Ronald A. Rasband on the responsibility to assist one another in life's challenges

Elder Ronald A. Rasband (b. 1951) served as a Seventy beginning in 2000.  He was the senior president of the Seventy when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in October 2015.

"Many of you have in your youth recreated that trek experience out on a trail just to feel a small measure of what they felt as they followed the Lord's call to come to Zion. I doubt yours was in snow up to your knees and yet that push and pull up the hill was still a staggering feat. How did you make it? How did they make it? 'By travelling over the hill three times—twice forward and once back.' (John Chislett) The experience was truly an example of the second great commandment, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.' (Mark 12:31)

"Think about it. You have careers, families and adventures ahead of you, however, no one of them can be counted a success if you do not see that your fellow travelers get to the top of the hill.

"That is a different perspective than the world would espouse. In our Father's kingdom—here on earth—we operate by different rules. The Lord laid out His expectations for us during His ministry. Remember the account of the man who asked the Savior, 'what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?' (Matthew 19:16) The Lord listed commandments to him ending with 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.' (Mark 12:31) And the young man said, 'All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?' (Matthew 19:20)

"'Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

"'But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions' (Matthew 19:21-22)."

- Ronald A. Rasband, "To the Summit," commencement address at BYU-Idaho, 4/8/16
Click here to read the full talk

In this address to graduates at BYU-Idaho, Elder Rasband uses powerful examples from the pioneers to remind us of a key concept of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There were no solo treks across the plains, no pioneer companies of one person—they depended on each other to get through the challenging times. In John Chislett's memorable phrasing, we travel the hill three times; once as we climb ourselves, a second time as we return down to help another, and then a third as we climb again, sharing burdens of others.

Likewise, the Gospel message is that we only succeed when we "see that your fellow travelers get to the top of the hill." The essence of the Savior's message (and of the covenants we make) is that we "bear one another's burdens" as we move up the hills and through the challenges of life.

Neil L. Andersen on learning about and remembering Jesus in our lives

Elder Neil L. Andersen (b. 1951) served as a Seventy beginning in 1993, and was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2009.

"In our world today, each child, each young man and young woman needs his or her own conversion to the truth. Each needs his or her own light, his or her own 'steadfast and immovable' (Alma 1:25) faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, independent of parents, youth leaders, and supportive friends.

"The stories of Jesus can be like a rushing wind across the embers of faith in the hearts of our children. Jesus said, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life' (John 14:6). The stories of Jesus shared over and over bring faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strength to the foundation of testimony. Can you think of a more valuable gift for our children?

"Are the life and teachings of Jesus Christ embedded in the minds and souls of our children? Do they think about the Savior's life when they wonder what to do in their own lives? This will be more and more important in the years ahead....

"To fathers and mothers, to grandfathers and grandmothers, and to those without children of their own who lovingly nurture children and youth, my counsel is to speak more frequently about Jesus Christ. In His holy name is great spiritual power. 'There [is] no other name given nor any other way... whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ' (Mosiah 3:17)."

- Neil L. Andersen, "Tell Me the Stories of Jesus," Ensign, May 2010, pp. 108-112
Click here to read the full talk

Elder Andersen chose for the theme of this talk the message of the tender Primary song, "Tell Me the Stories of Jesus." He encourages us to teach our children, and to learn more ourselves, about the life and message of the Savior. The strength that comes to our faith and testimony is a great promise, "like a rushing wind across the embers of faith in the hearts of our children" and of adults as well. Those stories and teachings should be "embedded in the minds and souls" of our little ones, in ways that will bless them as they mature and deal with the problems of the world.

It's not hard to imagine the difference there would be in our world if more people were remembering and pondering the life of the Savior in our daily activities, struggles, concerns, and interactions. So Elder Andersen suggests the start of change would be to "speak more frequently about Jesus Christ." Very wise counsel!

D. Todd Christofferson on our personal efforts to build Zion

Elder D. Todd Christofferson (b. January 24, 1945) was called to the Seventy in 1993, and as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2008.

"Zion is Zion because of the character, attributes, and faithfulness of her citizens. Remember, 'the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them' (Moses 7:18). If we would establish Zion in our homes, branches, wards, and stakes, we must rise to this standard. It will be necessary (1) to become unified in one heart and one mind; (2) to become, individually and collectively, a holy people; and (3) to care for the poor and needy with such effectiveness that we eliminate poverty among us. We cannot wait until Zion comes for these things to happen—Zion will come only as they happen....

"The Prophet Joseph Smith said, 'We ought to have the building up of Zion as our greatest object' (Teachings: Joseph Smith, 186). In our families and in our stakes and districts, let us seek to build up Zion through unity, godliness, and charity, preparing for that great day when Zion, the New Jerusalem, will arise."

