President Henry B. Eyring on coping with busy lives by putting God first

President Henry B. Eyring (1933- ) served in the Presiding Bishopric from 1985-1992, as a Seventy from 1992-1995, then was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. He has served in the First Presidency since 2007. These remarks were part of a CES fireside presented in Moscow, Idaho, on May 6, 2001:

"I realize that there are some, perhaps many, for whom my urging to capture leisure time cuts like a knife. You feel overwhelmed by the lack of time. You have left unfinished tasks in your Church calling. You've carried your scriptures all day but still have not found a moment to open them. There is someone in your family who would be blessed by your thoughtful attention, but you haven't gotten to them yet. You will go to a job tomorrow that barely pays enough to keep food on your table and pay your bills. Rather than finding ways to capture leisure time for learning, you are trying to decide what to leave undone.

"There is another way to look at your problem of crowded time. You can see it as an opportunity to test your faith. The Lord loves you and watches over you. He is all-powerful, and He promised you this: 'But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you' (Matt. 6:33).

"That is a true promise. When we put God's purposes first, He will give us miracles. If we pray to know what He would have us do next, He will multiply the effects of what we do in such a way that time seems to be expanded. He may do it in different ways for each individual, but I know from long experience that He is faithful to His word."

- Henry B. Eyring, "Education for Real Life," CES fireside in Moscow, Idaho, on 6 May 2001; see Ensign, Oct 2002, pp. 14-21
Click here to read the full talk

President Eyring had been encouraging wise use of leisure time in this talk. I love his acknowledgement that "some, perhaps many" feel so overwhelmed by life's challenges that the thought of wise use of free time is far from their minds. I've certainly felt that way, with the "To Do List" growing out of control!

It's so easy to think of those busy periods as our own shortcoming, evidence of poor planning, or even a manifestation of incompetence. Gentle President Eyring asks that we consider them as a trial of faith: will I be willing to turn to God for help? Will I claim the promises of assistance, of magnification, of deliverance?

President Eyring summarizes God's promises to us in a powerful way:

This is a hopeful promise: we truly can pray to receive help, guidance, inspiration, and even miracles in our life. I find especially fascinating the thought that "time seems to be expanded" when we see God intervene in the things we do.

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

April 14, 2015

Elder Richard L. Evans on dealing with overwhelming burdens

Elder Richard L. Evans (1906-1971) served as a Seventy from 1938-1953, when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.  He died in 1971 at age 65.  He was known as "the voice of the Tabernacle Choir" from the beginning of its broadcasts in 1929 until his passing.

"There are times when all of us feel overburdened, with debts, with obligations, so many things undone, so many undone things to do—worries, problems, and sometimes our share, it seems, of sorrows. And we wonder how we can be everywhere we ought to be, do all we ought to do, meet the obligations, and carry the weight of our worries, as we seem to divide ourselves in too many different directions, too many ways at once—not feeling that we are completing or disposing of or quite in control of anything—just a reshuffling of papers, a reshuffling of problems.

"To all of this, some gentle advice from an unnamed source proposes the 'one-at-a-time' approach: 'Mountains viewed from a distance,' it says, 'seem to be unscalable, but they can be climbed, and the way to begin is to take the first upward step. From that moment the mountains are less high. The slopes that seem so steep from a distance seem to level off as we near them.'

"Any task in life is easier if we approach it with the one-at-a-time attitude. One step—a beginning—doing something about something, beginning to see something get going—gives assurance that we are on our way and that the solving of problems is possible. To cite a whimsical saying: 'If you chase two rabbits, both of them will escape.' No one is adequate to everything all at once. We have to select what is important, what is possible, and begin where we are, with what we have. And if we begin—and if we keep going—the weight, the worry, the doubt, the depression will begin to lift, will begin to lighten.

"We can't do everything always, but we can do something now, and doing something will help to lift the weight and lessen the worry. 'The beginning,' said Plato, 'is the most important part.'"

