1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:14,840 Welcome to Closer to Christ, Your General Conference, where two friends who love Jesus 2 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:18,300 share our own approach to studying the most recent General Conference talks. 3 00:00:18,300 --> 00:00:19,920 This is Abbey and Amy. 4 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:22,600 Let's jump into it. 5 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:24,360 Welcome. 6 00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:29,800 Today we're talking about I Am He by President Jeffrey R. Holland. 7 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:35,080 In the final week of Jesus' mortal life, a group of Roman soldiers and officers, armed 8 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:37,840 and led by chief priests, came searching for him. 9 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:43,040 A man not known to carry a weapon, receive military training, or engage in physical combat 10 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:45,600 at any time in his entire life. 11 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:50,120 As they approached, Jesus stepped forward to protect his disciples and asked, 12 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:51,720 Kumsiki. 13 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:58,280 When they replied, Jesus of Nazareth, he declared, I am he, causing the soldiers to fall backward 14 00:00:58,280 --> 00:00:59,420 in awe. 15 00:00:59,420 --> 00:01:04,700 This moment powerfully demonstrates Christ's divinity and his authority and his willingness 16 00:01:04,700 --> 00:01:08,600 to surrender himself for the fulfillment of his mission. 17 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:12,600 The scene has so much spiritual symbolism in it. 18 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:16,960 I think we can both agree that we see how it portrays an unmatched power and authority 19 00:01:16,960 --> 00:01:19,360 of Jesus Christ, even in the face of mortal threats. 20 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:23,660 He wasn't afraid to stand up for those that he loved that were surrounding him. 21 00:01:23,660 --> 00:01:28,320 And without any physical force or weapon, he's able to demonstrate his divine nature 22 00:01:28,320 --> 00:01:30,800 with just words and his presence. 23 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:32,440 His presence. 24 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:38,040 And the soldiers, we could say that they represent worldly authority and force, and they're rendered 25 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:41,680 powerless before the majesty of the Son of God. 26 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:44,960 You know, they're falling backwards, not just a physical reaction, but maybe a symbolic 27 00:01:44,960 --> 00:01:47,480 acknowledgement of the overwhelming truth and divinity of Christ. 28 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:50,960 You always kind of wonder, like we're promised that every knee shall bow and every tongue 29 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:54,680 confess that Jesus is the Christ in the second coming. 30 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:58,800 And I think this kind of gives us a taste of how that is. 31 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:01,160 You know, you had the opportunity to get to know him here, and if you didn't, you'll know 32 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:03,400 it then for sure. 33 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:05,280 Just by being in his presence. 34 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:09,160 This moment also highlights the Savior's willingness to step forward and offer himself to protect 35 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:13,260 the disciples that were following him, helping him fulfill his mission. 36 00:02:13,260 --> 00:02:23,280 And I think we see a bit of his courage and we see selflessness, we see steadfastness, 37 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:29,160 we see a commitment to his father in that instance, in a lot of instances, but in this 38 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:30,720 one in particular. 39 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:35,160 So for me, it's a testament of his role as the Prince of Peace who conquers without violence, 40 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:38,840 but with love, truth and divine authority as he declared, I am he. 41 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:41,360 I love that, Abby. 42 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:47,920 As I was listening to this, it's interesting because when I listen to the words Elder Holland 43 00:02:47,920 --> 00:02:54,880 has, or President Holland has such a way of creating a physical place to where I really 44 00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:57,440 saw myself in that place. 45 00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:01,560 And it was interesting because what I saw myself doing was moving forward when he said 46 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:05,080 that and coming to him. 47 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:06,440 Falling back from his presence. 48 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:07,440 Exactly. 49 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:10,840 And I mean, I don't know exactly if that would be the case, but that's how my heart felt. 50 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:14,880 I was like, I would be moving closer to him because I want more of that. 51 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:18,880 I want to honor and worship him and I would be close to him in that way. 52 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:24,880 I'm sure we'll get into it a little bit more, but Elder Holland points out how the crowds, 53 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:26,920 some of the crowd are like, who is this man? 54 00:03:26,920 --> 00:03:29,120 And that's kind of where I saw myself in it. 55 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:36,560 And I thought knowing what I know about Jesus Christ from what I've, from my personal experience, 56 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:39,640 I'm a person that is not surprised by his entry. 