And another talk

“God is at the Helm”

I grew up, through most of my school years and until shortly after I was married, on a hill overlooking the Los Angeles Harbor.  From my front yard, on a clear day, we had a wonderful view of Catalina Island which sits about 20 miles off-shore.  Most times of the day, you could see large ocean-going vessels steaming either into the Port or out to distant lands on the other side of the ocean.

I often wondered what it would be like to sail off to sea and I grew to enjoy anything that had to do with ships of all types.  In particular, I’ve had a fascination with the old sailing ships of the 18^th and 19^th centuries.  Their means of propulsion were quite simple yet these ships were some of the most complex machines ever devised by man at that time.  I did have an opportunity, when I was a priest, to take a replica sailing ship to Catalina Island.  It is an experience of which I still have fond memories.

When Elder Ballard tells us to “stay on the old ship Zion,” it brings to me a memory of a particular scene from the movie “Master and Commander.”  As Captain Aubrey takes his ship from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean around Cape Horn, he encounters a ferocious storm.  During the storm, one of his masts breaks free and goes over the side along with one of the young seamen who wasn’t secured to something on the deck.  The young man grabs onto the mast but the mast is acting as a sea anchor and threatens to sink the ship as it pulls the ship sideways to the great swells that they are encountering.  The only choice is that the mast has to be cut free and the young man sacrificed for the greater good of the entire ship. There was safety in the ship but once one went overboard, in those days, one was sure to be lost at sea thus the reason to hold on tight with both hands.

The Church is our Old Ship Zion and so long as we stay on board, and hold on tight with both hands, there is safety from the storms that surround us.  When we begin to let go, there is a chance of being washed overboard and being left to drown in the rough seas.

Elder Ballard spoke of four things we should hang on to in the Old Ship Zion, one of which I would like to focus on and that is living prophets and apostles.  He stated that the church, both in ancient times and in modern times, has always been led by prophets and apostles.  They are His chosen mouth-pieces to deliver to us counsel, warnings, teachings and testimony of Him.

How blessed we are to have the knowledge today, that the rest of Christianity rejects, that there are living prophets and apostles who deliver to us the words that our Heavenly Father wants us to hear.  As is written in Amos 3:7, “Surely the Lord, God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.”

 We recently had an opportunity to listen to the Prophet and to all of the Apostles during General Conference.  We had an opportunity to hear from the Lord through his servants.  What did the Lord want us to hear?  Did we take the opportunity to listen and to act?  Here are just some of the things these servants had to say:

Renlund:  Only when we see through Heavenly Father’s eyes can we be filled with “the pure love of Christ.”5 Every day we should plead with God for this love. Mormon admonished, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ.”

Did you hear the words of an Apostle?  Did you grab on, with both hands, to his message?  Are you praying for the pure love of Christ in your life?

Stevenson:   “God is our [loving] Heavenly Father. We are His children. … He weeps with us when we suffer and rejoices when we do what is right. He wants to communicate with us, and we can communicate with Him through sincere prayer. …

Did you hear the words of an Apostle?  Did you grab on, with both hands, to his message?  Are your prayers more sincere?

Rasband:  Now, if I could leave one small message with you today, it would be this: the Lord has said, “Love one another; as I have loved you.”

Did you hear the words of an Apostle?  Did you grab on, with both hands, to his message?  Are you striving to better love your fellow man?

Anderson:  Faith in Jesus Christ is a gift from heaven that comes as we choose to believe7 and as we seek it and hold on to it. Your faith is either growing stronger or becoming weaker.

Did you hear the words of an Apostle?  Did you grab on, with both hands, to his message?  Are you choosing faith and working on making it stronger?

Christopherson:  This religion is not concerned only with self; rather, we are all called to serve. We are the eyes, hands, head, feet, and other members of the body of Christ, and even “those members … which seem to be more feeble, are necessary.”16 We need these callings, and we need to serve.

Did you hear the words of an Apostle?  Did you grab on, with both hands, to his message?  Are you striving to better fulfill your callings and to serve your fellow members?

Cook:  In order to overcome the challenges and temptations that each of us inevitably faces, it will require righteous preparation and the use of divinely provided protections. We must determine to be temple worthy regardless of what befalls us. If we are prepared, we shall not fear.

Did you hear the words of an Apostle?  Did you grab on, with both hands, to his message?  Are you determined that you will be temple worthy despite life’s oppositions?

Bednar:  The Savior declared, “Whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same”. May we hear and heed the eternal truths taught by the Lord’s authorized representatives. As we do so, I promise our faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will be fortified, and we will receive spiritual guidance and protection for our specific circumstances and needs.

