President M. Russell Ballard: ‘Watch Ye Therefore, and Pray Always’
Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, speaks during the Sunday morning session of the 190th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Oct. 4, 2020. Credit: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.President M. Russell Ballard Credit: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Notable quotes:
“I assure each one of you that the Lord knows you, that He is aware of your concern and anguish, and that He loves you — intimately, personally, deeply and forever.”
“We stand today at a major crossroads in history, and the nations of the earth are in desperate need of divine inspiration and guidance.”
“Pray for your family. Pray for the leaders of nations. Pray for the courageous people who are on the front lines in the current battles against social, environmental, political and biological plagues that impact all people throughout the world, the rich and the poor, the young and the old.”
Summary points:
Follow the Lord’s direction to pray always to “escape” the contentions of the day.
Pray for the nations of the earth and their leaders to find divine inspiration and guidance.
God hears and answers prayers in His own way and in His own time.
Talk summary:
Near the close of His mortal ministry, Jesus Christ taught his disciples to “Watch ye therefore, and pray always” to be counted as worthy to “escape all these things” that would cause commotion.
“Certainly, we live in a time during which things are in commotion. Many people fear the future, and many hearts have turned away from their faith in God and His Son Jesus Christ.”
News reports are filled with accounts of violence, moral denigration and a deadly global pandemic. Lives are being disrupted and many feel isolated and alone.
“I think often of those of you who are suffering, worried, afraid or feeling alone. I assure each one of you that the Lord knows you, that He is aware of your concern and anguish, and that He loves you — intimately and personally, deeply and forever.
“Each night when I pray, I ask the Lord to bless all who are burdened with grief, pain, loneliness and sadness. I know that other Church leaders echo that same prayer. Our hearts, individually and collectively, go out to you and our prayers go to God on your behalf.”
Prayers are needed today for the nations of the earth.
“No matter how you pray or to whom you pray, please exercise your faith — whatever your faith may be — and pray for your country and for your national leaders. … This is not about politics or policy. This is about peace and the healing that can come to individual souls as well as to the souls of countries.”
The Savior taught His followers to not limit who they pray for.
“Sincerely praying for those who may be considered our enemies demonstrates our belief that God can change our hearts and the hearts of others. Such prayers should strengthen our resolve to make whatever changes are necessary in our own lives, families and communities.”
At this time of commotion, redouble one’s commitment to prayer.
In the news:
In a #HearHim video published by the Church on July 19, President M. Russell Ballard detailed a defining moment in his life when he was a young missionary in England.
In an interview with the Church News on June 15, President Ballard encouraged Latter-day Saints to “remember the pioneer stories.”
During his 2020 Mission Leadership Seminar address on June 27, President Ballard celebrated the Restoration of the gospel and honored Joseph and Hyrum Smith who were martyred 176 years earlier.
About the speaker:
President M. Russell Ballard has been a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles since 1985 and was set apart as Acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on Jan. 14, 2018.
Two days before Pioneer Day, President Ballard spoke about how the day is one which celebrates the live and ministry of Jesus Christ, in a video posted on Facebook on July 22.
Friday is Pioneer Day—a day when we celebrate and honor pioneers. As I’ve pondered about this important day, I’ve thought about how the gospel of Jesus Christ is for everybody. And, one of the wonderful things that we understand and celebrate in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that we're all sons and daughters of God, our Eternal Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior for all men and all women, all boys, all girls, all young adults.When we contemplate what we're celebrating, it’s really the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the fact that He inspired early pioneer leaders when they came to find this great valley and settle it for us. The more you learn about those who led the way and made all of this possible, the more you realize the hand of the Lord had to be in it.
In a video posted on Facebook on July 19, President Ballard spoke about a defining moment while serving as a young missionary in England that helped him understand the Lord’s voice in his life.
Since the early days of my life, I have sought to hear the voice of the Lord and understand His guiding hand in my life. In this video, I share a defining moment in my journey to understand His voice in my life. That experience came while I served as a young missionary in England, and it has shaped the rest of my life. I think of this moment as one of the first times that I have felt very, very close to heaven.I am eternally thankful for the shaping experience I had as a young missionary in England, because it taught me what it feels like to experience the Lord’s guiding hand in my life. Today, 71 years later, I can boldly testify that it is a privilege for us to be able to “hear Him” in our modern world. May we each strive for quiet moments, free from distraction, to feel the presence of the Lord in our lives. #HearHim
