I was asked to give a talk yesterday at Church, and it took up a majority of my free time to write, this last week. So I thought I would also post it here. So if you would like, you can read it below!
Doctrine and Covenants 45:31–32, 56–57
Hi, for those who don’t know me, I'm Kaylia McLeod. My husband is Connor we will celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary this fall! We have two little girls, Maelee, who is three, and Laurie, who is 10 months old.
Today I was asked to talk about D and C 45: versus 31-32 and 56-57, so like four versus is going to make this talk into something, I think its going to be a good one!
Have you ever been somewhere that just felt… completely safe and peaceful, like nothing could shake you? Maybe it was the temple. Maybe it was your home during a family prayer. Maybe it was a quiet moment on a mountain hike or sitting in
church during a beautiful musical number. That feeling — that safety and peace — is what the Lord invites us to have always, not just occasionally. In Doctrine and Covenants 45, the Lord gives us some powerful and hopeful guidance for our time. Verses 31–32 say, “And there shall be men standing in that generation, that shall not pass until they shall see
an overflowing scourge: for a desolating sickness shall cover the land.
But my disciples shall stand in holy places and shall not be moved; but among the wicked, men shall lift up their voices and curse God and die.” Woah, a bit heavy there...
And later, in verses 56–57:
“And at that day, when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I Spake
concerning the ten virgins. For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their
Guide, shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire but shall abide the day.”
When I read these verses, I’m reminded that the Lord is always aware of what we’re going through. He doesn’t shy away from talking about hard things — plagues, confusion, spiritual darkness — but He never leaves us without a promise. He gives us the tools we need to
make it through LIFE: faith, the Holy Ghost, and the invitation to stand in holy places. That’s how
we prepare for the challenges, both big and small — not by panicking, but by planting our
spiritual roots deep.
And let’s be honest — sometimes life *feels* like a desolating sickness. Whether it’s
an actual pandemic, the chaos of raising kids, or just keeping up with daily responsibilities,
there are days when we wonder if we’re making any progress. But the Lord says, “Stand in
holy places and be not moved.” That’s not just about survival — that’s a thriving strategy.
When we think of “holy places,” we often picture temples — and rightly so. Temples are
literal holy places on earth. And we should always strive to be worthy of being there. But the Lord’s invitation goes beyond geography.
Holy places can also be:
- Our homes, when we invite the Spirit in.
- A car, when we listen to good music or conference talks.
- Anywhere you can have A quiet moment of sincere prayer
Standing in holy places means choosing to surround ourselves with goodness and truth. It
means putting ourselves — and our families — in places where the Spirit can reach us. It’s
less about where you are on the map, and more about where you are spiritually.
I once heard someone say, “If you can’t find a holy place, make one.”
Sounds fun to me, I enjoy interior design and decorating my home. My mom told me when I was a kid, and maybe I don’t remember right, but there should be a picture of Jesus in every room, maybe not in the bathroom that might be a bit odd. But more than that, we can choose to make our homes, our friendships, even our work— our minds
holier. A little bit of light goes a long way.
The Lord didn’t say “drift around in holy places” or “stop by occasionally.” He said, “stand.”
Standing suggests strength, intention, and stability. It signifies being in a state of righteousness and obedience where one is protected from the influence of evil and drawn closer to God. It's about cultivating a life of holiness in all aspects.
Standing in holy places, it reminds me of standing on a
Balance beam back in my gymnastics days. If you’re not focused, you will fall, you are about five feet up from the ground to it will hurt. But if you plant your feet, stay balanced, and don’t panic, focus — you’re good.
Standing in holy places in our lives means:
- Holding on to our covenants.
- Being consistent in prayer and scripture study, even when life is busy.
- Choosing to be kind, even when it’s hard.
- Showing up at church, even when it's easier to stay home.
When we make small, consistent efforts to stand in holy places, the Lord strengthens us. We don’t have to be superheroes or perfect— we just need to be willing.
Back to D&C 45
Verses 56–57 remind us that the wise will “take the Holy Spirit for their guide.”
I love that imagery — not just “invite” the Spirit or “feel” the Spirit but follow the Spirit.
Like a personal GPS that never runs out of battery, even when we take wrong turns.
The Spirit helps us know where the holy places are — and how to create them. He warns us
when something is off. He comforts us when we’re overwhelmed. And He testifies of Christ, who is the source of our joy and strength.
You don’t have to be perfect to feel the Spirit. You just have to be trying to follow Jesus. The
Holy Ghost is not looking for perfect — He’s looking for humble and willing hearts.
We Can Be Hopeful, Not Fearful
Sometimes when people talk about the Second Coming, they sound a little nervous,--- like
They expect fire and brimstone at any moment. But the Lord doesn’t give us these
revelations to scare us. He gives them to prepare us — and to comfort us.
The whole point of Section 45 is that if we are standing in holy places, we don’t have
to be moved. Not by fear. Not by confusion. Not by temptation. We can be anchored in Christ.
Think on it, if you’re standing in a safe place during a storm, you’re not
afraid of the rain, thunder, or lightning. You can enjoy the sound of it. Because you know you’re protected
For all of us, there will be a time in life when we may feel overwhelmed with
responsibilities. Work, family, church callings — all good things, but you're exhausted. But if you can listen, during the quiet moments of the rain, you may hear the spirit whisper exactly what you need to hear. Circumstances don’t change overnight, but perception, or perspective SHIFTING, can be life-changing. Holy places are where we realign with God. They’re where we remember who we are, and who we want to be.
Standing Takes Effort every day, But It’s Worth it. To me, almost everything feels and seems easier to handle when I’m trying.
Standing isn’t passive. In a world full of distractions, standing in holy places means we
might have to say no to some things, even good things. So, we can say yes to the best
things. So, it's ok, lately I've noticed situations in my life where there were good opportunities, but it was bad timing.
But every time we do choose the holy over the hurried, rushed, and impatient. We’re saying to the Lord, I TRUST YOU more than the noise. And He honors at faith, every time on his time.
We also need to remember that standing in holy places doesn’t mean you’re standing alone. Holy places are USUALLY filled with holy people — friends, family, ward members — who strengthen each other. So I think it’s a better world and a way of life to be part of someone else’s holy place too.
A smile, a kind word, an act of service — those are powerful ways to help invite the Spirit into someone’s life. The week after I had Laurie, a few of you brought dinners to my home for my family, and it was the best. It meant a lot to me, and it will be something I will always look back on.
I found a quote as I was googling for inspiration from Wilford Woodruff, he said, “ When we stand in holy places, we stand AWAY from the evils in the world, and are kept safe from the dangers that come from them. We strive to live in a higher, holier way and FOCUS on what brings lasting happiness. After all, we know that, wickedness, never was happiness.” there he quotes Alma 41:10
We don’t need to move mountains, we don’t need to renovate an entire house, to find holy places we can remember the primary answers, that really are so simple as the gospel should be, READ, PONDER, and PRAY. And if we stand there – even imperfectly -- the lord promises we will not be moved.
He walks with us, the spirit strengthens us, and I know Heavenly Father and his son rejoice every time we choose him, no matter how small the step.
I know that as we stand in holy places, physically, mentally, spiritually, we will have peace of mind, that we can be prepared for whatever comes, with faith not fear.
And to me, that is a joyful way to live and honor our heavenly father.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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