Howard W. Hunter on following Christ better

President Howard W. Hunter (1907-1995) was called to the Quorum of Twelve in 1959.  He served as Church President from June 5, 1994 to his death on March 3, 1995.

"The great standard! The only sure way! The light and the life of the world! How grateful we should be that God sent his Only Begotten Son to earth....

"Let us follow the Son of God in all ways and in all walks of life. Let us make him our exemplar and our guide. We should at every opportunity ask ourselves, 'What would Jesus do?' and then be more courageous to act upon the answer. We must follow Christ, in the best sense of that word. We must be about his work as he was about his Father's. We should try to be like him....

"We must know Christ better than we know him; we must remember him more often than we remember him; we must serve him more valiantly than we serve him. Then we will drink water springing up unto eternal life and will eat the bread of life.

"What manner of men and women ought we to be? Even as he is."

- Howard W. Hunter, "What Manner Of Men Ought Ye To Be?", Ensign, May 1994, p. 64
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President Hunter had such a gentle, kind way of inviting us to "Come Unto Christ" — as in this excerpt. His loving tone reflects his own gratitude for the gift of the Savior, and his testimony that following him brings the greatest joy in this life. President Hunter exemplified the quiet, steady discipleship that I think must please the Savior.

L. Tom Perry on enduring to the end

Elder L. Tom Perry (August 5, 1922 - May 30, 2015) was called as an Assistant to the Twelve in 1972, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1974. At the time of his passing at age 92, he was the oldest living general authority and the third in seniority among the leading quorum.

"Enduring to the end is definitely not a do-it-yourself project.

"First, it requires the Savior's redemptive power. We cannot return to our Heavenly Father's presence unless we are clean, and so we must continue to repent. Ideally, we repent moment by moment, but we also attend sacrament meeting each week to partake of the sacrament and renew our baptismal covenants.

"Second, enduring to the end requires the Holy Ghost, who will both guide and sanctify us.

"Third, we must be an integral part of a community of Saints, serving and receiving service from our brothers and sisters in the gospel. With baptism we become part of the body of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 12:11-13); each of us has a role to play, each of us is important, but in order to succeed we must be unified in our Savior.

"Fourth, we must share the gospel with others. The promises of bringing even one soul unto the Lord are profound and eternal (see D&C 18:15). Moreover, the gospel takes deeper root in those who share it frequently.

"Finally, we must always maintain faith and hope in Christ to endure to the end, and among the many ways we do this are praying, fasting, and reading the scriptures. These practices will fortify us against the subtle schemes and fiery darts of the adversary.

"I love the gospel of Jesus Christ, for it defines the way we can partake of the fruits of the gospel, experience the 'exceedingly great joy' (1 Nephi 8:12) that only it can bring, and endure to the end through all of the challenges of mortal life. The gospel teaches us all we need to know to return to live with our Father in Heaven as resurrected and glorified beings."

- L. Tom Perry, "The Gospel of Jesus Christ," Ensign, May 2008, pp. 44-46
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The opening statement of this excerpt is intriguing to me: "Enduring to the end is definitely not a do-it-yourself project." We usually view "enduring" as a pretty personal, individual thing. But Elder Perry points out the proper attitude, involving five levels or aspects of support.

Elder Perry was known as one who lived with joy and enthusiasm. He endured in that way because he exemplified the qualities described above. He offers wise counsel that we should consider in our own personal aspects of endurance. If we understand and practice the five points he suggests, enduring can be a joyful and fulfilling experience for each of us.

Ezra Taft Benson on choosing to be humble

President Ezra Taft Benson (1899-1994) was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1943, and served as the 13th President of the Church from 1985 until his death in 1994 at age 94.

"God will have a humble people. Either we can choose to be humble or we can be compelled to be humble. Alma said, 'Blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble.' (Alma 32:16.)

"Let us choose to be humble.

"We can choose to humble ourselves by conquering enmity toward our brothers and sisters, esteeming them as ourselves, and lifting them as high or higher than we are.

"We can choose to humble ourselves by receiving counsel and chastisement.

"We can choose to humble ourselves by forgiving those who have offended us.

"We can choose to humble ourselves by rendering selfless service.

"We can choose to humble ourselves by going on missions and preaching the word that can humble others.

"We can choose to humble ourselves by getting to the temple more frequently.

"We can choose to humble ourselves by confessing and forsaking our sins and being born of God.

"We can choose to humble ourselves by loving God, submitting our will to His, and putting Him first in our lives.

"Let us choose to be humble. We can do it. I know we can."

- Ezra Taft Benson, "Beware of Pride," Ensign, May 1989, pp. 4-7
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President Benson's talk titled "Beware of Pride" in the April 1989 general conference is one of the modern classics. It is full of insight and inspiration. In this segment, he presents ideas about the positive alternative to pride: humility. This is the foundational insight:

So it's a wise person who will choose to become humble without compulsion. President Benson then gives examples of how we go about making that choice — the kind of actions that lead to humility. It would be wise for each reader to consider the list looking for an area of focus; or to perhaps let the list be an inspiration for finding some other area that will be a personal blessing leading to progress in this area.

Neal A. Maxwell on the process of sincere prayer

Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926-2004) served as a Seventy from 1976-1981, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve until his death from cancer in 2004.

"Prayers, which come so naturally to the child, are difficult for the 'natural man.' The process can be puzzling at times even for some sincere petitioners. Paul gave us this personal insight on the importance of our being guided by the Spirit as we pray: 'Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered' (Romans 8:26, emphasis added).

