The Living Prophet Dallin H. Oaks

 I was in a dark mood yesterday evening. It had not been a good Sabbath day for me for some reason. Perhaps, I speculated, it was the change of the clocks back to Standard Time and the onset of darkness earlier at the end of the day. Whatever the reason, my mood matched the weather after a rainy day that then changed to snow overnight.

This morning, November 2, 2026, my thoughts led me to reviewing the talk of President Dallin H. Oaks at the recent General Conference. He entitled it “The Gospel of Jesus Christ Is for All.” 

President Dallin H. Oaks

I was inspired and edified as I read and studied the footnoted scriptures cited in depth. At times, particularly when we are struggling within ourselves based upon outside influences over which we have absolutely NO control, I often find retreat and rebalancing in the words of the living prophets and the scriptures. Such was my experience this morning. I encourage each of you to follow my lead and see if it doesn’t help you too.

President Oaks reminded us: It is “His Church” for many reasons. As we state in our first article of faith, “We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.” God the Father, the great Elohim, is the Father of our spirits, the framer of heaven and earth, and the author of the plan of our salvation. Jesus Christ is His Only Begotten Son, Jehovah, and the Messiah, “the God of the whole earth.” As the Book of Mormon declares, “Salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.”

It’s such a simple declarative statement, I assert, but it’s packed with power in the context of all the other competing voices “out there.” As we embrace its truth, his reminder to me this morning was uplifting and empowering.

“As your President, I pray for what our Heavenly Father wants for each of us — to be active members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, proceeding forward on the covenant path into the eternities. We need one another’s prayers. I feel the positive effect of your prayers. I am thankful, and I love you.”

(To read those words, “I love you,” coming as they did from the Prophet gave me great comfort this morning. And I LOVE YOU too, President Oaks.)

“We are all a work in progress. We are all at different places on what President Russell M. Nelson called ‘the covenant path.’ We need to be patient with one another and, occasionally, even with ourselves. Overcoming uncertainty and doubt — which may include resolving conflicts between the evolving understanding of science and the sometimes incomplete teachings of religion — can be a lengthy process. It involves building faith and strengthening humility. Hold on to the first article of faith even if something else is uncertain. And while you wait, wait upon the Lord, which includes trusting in His timing as well as in His promises.” (ibid., emphasis mine).

“We are grateful to know that there are two methods of gaining needed knowledge: (1) the evolving disclosures of man through the scientific method and digital information, which may be inaccurate, and (2) the truths discovered through the spiritual method, which begins with faith in God and relies on scriptures, inspired teaching, and personal revelation. There is no ultimate conflict between knowledge obtained by these different methods because God, our omnipotent Eternal Father, knows all truth and expects us to learn by both methods.” (ibid., emphasis mine).

“Other Book of Mormon teachings contradict the erroneous assertion that the grace of God saves only a chosen few. The Book of Mormon teaches that our Savior inviteth ‘all to come unto him … ; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.’ His grace is for all. Similarly, the Book of Mormon tells us that the children of God in ‘every nation’ have His promise that He ‘manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost.’ (2 Nephi 26:13).

“These promises from the Book of Mormon are true. Millions believe them and have had experiences to affirm their truth. I invite all to believe them. (2 Nephi 29:13).

“We believe that the Lord will eventually cause the inspired teachings He has given to His children in various nations to be brought forth for the benefit of all people. This will include accounts of the visit of the resurrected Lord to what we call the lost tribes of Israel and His revelations to all the seed of Abraham. (Moses 7:62).

“We live in the day foretold when righteousness is sent forth out of heaven and truth out of the earth ‘to sweep the earth as with a flood, [and] to gather out [the] elect from the four quarters of the earth.’” (ibid., emphasis mine).

I have intentionally cited direct quotes from this address by President Oaks. There is renewed hope within me this morning as I have studied, and the spirit of the Holy Ghost has affirmed within me these words are heaven-sent for each of us to ponder and consider in our own individual circumstances.

