109- 3/24/25

 This week our Elders Quorum lesson focused on the talk given by Elder Anderson from  this past conference, The Triumph of Hope. You will remember that it was while this talk was being given that Noah learned of the passing of his friend and previous college roommate. The story and example of this young man and his family has strengthen my faith and Hope in Jesus Christ. 

This talk was also a good reminder for me of where my trust and hope lie, and how a needed re-emphasis or recalibration of my focus is needed frequently to keep me aligned with my faith and greatest hope, to return to the presence of my Heavenly Father, united together with all of you for eternity.

I love this scripture and words of Moroni near the end of the Book of Mormon. “What is it that ye shall hope for? … Ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal.”

Elder Anderson taught that “the gift of hope is a priceless endowment (gift) from God.” He testified that “our hope of eternal life is assured through the grace of Christ and our own choices, allowing us the remarkable blessing of returning to our heavenly home and living forever in peace and happiness with our Heavenly Father, His Beloved Son, our faithful family and precious friends… On Earth we experience joy and sorrow as we are tested and proven. Our victory comes through faith in Jesus Christ as we triumph over our sins, difficulties, temptations, unfairness, and the challenges of this mortal life.”

Sometimes in the middle of our difficulties and struggles we feel like the world is falling in on us despite our best efforts. I was talking with Emma the other day about all the craziness surrounding their recent “car experiences”. Accidents, or break downs, one thing after another. Sometimes we feel like we are doing our best to do everything right, we are striving to make the temple a priority, we are having meaningful prayer and scripture study, we are doing all the little things, yet things still feel like they are going south. It is very difficult at times to focus on the “big picture” amidst what seems like the unraveling of our day to day lives.

Elder Anderson teaches us that “As we strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ, we see beyond our struggles to the blessings and promises of eternity. Like a light whose brilliance grows, hope brightens the darkened world, and we see our glorious future.”

He continues, “In times of difficulty, we choose to trust the Lord in faith. We quietly pray, “Not my will but thine be done.” We feel the Lord’s approval for our meek willingness, and we await the promised peace the Lord will send in His chosen timing.”

As we continue to exercise our faith by doing the little things, placing our covenants with God forefront in our hearts and minds, our hope will continue to grow. This promise is reassured to us by living prophets. “My brothers and sisters, hope is a living gift, a gift that grows as we increase our faith in Jesus Christ. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for.” We build this substance—the evidence blocks of our faith—through prayer, temple covenants, keeping the commandments, continually feasting on the scriptures and the words of modern-day prophets, taking the sacrament, serving others, and worshipping weekly with our fellow Saints.” (Elder Anderson)

Invitation - Ask ourselves, Is our hope in Jesus Christ growing? What am I currently doing to allow for this growth? Then commit to keep doing it!

I can promise you from my own personal experience , over and over again throughout my life,  that when I have the “Big Picture” clearly in focus, the struggles of day to day living become so much less daunting. I can also promise you that when this “Big Picture” is out of focus, because my priorities are out of focus, life is so much more difficult, upsetting, and draining. My personal testimony is that there is no other place on Earth that helps me refocus on this “Big Picture” more than the temple, and the eternal promises made available to us there through our Savior Jesus Christ. I know that this is by design in His Eternal Plan, and that as He prepares the world for the Savior’s return, He is directing His Prophet to flood the Earth with His holy houses. As we see you kids in the temple each week, our hearts are so so full! You are such great examples to each other and to us!

I love each one of you! Hope you have a wonderful week! Love,

Dad