Brothers and Sisters, Aloha.
It is good to be with you today. I am grateful to my parents for their examples of love and faith.
Early in the Savior’s ministry, after a long day of teaching parables, He and His disciples took a boat to pass over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. In the Book of Mark, Chapter 4, we read:
37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. [Meaning, they were in danger of sinking]
38 And [Jesus] was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 1
Do you ever feel like this; like you are about to sink and calling on the Lord to save you? Today I have felt impressed to share with you a testimony of our Savior’s power to heal us: everyday, but especially in those inevitable times when the storms of life rage and the wind and waves beat upon us.
To you students, I watch you with amazement. You are an inspiration to me. What you are doing at this time of your lives is incredible. You’re in classes, you work, you’re managing a social life, you have callings, some of you have new families, you’re stretching your minds, and strengthening your testimonies. What you are doing now is also incredibly important. You are making critical, life-altering decisions. And, if you’re anything like I was in college, you’re making mistakes, you’re having huge triumphs and also epic failures.
With all of that, I imagine you have times where you feel overwhelmed. Even those of us who are not students are also constantly having new experiences with varying degrees of joy and difficulty. If any of you feel you have something of a storm raging in your life or the life of someone you love, I invite you to hold onto that in your mind. I promise you that the Lord will give you insight today, through His Spirit.
I’ve felt impressed to share a few things that have helped me. I have worried a little that it might seem like a prescription or a formula and it’s not. I simply share these thoughts in humility and with reverence for your life experience, in the hopes that they might be helpful and might invite the Spirit to teach each of us today in our own personal circumstance.
In the October 2010 General Conference, President Uchtdorf gave a talk entitled, “Of Things That Matter Most.” He said, “When stress levels rise, when distress appears, when tragedy strikes, too often we attempt to keep up the same frantic pace or even accelerate, thinking somehow that the more rushed our pace, the better off we will be…It is good advice to slow down a little, steady the course, and focus on the essentials when experiencing adverse conditions.” 2
So, how do we do that? How, in the midst of our storms, do we steady the course? Here are a few essentials that I have found to help me better hear the Savior’s words, “Peace, be still.”
#1: Set apart time for stillness in your life
In the Book of Matthew, Chapter fourteen, Jesus had just received word that his cousin and dear friend, John the Baptist, had been beheaded. Immediately, He “departed thence by ship into a desert place apart.” Of course, because he was Jesus, the multitudes followed him out of the city and he was “moved with compassion toward them and he healed their sick.” He then miraculously fed many more than 5,000 people from five loaves of bread and two fishes and then instructed his disciples to go out on the ship while he sent the multitudes away.
In verses 22-23 it reads, “And when [Jesus] had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.” 3
When I read this earlier this year, I was struck by how much the Savior probably needed to be alone that day, having just lost one of his oldest, dearest and most faithful friends. The scriptures often describe Him as finding “a solitary place” or “a place apart.” 4 This was His habit. In fact, when the time came for the great atonement, the Book of Luke records that Christ went to the Garden of Gethsemane, because he was “wont” or accustomed to go there. 5 The Savior sets the example of taking time to be alone and apart, to commune with His Father. He shows us that it’s important to seek stillness regularly, but especially in times of stress or where much is required of us. I’m not trying to say that the Savior was stressed, because I don’t know whether He was. But, I am saying that He prioritized taking time to commune, reflect, and renew.
So, I ask you, where is your place apart? Do you take time to nourish your soul? Let’s each follow the example of our Savior and find a place or activity to be “apart.”
Create spaces where you can see beyond your classes or callings or responsibilities and where you can hear the Spirit, because it is, after all, a STILL small voice. If you invest that time, you will find that you are stronger and better able to accomplish what is ahead of you.
#2 Get to know your Heavenly Father and your Savior
Take the time to know who the Father and Jesus Christ really are and who They are to YOU.
President Uchtdorf said: “Our relationship with God is most sacred and vital. We are His spirit children. He is our Father. He desires our happiness. As we seek Him, as we learn of His Son, Jesus Christ, as we open our hearts to the influence of the Holy Spirit, our lives become more stable and secure.”
“To strengthen our relationship with God, we need some meaningful time alone with Him. Quietly focusing on daily personal prayer and scripture study, always aiming to be worthy of a current temple recommend—these will be some wise investments of our time and efforts to draw closer to our Heavenly Father. Let us heed the invitation in Psalms: ‘Be still, and know that I am God.’” 6 There it is again, Be, still.
Elder Holland shares his apostolic testimony of the relationship we have with our Father and Christ. I invite you to reflect on what this means to you personally.
[VIDEO] 7
Elder Holland assures us that the Father and Jesus Christ know us personally and “no one can fall lower than the light of Christ shines…That isn’t possible.”