I lit a fire in the wood-burning stove this morning when I came downstairs. It is now burning brightly, adding warmth to that side of the home. It reminds me symbolically of what studying the words of President Oaks has also done for me spiritually this morning. It would be easy to lie in bed all morning on a day such as today, but I am so grateful now that I followed the prompting to throw off the covers and try to do something to overcome those gross and unwelcome feelings of self-pity.

President Dallin H. Oaks was indeed my antidote for that simple one-hour change on my clock that most probably was the source of my dark mood. I offer the remedy here for each of you too with my blessing and all my love.

* * *

ADDENDUM

Patsy is Now in the Arms of Her Savior

I drove away after posting this entry to pick up a prescription at the pharmacy. When the music started in the car, here’s what I heard from Michael Buble. His song clarified further in my mind the source of my mood - I was missing Patsy terribly too:

“You And I”

Here we are
On earth together
It’s you and I
God has made us fall in love
It’s true
I’ve really found
Someone like you

Will it say
The love you feel for me
Will it say
That you will be by my side
To see me through
Until my life is through

Well in my mind
We can conquer the world
In love you and I
You and I, you and I

I am glad
At least in my life
I’ve found someone
That may not be here forever
To see me through
But I found my strength in you

‘Cause in my mind
You will stay here always
In love you and I
You and I, you and I
You and I

In my mind
We can conquer the world
In love you and I
You and I, you and I

* * *

She has now departed this world. Nevertheless, I love my eternal companion Patsy, and I know she loves me. I can feel her comforting influence on me every day of my life. I’m facing the final curtain now, and I have no fear of what lies beyond this life. I pray I may live in such a way as to merit her company beyond my grave where our mortal bodies will lie side by side when my time comes.

The Fickle Fates of Sports Fandom

This last weekend saw two outcomes for the local teams. BYU defeated Notre Dame 28-24, and Utah defeated Colorado 27-24. The AP poll after that ranked BYU at No. 2, and Utah at No. 10, the first time perhaps ever that our two perpetual in-state rivals have ranked that high simultaneously. Both teams remain undefeated. Importantly, as I look back on these pages historically, almost everything I have ever written about sports has now expired and is forgotten. And so will this last weekend’s results. Remember, the fickle fates of even our most ardent fandom passions are here today, gone tomorrow.

At our two-hour block during our Sunday meetings there were smiles all around, and nobody made the usual jabs at each other. Everyone had a smile on their face, and the games were openly discussed with eager anticipation now of the upcoming rivalry game in two weeks.

I reflected this morning on what has happened to me over the years. I used to be much more invested in sports than I am right now. Frankly, the interruptions with ads now prolong the games of all sorts to a point that it’s almost unwatchable. I’m admitting it here and now - I’m now content to just look up the scores after it’s all said and done.

My interest is now mostly tangential at best. I thought it was instructive to have called on a good brother in the ward for a prayer in Sunday School, only to be turned down because he had lost his voice after attending the BYU-Notre Dame game in person and yelling so much his voice had disappeared come Sunday morning. (I won’t name names). 

That prompts this thought in me today:

“What is it that you are so passionate about these days that you could shout your voice into oblivion?”

Here’s some food for thought. When Moses went to the mountain to talk to the Lord, he was gone for 40 days (see Exodus 24:18). The Israelites, who had seen wonderful miracles but were still growing their faith, feared Moses was never coming back. They rebelled against God and asked Aaron to make them a golden calf so they could worship that instead of the Lord (see Exodus 32).

In other words, when things got tough, they panicked, turned away from God, and reverted to their sinful ways.

We all have moments of uncertainty. Sometimes it may not seem clear what the Lord wants us to do. Sometimes we pray for answers and get impatient when they don’t come right away.

What do we do then? We hold onto our faith. We cling to what we already know while waiting to learn more.

The Golden Calf

You might not be tempted to build an idol to worship when you get discouraged. But what about the temptation to do things that bring more immediate gratification instead of lasting joy?

