by Giles Lambertson, Area Media Specialist
As a coda to a remarkable weekend of visits to congregations in the south Texas region, two General Officers, an Area Seventy, and the Texas San Antonio mission president gathered with Saints Sunday in Uvalde. From the podium and in a discussion period immediately following, they counseled members on being forward-looking, covenant-keeping followers of Jesus Christ.
Primary General President Susan H. Porter shared with the congregation that, following the unexpected death of her husband, she received a clear message in her mind and heart: Do not dwell on where you are. The impression inspired her to move beyond her moment of sudden loss.
President Porter counseled her listeners to do the same, citing scripture—Moroni 10:3—in which all are invited to ponder the Lord’s mercy and what it means for each person. “The Lord loves to heal wounds that we want healed,” she said. “We only need to look up to Him, ask for miracles, and open our hearts to receive them.”
Area Seventy Elder Jorge Contreras remarked upon the unusual occurrence of having two General Officers in a meeting outside Utah, let alone in an ordinary Sunday sacrament meeting. It is more evidence, he said, that “the work moves forward,” a perspective he repeated later in his remarks.
Elder Contreras encouraged listeners to continue to love God and our neighbors and otherwise to keep the commandments we have pledged to keep. “Making and keeping covenants, that’s where the power lies.”
Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson also spoke in the meeting, and then led a group discussion the following hour. President Johnson told of a time when, after her parents had moved the family from Idaho to Texas, she and her mother together would explore the new area. Her mother drove and she gave directions from a map. She said she also established certain guideposts, like a grocery store or a billboard, to help orient herself as she directed her mother. It was a successful team effort that always got them home again, she recalled. She then directed a question to the audience: “What guideposts do we have as we make our way through life?”
Audience responses were many and varied. They ranged from scriptures to temples, General Conference to seminary, from the Holy Ghost to Church meetings like the one occurring at that moment. President Johnson said all the guideposts mentioned are the equivalent of GPS (the global positioning system) “to help us get home to Jesus Christ.”
The president suggested two more navigation helps: One was For the Strength of Youth, a manual of expectations originally developed for the Church’s youth programs that increasingly is viewed as a source of guidance for all members. After two youth shared their thoughts on the manual, the president said, “I am so optimistic about the future when I hear responses like that from young people.”
Her other guidepost suggestion was… the prophet. At her request, audience members shared their favorite exhortations of President Russell M. Nelson, including his admonition to repent daily and to always make time for the Lord. If we will look to the prophet for guidance, President Johnson said, we can stay on course today and into tomorrow. “Following the prophet, we can face the challenges in front of us right now—and also see around the corner.”
Also on the stand during the sacrament meeting were Texas San Antonio Mission President Steven Fitzgerald and Eagle Pass District President Ross Davidson and their spouses. In the audience were other members of the District presidency along with area and region Church communication officials.