Living these last days is not for the faint of heart. Maybe that’s why you and I were saved for these last days? Maybe our Heavenly Father knew we could get through it? Not only are our spirits up to the challenge, we have been given great counsel by our prophets to carry on, move forward, buck up, and participate. They’ve been giving us firm guidelines to live by and meet the challenges we face for a long time. Just listen to what they said in the Saturday morning session of October 1990.

Gordon B. Hinckley—“This Work Will Go Forward”

Speaking for Pres. Benson, who was quite feeble by this time, Pres. Hinckley quoted him with these words,

“As we live the commandments of God, we can look forward with joyful anticipation to the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and know that through our efforts we are worthy, with our loved ones, to dwell in His presence for all eternity. Surely nothing is too hard to gain this great goal.”

Each prophet has bolstered us and encouraged us to press on and press forward, leaning heavily on our Savior, Jesus Christ. We’ve got this!

Richard G. Scott—”Redemption”

“The Lord revealed to His prophet Joseph Smith sublime doctrine concerning the sacred ordinance of baptism. … Vicarious baptism also mercifully provides this ordinance for all worthy deceased who have not received it through proper priesthood authority. … [Jesus Christ] has made salvation available to every repentant soul.”

Recently, I watched a video where an atheist asked how a “loving God” was willing to save us today, but not those who never heard of Him, or have been forgotten over the years. No one had a good answer for her. Elder Scott gives this glorious answer. And we are participators in this mighty work. In this 1990 talk, Elder Scott is introducing new and exciting technology to help the work go faster. Today, the church has technology that blows everything he mentions out of the water! These are truly exciting days. Our service in this work is necessary and mostly effortless as we perform this vicarious work.

Glenn L. Pace—”A Thousand Times”

“Wherever we live in the world there is pain and sorrow all around us. We need to take more initiative as individuals in deciding how we can best be of service.”

Elder Pace acknowledges the sufferings of the innocent caused by the wicked in our society. We can’t control the pervasive wickedness around us, but we can serve wherever possible to make life better in the lives we touch. That is a very special power we have, to bring relief with our love and acts of service.

Neal A. Maxwell—”Put Off the Natural Man, and Come Off Conqueror”

“One of the last, subtle strongholds of selfishness is the natural feeling that we ‘own’ ourselves. Of course we are free to choose and are personally accountable. Yes, we have individuality. But those who have chosen to ‘come unto Christ’ soon realize that they do not ‘own’ themselves. Instead, they belong to Him.”

This, I believe, is the secret of the gospel. If we really understood this concept we would be able to let go of the natural man, all selfishness and self-preservation, and emotions that inhibit our spiritual abilities. Because we are children of our Heavenly Father, we belong to Him. When we are baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ, we choose to belong to Him. Either way, we are in their arms, protected, loved, and saved. The confidence we gain allows us to carry on, move forward, buck up, and participate in the great battle of these final days.

Howard W. Hunter—“Come unto Me”

“Why face life’s burdens alone? To the heavy laden it is Christ’s yoke, it is the power and peace of standing side by side with a God that will provide the support, balance, and the strength to meet our challenges and endure our tasks here in the hardpan field of mortality.”

We can do it! We can carry on, move forward, buck up, and participate with Jesus Christ at our side.