“Our Savior Stands with Us,” New Era, August 2018
Our Savior Stands with Us
When Elder Gerrit W. Gong was a young man, he really wanted to play school basketball. “I practiced and practiced,” he said. “One day the coach pointed to our 6-foot-4-inch (1.93 m) all-state center and our 6-foot-2-inch (1.88 m) all-star forward and said to me, ‘I can put you on the team, but you’ll likely never play.’ I remember how kindly he then encouraged, ‘Why not try out for soccer? You’d be good.’ My family cheered when I scored my first goal.”1
Elder Gong learned that remembering the assistance of others helps us acknowledge the Savior’s hand in our lives and helps us remember that we are never alone.
“Sometimes things go wrong even though we have done our very best,” he teaches. “Our Savior weeps with and for us. When we always remember Him [see D&C 20:77, 79], He can stand with us ‘at all times and in all things, and in all places’ [Mosiah 18:9].”2
“When you are uncertain, lonely, undecided, embarrassed, ashamed, angry, or otherwise afraid, as we may each feel at times, please remember our Savior. He is always here with us, inviting gently, powerfully, lovingly, be not afraid, only believe [see Mark 5:36].”3