57 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:40,640 Exactly. 58 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:42,080 I'm excited that he's coming. 59 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:43,080 You know him. 60 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:48,040 I'm not disappointed that he's not like, you know, kicking off a war. 61 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:53,520 It's a very peaceful coming and I'm feeling like I'm part of that crowd that's excited 62 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:56,360 that he's finally making himself known to everybody. 63 00:03:56,360 --> 00:03:57,360 I love that. 64 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:00,040 So there's a lot of opportunities in this talk to like see yourself where you're at 65 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:01,760 in your relationship with him. 66 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:07,000 And you know, are we excitedly anticipating his return or is there some fear or do we 67 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:10,160 not even know that there is somebody that has been promised to come? 68 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:11,160 Yes. 69 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:13,160 And there's all different places on that. 70 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:15,840 This talk gives us a chance to assess where we're at on that. 71 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:16,840 I agree. 72 00:04:16,840 --> 00:04:17,840 That's how I felt too. 73 00:04:17,840 --> 00:04:20,160 So I love it because that is one of the best lines that I am he. 74 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:23,880 To me, this is one of the most stirring lines in all of scripture. 75 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:28,240 Just being in the presence of the Son of God, the great Jehovah of the Old Testament and 76 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:33,260 the Good Shepherd of the New, who bears no weapons of any kind, that just hearing the 77 00:04:33,260 --> 00:04:39,760 voice of this refuge from the storm, the Prince of Peace, is enough to send antagonists stumbling 78 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:40,760 into retreat. 79 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:42,760 I love that you quoted Elder Holland there. 80 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:45,640 You literally can't say it better than he does. 81 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:52,360 Like every one of those just like hit me to the core. 82 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:53,360 He highlighted another line. 83 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:55,460 I just said that on my last comment. 84 00:04:55,460 --> 00:05:01,320 But when he entered the city a few days earlier, the line that it is spoken, it says, all the 85 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:02,440 city was moved. 86 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:06,580 The scriptures say that people were asking, who is this? 87 00:05:06,580 --> 00:05:12,300 And Elder Holland says above anyone else, the way that Elder Holland says it, he pulls 88 00:05:12,300 --> 00:05:13,680 me into the scriptures with him. 89 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:18,100 Like you know he's immersed his whole life in the scriptures in such a way that he makes 90 00:05:18,100 --> 00:05:21,120 me want to jump right in, both feet. 91 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:26,280 And I was talking to him before we started this podcast, like there was a line that he 92 00:05:26,280 --> 00:05:27,280 shared. 93 00:05:27,280 --> 00:05:32,800 He pulled out a line for a talk that he did and it was, Lord, I believe, helped out my 94 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:36,160 unbelief and I thought that had to have been the last couple of conferences. 95 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:38,040 And to my surprise, it was 2013. 96 00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:41,600 Like the words were so powerfully spoken by him and the lesson that I learned from it, 97 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:45,320 like taking just a portion of what you have and then letting him do what he can with it 98 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:49,280 just because you've offered to come with everything that you had, all the belief, all the faith 99 00:05:49,280 --> 00:05:50,760 that you had. 100 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:55,520 2013, that phrase has stood 11 years strong. 101 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:56,520 It's wild. 102 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:59,040 So this one, I'm like, I'm feeling the same way about this. 103 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:01,320 I'll think of this a lot. 104 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:07,040 Many times I'll think of the words, I am he, like, who did these great works? 105 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:08,280 Who could this have been? 106 00:06:08,280 --> 00:06:12,760 And then I'll think of the Him Jesus Christ saying it was He that had done it. 107 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:18,240 So like I said, I placed myself in the street of the crowd and I considered the idea, would 108 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:20,080 I ever recognize the man entering the city? 109 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:25,880 Would I have known even before he said the words that he was who he said he was? 110 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:29,200 And I don't have to be in the streets of Jerusalem to consider these questions. 