It is now my privilege to introduce tonight's speaker. Elder D. Todd Christofferson was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 5, 2008. At the time of his call, he was serving in the Presidency of the Seventy with supervisory responsibility for the North America West, Northwest, and Southeast Areas of the Church. He also served as Executive Director of the Family and Church History Department. Earlier, he was president of the Mexico South Area of the Church with residence in Mexico City. Prior to his call to serve as a General Authority of the Church, Elder Christofferson was associate general counsel of NationsBank, now Bank of America, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Previously, he was senior vice president and general counsel for Commerce Union Bank of Tennessee in Nashville, where he was also active in community affairs and interfaith organizations. From 1975 to 1980, Elder Christofferson practiced law in Washington, D.C. Born in Pleasant Grove, Utah, he graduated from high school in New Jersey, earned his bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University, and his law degree from Duke University. Among other callings, he has served the Church as a regional representative, stake president, and bishop. As a young man, he served as a missionary in Argentina. Elder Christofferson and his wife, Catherine Jacob Christofferson, are the parents of five children. Elder Christofferson.

It's wonderful to be with you tonight, those I see and those I see in my mind's eye. I'm grateful for your presence and your attendance, and I want to thank those who are here representing stake presidencies, and they themselves representing the bishops and branch presidents and so many others who love and sustain and teach and support you, and the CES officers, also, who are with us. And I'd love to add a word of thanks to this combined choir from the Ogden Institute of Religion. I told them before the meeting started that it was up to them to bring the Spirit so that my talk would be semi-worthwhile, at least. And I'm grateful for their part. Before I came this evening, I encountered a friend who used to serve on the high council and as an adviser to a young single adult ward in the stake. And he said, "Let me give you one word of advice how to begin the meeting." He said, "Tell them that you want them to hear your comments and, therefore, stop texting."

I want you to know, if I see your head down, I may not just think that you're being reverent. I'm going to watch your thumbs.

I'm thinking I've got mine turned off, but if this thing goes off while I'm speaking, I'll really be embarrassed.

We older adults, including parents and Church leaders and professors and friends, often admonish you to plan for the future. We encourage you to pursue education and vocational training as preparation for life in the years ahead. We urge you to lay a foundation for marriage and family and to act on those plans. We caution you to think of possible consequences down the road when making decisions about what you do today—for example, what you put on the Internet. We counsel you to think about how you will measure success in your life and then to establish the patterns and practices that will lead to that success. All of this expresses a wise and prudent course in life. And in what I say tonight, I do not minimize in any way the importance of thinking and planning ahead. Thoughtful planning and preparation are key to a rewarding future. But we do not live in the future. We live in the present. It is day by day that we work out our plans for the future. It is day by day that we achieve our goals. It's one day at a time that we raise and nurture our families. It's one day at a time that we overcome imperfections. We endure in faith to the end one day at a time. It is the accumulation of many days, well-lived, that adds up to a full life and a saintly person. And so I'd like to talk to you about living well day by day.

