Elder Dallin H. Oaks on following the examples of pioneers

President Dallin H. Oaks (born August 12, 1932) served as president of BYU from 1971-1980.  He was then appointed as a justice of the Utah Supreme Court, and resigned when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1984. He became President of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles and also 1st Counselor in the First Presidency in January 2018.

"It is not enough to study or reenact the accomplishments of our pioneers. We need to identify the great, eternal principles they applied to achieve all they achieved for our benefit and then apply those principles to the challenges of our day. In that way we honor their pioneering efforts, and we also reaffirm our heritage and strengthen its capacity to bless our own posterity and 'those millions of our Heavenly Father's children who have yet to hear and accept the gospel of Jesus Christ' (Our Heritage 145). We are all pioneers in doing so.

"Many of our challenges are different from those faced by former pioneers but perhaps just as dangerous and surely as significant to our own salvation and the salvation of those who follow us. For example, as for life-threatening obstacles, the wolves that prowled around pioneer settlements were no more dangerous to their children than the drug dealers or pornographers who threaten our children. Similarly, the early pioneers' physical hunger posed no greater threat to their well-being than the spiritual hunger experienced by many in our day. The children of earlier pioneers were required to do incredibly hard physical work to survive their environment. That was no greater challenge than many of our young people now face from the absence of hard work, which results in spiritually corrosive challenges to discipline, responsibility, and self-worth. Jesus taught: 'And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell' (Matt. 10:28)."

- Dallin H. Oaks, "Following the Pioneers," General Conference October 1997
Click here to read the full talk

Today, July 24, is the traditional "Pioneer Day" commemoration. It's now been 174 years since the first of the Mormon advance company entered the Salt Lake valley. Each year, members of the Church in Utah and around the world remember that event with celebrations, family gatherings, parades, and pioneer reenactments. But is that enough?

Elder Oaks counsels us to do more than just study the history of the pioneers, or participate in reenactments of their challenges and accomplishments. He provides the great challenge to find "eternal principles" that helped them achieve what they did, and then "apply those principles to the challenges of our day." In doing so, we link ourselves to them and to the truths they held dear.

He then proceeds to give several examples, comparing some of the pioneer challenges to our modern circumstances. I appreciate this insight; it's a model of how we should always ponder as we read the scriptures or any historic account. We should not just be learning about the past; we should be learning lessons that can help us today!

Pioneer image, Glen Hopkinson, courtesy of lds.org

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)
July 24, 2015

Elder Neal A. Maxwell on the importance of the modern dispensation

Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926-2004) served as a Seventy from 1976-1981, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve until his death from cancer in 2004.

"Latter-day Saints need to remember that we who live now are being called upon to work out our salvation in a special time of intense and immense challenges—the last portion of the dispensation of the fullness of times during which great tribulation and temptation will occur, the elect will almost be deceived, and unrighteous people will be living much as they were in the days of Noah. It will be a time of polarization, as the Twelve foresaw in their declaration of 1845. Hardness of heart in many will produce other manifestations of hardness and coarseness. Civility will be one casualty of these conditions, and a lowered capacity to achieve reconciliation, whether in a marriage or between interest groups, will be another.

"Therefore, though we have rightly applauded our ancestors for their spiritual achievements (and do not and must not discount them now), those of us who prevail today will have done no small thing. The special spirits who have been reserved to live in this time of challenges and who overcome will one day be praised for their stamina by those who pulled handcarts.

"Those who were righteous in other ages, when the gospel light was snuffed out, will one day commend the current members of the Church who so live that the gospel light increased in its incandescence.

"Those of ancient Israel who saw many signs and yet episodically relapsed will one day praise those in this dispensation who have believed 'because of the word' without being compelled to be humble. (Alma 32:14.)

"The Lamanites who were righteous in earlier times, especially, will praise their present posterity whose righteousness is bringing a blossoming of their seed.

"Thus the contemporary righteous will earn the esteem of their admired predecessors. Finally, if we are faithful, even the righteous of the city of Enoch will fall upon our necks and kiss us, and we will mingle our tears with their tears! (Moses 7:63.)

"Let us, therefore, notwithstanding our weaknesses, be reassured that the everyday keeping of the commandments and the doing of our duties is what it is all about."

- Neal A. Maxwell, Not Withstanding My Weakness [Deseret 1981], pp. 17-18

This is a fascinating excerpt from Elder Maxwell's compelling and inspiring writings. He acknowledges that today, we live in "a special time of intense and immense challenges," an era "during which great tribulation and temptation will occur." In the midst of those challenges, there are "special spirits who have been reserved to live in this time of challenges."

Elder Maxwell then proceeds to give better context to those of modern times, recognizing a series of other groups and individuals in the history of the world who have faced their own challenges. In light of all of those, to consider that the survivors and conquerors of our modern day will be honored and respected by so many is quite a tribute. But it should even more be sobering to our time as we strive to be faithful to the challenges we face. We must never neglect "the everyday keeping of the commandments and the doing of our duties."