- Richard L. Evans, "The Spoken Word," January 26, 1969; see Improvement Era April 1969 p. 68, or Thoughts for One Hundred Days, 4:88-90

Elder Evans reflects on the challenge we often face of being overwhelmed by life and its challenges; those times when "we wonder how we can be everywhere we ought to be, do all we ought to do, meet the obligations, and carry the weight of our worries." He advocates a simple response to those situations: just deal with things one at a time:

The great key to life is, "We can't do everything always, but we can do something now, and doing something will help to lift the weight and lessen the worry." Just finding something to do, something to accomplish, somewhere to begin on the first task—those simple first steps provide the momentum to continue and conquer.

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

Elder M. Russell Ballard on the essential habits of conversion

Elder 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.

"The Lord outlined simple, personal habits that keep us rooted, grounded, and connected to Him. Such habits, when done with full purpose of heart, real intent, and without hypocrisy and deception, allow us to be unwavering disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"These essential habits include the things that seem to easily slip away in the rush of our very busy lives, even when we are engaged in good things like pursuing an education, working to support a family, and involving ourselves in community and Church service.

"They include sincere daily prayer, faithful fasting, regular study and pondering of the scriptures and the words of the living prophets, making the Sabbath day a delight, partaking of the sacrament with humility and always remembering the Savior, worshipping in the temple as often as possible, and, finally, reaching out to the needy, poor, and lonely—both those close by and across the world.

"When someone stops doing these simple but essential things, they cut themselves from the well of living water and allow Satan to muddle their thinking. Sin and guilt cloud the mind—leading them to deny past inspiration and revelation and causing a 'de-conversion' from the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ."

- M. Russell Ballard, "To the Saints in the Utah South Area," broadcast to the 235 stakes in the Utah South Area on September 13, 2015
Click here to read the full talk

While these remarks were shared with a subset of the Church (members living in the Utah South Area), the principles Elder Ballard shares are insightful and generally applicable. It's good to review and ponder the simple, basic, personal habits that will "keep us rooted, grounded, and connected" to God in our time.

Elder Ballard mentions seven specific things:

• sincere daily prayer
• faithful fasting
• regular study and pondering of the scriptures and the words of the living prophets
• making the Sabbath day a delight
• partaking of the sacrament with humility and always remembering the Savior
• worshiping in the temple as often as possible
• reaching out to the needy, poor, and lonely—both those close by and across the world

These seven simple practices truly can transform us as we make them "habits of conversion."

I think the idea of "de-conversion" is important to ponder. Just as we can be converted to the gospel, Elder Ballard warns that we can be de-converted from it. As we fail to do the simple things that keep us focused and growing, we:

• are cut off from the well of living water
• allow Satan to muddle our thinking
• begin to see sin and guilt cloud our mind
• are led to deny past inspiration and revelation

I'm grateful for the reminder of how much impact the simple "essential habits" can have in my life!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)

President Gordon B. Hinckley on having a spiritual retreat from a busy world

President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008) was called to the Quorum of Twelve in 1961. He served as a counselor in the First Presidency from 1981-1995, then as Church President until his death in 2008.

"We need to build ourselves spiritually. We live in a world of rush and go, of running here and there and in every direction. We are very busy people. We have so much to do. We need to get off by ourselves once in a while and think of the spiritual things and build ourselves spiritually. If you have a study at home, lock yourself in it. If you have a place in the basement where you can be by yourself, go there. Get by yourself and think of things of the Lord, of things of the Spirit. Think of all the Lord has done for you. How blessed you are, how very blessed you are. Think of your duty and your responsibility. Think of your testimony. Think of the things of God. Just meditate and reflect for an hour about yourself and your relationship to your Heavenly Father and your Redeemer. It will do something for you."

- Gordon B. Hinckley, Brigham City Utah Regional Conference, Feb. 22, 1997; see TGBH 608-609

In the intense, busy, rushing world of today, President Hinckley cautions us about the need for time to relax and rebuild. Being able to "think of the spiritual things" is an essential component in the disciple's life:

One of President Hinckley's key suggestions is to have a place where we can "get away" from the interruptions and pressures and be alone. The temptation in our day is to take our communication devices (phones, computers) with us to those places, rationalizing that since no other people are physically present, we are alone. But that is not the intent of President Hinckley's advice.

