Andersen - Come unto Him - April 2009

This is Elder Andersen's first talk as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.  He expresses his testimony and humility at this calling which he has been given.

• I do know with perfect and certain clarity through the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, the Beloved Son of God.
  

He shares his thoughts about people he has visited all over the world:

• In lands and languages different from my own, I have seen the power of God at work in your lives. How wonderful you are—the great family of believers in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
  

Elder Andersen expresses his love for Elder Wirthlin who passed away and prompted his call to the apostleship:

• I pray that my spirit might be like that of Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin—whose passing brought about this call—a spirit void of any desire for personal attention, willing to go anywhere and do anything the Lord’s prophets would have me do, applying my full consecration in testifying of the Savior and building the kingdom of God until my final breath.
  

He reminds us that we might not be the Pioneers that crossed the plains but we are all pioneers in the latter-days:

• I have been privileged to see the Lord’s hand at work across the world. While we honor those pioneers who walked across the plains to the Salt Lake Valley, there are far more pioneers living today. They don’t push handcarts, but they are exactly the same in so many ways: They have heard the voice of the Lord through the Book of Mormon and through their personal prayers. With faith and repentance they have stepped into the waters of baptism and firmly planted their feet in the rich gospel soil. As disciples of Christ, they have been willing to sacrifice for what is right and true. And with the gift of the Holy Ghost, they are holding steady in their course toward eternal life.
  

Elder Andersen reminds us that there are good people in and out of the church:

• We are not alone in our desire to do good; there are wonderful people of many faiths and beliefs.
  
• We are not alone in praying to our Heavenly Father or in receiving answers to our prayers; our Father loves all of His children.
  
• We are not alone in sacrificing for a greater cause; there are others who are unselfish.
• Others share our faith in Christ. There are loyal and decent fathers and mothers in every land who love each other and love their children. There is much we can learn from the good people all around us.
  

But even though there are good people of other faiths, we can't forget what makes us different from everyone else:

• Yet we must not shrink from what is uniquely and singularly found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Only here is the priesthood of God, restored to earth by heavenly messengers. Only here does the Book of Mormon stand with the Bible in revealing and declaring the full divinity and gospel of Christ. Only here are there prophets of God, bringing guidance from heaven and holding the keys that bind in heaven what is bound on earth.
  

How grateful I am that Elder Andersen has lived his life in a manner that allows him to be called to the apostleship.  He is a great example of someone who has dedicated his life to serving the Savior.  I can from see his example, the desire to serve the Lord with all his heart.  I need to be more trusting with the Lord.  I need to be willing to give of my time and energy more freely.  I need to show my dedication for the Savior more by giving my time and effort to inviting people to come us Christ.  Elder Andersen's example of dedicated service to the Lord inspires me to want to better serve the Lord.