In Luke, it's recorded that one of His disciples asked Jesus, "Lord, teach us to pray as John also taught his disciples." Jesus then gave a pattern for prayer that has become known as the Lord's Prayer, the same as recorded in Matthew as part of the Sermon on the Mount. Included in the Lord's Prayer is the petition "Give us this day our daily bread," or in Luke, "Give us, day by day, our daily bread." I believe that we would all readily acknowledge that we have needs each day that we want our Heavenly Father's help in dealing with. For some, on some days, it is quite literally bread that is the food needed to sustain life that day. It could also be spiritual and physical strength to deal with one more day of chronic illness or a painfully slow rehabilitation. In other cases, it may be less tangible needs, such as things related to one's obligations or activities in that day— teaching a lesson or taking a test, for example. Jesus is teaching us, His disciples, that we should look to God each day for the bread, the help, and the sustenance that we require in that particular day. This is consistent with the counsel to "pray always and not faint, that ye must not perform anything unto the Lord, save in the first place, ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul." The Lord's invitation to seek our daily bread at our Heavenly Father's hand speaks of a loving God aware of even the small daily needs of His children and anxious to assist them, one by one. He's saying that we can ask in faith of that Being that "giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given." That is, of course, tremendously reassuring. But there' something at work here that's more significant than just help in getting by, day to day. As we seek and receive divine bread daily, our faith and trust in God and His Son grow. You remember the great exodus of the tribes of Israel from Egypt and the 40 years in the wilderness before entering their promised land. This massive host of well over a million people had to be fed. Certainly, that number in one location could not long subsist on hunting game. And their seminomadic lifestyle at the time was not conducive to raising crops or livestock in any significant quantity. Jehovah solved the challenge by miraculously providing their daily bread from heaven, manna. This small, edible substance, which appeared on the ground each morning, was something quite new and unknown. The name manna, in fact, was derived from words meaning "What is it?"

Through Moses, the Lord instructed the people to gather enough each day for that day, except on the day before the Sabbath, when they were to gather enough for two days. At the beginning, despite Moses's specific instructions, some tried to gather more than enough for one day and store the balance. And Moses said, "Let no man leave of it till the morning. Notwithstanding, they harkened not unto Moses. But some of them left of it until the morning. And it bred worms and stank." As promised, however, when they gathered twice the normal daily quantity of manna on the sixth day, it did not spoil. "And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade. And it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein. And Moses said, Eat that today, for today is a Sabbath unto the Lord. Today, ye shall not find it in the field. Six days you shall gather it. But on the seventh day, which is the Sabbath, in it there shall be none." Again, however, some could not believe without seeing, and they went looking to gather manna on the Sabbath. "And the Lord said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? See you for that the Lord hath given you the Sabbath. Therefore, he giveth you on the sixth today the bread of two days. Abide ye every man in his place. Let no man go out of his place on the seventh day." It seems that even in ancient times, as today, there were some people who couldn't resist shopping on the Sabbath. By providing a daily sustenance, one day at a time, Jehovah was trying to teach faith to a nation that, over a period of some 400 years, had lost much of the faith of their fathers. He was teaching them to trust Him, to look unto Him in every thought. Doubt not, fear not. He was providing enough for one day at a time. Except for the sixth day, they could not store manna for use in any succeeding day or days. In essence, the children of Israel had to walk with Him today and trust that He would grant a sufficient amount of food for the next day and the next day and so on. In that way, He could never be too far from their minds and hearts. We should note, by the way, that 40 years of manna was not meant to become a dole. Once the tribes of Israel were in a position to provide for themselves, they were required to do so. After they had crossed the Jordan River and were prepared to begin their conquest of Canaan, beginning in Jericho, the scripture records that they "did eat of the old corn of the land"-- that is the previous year's harvest-- "on the morrow after the Passover. And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land. Neither had the children of Israel manna anymore. But they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year." Likewise, as we plead with God for our daily bread, for help in the moment that we ourselves cannot provide, we must still be active in doing and providing that which is within our power. Sometime before I was called as a General Authority, I faced a personal economic challenge that persisted for several years. It did not come about as a consequence of anyone's wrongdoing or ill will. It was just one of those things that sometimes come into our lives. It ebbed and flowed in seriousness and urgency, but it never went away completely. At times, this challenge threatened the welfare of my family and me, and I thought we might be facing financial ruin. I prayed for some miraculous intervention to deliver us. Although I offered that prayer many times with great sincerity and earnest desire, the answer in the end was no. Finally, I learned to pray as the Savior did: "Nevertheless, not my will but thine be done." I sought the Lord's help with each tiny step along the way to a final resolution. There were times when I had exhausted all my resources, when I had nowhere or no one to turn to at that moment, when there was simply no other human being I could call on to help meet the exigency before me. With no other recourse, more than once I fell down before my Heavenly Father, begging in tears for His help. And He did help. Sometimes it was nothing more than a sense of peace, a feeling of assurance that things would work out. I might not see how or what the path would be, but He gave me to know that, directly or indirectly, He would open the way. Circumstances might change. A new and helpful idea might come to mind. Some unanticipated income or other resource might appear at just the right time. Somehow there was a resolution. Though I suffered then, as I look back now, I'm grateful that there was not a quick solution to my problem. The fact that I was forced to turn to God for help almost daily over an extended period of years taught me truly how to pray and get answers to prayer, and taught me in a very practical way to have faith in God. I came to know my Savior and my Heavenly Father in a way and to a degree that might not have happened otherwise, or that might have taken me much longer to achieve. I learned that daily bread is a precious commodity. I learned that manna today can be as real as the physical manna of biblical history. I learned to trust in the Lord with all my heart. I learned to walk with Him, day by day.

