As I knelt to pray, the only thing I could do was to pour out all my worries to God and try to find confirmation that the road I was about to take was the road He wanted me to take. I had asked this many times before, and the answer had always been the same-that indeed it was the right thing for me. But I was not too sure. This time, I wanted assurance. However, He gave me something else that I needed: courage. The Holy Ghost whispered to me, “You’ll be fine.” Oddly enough, I truly felt that I would be fine.

Looking back at that short moment of struggle, the Holy Ghost’s reassurance gave me a strong push in the direction I knew He wanted me to go. There will be times in our lives when we will go through changes, be stripped of everything familiar or be thrown far from our comfort zones because it is necessary. In all our pursuits, tough as they may seem, if we keep the Holy Ghost as our companion, we will truly be fine.

RECEIVING PERSONAL REVELATION

When I was first introduced to the idea of going to study in China, I dismissed it immediately. I did not even entertain the idea. The little knowledge I had about China told me to steer away and choose another path. I thought, “China? Facebook, Youtube and Google are blocked there. Why on earth would I go to such a place?” However, my mother counseled me to ask the Lord if it was still a good opportunity for me.

Day by day, I prayed and patiently waited for an answer. I asked again and again, “Heavenly Father, should I go? What should I do for me to know if this is really the right decision or not?” It took me a whole month to receive an answer. It was during General Conference, last October. Particularly when Elder Neil L. Andersen’s spoke about President Nelson’s quick response to prophetic counsel:

“President Spencer W. Kimball challenged all present to lengthen their stride in taking the gospel to the entire world. Among the countries President Kimball specifically mentioned was China, declaring, ‘We should be of service to the Chinese. We should learn their language. We should pray for them and help them.’”

I thought it was a funny coincidence, but I knew it was the Lord giving me an answer. Elder Nelson’s talk wasn’t even about this solely, but I felt as if the words were spoken specifically for me to hear. It was a personal revelation, from Him, through the Holy Ghost.

President Russell M. Nelson could not have described what it means to receive personal revelation better, “Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses—yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen!… As you repeat this process you will “grow into the principle of revelation.”

THE HOLY GHOST IN ALL OUR PURSUITS

Personal revelation comes in many forms, but it will always come because we have the companionship of the Holy Ghost. I was taught by this experience of mine, that in everything that I do-in all my pursuits- the Holy Ghost should always be present. Then will we be guided spiritually no matter what we do, no matter where we are in the world.

Of course, even after receiving a clear answer, I still worried about not being able to go to Church every Sunday. There were still things that I was afraid of, unfamiliar with and anxious about. However, a month after I arrived, I was able to find a local Mormon congregation in a country where the LDS church is not
established yet.

Truly, “the Lord will assist us in all our righteous pursuits, through the revelations of the Holy Ghost,” as President Nelson said. President Nelson continues to encourage us to “to stretch beyond [our] current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation” and if we do so, we will be given the “knowledge and understanding [we] seek.” 

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If you have a Mormon friend in your circle, perhaps you’ve heard her talk about going to “general conference” and listening to “prophets and apostles”. Possibly, questions like the ones above have circled in your mind. A unique belief that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have is the knowledge that God, to this day, still communicates with His children through His servants, which you may know as Mormon prophets.

Some may have assumed that God has stopped communicating with us. This has since sparked long debates with various religious groups, historians, and ecclesiasticals alike about whether or not revelation from God still occurs to this day.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland testified that indeed, God still does. “Are the heavens open? Does God reveal His will to prophets and apostles as in days of old? That they are and that He does is the unflinching declaration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to all the world.” He continually speaks to us through revelations received by prophets, seers and revelators of the church.

MORMON PROPHETS AND APOSTLES

Since the time of Adam, the Lord has given authority to numerous prophets to speak and act in His name. In the scriptures, we read of prophets like Moses, Elijah, and Isaiah who received special instructions from God face-to-face, or if not, close encounters with Heavenly messengers who directly told them what needed to be done. These prophets of old were given priesthood keys and authority to carry out the Lord’s work. Today, latter-day prophets might not always publicize face-to-face encounters like the ones recorded about Moses and the others, but, they carry the same divine authority to act and speak in His name.

Latter-day, or Mormon, prophets are men who are called of God to receive commandments, prophecies and revelations from God. Their responsibility is to “make known God’s will and true character to mankind and to show the meaning of His dealings with them.” They preach His gospel, and lead His church on Earth.

