WEBVTT 00:00:07.220 --> 00:00:09.460 Welcome to Closer to Christ through General Conference, 00:00:09.679 --> 00:00:11.880 where two friends who love Jesus share our own 00:00:11.880 --> 00:00:13.619 approach to studying the most recent General 00:00:13.619 --> 00:00:16.500 Conference talks. This is Abby. And Amy. Let's 00:00:16.500 --> 00:00:30.250 jump into it. Today we're talking about The Atonement 00:00:30.250 --> 00:00:32.530 of Jesus Christ Provides the Ultimate Rescue. 00:00:32.649 --> 00:00:34.670 This is by Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum 00:00:34.670 --> 00:00:38.549 of the Twelve. So let's jump right into it. In 00:00:38.549 --> 00:00:41.770 late 2024, President Russell M. Nelson assigned 00:00:41.770 --> 00:00:44.250 Elder Cook to dedicate the Casper Wyoming Temple, 00:00:44.469 --> 00:00:47.710 which, yes, when I heard Wyoming, my ears perked 00:00:47.710 --> 00:00:50.770 up. A portion of the land in the states that 00:00:50.770 --> 00:00:52.590 compromise the Casper Wyoming Temple District 00:00:52.590 --> 00:00:55.070 include a portion of the overland trail used 00:00:55.070 --> 00:00:58.299 by roughly 60 ,000 I didn't know that number, 00:00:58.560 --> 00:01:02.619 Latter -day Pioneers from 1847 to 1868, and hundreds 00:01:02.619 --> 00:01:04.359 of thousands of Western -seeking immigrants. 00:01:04.680 --> 00:01:07.120 Most of our pioneers came by wagon, but there 00:01:07.120 --> 00:01:09.299 were about 3 ,000 that crossed in 10 handcart 00:01:09.299 --> 00:01:11.620 companies. In preparation for this dedication, 00:01:12.040 --> 00:01:14.920 he reread some of the history of the trail, and 00:01:14.920 --> 00:01:18.439 it was a profound emotional and spiritual experience. 00:01:18.560 --> 00:01:21.340 I am sure that was. Eight of those 10 handcart 00:01:21.340 --> 00:01:23.840 companies made that monumental trek with remarkable 00:01:23.840 --> 00:01:26.900 success and very few deaths. But the ones that 00:01:26.900 --> 00:01:28.980 stand out and are referenced in this talk are 00:01:28.980 --> 00:01:30.859 the Willie and Martin handcart companies of the 00:01:30.859 --> 00:01:36.019 1856. They were the exception. So sad. They experienced 00:01:36.019 --> 00:01:38.900 starvation, exposure to freezing weather, and 00:01:38.900 --> 00:01:42.159 many deaths. The story takes a sharp turn as 00:01:42.159 --> 00:01:44.579 weather conditions deteriorate quickly. And the 00:01:44.579 --> 00:01:46.519 saints suffered greatly as they crossed the Wyoming 00:01:46.519 --> 00:01:50.299 plains. I'm emotional just thinking about it 00:01:50.299 --> 00:01:52.599 because I've had some experiences with books 00:01:52.599 --> 00:01:55.329 that I've read on it. Chapters and saints, being 00:01:55.329 --> 00:01:57.010 there physically. My parents served a mission 00:01:57.010 --> 00:02:00.549 there. Their stories are remembered and reflected 00:02:00.549 --> 00:02:04.590 often. We talk about the places and the events 00:02:04.590 --> 00:02:06.750 like the crossing of the Sweetwater, Martin's 00:02:06.750 --> 00:02:09.430 Cove, Rocky Ridge, and Rock Creek Hollow. They're 00:02:09.430 --> 00:02:11.590 often recalled by saints because of the power 00:02:11.590 --> 00:02:14.189 that comes as we remember them and retell them 00:02:14.189 --> 00:02:20.449 to saints in our day. So it's interesting, Abby, 00:02:20.569 --> 00:02:23.289 because I have a fourth great -grandma, and her 00:02:23.289 --> 00:02:27.009 name was Wee Granny, and she was one who died 00:02:27.009 --> 00:02:29.810 in Martin's Cove. So she almost... Well, not 00:02:29.810 --> 00:02:31.409 in Martin's Cove, but she died in the Martin 00:02:31.409 --> 00:02:33.729 Handcart Company and actually died at Chimney 00:02:33.729 --> 00:02:37.830 Rock. Okay. And she, if you ever look at 17 Miracles, 00:02:38.069 --> 00:02:41.090 she is... Her name was Mary Marie Murdoch, but 00:02:41.090 --> 00:02:43.009 we called her Wee Granny because she was like 00:02:43.009 --> 00:02:48.389 5 '9". 4 '9". Sorry. I'm like, I'm 5 '9". She 00:02:48.389 --> 00:02:51.409 was 4 '9". I shrunk, no, I'm 5 '9". I was wrong 00:02:51.409 --> 00:02:55.409 there. Anyway, if you watch 17 Miracles, they 00:02:55.409 --> 00:02:57.310 just did a tiny little blip of her, but she's 00:02:57.310 --> 00:02:59.930 in there. She's the one who in a Scottish accent 00:02:59.930 --> 00:03:02.310 said, tell me boy that I died with my face towards 00:03:02.310 --> 00:03:05.669 Zion. I know, right? So like you said, it's like, 00:03:05.710 --> 00:03:08.270 yes, there's stories like leave. I'm her fourth 00:03:08.270 --> 00:03:10.870 great granddaughter. How many descendants does 00:03:10.870 --> 00:03:14.069 she have now? So many. And we are all inspired 00:03:14.069 --> 00:03:16.330 by that story. And like, we want to live with 00:03:16.330 --> 00:03:19.330 our face towards Zion and we want to die in Zion, 00:03:19.430 --> 00:03:22.490 right? Today's talk, we get to reflect on our 00:03:22.490 --> 00:03:25.009 shared pioneer history and see what modern day 00:03:25.009 --> 00:03:27.650 applications the rescue has for each of us. This 00:03:27.650 --> 00:03:29.550 talk is going to bring into clear focus the roles 00:03:29.550 --> 00:03:32.849 of temples, that temples play in rescuing God's 00:03:32.849 --> 00:03:35.240 children through the Savior's atonement. And 00:03:35.240 --> 00:03:37.860 the comparison and lessons here touches so deeply. 00:03:38.039 --> 00:03:40.860 The rescue of those forlorn saints is a touching 00:03:40.860 --> 00:03:43.139 part of the history and it has a significance. 00:03:43.900 --> 00:03:47.560 The elder Cook talked about as the great grandson 00:03:47.560 --> 00:03:50.379 of David Patton Kimball. I always forget that 00:03:50.379 --> 00:03:51.919 connection. Then he says it and I'm like, oh 00:03:51.919 --> 00:03:54.300 yes, I remember that. Who was a member of the 00:03:54.300 --> 00:03:58.330 rescue team sent by Brigham Young. I was researching 00:03:58.330 --> 00:04:01.229 for this talk, and I came upon another talk given 00:04:01.229 --> 00:04:03.770 by Elder Cook. It was called The Eternal Importance 00:04:03.770 --> 00:04:06.330 of Righteous Choices, and in that he talked about 00:04:06.330 --> 00:04:11.189 the rescue effort, how it was called upon by 00:04:11.189 --> 00:04:13.949 the prophet of the time, Brigham Young, to those 00:04:13.949 --> 00:04:15.990 already living in and around Salt Lake City. 00:04:17.089 --> 00:04:23.199 He said in this talk, the lesson that he learned 00:04:23.199 --> 00:04:25.279 from this was that it sounded like the kind of 00:04:25.279 --> 00:04:27.720 consecration for which I was looking. He said, 00:04:27.759 --> 00:04:29.699 later as I visited with my grandfather, whose 00:04:29.699 --> 00:04:31.800 name is Crozier Kimball, son of David Patton 00:04:31.800 --> 00:04:34.620 Kimball, he explained that when President Brigham 00:04:34.620 --> 00:04:37.500 Young sent the men to the rescue mission, he 00:04:37.500 --> 00:04:39.839 instructed them to do everything they possibly 00:04:39.839 --> 00:04:43.620 could to save the Cancart Company. So that consecration... 