my privilege to serve in the Quorum of By President Russell M. Nelson the Twelve Apostles for 34 years and to know personally 10 of the 16 previous Presidents of the Church. I learned much from each of them. I also owe much to my forebears. Revelation for the All eight of my great-grandparents were converts to the Church in Europe. Each of these stalwart souls sacrificed every- Church, Revelation for thing to come to Zion. During subse- quent generations, however, not all my ancestors remained so committed. As a result, I was not raised in a gospel- Our Lives centered home. I adored my parents. They meant In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the the world to me and taught me crucial guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost. lessons. I cannot thank them enough for the happy homelife they created for me and my siblings. And yet, even as a boy, I knew I was missing something. hat a glorious privilege it possibility and immortality a reality for One day I jumped on the streetcar and has been to celebrate Easter all. went to an LDS bookstore to find a Wwith you on this Sunday of It is because of His transcendent book about the Church. I loved learn- general conference! Nothing could mission and the peace He grants His ing about the gospel. be more fitting than to commemorate followers that my wife, Wendy, and I As I came to understand the Word the most important event that ever felt comfort late on January 2, 2018, of Wisdom, I wanted my parents to live occurred on this earth by worshipping when we were awakened by a phone the most important being who ever call telling us that President Thomas S. walked this earth. In this, The Church Monson had stepped through the veil. of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we How we miss President Monson! We worship Him who commenced His honor his life and his legacy. A spiri- infinite Atonement in the Garden of tual giant, he left an indelible imprint Gethsemane. He was willing to suffer upon all who knew him and upon the for the sins and weaknesses of each Church that he loved. of us, which suffering caused Him “to On Sunday, January 14, 2018, in the bleed at every pore.” 1 He was crucified upper room of the Salt Lake Temple, on Calvary’s cross 2 and rose the third the First Presidency was reorganized in day as the first resurrected being of our the simple yet sacred pattern estab- Heavenly Father’s children. I love Him lished by the Lord. Then, at yesterday and testify that He lives! It is He who morning’s solemn assembly, members leads and guides His Church. of the Church throughout the world Without our Redeemer’s infinite raised their hands to confirm the earlier Atonement, not one of us would have action taken by the Apostles. I am hope of ever returning to our Heavenly humbly grateful for your sustaining Father. Without His Resurrection, support. death would be the end. Our Savior’s I am also grateful for those upon Atonement made eternal life a whose shoulders I stand. It has been MAY 2018 93 that law. So, one day when I was very the Salt Lake Temple on April 6, 2006. learn, typical of her—she had already young, I went to our basement and How I love her! She is an extraordinary sought and received her own revelation smashed on the concrete floor every woman—a great blessing to me, to our about us, which gave her the courage bottle of liquor! I expected my father to family, and to the entire Church. to say yes. punish me, but he never said a word. Each of these blessings has come As a member of the Quorum of the As I matured and began to under- as a result of seeking and heeding the Twelve Apostles, I prayed daily for stand the magnificence of Heavenly promptings of the Holy Ghost. Said revelation and gave thanks to the Father’s plan, I often said to myself, President Lorenzo Snow, “This is the Lord every time He spoke to my heart “I don’t want one more Christmas grand privilege of every Latter-day and mind. present! I just want to be sealed to my Saint . that it is our right to have the Imagine the miracle of it! Whatever parents.” That longed-for event did not manifestations of the Spirit every day of our Church calling, we can pray to our happen until my parents were past 80, our lives.” 4 Heavenly Father and receive guidance and then it did happen. I cannot fully One of the things the Spirit has and direction, be warned about dan- express the joy that I felt that day,3 and repeatedly impressed upon my mind gers and distractions, and be enabled each day I feel that joy of their sealing since my new calling as President of to accomplish things we simply could and my being sealed to them. the Church is how willing the Lord is to not do on our own. If we will truly In 1945, while I was in medical reveal His mind and will. The privilege receive the Holy Ghost and learn to school, I married Dantzel White in of receiving revelation is one of the discern and understand His prompt- the Salt Lake Temple. She and I were greatest gifts of God to His children. ings, we will be guided in matters large blessed with nine splendid daughters Through the manifestations of the and small. and one precious son. Today our ever- Holy Ghost, the Lord will assist us in all When I recently faced the daunt- growing family is one of the greatest our righteous pursuits. I remember in ing task of choosing two counselors, I joys of my life. an operating room, I have stood over wondered how I could possibly choose In 2005, after nearly 60 years of a patient—unsure how to perform an just two from twelve men whom I love marriage, my dear Dantzel was unex- unprecedented procedure—and expe- and respect. pectedly called home. For a season, my rienced the Holy Ghost diagramming Because I know that good inspira- grief was almost immobilizing. But the the technique in my mind.5 tion is based upon good information, I message of Easter and the promise of To strengthen my proposal to prayerfully met one-on-one with each resurrection sustained me. Wendy, I said to her, “I know about Apostle.6 I then sequestered myself Then the Lord brought Wendy revelation and how to receive it.” To in a private room in the temple and Watson to my side. We were sealed in her credit—and, as I have come to sought the Lord’s will. I testify that the 94 SUNDAY MORNING SESSION | APRIL 1, 2018 Lord instructed me to select President unifying influence of the Holy Ghost Does God really want to speak to Dallin H. Oaks and President Henry B. is spine-tingling! We experience what you? Yes! “As well might man stretch Eyring to serve as my counselors in the the Prophet Joseph Smith knew when forth his puny arm to stop the Missouri First Presidency. he taught, “By union of feeling we river in its decreed course . as to hin- In like manner, I testify that the obtain power with God.” 7 No member der the Almighty from pouring down Lord inspired the call of Elder Gerrit W. of the First Presidency or Quorum of knowledge from heaven upon the Gong and Elder Ulisses Soares to be the Twelve would ever leave decisions heads of the Latter-day Saints.” 10 ordained as His Apostles. I and we wel- for the Lord’s Church to his own best You don’t have to wonder about come them to this unique brotherhood judgment! what is true.11 You do not have to of service. Brothers and sisters, how can we wonder whom you can safely trust. When we convene as a Council of become the men and women—the Through personal revelation, you the First Presidency and Quorum of the Christlike servants—the Lord needs can receive your own witness that Twelve, our meeting rooms become us to be? How can we find answers to the Book of Mormon is the word of rooms of revelation. The Spirit is palpa- questions that perplex us? If Joseph God, that Joseph Smith is a prophet, bly present. As we wrestle with com- Smith’s transcendent experience in the and that this is the Lord’s Church. plex matters, a thrilling process unfolds Sacred Grove teaches us anything, it is Regardless of what others may say as each Apostle freely expresses his that the heavens are open and that God or do, no one can ever take away a thoughts and point of view. Though we speaks to His children. witness borne to your heart and mind may differ in our initial perspectives, The Prophet Joseph Smith set a about what is true. the love we feel for each other is con- pattern for us to follow in resolving our I urge you to stretch beyond your stant. Our unity helps us to discern the questions. Drawn to the promise of current spiritual ability to receive Lord’s will for His Church. James that if we lack wisdom we may personal revelation, for the Lord has In our meetings, the majority ask of God,8 the boy Joseph took his promised that “if thou shalt [seek], never rules! We listen prayerfully to question directly to Heavenly Father.