Conference Talk of the Week

Overview

President Emily Belle Freeman teaches that mortality includes sudden swings between “best days” and “worst days,” and that strength comes as we walk with Jesus Christ and hold to revealed eternal truths. Using Peter’s experiences, testifying of Christ, sinking after accepting the invitation to “come,” denying the Savior, and later being called to “feed my sheep”, she shows that testimony is built over time and often proven through the Lord’s invitations. She closes with truths and promises from the For the Strength of Youth guide that helped her family in a hard moment, and she testifies that because of Jesus Christ, even when things are very bad now, our best days are ahead.

Three Key Takeaways

• 1Testimony isn’t forged in a single spiritual moment; like Peter, we learn eternal truth “day after day,” through both best days and worst days.
• 2The Lord’s invitations (like “Come” and “Feed my sheep”) are often where eternal truths are tested, and when we feel ourselves “sinking,” Christ is not distant; He is within reaching distance, in the water with us.
• 3On our worst days, when we feel we have failed or everything seems lost, the Savior’s promises still stand; Peter’s story shows that the Lord can shape a disciple through weakness into someone trusted with real work and responsibility.

Reflection Questions

• Where in my life have I gone from a “best day” to a “worst day” quickly, and what eternal truth do I need to hold onto in that situation?
• What invitation from the Lord am I currently trying to accept (or avoiding), and what does it look like for me to “walk toward Jesus” in it this week?
• When I think about the Savior “looking” at Peter after his denial, do I picture disappointment or enabling strength, and how does that change the way I approach repentance and returning to work in the Lord’s kingdom?