Asking God for our daily bread, rather than our weekly, monthly, or yearly bread, is also a way to focus us on the smaller, more manageable bits of a problem. To deal with something very big, we may need to work at it in small daily bites. Sometimes all we can handle is one day, or even just part of one day, at a time. Let me give you a nonscriptural example. A book I read recently, titled Lone Survivor, recounts the tragic story of a four-man team of US Navy Seals on a covert mission in a remote sector of Afghanistan five years ago. When they were inadvertently discovered by two shepherds, a man and a boy, these specially-trained Navy servicemen had a choice, either to kill the two or let them go, knowing that if they let them live, the two would disclose the team's location and they would be attacked immediately by al-Qaeda and Taliban forces. Nevertheless, they let the innocent shepherds go, and in the firefight that followed, only the author, Marcus Luttrell, survived against well over 100 attackers. In his book, Luttrell recounts the extreme training and endurance required for one to qualify as a Seal in the US Navy. In Luttrell's training group, for example, of the 164 men who began, only 36 managed to complete the course. They endured weeks of near-constant physical exertion, in and out of cold ocean water swimming, paddling, and carrying inflatable boats, running in sand, doing hundreds of push-ups a day, carrying logs through obstacle courses, etc. They were in a near-perpetual state of exhaustion. I was impressed by something a senior officer said to the group as they began the final and most demanding phase of their training. First of all, he said, "I do not want you to give in to the pressure of the moment. Whenever you're hurting bad, just hang in there. Finish the day. Then, if you're still feeling bad, think about it long and hard before you decide to quit. Second, take it one day at a time, one phase at a time. Don't let your thoughts run away with you. Don't start planning to bail out because you're worried about the future and how much you can take. Don't look ahead to the pain. Just get through the day, and there's a wonderful career ahead of you." Generally, it is good to try to anticipate what is coming and prepare to deal with it. At times, however, this captain's counsel is wise. Take it one day at a time. Don't look ahead to the pain. Just get through the day. To worry about what is or may be coming can be debilitating. It can paralyze us and make us quit. In the 1950s, my mother survived radical cancer surgery. But difficult as that was, the surgery was followed with dozens of painful radiation treatments in what would now be considered rather primitive medical conditions. She recalls that her mother taught her something during that time that has helped her ever since. Quoting my mother now: "I was so sick and weak, I said to her one day, 'Oh, Mother, I can't stand having 16 more of those treatments.' She said, 'Can you go today?' Yes. 'Well, honey, that's all you have to do today.' It has helped me many times when I remember to take one day or one thing at a time." The Spirit can guide us when to look ahead and when we should just deal with this one day, with this one moment. If we ask, the Lord will let us know, through the Holy Ghost, when it may be appropriate for us to apply in our lives the commandments He gave to His ancient Apostles. "Take, therefore, no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof."

