President Ballard Invites New Movement to Pray | Faith To Act

“Our nation was founded on prayer, it was preserved by prayer, and we need prayer again,” said President M. Russell Ballard, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who spoke at a devotional in Massachusetts on Sunday. “I plead with you this evening to pray for this country, for our leaders, for our people and for the families that live in this great nation founded by God. Remember, this country was established and preserved by our founding fathers and mothers who repeatedly acknowledged the hand of God through prayer.”

         President M. Russell Ballard | Quorum of Twelve Apostles

President M. Russell Ballard Notes I took

·      Nephi saw the life of Christ as recorded in The Book of Mormon.   He also saw the discovery and colonizing of America.  1 Nephi 13

·      Please look for the Lords hand in your lives and in your families - genealogy 

·      As you see the Lords hand in your lives recognize and give Him thanks 🙏🏼 

·      Nephi saw the pilgrims who would settle here.  He then saw the revolutionary war.  Nephi observed that power of the Lord was with them once they humbled themselves 

·      I invite you to see how your ancestors came here to this country...and how the hand of the Lord has guided you and your ancestors.  Please look for the Lords hand in your lives and in your families – genealogy and family history. 

·      I don’t believe you’re here today hearing my voice by accident or coincidence. 

·      I have a solemn duty as an apostle to face the Lord and communicate to you His will and word. The prophets and apostles are watchmen on the tower today.  Acknowledging the Lords hand and obeying His commandments are essential to our wellbeing.  

·      America and all nations of the earth are at a crossroads, that will determine the future for our children and our grandchildren.  Please pray for the leaders of our country.  Reach out on social media and ask all we know to PRAY for our leaders and our country.

·      Washington acknowledged the hand of the Lord 

·      Our forefathers who Signed the Declaration of Independence acknowledged God. 

·      Doctrineand Covenants 98:4-10 And now, verily I say unto you concerning the ^alaws of the land, it is my will that my people should observe to do all things whatsoever I command them.  5 And that ^alaw of the land which is ^bconstitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me. 6 Therefore, I, the Lord, justify you, and your brethren of my church, in befriending that law which is the ^aconstitutional law of the land;  7 And as pertaining to law of man, whatsoever is more or less than this, cometh of evil.  8 I, the Lord God, make you ^afree, therefore ye are free indeed; and the law also maketh you free.  9 Nevertheless, when the ^awicked ^brule the people mourn.  10 Wherefore, ^ahonest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil.

·      Forsake all evil and cling to the good.

·      America and the nations of the earth are at another crossroads. We’ve grown in numbers, in wealth and power like no other nation BUT we have forgotten the Lord our God.

·      Our nation was founded upon prayer 🙏🏼.  And I plead with you now to pray for our country and it’s leaders.  This area was the seed bed that led to our freedoms.

·      I invite you to pray and invite others to prayer. 

·      Let it begin TODAY with you being a leader and a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Thousands of Latter-day Saints and invited guests gathered at the DCU Center, 

an arena in Worcester, located about an hour west of Boston.

“This area was the seedbed of so very much that led to the founding of this nation,” 

said President Ballard. “I invite you to join in a new movement. Invite your neighbors, 

your colleagues, your friends on social media to pray for this country.”

President Ballard, who turned 91 earlier this month, was joined by fellow apostle, 

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and his wife, Katherine.

What strikes me is to see the progress of the Church here,” said Elder Christofferson, 

referring to early events in Church history in New England. “It’s exciting just to contemplate 

a couple hundred years later where things have grown to in this location as well as the rest 

of the world.”

We arrived early and got seats on the third row at the foot of the stage.

The meeting was broadcast to all Church meetinghouses throughout the North America 

Northeast Area, which includes congregations in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, 

New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. Music was provided by a choir of 150 adults 

from across New England.

Prior to the meeting, President Ballard and Elder and Sister Christofferson met with young 

single adults and shared some advice and counsel with them.

Gilberto Castro from Providence, Rhode Island, said he was impressed by President 

Ballard’s demeanor.

“I think he’s really reachable, really relatable just the way that he presents himself, the way

 that he spoke to us,” said Castro. “It really felt like he was seeking to connect to us.”

Amber Noble from North Chelmsford, Massachusetts, said the opportunity “fills my heart 

with joy” and “really reiterates Jesus’s love and God’s love for all of us.”

Saturday evening, President Ballard and Elder Christofferson presided at a devotional in 

Cambridge for young single adults and married couples. Earlier in the day Saturday, the 

senior Church leaders met with Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker.

Before traveling to Massachusetts, the two Apostles were in Vermont where they spoke at a 

meeting in South Royalton on Friday night. Saturday, they addressed missionaries in the 

North America Northeast Mission in a broadcast before touring the birthplace of Church 

Prophet Joseph Smith in Sharon. Joseph Smith was born in the rural Vermont community 

December 23, 1805.

The Prophet Joseph Smith is President Ballard’s great-great-uncle. The senior leader is a 

great-great-grandson of Joseph Smith’s older brother, Hyrum.

Nearly 28,000 Latter-day Saints in 57 congregations reside in Massachusetts. The state also

 has one temple, the Boston Massachusetts Temple.

The Apostles returned to Salt Lake City Sunday evening. (Church Newsroom)

 

WORCESTER, Mass. — President M. Russell Ballard urged members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New England on Sunday evening to “join a new movement” by inviting their neighbors, colleagues and friends on social media to pray for the United States, its leaders and its families.

“Our nation was founded on prayer, it was preserved by prayer and we need prayer again,” said the acting president of the church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “I plead with you this evening to pray for this country, for our leaders, for our people and for the families that live in this great nation founded by God.”

Speaking to an estimated 12,000 people gathered in the DCU Center, the senior church leader reminded the congregation that “this country was established and preserved by our founding fathers and mothers, who repeatedly acknowledged the hand of God through prayer.”

New England, he continued, was the seedbed of so very much that led to the founding of this nation.

“We must stand boldly for righteousness and truth and must defend the cause of honor, decency and personal freedom espoused by Washington, Madison, Adams, Lincoln and other leaders who acknowledged and loved God.”

Attendees listen to the prayer during a devotional in Worcester, Massachusetts, on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019.  Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

This was a very exciting devotional to attend.  My witness of living apostles has been strengthened even more after listening and watching them speak live.  Here we are :) watching the two apostles leave the stage.  They both have a glow about them and are filled with love, faith, and dedication to the Lord's work.  I am so grateful for the knowledge I have of Jesus Christ's restored gospel and church.

~ C.J. Poulsen

#FaithToAct