The hand of the Lord is a source of spiritual power, strength and might, affirmed Elder W. Craig Zwick of the Seventy during the Saturday afternoon session.
"Listen to the words of Mormon," he said, then quoted part of Mormon 5:23, "Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God? Know ye not that he hath all power?"
Elder Zwick told of administering to his premature baby son who was suffering from respiratory problems, laying two fingers of each hand onto the tiny head. He said: "My fingers on his head symbolized the placing of God's hands and power upon our son. . . . It was as if the Savior's own hands provided the critical respiratory aid, allowing our son to breathe and gain sustenance. With each breath and with each incremental bit of progress we expressed prayerful thanks. Today, our healthy son and his indebted parents continue to be so grateful for the Savior's willing hands."
He continued: "Every one of us needs to know that we can go on in the strength of the Lord. We can put our hand in His and we will feel His sustaining presence lift us to heights unattainable alone."
Elder Zwick asked: "How do we learn to trust? How do we learn to extend our hand and connect to the comfort provided by the Lord? Very clear instruction came from the Lord to Joseph Smith:
" 'Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in meekness of my spirit and you shall have peace in me. . . . Pray always and I will pour out my Spirit upon you' (Doctrine and Covenants 19:23, 38).
"Here are four keys: Learn, listen, seek the Spirit and pray always."
As his only daughter was about halfway through running her first marathon, he related, she heard, "Blind man on your left."
"She turned her head, to see a blind man overtake her, holding the hand of another man. They were both running the race. As they passed, she could see how tightly the blind man held the hand of his friend."
Then he said, "In like manner, the Savior has stretched forth His hand to each of us so that we don't have to run alone. . . .
"It is the wounded Christ who leads us through our moments of difficulty. It is He who bears us up when we need more air to breathe or direction to follow or even more courage to continue."
