Elder Neil L. Andersen on the timing of miracles

Elder Neil L. Andersen (born August 9, 1951) served as a Seventy beginning in 1993, and was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2009.

"Miracles are not always so immediate. At times we thoughtfully wonder why the miracle we have so earnestly prayed for does not happen here and now. But as we trust in the Savior, promised miracles will occur. Whether in this life or the next, all will be made right. The Savior declares: 'Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid' (John 14:27). 'In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world' (John 13:33).

"I testify that as you love Him, trust Him, believe Him, and follow Him, you will feel His love and approval. As you ask, 'What thinks Christ of me?' you will know that you are His disciple; you are His friend. By His grace He will do for you what you cannot do for yourself."

- Neil L. Andersen, "What Thinks Christ of Me?," General Conference April 2012
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Sometimes we see miracles happen that seem truly astonishing; at times they seem the most natural and expected thing we could envision. But sometimes miracles don't occur when we expect them, when we think we have faith to have them happen. Elder Andersen assures us that the promised miracles will occur as we have faith:

The key, according to Elder Andersen, is to "love Him, trust Him, believe Him, and follow Him"—then we "will feel His love and approval" and be blessed by His grace. The sweet assurance of a faithful disciple, knowing of the Lord's love for him, is a blessing that cannot be matched.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

Elder D. Todd Christofferson on finding our lives in faithful discipleship

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.

"Finding our life by losing it for His sake and the gospel’s entails a willingness to make our discipleship open and public: 'Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.' (Mark 8:38.)

"Elsewhere in Matthew, we find a companion statement:

"'Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

"'But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.' (Matthew 10:34–38.)

"One obvious and rather sobering meaning of losing your life by confessing Christ is to lose it literally, physically, in sustaining and defending your belief in Him....

"The more common (and sometimes more difficult) application of the Savior’s teaching, however, has to do with how we live day by day. It concerns the words we speak, the example we set. Our lives should be a confession of Christ, and together with our words testify of our faith in and devotion to Him. And this testimony must be stoutly defended in the face of ridicule, discrimination, or defamation on the part of those who oppose Him 'in this adulterous and sinful generation.'"

D. Todd Christofferson, "Saving Your Life,"  CES Devotional, September 14, 2014
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On occasion, people in this world have been given the choice to deny their faith and belief in God or to lose their life if they won't. Many have become martyrs for their Christian faith. Elder Christofferson discusses that interpretation; then goes a step further, to discuss how we can "lose our life" in the way we live it from day to day:

This is a high standard: "Our lives should be a confession of Christ, and together with our words testify of our faith in and devotion to Him." Our example and our testimony need to shine brightly, regardless of what is happening around us. In effect we are losing the worldliness and selfishness, and finding something far better. In that process we discover a richness and fulfillment of joy on the path of discipleship. Elder Christofferson goes on to explain that when we "lose one’s life in Christ and His gospel [we] thereby find authentic (and eventually eternal) life."

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

Elder Quentin L. Cook on thriving and blooming in a world in commotion

Elder Quentin L. Cook (b. September 8, 1940) was called as a Seventy in 1996, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2007.

"In the parable of the wheat and the tares, the Savior declared to His disciples that those who offend and do iniquity shall be gathered out of His kingdom. (See Matthew 13:41.) But speaking of the faithful, He said, 'Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.' (Matthew 13:43.) As individuals, disciples of Christ, living in a hostile world that is literally in commotion, we can thrive and bloom if we are rooted in our love of the Savior and humbly follow His teachings.

"Our ability to stand firm and true and follow the Savior despite the vicissitudes of life is greatly strengthened by righteous families and Christ-centered unity in our wards and branches. (See Doctrine and Covenants 115:5–6.)"

- Quentin L. Cook, "The Lord is My Light," General Conference, April 2015
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We live in a "hostile world" that effectively tries to destroy the light and beauty we believe is available to us through the life of discipleship. Elder Cook testifies that we don't have to succumb to the hostility; instead, we need to find the way to be properly "rooted" in the Savior and His teachings:

I appreciated the testimony that the best way to find solid rooting in the Savior and gospel is through our "righteous families and Christ-centered unity in our wards and branches." That makes it clear where we should devote our efforts and priorities! We might have expected the emphasis on home and family; but the importance of our connections with fellow Church members is also critical, since that is one of the key places were we both learn Gospel principles, and have a chance to implement and practice them.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

Elder David A. Bednar on living so that our actions match our beliefs

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.

