willing, as Paul taught, to “bear ye one By Elder Richard G. Scott another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of Christ.” 13 To bear another’s burdens includes helping, supporting, and understand- ing everyone, including the sick, the infirm, the poor in spirit and body, Make the Exercise of the seeker and the troubled, and also other member-disciples—including Church leaders who have been called Faith Your First Priority by the Lord to serve for a season. Brothers and sisters, stay in the boat, use your life jackets, and hold on Despite all of the negative challenges we have in life, we must with both hands. Avoid distractions! take time to actively exercise our faith. And if any one of you have fallen out of the boat, we will seek you, find you, minister to you, and pull you safely back onto the Old Ship Zion, hen Adam and Eve were in able to understand peace because we where God our Father and the Lord the Garden of Eden, all that feel turmoil.2 Jesus Christ are at the helm and will Wthey needed for daily suste- Our Father in Heaven knew this guide us right, to which I humbly nance was abundantly given to them. would happen to us. It is all part of testify in the name of Jesus Christ, They had no difficulties, challenges, His perfect plan of happiness. He amen. ◼ or pain. Because they had never prepared a way through the life of His experienced hard times, they did not perfectly obedient Son, Jesus Christ, NOTES know they could be happy. They had our Savior, for His Atonement to 1. Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young (1997), 82–83. never felt turmoil, so they could not overcome every difficulty that we may 2. Brigham Young, “Discourse,” Deseret News, feel peace. experience in mortality. Jan. 27, 1858, 373. Eventually Adam and Eve trans- We live in trying times. I need not 3. Brigham Young, “Remarks,” Deseret News, Nov. 18, 1857, 291. gressed the command to not eat of list all of the sources of evil in the 4. Alma 5:26. the fruit of the tree of knowledge of world. It is not necessary to describe 5. M. Russell Ballard, “Mission Leadership” good and evil. By so doing they were all of the possible challenges and (address given at the seminar for new mission presidents, June 25, 2014), 8. no longer in a state of innocence. heartaches that are a part of mortality. 6. M. Russell Ballard, “Be Still, and Know They began to experience principles Each of us is intimately aware of our That I Am God” (Church Educational of opposition. They began to encoun- own struggles with temptation, pain, System devotional, May 4, 2014); lds.org/ broadcasts. ter sickness that weakened their and sadness. 7. Alma 17:2. health. They began to feel sadness as We were taught in the premortal 8. Alma 17:3. well as joy. world that our purpose in com- 9. First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles letter, June 28, 2014. Through Adam and Eve’s partaking ing here is to be tested, tried, and 10. Joseph Smith, Elders’ Journal, July 1838, 44. of the forbidden fruit, knowledge of stretched.3 We knew we would face 11. 2 Nephi 31:20. good and evil was introduced into the the evils of the adversary. Sometimes 12. First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles letter, June 28, 2014. world. Their choice made it possible we may feel more aware of the nega- 13. Galatians 6:2. for each of us to come to this earth to tive things of mortality than we are of be tried and tested.1 We are blessed the positive. The prophet Lehi taught, with agency, which is our ability “For it must needs be, that there is an Shareable Video and Quote to make decisions and to become opposition in all things.” 4 Despite all Scan this QR code or visit lds.org/go/ accountable for those decisions. The of the negative challenges we have Oct14Conf17 to watch this talk or to find a shareable video highlight and Fall made possible in our lives feelings in life, we must take time to actively picture quote. of both happiness and sadness. We are exercise our faith. Such exercise 92 invites the positive, faith-filled power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ into our lives. Our Father in Heaven has given us tools to help us come unto Christ and exercise faith in His Atonement. When these tools become fundamental habits, they provide the easiest way to find peace in the challenges of mortality. Today I have chosen to discuss four of these tools. As I speak, consider eval- uating your personal use of each tool; then seek the guidance of the Lord to determine how you could make better use of each one of them.
