Learn how students are applying these truths in their lives
Aware of the challenges that we face every day, President Russell M. Nelson shared five divine truths in his recent devotional, “
Truth #1: You are sons and daughters of God.
President Nelson shared that you are a son or daughter of God, chosen to be “part of His battalion” in these latter days — in the “longstanding battle between good and evil.”
How does knowing that you are a son or daughter of God help you through the challenges you face?
Mary Wangu, a PathwayConnect student from Nairobi, Kenya, said, “I understand that I can always turn to Him, and His love will guide me through. As long as I trust Him, He will never leave me alone.”
Truth #2: Truth is truth.
“Some things are simply true!” said President Nelson. “Eternal laws operate in and affect each of our lives, whether we believe them or not.”
How has seeking truth through study and faith in the Savior impacted your life?
“My eyes have been opened to what I was missing in life: happiness through living gospel principles,” said Aaron Smith, a PathwayConnect student from Harlowton, Montana. “Learning about my Savior has made me a far happier person, and the truths in His gospel really do allow freedom from undesirable consequences.”
Truth #3: God loves every one of us with perfect love.
President Nelson shared that “Because the Father and the Son love us with infinite, perfect love, and because They know we cannot see everything They see, They have given us laws that will guide and protect us. There is a strong connection between God’s love and His laws.”
How has abiding by God’s laws helped you feel of His love for you?
“Whenever I pray in His name, I receive an answer that is necessary for my life,” said Ricardo Martins, a PathwayConnect student from Cascavel, Brazil.
Truth #4: The Lord Jesus Christ, whose Church this is, appoints prophets and apostles to communicate His love and teach His laws.
“As you take steps to repent and follow God’s laws, you will begin to feel just how much Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son want you back home with Them,” said President Nelson. “They want you to be happy. They will do anything within Their power that does not violate your agency or Their laws to help you come back. How I cherish the privilege of feeling Their love for you!”
What blessings have you received as you've followed the direction of the living prophet?
Trésor Tshiaba, a PathwayConnect student from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, said, “I've been blessed with acquiring more strength, stability in the Church, and [a] testimony of Jesus Christ. The prophets and apostles have impacted my discipleship by their inspired teachings and revelations.”
Truth #5: You may know for yourself what is true and what is not by learning to discern the whisperings of the Spirit.
“My dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to seek earnestly a confirmation from the Spirit that what I have told you is true and is from the Lord,” said President Nelson. “He has declared that we may seek knowledge from heaven and expect to receive it: ‘If thou shalt ask,’ the Lord promised, ‘thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge.’”
How has the Spirit guided you to discern between truth and error?
Jessica Duckworth, a BYU-Idaho online student from Ogden, Utah, said, “When I’m praying to know if something is true — for example, following the prophet — the Spirit will often confirm the truth of his counsel through emphasizing the blessings of following it and a feeling of peace and confidence as I move forward.”
A prophet’s blessing
President Nelson ended by leaving a blessing on those watching the devotional around the world: “Now, in my capacity as President of the Church, I invoke a blessing upon you, to be able to discern between right and wrong, between the laws of God and the conflicting voices of the world. I bless you with power to detect the adversary’s deceptions. I bless you with greater capacity to receive revelation. And I bless you to be able to feel the infinite reach of God’s perfect love for you.
I so bless you and express my love for you, along with my witness that this is the Lord’s Church and that He presides over and guides all we do, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.”