Church members can render no greater service than sharing their personal testimonies with those who lack an understanding of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, said Elder M. Russell Ballard.

"Can each one of us resolve today to increase our personal spiritual preparation by seeking the guidance of the Holy Ghost and then, with His power as our companion, bless more of our Father's children with understanding and knowledge that the Church is true?" he questioned.Speaking during the Saturday afternoon session, Elder Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve said that at a time when the Church is moving forward as never before in its history, Church members are still expected to do more.

"The most important thing every one of us can do is to examine our own commitment and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ," he said. "We must carefully guard against spiritual apathy and work to maintain the full measure of our loving loyalty to the Lord.

"While it is true that extraordinary strides are being made throughout the Church, the enormity of the task before us is overwhelming. Simply stated, we have a ministry to all of our Heavenly Father's children on both sides of the veil. In that context, we have barely scratched the surface of our calling. True discipleship, therefore precludes any complacency."

Elder Ballard told Church members that it is important that they each know for themselves that Jesus is the Christ and that He has restored to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith the fulness of His everlasting gospel.

"As we come to know and understand these true doctrines for ourselves, we will discover that there is also a great need for us to share our knowledge and beliefs with others while always maintaining their friendship and goodwill."

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All people, continued Elder Ballard, regardless of race, color, or creed, belong to the Heavenly Father's family. "Our understanding and knowledge of this basic truth should compel, then, us to love all of God's children as our brothers and sisters and to explain to them that we all lived premortally as spirit children of our Heavenly Father."

Because Church members love the Lord, said Elder Ballard, they should be spiritually sensitive to moments when the powerful and important truths of the gospel can be shared with others. "Perhaps more importantly, however, we should seek at all times to purify ourselves and to lead such worthy lives that the light of Christ emanates from us in all that we say and do. Our day-to-day lives should stand as immutable witness of our faith in Christ."

Elder Ballard told the worldwide congregation that the Lord expects them to do something.

"I believe we are expected to increase our own faith, shake off any possible feelings of apathy, and by the power of the Holy Ghost reaffirm our commitment and intensify our service to the Lord. Then, when we seek to clarify someone's understanding of the Church, our lives -- well and faithfully lived -- can serve as a magnifying glass through which others can examine the impact of gospel living. Under the light of our good example, the Spirit can enlarge understanding of the Church and its mission to all with whom we have contact."

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