- D. Todd Christofferson, "Come to Zion," Ensign, Nov. 2008, pp. 37-38
Click here to read the whole talk

Building Zion in our homes and communities is a great quest. Elder Christofferson invites us to become "of one heart and one mind" and learn to care deeply for one another, temporally and spiritually. We can hasten the development of Zion as we:

• become unified
• become more righteous, individually and collectively
• learn to care sincerely for all among us

Only as we consciously and actively pursue these efforts will the blessing of Zion begin to be ours.

Quentin L. Cook on life's choices and our accountability to God

Elder Quentin L. Cook (b. 1940) was called as a Seventy in 1996, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2007.

"We live in perilous times when many believe we are not accountable to God and that we do not have personal responsibility or stewardship for ourselves or others. Many in the world are focused on self-gratification, put themselves first, and love pleasure more than they love righteousness. They do not believe they are their brother's keeper. In the Church, however, we believe that these stewardships are a sacred trust....

"This feeling of accountability, which is encompassed by the first great commandment to love God, has been described by some as 'obedience to the unenforceable' (John Fletcher Moulton). We try to do what is right because we love and want to please our Father in Heaven, not because someone is forcing us to obey....

"In all of our stewardship efforts, we follow Jesus Christ. We try to emulate what He has asked us to do, both by His teachings and His example."

- Quentin L. Cook, "Stewardship—A Sacred Trust," Ensign, November 2009, p. 91
Click here to read the whole talk

Do the choices and actions of my life matter? Does God care about what I do? Will I be held accountable? Elder Cook explores the implications of these thoughts in this discussion of our eternal stewardships. While many today believe all that matters is personal pleasure and self-gratification, he offers a strong testimony that our actions do make a difference, and that one of the great eternal keys to happiness lies in loving God and following the Savior.

Gordon B. Hinckley on honoring our pioneer heritage

President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008) was called to the Quorum of Twelve in 1961. He served as a counselor in the First Presidency from 1981-1995, then as Church President until his death in 2008.

"We stand today as the recipients of their [the pioneers'] great effort. I hope we are thankful. I hope we carry in our hearts a deep sense of gratitude for all that they have done for us.

"It is now 1997, and the future is ahead. As great things were expected of them, so are they of us. We note what they did with what they had. We have so much more, with an overwhelming challenge to go on and build the kingdom of God. There is so much to do. We have a divine mandate to carry the gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people....

"We are engaged in a great and consuming crusade for truth and goodness. Fortunately, we live in a season of goodwill. There has come down to us an inheritance of respect and honor to our people. We must grasp the torch and run the race....

"With so great an inheritance, we can do no less than our very best. Those who have gone before expect this of us. We have a mandate from the Lord. We have a vision of our cause and purpose."

- Gordon B. Hinckley, "True to the Faith", Ensign, May 1997, p. 66-67
Click here to read the full talk

It's now been 19 years since the Church celebrated the 150th anniversary of the pioneer arrival in the Great Salt Lake valley. As President Hinckley spoke on that occasion, he looked to the past at the example of the pioneers, but looked to the future at the challenges and opportunities that were ahead.

He suggested that our endeavors can be blessed by remembering the examples of the past and carrying a sense of gratitude and with us as we move ahead. We recognize that "we have so much more" than those early saints had; our lives are relatively simple and blessed with prosperity and ease. But our challenges are also great. "There is so much to do" for us in these days as we defend the truth and strive to carry the message of the gospel into the world.

David A. Bednar on faith in trials and the enabling power of the Atonement

Elder David A. Bednar (born June 15, 1952) was serving as the president of BYU–Idaho when he was called and sustained as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in October 2004.

"All that I have read thus far is a preparation for the next line from Daniel W. Jones’ journal. It illustrates how those pioneer Saints may have known something about the enabling power of the Atonement that we, in our prosperity and ease, are not as quick to understand: 'We asked the Lord to bless our stomachs and adapt them to this food' (Jones, Forty Years Among the Indians, 81; emphasis added). My dear brothers and sisters, I know what I would have prayed for in those circumstances. I would have prayed for something else to eat. 'Heavenly Father, please send me a quail or a buffalo.' It never would have occurred to me to pray that my stomach would be strengthened and adapted to what we already had.

"What did Daniel W. Jones know? He knew about the enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He did not pray that his circumstances would be changed. He prayed that he would be strengthened to deal with his circumstances. Just as Nephi, Amulek, and Alma and his people were strengthened, Daniel W. Jones had the spiritual insight to know what to ask for in that prayer. 'We hadn’t the faith to ask him to bless the raw-hide, for it was "hard stock." On eating now all seemed to relish the feast. We were three days without eating before this second attempt was made. We enjoyed this sumptuous fare for about six weeks' (Jones, Forty Years, 81–82).

