President M. Russell Ballard (born October 8, 1928) was called as a Seventy in 1976, and has served as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles since 1985. He became acting president of the Twelve in January 2018.
"The spiritual divide gets even wider as evil becomes ever more deceptive and subtle and pulls people toward it like a dark magnet—even as the gospel of truth and light attracts the honest in heart and the honorable of the earth, who seek what is moral and good.
"We may be relatively small in number, but as members of this Church we can reach across these widening gaps. We know the power of Christ-centered service that brings together God’s children regardless of their spiritual or their economic status....
"The Church is a mooring in this tempestuous sea, an anchor in the churning waters of change and division, and a beacon to those who value and seek righteousness. The Lord uses this Church as a tool in pulling His children throughout the world toward the protection of His gospel."
- M. Russell Ballard, "That the Lost May Be Found," General Conference April 2012
Click here to read or listen to the full talk
There is a great "spiritual divide" in the world, and President Ballard discusses aspects of that separation in his talk. Evil grows stronger in our time, but so does righteousness. I thought the description of evil as a "dark magnet" was appropriate; it can pull men and women towards the darkness especially as it becomes "more deceptive and subtle." But that is not the only force that pulls at our hearts; those who are honest and seeking will feel the pull of "the gospel of truth and light." Our calling and opportunity is to help spread the light and draw people towards that which is good.
In the midst of the storms of our time, we can always be grateful for the anchor and the beacon provided for us by the Church and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There is protection and safety in the Lord's way!
(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)
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