Latter-day Saint Life

Elder Holland: I Testify in This and Every Hour Jesus Is Holding on to Us

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In case you haven't heard the exciting news, the prophet and apostles are now using Instagram to share Christ's lightand reach members of the Church in new ways.

This week we've been sharing inspiring stories and insights from the apostles' Instagram pages. Here are two powerful reminders from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland to help us remember our Savior and He who fills our life with light and purpose:

"I hear many who struggle with this issue: 'I am just not good enough.' 'I fall so far short.' 'I will never measure up.' I hear this from teenagers. I hear it from missionaries. I hear it from new converts. I hear it from lifelong members.
"I believe in God’s perfection, and I know we are His spiritual sons and daughters with divine potential to become as He is. I also know that as children of God we should not demean and vilify ourselves, as if beating up on ourselves is somehow going to make us the person God wants us to become in eternity. No!
"With a willingness to repent and a desire for increased righteousness in our hearts, I would hope we could pursue personal improvement in a way that doesn’t include getting ulcers or bulimia, feeling depressed, or demolishing our self-esteem. That is not what the Lord wants for children or anyone else who honestly sings, 'I’m trying to be like Jesus.'
"I testify of that very Jesus, who Himself continued 'from grace to grace' until He received in His immortality a perfect fulness of celestial glory. I testify that in this and every hour He is, with nail-scarred hands, extending to us that same grace, holding on to us and encouraging us until we are safely home in the embrace of Heavenly Parents."
View this post on Instagram I hear many who struggle with this issue: “I am just not good enough.” “I fall so far short.” “I will never measure up.” I hear this from teenagers. I hear it from missionaries. I hear it from new converts. I hear it from lifelong members. . I believe in God’s perfection, and I know we are His spiritual sons and daughters with divine potential to become as He is. I also know that as children of God we should not demean and vilify ourselves, as if beating up on ourselves is somehow going to make us the person God wants us to become in eternity. No! . With a willingness to repent and a desire for increased righteousness in our hearts, I would hope we could pursue personal improvement in a way that doesn’t include getting ulcers or bulimia, feeling depressed, or demolishing our self-esteem. That is not what the Lord wants for children or anyone else who honestly sings, “I’m trying to be like Jesus.” . I testify of that very Jesus, who Himself continued “from grace to grace” until He received in His immortality a perfect fulness of celestial glory. I testify that in this and every hour He is, with nail-scarred hands, extending to us that same grace, holding on to us and encouraging us until we are safely home in the embrace of Heavenly Parents. A post shared by Jeffrey R. Holland (@jeffreyrholland) on Sep 23, 2018 at 8:07am PDT
"Don’t wait to live. This isn’t a rehearsal; this isn’t a dry run; this isn’t a pre-performance routine. This is it. This is real life. Don’t wait. Savor every minute.
"Learn from the past, plan for the future, but the only moment you’ve got is right now. Don’t look back and lament, and don’t wait needlessly for the future. Live in the moment and savor it as if it were your last, as if it were your only, as if it were that one moment 'on which the shadow stands.' If you’ll do the best you can with each hour of your life, you’re going to find at the end that you have had a rich and wonderful experience."
View this post on Instagram Don’t wait to live. This isn’t a rehearsal; this isn’t a dry run; this isn’t a pre-performance routine. This is it. This is real life. Don’t wait. Savor every minute. . Learn from the past, plan for the future, but the only moment you’ve got is right now. Don’t look back and lament, and don’t wait needlessly for the future. Live in the moment and savor it as if it were your last, as if it were your only, as if it were that one moment “on which the shadow stands.” If you’ll do the best you can with each hour of your life, you’re going to find at the end that you have had a rich and wonderful experience. A post shared by Jeffrey R. Holland (@jeffreyrholland) on Oct 19, 2018 at 11:00am PDT

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