"The commandment 'Thou shalt not bear false witness' (Exodus 20:16) applies most pointedly to the hypocrite in each of us. We need to be and become more consistent. 'But be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity' (1 Timothy 4:12).

"As we seek the Lord’s help and in His strength, we can gradually reduce the disparity between what we say and what we do, between expressing love and consistently showing it, and between bearing testimony and steadfastly living it. We can become more diligent and concerned at home as we are more faithful in learning, living, and loving the restored gospel of Jesus Christ."

- David A. Bednar, "More Diligent and Concerned at Home," General Conference, October 2009
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This concept of hypocrisy and bearing false witness against oneself is an interesting one. Elder Bednar discusses a number of ways it applies in this talk, as we strive to live the gospel-directed life. It is sometimes a hard lesson to learn, to make our true inner lives correspond to the outer perception we are presenting:

So the key warning is to "reduce the disparity between what we say and what we do." As we mature in the gospel, we know what we should be doing; we understand the guidelines and recommendations for our personal worship, our private behavior, etc. But Elder Bednar's warning is that we all too often fall short of the ideal.

Brigham Young said it this way: "The sin that will cleave to all the posterity of Adam and Eve is, that they have not done as well as they knew how" (JD 2:129-130). Our challenge is to have our behavior measure up to our beliefs, completely and sincerely. Elder Bednar's recommendation is to focus on being "more diligent and concerned at home" to establish those patterns of faithful living in our lives.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf on finding happiness in the gospel path

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf (born November 6, 1940) served as a Seventy from 1994-2004, when he was called as a member of the Quorum of Twelve.  He served as second counselor in the First Presidency from 2008 to 2018.

"The gospel of Jesus Christ is not an obligation; it is a pathway, marked by our loving Father in Heaven, leading to happiness and peace in this life and glory and inexpressible fulfillment in the life to come. The gospel is a light that penetrates mortality and illuminates the way before us.

"While understanding the 'what' and the 'how' of the gospel is necessary, the eternal fire and majesty of the gospel springs from the 'why.' When we understand why our Heavenly Father has given us this pattern for living, when we remember why we committed to making it a foundational part of our lives, the gospel ceases to become a burden and, instead, becomes a joy and a delight. It becomes precious and sweet.

"Let us not walk the path of discipleship with our eyes on the ground, thinking only of the tasks and obligations before us. Let us not walk unaware of the beauty of the glorious earthly and spiritual landscapes that surround us.

"My dear sisters, seek out the majesty, the beauty, and the exhilarating joy of the 'why' of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

"The 'what' and 'how' of obedience mark the way and keep us on the right path. The 'why' of obedience sanctifies our actions, transforming the mundane into the majestic. It magnifies our small acts of obedience into holy acts of consecration."

- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Forget Me Not," General Conference, October 2011
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Are we finding true happiness along the gospel pathway? Elder Uchtdorf testifies that we should, if we approach life in the right way. Though there is often darkness along the path, the gospel provides illumination to help us see the good and understand the purposes of our lives. But this is a critical point of allowing that to happen: it requires that we understand not just the things the gospel suggests we do, but the reasons for them:

As we understand this process, living the gospel life can indeed become "a joy and a delight" and "precious and sweet" to us.

Sometimes, however, we are so consumed in our challenges and frustrations that we see only the short-term difficulties, with our eyes symbolically fixed on the immediate path when there are glorious vistas all around. Elder Uchtdorf warns us of that danger, encouraging us to lift our eyes upward so that we can see the true beauty of life.

Elder Uchtdorf offered this beautiful concluding thought about the power of a proper gospel understanding to transform our lives:

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland on the importance of each unique individual

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (born December 3, 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.

"On those days when we feel a little out of tune, a little less than what we think we see or hear in others, I would ask us, especially the youth of the Church, to remember it is by divine design that not all the voices in God’s choir are the same. It takes variety—sopranos and altos, baritones and basses—to make rich music. To borrow a line quoted in the cheery correspondence of two remarkable Latter-day Saint women, 'All God’s critters got a place in the choir.' (Laurel Thatcher Ulrich and Emma Lou Thayne, All God’s Critters Got a Place in the Choir (1995)) When we disparage our uniqueness or try to conform to fictitious stereotypes—stereotypes driven by an insatiable consumer culture and idealized beyond any possible realization by social media—we lose the richness of tone and timbre that God intended when He created a world of diversity.

"Now, this is not to say that everyone in this divine chorus can simply start shouting his or her own personal oratorio! Diversity is not cacophony, and choirs do require discipline—for our purpose today... I would say discipleship—but once we have accepted divinely revealed lyrics and harmonious orchestration composed before the world was, then our Heavenly Father delights to have us sing in our own voice, not someone else’s. Believe in yourself, and believe in Him. Don’t demean your worth or denigrate your contribution. Above all, don’t abandon your role in the chorus. Why? Because you are unique; you are irreplaceable. The loss of even one voice diminishes every other singer in this great mortal choir of ours, including the loss of those who feel they are on the margins of society or the margins of the Church."

- Jeffrey R. Holland, "Songs Sung and Unsung," General Conference, April 2017
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It's so hard for us to not compare ourselves with others around us. Elder Holland warns about the tendency to evaluate ourselves and see "a little less than what we think we see or hear in others." Others always seem to be doing so much better, or accomplishing so much more! But in reality, all God asks of each of us is to do the best we can with the gifts and the circumstances we are given in our individual lives. And not only that—the power and beauty of the human race require the differences and distinctions between us! Diversity is a blessing, and we should never "disparage our uniqueness or try to conform to fictitious stereotypes" that we think are so important.

It's so important that we learn to "sing in our own voice, not someone else's." We can, and should, learn from the examples of others; we can notice qualities or gifts that we might aspire to and work to develop. But we should never forget that we, too, have unique personality traits and distinct gifts that can be used to help God's work and bless His children.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

President M. Russell Ballard on having the gospel deep in our hearts

President M. Russell Ballard (born October 8, 1928) was called as a Seventy in 1976, and has served as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles since 1985. He became acting president of the Twelve in January 2018.

"I'm simply suggesting that we take the next logical step in our complete conversion to the gospel of Christ by assimilating its doctrines deep within our hearts and our souls so we will act and live consistently—and with integrity—what we profess to believe.

"This integrity simplifies our lives and amplifies our sensitivities to the Spirit and to the needs of others. It brings joy into our lives and peace to our souls—the kind of joy and peace that comes to us as we repent of our sins and follow the Savior by keeping His commandments.

"How do we make this change? How do we ingrain this love of Christ into our hearts? There is one simple daily practice that can make a difference for every member of the Church, including you boys and girls, you young men and you young women, you single adults, and you fathers and mothers.

"That simple practice is: In your morning prayer each new day, ask Heavenly Father to guide you to recognize an opportunity to serve one of His precious children. Then go throughout the day with your heart full of faith and love, looking for someone to help. Stay focused, just like the honeybees focus on the flowers from which to gather nectar and pollen. If you do this, your spiritual sensitivities will be enlarged and you will discover opportunities to serve that you never before realized were possible."

- M. Russell Ballard, "Be Anxiously Engaged," General Conference, October 2012
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

The first paragraph of this excerpt sets the tone for President Ballard's message. Our goal as disciples of Christ is "complete conversion," which we achieve by having the doctrines of the gospel of Christ assimilated "deep within our hearts and our souls" in order that we act consistently according to what we believe. President Ballard encourages us to "ingrain" a deep love of Christ into our souls and lives in order to discover the fullness of joy and peace promised by the gospel.

As we strive to live the Christlike life, President Ballard offers a suggestion for a "simple daily practice" that can make all the difference in our lives:

When we are actively seeking for inspiration on living the Christlike life, wanting to serve and bless those around us as He did, we will be blessed with guidance. We will find our "spiritual sensitivities" enhanced and increased so that we are better able to make a difference in the lives of others. What a marvelous reminder!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)