As a Child

President Eyring gave a talk this conference on how we can “stand steady in the storms we face.” In the footnote he suggested that it was similar to a talk he gave in 2006 titled As a Child. He repeated some of that original talk in this most recent one, and surely what he chose to emphasize again must be of particular importance. Here are some of the messages contained in both talks: 

·         Difficult times are ahead and wickedness is increasing

o   2006: “Anyone with eyes to see the signs of the times and ears to hear the words of prophets knows that the peril is great. The peril comes from the forces of wickedness. Those forces are increasing. And so it will become harder, not easier, to keep the covenants we must make to live the gospel of Jesus Christ.”  

o   2022: “Anyone with eyes to see the signs of the times and ears to hear the words of prophets knows that is true. The perils of greatest danger come to us from the forces of wickedness. Those forces are increasing. And so it will become more difficult, not easier, to honor the covenants we must make and keep to live the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

·         There is hope in God’s promise for a place of safety in Jesus Christ

o   2006: “For those of us who are concerned about such a future for ourselves and for those we love—in our families, in our quorums, and in our classes—there is hope in the promise the Lord has given us of a place of safety in the storms ahead. Here is a word picture of that place.”

o   2022: “For those of us who are concerned for ourselves and for those we love, there is hope in the promise God has made of a place of safety in the storms ahead. Here is a word picture of that place.”

Both talks then quoted Helaman 5:12 about building our foundation upon the rock of Jesus Christ.

·         We need to understand how to build on that foundation

o   2006: “It has never been more important than it is now to understand how to build on that sure foundation. For me, there is no better place to look than in the last sermon of King Benjamin recorded in the Book of Mormon.”

o   2022: “It has never been more important than it is now to understand how to build on that sure foundation. For me, there is no better place to look than in the last sermon of King Benjamin, also recorded in the Book of Mormon.”

·         King Benjamin taught the consequences of not building on that foundation

o   2006: “He spoke directly and sharply because he knew what sorrow would come to those who might not hear and heed his warnings. Here is how he described the consequences which follow our choice either to follow the prompting of the Spirit of Christ or to follow the evil messages which come from Satan, whose purpose is to tempt us and trap us into sin.”

o   2022: “He spoke directly and sharply because he knew what sorrow would come to those who might not hear and heed his warnings. Here is how he described the consequences that follow our choice either to follow the prompting of the Spirit or to follow the evil messages that come from Satan, whose intent is to tempt and destroy us.”

He then quoted verses 33, 38, and 40 of Mosiah 2 in both cases, highlighting the terrible consequences of sin and rejecting a foundation of the Savior.

·         He invited us to consider when we will stand before the Savior

o   2006: “For me, the power of that warning is the picture it forms in my mind of that time when we will each stand before the Savior after this life to be judged. When King Benjamin speaks to me of shrinking from the presence of the Lord, it puts fear into my heart. I can see myself standing in that day of judgment before the glorified and resurrected Savior. I want with all my heart not to shrink, but rather to look up at Him and see Him smile and say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Enter in.”

o   2022: “For me, the power of that warning to repent forms in my mind a picture of the sure time when you and I will stand before the Savior after this life. We want with all our hearts not to shrink but rather to look up at Him, see Him smile, and hear Him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: … enter [in].”

·         We must become as a little child to be changed

o   2006: “King Benjamin makes it clear how we can earn the hope to hear those words if we find the way in this life to have our natures changed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. That is the only way we can build on the sure foundation and so stand firm in righteousness during the storms of temptation. King Benjamin describes that change with a beautiful comparison, used by prophets for millennia and by the Lord Himself. It is this: that we can, and we must, become as a child—a little child.”

o   2022: “King Benjamin makes it clear how we can receive the hope to hear those words if we find the way in this life to have our natures changed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. That is the only way we can build on the sure foundation and so stand firm during the storms of temptations and trials ahead. King Benjamin describes that change in our natures with a beautiful metaphor that has always touched my heart. It was used by prophets for millennia and by the Lord Himself. It is this: we must become as a child—a little child.”

Both then quoted Mosiah 3:19 which teaches that we become a saint through the atonement of Christ as we learn to respond to the Lord as a little child. 

Ultimately the message of both talks is that we should seek the Lord as a little child: “We become over time like a child in our capacity to love and obey. We come to stand on the sure foundation. Our faith in Jesus Christ brings us to repentance and to keeping His commandments. We obey, and we gain power to resist temptation, and we gain the promised companionship of the Holy Ghost.” That was a message we needed in 2006 and it is needed even more now as the world is more prideful than ever before. He key to inviting the Holy Ghost to be with us is to humble ourselves before Him and seek to feel this way in our prayers to the Lord: “I want only what You want. Just tell me what that is. I’ll do it.” As we are truly desire this, we can become “as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love.” And that is surely the pursuit of a lifetime.