111 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:31,660 They're important for us to consider here and now. 112 00:06:31,660 --> 00:06:38,960 And I feel like I could say that I knew that man that was on that donkey. 113 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:43,280 It said it wasn't his looks, his attire, his wealth, he wasn't professionally trained 114 00:06:43,280 --> 00:06:45,440 in teaching or speaking. 115 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:52,680 And yet after routinely being placed in difficult, often devious situations, he was always triumphant. 116 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:56,280 As followers of Jesus Christ, each of us wants to know this man. 117 00:06:56,280 --> 00:07:01,240 But Elder Holland worry sometimes we simplify or trivialize in an effort to conveniently 118 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:03,480 ignore teachings we find uncomfortable. 119 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:04,480 Yes. 120 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:13,400 Oh man, that hit me like a ton of bricks because it is important to teach things simply as 121 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:14,400 possible. 122 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:19,080 But as we're like ready to get into things deeper that we find like, what's the, what's, 123 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:21,560 you know, I've got, I've got that great foundational piece. 124 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:26,840 Can I add to it rather than to, to continue to be like, what can I take away from those 125 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:31,480 teachings to make it jive with where I'm currently at rather than what can I add to the teachings 126 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:34,400 to my game, right? 127 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:35,800 Become better, become more like him. 128 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:44,520 I like that you said that, that the simplicity is in an effort to establish our like a baseline. 129 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:45,520 Yes. 130 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:48,920 Baseline or when you're building a house. 131 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:49,920 Foundation. 132 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:50,920 Foundation. 133 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:52,440 Those two things totally go together. 134 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:57,160 And like you said, when it's time to build more on it, yes, you want it on that strong 135 00:07:57,160 --> 00:08:00,240 and sturdy foundation, but there is more. 136 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:02,160 There definitely can be more. 137 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:06,800 He pretty quickly goes on to suggest that the topic, one of the topics that we happen 138 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:12,920 to be dumbing down is in regards to the love of Jesus Christ. 139 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:16,320 The two great commandments is how he starts it. 140 00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:18,640 I'm like, oh, we haven't heard anything on the two great commandments. 141 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:22,680 And he's like, oh, this message has been spoken in this conference. 142 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:28,320 It's been and it will, he's like, this will be spoken in every conference. 143 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:32,680 And sometimes it's taught in simple ways, love the Lord thy God and love thy neighbor 144 00:08:32,680 --> 00:08:33,920 as thyself. 145 00:08:33,920 --> 00:08:41,120 There's nothing wrong with that beautiful, simple teaching unless we use it to twist 146 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:45,160 truth to make things more comfortable. 147 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:50,840 Like assuming things about the love of Jesus Christ, like, well, do this, Jesus loves me. 148 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:56,520 That gives you free rein to do whatever you want versus what Elder Holland says is a little 149 00:08:56,520 --> 00:08:57,520 different message. 150 00:08:57,520 --> 00:09:02,680 Does it make a difference if we are more exact in the words he spoke as we follow the Savior 151 00:09:02,680 --> 00:09:06,240 faithfully and remember what he actually said and what he actually said? 152 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:07,240 I love when he said this. 153 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:11,940 And what he actually said was, if you love me, keep my commandments. 154 00:09:11,940 --> 00:09:17,280 On that same evening, he said we were to love one another as I have loved you. 155 00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:18,720 So I think you answered your own question. 156 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:19,720 It does make a difference. 157 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:21,320 Yeah, he was very clear. 158 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:25,320 With a few more words, we have the perfect definition of what it means to truly love 159 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:28,200 like the Savior and to have charity. 160 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:29,200 Love the Abbey. 161 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:33,360 To love others as he has loved us, we have to get past a great definition and see from 162 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:38,600 example in the scriptures that what he did to demonstrate his love so we can all love 163 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:39,960 like that. 164 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:41,640 Elder Holland breaks it down for us. 165 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:42,640 Let's look at the first one. 166 00:09:42,640 --> 00:09:47,680 So first, he loved with all of his heart, might, mind and strength, giving him the ability 167 00:09:47,680 --> 00:09:50,920 to heal the deepest pain and declare the hardest reality. 