By BETH PALMER
Drawing upon personal experiences, outgoing General Primary President Patricia P. Pinegar outlined steps to attain peace, hope and direction during the Sunday morning session of general conference.
Sister Pinegar said following the Lord’s plan is the first step in finding these things.
“As we follow this plan and the example of our Savior, we can find peace in this troubled world, our hearts can be filled with hope and we will receive the direction we need,” she said.
Sister Pinegar said the death of her 17-year-old son, which occurred while she and her husband were serving a mission in England, helped her understand the blessings that having peace, hope and direction provide.
She quoted Elder Richard G. Scott in reminding members of the church that “as you wrestle with a challenge and feel sadness because of it, you can simultaneously have peace and rejoicing.”
Sister Pinegar outlined three steps to finding peace, hope and direction.
First, it is important to trust in God and Jesus Christ, she said.
“Trusting in his plan gave me peace during the time following our son’s death,” she said. “I knew where our son was, and I knew Heavenly Father loved him.”
Second, she said that “courageous obedience” helps people receive blessings. She said she and her husband encouraged missionaries to strive for obedience while he was serving as president of the Provo Missionary Training Center.
“I am so grateful for God’s gift of laws and commandments,” Sister Pinegar said. “Peace, hope and direction are outcomes of striving to live the teachings of Jesus and obeying his laws and commandments.”
She told a story of a young boy flying a kite to illustrate the concept of courageous obedience. The boy thought the string was keeping his kite from flying higher, but when he cut it he realized the string was what had actually allowed the kite to fly.
“The commandments and laws of God are like the kite string,” she said. “They lead us and guide us upward. Obedience to these laws gives us peace and hope and direction.”
Lastly, Sister Pinegar said responding to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and showing thankfulness to the Lord for them is vital to achieving peace, hope and direction.
She said that while serving as the General Primary President, a position from which she was released during Saturday afternoon’s session of conference, she was grateful for the promptings of the Holy Ghost she and her counselors received.
Sister Pinegar said they wanted to protect the Primary children from the world, which she said is not a safe place.
“It is not a place where children will feel peace, hope and direction unless they are taught to love and follow the Savior,” she said. “Please help them know that these great blessings can be theirs, and show them what they need to do to receive these blessings.”
