Latino devotional focuses on Christ's light, love
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This year's edition of the Church's annual Latino devotional featured an audience of thousands in the Conference Center and legions more watching in congregations across the western hemisphere. The reach of the Nov. 13 Spanish-language event may have been unprecedented — but the central message was eternally familiar: Believe in the Lord and carry on.
"Let us be long suffering in adversity," said in his devotional address. "Let us bear those unpleasant situations with patience."
Elder Zivic offered the concluding address at the devotional, which featured choral music, hymns and a video clip that included inspiring messages from President Thomas S. Monson and other Church leaders. The event, entitled "En la Luz de Su Amor" ("In the Light of His Love"), was broadcast via satellite and the Internet to meetinghouses throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and Central and South America.
A native of Argentina, Elder Zivic outlined ten basic rules "for living as true believers."
1. "Let us enjoy the abundance that we have, acknowledging the blessings of God. ...
"The hymn entitled 'Count Your Blessings' (Hymns 241) gives wise counsel on what we should do. It says: 'When upon life's billows you are tempest-tossed, When you are discouraged thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings; every doubt will fly, And you will be singing as the days go by.' "
2. "Let us be at peace with all men."
Those who are faithful in the gospel will enjoy the internal peace that Christ promised and will be a light to the world, he said.
3. Be kindly affectionate one to another with brotherly love. (Romans 12:9-10)
"We receive unimaginable rewards when we express genuine love. That love is felt and is returned to us with interest. An expression of love, a word of affection, a thank you, a greeting, can, without exaggeration, change people's lives."
4. "Let us be diligent, not lazy."
A full life as believers, added Elder Zivic, cannot be realized without order and adherence to responsibility and duty.
5. "Let us not return evil for evil. Let us try to do good before all men. ...
"[Doing good] is one of the greatest challenges that can come in our lives. Being a believer is not only believing in our Lord Jesus Christ, but doing what He taught us."
6. Cast off the works of darkness, put on the armor of light (see Romans 13:12).
Remember, said Elder Zivic, people can sometimes be deceived but the Lord can never be deceived. Wickedness never was happiness.
7. Let us not set at naught the counsels of God (see Doctrine and Covenants 3:13).
Albert Einstein once said that two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity. "May that infinite human stupidity not affect us in decisions of eternal significance," Elder Zivic said.
8. Continue in prayer and rejoicing in hope (see Romans 12:12).
"May sincere prayer, together with the joy we experience when we have hope, which is the anxious hoping for eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ, help us to be true believers."
9. Break not the most sacred promises made before God (see Doctrine and Covenants 3:13).
"We will not perish if we do not break the most sacred promises which were made before God."
10. "Let us trust in the Lord forever."
"I pray that in the light of His love that we may be believers and not unbelievers, remembering the intense desire of our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, and our own desire, to be reunited with Them in the mansions They have prepared for Their faithful children."
Elder Gary B. Doxey, an Area Seventy, referenced the theme of the devotional, saying "God's love is real. His path is straight and narrow — but it is also a path of light and truth. Our destiny is eternal happiness if we follow the path."
The Lord has given His people tools to stay on the path, including living prophets and the Light of Christ to know the difference between good and evil. The gift of the Holy Ghost can also keep one safe and on the path of light. "[The Holy Ghost] communicates thoughts to our minds and feelings to our hearts. We must listen carefully, pay attention and be willing to follow the feelings we receive. Otherwise, they will leave us."
