Welcome to Closer to Christ through General Conference,
where two friends who love Jesus share our own
approach to studying the most recent General
Conference talks. This is Abbe and Amy. Let's
jump into it. Today we get to enjoy the talk,
Draw Near Unto Me, by President Henry B. Eyring.
Draw near unto me, and I will draw near unto
you. Seek me diligently, and ye shall find me.
Ask, and ye shall receive. Knock, and it shall
be opened unto you. You know, there's times when
we feel close to the Savior Jesus Christ, but
during times of moral trials, we sometimes feel
distracted or distanced from Him, and we wish
for assurance that He knows what's in our hearts
and loves us as individuals. When we went through
this talk today, or in preparation for today,
we get to hear how President Eyring shares how
he has felt Christ near him in his life and ways
that we can also feel that closeness and assurance
from him. And he points out three ways that each
of us can feel that assurance. Number one, drawn
near him by always remembering him. Number two,
seek him diligently through scripture study.
And number three, as we care for others throughout
our lives. Thanks, Abby. You know, in this talk,
I was thinking about kind of the style of President
Eyring and the way that he teaches. And I've
always appreciated it. It has a very humble,
gentle way about it. And I just really like it.
I love that he shared this. He says, in my youth,
I experienced the joy of coming closer to the
Savior and of His coming closer to me through
simple acts of obedience to the commandments.
Simple acts of obedience to the commandments
is what stuck in my mind. I really appreciate
the way he reminds us. that when we are feeling
a little distant from the Lord and are seeking
to have him near us and to be near him, we hold
the key to closing that gap. It doesn't necessarily
mean we'll receive the immediate answers or blessings
that we've been seeking. These are given in his
own time. However, speaking from personal experience
and testimony, it does mean that we will draw
his spirit near and we will feel the assurance
that he knows us and that he is aware of us.
I love the words he talked about. President Eyring
talked about when there used to be the block
meeting and sacrament meeting was actually on
a different date and it was at night. How long
ago did he say it was like 75 years before he
was reflecting on? I can still remember one specific
night, it was Sunday, more than 75 years ago
when it was dark and cold outside. I remember
a feeling of light and warmth. as I realized
that I had kept the commandment to gather with
the saints to partake of the sacrament, covenanting
with our Father in heaven, to always remember
His Son and to keep His commandments. At the
end of the meeting that night, we sang the hymn,
Abide with Me Tis Eventide, with the memorable
words, O Savior, stay this night with me. These
words brought an overwhelming sense of the Spirit
to me, even as a young boy. I felt the Savior's
love and closeness that evening. through the
comfort of the Holy Ghost. Abby, I remember on
my mission, we sang this song sometimes as we
leave a home where we've been teaching a message
of Jesus Christ in the evening. And as we acted
on his invitation to remember him, this song
always brought, regardless of how well we sang
it, it always brought a spirit of peace and love
and Christ's awareness of us huddled at a doorway
in Italy as we gathered in his name. I know on
missions, it's not like the first time people
have heard of Jesus Christ when we share that
message. Sometimes it is, but that's tender.
Just to think about, you know, when they're feeling
the Spirit maybe in a different way for the first
time or more magnified that you can leave, but
you can have like that hope for blessing upon
their homes, that Spirit will still abide so
that they can recognize it's much different.
If they want it, right? Like it can stay. If
they want to hold on to that feeling. Um, president
Ivory shared his second invitation. What he said
was years later, he wanted to rekindle that same
feeling of the Savior's love. What's cool is
when you've had it once and then you can reflect
back on it and feel that feeling again. I want
that again. Yeah. Um, he wanted to rekindle the
same feeling of the Savior's love and the closeness
I had felt to the Lord during that sacrament
meeting in my youth. So I kept another simple
commandment. I searched the scriptures in the
book of Luke. I read on the third day after his
crucifixion in burial. when faithful servants
had come out of love for the Savior to anoint
his body, and when they arrived they found the
stone rolled away from the tomb and saw that
his body was not there. Two angels stood by and
asked why they were afraid. Why seek ye the living
among the dead? He is not here, but is risen.
