PROVO, Utah-Tuesday, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Quorum of Twelve Apostles addressed BYU students at the weekly devotional at the Marriott Center.
Elder Holland’s remarks shared three keys to help his audience become more spiritually resilient as they progress in their lives.
- There is a reason to keep Gospel laws and a worthy reason to follow Gospel principles.
- Forgive others “for the relief and peace it brings us.”
- “Be still and know that I am God.”
In making his remarks, Elder Holland spoke of Troy and Deedra Russell, Latter-day Saints in the Dutchman Pass Ward of the Church in Henderson, Nev.
In October 2016, Elder Holland recounted, the Russells lost their 9-year-old son because of an accident in 2015.
Troy Russell had accidentally run over their son in his truck. Later that year, Deedra Russell was hit and severely injured by a drunk driver on Interstate 15 in southern Utah.
Since then, she has always been in the hospital, having undergone 18 surgeries, with more to come.
Elder Holland then quoted Mosiah 3:19 in the Book of Mormon, confirming it is essential in this life to “become a Saint” as King Benjamin had told his audience.
This requires us, he continues, to submit to the Lord through the conditions King Benjamin prescribed: becoming “submissive, meek, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things” [which the Lord sees fit to inflict upon us].
Elder Holland’s wife, Sister Patricia T. Holland, also addressed those in attendance. She spoke of the great concern Church leaders have for the BYU students.
