Henry B. Eyring on coping with busy lives by putting God first

President Henry B. Eyring (1933- ) served in the Presiding Bishopric from 1985-1992, as a Seventy from 1992-1995, then was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. He has served in the First Presidency since 2007. These remarks were part of a CES fireside presented in Moscow, Idaho, on May 6, 2001:

"I realize that there are some, perhaps many, for whom my urging to capture leisure time cuts like a knife. You feel overwhelmed by the lack of time. You have left unfinished tasks in your Church calling. You've carried your scriptures all day but still have not found a moment to open them. There is someone in your family who would be blessed by your thoughtful attention, but you haven't gotten to them yet. You will go to a job tomorrow that barely pays enough to keep food on your table and pay your bills. Rather than finding ways to capture leisure time for learning, you are trying to decide what to leave undone.

"There is another way to look at your problem of crowded time. You can see it as an opportunity to test your faith. The Lord loves you and watches over you. He is all-powerful, and He promised you this: 'But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you' (Matt. 6:33).

"That is a true promise. When we put God's purposes first, He will give us miracles. If we pray to know what He would have us do next, He will multiply the effects of what we do in such a way that time seems to be expanded. He may do it in different ways for each individual, but I know from long experience that He is faithful to His word."

- Henry B. Eyring, "Education for Real Life," CES fireside in Moscow, Idaho, on 6 May 2001; see Ensign, Oct 2002, pp. 14-21
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President Eyring had been encouraging wise use of leisure time in this talk. I love his acknowledgement that "some, perhaps many" feel so overwhelmed by life's challenges that the thought of wise use of free time is far from their minds. I've certainly felt that way, with the "To Do List" growing out of control!

It's so easy to think of those busy periods as our own shortcoming, evidence of poor planning, or even a manifestation of incompetence. Gentle President Eyring asks that we consider them as a trial of faith: will I be willing to turn to God for help? Will I claim the promises of assistance, of magnification, of deliverance?

President Eyring summarizes God's promises to us in a powerful way:

Jeffrey R. Holland on our individual relationships with God

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (1940- ) served as Church Commissioner of Education from 1976-1980, as the president of BYU from 1980-1989, as a Seventy from 1989-1994, and as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles since 1994.

"Who is it that whispers so subtly in our ear that a gift given to another somehow diminishes the blessings we have received? Who makes us feel that if God is smiling on another, then He surely must somehow be frowning on us? You and I both know who does this—it is the father of all lies (see 2 Ne. 2:18). It is Lucifer, our common enemy, whose cry down through the corridors of time is always and to everyone, 'Give me thine honor' (Moses 4:1)....

"Brothers and sisters, I testify that no one of us is less treasured or cherished of God than another. I testify that He loves each of us—insecurities, anxieties, self-image, and all. He doesn't measure our talents or our looks; He doesn't measure our professions or our possessions. He cheers on every runner, calling out that the race is against sin, not against each other. I know that if we will be faithful, there is a perfectly tailored robe of righteousness ready and waiting for everyone, (see Isa. 61:10; 2 Ne. 4:33; 2 Ne. 9:14) 'robes... made... white in the blood of the Lamb' (Rev. 7:14). May we encourage each other in our effort to win that prize."

- Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Other Prodigal," Ensign, May 2002, pp. 62-64
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Elder Holland's wonderfully descriptive language and presentation always speak to my heart. This insight speaks to the tendency we all have at one time or another to evaluate ourselves in comparison to others—their gifts, talents, blessings, life circumstances. It is enabling and powerful to recognize where these misguided compulsions to compare often come from:

To truly believe that God loves me, even with my "insecurities, anxieties, self-image, and all"—what a gift that is! His standards, His priorities are so much different than the ones we often limit our perspectives to.

And the final insight: "May we encourage each other in our effort to win" God's ultimate approbation. The great secret isn't "winning" for myself. It's helping all those around me to succeed. In the end, that may be the only way for each of us to succeed ourselves.

Robert D. Hales on claiming the blessings of the spirit

Elder Robert D. Hales (1932- ) served as a Seventy from 1976 to 1985, when he was called as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.