I’d like to pick up the story where we left off, with Christ being on the mountain apart. It was somewhere between three and six o’clock in the morning when He joined his disciples, walking on the water. The ship was now in the middle of the sea in a storm, being tossed in the wind and waves and, when they saw Him walking on the sea. Let’s just think about this: This was relatively early in the Savior’s ministry and they had seen Him heal, forgive sins, and even raise the dead. They’d had a long day and, by the looks of it, a long night. So, they were understandably afraid when they saw something on the water. His voice cut through the confusion as He quickly told them to, “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” 8
And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
And immediately Jesus stretched for his hand, and caught him.
And when they were come in to the ship, the wind ceased.”
Peter had faith to get out of the boat and put his feet on the water. This is not a small thing. Besides the waves and wind, it was probably still dark, and he was a fisherman by trade so he would have known the risks and dangers. But, he trusted the Lord, took the steps and walked on the water. And, even though he got scared by the storm and began to sink, he cried out to the Lord to save him.
Are we sometimes like Peter? We can’t see the Savior in the dark of a storm and so maybe we forget what we already know; that He’s already there? Peter jumped in, walked, fell, cried out and the Savior caught him. That sounds about right. If the Father and Savior are with us all the way, they will be with us through all of those steps. And, at least in my life, the Savior is patient with that. The Savior told Peter, “Oh thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” but I take that to be the Savior saying: I’m right here. You can trust me to stay.
I love this picture. While it reminds me of this experience with Peter, it really more makes me think of all of us. How often do I feel “under the water” because I got scared, overwhelmed, hurt, tired or whatever? The Savior is reaching out His hand and saying, “Come.”
You know, Elder Ballard talked about Christ at this last Conference in a way that really stuck with me. He called Him, “a Savior who is your best friend.” I loved that! Someone who knows all about me and still loves me. Of course I know that, technically, but to have it said so plainly made me pay extra attention to how I approach my relationship with Him.
So, we can learn about who the Father and the Christ are, but who are they to us? If They are our friends, what is your current “friendship status” with the Them? Is the newsfeed of your mind and heart filled with posts about the things you do together?
#3: Hold on
Well, those last two stories were about the Savior calming the storm. What about those storms where no answer comes or it isn’t healed or fixed it right away or even maybe at all? Is the Savior in those storms, too? You bet. Sometimes we wait for longer than we want to wait, or longer than we feel, in our mortal perspective, is necessary or even merciful to wait. If you think about the stories in the scriptures, it’s actually pretty common to be required to be still or to hold on for a while. I bet you can think of a time or two when you’ve waited and waited upon the Lord for an answer.
Joseph Smith is a hero in my life. The things that man had to suffer and the joyful way he lived amaze me. In Liberty Jail, where he and his companions had been imprisoned for months, he received reports of unspeakable things that were happening to the Saints, his friends. In Sections 121 and 122 of the Doctrine and Covenants, we get a glimpse into a prophet working through a difficult storm with his Savior. Do you hear yourself in Joseph’s honest plea in Section 121? “O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place? How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye, yeah thy pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people?” 9
And, with a heart full of understanding, the Lord answered back, in verse seven, “My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment.” 10 Peace, he says, be still. In Section 122, the Lord continues by listing many, many more hard things that Joseph had yet to go through.
Then, referring to Joseph with words that evoke the image of a ship on a stormy sea, He said, “If thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; know thou, my son, that all these things shall give the experience and shall be for thy good.” Then, in verse nine, he closed by saying, “hold on.” “Hold on thy way. Thy days are known and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.” 11
Just like with Joseph, the Lord says to us, “I see you from the beginning to the end. You have a work to do. And, this, this storm, is but a small moment. So just hold on. I’ve got you.”
Elder Holland’s words in his October 2013 Conference talk, Like a Broken Vessel, are so comforting. He said, “So how do you best respond when mental or emotional challenges confront you or those you love? Above all, never lose faith in your Father in Heaven, who loves you more than you can comprehend…As President Monson said: ‘That love never changes…It is there for you when you are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful. God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve [it]. It is simply always there.’
Never, ever doubt that, and never harden your heart. Faithfully pursue the time-tested devotional practices that bring the Spirit of the Lord into your life. Believe in miracles. I have seen so many of them come when every other indication would say that hope was lost. Hope is never lost. If those miracles do not come soon or fully or seemingly at all, remember the Savior’s own anguished example: if the bitter cup does not pass, drink it and be strong, trusting in happier days ahead.
“Don’t assume you can fix everything, but fix what you can. If those are only small victories, be grateful for them and be patient. Dozens of times in the scriptures, the Lord commands someone to “stand still” or “be still”—and wait.6 Patiently enduring some things is part of our mortal education.” 12
It is hard sometimes to endure or see the reasons why the things that we want have to wait. But, that’s life. Joseph never got to set foot in the physical Zion in the West that he saw so clearly in his visions. In the end, sometimes we wait and the Lord whispers through the storm, “Peace, be still.” Trust that the God who calms the storms of the sea, will also calm the storms in our hearts. We must hold on for the Lord’s timing, recognizing that, although our situation may not change, He loves us and knows the end from the beginning of our story.