00:04:44.120 --> 00:04:46.620 was specifically to follow the prophet. It wasn't 00:04:46.620 --> 00:04:48.720 exactly what to do once they got to the saints, 00:04:48.779 --> 00:04:51.459 but to do everything in their power. My faithful 00:04:51.459 --> 00:04:54.360 grandfather told me that consistent, faithful, 00:04:54.420 --> 00:04:57.699 righteous dedication is one's duty or to a principle 00:04:57.699 --> 00:05:02.459 is to be much admired. So I'm remembering this. 00:05:02.540 --> 00:05:06.000 We talked about this. He brought this. Remember 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:09.259 how we talked about a couple of sessions back? 00:05:09.600 --> 00:05:11.819 Sometimes we have these pioneer stories that 00:05:11.819 --> 00:05:15.160 we can delve back on, but it's... We were talking 00:05:15.160 --> 00:05:17.000 about the lesson. Those stories are great, but 00:05:17.000 --> 00:05:19.680 we can be pioneers in our own day and it doesn't 00:05:19.680 --> 00:05:21.899 require those stories to like write our own history 00:05:21.899 --> 00:05:25.300 and do good things. But it's a fine balance between 00:05:25.300 --> 00:05:28.560 the two because you can tell that many lessons 00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:31.300 have been taught from that rescue mission. Oh, 00:05:31.300 --> 00:05:33.079 yeah. And it's been a strong family heritage. 00:05:33.120 --> 00:05:35.899 And he does reference the lessons that he's learned 00:05:35.899 --> 00:05:38.100 because of that pioneer heritage. Love that. 00:05:38.420 --> 00:05:41.850 Many times. And I totally agree. Like we can't 00:05:41.850 --> 00:05:45.149 ride on the coattails of our ancestors. It's 00:05:45.149 --> 00:05:47.149 kind of like when you start doing family history, 00:05:47.230 --> 00:05:50.579 you get a really good view of. how there's a 00:05:50.579 --> 00:05:53.660 flow and how, yes, we honor and cherish our pioneers 00:05:53.660 --> 00:05:56.879 and their stories, their perseverance, their 00:05:56.879 --> 00:06:00.040 faith, and a way that we honor them and honor 00:06:00.040 --> 00:06:02.920 God is to continue that legacy on through us 00:06:02.920 --> 00:06:05.139 and then through our children and our posterity. 00:06:05.899 --> 00:06:09.379 Elder Cook suggested in the talk that of us. 00:06:09.800 --> 00:06:12.240 It would be equally heroic today to follow the 00:06:12.240 --> 00:06:14.899 prophet by adhering to his counsel in the things 00:06:14.899 --> 00:06:17.439 he invites us to do. Some of those things being 00:06:17.439 --> 00:06:20.120 reducing social media use, studying the Book 00:06:20.120 --> 00:06:21.879 of Mormon, and particularly helping to gather 00:06:21.879 --> 00:06:24.759 Israel on both sides of the veil. If we help 00:06:24.759 --> 00:06:27.600 gather scattered Israel, we'll be rescuing the 00:06:27.600 --> 00:06:30.480 souls of mankind. I love that. Just as his great 00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:33.199 -grandfather helped to rescue the lives of the 00:06:33.199 --> 00:06:36.720 Hancock Company. President Brigham Young became 00:06:36.720 --> 00:06:39.319 aware of the perilous situations of those companies 00:06:39.319 --> 00:06:43.160 on October 4th, 1856. The very next day, he stood 00:06:43.160 --> 00:06:45.000 before the saints in Salt Lake City and said 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:47.600 this. He said, many of our brethren and sisters 00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:49.399 are on the plains with hand carts, and they must 00:06:49.399 --> 00:06:52.399 be brought here. We must send assistance to them 00:06:52.399 --> 00:06:54.740 before the winter sets in. And it's important 00:06:54.740 --> 00:06:57.319 to remember, we're not talking to well -off saints. 00:06:57.500 --> 00:06:59.180 They've just gotten into the valley themselves, 00:06:59.319 --> 00:07:01.420 and they're dealing with... You know, preparing 00:07:01.420 --> 00:07:04.259 for a harsh winter themselves. Yeah, and recouping. 00:07:04.660 --> 00:07:08.660 He asked bishops to provide 60 mule teams, 12 00:07:08.660 --> 00:07:11.259 or more wagons, and 12 tons of flour and proclaimed, 00:07:11.420 --> 00:07:13.699 go and bring in those people now on the plains. 00:07:14.100 --> 00:07:16.319 Nobody knew exactly where they would actually 00:07:16.319 --> 00:07:18.660 find them. It's going to be... Yeah, somewhere 00:07:18.660 --> 00:07:21.019 between here and here. Yeah, it's this direction. 00:07:21.319 --> 00:07:24.579 They just had a desire to help and do as the 00:07:24.579 --> 00:07:28.220 prophet had asked them. um some miraculous circumstances 00:07:28.220 --> 00:07:31.180 ensued and they were led to the two different 00:07:31.180 --> 00:07:35.360 groups of people the combined number of pioneers 00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:37.399 in the willie and martin hankart companies was 00:07:37.399 --> 00:07:39.899 approximately 1100. i liked having that number 00:07:39.899 --> 00:07:41.959 i've probably heard it before but it helped me 00:07:41.959 --> 00:07:45.389 to put into um Into perspective, but it's not 00:07:45.389 --> 00:07:48.050 that many people. When you think of how many, 00:07:48.069 --> 00:07:50.029 you know, crossed and... Not a lot of people 00:07:50.029 --> 00:07:52.209 are going to get to, like, go over to Martin's 00:07:52.209 --> 00:07:55.170 Cove, but Sixth Crossing, we have a pretty great... 00:07:56.590 --> 00:08:00.689 Yeah, like a cool little building. And this is 00:08:00.689 --> 00:08:03.470 the story that they tell. They really, they emphasize 00:08:03.470 --> 00:08:06.490 there were so many successful crossings and the 00:08:06.490 --> 00:08:09.069 hand carts was a small portion of the bigger 00:08:09.069 --> 00:08:12.029 wagon train. And of the hand carts, eight of 00:08:12.029 --> 00:08:15.250 the 10 were very successful. This one instance 00:08:15.250 --> 00:08:18.209 is, you know, what we're isolating down to. Some 00:08:18.209 --> 00:08:21.689 200 of these precious saints died along the trail. 00:08:22.209 --> 00:08:24.589 Without the timely rescue, many more would have 00:08:24.589 --> 00:08:26.850 perished. Oh, for sure. The winter storms had 00:08:26.850 --> 00:08:29.350 begun nearly two weeks after the first rescuers 00:08:29.350 --> 00:08:31.810 left Salt Lake City. The accounts of members 00:08:31.810 --> 00:08:34.190 of the Willie and Martin companies describe devastating 00:08:34.190 --> 00:08:36.950 challenges after the storms began. These accounts 00:08:36.950 --> 00:08:40.429 also depict the great joy when the rescuers arrived. 