Elder Rafael E. Pino: The eternal perspective of the gospel

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See more of the The Universe’s coverage of the 185th Annual General Conference.

Elder Rafael E. Pino of the Seventy speaks at the concluding session of the 185th Annual General Conference on Sunday, April 5. (LDS.org)

Elder Rafael Pino of the Seventy delivered his address on gospel perspective in Spanish, his native language, the second speaker to do so in the 185th Annual General Conference.

Elder Pino began by telling the sequence in which God has revealed truths to his children and how that affects understanding of his plan. The way people seek knowledge affects their perspective.

“The eternal perspective of the gospel leads us to understand the place that we occupy in God’s plan, to accept difficulties and progress through them, to make decisions, and to center our lives on our divine potential,” Elder Pino said.

Elder Pino illustrated the difference perspective gives one’s attitude when he spoke of the differences between Nephi and his brothers Laman and Lemuel. Whereas Laman and Lemuel focused on their afflictions, Nephi chose to dwell on his blessings.

Elder Pino then likened the perspective of the Lord to that of Michelangelo, as he sculpted the statue of David out of a large block of stone. He retold the story originally recounted by Elder David B. Haight, placing an emphasis on the perspective of Michelangelo’s young admirer, who could not believe what he sculpted from the original marble. “The artist’s vision of the possibilities encased in the stone allowed him to create a work of art,” Elder Pino said.

Just as the sculptor could see the finished product in the stone, so can the Lord see his children’s divine potential. Elder Pino differentiated the attitudes of the student and artist by telling of their separate perspectives and then likened listeners to both the marble and the young admirer.

“The Lord knows what he wants to accomplish with each one of us,” Elder Pino said. “He knows the kind of reform he wants to achieve in our lives, and we do not have the right to counsel him. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts.”

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