Notable quotes:
“As in our New Testament story, those blessed with sight will recognize that, in spite of everything else this conference tradition may offer us, it will mean little or nothing unless we find Jesus at the center of it all.” “The prayer of every speaker, the hope of all who sing, the reverence of every guest — we are all are dedicated to inviting the spirit of Him whose Church this is, the living Christ, the Lamb of God, the Prince of Peace.” “I testify with … a host of others down through time that surely the most thrilling sight and sound in life is that of Jesus not only passing by but His coming to us, stopping beside us and making His abode with us.” Summary points:
- One doesn’t need to be in a conference center to find Christ. A focus on the Savior can come while reading scriptures, learning doctrines and principles of the faith or attending the temple.
- The invitation: To strive to see Christ at the center of our lives, our faith and our service.
- The promise: That the Savior will hear you and will say, “Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.” (Luke 18:42)
Talk summary:
Luke in the New Testament tells of a blind man on the road to Jericho who, when hearing the crowd’s commotions, learns of Jesus passing by as the reason for the clamor. The blind man persistently cries out above the crowd’s noise until he is taken to the Savior, Who in turn restores his sight and heals him.
Similarly, Joseph Smith rose above his day’s confusion and cacophony of competing Christian witnesses, with his seeking served as the catalyst for the First Vision. “Then the Father set the example we have been applauding this morning: He pointed to Jesus, saying, ‘This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!’
No greater expression of Jesus’ divine identity, His primacy in the plan of salvation and His standing in the eyes of God could ever exceed that short seven-word declaration.
“I testify with those two and a host of others down through time that surely the most thrilling sight and sound in life is that of Jesus not only passing by but His coming to us, stopping beside us and making His abode with us.”
An invitation and a promise:
“Through the incessant din and drumbeat of our day, may we strive to see Christ at the center of our lives, of our faith and of our service. This is where true meaning lies.
“And if some days our vision is limited, or our confidence has waned, or our belief is being tested and refined – as surely it will be — may we cry out the louder, ‘Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me’ (Mark 10:47).
“I promise with apostolic fervor and prophetic conviction that He will hear you and will say, soon or late, ‘Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee,’ (Luke 18:42).”
In the news:
About the speaker:
Recently on Social:
- Elder Holland addressed the Church’s youth in an Instagram post in August:
- Elder Holland often shares simple testimonies with his followers on Twitter:
I bear my personal witness that God is in reality our Father and that Jesus Christ is in reality His Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Savior and Redeemer of the world.
— Jeffrey R. Holland (@HollandJeffreyR) August 30, 2019- Elder Holland shared his thoughts on the word “remember” in an Instagram post following his address at the BYU-Idaho winter commencement.
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