Sister J. Anette Dennis, first counselor in the Relief Society general presidency for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spoke to BYU students on Dec. 10 about the blessing of letting faith in Christ lead the way during uncertain times.
Before Sister Dennis spoke, BYU President C. Shane Reese invited students to participate in the Church's Light the World efforts.
At the start of her devotional address, Sister Dennis cited the words of President Russell M. Nelson, explaining that a covenant relationship with God brings clarity and peace when life brings its challenges.
“In President Russell M. Nelson’s most recent conference talk, he said, 'My decision to follow Jesus Christ is the most important decision I have ever made … That choice has made all the difference. That decision has made so many other decisions easier. That decision has given me purpose and direction. It has also helped me weather the storms of life,'” Sister Dennis said.
Sister Dennis related her experience choosing to follow God’s direction when she and her husband were called to serve as mission leaders in the Ecuador Guayaquil West Mission. She shared the advice that President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency, gave them.
“President Eyring’s counsel stayed with both of us throughout the next three years. He said that the Lord would be with us in the details of our mission, if we sought His guidance. Our lack of certainty would teach us to rely on Him,” she said.
Their service as mission leaders led to a climactic moment when, in 2016, Ecuador was struck with an earthquake. However, despite having little reason to prepare for such a natural disaster, they felt prompted to prepare after her husband received dreams that alluded to an impending disaster.
“There was no hard evidence that we should prepare for anything,” she said. "But we chose to believe those dreams were a warning. Although the dreams were symbolic and didn’t specify what the emergency was, my husband always felt we should prepare for an earthquake."
Because of their preparations, the missionaries they served with were prepared both physically with emergency preparedness kits and spiritually with Christ-centered devotionals during all preceding mission conferences. These preparations helped them see miracles during the disaster, she said.
“There were many, many miracles that day — before, during and after the earthquake — that saved their lives,” she said. "They felt angels protecting them, and they felt great peace and God’s love for them in the middle of the extreme shaking, chaos and destruction."
Sister Dennis further explained that their missionaries felt “protection, peace and love” despite the surrounding terror because of their spiritual preparedness to rely on their Savior and to trust in their covenant relationship with Him.
After sharing her experience, Sister Dennis promised BYU students that as they choose to have the same trust these missionaries had, they too will feel God in the details of their lives. She also warned students against listening to voices that take them away from the Savior.
“Don’t allow the voices of the world or even the voices of some of those around you to tell you what you should and shouldn’t do if that diminishes your faith and trust in the Lord and in His called servants,” she said. “Remember the voice of a prophet of God: ‘There is no limit to the Savior’s capacity to help you.’”
To explain this warning further, she shared the words of Isaiah from the Old Testament.
“‘Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness,’” she said, quoting the prophet Isaiah.
Before closing, she reminded students that God is “the same yesterday, today and forever.”
God will continue to be a God of miracles to bless those who trust in him, she added.
“He can also bless you with His peace, strength and capacity as you choose to walk forward with faith and trust in Him in spite of the uncertainty you may feel,” she said.
To end her message, she invited all BYU students to move forward in Christ.
“I invite you to use your agency and choose to believe and walk forward into your future with faith and trust in Christ. I promise you; He will be with you,” she said.