168 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:51,920 I love that part. 169 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:57,400 In short, he is the one who could administer grace and instinct on truth at the same time, 170 00:09:57,400 --> 00:09:59,880 and insist on truth at the same time. 171 00:09:59,880 --> 00:10:05,060 His love allows an encouraging embrace when it is needed and a bitter cup when it has 172 00:10:05,060 --> 00:10:06,060 to be swallowed. 173 00:10:06,060 --> 00:10:08,840 I feel like we've gone over these things before, these principles. 174 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:13,040 The way the Elder Holland says it though is so succinct and beautiful. 175 00:10:13,040 --> 00:10:15,160 Parenting often requires this balance. 176 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:18,320 We love our children with all our heart, might, mind and strength. 177 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:23,500 Depending on the circumstances in front, let's think of any time that they have made a mistake. 178 00:10:23,500 --> 00:10:26,640 Sometimes our children need a hug to offer comfort and support. 179 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:31,120 And then sometimes it's necessary to restate boundaries and set clear expectations in an 180 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:35,160 effort to guide effectively and help our children to grow. 181 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:40,080 It's that full body investment, meaning the heart, mind and might that we use to address 182 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:44,160 or assess the situation and then decide what it requires. 183 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:45,160 Right. 184 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:52,020 And when we look to the Savior as our example, it seems like he does this so effortlessly. 185 00:10:52,020 --> 00:10:56,660 So I'm learning with my own journey in parenting that I don't always get it right. 186 00:10:56,660 --> 00:11:01,800 But it's the Savior's example that I'm trying to follow or to emulate. 187 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:06,440 I can say I love my children with every fiber of my being and I know that the Savior's way 188 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:09,560 is the best way and I desire to follow that example. 189 00:11:09,560 --> 00:11:16,960 But sometimes the advice I give or the decision that I make as a parent, it doesn't hit right. 190 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:20,440 It's not really what I mean to come out of my mouth. 191 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:25,040 And so maybe I've had a conversation with my child, then I've gone to my room and I've 192 00:11:25,040 --> 00:11:28,280 sat and thought on it for a minute and I'm reflecting. 193 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:35,240 And what happens is that the Spirit might prompt me and show me a better way, how I 194 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:37,960 could have articulated what I wanted to say. 195 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:44,880 Now rather than me saving that up and the next time that we have a discussion, then 196 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:45,880 that'll come up. 197 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:53,600 I found myself walking across the house and apologizing for the way that I articulated 198 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:56,880 something and corrected it in that moment. 199 00:11:56,880 --> 00:12:01,880 And I think that's beautiful because he doesn't expect that I'm going to get this parenting 200 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:02,880 thing right. 201 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:04,640 It's like my first time doing it. 202 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:08,040 And each unique situation comes up. 203 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:13,400 You don't often get time and time again a chance to do it. 204 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:18,200 I'm finding that I find so much peace. 205 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:21,660 He's able to teach me through the Spirit, that's not the way I would have done it. 206 00:12:21,660 --> 00:12:23,160 This is how I would have done it. 207 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:24,160 I can make that choice. 208 00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:25,360 No, I'm happy with what I said. 209 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:27,200 I'm happy with the way that that went down. 210 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:28,880 We're going to leave it like it was. 211 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:34,240 And if I don't like that, it's not a good settling feeling, then I'm like, no, I need 212 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:35,240 corrected on that. 213 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:36,240 I could have done that a better way. 214 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:37,440 Show me a better way. 215 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:38,440 He shows me. 216 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:39,920 I go and I make that fix. 217 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:44,520 It's as though, and I'm not saying I'm doing abusive things to my kids. 218 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:45,520 Well, right. 219 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:47,160 But just not saying it the way he would. 220 00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:54,680 The advice that comes to my mind as a parent based on maybe how I would have played out 221 00:12:54,680 --> 00:12:55,680 the situation. 222 00:12:55,680 --> 00:12:56,680 Right. 223 00:12:56,680 --> 00:12:57,680 Or your experience. 