In his talk “How Firm a Foundation” President Thomas S Monson speaks about the need to develop a deep and lasting faith. He begins by sharing an analogy about the building of wards. He learned that the roads in Western Canada are built on a foundation that is much deeper than most roads. So the roads can withstand weather that would cause other roads to buckle and crack. President Monson then says that just like these roads need a firm foundation to withstand the weather, we need a firm foundation to withstand the trials of life. President Monson says:
“We can rely on the faith and testimony of others only so long. Eventually we must have our own strong and deeply placed foundation, or we will be unable to withstand the storms of life, which will come. Such storms come in a variety of forms . . .
How can we build a foundation strong enough to withstand such vicissitudes of life? How can we maintain the faith and testimony which will be required, that we might experience the joy promised to the faithful? Constant, steady effort is necessary.”
President Monson goes on to say that it is easy to become distracted. It is easy to forget the feelings you feel during General Conference. It is important to do the things that will help you to build a strong foundation on a daily basis. President Monson shares three things that will help you to build a firm foundation.
The first thing President Monson says to do is pray. He stresses the importance of making prayer meaningful and of having family prayer. The second thing is to study the scriptures daily. This will help to strengthen your testimony. The third thing is service. As we follow King Benjamin’s example, we can grow closer to the Lord through service.
President Monson is one of my favorite speakers. He shares wonderful experiences to illustrate his points. I know that as we strive to make prayer more meaningful, study the scriptures and serve others that we will build a firm foundation. These things will help us to stay focused on the important things in life. I hope that you will take the time to read and ponder this talk. President offers excellent guidelines to help us through times of trial.
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