Elder W. Mark Bassett, General Authority Seventy, spoke during the Sunday afternoon session of April 2023 general conference about seeking and waiting for divine intervention. The following is a summary of what he said.
Elder Bassett’s talk summary
Jesus Christ didn’t raise Lazarus from the dead until the fourth day. Before the miracle, Mary and Martha may have thought He came too late. Similarly, individuals sometimes feel like the Savior answers their prayers for divine intervention too late. However, “my witness and testimony is that as we move forward with faith in Jesus Christ, the fourth day will always come. He will always come to our aid or to raise our hopes back to life.”
Individuals also have a role to play in their own divine intervention. When raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus could have moved the tombstone and unbound Lazarus from the grave clothes Himself. Instead, He instructed others to move the tombstone and told Lazarus to come forth. “My impression is that the Savior expects us to do all we can do, and He will do what only He can do.”
Disciples do all they can do by making and keeping covenants, listening to prophets, repenting and obeying commandments. “While the Lord expects us to ‘do all things that lie in our power,’ remember that He will provide needed help in all these things as we trust in Him.”
Notable quotes
“My witness and testimony is that as we move forward with faith in Jesus Christ, the fourth day will always come. He will always come to our aid or to raise our hopes back to life.”
“My impression is that the Savior expects us to do all we can do, and He will do what only He can do.”
“While the Lord expects us to ‘do all things that lie in our power,’ remember that He will provide needed help in all these things as we trust in Him.”
See the full text of Elder Bassett’s talk: ‘After the Fourth Day’
Who is Elder Bassett?
- He was sustained as a General Authority Seventy in April 2016. Previous callings include bishop, high councilor, stake president and president of the Arizona Mesa Mission.
- His wife, Angela Brasher, was from the same ward and hometown as him, but they didn’t start dating until after his service in the Guatemala Guatemala City Mission. They married in December 1989 and have five children.
- He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Brigham Young University and worked in the wholesale auto auction industry.
What has Elder Bassett done recently?
- In December 2022, he shared behind-the-scenes details of the Light the World initiative with the Church News podcast.
- In November 2021, he spoke during a Brigham Young University devotional about obtaining “an abundant life and life eternal.”
- During the October 2016 general conference, he spoke about focusing on spiritual knowledge already revealed instead of speculating on what hasn’t been revealed.
Read more of Elder Bassett’s’ general conference addresses.
