Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke at the BYU Devotional on Tuesday, April 15.
Thousands of people were in attendance, nearly filling the seats of the Marriot Center stadium.
In preparation for the upcoming Easter holiday, Elder Uchtdorf spoke about the Holy Week and the days leading up to the Savior’s crucifixion and ultimate resurrection.
Elder Uchtdorf first spoke about Jesus’s suffering alone in Gethsemane and the torment He experienced that day.
“He walked into a garden called Gethsemane, and there — alone — He took upon Himself the sins of the world,” he said. “By the end of the next day, Jesus was hanging on a cross, suffering a cruel and humiliating execution, between two common thieves. Instead of adoration, He now received mocking.”
Elder Uchtdorf talked about how Jesus freely chose to be a sacrifice, and by doing so was saving humanity.
“By accepting the agony and enduring it to the very end, He was indeed saving them, even those who crucified Him. By His own free will and choice He gave himself as the final and complete sacrifice. And by this, He was saving you and me, and all who will ever live on this earth,” Elder Uchtdorf said.
Elder Uchtdorf likened the Savior’s suffering to “walking the winepress alone.”
Elder Uchtdorf emphasized that while Jesus had the power to save Himself, this was a necessary step in Heavenly Father’s plan.
“But the fact that He chose to take His cross, walk the winepress alone and bring the ultimate sacrifice to the divine altar to rescue all of God’s children, even though He had power to save Himself, has become the supernal witness that He is indeed the Son of God — submissive to His Father’s will and committed to fulfilling His Father’s plan of salvation to the last breath,” Elder Uchtdorf said.
Elder Uchtdorf also spoke about the high expectations that Church members strive to meet.
“So, what do we do when the beautiful, universal, eternal ideals of the gospel clash with the painful, individual, mortal realities of life?” Elder Uchtdorf asked. “There are at least two things you should remember. Never give up on the ideal, and don’t disregard the real. Accept both.”
Later in his address, Elder Uchtdorf spoke about the importance of feeling both joy and sorrow.
“If you wait for sorrow to end before you experience joy, you might miss joy completely,” he said. “To experience a measure of sorrow may enable your heart and mind to receive pure heavenly joy!”
Elder Uchtdorf then likened climbing a mountain to seeing things from God’s perspective. He explained that while a tree or building might feel like a huge obstacle from ground level, these things look small and unthreatening from the top of a mountain.
“God invites us to follow His way to a higher and holier perspective,” Elder Uchtdorf shared. “You will see the world and its challenges with different eyes; you will see things in the context of the whole creation and the plan of salvation. You will get a more complete and encompassing insight — in a way that is not possible when you are in the thick of things.”
He spoke about the importance of taking the sacrament, daily scripture study and personal prayer. He urged listeners to develop a personal relationship with God by asking Him for guidance.
“As you intentionally make time and room for these quiet, small, simple but deeply spiritual moments, you will discover that the Lord knows you, He knows your heart, He knows your name. … Can you feel Jesus calling you by name?” Elder Uchtdorf asked. “Remember, the Savior knows your name.”
Elder Uchtdorf closed his remarks by testifying of the living Son of God.
“You have chosen to follow Him,” Elder Uchtdorf exclaimed. “He is your strength. He is your salvation. He is your joy.”