President M. Russell Ballard on the power of small and simple things

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.

"Great things are wrought through simple and small things. Like the small flecks of gold that accumulate over time into a large treasure, our small and simple acts of kindness and service will accumulate into a life filled with love for Heavenly Father, devotion to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and a sense of peace and joy each time we reach out to one another.

"As we approach the Easter season, may we show our love and appreciation for the Savior’s atoning sacrifice through our simple, compassionate acts of service to our brothers and sisters at home, at church, and in our communities."

- M. Russell Ballard, "Finding Joy through Loving Service," General Conference April 2011
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Small things can accumulate into great things, when consistent and repeated effort is manifest. This applies to collecting flecks of gold in a prospecting effort; it also applies to "simple acts of kindness and service" that can turn a normal life into one that is glorious and Christlike, filled with "a sense of peace and joy":

Elder Ballard gave a particular challenge "as we approach the Easter season" in his remarks. We are within a few weeks of that time right now, this year, as well. He encouraged us to find ways in our life to give "simple, compassionate acts of service" to those around us as ways to "show our love and appreciation for the Savior's atoning sacrifice." That would be a wonderful gift for us to share, and a wonderful blessing to feel the power and peace it brings to our lives.

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

President Henry B. Eyring on safety in following the Lord

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.

"The Lord is anxious to lead us to the safety of higher ground, away from the path of physical and spiritual danger. His upward path will require us to climb. My mother used to say to me when I complained that things were hard, 'If you are on the right path, it will always be uphill.' And as the world becomes darker and more dangerous, we must keep climbing. It will be our choice whether or not to move up or to stay where we are. But the Lord will invite and guide us upward by the direction of the Holy Ghost, which He sends to His leaders and to His people who will receive it.

"The mists of spiritual darkness will become more dense as we climb. They are described in the Book of Mormon this way: 'And the mists of darkness are the temptations of the devil, which blindeth the eyes, and hardeneth the hearts of the children of men, and leadeth them away into broad roads, that they perish and are lost' (1 Nephi 12:17).

"But the word of God will guide those who develop the capacity to receive it through the ministrations of the Holy Ghost. A clear light piercing the darkness will show the way to those who have taken the Holy Ghost as a trusted and constant traveling companion."

- Henry B. Eyring, "Raise the Bar," BYU–Idaho Devotional, January 25, 2005
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President Eyring's analogy of reaching "higher ground" to find safety is a good one. It requires effort and exertion to get away from the "physical and spiritual danger" that surrounds us, as if we were climbing a steep mountain trail:

President Eyring goes on to emphasize some important factors:

1. It is up to us to choose whether we will climb those uphill paths to find safety—no one is forced to climb, and our agency is a key element of our experience
2. God will always continue to "invite and guide us upward" through the whisperings of the Holy Ghost, if we are willing to listen
3. It doesn't necessarily get easier, the more we climb; those "mists of darkness" are the adversary's attempt to discourage us in the climb and dissuade us from our efforts
4. We can overcome darkness and all other obstacles through the companionship of the Holy Ghost, who acts as a "clear light piercing the darkness" to show us the way

We truly are blessed to understand these options and to know that we can find safety and peace in a world of turmoil.

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

President Dallin H. Oaks on the healing power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ

President Dallin H. Oaks (born August 12, 1932) served as president of BYU from 1971-1980.  He was then appointed as a justice of the Utah Supreme Court, and resigned when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1984. He became President of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles and also 1st Counselor in the First Presidency in January 2018.

"The Atonement of Jesus Christ and the healing it offers do much more than provide the opportunity for repentance from sins. The Atonement also gives us the strength to endure 'pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind,' because our Savior also took upon Him 'the pains and the sicknesses of his people' (Alma 7:11). Brothers and sisters, if your faith and prayers and the power of the priesthood do not heal you from an affliction, the power of the Atonement will surely give you the strength to bear the burden.

"'Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,' the Savior said, 'and I will give you rest … unto your souls' (Matthew 11:28–29).

"As we struggle with the challenges of mortality, I pray for each of us, as the prophet Mormon prayed for his son, Moroni: 'May Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, … and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever' (Moroni 9:25).

"I testify of Jesus Christ, our Savior, who invites us all to come unto Him and be perfected in Him. He will bind up our wounds and He will heal the heavy laden."

- Dallin H. Oaks, "He Heals the Heavy Laden," General Conference, October 2006
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There is no shortage of challenges in mortality. President Oaks shared this reassuring and encouraging testimony that the Savior invites us to come to Him in order to find help and healing in the midst of our challenges. One of the most powerful messages of the gospel is that the Atonement of Jesus Christ can bless our lives in ways far beyond forgiveness of sin:

Many of us have had times in life when nothing seems to resolve our challenges; prayer, faith, and priesthood power sometimes don't take away pain or bring resolution the way we hope. At those times, the faithful disciple realizes that here is power in the Savior's Atonement to bring "strength to bear the burden" for the time we are asked to bear it. That is also a great gift, and we will learn to treasure it as well.

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

President Russell M. Nelson on the sacred place of home and family

President Russell M. Nelson (born Sept 9, 1924) was an internationally-renowned heart surgeon when he was called to serve as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1984. He became president of that quorum on July 15, 2015. Following the death of President Monson, he was set apart as president of the Church on January 14, 2018.

"The family is the most important unit of society and of the Church. The family is ordained of God. It is central to His plan for the eternal destiny of His children. (See 'The Family: A Proclamation to the World,' Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102.) 'God has established families to bring happiness to his children, to allow them to learn correct principles in a loving atmosphere, and to prepare them for eternal life.' (Family Guidebook (pamphlet, 1992), iv.) ...

