PALMYRA, NEW YORK
Like the Prophet Joseph Smith, youth of the Church today must come to know for themselves that the doctrines of the gospel are true, President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency taught during a Face to Face broadcast on March 4.
Originating from the visitors’ center for the Church’s historic sites in Palmyra, New York, on a Saturday — in order to allow as many youth as possible in different areas of the world to join in — President Eyring, as well as Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, met with youth to answer questions and share personal experiences.
The theme of the event was based on this year’s youth Mutual theme found in James 1:5-6 in the New Testament, where it reads, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”
With views of a replica of Joseph Smith’s family farm and the Sacred Grove as a backdrop, President Eyring and Elder Holland spoke candidly about experiences in their own lives and shared different things that have helped them as they have faced similar questions or situations.
“In the log home behind me, there is a replica of the fireplace in the Smith family home,” President Eyring said. “From this fireplace, they received light and warmth. It was leaning upon the mantle where Joseph, having just returned from the Sacred Grove, said to his mother, ‘I have learned for myself.’
“Our dear young friends, that is our desire for each of you. That you may know for yourself, independent of anyone else, that the God of heaven is real and He knows you and that His Son has atoned for the sins of the world. Our hope is that you will gain for yourself an unshakable testimony that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth for the last time.”
Offering the challenge to “come to know for yourself that these things are true,” President Eyring encouraged youth to follow Joseph’s example of studying the scriptures, reflecting on them again and again and then to ask God in faith with a willingness to accept His guidance.
“While this challenge may seem like a simple invitation, I promise you it may take significant effort,” President Eyring said. “I cannot promise that your answers will come in a day, or in a week, but I can promise that God will speak to you in His own way and in His own time if you ask in faith.”
While only a small group of youth gathered in the visitors’ center in New York, thousands more around the world participated virtually. A live video stream to two groups — one in Plymouth, England, and the other in Johannesburg, South Africa — made it possible for those youth to ask questions and offer prayers during the live broadcast. Youth around the world submitted questions for the event via social media channels before the broadcast.
“As you accept and act upon this invitation you will find that not only will answers come, but you will also establish a pattern of acquiring spiritual knowledge that will bless you for the rest of your life,” President Eyring said.
In addition to issuing the challenge, President Eyring and Elder Holland spent an hour and a half discussing questions and situations facing youth today. Topics included receiving revelation, prayer, patriarchal blessings, and being an example and reaching out to loved ones who are not members or active in Church.
When asked about patriarchal blessings, President Eyring said, “It is not supposed to make you feel sweet, it is meant to help you know what is in store for you.”
Elder Holland added that a person cannot always control the timing of a blessing’s fulfillment.
When feeling down or like a person is “not enough,” the leaders reminded listeners that everyone worries that they are not as good as he or she ought to be.
“Nobody in the world has ever been perfect, except for Jesus,” Elder Holland said. “Don’t beat yourself up for not being perfect.”
While it is important to not “be too hard on yourself,” Elder Holland reminded listeners that it is essential to do their best. President Eyring added that it is critical to have confidence in oneself and not play into Satan’s greatest trick telling people they are “just not good enough.”
“In addition to thinking of what you have done wrong, try to remember what you have done right,” said President Eyring.
He encouraged youth to be modest in their expectations in prayer, and to not become casual in their interactions with Heavenly Father.
“I pray as if He is there, as if He is listening — and He is listening,” President Eyring said.
When interacting with others who are not active in Church, Elder Holland told youth to be the best example of Christlike compassion and charity that they know how to be.
President Eyring said the key for him in being bold and not offensive to others is making sure they can hear “love in my voice.”
The leaders spoke of Joseph Smith’s example of asking in faith and then having the courage to act on whatever answer he received.
“When you pray, believe you are going to get an answer to your prayer,” Elder Holland said.
Of the gospel, Elder Holland said, “This is not a cunningly devised fable. This is God’s truth. … I want all of you here and afar to know that I know that this is the work and kingdom of God on earth. I am more certain of that than anything I know, anything I have seen, anything I have ever heard and anything I hope to embrace in the future. I am absolutely certain that the Father and the Son appeared to a boy just a few yards away from here and that that began the great and last, final dispensation. Uninterrupted by apostasy, not unencumbered by difficulty or opposition, but nevertheless, destined to succeed.”
Prior to the live-streamed event was the premiere of “Ask of God,” a new video portraying the experience of Joseph Smith’s First Vision. To view the broadcast — and past Face to Face events — visit the LDS Youth YouTube channel, LDS Facebook page or the website, face2face.lds.org.
mholman@desnews.com @marianne_holman
