https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2019/04/23ballard?lang=eng Listen/watch
Loving
God and loving our neighbors is the doctrinal foundation of ministering;
home-centered, Church-supported learning; Sabbath-day spiritual worship; and
the work of salvation.
My brothers and
sisters, it’s difficult for me to believe that it was 71 years ago, in 1948,
that I was a missionary in England and 44 years ago that my wife, Barbara, and
I took our family to Canada when I was the president of the Canada Toronto
Mission. While serving there in April 1976, I was called to the First Quorum of
the Seventy, and unexpectedly in 1985, I was called to the Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles. Unlike my previous callings, which included future releases, my
release from my calling to the Twelve is not the best option right now;
however, I pray that day will come only after I have finished all the Lord has
called me to do.
In thinking
about my last 43 years of service as a General Authority and the privilege I
have had to minister to Heavenly Father’s children, I have come to realize more
fully that He wants all of His children to find peace, joy, and happiness in
their lives.
The prophet Lehi
taught, “Men [and women] are, that they might have joy.”1 There
are many reasons why peace, joy, and happiness may elude us in this life,
including poverty, war, natural disasters, and unexpected setbacks in
employment, health, and family relationships.
But even though
we cannot control those external forces that impact our lives here on earth, as
we strive to become faithful disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, we can find
peace, joy, and happiness despite the worldly troubles that swirl around us.
One of my children
once said, “Dad, I wonder if I will ever be able to make it.” I responded, “All
Heavenly Father asks of us is to do the very best we can each day.” Brothers
and sisters, do the best you can do day after day, and before you know it, you
will come to realize that your Heavenly Father knows you and that He loves you.
And when you know that—really know it—your life will have real purpose and
meaning and you will be filled with joy and peace.
As the Light of
the World, the Savior said, “Whosoever believeth on me should not abide in
darkness.”2
“Jesus Christ is
the name which is given of the Father, and there is none other name given
whereby [we] can be saved;
“Wherefore, all
men [and women] must take upon them the name which is given of the Father.”3
The scriptures
teach us that Satan desires to lead people into darkness. His every effort is
to shut out the light and truth of Jesus Christ and His gospel. As Lehi taught
his children, the devil “seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto
himself.”4 If
Heavenly Father’s “work and … glory” is “to bring to pass the immortality and
eternal life of [men and women],”5 Lucifer’s
“work” is to bring to pass the misery and endless woe of God’s children. Sin
and transgression dim the Light of Christ in our lives. That is why our quest
is to bask in the Light of Christ, which brings peace, joy, and happiness.
In the last 18
months, the Lord has inspired His prophet and the Apostles to implement a
number of wonderful adjustments. However, I worry that the spiritual purposes
of these adjustments might become lost in the excitement about the changes
themselves.
Joseph F.
Smith said: “The true, pure, simple gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored.
We are responsible for maintaining it upon the earth.”6 He
added that the true, pure, and simple gospel is the “saving doctrines of
Christ.”7
In the Articles
of Faith, the Prophet Joseph Smith taught that “through the Atonement of
Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of
the Gospel.”8
The first
principles of the gospel are faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance,
baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. His brother Hyrum
taught: “Preach them over [and over] again: you will find that day after day
new ideas and additional light concerning them will be revealed to you. You can
enlarge upon them … to comprehend them clearly. You will then be able to make
them more plainly understood by those [you] teach.”9
The best ways
for us to see the spiritual purposes of the Church are to live the true, pure,
and simple teachings of Christ and also to apply the Savior’s two great
commandments: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart. … Thou
shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”10
Obedience to
those two commandments provides a way to experience more peace and joy. When we
love and serve the Lord and love and serve our neighbors, we will naturally
feel more happiness that comes to us in no better way.
Loving God and
loving our neighbors is the doctrinal foundation of ministering; home-centered,
Church-supported learning; Sabbath-day spiritual worship; and the work of
salvation on both sides of the veil supported in the Relief Societies and the
elders quorums. All of these things are based on the divine commandments to
love God and to love our neighbors. Can there be anything more basic, more
fundamental, and more simple than that?
Living the true,
pure, and simple gospel plan will allow us more time to visit the widows,
widowers, orphans, lonely, sick, and poor. We will find peace, joy, and
happiness in our life when serving the Lord and our neighbors.
