Notable quotes:
“The Great Depression we now face has less to do with the external loss of our savings and more to do with the internal loss of our self-confidence, with real deficits of faith, hope and charity all around us.”
“In no case are we to be guilty of any form of abuse or unrighteous dominion or immoral coercion — physical, emotional, ecclesiastical or any other kind.”
“Everyone has the right to be loved, to feel peaceful and to find safety at home.”
Summary points:
- The Savior and His prophets have warned us of the conflict and contention of the Last Days.
- Help, hope and peace can be found in the powers of heaven by living principles of righteousness — “not as the world giveth.”
- This Easter, practice peace in a personal way, applying the grace and healing balm of the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Talk summary:
Challenging times are part of mortal life, but the reassuring message of Christ is that He is “our refuge and strength, [our] very present help in [times of] trouble.”
Today, conflict, contention and general incivility abound. Though the current generation has not had a third world war to fight, “we are … facing a kind of third world war that is not a fight to crush our enemies, but a conscription marshaling the children of God to care more about each other and to help heal the wounds we find in a conflicted world.”
The instruments needed to “create a brighter day” can be found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. “We cannot afford — and this world cannot afford — our failure to put these gospel concepts and fortifying covenants to full use personally and publicly.”
In 21st-century culture generally and too often in the Church are too many broken hearts and broken covenants. “To any who are tempted to walk or talk or behave ‘as the world giveth,’ so to speak, don’t expect that to lead to peaceful experience; I promise you in the name of the Lord it won’t.”
Easter is a time to pledge total loyalty to the Lamb of God and for the principles of the gospel to “pass over” conflict and contention.
In the news:
- On March 7, Elder Holland spoke to young adults across the Europe, Europe East and Africa areas about institute’s journey in taking them closer to God.
- He and his wife, Sister Patricia Holland, took viewers on a virtual, hometown visit around St. George, Utah, during RootsTech Connect Family Discovery Day on Feb. 27.
- A Feb. 15 “Pickles” comic strip quoted Elder Holland.
- Elder Holland and three other general Church leaders held a question-and-answer format devotional on Feb. 14 for young adults in the Lubbock, Texas, region.
- He spoke during the First Presidency Christmas Devotional on Dec. 6, 2020, about the setting and circumstances surrounding the Christ Child’s nativity.
About the speaker:
- Elder Jeffrey R. Holland was ordained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on June 23, 1994.
- He served as the ninth president of Brigham Young University. During his presidency, the historic BYU Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies was founded.
- Elder Holland and fellow Apostle Quentin L. Cook were mission companions in England.
- He and his wife, Sister Patricia Terry Holland, were married in the St. George Utah Temple and have three children.
Recently on social:
- “Our knowledge of and relationship to the members of the Godhead is at the heart of our quest for eternal life,” Elder Holland said on March 9.
- Elder Holland shared the story of Joan of Arc on his social media pages in January and encouraged all to “resolve to live the right way for the right reasons.”
- No matter the timing of the Lord’s answer to prayers, solace and encouragement can be found in waiting, Elder Holland wrote in a social media post Oct. 12, 2020.
