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 Abby and Amy. Let's
jump into it. Today we are discussing Proved
and Strengthened in Christ. This is by Elder
Henry B. Eyring of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Love this talk so much. And just an update. This
is interesting because he was Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles here because by virtue of the Prophet's
death, it was just like wherever your place is
in the Quorum. That's true. First presidency.
Yeah, now of the first presidency. Again. So
there was such a depth to the words spoken by
President Eyring as he concluded this Sunday
morning session of general conference. After
reviewing this talk multiple times and allowing
a flood of thoughts to enter my mind and just
reflect on my own life and how it's been filled
with opportunities to be proved and be strengthened,
this quote from his opening became even more
sweet. I pray that the Spirit will carry into
your hearts what the Lord would have you hear,
far beyond the words which I shall speak. It
has helped me already and my kids like things
have happened I'm like, oh I know the talk that
I can share like right now for each one of them
So I feel like we've all had just in the past
month since this has happened a proving experience
Right because I think our natural man inclination
when things go wrong We sit and think what have
I been doing wrong that these things are coming
my way But the way he articulates this and the
way the spirit spoke to me was to reflect I'm
going to just be honest more more briefly at
highlights of my life that were my darkest times
that I came out of and I know I recognize I'm
a different person because of those experiences.
I don't think the happy moments are always the
reflection of how much God loves us. No. That's
terrible to say but there's so many happy moments
intermixed even in the hardest times. But I like
the person that I become on the other side of
hard times. I was trying to find this quote in
preparation for this talk, but so I don't have
the exact words, but it's one of my favorites
and essentially says, anytime I've asked a person
to tell me about when they found their testimony,
it was rarely do they discuss a happy time. It's
during the dark and trying times you come out
the other side. And when you turn to the Lord,
that is when, you know, that's when you've really
been And you see how He steps up for you. Absolutely.
The people, the experience, the moments that
He stepped in to help us in the hardest of times.
I'm really glad you shared that. I feel exactly
the same way when I reviewed this talk and when
I re -reviewed this talk. And throughout this
talk, He gives us examples, well, He gives us
opportunities to see different examples from
scripture and modern day. And then I sat with
my feelings that, you know, kind of flooded my
memory. just for a brief moment, reflected on
my own life. And I'm talking like long moments,
months, years, not just like an experience. I'm
thinking I kind of saw a surface, surface memory
of, you know, 16 year. Cool. Miracle trials,
but miracles. I'm sure that I mean, not to speak
for you, but when you listen to this talk, do
you think about your health journey over the
last couple of years? You've had multiple things,
but like the most recent one kind of just see
where you're at versus maybe a year and a half
ago where things were. It's funny you're saying
that about time too, because I also saw a quote
that said, this is by Henry David Thoreau, the
price of anything is the amount of life you have
traded for that, which that just tells me things
don't happen overnight, Amy. And the bigger lessons,
it's not crazy to think that some of these lessons
are going to span over decades. Yeah, so you're
16 years that you're talking about. I'm like,
wow, that's something that you were taught over
that amount of time and that's amazing. Well,
and it's beautiful knowing that we have time
to do things because if I think of the lessons
that I've learned in that time span, like what
if I'd had to learn it in a day? wouldn't be
so impactful. No, that's cramming. And might
have killed me, you know, like the harder things
and then mixed in with a little bit of, you know,
just daily life and joy and then another hard
thing. And then you kind of come up off of that
and you look back and you're like, okay, he gave
it to me. And I had, I had these experiences
in bite -sized enough doses that I'm not dead.
I'm not dead. I thought of people close to me
and the things that they've endured and have
changed. those very people into who they are
now. Those experiences have proved and strengthened
them. They are an example to me of exactly how
this process works. Absolutely. President Eyring
described feeling overwhelmed and discouraged
while he was studying physics and mathematics,
and I felt his pain on that. And then knowing
who he is, I'm like, oh my gosh, he's sharing
a point of vulnerability. He was believing that
these subjects were beyond his ability and considering
quitting. In his weakness, he prayed, felt a
quiet assurance and comfort from the Lord. He
said, I felt him say to me and to my mind, I
am proving you, but I am also with you." Oh,
I love those words so much. Though it was hard
to know that those words, what they completely
meant in that moment, the message he understood
was get to work. And again, not a blip in time.
