WEBVTT 00:00:02.320 --> 00:00:04.660 Welcome to closer to Christ through general conference 00:00:04.660 --> 00:00:06.700 where two friends who love Jesus share our own 00:00:06.700 --> 00:00:08.539 approach to studying the most recent general 00:00:08.539 --> 00:00:11.519 conference talks. This is Abby and Amy. Let's 00:00:11.519 --> 00:00:31.899 jump into it. Today we're discussing Look to 00:00:31.899 --> 00:00:34.380 God and Live. This is by Elder D. Todd Christopherson 00:00:34.380 --> 00:00:37.560 of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, now in 00:00:37.560 --> 00:00:39.539 the first presidency. So that's changed a little. 00:00:40.659 --> 00:00:45.320 So he starts out, this was heavy, a tragic bus 00:00:45.320 --> 00:00:48.820 accident in South Africa claimed 15 lives, including 00:00:48.820 --> 00:00:51.439 six young women, two young women leaders, and 00:00:51.439 --> 00:00:53.700 the branch president and his wife as they traveled 00:00:53.700 --> 00:00:56.520 to a church gathering. I think when he started 00:00:56.520 --> 00:00:59.259 this, everyone's heart just went out to this 00:00:59.259 --> 00:01:01.960 community. In the aftermath, survivors and loved 00:01:01.960 --> 00:01:05.319 ones experienced deep grief, anger, and unanswered 00:01:05.319 --> 00:01:07.959 questions. Despite their pain, they turned to 00:01:07.959 --> 00:01:10.319 God for comfort, supporting one another through 00:01:10.319 --> 00:01:12.299 sacred music, scripture, and prayer, and found 00:01:12.299 --> 00:01:15.180 strength and solace in their faith. Jesus Christ 00:01:15.180 --> 00:01:18.420 loves us and is with us, even though our hearts 00:01:18.420 --> 00:01:21.400 hurt. Abby, there are so many people right now 00:01:21.400 --> 00:01:26.159 whose heart is hurting, even in our own community, 00:01:26.260 --> 00:01:30.780 and I just feel a heaviness. and a sadness and 00:01:30.780 --> 00:01:34.519 truly Christ is the only answer. That is the 00:01:34.519 --> 00:01:38.920 only place we're going to find peace. In this 00:01:38.920 --> 00:01:41.280 story, there were two survivors in particular, 00:01:41.680 --> 00:01:44.819 a young woman and the leader who were hospitalized 00:01:44.819 --> 00:01:47.219 because they were treating burns from the injury 00:01:47.219 --> 00:01:50.579 or from the accident. So together they would 00:01:50.579 --> 00:01:52.879 study the Book of Mormon and one said, lately 00:01:52.879 --> 00:01:54.640 we've been reading in Moroni and Moroni says 00:01:54.640 --> 00:01:57.099 exactly what I've been feeling. When he speaks, 00:01:57.239 --> 00:01:59.159 it's like he's saying, you have to learn these 00:01:59.159 --> 00:02:00.879 words because they're written for you to help 00:02:00.879 --> 00:02:03.359 you pass through this. These words were spoken 00:02:03.359 --> 00:02:05.939 at joint funeral services. We should all turn 00:02:05.939 --> 00:02:08.759 to the Lord at this time and ask him to comfort 00:02:08.759 --> 00:02:11.039 our hearts and to soothe the pain that we feel. 00:02:11.560 --> 00:02:13.719 And then another speaker urged, turn to the Lord 00:02:13.719 --> 00:02:16.360 and find the strength to accept his will. Jesus 00:02:16.360 --> 00:02:18.800 Christ is the author and finisher of our faith. 