Photo supplied, Intellectual Reserve

Those with social media accounts will have had the opportunity to read a message from Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which was posted Thursday.

For the benefit of those who don’t engage in social media, here is what he said:

“Dear brothers, sisters, and friends, how grateful I am that we can watch, listen to, or attend general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints this weekend. I know that the General Authorities and General Officers of the Church who will speak to us have prepared thoughtfully to teach us what the Lord would have them teach. I encourage you to view each session, prepared to make note of the spiritual impressions you receive.

“For each of us, time marches on. As many of you know, I am closing in on my 100th birthday. Though my body reminds me every day that it is nearly a century old and to go easy on it, I honestly don’t know where the years have gone. They have simply flown by.

“As senior leaders in the Church, we are called to serve for the remainder of our lives, often long beyond ‘retirement age.’ This means that you may see some of us during general conference speak while sitting down, or pre-record our message to be shared at the appropriate time, or even require a little assistance getting to and from our seats in the conference center.

Photo supplied

“From my point of view, this is cause for celebration. I thank the Lord every day for the privilege of still being here with you. I cherish working alongside colleagues who are wearing out their lives in service to our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, despite the aches and creaks that come with advancing age. I don’t have words to express how grateful I am for strong colleagues on whom I can lean in many ways as we strive to serve the Lord.

“May each of us, regardless of our individual circumstances, listen with open hearts and minds to what we hear this weekend so that the Lord can continue to direct each of us in our individual paths.

“Happy general conference, my dear brothers and sisters!”

I would like to share three thoughts that came to my mind as I read President Nelson’s words.

1. Those who will speak at general conference are sharing messages they have felt inspired by the Lord to teach us. This should be an amazing comfort to all who listen to them. They aren’t sharing messages they just casually put together or messages that advance some personal selfish agenda. We have the promise from the prophet of the Lord that they will be sharing messages the Lord wants them to share. Remembering this should help us be a little more determined in our desire to focus on their words, and more humble to accept their counsel if it isn’t particularly easy for us to hear. If the Lord is inspiring these speakers in their messages to us, certainly he will inspire us to learn what he wants us to learn from them if we desire it.

2. Let’s celebrate the continued ability of those who will be sharing messages. While I was serving my Latter-day Saint mission, Elder David B. Haight passed away. At the time of his passing, he was 97 years old and had become the longest-living apostle in the history of the church. I still remember hearing one of his final general conference addresses when I was on my mission. Regrettably, however, it was not because of the message that he shared. I remember the address because I remember how I felt as I listened to him struggle. Admittedly, I had a thought that I wished he didn’t have to speak. Why was it the case that he couldn’t have just been allowed to rest, I wondered. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize that prophets and apostles speak to us as long as they are able. Not because they are forced to, but because they want to. Everything they do is because they want to. Could there be any more reason other than that when they are, as President Nelson said, “long beyond retirement age?” If I could tell my missionary self one thing, it would be to not feel sorry for Elder Haight because of how he was struggling to share his message, but to feel grateful for Elder Haight because he was sharing a message despite clearly struggling to do so. All general conference addresses are certainly important, but I can’t help but wonder if there may be a little extra significance to a message delivered by someone who is so clearly struggling given the amount of effort that is required to deliver that message. It seems to me that what the Lord inspires someone to share with us in what may be one of their final general conference addresses, if not their last one, would be very significant.

3. We each have control of what the Lord shares with us. In life, there are so many examples of the haves and the have-nots. Some people are blessed with wealth and comfort while others are entrenched in a daily struggle. Some people simply will never have the means to have all that some other people have. But when it comes to personal revelation, we all have access to it. “For there is no respect of persons with God.” (Romans 2:11) “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8) As President Nelson said, if we “listen with open hearts and minds,” then “the Lord can continue to direct each of us in our individual paths.”

Contact Ryan Comer at rcomer@standard.net. Follow him on Twitter at @rbcomer8388 and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rbcomer8388.

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