President James E. Faust on drawing power and peace from the Atonement of Christ

President James E. Faust (1920-2007) was called as a Seventy in 1976, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve in 1978. He served as a counselor to President Hinckley from 1995 until his death in 2007 at age 87.

"May I suggest that you take your challenges one day at a time. Do the best you can. Look at everything through the lens of eternity. If you will do this, life will take on a different perspective.

"I believe that all of you ... want to be happy and find the peace that the Savior promised. I think many of you try very hard to keep up with all of your responsibilities. I do not wish to offend anyone. I am reluctant to mention a matter but feel it should be said. Sometimes we carry unhappy feelings about past hurts too long. We spend too much energy dwelling on things that have passed and cannot be changed. We struggle to close the door and let go of the hurt. If, after time, we can forgive whatever may have caused the hurt, we will tap 'into a life-giving source of comfort' through the Atonement, and the 'sweet peace' of forgiveness will be ours. (See “My Journey to Forgiving,” Ensign, Feb. 1997, 43.) Some injuries are so hurtful and deep that healing comes only with help from a higher power and hope for perfect justice and restitution in the next life. You can tap into that higher power and receive precious comfort and sweet peace."

- James E. Faust, "Instruments in the Hands of God," General Conference October 2005
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This address by President Faust was shared with the sisters during a General Relief Society Meeting as a part of the October 2005 conference. He shared praise and encouragement for the many contributions and sacrifices being made by the sisters, and also offered warnings and counsel to help them in coping with the challenges of their lives. In this segment, he warned about becoming overwhelmed and about holding on to the hurts of the past:

Hope and peace come through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and as we learn to "tap into that higher power" we truly can find guidance, peace, and comfort to direct us in our daily challenges. Learning to "forgive and forget" is an important part of drawing on that divine power.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)