120 6-/23/25

 Hello Family,

I’ve been studying again this past week the talk given by President Eyring from this last conference, Draw Near unto Me. I think it was probably my favorite talk from that weekend. When you get a chance, try to listen to or read it in its entirety.

As I studied his message, I couldn’t help but think of the parallel our own personal journey takes relative to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus President Eyring spoke about.

The scriptures teach of those two devout and faithful followers of Jesus Christ. We read about them traveling to Emmaus, mourning the crucifixion of Jesus who they had hoped and believed was the Redeemer of Israel. In their mortal weakness and understanding, they were left feeling “saddened” because of His death. They thought He had come to save them from bondage and persecution, giving them immediate victory and relief from their oppressors. Instead they were left feeling downtrodden and alone as they contemplated what had happened.

President Eyring taught,  “There are times we feel close to the Savior Jesus Christ. And yet, sometimes during our mortal trials, we feel some distance from Him and wish for an assurance that He knows what is in our hearts and loves us as individuals.”

I think we can all relate to the feelings of these two New Testament disciples. There are times when we feel very close to the Savior as we walk our road or path of discipleship. Keeping our covenants, feeling strength and power beyond our own as we face life’s very individualized trials and challenges. Then there are times we feel distant from Him. In our weakness, sometimes by choice other times by apathy, our walk can feel more lonely, leading us to a similar ‘sadness felt by those early disciples. 

We really do hope and “wish for an assurance that He knows what is in our hearts and loves us as individuals” dispite our personal struggle for exact obedience. We hope that he truly does understand our mortal weaknesses and our wandering feet, and sees clearly our inner intentions as we try to stay feet firmly planted on the path.

In President Eyring’s words “There must have been affection in the risen Lord’s voice as He spoke to these two sorrowful and mourning disciples”. 

The Savior’s words to disciples them, and to us now, is the same. “Peace be unto you.” He explained to them His purpose for coming into he world, to suffer for the sins of mankind. “And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations…”

So as we continue to do our best in following Him, let’s keep our chins up when life challenges feels like they are pushing us down. As we walk our personal path of discipleship let us try to focus more on those feelings when we felt as those two faithful followers long ago, “And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?”

My invitation this week is the Savior’s invitation to each one of us: “Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

President Eyring: “Draw near Him by always remembering Him. Seek Him diligently through scripture study. Ask through heartfelt prayer to Heavenly Father to feel closer to His Beloved Son.”

I’ll close this week’s email with a very powerful testimony of Jesus Christ given by President Eyring. I would encourage each of you to pull this up on your phones and listen to him bear witness of the Resurrected Savior. Here is his testimony:

“I am a witness of the Resurrection of the Lord as surely as if I had been there with the two disciples in the house on Emmaus road. I know that He lives.

This is His true Church—the Church of Jesus Christ. We will, on the Day of Judgment, stand before the Savior, face to face. It will be a time of great joy for those, in this life, who have drawn close to Him in His service and can eagerly anticipate to hear His words: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

I testify as a witness of the risen Savior and our Redeemer, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.