Prayer The first tool is prayer. Choose to converse with your Father in Heaven often. Make time every day to share your thoughts and feelings with Him. Tell Him everything that concerns you. He is interested in the most important as well as the most mundane facets Scripture Study There are many prophetic promises of your life. Share with Him your full The second tool is to study the of the blessings of daily studying the range of feelings and experiences. word of God in the scriptures and the scriptures.6 Because He respects your agency, words of the living prophets. We talk I add my voice with this prom- Father in Heaven will never force you to God through prayer. He most often ise: as you dedicate time every day, to pray to Him. But as you exercise communicates back to us through His personally and with your family, to that agency and include Him in every written word. To know what the voice the study of God’s word, peace will aspect of your daily life, your heart of the Divine sounds and feels like, prevail in your life. That peace won’t will begin to fill with peace, buoyant read His words, study the scriptures, come from the outside world. It will peace. That peace will focus an eter- and ponder them.5 Make them an come from within your home, from nal light on your struggles. It will help integral part of everyday life. If you within your family, from within your you to manage those challenges from want your children to recognize, own heart. It will be a gift of the Spirit. an eternal perspective. understand, and act on the prompt- It will radiate out from you to influ- Parents, help safeguard your chil- ings of the Spirit, you must study the ence others in the world around you. dren by arming them morning and scriptures with them. You will be doing something very night with the power of family prayer. Don’t yield to Satan’s lie that you significant to add to the cumulative Children are bombarded every day don’t have time to study the scriptures. peace in the world. with the evils of lust, greed, pride, Choose to take time to study them. I do not declare that your life will and a host of other sinful behaviors. Feasting on the word of God each day cease to have challenges. Remember Protect your children from daily is more important than sleep, school, when Adam and Eve were in the gar- worldly influences by fortifying them work, television shows, video games, den, they were free from challenges, with the powerful blessings that result or social media. You may need to yet they were unable to experience from family prayer. Family prayer reorganize your priorities to provide happiness, joy, and peace.7 Challenges should be a nonnegotiable priority in time for the study of the word of God. are an important part of mortality. your daily life. If so, do it! Through daily, consistent scripture
November 2014 93 study, you will find peace in the tur- family traditions; to talk to each other; Him there. Remember that many more moil around you and strength to resist and more important, to have a marvel- blessings come from providing your temptations. You will develop strong ous time together! own family names in the temple. faith in the grace of God and know At last April’s conference, Sister These four tools are fundamen- that through the Atonement of Jesus Linda S. Reeves boldly declared: “I tal habits for securing your life in Christ all will be made right according must testify of the blessings of daily the power of the Atonement of to God’s timing. scripture study and prayer and weekly Jesus Christ. Remember our Savior family home evening. These are the is the Prince of Peace. Peace in this Family Home Evening very practices that help take away mortal life comes from His atoning While you are working to strengthen stress, give direction to our lives, sacrifice. When we are consistently your family and cultivate peace, and add protection to our homes.” 8 praying morning and night, studying remember this third tool: weekly family Sister Reeves is a very wise woman. our scriptures daily, having weekly home evening. Be cautious not to I strongly urge you to earn your own family home evening, and attending make your family home evening just an testimony of these three crucial habits. the temple regularly, we are actively afterthought of a busy day. Decide that responding to His invitation to “come on Monday night your family will be Temple Attendance unto Him.” The more we develop together at home for the evening. Do The fourth tool is to go to the these habits, the more anxious is Satan not let employment demands, sports, temple. We all know there is no more to harm us but the less is his ability to extracurricular activities, homework, or peaceful place on this earth than in the do so. Through the use of these tools, anything else become more important temples of God. If you don’t have a we exercise our agency to accept the than that time you spend together at temple recommend, qualify to get one. full gifts of His atoning sacrifice. home with your family. When you have a recommend, use it I am not suggesting that all of The structure of your evening is not often.9 Schedule a regular time to be life’s struggles will disappear as you as important as the time invested. The in the temple. Don’t let anyone or any- do these things. We came to mortal gospel should be taught both formally thing prevent you from being there. life precisely to grow from trials and and informally. Make it a meaning- While you are in the temple, testing. Challenges help us become ful experience for each member of listen to the words of the ordinances, more like our Father in Heaven, and the family. Family home evening is a ponder them, pray about them, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ makes it precious time to bear testimony in a seek to understand their meaning. possible to endure those challenges.10 safe environment; to learn teaching, The temple is one of the best places I testify that as we actively come unto planning, and organizational skills; to to come to understand the power of Him, we can endure every tempta- strengthen family bonds; to develop the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Seek tion, every heartache, every challenge we face, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. ◼