224 00:12:57,680 --> 00:13:01,120 Yeah, this can be like getting along with friends. 225 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:05,040 This could be opposite gender advice. 226 00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:06,720 This could be academic advice. 227 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:12,200 There's a million things and sometimes what comes out of my mouth immediately isn't, if 228 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:17,680 I'd have some more time to sit and reflect on it, maybe my better, because Jesus Christ 229 00:13:17,680 --> 00:13:20,240 has the answers to the hardest things in the moment. 230 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:21,240 True. 231 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:22,240 I don't. 232 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:24,600 Maybe it's just wise for me to be like, can I think on it for a minute? 233 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:25,600 I love that. 234 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:32,600 Or I can say what I think now, but if my mind changes on this, I'll be back later to resurface 235 00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:33,600 that. 236 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:37,520 Anyway, I just thought that it's so great. 237 00:13:37,520 --> 00:13:41,800 I'm not feeling bad about when the spirit has to correct me and allow me to do things 238 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:42,960 a little bit differently. 239 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:44,720 And I try to fix it in that moment. 240 00:13:44,720 --> 00:13:45,720 That's beautiful, Abby. 241 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:46,720 I love it. 242 00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:50,640 So Christ said to the Nephites, behold, I am Jesus Christ. 243 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:54,960 I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, in the which I have 244 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:57,920 suffered the will of the Father from the beginning. 245 00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:01,920 He could have introduced himself a lot different in a lot of different ways, but Jesus did 246 00:14:01,920 --> 00:14:07,160 so by declaring his obedience to the will of the Father, even when just days before 247 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:09,800 he had felt totally abandoned by his Father. 248 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:11,720 That part hit me so strong, Abby. 249 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:15,200 I love that that is how he introduced himself. 250 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:20,920 They call this in the talk, loyalty to divine will. 251 00:14:20,920 --> 00:14:21,920 Love that. 252 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:23,760 I'm like, no, that's a great way to explain that. 253 00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:25,760 I can't think. 254 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:31,040 Elder Holland suggests that the Savior had some easier times in his life when it's like, 255 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:33,400 oh, that's easy to follow divine will when things are easy. 256 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:35,400 But I'm like, what, when's he talking about? 257 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:38,960 He knows the scriptures better than me, but I'm like, most of the examples that we have 258 00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:40,960 are not of easy things. 259 00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:41,960 Right? 260 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:48,480 So, difficult, difficult things he was tasked with to do all the time, for me, makes it 261 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:54,520 more special that he had that loyalty to divine will, even in the face of difficulties. 262 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:56,280 It didn't change his willingness to do them. 263 00:14:56,280 --> 00:15:00,920 So sometimes it caused me to reflect. 264 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:07,960 Sometimes we're like, I love and trust my Heavenly Father, and if things are perfect 265 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:13,000 and easy for me, that love is going to remain intact. 266 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:19,520 Then the second things get hard, then we maybe take that as evidence that he doesn't love 267 00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:21,000 us back. 268 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:28,120 If he loved me, he wouldn't let me be going through A, B, or C. And so what I demonstrate 269 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:30,920 to him is like less love in return. 270 00:15:30,920 --> 00:15:33,720 It's human tendency, right? 271 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:34,720 Right. 272 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:38,480 It's human tendency from the example of our Savior that regardless of it being an easy 273 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:44,800 time or a hard time, that the will of the Father is what motivated him and what made 274 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:50,360 him the person that he is and can make us the person that we are desiring to be. 275 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:51,360 For sure. 276 00:15:51,360 --> 00:15:52,360 And again, it's parenting, right? 277 00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:53,360 Right. 278 00:15:53,360 --> 00:15:55,400 So letting our children experience difficult things is part of life. 279 00:15:55,400 --> 00:15:59,080 Sometimes we could totally prevent the things from happening. 280 00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:03,120 Sometimes we could give multiple, we give multiple warnings, but our, you know, we wanted 281 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:06,080 them to avoid difficult things and situations. 