I've suggested that asking for and receiving daily bread at God's hand plays a vital part in learning to trust God and in enduring life's challenges. We also need a daily portion of divine bread to become what we must become. To repent, improve, and eventually reach the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ, as Paul expressed it, is a step-by-step process. Incorporating new and wholesome habits into our character or overcoming bad habits or addictions most often means an effort today followed by another tomorrow and then another, perhaps for many days, even months and years, until victory is achieved. But we can do it, because we can appeal to God for our daily bread, for the help we need each day. This is the season of new year's resolutions, and I'd like to quote you the words of President N. Eldon Tanner, formerly a counselor in the First Presidency. He said, "As we reflect on the value of resolving to do better, let us determine to discipline ourselves to carefully select the resolutions we make, to consider the purpose for making them, and, finally, to make commitments for keeping them and not letting any obstacle stop us. Let us remind ourselves at the beginning of each day that we can keep a resolution just for that day. As we do this, it gets easier and easier, until it becomes a habit." A little over a year ago, Elder David A. Bednar spoke about consistency in simple daily practices, such as family prayer, scripture study, and home evenings, as being crucial in building successful families. Consistent effort in seemingly small daily steps is a key principle in achieving any great work, including progress in the pathway of discipleship. As an object lesson, Elder Bednar compared daily acts to individual brush strokes in a painting that together, over time, produce a work of art. He said, "In my office is a beautiful painting of a wheat field. The painting is a vast collection of individual brush strokes, none of which, in isolation, is very interesting or impressive. In fact, if you stand close to the canvas, all you can see is a mass of seemingly unrelated and unattractive streaks of yellow and golden brown paint. "However, as you gradually move away from the canvas, all of the individual brush strokes combine together and produce a magnificent landscape of a wheat field. Just as the yellow and gold and brown strokes of paint complement each other and produce an impressive masterpiece," he said, "so our consistency in doing seemingly small things can lead to significant spiritual results. 'Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for you are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.'" President Ezra Taft Benson, speaking of repentance, gave this counsel: "We must be careful as we seek to become more and more Christlike that we do not become discouraged and lose hope. Becoming Christlike is a lifetime pursuit and very often involves growth and change that is slow, almost imperceptible. The scriptures record remarkable accounts of men whose lives changed dramatically in an instant, as it were. Alma the Younger, Paul on the road to Damascus, Enos praying far into the night, King Lamoni. Such astonishing examples of the power to change even those steeped in sin give confidence that the Atonement can reach even those deepest in despair. "But we must be cautious as we discuss these remarkable examples. Though they're real and powerful, they are the exception more than the rule. For every Paul, for every Enos, for every King Lamoni, there are hundreds and thousands of people who find the process of repentance much more subtle, much more imperceptible. Day by day, they move closer to the Lord, little realizing they are building a godlike life. They live quiet lives of goodness, service, and commitment. "We must not lose hope. Hope is an anchor to the souls of men. Satan would have us cast away that anchor. In this way, he can bring discouragement and surrender. But we must not lose hope. The Lord is pleased with every effort, even the tiny, daily ones in which we strive to be more like Him. The Lord is pleased with every effort, even the tiny, daily ones in which we strive to be more like Him." Now, remember that we should not only be looking inward when we seek a daily measure of divine bread. If we're to become more like the Master, He who came not to be ministered unto but to minister, we will seek His help in being of service to our fellowman, day by day. President Thomas S. Monson lives this principle better than anyone I know. There is ever-present in his heart a prayer that God will reveal needs and means for him to assist those around him in any given day or moment of the day. One example from his time as a bishop illustrates the fact that sometimes even a little effort may, with the workings of the Spirit, yield remarkable fruit. I quote from Heidi Swinton's biography of President Monson, To the Rescue:

