The Truth of God Shall Go Forth

My thoughts on Elder Ballard's talk "The Truth of God Shall Go Forth"

The older I get the more I love hearing these history lessons from our General Authorities. I didn't highlight much of the talk, but it brought a lot of thoughts to my mind.

My family was persecuted when they first joined the Church back in Norway. As my mom's books tell the story, My great-great-great-grandfather was a good mason and very well respected until they joined the church. Work then dried up. I don't know if they ever went to bed thinking "Is this worth it" or not, but I can testify that 170 years later there is a grand-daughter who says, "Yes, grandfather! It is worth it."

That same family had hardship after hardship as they tried desperately to get everyone to the Salt Lake Valley. In fact it took some 20 years for them to all meet up again in the Valley. I don't know what that reunion was like, but I know what the reunion will be like when I greet them. I will wrap my arms around them and say, "Thank you!"

As Elder Ballard says, "Despite all the persecution, the truth of God was indeed going forth boldly and nobly." And it continues to go forth boldly and nobly.

"This is God's work, and God's work will not be frustrated. But there is still much to be done before the Great Jehovah can announce that the work is done."
Are we going to be part of that or are we going to be a hindrance?

"We need to believe as they believed. We need to work as they worked. We need to serve as they served. And we need to overcome as they overcame."

I can only pray that my service, my work, my belief is half that of those who found the gospel in Norway in the 1840's, England in the 1870's, Georgia in the 1830's and California in the 1970's.

The hymn "Let us all Press On" is making its way through the radio in my head. Let's all hum....