00:02:19.180 --> 00:02:23.259 Don't look away, but look to him. So good, Abby. 00:02:23.979 --> 00:02:28.439 Three powerful words. to live by. Look to him. 00:02:28.759 --> 00:02:30.860 The Book of Mormon teaches, it is easy to give 00:02:30.860 --> 00:02:32.699 heed to the word of Christ, which will point 00:02:32.699 --> 00:02:35.699 to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as 00:02:35.699 --> 00:02:38.180 it was for our fathers to give heed to his compass, 00:02:38.460 --> 00:02:40.180 which would point them to a straight course to 00:02:40.180 --> 00:02:42.719 the promised land. Alma said, if they would look, 00:02:42.719 --> 00:02:45.419 they might live. And if we look, we may live 00:02:45.419 --> 00:02:47.900 forever. And Alma taught on another occasion 00:02:47.900 --> 00:02:50.280 the example of the brass serpent raised by Moses 00:02:50.280 --> 00:02:53.080 when the ancient Israelites were affected by 00:02:53.080 --> 00:02:56.139 fiery serpents. The Lord told Moses to make a 00:02:56.139 --> 00:02:58.500 figure of a serpent and lift it on a pole with 00:02:58.500 --> 00:03:02.180 this promise, everyone that is bitten when he 00:03:02.180 --> 00:03:04.800 looketh upon it shall live. Alma explained that 00:03:04.800 --> 00:03:06.979 the brass figure was a type or a symbol of Christ 00:03:06.979 --> 00:03:10.780 who would be lifted up upon the cross. Many did 00:03:10.780 --> 00:03:13.039 look and live, but others were, in Alma's words, 00:03:13.180 --> 00:03:15.259 so hardened that they simply would not look and 00:03:15.259 --> 00:03:17.979 perished. Alma asked, if ye could be healed by 00:03:17.979 --> 00:03:20.099 merely casting about your eyes that ye might 00:03:20.099 --> 00:03:22.750 be healed, would you not behold quickly? Or would 00:03:22.750 --> 00:03:24.710 you rather harden your hearts in unbelief and 00:03:24.710 --> 00:03:27.050 be slothful, that you would not cast about your 00:03:27.050 --> 00:03:29.669 eyes that you might perish, then cast about your 00:03:29.669 --> 00:03:31.490 eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God, 00:03:31.509 --> 00:03:33.930 that he will come to redeem his people, and that 00:03:33.930 --> 00:03:36.409 he shall suffer and die to atone for their sins, 00:03:36.650 --> 00:03:39.090 and that he shall rise again from the dead, which 00:03:39.090 --> 00:03:41.530 shall bring to pass the resurrection, that all 00:03:41.530 --> 00:03:43.930 men shall stand before him to be judged at the 00:03:43.930 --> 00:03:45.909 last and judgment day according to their works? 00:03:46.780 --> 00:03:48.960 It's the nature of our fallen word where the 00:03:48.960 --> 00:03:51.060 devil rages and where everyone is imperfect that 00:03:51.060 --> 00:03:53.319 there will be disappointment and offenses, suffering 00:03:53.319 --> 00:03:55.960 and sorrow, failure and loss, persecution and 00:03:55.960 --> 00:03:59.939 injustice. It's only by looking to God that individuals, 00:04:00.020 --> 00:04:02.599 family and even nations can flourish. President 00:04:02.599 --> 00:04:04.800 Russell M. Nelson taught because the savior through 00:04:04.800 --> 00:04:06.780 his infinite atonement redeemed each of us from 00:04:06.780 --> 00:04:09.539 weakness, mistakes and sin and because he experienced 00:04:09.539 --> 00:04:12.520 every pain, worry and burden you have ever had, 00:04:12.919 --> 00:04:15.870 then are you truly repent. and seek his help, 00:04:15.870 --> 00:04:19.829 you can rise above this present precarious world." 00:04:19.829 --> 00:04:22.930 I love, Abby, that, you know, prosper. A lot 00:04:22.930 --> 00:04:26.329 of times we think prosper might be tied with 00:04:26.329 --> 00:04:29.129 financial gain or something. Prosper meant enjoying 00:04:29.129 --> 00:04:31.490 the guidance and blessings of heaven in their 00:04:31.490 --> 00:04:33.990 lives. Prosper meant achieving levels of economic 00:04:33.990 --> 00:04:35.730 well -being that enabled them to marry, raise 00:04:35.730 --> 00:04:37.490 families, and minister to the needs of others. 