President Russell M. Nelson on challenges to faithfulness, and promises that will follow

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.

"My dear brothers and sisters, with all the pleadings of my heart, I urge you to get on the covenant path and stay there. Experience the joy of repenting daily. Learn about God and how He works. Seek and expect miracles. Strive to end conflict in your life.

"As you act on these pursuits, I promise you the ability to move forward on the covenant path with increased momentum, despite whatever obstacles you face. And I promise you greater strength to resist temptation, more peace of mind, freedom from fear, and greater unity in your families.

"God lives! Jesus is the Christ! He lives! He loves us and will help us. Of this I testify in the sacred name of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, amen.

- Russell M. Nelson, "The Power of Spiritual Momentum," General Conference April 2022, Sunday morning

Click here to read or listen to the full address

In this powerful, landmark address during the recent conference, President Nelson offered five specific challenges to members of the Church. He summarized those challenges in this closing section, where he urged us "with all the pleadings of [his] heart" - what a powerful message!

 Those were his wonderful invitations:

1. Get on the covenant path and stay there
2. Repent daily
3. Learn about God
4. Seek and expect miracles
5. Strive to end conflict

It's always thrilling when a prophet not only gives you challenges, but follows them with promises of what will result.

1. The ability to move forward with increased momentum, in spite of obstacles
2. Greater strength to resist temptation
3. More peace of mind
4. Freedom from fear
5. Greater unity in families

How can we wait to follow through on his challenges!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2022)

President Henry B. Eyring on God's sure promises

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.

"Now for the sure promises. First, if you will let your heart be drawn to the Savior and always remember Him, and if you will draw near to our Heavenly Father in prayer, you will have put on spiritual armor. You will be protected against pride because you will know that any success comes not from your human powers. And you will be protected against the thoughts which come rushing in upon us that we are too weak, too inexperienced, too unworthy to do what we are called of God to do to serve and help save His children. We can have come into our hearts the reassurance recorded in Moroni: 'And Christ truly said unto our fathers: If ye have faith ye can do all things which are expedient unto me' (Moro. 10:23).

"There is another sure promise. It is this: Whether or not you choose to keep your covenant to always remember Him, He always remembers you. I testify that Jesus Christ, born in Bethlehem, was and is the Only Begotten of the Father, the Lamb of God. He chose from before the foundations of the earth to be your Savior, my Savior, and the Savior of all we will ever know or meet. I testify that He was resurrected and that because of His Atonement we may be washed clean through our faith to obey the laws and accept the ordinances of the gospel."

- Henry B. Eyring, "Always," Church Educational System fireside at BYU on 3 January 1999; see Ensign, Oct. 1999, p. 12
Click here to read the full talk

When we think of "sure promises" in this kind of context, we often think of the covenant kinds of arrangements: if we do certain things, then God will do certain things. That is how President Eyring introduces the discussion of promises:

IF WE:
- Let our hearts be drawn to the Savior
- Always remember Him
- Draw near to God in prayer
THEN WE:
- Have spiritual armor
- Have protection against pride
- Have protection against feelings of inadequacy
- Have spiritual reassurance of the good to come

But in the second paragraph, President Eyring changes the tone.

EVEN IF WE DON'T do our part to always remember Him, we have the assurance that He will always remember us. What a remarkable, comforting, strength-infusing promise!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2022)
July 15, 2016

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

President Henry B. Eyring on wise use of time

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. When this address was given at BYU in 1986, he was serving as a counselor in the Presiding Bishopric.

"Even a moment's reflection will help you see that the problem of using your time well is not a problem of the mind but of the heart. It will only yield to a change in the very way we feel about time. The value of time must change for us. And then the way we think about it will change, naturally and wisely....

"I've come to understand something that happened to me in my early teens. I was in a hurry when I felt, not heard, a voice, an impression, which I knew then was from God. It was close to these words: 'Someday, when you know who you really are, you will be sorry that you didn't use your time better.' I thought then that the impression was odd, since I thought I was using my time pretty well and I thought I knew who I was. Now, years later, I am beginning to know who I am—and who you are—and why we will be so sorry if we do not invest our time well.

