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I have now witnessed six of my Brethren receive a transfer through physical death to new responsibilities in the spirit world: President James E. Faust, President Gordon B. Hinckley, Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, Elder L. Tom Perry, President Boyd K. Packer, and Elder Richard G. Scott. These servants shared with us in the concluding years of their mortal ministries powerful spiritual summaries of lessons learned through decades of consecrated service. Brothers and sisters, you and I are blessed to learn from the benedictory teachings and testimonies of latter-day prophets and apostles. I'm not suggesting the final messages of these beloved men necessarily were the most noteworthy or important of their ministries. However, the sum of their spiritual learning and life experiences enabled these leaders to emphasize eternal truths with absolute authenticity and great, penetrating power.

To you, each of you, this day, I affirm my witness of the calling of the Prophet Joseph, of his works, of the sealing of his testimony with his blood as a martyr to the eternal truth.

In the words of one of my favorite hymns, "Oh, forgive as thou wouldst be e'en forgiven now by me." With all my heart and soul, I believe in the healing power that can come to us as we follow the counsel of the Savior "to forgive all men." Let me close by bearing my witness (and my nine decades on earth fully qualify me to say this)-- [LAUGHTER] --that the older I get, the more I realize that family is the center of life. It is the key to eternal happiness.

Although my mother has long since passed to her eternal reward, I remember her advice to me given on that day long ago when my team lost a football game: "Come what may, and love it." Adversity, if handled correctly, can be a blessing in our lives. We can learn to love it and look for humor, seek the eternal perspective, and draw nearer to the Lord.

We came to mortal life precisely to grow from trials and testings. I testify that as we actively come unto Him, we can endure every temptation, every heartache, every challenge we face.

I'm so grateful for the Atonement, which can wash clean every stain no matter how difficult or how long or how many times repeated. The Atonement can put you free again to move forward freely and worthily. May we hear and heed the eternal truths taught by the Lord's authorized representatives. As we do so, I promise our faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will be fortified, and we will receive spiritual guidance and protection for our specific circumstances and needs. Brothers and sisters, the Savior declared, "Whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." [MUSIC PLAYING]