Joan Glasgow - Winchester Hills 1st Ward

The talk I have chosen is entitled "Joy and Spiritual Survival" by President Russell M Nelson, from Oct. Conference 2016. As I read this talk I was pulled in by the thoughts that he expressed about these being the latter days, and that we should not be surprised by the things that are going on around us. Many of the prophets foresaw these tumultuous days, including Isaiah, Paul, Nephi and Mormon. Modern day prophets that I can think of that have foretold these times were Pres. Benson, and President Hinckley, especially Pres. Benson.

Pres. Russell M. Nelson, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said in his Oct. 2016 General Conference Talk, "When we focus our lives on the Savior and His Gospel, we can feel joy, regardless of what is happening - or not happening- in our lives. So my word for this month is “Joy”.

As I think about all the evil and turmoil that abounds in this country and this world, I realized that the only thing I really have control of is my little part of His universe. If I want to have joy in my life it is entirely up to me. I can't help what is going on in Washington DC or in other parts of this country or the world, the only thing that I can have any effect upon at all, is me and maybe my family. Everything else has to be turned over to our Heavenly Father and he will take care of it.

I love Eliza R. Snow's observation of what was going on in the grueling winter of 1838. The Extermination Order had been issued and she and the other Saints were forced to flee the state of Missouri in the dead of winter. One of these bitter cold winter nights were spend in a small cabin, only 20' square, with about 80 people huddling together to try to stay warm. It was so cold, that even the food was frozen. Outside, a group of men spent the night gathered around a roaring fire, singing hymns and roasting frozen potatoes. Eliza recorded, Not a complaint was heard, all were cheerful and judging from appearances, strangers would have taken us to be pleasure excursionists, rather than a band of gubernatorial exiles."

They were truly a Zion people.

My question to myself today is, how can I become like those saints of old....finding joy no matter what my circumstances. By becoming more Zion like must be the answer.