Keeping Life’s Demand in Balance

M. Russell Ballard
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Sometimes we need a personal crisis to reinforce in our minds what we really

value and cherish. The scriptures are filled with examples of people facing crises before
learning how to better serve God and others. Perhaps if we, too, search our hearts and
courageously assess the priorities in our life, we may discover a better balance among
our priorities.
All of us must come to an honest, open self-examination, an awareness within as to who
and what we want to be.
As most of you know, coping with the complex and diverse challenges of everyday life,
which is not an easy task, can upset the balance and harmony we seek. Many good
people who care a great deal are trying very hard to maintain balance, but they
sometimes feel overwhelmed and defeated.
SOME SENTIMENTS WE MAY SAY ON KEEPIN LIFE’S IN BALANCE:
“There is no balance at all in my life. I am completely consumed in trying to raise
my children. I hardly have time to think of anything else!”

“My new business requires all of my time. I realize that I am neglecting my family
and church duties, but if I can just get through one more year I will make enough
money, and then things will settle down.”

How often have we heard this one? “No one knows better than I do how important
exercise is, but I just have no time in my day for exercising.”

“I find it next to impossible to accomplish all that I need to do to manage my home

and lead my family. In fact, sometimes I think the world expects too much of me.
Regardless of how hard I work, I never will live up to everyone’s expectations.”

“My struggle is between self-esteem, confidence, and feelings of self-worth versus

guilt, depression, and discouragement for not doing everything I am told we must
do to attain the celestial kingdom.”
Brothers and sisters, we all face these kinds of struggles from time to time. They
are common human experiences. Many people have heavy demands upon them
stemming from parental, family, employment, church, and civic responsibilities. Keeping
everything in balance can be a real problem.
A periodic review of the covenants we have made with the Lord will help us with
our priorities and with balance in our lives. This review will help us see where we need to
repent and change our lives to ensure that we are worthy of the promises that
accompany our covenants and sacred ordinances. Working out our own salvation
requires good planning and a deliberate, valiant effort.
Here are the suggestions that will be valuable for us concerned with balancing
life’s demands. These suggestions are very basic; their concepts can easily be overlooked
if you are not careful. You will need a strong commitment and personal discipline to
incorporate them into your life.
 1. Think about your life and set your priorities.
Find some quiet time regularly to think deeply about where we are going and
what we need to do to get there. Jesus, our exemplar, often “withdrew himself into
the wilderness, and prayed” (Luke 5:16). We need to do the same thing occasionally
to rejuvenate ourselves spiritually as the Savior did. Write down the tasks we would
like to accomplish each day. Keep foremost in mind the sacred covenants we have
made with the Lord as we write down our daily schedules.
2. Set short-term goals that you can reach.
Set goals that are well balanced—not too many nor too few, and not too high
nor too low. Write down your attainable goals and work on them according to their
importance. Pray for divine guidance in your goal setting.
You recall that Alma said he would like to be an angel so he could “speak
with the trump of God, … to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every
people!” (Alma 29:1). He then said, “But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my
wish; for I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto
me. …
“Why should I desire more than to perform the work to which I have been called?” (Alma
29:3, 6).
3. Everyone faces financial challenges in life.
Through wise budgeting, control your real needs and measure them
carefully against your many wants in life. Far too many individuals and families
have incurred too much debt. Be careful of the many attractive offers to borrow
money. It is much easier to borrow money than it is to pay it back. There are no
shortcuts to financial security. There are no get-rich-quick schemes that work.
Perhaps none need the principle of balance in their lives more than those who are
driven toward accumulating “things” in this world.
Do not trust your money to others without a thorough evaluation of any
proposed investment. Our people have lost far too much money by trusting their
assets to others. In my judgment, we never will have balance in our lives unless
our finances are securely under control.
The prophet Jacob said to his people: “Wherefore, do not spend money for
that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken
diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto
the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be
corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness” (2 Ne. 9:51).
4. Stay close to your spouse, children, relatives, and friends.
They will help you keep a balance in your life. In a recent study by the
Church, adults in the United States were asked to identify a time when they were
very happy and to describe the experience. They were also asked to describe a time
when they were very unhappy. For most people, one thing that had made them the
most happy or the most sad was their personal relationships with others. Much
less important were their personal health, employment, money, and other material
things. Build relationships with your family and friends through open and honest
communication.
 A good marriage and good family relationships can be maintained through
gentle, loving, thoughtful communication. Remember that often a glance, a wink, a
nod, or a touch will say more than words. A sense of humor and good listening are
also vital parts of good communication.
5. Study the scriptures.
They offer one of the best sources we have to keep in touch with the Spirit of
the Lord. One of the ways I have gained my sure knowledge that Jesus is the
Christ is through my study of the scriptures. President Ezra Taft Benson has
called upon members of the Church to make the study of the Book of Mormon a
daily habit and a lifetime pursuit. The Apostle Paul’s advice to Timothy is good
counsel for each of us. He wrote: “From a child thou hast known the holy
scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is
in Christ Jesus.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:15–16).
6. Many people, including me, have difficulty finding the time for sufficient rest,
exercise, and relaxation.
We must schedule time on our daily calendars for these activities if we are to
enjoy a healthy and balanced life. Good physical appearance enhances our dignity
and self-respect.
7. The prophets have taught repeatedly that families should teach one another the
gospel, preferably in a weekly family home evening.
This family practice, if we are not very careful, can slowly drift away from us.
We must not lose this special opportunity to “teach one another the doctrine of the
kingdom” (D&C 88:77), which will lead families to eternal life.
Satan is always working to destroy our testimonies, but he will not have the
power to tempt or disturb us beyond our strength to resist when we are studying
the gospel and living its commandments.
8. Last suggestion is to pray often as individuals and as families.
Parents need to exercise the discipline required to lead out and motivate
children to join together for regular family prayers. Our youth can know the right
decisions to make each day through constant, sincere prayer.
The prophet Alma summarized the importance of prayer in these words:
“But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name,
and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye
can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive,
patient, full of love and all long-suffering” (Alma 13:28). When we are in tune
spiritually, we will find that we can balance everything in our life much more
easily.
I realize, brothers and sisters, that other suggestions could be added to
these. However, I believe that when we focus on a few basic objectives, we are
more likely to be able to manage the many demands that life makes on us.
Remember, too much of anything in life can throw us off-balance. At the same
time, too little of the important things can do the same thing. King Benjamin
counseled “that all these things are done in wisdom and order” (Mosiah 4:27).
 Often the lack of clear direction and goals can waste away our time and
energy and contribute to imbalance in our lives. A life that gets out of balance is
much like a car tire that is out of balance. It will make the operation of the car
rough and unsafe. Tires in perfect balance can give a smooth and comfortable ride.
So it is with life. The ride through mortality can be smoother for us when we strive
to stay in balance. Our main goal should be to seek “immortality and eternal life”
(Moses 1:39). With this as our goal, why not eliminate from our lives the things
that clamor for and consume our thoughts, feelings, and energies without
contributing to our reaching that goal?
Just a word to Church leaders: Be very careful that what you ask from
members will help them attain eternal life. For Church members to be able to
balance their lives, Church leaders must be sure they do not require so much from
members that they have no time to accomplish their personal and family goals.
Live every day with joy in your heart, brothers and sisters. I humbly testify that life can
be wonderful, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.