Today, the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God’s living prophet in the world today. Members of the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles are sustained as prophets, seers and revelators.

HOW PROPHETS ARE CALLED

Elder Neil L. Andersen explained that “The selection of a prophet is made by the Lord Himself. There is no campaigning, no debates, no posturing for position, no dissension, distrust, confusion, or commotion.”

In a divine process of selection, the Lord chooses His prophet. When the President of the Church passes away, the First Presidency, a group of leaders made up of the President and his two counselors, is immediately dissolved. They return to their places in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The senior apostle in the Quorum of the Twelve has always been the successor to the President of the Church.

The newly-called President of the Church is then set apart officially to that position. With guided inspiration from the Lord, he chooses his counselors who will serve with him in the First Presidency. In a solemn assembly carried out after a new prophet is called, members of the church are given the chance to sustain them.

Today, President Russell M. Nelson holds the office of President of the church and he is assisted by two counselors, President Henry B. Eyring and President Dallin H. Oaks along with the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who perform tasks similar to the apostles who served with Jesus during His ministry. Like them, these men bear witness of Christ.

WHY WE HAVE PROPHETS TODAY

In Ezekiel, we read of “watchmen who raise the warning voice”. Mormon prophets are our watchmen on the tower. We are sent here to Earth to be tried and tested, and surely the Lord will not leave us alone to battle these challenges ourselves. Through His prophets, we are guided by heavenly instructions to steer us to the path of righteousness, if we are willing to follow their inspired counsel.

Heavenly Father’s love and care for us are demonstrated through the words He speaks through the mouth of the prophets. He knows we are here to experience a myriad of trials and temptations, and so He sent us servants to raise a voice of warning. “A prophet’s greatest responsibility is to show us his sure witness that Jesus is the Christ” and to “point us the way” to Him.

Elder Andersen taught, “Anchoring our souls to the Lord Jesus Christ requires listening to those He sends. Following the prophet in a world of commotion is like being wrapped in a soothing, warm blanket on a freezing cold day.” During times of unrest, anxiety and fear, we can be reminded that the Lord has never left our side. He has not neglected or forgotten about us. He speaks to us through the mouth of His servants to this day and will continue to do so in these latter days.

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Of course, my parents aren’t exactly against my bookworm tendencies. Who wouldn’t want their child to love reading? However, as I was first beginning to realize my love for reading, there was one hard lesson I learned from my father that completely morphed this beloved hobby of mine. “You’ve been forgetting something. It’s a book you ought to read every day.”

Forgetting to read

If there was one book that I’d completely neglected on the shelves, it was the book that never should have been neglected in the first place. It was the Book of Mormon. At the time my father said that to me, I felt an incredible sense of embarrassment mixed in with a good amount of guilt. Looking back, I’m grateful that my father lovingly reminded me of the one book that I should be reading the most, the Book of Mormon.

Sometimes, our lives can be filled with a gigantic amount of other “books” to read. In other words, we can grow so busy with our own lists of things to do, that we neglect the importance of reading, pondering and studying the Book of Mormon each day. You might not forget to read this sacred book for the same reason I did- because I was busy reading other books. But it is important that we are aware of our tendency to forget, when we sometimes seem to be buried in other responsibilities, jobs and problems that hog all of our attention.

The Book of Mormon

What is it about the Book of Mormon that makes it such a priority to read every day?

At his last General Conference our late prophet, President Monson, spoke and bore his short and sweet testimony about this great book. He explained that there is a “critical need we have as members of this Church to study, ponder, and apply its teachings in our lives.” He added, “The importance of having a firm and sure testimony of the Book of Mormon cannot be overstated.”

With all the evil that surrounds us, the Book of Mormon is a beacon of safety and a source of protection from the temptations, evils and sins that are prevalent in the world today. President Monson promised that if we prayerfully read, ponder and study this sacred book every day, “we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven’s help in our lives.”

Seek ye out the best books

The reason I love reading so much is the amount of knowledge that I receive by doing so. Little did I know that studying and reading the Book of Mormon each day would give me not only knowledge, but spiritual realizations, life lessons, protection and comfort in times of difficulty. Now, I truly love reading the Book of Mormon. It has been the best book that I’ve ever read in my life, and I will never stop reading, studying and living the precious truths that are contained in it.

