Brother Kevin Martin
Bishopric First Counselor
Hello Brothers and Sisters of the 11th Ward. Happy Fall!! It is great to have cooler temperatures as we go into the last part of the year. October is right around the corner, not only does that mean Halloween is coming or other celebratory Holidays, but we have the privilege to attend General Conference. Since the April Conference, I have had the opportunity many mornings to listen to these talks by Prophets and Apostles and other General Authorities. The one that stands out to me more than the others is by our dear Prophet, President Nelson. On the Sunday morning Session he gives a talk prior to the Hosanna Shout. I would highly encourage you to look up this talk and read or listen to it again. Wow, words of a prophet.
President Nelson said,
“…The Book of Mormon chronicles the classic rise and fall of two major civilizations. Their history demonstrates how easy it is for a majority of the people to forget God, reject warnings of the Lord’s prophets, and seek power, popularity, and pleasures of the flesh. Repeatedly, past prophets have declared “great and marvelous things unto the people, which they did not believe.”
It is no different in our day. Through the years, great and marvelous things have been heard from dedicated pulpits across the earth. Yet most people do not embrace these truths —either because they do not know where to look for them or because they are listening to those who do not have the whole truth or because they have rejected truth in favor of worldly pursuits.
The adversary is clever. For millennia he has been making good look evil and evil look good. His messages tend to be loud, bold, and boastful.
However, messages from our Heavenly Father are strikingly different. He communicates simply, quietly, and with such stunning plainness that we cannot misunderstand Him.
For example, whenever He has introduced His Only Begotten Son to mortals upon the earth, He has done so with remarkably few words. On the Mount of Transfiguration to Peter, James, and John, God said, “This is my beloved Son: hear him.” His words to the Nephites in ancient Bountiful were “Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name —hear ye him.” And to Joseph Smith, in that profound declaration that opened this dispensation, God simply said, “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!”
Now, my dear brothers and sisters, consider the fact that in these three instances just mentioned, just before the Father introduced the Son, the people involved were in a state of fear and, to some degree, desperation.
The Apostles were afraid when they saw Jesus Christ encircled by a cloud on the Mount of Transfiguration.
The Nephites were afraid because they had been through destruction and darkness for several days.
Joseph Smith was in the grips of a force of darkness just before the heavens opened.
Our Father knows that when we are surrounded by uncertainty and fear, what will help us the very most is to hear His Son.
Because when we seek to hear —truly hear —His Son, we will be guided to know what to do in any circumstance.
The very first word in the Doctrine and Covenants is hearken. It means “to listen with the intent to obey.” To hearken means to “hear Him” —to hear what the Savior says and then to heed His counsel. In those two words —“Hear Him” —God gives us the pattern for success, happiness, and joy in this life. We are to hear the words of the Lord, hearken to them, and heed what He has told us!
I know that some of you may be doing well, some may be doing okay. Some may be not so good, and others may not be doing very well at all. Know that Heavenly Father is aware of you and your needs. Please read the remaining parts of President Nelson’s talk, I know it will bring you comfort. Remember that their arms are outstretched still. May we Hearken to the words of our dear prophet, and as we do, we will be hearkening to the word of the Lord. May you feel the love of our Savior and Heavenly Father as you strive to hear Him. Go forth in faith Brothers and Sisters, there are good times ahead. This I know. I look forward to hearing from our Prophets and Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, in just a couple weeks. May you find what you are searching for from General Conference. God Lives, Jesus is the Christ, and we are His sons and daughters. May we go forth in Faith, and not in fear. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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