"One to whom President Monson reached out was Harold Gallagher. His wife and children were active in the Church, but not Harold. His daughter, Sharon, had asked Bishop Monson if he would do something to bring her father back into activity. "As a bishop, he felt prompted one day to call on Harold. It was a hot summer's day when he knocked on Harold's screen door. The bishop could see Harold sitting in this chair smoking a cigarette and reading the newspaper. "'Who is it?' Harold asked sullenly without looking up. 'Your bishop,' Tom replied. 'I've come to get acquainted and urge your attendance with your family at our meetings.' 'No, I'm too busy,' came the disdainful response. He never looked up. Tom thanked him for listening and departed the doorstep. "The family moved without Harold ever attending services. Years later, a Brother Gallagher phoned the office of Elder Thomas S. Monson and asked to make an appointment to see him. 'Ask him if his name is Harold G. Gallagher,' Elder Monson told his secretary, 'and if he lived at 55 Vissing Place and had a daughter named Sharon.' When the secretary did, Harold was startled that Elder Monson remembered such details. "When the two met some time later, they embraced. And Harold said, 'I've come to apologize for not getting out of my chair and letting you in the door that summer day long years ago.' Elder Monson asked him if he was active in the Church. With a wry smile, Harold replied, 'I'm now second counselor in my ward bishopric. Your invitation to come out to church and my negative response so haunted me that I determined to do something about it.'" Thinking of our daily bread keeps us aware of the details of our lives, of the significance of the small things that occupy our days. Experience teaches that, in a marriage for example, a steady stream of kindnesses, help, and attention do much more to keep love alive and nurture the relationship than an occasional grand or expensive gesture. That's not to say, brethren, you who are married, that your wife wouldn't appreciate something new and really nice to wear, or occasionally some other gift that expresses with an exclamation point how you feel about her, within the parameters, of course, of your miserable budget.

It's just that a constant daily expression of affection, in both words and actions, is far more meaningful in the long run.

Likewise, in daily choices we may prevent certain insidious influences from entering our lives and becoming part of what we are. In an informal discussion that Elder Neal A. Maxwell and I had some years ago with a priesthood leader in a stake conference setting, we observed that one can avoid most pornography and pornographic images just by making good choices. For the most part, it is simply a matter of self-discipline not to go where pornography is likely to be found, physically or in cyberspace. We acknowledged, nevertheless, that because it is so tragically pervasive, pornography could assault a person minding his own business, quite by surprise. Yes, observed Elder Maxwell, but he can immediately reject it. He does not have to invite it to come in and offer it a chair to sit down. So with the other influences and habits— slovenly appearance, carelessness in conduct, abusive and profane language, unkind criticism, procrastination, and so on. Our attention each day to avoiding the very beginnings of such things can protect us from awakening some future day to the realization that, because of inattentiveness, some evil or weakness has taken root in our soul. In reality, there aren't very many things in a day that are totally without significance. Even the mundane and repetitious can be tiny but significant building blocks that, in time, establish the discipline and character and order needed to realize our plans and dreams. Therefore, as you ask in prayer for your daily bread, consider thoughtfully your needs, both what you may lack and what you must protect against. As you retire to bed, think about the successes and failures of the day and what will make the next day a little better, and thank your Heavenly Father for the manna He has placed along your path that sustained you through the day. Your reflections will increase your faith in Him. As you see His hand helping you to endure some things and to change others, you'll be able to rejoice in one more day, one more step toward eternal life.

Above all, remember that we have Him of whom manna was a type and symbol, the very bread of life, the Redeemer. And Jesus said unto them, "I am the bread of life. He that cometh to me shall never hunger. And he that believeth in me shall never thirst. Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth unto me hath everlasting life. I am the bread of life. "Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven than a man may eat thereof and not die. I am the living bread, which came down from heaven. If any man eateth this bread, he shall live forever, and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I give for the life of the world." I bear you my witness of the living reality of the bread of life, Jesus Christ, and of the infinite power and reach of His Atonement. Ultimately, it is His Atonement, His grace, that is our daily bread. We should seek Him daily to do His will each day, to become one with Him as He is one with the Father. I bless you that as you seek it from Him, your Heavenly Father will grant you your daily bread. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.