What Will The New Year of 2011 Bring Us?

Knowing that I'd be conducting Sacrament Meeting for January and opening the New Year's Testimony Meeting, I was praying about it and inquiring about what I might say that would most benefit our ward. In these prayers I was asking Heavenly Father, and myself, questions that I thought might also be the kinds of questions that our ward members would be asking at the beginning of this New Year. Questions about the future and the many uncertainties many are facing in 2010: what will happen in our homes and throughout the world in the coming months, what will happen with the economy, uncertainties with employment, concerns over finances or health related issues, worries about the fragile nature of our world with contentions and wars and hot spots, the seemingly increase and severity of natural calamities, and the more blatant spiritual war that is increasingly apparent.

What came in response was interesting and comforting. There were several promptings that brought over me immediate feeling of peace and assurance. I recorded four specific messages. Although not surprising, here is what came and what I relayed in my testimony on Fast Sunday - - what we can know about what the future hold:

• In 2011, the Lord will continue to be in control.
• We can take comfort and be sure that the 'right' will win in the end.
• The Church will continue to grow and cover the earth, and it will continue to be a refuge from the storms.
• The Lord will continue to bless and prosper those that are faithful and true.
• There will be more challenges to test our faith and give us opportunities to exercise faith – challenges in health, finances, relationships, employment, and more. How we respond to them is much more significant than the nature of the challenges themselves
• Greater division between the standards of the Gospel and the standards of the world
• Increased acceptance of evil and sinful behavior by much of the world
• We are one year closer to the return of the Savior

That said, the future is certainly most bright (as Lehi described the fruit - most white, most bright) and it’s a good feeling to be on the Lord's team. It's good to know how much He cares for us, how much He is involved in the affairs of His Children, and how much He loves us!

Our God is a God of second chances.

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Bishop Wm. Calvin Hughes
January 2011