00:08:40.570 --> 00:08:43.250 I can't even imagine. Describing the arrival 00:08:43.250 --> 00:08:47.549 scene, Mary Herron said, tears streamed down 00:08:47.549 --> 00:08:50.750 the cheeks of the men and the children. Sheesh, 00:08:50.750 --> 00:08:57.919 this is hard. Danced for joy. As soon as the 00:08:57.919 --> 00:08:59.899 people could control their feelings, they all 00:08:59.899 --> 00:09:02.820 knelt down in the snow and gave thanks to God. 00:09:03.960 --> 00:09:07.220 Two days later, the Willie Company had to travel 00:09:07.220 --> 00:09:09.179 the most difficult part of the trail going over 00:09:09.179 --> 00:09:12.480 Rocky Ridge in a freezing storm. The last of 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:15.600 them did not reach camp until 5 a .m. The next 00:09:15.600 --> 00:09:18.580 morning, 13 people died and were buried in a 00:09:18.580 --> 00:09:21.019 common grave. So yeah, when he said if they hadn't 00:09:21.019 --> 00:09:23.299 arrived right when they did, more would die, 00:09:23.379 --> 00:09:25.799 for sure, because the winter was setting in and 00:09:25.799 --> 00:09:27.820 it was getting worse. We know Wyoming winters 00:09:27.820 --> 00:09:31.279 and they are unforgiving. It was October 7th 00:09:31.279 --> 00:09:32.700 when the Willie Company was nearing the Salt 00:09:32.700 --> 00:09:35.360 Lake Valley, but that morning there were still 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:38.080 three deaths. Two days later, the Willie Company 00:09:38.080 --> 00:09:40.419 finally reached Salt Lake, where they had a marvelous 00:09:40.419 --> 00:09:42.360 greeting and were welcomed into the homes of 00:09:42.360 --> 00:09:45.559 the saints. That same day, Still back on the 00:09:45.559 --> 00:09:50.019 plains, the Martin Company were 325 miles back 00:09:50.019 --> 00:09:52.879 on the trail, continuing to suffer from cold 00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:55.580 and inadequate food. A safe shelter from the 00:09:55.580 --> 00:09:58.220 weather could be found at Martin's Cove, but 00:09:58.220 --> 00:10:01.000 it would require another river crossing. The 00:10:01.000 --> 00:10:03.379 last one was still fresh on their minds, and 00:10:03.379 --> 00:10:05.139 the thought of doing it again was terrifying 00:10:05.139 --> 00:10:07.960 to many. One of the pioneers said it was the 00:10:07.960 --> 00:10:11.080 worst river crossing of the expedition. Again. 00:10:11.669 --> 00:10:13.970 Elder Cook's great -grandfather, David Patton 00:10:13.970 --> 00:10:16.929 Kimball, just 17 -year -olds at the time, along 00:10:16.929 --> 00:10:19.470 with his young friends George W. Grant, Alan 00:10:19.470 --> 00:10:22.190 Huntington, Stephen Taylor, and Ira Neveker, 00:10:22.250 --> 00:10:25.009 spent hours in the frigid water, heroically helping 00:10:25.009 --> 00:10:27.750 the company make the Sweetwater Crossing. This 00:10:27.750 --> 00:10:30.009 event has received much attention over the years 00:10:30.009 --> 00:10:33.570 by Elder Cook, because we realize that the lessons 00:10:33.570 --> 00:10:38.549 of these men, rescuers and immigrants, were simply 00:10:38.549 --> 00:10:44.509 trying to follow the prophets. I will say right 00:10:44.509 --> 00:10:46.929 here, I got emotional when I was reading that 00:10:46.929 --> 00:10:49.250 the lesson that Crozier Kimball was trying to 00:10:49.250 --> 00:10:52.629 teach to his grandson was adherence to following 00:10:52.629 --> 00:10:55.370 the prophet. And the lesson that Elder Cook was 00:10:55.370 --> 00:10:57.090 hearing was about consecration. Like, I want 00:10:57.090 --> 00:10:59.970 to live that type of consecrated life. What he 00:10:59.970 --> 00:11:03.769 was referencing is that these young men with 00:11:03.769 --> 00:11:06.549 little thought of their own lives because they 00:11:06.549 --> 00:11:10.279 consecrated. They made that trip multiple times. 00:11:10.340 --> 00:11:12.899 When you look into their histories, a lot of 00:11:12.899 --> 00:11:16.519 them had, they suffered physical damage. They 00:11:16.519 --> 00:11:19.320 suffered with the effects of that exposure for 00:11:19.320 --> 00:11:20.980 years after. And didn't each of them pass away 00:11:20.980 --> 00:11:25.980 at an earlier age? Yeah. I was just reading a 00:11:25.980 --> 00:11:28.299 simple line about consecrate, wanted to consecrate 00:11:28.299 --> 00:11:30.779 their lives. But that's, I know that's the reason 00:11:30.779 --> 00:11:32.740 that these pioneer stories come up is because 00:11:32.740 --> 00:11:36.590 it's to say. He didn't say, hey, when you get 00:11:36.590 --> 00:11:41.470 the opportunity to either, you know, live yourself 00:11:41.470 --> 00:11:46.409 and get back here safe and healthy or walk across 00:11:46.409 --> 00:11:48.610 that river multiple times carrying these souls 00:11:48.610 --> 00:11:52.149 across one by one and being exposed, that's going 00:11:52.149 --> 00:11:54.529 to shorten your life, that they hesitated. They 00:11:54.529 --> 00:11:56.929 didn't. They just kept going in and doing this 00:11:56.929 --> 00:11:58.929 time and time again. For sure, Abby. You know, 00:11:58.929 --> 00:12:01.470 at their own peril, but it mattered little to 00:12:01.470 --> 00:12:04.070 them because they... Heard what the prophet asked 00:12:04.070 --> 00:12:06.509 them to do, and they did. They felt in their 00:12:06.509 --> 00:12:09.009 hearts what that would be. And I mean, it wouldn't 00:12:09.009 --> 00:12:11.990 be a hard decision for me to see like these little 00:12:11.990 --> 00:12:14.470 children that have made it, these women that 00:12:14.470 --> 00:12:18.090 have tried their hardest to make it across. I'm 00:12:18.090 --> 00:12:21.870 sure that they did it with joy. Yeah. And consecration, 00:12:21.970 --> 00:12:24.570 right? People sometimes question or criticize 00:12:24.570 --> 00:12:27.110 in the Martin and Willingham companies because 00:12:27.110 --> 00:12:29.610 they were told that getting such a late start 00:12:29.610 --> 00:12:33.419 in the season could be very dangerous. You know, 00:12:33.480 --> 00:12:35.899 it's interesting here because I think of my fourth 00:12:35.899 --> 00:12:38.299 great grandma who, you know, probably had the 00:12:38.299 --> 00:12:40.679 same. She was in the Martin Handcart Company. 00:12:40.799 --> 00:12:42.860 So she probably had the same things told to her. 00:12:43.220 --> 00:12:47.500 And she was 72. So that is an advanced age at 00:12:47.500 --> 00:12:51.539 that time, right? So I just, I don't know what 00:12:51.539 --> 00:12:53.259 she thought and what her feelings were when she 00:12:53.259 --> 00:12:56.820 heard the counsel come. I just have to believe 00:12:56.820 --> 00:12:59.820 I've done in my life. I've heard the best counsel 00:12:59.820 --> 00:13:02.409 from like doctors and other things. I always, 00:13:02.409 --> 00:13:05.190 though, I take the great advice from professionals, 00:13:05.450 --> 00:13:07.669 people who know, and then I hold that up and 00:13:07.669 --> 00:13:09.570 I say, Heavenly Father, but what do you want 00:13:09.570 --> 00:13:12.570 from me? And many times it's been something different 00:13:12.570 --> 00:13:14.889 than that. So I got to believe that she did listen 00:13:14.889 --> 00:13:16.870 to and believe like, you know what? You're right. 