The Sabbath-day
adjustments that emphasize home-centered, Church-supported gospel learning and
studying are an opportunity to renew our spirit and our devotion to God within
the walls of our homes. What could possibly be more simple, basic, and
profound? Brothers and sisters, can you see that learning and teaching the
gospel in our families is an important way to find joy and happiness in our
lives?
Speaking of the
Sabbath, the Savior said, “For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest
from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High.”11 He
added, “That thy joy may be full … [through] rejoicing and prayer … ye
[should] do these things with thanksgiving, with cheerful hearts and
countenances … [and] with a glad heart and a cheerful countenance.”12
Please note some
of the key words in this revelation: joy, rejoicing, thanksgiving, cheerful hearts, glad heart, and a cheerful countenance. It sounds to me like
Sabbath-day observance should bring smiles to our faces.
As we minister in a higher and holier way, please consider how
essential it is that we greet everyone who comes to our Church meetings,
especially new members and visitors. We should all enjoy singing the hymns and
listening carefully to the words of the sacrament prayers with an open heart
and mind.
Testimonies of
faith in our fast and testimony meetings are led by a member of the bishopric,
who shares a brief testimony focused on the plan of happiness and the true,
pure, and simple gospel of Christ. All others should follow that example. We
need to remember that there are other appropriate places to tell stories or
share travel adventures. As we keep our testimonies simple and focused on the
gospel of Christ, He will provide spiritual renewal as we share our testimonies
with one another.
Effective
ministering is best viewed through the focused lens of loving God and loving
our neighbors. Simply stated, we minister because we love our Heavenly Father
and His children. Our ministering efforts will be more successful if we keep
our ministering simple. The most joy comes from the simple things of life, so
we need to be careful not to think that more needs to be added to any of the
adjustments we have received to build faith and strong testimonies in the
hearts of God’s children.
Let’s not
complicate things with additional meetings, expectations, or requirements. Keep
it simple. It is in that simplicity that you will find the peace, joy, and
happiness I have been talking about.
For years the
leadership purposes of the Church, as stated in Handbook 2, are
outcomes that are clear and simple, from which I quote:
“Leaders encourage every member to receive all essential
priesthood ordinances, keep the associated covenants, and qualify for
exaltation and eternal life. …
“Adults: Encourage
each adult to be worthy to receive the ordinances of the temple. Teach all
adults to identify their ancestors and perform vicarious temple ordinances for
them.
“Youth: Help
prepare each young man to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, to receive the
ordinances of the temple, and to be worthy to serve a full-time mission. Help
prepare each young woman to be worthy to make and keep sacred covenants and
receive the ordinances of the temple. Strengthen youth through participation in
meaningful activities.
“All Members: Help
priesthood and auxiliary leaders, ward councils, ward and full-time
missionaries, and members work cooperatively in a balanced effort to rescue
individuals, strengthen families and Church units, increase priesthood
activity, and gather Israel through conversion, retention, and activation.
Teach members to provide for themselves and their families and to assist the
poor and needy in the Lord’s way.”13
My service in
the Church has blessed me with many remarkable and special spiritual
experiences. I am a witness that the Lord directs His Church to accomplish His
purposes. I have received divine guidance far beyond my capacity. The joy of
gospel living for me has been centered on the true, pure, and simple doctrine
and gospel of Jesus Christ.
I have served
under the keys and directions of six prophets
and Church Presidents, from Spencer W. Kimball to Russell M. Nelson.
I testify that each one of them was and is God’s chosen prophet. They have
taught us essential principles about the Church and the gospel and doctrine of
Christ. President Nelson is carrying the Lord’s work forward at a breathtaking
pace. I say “breathtaking” because he’s the only one of the Apostles who is
older than me, and I am having a difficult time keeping up with him! I am a
witness that the priesthood keys and the mantle of a prophet of God are upon
him. President Nelson teaches the true, pure, and simple gospel of Jesus
Christ. I bear my testimony that Jesus is the Christ and this is His Church—of
which I testify humbly in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
“What Could Be Easier?”
cji
6/1/19
True and simple is the
Gospel
nothing complicated or
wasted
obedience in all things
– teach
away from the worldly
aspect
remembering who we
serve
to whom we owe all
things
then doing the right
thing
at the right time –
always
what could be easier –
nothing!
Copyright © 2019 – cji
