May 26th, 2025, 4am MDT
Editor’s Note: To support personal and family gospel learning, Church News has published an article on the message about the General Assembly of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since April 2025. In addition to reviewing these resources, we recommend listening and reading the full address.
About this story
“Feeling to the faith that our parents cherished” Elder Hans T. Boom | The 7th July afternoon session general meeting in April 2025. General meeting. Tem: Think about whether we can pass on the story of faith, strength and heavenly commitment to the next generation. Read the complete message here.
overview
In 1862, 14-year-old Mary Wanrath headed from Missouri to Utah Valley. The painting of Mary Wanrath, entitled “Carry On,” hangs from the Nashville Tennessee Temple, reminds everyone of its portability. However, as they fully embraced the gospel and lived by their covenant, these difficulties made the family stronger, as they did when Alma placed his trust and faith in Jesus Christ (see Alma 36:27). “Their faith and testimony are the driving power of the generation that came after them.” The Boom Elder’s mother and father-in-law were shunned by family, friends and their towns when they became Latter-day Saints. While serving as bishop, he was falsely charged and was released immediately. Rather than leaving the church, the couple continued to attend as “This is the church of Jesus Christ.” As the Prophet Joseph Smith did, their experiences are as strong as they say, so don’t take the faith and testimony of their loyal parents for granted. Boom Elder’s mother, everyone can become one and become an example for others. The believers can find the truth of their role, as mentioned in the songs “We bring His Truth to the World (The Army of Heramans)” and “Bringing Truth to Faith.” Sacrifices must be made to grow your testimony, and one sacrifice is serving your mission. The invitation to accept President Russell M. Nelson’s invitation shows the Lord’s love for him and his desire to know him better (see Mosiah 5:13). When believers make the Savior the centre of their lives, they can stand firm when times become difficult.
Reflection Questions
What faith stories do you have about your parents and other ancestors? What did you learn from them?
How did accepting the gospel of Christ and living in the covenant strengthen you through difficulties?
Have you told those stories to someone you love? What was their reaction?
When did you use the past experiences of your parents and role models to overcome challenging situations?
How can you demonstrate faith and strength in difficult situations?
Speaker quotes
“Have two people who had so many trials in their youth become the best parents I could hope for? The answer is simple. They fully embrace the gospel and are rising to this day, and to all of the faith you came to and the gusp of gusp and gusp and gosp of gusp and gusp and gosp of gusp and gusp and gosp of gusp and gusp and gosp of gusp, will the story of faith, strength and heavenly commitment tell the next generation?”
Reference Bible
“And I have been supported under all sorts of trials and troubles of all sorts of pain. No, God saved me from prison, from bonds, and from death. Condemnation.” “How do you know a master whom he does not serve, and a stranger to him, who is far from the thoughts and intentions of his heart?”
Invitations and promises
“Even when this may not be the case, as my mother experienced as a child, you can become one of the ‘good parents who love the Lord’ and provide the right example to others. “You can think of sacrifices that truly bless your life. Priesthood responsibility… For young and capable sisters, missions are powerful yet optional opportunities.”
story
In 1862, 14-year-old Mary Wanrath headed from Missouri to Utah Valley. Mary promises to take her dying stepmother to the Valley of Greater Salt Lake. This includes Mary driving cows and milk cows attached to wagons, foraging edible plants, and traveling with just a compass to guide them. When they arrived in the valley, her father soon passed away. Elder Boom’s parents met in church activities after being baptized in the years of young adults. His mother grew up in a broken house, and his father survived the concentration camp. Wanting to be sealed in the temple, they traveled the last penny to Bern, Switzerland. They are so devoted to the restored gospel that they gave them all the money they saved for the washing machine so they could build a new meeting place in their area. At the end of their lives, Elder Boom’s mother died of Alzheimer’s disease. After the mother and father-in-law of Boom’s Elders became members of the Church of Jesus Christ, they were shunned by family, friends and towns. It took years of service and letters before they were finally accepted again. While this continued, his father was falsely accused and later released as bishop of the ward. The couple did not separate them from the church by this event, and after a while the truth was revealed and an apology was made.
