Those living in the world today need points of reference — even models to follow, President Thomas S. Monson said Sunday morning.
"Learning of others who trusted God and followed His teachings whispers to our souls, 'Be still, and know that I am God,' " President Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency, continued. "As they resolutely kept His commandments and trusted in Him, they were blessed. When we follow their examples, we too will be similarly blessed in our day and in our time. Each one becomes a model to follow."
President Monson began with John the Baptist, who "provides for us a flawless example of unfeigned humility, as he deferred always to the One who was to follow — the Savior of mankind." Jesus later testified, President Monson added, " 'Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist.' (Matthew 11:11.)
"All of us love the beautiful account from the Holy Bible of Abraham and Isaac. How exceedingly difficult it must have been for Abraham, in obedience to God's command, to take his beloved Isaac into the land of Moriah, there to present him as a burnt offering."
Continuing, President Monson related: "How glorious was the pronouncement, and with what wondered welcome did it come, 'Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou has not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.' " (Genesis 22:12.)
If any feels his challenges are beyond his capacity, President Monson said, let him or her read of Job. Suffering from the loss of family, possessions and health, Job "declared from the depths of his noble soul. 'Behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high. . . . I know that my redeemer liveth.' (Job 19:25.)
"Job became a model of unlimited patience. To this day we refer to those who are long-suffering as having 'the patience of Job.' "
President Monson continued with Noah, who built the ark before the great flood. "Noah had the unwavering faith to follow God's commandments. May we ever do likewise. May we remember that the wisdom of God ofttimes appears as foolishness to men; but the greatest lesson we can learn in mortality is that when God speaks and we obey, we will always be right."
Ruth is a "model of ideal womanhood" President Monson said. "Through Ruth's undeviating loyalty to Naomi, she was to marry Boaz by which she — the foreigner and Moabite convert — became a great-grandmother of David and, therefore, an ancestor of our Savior Jesus Christ.
"I now turn to a mighty Book of Mormon prophet — even Nephi, son of Lehi and Sariah. He was faithful and obedient to God, courageous and bold. When given the difficult assignment to obtain the plates of brass from Laban, he did not murmur, but declared, 'I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded. . . .' (1 Nephi 3:7.)
"Nephi personified unflagging determination."
No descriptions of models to follow would be complete, President Monson said, without the "courageous young man," Joseph Smith, who suffered unrelenting persecution for testifying of the vision he received in the grove. "Step by step, facing opposition at nearly every turn and yet always guided by the hand of the Lord, Joseph organized The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He proved courageous in all that he did. . . .
"As we face life's tests, may we ever emulate that undaunted courage epitomized by the Prophet Joseph Smith."
There stands today another prophet of God — "even our beloved President Gordon B. Hinckley," President Monson declared. The Church president, he related, has presided over the expansion of the Church and traveled the world, visiting with government leaders and members. He instituted the Perpetual Education Fund, breaking a cycle of poverty among members, and has labored to provide temple blessings for members throughout the world.
President Monson added, "He is a model of unfailing optimism.
"The unique qualities possessed by these men and women whom I have mentioned can be of invaluable assistance to us as we face the problems and trials which lie ahead," President Monson said.
He illustrated with the example of the Jerome Kenneth Pollard family of Oakland, Calif. A son, Elder Taavili Joseph Samuel Pollard, was killed in a car accident in Zimbabwe on the last day of his mission. His father, who had reared the family since the death of his wife eight years previous, called another son, serving in the West Indies Mission, to inform him of his brother's death. Though grief-stricken, they sang "I Am a Child of God" and prayed together over the phone.
"Brother Pollard later commented that he knew his family would be all right, for they have strong testimonies of the gospel and of the Plan of Salvation."
Toward the conclusion of his address, President Monson admonished: "May we ever be guided by the supreme Exemplar, even the Son of Mary, the Savior Jesus Christ — whose very life provided a perfect model for us to follow. . . .
"During His ministry, He taught men the higher law. His glorious gospel reshaped the thinking of the world. He blessed the sick; He caused the lame to walk, the blind to see, the deaf to hear. He even raised the dead to life. . . .
"Down through the generations of time, the message from Jesus has been the same. To Peter and Andrew by the shores of the beautiful Sea of Galilee He said, 'Follow me.' To Philip of old came the call, 'Follow me.' To the Levite who sat at receipt of customs came the instruction, 'Follow me.' And to you and to me, if we but listen, will come that same beckoning invitation, 'Follow me.' "