Have you ever wondered how members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles approach scripture study? This year’s Come, Follow Me digital manual will share some of their favorite verses and takeaways in a monthly video series called “Insights from the Apostles.”
In the first video, embedded in the January 6–12 lesson outline, Elder Patrick Kearon speaks about Doctrine and Covenants 1:23—a verse he believes “can console all of us” when we feel stretched beyond our abilities or overwhelmed. “The truth that ‘the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto all the ends of the world’ is enormously comforting,” he shared. “I really hope it will be for you.”
This principle especially brought Elder Kearon hope and comfort when he felt “utterly overwhelmed” by his new calling as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.
He believes reading the Doctrine and Covenants provides opportunities to hear the Savior’s voice—“to find it, to identify it, to listen to it, and to bask in it as we study together.”
Read his testimony in the full message below:
“Dear friends, welcome to our year of study with Come, Follow Me in the Doctrine and Covenants. I hope you’re getting off to a good start. I hope your eyes will be open to things you haven’t seen before, or if this is your first time reading the Doctrine and Covenants, that you’ll really enjoy it.
“Right at the very beginning, in Doctrine and Covenants 1, I find a verse that gives me hope and comfort. I hope it does for you, too. Doctrine and Covenants 1, verse 23, reads, ‘That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers.’
“There are lots of things I love about these verses, and probably foremost is the idea that ‘weak things of the world shall come forth and break down mighty and strong ones,’ and that ‘the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and simple unto the ends of the world, before kings and rulers.’
“The amazing thing about this [is that] it can console all of us because we see ourselves as the weak and the simple.
“It must have been extraordinary for Joseph to be comforted by the idea that the weak and the simple can do this work. It must have been remarkable for him to see his, in a way, part of his job description unfolding before him.
“To what end? ‘That faith also might increase in the earth.’ Verse 21. And then, verse 22: ‘That mine everlasting covenant might be established.’
“And I acknowledge that many before—ancient prophets Enoch, Moses, John the Baptist, Joseph himself—have felt overwhelmed. In my recent experience, I was extended a call that utterly overwhelmed me. I could go on, but I was utterly overwhelmed.
“And the idea, the truth that ‘the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto all the ends of the world,’ is enormously comforting. I really hope it will be for you.
“Whether you’re teaching this year and feeling somewhat stretched or overwhelmed, or whether you’re not really yet into the habit of reading, and ... that in itself is overwhelming, I pray that you’ll feel comforted and energized and invigorated as you read from these wonderful sections and get a sense of our early history and these early revelations.
“I hope you’ll hear the Savior’s voice as you study the Doctrine and Covenants. It’s there. It’s right through it. We hear His voice in so many ways, and this is an opportunity to find it, to identify it, to listen to it, and to bask in it as we study together.
“I hope you really enjoy this year of learning and discovery and leave these thoughts with you, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”
Watch Elder Kearon’s video in the digital Come, Follow Me manual.
Articles for you:
▶ The ‘Come, Follow Me’ goal I should have set years ago (that you might want to copy)
▶ 7 new ‘Come, Follow Me’ study tools you won’t want to be without this year
▶ Watch: Elder Kearon’s counsel for when you fear you’ll never measure up