00:13:16.990 --> 00:13:19.649 Logically, that makes sense. However, the spirit 00:13:19.649 --> 00:13:22.929 is urging me forward. I don't know why, but I 00:13:22.929 --> 00:13:24.950 would imagine. They had heard the call to gather 00:13:24.950 --> 00:13:27.509 and they wanted to. Totally. Clear back from 00:13:27.509 --> 00:13:29.870 when a lot of these ones came from England, Liverpool 00:13:29.870 --> 00:13:32.029 or something. Yes. He came from Scotland. And 00:13:32.029 --> 00:13:34.169 so I just got to believe it in my heart. She 00:13:34.169 --> 00:13:36.129 was like, you know what? That is sound advice. 00:13:36.409 --> 00:13:39.309 However, the Lord is telling me move forward 00:13:39.309 --> 00:13:41.870 because it's going to be a blessing in my life. 00:13:41.950 --> 00:13:44.350 And I'm sure it was. And I'm sure a lot of people 00:13:44.350 --> 00:13:46.250 know they were at winter quarters and they had 00:13:46.250 --> 00:13:48.769 to make this decision. And it was like by common 00:13:48.769 --> 00:13:51.110 consent that they had to face. There was really 00:13:51.110 --> 00:13:53.230 not enough supplies for them to stay where they 00:13:53.230 --> 00:13:55.649 were either. They were stuck between a rock and 00:13:55.649 --> 00:13:58.129 a hard place. Right. Yeah. And so I have to assume 00:13:58.129 --> 00:14:02.460 that these faithful saints. prayed about it yeah 00:14:02.460 --> 00:14:06.559 good about their decision and that would um that 00:14:06.559 --> 00:14:08.820 would buoy them up that would push them forward 00:14:08.820 --> 00:14:11.059 when the days got really really hard that they 00:14:11.059 --> 00:14:14.139 would say this is terrible but it was what we 00:14:14.139 --> 00:14:16.279 were supposed to do it's always helpful because 00:14:16.279 --> 00:14:18.539 don't we all get into situations when we feel 00:14:18.539 --> 00:14:20.820 like something is right and we proceed then it's 00:14:20.820 --> 00:14:22.299 not the easiest thing in the world and then you're 00:14:22.299 --> 00:14:25.000 like But he told me to do this and he said, I 00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:27.419 didn't say it was going to be easy. That's not 00:14:27.419 --> 00:14:28.860 really the way it works. Yeah, I agree that it 00:14:28.860 --> 00:14:31.480 was the right thing to do. So Abby, when reflecting 00:14:31.480 --> 00:14:33.539 on the idea that the rescuers were following 00:14:33.539 --> 00:14:38.879 the counsel of the prophet, we know from recent 00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:41.000 Come Follow Me discussions about being instructed 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:43.679 at different times to gather. And we're talking 00:14:43.679 --> 00:14:47.059 about that. We just talked about that in... in 00:14:47.059 --> 00:14:49.240 the scriptures where it was gathered to the ohio 00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:52.200 we know that these saints knew that there were 00:14:52.200 --> 00:14:54.200 possible dangers of coming but they weighed that 00:14:54.200 --> 00:14:57.179 against like like I was talking about, the decision 00:14:57.179 --> 00:14:58.899 to stay in winter quarters. And for whatever 00:14:58.899 --> 00:15:01.179 reason, it still felt like the right decision 00:15:01.179 --> 00:15:03.940 to head out. Yes, lives were lost, but hard won 00:15:03.940 --> 00:15:07.059 lessons and testimonies of steel were formed. 00:15:07.059 --> 00:15:09.679 And the posterity that has come from those handcart 00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:11.879 saints and the rescuers to me is still teaching 00:15:11.879 --> 00:15:14.820 the lesson of the power that we find when we 00:15:14.820 --> 00:15:17.379 do what we are asked, even when it is not easy. 00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:19.299 And sometimes we are just asked by the Lord. 00:15:20.740 --> 00:15:23.649 Yeah. It's as simple as that. You heard the call 00:15:23.649 --> 00:15:26.909 and you did what you were asked to do. He was 00:15:26.909 --> 00:15:32.470 sharing this stuff because like at the beginning 00:15:32.470 --> 00:15:34.429 we were talking about, let's get back to what 00:15:34.429 --> 00:15:36.610 we were talking about, the Casper Wyoming Temple 00:15:36.610 --> 00:15:39.629 dedication. So he hadn't been to it previous 00:15:39.629 --> 00:15:41.809 to this dedication date. He goes in there and 00:15:41.809 --> 00:15:45.029 he sees. the artwork that's on the walls, and 00:15:45.029 --> 00:15:48.090 says, like all temples, the artwork tells a story 00:15:48.090 --> 00:15:50.409 of our Savior Jesus Christ and the history of 00:15:50.409 --> 00:15:54.190 the area. So cool. Elder Cook notices one such 00:15:54.190 --> 00:15:56.450 painting in the foyer. It was titled Between 00:15:56.450 --> 00:15:59.950 Storms. Painting was clearly not intended to 00:15:59.950 --> 00:16:02.049 depict the tragedies that occurred, but instead 00:16:02.049 --> 00:16:04.570 reflect the experience of a vast majority of 00:16:04.570 --> 00:16:06.850 handcart pioneers who did not experience the 00:16:06.850 --> 00:16:10.019 tragedies. I love that. What life lesson did 00:16:10.019 --> 00:16:12.120 the Between Storms painting bring to mind for 00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:15.039 Elder Cook? I think he said it really points 00:16:15.039 --> 00:16:16.919 out in life, sometimes we're between storms, 00:16:17.019 --> 00:16:19.159 sometimes between clouds and sunshine, and sometimes 00:16:19.159 --> 00:16:21.379 we're just looking around and experiencing the 00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:24.120 joy of God's creations. And the next thing, you're 00:16:24.120 --> 00:16:25.600 maybe hunkered down in a basement waiting for 00:16:25.600 --> 00:16:29.000 a tornado to pass. Amen. It's full of challenges, 00:16:29.019 --> 00:16:31.740 but also plenty of moments of joy. And there 00:16:31.740 --> 00:16:33.639 can be joy in the hardest and darkest times as 00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:35.759 we choose to turn to our Savior Jesus Christ, 00:16:36.039 --> 00:16:38.580 the Savior of the world who rescues us from the 00:16:38.580 --> 00:16:40.559 storms of life through His atonement in accordance 00:16:40.559 --> 00:16:44.309 with the Father's plan. Amen to that, Abby. It 00:16:44.309 --> 00:16:46.330 is inside the temple that we are able to receive 00:16:46.330 --> 00:16:48.830 the ordinances of exaltation and make sacred 00:16:48.830 --> 00:16:51.590 covenants and more fully accept the blessings 00:16:51.590 --> 00:16:55.210 of the Savior's atonement. Without Him, these 00:16:55.210 --> 00:16:57.090 blessings would not be available to us. It's 00:16:57.090 --> 00:16:59.490 so good to remember that. Central to the Father's 00:16:59.490 --> 00:17:02.289 plan of happiness is our Savior, the ultimate 00:17:02.289 --> 00:17:06.089 atoning rescuer. Some people have direct family 00:17:06.089 --> 00:17:09.349 ties to these pioneers, like you mentioned, Wee 00:17:09.349 --> 00:17:14.160 Granny. Some of us don't. I think I do have some 00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:17.819 relatives that were, but my husband does. So 00:17:17.819 --> 00:17:21.640 by marriage, I'm claiming his line that I know 00:17:21.640 --> 00:17:24.440 for sure of. Their experience provides Latter 00:17:24.440 --> 00:17:26.200 -day Saints across the world with this unique 00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:28.460 historical tradition and a powerful collective 00:17:28.460 --> 00:17:32.259 spiritual legacy. I came across the coolest story 00:17:32.259 --> 00:17:35.200 about a modern day rescue in South Africa in 00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:38.519 2021. An FSY gathering had been planned and there 00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:41.039 were 550 youth that were supposed to attend. 