This morning I listened to a podcast conversation between Sisters Sherri Dew and Wendy Nelson. In it, Sister Nelson encourages listeners to make a list of the things they know for sure, as something to strengthen them in the face of crisis.
It seems like a good thing to do now.
I know for sure that God is good. I know that there is no spite in Him, that He is a being of surpassing love and everything He does, every choice He makes, is for the blessing and benefit of His children. All His judgements are redemptive.
I know for sure that God is no respecter of persons. He loves every one of His children and is perfectly just. I deeply believe that those who are "favoured of God" do not matter more to Him than those who are estranged from Him. We are all equally precious.
I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and has developed the same loving attributes in their fullest. He is our Redeemer, He is on our side, and He is the only way to enduring happiness and peace, which exists in becoming ourselves beings of perfect love (Moroni 7:47-48).
I know that God has both a glorious plan that is beyond our comprehension for the benefit of His children and the power to bring it about. There is no aspect that has been overlooked. There is no weakness that Satan could exploit to undo it. Much as Satan may rage in the moment, he is powerless before God, and if we hold fast to Jesus Christ, he has no chance of triumphing over us (D&C 122:9).
I know that God's plan takes our weaknesses into account. While He is perfect, He works with imperfect instruments and that's okay because He's designed His plan accordingly, so that even our mistakes (like Adam and Eve's partaking of the forbidden fruit, or Joseph's brothers selling him into Egypt), once surrendered to Him, ultimately forward His work. If He is able to raise up of stones children unto Abraham (Luke 3:8), He can do His work with whatever instruments are at His disposal.
I know that the Book of Mormon is of divine origin. It is a true account, written by prophets under the inspiration of God and translated by the gift of God. And it is full of the direction I need in order to bring my life into harmony with Him and to fulfill my mission on Earth.
I know that the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, with its precious truths like the redemption of the dead, the premortal existence, and deification through Jesus Christ, is true.
I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. He could not have brought forth the Book of Mormon or restored those truths any other way.
I know that the ordinances of the temple are of divine origin, that they lead toward sanctification, and that God reveals to me those portions of His mysteries that I am ready to learn in the temple.
I know that Jesus Christ is at the head of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He directed its founding, it is His instrument, and He guides it today through a living prophet.
I know that the promise of Zion is real. God will bring it about and every promise made to and through His prophets through the ages will be fulfilled. God keeps His word.
That's not all the things I know for sure, but they're my core. And there are many other things that I deeply believe.