The key is to have time to focus on the Lord and on the "things of the Spirit." It's a time to ponder blessings, to review responsibilities, to consider testimony. How often do we truly "meditate and reflect for an hour about yourself and your relationship to your Heavenly Father and your Redeemer"?? In doing so, we truly will be blessed.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)

Dieter F. Uchtdorf on simplifying and focusing on the Savior

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (b. 1940) served as a Seventy from 1994-2004, when he was called as a member of the Quorum of Twelve.  He has served as second counselor in the First Presidency since 2008.

"Sometimes the most precious and sacred things are right in front of us—in plain sight, so to speak—but we cannot or will not see them.

"This may be especially true during the blessed and precious season of Christmas....

"Sometimes, despite our best intentions, we become so preoccupied with responsibilities, commitments, and the stress of our many tasks that we fail to see with our hearts that which is essential and most sacred....

"Sometimes when we read about people who could not see the Savior for who He was, we marvel at their blindness. But do we also let distractions obstruct our view of the Savior—during this Christmas season and throughout the year? Some are external distractions—the gifts we worry about, the decorations, or the clamorous advertising—but often it is what is inside us that blinds us from seeing the Christ....

"This is a season of rejoicing! A season of celebration! A wonderful time when we acknowledge that our Almighty God sent His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem the world! To redeem us!

"It is a season of charitable acts of kindness and brotherly love. It is a season of being more reflective about our own lives and about the many blessing that are ours. It is a season of forgiving and being forgiven.

"But perhaps most of all, let it be a season of seeking the Lamb of God, the King of Glory, the Everlasting Light of the World, the Great Hope of Mankind, the Savior and Redeemer of our souls.

"I promise that if we unclutter our lives a little bit and in sincerity and humility seek the pure and gentle Christ with our hearts, we will see Him, we will find Him—on Christmas and throughout the year."

- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "How to See the Christ in Christmas," First Presidency Christmas Devotional, December 6, 2009
Click here to read the full article

President Uchtdorf warns us of something that has become one of the great traps or pitfalls of our time: the tendency to "become so preoccupied with responsibilities, commitments, and the stress of our many tasks that we fail to see with our hearts that which is essential and most sacred." We miss seeing, and experiencing, some of the most precious and blessed aspects of life when that occurs. And it often happens during "the blessed and precious season of Christmas"!

His counsel is to "unclutter our lives a little bit." I think that applies not to the physical things we accumulate, though they can be very distracting; but moreso to the commitments, the priorities, the choices. We must be careful to focus on "the things that matter most" particularly at this time of year.

Christmastime would be the right time to establish the pattern to bless our lives throughout the coming year!

M. Russell Ballard on over-scheduling and making better choices

Elder M. Russell Ballard (1928- ) was called as a Seventy in 1976, and has served as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles since 1985.

"Don't overschedule yourselves or your children. We live in a world that is filled with options. If we are not careful, we will find every minute jammed with social events, classes, exercise time, book clubs, scrapbooking, Church callings, music, sports, the Internet, and our favorite TV shows. One mother told me of a time that her children had 29 scheduled commitments every week: music lessons, Scouts, dance, Little League, day camps, soccer, art, and so forth. She felt like a taxi driver. Finally, she called a family meeting and announced, 'Something has to go; we have no time to ourselves and no time for each other.' Families need unstructured time when relationships can deepen and real parenting can take place. Take time to listen, to laugh, and to play together.

"Even as you try to cut out the extra commitments... find some time for yourself to cultivate your gifts and interests. Pick one or two things that you would like to learn or do that will enrich your life, and make time for them. Water cannot be drawn from an empty well, and if you are not setting aside a little time for what replenishes you, you will have less and less to give to others, even to your children. Avoid any kind of substance abuse, mistakenly thinking that it will help you accomplish more. And don't allow yourself to be caught up in the time-wasting, mind-numbing things like television soap operas or surfing the Internet. Turn to the Lord in faith, and you will know what to do and how to do it."