Remember how he spake unto you when he was yet
in Galilee, saying, The Son of Man must be delivered
to the hands of sinful men and be crucified,
and the third day rise again. He then read the
story of two disciples walking on the road. of
Emmaus. Jesus walked with them, but they did
not recognize who he was. They told him of their
sadness that Jesus had died when they had trusted
that he would be the Redeemer of Israel. There
must have been affection in the risen Lord's
voice as he spoke to these two sorrowful and
mourning disciples. And then President Irene
goes on to share his personal experiences as
he studied the scriptures. As I continued to
read, there came these words that warmed my heart
just as I had felt when I was a little boy. And
I drew nigh unto the village, whither they went,
and he made as though he would have gone further.
But they constrained him, saying, Abide with
us, for it is toward evening, and the day is
far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
And again, shared, the Saviour accepted that
night the invitation to enter the house of his
disciples. He sat at meet with them. He took
bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them.
This point is where their eyes were opened, and
they knew him. had to have had a different appearance.
It said in the scripture that he made himself
not recognizable. Physically. He doesn't want
to be recognized physically. He wants you to
spiritually know that he's there for us. Anyway,
their eyes were open and they knew him. Love
it. Agreed, Abby. As we hear these words of the
two disciples, maybe we could ask ourselves.
When is a time most recently that I felt my heart
burn within as I learned of Christ or when the
scriptures were open to me through the Holy Ghost?
And after this, Abby, we're going to jump into
his third invitation to come closer to Christ.
President Irene teaches just as his beloved disciples,
every child of Heavenly Father who has chosen
to enter through the gates of baptism is under
covenant to be a witness of the Savior and to
care for those in need throughout our mortal
lives. These are the words that Alma shared at
the waters of baptism. So I love this scripture.
Another action item here, how am I doing at morning
with those who mourn? And I feel like a good
question is, do I know how to hold space for
someone who might not have immediate resolution
or answers? It's unique. Like if you think you're
a good baker, you might be like, oh, I should
take him treats. But really what you're saying
there is that if you If that's not their love
language, treats isn't their love language just
because it's what you're good at, but you ask
to step in and be able to help mourn with those
that mourn, comfort those that need comfort.
acquire a different skill set that you didn't
know that you have because you had a desire to
reach out and help them. That's so good. And
you know, I used to, like you were saying, Abby,
you're kind of go to, too, is what you know,
right? Your love language is the first thing
you think of. Yeah. But it's not always the thing
the person needs. It's true. It's true. And so
like I used to want to step in and help others
to have a smile on their face and peace in their
heart. Because if I had not left them happier,
Was I even any help at all? That's kind of how
I felt through my challenges, through challenges
of my own, through many, many years and decades.
I feel like the Lord has helped me to see that
I had misunderstood. My baptismal covenant was
never to bring immediate happiness or offer my
suggestions or help in ways that had helped me.
Right. Like you were saying it was to pray for
the Holy Ghost first and foremost and to offer
comfort in the way of maybe no words at all.
Food is usually helpful. Sitting with someone
is helpful and listening is usually helpful.
It's okay. This is how I'm feeling now in my
stewardship, you could call it, or in my discipleship
as far as this commandment goes. It is okay to
leave someone who is still in the middle of their
story as long as they know you are in it with
them. As they struggle through it and they know
that you are an ally and a friend in this, you
are doing your part in mourning with those who
mourn. That takes a little different turn on
it, that it's okay to be sad with them while
they're sad, not feel the burden of trying to
bring happiness. You can bring joy, different
than happiness, right? I mean, we agree that's
a different thing. You can be joyful knowing
that the outcome will eventually come, but that's
not maybe going to happen in that moment. And
that's okay. That wasn't your job. Your job was
to just be there for them. So I really appreciate
you for sharing that, Amy. I really loved his
promise to all who serve others here. He said,
anything in this conference. President Irene
Gadreff loved ones who have stepped off the covenant
path. He did that on the last one too. I feel
like this is a subject that's close to his heart
and he's saying like, I've wrestled with it.
