As a magnifying glass

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Saturday Afternoon Session of the April 2000 Conference.

I loved Elder Ballard's talk for this session of Conference. I doubt it was my favorite one at the time, because I used to think he was the most boring speaker! But now I like his talks so much, and I'm seeing his old ones with new eyes. He quoted what President Snow said in the year 1900 about the church:

On Friday, April 6, 1900, President Snow said: “The Lord has prospered us amazingly, and we are doing large things at the present time. … Now that we are approaching our seventy-first year, the Lord expects that we will do something—something that will cause the nations to marvel…

Then Elder Ballard extends that challenge to "do something" to the current new century, the year 2000. It resonates with me right now, too, during these times when I feel like the world is out of control and I don't know HOW the few of us Latter-day Saints who are left are supposed to make a difference in it. How can we and our families stay strong when so many others have fallen away? More importantly, how can we call those people back? I love Elder Ballard's answer to that question:

…As I read and ponder the scriptures and carefully consider the Lord’s counsel to His followers in every dispensation of time, it appears to me that the most important thing every one of us can do is to examine our own commitment and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. We must carefully guard against spiritual apathy and work to maintain the full measure of our loving loyalty to the Lord.

…It is important that we each know for ourselves that Jesus is the Christ and that He has restored to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith the fulness of His everlasting gospel. As we press forward in His service, spiritual experiences will increase our faith, and we will find great joy.

It's a pretty simple answer, and I guess an obvious one—that the most important things we can do is focus on our own commitment first. But I like the reminder that doing so really will allow us to have an effect on those around us too. Elder Ballard is realistic about how sometimes others won't want to listen to the full gospel message or accept the covenants that come with it. But even then, we can be witnesses of Christ:

Because we love the Lord, we should be spiritually sensitive to moments when the powerful and important truths of the gospel can be shared with others. Perhaps more importantly, however, we should seek at all times to purify ourselves and to lead such worthy lives that the Light of Christ emanates from us in all that we say and do. Our day-to-day lives should stand as immutable witness of our faith in Christ.

Then he summarizes:

Brothers and sisters, the Lord expects us to do something. I believe we are expected to increase our own faith, shake off any possible feelings of apathy, and by the power of the Holy Ghost reaffirm our commitment and intensify our service to the Lord. Then, when we seek to clarify someone’s understanding of the Church, our lives—well and faithfully lived—can serve as a magnifying glass through which others can examine the impact of gospel living. Under the light of our good example, the Spirit can enlarge understanding of the Church and its mission to all with whom we have contact.

We need not apologize for our beliefs nor back down from that which we know to be true. But we can share it in a spirit of loving understanding—boldly and confidently, with an eye single to the glory of God—without pressuring our listeners or feeling that we have failed in our duty if they do not immediately accept what we believe.

I feel like it's a good, patient perspective to see things this way—to trust that we'll be led when to speak and when to let our actions alone speak for us. I have questions about this all the time with my own children. When should I say something? When should I insist and when should I merely invite? When should I let things go? When should I chasten? When should I stay silent? The answers to these questions seem to constantly be changing from month to month and child to child. But I like the thought of not worrying about "failure" when it seems that someone isn't listening. Instead I should concentrate on being worthy of the Holy Ghost myself, and then trusting Him to both lead me, and to speak through me so my life can "serve as a magnifying glass" for those I love and have influence over.

Other posts in this series:

Power in the Word—by Rozy