May 9 2016
As I was getting ready to write this morning I remembered a talk Elder Holland gave so I went looking for it. It took me a few minutes, but I found it!!! Amazing Technology again!! It was in the April 2014 conference talk, "The Cost - and Blessings - of Discipleship" With admiration and encouragement for everyone who will need to remain steadfast in these latter days, I say to all and especially the youth of the Church that if you haven’t already, you will one day find yourself called upon to defend your faith or perhaps even endure some personal abuse simply because you are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Such moments will require both courage and courtesy on your part.
For example, a sister missionary recently wrote to me: “My companion and I saw a man sitting on a bench in the town square eating his lunch. As we drew near, he looked up and saw our missionary name tags. With a terrible look in his eye, he jumped up and raised his hand to hit me. I ducked just in time, only to have him spit his food all over me and start swearing the most horrible things at us. We walked away saying nothing. I tried to wipe the food off of my face, only to feel a clump of mashed potato hit me in the back of the head. Sometimes it is hard being a missionary because right then I wanted to go back, grab that little man, and say, ‘EXCUSE ME!’ But I didn’t.”
To this devoted missionary I say, dear child, you have in your own humble way stepped into a circle of very distinguished women and men who have, as the Book of Mormon prophet Jacob said, “view[ed Christ’s] death, and suffer[ed] his cross and [borne] the shame of the world.”1- Jacob 1:8
He continues his talk then finishes...
"Friends, especially my young friends, take heart. Pure Christlike love flowing from true righteousness can change the world. I testify that the true and living gospel of Jesus Christ is on the earth and you are members of His true and living Church, trying to share it. I bear witness of that gospel and that Church, with a particular witness of restored priesthood keys which unlock the power and efficacy of saving ordinances. I am more certain that those keys have been restored and that those ordinances are once again available through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints than I am certain I stand before you at this pulpit and you sit before me in this conference.
Be strong. Live the gospel faithfully even if others around you don’t live it at all. Defend your beliefs with courtesy and with compassion, but defend them. A long history of inspired voices, including those you will hear in this conference and the voice you just heard in the person of President Thomas S. Monson, point you toward the path of Christian discipleship. It is a strait path, and it is a narrow path without a great deal of latitude at some points, but it can be thrillingly and successfully traveled, “with … steadfastness in Christ, … a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.”19 - 2Nephi 31:20 In courageously pursuing such a course, you will forge unshakable faith, you will find safety against ill winds that blow, even shafts in the whirlwind, and you will feel the rock-like strength of our Redeemer, upon whom if you build your unflagging discipleship, you cannot fall.20-My Favorite! Helaman 5:12 In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/the-cost-and-blessings-of-discipleship?lang=eng
The whole talk is amazing..read it! Elder Holland is always such a powerful, emotional speaker. It seems he loves the youth and the missionaries especially!
Elder Uchtdorf also had an excellent quote from this last General Conference in the Priesthood Session. He was talking about saving marriages and families, but this small quote applies to everyone in all facets of life: I am fond of this bit of wisdom by Abraham Lincoln: “Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” It fits nicely with its scriptural companion: “Seek, and ye shall find.”3 - Matthew 7:7, Luke 11:9, 3 Nephi 14:7
Look for Happiness and you will find it! Yes, I know that it is easier said than done sometimes. I read in a Chicken Soup for the Soul book someone gave me (or maybe I bought it, I don't remember!) about a woman who struggled with depression and had throughout her life. She started keeping a 'Happiness Journal'. She required herself to write down at least one thing everyday that make her happy ( or at least had the potential to.) It may have just been a word or 2 but after some time she could look back a see all of the happiness in her life and it truly made a difference. Elder Eyring had the same idea but instead of just something that made him happy he would write down how he had seen the hand of God in his life that day, which, I'm guessing, would be something that made him happy!
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