Many of us recall a recent message from Carl B. Cook who spoke of a heavy load he was carrying and many things weighing upon his mind as a new church leader with tremendous new responsibilities. His words are for us all. Look Up! Look to God, and live!
He said: "At the end of a particularly tiring day toward the end of my
first week as a General Authority, my briefcase was overloaded and my
mind was preoccupied with the question “How can I possibly do this?” I
left the office of the Seventy and entered the elevator of the Church
Administration Building. As the elevator descended, my head was down and
I stared blankly at the floor.
The
door opened and someone entered, but I didn’t look up. As the door
closed, I heard someone ask, “What are you looking at down there?” I
recognized that voice—it was President Thomas S. Monson.
I quickly looked up and responded, “Oh, nothing.” (I’m sure that clever response inspired confidence in my abilities!)
But
he had seen my subdued countenance and my heavy briefcase. He smiled
and lovingly suggested, while pointing heavenward, “It is better to look
up!” As we traveled down one more level, he cheerfully explained that
he was on his way to the temple. When he bid me farewell, his parting
glance spoke again to my heart, “Now, remember, it is better to look
up.”
As
we parted, the words of a scripture came to mind: “Believe in God;
believe that he is … ; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power,
both in heaven and in earth.”As I thought of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s power, my heart found the comfort I had sought in vain from the floor of that descending elevator.
Since
then I have pondered this experience and the role of prophets. I was
burdened and my head was down. As the prophet spoke, I looked to him. He
redirected my focus to look up to God, where I could be healed and
strengthened through Christ’s Atonement. That is what prophets do for us. They lead us to God." It is Better to Look Up
