“To paraphrase Ralph Waldo Emerson, the most memorable moments in life are those in which we feel the rush of revelation.”
– Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, April 1, 2018
What an amazing “rush of revelation” members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints experienced this weekend! As I listened to Elder Holland also say, “What a prophet!” my heart felt like it would burst.
After the conference sessions were over, my husband said something like, “We’re going to need to work to keep up with President Nelson!”
(For those not of our faith, he’s 93, but you would never know. Not only is he physically strong (one of the leaders quipped that they are just trying to keep President Nelson off the ski slopes); he also is already proving to be a visionary, action-oriented leader.)
But my husband’s thoughts went deeper than that. I felt like his words were inspired, and so I can’t paraphrase them well, but the idea was that President Nelson is ready to help lead us through more of the hastening work — but our willingness to respond to his inspired leadership is what will allow him to keep receiving the inspiration necessary to press this work forward.
I was reminded of what was mentioned again in this conference — that when President Monson urged us last year to read the Book of Mormon, President Nelson was immediately and specifically responsive. He modeled what he now needs us to do as prophet. It’s up to us to help hasten the work.
We’ve been called to minister like never before, with a unity like never before — between men and women, between adults and youth, between leaders and members, between heaven and earth.
In this conference, we were also reminded, yet again, that the tumultuous times of the last days will require our own spiritual centeredness like never before. There is and will continue to be a lot of opposition in our individual and our collective lives. We will need the anchor of a personal connection with God and deeply-rooted personal experience communicating with Him and leaning on Him.
There are amazing things happening. It was a gift to participate in General Conference this weekend. What a blessing to participate in the solemn assembly, to sustain two new apostles and other leaders, to hear of the changes that came to priesthood quorums and home and visiting teaching (read the FAQ here) to hear the announcement of seven more temples.
And there are amazing things ahead. President Nelson and others reminded us that we are preparing for the Savior’s Second Coming! We are engaged in a work that is wonderful, powerful, and eternal.