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

President M. Russell Ballard on promises of help from the Savior

President 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. He became acting president of the Twelve in January 2018.

"We are the inheritors of a tremendous heritage. Now it is our privilege and responsibility to be part of the Restoration’s continuing drama, and there are great and heroic stories of faith to be written in our day. It will require every bit of our strength, wisdom, and energy to overcome the obstacles that will confront us. But even that will not be enough. We will learn, as did our pioneer ancestors, that it is only in faith—real faith, whole-souled, tested and tried—that we will find safety and confidence as we walk our own perilous pathways through life....

"Let us remember that the Savior is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and there can be no greater promise than to know that if we are faithful and true, we will one day be safely encircled in the arms of His love (see D&C 6:20). He is always there to give encouragement, to forgive, and to rescue. Therefore, as we exercise faith and are diligent in keeping the commandments, we have nothing to fear from the journey."

- M. Russell Ballard, "You Have Nothing to Fear from the Journey," General Conference April 1997
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

This was one of Elder Ballard's addresses during the 1997 sesquicentennial commemoration (150 years) of the pioneer legacy. He discussed our modern challenges in light of those of earlier times, and offered suggestions and encouragement in our current journey. Sometimes our journey seems frightening and overwhelming; but with His promised help, we need not fear:

The critical thing for us to learn is that "it is only in faith—real faith, whole-souled, tested and tried—that we will find safety and confidence as we walk our own perilous pathways through life." We must develop that kind of faith through obedience and faithfulness.

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

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf on the blessing of a pioneer heritage

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 you might know, none of my ancestors made the trek across the plains to these valleys in the Mountain West.

"But then, even though my ancestors were not numbered among those who took part in that great enterprise, I claim the heritage of those noble pioneers as my own. Their example has influenced my life for good. I treasure the foundation they established for the restored gospel. I honor what they did, what they became, and what they gave to us as a result of their sacrifice....

"Whether we descended from the pioneers or not, it is wise to remember that the glory of their sacrifice belongs to them. We can’t place the trophies they earned for their faith and industry on our mantels. We can’t pin the medals they earned for their courage and bravery on our chests. 

"Our generation will need to stand on our own achievements, not on those of previous generations.

"In the life to come, I will be eager to meet with those legendary giants who gave so much to found these cities here in the valleys of the mountains. I think they will be pleased by our interest in them. I think they will be humbled by our admiration. But I also believe that they will be far more concerned not about what they did, but about what we did as a result of their sacrifice.

"I have a feeling they will be pleased far more by our performance than by applause, praise, or parades. They will want to know if we gained anything from the hard-won lessons they learned through tribulation and trial. They will want to know if their sacrifice and endurance made a difference to us and to our children."

- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "All Is Well," address given July 13, 2014, at the Pioneer Days Celebration in Ogden, Utah
Click here to read the full talk

While serving in the First Presidency, President Uchtdorf shared a "Pioneer Day" message to a gathering in Ogden. I loved his candid admission that he had no pioneer ancestors (as a relatively recent European convert). But yet, he pointed out how he too could claim the pioneer heritage as a member of the Church, as he learned from their example and benefited from what was built on the foundation they established.

We can honor and recognize the sacrifice and contribution of the pioneers, but we must make our own sacrifices and show our own commitment to the principles they were devoted to. President Uchtdorf suggested that our pioneer ancestors will care little for our praise and recognition, but will be more interested to know "if their sacrifice and endurance made a difference to us." What an interesting insight!

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

President Thomas S. Monson on the challenges of modern pioneers

President Thomas S. Monson (b. August 21, 1927) 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 before becoming Church president in 2008.

"The passage of time dims our memories and diminishes our appreciation for those who walked the path of pain, leaving behind a tear-marked trail of nameless graves. But what of today’s challenges? Are there no rocky roads to travel, no rugged mountains to climb, no chasms to cross, no trails to blaze, no rivers to ford? Or is there a very present need for that pioneer spirit to guide us away from the dangers that threaten to engulf us and to lead us to a Zion of safety?

"In the decades since the end of World War II, standards of morality have lowered again and again. Crime spirals upward; decency careens downward. Many are on a giant roller coaster of disaster, seeking the thrills of the moment while sacrificing the joys of eternity. Thus we forfeit peace....

"Must we learn such costly lessons over and over again? Times change, but truth persists. When we fail to profit from the experiences of the past, we are doomed to repeat them with all their heartache, suffering, and anguish. Haven’t we the wisdom to obey Him who knows the beginning from the end—our Lord, who designed the plan of salvation—rather than that serpent, who despised its beauty?

"A dictionary defines a pioneer as 'one who goes before to prepare or open up the way for others to follow.' Can we somehow muster the courage and steadfastness of purpose that characterized the pioneers of a former generation? Can you and I, in actual fact, be pioneers?