Don’t fall into that trap! Wait on the Lord for as long as it takes. Choose to trust Him. He will always deliver on His promises.

Now, what do we hear in the gospel which we have received? A voice of gladness! A voice of mercy from heaven; and a voice of truth out of the earth; glad tidings for the dead; a voice of gladness for the living and the dead; glad tidings of great joy. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that bring glad tidings of good things, and that say unto Zion: Behold, thy God reigneth! As the dews of Carmel, so shall the knowledge of God descend upon them! (D&C 128:19, emphasis mine).

Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy. (2 Nephi 2:25).

For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. (Isaiah 55:12).

Lindon Temple

Each time I attend a temple endowment session these days, I am reminded how we all shouted for joy in our premortal life when we heard God’s plan of happiness, and we continue to shout for joy here as we live according to His plan. These simple truths, it seems to me, easily trump our sports addiction, whichever choice we embrace, whether BLUE or RED here in Utah.

I know, I know, Grandpa, it just isn’t fair to pit the gospel plan against our enthusiasm for sports teams. I get it, and I still love the Yankees too, regardless of their long-lasting dearth in recent years from appearances in the World Series. However, as I come closer to the veil between this life and the next, I must admit my predilection for gospel truths as my enthusiasm for sports fandom wanes proportionately.

Don’t let me dissuade you in any way from your own wild and perhaps irrational love of sports today. Just be prepared for a shift in priorities that may or may not occur for each of you too. I admit it freely here on this page today.

Because God considered these eternal truths to be among His highest and holiest blessings, He instructed that sacred buildings be erected where He could confer these precious gifts upon His children. These buildings would be His home on our planet Earth. These buildings would be temples where that which was sealed or bound on earth in His name, by His word, and with His authority would be bound in the heavens.

As members of the Church today, some of us may find it easy to take these glorious eternal truths for granted. They have become second nature to us. We mistakenly think we can somehow win the world over with our enthusiastic fandom in Provo, Utah, at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Sometimes it is helpful when we see them through the eyes of those who learn about them for the very first time.

LaVell Edwards

President Russell M. Nelson has taught: “The time is coming when those who do not obey the Lord will be separated from those who do. Our safest insurance is to continue to be worthy of admission to His holy house.” 

All it takes to get into LaVell Edwards Stadium is a purchased ticket. Our admission to the temple is secured by a “ticket” with three signatures - ours and two additional witnesses. No money exchanges hands for a temple recommend.

President Nelson also taught: “The temple lies at the center of strengthening our faith and spiritual fortitude because the Savior and His doctrine are the very heart of the temple. Everything taught in the temple, through instruction and through the Spirit, increases our understanding of Jesus Christ. His essential ordinances bind us to Him through sacred priesthood covenants. Then, as we keep our covenants, He endows us with His healing, strengthening power. And oh, how we will need His power in the days ahead.” (Emphasis mine). 

Hands were laid on the heads of our new Woodland Ward Elders Quorum Presidency on Sunday by our stake presidency. They were told it was being done in the “power and authority” of the Holy Priesthood. I have written in years past about the differences between those two words “power” and “authority.” They are NOT synonymous. I refer you to those writings rather than laying it all out again here this morning. What do you think the difference might be? Do a search on these pages to learn more.

Kirtland Temple

How fitting is it that on Palm Sunday of 1836, the Kirtland Temple was being dedicated. We do something called the “Hosanna Shout” at temple dedications, waving white handkerchiefs overhead. We’re symbolically shouting for joy. On that occasion the disciples of Jesus Christ were rejoicing as well. In that dedicatory prayer, the Prophet Joseph Smith declared these words of praise:

“O Lord God Almighty, hear us … and answer us from heaven, … where thou sittest enthroned, with glory, honor, power, majesty, [and] might. …

“… Help us by the power of thy Spirit, that we may mingle our voices with those bright, shining seraphs around thy throne, with acclamations of praise, singing Hosanna to God and the Lamb!