Did you hear the words of an Apostle?  Did you grab on, with both hands, to his message?  Are you more committed to seek spiritual guidance from the Lord through his chosen servants?

Holland:  To all mothers in every circumstance, including those who struggle—and all will—I say, “Be peaceful. Believe in God and yourself. You are doing better than you think you are. In fact, you are saviors on Mount Zion,13 and like the Master you follow, your love ‘never faileth.’14 ” I can pay no higher tribute to anyone.

Did you hear the words of an Apostle?  Did you grab on, with both hands, to his message?  Mothers, did you find comfort in these words?  Father’s and children, are you more committed to honoring your wives and your mothers?

Hales:  As a pilot in the air force, I learned this principle: never deliberately fly into a thunderstorm. Instead, fly around it, take another route, or wait for the storm to clear before landing.

Did you hear the words of an Apostle?  Did you grab on, with both hands, to his message?  Are you making better efforts to avoid finding yourself in tempting situations?

Ballard:  All of us are blessed when the Sabbath is filled with love for the Lord at home and at church. When our children are taught in the ways of the Lord, they learn to feel and to respond to His Spirit. We will all desire to attend each Sunday to partake of the sacrament when we feel the Spirit of the Lord.

Did you hear the words of an Apostle?  Did you grab on, with both hands, to his message?  Are you striving to make the Sabbath a better day and a delight, not only for yourself but for your family?

Oaks:  The healing and strengthening power of Jesus Christ and His Atonement is for all of us who will ask. I testify of that as I also testify of our Savior, who makes it all possible.

Did you hear the testimony of an Apostle?  Did you grab on, with both hands, to his testimony?  Was your faith strengthened and did you feel the spirit confirm his testimony?

Nelson: I bear witness of the reality of the Lord Jesus Christ and of His redeeming, atoning, and sanctifying power.

Did you hear the testimony of an Apostle?  Did you grab on, with both hands, to his testimony?  Did you receive the witness from the Holy Spirit of its truthfulness?

Uchtdorf:  “Does my life have meaning?”

“Do I believe in God?”

“Do I believe that God knows and loves me?”

“Do I believe that God hears and answers my prayers?”

“Am I truly happy?”

“Are my efforts leading me to the highest spiritual goals and values in life?”

Did you hear the words of an Apostle?  Did you grab on, with both hands, to his message?  Have you pondered upon these questions?

Eyring:  We can, if we live worthy of it, have the blessing of the Spirit to be with us, not only now and then,

Did you hear the words of an Apostle?  Did you grab on, with both hands, to his message?  Are you seeking to live your life such that you can have the Spirit with you always?

Monson:  Each of us came to earth having been given the Light of Christ. As we follow the example of the Savior and live as He lived and as He taught, that light will burn within us and will light the way for others.

Did you hear the words of a Prophet?  Did you grab on, with both hands, to his message?  Are you seeking to that light which will allow you to be a light unto others?

These are just a few of the things the Lord wanted us to hear; things that will guide us, lead us and bring us back into his presence.  I am positive that if any one of you received a personal letter from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, you wouldn’t toss it aside with the rest of the mail and say, “I’ll open this later when I have more time.”  You would most likely tear it open on the spot; read it, re-read it and read it again.  You would keep it near you always and cherish that letter throughout your life.  When prophets and apostles speak to us, it is a personal letter from our Savior to each of us.

Today, we are more likely to take an airplane to our destination than a sailing ship.  We travel at hundreds of miles per hour through sometimes calm and sometimes turbulent air.  I have learned through experience, over the years, to keep my seat belt on and tightened.  I have learned that when the pilot tells the flight attendants to suspend service and to strap in, to tighten my own seat belt a little more.  Through experience, I have also learned that when there is turbulence all around me and the plane is being buffeted to and fro, I can sleep on the plane in peace because I know the aircraft is designed to withstand those turbulences and others that are even worse.

We live in a turbulent world where much of the world is blown to and fro by the changes in the winds of morals and doctrines, never reaching their destination.  We are blessed to have guidance from our Heavenly Father through his servants which keeps us on course and guides us to our destination.  The Lord is at the helm.  He has appointed Captains, Lieutenants, and Mid-Shipmen to deliver his directions to us in our journey.  As we listen and obey; as we stay anchored in the gospel, we will have peace in our lives and be able to sleep peacefully through the storms, the waves and the turbulences of the world, knowing that all is well, In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.