00:04:37.730 --> 00:04:40.550 So there is that aspect. Prospering also included 00:04:40.550 --> 00:04:43.350 the capacity to rise above hardship and trial. 00:04:44.159 --> 00:04:46.519 through the grace of Christ, all things work 00:04:46.519 --> 00:04:49.120 together for their good, refine them and deepen 00:04:49.120 --> 00:04:51.839 their relationship with them. Alma explained 00:04:51.839 --> 00:04:54.420 that to look to God is to keep his commandments, 00:04:54.720 --> 00:04:57.040 cry unto him continually for his support, counsel 00:04:57.040 --> 00:04:58.980 with him in all your doings and let your heart 00:04:58.980 --> 00:05:01.680 be full of thanks unto him day and night. God's 00:05:01.680 --> 00:05:04.360 commandments and counsel are found in the scriptures 00:05:04.360 --> 00:05:06.699 and the words of his servants. And I did love 00:05:06.699 --> 00:05:10.139 that he said in this talk that prosper, that's 00:05:10.139 --> 00:05:16.660 one of the most cited phrases was, as you will 00:05:16.660 --> 00:05:18.620 look to God, then you will prosper in the land. 00:05:18.680 --> 00:05:20.819 That's said over and over again. So I did love 00:05:20.819 --> 00:05:22.560 that. It's just a really good reminder. Yes. 00:05:23.079 --> 00:05:26.319 And to really emphasize that that doesn't necessarily 00:05:26.319 --> 00:05:29.720 mean financial prosperity. We've tarnished and 00:05:29.720 --> 00:05:31.819 tainted that word to mean that it means money. 00:05:31.939 --> 00:05:33.860 So people will be like, I'm doing everything 00:05:33.860 --> 00:05:35.839 right, but I'm just not like rolling in the dough. 00:05:36.220 --> 00:05:38.620 And you say, But what's your relationship look 00:05:38.620 --> 00:05:41.139 like with Jesus Christ? How's your family relationship 00:05:41.139 --> 00:05:43.600 look like? Right. Those are way bigger payouts 00:05:43.600 --> 00:05:45.620 than any dollar figure in your bank account could 00:05:45.620 --> 00:05:48.800 ever compete with. Yes. And so I really appreciated 00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:53.120 the way that he said it because it's maybe one 00:05:53.120 --> 00:05:55.139 of the things that comes up like the most like 00:05:55.139 --> 00:05:56.980 in a friend group discussion. It's like, well, 00:05:56.980 --> 00:05:59.259 I'm doing all these things and the payoff's not 00:05:59.259 --> 00:06:01.480 right there. I'm like, you're not seeing the 00:06:01.480 --> 00:06:03.259 payoff that's going to be way greater than anything 00:06:03.259 --> 00:06:06.000 you could have imagined. Yeah. What's 10 bucks 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:08.899 when the benefit of what he's actually giving 00:06:08.899 --> 00:06:12.980 you is worth a million? Good way to put it. Teachings 00:06:12.980 --> 00:06:15.579 in the family proclamation to the world, number 00:06:15.579 --> 00:06:18.600 one, for the strength of the youth, which provides 00:06:18.600 --> 00:06:21.899 essential guidance for living Christ -centered 00:06:21.899 --> 00:06:26.959 lives. Let's see, like the youth theme, the 2025, 00:06:27.360 --> 00:06:29.779 when this talk was shared, was look unto Christ. 00:06:29.860 --> 00:06:35.139 Now it's walk with me. I love that. So they all 00:06:35.139 --> 00:06:38.519 rip. And so both things both fill in this category. 