Today our Stake had the privilege of hosting a member of the quorum of the twelve apostles: Elder Dallin H. Oaks. He had been in Rexburg speaking at devotional, training bishops & stake presidents, etc. & our stake was the lucky one chosen to get to have him address us for Sunday meetings. It was an honor to get to shake his hand and watch my children meet such a special priesthood holder of our church. Alexis was asked to sing in the youth choir and even got to sit directly behind Elder Oaks. 🙂
Before I write further I need to give a weekly background of events leading up to Sunday, I began praying, as soon as I heard he was coming, that I would have a personal confirmation of Elder Oak's call to be an apostle and representative of Jesus Christ. It is interesting to note how Satan began working on me in small subtle ways after doing so. As the week wore on I had really weird random worldly doubts enter into my mind and thoughts. 1. One of my former Visiting Teaching ladies has left the church and puts anti-mormon propaganda on her FaceBook page, on one particular day what I read kind of bothered me and I let it kind of fester a little instead of immediately dispel the thought. 2. Stephen mentioned a weird random fact he had recently heard from our church history that got me thinking and wondering that he saw from a crazy email came that came across the BYUI servers, 3. this email was a warning to President Clark that many of the students are having doubts and questioning some of the doctrine, 4. I also had a a ward member talking to me about how President Monson had been summoned to court in England and had charges against him for representing false doctrine, 5. there is also so much filtering the media about same sex marriage and how those against it are bigots. All of this combined with 6. how busy I was to not sit down and infuse myself in study and prayer to find peace got me feeling confused and a little bit scared. So I held tight to the prayer that I was going to get the opportunity to hear from an apostle who speaks for Jesus Christ.
Now a record of today's events: We arrived at our Stake Center at 8:30 the meeting was set to begin at 10. ALL of the soft seats were taken and we were left to sit at the front of overflow in the gym. I was proud of our Stake members and their support and excitement in meeting one of the Lord's servants – way to represent Sugar City! It is a wonderful place to live. In fact Elder Oaks complimented us on how unique and rare the high numbers and our stake reports looked. He said we should thank the Lord for living in a such a blessed community. I do feel blessed!
As he stood to speak at our local pulpit – the same one I have spoken from, it felt a bit surreal. He seemed just like one of us in a good way and then he began to speak. His message was simple, a message of Love. He explained that as he prayed for guidance on what he should share that was the impression he received. He reminded us that "the love of God is unconditional…that the road to qualify for the justice of God & ultimately exaltation requires us to repent, be baptized, keep commandments, etc. so that His spirit can be with us. He spoke of the fact that anyone can have the blessing of exaltation we just need to have DESIRE. He said, "if you desire eternal life, you can have it! There is NO sin that cannot be forgiven" (other than the unpardonable ones very few commit – killing someone). He cautioned that "DESIRE is what stands between us and Eternal life." He gave the youth a scripture to post on the bulletin boards in their rooms: D&C 38:42, "Go ye out from among the wicked, SAVE YOURSELVES (take responsibility for your choices). Be ye clean (live virtuos lives) that bear the vessels of the Lord." (for YM & Priesthood holders the vessels are the emblems of the flesh & blood or sacrament. For YW & YM he reminded them that there is no more sacred vessel than the body that God has created. for YW he said those sacred bodies are carried and brought into the world through a daughter of God)
Throughout his talk it was a build up to a powerful answer to my prayer and suddenly I was overcome inside and received that witness that I had desired. I appreciated His words and message of Love. It is one that resonates inside of me, it is what I would expect all of us that have chosen to follow Jesus Christ and be his disciples would benefit from. This simple message took all of the confusion and worry away from the week's random questions and it was completely gone and still is. The reassuring warmth and comfort that enveloped my soul gave me peace and confidence in the ways of God and the doctrine of the church I belong to: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I know I heard from a special witness of Christ, that He is one chosen to a mouth piece in teaching us the things to do to find happiness now and have hope in the things to come when our life here is through.
To top of the conference the closing song was our "family song". The 3rd verse to "How Firm a Foundation" was the icing on the cake of my spiritual comfort and quest for inner peace. I sang and felt like God was speaking to me, "Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed. For I am thy God and will still give thee aide. I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand."
LOVE today, can't wait to keep LOVING everyone, LOVE the gospel, LOVE my Heavenly Father and His plan for us, LOVE that I can be with my family forever. I want the kind of LOVE that helps me LOVE without strings attached or have to keep my guard up, or better said, the LOVE that helps me see others through GOD's eyes. This sounds like the ultimate quest for a lifetime and I'm ready to try to take it on.