Apparently, the most difficult thing in the world to perceive is the content of incoming criticism.

Many of us, in moments of personal anguish, feel that God is far from us. The pavilion that seems to intercept divine aid does not cover God; it occasionally covers us. God is never hidden, yet sometimes we are, covered by a pavilion of motivations that draw us away from God and make Him seem distant and inaccessible. Our own desires, rather than a feeling of “Thy will be done” (Matthew 6:10), create the feeling of a pavilion blocking God. God is not unable to see us or communicate with us, but we may be unwilling to listen or submit to His will and His time. We remove the pavilion when we feel and pray, “Thy will be done” and “in Thine own time.” His time should be soon enough for us since we know that He wants only what is best. The Lord’s delays often seem long; some last a lifetime. But they are always calculated to bless. They need never be times of loneliness or sorrow or impatience. Although His time is not always our time, we can be sure that the Lord keeps His promises. For any of you who now feel that He is hard to reach, I testify that the day will come that we all will see Him face to face. Artwork: "Faith is Holding Both" by Jenna Conlin

God Loves His Children: Every time I go somewhere, I think “Who does the Lord want me to see?” During my recent assignment to the Europe North Area, Christine and I joined nearly 1,500 young single adults gathered in from across Europe. We could feel their strength, hope, and commitment to the gospel. More specifically, I could hear the Lord reaching through me to try to communicate just how much the He loved each one them. Those feelings were real and profound. I know that God loves His children and one of the miracles of my calling is that I repeatedly feel that love pour through me as I teach and minister to others in His name.

To me, Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is something of a sacred place. Historically and spiritually, the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and the establishment of the Constitution of the United States led the way for religious liberty as the first freedom granted by the First Amendment. How grateful we are to celebrate what the Lord has done through wise men and women to bring about the privileges many now enjoy throughout the world.

It was an absolute delight to join the Bella Voce Women’s Choir at the BYU–Idaho devotional yesterday, as they beautifully performed “On This Day of Joy and Gladness.”

Our time is truly a day of joy and gladness.

Never before has the gospel been preached so widely. Never have so many missionaries been called. Never have so many people been introduced to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and entered the waters of baptism. Never have so many nations opened their doors to the gospel message, nor so many temples been built across the earth.

My message to the 10,000 young adults gathered in the BYU–Idaho Center was simple:

“You are the children of the Restoration. Yours is the generation called to help lead this work forward.

With your faith, your creativity, and your devotion, you will move this work forward in ways we have never seen before.”

Today we will meet with media from throughout California and guide them through the recently renovated San Diego California Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Soon, thousands will walk through the doors of the temple during an open house as we prepare for the August 23 rededication. It is an amazing blessing to see the Lord’s temples dotting the earth. I love the house of the Lord.

Nowhere should our joy as a people be more apparent than when we gather together each Sabbath in our sacrament meetings to worship the source of all joy!

Here’s a look inside the missionary assignment room. This is where my fellow apostles and I come frequently to assign the thousands of missionaries that are applying to serve missions all over the world. This process is inspired, revelatory, and I love it with all my heart.

Religious freedom is the cornerstone of peace in a world with many competing philosophies. We were privileged to represent The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Canterbury Medal Gala hosted by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—a fitting venue for celebrating religious liberty. I was honored to offer the invocation at this event. Moral agency, the ability to choose right from wrong and to act for ourselves, is essential to God’s plan of salvation. Religious freedom ensures that people can exercise their agency in matters of faith. We are grateful to be associated with so many wonderful people of faith who we stand with to advocate for religious freedom.

Visiting with missionaries in England recently was immensely nostalgic for me, as I also served as a young missionary in this wonderful country.     Elder Clark G. Gilbert and I were so grateful to spend time with these amazing servants. I testify that missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints around the world are indeed the Lord’s emissaries.

As you study the Savior’s life, the restoration of the priesthood, and the return of the sealing keys by Elijah that unite our families for eternity, you can know with certainty that the Savior fulfilled the Father’s plan.

