Many years ago when I was a freshman in college, I attended a CES fireside. It was November or December, and the topic of the fireside was “Joseph Smith.” At the end of the talks the congregation sang, “Praise to the Man.” As we were singing, people began standing up. After more and more people stood, I followed.

At the end of the song, the priesthood holder conducting the meeting came back to the microphone and told us that there has been a new trend in the Church to stand while singing, but that this practice was not appropriate all of the time. He then said something I would never forget. He pointed to the member of the Twelve Apostles who was on the stand and said that if we wanted to know if we were doing the right thing, we needed to look to the Brethren.

I had been thinking about deception early on during my freshman year. I wanted to follow God. I wanted to be one of the five virgin’s whose oil cruses were full, but I did not feel like I knew how to do it. After this was said, I was sorry that I had followed the crowd, but I was very grateful for the counsel given to look to the apostles. Since that time, I have learned some ways that have helped me to remain faithful, keep my spiritual cruse of oil full, and continue to joyfully endure to the end even when something I read, hear, or don’t understand shakes my faith.