This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday Morning Session of the April 1995 Conference.
This session was Elder Eyring's first as an apostle, and Elder Maxwell described him as "a special blend of brightness and sweetness." I thought that was cute. Elder Eyring really is very sweet! He reminds me of my dad that way.
President James E. Faust gave a really good talk about the unity we should feel as followers of Christ even as the church expands worldwide. I thought this was a really interesting quote to think about in the context of some of the church's choices even today:
As the humble servants of God…travel throughout the world, we are compelled to ask: What can we do for the peoples of the earth? What can we give that no one else can? What can justify the great expenditure of effort, time, and means to “go … into all the world,” as the Savior commanded? We cannot change the economy of countries. We do not seek to change governments. The answer is simple. We can offer the hope promised by the Savior: “Peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come.”
It was just a good reminder about the true mission of the church, the purpose that is more important than any political or governmental considerations—that of bringing hope in Christ, and leading others toward eternal life. I've had to remind myself multiple times lately that it is not the purpose of the church to speak out/agree with me regarding whatever social ill I'm currently worrying about (even really important ones). It's the purpose of the church to gather Israel and prepare for the Second Coming, and that might mean speaking out, or remaining silent, on different issues than I'd think! It's hard to get in that mindset, but it is so FREEING when I can do it—to stop worrying about the "economy of countries" or trying to "change governments" (not that those things are bad to try to do, of course!!)—and instead just feel the peace that comes from focusing on Jesus Christ and what He most wants His children to know!
President Faust quotes President Hunter saying “The key to a unified church is a unified soul, one that is at peace with itself and not given to inner conflicts and tensions” (I loved that talk too and wrote about it here.) I take that to mean that through true (not self-righteous) righteousness and trust in God, our souls can be at peace, at which point we'll be ready to simply love others rather than judge/compete with/be defensive toward them. And that's where President Faust takes the thought too:
Only as we seek to be purged of selfishness and of concern for recognition and wealth can we find some sweet relief from the anxieties, hurts, pains, miseries, and concerns of this world.
I love the idea that leaving selfishness behind is not merely a sacrificial act, but one that brings "sweet relief" for our OWN "anxieties, hurts, pains, miseries, and concerns"! And, our own burdens lightened, I assume we then have more strength to help bear those that others carry.
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