In the gospel workshop I hosted about hearing God’s voice in an age of artificial intelligence, I invited viewers to take specific actions to deepen their relationships with God, self, others, and the natural world and environment around us. In a world of accelerating technology and artificial intelligence, may we never lose the divine intelligence that matters most—the voice of God. Learn more about hearing God’s voice in an age of artificial intelligence: youtu.be/Ts5Z64A0Vv4

It's curious the multitudes of Latter-day Saints who will defend their religion from detractors and simultaneously rebel against the leaders of the Church they ostensibly support.

In the temple we learn to distinguish between the holy and the profane, the clean and the unclean.   The words at the door of the temple—“Holiness to the Lord”— are both an invitation and a commandment to all who would enter.  Just as this newly dedicated Yorba Linda California Temple is in the world and yet is a place apart, here each of us learns how to be in the world and yet not of the world.    Gradually all that is impure or unworthy in our character is rooted out as we draw closer to the Lord in His house. Our very desires change over time. It is a conditioning for life in a holy, celestial realm.

Years ago, I flew a brand-new B747 on its first flight from Seattle to San Francisco. It was a clear day, and I was amazed by the beauty of the remarkable lineup of six solitary volcanoes, from Mount Rainier and Mount Hood to Mount Shasta. Today, along the same route, we find more than six temples proclaiming Holiness to the Lord—the newest being the Willamette Valley Oregon Temple, which I was blessed to dedicate today. The house of the Lord lifts our vision, reorients our hearts, and reminds us who we are and whose we are. Just as these great mountains mark the landscape, holy temples—and the covenants we make there—mark and connect our lives with the God of the Universe. When you come to the temple during times of personal trial and great sorrow, you will find sweet peace for your soul. When you come to give thanks and worship God, our Heavenly Father, you will receive a special measure of affirmation and confidence from Him. The temple will enrich your lives, inspire you to create in your homes and families a spirit of hope and peace, and endow you with blessings from on high.

Fun contrast today. Hundreds of ignorant online people misunderstanding my beliefs aggressively vs. the Teacher's Quorum advisor in my ward who gave his wife a priesthood blessing and now the doctors can't find the concerning mass on her pancreas anymore.

All who live or ever have lived who come unto Christ and live His gospel will feel joy beyond any earthly expression as we reunite, resurrected, with our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ and with our parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and ancestors.

In 2016, I had the sacred privilege of organizing the first stake in Prague, Czech Republic. You can imagine the joy I felt returning 10 years later to dedicate a beautiful new stake center in this same stake. 

Being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in this region has not always been easy. Yet through unwavering devotion and trust in the Lord, the faith of members of the Church has endured. 

As we look back with gratitude for those who came before, we can move forward with hope and confidence in the future. This new meetinghouse symbolizes the faith of members old and new and will be a blessing for all who come and see.

Men on a Mission: My recent assignment to the Europe North Area with Elder Quentin L. Cook left me with deep appreciation for both early and modern missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One of the historical areas we visited was the River Ribble, where Elder Cook’s great-great-grandfather, Elder Heber C. Kimball, performed the first baptisms in England in 1837. He was one of nine apostles called to serve in that early British Isles mission. Eventually, over 50,000 converts from that era emigrated to the Salt Lake Valley and became the strength of a growing Church. On our recent visit, we also met with missionaries in front of Royal Albert Hall in London. It was inspiring to be with such a large group of valiant missionaries in such an historic location. We later had opportunities to witness of Jesus Christ at Pembroke College, Oxford University. Those early “men on a mission” paved the way for future elders and sisters to invite God’s children to come unto Christ. Today there are six missions in the British Isles, part of a missionary force of more than 84,000 missionaries worldwide. Walking in the footsteps of those pioneering Apostles reminded me of the call we share with them even today, to be a witness to the name of Christ in all the world.

Is artificial intelligence helping you grow, or quietly replacing your growth? I invite you to join me at YouTube.com/ChurchofJesusChr… on June 7 as we discuss how to hear God's voice in an age of artificial intelligence.

You are not a data point. You’re a beloved child of God with moral agency and divine potential. I invite you to join me at YouTube.com/ChurchofJesusChr… on June 7 as we discuss how to hear God's voice in an age of artificial intelligence. You are not a data point. You’re a beloved child of God with moral agency and divine potential.