Put your Trust in the Lord

Put your Trust in the Lord

By: Elder M. Russell Ballard

what stood out to me:

1. Today I want to speak to all members of the Church, because there is an urgency for each one of us to be engaged in sharing the gospel.

2. In 1974 President Spencer W. Kimball said, "Perhaps the greatest reason for missionary work is to give the world its chance to hear and accept the gospel."

3. The words of President Kimball were ringing in my ears, especially when he said: "My brethren, I wonder if we are doing all we can. Are we complacent in our approach to teaching all the world? We have been proselyting now 144 years. Are we prepared to lengthen our stride?"

4. President Thomas S. Monson echoed exactly the same message to members of the Church. He said, "Now is the time for members and missionaries to come together......[and] labor in the Lord's vineyard to bring souls unto Him. He has prepared the means for us to share the gospel in a multitude of ways, and He will assist us in our labors if we will act in faith to fulfill His work."

5. My message this afternoon is that the Lord His work. In our day this can be done only when every member of the Church reaches out with love to share the truths of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to work together in partnership with our 80,000 missionaries now serving.

6. Make the decision to do what Jesus Christ has asked us to do. 

7. Just be positive and those whom you speak with will feel your love. They will never forget that feeling, though the timing may not be right for them to embrace the gospel. That too may change in the future when their circumstances change.

8. Trust the Lord. He is the Good Shepard. He knows His sheep, and His sheep know His voice; and today the voice of the Good Shepherd is your voice and my voice. 

9. The Lord has said in the Doctrine and Covenants that many people have been kept from the truth only because they know not where to find it. (D&C 123:12)

10. The Lord knows us. He knows we have our challenges. 

11. We are not asking everyone to do everything. We are simply asking all members to pray, knowing that if every member, young and old, will reach out to just "one" between now and Christmas, millions will feel the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. And what a wonderful gift to the Savior.

12. Heed the promptings of the Spirit. Supplicate the Lord in mighty prayer. Become engaged in doing what you can in sharing the great message of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

13. Clayton Christensen has said, "Every time you take someone figuratively by the hand and introduce him or her to Jesus Christ, you will feel how deeply our Savior loves you and loves the person whose hand is in yours."