Motions of a Hidden Fire
Open talk in Gospel LibraryContents
Topics
Experiencing Loss and Illness
President Holland shares his personal experiences of losing his beloved wife and facing a severe medical crisis. These experiences have brought him closer to the edge of eternity and have given him a renewed sense of urgency in his ministry.
The most personal and painful of all these recent experiences has been the passing of my beloved wife, Pat.
Another experience began 48 hours after my wife’s burial. At that time, I was rushed to the hospital in an acute medical crisis.Key Points:
- Personal trials can bring us closer to the edge of eternity.
- Such experiences can bring a renewed sense of urgency in our ministry.
- Can you recall a time when a personal trial brought you closer to the edge of eternity?
- How did this experience influence your commitment to the gospel?
- How can we find hope and strength in the midst of our trials?
The Power and Importance of Prayer
President Holland testifies of the power of prayer and the reality that God hears and responds to our prayers. He encourages us to pray always, for ourselves and for others, and to never hesitate to communicate with our Heavenly Father.
I testify that God hears every prayer we offer and responds to each of them according to the path He has outlined for our perfection.
Our prayers are our sweetest hour, our most “sincere desire,” our simplest, purest form of worship.Key Points:
- God hears and responds to our prayers.
- Prayer is our simplest, purest form of worship.
- We should never hesitate to communicate with our Heavenly Father.
- Can you share a time when you felt that God heard and responded to your prayer?
- How has prayer helped you in your personal life?
- How can we make our prayers more meaningful?
The Urgency of Spiritual Preparation
President Holland emphasizes the urgency of our spiritual preparation for eternity. He urges us to be fully committed, faithfully believing, covenant-keeping disciples of Christ.
I bear witness that when Christ comes, He needs to recognize us—not as nominal members listed on a faded baptismal record but as thoroughly committed, faithfully believing, covenant-keeping disciples.
This is an urgent matter for all of us, lest we ever hear with devastating regret: “I never knew you,” or, as Joseph Smith translated that phrase, “[You] never knew me.”Key Points:
- There is an urgency in our spiritual preparation for eternity.
- We need to be fully committed, faithfully believing, covenant-keeping disciples of Christ.
- What steps are you taking to prepare for eternity?
- How can we be more committed disciples of Christ?
- How do you feel about the urgency of our spiritual preparation?
The Reality of Eternal Life
President Holland bears solemn witness of the reality of eternal life. He shares his gratitude for the gift of a few more weeks or months in mortality and testifies of Christ's victory over death.
Against that backdrop of Christ’s victory over death and His recent gift to me of a few more weeks or months in mortality, I bear solemn witness of the reality of eternal life.
I bear witness that when Christ comes, He needs to recognize us—not as nominal members listed on a faded baptismal record but as thoroughly committed, faithfully believing, covenant-keeping disciples.Key Points:
- Eternal life is a reality.
- We need to be recognized by Christ when He comes.
- Christ has victory over death.
- How does the reality of eternal life affect your daily decisions?
- How do you feel about Christ's victory over death?
- What does being recognized by Christ when He comes mean to you?
The Love and Compassion of Our Heavenly Father
President Holland testifies of the love and compassion of our Heavenly Father. He shares his personal experience of receiving divine intervention and the comfort and strength he has found in the prayers of the members of the Church.
I testify that both of those prayers were heard and answered by a divinely compassionate Heavenly Father, even if the prayers for Pat were not answered the way I asked.
I thank all of you and thank my Father in Heaven, who heard your prayers and blessed my life.Key Points:
- Our Heavenly Father is divinely compassionate.
- He hears and answers our prayers.
- We can find comfort and strength in the prayers of others.
- Can you share a time when you felt the love and compassion of our Heavenly Father?
- How have the prayers of others brought you comfort and strength?
- How can we show our gratitude for the prayers of others?
