‘Press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.”
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints emphasized those Book of Mormon words in a worldwide devotional for young adults on Sunday, January 8, 2023.
“That brightness of hope, born of love for God and all men — that’s what we want for every one of you in the new year,” said the Apostle, who was joined by his wife, Patricia, in an hour-long broadcast from the campus of Utah Tech University in their native St. George, Utah, USA. “Accompanying that bright hope will be the undeniable whisper that God loves you, that Christ is your Advocate, that the gospel is true. Its brightness will remind you that in the gospel there is always, every day, every hour, a new chance, a new life, a new year. What a miracle! What a gift! And because of Christ’s gift, the best things in life are ours if we steadfastly keep believing and keep trying and keep hoping.”
Sister Holland reminded young adults of Church President Russell M. Nelson’s recent call for people to share their light with the world.
“My most earnest prayer tonight — my hope — is that you as young adults all over the world will receive this call as your personal ministry, that you will take the hope of which the Savior spoke and carry it like a torch to those who feel the world is a very dark and difficult place,” Sister Holland said.
She offered a simple approach to the religious life: “Please have faith in God, hope that He will help you, and receive the charity that enables Him to work through you to accomplish what only you can do.”
“You can’t get these blessings by chasing them,” Sister Holland concluded. “Please stop running to the point of exhaustion. Be quiet. Be still. Simplify. Be meek and lowly of heart and pray. I testify that miracles will come when we slow down, when we calm down and when we kneel down. All that the Father has can one day be yours. What a truly hopeful way to face your future.”
Elder Holland acknowledged the world’s many problems and the “understandable malaise that hangs over” the rising generation. But, he added, “we call you and every other young Latter-day Saint to be in the forefront of the moral force that can resolve these problems, that can turn back the tide of fear, pessimism, and anxiety surrounding us.”
The Apostle urged young adults to “change whatever is wrong” in their lives, “large or small.” This is the pathway to exchange “anxiety for peace” and “sorrow for some happiness.”
“I leave an apostolic blessing on each one of you tonight for this new year regarding things I know with certainty and things you will always need,” Elder Holland said. “I bless you that the simple but exquisite power inherent in the principles of salvation, such as faith and hope and charity, will always be evident and efficacious in your life. I bless you to know, as I most assuredly do, that the gospel of Jesus Christ is personally precious, everlastingly hopeful, and eternally true.”
“I bless any among you who might be speaking these days of a faith crisis,” Elder Holland added. “Real faith — life-changing faith, Abrahamic faith — is always in crisis. That’s how you find out if it’s faith at all. I promise you that more faith will mean less crisis until, finally, God says, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant.’”
Watch the full broadcast of Elder and Sister Holland in St. George, Utah.