"I know we can be. Oh, how the world needs pioneers today!"

- Thomas S. Monson, "The World Needs Pioneers Today," Ensign, July 2013, p. 5
Click here to read the full article

It is easy for us to forget the specific elements of pioneer sacrifices; stories merge and blend as details fade in our memories. President Monson worries about that happening. But retaining the "pioneer spirit" is critical as we attempt to avoid the dangers of our time and find our way to the "Zion of safety."

President Monson is now over 90 years old; he was 18 at the end of World War II. He comments on the decline of morality and decency in society, and the increase of crime, during those years since the war. His hope is that we are learning from the lessons of history and moving ahead with the pioneer spirit to resist the influences of the world. We are all pioneers in our own way.

President Monson's invitation is to recognize that we have the opportunities to be pioneers. According to him, we deeply need to be pioneers in the world we live in. We should learn from those lessons of the past and reflect their spirit and examples in all we do.

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

Elder Neal A. Maxwell compares pioneer challenges with modern times

Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926-2004) served as a Seventy from 1976-1981, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve until his death from cancer in 2004.

“If you are faithful, the day will come when those deserving pioneers, whom you rightly praise for having overcome the adversities in their wilderness trek, will instead praise you, for having made your way successfully through a desert of despair, for having passed through a cultural wilderness, and having kept the faith, for having been true to the faith. And yes, you will rightly go on praising them for what they did in their days, but one day, [they,] including some of your ancestors, will praise you for having come safely home, through that cultural wilderness and that desert of despair.

"God bless you, in these your days! As those of us who love you and view you with a sense of anticipation are settled in our hearts and minds: You really are the Vanguard of those whom God promised to send in these the last days, of which I testify, as I encourage you to make of these days, 'days never to be forgotten' in the history of the Church. And I do so in love, and as your brother, but most importantly for the purposes of this evening, I do so as an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, who has some sense of your future, and what you have the capacity to do. God Bless you.”

- Neal A. Maxwell, "Days Never To Be Forgotten," CES fireside for young adults, June 4, 1995

We often look back at the pioneer era with wonder and admiration for the difficulties they faced, and the courage and faith of their lives. Elder Maxwell suggests that the people of that era, considering our time, would have equal praise for our faithfulness in dealing with our present challenges.

Some of the descriptions Elder Maxwell uses to describe our time are very interesting, including "a desert of despair" and "a cultural wilderness." While we don't experience the hardship of a literal "wilderness trek" in our time, we deal with deserts and wildernesses in symbolic ways that present different challenges than the early Saints faced. If we survive the test and manage to "come safely home" to our heavenly origin, we will be greeted by those who preceded us with much joy and praise.

A pioneer glimpse I love was told about the first few years of settlement in Salt Lake valley. George Laub, who crossed the plains in 1852, tells that in the years that followed, as a new pioneer train would arrive in Salt Lake, the residents would come out to greet them with joy and singing, and would provide food and clothing from their meager stores to those arriving who were frequently hungry and exhausted. One of Laub's daughters later recorded that her father would bow his head and offer a soft prayer as each wagon would pull in to the city, "Oh God, we thank thee for these dear ones who have withstood the test." I think that conveys the spirit Elder Maxwell is describing; those who have survived the journey of mortality previously will truly understand the sacrifice and accomplishment of those who complete the journey later. Each journey has its particular challenges; but in the end, we will sing together, "All is well."

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

Elder L. Tom Perry on life lessons from the faithful pioneers

Elder L. Tom Perry (1922-2015) was called as an Assistant to the Twelve in 1972, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1974. At the time of his passing at age 92, he was the oldest living general authority and the third in seniority among the leading quorum.

"Former United States president Ronald Reagan has been quoted as saying, 'I do not want to go back to the past; I want to go back to the past way of facing the future.' (Quoted in George F. Will, 'One Man's America,' Cato Policy Report, Sept.-Oct. 2008, 11.) His counsel still resonates within me. There is something about reviewing the lessons of the past to prepare us to face the challenges of the future. What a glorious legacy of faith, courage, and ingenuity those noble early Mormon pioneers have left for us to build upon. My admiration for them deepens the longer I live.

"Embracing the gospel resulted in a complete change of life for them. They left everything behind—their homes, their businesses, their farms, and even their beloved family members—to journey into a wilderness. It must have been a real shock when Brigham Young announced, 'This is the...place.' (Quoted in Wilford Woodruff, 'Celebration of Pioneers' Day,' The Utah Pioneers (1880), 23.) Before them was a vast desert wasteland, barren of green hills, trees, and beautiful meadows which most of those early pioneers had known. With firm faith in God and their leaders, the early pioneers went to work to create beautiful communities in the shadows of the mountains."