00:06:38.680 --> 00:06:41.300 They all encourage individuals to rely on the 00:06:41.300 --> 00:06:44.019 savior in every decision without doubt or fear 00:06:44.019 --> 00:06:48.279 for the, for the strength of youth. It's the 00:06:48.279 --> 00:06:50.560 way that God can teach commandments and standards 00:06:50.560 --> 00:06:52.399 and reminding youth and adults to honor their 00:06:52.399 --> 00:06:54.500 bodies as secret gifts from God and emphasizes 00:06:54.500 --> 00:06:57.040 respecting one's own body and others, making 00:06:57.040 --> 00:06:59.040 modest and thoughtful choices about appearance 00:06:59.040 --> 00:07:02.079 and keeping sexual feelings and behavior sacred 00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:04.199 within marriage between a man and a woman. But 00:07:04.199 --> 00:07:07.540 overall, the theme here is that it's a way to 00:07:07.540 --> 00:07:09.439 help individuals look to the Lord for direction 00:07:09.439 --> 00:07:12.319 and make choices to reflect reverence, self -respect, 00:07:12.439 --> 00:07:14.480 and discipleship. Kind of a little piece from 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:18.139 our little church lesson today. God doesn't want 00:07:18.139 --> 00:07:20.620 us to choose the right, He wants us to want to 00:07:20.620 --> 00:07:24.000 choose the right. And I think the revamping of 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:32.800 the youth book, The Strength of Youth, really 00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:37.040 makes the point that there are standards. these 00:07:37.040 --> 00:07:40.160 standards will bless you. They will help you 00:07:40.160 --> 00:07:43.019 to know me more, help you to become like me, 00:07:43.019 --> 00:07:45.399 and I'll be with you every step of that walk 00:07:45.399 --> 00:07:49.180 if you want to walk with me. So good. I agree. 00:07:49.300 --> 00:07:51.100 And I love that he went over it. He was very 00:07:51.100 --> 00:07:53.199 clear and concise in that. Remember that in the 00:07:53.199 --> 00:07:55.439 Book of Mormon promise, the opposite of prosperity 00:07:55.439 --> 00:07:58.139 was not poverty. So again, we're tying this ... 00:07:58.139 --> 00:08:00.660 Rehitting that point. Yes, yes. It was being 00:08:00.660 --> 00:08:03.800 cut off from the presence of the Lord. So again. 00:08:04.160 --> 00:08:06.480 The opposite is being cut off from the presence 00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:09.019 of the Lord. His presence refers to the influence 00:08:09.019 --> 00:08:11.779 of his spirit in one's life. All are imbued with 00:08:11.779 --> 00:08:13.579 the light of Christ as they come into the world. 00:08:13.819 --> 00:08:15.959 In addition, some act to be baptized and receive 00:08:15.959 --> 00:08:18.800 the gift and added light of the Holy Ghost. He 00:08:18.800 --> 00:08:21.060 brings inspiration and guidance and enhances 00:08:21.060 --> 00:08:24.240 and refines ones. Native gifts and abilities. 00:08:24.379 --> 00:08:27.300 Isn't that so amazing? I love that. So, our God 00:08:27.300 --> 00:08:29.920 -given gifts, He enhances and refines those. 00:08:29.959 --> 00:08:32.460 Love that. And helps to avoid evil influences, 00:08:32.740 --> 00:08:35.580 poor decisions, and dead ends. That sounds like 00:08:35.580 --> 00:08:40.480 a gift that all of us need in our lives. So grateful. 00:08:40.519 --> 00:08:43.519 He goes into this next part, and rather than 00:08:43.519 --> 00:08:45.419 sharing the example He gave, I'm just going to 00:08:45.419 --> 00:08:48.000 pose it as a question. Have you known someone 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:50.299 who once enjoyed the gift of the Holy Ghost, 00:08:50.620 --> 00:08:52.080 but through failure to keep the commandments 00:08:52.080 --> 00:08:56.240 of God, have lost that blessing? Maybe this person 00:08:56.240 --> 00:08:59.679 you're thinking of is you. One of my