Autumn of Eternity

Good morning, brothers and sisters. It is great to be with you. I have to admit, I've been a little disappointed most of this month. I've been praying for a brisk, cool, Gilmore Girls-aesthetic-type autumn, but it’s been 80 degrees almost every day! Thankfully, it finally started to cool down this week, leading me to believe that my prayers are prevailing over those of you praying for endless summer. Maybe that’s why Provo's weather is so unpredictable and bi-polar—it's a constant tug-of-war between the faithful, each praying for opposite things.

But really, I am grateful to stand and witness the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ today. I pray for the assistance of the Holy Ghost as I share my message with each of you.

Autumn is my favorite season of the year. Sometimes I like to think that maybe we are in the Autumn of Eternity. We spent the summer at home with our Heavenly Parents, waiting, preparing for school to start and for our journey away from home. But now we've started school, so to speak - we're here on the earth, at the beginning of the next and more glorious phase of our existence. Winter will come to all, as all who live will die. "All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again." (Ecclesiastes 3:20). But in the end, Spring too will come and all that is dead will be made living, and all that is gray will be made colorful and beautiful . "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new" (Revelation 21: 4-5).

Here in our first semester of mortality we are facing our first midterm. We've finished our first few units; that of growing up, perhaps serving a mission, working towards a degree or working at the beginning of a career. Regardless, we are now on our own. The responsibility for our spiritual growth and well-being is ours alone. Our test is whether we will continue in the faith of our own accord. Whether we will build on the foundation we have been given in the gospel and make a life as true disciples of Jesus Christ. Maybe some of you are like me, and now that you are in the testing center, you've discovered this test has questions that you think you were not prepared for. Maybe it’s a question in the form of the death of a close family member or friend. Maybe it's a parent, sibling or even yourself struggling with a disease. Maybe you thought you would be married at this point in your life. It could be that you wonder if prophets really do walk the earth. Or maybe you are divorced and/or healing from leaving a serious relationship. Maybe you've committed a serious sin that's severity is just as great as it is surprising to you. Maybe it’s a question in the form of a sibling, parent or friend losing their testimony and leaving the Church.

Autumn, with its brilliant colors and the shedding of leaves, can remind us that there is beauty even in times of transition. Hope in times of loss. And peace in times of pain. It’s a season where things fall away, just as we may need to let go of our own burdens, sins, or expectations. In these moments of loss, we are given the opportunity to turn more fully to God, to deepen our trust in His timing, in His plan for us and in His Grace. Like trees that stand tall despite the shedding of their leaves and the changing environment, we too can stand firm in our faith, knowing that as we endure our trials, new growth—spiritual spring—will come.

You may feel that the burdens are too heavy to bear. You may feel that this test requires too much of you and are uncertain of how to answer. You are not alone, as President Holland has counseled, "If you wonder if there is any hope, take heart. It has been so with the best people who ever lived. Moses had his challenges—Jonah, Jeremiah, even the Savior of the world knew moments of profound anguish. So if you are lonely, please know you can find comfort. If you are discouraged, please know you can find hope” (Jeffrey R. Holland, Like a Broken Vessel, October 2013).

We can find further encouragement in the word's of the Lord to the prophet Alma, "And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs" (Mosiah 24:14).

You may ask how is this so, what do I need to do to move forward? And the answer is simple. The answer is God's love, for "behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love" (2 Nephi 1:15). "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).

As Latter-Day Saints we are blessed with a special bond to God through covenants. When we live inside our covenants we are made more holy, and thus "qualify for greater peace" (Henry B. Eyring, Holiness and the Plan of Happiness, 2019, ) and greater understanding of God's love. His love strengthens us. His love gives us power. His love gives us hope. As Sister Yee taught recently in General Conference, "He will not abandon His covenant relationship with you” (Kristin M. Yee, The Joy of our Redemption, October 2024). Living within our covenants creates space in our hearts for God to fill us brim with love. When we obediently keep our covenants our capacity to receive and share His loves loses shape and boundary, our capacity can become infinite just as His is. Empowered and protected with His love I know we will be able to face the great tests of life and say, "I see you God, ‘in relentless pursuit’ of me (Patrick Kearon, He is Risen with Healing in His Wings, April 2024), I know that You are there. I was lost and now am found. Hidden and now am seen. Convicted and now forgiven. Thank you Lord for daily revelation, for I now know where to go, my path leads back home to you."

I testify that Jesus Christ is the living Son of God and through Him all things will be made right. His love is real. His grace is real. The priesthood is real. All are accessible right now. Through Him our lives, our circumstances and this season of our existence can be incomprehensibly joyful. May we all turn to God, repent, and become true disciples worthy of all of God's blessings, even that of peace, hope and love eternal, is my prayer.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.