The Pas Way of Facing the Future

My thoughts on Elder L. Tom Perry's talk "The Past Way of Facing the Future."

I have a friend who asked these questions of her facebook friends,
"How many of you sought out advice from the 50 plus crowd when you were in school?"
"How many of you sought out advice from the 50 plus crowd in your 20's?
"How many of you sought out advice from the 60 plus crowd in your 30's?
"How many of you seek out advice from your older friends now that you are in your 40's?

It was interesting to read the comments from all sorts of walks of life. I know I have missed the council of my mother these past few years. I know that I was foolish and didn't listen when I was younger. I truly wish I could learn from the past. But my mother is gone and I must learn a lot on my own now.

"In this case they used lessons from their past experience—the principles of shipbuilding—to help them meet the challenge."

What do we use when faced with challenges? I know that I recall many long-into-the-night lectures from my mom. I know that I call upon my failing memory to help guide myself as I walk the mine-field of friends as an adult. I also call upon the principles and doctrine I have been taught for years to help me as I face unthinkable challenges.

"Embedded in the gospel of Jesus Christ there are eternal principles and truths that will last far longer than the principles of building ships and roofs. You and I, as members of the Lord’s true Church, have special access and insight into these eternal principles and truths, especially when we listen to the Spirit for individual guidance and hear the prophet’s voice as he declares the will of God to the members of the Church. You and I both know how important these eternal principles and truths are in our lives. I’m not sure those early pioneers could have faced the perils and uncertainties of the future without them, and neither can we. They are the only true and eternal way to face the future, especially in these increasingly perilous and uncertain times in which we now live."

I love the word "embedded". It means it is solidly in there. I have a very rocky back yard and trying to get the rocks out has been a five year long process (and we aren't close to being done). These rocks are embedded. in fact we unearthed one last year that we promptly put back when we found it to be some four feet in diameter. It wasn't going to budge. So are the gospel principles that we are taught and find inside the gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm thankful that we have the power of personal revelation.

I love his words of council:
"First is the lesson of using the principles and truths of the past to help us face the future. Second, we learn from their desire to share what they knew with others to help build the kingdom of God."

Study and prayer then open our mouths.