This man.
This is Jeffrey R. Holland.
You know what I've always thought of when I see Elder Holland? I see a little joyful boy. "That's a guy," I'd think "who has never lost his adorable face." Twinkly blue eyes, sweet little boy smile, deeply dimpled cheeks, youthful features.... In
the history of the world I bet there was never a cuter baby than
Elder Holland. And in the universe there was probably never a sweeter
little boy than Elder Holland.
Then he grew up,
and this happened.
That be a link up there. Click on it. Read it. Then, to complete the intended effect of having you be completely blown away,
LISTEN TO IT.
LISTEN TO IT.
I was sitting on the couch crocheting. I was proud
of myself because I had committed myself to watching all 8 hours of
conference. I was doing pretty well. I was focused, listening, peaceful,
totally immersed in the talks. SO immersed that I was halfway to
sleeping. I was hearing all the words, but I definitely had an osmosis thing going. When Elder Holland got up to speak I grinned. "Aw." I said as I smiled down at my fuzzy yellow yarn.
"My favorite adorable apostle"
And he began to speak.
(I confess I up until this talk had not delved very deeply into the life and previous talks of my now hero Elder Jeff)
(I confess I up until this talk had not delved very deeply into the life and previous talks of my now hero Elder Jeff)
Within
the first minute I was engrossed. There was something about this talk
that just hooked me right away. More than my crochet hook even. HAHAHA. ahem.
Two minutes in, my hands were frozen. My eyes were wide and unblinking, my entire body still in riveted attention to the screen. No words had ever entered into my soul as cleanly, deeply, and permanently as the words Elder Holland was speaking.
When he uttered,
Two minutes in, my hands were frozen. My eyes were wide and unblinking, my entire body still in riveted attention to the screen. No words had ever entered into my soul as cleanly, deeply, and permanently as the words Elder Holland was speaking.
When he uttered,
"Peter, DO YOU LOVE ME?" in that voice, my entire being reverberated with the question. (Say yes, Peter! YES!!!)
Later afterwards even mentioning Elder Holland's name to anyone who had watched conference garnered an electric response. We all felt it. If I had a weak testimony before this talk began, it would have ended with my testimony ablazing like the roaring flames of a forest fire intent on swallowing the world. I literally felt like the force of his words, the power of his testimony, the strength of God's word through him had pushed me backwards to become permanently affixed 6 inches deeper into my couch, though I hadn't moved a millimeter.
No longer was Elder Holland
the cutest little apostle you ever did see.
This is a prophet. This is God's literal voice being spoken to us. My soul was hearing pure sacredness.
I listened to that talk over again several times that conference.
The power that shakes through his voice is like manna to my soul.
A little bit ago I awoke in the middle of the night.
Anxious, afraid, paranoid.
You can't rid yourself of those feelings at 3 am! You have to lay there and gasp for breath and fervently pray and scan the room a million times for the knife wielding intruder you know is either there, or about to be there.
That night, I had my kindle fire next to me and I switched it on so I could go to YouTube and listen to some of my favorite talks.
This was the very first one I listened to,
and like a tsunami, the peace and calm came over me as Elder Holland's magnificent talk rang into my ears again. For the rest of my life I will treasure this talk. I know again and again it will fill me with that fire of testimony! This is a great, great, great man.
I urge you to follow the link and listen to the talk!
It is breathtaking.
Since that talk, I have scavenged the net for more talks by Elder Holland. To my blushing chagrin, Elder Holland hasn't morphed. He has always been this man. This incredible apostle of God. I just hadn't taken the time to learn it before.
I encourage everyone to do this.
Each talk by Elder Holland is one gallon of testimony.
I am grateful to Elder Holland.
In one talk, my testimony seemed to double.
In less than 30 seconds, he went from this,
To this : )
Or as Pinterest has so eloquently put it
('cuz Pinterest gots the low down on truth, no joke)
Since that talk, I have scavenged the net for more talks by Elder Holland. To my blushing chagrin, Elder Holland hasn't morphed. He has always been this man. This incredible apostle of God. I just hadn't taken the time to learn it before.
I encourage everyone to do this.
Each talk by Elder Holland is one gallon of testimony.
I am grateful to Elder Holland.
In one talk, my testimony seemed to double.
In less than 30 seconds, he went from this,
To this : )
Or as Pinterest has so eloquently put it
('cuz Pinterest gots the low down on truth, no joke)
Truer words never spoken : )
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