"You will develop your ability to invest your precious time well by gaining three confidences. First, you must gain confidence that God keeps his promises. Second, you must gain God's confidence that you will always keep the promises, not that you choose to make, but that he asks you to make. And third, you must help others gain confidence that God keeps his promises.

"You can gain confidence that God keeps his promises by trying them. That's why I so appreciate those commandments to which God has attached an explicit promise. I see those commandments as school masters. And I try to put them high on my list of things to do, because I know their value for changing my heart and building my power to invest my time."

- Henry B. Eyring, "Child of Promise," fireside address at BYU, May 4, 1986; see New Era, August 1993, p. 4
Click here to read the full talk

President Eyring always gets right to the core. In our very busy lives, "the problem of using your time well is not a problem of the mind but of the heart." It's not just a matter of making the intellectual choices, the decisions or plans or schedules.  It's a matter of making sure your heart is in the right place first. The "value of time" must be understood. Then the rest will follow!

I appreciate the distinction between "using time" and "investing time." The impression from Pres. Eyring's youth relates to this principle.

So then the key is to "develop your ability to invest your precious time" in the proper ways.

As our relationship with God develops and deepens, we not only have a greater desire to do His will, but also feel more of His guidance and influence.

But I especially appreciate the insight in the final paragraph of this excerpt — how we go about changing our heart and building faith and power.

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

March 17, 2015

Elder L. Tom Perry on keeping promises to the Lord

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.

"My business career was as a retail executive. As such, I was required to attend trade association meetings, business clubs, chamber of commerce meetings, etc. They always started with a cocktail hour. I was always uncomfortable in the setting. Nearly everyone would be holding an alcoholic beverage in their hands as they mingled together. I asked myself, 'What could I hold in my hand to represent my standards and the standards of the Church?' I realized that if I didn’t hold a glass in my hand someone would always be wanting to buy me a drink.

"At first I tried holding 7-Up, but it looked the same as other bubbly, alcoholic drinks. Finally, I decided to walk over to the bartender and request a glass of milk. I thought he might be hard of hearing because he made me repeat my order three times.  The final time was loud enough that everyone in the room could hear.

"After fumbling around for a few minutes the bartender finally handed me a glass of milk. You can imagine the ribbing I received as I mingled the rest of that evening, but I knew my standards, and I was undeterred. The next month, at the same meeting, I ordered my milk. From then on, the bartender always had a glass of milk for me.

"Then a funny thing started to happen. At future meetings more people started ordering milk and drinking it with me. They confided in me that their wives did not like them drinking because it might impair them as they drove home. Instead of feeling awkward during cocktail hour, I soon became the center of conversation. It helped me meet more people and fulfill the purposes for which I attended those gatherings.

"I learned an important lesson from this experience. If I kept my promises to the Lord, He would always keep His promises to me. He would always fulfill his end of the bargain—and much, much more—if I fulfilled mine."

- L. Tom Perry, "The Church: Scaffolding for Our Lives," BYU-Idaho devotional, January 24, 2012
Click here to read the full talk

Personal anecdotes are often so instructive, as in this case from Elder Perry. It's interesting to think what each of us may have done in the situation he describes. The choice he made not only followed his standards and covenants, but was perhaps the most obvious in proclaiming them to other people. No one could mistake the fact that he was drinking a glass of milk among the rest of the alcoholic drinkers! And it's interesting to note that over time, others joined in his example.

When we make covenants with God, He promises to bless us. Elder Perry witnessed the blessings that come from covenant-keeping. It would be well for each of us to consider areas in which we might be more diligent, as well as opportunities to proclaim our standards boldly to those around us.

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

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland on God's love for each one

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (born December 3, 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.

"Your Father in Heaven knows your name and knows your circumstance. He hears your prayers. He knows your hopes and dreams, including your fears and frustrations. And He knows what you can become through faith in Him. Because of this divine heritage you, along with all of your spiritual sisters and brothers, have full equality in His sight and are empowered through obedience to become a rightful heir in His eternal kingdom, an '[heir] of God, and joint-[heir] with Christ.' (Rom. 8:17.)

"Seek to comprehend the significance of these doctrines. Everything Christ taught He taught to women as well as men. Indeed, in the restored light of the gospel of Jesus Christ, a woman, including a young woman, occupies a majesty all her own in the divine design of the Creator. You are, as Elder James E. Talmage once phrased it, 'a sanctified investiture which none shall dare profane.' (James E. Talmage, 'The Eternity of Sex,' Young Woman’s Journal, Oct. 1914, 602.)"

