Monday, August 28, 2017

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland on blessings for faithfulness

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (born December 3, 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.
"I testify that God lives, that He is our Eternal Father, that He loves each of us with a love divine. I testify that Jesus Christ is His Only Begotten Son in the flesh and, having triumphed in this world, is an heir of eternity, a joint-heir with God, and now stands on the right hand of His Father. I testify that this is Their true Church and that They sustain us in our hour of need—and always will, even if we cannot recognize that intervention. Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come. Of that I personally attest. I thank my Father in Heaven for His goodness past, present, and future."
- Jeffrey R. Holland, "An High Priest of Good Things to Come," General Conference October 1999; see Ensign, Nov 1999, p. 36
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

This October 1999 conference address by Elder Holland is a very memorable one, during which he discussed challenges faced by many people in different situations of life—challenges that can bring discouragement, loneliness, and hopelessness. In the midst of those realities of our mortality, Elder Holland testifies, borrowing a phrase from the writings of Paul, of the influence of the "high priest of good things to come" (Heb. 8:6) who can help restore our faith and hope as we open our hearts to Him.

The excerpt included comes at the conclusion of the talk, as Elder Holland testifies of the reality of the Savior's promises to us. It includes this wonderful testimony:


Perhaps one of the great challenges of life is to learn to have the faith and trust to wait until the time is right for the blessings to come—even if that time is after this life. A true disciple doesn't depend on the blessings for his faith.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)

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