“And let these … thy saints shout aloud for joy.” (Doctrine and Covenants 109:77, 79–80, emphasis mine).

That’s enough to make the point, isn’t it? Someday our true shouts of acclamation will transcend sports enthusiasm. I pray we may not always be riveted in the chains of our favorite sports teams, that may have even descended into betting on our favorite teams. President D. Todd Christofferson recently counseled against gambling in all its forms in General Conference.

Ty Detmer and the 1984 national football championship at BYU are now long gone in a distant memory. Even if 2026 sees a repeat of that glorious championship we must still seek to bring willing souls to Christ and THAT eventuality will happen more probably through the instrumentality of our 18-year-old missionaries now flooding the Earth today. I pray constantly for our current crop of seven missionary grandchildren, Jonny, Bryson, Noah, Chloe, Aleyah, Matthew and Amelia.

Their labors among truth seekers “out there” are REALLY worth shouting about!

Comparisons and Judgments

This morning I was in the Jordan River Temple for an endowment session. I officiated for Michael Jackson (no, not THAT one), born 1875 in Oregon. No one had performed temple ordinances for him since 2004! It was thrilling to be there in a full house session filled with octogenarians. I counted four people with something other than white hair.

The Beach Boys, circa 60s

For some unknown reason I had the Beatles and the Beach Boys on my mind this morning. To the uninitiated, those were the two rival bands competing for the affections of my teenaged counterparts in the Sixties while we were in high school. The debates raged on and on among us over which was the better band. I favored the clean-cut California Beach Boys to the mop-haired Beatles from Liverpool, England. The Beatles were an acquired taste for me that became more palatable when I became a missionary assigned to the Wirral Peninsula near Liverpool as a member of the Mormon Yankees baseball team. I toured all their haunts in and around Liverpool where they all hailed from.

The Beatles

This morning reminded me once again, as I always am, that our Father in Heaven had a choice to make between two sons who would put themselves forward to implement the Father’s plan for His children. His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, offered simply, “Father, send me. Thy will be done.” Lucifer offered his guarantee that “not one soul would be lost.” Moral agency, the freedom to CHOOSE, was favored in the implementation of the Father’s plan, and He chose Jehovah accompanied by the law of sacrifice to ensure our moral agency. The Atonement was the outcome.

Humorously, after the session had concluded, I was in the restroom washing my hands as I was leaving. An elderly temple ordinance worker said, noting which basin I had used, “Was the water colder down there?” To which I replied, “Yes.” “Well, up on this end,” he informed me, “the water’s warmer because this end represents the Celestial Kingdom, but down there you were in the Telestial Kingdom.” Have to admit, no one had EVER explained that phenomenon to me before!

In the chapel before the session began, I was sitting quietly listening to organ music of the hymns being played by an elderly little sister who is blind. It was heavenly to listen to her as not one flawed note came out of her! I was so grateful that at her advanced age she was sharing her talents with all of us.

In this life we are confronted with choices to make, mostly insignificant and unimportant little choices that amount to nothing more than personal preferences over a myriad of topics. It’s trivial pursuit at its finest.

However, have you noticed the tendency of others around you to make comparisons about nearly everything out there? Sometimes they will compare people against one another. Often the comparisons are harsh and unforgiving. You know what I’m talking about, because when you hear others make those comparisons pitting one person against another, you often just cringe and want to withdraw immediately rather than engage in the unfairness of it all. It just doesn’t feel right, does it? And when that happens you can’t get out of the conversation quickly enough.

If those comparisons persist unchecked, particularly as it pertains to our Father in Heaven’s children, or worse, our dearest family members, then harsh judgments can often ensue and then alienation creeps in to our thinking. Often we reject them for a season and refuse to engage further. Judgments can hurt and are often unforgiving and frequently permanent. I know children in my extended family who are now completely alienated from their parents and haven’t spoken to them for many years now. I plead with all of us this afternoon to beware and be cautious that such comparisons and judgments do not overtake our love for one another.

