This past week we had a stirring meeting with the RS and EQ presidencies of the stake as we reviewed our first quarter focus on ministering. I was humbled and grateful at the level of participation at the meeting with nearly 100% attendance, and even more so by the faith and discipleship demonstrated by the many examples of ministering and interview experiences shared. From the bottom of my heart and in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ whom I love and I know you do too I want to thank you for responding so well to the bold changes implemented in our ministering efforts. Having said that, I know that ministering as the Savior would have us do is its own reward. I know you are feeling an increase of His love in your life as you thoughtfully consider how to minister to those you are inspired and asked to serve. It was a wonderful meeting to have in the backdrop of General Conference, Easter, and a new quarter in which we can carry on with this renewed focus, which at its core is demonstrating our love for Jesus Christ. With that in mind I have four invitations and promises for you coming into this weekend, this month, and this next quarter leading into our next Stake Conference on June 11-12.

Find Christ in Conference

At the end of General Conference last October President Nelson pleaded with us to make time for the Lord. He said, “Nothing invites the Spirit more than fixing your focus on Jesus Christ.” This will be the first conference in over two years where there will be in person attendance. We can rejoice as we continue to put the pandemic behind us and ponder the lessons we have learned and the growth that its challenges have produced. I invite you to prepare your hearts and minds to listen to the Lord’s anointed testify of Him. I promise that it will increase your love for Him and the prophets and apostles and you will find answers to your prayers and guidance for your life.

Find Christ in Easter

On April 17th we will celebrate Easter. Our sacrament meeting as always will have a special focus on the Savior and the remarkable gift of His atonement and resurrection. Occurring in the meridian of time, Easter marks the single most important event in the history of the world. As Christians we have everything invested in the reality of a resurrection which takes away the sting of death and gives hope to the possibility of eternal life. Please plan to join in person if you can, and as we have been asked, invite a neighbor who will be equally blessed by music and spoken words that focus on Jesus Christ. I promise you an increased love for the Savior and His redeeming sacrifice along with strength to overcome weakness and trial in your life.

Find Christ in the Sacrament Weekly

In Come Follow Me we have been studying the story of Moses pleading with Pharaoh to “Let My People Go.” One by one the plagues the Lord sent through Moses, who was chosen to lead the Israelites out of Egypt deconstructed the entire Egyptian theology. A worldly theology which the children of Israel would have also had to unlearn. From the life-giving waters of the Nile, to the soil, to swarms of beetles, to locusts that were swept in by the east wind and the darkening of the sun, all showed that the God of the Israelites had power over the gods of the Egyptians. The last plague of course was the death of the firstborn. A household could be spared only by placing the blood of an unblemished lamb on the doorposts of their home and thus the tradition of the Passover began. A Jewish tradition that even today has an intense focus and remembrance of how Jehovah provided deliverance, safety through the wilderness of their exodus, and salvation from Egypt and its worldly gods. Each week we have the opportunity to partake of the sacrament as a constant reminder that Christ is our deliverer and Savior. I promise that as you focus on Christ and worthily partake of the sacrament each week you will have the guiding influence of the Holy Ghost in your wildernesses.

Find Christ in Ministering

Ministering provides us a way to demonstrate our love and gratitude for the gifts Jesus Christ has given us. We covenant at baptism to mourn with those that mourn and comfort those that stand in need of comfort. He asks us to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, visit the sick and afflicted and proclaimed to those who will do these things in that, inasmuch as we do these things to others it is “as if” we are doing them for Christ himself. I promise that as you continue to minister and reach out to others with compassion and charity to lighten their load, the weight of your own burdens will be lifted, and you will feel the warmth of God’s approval in your life.

He is The Way

One of my favorite gospel talks is Elder Corbridge’ October 2008 conference address. He provides a powerful testimony of Jesus Christ and proclaims that He is the way, the only way, and pleads that we might have the good sense to follow Him. I echo that plea and also join in his declaration that, “life is hard for all of us, but life is also simple. We only have two choices; We can either follow the Lord and be endowed with His power and have peace, light, strength, knowledge, confidence, love, and joy, or we can go some other way, any other way, whatever other way, and go it alone—without His support, without His power, without guidance, in darkness, turmoil, doubt, grief, and despair. And I ask, which way is easier?” May you find Christ in conference, Easter, the sacrament, and ministering to others, and recognize that He is the source of all good in this life and the promise of our redemption.

Love, President Nelson