elder ballard

elder ballard came to our stake conference in january; i thought it important to record our thoughts and impressions here.  

“An 'apostle' is an ordained leader in the Melchizedek Priesthood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Apostles are chosen through inspiration by the President of the Church, sustained by the general membership of the Church, and ordained by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles by the laying on of hands. . . . In addition to serving as witnesses of Jesus Christ to all the world (D&C 107:23), as Jesus' apostles did, members of the current Quorum of the Twelve Apostles hold the keys of the priesthood--that is, the rights of presidency (D&C 107:35; cf. 124:128)” (Encyclopedia of Mormonism [1992], 1:59-60).  

or, as we tell pace, an apostle is a special friend to jesus.

first, we were lightened by his humor.  you typically only see apostles speaking at general conference, in a much more formal setting, giving their talk across the pulpit, done.  it was a much lighter experience at our stake conference!  elder ballard told lots of jokes, some very funny stories, and the general feeling was simply laid back and relaxed.  he even said a number of times, "just relax.  just relax and be yourself.  in your prayers, relax and talk to your heavenly father about helping you."

he then changed the subject to more serious things: 

"we, as apostles, as brethren, are bound by what heavenly father dictates.  he has not changed the charge to multiply and replenish the earth.  he has not changed to law of chastity.  we are bound by the doctrine of the gospel of christ."  

"in the future unless the world repents and people stop pushing our father in heaven and the lord jesus christ out of the public square...as long as it goes that way--and it's in a trend going that way--we better have our spiritual houses in order, we better have our spiritual well-beings prosperous enough so that we can withstand.  there will be a time by the lord's declaration when he will say it is enough."

and then just like that, the spirit changed from light-hearted to serious.  the spirit immediately changed into a deep, profound, knowing sense, confirming his words and his calling in the church.  the portuguese word  "âmago"  flew into my mind--it is a noun meaning "heart, core, essence, bottom, pith, marrow" (the 3 references in the book of mormon it's found: helaman 5:30 (a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul); 1 nephi 16:2 (the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center); 3 nephi 11:3 (it did pierce them to the very soul and did cause their hearts to burn).  

in that instant i knew, deep in my heart, my core, my marrow, that elder ballard was speaking as an apostle called of god, as a special witness of jesus christ.  in that instant i knew jesus is the christ, our savior.  in that instant i knew how important it was to be on the lord's side.

he ended the meeting by pronouncing an apostolic blessing upon us:
"I ask the Lord to bless you that your spirits will be strong, that your testimonies and your conversion will not be in the mind but in the heart deep enough that it will carry you through whatever lies ahead...that you will have the spiritual inner strength to be able to withstand and move you forward."