00:17:41.950 --> 00:17:44.509 And bear in mind, the previous year they were 00:17:44.509 --> 00:17:47.130 supposed to have an FSY conference, but COVID 00:17:47.130 --> 00:17:51.710 pandemic, pandemic, whatever, shut that down. 00:17:51.829 --> 00:17:53.490 So they had already done a reschedule. Everybody 00:17:53.490 --> 00:17:56.210 had been excited about it. So the first day of 00:17:56.210 --> 00:17:58.349 the program is when the counselors arrive. That's 00:17:58.349 --> 00:18:01.250 on a Sunday. They have their opening devotional. 00:18:01.390 --> 00:18:05.549 They go to bed. just torrential rains kick up 00:18:05.549 --> 00:18:07.089 through the night. It caused flooding around 00:18:07.089 --> 00:18:09.289 the facility. There was a river that separated 00:18:09.289 --> 00:18:12.170 the road in from the facility. Oh, my gosh. And 00:18:12.170 --> 00:18:14.349 so people were calling in and questioning, should 00:18:14.349 --> 00:18:16.769 we be holding this? Should we be canceling the 00:18:16.769 --> 00:18:19.450 conference? And because of the experience from 00:18:19.450 --> 00:18:21.609 the previous year and a strong desire to carry 00:18:21.609 --> 00:18:24.049 forward with the plans to provide these youth 00:18:24.049 --> 00:18:28.029 with what you know is going to come of FSY, it 00:18:28.029 --> 00:18:30.769 was decided that they would, in fact, carry on 00:18:30.769 --> 00:18:34.569 the session. The counselors, the session directors 00:18:34.569 --> 00:18:36.690 gave a little devotional and they talked about 00:18:36.690 --> 00:18:41.109 the rescuers. And they invited these counselors 00:18:41.109 --> 00:18:44.549 to be modern day rescuers. And so the bus get 00:18:44.549 --> 00:18:46.710 as close to the facility as possible. They string 00:18:46.710 --> 00:18:48.329 a rope from one side of the river to the other. 00:18:48.369 --> 00:18:50.970 And the counselors started getting. You're kidding 00:18:50.970 --> 00:18:54.430 me, Abby. Isn't that so great? And all week. 00:18:55.269 --> 00:18:58.769 They were inspired. They were all week that message. 00:18:59.960 --> 00:19:02.220 It was an amazing week of spiritual highs and 00:19:02.220 --> 00:19:05.700 testimony building. And often people reflected 00:19:05.700 --> 00:19:08.099 on the analogy of what it can look like to be 00:19:08.099 --> 00:19:11.759 a rescuer in somebody's life. Fantastic. Sometimes 00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:14.359 the prophet invites us to do something and the 00:19:14.359 --> 00:19:16.900 desire is in our heart, but the ability to accomplish 00:19:16.900 --> 00:19:19.319 what he's asked is an impossibility, or at least 00:19:19.319 --> 00:19:21.660 in our mind. Keep that in mind as we talk about 00:19:21.660 --> 00:19:24.680 the next part of Elder Cook's talk. Millen Atwood 00:19:24.680 --> 00:19:27.119 was a missionary in England and said that when 00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:30.019 the handcart plan was announced, it ran like 00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:33.000 fire in dry stubble, and the hearts of the poor 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:36.420 saints leapt with joy and gladness. Wow. Many 00:19:36.420 --> 00:19:38.519 had prayed and fasted day after day and night 00:19:38.519 --> 00:19:40.240 after night that they might have the privilege 00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:47.559 of uniting with their brethren and sisters in 00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:50.319 the mountains. It's so true, Abby, that I can 00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:52.609 only imagine they're like, I didn't come this 00:19:52.609 --> 00:19:55.029 far to die in winter quarters. I'm going to do 00:19:55.029 --> 00:19:57.549 my best and keep moving. Like, we're not stopping. 00:19:57.710 --> 00:20:00.049 I need to keep going towards Zion. So I can understand 00:20:00.049 --> 00:20:02.130 that. This is the part of the talk. But whatever 00:20:02.130 --> 00:20:04.170 their last step was, whether they made it into 00:20:04.170 --> 00:20:06.430 the Salt Lake Valley or just to the other side 00:20:06.430 --> 00:20:09.589 of Rocky Ridge, our Father in heaven got to see 00:20:09.589 --> 00:20:15.529 that every step, to their dying breath, they 00:20:15.529 --> 00:20:18.690 were headed to Zion. Yes, with every resource 00:20:18.690 --> 00:20:21.660 they had. Yes. Love it. This is the part of the 00:20:21.660 --> 00:20:23.599 talk you might spend some time talking with your 00:20:23.599 --> 00:20:26.160 class, release aside your elders quorum about 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:28.460 the Lord, the things the Lord has instructed 00:20:28.460 --> 00:20:32.720 them to do. And a way wasn't made possible, but 00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:36.079 they kept hoping and preparing, and then the 00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:39.099 way was opened up for them. That is a great idea 00:20:39.099 --> 00:20:43.140 for lessons. Because I bet each one of us has 00:20:43.140 --> 00:20:46.759 this in our lives if we just stop and reflect 00:20:46.759 --> 00:20:49.670 on that. It makes me think, you know, you bring 00:20:49.670 --> 00:20:51.710 that up, you might have somebody talk about wanting 00:20:51.710 --> 00:20:54.490 to grow their family, face roadblock after roadblock, 00:20:54.609 --> 00:20:57.750 infertility issues or whatever. Maybe another 00:20:57.750 --> 00:21:00.529 one. Maybe there's people out there that really 00:21:00.529 --> 00:21:03.230 desire to go to the temple, but proximity is 00:21:03.230 --> 00:21:05.890 making it difficult financially or geographically. 