Good morning/afternoon Brothers and sisters! I’m Derek Ely from the Bennion Ward.
In hymn number 81, titled Press Forward, Saints, it says: “Press forward, feasting on the word of Christ. Receive his name, rejoicing in his might. Come unto God; find everlasting light.” This song references the youth theme scripture for this year, which is, 2nd Nephi 31:20: “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.”
What that scripture means to me is that when we try to learn more about the gospel or when we are going through trials we should always, Always relate it back to Christ and have faith that God will help you with your understanding of the gospel and bless you because you are following His commandments. This does not mean that your life will go perfectly or that you will not have any trials. He can guide you and help you through your trials, and will still bless you no matter how slow, or fast, paced you get through your trial because he loves you. If you keep studying the scriptures and endure until the end you will have eternal life.
Brothers and sisters the youth theme should not just be for the youth. It should be for all of Heavenly Father’s children. Even if you aren’t in the youth program, you could still use the teaching from the theme for help and guidance. At home we should be having family home evenings every week. Remember that if you do drive out the spirit out of the home due to anger, frustration, or any emotion that drives the spirit out, the spirit can always come back. The home should be one of the most sacred places that we have.
Our families are there to help us through our own trials. When I was in primary I learned the song Families Can Be Together Forever it says in the chorus, “fam’lies can be together forever through Heavenly Father’s plan.” So we might as well get to know them and become friends with them, you’re kinda stuck with them for all eternity. It is hard sometimes to help or be helped by our own family members, because of trials in our own lives. Nephi, for example, had some awful brothers; they complained, gave no support, bound him; they even beat him and Sam. Throughout all this Nephi still had his father, mother, and his brother Sam, to look up to and have a good relationship with.
Although Laman and Lemuel were going through the same experience as Nephi, they had different ways to handle the situations, which made a big difference to the people around them as well as their own testimonies. In First Nephi 2:16 it says: And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers. When Nephi learned that the family had been commanded to leave Jerusalem and travel into the wilderness, his natural reaction was likely very similar to that of his brothers. It meant abandoning his plans. It meant giving up conveniences and living more modestly. It probably meant giving up friends, a schedule he was used to, and activities he enjoyed. He says that the reason he didn't rebel like his brothers is because he prayed and the Lord softened his heart.
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Not only should we press forward in our own homes and with our families, but also we should press forward in our own wards and stakes. As members of the Church we have the opportunity to sustain those the Lord has called to serve. We raise our hand to indicate that we sustain the General Authorities and officers of the Church and each of the leaders in our wards and stakes. Sustaining leaders involves more than just a raised hand—it means that we stand behind them, pray for them, accept assignments and callings from them, hearken to their counsel, and refrain from criticizing them.
Elder Rasband says, “We have sustained leaders today who, by divine inspiration, have been called to teach and guide us and who are calling out to us to beware of the dangers we face each day—from casual Sabbath-day observance, to threats to the family, to assaults on religious freedom, and even to disputing latter-day revelation. Brothers and sisters, are we listening to their counsel?
As we press forward, choosing to follow the counsel and the warnings of our leaders, we choose to follow the Lord while the world is going in another direction. We choose to hold fast to the iron rod, to be Latter-day Saints, to be on the Lord’s errand, and to be filled ‘with exceedingly great joy.”
I’d like to close with my testimony: that I know this is the only true church, and the gospel has been restored through Joseph Smith’s revelation. I know that Jesus Christ suffered for our sins so that we could have eternal life. I know that if we press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ and endure to the end we will have eternal life. I know that families can be together forever, through His one Eternal Plan of Happiness. I say these thing in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, Amen.
