Elder Donald L. Hallstrom: 'Turn to the Lord'
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.
Turn to the Lord when confronted with life's problems, Elder Donald L. Hallstrom of the Presidency of the Seventy counseled at the Sunday morning session of general conference.
"In the most difficult circumstances of life, there is often only one source of peace," he said. "The Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, extends His grace with this invitation, 'Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me … and ye shall find rest unto your souls'" (Matthew 11:28-29).
Elder Hallstrom told two contrasting stories of families that suffered great loss during childbirth: one couple who lost a newborn baby became embittered and acrimonious, so much so that they fell away from the Church. The other couple — Elder Hallstrom's paternal grandparents — lost an adult daughter and the twins she was birthing during a tragic episode.
"My grandparents were heartbroken," he said. "Their grief, however, immediately turned them to the Lord and His Atonement. Without dwelling on why this could happen and who might be to blame, they focused on living a righteous life. My grandparents never had wealth; they were never among the socially elite; they never held high positions in the Church — they were simply devoted Latter-day Saints."
Showing that even a seemingly small slight can fester to infect a person's testimony, Elder Hallstrom related the sad tale of Symonds Ryder. In June 1831, Brother Ryder joined the Church, but he fell away from the gospel shortly thereafter when his mission call from the First Presidency misspelled his name "Rider," leading him to question the legitimacy of his call and those who issued it because of one misplaced letter.
Elder Hallstrom said: "If you feel you have been wronged by anyone (a family member, a friend, another member of the Church, a Church leader, a business associate), or by anything (the death of a loved one, health problems, a financial reversal, abuse, addiction), deal with the matter directly and with all the strength you have. … Giving up is not an option. And, without delay, turn to the Lord. … Never let an earthly circumstance disable you spiritually."