favorite 00:08:59.679 --> 00:09:03.080 podcasts right now is the Comeback Podcast, and 00:09:03.080 --> 00:09:05.740 on it is where people share their unique experiences, 00:09:05.899 --> 00:09:07.519 where they've turned away from the things that 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:10.259 they once knew to be true, and then they've had 00:09:10.259 --> 00:09:14.720 their journey back. And I would say never, is 00:09:14.720 --> 00:09:17.490 it? easy. Their path back is never easy, and 00:09:17.490 --> 00:09:21.870 they certainly encounter challenges, but what 00:09:21.870 --> 00:09:24.450 a blessing to be able to hear from their mouths 00:09:24.450 --> 00:09:29.389 what it looks like, not contradiction, like the 00:09:29.389 --> 00:09:31.350 difference in their life when they've had the 00:09:31.350 --> 00:09:33.850 church, they've lost it, and they've come back 00:09:33.850 --> 00:09:37.450 to it. They come back ready to testify and stand 00:09:37.450 --> 00:09:44.409 up for everything. And so I never want to... 00:09:44.429 --> 00:09:46.509 I don't want to turn away from the gospel of 00:09:46.509 --> 00:09:51.990 Jesus Christ, but I'm blessed by seeing through 00:09:51.990 --> 00:09:53.909 their experience, especially as they're willing 00:09:53.909 --> 00:09:58.470 to share. It just kind of helps me confirm like, 00:09:58.730 --> 00:10:00.809 yeah, I'm staying in because of the joy that 00:10:00.809 --> 00:10:03.110 I feel from it, and I'm too scared to test those 00:10:03.110 --> 00:10:04.809 waters and be out. I'm just going to go with 00:10:04.809 --> 00:10:08.049 testing the Lord on staying in, but I appreciate 00:10:08.049 --> 00:10:12.409 their willingness to share that. Light that they've 00:10:12.409 --> 00:10:15.929 regained. Yeah. So check that podcast out. There 00:10:15.929 --> 00:10:18.190 seems to be no end to the different sources that 00:10:18.190 --> 00:10:20.330 people look to for meaning, happiness, and help. 00:10:20.409 --> 00:10:22.529 I love that part when he said that. Most are 00:10:22.529 --> 00:10:25.950 looking beyond the mark, but we need not be children 00:10:25.950 --> 00:10:27.909 tossed to and fro and carried about with every 00:10:27.909 --> 00:10:30.409 wind of doctrine or fashion. In looking to God, 00:10:30.409 --> 00:10:32.769 we can find peace and difficulty, and our faith 00:10:32.769 --> 00:10:35.350 can continue to grow even in times of doubt and 00:10:35.350 --> 00:10:37.590 spiritual challenge. We can receive strength 00:10:37.590 --> 00:10:40.580 in the faith's the face of opposition and isolation, 00:10:40.960 --> 00:10:45.080 we can reconcile the ideal with the present reality. 00:10:45.200 --> 00:10:47.899 I really liked that part when he said that because 00:10:47.899 --> 00:10:51.480 truly, I don't know many people right now who 00:10:51.480 --> 00:10:53.399 are living the ideal. You know what I mean? Present 00:10:53.399 --> 00:10:55.279 reality, you always have to reconcile both of 00:10:55.279 --> 00:10:58.379 those because... And we've also been taught we 00:10:58.379 --> 00:11:00.799 just have to be trying to shoot for what is the 00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:02.519 ideal. If we're thinking celestial and we're 00:11:02.519 --> 00:11:04.360 trying to live celestial, even if we're coming 00:11:04.360 --> 00:11:06.860 in under the mark, which we are undoubtedly all 00:11:06.860 --> 00:11:09.720 coming under the mark. Yeah, everything is kind 00:11:09.720 --> 00:11:12.679 of under the mark. This part of the talk makes 00:11:12.679 --> 00:11:16.480 me think, that's okay. We can be okay with hitting 