Using the example of professional pilots reducing speed to minimize the negative effects of turbulence, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf counseled members experiencing adverse conditions to "slow down a little, steady the course, and focus on the essentials."

Speaking during the Saturday morning session, President Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency, said when stress levels rise, when distress appears, when tragedy strikes, "too often we attempt to keep the same frantic pace or even accelerate, thinking that the more rushed our pace, the better off we will be."

However, he explained, it is easy to be busy. "We can all think of a list of tasks that will overwhelm our schedule. Some might even think that their self-worth depends on the length of their to-do list. They flood the open spaces in their time with lists of meetings and minutia — even during times of stress and fatigue. Because they unnecessarily complicate their lives, they often feel increased frustration, diminished joy and too little sense of meaning in their lives."

President Uchtdorf said that any virtue, when taken to an extreme, can become a vice. The wise, he continued, resist the temptation to get caught up in the frantic rush of everyday life. "In short they focus on things that matter most."

The search for the best things inevitably leads to the foundational principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ — "the simple and beautiful truths revealed to us by a caring, eternal and all-knowing Father in Heaven," he said. "These core doctrines and principles, though simple enough for a child to understand, provide the answers to the most complex questions of life."

President Uchtdorf said most Church members intuitively understand how important the fundamentals are, they just get distracted by so many other things that seem more enticing.

"It is so easy for the basic gospel message to get lost amidst the deluge of information that hits us from all sides," he said. "The holy scriptures and the spoken word of the living prophets give emphasis to the foundational principals and doctrines of the gospel. The reason we return to these foundational principles, to the pure doctrines, is because they are the gateway to truths of profound meaning."

President Uchtdorf told the worldwide congregation that they would do well to slow down a little and focus on the things that matter most.

"Let us be mindful of the foundational precepts our Heavenly Father has given to His children that will establish the basis of a rich and fruitful mortal life with promises of eternal happiness.... Brothers and sisters, diligently doing the things that matter most will lead us to the Savior of the world."

He said that as members turn to their Heavenly Father and seek His wisdom regarding the things that matter most, they learn over and over again the importance of four key relationships: with God, with their families, with their fellow man and with themselves. "As we evaluate our lives with a willing mind we will see where we have drifted from the more excellent way. The eyes of our understanding will be opened, and we will recognize what needs to be done to purify our heart and refocus our life."

First, President Uchtdorf said, a person's relationship with God is most sacred and vital. "As we seek Him, as we learn of His son Jesus Christ, as we open our hearts to the influence of the Holy Ghost, our lives become more stable and secure."

Second, he continued, is the key relationship with family. "Since no other success can compensate for failure here, we must place high priority on our families."

The third key relationship is with a person's fellow man, President Uchtdorf said. "We build this relationship one person at a time — by being sensitive to the needs of others, serving them, and giving of our time and talents."

Finally, he said, the fourth key relationship "is with ourselves." President Uchtdorf said, "May I suggest that you reduce the rush and take a little extra time to get to know yourself better."

Concluding, President Uchtdorf asked Church members to be wise. "Let us turn to the pure doctrinal waters of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Let us joyfully partake of them in their simplicity and plainness. The heavens are open again. The gospel of Jesus Christ is on earth once more, and its simple truths are a plentiful source of joy."

He told the congregation's members that if life and its rushed pace and many stresses have made it difficult for them to feel like rejoicing, then now is a good time to refocus on what matters most.

"Strength comes not from frantic activity but from being settled on a firm foundation of truth and light. It comes from placing our attention and efforts on the basics of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. It comes from paying attention to the divine things that matter most.

"Let us simplify our lives a little. Let us make the changes necessary to refocus our lives on the sublime beauty of the simple, humble path of Christian discipleship — the path that leads always toward a life of meaning, gladness, and peace." — Sarah Jane Weaver

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