Elder Ian S. Ardern said, “we are under scriptural mandate to seek “out of the best books words of wisdom” and to “seek learning, even by study and also by faith” (D&C 88:118).” Just like Nephi, may we always have a “soul [that] delighteth in the scriptures, and [a] heart that pondereth them… for [our] learning and profit.” (2 Nephi 4:15)

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One of the most profound allegories I have found in the scriptures has always been the refiner’s fire. Throughout my early youth, the image of the Lord being my Refiner has shaped my perspective about life’s most difficult trials, and the good that can come from it.

The Refiner’s Fire

In the allegory of the refiner’s fire, a piece of rough ore- a rock encased with minerals- naturally contains impurities. However, with those impurities, it also carries within it precious metals such as silver and gold. For the refiner to create something out of that piece of ore, he needs to begin the refining process by breaking the ore with a heavy hammer. The ore then must be exposed to the refiner’s fire, with temperatures as high as 900-1000 degrees Celsius, in order to burn away the impurities and reveal the precious metal inside.

Parallel to the hammering and exposure to extreme temperatures, God refines us by allowing us to go through painful trials and difficulties. One might think, “What is the purpose of letting His children suffer if He truly loves us?”

This allegory is meant to help us understand the purpose beyond our pain- to ultimately rid us of our weaknesses and let our faith and strength flourish. We must realize that it is part of His plan, and prepares us for our eternal destiny.

We have been taught by Elder James E. Faust that, “In the pain, the agony, and the heroic endeavors of life, we pass through the refiner’s fire, and the insignificant and the unimportant in our lives can melt away like dross and make our faith bright, intact, and strong.”

Heat Beyond What We Can Bear

No one is exempt from passing through the refiner’s fire. Times of anguish, sorrow, and painful heartbreak come to everyone, including those who are faithful and seeking to do the right things. For some, their afflictions might seem like punishment. Yes, some of our hardest afflictions in life are results of our own foolishness and mistakes. Even so, President Joseph F. Smith reasoned, “It is a feeble thought to believe that the illness and affliction that come to us are attributable either to the mercy or the displeasure of God.”

But when we feel the crushing impact of the hammer in our lives and the heat seems turned up beyond what we think we can bear, we need not feel as though we are being punished. He allows trials into our lives that we might “rise above them, [and gives us] responsibilities that we might achieve, work to harden our muscles, [and] sorrows to try our souls.”

The heat is never about destroying you, it is about shaping you into what He knows you can become. Through the “furnace of affliction”, the Master Refiner orchestrates His marvelous plan to turn you into something beautiful. As Brad Wilcox said, “God would not put you through the refiner’s fire, if you were not worth refining.”

Stronger After the Fire

He trusts us to brave the grueling heat of the fire. He would not turn up the heat to temperatures He knows we can’t bear. For some, going through such difficulty can cause their faith to deteriorate or cause them to lose their belief in God. But if we shape our perspective into one that is eternal we may come to comprehend that the refiner’s fire is to strengthen us. It is part of our road to perfection-eventually.

We can find the good in the trials that come into our lives. With that, we hang onto hope, and trust in the Master Refiner’s perfect plan. Most importantly, however, we persevere in faith.

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One day, I was on my way to my afternoon seminary class. During the short ride, I was thinking about these big questions. I was especially concerned with a question that our seminary teacher had asked us the day before: “what if the day of the Lord’s coming were tomorrow?”

“THIS LIFE IS A TIME FOR MEN TO PREPARE TO MEET GOD”

During class, our teacher had asked us to cite events that are currently happening in the world. Many of my classmates’ answers dealt with destruction, calamities, wars— all of the things that worry us most when pondering what tomorrow will bring, and what the future could hold.

Our teacher then asked us the signs of the coming of our Lord. We then compared the two lists side by side: the events that are happening today and the signs of the Lord’s coming. We were asked how we felt about the possibility of Christ coming tomorrow. Would we be nervous? Would we be scared if it were tomorrow? Most importantly, would we be prepared?

In Alma it says, “For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.” (Alma 34:32) It has been made very clear that our mortal sojourn on this Earth is about preparing to meet our Maker. But to be so, we have to “perform our labors”.

Elder Hamula of the Seventy said, “Among the essential instructions given by the Lord to prepare for His coming is that we listen to and obey His voice. ‘Hearken and hear, O ye inhabitants of the earth … hear the voice of the Lord” (D&C 133:16).’” We are living in a time “when peace [has been] taken from the earth”, and “all things [are] in commotion” (D&C 1:35). We should labor, strive harder and hearken unto His words in this time of preparation that we have been given.

