Before Moroni concluded the record we know today as the Book of Mormon with his own final words, he shared three messages from his father, Mormon: an address to "the peaceable followers of Christ" (Moroni 7:3) and two letters that Mormon had written to Moroni. Perhaps Moroni included these messages in the Book of Mormon because he foresaw similarities between the perils of his day and ours. When these words were written, the Nephite people as a whole were tumbling headlong into apostasy. Many of them had "lost their love, one towards another" and delighted in "everything save that which is good" (Moroni 9:5, 19). And yet Mormon still found cause for hope ...".
Although the perils of today are not exactly what Moroni describes, in the midst of trials currently facing the "peaceable followers of Christ," President Nelson announced that he would share a message about hope:
"My dear friends, the challenges that we face as fellow global citizens are immense, but our ability to feel hope and seek healing in Jesus Christ remains strong." Here is President Nelson's message of hope.
President Nelson offered two activities to help overcome the challenges of our day.
#GiveThanks
President Nelson:
"First, I invite you – just for the next seven days – to turn social media into your own personal gratitude journal. Post every day about what you are grateful for, whom you are grateful for, and why you are grateful. At the end of seven days, see if you feel happier and more at peace. Use the hashtag #GiveThanks. Working together, we can flood social media with a wave of gratitude that reaches the four corners of the earth. Perhaps this will fulfill, in part, the promise God gave to Father Abraham, that through his descendants "all families of the earth [shall] be blessed."
If you participated in this activity, you may want to preserve your social media posts in FamilySearch memories, or in a personal journal. Whether you participated or not, finding ways to express gratitude continually anytime will bring promised blessings.
President Henry B. Eyring shares his experience about deciding to write in his journal daily with these questions in mind: "Did God send a message that was just for me? Did I see His hand in my life or the lives of my children?" He describes his commitment to record his answers to those questions, and "find a way to preserve that memory." He invites us to do the same. See O Remember, Remember, President Henry B. Eyring. October 2007 General Conference
See Week #20: Weekly Family History Activities 2024 to find even more ideas for preserving and sharing records of the kindness of others, stories of those who have influenced you (past and present), and the Lord's hand in your life.
Pray Daily, Light The World, Light The Spirit World
The second activity President Nelson invited us to do was to pray daily:
"Second, let us unite in thanking God through daily prayer. Jesus Christ taught His disciples to pray by first expressing gratitude to God and then petitioning Him for the things we need. Prayer brings forth miracles."
President Nelson offered a prayer "for the world and everyone in it," expressing gratitude for those working to overcome the world-wide virus and asking for relief from political strife. His video message and prayer of gratitude on Friday, November 20, 2020 reached millions worldwide since its release on YouTube, Facebook and ChurchofJesusChrist.org. The video can be found in Gospel Media and the Gospel Library under "Jesus Christ." Hundreds of thousands of people have acted on his invitation to post on social media using #GiveThanks.
"On November 20 [2020], I offered a message and prayer of gratitude for the world and everyone in it. I am grateful and humbled that you would join in thanking God for His countless blessings to each of us.
I urge you to make expressing gratitude to God a part of your daily life. An attitude of gratitude gives us better perspective and more peace of mind and heart.
I hope you will also continue to pray daily to our Heavenly Father. We are His children, and He loves us with the care of a tender parent.
Now, as we enter the Christmas season and celebrate the living Christ, one of the most powerful ways we can show our gratitude is by serving His children. Let us follow His example to "Light the World" by loving and serving others, one by one." #GiveThanks#LightTheWorld
What can you and your family do to Light the Spirit World on the other side of the veil?
As we follow our prophet's counsel to pray daily, consider what prayers you need answered as you seek to Discover, Gather, and Connect your ancestors. You may want to select a few areas to focus on, or add temple and family history activities to your home church study of Come, Follow Me by using this Weekly Family History Activities.
President Dallin H. Oaks observed: "The reason charity never fails and the reason charity is greater than even the most significant acts of goodness ... is that charity, 'the pure love of Christ' (Moro. 7:47), is not an act but a condition or state of being. ... Charity is something one becomes" (The Challenge to Become, Ensign, Nov. 2000, 34).
As we work to "become charity," our participation in and love of temple and family history work helps us in countless ways.
"While temple and family history work has the power to bless those beyond the veil, it has equal power to bless the living. It has a refining influence on those who are engaged in it." April 2010 General Conference, Russell M. Nelson
You are invited to check out the Youth: For Latter-day Saints page in The Family History Guide for fun, engaging, helpful activities, and instruction and inspiration to do temple and family history work, no matter whether you are a youth or not! Select and schedule in the activities that will help you to serve those you love and care about on both sides of the veil.
"When we speak of gathering Israel on both sides of the veil, we are referring, of course, to missionary, temple, and family history work. We are also referring to building faith and testimony in the hearts of those with whom we live, work, and serve. Anytime we do anything that helps anyone—on either side of the veil—to make and keep their covenants with God, we are helping to gather Israel."
During these perilous times of which the Apostle Paul prophesied, Satan is no longer even trying to hide his attacks on God's plan. Emboldened evil abounds. Therefore, the only way to survive spiritually is to be determined to let God prevail in our lives, to learn to hear His voice, and to use our energy to help gather Israel.
... And what is the Lord willing to do for Israel? The Lord has pledged that He will "fight [our] battles, and [our] children's battles, and our children's children's [battles] ... to the third and fourth generation!
As you study your scriptures during the next six months, I encourage you to make a list of all that the Lord has promised He will do for covenant Israel. I think you will be astounded! Ponder these promises. Talk about them with your family and friends. Then live and watch for these promises to be fulfilled in your own life.
My dear brothers and sisters, as you choose to let God prevail in your lives, you will experience for yourselves that our God is 'a God of miracles.'" Let God Prevail, President Nelson, General Conference Oct 2020
Your Personal History
Consider writing about what you are most grateful for.
How have you let God prevail in your life?
How have the Lord's tender mercies blessed you and your family?
What has the Lord promised He will do for covenant Israel? (six month project)
russellmnelson
Hope Still Shines Bright #LightTheWorld