Over a space of twenty years Patsy and I produced offspring, resulting in thirteen live births and six miscarriages. To say she was prolific would be an understatement! As a result, our family is an outstanding representation of personalities, characteristics, talents and tendencies that is truly magnificent and diverse to behold at this point as they have all matured into capable adults. We now have grandchildren and great-grandchildren who perpetuate this marvelous array of spirits among us.

Rather than seeking for unanimity of sameness and conformity with some unwieldy standard of homogeneity, I pray we may continue to enthusiastically embrace one another despite our obvious and unique differences. It is the gold standard of gospel covenants that I encounter in the temple each time I attend that must be the governing principles we seek.

The law of obedience.

The law of sacrifice.

The law of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The law of chastity.

The law of consecration.

These are the five laws I routinely review each time I attend the temple, as I did today.

Jordan River Temple

Yes, that’s an ambulance you can see parked outside the temple. In our jam-packed session a good brother collapsed as he attempted to join the prayer circle. Dramatic happening, but he was seated again when he recovered consciousness and was later taken away in the ambulance for observation. I was told he completed the session after I had gone through the veil.

I heard two brethren in the Celestial Room discussing the relative merits of their walkers. They were comparing and contrasting (sounded more like a debate to me) the various features, not the most spiritual topic they could have selected for their surrounding environs, but that’s just me making a judgment, isn’t it?

Then as I was exiting the parking lot, I noted my near-empty gas tank crying out for attention with a blinking light. I drove past several gas stations posting competing prices between $4.99 down to $4.79 along my way to Costco, where today’s price was a “paltry” $4.49. My easy comparisons led to an informed judgment for the winning low price.

Let me conclude with one final thought for each of us. When you are tempted to speak out loud a comparison between two family members you love, even something that might seem like it’s trivial, stop yourself and ask, “If I speak this thought out loud right now, am I being judgmental to the detriment of this person and the one to whom I’m speaking?” I might gently suggest your judgments are not always based upon all the facts that, if fully known to you, would render a different conclusion.

One of my Mother’s well-worn mantras was, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all!”

Thumper said it. . .

She was quoting Bambi’s forest companion Thumper. Still pretty good advice today, though none of you would know anything about Bambi and Thumper, just like few of you would remember seeing the Beach Boys live in concert at Lagoon like I did back in the days when they performed there.

"While one portion of the human race are judging and condemning the other without mercy, the great parent of the universe looks upon the whole of the human family with a fatherly care, and paternal regard; he views them as his offspring; and without any of these contracted feelings that influence the children of men, causes 'his sun to rise on the evil and the good; and sends his rain on the just and unjust.'” - Prophet Joseph Smith

Sister Amelia Goates Teaches the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Her Farewell Message to Her Ward

I am the grandfather of Sister Amelia Goates, leaving soon for the Michigan Detroit Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Amelia and her friend Avery Crawford had just played a piano duet medley of missionary favorite hymns, and then she commenced her final farewell message to her home ward, the Daniel 2nd Ward, on September 27, 2026. She is joining an unprecedented number of 90,000 young missionaries now serving, mostly because of the increased number of sister missionaries due to the reduced age of 18 recently announced. I can’t begin to express my gratitude for all those among the Goates Kids who have answered this clarion call from God’s living Prophet, President Dallin H. Oaks. I turned over the program and noted all the missionaries serving worldwide from their ward.

Worldwide Representation

* * *

One of the songs we just played was “I Hope They Call Me on a Mission.” I remember how much fun singing this song was in Primary because of all the missionaries I knew that were out serving, whether it was cousins, friends or neighbors. The first verse says, “I hope they call me on a mission, when I have grown a foot or two. I hope by then I will be ready to preach and teach and work as missionaries do.” While I’m still waiting to grow that “foot or two,” I am so excited to “preach and teach and work as missionaries do” for the next 18 months. I never in a million years thought that those lyrics I sang as a little kid would be what I am doing now.

