Stake Conference

We were in the midst of an apostle this evening. Tonight, we had Elder Jeffrey R. Holland come to out stake conference and share his powerful message with us of enduring well. It was quite moving and I wish I could convey to you the magnitude of the spirit there.

He started by telling us that he had a few things he had wanted to share with us, but that he was going to put that aside for now because he wanted to talk with us informally about hard times, pain, and tears. He told us that when hard things happen, don't panic... the Lord loves broken things.
Broken clouds bring rain
Broken ground brings grain
Broken grain brings brings bread
Broken bread feeds our souls

The Lord can fix all. He gave us everything He had and His Son to make sure we got fixed.

He talked about the law of sacrifice. Christ said, "you shall offer unto me a broken heart and contrite spirit." You can't expect to be a disciple of Christ without walking where He walked, feeling what He felt, and in some occasions, shedding some of the tears He shed. Elder Holland said that there is a high price sometimes for this education we receive, but that our tears help us to understand someone else's. He said, "It's OK if your heart breaks a little. It's supposed to. A sacrifice isn't a sacrifice unless it hurts a little." He told us to take up our cross, be strong, be hopeful, and endure well. He shared with us some touching moments in his service.

Elder Holland reminded us that we are children of God. That we have divine inheritance and that we are stronger than we think. He said that there is no simple way for us to realize this. It entails trials and pain - the refiners fire.

Elder Holland told us that the first sea men's rule: In the middle of a storm, STAY IN THE BOAT! He said that some people walk away from the gospel during hard times, when the need it the most. When the storms hit, you don't jump ship and try out your doggy paddle. You stay in the boat where you are safe.

He also asked, "You think because you suffered, God doesn't love you? Have you read the scriptures?" He spoke of people in the scriptures, past Latter-Day Prophets, and the sufferings of Jesus Christ. Did not the Lord love them?

Elder Holland stated that often we don't think of Jesus as ever getting tired. He spoke of Jesus' ministry and how exhausting and tired He must have been; so tired in fact that Jesus slept during a storm that was so tumultuous that the crew thought the ship was going to capsize. He said that we need to take up our cross and carry it.

The overall message was Overcome Fear and Increase Faith. Endure.

What a wonderful evening. Can't wait for tomorrow morning when we get to hear him again.