"The enabling power of the Atonement of Christ strengthens us to do things we could never do on our own. Sometimes I wonder if in our latter-day world of ease—in our world of microwave ovens and cell phones and air-conditioned cars and comfortable homes—I wonder if we ever learn to acknowledge our daily dependence upon the enabling power of the Atonement."

- David A. Bednar, "In the Strength of the Lord," BYU Devotional, 23 October 2001
Click here to read the full talk

Elder Bednar shared a remarkable story from the life of Daniel Jones, who was part of the rescue efforts for the stranded 1856 handcart companies. During that time, he volunteered with a few others to remain and safeguard the possessions of the pioneer companies while the suffering individuals were taken to Utah for relief. But those who stayed behind soon found their provisions very inadequate to the point that they were forced to subsist on animal hides and other very meager possessions. That's the setting for the stunningly humble and faithful prayer of Daniel Jones.

The profound insight this offers, according to Elder Bednar, is that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we are able to pray not for circumstances to change, but for the strength to survive and learn from the circumstances we're in. That kind of prayer often requires a much deeper faith in God and trust in His eternal plan for our welfare. We learn to draw on the great "enabling power" that the grace of God provides in our lives, helping us to move forward and be blessed by the things we experience and learn.

As Elder Bednar cautions, in our prosperous and comfortable times, it can become easy to forget how dependent we are on that eternal enabling power. We must keep the proper eternal perspective and always acknowledge the blessings that come to us from God in myriad ways. And then, we are able to seek for even more enabling power to help us to grow and become more like Him.

Henry B. Eyring on having faith tried and strengthened in times of challenge

President Henry B. Eyring (born May 31, 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.

"I see a thread of faith, a particular faith, running in the lives of those heroes of the Restoration whose steadfastness and courage leave us in awe. Perhaps if we examine that thread today, we may find it in our own lives and strengthen it.

"Those histories reveal as much about faith from what people did as from what they declared in words. Different as were their challenges and their responses, I thought I saw a recurring pattern. Here it is.

"They shared a faith that the kingdom of God had been established for the last time, that it would triumph over great opposition and would become glorious in preparation for the day when the Savior would come to accept it, that it would stand forever, and that theirs was a rare privilege to have been called out of the world to build it.

"They were sure that they were establishing Zion, a place of refuge. It is not surprising then that they plead for that Zion and that they expected not only to build it but to enjoy living in it. What is surprising is that their faith increased when they pleaded for Zion to be established even as they saw times of safety turn to times of testing....

"It seems to me that was true because their faith was based on an understanding of why God allows us to pass into such close places and how he delivers us. The 'how' springs from the 'why.' The why is that our loving Heavenly Father and his Son, Jesus Christ, wish for us to be sanctified that we may have eternal life with them. That requires our being cleansed through faith in Jesus Christ, repenting because of that faith, and proving ourselves faithful to the covenants they offer us only through their mortal servants in the kingdom of God. Knowing their loving purpose makes it easier to understand both why they allow trials and how they deliver us.

"They could make all the rough places smooth in building the kingdom and in our lives. They allow trials to come even when we are faithful because they love us....

"But for me, the greatest comfort comes from this one in D&C 95:1:

"'Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you whom I love, and whom I love I also chasten that their sins may be forgiven, for with the chastisement I prepare a way for their deliverance in all things out of temptation, and I have loved you.'

"I have come to understand that to try our faith is not simply to test it but to strengthen it, that the witness which comes after the testing strengthens that faith, and that God’s preparation includes in the plan for deliverance the timing that will best strengthen our faith."

- Henry B. Eyring, "Faith of Our Fathers," BYU Education Week Devotional, Aug 20, 1996
Click here to read the full talk

This was really a profound and moving address by President Eyring. Speaking to an eager audience at the BYU Campus Education week in 1996, he shared a number of experiences of his own pioneer ancestors to illustrate the common principles of faith and devotion that made their contributions and sacrifices so great. It was all based on the foundation of belief in the restoration of the gospel and the vision of the great work of the latter days. They felt that they were participating in that work, and that regardless of where or how they were asked to serve, their part would make a difference in the eventual destiny of God's kingdom on earth.

I think that's a powerful insight. When we understand that God is in charge, and if we truly believe he speaks through His authorized servants to help direct us in the labors of the last days, then we are not only willing, but eager to receive and follow through on that direction.

And moreover, we learn that in the process of acting in faith, we are also growing in faith. Our faith is strengthened as it is tested. Learning to understand, or at least to trust, God's timing is so critical for that process!