282 00:16:06,080 --> 00:16:10,200 But from our loving perspective, we sometimes have to let them experience that sadness, 283 00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:14,000 fatigue, disappointment, and loneliness, just like the Savior did. 284 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:18,720 And then just like our Father in heaven has, he allowed those things to happen to his own 285 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:19,720 son. 286 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:22,680 So what if it seems that the harder we try, the harder it gets? 287 00:16:22,680 --> 00:16:24,120 Oh, I love this. 288 00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:25,120 What do you think? 289 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:26,120 I think it means we're doing something right. 290 00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:30,200 If things are getting harder, according to Elder Holland, he said that multiple times. 291 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:33,440 He says this so perfectly, it hit me to my core. 292 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:34,680 So let's just quote him. 293 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:40,320 He says, if sometimes you try, the harder you try, the more difficult it seems to get. 294 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:44,600 If just as you try to work on your limitations and your shortcomings, you find someone or 295 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:47,120 something determined to challenge your faith. 296 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:51,240 If as you labor devotedly, you still feel moments of fear wash over you, remember it 297 00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:56,280 has been so for some of the most faithful and marvelous people in every era of time. 298 00:16:56,280 --> 00:17:00,680 Also remember, there is a force in the universe determined to oppose every good thing you 299 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:01,680 try to do. 300 00:17:01,680 --> 00:17:02,680 I love that last part. 301 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:03,680 Can we say that any better than him? 302 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:04,680 I know. 303 00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:07,620 I feel like he added that last part too, to remember that there's a force in the universe 304 00:17:07,620 --> 00:17:08,620 determined to oppose. 305 00:17:08,620 --> 00:17:11,120 I'm like, yeah, that's a great thing to remember. 306 00:17:11,120 --> 00:17:14,240 You know, helps you to feel better that you're in good company. 307 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:15,240 Exactly. 308 00:17:15,240 --> 00:17:18,800 Christ Church has been restored in these latter days and will experience that same force of 309 00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:24,320 opposition we were just talking about, unwavering commitment to Christ Church, regardless of 310 00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:29,500 life circumstances, be it abundance or hardship, praise or criticism, will allow us to come 311 00:17:29,500 --> 00:17:33,400 to understand our Savior on the level that it takes to be able to say with confidence 312 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:40,140 when asked, Whom seek ye? 313 00:17:40,140 --> 00:17:47,380 With all our hearts we answer Jesus of Nazareth when he says, I am he. 314 00:17:47,380 --> 00:17:53,520 We bow our knee and confess with our tongue that he's the living Christ that he alone 315 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:59,800 atone for our sins, that he was carrying us even when we thought he had abandoned us. 316 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:03,680 When we stand before him and see the wounds in his hands and in his feet, we will begin 317 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:10,200 to comprehend what it meant for him to bear our sins and be acquainted with grief, to 318 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:14,840 be completely obedient to the will of his Father all out of pure love for us." 319 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:24,520 In an effort to demonstrate that pure love back to them, it's our opportunity to introduce 320 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:29,280 others to faith, about faith and repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and to 321 00:18:29,280 --> 00:18:35,320 invite others to receive the blessings of the temple and the house of the Lord. 322 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:39,340 So I considered that as an action item. 323 00:18:39,340 --> 00:18:44,200 Maybe asking myself, how am I or how could I demonstrate my love of God and neighbor 324 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:49,440 by sharing these fundamental principles and ordinances of the gospel with them? 325 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:51,440 Any final thoughts? 326 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:56,640 I just love this talk so much and it hits so close to home with Christmas being around 327 00:18:56,640 --> 00:18:59,840 this time and also finishing the Book of Mormon, just the things we've been learning this 328 00:18:59,840 --> 00:19:00,840 week. 329 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:04,520 I just have a deep love for Jesus Christ. 330 00:19:04,520 --> 00:19:09,640 And the promise that we've all come to as we finish those final chapters of Moroni, 331 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:13,320 this book is another testament of Jesus Christ, and I think it's wise that you pointed that 332 00:19:13,320 --> 00:19:14,320 out. 333 00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:20,640 We get to reflect on our testimony of Jesus Christ and we get to ask ourselves, what have 334 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:24,600 we done to strengthen that relationship that we have with Him so that we can know that 335 00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:29,720 with full confidence we know Him when He comes again? 