00:21:05.930 --> 00:21:10.410 You just can't get there. Some of our brothers 00:21:10.410 --> 00:21:12.710 and sisters maybe only have the chance to attend 00:21:12.710 --> 00:21:16.680 once in a lifetime. I think that... These saints 00:21:16.680 --> 00:21:18.319 teach us a powerful lesson. They have just the 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:20.200 right idea. We can learn a lot from them if we 00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:23.579 think that if there's something that we want 00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:26.019 to be doing in our life and it isn't happening 00:21:26.019 --> 00:21:30.339 yet, we take steps, we act on it as though it 00:21:30.339 --> 00:21:33.039 is or will be happening. Love it. Desire and 00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:36.700 effort matter. Like if you're a Latter -day Saint 00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:40.299 who doesn't have a temple close by, you can still 00:21:40.299 --> 00:21:43.119 become recommended. You can still hold the temple 00:21:43.119 --> 00:21:45.700 recommend. Because really what it is, is it's 00:21:45.700 --> 00:21:48.039 a relationship between you and God. And as long 00:21:48.039 --> 00:21:50.339 as you maintain that, regardless of how close 00:21:50.339 --> 00:21:52.960 you are. Because I think, and you probably agreed, 00:21:53.099 --> 00:21:55.519 the Lord in your circumstances looks at that. 00:21:55.619 --> 00:21:59.460 And like, it's as good as, it's the best given 00:21:59.460 --> 00:22:03.440 the circumstances that can exist. We talked about 00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:05.339 the death toll being high for the Martin and 00:22:05.339 --> 00:22:08.740 Willie companies. But like we had said, even 00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:10.539 though their goal was to gather with the saints. 00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:14.799 And their destination was Salt Lake City. I do 00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:16.740 think that those that died actively pursuing 00:22:16.740 --> 00:22:22.259 following the prophet have no doubt that in death 00:22:22.259 --> 00:22:24.400 they were actively gathering with other saints. 00:22:24.500 --> 00:22:26.420 They're still doing that work of gathering there. 00:22:26.839 --> 00:22:29.779 Absolutely. So that was their Zion. Yes. That's 00:22:29.779 --> 00:22:33.069 a really good point. I love that. Sometimes life 00:22:33.069 --> 00:22:35.569 is between storms and sometimes we are right 00:22:35.569 --> 00:22:37.549 in the thick of the storms. But what we have 00:22:37.549 --> 00:22:39.529 probably all learned in our own lives and from 00:22:39.529 --> 00:22:41.970 the handcart pioneers as well is that the storms 00:22:41.970 --> 00:22:44.869 have a distinct ability to shape our testimonies. 00:22:44.869 --> 00:22:46.710 Amen. And to chisel out the men and women that 00:22:46.710 --> 00:22:49.450 we are. Studying their story, I appreciate the 00:22:49.450 --> 00:22:52.269 precious relationships and the long -term eternal 00:22:52.269 --> 00:22:55.710 vision among the emigrants. John and Maria Linford 00:22:55.710 --> 00:23:01.190 and their three sons, which... were members of 00:23:01.190 --> 00:23:03.369 the Willie Company. I was just going to say, 00:23:03.390 --> 00:23:04.970 we heard this story today, and Abby's going to 00:23:04.970 --> 00:23:07.869 talk about that. John died hours before the first 00:23:07.869 --> 00:23:11.630 rescuers arrived. He had told Maria that he was 00:23:11.630 --> 00:23:13.970 glad they had made the journey. I shall not live 00:23:13.970 --> 00:23:16.890 to reach Salt Lake, he said, but you and the 00:23:16.890 --> 00:23:19.809 boys will. And I do not regret all we have gone 00:23:19.809 --> 00:23:22.309 through if our boys can grow up and raise their 00:23:22.309 --> 00:23:26.519 families. in zion wasn't it so good abby so good 00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:29.119 we had um two friends spoke in sacrament meeting 00:23:29.119 --> 00:23:31.420 today and they were asked to reflect on conference 00:23:31.420 --> 00:23:32.940 and then share some of their favorite pieces 00:23:32.940 --> 00:23:36.220 of it and our friend tiffany she was the second 00:23:36.220 --> 00:23:38.319 speaker she didn't reference this talk but this 00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:40.599 is the one we were preparing to talk about but 00:23:40.599 --> 00:23:46.259 um she started by talking about the value of 00:23:46.259 --> 00:23:49.890 general conference and then she got to share 00:23:49.890 --> 00:23:52.029 that through marriage, she is now one of the 00:23:52.029 --> 00:23:55.329 descendants of John and Maria Linford. And I 00:23:55.329 --> 00:23:56.970 mean, we were sitting in the row right behind 00:23:56.970 --> 00:23:59.789 her children's day to get to see that this name 00:23:59.789 --> 00:24:02.670 is carrying on. And yes, he didn't make it to 00:24:02.670 --> 00:24:05.650 the Salt Lake Valley, but the lesson that he 00:24:05.650 --> 00:24:07.829 wanted to pass to his posterity is living on. 00:24:07.950 --> 00:24:12.069 And it's fun to see that in real time, what an 00:24:12.069 --> 00:24:16.299 impact that these faithful pioneers have. It 00:24:16.299 --> 00:24:19.980 also gives a little more credence to... Walk 00:24:19.980 --> 00:24:22.140 the walk, don't just talk the talk. I agree. 00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:25.059 His kids did not have to question what his focus 00:24:25.059 --> 00:24:27.680 was in life. That was instilled in their heart 00:24:27.680 --> 00:24:29.880 with every footstep. Very impressive. President 00:24:29.880 --> 00:24:31.940 James E. Faust provided this marvelous summary. 00:24:32.140 --> 00:24:33.920 In the heroic effort of the Hancock pioneers, 00:24:34.140 --> 00:24:36.279 we learn a great truth. All must pass through 00:24:36.279 --> 00:24:39.000 a refiner's fire, and the insignificant and unimportant 00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:41.160 in our lives can melt away like dross and make 00:24:41.160 --> 00:24:44.039 our faith bright, intact, and strong. This seems 00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:45.880 to be a full measure of anguish, sorrow, and 00:24:45.880 --> 00:24:48.059 often heartbreak for everyone, including those 00:24:48.059 --> 00:24:50.059 who earnestly seek. to do right and be faithful. 00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:52.740 Yet this is part of the purging to become acquainted 00:24:52.740 --> 00:24:57.279 with God. We know this earth life is going to 00:24:57.279 --> 00:25:00.279 be full of challenges. How can we find courage 00:25:00.279 --> 00:25:02.900 to set out on our own spiritual journey knowing 00:25:02.900 --> 00:25:06.200 it is going to be difficult? That's my question 00:25:06.200 --> 00:25:13.579 to you, Amy. I would say that we would be, because 00:25:13.579 --> 00:25:15.940 the Savior did it before us to mark the path 00:25:15.940 --> 00:25:19.509 and show the way. and also so many of our ancestors. 00:25:20.029 --> 00:25:22.730 And in his eternity -shaping atonement and resurrection, 00:25:23.049 --> 00:25:25.529 the Savior broke the bands of death, having gained 00:25:25.529 --> 00:25:28.230 the victory over death for everyone. For those 00:25:28.230 --> 00:25:30.430 who have repented of sins, he has taken upon 00:25:30.430 --> 00:25:33.880 himself their iniquity. their transgressions, 00:25:33.880 --> 00:25:36.960 having redeemed them and satisfying the demands 00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:40.720 of justice. Without the atonement, we cannot 00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:43.740 save ourselves from sin and death or grief or 00:25:43.740 --> 00:25:46.980 hardness, hardship. While sin can play a significant 00:25:46.980 --> 00:25:50.799 role in our trials, life's adversities are compounded 00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:55.559 by mistakes, bad decisions, evil actions by others, 00:25:55.680 --> 00:25:57.900 and many things that are outside of our control. 