This month the pandemic will hit its one-year anniversary. Many people have lived in fear, not seeing much hope. Isolation has impacted everyone at some level, of which we don’t know of its lasting effects. Now the COVID-19 infection numbers are dropping, access to the vaccine is expanding, restrictions are gradually being lifted. Spring is just around the corner, bringing warmer weather and outside activities. There have many reasons to look forward with hope and optimism, looking forward to the blessing that our Father in Heaven is waiting to shower upon us.
I noticed that during this pandemic, many found more free time as society slowed down. I remember feeling it was nice to slow down and not be rushed. I enjoyed the quiet time, time to ponder and study. It is during these times of quiet that the spirit teaches me and testified of truth and light.
During this time, did you find yourself withdrawing and self-isolating? The advisory uses the “noise” of this existence to distract us from the quiet, still small voice of the spirit. Do you listen to the noise or get distracted by it?
What did you do to lift yourself or care for yourself? Have you found new ways to serve others? What blessings have you identified? Do you continue to exercise your faith with patience, placing our burdens, anxieties, and shortcomings upon the Lord?
The church produced a presentation titled: “2021 Temple and Family History Leadership Instruction“
During this presentation Elder Bednar of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles and Elder Hamilton of the Seventy referred to a quote from our Prophet, President Nelson in his the April 2020 address, “Hear Him”:
“I promise that as you increase your time in temple and family history work, you will increase and improve your ability to hear Him.
We also hear Him more clearly as we refine our ability to recognize the whisperings of the Holy Ghost. It has never been more imperative to know how the Spirit speaks to you than right now. In the Godhead, the Holy Ghost is the messenger. He will bring thoughts to your mind which the Father and Son want you to receive. He is the Comforter. He will bring a feeling of peace to your heart. He testifies of truth and will confirm what is true as you hear and read the word of the Lord.
I renew my plea for you to do whatever it takes to increase your spiritual capacity to receive personal revelation.
Doing so will help you know how to move ahead with your life, what to do during times of crisis, and how to discern and avoid the temptations and the deceptions of the adversary.
And, finally, we hear Him as we heed the words of prophets, seers, and revelators. Ordained Apostles of Jesus Christ always testifies of Him. They point the way as we make our way through the heart-wrenching maze of our mortal experiences.”
President Russell M. Nelson – From <https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/04/45nelson?lang=eng>
We know-how important it is to have personal revelation. Now our living prophet encourages us to “increase your spiritual capacity to receive personal revelation.”
He continues to emphasize how “imperative” it is to know how the Spirit speaks to us. He has asked leaders to testify how they “Hear Him” and asks the question of us.
How do you “Hear Him”?
We have been taught great lessons these past few weeks both in our sacrament meetings and our second-hour meetings. Our learning has expanded as we have taken time to ponder these messages in our homes.
Elder Bednar taught, “Faith in the Lord Jesus of Christ is a principle of Action and Power. 1st we act in accordance with the teachings of Jesus. Then we are blessed with the power of his spirit.”
I “Hear Him” in my times of quiet, that is when inspiration comes to me. I acknowledge that all good comes from God. These positive thoughts that come into my mind during these quiet times is the spirit enlightening my mind, testifying of Truth and Light.
Elder Bednar continued, “If we are living the gospel and keeping the commandments, we’re living in Revelation.”
I testify that our Heavenly Father listens to our prayers and that as we keep the commandments and live according to the gospel of Jesus Christ, we are living within revelation. I pled with you to place your burden on the atonement of Jesus Christ and allow him to take them from you.
We love you all,
Bishop Jeff Anderson & the 28th Ward Bishopric