Sister Amelia Goates with Grandpa

As I’ve been preparing over the last couple of months to serve in the Michigan Detroit Mission, I’ve thought a lot about how the Lord has guided me. Guided me to reach out to that one friend, send that one text, make that one phone call, buy that one bouquet of flowers, smile at that one person, sit next to that one person, go on that one walk, that one drive, play that one sport, apply for that one job, try that one new thing that I wouldn’t have tried otherwise, take that one AP class, make that one blanket, be that one temple worker so excited to go to her shift, or leave on that one mission.

I was talking to my Mom last week about how much I have felt loved. Loved by my amazing family and friends and loved by my Savior. Looking back, all I can say is thank you. Thank you. Thank you for being people that the Lord has guided me to because I definitely wouldn’t be standing here without the amazing people all of you are. Thank you for being the answer to many of my unspoken prayers. I am so blessed to have friends who feel like family, and a family I am grateful to call my own.

My Aunt [Dianne] has a sign hung in her living room right as you walk in the door, that says, “He is,” so naturally every time I am at her house, I see it. I have noticed this sign for a while now, but I only just talked to my Aunt about why she has this sign in her house that seems almost incomplete. We started talking about it and what she said changed how I view my Savior. 

She was telling me that that sign means so much to her because each day “He is” whatever we need Him to be. Yes, “He is Risen” but “He is” also Merciful, my Advocate, my Comforter, my Refuge, my Safe Place, my Example, my Deliverer, my Teacher, or any of the other names of Christ you love. Each day “He is” whatever I need. He is my Healer when I am broken. He is my Peace when I am overwhelmed and anxious. He is my Strength when I feel weak. He is my Hope when I am discouraged. He is my best friend when I need to rant. He is my Good Shepherd when I am lost and need guidance. He is my Savior, my Redeemer, and Song.

After some thoughtful consideration, I’ve decided that my new favorite name of my Savior is “He is” because he really is whoever I need him to be. And most of the time “He is” 20 things to me all at once. After thinking about the phrase “He is,” I have realized that the Lord has shown me who “He is” in a lot of different ways. But one of the most consistent ways He has helped me recognize Him is through music.

John 10:27 says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me.” I have learned my Shepherd’s voice in the scriptures, but I have FOUND his voice in music. Music has the power to move you, change you. I feel such a calmness when I am hearing Him through music. Because at the end of the day music and hymns are Jesus.

One song that I haven’t been able to get out of my head since getting my mission call is one that I remember singing in Primary. It says,

I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I know who I am.
I know God’s plan.
I’ll follow in his ways.
I believe in the Savior Jesus Christ.
I’ll honor His name.
I’ll do what is right.
I’ll follow His light.
His truth I will proclaim.

I think it is so cool that from such a young age we can sing these truths. I loved singing time and while I didn’t have the greatest voice, I always had the biggest smile. I didn’t even realize what I was singing at 6 years old.

As I have thought about the lyrics to this song over the last couple months, I realized how crazy it is that the lyrics never changed but the person reading them did. Simple lines that were so easy for me to sing at 6 became a lot harder for me as I was going through high school. Did I belong in the Church? Who was I? What was going on in my life because it seemed like I never had a clue. Did I believe in the Savior Jesus Christ? What was right? Where could I find hope? And while I didn’t know the answer to all my questions in high school, I know now with a surety that I do belong in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know who I am. I know God’s plan. I’ll follow in His ways. I believe in the Savior Jesus Christ. I’ll honor His name. I’ll do what is right. I’ll follow His light. His truth I will proclaim. 

I get to be a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and proclaim His truth. The word “proclaim” means to announce or declare something publicly, clearly, and with authority. I won’t just be sharing His truth, but I will be announcing it publicly, clearly, and with authority for all to hear. I will be proclaiming his word and living the words that I have sung my whole life.

