Pioneers
of the Gospel
by M. Russell Ballard
I don’t think President Hinckley needs us to pack our handcarts and wagons and walk 1300 miles. That isn’t the way most of us will be asked to demonstrate our faith and courage. There are different challenges that we must face today-- different mountains to climb, different rivers to ford, different valleys to make blossom as the rose.
by M. Russell Ballard
I don’t think President Hinckley needs us to pack our handcarts and wagons and walk 1300 miles. That isn’t the way most of us will be asked to demonstrate our faith and courage. There are different challenges that we must face today-- different mountains to climb, different rivers to ford, different valleys to make blossom as the rose.
But
even though the wilderness we have been given to conquer is decidedly
different from the rough and rocky trail to Utah and the barren
landscape that our pioneer fore bearers face in 1847, it is no less challenging and trying for us than it was for them. And it is certainly no less important for you young adults to keep the eye on the prophet and your shoulders to the wheel and your feet firmly planted on the trail of faith-fulness. We too must focus on Zion and put our faith to work in building up the Kingdom of God in our wards and branches. We must have the same kind of faith the same willingness to give our all even our lives if necessary to the great cause of the church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saint.
landscape that our pioneer fore bearers face in 1847, it is no less challenging and trying for us than it was for them. And it is certainly no less important for you young adults to keep the eye on the prophet and your shoulders to the wheel and your feet firmly planted on the trail of faith-fulness. We too must focus on Zion and put our faith to work in building up the Kingdom of God in our wards and branches. We must have the same kind of faith the same willingness to give our all even our lives if necessary to the great cause of the church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saint.
I’m reminded of the missionaries I used to interview in Canada as a mission president. They would assure me that they loved the church with all their heart. It was not unusual for them to say, “President, I would give my life for the gospel and the Lord Jesus Christ.” And then often times these same missionaries would find it hard to get up on time or to follow the guidance in the little white missionary handbook. Somehow we need to commit to the service of the Lord with the same diligence that our forefathers did.
Now
my dear young friends this is a busy and exciting time in your life.
. . . But your service in the church deserves a place among your
priorities. In fact right now is the time to establish a pattern of
faithfulness and steadfastness
that will see you through the rest of your life and into eternity.
Read the journals of the pioneers and anchor your faith as they did
to the Love of God and His Son Jesus Christ and make a commitment
that you will keep their commandments. With this kind of faith you
can face every challenge that will come into your live, never
drifting away from the truths of the gospel. You can enjoy the same
devotion to the Lord and His church by living the gospel everyday the
very best you can.
Our
pioneer trek is decidedly different. We’re not fighting wolves and
frost bite; we’re fighting pornography and drugs. We’re not
struggling to keep our families alive in a world fraught with the
cruelties of nature, only to keep our values alive. We’re not
working to physically push handcarts over steep mountains, deep
rivers, and snow drifts; we’re working to push ourselves to over
come discouragement and complacency.
Our
journey is different, but the trail we must follow is the same. It is
a trail of faith. If we keep our feet firmly planted on that trail,
we will be just as successful in facing our challenges and in
conquering our struggles. Just as it required faith for young
pioneers to leave their home and come to Zion, it takes the same
faith for youth today to ignore the temptations of the world and
follow the prophet. Just as it took faith (and we marvel) at the
courage it took thousands of men, women and children to face the
untold difficulties of pioneer life, so someday will they marvel at
the courage of young Later-day Saint men and women today who face the
challenges of contemporary living in order to remain true and
faithful to sacred covenants and commitments. Excerpted
from Pioneers of the Gospel M.
Russell Ballard CES Fireside (5/4/1997)
Elder McConkie :
This gathering of Israel and this building of Zion in the last days occurs in stages. The early part of the work . . . involved gathering to the United States . . . . We are now engaged in gathering Israel within the various nations of the earth and of establishing stakes of Zion at the remote parts of the earth. The message which has come to us . . . is that “when the Lord shall build up Zion, He shall appear in his glory.” (Ps. 102:13–16.)
Bruce R. McConkie, “Building Zion,” Tambuli, Sep 1977, 12
This gathering of Israel and this building of Zion in the last days occurs in stages. The early part of the work . . . involved gathering to the United States . . . . We are now engaged in gathering Israel within the various nations of the earth and of establishing stakes of Zion at the remote parts of the earth. The message which has come to us . . . is that “when the Lord shall build up Zion, He shall appear in his glory.” (Ps. 102:13–16.)
Bruce R. McConkie, “Building Zion,” Tambuli, Sep 1977, 12
Elder Ballard: