Jeffrey R. Holland on finding peace and refuge in Christ

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (b. 1940) served as Church Commissioner of Education from 1976-1980, as the president of BYU from 1980-1989, as a Seventy from 1989-1994, and as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles since 1994.

"My desire for you is to have more straightforward experience with the Savior’s life and teachings. Perhaps sometimes we come to Christ too obliquely, focusing on structure or methods or elements of Church administration. Those are important and, like the tithes of mint and anise and cummin Christ spoke of (see Matt. 23:23), should be observed—but not without attention to the weightier matters of the kingdom, first and foremost of which is a personal spiritual relationship with Deity, including the Savior, whose kingdom this is....

"This reliance upon the forgiving, long-suffering, merciful nature of God was taught from before the very foundation of the world. It was always to give us hope and help, a reason to progress and improve, an incentive to lay down our burdens and take up our salvation. May I be bold enough to suggest that it is impossible for anyone who really knows God to doubt his willingness to receive us with open arms in a divine embrace if we will but 'come unto him.' There certainly can and will be plenty of external difficulties in life; nevertheless, the soul that comes unto Christ dwells within a personal fortress, a veritable palace of perfect peace. 'Whoso hearkeneth unto me,' Jehovah says, 'shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil' (Prov. 1:33)."

- Jeffrey R. Holland, "Come unto Me," CES fireside given on 2 March 1997 at BYU; see Ensign, Apr. 1998, p. 19
Click here to read the full talk

Elder Holland often speaks with such warmth and gentleness; but this fireside address to young adults was particularly personal and tender but yet deeply thought-provoking. He talks about the invitation to come to Christ, the obstacles that prevent us from doing that, and then the blessings that come as we make the right efforts.

This phrase was inspiring to me: we need to "have more straightforward experience with the Savior's life and teachings." It is profitable to ponder how to do that in our personal lives.

The beautiful promises of refuge, safety, and peace offered by the Savior and re-emphasized by Elder Holland should echo in our hearts. We can have "a personal fortress, a veritable palace of perfect peace" in spite of all the difficulties we will certainly encounter in life, if we only learn to come to Christ.