00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:19.559 under the mark as long as our eyes were on the 00:11:19.559 --> 00:11:21.879 target that Jesus Christ is. And the same thing 00:11:21.879 --> 00:11:24.000 too, like, you know, maybe right now I have not 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:25.860 achieved and I'm not living in everything that 00:11:25.860 --> 00:11:29.070 I aspire to. However, in everything I have right 00:11:29.070 --> 00:11:31.490 now, I am giving gratitude and thanks to God 00:11:31.490 --> 00:11:33.350 for everything that I've achieved, everything 00:11:33.350 --> 00:11:35.570 that he's helped me with and every step that 00:11:35.570 --> 00:11:38.590 he's helped me overcome. So I think it's the 00:11:38.590 --> 00:11:40.870 realizing that yeah, it's not perfect. However, 00:11:40.970 --> 00:11:43.090 I'm grateful for all of it and just the fact 00:11:43.090 --> 00:11:45.669 that Christ has walked with me even when times 00:11:45.669 --> 00:11:51.500 are challenging. So it says, In looking to God, 00:11:51.639 --> 00:11:53.740 we can find peace and difficulty in our faith 00:11:53.740 --> 00:11:55.679 and continue to grow even in times of doubt and 00:11:55.679 --> 00:11:58.059 spiritual challenge. We can reconcile the ideal 00:11:58.059 --> 00:12:00.159 with the present reality, right? Truly there 00:12:00.159 --> 00:12:04.259 is no other way than what God himself has ordained. 00:12:04.500 --> 00:12:07.080 Look unto me and be saved all the ends of the 00:12:07.080 --> 00:12:09.740 earth for I am God and there is none else. Looking 00:12:09.740 --> 00:12:12.580 to God means that he is not just one of our priorities. 00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:16.600 It means rather that he is our one highest priority. 00:12:17.680 --> 00:12:21.080 Yeah, Amy mentioned that we have some challenging 00:12:21.080 --> 00:12:23.019 things happening in our little valley right now. 00:12:23.080 --> 00:12:26.440 Our stake president and his wife just lost their 00:12:26.440 --> 00:12:28.360 son to a battle of cancer for the last year, 00:12:28.360 --> 00:12:30.460 and then we had an incident of domestic violence, 00:12:30.600 --> 00:12:34.740 which led to a murder -suicide. And that's dark. 00:12:34.799 --> 00:12:38.559 It's very heavy. But in both of these instances, 00:12:38.860 --> 00:12:42.059 the people that are closest, most affected by 00:12:42.059 --> 00:12:45.960 it, are demonstrating what it looks to turn to 00:12:45.960 --> 00:12:48.049 God in these times. You know, would you rather 00:12:48.049 --> 00:12:50.929 have your your son living and at the table, you 00:12:50.929 --> 00:12:53.929 know and joined in that way? Absolutely, but 00:12:53.929 --> 00:12:57.090 you can tell that their knowledge Of the plan 00:12:57.090 --> 00:13:01.110 and the plan being perfect has given them like 00:13:01.110 --> 00:13:04.799 undeniable strength And I'm like, yeah, you can 00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:06.899 cry. You don't have to be like everybody's strength. 00:13:07.320 --> 00:13:11.120 But what a testament it is to what it does look 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:14.019 like to look to God and live. I mean, otherwise, 00:13:14.179 --> 00:13:15.899 I think you'd just be like crumpled in a heap 00:13:15.899 --> 00:13:17.820 and you just wouldn't want to even like progress 00:13:17.820 --> 00:13:21.399 another day because the sadness would be so overwhelming. 