Several times, I have met with young adults in Montreal and Toronto. Each time, I was amazed at the number of countries represented in those gatherings. What a thrill to see that the gathering of Israel was happening right there in front of me. These Saints sacrificed so much to leave their homes and move to a strange land with a strange culture and winter weather that challenged the bravest amongst them. But here they were! They stand as witnesses to the testimony that Lehi gave so long before that “none come into this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord” (2 Nephi 1:6). Their testimonies and examples of endurance and sacrifice built in me an appreciation for the blessings that I had often taken for granted. I felt a greater determination to live the gospel of Jesus Christ more intentionally and courageously so I could be more like those young adults.
You are never so far away that the Lord can’t find you
I will never forget a seminary coordinator from Saskatoon who drove 13 hours across the immense landscape of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to visit an isolated seminary classroom. This small group of youth met in the home of a less-active family who had very little contact with the Church. They had agreed to this arrangement after the faithful teacher had prayed for the perfect location to teach this little class. The coordinator drove that long distance just to visit the class and reassure the teacher, who often felt she was not enough. He impressed upon her that she was indeed called by God and was doing exactly what the Lord needed. He then returned home.
As a conscientious steward, he worried whether such a trip was worth this significant expenditure of sacred resources. He was quickly reassured by administrators and Heaven that leaving the ninety-and-nine to encourage and lift the one was exactly what he should be doing. It is what Jesus would do.
When we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ
Just recently, on Vancouver Island, a loving teacher wrestled with choosing the perfect Christmas gift for the youth she taught. She decided she would memorize The Living Christ (“The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles,” Liahona, Apr. 2000, 2) and then recite it for them on the last day of seminary before the Christmas break. The messages from The Living Christ had blessed her so many times and she hoped her students would hear the voice of the Lord as she quoted those sacred truths.
She happily reported, “As I recited the words, the Spirit filled the room.” It was just a simple gift, not one that might have been reported on local radio or even written about in the Church News. Yet, it seems to me this is exactly what the Lord meant when He promised that all of the Saints could speak in His name. (D&C 1:20)
Unity, faith, and prayer bring miracles
Finally, I recently had the opportunity to fast and pray with a stake in an area of Canada where drought is not uncommon. The president of the stake realized that not only did reservoirs need to be filled, but there was an even greater need for unity and spiritual healing to be poured out upon so many families who shoulder heavy burdens. After a special fast, members of the Stake paused from their activities every single night at 8 pm. They unitedly prayed that rain would fill the reservoirs, peace would fill our hearts and the healing power of Jesus Christ would satisfy the spiritual needs in the homes and lives of each Stake member.
That nightly prayer, originally planned for 30 days, extended for almost two months. Each night, for those many weeks, alarms on phones would ring as a reminder to pray. Pickleball games would stop, speakers would pause in the middle of a meeting, and families would suspend nightly tasks and kneel together as hundreds of faithful saints bowed in humble prayer.
Miracles really did come. Rain fell at the right time, conflicts were resolved peacefully, and a quiet but powerful strength and determination settled in troubled but resilient hearts. One Relief Society president remarked that she had never had such a quiet couple of months. Issues that had been issues for so long seemed to fade away.
Nephi saw in vision the power of the Lamb of God descending upon the saints of the Church of the Lamb. And though they were small in number, he saw that “they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory” (1 Nephi 14:14). I now know these words are true and literally being fulfilled because I have experienced the love and faith from ordinary Latter-day Saints, scattered across Canda, who really do “Think Celestial” (Russell M. Nelson, Liahona, Nov. 2023, 117) and really do “Let God Prevail” (Russell M. Nelson, Liahona, Nov. 2020, 92) in their lives!