00:25:58.759 --> 00:26:00.859 I like this part where he talked about Preach 00:26:00.859 --> 00:26:03.500 My Gospel. He says it teaches as we rely on Jesus 00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:06.359 Christ and his atonement, we can help to endure 00:26:06.359 --> 00:26:08.880 our trials, sicknesses, and pain. We can be filled 00:26:08.880 --> 00:26:11.240 with joy, peace, and consolation. All that is 00:26:11.240 --> 00:26:13.319 unfair about life can be made right through the 00:26:13.319 --> 00:26:16.279 atonement of Jesus Christ. We can pack that handcart 00:26:16.279 --> 00:26:18.380 with any number of tools that we deem necessary 00:26:18.380 --> 00:26:21.880 by traveling with both. Being a travel buddy 00:26:21.880 --> 00:26:24.140 with our Savior is key to our survival for anything 00:26:24.140 --> 00:26:26.380 we encounter along the way. Very good point, 00:26:26.460 --> 00:26:28.700 Abby. Pick him as your travel buddy. Serious. 00:26:28.700 --> 00:26:31.380 One reason I love April Conference is all of 00:26:31.380 --> 00:26:34.339 the references that we have to Easter. And this 00:26:34.339 --> 00:26:36.920 is Elder Cooks. He says, during this Easter season, 00:26:37.140 --> 00:26:39.819 our focus is on the Savior and His atoning sacrifice. 00:26:40.400 --> 00:26:43.359 The atonement provides hope and light at a time 00:26:43.359 --> 00:26:47.170 that... for many seem very dark and dreary. President 00:26:47.170 --> 00:26:49.910 Gordon B. Hinckley declared, when all of history 00:26:49.910 --> 00:26:52.950 is examined, there is nothing so wonderful, so 00:26:52.950 --> 00:26:56.269 majestic, so tremendous as this act of grace. 00:26:57.410 --> 00:27:01.630 You know, I really have loved this Easter this 00:27:01.630 --> 00:27:04.759 year. And one of the big reasons that I loved 00:27:04.759 --> 00:27:06.519 it even more is because I feel like we got to 00:27:06.519 --> 00:27:09.819 savor it because everything was, it was later. 00:27:09.880 --> 00:27:13.740 We had conference and then we had Palm Sunday 00:27:13.740 --> 00:27:16.980 and then we had Easter. And I just like so many 00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:19.980 times when Easter happens right at conference, 00:27:20.119 --> 00:27:23.509 my heart's so sad because I'm like, I... I can't 00:27:23.509 --> 00:27:25.630 like suck the marrow out of all of this because 00:27:25.630 --> 00:27:28.069 it's all happening at once. I love that. So I 00:27:28.069 --> 00:27:30.869 just really appreciate it. And thank Heavenly 00:27:30.869 --> 00:27:33.750 Father that the calendar landed how it did this 00:27:33.750 --> 00:27:36.029 year. In this world that feels so hasty. Right. 00:27:36.029 --> 00:27:38.549 I got to just feel full. Yes. It's like rush, 00:27:38.650 --> 00:27:40.309 rush, rush, go, go, go. I was like, thank you. 00:27:40.329 --> 00:27:42.869 This is more my pace. I like to go slow. I like 00:27:42.869 --> 00:27:45.910 to pray. I like to feel how it feels along the 00:27:45.910 --> 00:27:48.630 way. And I got to actually enjoy every one of 00:27:48.630 --> 00:27:50.690 these beautiful and wonderful milestones with 00:27:50.690 --> 00:27:54.059 my family. It was a wonderful Easter season. 00:27:55.099 --> 00:27:59.759 All right. He goes next into, he's a little sweetie. 00:27:59.900 --> 00:28:01.700 He provided the action items for us. He did it 00:28:01.700 --> 00:28:03.579 for us. Yes. So I'm going to read them to you. 00:28:05.019 --> 00:28:07.619 You might consider one or all of these suggestions 00:28:07.619 --> 00:28:10.279 to be incorporated into your journey back to 00:28:10.279 --> 00:28:12.480 Father. First, he said, do not underestimate 00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:15.200 the importance of doing what we can to rescue 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:17.339 others from physical and especially spiritual 00:28:17.339 --> 00:28:20.359 challenges. Is there somebody in your life that 00:28:20.359 --> 00:28:23.359 you know you were key to being in their life 00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:25.259 so that you could help them in their time of 00:28:25.259 --> 00:28:28.160 need. Good. Probably all the time there's somebody 00:28:28.160 --> 00:28:30.920 that we would have the most impact on if we were 00:28:30.920 --> 00:28:34.359 to speak up or say something. Second, gratefully 00:28:34.359 --> 00:28:37.079 accept the Savior's atonement. We all should 00:28:37.079 --> 00:28:39.180 strive to exhibit joy and happiness even as we 00:28:39.180 --> 00:28:41.119 face the challenges of life. Our goal should 00:28:41.119 --> 00:28:43.119 be to live optimistically on the sunny side of 00:28:43.119 --> 00:28:45.599 the street, even when it's not the sunny side 00:28:45.599 --> 00:28:49.220 of the street. Walk over to the sunny side. Third 00:28:49.220 --> 00:28:52.359 counsel, set aside consistent time to faithfully 00:28:52.359 --> 00:28:54.299 contemplate the Savior's atonement. We've been 00:28:54.299 --> 00:28:56.819 encouraged to do that, make a lifetime pursuit 00:28:56.819 --> 00:28:59.019 of that. This is not a checklist thing, and it's 00:28:59.019 --> 00:29:02.559 not something you'll ever get done often. We 00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:05.059 should set that time aside. During the sacrament 00:29:05.059 --> 00:29:09.380 is a great one. Partaking of the sacrament, those 00:29:09.380 --> 00:29:11.799 are especially significant times, but there are 00:29:11.799 --> 00:29:14.119 many other ways in your personal religious observance 00:29:14.119 --> 00:29:15.779 that you might decide for yourself that are a 00:29:15.779 --> 00:29:18.529 great time for you to do that. And then fourth, 00:29:18.829 --> 00:29:21.769 regular attendance in the temple where possible. 00:29:21.950 --> 00:29:24.210 The temple provides a continuing remembrance 00:29:24.210 --> 00:29:27.650 of the Savior's atonement and what it overcomes. 00:29:28.109 --> 00:29:30.509 And even more important, temple attendance allows 00:29:30.509 --> 00:29:32.529 us to provide a spiritual rescue for our deceased 00:29:32.529 --> 00:29:36.900 loved ones and more distant ancestors. Love that. 00:29:37.019 --> 00:29:39.500 He did so great giving us those four. President 00:29:39.500 --> 00:29:41.940 Russell M. Nelson at our last conference emphasized 00:29:41.940 --> 00:29:44.920 the principles and added, temple blessings help 00:29:44.920 --> 00:29:47.579 to prepare a people who will help prepare the 00:29:47.579 --> 00:29:50.019 world for the second coming of the Lord. I want 00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:52.200 to be a part of that work. I am a part of that 00:29:52.200 --> 00:29:55.700 work. And like was said earlier, when we do work 00:29:55.700 --> 00:29:57.839 in the temple, we are helping ourselves learn. 