- L. Tom Perry, "The Past Way of Facing the Future," General Conference, October 2009
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

We can learn much about our lives today by looking at the past. Even though circumstances are very different in our world than they were when the Mormon Pioneers first entered the Salt Lake valley 170 years ago, Elder Perry suggests that their "legacy of faith, courage, and ingenuity" will teach us much about confronting the challenges we face today.

As we focus on the pioneer journey to the west, we sometimes forget the sacrifices that preceded that undertaking. So many of the early Church members left behind their whole life, including employment, family members, and possessions, to answer the call to "come to Zion." Most were not "trained" in pioneering skills. But they moved on with faith, learning as they went, and feeling the blessings of divine providence in their efforts—"with firm faith in God and their leaders." Those are lessons we should remember today!

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

Howard W. Hunter on refinement through the trials of life

President Howard W. Hunter (1907-1995) was called to the Quorum of Twelve in 1959.  He served as Church President for only nine months, from June 5, 1994 to his death on March 3, 1995.

"Today other biographies of faith are being written—Saints who, like Job, suffer physical pain, emotional sorrow, and even disloyalty from friends—yet remain faithful; Saints who, like Jacob, see sons and daughters not so valiant as they should be, but who bless them for their potential; Saints who, like Paul, endure great ridicule and endure to the end; Saints who, like Nephi, must separate themselves from family because of their commitment to the gospel. There are those who know pain and sorrow because of loss of loved ones; who know spiritual sorrow because children go astray; who experience loss of health, financial reverses, and emotional distress, and yet, like Job, resolve, 'When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold' (Job 23:10)....

"We stand on the summit of 150 years of Church history; yet there are other summits to climb before the work of God is crowned with victory. There will be tribulations collectively and hardships personally—that resistance so essential to the eternal plan.

"What makes us imagine that we may be immune from the same experiences that refined the lives of former-day Saints? We must remember that the same forces of resistance which prevent our progress afford us also opportunities to overcome. God will have a tried people!

"I witness today this truth from a verse of one of our favorite hymns:

"When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply.
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
(Hymns, no. 66)."

- Howard W. Hunter, "God Will Have a Tried People," Ensign, May 1980, pp. 24-26
Click here to read the full talk

We sometimes reflect with awe on the lives and examples of those in the past. President Hunter suggests that many new "biographies of faith" are being written by those today who are struggling with great challenges in their own way. Those challenges include physical pain, emotional sorrow, disloyal friends, wandering children, loss of family support, loss of health, financial problems, and so on—the list is long.

So many of life's challenges are part of the "refining" process that brings us true progress! That's where our faith enables us to not only survive the challenges, but to remember the Lord's truly remarkable promise that "all things shall work together for [our] good" (D&C 90:24) when our hearts are filled with love for God and trust in his eternal plan, and our lives demonstrate that faith in our deeds.

Ronald A. Rasband on the responsibility to assist one another in life's challenges

Elder Ronald A. Rasband (b. 1951) served as a Seventy beginning in 2000.  He was the senior president of the Seventy when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in October 2015.

"Many of you have in your youth recreated that trek experience out on a trail just to feel a small measure of what they felt as they followed the Lord's call to come to Zion. I doubt yours was in snow up to your knees and yet that push and pull up the hill was still a staggering feat. How did you make it? How did they make it? 'By travelling over the hill three times—twice forward and once back.' (John Chislett) The experience was truly an example of the second great commandment, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.' (Mark 12:31)

"Think about it. You have careers, families and adventures ahead of you, however, no one of them can be counted a success if you do not see that your fellow travelers get to the top of the hill.

"That is a different perspective than the world would espouse. In our Father's kingdom—here on earth—we operate by different rules. The Lord laid out His expectations for us during His ministry. Remember the account of the man who asked the Savior, 'what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?' (Matthew 19:16) The Lord listed commandments to him ending with 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.' (Mark 12:31) And the young man said, 'All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?' (Matthew 19:20)

"'Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

"'But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions' (Matthew 19:21-22)."

- Ronald A. Rasband, "To the Summit," commencement address at BYU-Idaho, 4/8/16
Click here to read the full talk

In this address to graduates at BYU-Idaho, Elder Rasband uses powerful examples from the pioneers to remind us of a key concept of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There were no solo treks across the plains, no pioneer companies of one person—they depended on each other to get through the challenging times. In John Chislett's memorable phrasing, we travel the hill three times; once as we climb ourselves, a second time as we return down to help another, and then a third as we climb again, sharing burdens of others.

Likewise, the Gospel message is that we only succeed when we "see that your fellow travelers get to the top of the hill." The essence of the Savior's message (and of the covenants we make) is that we "bear one another's burdens" as we move up the hills and through the challenges of life.

Gordon B. Hinckley on honoring our pioneer heritage

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 stand today as the recipients of their [the pioneers'] great effort. I hope we are thankful. I hope we carry in our hearts a deep sense of gratitude for all that they have done for us.

"It is now 1997, and the future is ahead. As great things were expected of them, so are they of us. We note what they did with what they had. We have so much more, with an overwhelming challenge to go on and build the kingdom of God. There is so much to do. We have a divine mandate to carry the gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people....

