In a meeting with local leaders from six stakes in the north part of Saratoga Springs, Utah, President Jeffrey R. Holland, the acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, bore witness of the Lord Jesus Christ and promised that as people increase their faith in Him, they will be able to help others come unto Him as well.
“Bear your witness,” he said. “The power of God and the virtue of heaven will come.”
Alma 31:5 explains that the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead people to do what was just—and it had a more powerful effect upon the people than anything else. Therefore, Alma felt they should “try the virtue of the word of God.”
The Latin root of the word virtue—virtūs—means power, President Holland said.
When the woman in need of healing touched the hem of Jesus Christ’s clothing, He said, “I perceive that virtue is gone out of me” (Luke 8:46), or in other words, “I perceive that power is gone out of me.”
“Alma thought it expedient they try the power of the word of God,” President Holland explained.
Faith in God unlocks His power, President Holland said quoting President Russell M. Nelson in April 2021 general conference, who taught: “The Lord does not require perfect faith for us to access His perfect power. But He does ask us to believe.”
President Holland said every teacher and leader in the Church needs to bear their testimony often, pray often and be in the scriptures with their class or quorum or congregation. “We want them to understand we are believers.”
Read more about the meeting with President Holland at Church News.
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