A New Prophet

Last weekend was General Conference.  I always look forward to it, but this one was especially exciting with a new prophet being sustained.  During the solemn assembly the spirit was powerful in our basement living room as we watched the sustaining.  Each time the camera went to President Nelson I could see and feel in his face what it meant to him to have those sustaining votes and I could feel that he was truly called by God for this time.

This feeling began not only for President Nelson but for his counselors as I watched the press conference and saw how each of these men were specifically prepared for their specific responsibilities and have talents and abilities that are needed at this time.

Then, over the course of the conference that feeling grew stronger as the announcements regarding the welding together of  Melchizedek priesthood quorums and the new ministering program were announced.  The Holy Ghost confirmed to both my mind and heart that these announcements were the Lord's will for His church and will be a blessing to many as we implement them with all our hearts.

President Nelson's talk on revelation was sorely needed for me and is a veritable gold mine of truths about how to receive personal revelation and the blessings that can be ours as we go to the source of all truth.

This weekend left little doubt that God is at the helm in this church and He is directing it through the power of the Holy Spirit and my words echo Elder Stevenson's (although his were in reference to the actual day that the ordinations took place): "This was a deeply sacred experience, with an outpouring of the Spirit. I offer to you my absolute witness that the will of the Lord, for which we fervently prayed, was powerfully manifest in the activities and events of that day."

Elder Stevenson offered additional words that struck me powerfully and resounded as truth: "Interestingly, as President Nelson’s call to the Twelve 34 years ago ended a professional medical career of strengthening and repairing hearts, it began a ministry as an Apostle devoted to strengthening and repairing hearts of countless tens of thousands around the world, each having been lifted and healed by his words and acts of wisdom, service, and love."

Everything that happened this last weekend leads me to echo Elder Stevenson again. "Brothers and sisters, what we have witnessed and participated in today, a solemn assembly, leads to my witness that President Russell M. Nelson is the Lord’s living mouthpiece for all humankind."

While this was a marvelous experience and I love our prophet, I also stand by Elder Andersen's words that, "While we sustain the prophet as the Lord’s anointed, let it be clear that we worship only God, our Heavenly Father, and His divine Son. It is through the merits, the mercy, and the grace of our Savior, Jesus Christ, that we can one day enter again into Their presence."