Elder K. Brett Nattress, Pacific Area President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Elder Peter F. Meurs, also a member of the Pacific Area Presidency, spoke at this weekend’s General Conference for the Church.
Elder Nattress shared Danny’s story. He described him as an outstanding young man. Following Danny’s graduation from high school, he “started to associate with a rough crowd,” struggled with substance addictions, specifically methamphetamine, and “travelled down the slippery slope of addiction and destruction.”
Eventually, with support, Danny came back to the Saviour, but he struggled to know if he had “truly been forgiven.”
Elder Nattress said to Danny, “…have you looked in the mirror? Have you seen your eyes? They are filled with light, and you are beaming with the Spirit of the Lord. Of course, you have been forgiven! You are amazing! Now what you need to do is move forward with your life. Don’t look back! Look forward with faith to the next ordinance.”
Elder Nattress said, “To those who have strayed from the covenant path, please know there is always hope, there is always healing, and there is always a way back. His eternal message of hope is the healing balm for all who live in a troubled world. The Saviour said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).”
Elder Meurs taught that when our Savior Jesus Christ looks upon us, He sees and understands the pain and burden of our sins. He sees our addictions and challenges. He sees our struggles and afflictions of any kind—and He is filled with compassion toward us.
He then shared a personal struggle following a head-on car accident in which his wife and child were seriously injured.
“All were healed over time, a great blessing and tender mercy,” said Elder Meurs.
However, Elder Meurs "continued to have deep feelings of guilt and remorse."
After many years of struggling, he realised that the "Saviour could heal me."
Elder Meurs said, "The Saviour’s healing and redeeming power applies to accidental mistakes, poor decisions, challenges, and trials of every kind – as well as to our sins. As I turned to Him, my feelings of guilt and remorse were gradually replaced with peace and rest."
Watch their talks here and here.
Watch or read other addresses from the April 2023 General Conference here.
Learn about ways to celebrate the life, teachings, mission, Atoning sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ this Easter Holy Week, here.