In a 1997 regional conference, President Hinckley said “It isn’t as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out.” That is the message of this week’s discussion of Ezra and Nehemiah. As bad as things were for the Israelites, things worked out with God’s help and with God’s help things will work out for us too.
Segment 1
Scriptures:
Nehemiah 2:4-5 (The desires of Nehemiah’s heart)
Ezra 7:27 (Blessed be the Lord)
Book of Mormon Title Page (Show us the great things of the Lord)
Words of the General Authorities:
It isn’t as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don’t worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. … If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers (Gordon B. Hinckley, from a Jordan Utah South regional conference priesthood session, delivered on 1 March 1997, as recorded in “Latter-day Counsel: Excerpts from Addresses of President Gordon B. Hinckley”, October 2000 Ensign)
However much you are praying, pray more. However hard you are praying, pray harder. (Jeffrey R. Holland, from a meeting of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the Quorums of the Seventy, relayed by Brik Eyre, “Know Who You Really Are”, October 2025 General Conference)
Reflecting on God’s goodness and mercy helps us become more spiritually receptive. In turn, increased spiritual sensitivity allows us to come to know the truth of all things by the power of the Holy Ghost.…When we consider the goodness of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, our trust in Them increases. Our prayers change because we know God is our Father and we are His children. (Dale G. Renlund, “Consider the Goodness and Greatness of God”, April 2020 General Conference)
Segment 2
Scriptures:
Isaiah 45:1-5 (God will call Cyrus by name)
Ezra 1:1 (Prophecy fulfilled)
Words of the General Authorities:
He knows you and calls you by name too—from crowded cities to quiet villages, in whatever language you speak. He hears, sees, and knows you.
He knows your joys, and He rejoices with you. He knows your sorrows, and He can succor and lift you. Because of His Atonement, He knows your burdens, pain, and silent tears. The prophet Alma taught that through His Atonement, Jesus Christ would “take upon him the sins of his people.” (Clement M. Matswagothata, “He Knows You by Name”, April 2026 General Conference)
Segment 3
Scriptures:
Ezra 1:2 (Building a house of God)
Jeremiah 29:11 (God’s plans for us)
Quotes:
“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and … pray to me, I will hear you. (Jeremiah 29:11–12, NRSV)”
I testify to you, my young brothers and sisters, that this is a truth born of personal experience that our Heavenly Father will do His part in fulfilling these promises. It is up to us to simply believe, to believe simply, to be more childlike in our meekness and especially in our gratitude as we receive His gifts. (Patricia Holland, “A Future Filled with Hope”, Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults delivered on January 8, 2023)
Segment 4
Scriptures:
Nehemiah 1:4-11 (First response is to pray)
Nehemiah 2:2-4 (The king perceives Nehemiah’s sorrow)
Nehemiah 2:17 (Jerusalem is in trouble)
Nehemiah 4:7-9 (Opposition to doing the Lord’s work)
Nehemiah 4:10 (Take out the trash in your life)
Nehemiah 4:16-18 (Working and fighting for the will of the Lord)
Quotes:
He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself. (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, building on an original parable by George MacDonald from A Book of Strife in the Form of the Diary of an Old Soul)
Segment 5
Scriptures:
Nehemiah 6:1-3 (Nehemiah is doing a great work)
Nehemiah 6:9 (Nehemiah prays to strengthen his hands)
Nehemiah 6:16 (They completed the work)
Alma 47:11-16 (Lehonti was persuaded down)
Isaiah 49:16 (Walls are before God)
Segment 6
Scriptures:
Nehemiah 8:3-6 (Hours long scripture study)
Nehemiah 8:10-12 (Bring good food)
Nehemiah 8:14-17 (They read in the law, and then did)
Read the transcript here.