"We are engaged in a great and consuming crusade for truth and goodness. Fortunately, we live in a season of goodwill. There has come down to us an inheritance of respect and honor to our people. We must grasp the torch and run the race....

"With so great an inheritance, we can do no less than our very best. Those who have gone before expect this of us. We have a mandate from the Lord. We have a vision of our cause and purpose."

- Gordon B. Hinckley, "True to the Faith", Ensign, May 1997, p. 66-67
Click here to read the full talk

It's now been 19 years since the Church celebrated the 150th anniversary of the pioneer arrival in the Great Salt Lake valley. As President Hinckley spoke on that occasion, he looked to the past at the example of the pioneers, but looked to the future at the challenges and opportunities that were ahead.

He suggested that our endeavors can be blessed by remembering the examples of the past and carrying a sense of gratitude and with us as we move ahead. We recognize that "we have so much more" than those early saints had; our lives are relatively simple and blessed with prosperity and ease. But our challenges are also great. "There is so much to do" for us in these days as we defend the truth and strive to carry the message of the gospel into the world.

David A. Bednar on faith in trials and the enabling power of the Atonement

Elder David A. Bednar (born June 15, 1952) was serving as the president of BYU–Idaho when he was called and sustained as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in October 2004.

"All that I have read thus far is a preparation for the next line from Daniel W. Jones’ journal. It illustrates how those pioneer Saints may have known something about the enabling power of the Atonement that we, in our prosperity and ease, are not as quick to understand: 'We asked the Lord to bless our stomachs and adapt them to this food' (Jones, Forty Years Among the Indians, 81; emphasis added). My dear brothers and sisters, I know what I would have prayed for in those circumstances. I would have prayed for something else to eat. 'Heavenly Father, please send me a quail or a buffalo.' It never would have occurred to me to pray that my stomach would be strengthened and adapted to what we already had.

"What did Daniel W. Jones know? He knew about the enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He did not pray that his circumstances would be changed. He prayed that he would be strengthened to deal with his circumstances. Just as Nephi, Amulek, and Alma and his people were strengthened, Daniel W. Jones had the spiritual insight to know what to ask for in that prayer. 'We hadn’t the faith to ask him to bless the raw-hide, for it was "hard stock." On eating now all seemed to relish the feast. We were three days without eating before this second attempt was made. We enjoyed this sumptuous fare for about six weeks' (Jones, Forty Years, 81–82).

"The enabling power of the Atonement of Christ strengthens us to do things we could never do on our own. Sometimes I wonder if in our latter-day world of ease—in our world of microwave ovens and cell phones and air-conditioned cars and comfortable homes—I wonder if we ever learn to acknowledge our daily dependence upon the enabling power of the Atonement."

- David A. Bednar, "In the Strength of the Lord," BYU Devotional, 23 October 2001
Click here to read the full talk

Elder Bednar shared a remarkable story from the life of Daniel Jones, who was part of the rescue efforts for the stranded 1856 handcart companies. During that time, he volunteered with a few others to remain and safeguard the possessions of the pioneer companies while the suffering individuals were taken to Utah for relief. But those who stayed behind soon found their provisions very inadequate to the point that they were forced to subsist on animal hides and other very meager possessions. That's the setting for the stunningly humble and faithful prayer of Daniel Jones.

The profound insight this offers, according to Elder Bednar, is that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we are able to pray not for circumstances to change, but for the strength to survive and learn from the circumstances we're in. That kind of prayer often requires a much deeper faith in God and trust in His eternal plan for our welfare. We learn to draw on the great "enabling power" that the grace of God provides in our lives, helping us to move forward and be blessed by the things we experience and learn.

As Elder Bednar cautions, in our prosperous and comfortable times, it can become easy to forget how dependent we are on that eternal enabling power. We must keep the proper eternal perspective and always acknowledge the blessings that come to us from God in myriad ways. And then, we are able to seek for even more enabling power to help us to grow and become more like Him.

Henry B. Eyring on having faith tried and strengthened in times of challenge

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.

"I see a thread of faith, a particular faith, running in the lives of those heroes of the Restoration whose steadfastness and courage leave us in awe. Perhaps if we examine that thread today, we may find it in our own lives and strengthen it.

"Those histories reveal as much about faith from what people did as from what they declared in words. Different as were their challenges and their responses, I thought I saw a recurring pattern. Here it is.

"They shared a faith that the kingdom of God had been established for the last time, that it would triumph over great opposition and would become glorious in preparation for the day when the Savior would come to accept it, that it would stand forever, and that theirs was a rare privilege to have been called out of the world to build it.

"They were sure that they were establishing Zion, a place of refuge. It is not surprising then that they plead for that Zion and that they expected not only to build it but to enjoy living in it. What is surprising is that their faith increased when they pleaded for Zion to be established even as they saw times of safety turn to times of testing....

