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Letting God Prevail: Insights from BYU Pathway Students

Students around the world have discovered the blessings of President Nelson’s invitation

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Preparing for the upcoming general conference is a perfect time to reflect on what we’ve learned and how we’ve grown since the last one. In October 2020, President Russell M. Nelson shared a new insight he’d received: “With the help of two Hebrew scholars, I learned that one of the Hebraic meanings of the word Israel is ‘let God prevail.’ Thus the very name of Israel refers to a person who is willing to let God prevail in his or her life.”

Learn how BYU‑Pathway Worldwide students are responding to President Nelson’s message by applying his teachings in their lives.

What it means to let God prevail

Happy Woman
Dinah Talemwa

“The Lord is gathering those who are willing to let God prevail in their lives. The Lord is gathering those who will choose to let God be the most important influence in their lives.”

Growing up in Uganda, Dinah’s family was her support. But after her parents' divorce separated them, she realized that the support she needed could only come from God. “As a child, letting God prevail helped me deal with my feelings of confusion, anger, and bitterness. He has been the most important influence in my life. I can’t imagine how life would be without that influence.”

The miracle of letting God prevail

Fernanda and Santiago
Santiago and Fernanda

“My dear brothers and sisters, as you choose to let God prevail in your lives, you will experience for yourselves that our God is 'a God of miracles.’”

Fernanda and Santiago’s family experienced many changes in Argentina with the COVID-19 pandemic. Their children had to leave friends and teachers to study at home, and Fernanda and Santiago’s own education and work also moved to their home.

“The only way we found to balance these changes was by holding to the gospel. Our daily scripture study strengthened us and brought blessings that we had not imagined. We saw the promise of our beloved prophet being fulfilled in our own family. We have no doubt that when we let God prevail, we can achieve the success and blessings that the Lord has for us.”

The choice of letting God prevail

German Woman - Larisa Wendt
Larisa Wendt

“We all have our agency. … We can choose to let God prevail in our lives, or not. We can choose to let God be the most powerful influence in our lives, or not.”

Larisa Wendt, from Germany, has felt the power of choosing to let God prevail by doing difficult things. “Letting Him prevail means that I love Him enough to get out of my comfort zone to do what is right. Heavenly Father has given us the gift of agency. He loves us enough to let us choose whether it leads us to Him or away from Him. The process starts with a decision to take the first step. The more we test and practice it, the more it will grow.”

The journey of letting God prevail

Chutima Janjarus
Chutima Janjarus

“[I]t takes both faith and courage to let God prevail. It takes persistent, rigorous spiritual work to repent and to put off the natural man through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.”

Chutima Janjarus, in Thailand, knows that the Lord’s power is key to making sustainable changes within ourselves. “Letting God prevail is to let Him be a part of my life in every action, thought, and subconscious. I’m a human, so of course I sin every day. When you sin you may feel that you are worthless. But when I let God prevail, I immediately understand that He loves me so much so I can love myself again. God wants us to ask for His help and guidance. Everything becomes easier if we exercise faith in Him and let Him prevail.”

The blessings of letting God prevail won’t expire just because a new general conference with new invitations is approaching. Rather, this upcoming conference will build on things we’ve already learned, including letting God be the greatest influence in our lives. Now is the perfect time to renew our energy in letting God prevail in our lives!