As members of the Church or Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints we are blessed to have modern day prophets who guide us as we fight our
daily battles and overcome our mountains.
In the last conference address we heard from Elder Holland about the
First Great Commandment: “Thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all
thy strength, and with all thy mind.” Jesus
said “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
Elder Holland broke down how we can show our love to the Savior into
these simple truths, “We have neighbors to bless, children to protect, the poor
to lift up, and the truth to defend. We have wrongs to make right, truths to
share, and good to do. In short, we have a life of devoted discipleship to give
in demonstrating our love of the Lord. We can’t quit and we can’t go back.” Elder Hales in this same conference stated, “For
many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we
need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior has promised that He will
make us equal to His work. “Follow me,” He said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
I
believe that everyone asks at one time or another in their life, “Am I doing my
part? Am I showing my love for the
Savior by being a fisher of men?” In one
of my favorite musicals, Wicked, there is a song whose lyrics state a simple
truth “I've heard it said that people come into our lives for a
reason, bringing something we must learn. And we are led to those who help us
most to grow, if we let them, and we help them in return. Well, I don't know if I believe that's true but
I know I'm who I am today because I knew you...” Brothers and sisters I know that each of us
if facing our own challenges and that we all are in different places in our
lives so whether you feel like you are drowning or in a phase of soaring—might I
encourage you to do a little more. To
say a kind word or make that phone call you have been putting off, to double
that dinner recipe for a friend, to hold that crying baby for awhile, to forgive
yourself and let past pains and offenses go.
I also know that at times we feel as if we are drowning and it is taking
everything in us just to keep our own heads above water let alone tending to
others needs. Elder Uchtdorf stated, “God
is fully aware that you and I are not perfect!
Let me add, God is also fully aware that the people you think are
perfect are not. And yet, we spend so
much of our time and energy comparing ourselves to others…usually comparing our
weakness to their strengths. As a result,
we never celebrate our good efforts because they seem to be less then what someone
else does.” Please know that your
efforts to work on the Lord’s behalf are noted in Heaven and on earth and that
they are appreciated and that we love you for them. I know that I am truly who I am today because
of each of you. Thank you.
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