Another Primary song that has helped guide me which also happens to be one of my family’s favorites is, “Give Said the Little Stream.” Another banger if I do say so myself. This was always a go-to song during Family Home Evening growing up. If I ever got to pick the song, I would almost always pick this one. The whole song is so good, but my favorite verse is the last verse that says, 

“Give then as Jesus gives, Give oh give, Give oh give. 
Give then as Jesus gives; There is something all can give. 
Do as the streams and blossoms do: For God and others live. 
Singing, singing all the day, Give away, oh Give away. 
Singing, singing all the day, give oh give oh give away.”

I am not giving up 18 months; I am giving 18 months. I get to give as Jesus gives. I get to give because He lives. There is something all can give, and it doesn’t have to be a mission. I can give a smile, I can give a hug, I can give my time, my kindness, my love, my effort, my patience, and my whole heart. There is always something I can give. But the reason I want to give is because Jesus Christ gave first. A good shepherd gives constantly. He gives protection, direction, patience, and care. Jesus Christ gave everything for us. In John 10:11 it says, “The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” Because He gave His life for me, I want to give my life back to Him, not just for18 months but every day.

Primary songs are so amazing, and they are some of the best songs to go back to and look at. I haven’t just found my Savior in Primary songs though. I have found Him in hymns, instrumental music, Christian music and even in everyday songs that I love to listen to. God is truly everywhere if we just look for Him.

Music has helped me find comfort in the unknown. My favorite artist has a song that sums the unknown up in a simple chorus. He says,

Although I guess if I knew tomorrow, I guess I wouldn’t need faith.
I guess if I never fell, I guess I wouldn’t need grace.
I guess if I knew His plans, I guess He wouldn’t be God, God, God
So maybe I don’t know
Maybe I don’t know
Maybe I don’t know
Maybe I don’t know
But maybe that’s okay
Maybe that’s okay
Maybe that’s okay
Maybe I don’t know, maybe I don’t know
But maybe that’s okay.

We aren’t supposed to know everything. I definitely don’t. I didn’t even know why I was going on a mission for a while. I still don’t know exactly why I changed my whole plan of going to golf in college, to a mission. There is so much uncertainty about what my future will hold and it’s a little terrifying sometimes.

In John 14:18 it says, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” I am not alone in my uncertainty, because He will not leave me comfortless and will come to me like the Good Shepherd, He is. He is my Comforter and my Peace.

If I knew everything I wouldn’t be standing up here. I need to have the uncertainty in my life because I need Him. I need to have faith, and His grace and trust that He has a plan just for me.

So maybe I don’t know. Maybe I don’t exactly know why I am going to Detroit. Maybe I don’t know what I am doing. Maybe I don’t know how hard it is going to actually be. Maybe I don’t know how my life will change with serving a mission. Maybe I don’t know who I am supposed to meet. Maybe I don’t know who my companions will be. Maybe I don’t even know what I will say. But maybe that’s okay. Sometimes we just need to listen to John and trust that God knows. Maybe it’s okay that only He knows why I am going to Detroit, or who I need to meet, or how I will change on my mission. Maybe it’s okay that I know almost absolutely nothing because He knows. He knows what he is doing and it’s okay that I don’t have the answers. The Lord is my Shepherd, and knows what I will know. He’s got me. I know that on my best day, I’m a Child of God. On my worst day, I’m a Child of God. Oh, every day is a good day. And You’re the reason why I’m so blessed, I’m so blessed. I am so blessed to have the life that I have with the people I have it with. Life isn’t about what you go through, it’s about who you do it with. I have the best people to do life with. I am so blessed.

