In the Sunday morning session of the April 1986 General Conference, President Gordon B. Hinckley gave a talk very similar to what we’ve heard from Pres. Nelson. As I read, I thought about our challenge to study carefully the First Vision and opening of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

First, Pres. Hinckley, serving at this time as a counselor in the First Presidency, bears testimony of a prophet called of God. At this conference, Ezra Taft Benson is sustained as prophet, seer, and revelator, in a Solemn Assembly. There is great comfort in knowing that prophets agree on and teach the same things through all the ages.

These words, quoted from Pres. Hinckley’s talk, call to mind what our present-day prophet has again asked us to learn, study, and declare:

“This is the great basic purpose of the restoration of the gospel in this, the dispensation of the fulness of times—to declare the living reality of God the Eternal Father and of His Beloved Son, the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. To know them, to love them, to obey them is to have life eternal. It is our mission to declare with words of soberness and truth that God is our Eternal Father, the God of the universe, the Almighty One; and that Jesus Christ is his firstborn, the Only Begotten in the flesh, who condescended to come to earth; who was born in a stable in Bethlehem of Judea, lived the perfect life, and taught the way of salvation; who offered Himself a sacrifice for all, enduring pain and death on the cross; and who then came forth in a glorious resurrection, the firstfruits of them that slept. (See 1 Cor. 15:20.) Through Him, and by Him, and of Him, all are assured salvation from death and are offered the opportunity of eternal life.

“This is the great undergirding truth of our faith. It is the overarching canopy under which we find our spiritual strength. With this knowledge we grow spiritually, our spirits in kinship with the Spirit of God. It is the way out of darkness. It affords the strength needed to rise above sin.”

What are you willing to do to study the First Vision and the restoration of the gospel? Will it force you to give up some of your everyday activities? Will you need to give up sleep in order to find the time? What sacrifice are you willing to make?

Pres. Hinckley briefly touches on how the restoration of the gospel brings about spiritual strength, intellectual curiosity and growth, and moral guardianship. We not only become better people, the gospel influences every aspect of our lives enhancing everything we do, lifting every life we touch, and bringing happiness to our very souls.

How are you going to study, in more depth, the First Vision and the restoration of the gospel? Is studying and pondering it going to cause you to open your mouth more often to share the glorifying truth of it?  

I testify that, if you let it, inspiration will guide you on how to pursue this personal study. Our prophet has already blessed us with the ability to set the things of the world aside. We’ve been blessed with desire and curiosity. The door is open, but we must walk through with faith and light shining in our eyes.