"Throughout our lives, whether in times of darkness, challenge, sorrow, or sin, we may feel the Holy Ghost reminding us that we are truly sons and daughters of a caring Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we may hunger for the sacred blessings that only He can provide. At these times we should strive to come to ourselves and come back into the light of our Savior's love.

"These blessings rightfully belong to all of Heavenly Father's children. Desiring these blessings, including a life of joy and happiness, is an essential part of Heavenly Father's plan for each one of us. The prophet Alma taught, 'Even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you' (Alma 32:27).

"As our spiritual desires increase, we become spiritually self-reliant.... We become converted and spiritually self-reliant as we prayerfully live our covenants--through worthily partaking of the sacrament, being worthy of a temple recommend, and sacrificing to serve others."

- Robert D. Hales, "Coming to Ourselves: The Sacrament, the Temple, and Sacrifice in Service", Ensign, May 2012, pp. 34-36
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Elder Hales describes a process that is typical for our mortal experience:

1. We encounter "times of darkness, challenge, sorrow, or sin"
2. We "feel the Holy Ghost reminding us that we are truly sons and daughters of a caring Heavenly Father, who loves us"
3. We "hunger for the sacred blessings that only He can provide"

Those are the moments when, if we are wise, we will "strive to come to ourselves" — an interesting phrase, borrowed from the story of the "prodigal son" in Luke 15:17 — and "come back into the light of our Savior's love." This implies that we have left the light of the Savior's love; but fortunately, not so far that the Holy Ghost can't still reach out to us.  What a blessing that is.

And what is the process to return?  It lies in simple, basic, ongoing faithfulness:

Richard G. Scott on finding joy in life

Elder Richard G. Scott (1928- ) served as a Seventy from 1977-1988, when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.

"You are one of the noblest of God's creations. His intent is that your life be gloriously beautiful regardless of your circumstances. As you are grateful and obedient, you can become all that God intends you to be.

"Sadness, disappointment, and severe challenge are events in life, not life itself. I do not minimize how hard some of these events are. They can extend over a long period of time, but they should not be allowed to become the confining center of everything you do. The Lord inspired Lehi to declare the fundamental truth, 'Men are, that they might have joy' (2 Ne. 2:25). That is a conditional statement: 'they might have joy.' It is not conditional for the Lord. His intent is that each of us finds joy. It will not be conditional for you as you obey the commandments, have faith in the Master, and do the things that are necessary to have joy here on earth.

"Your joy in life depends upon your trust in Heavenly Father and His holy Son, your conviction that their plan of happiness truly can bring you joy. Pondering their doctrine will let you enjoy the beauties of this earth and enrich your relationships with others. It will lead you to the comforting, strengthening experiences that flow from prayer to Father in Heaven and the answers He gives in return."

- Richard G. Scott, "Finding Joy in Life", Ensign, May 1996, pp. 24-26
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This is an inspiring and beautiful testimony from Elder Scott:

One who truly believes these words, will find his life is profoundly effected.

Many feel their life is not "gloriously beautiful." Perhaps all of us feel that on one occasion or another; there are times when the struggles of mortality feel overwhelming. But with the vision of God's love for his children, knowing that He is aware of us and willing to sustain and assist, we know that any setback is temporary. There WILL be a happy ending!

M. Russell Ballard on choosing happiness

Elder M. Russell Ballard (1928- ) was called as a Seventy in 1976, and has served as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles since 1985.

"Our Heavenly Father loves all of His children, and He wants them all to have the blessings of the gospel in their lives. Spiritual light is not lost because God turns His back on His children. Rather, spiritual darkness results when His children turn their collective backs on Him. It is a natural consequence of bad choices made by individuals, communities, countries, and entire civilizations. This has been proven again and again throughout the course of time. One of the great lessons of this historical pattern is that our choices, both individually and collectively, do result in spiritual consequences for ourselves and for our posterity....

"The voice of the Lord is clear and unmistakable. He knows you. He loves you. He wants you to be eternally happy. But according to your God-given agency, the choice is yours. Each one of you has to decide for yourself if you are going to ignore the past and suffer the painful mistakes and tragic pitfalls that have befallen previous generations, experiencing for yourself the devastating consequences of bad choices. How much better your life will be if you will follow the noble example of the faithful followers of Christ such as the sons of Helaman, Moroni, Joseph Smith, and the stalwart pioneers—and choose, as they did, to remain faithful to your Heavenly Father's commandments."

