Autumn has definitely arrived here in Virginia. October brought us cooler, wetter weather. It brings with it anticipation for costumes and candy to many. It also brings renewed church attendance. In this area we have been able to slowly return to church services. Before General Conference the wards were meeting on a rotational basis and in small groups. The Aquia Ward which we attend was meeting every third week with multiple sessions of Sacrament limited to 25 people at a time. Under those circumstances I was able to visit units in my capacity in the Stake High Council.
In October we enjoyed general conference. What a joy, and so many specific and inspired messages directly applicable to the current world experience. At the same time, beginning October 1, the Virginia meeting restrictions have been loosened by state government. As a result we were all able to attend sacrament meeting together again in one body. Masks, social distancing, and a limit to just one meeting were the rule, nevertheless it’s clear coming together is a blessing.
I spoke at the Accokeek Ward. Bishop Bracero asked me to think about member-missionary work from the idea of what general conference message I would advise us to share with others. I immediately thought of President M. Russel Ballard. I’ve always liked his approach to speaking; direct and clear messages. I first heard him when he was serving in the First Quorum of Seventy. I was on my mission in southern Spain. His daughter was serving there as well. As she finished her time of service, Elder Ballard and his wife came to Spain. He was giving conferences across Europe on assignment. They timed it so as to be able to take their daughter with them on the tour before heading back home.
As it turns out his recent conference talk not only drew me because of the speaker, but because of the topic. It’s titled Watch Ye Therefore, and Pray Always. While setting personal goals this past year I decided to use the youth program approach. I divided goals in the areas of spiritual, social, physical, and intellectual. Among my spiritual goals I wrote, “Have more meaningful private prayer.” Before work shifted my efforts from office to home-office my schedule was quite overbooked. My morning prayer was something that tended to happen while riding the train into Washington DC each day. Evening prayer was less steady and often didn’t happen until I was pretty much exhausted from the day, if it happened at all. With this goal in mind I did become more focused before the pandemic. With all the changes I still have a heavy load to carry each day. Despite this, my schedule leaves me with more flexibility and privacy than I would in the public or office arena.
In his talk, President Ballard shares the following words from the Savior:
Luke 21:36
36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
I can’t speak for others, but as I watch all the anger, fear, discouragement, and economic distress going on around me, I’m able to count my blessings as I speak with Heavenly Father. President Ballard speaks to our own prayer in this way. “I think often of those of you who are suffering, worried, afraid, or feeling alone. I assure each one of you that the Lord knows you, that He is aware of your concern and anguish, and that He loves you—intimately, personally, deeply, and forever.”
To the speaking topic assignment Bishop Bracero gave me, I think the best thing we can do is to encourage others likewise to pray. Again from President Ballard, “Today I expand my call for prayer to all people from every country around the world. No matter how you pray or to whom you pray, please exercise your faith—whatever your faith may be—and pray for your country and for your national leaders.” I firmly believe that if an individual approaches God from where ever they are today, He will lead them closer to truth. Approaching truth will inevitably lead people in one way or another toward the Gospel.
President Ballard also shared, “During the past few months I have had the impression come to me that the best way to help the current world situation is for all people to rely more fully upon God and to turn their hearts to Him through sincere prayer. Humbling ourselves and seeking heaven’s inspiration to endure or conquer what is before us will be our safest and surest way to move confidently forward through these troubling times.”
It’s easy to get pulled into judging and allowing ourselves to be angered. As we note how far away we judge others to be from our own way of thinking, do we seek some form of justice to them, or do we seek for them to find the same peace we seek for ourselves? Again from President Ballard’s talk:
Matthew 5:44
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Praying for a change of heart in others should be accompanied by a prayer for our own change of heart that we might be more in tune with His will, and more accepting of His will over our own. President Ballard points out how the Savior prayed, then He went about doing good:
Acts 10:38
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
May we follow the Lord’s example. Let’s pray for others, let’s encourage others to pray. Let’s go about doing good.
In October we enjoyed general conference. What a joy, and so many specific and inspired messages directly applicable to the current world experience. At the same time, beginning October 1, the Virginia meeting restrictions have been loosened by state government. As a result we were all able to attend sacrament meeting together again in one body. Masks, social distancing, and a limit to just one meeting were the rule, nevertheless it’s clear coming together is a blessing.
I spoke at the Accokeek Ward. Bishop Bracero asked me to think about member-missionary work from the idea of what general conference message I would advise us to share with others. I immediately thought of President M. Russel Ballard. I’ve always liked his approach to speaking; direct and clear messages. I first heard him when he was serving in the First Quorum of Seventy. I was on my mission in southern Spain. His daughter was serving there as well. As she finished her time of service, Elder Ballard and his wife came to Spain. He was giving conferences across Europe on assignment. They timed it so as to be able to take their daughter with them on the tour before heading back home.
As it turns out his recent conference talk not only drew me because of the speaker, but because of the topic. It’s titled Watch Ye Therefore, and Pray Always. While setting personal goals this past year I decided to use the youth program approach. I divided goals in the areas of spiritual, social, physical, and intellectual. Among my spiritual goals I wrote, “Have more meaningful private prayer.” Before work shifted my efforts from office to home-office my schedule was quite overbooked. My morning prayer was something that tended to happen while riding the train into Washington DC each day. Evening prayer was less steady and often didn’t happen until I was pretty much exhausted from the day, if it happened at all. With this goal in mind I did become more focused before the pandemic. With all the changes I still have a heavy load to carry each day. Despite this, my schedule leaves me with more flexibility and privacy than I would in the public or office arena.
In his talk, President Ballard shares the following words from the Savior:
Luke 21:36
36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
I can’t speak for others, but as I watch all the anger, fear, discouragement, and economic distress going on around me, I’m able to count my blessings as I speak with Heavenly Father. President Ballard speaks to our own prayer in this way. “I think often of those of you who are suffering, worried, afraid, or feeling alone. I assure each one of you that the Lord knows you, that He is aware of your concern and anguish, and that He loves you—intimately, personally, deeply, and forever.”
To the speaking topic assignment Bishop Bracero gave me, I think the best thing we can do is to encourage others likewise to pray. Again from President Ballard, “Today I expand my call for prayer to all people from every country around the world. No matter how you pray or to whom you pray, please exercise your faith—whatever your faith may be—and pray for your country and for your national leaders.” I firmly believe that if an individual approaches God from where ever they are today, He will lead them closer to truth. Approaching truth will inevitably lead people in one way or another toward the Gospel.
President Ballard also shared, “During the past few months I have had the impression come to me that the best way to help the current world situation is for all people to rely more fully upon God and to turn their hearts to Him through sincere prayer. Humbling ourselves and seeking heaven’s inspiration to endure or conquer what is before us will be our safest and surest way to move confidently forward through these troubling times.”
It’s easy to get pulled into judging and allowing ourselves to be angered. As we note how far away we judge others to be from our own way of thinking, do we seek some form of justice to them, or do we seek for them to find the same peace we seek for ourselves? Again from President Ballard’s talk:
Matthew 5:44
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Praying for a change of heart in others should be accompanied by a prayer for our own change of heart that we might be more in tune with His will, and more accepting of His will over our own. President Ballard points out how the Savior prayed, then He went about doing good:
Acts 10:38
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
May we follow the Lord’s example. Let’s pray for others, let’s encourage others to pray. Let’s go about doing good.
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