- M. Russell Ballard, "Daughters of God," Ensign, May 2008, pp. 109-110
Click here to read the full talk

This is a very timely warning for families, and for individuals. We need to be careful about choosing how we fill our time. It's so easy to "overschedule" as we consider all the good and worthwhile options competing for our time:

The second part of the message is that as we control the demands on our time and eliminate some of the complications in our schedules, we should make sure the time is properly filled with the kinds of things that enrich life and bring us strength.

And the final encouragement is perhaps the most important in discovering where and how the "course corrections" need to be made: "Turn to the Lord in faith, and you will know what to do and how to do it."

Henry B. Eyring on coping with busy lives by putting God first

President Henry B. Eyring (1933- ) served in the Presiding Bishopric from 1985-1992, as a Seventy from 1992-1995, then was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. He has served in the First Presidency since 2007. These remarks were part of a CES fireside presented in Moscow, Idaho, on May 6, 2001:

"I realize that there are some, perhaps many, for whom my urging to capture leisure time cuts like a knife. You feel overwhelmed by the lack of time. You have left unfinished tasks in your Church calling. You've carried your scriptures all day but still have not found a moment to open them. There is someone in your family who would be blessed by your thoughtful attention, but you haven't gotten to them yet. You will go to a job tomorrow that barely pays enough to keep food on your table and pay your bills. Rather than finding ways to capture leisure time for learning, you are trying to decide what to leave undone.

"There is another way to look at your problem of crowded time. You can see it as an opportunity to test your faith. The Lord loves you and watches over you. He is all-powerful, and He promised you this: 'But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you' (Matt. 6:33).

"That is a true promise. When we put God's purposes first, He will give us miracles. If we pray to know what He would have us do next, He will multiply the effects of what we do in such a way that time seems to be expanded. He may do it in different ways for each individual, but I know from long experience that He is faithful to His word."

- Henry B. Eyring, "Education for Real Life," CES fireside in Moscow, Idaho, on 6 May 2001; see Ensign, Oct 2002, pp. 14-21
Click here to read the full talk

President Eyring had been encouraging wise use of leisure time in this talk. I love his acknowledgement that "some, perhaps many" feel so overwhelmed by life's challenges that the thought of wise use of free time is far from their minds. I've certainly felt that way, with the "To Do List" growing out of control!

It's so easy to think of those busy periods as our own shortcoming, evidence of poor planning, or even a manifestation of incompetence. Gentle President Eyring asks that we consider them as a trial of faith: will I be willing to turn to God for help? Will I claim the promises of assistance, of magnification, of deliverance?

President Eyring summarizes God's promises to us in a powerful way:

Joseph B. Wirthlin on the dangers of busy lives

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (1917-2008) served as a Seventy from 1976 to 1986, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles from 1986 until his passing in 2008 at age 91.

"I do not know of another period in the history of the world that has been so filled with such a variety of entangling nets. Our lives are so easily filled with appointments, meetings, and tasks. It is so easy to get caught in a multitude of nets that sometimes even a suggestion of breaking free of them can be threatening and even frightening to us. 

"Sometimes we feel that the busier we are, the more important we are—as though our busyness defines our worth. Brothers and sisters, we can spend a lifetime whirling about at a feverish pace, checking off list after list of things that in the end really don't matter. 

"That we do a lot may not be so important. That we focus the energy of our minds, our hearts, and our souls on those things of eternal significance—that is essential. 

"As the clatter and clamor of life bustle about us, we hear shouting to 'come here' and to 'go there.' In the midst of the noise and seductive voices that compete for our time and interest, a solitary figure stands on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, calling quietly to us, 'Follow me.'" 

- Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Follow Me," General Conference, April 2002; Ensign, May 2002, pp. 15-18
Click to read the full text

I love this message from Elder Wirthlin; it's good to review it periodically.

We have to be very careful about the expectations set by society or culture in our time; they may be subtly inappropriate in ways that can lead us to undesirable results. Getting caught in those "entangling nets" that fill our lives with too many things of lesser importance is a real danger of our day. This is very wise counsel:

How wise to discern that it's not how much we do that matters; it's making absolutely sure that we "focus the energy of our minds, our hearts, and our souls on those things of eternal significance."

And I think this last phrase is one of the most beautiful statements of recent years—truly profound and wise: