Elder Holland gave a talk called Terror, Triumph, and a Wedding Feast at a CES Fireside a while back.\u00a0 His words have rested on me for days.\u00a0 I just need to share\u00a0them with you.<\/p>\n
First of all, Terror:\u00a0 We live in a world that is \u201cTerrible\u201d, and there is certainly reason to fear.\u00a0 All of us are at risk; many couples are questioning the permanence of marriage; or even to bring children into this violent world.\u00a0 But Elder Holland says, \u201cWe must never, in any age or circumstance, let fear and the father of fear (Satan himself) divert us from our faith and faithful living.\u201d \u00a0We can\u2019t let fear paralyze us, because we have much work to do.<\/p>\n
Triumph:\u00a0 In Jesus Christ\u2019s last counsel to his disciples, He said, \u201cThese things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.\u00a0 In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.\u201d (John 16:33)\u00a0 Sometimes, after reading the newspaper, watching the news, or looking down the city street, we forget that ultimately Christ will triumph, for He already has.\u00a0 We need to stay on the path that leads to the Savior of the World.<\/p>\n
The following quotes speak to me in terms of what Relief Society sisters must be about.<\/p>\n
President Woodruff said, \u201cThe Almighty is with this people.\u00a0 We shall have all the revelations that we will need, if we will do our duty and obey the commandments of God\u2026I want to do my duty.\u00a0 I want the Latter-day Saints to do their duty\u2026Their responsibility is great and mighty.\u00a0 The eyes of God and all the holy prophets are watching us.\u00a0 This is the great dispensation that has been spoken of ever since the world began.\u00a0 We are gathered together\u2026We are doing the work of God\u2026Let us fill our mission.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pres. Hinckley said, \u201cWe of this generation are the end harvest of all that has gone before.\u00a0 It is not enough to simply be known as a member of this Church.\u00a0 A solemn obligation rests upon us.\u00a0 Let us face it and work at it.\u00a0 We must live as true followers of the Christ, with charity toward all, returning good for evil, teaching by example the ways of the Lord, and accomplishing the vast service He has outlined for us\u2026we have been brought forth in this unique and remarkable season.\u00a0 Be grateful, and above all be faithful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then Elder Holland comments, \u201cIt is interesting to me that in those two quotations, separated in time by more than a hundred years, our prophets have focused not on the terror of the times in which\u2026we are all living.\u00a0 Instead, they felt to speak of the opportunity and blessing, and above all the responsibility, to seize the privileges afforded us in this, the greatest of all dispensations.\u201d<\/p>\n
After so much apostasy, destruction, and darkness, Elder Holland theorizes, \u201cthat those great men and women, the leaders in those ages past, were able to keep going, to keep testifying, to keep trying to do their best not because they knew that THEY would succeed but because they knew that YOU would.\u00a0 There would finally be one dispensation that would not fail; ours, not theirs, was the day that caused them to sing and prophesy of victory.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Wedding Feast will be our Victory Party.\u00a0 The world depends on us to be there; in fact, to organize it, send out the invitations, and invite all those awaiting the good news.<\/p>\n
So how do we be faithful?\u00a0 Elder Holland says, \u201cWhen Christ comes, the members of His church MUST look and act like members of His church are SUPPOSED to look and act if we are to be acceptable to Him.\u201d<\/p>\n
President J. Reuben Clark Jr. says, \u201cOur faith must NOT be difficult to detect.\u201d<\/p>\n
President Gordon B. Hinckley says, \u201cIt is not enough\u2026to simply be known as a member of this Church\u2026We must live as true followers of\u2026Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n
Relief Society is indeed a serious work.\u00a0 We have much responsibility resting on our shoulders in bringing His lost sheep back into the fold from every corner of our jurisdiction.\u00a0 Should we fear?\u00a0 Should we grumble?\u00a0 No.\u00a0 Our work is cheerful, happy, inviting, loving, and everlasting.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
This talk was given at a CES fireside on September 12, 2004, and can be found at www.lds.org.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Elder Holland gave a talk called Terror, Triumph, and a Wedding Feast at a CES Fireside a while back.\u00a0 His words have rested on me for days.\u00a0 I just need to share\u00a0them with you. First of all, Terror:\u00a0 We live in a world that is \u201cTerrible\u201d, and there is certainly reason to fear.\u00a0 All of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[275],"class_list":["post-1450","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-conference-talks","tag-latter-days"],"yoast_head":"\n