Elder Kevin R. Duncan, a General Authority Seventy for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, delivered Tuesday’s devotional address at the Marriott Center. He focused his message on Jesus Christ, reminding the audience that through life's trials, whatever they may be, Jesus Christ is always the answer.
“As you prepare for miracles that will surely come, and at the same time face challenges that will test you to the very core, the power of Jesus Christ will sustain you as you steadfastly put your trust in Him,” Elder Duncan testified.
He emphasized that despite the challenges, this generation is living in an extraordinary time, as prophesied by President Russell M. Nelson.
“You will see — and be recipients of — some of the greatest miracles,” Elder Duncan said.
He shared a deeply personal experience that tested his faith — a car accident that took the life of his wife, leaving him to care for their young daughter alone. Despite the overwhelming grief, he expressed how he found strength in recognizing God’s hand in his life, providing reassurance through tender mercies.
Elder Duncan testified that Christ’s love and power can carry anyone through life’s hardest trials.
“I learned in a most poignant way that He [Jesus Christ] is aware of every detail of our lives and is constantly working to prepare and sustain us,” he said.
In the months and years following his wife’s death, Elder Duncan struggled to find belonging in the Church and was fighting to balance his many responsibilities in his day-to-day life. During this time, he realized that “the Church isn’t a showroom for the perfect — it’s a hospital for the spiritually weary, for the lonely and for anyone else who feels like they don’t belong — which I now realize is just about everyone at some point in their lives.”
Elder Duncan’s life experiences serve as a testament that, no matter the struggle, the answer is always Jesus Christ, who offers healing, strength and the power to overcome all trials.
“Remember: He is the answer, He has overcome the world, and He will help you overcome it too,” Elder Duncan concluded. “Christ's love is perfect and always within reach. He will never leave you alone to walk this life alone if you strive to walk with Him.”