President Russell M. Nelson on hope in a troubled world

President Russell M. Nelson (born Sept 9, 1924) was an internationally-renowned heart surgeon when he was called to serve as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1984. He became president of that quorum on July 15, 2015. Following the death of President Monson, he was set apart as president of the Church on January 14, 2018.

"If there is anything I’ve learned in my 94 years of living, it is that a life with God is far better — more filled with hope — than one without Him. Faith in God is, and has always been, the pre-eminent force for good in this world. It is the most enduring source of peace for minds and hearts.

"What we experienced in Paradise [California, in the aftermath of devastating fires], with men and women whose hearts were open to God, stands in stark contrast to much of what we see in the world today. I fear that many are standing on the edge of a spiritual and emotional precipice. Not long ago, belief in God was a given and expressions of faith the norm.

"But in recent years, we have experienced a shift from a world in which it seemed impossible not to believe in God to one in which faith is simply an option — and far too often subject to ridicule.

"When God is removed from our collective conscience, there are sobering ramifications....

"The most able minds cannot offer redemption from sin or heal our hearts from emotional pain. They cannot generate enduring hope or joy. They cannot promise life after death or the potential of being with our loved ones beyond the grave. They cannot generate peace of mind.

"But God can. Our spiritual DNA is His DNA. If our hearts are open to Him — if we believe in the divinity of the Father and His Son — we can rise from the ashes of our lives and become the men and women we were sent to earth to become."

- Russell M. Nelson, "Why have faith now?," opinion article, Arizona Republic newspaper, February 10, 2019
Click here to read the entire article

In connection with a recent visit to Arizona for a large gathering of members of the Church, President Nelson took the unusual step of writing this op-ed article for the local newspaper, Click on the link above to read the whole article! In it, he mentions a recent visit to meet with Church members in the area of California that was devastated last year by wildfires; many members in the city of Paradise lost their homes, and some lost their lives. But President Nelson reports on the amazing faith and hope he witnessed among them, in start contrast to the despair and loss of faith too often found in the world today. And so he testifies of the blessings of a life filled with hope and faith.

We are truly children of God, and share His "spiritual DNA." With His help, we can overcome the trials and challenges of our lives and life in faith.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2019)