“BE YE READY AT THE COMING OF THE BRIDEGROOM”

I also thought about the parable of the ten virgins. The parable teaches us the difference of preparing early on as opposed to preparing at the last minute. Like the five foolish virgins who failed to prepare and instead slept; forgetting to bring extra oil of their own to light their lamps, we may blindly think that we have lots of time to prepare. Ultimately, if we continue to put aside working towards our own spiritual progression, we will share their fate, behind a closed door.

However, we can choose to be one of the five wise virgins who were “faithful, praying always, having [their] lamps trimmed and burning, and oil,” and were “ready at the coming of the Bridegroom”. For the Savior said, “behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, that I come quickly” (D&C 33:17-18)

We will never know ahead of time the exact day or time He will come, but we are certain that He will. The Savior will return to this Earth in power and great glory to reign personally over us in righteousness and peace.

With this knowledge that He indeed will return, President Dallin H. Oaks asked us, “If we knew that we would meet the Lord tomorrow—through our premature death or through His unexpected coming—what would we do today? What confessions would we make? What forgivenesses would we extend? What testimonies would we bear? If we would do those things then, why not now?”

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I couldn’t help but feel an urgent desire to know who these girls were, and bring them back. Having never been less active myself, I wondered a lot. What words could I say, to help convince them to return? What phrases did they really need to hear?

I’ve asked some of my friends who have been less active at some time in their lives. These are the phrases they feel they needed to hear at the time, when they, like the Prodigal son, took their spiritual inheritance and left.

1. “Hey! How have you been?”

When someone asks me how I have been, it instantly puts a smile not only on my face, but on my heart. It means that the person who asked is interested and wants to know simply how I am. It works the same for everyone, I realized, especially our less-active friends who might’ve lost the feeling that somebody genuinely wants to see how they are. Bringing that feeling back just by asking this simple question soften and touch the hearts of those around you.

2. “Is everything okay with you? You know you can always tell me.”

If you aren’t already, become their shoulder to lean on. Ask them the cause of their choice to step away from the church. Never let them feel that their feelings are not justified, but instead reason with them that there is everything to gain and nothing to lose by returning back to church.

Peter once asked Jesus Christ, “To whom shall we go?” If we choose to “walk no more” with Him, where would we go? It cannot always be seen at the beginning, but when someone chooses to walk away, it puts them at odds with their faith. We can become instruments of the Lord in bringing souls back to Him through simply lifting each other up.

3. “Don’t forget to come, it wouldn’t be fun without you!”

We have many opportunities to reach out to those who have chosen not to attend church, and one is including them in church activities. Visiting our less-active friends and inviting them to go to church events is a great way to let them know that we want them to be involved, and that it would be fun to have them around. As Elder Dieter F. Utchdorf reasoned, “love is really spelt t-i-m-e.” Spending time with people and creating bonds with them harbours feelings of love and care among the people who put effort into doing it.

4. “We need you, and know that you’re never alone.”

“In this church, there are no strangers or outcasts. Only brothers and sisters.” This counsel from Bishop Gerald Causse can be a driving force toward strengthening the church community. With the youth, most of their reasons for drifting away from the church revolve around feeling like they’re strangers, outcasts or alone. As members of the church, we have the responsibility and choice to help our less-active friends feel otherwise, that we are truly brothers and sisters. Consistently make that choice, and it will surely make a difference in someone’s life.

As Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson has invited us, we should “not only love each other more, but love each other better.”

5.“Heavenly Father loves you. He is always waiting for your return.”

Most importantly, let them be reminded of just how much Heavenly Father loves them. No matter how much the opposition tries to convince them otherwise, the doors are open for their return and He is always waiting. His love will be enough, if we become His hands and help our prodigal friends feel it through our effort, sincerity and time.

Ultimately, our words are just words if they are said without love and sincerity. The people I asked had one answer in common: No matter how beautiful or sweet the words you say, it will ultimately be what they feel through your words that will convince them of your genuine love for them.

As President Thomas S. Monson counseled, “Ours is the sacred privilege to brighten, to touch, to save those precious souls entrusted to our care.” May we always choose to exercise that privilege.

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Trust me, as much as this rule might give the bitter feels during Valentine season, there are some pretty good reasons why mormon teens are encouraged to follow it, and why you should, too.

