The following is excerpted from the Church Newsroom. To read the full article, CLICK HERE.
Elder Jack N. Gerard of the Seventy was once a 20-something man enduring the stretching throes of university life. He married Claudette as an undergraduate. They immediately started a family. For the next six years, he worked full time, served in a local bishopric, and attended night classes to complete undergraduate and law degrees at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Amidst the burdens, bustle and busyness, an anonymous acquaintance wrote him and his wife a letter, criticizing the Gerards for exhausting themselves by doing so much in so short a time span. This person insisted that their priorities were out of order. Combined with the stress natural to anyone in those circumstances, this increased their anxiety during moments when they questioned their life choices.
“We were not certain that our efforts would pay off,” said Elder Gerard, who later served for many years as president and CEO of notable entities, including, most recently, the American Petroleum Institute. “We wondered aloud if it was all worth it. Every day seemed to be an act of faith as we tried to stay true to our commitment while wading through the murky waters of life. Now that the experience is over, we reflect on those days fondly and can see the hand of the Lord guiding us every step of the way.”
The lesson for his Tuesday morning audience (students at Brigham Young University watching remotely because of COVID-19 precautions) was simple: If you place your trust in God, not only will things work out—they will yield eternal blessings.
To read the full article, CLICK HERE.