00:29:58.559 --> 00:30:00.660 more about our Savior, but also blessing and 00:30:00.660 --> 00:30:03.619 rescuing our deceased ancestors. I just, I also 00:30:03.619 --> 00:30:06.759 want to add that in these past months, I've been 00:30:06.759 --> 00:30:09.500 in bed and not able to physically go. I've been 00:30:09.500 --> 00:30:11.140 one time to the temple, which makes my heart 00:30:11.140 --> 00:30:14.500 so sad. But also like from your bed with your 00:30:14.500 --> 00:30:17.539 phone, you can work at redeeming the dead by 00:30:17.539 --> 00:30:21.539 helping your ancestors to, you can do tasks. 00:30:21.680 --> 00:30:24.230 You can help to get them like. build the file 00:30:24.230 --> 00:30:27.109 of who this person is, the death certificates, 00:30:27.250 --> 00:30:29.109 all of those types of things. There is a way, 00:30:29.190 --> 00:30:31.450 like we talked about, if you have a desire in 00:30:31.450 --> 00:30:33.309 your heart, there is a way for the Lord to bring 00:30:33.309 --> 00:30:35.190 temple blessings to you. Do you know what I mean? 00:30:35.250 --> 00:30:39.630 So I felt blessed. Absolutely. If I'm trying 00:30:39.630 --> 00:30:41.750 to make excuses about my temple attendance, it's 00:30:41.750 --> 00:30:43.890 because I know in good faith I could get there. 00:30:44.009 --> 00:30:47.150 There are seasons of life. There sure are. Young 00:30:47.150 --> 00:30:50.829 mothers, physical, like when you're trying to 00:30:50.829 --> 00:30:55.730 do some physical healing. proximity, cost. There's 00:30:55.730 --> 00:30:57.849 just a lot of things. There is. And if they're 00:30:57.849 --> 00:31:00.009 legit and valid, like He can bless you the most 00:31:00.009 --> 00:31:02.589 if you can get there. Absolutely. But if you 00:31:02.589 --> 00:31:04.890 really can't and the desire's there, He can definitely 00:31:04.890 --> 00:31:06.829 make those blessings available to you. Yes, the 00:31:06.829 --> 00:31:09.329 blessings of the temple can flow to you if that's 00:31:09.329 --> 00:31:11.670 your desire. Remembering our ancestors and also 00:31:11.670 --> 00:31:13.650 their sacrifice is always a wonderful way to 00:31:13.650 --> 00:31:16.329 strengthen our own testimonies and appreciate 00:31:16.329 --> 00:31:18.849 what they did. But our worship should always 00:31:18.849 --> 00:31:21.569 be centered on the Savior of the world and His 00:31:21.569 --> 00:31:24.269 atoning sacrifices. Abby, do you have any final 00:31:24.269 --> 00:31:29.509 thoughts? Finding that balance of these awesome 00:31:29.509 --> 00:31:31.849 pioneer stories. What we focused on today happened 00:31:31.849 --> 00:31:34.190 to be Martin and Willie Hancock. But as we're 00:31:34.190 --> 00:31:37.670 watching the war case and church membership grow 00:31:37.670 --> 00:31:40.349 and where we're reaching those missionary efforts, 00:31:40.769 --> 00:31:43.529 there's a chance that some people hearing our 00:31:43.529 --> 00:31:46.609 voice are the pioneers in their countries. Absolutely. 00:31:46.609 --> 00:31:48.970 They are creating the stories and the dialogue 00:31:48.970 --> 00:31:51.930 for... Like what's going to go forward in that 00:31:51.930 --> 00:31:54.230 country? You know, 20 years from now, people 00:31:54.230 --> 00:31:56.029 will look back and remember them as the pioneers. 00:31:56.430 --> 00:31:58.869 So recording these stories and sharing these 00:31:58.869 --> 00:32:01.769 stories and if you don't have any of your own, 00:32:01.809 --> 00:32:05.670 diving into what your pioneer ancestors did. 00:32:05.869 --> 00:32:08.509 Who came first? If it's you, be recording. And 00:32:08.509 --> 00:32:11.130 if it's not, delve into the things that you have 00:32:11.130 --> 00:32:13.809 because there are lessons to be learned and enjoyed. 00:32:14.069 --> 00:32:16.289 And like, I felt like our emotions were high 00:32:16.289 --> 00:32:18.630 as we were discussing. Oh man, so close to the 00:32:18.630 --> 00:32:23.480 surface. So that's just us testifying that they 00:32:23.480 --> 00:32:25.500 can have power as we incorporate those stories. 00:32:26.400 --> 00:32:28.380 Any final thoughts from you? You know, I was 00:32:28.380 --> 00:32:31.759 just going to say, I had this part ready for 00:32:31.759 --> 00:32:34.619 our primary lesson today, but I didn't get to 00:32:34.619 --> 00:32:36.599 this part that was in Come Follow Me. So it was 00:32:36.599 --> 00:32:39.240 meant for this. And it just talked about pioneer 00:32:39.240 --> 00:32:40.740 stories and those who crossed the plains, you 00:32:40.740 --> 00:32:43.700 know, those who went to the Ohio. And I know 00:32:43.700 --> 00:32:46.160 we giggled about that a little bit, but what 00:32:46.160 --> 00:32:49.559 I wanted to say to each of our nine turning 10 00:32:49.559 --> 00:32:52.720 year olds is that you may not have a story of 00:32:52.720 --> 00:32:56.230 a pioneer who crossed the plains. However, In 00:32:56.230 --> 00:32:58.869 your story, in your line, someone was a pioneer 00:32:58.869 --> 00:33:01.130 because you are a member of the Church of Jesus 00:33:01.130 --> 00:33:02.890 Christ of Latter -day Saints right now. And so 00:33:02.890 --> 00:33:05.210 someone needed to. And I was just going to ask 00:33:05.210 --> 00:33:06.950 them, like, find out who that person is. Maybe 00:33:06.950 --> 00:33:09.109 it's your mom or dad. Maybe it's a grandma. And 00:33:09.109 --> 00:33:10.910 talk to them about their conversion story. When 00:33:10.910 --> 00:33:14.519 did the Holy Ghost tell their heart that? This 00:33:14.519 --> 00:33:16.460 was something that they wanted to change their 00:33:16.460 --> 00:33:19.339 whole life and do, you know, and maybe for that 00:33:19.339 --> 00:33:22.200 person that was as big as, you know, crossing 00:33:22.200 --> 00:33:24.660 the plains or doing whatever, like we have pioneers 00:33:24.660 --> 00:33:27.059 all around us. So that's what I was going to 00:33:27.059 --> 00:33:30.099 share. That story that really identifies the 00:33:30.099 --> 00:33:31.920 time in their life when they turned to the Savior 00:33:31.920 --> 00:33:34.960 and let him make their lives what it is now. 00:33:35.099 --> 00:33:37.660 Into uncharted territory. That's beautiful. I'm 00:33:37.660 --> 00:33:40.400 glad you got to share it. I will close with his 00:33:40.400 --> 00:33:43.190 testimony. He said, I testify that the key of 00:33:43.190 --> 00:33:46.450 the Father's plan of happiness is the atonement 00:33:46.450 --> 00:33:49.130 wrought by our Savior, Jesus Christ. He lives 00:33:49.130 --> 00:33:51.609 and guides his church. The atonement of Jesus 00:33:51.609 --> 00:33:53.710 Christ provides the ultimate rescue from the 00:33:53.710 --> 00:33:56.410 trials we face in this life. And this he said 00:33:56.410 --> 00:34:00.529 in the name of Jesus Christ. So we'll catch you 00:34:00.529 --> 00:34:03.650 on the next one. Thanks for being here. See you 00:34:03.650 --> 00:34:04.089 next time.