I would like to close by sharing my testimony. I am Amelia Goates, soon to be Sister Goates. I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know who I am, I know God’s plan. I will follow in His ways. I believe in my Savior Jesus Christ. I’ll honor His name. I do what is right. I’ll follow His light. His truth I will proclaim. He is my ______ today, and I hope that He can be whatever you need Him to be today. I know that this Church has brought me so much joy. I am so excited to give this joy to others in Michigan. I am giving because He gave first. I am serving because He served first. I am trying to be like Jesus; I’m following His ways. I’m trying to love as He did, in all that I do and say. I know that I need Him every hour. I know that through Him I can be made better. I have the strongest testimony that music is where we can find him. I have learned of Him my whole life, but I have found Him in music. He is my song. He is my Good Shepherd who has guided me and led me along. He is my Savior, my Redeemer and my Prince of Peace. Because “He is” I know that I can be to. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

* * *

I was privileged to be among the audience yesterday who heard you, Amelia. I am so blessed to be the Grandfather of these marvelous young missionaries among the Goates Kids! When I served in the North British Mission in 1967-69, there were a record number of 26,000 missionaries worldwide. I could never have imagined then what we are witnessing today, and when I add the number of proliferating temples into my thinking I am even more amazed and humbled by this magnificent time in which I live.

I spoke briefly with President Wilde, their stake president who was also in attendance and concluded the meeting with his testimony. His characterization of Rich’s and Jake’s families was “top tier.”

"A Marvellous Work And A Wonder"

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Woodland Ward

Happy Autumnal Equinox today! It's also the anniversary of my baptism by my father on September 22, 1955, in the font at the Salt Lake Tabernacle. “I am the Lord God Almighty, and Endless is my name. … “And worlds without number have I created; … and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten” (Moses 1:3, 33). In scriptures brought to light by the Prophet Joseph Smith, we read these words of our Heavenly Father: “I made the world, and men before they were in the flesh” (Moses 6:51; see also Moses 3:5).

This week's study in Come, Follow Me continues into the extensive writings of Isaiah. The phrase “great are the words of Isaiah” comes from Jesus Christ’s command in 3 Nephi 23:1–3 in the Book of Mormon, where He instructs His followers to diligently study Isaiah because his prophecies apply to all Israel and the Gentiles and will all be fulfilled.

Isaiah was fearless, and his warnings to the kingdoms of his day — including Israel, Judah, and surrounding nations — were bold (see Isaiah 13–23). He would perform “a marvellous work and a wonder” (Isaiah 29:14), restoring to Israel the blessings He had promised them. Neither Isaiah nor anyone else alive at that time lived to see this marvelous work. But we are seeing it today. In fact, we are part of it.

Questions to consider this week:

What similarities do you see between the pride of the Babylonian king and the pride of Satan? (see Isaiah 14:4–20; Moses 4:1–4). What warnings do you find for yourself in these verses?

How does the Savior provide “rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear”? (Isaiah 14:3).

The teachings of Isaiah often refer to the Savior’s mission, including His atoning sacrifice, Resurrection, and Second Coming. What aspects of His mission come to mind as you read these verses: Isaiah 22:22–23; 24:21–23; 25:6–8; 26:19; 28:16? What other passages do you find that remind you of the Savior?

What do you learn from Isaiah 29:13–24; 30:18–26; 35 about the Lord, His love, and His power? Perhaps you could find a phrase in these passages that gives you hope when you need healing. You could also look in Sister Amy A. Wright’s message “Christ Heals That Which Is Broken” (Liahona, May 2022, 81–84).

Isaiah 29 contains several passages that have parallels with events of the Restoration. For example:

Compare Isaiah 29:11–12 with 2 Nephi 27:6–26 and Joseph Smith—History 1:63–65.

Compare Isaiah 29:13–14 with Doctrine and Covenants 4 and Joseph Smith—History 1:17–19.

Compare Isaiah 29:18–24 with the title page of the Book of Mormon.

Also, you might look into Elder Gerrit W. Gong’s message “All Nations, Kindreds, and Tongues” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 38–41). It's been a veritable feast for me this week in Isaiah. Hopefully, you will have the same experience as me.

Our gospel doctrine instructors this week will be Quinn and Lisa Jensen. Come and share what you've learned. (25 minutes just isn't enough time to cover Isaiah, but we'll surely be edified as we come together).

Woodland Ward Sunday School Presidency