336 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:33,320 And what are we doing in our lives that we can say we're emulating the person that He 337 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:34,320 was? 338 00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:37,600 That's like the greatest compliment that we can give to Him. 339 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:43,000 And I guess a plug for the Doctrine and Covenants, I did see the strong emphasis Elder Hall 340 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:47,520 in place on what you were sharing before. 341 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:55,680 He testified that Christ's church has been restored in these latter days and suggested 342 00:19:55,680 --> 00:20:00,620 that we have unwavering commitment to Christ's church. 343 00:20:00,620 --> 00:20:06,800 Another talk that we went over, this is my church, this is my gospel, that we try too 344 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:08,480 hard to separate the two. 345 00:20:08,480 --> 00:20:12,840 If we don't like something, if something's uncomfortable for us, that we say, well, that's 346 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:17,560 the church and I'm just about Jesus Christ. 347 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:23,800 I'm seeing a lot of those themes that they're irrevocably intertwined, like they're getting 348 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:28,520 more firm on the fact that this is indeed Christ's church that was restored on the earth 349 00:20:28,520 --> 00:20:33,600 and what we might have to do some work to make peace with. 350 00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:37,660 We would say we discussed this before, more like church culture things, not the church 351 00:20:37,660 --> 00:20:42,960 that was established and restored and that continues to be restored. 352 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:48,640 Because he pointed out that it's done by imperfect humans. 353 00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:51,880 That's not an excuse to say like, oh, well, they're just human. 354 00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:52,880 That's not what I'm saying. 355 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:58,040 I'm saying on core doctrines, the true church has been restored and it's an ongoing restoration. 356 00:20:58,040 --> 00:21:00,460 I guess that's my plug for the Doctrine and Covenants. 357 00:21:00,460 --> 00:21:09,460 We get to see through revelation how the church was unfolded to a once young boy who went 358 00:21:09,460 --> 00:21:14,240 into a grove to the peace and the parts that needed to be brought back to the earth. 359 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:20,200 I think it's just another opportunity to see how good God is to us. 360 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:23,240 I'm more excited about the Doctrine and Covenants this year than any year before. 361 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:24,240 You are. 362 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:27,800 I'm getting it more of an excitement because of the way you're talking about it. 363 00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:28,800 So thank you. 364 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:30,880 I think in the past, I'm like, oh, this is the history book. 365 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:35,520 And also it comes after, I love the way that the Book of Mormon unfolds as this story I 366 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:39,000 want to get into and I know that it draws me closer to my savior. 367 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:42,600 And then I always kind of think, I've always thought in the past, if it was like a school 368 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:46,520 subject, it's history and it's like these revelations, they don't mean that much to 369 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:47,520 me. 370 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:48,520 They're not my revelations. 371 00:21:48,520 --> 00:21:52,640 But four years ago, I did take the opportunity to make them revelations for me. 372 00:21:52,640 --> 00:21:58,760 And with just life change and growth and where I'm at in my life right now, I am so excited 373 00:21:58,760 --> 00:22:02,080 to see our past history. 374 00:22:02,080 --> 00:22:06,800 I think the past matters when we're looking at what he's done for us as a people in the 375 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:14,640 past and mostly just to get excited about what that means as the work continues to go 376 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:15,920 forward. 377 00:22:15,920 --> 00:22:18,160 So with that, I think I'll close with his testimony. 378 00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:19,520 I love it. 379 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:24,240 Elder Holland said, I testify that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the 380 00:22:24,240 --> 00:22:27,700 vehicle God provided for our exaltation. 381 00:22:27,700 --> 00:22:31,160 The gospel it teaches is true. 382 00:22:31,160 --> 00:22:36,040 The priesthood legitimizes it is not a derivative of it. 383 00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:41,760 I testify that Russell M. Nelson is a prophet of our God and his predecessors were and his 384 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:43,680 successors will be. 385 00:22:43,680 --> 00:22:49,360 And one day that prophetic guidance will lead a generation to see our messenger of salvation 386 00:22:49,360 --> 00:22:53,720 descend like lightning out of the east and we will exclaim Jesus of Nazareth. 387 00:22:53,720 --> 00:23:00,600 With arms forever outstretched and love unfeigned, he will reply, I am he and in the name of 388 00:23:00,600 --> 00:23:03,600 Jesus Christ he closed. 389 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:04,600 Amen Abby. 390 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:30,520 What's good.