Confidence in the Presence of God

General Conference

We had a wonderfully peaceful General Conference weekend where we were able to hear from our Prophet, Apostles, and other leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ again. I am so grateful to live in a time of restoration and revelation.

As always, the messages and testimonies were focused on our Savior, Jesus Christ. There were many powerful, encouraging, and inspiring messages. But the focus I heard over and over again was LOVE. I felt like the question that came to my mind was “What is my why?” Why do I do the things that I do in my spiritual life? Because my why needs to be because I love the Lord. Why do I make covenants – because I love the Lord and want to create an eternal bond with Him. Why do I pray – because I love the Lord and want to strengthen my relationship with Him. Why do I spend time in the scriptures – because I love the Lord and know He will speak to me there.

It has already caused me a lot of reflection in a powerful way. I also felt compelled to be more humble and turn to the Lord more. And to increase my trust in Him to be there and to guide me in all aspects of my life.

The BIG THEMES I saw this conference were:

• Jesus Christ (always)
• Love
• Discipleship <– this was the main theme I felt from last conference
• Faith
• Service
• Atonement
• God the Father
• Repentance

Confidence in the Presence of God

Once again, President Russell M. Nelson was the grand finale of our conference weekend. Our little family was so happy to see him there in the final session.

Although his message was short, it was filled with encouragement and power. He spoke of confidence – confidence in approaching God right now! I have so many feelings when I think of this. It is is leading me to ponder deely what my confidence level is with meeting the Lord. And that is an incredibly humbling question to ponder over. I feel so endlessly flawed and there is so much I want to do and be better at. But the time is now. None of us know the day or the time when we will be called to return home. Feeling confident in returning home to my Father in Heaven feels strange to say to me (because it feels like the opposite of humility), but yet as I have reflected on it, I want that confidence. I want to humbly know that I did my best to be a faithful and obedient disciple of Christ. I want to feel like I have done my best to be His hands here on earth.

I had a thought that was new to me this conference about the parable of the ten virgins. This parable came up so many times throughout conference, including in President Nelson’s message. I reread the parable after conference and the ending struck me. When the five that were foolish came to the Lord and asked to enter, He responded with “I know you not.”

It is all about relationship! Going back to the overall theme I felt from conference, doing what we do in the gospel has to be about strengthening our relationship with the Savior and our Father in Heaven. That has to be our driving motivation. Our “why” for it all. So that way, after a lifetime of striving to build and strengthen that relationship, we can approach Them and They will know us. And we will know Them. That is what I want. I want a relationship that is so strong and familiar that being with Them fills my spirit with joy and love.

I am so grateful to live in a time when we have living Prophets on the earth. That I can feel the Savior speaking to me through them. I felt a beckoning to those eternal relationships.

Promptings

Make my relationship with the Savior and my Father in Heaven my biggest priority. Take time to ponder and focus on my “why” – do things for the best reasons (there are a lot of good reasons to do things, but the best is that relationship). I want to increase my time in the temple and earnestly seek to have charity and virtue fill my life. I want to grow in my confidence before the Lord.

Invitations

• Get ready for the “great and dreadful day” of the Savior’s return
• Take intentional steps to grow in my confidence before the Lord

Promise

As we go to our Heavenly Father with increasing confidence, we will be filled with more joy, and [our] faith in Jesus Christ will increase. We will begin to experience spiritual power that exceeds our greatest hopes.

My Favorite Takeaways

“Disciples of Jesus Christ have access to a different kind of confidence.

When we make and keep covenants with God, we can have confidence that is born of the Spirit.

When I speak of having confidence before God, I am referring to having confidence in approaching God right now! I am referring to praying with confidence that Heavenly Father hears us, that He understands our needs better than we do. I am referring to having confidence that He loves us more than we can comprehend, that He sends angels to be with us and with those we love. I am referring to having confidence that He yearns to help each of us reach our highest potential.

Charity and virtue open the way to having confidence before God! Brothers and sisters, we can do this! Our confidence can truly wax strong in the presence of God, right now!

True charity towards all men is the hallmark of peacemakers!

As followers of Jesus Christ, we should lead the way as peacemakers…Charity towards all men is essential to our progress. Charity is the foundation of a godly character.

Let us plead with our Heavenly Father to fill our hearts with greater charity…for charity is a gift from our Heavenly Father for true followers of Jesus Christ. The Savior is the Prince of Peace. We are to be His instruments for peace.

The Lord tells us to garnish our thoughts unceasingly with virtue…Virtue makes everything better and happier!

Brothers and sisters, as the world grows more wicked, we need to grow increasingly pure. Our thoughts, words, and actions need to be unfailingly virtuous and filled with the pure love of Jesus Christ towards all men. The great opportunity before us is to become the people God needs us to be.

Regular worship in the house of the Lord increases our capacity for both virtue and charity. Thus, time in the temple increases our confidence before the Lord. Increased time in the temple will help us prepare for the Second Coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We do not know the day or the hour of His coming. But I do know that the Lord is prompting me to urge us to get ready for that “great and dreadful day.”

As we diligently seek to have charity and virtue fill our lives, our confidence in approaching God will increase. I invite you to take intentional steps to grow in your confidence before the Lord. Then, as we go to our Heavenly Father with increasing confidence, we will be filled with more joy, and your faith in Jesus Christ will increase. We will begin to experience spiritual power that exceeds our greatest hopes.

I testify that Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of Israel, leads this, His Church. He is preparing to come again. May we likewise prepare to receive Him.”

FULL text and video of President Russell M. Nelson’s talk can be found HERE.