"The home is the great laboratory of love. There the raw chemicals of selfishness and greed are melded in the crucible of cooperation to yield compassionate concern and love one for another. (See Mosiah 4:14-15; D&C 68:25-31)"

- Russell M. Nelson, "Our Sacred Duty to Honor Women," General Conference, April 1999
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This excerpt was part of an address to the Priesthood Session of conference. President Nelson gave counsel in particular to husbands on providing the proper companionship and supportive relationship with their wives—our "sacred duty to honor women." In the ideal setting of the family, where a man and a woman provide companionship and support in pursuing eternal goals, some of the most important learning opportunities exist to help us all move forward towards the goal of eternal life:

The identification of home as a "laboratory" implies that experiments will take place there; there will be mistakes and failures. But as we learn lessons from those experiences, developing skills in knowing how to replace "selfishness and greed" with "compassionate concern and love", we will find great joy and peace.

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

President Howard W. Hunter on consistent ordinary efforts

President Howard W. Hunter (1907-1995) was called to the Quorum of Twelve in 1959.  He served as Church President from June 5, 1994 to his death on March 3, 1995.

"The Lord has said, 'Out of small things proceedeth that which is great.' (D&C 64:33; italics added.) Each of us has seen individuals become wealthy or successful almost instantaneously, almost overnight. But I believe that even though this kind of success may come to some without a prolonged struggle, there is no such thing as instant greatness. This is because the achievement of true greatness is a long-term process; it may involve occasional setbacks. The end result may not always be clearly visible, but it seems that it always requires regular, consistent, small, and sometimes ordinary and mundane steps over a long period of time."

- Howard W. Hunter, "True Greatness," General Conference April 1982
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President Hunter points out that there is a difference between "overnight success" and true lasting greatness. While people occasionally stumble into success (financial, occupational, etc.) that really has very little to do with being truly great:

So according to President Hunter, true greatness comes after a prolonged process of effort that can include stumbles and failures, but always means lots of small steps in common and mundane ways. We need to learn to be content and persistent with our efforts from day to day, knowing that the cumulative effect of lots of little steps means a lot of progress over time; and that is where greatness comes from.

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

President Spencer W. Kimball on keys to finding peace

President Spencer W. Kimball (1895-1985) was ordained an apostle in 1943 and served as President of the Church from 1973 to 1985.

"Peace is the fruit of righteousness. It cannot be bought with money, and cannot be traded nor bartered. It must be earned. The wealthy often spend much of their gains in a bid for peace, only to find that it is not for sale. But the poorest as well as the richest may have it in abundance if the total price is paid. Those who abide the laws and live the Christ-like life may have peace and other kindred blessings, principal among which are exaltation and eternal life. They include also blessings for this life."

- Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1969], 363-64

One of our hymns asks, "Where can I turn for peace?" (Hymns #129) The hymn suggests that it can be found only in our "Savior and Friend" who brings solace and comfort to those who petition: "Gentle the peace he finds for my beseeching." President Kimball's message is similar; we can find peace in obedience and in "the Christ-like life":

This is not a gift that can be purchases with money; the wealthy often find they are the furthest away from its blessing. True blessings and deep, lasting peace come through humble discipleship.

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

President Wilford Woodruff on the importance of having God's spirit

President Wilford Woodruff  (born March 1, 1807—211 years ago today; died 1898) was called as an apostle in 1839 by Joseph Smith, and sustained as the 4th president of the Church in 1889.  He served until his death in 1898 at age 91.

"Joseph Smith visited me a great deal after his death, and taught me many important principles.... Among other things, he told me to get the Spirit of God; that all of us needed it....

"Brigham Young also visited me after his death.... And he told me what Joseph Smith had taught him in Winter Quarters, to teach the people to get the Spirit of God. He said, 'I want you to teach the people to get the Spirit of God. You cannot build up the Kingdom of God without that.'

"That is what I want to say to the brethren and sisters here today. Every man and woman in this Church should labor to get that Spirit. We are surrounded by these evil spirits that are at war against God and against everything looking to the building up of the kingdom of God; and we need this Holy Spirit to enable us to overcome these influences. I have had the Holy Ghost in my travels. Every man has that has gone out into the vineyard and labored faithfully for the cause of God. I have referred to the administration of angels to myself. What did these angels do? One of them taught me some things relating to the signs that should precede the coming of the Son of Man. Others came and saved my life. What then? They turned and left me.

"But how is it with the Holy Ghost? The Holy Ghost does not leave me if I do my duty. It does not leave any man who does his duty. We have known this all the way through. Joseph Smith told Brother John Taylor on one occasion to labor to get the Spirit of God, and to follow its dictation, and it would become a principle of revelation within him. God has blessed me with that, and everything I have done since I have been in this Church has been done upon that principle. The Spirit of God has told me what to do, and I have had to follow that."

- Wilford Woodruff, “Discourse,” The Deseret Weekly, Nov. 7, 1896, 642–43

It's interesting to learn about the communication that existed between the early Church leaders, even from beyond the veil. They had some sensitivity and gifts that were strong and unusual. In this case, both Joseph Smith and Brigham Young offered counsel on the importance of "getting the Spirit of God" in our lives. There is a war going on between God and the "evil spirits" that abound in the world, and we need toe Holy Spirit to counteract and overcome those influences:

President Woodruff seems to use terms interchangeably, including the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Ghost. They provide the "principle of revelation" that becomes so crucial to us in our lives. President Woodruff knew this from personal experience; his life was preserved and directed in dramatic ways because of his sensitivity to the promptings of the Spirit in his life. He surely heeded the counsel that he was given by his predecessors!

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