28 June 2009

“My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning…. O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem.”—Psalm 130:6–7 NRSV

PATIENCE IS NOT my best virtue. I value getting things done in a timely manner and not having to wait in lines. Yet I often, unbearably, find myself waiting.

When serving as Kirtland Stake president, I had to face not only the dissent and exodus of those opposing the ordination of women, but also the presence of a cult conspiring to take over the temple and do my family harm. Ultimately the cult leader executed a family in the name of God. It was not a good time for our family or the church in the Kirtland, Ohio, area.

Assigned as stake president in January 1986, I was excited about the opportunity. I could not wait to get to work! I applied my efforts and ministerial training but failed to achieve what I had dreamed of offering. Things went from bad to worse. For months I agonized as I tried my best to give leadership, but things did not improve. I grew frustrated and impatient.

I prepared a letter of resignation from appointment and went for a walk in the Kirtland Temple gardens. It was raining lightly. There was no consolation from God—seemingly no word from the Lord. I felt alone and forsaken. I grew impatient and bitter, and walked across the road to my office. As I opened the church door, the choir burst into an Advent anthem, and the Holy Spirit broke through my despair and impatience. I knew that I simply needed to “wait for the Lord” and trust in God’s providential care.

I began to stand in the grace that was to be sufficient for me and for the circumstances of the church in that place at that time. I could declare with the psalmist, “O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love…”.

—Dale Luffman
Council of Twelve Apostles

5 July 2009

“...but he said to me, my grace is sufficient for you….”—2 Corinthians 12:9 NRSV

SEVERAL WEEKS AGO I purchased a basketball pole and goal set for our family. I remember well feeling overwhelmed as I took all the parts out of the large box and removed the booklet of instructions. I don’t excel at large assembly projects and I was tempted to place the parts back in the box, return the equipment to the store, and look for a nice park to adopt for our basketball games.

As I sat on the ground with parts scattered all over the driveway, my wife, Barb, arrived home from work and offered to help. As we began to work together and progress through each step, the task no longer seemed overwhelming. By the time our children arrived home from school, we had accomplished our task.

My relationship with God is much like the basketball-goal assembly project. I so often start a project or seek to solve a problem on my own and then realize I am in a bit over my head, and I ask for help. God then gently encourages me to recognize that in everything I do I am supported by a loving God. In the recognition of my weaknesses I discover anew God’s supportive presence, expressed through the gift of the Holy Spirit and the support of loving friends.

—Ron Harmon
Council of Twelve Apostles