Part 1
This three part series is based on the talk by President Russell M. Nelson “Overcome the World and Find Rest”
Let me start by saying that President Nelson is so full of joy as he gives this talk. The first thing that struck me was when he said, “Experiencing Their love is vital, as it seems that we are accosted daily by an onslaught of sobering news.”
The love he is speaking of is the love that our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ have for us.
“Experiencing Their love is vital.”
The love that They have for us is a filling and sustaining love that can lift us and bring us both comfort and peace in the midst of the chaos we live in and endure. President Nelson in that simple phrase reminds us to remember Their love for us and to allow ourselves to experience and feel the support and peace that it brings.
He then goes on to say, “But, my dear brothers and sisters, so many wonderful things are ahead. In coming days, we will see the greatest manifestations of the Savior’s power that the world has ever seen. Between now and the time He returns “with power and great glory”, He will bestow countless privileges, blessings, and miracles upon the faithful.” I felt like Nephi must have when his father told him of his vision of the tree of life. I wanted to see what president Nelson saw and understand them.
President Nelson then goes on to talk about how making and keeping covenants brings us rest to our souls but also makes life easier to deal with. He does not say that it will make life easy, we will simply have an easier time dealing with all of the challenges and complexities of life because we have the strength of our covenants and through them the power of the Savior Jesus Christ.
President Nelson then quoted the Savior, stating, “Before the Savior submitted Himself to the agony of Gethsemane and Calvary, He declared to His apostles, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Subsequently, Jesus entreated each of us to do the same when He said, I will that ye should overcome the world.”
Because Jesus Christ overcame the world, because He atoned for each of our sins we to can overcome the world. President Nelson stated, “Because the Savior, through His infinite Atonement, redeemed each of us from weakness, mistakes, and sin, and because He experienced every pain, worry, and burden you have ever had, then as you truly repent and seek His help, you can rise above this present precarious world.
You can overcome the spiritually and emotionally exhausting plagues of the world, including arrogance, pride, anger, immorality, hatred, greed, jealousy, and fear. Despite the distractions and distortions that swirl around us, you can find true rest – meaning relief and peace – even amid your most vexing problems.”
These two simple paragraphs give such hope. I know I am not the only one whose life has been turned upside down and thrown into chaos. President Nelson has just told me that I can find peace and rest. He has told me I can overcome the chaos that swirls in my life and at times overwhelms my heart and soul.
Please join me as I continue to study this talk for the next two parts.