"It seems to me that was true because their faith was based on an understanding of why God allows us to pass into such close places and how he delivers us. The 'how' springs from the 'why.' The why is that our loving Heavenly Father and his Son, Jesus Christ, wish for us to be sanctified that we may have eternal life with them. That requires our being cleansed through faith in Jesus Christ, repenting because of that faith, and proving ourselves faithful to the covenants they offer us only through their mortal servants in the kingdom of God. Knowing their loving purpose makes it easier to understand both why they allow trials and how they deliver us.

"They could make all the rough places smooth in building the kingdom and in our lives. They allow trials to come even when we are faithful because they love us....

"But for me, the greatest comfort comes from this one in D&C 95:1:

"'Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you whom I love, and whom I love I also chasten that their sins may be forgiven, for with the chastisement I prepare a way for their deliverance in all things out of temptation, and I have loved you.'

"I have come to understand that to try our faith is not simply to test it but to strengthen it, that the witness which comes after the testing strengthens that faith, and that God’s preparation includes in the plan for deliverance the timing that will best strengthen our faith."

- Henry B. Eyring, "Faith of Our Fathers," BYU Education Week Devotional, Aug 20, 1996
Click here to read the full talk

This was really a profound and moving address by President Eyring. Speaking to an eager audience at the BYU Campus Education week in 1996, he shared a number of experiences of his own pioneer ancestors to illustrate the common principles of faith and devotion that made their contributions and sacrifices so great. It was all based on the foundation of belief in the restoration of the gospel and the vision of the great work of the latter days. They felt that they were participating in that work, and that regardless of where or how they were asked to serve, their part would make a difference in the eventual destiny of God's kingdom on earth.

I think that's a powerful insight. When we understand that God is in charge, and if we truly believe he speaks through His authorized servants to help direct us in the labors of the last days, then we are not only willing, but eager to receive and follow through on that direction.

And moreover, we learn that in the process of acting in faith, we are also growing in faith. Our faith is strengthened as it is tested. Learning to understand, or at least to trust, God's timing is so critical for that process!

Jeffrey R. Holland on developing personal reservoirs of faith

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (b. 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.

"And so I issue a call for the conviction we all must have burning in our hearts that this is the work of God and that it requires the best we can give to the effort. My appeal is that you nurture your own physical and spiritual strength so that you have a deep reservoir of faith to call upon when tasks or challenges or demands of one kind or another come. Pray a little more, study a little more, shut out the noise and shut down the clamor, enjoy nature, call down personal revelation, search your soul, and search the heavens for the testimony that led our pioneer parents. Then, when you need to reach down inside a little deeper and a little farther to face life and do your work, you will be sure there is something down there to call upon.

"When you have your own faith, you are prepared to bless your family. The single strongest indicator of activity and service, of devotion and loyalty in this Church continues to be the presence of strong family ties. I say that, knowing full well that part of the majesty of this Church is in the individual member. Sometimes that member is a new convert; sometimes that member is the only Latter-day Saint in the family. Some individual somewhere had to plant the flag of faith and start a new generation in the gospel. But the fact is that faith is better nurtured and more protected and longer lasting when there is an entire family to reinforce it. So after standing alone if you have to, work diligently to see that others in your family don’t stand alone. Build your family and see that faith is strong there....

"We must have faith in this work—faith in what all believers are called to do, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and in our Father in Heaven. We need to conform our will to Theirs and then make that will rock-ribbed and pioneer strong indeed. If we do that, I know we will be safe and secure in the inexorable onward movement of the Church and kingdom of God on earth."

- Jeffrey R. Holland, "Faith to Answer the Call," regional stake conference broadcast at BYU, September 12, 2010; see Ensign, July 2011, p. 54
Click here to read the full talk

In this beautiful pioneer-themed sermon, Elder Holland shared some of my favorite stories about the challenges faced by early pioneers—not necessarily in crossing the plains, but also in the settlement of the west.  These include the stories of the Hole-In-The-Rock pioneers and the faith of young Elizabethe Claridge McCune. They are marvelous examples of the love, loyalty, and firm dedication these early Saints had for the faith they had embraced.

Elder Holland then turns the challenge to us. We too have wastelands in our lives to be pioneered, including those deep inside our personal souls. The ability to do this starts with our having a deep "reservoir of faith" from which we can draw in times of need:

The list of suggestions in this excerpt is wonderful: pray more, study more, focus more, enjoy nature, seek revelation, cleanse your soul.

With that reservoir established, and our faith is "rock-ribbed and pioneer strong," we are then prepared to bless those around us, starting with our own families. We can truly carry on the faithful mission started by those previous generations and continue to bless the lives of those near to us, and through them, the whole world.

M. Russell Ballard on the challenges in life's journey

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.

"Our faith can help us be equally bold and fearless during the course of our respective journeys, whether we are parents working with a troubled child, a single parent trying to raise a worthy family, young people struggling to find a place in a wicked and confusing world, or a single person trying to make the journey through life alone. No matter how difficult the trail, and regardless of how heavy our load, we can take comfort in knowing that others before us have borne life’s most grievous trials and tragedies by looking to heaven for peace, comfort, and hopeful assurance. We can know as they knew that God is our Father, that He cares about us individually and collectively, and that as long as we continue to exercise our faith and trust in Him there is nothing to fear in the journey. Like the pioneers of 1847 who ventured west along a trail that kept them relatively close to life-sustaining fresh water from rivers, particularly the Platte and the Sweetwater, we need to follow and partake of the Living Water of Christ to refresh our faith and sustain our efforts as we travel the road through mortality.

"Life isn't always easy. At some point in our journey we may feel much as the pioneers did as they crossed Iowa—up to our knees in mud, forced to bury some of our dreams along the way. We all face rocky ridges, with the wind in our face and winter coming on too soon. Sometimes it seems as though there is no end to the dust that stings our eyes and clouds our vision. Sharp edges of despair and discouragement jut out of the terrain to slow our passage. Always, there is a Devil's Gate, which will swing wide open to lure us in. Those who are wise and faithful will steer a course as far from such temptation as possible, while others—sometimes those who are nearest and dearest to us—succumb to the attraction of ease, comfort, convenience, and rest. Occasionally we reach the top of one summit in life, as the pioneers did, only to see more mountain peaks ahead, higher and more challenging than the one we have just traversed. Tapping unseen reservoirs of faith and endurance, we, as did our forebears, inch ever forward toward that day when our voices can join with those of all pioneers who have endured in faith, singing: 'All is well! All is well!' (Hymns, no. 30)."

- M. Russell Ballard, "You Have Nothing to Fear from the Journey," Ensign, May 1997, pp. 59-61
Click here to read the full talk

This was one of Elder Ballard's addresses during the 1997 sesquicentennial commemoration (150 years) of the pioneer legacy. He had some great counsel as he compared our challenges to those of that earlier time. We have difficult trails in life too, for a variety of reasons. But he encourages us to remember that we are not the first to have traveled challenging paths; others have survived their own journeys that included "life's more grievous trials and tragedies by looking to heaven for peace, comfort, and hopeful assurance." We have a Father who "cares about us individually and collectively" and will help to make any journey possible.

Much of the pioneer journey carefully followed rivers, such as the Platte and the Sweetwater. One key to the journey is to stay close to the source of Living Water:

Elder Ballard's symbolic comparison between the obstacles faced by the pioneers and the challenges of our lives was interesting:

• up to our knees in mud
• forced to bury some of our dreams along the way
• facing rocky ridges, with the wind in our face and winter coming on too soon
• no end to the dust that stings our eyes and clouds our vision
• sharp edges of despair and discouragement jut out of the terrain to slow our passage
• confronted by a Devil's Gate of sin or temptation
• seemingly never-ending challenges like mountain peak after mountain peak

But always and forever, we have available the ability to "[tap] unseen reservoirs of faith and endurance" in order to arrive at a blessed destination, and to be able to remember along the way, regardless of the apparent trials and setbacks, "All is well."

Dallin H. Oaks on the burdens carried by modern-day pioneers

Elder Dallin H. Oaks (b. August 12, 1932) served as president of BYU from 1971-1980.  He was then appointed as a justice of the Utah Supreme Court, and resigned when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1984.

"Many modern Saints do their pioneering on the frontiers of their own attitudes and emotions. The proverb says, 'He that ruleth his spirit [is better] than he that taketh a city.' (Prov. 16:32.) Modern Saints know that one who subdues his own spirit is just as much a pioneer as one who conquers a continent.

"The path of modern pioneers is not easy. Burdens carried in the heart can be just as heavy as those pulled in a handcart. And just as some early pioneers struggled for the benefit of others, so some modern pioneers carry burdens imposed by the transgressions or thoughtlessness of others....

"In our day, as in the days of earlier pioneers, those in the lead wagons set the direction and signal onward, but it is the faithful men and women in the wagons which follow that provide the momentum and motive power for this great work.

"As modern pioneers press forward, they suffer hardships and make sacrifices. But they are sustained by an assurance given by the Lord Himself. These words, first spoken to the struggling Saints in Ohio, apply also to the faithful of our day:

"'Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks;

"'Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded with this seal and testament—the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted.

"'Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name's glory, saith the Lord.' (D&C 98:1-3.)"

- Dallin H. Oaks, "Modern Pioneers," Ensign, November 1989, pp. 64-67
Click here to read the full talk

As we talk about the pioneers of early Church history, we often hear that each of us today are pioneers in our own way. Elder Oaks explains in this article some of the ways that pioneering spirit can be expressed. This paragraph was insightful to me:

"Subduing" our own attitudes and emotions can be a great challenge at times. As Elder Oaks explains, we sometimes complicate that struggle with added burdens in our hearts and souls. The gospel plan helps us learn to lessen those extra, unnecessary burdens.

