President Russell M. Nelson on making time for God amid the world's influences

President Russell M. Nelson (b. 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, and was serving in that quorum when he shared this message. He was set apart as president of the Quorum of Twelve on July 15, 2015, and then as president of the Church on January 14, 2018.

"The voices and pressures of the world are engaging and numerous. But too many voices are deceptive, seductive, and can pull us off the covenant path. To avoid the inevitable heartbreak that follows, I plead with you today to counter the lure of the world by making time for the Lord in your life—each and every day.

"If most of the information you get comes from social or other media, your ability to hear the whisperings of the Spirit will be diminished. If you are not also seeking the Lord through daily prayer and gospel study, you leave yourself vulnerable to philosophies that may be intriguing but are not true. Even Saints who are otherwise faithful can be derailed by the steady beat of Babylon’s band.

"My brothers and sisters, I plead with you to make time for the Lord! Make your own spiritual foundation firm and able to stand the test of time by doing those things that allow the Holy Ghost to be with you always."

- Russell M. Nelson, "Make Time for the Lord," General Conference October 2021, Sunday afternoon

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This excerpt is from President Nelson's brief closing remarks in the October 2021 general conference. He reflected on the challenging, dynamic, changing nature of the world we live in today, with so many things out of our control—but yet, there are some very important things that are in our control—especially the ways we use our time and energy, how we act towards others, and where we seek guidance and truth.

Twice in his remarks, President Nelson used the invitation, "I plead with you"—to make time for the Lord. That is a strong, heart-felt invitation. As we choose how to spend our time, and where we look for information and knowledge, we must not neglect the only sure foundation. We must remember to fix our focus on the Savior and His blessings in our lives.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)