"I nearly lost my life learning a lesson that I now give to you. As we go through life, even through very rough waters, a father’s instinctive impulse to cling tightly to his wife or to his children may not be the best way to accomplish his objective. Instead, if he will lovingly cling to the Savior and the iron rod of the gospel, his family will want to cling to him and to the Savior.
"This lesson is surely not limited to fathers. Regardless of gender, marital status, or age, individuals can choose to link themselves directly to the Savior, hold fast to the rod of His truth, and lead by the light of that truth. By so doing, they become examples of righteousness to whom others will want to cling."
- Russell M. Nelson, "Set in Order Thy House," General Conference October 2001
Click here to read or listen to the full talk
In this memorable talk, President Nelson described an experience of rafting through the Grand Canyon with several of his daughters. At one point he was thrown from the raft and nearly drowned; he learned of the importance of holding on to the raft, and not just holding on to his family members. At that point, he drew the comparison in this excerpt; we must cling to the Savior and the gospel in order to find safety in life's perilous journey:
So the key is that process of linking ourselves to Him, and finding the ways to cling to Him. As we learn to access Divine assistance in our lives, we recognize what a treasure it is, and what a necessity in our world. We learn to depend on that assistance for safety, and to turn to it at every opportunity. We must certainly have the proper priority for the focus of daily efforts, and with the Savior's help, we are assured of ultimate safety and success!
(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)
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