The promise of D&C 98 quoted by Elder Oaks I think is one of the most beautiful in the scriptures. The promise is given to us by God "with an immutable covenant" that we'll be blessed through our afflictions; and that God's glory will be magnified in the process.

Robert D. Hales on the blessings of temples

Elder Robert D. Hales (1932- ) served as a Seventy from 1976 to 1985, when he was called as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.

"Despite many tribulations in the Prophet Joseph's life, great things were brought to pass for the Restoration of the gospel in these latter days. Joseph came to understand and has taught us that when he was struggling with a challenge, the Lord did not let him perish. Similarly, tests of our faith are priceless opportunities to discover how deeply the Master cares about the welfare of our souls to help us endure to the end.

"In our day, the steadying arm of the Lord reaches us through the ordinances of His holy temples. Said the Prophet Joseph to the early Saints in Nauvoo, 'You need an endowment, brethren, in order that you may be prepared and able to overcome all things' (History of the Church, 2:309). How right he was! Being blessed with the temple covenants and endowed with power made it possible for the Latter-day Saints to endure tribulation with faith. At the end of her own pioneer journey, Sarah Rich recorded, 'If it had not been for the faith and knowledge that was bestowed upon us in that temple... our journey would have been like... taking a leap in the dark' (Sarah DeArmon Pea Rich, Autobiography, 1885-1893, p. 66)."

- Robert D. Hales, "Faith through Tribulation Brings Peace and Joy," Ensign, May 2003, pp. 15-18
Click here to read the full talk

It's always wonderful to ponder what is accomplished despite tribulations. Elder Hales suggests the example of Joseph Smith, who (in spite of great trials) was an instrument in the restoration of many gifts in these latter days.  Elder Hales points out that these times can help us "to discover how deeply the Master cares about the welfare of our souls" as we confront, and survive, the challenges.

I happen to be in Nauvoo as I am preparing this thought. I can look out my hotel window at the marvelous reconstructed temple, that so profoundly represents the faith and sacrifice of a previous generation of Saints. I loved this final thought about the role of the temple and the endowment, and the power that can come to those whose hearts are ready. The testimony of Sarah Rich was especially touching; it is the temple, its ordinances and teachings, that gives power to endure whatever may come.

M. Russell Ballard on pioneers and the challenges of today

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.

"This is God's work, and God's work will not be frustrated. But there is still much to be done before the Great Jehovah can announce that the work is done. While we praise and honor those faithful Saints who have brought us to this point of public prominence, we cannot afford, my brothers and sisters, to be comfortable or content.

"We are all needed to finish the work that was begun by those pioneering Saints over 175 years ago and carried out through the subsequent decades by faithful Saints of every generation. We need to believe as they believed. We need to work as they worked. We need to serve as they served. And we need to overcome as they overcame.

"Of course, our challenges are different today, but they are no less demanding. Instead of angry mobs, we face those who constantly try to defame. Instead of extreme exposure and hardship, we face alcohol and drug abuse, pornography, all kinds of filth, sleaze, greed, dishonesty, and spiritual apathy. Instead of families being uprooted and torn from their homes, we see the institution of the family, including the divine institution of marriage, under attack as groups and individuals seek to define away the prominent and divine role of the family in society.

"This is not to suggest that our challenges today are more severe than the challenges faced by those who have gone before us. They are just different. The Lord isn't asking us to load up a handcart; He's asking us to fortify our faith. He isn't asking us to walk across a continent; He's asking us to walk across the street to visit our neighbor. He isn't asking us to give all of our worldly possessions to build a temple; He's asking us to give of our means and our time despite the pressures of modern living to continue to build temples and then to attend regularly the temples already built. He isn't asking us to die a martyr's death; He's asking us to live a disciple's life.

"This is a great time to live, brothers and sisters, and it is up to us to carry on the rich tradition of devoted commitment that has been the hallmark of previous generations of Latter-day Saints. This is not a time for the spiritually faint of heart. We cannot afford to be superficially righteous. Our testimonies must run deep, with spiritual roots firmly embedded in the rock of revelation. And we must continue to move the work forward as a covenanted, consecrated people, with faith in every footstep, 'till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.'"

- M. Russell Ballard, "The Truth of God Shall Go Forth," Ensign, Nov. 2008, 83
Click here to read the full talk

We sometimes need to be reminded that "there is still much to be done" and encouraged to be active and faithful in our part. Elder Ballard uses the context of the early pioneers for that message. While acknowledging their amazing contributions in overcoming challenges including persecution from angry mobs, being forced from homes, exposure, and hardship, he points out that we face equally great challenges in preserving the sanctity of homes and families, and dealing with exposure to the harmful elements of our society.

This application to our modern situation was particularly helpful:

This final challenge rings clear and unequivocal: