What Elder Holland Prays For Every Day

Recently I passed through Nauvoo, and it reminded me of an interesting story told by a member of a past Nauvoo temple presidency. Personally, I’ve always wondered what an apostle prays for on a daily basis, so my ears perked up when this man mentioned what Elder Holland said in Nauvoo that he prayed for every day. 

jeffrey r holland pray

I could of guessed a few things he might pray for on a daily basis. I’d imagine he prays continually for his wife and his family. I’d further assume he’s praying for President Monson and the rest of his brethren, many of whom have probably become his very best friends. I’d venture to guess that he’s seeking revelation on his assignments and stewardships and pouring his heart out to God on behalf of Church members. I’m sure there are many other things he prays for. But this one thing…really got me thinking as I considered the current predicament our nation and world is in.

“Elder Holland told us that he prays every day for the second coming of Jesus Christ.” said the man. 

He stopped talking for a minute and the silence allowed for what he said to sink in. As I sat there, I began to consider the implications of that statement. 

First of all, It gave me even more confidence in Elder Holland as an apostle of Christ. I want to follow leaders who yearn to be with the Savior. While some people, as the scripture says, are asking for the “rocks to fall upon them” in order to hide themselves from the presence of the Lord, Elder Holland is looking forward in anticipation to the day in which he can see His face and feel his embrace. Someone like that must be giving their all to living a life that is pleasing to God. 

Second, it gave me a glimpse into how an apostle perceives the days in which we live. It’s got to be exhausting for them to see and hear of the many issues plaguing members of the church and the people of the world. 

Recently a member of the seventy came to speak in our stake. He told of a story when Elder and Sister Holland were getting ready at their house and there was a terrible thunderstorm outside. There was lightning and wind and things crashing all around them. Sister Holland, probably half joking, said to Elder Holland, “Is this the end?” in reference to the second coming. While neither of them probably believed it was the second coming, Elder Holland’s response gave an affirmation to what his daily prayers consist of. 

“Wouldn’t it be nice?” he asked in response to Sister Holland.

Wouldn’t it be nice if Christ were on his way? 

From a couple different reputable sources now…I’ve gathered that Elder Holland, one of the strongest of God’s leaders here on earth is looking daily for the return of the Savior. You can’t help but agree with him. With all that’s going on right now in the world…wouldn’t it be nice to have Christ reign personally upon the earth. We need him to set things right. There was never a time in the world when Christ’s personal leadership was more needed. The majorities are beginning to choose evil over good in selecting leaders of nations. Morality and values are being tossed out the window and replaced with the selfish ambitions of wicked men and women. The lack of humility in our nation and in our world is astounding.

It’s hard to see it this way, but seeing the signs of His coming should make us happy. Not sad. Not scared.  Jesus told of the latter-day struggle. The wickedness, the natural calamities, the desolations and the flat-out stubbornness of the people on earth. And after describing all of those struggles, he noticed that His “disciples were troubled.” (D&C 45:35) So Jesus said to them, “Be not troubled, for when all these things shall come to pass, ye may know that the promises which have been made unto you shall be fulfilled.

Maybe that’s why Elder Holland is always smiling…and patiently but earnestly praying for the return of the only one that can make things right again. 

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4 thoughts on “What Elder Holland Prays For Every Day

  1. Frank Pellett

    I love Elder Holland, but I’d be praying for the Second Coming to hold off. As dark as things sometimes seem, I want there to be more time for people to repent and come unto Christ. The Second Coming will be wonderful and terrible, and I very much look forward to it, but it feels like asking for it to come sooner is akin to asking for sinners to die sooner so they have less time to sin rather than asking they live longer so they have more time to repent.

    • Marge Patty Ryker Kadiddlehopp

      I was a young bride and non mormon in 1965. My mother in law told me that the day would come when we would pray for the Second Coming, for the Savior to come and usher in the millennium, to clean the earth, to bind Satan. I was 17.
      Now, 52 years later, I am praying for the Savior to come, to start the cleansing, even if I am one of those that will end up being, as one of the apostles of years ago said, “A Crispy Critter”. I know that there is going to be a lot of suffering and it has also been said, somewhere that it will take at least 7 years to cause the change to happen completey. I hope and pray that other’s will come about, some of my family needs to have an about face, I even have sins and imperfections but I so wish He would come, now, today, get this thing going so that peace can reign for 1000 years. So that temple work can be done for those that cannot be found, for the saving of souls. I completely understand what my mother in law was talking about now, things in 1965 weren’t anything like they are now and I am so thankful that she is not here to see it but it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if she shows up to help as a resurrected being. 😉

  2. crimen del siglo

    both sinning and repenting require the same amount of time: the time to make a decision; the time to commit a sin; the time to not sin. perhaps sinners need less time here on earth. maybe there is a relationship between the amount of sinners and sinning and the decline in conversions to goodness and righteousness. missionaries are called to serve, to preach the “good new” of Christ; baptisms is only a reflection of the decisions of “hearer of the word only”.

    i don’t know if Holland knows more than “the rest” of the people; i know he knows different things than i know; and i know different stuff than he knows. we both know and i’m sure you (all) know that you DON’T know when the savior will come again in glory.

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