Sustain! It is Eternal Support

15 minutes ago4 min read

Elder Rasband

Written by April T. Giauque

Elder Rasband is what I call the “Tornado” bishop. Let me explain. Many years ago, at a conference, he talked about the vast devastation that hit the American Midwest from a series of storms over one mile wide and the damage they did to property and lives. His words were of sorrow, comfort, and notable miracles as he talked about everything. Basically, even in the heart of the storm, Christ can be there and bring peace. It is my little connection to him.

He usually starts with a story, but in October, he started with his FIRM and BOLD testimony!

“To the many testimonies at this conference, I add my apostolic witness that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, our Lord, and Savior, the Redeemer of all of our Father’s children. By His Atonement, Jesus Christ made it possible for us, if we are worthy, to return to the presence of our Father in Heaven and be with our families for eternity…..The Savior is not absent from our mortal journeys. He is speaking to us by the Prophet!”

Sustain

From there, Elder Rasband’s message was to Sustain leadership or to “Uphold” them. Sustaining the prophet is Supporting Christ. To sustain means to hold up another person, to give them our attention, to be faithful to their trust, and to act upon their words. “In holding up” our hands, we are committing our support, not just for that moment but in our daily lives.

“Sustaining includes holding up our stake presidents and bishops, quorum and organization leaders, teachers, and even camp directors in our wards and stakes.”

We need to do this at all levels—closer to home, we hold up our wives and our husbands, children, parents, extended family, and neighbors. When we hold up one another, we say, “I am here for you, not just to hold up your arms and hands when they ‘hang down’ but to be a comfort and strength at your side.”

Hold Up

Jesus said,

“Hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up.”

We hold up the Lord’s light when we hold fast to our covenants and support our living prophet as he speaks the words of God.

Safety Depends on Christ

Your safety and ours depend upon whether or not we follow the ones whom the Lord has placed to preside over his church.

The example of Moses standing atop the hill at Rephidim. “The hands of [the President of the Church] may grow weary,” he said. “They may tend to droop at times because of his heavy responsibilities, but as we uphold his hands, and as we lead under his direction, by his side, the gates of hell will not prevail against you and against Israel.

More Uplifting, Less Murmuring

Brothers and sisters, we need to do more lifting and less murmuring, more upholding the word of the Lord, His ways, and His prophet, who has said: “One of our greatest challenges today is distinguishing between the truths of God and the counterfeits of Satan. That is why the Lord warned us to ‘pray always, … that [we] may conquer Satan, and … escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold [the adversary’s] work.’

Only a very few of us knew he was coming. In his presence, I immediately felt the light and prophetic mantle he carried. The look of joy on the faces of the people who saw the prophet personally will stay with me forever.

President Nelson Surprise Temple Dedication

President Nelson petitioned the Lord that His holy house would essentially hold up all who entered the temple, “that they may receive sacred blessings and remain worthy and faithful to their covenants … that this may be a house of peace, a house of comfort, and a house of personal revelation for all who enter these doors worthily.”

Temple Service Brings You Closer to Christ

I emphasize again that the construction of these temples may not change your life, but your service in the temple surely will.”

“The Savior and His doctrine are the very heart of the temple,” the President says. “Everything taught in the temple, through instruction, and through the Spirit, increases our understanding of Jesus Christ. His essential ordinances bind us to Him through sacred priesthood covenants. Then, as we keep our covenants, He endows us with His healing, strengthening power.”

Temple and Gesthemane

“All who worship in the temple,” President Nelson has said, “will have the power of God and angels having ‘charge over them.’

Angels reaching out to hold us up is described in the scriptures when Jesus Christ knelt humbly in the Garden of Gethsemane. By His suffering, He provided an infinite Atonement. “There,” President Nelson states, “the greatest single act of love of all recorded history occurred. … There at Gethsemane, the Lord ‘suffered the pain of all men, that all … might repent and come unto him.’

I bear my apostolic witness that Jesus Christ is “the light … of the world.” May we all, as His disciples, “hold up” His light. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.