President Henry B. Eyring: 'A living testimony'
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181st Annual General Conference — Church News coverage
Special 2011 General Young Women Video Presentation
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Young Women are the "bright hope of the Lord's Church," said President Henry B. Eyring during the General Young Women meeting on March 26.
"My purpose tonight is to help you believe that is so," said President Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency. "If that belief can become a deep testimony from God it will shape your daily and hourly choices. And then from what might appear to you to be small choices, the Lord will lead you to the happiness you want."
Speaking to a capacity congregation in the Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake City, President Eyring told more than 20,000 young women, their mothers and leaders that through their choices the Lord will be able to bless countless others.
In addition to President Eyring, Sister Elaine S. Dalton, Young Women general president, and her counselors, Sister Mary N. Cook and Sister Ann M. Dibb, spoke.
President Thomas S. Monson presided over the meeting and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, his second counselor in the First Presidency, also attended the meeting, which was translated and broadcast to meetinghouses across the globe.
"All of you have a desire for your testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ to be strengthened," said President Eyring.
He said President Brigham Young could see that need with prophetic foresight 142 years ago.
"He may not have seen the technological marvels of today where with a device you can hold in your hand you can chose to connect to countless ideas and people across the earth, but he saw the value for His daughters and for you in having their choices being made out of a powerful testimony of a living and loving God and His plan of happiness."
President Eyring said Brigham Young's prophetic and inspired counsel for his daughters is at the heart of his message: "There is a need for the young daughters of Israel to get a living testimony of the truth."
Brigham Young then created the association of young women that has become what the Church now calls "Young Women."
"More than a hundred years later, daughters of Israel across the world have that desire for a living testimony of the truth for themselves. Now and for the rest of your lives, you will need that living and growing testimony to fortify you and lead your path to eternal life. And with it you will become the transmitters of the light of Christ to your brothers and sisters across the world and across generations."
President Eyring told the congregation that they know from their own experience what a testimony is.
"Testimony will come to you in pieces as parts of the whole truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ are confirmed. ... Your living testimony will expand as you study, pray, and ponder in the scriptures."
The best description of how to gain and keep a testimony is found in Alma 32, President Eyring said.
"So a seed of faith is already planted in your heart. ... But, like a growing plant, it must be nurtured or it will whither. Frequent and heartfelt prayers of faith are crucial and needed nutrients. Obedience to the truth you have received will keep the testimony alive and strengthen it. Obedience to the commandments is part of the nourishment you must provide for your testimony."
President Eyring said only after this life can he enjoy the fullness of the greatest of all blessings – eternal life. "But amidst the challenges of this life, I have been given at least glimpses of what my family in heaven can be like. From those experiences, my testimony of the reality of the sealing power exercised in temples has grown and been strengthened."
President Eyring challenged each young woman to prove for herself the promise of Moroni — "and by the power of the Holy ghost ye may know the truth of all things" (Moroni 10:3-5).
"The answer may not come in a single and powerful spiritual experience. For me it came quietly at first. But it comes ever more forcefully each time I have read and prayed over the Book of Mormon."
President Eyring said he does not depend on what has happened in the past. "To keep my living testimony of the Book of Mormon secure, I claim the promise of Moroni often. I don't take that blessing of a testimony for granted as a perpetual entitlement."
Testimony, he said, requires the "nurturing by the prayer of faith, the hungering for the word of God in the scripture, and the obedience to the truth we have received. There is danger is neglecting prayer. There is danger to our testimony in only casual study and reading of the scriptures. They are necessary nutrients for our testimony."
Feasting on the word of God, heartfelt prayer, and obedience to the Lord's commandments must be applied evenly and continually for a testimony to grow and prosper, he said.
"Each time you choose to try to live more like the Savior you will have your testimony strengthened. You will come in time to know for yourself that He is the light of the world.
"You will come to feel light growing in your life. It will not come without effort. But it will come as your testimony grows and you choose to nurture it."
President Eyring told the young women that in their testimony and their choices lies the hope of the Church and of the generations who will follow their example. "The Lord know and loves you," he said.
