Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin on planting seeds of strength and faith

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (1917-2008) served as a Seventy from 1976 to 1986, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles from 1986 until his passing in 2008 at age 91.

"Our challenges today are different from those of our ancestors. Many of them lived lives of poverty and hardship; some among us, however, are affluent and complacent. Wealth, abundance, and easy living do not help us develop the ability to flourish when faced with the rigors and reversals of life. Rather than seeking ease, we must plant, cultivate, and nourish within ourselves the seeds that will enable us to withstand the winds and heat of temptation, sin, and evil and that will help us live successful, happy, and pure lives. Let us consider a few such seeds.

"First, we should plant and nurture the seed of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer....

"Next, let us nurture the seed of faith which gives us the courage to follow the prophets....

"Next, we should sow within our hearts the seed of charity, the pure love of Christ....

"Next, I believe we must constantly nourish the seeds of love, harmony, and unity in our homes and families....

"Parents should plant deeply the seed of the work ethic into the hearts and habits of their children....

"I bear my testimony that we can plant in our hearts and minds the seeds I have mentioned, and others. If we will plant them and nurture them, we can be true, faithful, and happy regardless of adversity and the buffetings of Satan."

- Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Seeds of Renewal," Ensign, May 1989, pp. 7-10
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So many of us live in conditions of relative affluence; many don't even realize how much higher their standard of living is than the vast majority of the world. While providing many blessings and opportunities, that prosperity also brings a set of challenges that are also sometimes not recognized, including not learning skills and abilities that help us confront more difficult times:

Elder Wirthlin's main message was to "plant seeds of faith" in our lives through our actions and decisions that will enable our faith to grow strong as it is nurtured and watched over. Some of those items, explained in further detail in the full talk, are:

• Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
• Courage to follow the prophets
• Charity
• Love and harmony in the home and family
• Work ethic

When these seeds are planted and nourished into a vibrant, living faith, Elder Wirthlin promises "we can be true, faithful, and happy regardless of adversity and the buffetings of Satan."