1. BECAUSE TEENAGE YEARS ARE ALL ABOUT SELF-DISCOVERY

I’ve popularized this phrase myself, but have you ever heard of “dating yourself?” Yep, you heard right. Dates are defined as, “a planned activity that allows a young man and a young woman to get to know each other better.” As soon as I reached that age, my mom taught me that the next few years of my life would be about self-discovery, and there’d be no room to get caught up in the dating game until I turned 16.

Being the good daughter I was, I of course followed my mom’s counsel. However, it is only now that I realize that the most important person you will ever date is yourself. Because, how can you ever know the kind of person who fits in your life if you’ve never really taken time to know yourself?

Spend the years before you turn 16 as a time for self-discovery, to understand who you are as a child of our Heavenly Father, and you will be able to catch a vision for your future. Trust me, investing time in knowing yourself early on in life is something you will never regret doing.

2. BECAUSE YOU ARE STILL VULNERABLE TO HEARTBREAK, PAIN AND TEMPTATION

President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “The Lord has made us attractive one to another for a great purpose. But this very attraction becomes as a powder keg unless it is kept under control. It is beautiful when handled in the right way. It is deadly if it gets out of hand.”

I think almost all mormon teens, or even their non-member friends have wondered why we must wait to date until such a specific age. Sixteen is not a magical age when you are suddenly prepared to date. This counsel from our modern prophets against dating before you’re 16 is for our emotional, physical and spiritual safety.

The years before this are a very vulnerable time and a period when Satan is constantly trying to find ways to stump your development as a person. The For the Strength of Youth pamphlet says, “Developing serious relationships too early in life can limit the number of other people you meet and can perhaps lead to immorality.”

President Hinckley reasoned, “this rule is not designed to hurt you in any way. It is designed to help you, and it will do so if you will observe it.”

3. BECAUSE TEENAGE LIFE IS MEANT TO BE ENJOYED

Alright, you might think, I’m completely against dating. (No, I’m surprisingly not) You might also think, “but dating is fun, too!” Dating is fun. It’s an opportunity for us to develop friendships and connections that will help us eventually choose the people we will spend our eternities with. But now is not the time for that.

Don’t wish this precious time to go by fast! Teenage life is meant to be enjoyed! It is a time when we develop bonds and friendships with other people, a time when we ultimately recognize our worth and identity as Heavenly Father’s children. Develop your strengths and know your weakness. Most importantly, have fun!

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This season, through all of our various Christmas traditions, we commemorate one of the most momentous events in history, the Savior’s birth. Although often overlooked, here are two of the most important lessons we can learn from the story of His birth.

1. “BE IT UNTO ME ACCORDING TO THY WORD”

One of the many inspiring stories in the New Testament is how the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, informing her of her favored future, being able to give birth to our Savior.

We can imagine how overwhelmed Mary must have felt, or even how impossible it must’ve seemed; her task to carry the son of our Heavenly Father. However, “Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1:38)

Uttering the words, “be it unto me according to thy word” is a perfect display of faith and trust in our Heavenly Father despite feelings of fear and trouble that we sometimes feel throughout our lives. Mary’s acceptance of the angel’s words meant that she was willing to fulfill the role she was given no matter how difficult or impossible it might seem. Just like her, we each are designated roles to fulfill in this life. We can do all things if we place our faith and trust in His help, just as Mary did.

2. “AND THEY CAME WITH HASTE”

After the Savior was born, the shepherds responded immediately to the angel’s wonderful announcement of the birth of a savior who lay wrapped in swaddling clothes in a manger.

At the time the angels appeared to the shepherds, they were watching their sheep. They could have made a range of excuses- “We can’t leave these sheep here. Someone else will have to watch them.” or “They didn’t specify tonight. We can always go tomorrow.” Even so, they didn’t find excuses or ways to wiggle out of their task.

“The shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem…which the Lord hath made known unto us…And they came with haste.” (Luke 2:15-16) The shepherds went right away, and found Joseph, Mary and the Savior. Because they went right away, they also received the blessings of their obedience right away.

“And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.” (Luke 2:20) Like the shepherds, we can also “come with haste” and respond to spiritual instructions we receive from promptings, our modern prophets and even the scriptures.

At this time of the year, we can choose to learn more about the Savior’s birth and the lessons that it can teach us. President Russell M. Nelson said, “This Christmas season, I hope that we are focused first upon the Lord Jesus Christ. Wise men still adore Him.”

