My take on what follows… Our best approach to the difficult times we are now in and will yet face would be to keep the simple truths below close to our hearts, live them, share them, love them; like a sponge, soak up all such truths from God and His appointed servants, that bring us into harmony with Him and He will give us protection, warnings, in the otherwise uncertain days ahead. Thus our days are secured in following Christ with sincerity of heart. (see 1 Nephi 22:22) kdm
“I stand before you as evidence of the words of the Lord recorded in the first section of the Doctrine and Covenants: “That the fulness of [the] gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the [earth], and before kings and rulers.”(D&C1:23) These words are preceded by the Lord’s declaration which demonstrates the love of a Father for His children: “Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments.”(D&C 1:17)
Our loving Heavenly Father and His Son, Jehovah, with a knowledge of the end from the beginning (Abraham 2:8), opened the heavens and a new dispensation to offset the calamities that They knew would come. The Apostle Paul described the forthcoming calamities as “perilous times.”(2 Timothy 3:1) For me, this suggests that Heavenly Father’s generous compensation for living in perilous times is that we also live in the fullness of times.
As I agonized over my inadequacies this week, I received a distinct impression which both chastened and comforted me: to focus not on what I can’t do but rather on what I can do. I can testify of the plain and precious truths of the gospel.
These are the words which I have shared hundreds of times with both those who belong to the Church and many who are not members: “God is our [loving] Heavenly Father. We are His children. … He weeps with us when we suffer and rejoices when we do what is right. He wants to communicate with us, and we can communicate with Him through sincere prayer. …
“Heavenly Father has provided us, His children, with a way to … return to live in His presence. … Central to our [Heavenly] Father’s plan is Jesus Christ’s Atonement.”
Heavenly Father sent His Son to the earth to atone for the sins of all mankind. Of these plain and precious truths I bear my testimony, and I do so in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
From Elder Gary E. Stevenson (newly called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles) see original address ‘Plain and Precious Truths’
