Life Can't Always Make You Happy...

Elder Klebingat

This past weekend, a new stake president was called in the Anaheim Stake, so we had visiting authorities at our meetings. What a treat it was to attend both the Saturday night and Sunday morning sessions of Stake Conference!  

It was the first time we have heard Elder Jorg Klebingat speak. He was born and raised in Germany, a convert to the Church at the age of 18. In 2014 he was called as a General Authority Seventy. We were so inspired by Elder Kelbingat's messages and his bold, engaging personality!

He began by commenting on the new home centered/Church supported learning program.  He said it's as if the Lord is saying to us, "I can see that you can get yourself to church every Sunday, but now I want to know how you really feel about Me and your commitment to the gospel when you are on your own." He gave the example of branches/wards in Eastern Ukraine, where he served as mission president. He said that because of the recent changes in government, all church buildings have been taken away from the members and they must meet on their own now. There are no more organized meetings in church meetinghouses, but the work is going forward.

Elder Klebingat promised that this challenge to study as individuals and families, as well as daily family scripture reading WILL BRING BLESSINGS TO INDIVIDUAL FAMILY MEMBERS. We are being given a clearer perspective and an opportunity to unleash the power of families. As we spend time studying together, we will strenghten family relationships and our love for each other in our families. As we remodel our homes into gospel learning centers, we are preparing for the Second Coming. This is more than a simple logistical change in Church programs, it is a critical step. There are not many safe places in this world anymore, except inside the walls of our homes. This is basic training from Heavenly Father so that we can call down those blessings we will need.

President Nelson has said, "In a coming day, only those men who have taken their priesthood seriously, by diligently seeking to be taught by the Lord Himself, will be able to bless, guide, protect, strengthen, and heal... [and] to bring miracles to those he loves and keep his marriage and family safe, now and throughout eternity." (Russell M. Nelson, The Price of Priesthood Power, April 2016)

Elder Klebingat said that there is an urgency in President Nelson's counsel. As the prophet, he has made more references to the Second Coming than those who have gone before - both in public and in private.

In our October 2018 General Conference, President Nelson said, "The assaults of the adversary are increasing exponentially, in intensity and in variety. Our need to be in the temple on a regular basis has never been greater. I plead with you to take a prayerful look at how you spend your time. Invest time in your future and in that of your family. If you have reasonable access to a temple, I urge you to find a way to make an appointment regularly with the Lord - to be in His holy house - then keep that appointment with exactness and joy. I PROMISE YOU THAT THE LORD WILL BRING MIRACLES HE KNOWS YOU NEED AS YOU MAKE SACRIFICES TO SERVE AND WORSHIP IN HIS TEMPLES."

President Christensen of the Newport Beach Temple presidency also said at our Stake Conference, "Performing temple ordinances changes eternity." He told us that there has been a change in how names are being prepared for temple work. In the past, 80% of names came from extraction projects and only 20% were from personal research. Those statistics have reversed.

Elder Klebingat said that what the Lord needs from all of us is a commitment to be all in - under all circumstances. God will not trick us into entering His kingdom. We will enter by our desires only. It is a time to choose to come out of the world because there is no neutral ground anymore. We cannot be in both worlds. We cannot ride into paradise on a golf cart! We will be tried. This is hard work, but we can find the truth on our knees. A broken heart and a contrite spirit will bind us to God. Our diligence in keeping God's commandments demonstrates our love for Him and for our Savior. The greatest gift He came to give us is the atonement. Accept it. Allow healing. You can be loved and forgiven while you are in the process of repenting. Claim it.  

At the end of Elder Klebingat's counsel, I was reminded of something I read just two weeks ago from another Seventy, Elder Larry Corbridge, when he spoke at a BYU Devotional. He said, "The Lord's way is not hard. Life is hard, not the gospel....  Life is hard for all of us, but life is also simple. We have only two choices. We can either follow the Lord and be endowed with His power and have peace, light, strength, knowledge, confidence, love, and joy, or we can go some other way, any other way, whatever other way, and go it alone - without His support, without His power, without guidance, in darkness, turmoil, doubt, grief, and despair. And I ask, which way is easier?"  

While it's true that life can't always make you happy, the gospel of Jesus Christ can!

-- Pat --