- M. Russell Ballard, "Learning the Lessons of the Past," Ensign, May 2009, pp. 31-34
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President Monson likes the phrase, "Decisions determine destiny." Elder Ballard is echoing that sentiment, with the specific application of the choice to obey or disobey God's commandments. That single choice to not follow results in "spiritual darkness" as individuals and as society.

But Elder Ballard testifies of God's deep and abiding love for his children, and the eternal desire of His heart for our happiness — if we will but choose "to remain faithful" to His commandments:

Dallin H. Oaks on spiritual preparedness

Elder Dallin H. Oaks (1932- ) was sustained to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1984.

"What if the day of His coming were tomorrow? 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 practices would we discontinue? What accounts would we settle? What forgivenesses would we extend? What testimonies would we bear?

"If we would do those things then, why not now? Why not seek peace while peace can be obtained? If our lamps of preparation are drawn down, let us start immediately to replenish them.

"We need to make both temporal and spiritual preparation for the events prophesied at the time of the Second Coming. And the preparation most likely to be neglected is the one less visible and more difficult—the spiritual. A 72-hour kit of temporal supplies may prove valuable for earthly challenges, but, as the foolish virgins learned to their sorrow, a 24-hour kit of spiritual preparation is of greater and more enduring value."

- Dallin H. Oaks, "Preparation for the Second Coming", Ensign, May 2004, p. 7
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One way to focus attention on "the things that matter most" is to undertake the exercise Elder Oaks mentions: if I knew my mortal life would be over tomorrow, what would I do today? Would there be things I would want to change, to repair, to focus on, even for a single day? People to forgive, testimonies to bear? And of course, the obvious next question is, "Why not now?" We should be making earnest efforts to focus our energies in the best possible ways, regardless of how much time we have remaining.

The additional warning is that our spiritual preparation needs as much focus as our temporal preparation often receives:

Russell M. Nelson on the religious life

Elder Russell M. Nelson (1924- ) has served as a member of the Quorum of Twelve since 1984. This excerpt is from an address given at the 1993 Parliament of the World's Religions, Chicago, Illinois, 2 September 1993.

"As we repent and live in accordance with the commandments of God, the Atonement of Jesus Christ becomes a force for permanent change in our lives. We become more pure in heart and true disciples of the Master. Personal prayer, contributions of tithes and offerings, honoring the Sabbath day, and partaking of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper are all regular practices that protect us from the bondage of sin and bring us true freedom and joy.

"The daily practice of our faith is not confined solely to religious rites. We reach out to aid the communities in which we live. For example, parent-teacher associations, public schools, and similar worthy civic activities receive our support."

- Russell M. Nelson, "Combatting Spiritual Drift—Our Global Pandemic," address given at the 1993 Parliament of the World's Religions, Chicago, Illinois, 2 September 1993; see Ensign, Nov 1993, pp. 102-108
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A "Parliament of the World's Religions" was held in Chicago in 1993, the first gathering of its kind in a century. Several thousand religious leaders from around the world, from both Christian and non-Christian groups, were invited to participate in discussions about how the different sects and traditions could collaborate in addressing the world's critical issues. Elder Nelson represented the LDS Church at the event, and delivered an insightful address in which he identified elements of "spiritual drift" in the world and then explained ways the Church is attempting to confront those challenges, both in doctrine and practice.  He commented, "The dismal dusk of today’s spiritual drift provides a rare opportunity for the radiance of religion to light the way to a new tomorrow."

After providing an institutional history and doctrinal foundation of the Church, Elder Nelson shared the thoughts excerpted above in a section on "individual application." In other words, here's how the Church and Gospel can impact MY life. And the key lies in allowing the Atonement to impact one's life. True freedom and joy, and protection from "the bondage of sin," come when we remember:

• Personal prayer
• Contributions of tithes and offerings
• Honoring the Sabbath day
• Partaking of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper

I appreciated Elder Nelson's wonderful summary of the essence of the Church and the Gospel. It might be a fruitful exercise for each of us to consider what we might have said, given the opportunity that he had in that great council of religious leaders!