Messages of Hope

Another general conference of the LDS Church in Salt Lake City, UT, has come and gone. I always come away feeling uplifted, determined to develop greater faith and live my life a little better.
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The speakers and topics were varied, but it seemed to me the overrall message was one of hope--a message for the ages, but even more so now. Hope is what we need to cling to in these troubled times.

Conference is held twice a year, in April and October. It is presented in 4 sessions on Saturday and Sunday, at 10am and 2pm each day (plus a priesthood session at 6pm on Saturday).

The purpose of the conference (held in the conference center at right) is for the leadership of the Church to address the entire worldwide membership of more than 13.5 million members.

Many speakers addressed the hardships we face now and in the future, but emphasized that this is a great time to be alive. We were reminded that trials are not a punishment, but rather opportunities for personal growth and service to others.

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Change is an inevitable component of life, we were told. We should focus on our blessings and learn from the experiences of others.

We were admonished to turn to Christ and listen for promptings of the Spirit as we face our trials. Walking in the paths of our Savior will bring us safely through these difficult times, as we also achieve greater faith and spiritual strength.

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"We will never be left alone and unaided," said Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve. God is always with us.

Service was a frequent theme. Elder Dallin H. Oaks quoted Mother Teresa: "We cannot do great things; we can only do small things with great love."

He shared scriptures on finding ourselves by losing ourselves in service to God's children. Our own troubles are lessened when we put aside selfishness and reach out to those around us in Christlike love.

Our greatest Hope, of course, is our hope in Christ. With Easter approaching, several speakers reminded us of events in the final weeks of our Savior's life. He was betrayed, ridiculed, abused, denied, and even forsaken briefly by His Father. He bore it all because of His great love for us.

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Because He died, we hope to be resurrected and live again as He does. Because He atoned for our sins, we hope for eternal life with Heavenly Father and our loved ones. Because He suffered all things, we have hope in His ability to comfort us as we progress through our mortal lives.

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Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency spoke of the Good News of Christ and His atonement. "Discipleship is a journey," he reassured us. "We don't acquire eternal life in a sprint..."

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Elder Quentin R. Cook discussed stumbling blocks to faith, but assured us that "Heavenly Father's plan is big enough for all His children."

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We were also reminded that, except for the holy temples--the House of the Lord--our homes are the most sacred places on earth. We were challenged to see that they are truly houses of love, peace, faith, and worship.

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I'm always saddened when the final speaker concludes and conference ends, but today I also feel a sense of renewed hope. My life has its share of stresses right now, but I know the God in whom I put my trust. If we turn our worries over to Him, He will bless our lives. Not always the way we hope, but always with what we need. I hope my faith will be great enough.