Today I had the opportunity to lead my ward Relief Society in a discussion of a talk given at the last LDS Conference by Elder Stevenson titled, "The Heart of a Prophet." We talked about the outpouring of the spirit that was present at this last General Conference of the church because of the recent change in our church leadership. With the call of a new prophet there always seems to be an outpouring of the Spirit that whispers to us of the power and authority of Christ that rests upon this ordained leader of His church. This past conference there was that same special witness as well as an extraordinary opportunity to be present as revelation was given from our new prophet to make some significant changes in how we minister and care for one another in the church. We were able to see President Nelson's leadership in action.
In my class today we talked about the feelings and experiences we've had when we have been able to meet apostles or prophets in person. We talked about the love and Spirit that can be felt in the room when a prophet or apostle walks into it. I have had several of these experiences in my life, the most recent was in Columbia Maryland. Our stake received a special visit from Elder Dallin H. Oaks, now President Oaks newly called as a counselor to President Nelson our new prophet. I was able to attend two meetings he attended at our Conference in Maryland, and both were very special, but at an evening fireside with the youth the excitement of the youth and the love and attention the Elder Oaks paid to each and every one of them left me with a powerful impression of why these men are special witnesses of Christ.
Elder Stevenson, also an apostle of Christ, said this about President Nelson in the talk we discussed today: "His outreach is to all, young and old. He seems to know everyone and is particularly gifted at remembering names. All who know him feel that they are his favorite. And so it is with each of us—because of his genuine love and concern for everyone."
I have not personally met President Nelson, but many of the women in my ward here in Nebraska who were part of our discussion today, had the opportunity to meet with him in Omaha at a recent conference and their experiences with President Nelson were similar to the feelings and experiences our family had when we met with Elder Oaks. I believe that Apostles of Christ exude so much of the love of Christ wherever they go because of their special call as witness of Christ to our world.
"President Nelson’s call to the Twelve 34 years ago ended a professional medical career of strengthening and repairing hearts, it began a ministry as an Apostle devoted to strengthening and repairing hearts of countless tens of thousands around the world, each having been lifted and healed by his words and acts of wisdom, service, and love."
I've been pondering today about how grateful I am to be a member of the restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to know that Christ has restored his church again on the earth and like in ancient times has blessed us with prophets and apostles who have been ordained through priesthood power form on high and who lead the church through revelation as Christ's servants on earth.
When I read these words from Elder Stevenson's talk:
"In this sacred and memorable meeting, following a well-established precedent in unity and unanimity, the Brethren were seated by seniority in a semicircle of 13 chairs and raised their hands first to sustain the organization of a First Presidency and then to sustain President Russell Marion Nelson as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This sustaining was followed by the Quorum of the Twelve gathering in a circle and placing hands upon the head of President Nelson to ordain and set him apart, with the next most-senior Apostle acting as voice."
I thought about how I've felt in the presence of just one member of the quorum of the twelve and tried to imagine the kind of power and spirit that would be present, how it would feel for President Nelson, to be surrounded by the entire quorum and to be ordained to that highest calling on earth as prophet of the church of Christ. My heart was filled with the Spirit as I pondered that moment, that power, the significance of what it means to have a prophet on the earth and to be led by Christ through this pattern. It was a powerful thought, a powerful feeling.
With all that power on Earth to guide us, I thought how ungrateful we are when we don't listen and follow. When a prophet speaks, we must be serious about heeding his words. I re-read President Nelson's talk from this last conference to be reminded of the things he did say to us, and I was struck by these key things.
1) Prophetic Promise: I promise that as you continue to be obedient, expressing gratitude for every blessing the Lord gives you, and as you patiently honor the Lord’s timetable, you will be given the knowledge and understanding you seek. Every blessing the Lord has for you--even miracles--will follow.
2) Prophetic Warning: We live in a world that is complex and increasingly contentious. The constant availability of social media and a 24-hour news cycle bombard us with relentless messages. If we are to have any hope of sifting through the myriad of voices and the philosophies of men that attack truth, we must learn to receive revelation. Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again... But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.
3) Prophetic Pleading: I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation... Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly.
4) Prophetic Council: Oh, there is so much more that your Father in Heaven wants you to know. As Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught, “To those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, it is clear that the Father and the Son are giving away the secrets of the universe!” Nothing opens the heavens quite like the combination of increased purity, exact obedience, earnest seeking, daily feasting on the words of Christ in the Book of Mormon, and regular time committed to temple and family history work.
When a prophet speaks, we should always listen, but when a prophet speaks like this we should feel a sense of urgency. Having received such a sweet witness, over and over again, of the truth of this restored church and the power and authority that rests upon our prophet and the apostles that lead Christ's church, I know that I have a solemn duty to diligently follow. I want to "Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly," because I know that President Nelson's words are Christ's words, that this is what my Savior desires for me. What a blessing and a comfort it is to know that!
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