00:13:22.259 --> 00:13:24.940 And there may be moments or days of that. However, 00:13:25.220 --> 00:13:27.000 there's... And they deserve to feel whatever 00:13:27.000 --> 00:13:30.409 emotion that they want to. But, you know, in 00:13:30.409 --> 00:13:32.250 going over and talking with these friends, I 00:13:32.250 --> 00:13:35.190 went to a candlelight visual for the one incident 00:13:35.190 --> 00:13:37.710 and then took a meal in yesterday to the others. 00:13:37.909 --> 00:13:40.750 And I'm just like buoyed up by, because I'm not 00:13:40.750 --> 00:13:42.490 going through the hard thing that they are, but 00:13:42.490 --> 00:13:45.830 just witnessing it from the outside. And, you 00:13:45.830 --> 00:13:47.549 know, this talks on my mind, obviously, and I'm 00:13:47.549 --> 00:13:50.450 preparing it. I'm like, what a testament to the 00:13:50.450 --> 00:13:53.990 fact that nothing's going to change the outcome 00:13:53.990 --> 00:13:56.649 of, you know, what these challenges of mortality 00:13:56.649 --> 00:14:00.289 have brought, but you can see what a difference 00:14:00.289 --> 00:14:03.250 this eternal perspective is, the sight on God, 00:14:03.450 --> 00:14:05.929 the sight on bigger and better things to come, 00:14:07.649 --> 00:14:10.990 is exactly how I would want to react if I was 00:14:10.990 --> 00:14:13.830 in their same situation. You know, maybe I have 00:14:13.830 --> 00:14:15.330 been in the same situation, different time of 00:14:15.330 --> 00:14:18.700 my life, but ... Similar let's just say similar 00:14:18.700 --> 00:14:21.799 I I've had to turn things over to God that I 00:14:21.799 --> 00:14:24.179 couldn't handle on my own And I'm certainly happy 00:14:24.179 --> 00:14:26.740 that I did have him in my corner and with me 00:14:26.740 --> 00:14:28.559 in that path and in that journey in that walk 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:31.740 Do I expect that there'll be times in my life 00:14:31.740 --> 00:14:33.460 that I've heart in my heart and have thought 00:14:33.460 --> 00:14:35.480 well There's other ways around this I'll look 00:14:35.480 --> 00:14:38.120 for every other possible solution trying to do 00:14:38.120 --> 00:14:41.240 it on my own Or just turning to the wrong source 00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:44.320 of peace for a time undoubtedly that's gonna 00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:49.320 happen but I do recognize that that will only 00:14:49.320 --> 00:14:53.279 lead me to, if I eventually find, and I'll think, 00:14:53.299 --> 00:14:55.679 I wish I would have done it sooner, just turn 00:14:55.679 --> 00:15:00.519 to Him. But I'll close with this suggestion. 00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:03.000 It suggests that the Israelites had to look to 00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:05.100 the raised serpent. We must look to Christ in 00:15:05.100 --> 00:15:07.299 faith to receive spiritual life. Look and live 00:15:07.299 --> 00:15:09.399 teaches that deliverance comes by turning your 00:15:09.399 --> 00:15:11.700 eyes to God, especially when we're wounded or 00:15:11.700 --> 00:15:13.899 struggling. The path to healing is often simpler 00:15:13.899 --> 00:15:16.659 than we expect. But it requires humility. Christ 00:15:16.659 --> 00:15:18.759 is always accessible. We don't have to do everything. 00:15:18.919 --> 00:15:21.740 We just have to look to Him. And then I'll close 00:15:21.740 --> 00:15:24.120 with His testimony. He said, I bear testimony 00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:26.679 of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost who is in 00:15:26.679 --> 00:15:29.100 perfect unity of word, thought, purpose, and 00:15:29.100 --> 00:15:50.399 action. Amen. Thanks for being with us this week.