First Counselor in the First Presidency
To
all of us who have come into mortality, the Savior said, “In the world ye shall
have tribulation” (John 16:33). Yet He gave this wonderful promise to His
disciples during His mortal ministry: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give
unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you” (John 14:27). It is a comfort to know that this promise
of personal peace continues for all of His disciples today. Some of us live in beautiful and peaceful
surroundings, yet we are experiencing inner turmoil. Others feel peace and
perfect serenity in the midst of great personal loss, tragedy, and continuing
trials. You may have seen the miracle of
peace on the face of a disciple of Jesus
Christ or heard it in
his or her words. I have seen it many times. Sometimes it has been in a
hospital room where a family is gathered around a servant of God
who is near death.
I remember visiting a woman in the hospital a few days before
she died of cancer. I had brought my two young daughters to accompany me
because this sweet sister had once been their Primary teacher. Her family members were gathered around her
bed, wishing to be with her in her final moments on earth. I was surprised as
she sat up in the bed. She reached out to my daughters and introduced them
both, one by one, to each member of her family. She spoke as if my daughters
were royalty being presented at the court of a queen. She found a way to say
something about the way each person in the room was a disciple of the Savior. I
still remember the strength, the tenderness, and the love in her voice. And I
recall being surprised at her cheerful smile even as she knew her time in life
was short.
She
had received priesthood blessings of comfort, yet she gave us all a
living testimony that the Lord’s promise of peace is true: “These things I have
spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have
tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). She had accepted His invitation, as we all
can, whatever our trials and troubles: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and
are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
“Take
my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye
shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:28–29).
It
is only through following the Savior that any of us can find peace and serenity
in the trials that will come to all of us.
The
sacramental prayers help us to know how to find that peace amidst the
tribulations of life. As we partake of the sacrament,
we can determine to be faithful to our covenants to follow Him.
We
each promise to remember the Savior. You can choose to remember Him in the way
that best draws your heart to Him. Sometimes for me, it is to see Him in my
mind kneeling in the Garden of Gethsemane or to see Him calling Lazarus to come
forth from the tomb. As I do, I feel a closeness to Him and a gratitude that brings peace to my heart.
You
also promise to keep His commandments. You promise to take His name upon you
and to be His witness. He promises that as you keep your covenants with Him,
the Holy Spirit will be with you. (See D&C 20:77, 79.)
This
brings peace in at least two ways. The Holy
Ghost cleanses us from
sin because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. And the Holy Ghost can give us
the peace that comes from having God’s approval and the hope of eternal life.
The
Apostle Paul spoke of this wonderful blessing: “But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith” (Galatians 5:22). When heavenly messengers heralded the
birth of the Savior, they declared, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace” (Luke 2:14; emphasis added). I bear my testimony as a
witness of Jesus Christ that the Father and His Beloved Son can send the Spirit
to allow us to find peace in this life, whatever tests may come to us and to
those we love.
Teaching from This
Message
President
Eyring teaches that the sacramental prayers can help us know how to find peace
during our trials. They remind us that as we keep our covenants, we have God’s
promise that the Holy
Ghost will be with us.
Consider asking those you teach how having the Holy Ghost with us can help us
have peace. You could also share your thoughts or an experience of how the Holy
Ghost helped you feel peace in a trial. You might encourage those you teach to
ponder this message during the sacramentthis
week.
Youth How Will You Remember the Savior This Week?
President Eyring encourages us to
“choose to remember [the Savior] in the way that best draws your heart to Him.”
How do you “always remember Him” throughout the week (see D&C 20:77, 79)?
Do you have favorite scriptures about
the Savior? You could mark a different scripture each day this week and share
it with someone.
Do you sing a hymn or another uplifting song in your mind when
you’re feeling down? Maybe choose one that is specifically about the Savior
this week.
Do you ponder the Savior’s life and atoning sacrifice during the
sacrament every week? You could prepare for the sacrament by recalling your
choices throughout the week to always remember the Savior and repenting of the
times when you struggled to.
Do you pray for chances to share the gospel each day? Try to
have a gospel discussion this week that focuses on the Savior. You could bear
your testimony of the Savior during family home evening or talk to a friend at
school about an experience you had at church.
Make a goal to remember the Savior in a
special way this week. Tell a parent, a sibling, a leader, or a friend about
your goal. At the end of the week, tell them what happened. You will both feel
the peace and happiness that President Eyring talked about.
Children Come unto Christ
The Savior has promised us peace when we “come unto [Him]” (Matthew 11:28). This means following His example and
trying to stay close to Him. Cut out this card and hang it where you’ll see it
often. What are other ways you can come unto Christ?
·
Be reverent during the sacrament.
·
Choose to be kind and not judge others.
·
Read about the Savior in the scriptures.
“Sleeping
Soundly”
cji
12/1/16
Checking
on the infant sleeping
seemingly
without cares/concerns
knowing
more than we’ll ever know
wherein
the future and of the past
able to
find peace with knowledge
understanding
Salvation’s Plan
that
Father and His Son in control
transcending
all of the evil powers
finding
peace in this life an example
commanded
to be as little children
we too
are entitled to this peace
sleeping
soundly exercising faith
what we
know to be true is true
our
mortal probation one of trust
to be
without cares or concerns
except
to be found worthy always
obedient
in all things commanded
as
checking on the infant sleeping
we too
will be found in this life!
Copyright © 2016 – cji