He's turned his life over to the Lord. He's been
in the service of others. He's pointing out even
with all of those things, if he could choose,
if he could choose Satan's way, he would force
everybody to, you know, be on the covenant path,
everybody with him on the path that he's on.
But it's something that he's reflecting on more
to say, you can do all the quote unquote right
things, and still there's going to be people
that are choosing a different way. But I know
from hearing his words, I know how he talks about
these family members. He has nothing but love
for them. He prays for them in his own way, but
it's not like to rebuke and be like, you got
to get back here. I think he's so confident in
the plan that he knows it's going to work out.
And what he has control over is himself and he
continues to do that. So he'd be a great grandpa
to have. Did I read this quote from him? I don't
think I did. I want to read it. This stood out.
I really want to read it. It said, For in me
there is all power." I think this is the perfect
way to demonstrate saying the right thing or
not saying anything at all, depending on what
the Spirit prompts, but just a simple prayer
to surround your loved ones with His love. That's
amazing. Sometimes his love may come in the form
of a neighbor that with no ulterior motive that
they're just serving and having these tender
experiences with your family members that maybe
you have less daily interactions with. Just think
of all of the people. When you watch people's
stories that they come back and they share their
experiences with you, there are so many people
that are placed in their ways and I think in
that way you could say that. That's what it looks
like, just having the Savior surround them. He
encourages people different opportunities to
serve these ones that you're praying over. It's
true, to serve and to gain experience. Sometimes
you learn, oh, that didn't work as well, or I
had a kind of a slight feeling, but I wasn't
sure it was the Spirit, and now I'm pretty sure
it was. Do you know what I mean? And was the
thing that you did, was it positive in any way?
Because if it was, then it was the Spirit, it
was the Lord, it was a good thing. It was Him.
Abby, another thing, it's so interesting. This
happened this week. I don't know if anyone else
has had this conversation with family members
or a spouse or whoever. My husband and I were
talking and someone had sent to us a talk that
has been years ago by Elder Oaks and now President
Oaks. He was talking about different ways that
he came to know the Lord and also different ways
that he approached the Lord and When my husband
was talking about he said, you know Sometimes
when I hear those words it sort of feels like
and I'm putting these words into his mouth It
was I'm gonna give you the crux of it how you
felt about yes Kind of what my husband was saying
was I feel like when I hear these words I feel
like he that someone's putting the Savior in
a box and that this is the way he is and it's
fixed And I was like that's so interesting that
you're saying that And then I had, as we were
talking, I felt like the spirit taught me something
or brought something to my remembrance of why
I love conference. This is why I love it. Yes,
100 % what President Oaks, now President Oaks,
was saying in his talk was, number one, he was
speaking from his own personal experience. We
only have our own personal experience. We only
have our own personal testimony with the divinity
of Jesus Christ and with the divinity of Heavenly
Father and their nature. And so that is what
we share. And as we share that, as President
Oaks shared this, the Holy Ghost bore witness
to the truthfulness of that thing. So this is
the part I love. um every single person that
speaks in conference um it's kind of like they
are bringing their own views their own lenses
their experience their profession the experiences
they've had with um They're usually pretty intense
or pretty memorable experiences that they've
had on how they've come to know Jesus Christ
and His divinity as our savior, as our redeemer,
as our healer. And so this is kind of what it
was like to me. Have you ever heard the story
about when it talks about, I don't know if they're
blind people or what it was, people who were
Um, not seeing, but they were holding on to different
parts of an elephant and each person described,
you know, what the trunk was like, what the foot
was like, what the tail, what the ear, all of
them were right. And so I feel like this is.
in a way very dumbed down, but very similar to
the way I feel about conference is that every
single person is giving me their sure witness,
their experience, their testimony that is born
to my heart, to the Holy Ghost of the truth of
what they are talking about, of their experience.
