Best yet to come
E-mail story
It's easy. Send a link to the story you were just reading to a friend. Just fill out the form on this page and we'll send it along.
Your name and e-mail address are transmitted to the recipient. Otherwise, it is considered private information; see Privacy policy.
Elder L. Tom Perry addressed the "spiritual benefits of a simplified lifestyle," by expanding upon the four tenets of Henry David Thoreau's experience at Walden Pond.
Speaking Saturday morning, Elder Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve said, "One of the challenges of this mortal experience is not to allow the stresses and strains of life to get the better of us — to endure the varied seasons of life while remaining positive and optimistic.... We can't predict all the struggles and storms in life, not even the ones around the corner, but as persons of faith and hope, we know beyond the shadow of doubt that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true, and 'The best is yet to come."'
Elder Perry related how he and his wife drove to Walden Pond during a crucial time in their lives to find a few moments of relief from her life-threatening illness and his employment challenges.
"Walden Pond was a special place to pause, reflect and heal," he said.
After recounting how Thoreau constructed a cabin using the lumber of an old shanty purchased from a railroad worker and from the forest, and how he provided for himself by raising crops on two and a half acres of land, Elder Perry said the lesson learned by Thoreau was that man needs only four things — food, clothing, shelter and fuel.
Concerning food, Elder Perry quoted from the Word of Wisdom and the "For the Strength of Youth" pamphlet which admonishes eating nutritious food, regular exercise and getting enough sleep. "When you do all these things, you remain free from harmful addictions and have control over your life. You gain the blessings of a healthy body, an alert mind and the guidance of the Holy Ghost."
Concerning clothing, Elder Perry said, "A simplified life that brings spiritual blessings requires the wearing of simple and modest clothing.... When we are modestly dressed, we also invite the Spirit of the Lord to be a shield and a protection for us."
Elder Perry noted how fashion design trends edge toward the extreme in men's and women's clothing, and warned, "Many of you are trying too hard to be unique in your dress and grooming to attract, what the Lord would consider, the wrong kind of attention."
About shelter, Elder Perry said, "One of the better ways to simplify our lives is to follow the counsel we have so often received to: (1) live within our income, (2) stay out of debt, and (3) save for a rainy day.... Members of a well-managed family do not pay interest, they earn it."
Of the final necessity, fuel, Elder Perry said, "The Lord has given us a beautiful plan about how we can return to Him, but the completion of our mortal journey requires spiritual fuel.... We must acquire knowledge of God's eternal plan and our role in it, and then by living righteously, by surrendering our will to the will of the Lord, we receive the promised blessings."
