‘All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and that by his authority families can be joined together forever’
The brutal suffering and unfairness of the world and the peace, grace and healing salve of the redeeming love of Jesus Christ dominated the Easter weekend messages delivered by the first three speakers of the Saturday afternoon session of the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said the Book of Mormon authors who devoted much of its space to conflict were warning that violence, conflict, contention and incivility would mar the last days. His colleague in the quorum, Elder Dale G. Renlund, recalled the Rwandan genocide and addressed those who ask why a loving God wouldn’t stop such catastrophes.
“So this Easter,” he said, “let’s try to practice peace in a personal way, applying the grace and healing balm of the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ to ourselves, our families and all those we can reach around us.”
He called on members to pledge loyalty to Jesus Christ, who bore the sins, griefs and sorrows of all.
It is time, he said, to marshal the children of God “to care more about each other and to help heal the wounds we find in a conflicted world. … The instruments we need to create a brighter day and grow an economy of genuine goodness in society are abundantly provided for in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We cannot afford — the world cannot afford — our failure to put these gospel concepts and fortifying covenants to full use personally and publicly.”
Elder Renlund said “inexplicable unfairness is infuriating” and that because mortal life inherently unfair it can seem incompatible with a loving Heavenly Father, “yet he is real, he is kind and he loves each of his children perfectly.”
He recalled talking with a Rwandan man who directly asked why, “If there was a God, wouldn’t he have done something about it?” Elder Renlund said he did not minimize the death and suffering of the genocide, but shared what Christ had done, including the church’s belief that families can be restored in heaven.
“You mean there is something I can do for my dead parents and uncle?” the man asked.
“We testified that all that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and that by his authority families can be joined together forever.”
Elder Renlund said the unfairness of COVID-19 has been apparent.
“My heart aches for those who face such unfairness,” he added, “but I declare with all my aching heart that Jesus Christ both understands unfairness and has the power to provide a remedy. Nothing compares to the unfairness he endured. It was not fair that he experienced all the pains and afflictions of mankind. It was not fair that he suffered for my sins and for yours. But he chose to do so because of his love for us and for Heavenly Father. He perfectly understands what we are experiencing.”
He encouraged Latter-day Saints to focus on developing faith in Christ, striving to become like him and approaching others with compassion, trying to alleviate unfairness where they find it and making things right within their influence.
“Do not let unfairness harden you or corrode your faith in God,” he said. “Instead, ask God for help. Increase your appreciation for and reliance on the Savior. Rather than become bitter, let him help you become better.”
Elder Jorge T. Becerra, a General Authority Seventy since April 2020, shared experiences and scriptural accounts illustrating the need to help the “pobrecitos” or “poor little ones.”
In ministering to them, Elder Becerra encouraged listeners to seek after those in need, both temporally and spiritually; to follow Peter’s example by lifting up those in need, in Christ’s name; and to heed the counsel of President Russell M. Nelson to follow the Lord’s covenant path.
“I invite each of us to seek out the ‘pobrecitos,’ the ‘poor little ones’ among who are in need,” he said, adding, “As we minister, we should be led by revelation to those who are most in need, as opposed to just going down a list or visiting individuals in a methodical way.”
The session used previously recorded music by the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, which has not practiced or performed together since March 2020. The hymns were “Guide Us, Oh, Thou Great Jehovah” (2015), “If I Listen With My Heart” and “Come Ye Children of the Lord.”
President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency, conducted the session. Elder Carl B. Cook, a General Authority Seventy, gave the opening prayer.
from Deseret News https://ift.tt/3cN7SBB
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