#4 SIMPLIFY
In the words of Elder Uchtdorf, Let’s be honest; it’s rather easy to be busy. We all can think up a list of tasks that will overwhelm our schedules. Some might even think that their self-worth depends on the length of their to-do list. They flood the open spaces in their time with lists of meetings and minutia—even during times of stress and fatigue. Because they unnecessarily complicate their lives, they often feel increased frustration, diminished joy, and too little sense of meaning in their lives.” 13
While this is a lesson that the Lord is constantly teaching me, I learned it most profoundly during what was probably the biggest storm of my life. After a beautiful and relatively easy pregnancy, complications from the delivery brought me to the edge of life. I lay in the hospital for a month, only partially aware of what was going on and closer to death than I actually then realized. I literally could do nothing on my own. I remember the day that I first felt lucid enough to get perspective on it all and I wrote myself a list so I wouldn’t forget the moment of pure inspiration. Do you think my list had groceries on it or work deadlines? Nope. It said, “Everyone has been amazing. Love them and remember that. Remember that you thought you were going to die. Life is good…live it, be grateful for it. Listen. Simplicity. Slow down, relax, be less worried. Be authentic. Miracles have happened.” But some of my favorites that relate specifically to what we are talking about today are: “Guess what, the world didn’t stop without you!” (Meaning, I realized that I didn’t have to do everything I had thought was so essential before). Another was, “sometimes you just have to say, ‘oh well’”! (Which was very uncharacteristic of me at the time). And finally, “The Lord and Heavenly Father know…follow them.” In the center of it all, in the eye of that storm, the Lord healed me, and not just physically. He taught me the things that mattered most. My family who made extraordinary sacrifices, my health, my job, the priesthood, angels and prayers. I saw that I had been “careful and troubled about many things” but not all of them were needful. 14
Elder Oaks taught, “Most of us have more things expected of us than we can possibly do. We should begin by recognizing the reality that just because something is good is not a sufficient reason for doing it. We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families.” 15
We have to take the time to listen. We have to make the space to hear His voice. Do you have expectations of yourself that are not the same as the Lord’s expectations for you? Consider the circumstances of your life right now, set priorities and then go to the Lord for guidance and confirmation. It is important for us to get really clear about what the Lord’s expectation is for us, personally. You know, I find that when I’m worked up and worried about all that I have to do, more often than not, it’s the Lord who says, “Peace, be still. Seek the Lord’s will and see what you both can do to calm the storm.
An easy and powerful way to find simplicity is with gratitude. Usually, I start with the smallest, most basic things: that I’m breathing in and out, that I have running water, the gospel is in my life, my daughter is safe, my family loves me, I have food to eat. These lead on and on until I am filled with a greater understanding of how blessed I am and how the arms of my Heavenly Father and Savior are wrapped around me every day. I become less stressed as I see the simple that I take for granted that are already taken care of. So, in this time of Thanksgiving, I recommend that we make an extra effort to increase our gratitude.
I started by talking about how complex your lives are and how incredibly important this time is, and especially for you as students. In the words of President Uchtdorf, “amidst the multitude of voices and choices, the humble Man of Galilee stands with hands outstretched, waiting. His is a simple message: “Come, follow me.” And He does not speak with a powerful megaphone but with a still, small voice.” 16
I have a testimony that as we reach out to our Savior, He will calm us, whether we stay in the center of the storm or He leads us out. As I’ve prepared this talk, I’ve had this picture in my mind of the Savior hushing me, the way you would soothe a child. He will take our hands and comfort us. He will make up the difference. The peace and calm are in Him, whether it is in the center of our storm or He is leading us out. As we turn toward Him and not away, and center our lives on Him and the Father, we will feel them anchor us. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
[1]Mark 4:35-41, Matthew 8:23-27, Luke 8:22-25
[2]Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Of Things That Matter Most, October 2010
[3]Matthew 14: 13-23
[4]Matthew 14: 13-23, Matthew 17:1, Mark 1:35, Mark 6:31, Mark 9:2
[5]Luke 22:39
[6]Psalms 46:10; Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Of Things That Matter Most, October 2010
[7]The Savior Understands Me, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2016-03-0021-the-savior-understands-me?lang=eng&_r=1&category=unity-in-diversity
[8]Matthew 14:26-31
[9]Doctrine and Covenants 121:1-4, 7
[10]Doctrine and Covenants 121:6
[11]Doctrine and Covenants 122
[12]Like a Broken Vessel, Elder Jeffery R. Holland, LDS Conference October 2013
[13]Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Of Things That Matter Most, October 2010
[14]Luke 10: 38-42
[15]Good, Better, Best, Elder Dallin H. Oaks, LDS General Conference 2007
[16]Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Of Things That Matter Most, October 2010