This was his entire education. It was fairly
early on. So we know that this is going to last
over a period of years. There's a building named
after him for heaven's sake. Reflecting back,
he's able to see how that very struggle with
physics was actually a gift from the Lord. In
the test, Elder Eyring learned that alone, he
was not capable of the challenges of his education,
but with the help of the Lord, he was successful.
New theme for 2025 was, I can do all things through
Christ who has strengthened me. And he shares
that. in this powerful talk, because it is a
lesson to all of us. Well, it can be a lesson
to all of us. It's one that he learned all those
years ago. There'll be things that we face in
life that are challenging and well above our
own abilities. And I think that it's very cool
when we recognize those things that are beyond
us, above us, not to our capacity. When we recognize
those, we verbalize like, this is not something
that I can do. But then we get to work and we
act in faith. We become entitled to this heavenly
help as we're setting about, as we're trying.
He is right there with us. I totally, totally
agree with Abby. Thank you. This process works
best when facing things, like you said, that
seem to our current mind and our understanding.
They seem impossible. Let's look at the different
meanings of the word prove. Oh my gosh, I love
when he went into this so much. So to prove something
is not simply to test it. To prove is to strengthen.
And then he talks about steel. To prove a piece
of steel is to place it under strain. Heat, weight,
and pressure are added until its true nature
is enhanced and revealed. And this is my favorite
part. Through this process, steel is not weakened.
In fact, it becomes something that can be trusted.
When I heard the word trusted, I just felt kind
of electric through my whole body. And I was
like, of course, that's what the Lord is doing.
He wants us to be trusted in all things that
we will choose him, right? So that it can be
trusted and something strong enough to bear greater
burdens. We've said this before, we've felt this
before. Every challenge, every struggle and trial
that we go through, it is preparatory. Sometimes
it's hard to think of that in the moment because
you're like, no, I'm at capacity. There is no
more. And then you look back and you're like,
wow, I've grown so much. That one thing was crumbling
me then. Now I could do 10 of those things because
I am strengthened. I can be trusted. I can bear
greater burdens because of God. Yep. All right.
Not even going to add any words to that. I 100
% agree. I'm seeing my life flash before me.
I'm thinking of people that have gone through
their trials and I think that would have broken
me. Well, it didn't break them because they had
things in their life that were preparatory that
let them prepare for this next bigger thing.
And again, they were able to just definitely
endure with the help of God. Just like steel
needs heat, weight, and pressure, the Lord Proves
us much the same way to strengthen us as you
can imagine Proving does not come in moments
of ease and comfort Unfortunately, it comes in
moments when we feel stretched beyond what we
thought we could bear because he Promises to
be with us and support us in those difficult
moments if we're to grow in the process We must
continue the course and never give up. Mm -hmm
It is in this sense or in these moments when
our efforts have hit their absolute maximum,
when things might feel impossible, and if we
just have faith in Jesus Christ, or hold onto
that, what is it, my thoughts held, gosh, Alma
says something like, my thoughts went out to
that one Jesus, and I just love that. When he
thinks of him and holds onto his words, it is
in these moments that we become spiritually stronger.
Let's look to examples in the scriptures that
have emphasized this truth. So we're going to
talk about Moroni. He endured extreme loneliness,
loss, and persecution, yet he did not despair.
Every time I come to this part of the Book of
Mormon, my heart goes out to him and I say like
a special prayer. I say, Heavenly Father, thank
you for Moroni. Thank you for giving him the
strength and the courage to do what he did because
that is a holy thing and I do not know anything
about it. So lonely. Right? of giving into despair,
he faithfully recorded his testimony of Jesus
Christ for future generations, for us. Even knowing
that some would reject, some would mock his words,
through his trials, his faith was refined and
strengthened. And his testimony now powerfully
invites, I would say it lives, it's a living
testimony now, and it invites all people to seek
truth through sincere prayer and through the
Holy Ghost. How many of us? have been blessed
by the work that has been done by the hands of
that man with the help of the Lord. Fabulous.
Something you said, you said how in these moments
we become spiritually stronger. I love that because
I was thinking my physical body, I know the abilities
of my physical body, what I can endure. I don't
think those often pair with the challenges that
I'm gonna face, but when you said that, that
spiritually you can be, like almost become stronger
in a moment of time, in a blip, where it's more
finite material. And like, if I just say, I don't
know how I'm gonna get through this, but my spirit's
saying, we're gonna do this, I'm gonna pair with
you, we're gonna do this thing together. Somehow
he helped my physical body catch up. to those
things that my spirit's like ready to fight the
fight for. So good. So I love that. Jacob experienced
sorrow and affliction from a young age. Another
scripture example of this proving and strengthening.
