President Thomas S. Monson on prayer's help in a challenging world

President Thomas S. Monson (1927–2018) was sustained to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1963. He served as a counselor in the First Presidency with Presidents Benson, Hunter, and Hinckley and then became Church president in 2008. He led the Church for almost a decade until his passing in January 2018.

"Many of the challenges we face exist because we live in this mortal world, populated by all manner of individuals. At times we ask in desperation, 'How can I keep my sights firmly fixed on the celestial as I navigate through this telestial world?'

"There will be times when you will walk a path strewn with thorns and marked by struggle. There may be times when you feel detached—even isolated—from the Giver of every good gift. You worry that you walk alone. Fear replaces faith.

"When you find yourself in such circumstances, I plead with you to remember prayer....

"We were not placed on this earth to walk alone. What an amazing source of power, of strength, and of comfort is available to each of us. He who knows us better than we know ourselves, He who sees the larger picture and who knows the end from the beginning, has assured us that He will be there for us to provide help if we but ask. We have the promise: 'Pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good' (D&C 90:24)....

"Of course, prayer is not just for times of trouble. We are told repeatedly in the scriptures to 'pray always' (Luke 21:36) and to keep a prayer in our hearts (see 3 Nephi 20:1)."

- Thomas S. Monson, "We Never Walk Alone," General Relief Society Meeting 9/28/13, General Conference October 2013
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President Monson defines a very real challenge that we face in this life: keeping our "sights firmly fixed on the celestial" while we are struggling with the realities of a telestial world. It's a great key to remember the gift of prayer, and to develop our abilities in using that gift. That becomes especially crucial in those times when we seem "detached" or "isolated" from God. We must develop the ability to remember that we need not face those challenging times alone:

How blessed we are to have the chance to receive help, guidance, and strength from our Divine Father—and, as President Monson reminds us, not just in times of struggle or loneliness, but at all times in our life! We need only turn to Him.

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

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf on God's unending love for His children

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf (born November 6, 1940) served as a Seventy from 1994-2004, when he was called as a member of the Quorum of Twelve.  He served as second counselor in the First Presidency from 2008 to 2018.

"As a child, when I would look at the little forget-me-nots, I sometimes felt a little like that flower—small and insignificant. I wondered if I would be forgotten by my family or by my Heavenly Father.

"Years later I can look back on that young boy with tenderness and compassion. And I do know now—I was never forgotten.

"And I know something else: as an Apostle of our Master, Jesus Christ, I proclaim with all the certainty and conviction of my heart—neither are you!

"You are not forgotten.

"Sisters, wherever you are, whatever your circumstances may be, you are not forgotten. No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you with an infinite love.

"Just think of it: You are known and remembered by the most majestic, powerful, and glorious Being in the universe! You are loved by the King of infinite space and everlasting time!

"He who created and knows the stars knows you and your name....

"God loves you because you are His child. He loves you even though at times you may feel lonely or make mistakes.

"The love of God and the power of the restored gospel are redemptive and saving. If you will only allow His divine love into your life, it can dress any wound, heal any hurt, and soften any sorrow."

- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Forget Me Not," General Conference October 2011
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This is one of President Uchtdorf's talks that is worth reviewing regularly. He spoke his words of encouragement and counsel to the sisters of the Church, but the counsel applies equally to brethren; we all need to remember that God has not forgotten nor forsaken us, and never will.

President Uchtdorf testified that God loves us, and will always love us, because we are His creation and His children. Even when we feel lonely or when we know we have made mistakes—perhaps especially at those times—we can be assured that He remembers us, cares for us, and is eager to help and sustain us. We need only allow His divine love into our life!

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

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf on hearing God's call to us

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (born November 6, 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.

"The sublime message of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that God is our Father, that He cares about us, and that there is a way to return to Him.

"God calls to you.

"God knows your every thought, your sorrows, and your greatest hopes. God knows the many times you have sought Him. The many times you have felt limitless joy. The many times you have wept in loneliness. The many times you have felt helpless, confused, or angry.

"Yet, no matter your history—if you have faltered, failed, feel broken, bitter, betrayed, or beaten—know that you are not alone. God still calls to you.

"The Savior extends His hand to you. And, as He did to those fishermen who stood long ago on the banks of the Sea of Galilee, with infinite love He speaks to you: 'Come, follow me' (See Matthew 4:19; Luke 18:22),

"If you will hear Him, He will speak to you this very day."

- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "A Yearning for Home," General Conference October 2017
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President Uchtdorf talked about the natural yearning all of us feel to want to return home. He shared examples from animal instincts, but then applied the principle more directly to our innate feelings about our Heavenly Father and our heavenly home. In spite of the struggles of this life, and often even because of those struggles, that urge is very strong if we allow our spirits to feel the love of God manifested to us:

President Uchtdorf testified that "there is a way to return to Him" and that way lies in heeding the Savior's call to "Come, follow me." If we listen and heed, we will be eternally blessed by that simple call.

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

President Henry B. Eyring on turning to God in times of personal trial

President Henry B. Eyring (born May 31, 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.

"In the depths of his anguish in Liberty Jail, the Prophet Joseph Smith cried out: 'O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?' (D&C 121:1.) Many of us, in moments of personal anguish, feel that God is far from us. The pavilion that seems to intercept divine aid does not cover God but occasionally covers us. God is never hidden, yet sometimes we are, covered by a pavilion of motivations that draw us away from God and make Him seem distant and inaccessible. Our own desires, rather than a feeling of 'Thy will be done' (Matthew 6:10), create the feeling of a pavilion blocking God. God is not unable to see us or communicate with us, but we may be unwilling to listen or submit to His will and His time.

"Our feelings of separation from God will diminish as we become more childlike before Him. That is not easy in a world where the opinions of other human beings can have such an effect on our motives. But it will help us recognize this truth: God is close to us and aware of us and never hides from His faithful children....

"Jesus Christ lives, knows us, watches over us, and cares for us. In moments of pain, loneliness, or confusion, we do not need to see Jesus Christ to know that He is aware of our circumstances and that His mission is to bless."

- Henry B. Eyring, "Where Is the Pavilion?", Ensign, November 2011, pp. 72-75
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I've always been moved by the despair expressed in Joseph Smith's words from Liberty Jail—the apparent feelings of loneliness, solitude, isolation. For some reason, God felt far, far away at that moment. For the first six verses of the section he pours out his soul in his sadness and concern, until the comforting response comes: "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment..." (D&C 121:7).

President Eyring acknowledges that many of us have similar feelings of "personal anguish" at times, but he points out that God is not hiding from us; we have temporarily blocked our view or our access. In reality, the problem happens when we are "unwilling to listen or submit to His will and His time." That is when we most need to examine our own hearts, to see if they are caught up in selfish desires, or sincerely open to God's will for us.

Jeffrey R. Holland on the Savior's solitary journey

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (1940- ) served as Church Commissioner of Education from 1976-1980, as the president of BYU from 1980-1989, as a Seventy from 1989-1994, and as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles since 1994.

"I speak of the loneliest journey ever made and the unending blessings it brought to all in the human family. I speak of the Savior's solitary task of shouldering alone the burden of our salvation. Rightly He would say: 'I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me.... I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold [me].' (Isaiah 63:3, 5; see also D&C 76:107; 88:106; 133:50.)

"Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said: 'I will not leave you comfortless: [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].' (John 14:18; see also v. 23.)

"My other plea at Easter time is that these scenes of Christ's lonely sacrifice, laced with moments of denial and abandonment and, at least once, outright betrayal, must never be reenacted by us. He has walked alone once. Now, may I ask that never again will He have to confront sin without our aid and assistance, that never again will He find only unresponsive onlookers when He sees you and me along His Via Dolorosa in our present day. As we approach this holy week—Passover Thursday with its Paschal Lamb, atoning Friday with its cross, Resurrection Sunday with its empty tomb—may we declare ourselves to be more fully disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, not in word only and not only in the flush of comfortable times but in deed and in courage and in faith, including when the path is lonely and when our cross is difficult to bear. This Easter week and always, may we stand by Jesus Christ 'at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in, even until death' (Mosiah 18:9), for surely that is how He stood by us when it was unto death and when He had to stand entirely and utterly alone."

- Jeffrey R. Holland, "None Were with Him," Ensign, May 2009, pp. 86-88
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In this tender excerpt, Elder Holland discusses one of the challenges that comes to almost every one of us during our mortal experience: the feeling of loneliness. Reflecting on the Savior's uniquely difficult and challenging life, he identifies the reality that He really was called upon to do much of his work "utterly alone" — particularly in those crucial final days and hours. And because He was willing to accept and complete that task, the glorious truth results: "Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are."

Elder Holland helps us by specifying the many resources we have for our journey; we need to learn to turn to them for help and encouragement during those times when we feel that we are abandoned or beyond help.

The third paragraph makes the message beautifully personal. Symbolically, it is now up to each one of us to make sure that neither the Savior nor any of our brothers and sisters in mortality are left alone. We must learn to turn to Him; and we must learn to be ready for others to turn to us as His agents. What a profound invitation to ponder during this Easter season: how can I become, more fully, a disciple of Jesus Christ?