- Jeffrey R. Holland, "To Young Women," General Conference October 2005
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

One of the great truths of the Restoration is the very personal nature of God. Joseph Smith discovered this truth in his First Vision: God knew his name, and knew his circumstances. Elder Holland testifies that we all have that same assurance of His individualized love and concern for us:

Because we are, truly, His daughters and sons, there are powerful promises that await us, even that we may each "become a rightful heir in His eternal kingdom." There is nothing greater we could hope for!

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

President Russell M. Nelson on the certainty of knowledge and faith

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. He was set apart as president of the Quorum of Twelve on July 15, 2015.

"While the world is filled with uncertainty, there need not be uncertainty in your heart and mind about what is true and what is not. Uncertainty is born of imperfect or unknown information. As an Apostle, I plead with you to learn God’s irrevocable laws. Learn them by study and by faith. That means, among other things, '[living] by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God' (D&C 84:44).

"Pray to discern between God’s laws and the philosophies of men, including those cunning counterfeits of the adversary. Through eons of time, Lucifer has honed his craft. He is skilled at distraction, distortion, deception, and misdirection. I plead with you to avoid his cunning snares as you would avoid a plague!

"Entrapments designed by Satan can only bring to you misery, spiritual captivity, and death. (See 2 Nephi 2:27.) This is true every time. The sad consequences of yielding to Lucifer’s lures are predictable, dependable, repeatable, and regrettable.

"Conversely, I promise that as you keep God’s commandments, as you live by His laws, you will become increasingly free. This freedom will unveil to you your divine nature and allow you to prosper personally. You will be free from the bondage of sin. You will be free to be you—an effective, righteous leader. You will be prepared to lead by precept and by example wherever you are needed. Happily, the blessings of keeping God’s commandments are also predictable, dependable, and repeatable."

- Russell M. Nelson, "Prophets, Leadership, and Divine Law," Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults, BYU, January 8, 2017
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

Using the example of medical situations from his professional expertise, President Nelson established earlier in this talk that some things are "predictable, dependable, and repeatable." The certainty of those things provides a firm direction and help for our lives. Knowing the good things that are predictable helps us choose them as priorities in our lives; knowing the bad things helps us avoid them.

We sometimes need divine help to know the difference between God’s laws Satan's counterfeits. I was intrigued by the idea that "Through eons of time, Lucifer has honed his craft. He is skilled at distraction, distortion, deception, and misdirection." We must rely on both knowledge and inspiration to make wise choices in avoiding his traps!

Prophetic promises are so valuable to notice and then to cling to. President Nelson urges us to keep God's commandments, and explains the promised consequences of freedom that follow such choices. Those blessings are always "predictable, dependable, and repeatable."

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

Henry B. Eyring on God's sure promises

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.

"Now for the sure promises. First, if you will let your heart be drawn to the Savior and always remember Him, and if you will draw near to our Heavenly Father in prayer, you will have put on spiritual armor. You will be protected against pride because you will know that any success comes not from your human powers. And you will be protected against the thoughts which come rushing in upon us that we are too weak, too inexperienced, too unworthy to do what we are called of God to do to serve and help save His children. We can have come into our hearts the reassurance recorded in Moroni: 'And Christ truly said unto our fathers: If ye have faith ye can do all things which are expedient unto me' (Moro. 10:23).

"There is another sure promise. It is this: Whether or not you choose to keep your covenant to always remember Him, He always remembers you. I testify that Jesus Christ, born in Bethlehem, was and is the Only Begotten of the Father, the Lamb of God. He chose from before the foundations of the earth to be your Savior, my Savior, and the Savior of all we will ever know or meet. I testify that He was resurrected and that because of His Atonement we may be washed clean through our faith to obey the laws and accept the ordinances of the gospel."