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Of course, I really didn’t have any choice but to surrender my own selfish worries. Little did I know that I was about to learn three lessons about unselfish service that changed me completely.

YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE CAPACITY TO SERVE

Sometimes we can get so caught up in our own pool of worries, struggles and complaints that we unconsciously drown out opportunities to serve. Back then, I didn’t think about how the move would give me the opportunity to spend time with my Lolo and Lola. I realized that I didn’t have to think about the inconveniences that I thought staying at their house would cause. Over time, it has become clear to me that staying with them is an opportunity to give service, and I have the capacity to do so.

President Dieter F. Utchdorf said, “There are so many people in need whom we could be thinking about instead of ourselves…There are so many ways we could give service. We have no time to become absorbed in ourselves.” We can swim up to the surface of that pool that is centered around only ourselves and grab every opportunity to serve.

GIVING UNSELFISH SERVICE IS A WAY TO FOLLOW THE SAVIOR

In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus Christ spoke clearly about what the disciples should do if they wanted to follow Him. “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24) The Savior invited us to follow Him by denying ourselves of selfish interests in order to give service to others.

There are many things that can hold us back from serving others. In my case, I was completely self-absorbed and didn’t think of what I could do to help my grandparents. Sometimes we tend to wait for the perfect conditions to serve. We fear that we don’t have enough to give, or even think that we’re not needed. The Savior’s invitation to serve unselfishly should help us dissolve any thoughts we have that keep us from serving others.

YOU CAN FIND JOY IN RENDERING SERVICE

It was only when I was helping my Lola with cooking one day that I noticed how visibly happier they were simply because we were there. She told me she felt sad and lonely every time the house was empty. By then, I had quashed every bit of annoyance I’d felt about the move and focused solely on what it had done for my Lolo and Lola. I found happiness in their happiness. Surely, all of us can feel that love too when we give our own unselfish service to others.

President Utchdorf testified of this truth, “As we lose ourselves in the service of others, we discover our own lives and our own happiness.”. A love of service is one attribute that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want us to seek.There would be little purpose to our lives if we didn’t take time to give unselfish service to others even in our own little ways.

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If only I could bottle that sense of wonder, meekness and unending enthusiasm for the little but significant things, I’d carry it in my pocket all the time and take a drink every time I took something much too seriously. Although it’s not possible to bottle it up literally, the gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us to understand its truth and embrace the call to keep a childlike heart, especially in the dark times of our lives.

BATTLING THE DARKNESS

Sometimes we can get so caught up in the complexities of mortal life—school, work, relationships, status, wealth and otherworldly endeavors that our childlike lenses become blurred and hazy. Darkness is an unavoidable part of life today, more than ever before. The Apostle Paul taught us in Timothy that “in the last days perilous times shall come.” We are living in these “last days” and the signs of “perilous times” are more and more evident.

President Henry B. Eyring taught, “The peril comes from the forces of wickedness. Those forces are increasing. And so it will become harder, not easier, to keep the covenants we must make to live the gospel of Jesus Christ.” Wickedness is the darkness that fogs over our spiritual lenses and leads us into the trappings of temptations and sin. We can battle through the darkness with a simple formula: the bright light of the gospel plus a childlike heart.

BRIGHT LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL

The only source of brightness we can find amidst these dark times is found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We must understand that in order to get this light, one must build “upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God,…. your foundation; which is a sure foundation … whereon if men build they cannot fall.” (Helaman 5:12)

Building foundations upon our Savior Jesus Christ means that we have to put effort into overcoming the roots of darkness in our lives. This can come from our own nature, as described by King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon, “For the natural man is an enemy to God.” However, he also taught us beautifully how we can overcome our own nature and find the strength that we must have to return to our heavenly home safely.

KEEPING A CHILDLIKE HEART

“For the natural man is an enemy to God,… and will be, forever and ever, unless he…. becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.” (Mosiah 3:19)

We may think of keeping a childlike heart as a sign of weakness. Most of us want to embody strength; particularly today, and the world presents this as the “ideal” way to face great peril. In contrast, the gospel teaches that becoming childlike shows willingness to change; to keep the bright light of the gospel in our lives. Sister Jean A. Stevens has said, “If we have a heart to learn and a willingness to follow the example of children, their divine attributes can hold a key to unlocking our own spiritual growth.”

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