And that's what I love about it is it brings
a whole more whole understanding of what the
divinity of Jesus Christ is. I don't believe
and maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'll be proved wrong
later or I just haven't had this experience yet.
But in my mind, in my finite mortal human mind,
it seems to me that it would almost be impossible
for every one of us or for one person to have
a complete understanding of everything that God
is. Right? I mean, we don't have the capacity.
We are mortals, mere mortals. So I love that
he gives all these different people. And in one
way, he gives 15 men who guide and direct us
very special witnesses. And I take every single
one of theirs, whether it's President Oaks, who
is very direct, who is an attorney, who sees
things as law, or whether it's President Eyring,
who teaches me with his heart and his love. I
feel like they all. have a portion of Jesus Christ
Spirit with them and they get to tell us about
what they know and what they've experienced and
we get to feel of this, again, wholeness and
perfect, perfect person that is Jesus Christ
and that is Heavenly Father. That's why I love
conferences because I get a more perfect and
whole understanding of just how grand and how
awe -inspiring He is. So, that's what came to
my mind as we talked about, you know, different
talks that we hear is I feel like it is 100 %
a portion of truth. That's really it. I just
love President Eyring and I love the way that
he teaches. It touches my heart. The talk that
came to my mind was Dushku's Pillars and Rays
a couple sessions back and, you know, he started
talking about little things that were rays of
his testimony and I would say... those weren't
my rays, but the way that he said it made me
recollect what my rays were to come together
to make this pillar. So just to play off of that
feeling, the feelings that I'm having about that
talk as you're talking, I'm thinking, yeah, one
line and sometimes one line in a conference talk
of all others stand out and something's brought
to my remembrance. That's how the savior reached
me. That's how I feel about the savior. And you
accumulate that from 30 something different talks
in a session. and you get a more clear picture.
I love the idea of reflecting back on the things
that he's done for us individually, and it's
our responsibility to testify. You know, as we've
been touched by the Savior in our lives, we're
encouraged to share those things. More likely
than not, when you testify of the Savior, you've
brought his name into it. So there's going to
be power present. But it's not that you're expecting
that the person you're talking to is going to
experience the same experience as you it's that
Somewhere in the recess of their mind if they're
if they're struggling in that moment That's something
that you're saying the spirits involved in the
equation. You've brought the name of Jesus Christ
into the conversation They're going to recall
those things that their testimony is centered
around and then grow on it from there, too So
one of those things I mean, this is as we study
the foolish and wise versions, it's like you
can share your light, you can't share your oil,
but sharing your light gives them an opportunity
to start reserving their own oil. Something to
that, just. For sure. Great talk. An invitation.
He's so sweet, he's so tender. This is one that
is so easy to listen to. And just like, everything's
going to be just fine. It is, it totally is.
What did he say? What did he say when the Teton
Dam broke? Like that's what he said to his wife,
she was going to ... She's like, what are you
sleeping? How are you sleeping? Everything's
going to be fine. Because of our covenants. I
mean, think about how young he was when he said
that. He's really carried that mentality the
whole passing time. So obviously it's coming
to play now. It's not his own children that he's...
has to worry about whether they made it through
the flood or not. It's his children's children's
children. I mean lots of generations that we're
talking about and you can worry about it or you
can continue to do what we can do and that is
to draw closer to Jesus Christ, invite him to
draw close to these loved ones and stay in your
own covenant. I'm going to close with his testimony.
I am a witness of the resurrection of the Lord
as surely as if I had been there with the two
disciples in the house on Emmaus Road. I know
that he lives. This is his true church. the Church
of Jesus Christ. We will, on that day of judgment,
stand before the Savior face to face. It will
be a time of great joy for those in this life
who have drawn close to Him in His service and
can eagerly anticipate to hear His words, Well
done, thou good and faithful servant. Thank you
so much for being with us. We'll see you next
time. Thanks for tuning in.