GCBC - President Uchtdorf

General Conference Book Club

"You Matter to Him"

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I always love President Uchtdorf's talks, and this was no exception. It IS a paradox that man is nothing, yet man is everything. I appreciated the reminder that "our Heavenly Father created the universe that we might reach our potential as His sons and daughters," and that "we have the incomprehensible promise of exaltation -- worlds without end -- within our grasp." It's that amazing.

Yet some days it's difficult to find the balance between humility and pride, between self-confidence and discouragement. Satan works so hard to make us forget who we really are. If we can remember the four principles that President Uchtdorf mentioned, maybe this would be a little easier:

1) God loves the humble and meek.

2) The Lord trusts the "weak things of the world."

3) Heavenly Father loves us individually. We are not invisible to Him.

4) The present is not the future.

It really doesn't matter if we're dealing with "marble halls or stable stalls" in our current situations. The blessings of the gospel and the Atonement are available to everyone. All we have to do is keep trying. I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who loves me; that knowledge is a priceless gift.

One of the things I love about reading the talks in the Ensign is going through the footnotes. After telling of his experience with pilot training in Texas, and how he often felt insignificant and unknown, and yet realized that all he could do was try his best, President Uchtdorf stated, "And all was well." The footnote states, "Dieter F. Uchtdorf graduated first in his class." I just love that understatement. If we follow his example and remember and practice these principles, all can be well with us as well. (The picture is of him receiving the Commander's Trophy; read about it here.)