- Henry B. Eyring, "Always," Church Educational System fireside at BYU on 3 January 1999; see Ensign, Oct. 1999, p. 12
Click here to read the full talk

When we think of "sure promises" in this kind of context, we often think of the covenant kinds of arrangements: if we do certain things, then God will do certain things. That is how President Eyring introduces the discussion of promises:

IF WE:
- Let our hearts be drawn to the Savior
- Always remember Him
- Draw near to God in prayer
THEN WE:
- Have spiritual armor
- Have protection against pride
- Have protection against feelings of inadequacy
- Have spiritual reassurance of the good to come

But in the second paragraph, President Eyring changes the tone. EVEN IF WE DON'T do our part to always remember Him, we have the assurance that He will always remember us. What a remarkable, comforting, strength-infusing promise!

L. Tom Perry on the challenges and blessings of life

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.

"Today we find ourselves surrounded with so much depression, despair, lack of confidence, and loss of hope. I ask myself: For what purpose is all this gloom? Consider with me for a moment the great blessings which have been promised us in a covenant with the Lord. He has entered into a solemn and binding contract with each of us from the very beginning to give us all that He hath according to our faithfulness. He has declared, 'I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say.' (D&C 82:10.)

"By solemn covenant He will perform His part of the agreement. The opportunity to receive these great blessings is ours to control, based on our individual performance....

"One of the purposes of the mortal experience is to see if we will follow the Savior's counsel to 'seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.' (Matt. 6:33.)

"We live in the most glorious era in the history of mankind. The opportunity to reap the blessings of the Lord has never been greater, as is the opportunity to serve Him and experience the eternal satisfaction which comes from that service.... Let us remember, it is in our power to enjoy the fruits of the gospel, for He has promised us if we will be obedient to His law and be willing to render unto Him what He requires of us in service and sacrifice, we will find the joys of eternity."

- L. Tom Perry, "Behold, the Lord Hath Shown unto Me Great and Marvelous Things," Ensign, Nov 1992, pp. 15-17
Click here to read the full talk

Elder Perry had a joyful spirit. His personal demeanor and his public discourses frequently expressed his enthusiasm for life. He shares some of that philosophy in this excerpt. He sees no room for "gloom" or "despair," given the promises of God to his children related to their mortal experiences. Elder Perry believes we have the ability to choose many of the circumstances of our lives as we choose to enjoy the fruits of the gospel in our lives. Choosing to obey and to serve results in the joys of eternity.

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:

Henry B. Eyring on wise use of time

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. When this address was given at BYU in 1986, he was serving as a counselor in the Presiding Bishopric.

"Even a moment's reflection will help you see that the problem of using your time well is not a problem of the mind but of the heart. It will only yield to a change in the very way we feel about time. The value of time must change for us. And then the way we think about it will change, naturally and wisely....

"I've come to understand something that happened to me in my early teens. I was in a hurry when I felt, not heard, a voice, an impression, which I knew then was from God. It was close to these words: 'Someday, when you know who you really are, you will be sorry that you didn't use your time better.' I thought then that the impression was odd, since I thought I was using my time pretty well and I thought I knew who I was. Now, years later, I am beginning to know who I am—and who you are—and why we will be so sorry if we do not invest our time well.

"You will develop your ability to invest your precious time well by gaining three confidences. First, you must gain confidence that God keeps his promises. Second, you must gain God's confidence that you will always keep the promises, not that you choose to make, but that he asks you to make. And third, you must help others gain confidence that God keeps his promises.

"You can gain confidence that God keeps his promises by trying them. That's why I so appreciate those commandments to which God has attached an explicit promise. I see those commandments as school masters. And I try to put them high on my list of things to do, because I know their value for changing my heart and building my power to invest my time."

- Henry B. Eyring, "Child of Promise," fireside address at BYU, May 4, 1986; see New Era, August 1993, p. 4
Click here to read the full talk

President Eyring always gets right to the core. In our very busy lives, "the problem of using your time well is not a problem of the mind but of the heart." It's not just a matter of making the intellectual choices, the decisions or plans or schedules.  It's a matter of making sure your heart is in the right place first. The "value of time" must be understood. Then the rest will follow!

I appreciate the distinction between "using time" and "investing time." The impression from Pres. Eyring's youth relates to this principle.

As our relationship with God develops and deepens, we not only have a greater desire to do His will, but also feel more of His guidance and influence.

But I especially appreciate the insight in the final paragraph of this excerpt — how we go about changing our heart and building faith and power.