An Apostle of the Lamb

I had a great opportunity over the past weekend to go and hear Elder Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve speak at a stake conference. The conference was two sessions. The first was held in the regular chapel on Saturday evening, and the second in a rented hall on Sunday morning. I thought that they were both being held in the rented hall, so I didn't actually make it to the first session. But the second session was more than I could have hoped for, anyway.
Elder Holland is a very powerful speaker. At the end of his talk he had every member in the audience promise themselves to never leave the church, and I'm sure they all complied. He talked about how President Hinckley has surely already earned his salvation, but instead of retiring to Florida and golfing he just keeps on working. President Hinckley doesn't need it. He doesn't need to do anything else for himself. He probably could have quit a while ago. But he goes on and will continue to work as long as he has strength. He does this for the next generation, because he loves us. Elder Holland told us the members here, most of whom are first-generation, to think of their children. He challenged them to go on and stay active in the church, even if they don't have the strength, so that their children will have the strength. If they can just hang in their until the end then their children will have everything. They'll have a temple, a stake, young men and young women programs. But only if the members now give it to them. So even if we aren't strong enough to do it for ourselves, we all need to keep at it for the next generation. We can give them the strength that we ourselves don't have.
Elder Holland emphasized the power that the Holy Ghost can have in our lives if we are worthy and strive to obey. He said that members of the church take this incredible gift for granted. It is the right to the companionship of a Member of the Godhead. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will probably never visit us personally in this life, but we still can have the company of a God. This is a wonderful and sacred privelage that is available only to members of this church and can only be gotten in one way. He urged us to do nothing to lose the Spirit, and that it will be our greatest protection. It is a personal gift from the Godhead that can be gotten in no other way.
At the end of his talk Elder Holland pronounced a blessing upon all the members of the congregation. I will always remember the part that applied to me as a priesthood holder. Before pronouncing the blessing he explained to the congregation that it was no different than as if he had laid his hands on all our heads individually and blessed us by name. I believe him.
I am more convinced than ever that the men we sustain as prophets, seers, and revelators really are who and what they claim to be. I have felt the effect of that blessing upon me and know that it was pronounced by one having authority. I know that if I do my part then it will be fulfilled entirely. I am grateful for the prophets and apostles of our time and all they do for the church and it's people. Let's listen to their words and not take them for granted.