Elder Ballard

I just recently had the best evening ever. My Stake was lucky to have an apostle come to visit us. Elder Ballard and Elder Curtis joined us at our recent Stake Conference. WOW. I just was mesmerized by the spirit at the Sat. night session. It is for all adults 18 and older. It was as silent as I have ever heard as we enjoyed each talk and the music. The counsel he gave to us (really meant for all who want to feel peace from the storms that lie ahead) was simple straight forward and filled with hope. He was down to earth, straight forward, serious and firm yet warm and the love I felt from him for all mankind- wow. To be in the same building with an apostle of the Lord… wow. I thought back in time to when Christ was on the earth and the 12 who served him then. Here I am blessed to be born at a time when the power of God is on the earth again. To have guidance from a living Prophet and to know the fundamentals and doctrines of God do not change to meet every whim of fancy is to me a huge comfort. (If you would like my jumbled missyish notes email me and I will send them to you.)
He spoke of the evil around us and how Satan rages yet what a marvelous time to be alive. That by following Gods plan we can be protected from the great trials that lie ahead. I felt so safe and excited about the future be it the best or worst. He ended with this poem…
“A mighty wind blew night and day, it stole the oak trees leaves away, Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark until the oak was tired and stark. But still the oak tree held its ground while other trees fell all around... The weary wind gave up and spoke, "How can you still be standing, Oak?" The oak tree said, "I know that you can break each branch of mine in two, carry every leaf away, shake my limbs, and make me sway. But I have roots stretched in the earth, growing stronger since my birth. You'll never touch them, for you see, they are the deepest part of me. Until today, I wasn't sure of just how much I could endure. But now I've found with thanks to you I'm stronger than I ever new."