Sunday, August 2, 2015

D Todd Christofferson on peace in the Gospel

Elder D. Todd Christofferson (1945- ) was called to the Seventy in 1993, and as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2008.
"Our yielding to God and his right to rule and reign over us brings other blessings. Among the foremost are the faith and confidence that permit us to live with peace....
"Joseph Smith understood this when he said, 'Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed' (D&C 123:17). The promise to those who submit to God is that His arm, His power, will be revealed in their lives. Jesus said:
"'Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me;
"'And none of them that my Father hath given me shall be lost.' [D&C 50:41-42]
"To live with this assurance is a blessing perhaps greater than you can today appreciate. Most of you have not yet lived long enough to know how precious peace is. Others, despite your youth, may have experienced feelings of desperation. But all of us, soon or late, in a moment of looming disaster or wearying confusion, having chosen God as our guide, will be able to sing with conviction, 'Sweet is the peace the gospel brings' (Hymns, 1985, no. 14)."
- D. Todd Christofferson, "Allegiance to God," BYU Devotional, October 19, 1999
Click here to read the full article

The concept of "yielding" ourselves to God is a powerful one. Elder Christofferson says that when we are willing to acknowledge "his right to rule and reign over us," powerful blessings follow. I've always loved this counsel from Joseph Smith, given to the saints while he was in Liberty Jail:


So as we "cheerfully" submit to Him and strive to follow as perfectly as we can, we can wait "with the utmost assurance" for the arm of God to be revealed on our behalf, and for the salvation that will follow.

Elder Christofferson testifies of the sweet peace that comes from living the Gospel with all our hearts, particularly in times of "looming disaster or wearying confusion."  That peace is a sacred gift to be claimed!

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