FIRST PRESIDENCY MESSAGE True to the Faith of Our Forefathers
John
Linford was 43 when he and his wife, Maria, and three of their sons made the
decision to leave their home in Gravely, England, to journey thousands of miles
to join the Saints in the valley of the Great Salt Lake. They left behind their
fourth son, who was serving a mission, sold their belongings, and took passage
in Liverpool aboard the ship Thornton.
The
journey by sea to New York City, and thence by land to Iowa, proved uneventful.
Troubles began, however, shortly after the Linford’s and other Latter-day
Saints who had sailed on the Thornton left Iowa City on July 15, 1856, as
part of the ill-fated James G. Willie handcart company. The harsh weather
and arduous travel took their toll on many in the company, including John. He
eventually became so ill and weak that he had to be pulled in a handcart. By
the time the company reached Wyoming, his condition had deteriorated
significantly. A rescue team from Salt Lake City arrived on October 21, just
hours after John’s mortal journey ended. He had died early that morning near the
banks of the Sweetwater River. Was John sorry he had traded comfort and ease
for the struggles, privations, and hardships of taking his family to Zion?
“No,
Maria,” he told his wife just before he died. “I am glad we came. I shall not
live to reach Salt Lake, but you and the boys will, and I do not regret all we
have gone through if our boys can grow up and raise their families in Zion.”1 Maria
and her sons completed their journey. When Maria passed away nearly 30 years
later, she and John left behind a legacy of faith, of service, of devotion, and
of sacrifice.
To
be a Latter-day Saint is to be a pioneer, for the definition of a pioneer is
“one who goes before to prepare or open up the way for others to follow.”2 And to be a pioneer is to become
acquainted with sacrifice. Although members of the Church are no longer asked
to leave their homes to make the journey to Zion, they often must leave behind
old habits, longtime customs, and cherished friends. Some make the agonizing
decision to leave behind family members who oppose their Church membership.
Latter-day Saints move forward, however, praying that precious ones will yet
understand and accept.
The
path of a pioneer is not easy, but we follow in the footsteps of the ultimate
Pioneer—even the Savior—who went before, showing us the way to follow.
The
way can be trying. Some find it difficult to withstand the mocking and unsavory
remarks of foolish ones who ridicule chastity, honesty, and obedience to God’s
commands. The world has ever belittled adherence to principle. When Noah was
instructed to build an ark, the foolish populace looked at the cloudless sky
and then scoffed and jeered—until the rain came.
On
the American continent long centuries ago, people doubted, disputed, and
disobeyed until the fire consumed Zarahemla, the earth covered Moronihah, and
the water engulfed Moroni. Jeering, mocking, ribaldry, and sin were no more.
They had been replaced by sullen silence, dense darkness. The patience of God
had expired, His timetable fulfilled.
Maria
Linford never lost her faith despite persecution in England, the hardships of
her journey to “the place which God … prepared,”6 and the subsequent trials she endured
for her family and the Church.
At
a 1937 graveside ceremony dedicated to Maria’s memory, Elder George Albert
Smith (1870–1951) asked her posterity: “Will you live true to the faith of your
ancestors? … Do strive to be worthy of all the sacrifices [they] have made
for you.”7 As we seek to build Zion in our hearts, in
our homes, in our communities, and in our countries, may we remember the
resolute courage and abiding faith of those who gave their all that we might
enjoy the blessings of the restored gospel, with its hope and promise through
the Atonement of Jesus
Christ.
Teaching from This Message
Consider
asking those you teach to think of people in their lives who have gone before
and been pioneers for them. Then ask them when they’ve had to be pioneers and
prepare the way for others. Invite them to ponder the moments that they’ve had
to sacrifice and why it was worthwhile. You could then challenge them to record
their testimony of “the ultimate Pioneer,” the Savior.
Youth
True to Their Faith
President Monson tells a story about one pioneer family and then quotes President George
Albert Smith: “Will you live true to the faith of your ancestors? … Strive
to be worthy of all the sacrifices [they] have made for you.” Whether you have
a pioneer ancestry or are a first-generation member of the Church, do you look
to examples of faith for guidance and strength? Here’s a good way you can get
started:
1. Make a list of people you admire. They can be members of your
own family (past or present), friends, Church leaders, or people in the
scriptures.
2. Write down the qualities they have that you like. Is your mom
really patient? Maybe your friend is kind to others. Perhaps you love Captain
Moroni’s courage.
3. Pick one quality from your list and ask yourself, “How can I
gain this quality? What do I need to do to develop this in my life?”
4. Write down your plans for developing this quality and put it
somewhere you’ll see it often, to remind you of your goal. Pray for Heavenly
Father’s help and check your progress regularly. Once you feel you have
sufficiently developed this quality, you can pick a new quality to work on.
Remember that as we develop great qualities in ourselves, we not
only honor the faith of our ancestors and the sacrifices they made, but we can
also be an influence for good to those around us.
Children
You’re a Pioneer
Too!
Pioneers are people who prepare the way for others to follow.
Draw a picture or find a photo of one of your ancestors. Can you
find a story of how they prepared the way for you to follow? Write two ways you
can be a pioneer today. You can share your ideas at your next family home
evening!
“True to
Our Covenants”
cji
7/1/16
We each
made covenants
pre-mortally
with our Father
also
with our loved ones
to be
true to the faith
some
have renewed covenants
here in
their second estate
while
most have forgotten
seeking
not even to remember
seeing
nothing after death
some
maybe a spirit life
others
nothing at all
yet we
all made covenants
to be
true to the faith
seeking
to return to Father
and his
Son our Savior
whose
Atonement for us
would
make it possible!
Copyright © 2016 – cji
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