Ballard - "How Is It with Us?" - April 2000

Elder Ballard uses the words of President Lorenzo Snow as the backdrop of his remarks.  100 years earlier in conference, President Snow talked about the great work that had already been accomplished.  He said that the Lord expects us to do something with this great knowledge we have been given and as us "How Is It with Us?"  This question should cause us to think about what we have done with the light and knowledge of the gospel in our lives and what are we doing to share it with others.

• As I read and ponder the scriptures and carefully consider the Lord’s counsel to His followers in every dispensation of time, it appears to me that the most important thing every one of us can do is to examine our own commitment and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. We must carefully guard against spiritual apathy and work to maintain the full measure of our loving loyalty to the Lord.

The term "spiritual apathy" causes me to reflect on if I am actively helping the work of the Lord move forward.  I realize that in order to move the work forward, my own personal commitment and testimony must be strong.

• It is important that we each know for ourselves that Jesus is the Christ and that He has restored to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith the fulness of His everlasting gospel. As we press forward in His service, spiritual experiences will increase our faith, and we will find great joy. Our understanding of the essential doctrines and eternal truths that have been restored will become a firm foundation of our faith. And as we come to know and understand these true doctrines for ourselves, we will discover that there is also a great need for us to share our knowledge and beliefs with others while always maintaining their friendship and goodwill.

We each need to be in tune with the spirit so we can know when the prompting to share the gospel with someone is given.

• There are many people who know a little about us, who are curious and who wonder about us but who are not ready to change their lifestyle or make eternal commitments. We need to be prepared to teach them in ways that they can understand and appreciate, even if they are not prepared as yet to respond to spiritual promptings and to accept the gospel in their lives.
  
• Because we love the Lord, we should be spiritually sensitive to moments when the powerful and important truths of the gospel can be shared with others. Perhaps more importantly, however, we should seek at all times to purify ourselves and to lead such worthy lives that the Light of Christ emanates from us in all that we say and do. Our day-to-day lives should stand as immutable witness of our faith in Christ.

Elder Ballard tells us that the Lord expects us to do something with the knowledge and blessings we have been given.  Our example is necessary for others to desire to learn more about the happiness we have each found in living the gospel.

• The Lord expects us to do something. I believe we are expected to increase our own faith, shake off any possible feelings of apathy, and by the power of the Holy Ghost reaffirm our commitment and intensify our service to the Lord. Then, when we seek to clarify someone’s understanding of the Church, our lives—well and faithfully lived—can serve as a magnifying glass through which others can examine the impact of gospel living. Under the light of our good example, the Spirit can enlarge understanding of the Church and its mission to all with whom we have contact.

Elder Ballard concludes with this wise council.

• There is no greater service we can render than sharing our personal testimonies with those who lack an understanding of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
  

It is so important that others be able to see the light of Christ in the actions we each demonstrate.  We are not always able to share the gospel message but we are always able to share our example of the blessings that come to those that live the gospel.  Elder Ballard shares that the natural progression of the gospel is to build a little bit at a time but that initial trust to listen is typically found in the trust of one friend to another.  We can help others desire to learn more about the church when we demonstrate the happiness the gospel brings into our lives.