Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve focused his Sunday morning address on those who are facing personal trials or family struggles and may feel their lives are broken beyond repair.
"To all such I offer the surest and sweetest remedy that I know," he said. "It is found in the clarion call the Savior of the world Himself gave. He said it in the beginning of His ministry and He said it in the end. He said it to believers and He said it to those who were not so sure. He said to everyone, whatever their personal problems might be:
" 'Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls,' " (Matthew 11:28-29).
The introductory phrase in His New Testament promise, "Come unto me," is crucial, Elder Holland said. It is the key to peace and rest. Throughout His mortal ministry, Christ invited many to "come" and "follow" Him.
"It seems clear that the essence of our duty and the fundamental requirement of our mortal life is captured in these brief phrases from any number of scenes in the Savior's mortal ministry," Elder Holland said. "He is saying to us, 'Trust me, learn of me, do what I do. Then, when you walk where I am going,' He says, 'we can talk about where you are going, and the problems you face and the troubles you have. If you will follow me, I will lead you out of darkness,' He promises. 'I will give you answers to your prayers. I will give you rest to your souls.' "
Elder Holland said he knew of no other way to succeed or be safe amid life's many pitfalls and problems.
So, how does one "come unto Christ" in response to His constant invitation? Elder Holland asked.
"You are well-acquainted with the most basic ones," he answered. "The easiest and the earliest come simply with the desire of our heart, the most basic form of faith that we know."
Second, those who carry burdens and wish to follow Christ must change anything they can that may be part of the problem.
"In short, we must repent, perhaps the most hopeful and encouraging word in the Christian vocabulary," Elder Holland said. "We thank our Heavenly Father we are allowed to change, we thank Jesus we can change, and ultimately we do so only with such divine assistance. Certainly not everything we struggle with is a result of our actions. Often it is the result of the actions of others or just the mortal events of life. But anything we can change we should change, and we must forgive the rest.
"In this way our access to the Savior's Atonement becomes as unimpeded as we, with our imperfections, can make it. He will take it from there."
Third, take upon His name and His identity by covenant in the saving ordinances of the gospel, Elder Holland said. "These start with baptism and conclude with temple covenants, with many others, such as partaking of the sacrament, laced throughout our lives as additional blessings and reminders."
By following these basic teachings, a splendor of connections to Christ are opened, such as prayer, fasting, meditation, savoring the scriptures and service to others.
To those who battle a "demon of addiction" — come first to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Trust in heaven's promptings and promises, Elder Holland said. Don't give up. Don't yield to fear.
"If you are lonely, please know you can find comfort. If you are discouraged, please know you can find hope. If you are poor in spirit, please know you can be strengthened. If you are broken, please know you can be mended."