Always remembering Him is the most important thing we can do in life. If we always remember Him and keep His commandments, we are promised to always have His Spirit to be with us. We know from experience how hard it is to think of anything consciously all the time. So, why does God admonish us to do something that seems impossible to achieve?
President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor to Thomas S. Monson, president and prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, says always remembering is essential to our survival because our Father in Heaven knows perfectly the powerful forces that influence us and also what it means to be human.
Opposing Forces
President Eyring says that with the acceleration of temple building and the expansion of missionary work all over the world comes an increase in an opposing power of sin. Also, we learn from the Book of Mormon that with great prosperity comes increased pride, greed, and a turning away from God, soon followed by a downfall of the people. Never in our lifetime have we witnessed such an ominous increase of acceptance and encouragement of the power of sin to corrupt and torment. President Summerhays told us yesterday in zone conference that very difficult times are ahead. With this warning, he also assured us that the "worst of times" would also be the "best of times" if we always remember Him.
Elder Zabriskie and I take solace in the knowledge that we know the Lord is at the helm even though it may seem otherwise. We know through experience that sometimes things have to get worse before they get better. This is a little bit akin to Grandma Z's answer for almost everything: "Sometimes people just need to get a little older."
In addition to the Master foreseeing perfectly the growth of opposing forces, He also understands what it means to be mortal during these difficult days. He knows that our ability to face our trials ebbs and flows. He knows that we underestimate the opposing forces and also tend to rely upon ourselves instead of relying upon Him.
Remembering Tools
Our safety is assured in remembering and praying always. We remember through reading his Word. We remember Him by praying more sincerely with real intent. We remember Him when we accept with gratitude whatever is happening to us as His curriculum of the day for our lives. We trust in His Love for us, for giving us the opportunity to learn the lessons we need to learn so that we may one day return to His presence with our families.
Being of Good Cheer
So, we press forward in faith and good cheer! We are entering our second Fall season and are feeling an urgency to sprint to the finish line, finding joy in our service each day. We are deeply grateful for our health and rich blessings to be here in the service of our Lord.
Part of our joy comes from seeing Sister Nan Hosey be baptized and confirmed a member of the Church on her 72nd birthday. She has a wonderful testimony of the gospel, choosing to follow her heart in spite of persistent opposition from her children. We also look forward with great anticipation to the baptism of an extraordinary 16 year-old, Tyler Smith. Tyler's parents requested that he visit his soon to be ex-pastor to inform him of his decision to join the Church. When the pastor tried to persuade him to reconsider his choice to join a church with only a "200-year Christian tradition instead of a two-thousand-year tradition", Tyler taught him the principle of agency (the divine gift from God to choose for one's self) and explained to him why there are more revealed holy scriptures for us today.
Please pray for us that we may find those whom the Lord has prepared to hear the message of the restoration. This is our testimony:
Our Testimony of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
From the beginning of the world, God has followed a pattern of love and concern for His children. Many times He has reached out in love to reveal the gospel of Jesus Christ through prophets such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, and Moses. But, many people have chosen to reject or alter His truths, even when taught by Jesus Himself more than two thousand years ago.
Whenever people disregard or distort true doctrines and ordinances, God withdraws His authority to administer the Church creating a need for restoration of the gospel in its fullness. Our invitation to everyone is to add to the truths you already treasure. Consider the evidence that our Heavenly Father has again reached out to His children in love and revealed the true doctrines and ordinances to a prophet as He has throughout the ages.
The evidence of these glorious truths is found in the Book of Mormon, translated through the power of God by Joseph Smith in 1829. This book is another sacred testament of Jesus Christ.
We invite everyone to read this book, to ponder its message in your heart and mind. We testify to you that you will come to know that this book is sacred text written for our day. If you will do so, we know that your lives will be blessed immeasurably in wondrous ways as has ours.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Love to you all, our dear family and friends. We would love to hear from you!
Elder and Sister Zabriskie
