Elder Jorge F. Zeballos, General Authority Seventy, spoke during the Saturday afternoon session of October 2022 general conference. Using a civil engineering analogy, he taught how to build a life resistant to the adversary. The following is a summary of what he said.
Elder Zeballos’s conference talk summary
To design a structure that is seismic-resistant, a civil engineer makes calculations that indicate the dimensions, qualities and characteristics of the structural elements. These results are translated into plans and technical specifications that must be strictly followed.
Likewise, it is important to build one’s life by following divinely designed “plans and technical specifications” — the knowledge of the plan of salvation, the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and the inspired direction of living prophets. These plans teach clearly how to construct happy lives resistant to sin and temptation.
As an earthquake leaves its mark even on structures that were correctly designed and built, the attacks of the adversary can also cause “cracks” in spite of one’s efforts to build their life according to divine design. But with the gospel of Jesus Christ, “we are still standing, … we are ready to move forward.”
God will never permit His children to be tempted beyond what they can resist. The Savior provides an escape when facing adversity, temptation, incomprehension, infirmities and even death. Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all can be successful in constructing a life resistant to sin and temptation and strengthened to endure difficult times.
Notable quotes from Elder Zeballos’s conference talk
“The joy promised in the scriptures as the purpose of our existence should not be understood to mean that we will have no difficulties or sorrows.”
“We can have the tranquility of knowing that the Lord will never permit us to be tempted beyond what we can resist.”
“I pray that we may continue to build our lives following the ‘plans and technical specifications’ of the divine design authored by our Father and achieved through our Savior Jesus Christ.”
See the full text of Elder Zeballos’s talk: ‘Building a Life Resistant to the Adversary’
Who is Elder Zeballos?
- Elder Jorge F. Zeballos has served as a General Authority Seventy since April 2008.
- Elder Zeballos was born in Ovalle, Chile. He married Carmen Gloria Valenzuela in June 1982. The Santiago Chile Temple was under construction, so the couple traveled to Brazil to be sealed. They are the parents of five children.
- In October 2009 general conference, Elder Zeballos talked about perfection. Heavenly Father and the Savior have made it known that “it is possible to achieve the impossible,” he said.