So his father, Lehi, taught him that God would
consecrate those trials for his benefit. So through
knowing God's greatness and trusting in the Redeemer,
Jacob was strengthened, blessed, and devoted
his life to serving God with the assurance of
redemption. Didn't take the hard things away
by trusting in God, it allowed him to do those
hard things with God. Exactly, which is exactly
what he said at the beginning. I am proving you.
But I am also with you. So sweet. Prophet Joseph
Smith is also an example of being proved and
strengthened, specifically when he was in Liberty
Jail. One thing in this talk that I did agree
that Liberty Jail was probably the especially
difficult moment in his time, but I sat for a
moment and I thought about the endless trials
Joseph faced every step of the way. All of it
was a refining process as a means of restoring
the gospel of Jesus Christ. it was done through
so much proving and strengthening. But Liberty
Jail, I think we all can agree was like part
of the depths of his anguish can be seen there
in Liberty Jail. The Prophet Joseph cried out,
Oh God, where art thou? How long shall thy hand
be stayed? The Lord saw in Joseph's suffering
the sanctifying effect of his enduring it well
when he replied this, My son, Peace be unto thy
soul. Thine adversity and thine afflictions shall
be but a small moment. And then, if thou endure
it well, God shall exalt thee on high. Thou shalt
triumph over all thy foes." Such comforting words.
I love it too, because as the Spirit brought
this message to his heart, I believe also he
said it quite a few times, I have been called
to walk through. deep waters, you know? I think
he just understood that was part of it. Like
you said, it wasn't just Liberty Jail. It was
his whole life, right? Now, speaking about someone
who faced endless trials in this life, we can
look to our one and only Savior and the example
of His life leading right up to the Savior's
Atonement. He took upon Him the sins of the world.
He bore our pains and our sorrows. He drank the
bitter cup. He proved faithful in every moment.
And it was in this very act. of the glorious
Atonement, that he understands perfectly how
we feel in our own trials and why he wants to
support us in every way and how he can succor
us. It's because he felt all the challenges,
all the pain, everything that we will ever feel
in mortality. He will take upon him the pains
and the sicknesses of his people that he may
know how. or that he may know according to the
flesh how to succor his people according to their
infirmities. He did that. He knows how to help
because he's felt every single pain. We know
that the Savior reached the end of what he thought
was his own breaking point when he asked his
Father to remove this cup. But Father acknowledged
that this trial could not just pass over him.
First of all, He had promised to do this and
that's the reason I'm here today. It's because
I believed Him, right? So we were all counting
on Him. The Father was counting on Him. It was
the Father's will to have this trial go through
for the Savior. We get to see the Savior's experience
when He had His own doubt and uncertainty and
ultimately His own faith in Heavenly Father as
He continued on. even when he thought he was
at his breaking point. I'm so grateful that he
went on and that he did that, because that's
changed my life and every person I know, whether
they know it or not, it's changed their life
too. Our proving might not look like Moroni,
Jacob, Joseph, but when we look back on our own
lives, can we see moments that have been used
to prove and strengthen us? Has your family life
created challenges? Have you experienced illness,
disappointment, grief, or loneliness? Satan would
have you believe that these difficult things
in our lives are evidence that God is punishing
or abandoning us. President Eyring bore testimony
that this is not the case. It is trials that
are evidence that God loves us enough to refine
and strengthen and prove us. He is making us
strong enough to carry the weight of eternal
life. When I heard that phrase, I was just like...
My head's tingling right now. I know! I was like,
thank... Thank you. I want to carry that weight.
It doesn't feel like it every day when stuff
happens, but when I look at that as my goal and
why we're doing this, the weight of eternal life.
Wow. That seems like a minor price to pay for
the greatness of that promise. And then my next
question is, wow, what kind of weight is eternal
life? Like, I just, I don't know, it opened a
lot of questions. I felt it when he said it.
