Deep in Our Heart Elder Dale G
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By Douglas D. Holmes Recently Released First Counselor in the Young Men General Presidency They are the foundation for effective ministering.5 Deep in Our Heart Elder Dale G. Renlund gave us a key to developing these relationships when he said: “To effectively serve others we must see them . through The Lord is trying to help us—all of us—get His Heavenly Father’s eyes. Only then can we begin to comprehend the true gospel deeper in our hearts. worth of a soul. Only then can we sense the love that Heavenly Father has for all His children.”6 Seeing others as God does is a gift. Sisters and brothers, what a wonderful We are not expected to find or walk I invite all of us to seek for this gift. time we live in. As we celebrate the the covenant path alone. We need love As our eyes are opened to see,7 we beginning of the Restoration, it is also and support from parents, other family will also be able to help others see appropriate to celebrate the ongoing members, friends, and leaders who are themselves as God does.8 President Restoration that we are witnessing. I also walking the path. Henry B. Eyring emphasized the rejoice with you to live in this day.1 The These kinds of relationships take power of this when he said: “What Lord continues to put in place, through time. Time to be together. Time to will matter most is what [others] learn His prophets, all that is needed to help laugh, play, learn, and serve together. from [you] about who they really are us prepare to receive Him.2 Time to appreciate each other’s and what they can really become. One of those needed things is the interests and challenges. Time to be My guess is that they won’t learn it new Children and Youth initiative. open and honest with each other as so much from lectures. They will get Many of you are familiar with this we strive to be better together. These it from feelings of who you are, who program’s emphasis on setting goals, relationships are one of the primary you think they are, and what you new emblems of belonging, and For purposes of gathering as families, think they might become.”9 Helping the Strength of Youth conferences. quorums, classes, and congregations. others understand their true identity But we must not let those cloud our view of the principles the program is built on and their purpose: to help get the gospel of Jesus Christ deep in the hearts of our children and youth.3 I believe as we come to see these principles more clearly, we will rec- ognize this as more than a program for members ages 8 to 18. We will see how the Lord is trying to help us—all of us—get His gospel deeper in our hearts. I pray the Holy Ghost will help us learn together. Relationships—“Be with Them”4 The first principle is relationships. Because they are such a natural part of the Church of Jesus Christ, we some- times forget the importance of relation- ships in our ongoing journey to Christ. MAY 2020 23 Christ to change us into the best ver- sion of ourselves. This is far more than an exercise in goal setting or self-improvement. Goals are simply a tool that helps us connect with heaven through reve- lation, agency, and repentance—to come unto Christ and receive His gospel deeper in our hearts. and purpose is one of the greatest feelings in our hearts. The word of gifts we can give.10 Seeing others God is spiritual power.18 It is truth Engagement and Sacrifice—“Let Them and ourselves as God does knits our and light.19 It is how we hear Him! Lead”25 hearts “together in unity and in love.”11 The word initiates and increases Finally, to get the gospel of Jesus With ever-increasing secular forces our faith in Christ and fuels within Christ deep in our hearts, we need pulling at us, we need the strength us a desire to become more like the to engage in it—to give our time and that comes from loving relationships. Savior—that is, to repent and walk talents to it, to sacrifice for it.26 We all So as we plan activities, meetings, and the covenant path.20 want to live a life of meaning, and this other gatherings, let us remember an Last April, President Russell M. is especially true of the rising genera- overarching purpose of these gath- Nelson helped us understand the tion. They desire a cause. erings is to build loving relationships central role of repentance in this The gospel of Jesus Christ is the that unite us and help get the gospel revelatory journey.21 He said: “When greatest cause in the world. President of Jesus Christ deeper in our hearts.12 we choose to repent, we choose Ezra Taft Benson said: “We are com- to change! We allow the Savior to manded by God to take this gospel Revelation, Agency, and transform us into the best version of to all the world. That is the cause that Repentance—“Connect Them with ourselves. We choose to become must unite us today. Only the gospel Heaven”13 more like Jesus Christ!”22 This process will save the world from the calamity Of course, it’s not enough just to of change, fueled by the word of God, of its own self-destruction. Only the be bound together. There are many is how we connect with heaven. gospel will unite men [and women] groups and organizations that achieve Underlying President Nelson’s of all races and nationalities in peace. unity around a variety of causes. invitation to repent is the principle Only the gospel will bring joy, hap- But the unity we seek is to be one of agency. We must choose repen- piness, and salvation to the human in Christ, to connect ourselves with tance for ourselves. The gospel can’t family.”27 Him.14 To connect our hearts with be forced into our hearts. As Elder Elder David A. Bednar promised, heaven, we need individual spiritual Renlund said, “Our Heavenly Father’s “As we empower the youth by inviting experiences, as Elder Andersen just goal in parenting is not to have His and allowing them to act, the Church eloquently spoke to us about.15 Those children do what is right; it is to will move forward in miraculous experiences come as the Holy Ghost have His children choose to do what ways.”28 Too often we have not invited carries the word and love of God to is right.”23 and allowed the youth to sacrifice our mind and heart.16 In the programs replaced by for this great cause of Christ. Elder This revelation comes through Children and Youth, there were Neal A. Maxwell observed, “If [our] the scriptures, especially the Book over 500 different requirements to youth are too underwhelmed [by of Mormon; through inspired words complete in order to receive various God’s work], they are more likely to of living prophets and other faith- recognitions.24 Today, there is essen- be overwhelmed by the world.”29 ful disciples; and through the still, tially one. It is an invitation to choose The Children and Youth pro- small voice.17 These words are more to become more like the Savior. We gram focuses on empowering the than ink on a page, sound waves in do this by receiving the word of God youth. They choose their own goals. our ears, thoughts in our minds, or through the Holy Ghost and allowing Quorum and class presidencies are 24 SATURDAY MORNING SESSION in time and in eternity. Nothing—not placed in their proper role. The ward feel the joy of choosing to engage in anything, not anyone, not any influence— youth council, just like the ward coun- and sacrifice for the cause of Christ. will keep this Church from fulfilling its mission and realizing its destiny declared cil, focuses on the work of salvation His gospel will get deeper into their from before the foundation of the world. and exaltation.30 And quorums and hearts, and the work will move for- . There is no need to be afraid or classes begin their meetings by coun- ward in miraculous ways. tentative about the future. “Unlike every other era before us, seling about how to do the work God this dispensation will not experience an 31 has given them. Promise and Testimony institutional apostasy; it will not see a President Nelson said to the youth I promise, as we focus on these loss of priesthood keys; it will not suffer a cessation of revelation from the voice of of the Church: “If you choose to, if principles—relationships, revelation, Almighty God. What a day in which you want to, . you can be a big part agency, repentance, and sacrifice—the to live! of something big, something grand, gospel of Jesus Christ will sink deeper “. If you haven’t noticed, I am bullish about the latter days. Believe. Rise something majestic! . You are in all our hearts. We will see the up. Be faithful. And make the most of among the best the Lord has ever sent Restoration move forward to its ulti- the remarkable day in which we live!” to this world. You have the capacity mate purpose, the redemption of Israel (Facebook post, May 27, 2015; see also 35 “Be Not Afraid, Only Believe” [address to be smarter and wiser and have and the establishment of Zion, where to Church Educational System religious more impact on the world than any Christ will reign as King of kings.