Gratitude for Living Prophets

Since the conclusion of last weekend's General Conference, my thoughts have been pre-occupied with the sweet memories of the messages of the speakers. I would have to say the very end of the conference was especially gratifying for those of us who heard President Nelson's announcement of a new temple coming to the Wasatch Back in Heber City, Utah.

Conference Center, Salt Lake City, Utah

It was the first time in recent months that the conference shifted back to the familiar confines of the Conference Center's expansive auditorium. Even though the general public was not admitted and the number of choir members was reduced in compliance with ongoing COVID-19 restrictions as a precaution, it was still powerful and edifying throughout.

I was moved to tears as emotion swelled up within me, thinking how powerful it was to hear the plain and simple truths expressed by our leaders. It has been tempting for some to proclaim the pandemic was God's way of punishing His children for disobedience, but you have never heard a Church leader make such a pronouncement. Instead, what we heard was a call for greater patience, understanding and empathy for everyone around us. There were so many gentle and loving appeals for civility and encouragement to stamp out hatred, bigotry and racism.

Elder Dale G. Renlund

Perhaps the highlight, at least for me, was Elder Dale G. Renlund's masterful address, entitled "The Peace of Christ Abolishes Enmity." In his talk, Elder Renlund spoke about his experience with the Finnish saints at the dedication of the Helsinki Finland temple in 2006. They had longed for that temple and sacrificed to bring it to fruition. In a temple committee meeting as they planned the events of the temple dedication, it was decided to allow their Russian brothers and sisters who had travelled great distances to have the privilege of attending the temple sessions on the first day of general operations. Elder Renlund explained his own father, a proud Finn, had criticized his Russian enemies throughout the years. Finns and Russians had fought wars against each other for centuries. When Elder Renlund explained what had happened to his father, he wept. He never again uttered a hateful word about the Russians until his death three years later.

The discipleship of the Finns came first, and was put above all other considerations. We have covenanted to become one in our Savior and He has broken down all barriers between us. Enmity is not of Him. 

The silly arguments that have persisted since the pandemic first was unleashed upon the world in 2019 have made me marvel at how easily we seem to be distracted. It has always been the case, it seems, that pandemics have a way of suggesting that God must be punishing someone, since its effects are unleashed in such an indiscriminate way. 

When Zion's Camp was making its way to Missouri, cholera broke out among the participants. Many died, many more became ill. Those who contracted the disease, it was thought, were in need of repentance, though no one knew the disease was transmitted from simply sharing infected cups, drinking water and utensils. 

Even the Savior was asked once, "Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?" Note the immediate assumption that someone was a sinner if they got sick or had an impairment. The Savior flatly said, "Neither hath his man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him." (John 9:1-11). The Savior rendered no judgment, but sought to reach out to all who were afflicted, and He never made a value judgment about their worthiness to receive a blessing. He met them where they were in their lives, and He lifted and blessed them. We are taught to minister as He ministered "in a higher and holier way." Are you willing to make those same faulty judgments on your brothers and sisters today if they get sick with COVID-19 and you don't?

President Russell M. Nelson

President Russell M. Nelson highlighted our need for strengthening our spiritual foundation. In his Sunday morning remarks, entitled "The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation" he explained that refinements and adjustments have periodically been made to temple ordinances without changing underlying eternal doctrine. Sometimes in the temple we are guilty of focusing on the method of the instruction instead of the content. He invited us to examine our own lives to determine how we can strengthen our foundations in faith by making needed changes. The Restoration is a process, he said, not an event. The ongoing objective is how to bring the availability of temple covenants to the people wherever they live in the world. Ongoing revelation to our leaders will show the way ahead. Recent procedural adjustments have continued to be made. The Lord  wants us to have spiritual insights. He invites us to "Hear Him." 

The Lord is actively leading the Church. We must center our lives on Him. He leads through inspired living prophets among us. Of that fact I am a witness.