I asked a question with the passing of a French
child, and he's a friend also. I was just like,
I know I can't know the secrets of what... is
to come in this life, but I said, can you give
me some, can you give me, offer me peace about,
you know, what is to come? Because I have an
anxious personality. I like to know things. And
sometimes I let this like unknowns just be like,
create fear in my life. And I'm like, I'm working
towards these things in this life, knowing that
it's leading to, you know, the promise of an
eternal life. I'm like, do I want that thing?
Like, what is it? What does it look like? What
am I going to be busy doing? And I know that
I can't have specific details, but I asked it
in a very much, my soul was kind of just in turmoil
and I was just feeling just like sick about the
passing of this sweet boy. And I just said, help
me fill, help me fill the emotions that I'll
fill. Like does that make sense? Yeah, can you
can you tell what I'm asking? I can yeah I don't
need to see the whole picture because I don't
like life looks like that I'm like Like give
me the emotion that I'm gonna fill in that next
phase of my life. I felt the sweetest Like it
like it was like a more of a distilled feeling
not me. I just I just felt so peaceful It's so
grateful for what is to come even amidst having
so I don't know what that looks like. Yes I don't
know what it looks like. I know what it feels
like he asked for him to let me feel how I'm
going to feel about that Yeah, I just love that.
I know it was it was great. I that was an inspired
question I feel like the spirit inspired you.
I was thinking for a while on how to ask that
question, because I'm like, I know that you can't
show me exactly how it's going to look like.
I know people have had near -death experiences
or, you know, they've had like a foot on the
other side of the veil. We know President Holland.
He floated somewhere between the two worlds.
I get that people can see that. I wasn't looking
for that. I wasn't looking for an experience
where I'd be like, oh, I've seen it. It's going
to be awesome. When I see, have a beautiful moment,
I see a beautiful thing, I, the spirit pricks
me to say like, this is heaven to me. And so
I'm like, kind of cataloging that like, that's
what heaven looks like to me. I know that can
be unique to different people, but I wanted to
know the feeling that I would feel. I felt good
about it. I didn't feel bad for crying for, you
know, the way that my... you know, Earth side
body is experiencing the pain of loss and just
some tragic things that happened over the last
couple of weeks. There's nothing wrong with tears.
It is a way to process emotions. But it was very
cool to have just that a moment. Yeah, I especially
like the contrast of you feeling the depth of
sorrow and then boom. All of this will be made
right. You're just going to feel it was pretty
immediate. I love it. Anything else? No, I pretty
much have shared my testimony about all of this
and I just am so grateful for the Lord. I'm grateful
for His perfect understanding that He is teaching
us in small and simple ways and that over time,
we are going to be able to, over time as we turn
to Him, we're going to be able to carry the weight
of eternal life. Love that. Yeah. This talk,
President Eyring, I felt like he's always been
a soft person, but something kind of feels like
it shifted a few years back. And he's so tender.
He's so close to the spirit. And they don't set
themselves up to be like, look at me. I'm so
awesome. Like, look. look what the Lord's made
of me, but I can choose to look at his life and
the words that he's speaking. And I, for myself,
have seen, I don't know all the intimate details
of his life, but you know, they share pieces
of themselves here and there. And to the knowledge
that I have of him, I look at him and I just
think that is, his body is He sat for this talk.
His body is weakening on him, but his spirit
is large. His stature is huge. The spirit that
fills him, the words that come out of his mouth,
I think he's the perfect example of what proving
and being proved and strengthened in the Lord
looks like. And so I love that this talk came
from him, came through the spirit, through his
mouth. I agree. I think it made a difference.
to hear it from Him. I'll close if you think
you've shared everything. Go for it. If we remain
faithful in our service, the Lord will refine
us. These are His words. He will strengthen us
and one day we will look back and see that those
very trials were evidence of His love. We will
see that He was shaping us to be able to stand
with Him in glory. And as the Lord's apostle
Paul stated at the end of his own life, I have
fought a good fight. I have finished my course.
I have kept the faith. He said, I testify that
God knows you. He knows the trials you face.
He is with you. He will not forsake you. I testify
that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is our
strength, our Redeemer, our hope. If we trust
Him, He will make our spiritual power equal to
every trial we are called to bear. And this He
testified in the sacred name of Jesus Christ.
Amen. Amen. Thank you, Abby. Let God be with
you in your trials today and forever. Amen to
that. And we'll catch you on your next, the next
one. We'll see you next time. That was good.