NOTES 1. See Moses 5:11. 2. See Moses 4–5. 3. See Abraham 3:25. 4. 2 Nephi 2:11. 5. See Doctrine and Covenants 18:36; see also verses 34–35. 6. Some examples include: President Thomas S. Monson said: “As we read and ponder the scriptures, we will experience the sweet whisperings of the Spirit to our souls. We can find answers to our questions. We learn of the blessings which come through keeping God’s commandments. We gain a sure testimony of our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico Jesus Christ, and of Their love for us. When
94 scripture study is combined with our areas of activity will automatically come. a brushstroke on the canvas of our souls. prayers, we can of a certainty know that Testimonies will increase. Commitment will No one event may appear to be very the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. . . . As we be strengthened. Families will be fortified. impressive or memorable. But just as the remember prayer and take time to turn to Personal revelation will flow” (“The Power yellow and gold and brown strokes of paint the scriptures, our lives will be infinitely of the Word,” Ensign, May 1986, 81). complement each other and produce an more blessed and our burdens will be President Spencer W. Kimball declared: impressive masterpiece, so our consistency made lighter” (“We Never Walk Alone,” “I find that when I get casual in my in doing seemingly small things can lead Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 122). relationships with divinity and when it to significant spiritual results” (“More President Gordon B. Hinckley said: seems that no divine ear is listening and no Diligent and Concerned at Home,” Ensign “Without reservation I promise you that divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far or Liahona, Nov. 2009, 19–20). if each of you will observe this simple away. If I immerse myself in the scriptures 7. See 2 Nephi 2:13. program, regardless of how many times the distance narrows and the spirituality 8. Linda S. Reeves, “Protection from you previously may have read the Book of returns. I find myself loving more intensely Pornography—a Christ-Focused Home,” Mormon, there will come into your lives those whom I must love with all my heart Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 16–17. and into your homes an added measure and mind and strength, and loving them 9. President Howard W. Hunter said: “In that of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened more, I find it easier to abide their counsel” spirit I invite the Latter-day Saints to look to resolution to walk in obedience to His (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: the temple of the Lord as the great symbol commandments, and a stronger testimony Spencer W. Kimball [2006], 67). of your membership. It is the deepest of the living reality of the Son of God” (“A President Marion G. Romney said: “I feel desire of my heart to have every member Testimony Vibrant and True,” Ensign or certain that if, in our homes, parents will read of the Church worthy to enter the temple. Liahona, Aug. 2005, 6). from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and It would please the Lord if every adult President Howard W. Hunter said: regularly, both by themselves and with their member would be worthy of—and carry—a “Families are greatly blessed when wise children, the spirit of that great book will current temple recommend. The things that fathers and mothers bring their children come to permeate our homes and all who we must do and not do to be worthy of a about them, read from the pages of the dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will temple recommend are the very things that scriptural library together, and then discuss increase; mutual respect and consideration ensure we will be happy as individuals and freely the beautiful stories and thoughts for each other will grow. The spirit of as families. Let us be a temple-attending according to the understanding of all. contention will depart. Parents will counsel people. Attend the temple as frequently Often youth and little ones have amazing their children in greater love and wisdom. as personal circumstances allow. Keep a insight into and appreciation for the Children will be more responsive and picture of a temple in your home that your basic literature of religion” (“Reading the submissive to the counsel of their parents. children may see it. Teach them about the Scriptures,” Ensign, Nov. 1979, 64). Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, purposes of the house of the Lord. Have President Ezra Taft Benson said: “Often and charity—the pure love of Christ—will them plan from their earliest years to go we spend great effort in trying to increase abound in our homes and lives, bringing in there and to remain worthy of that blessing” the activity levels in our stakes. We work their wake peace, joy, and happiness” (“The (“Exceeding Great and Precious Promises,” diligently to raise the percentages of those Book of Mormon,” Ensign, May 1980, 67). Ensign, Nov. 1994, 8). attending sacrament meetings. We labor President Boyd K. Packer said: “True 10. See 2 Nephi 2:2. to get a higher percentage of our young doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and men on missions. We strive to improve the behavior. The study of the doctrines of the numbers of those marrying in the temple. gospel will improve behavior quicker than a All of these are commendable efforts and study of behavior will improve behavior” (“Do Shareable Video and Quote important to the growth of the kingdom. Not Fear,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2004, 79). Scan this QR code or visit lds.org/go/ But when individual members and families Elder David A. Bednar said: “Each family Oct14Conf18 to watch this talk or to immerse themselves in the scriptures prayer, each episode of family scripture find a shareable video highlight and regularly and consistently, these other study, and each family home evening is picture quote.
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