That particle of faith most precious what I know of how we can lay that the gospel of Jesus Christ, with all its and which you should protect and unshakable foundation. I do it with covenants, ordinances, and principles. use to whatever extent you can is great humility for two reasons. First, One of the keys to an enduring faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Moroni what I say could discourage some faith is to judge correctly the curing taught the power of that faith this who are struggling in the midst of time required. That is why I was way: “And neither at any time hath great adversity and feel their foun- unwise to pray so soon in my life any wrought miracles until after their dation of faith is crumbling. And for higher mountains to climb and faith; wherefore they first believed in second, I know that ever-greater tests greater tests. the Son of God.” 8 lie before me before the end of life. That curing does not come auto- I have visited with a woman who Therefore, the prescription I offer you matically through the passage of time, received the miracle of sufficient has yet to be proven in my own life but it does take time. Getting older strength to endure unimaginable through enduring to the end. does not do it alone. It is serving God losses with just the simple capacity to As a young man I worked with and others persistently with full heart repeat endlessly the words “I know a contractor building footings and and soul that turns testimony of truth that my Redeemer lives.” 9 That faith foundations for new houses. In the into unbreakable spiritual strength. and those words of testimony were summer heat it was hard work to Now, I wish to encourage those still there in the mist that obscured prepare the ground for the form into who are in the midst of hard trials, but did not erase memories of her which we poured the cement for the who feel their faith may be fading un- childhood. footing. There were no machines. We der the onslaught of troubles. Trouble I was stunned to learn that another used a pick and a shovel. Building itself can be your way to strengthen woman had forgiven a person who lasting foundations for buildings was and finally gain unshakable faith. had wronged her for years. I was hard work in those days. Moroni, the son of Mormon in the surprised and asked her why she had It also required patience. After we Book of Mormon, told us how that chosen to forgive and forget so many poured the footing, we waited for it blessing could come to pass. He years of spiteful abuse. to cure. Much as we wanted to keep teaches the simple and sweet truth She said quietly, “It was the hardest the jobs moving, we also waited after that acting on even a twig of faith thing I have ever done, but I just the pour of the foundation before we allows God to grow it: knew I had to do it. So I did.” Her took away the forms. “And now, I, Moroni, would speak faith that the Savior would forgive And even more impressive to a somewhat concerning these things; I her if she forgave others prepared novice builder was what seemed to would show unto the world that faith her with a feeling of peace and hope be a tedious and time-consuming is things which are hoped for and not as she faced death just months after process to put metal bars carefully seen; wherefore, dispute not because she had forgiven her unrepentant inside the forms to give the finished ye see not, for ye receive no witness adversary. foundation strength. until after the trial of your faith. She asked me, “When I get there, In a similar way, the ground must “For it was by faith that Christ how will it be in heaven?” be carefully prepared for our founda- showed himself unto our fathers, after And I said, “I know just from what tion of faith to withstand the storms he had risen from the dead; and he I have seen of your capacity to exer- that will come into every life. That showed not himself unto them until cise faith and to forgive that it will be solid basis for a foundation of faith is after they had faith in him; wherefore, a wonderful homecoming for you.”

2 I have another encouragement to characteristics of trials in life is that the guidance of the Spirit. We have those who now wonder if their faith they seem to make clocks slow down the gospel of Jesus Christ to shape in Jesus Christ will be sufficient for and then appear almost to stop. and guide our lives if we choose it. them to endure well to the end. I was There are reasons for that. And with prophets revealing to us our blessed to have known others of you Knowing those reasons may not give place in the plan of salvation, we can who are listening now when you much comfort, but it can give you a live with perfect hope and a feeling were younger, vibrant, gifted beyond feeling of patience. Those reasons of peace. We never need to feel that most of those around you, yet you come from this one fact: in Their we are alone or unloved in the Lord’s chose to do what the Savior would perfect love for you, Heavenly Father service because we never are. We can have done. Out of your abundance and the Savior want you fitted to be feel the love of God. The Savior has you found ways to help and care with Them to live in families forever. promised angels on our left and our for those you might have ignored or Only those washed perfectly clean right to bear us up.10 And He always looked down upon from your place through the Atonement of Jesus keeps His word. in life. Christ can be there. I testify that God the Father lives When hard trials come, the faith My mother fought cancer for and that His Beloved Son is our to endure them well will be there, nearly 10 years. Treatments and sur- Redeemer. The Holy Ghost has built as you may now notice but may geries and finally confinement to her confirmed truth in this conference have not at the time that you acted on bed were some of her trials. and will again as you seek it, as you the pure love of Christ, serving and I remember my father saying as he listen, and as you later study the forgiving others as the Savior would watched her take her last breath, “A messages of the Lord’s authorized have done. You built a foundation of little girl has gone home to rest.” servants, who are here. President faith from loving as the Savior loved One of the speakers at her funeral Thomas S. Monson is the Lord’s and serving for Him. Your faith in was President Spencer W. Kimball. prophet to the entire world. The Lord Him led to acts of charity that will Among the tributes he paid, I remem- watches over you. God the Father bring you hope. ber one that went something like lives. His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, is It is never too late to strengthen this: “Some of you may have thought our Redeemer. His love is unfailing. I the foundation of faith. There is that Mildred suffered so long and so so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, always time. With faith in the Savior, much because of something she had amen. you can repent and plead for for- done wrong that required the trials.” NOTES giveness. There is someone you can He then said, “No, it was that God 1. Spencer W. Kimball, “Give Me This forgive. There is someone you can just wanted her to be polished a little Mountain,” Ensign, Nov. 1979, 79. thank. There is someone you can more.” I remember at the time think- 2. Doctrine and Covenants 122:7–9. 3. Doctrine and Covenants 19:15–19. serve and lift. You can do it wher- ing, “If a woman that good needed 4. Jeremiah 8:22. ever you are and however alone and that much polishing, what is ahead 5. Joshua 1:5. 6. See Thomas S. Monson, “Look to God deserted you may feel. for me?” and Live,” Ensign, May 1998, 52–54. I cannot promise an end to your If we have faith in Jesus Christ, the 7. Ether 12:6–9. adversity in this life. I cannot assure hardest as well as the easiest times in 8. Ether 12:18. 9. “I Know That My Redeemer Lives,” Hymns, you that your trials will seem to you life can be a blessing. In all condi- no. 136. to be only for a moment. One of the tions, we can choose the right with 10. See Doctrine and Covenants 84:88.