When I think back to my youth in Logan, Utah (Elder Perry’s fabled Cache Valley), I realize how fortunate I was to be reared in a goodly home-to have a righteous mother who was full of faith, a loving father, an older brother who has been an extraordinary example to me as well as a friend and counselor, and a younger sister who has been loving and supportive. Their faith and prayers and the goodness of their lives have been a great comfort to Mary and me. Our three children and their spouses have been sources of great personal satisfaction and, together with our nine grandchildren, have been such a blessing to us. Her spiritual strength, righteous example, sense of humor, and loving support have blessed me throughout my life. My wife, Mary, has been the joy of my life. My heart is full of appreciation for my family. I am grateful that all my life I have been surrounded by those who love the Savior. In my own case, I respectfully acknowledge ancestors now on the other side of the veil who gave everything asked of them to build the kingdom of God upon the earth. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” ( 2 Timothy 1:7). In 2 Timothy, the Apostle Paul references the faith of Timothy’s grandmother Lois and his mother, Eunice. The overwhelming feeling that I have in receiving this call is that we must live by faith and not by fear. I seek the companionship of the Holy Ghost as I speak with you this Sabbath morning. “Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come.” “Behold, this is the promise of the Lord unto you, O ye my servants. In Doctrine and Covenants 68, verses 5 and 6, we read: I rejoice in the opportunity to bear witness of Jesus Christ in all the world (see D&C 107:23), notwithstanding my inadequacies. A peace came over me at that time and has stayed with me since because I love the Savior and have had spiritual experiences that allow me to testify of Him. Maxwell reassured me then that the most important qualification for all of us serving in the kingdom is to be comfortable in bearing witness of the divinity of the Savior. When I was called as a General Authority in April of 1996, I also felt unequal to the calling. To say that I feel deeply inadequate would be an understatement. My spirits have been buoyed, however, by the knowledge that President Hinckley is the prophet and that the membership of the Church will be praying for me and my family. There have been sleepless nights and much prayer. I cannot possibly articulate the kaleidoscope of feelings I have experienced since then. President Hinckley extended this call to serve in the Quorum of the Twelve late Thursday afternoon. The strength you needed to move past fear was with you all along.Dear brothers and sisters, I join with you in expressing my love and sustaining support to President Eyring and his family. (Reading Bible verses about anxiety, Bible verses about worry, Bible verses about courage, and-if you or a loved one is facing a serious illness- Bible verses about death can be of comfort too.) After reflecting on these passages, you may find that the winds have calmed and the clouds have parted. These Bible verses about fear can provide an anchor to hold you fast as you weather the storm. While fear is a common human experience, the Scripture's promise that God walks with the faithful at all times has heartened us to overcome our fears through the ages: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). When we close our eyes for a night’s sleep, our minds may begin turning over a million what-ifs about tomorrow, filling us with anxiety about circumstances beyond our control. We might fear losing someone dear to us, or worry about our future or our children’s. Fear does, after all, have a way of creeping in on us, though we may close the windows tight and double check the doors. It is no wonder that the message to “Fear not…” appears so frequently in the Bible.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |