Post # 233 --  Finding Refuge from the Storms of Life --  By Elder Ricardo P. Giméne Of the Seventy

Dear Family and Friends

I pray that each one of you is doing well and are

healthy as well. I know that this change in our lives is

hard to get used to. Are you getting used to wearing

your mask yet? I still struggle, especially when I

need to wear it for long periods of time. I wanted to

share with you another talk from the April General

Conference.

This talk reminds us all of the following statement

from Elder Ricardo P. Giméne of the Seventy. “Jesus

Christ and His Atonement are the refuge that we all need,

regardless of the storms that are battering our lives.” so

during times of our trials we have a refuge to go to

regardless of what storms are raging all around us.

We need only to turn our hearts and minds to Jesus

Christ and HIs Atonement for our refuge from the

storms. The talk that I have chosen is ‘Finding 

Refuge from the Storms of Life”.  Do you know where

to turn for refuge when the storms of life are raging

about you? Do you know about the Atonement of

Jesus Christ and how it is a refuge for you?

Back in the mid-’90s, during my college years, I was part of the

Fourth Company of the Santiago Fire Department in Chile.

While serving there, I lived at the fire station as part of the night

guard. Toward the end of the year, I was told that I had to be at

the fire station on New Year’s Eve because on that day there

was almost always some emergency. Surprised, I replied, “Really?”

Well, I remember waiting with my associates when, at midnight,

fireworks began shooting off in downtown Santiago.

We started hugging each other with well wishes for the new

year. Suddenly the bells at the fire station began ringing,

indicating that there was an emergency. We got our

equipment and jumped on the fire engine. On our way to

the emergency, as we passed crowds of people celebrating

the new year, I noticed that they were largely unconcerned

and carefree. They were relaxed and enjoying the warm

summer night. Yet somewhere nearby, the people we were

hurrying to help were in serious trouble.

This experience helped me realize that although our lives may at

times be relatively smooth, the time will come for each of us

when we will face unexpected challenges and storms that will

push the limits of our ability to endure. Physical, mental, family,

and employment challenges; natural disasters; and other matters

of life or death are but some of the examples of the storms that

we will face in this life.

When faced with these storms, we often experience feelings of

despair or fear. President Russell M. Nelson said, “Faith is the

antidote for fear”—faith in our Lord Jesus Christ

(“Let Your Faith Show,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 29). As

I have seen the storms that affect people’s lives, I have concluded

that no matter what kind of storm is battering us—regardless of

whether there is a solution to it or whether there is an end in

sight—there is only one refuge, and it is the same for all types of

storms. This single refuge provided by our Heavenly Father is

our Lord Jesus Christ and His Atonement.

None of us are exempt from facing these storms. Helaman, a Book

of Mormon prophet, taught us as follows: “Remember that it is upon

the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must

build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty

winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his

mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to

drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the

rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation

whereon if men build they cannot fall” (Helaman 5:12).

Elder Robert D. Hales, who had his own experiences with

enduring storms, said: “Suffering is universal; how we react to

suffering is individual. Suffering can take us one of two ways.

It can be a strengthening and purifying experience combined

with faith, or it can be a destructive force in our lives if we do

not have the faith in the Lord’s atoning sacrifice”

(“Your Sorrow Shall Be Turned to Joy,” Ensign, Nov. 1983, 66).

In order to enjoy the refuge that Jesus Christ and His Atonement

offer, we must have faith in Him—a faith that will allow us to

rise above all the pains of a limited, earthly perspective. He has

promised that He will make our burdens light if we come

unto Him in all that we do.

“Come unto me,” He said, “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.

“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30;

see also Mosiah 24:14–15).

It is said that “to one who has faith, no explanation is necessary.

To one without faith, no explanation is possible.” (This statement

has been attributed to Thomas Aquinas but is most likely a loose

paraphrase of things he taught.) However, we have limited

understanding of the things that happen here on earth, and often

we do not have answers to the question of why. Why is this

happening? Why is this happening to me? What am I supposed

to learn? When answers evade us, that is when the words

expressed by our Savior to the Prophet Joseph Smith in Liberty

Jail are completely applicable:

“My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine

afflictions shall be but a small moment;

“And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high”

(Doctrine and Covenants 121:7–8).

Although many people indeed believe in Jesus Christ, the key

question is whether we believe Him and whether we believe the

things that He teaches us and asks us to do. Perhaps someone

might think, “What does Jesus Christ know about what is

happening to me? How does He know what I need to be happy?”

Truly, it was our Redeemer and Intercessor to whom the prophet

Isaiah was referring when he said:

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows,

and acquainted with grief. …

“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows. …

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for

our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and

with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:3–5).

The Apostle Peter also taught us about the Savior, saying, “Who

his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we,

being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose

stripes ye were healed” (1 Peter 2:24).

So by the Suffering of Jesus Christ or through the

Atonement of Jesus Christ we are healed, forgiven,

consoled, comforted, , given peace, and more so much

more, we are enabled with strength  and power to do

all we need to do! I am sure that there is really so

much more involved with the Atonement that i have

yet to learn about.

Although the time of      own martyrdom was approaching, his

words are not filled with fear or pessimism; rather, he taught the\

Saints to “rejoice,” even though they were “in heaviness

through manifold temptations.” Peter counseled us to

remember that “the trial of [our] faith, … though it be tried

with fire,” would lead to “praise and honour and glory at the

appearing of Jesus Christ” and to “the salvation of [our] souls” (1 Peter 1:6–7, 9).-

So Paul’s counsel to each one of us is for us to be

happy even though we may be in the middle of our

trials. The reason he gives for this is that even

though we will go through troubles and trials in our

lives I believe Paul is saying that whatever we go

through God will make it for our good and His glory.

Peter continued:

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is

to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

“But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings;

that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with

exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:12–13).

Paul continues by telling us not to think it strange that

we are facing trials in our lives. Because everyone has

their own trials. It doesn't only happen to you alone.

We should rejoice as we have the Atonement of

Jesus Christ that we can have in our lives to help us

to get through all the trials that come our way. As

we put our focus on Christ and what He has made

available to us through His Atonement we are able

to be happy when our trials come and we are able

to learn from them rather that allow them to

bring us down.

President Russell M. Nelson taught that “Saints can be happy under every circumstance. … When the focus of our lives is

on God’s plan of salvation … and Jesus Christ and His gospel,

we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not

happening—in our lives. Joy comes from and because of Him.

He is the source of all joy” (“Joy and Spiritual Survival,”

Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 82).

I guess i got a few things not quite right but our

Prophet, President Russell M. Nelson has clarified

for me and for you just how we can be happy under

any circumstance that we happen to find ourselves

in. if we, but remember that Christ is the source

of all joy.

Of course, it is easier to say these things when we are not in the

midst of a storm than to live and apply them during the storm.

But as your brother, I hope you can feel that I sincerely want to

share with you how valuable it is to know that Jesus Christ and

His Atonement are the refuge that we all need, regardless of the

storms that are battering our lives.

I know that we are all children of God, that He loves us, and

that we are not alone. I invite you to come and see that He

can lighten your burdens and be the refuge you are seeking.

Come and help others find the refuge that they so yearn for.

\Come and stay with us in this refuge, which will help you

\resist the storms of life. There is no doubt in my heart that

\if you come, you will see, you will help, and you will stay.

The prophet Alma testified the following to his son Helaman:

“I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall

be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their

afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day” (Alma 36:3).

The Savior Himself said:

“Let your hearts be comforted … ; for all flesh is in mine

hands; be still and know that I am God. …

“Wherefore, fear not even unto death; for in this world

your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full”

(Doctrine and Covenants 101:16, 36).

The hymn “Be Still, My Soul,” which has touched

my heart on many occasions, has a message of

comfort for our souls. The lyrics read as follows:

Be still, my soul: The hour is hast’ning on

When we shall be forever with the Lord,

When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,

Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul: When change and tears are past,

All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

(Hymns, no. 124)

As we face the storms of life, I know that if we make our

best effort and rely upon Jesus Christ and His Atonement

as our refuge, we will be blessed with the relief, comfort,

strength, temperance, and peace that we are seeking, with

certainty in our hearts that at the end of our time here on

earth, we will hear the words of the Master: “Well done,

thou good and faithful servant: … enter thou into the joy

of thy lord” (Matthew 25:21). In the name of

Jesus Christ, amen.

I feel like i have been spiritually fed here today, just

as i was when i heard this talk during our general

conference in April 2020. You know as we are all going

through this COVID 19 together in some way shape or

form of it. and how it has all but completely crippled

our nation and varying parts of the world.

 It most definitely has been a struggle for most of

us. I know it has been quite different from my

normal, that is for sure. No one knows just how long

it will take for this virus to reach its peak or

whatever you call it and then to run its course so

\that it is out of everyone's systems and the

threat of it is completely gone.

But  we must continue on with our lives and be happy

all together but separately. We must remember

where we need to put and keep our focus through

this trial and any others which will come our way.

When we put Christ first in our life all other things

\will either fall into place or fall out of our lives.

Please FROGaHS-- Fully Rely On God, and His Son,

Please remember this counsel and do your best to

make the changes in your lives that will allow a

habit to form of you FROGaHS every day for the

rest of your lives and if you get off track, for your

own sake as well as that of your posterity, get

back on track through repentance..

I know that it is so much easier to form the bad

habits that the good ones but you must continue

to repent and try again. Remember your

Heavenly Father never said it would be easy to

make the journey back to Him. He only said that

it would be worth it! I think i heard this

statement from my mother.

Remembering who you really are is another important

thing to help you to not only realize your worth but

also to help you keep your focus on your Savior.

Remember Jesus Christ as he suffered there in the Garden of Gethsemane and everything that

happened to Him after that point up until and

through His crucifixion upon the cross. 

As you remember these things it also helps you to

realize that He went through so much more that

you or I could ever even imagine. And He did it for

you, and me, and every other person who has ever

lived or who will ever live upon this earth. He did

it to make the bridge for us to return safely back

to our heavenly home.

I guess i am through with my ramblings for this post,

but i wont promise that i am don't rambling for ever:)

as i said before, please remember who you are!!! You

are a child of God! Remember to say your prayers

both morning  and evening. Remember your Heavenly

Father is always only a prayer away!!!

Please continue to study the Book of Mormon with

me and our cyberspace friends. I know from my own

personal experiences that when you read from the

Book of Mormon each day your day will go better

and when things happen you are better able to

handle it. I will leaved you for now so until my next

post, please continue to be safe and joyful.