"Some have difficulty with the reality that prayers are petitions even though God knows all and loves all anyway. True, we are not informing God, but we are informing ourselves by reverently working through our real concerns and our real priorities and by listening to the Spirit. For us merely to say, ritualistically, 'Thy will be done' would not be real petitionary prayer. This would involve no genuine working through of our own feelings. There would be no experience in agonizing, in choosing, and also in submitting."

- Neal A. Maxwell, "That Ye May Believe" [Bookcraft 1992], p. 178

Elder Maxwell was so good at pushing our thoughts to seek for new understanding. He reminds us first, using Paul's statement, that the best prayers require spiritual promptings and urgings.

But it's understanding the process of prayer that I found so helpful in this excerpt. We're not informing God of our needs and desires when we pray. We're "informing ourselves" as we work though "our real concerns and our real priorities." We're learning to submit. As the Bible Dictionary informs us,

"The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings." (Bible Dictionary s.v. "Prayer")

D Todd Christofferson on peace in the Gospel

Elder D. Todd Christofferson (1945- ) was called to the Seventy in 1993, and as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2008.

"Our yielding to God and his right to rule and reign over us brings other blessings. Among the foremost are the faith and confidence that permit us to live with peace....

"Joseph Smith understood this when he said, 'Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed' (D&C 123:17). The promise to those who submit to God is that His arm, His power, will be revealed in their lives. Jesus said:

"'Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me;

"'And none of them that my Father hath given me shall be lost.' [D&C 50:41-42]

"To live with this assurance is a blessing perhaps greater than you can today appreciate. Most of you have not yet lived long enough to know how precious peace is. Others, despite your youth, may have experienced feelings of desperation. But all of us, soon or late, in a moment of looming disaster or wearying confusion, having chosen God as our guide, will be able to sing with conviction, 'Sweet is the peace the gospel brings' (Hymns, 1985, no. 14)."

- D. Todd Christofferson, "Allegiance to God," BYU Devotional, October 19, 1999
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The concept of "yielding" ourselves to God is a powerful one. Elder Christofferson says that when we are willing to acknowledge "his right to rule and reign over us," powerful blessings follow. I've always loved this counsel from Joseph Smith, given to the saints while he was in Liberty Jail:

So as we "cheerfully" submit to Him and strive to follow as perfectly as we can, we can wait "with the utmost assurance" for the arm of God to be revealed on our behalf, and for the salvation that will follow.

Elder Christofferson testifies of the sweet peace that comes from living the Gospel with all our hearts, particularly in times of "looming disaster or wearying confusion."  That peace is a sacred gift to be claimed!

Quentin L. Cook on seeking knowledge and strengthening faith

Elder Quentin L. Cook (1940- ) was called as a Seventy in 1996, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2007.

"In the doctrines of the Church, faith and the quest for knowledge are not inconsistent, they are compatible and complimentary. When I speak of faith, I am speaking of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ....

"Faith and knowledge require equal effort and commitment. We cannot expect to have faith at the center of our lives if all of our efforts are expended on knowledge, making money, sports, hobbies, or other pursuits....

"Let me share with you five principles that I believe are essential as you place faith in the Lord Jesus Christ at the center of your lives as you seek diligently for knowledge....

"First: Understand that there is truly opposition in all things. The choices you make are critical;

"Second: Strengthen your own testimony as a foundation for all of the choices you make;

"Third: Seek knowledge diligently, wisely, and with humility;

"Fourth: Follow the Prophet's counsel as you make your choices; and,

"Fifth: Live so the atonement can be efficacious in your life."

- Quentin L. Cook, "Strengthen Faith as You Seek Knowledge," BYU-Idaho Devotional, March 14, 2006
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It's often a challenge to find appropriate balances for how we spend our time and where we focus our efforts. Elder Cook discusses one of the major aspects of this challenge. We certainly have needs to focus on "making money, sports, hobbies, or other pursuits" — those kinds of demands are pretty constant. But he refines the choices a little further in discussing the balance between seeking faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and seeking knowledge. It's not one or the other in competition; they work together in tandem if the alignment is appropriate.

I appreciated the five guidelines he offered to help "place faith in the Lord Jesus Christ at the center of your lives as you seek diligently for knowledge." His remarks were directed at college students, who are very much focused on the quest for knowledge. But they should apply to all of us as we continue to learn and grow in our personal development. It's worthwhile to read the full article and review the counsel Elder Cook offered.

It's especially interesting to ponder the fifth recommendation, and the relationship of the Savior's Atonement to our current efforts at gaining knowledge and faith.

James E. Faust on the growing evidence of Satan's power

President James E. Faust (July 31, 1920 - August 10, 2007) was called as a Seventy in 1976, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve in 1978. He served as a counselor to President Hinckley from 1995 until his death in 2007 at age 87.

"I think we will witness increasing evidence of Satan's power as the kingdom of God grows stronger. I believe Satan's ever-expanding efforts are some proof of the truthfulness of this work. In the future the opposition will be both more subtle and more open. It will be masked in greater sophistication and cunning, but it will also be more blatant. We will need greater spirituality to perceive all of the forms of evil and greater strength to resist it. But the disappointments and setbacks to the work of God will be temporary, for the work will go forward (see D&C 65:2)....

"Who has not heard and felt the enticings of the devil? His voice often sounds so reasonable and his message so easy to justify. It is an enticing, intriguing voice with dulcet tones. It is neither hard nor discordant. No one would listen to Satan's voice if it sounded harsh or mean. If the devil's voice were unpleasant, it would not entice people to listen to it....

"As the great deceiver, Lucifer has marvelous powers of deception. As Paul said to the Corinthians, 'And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light' (2 Cor. 11:14; see also 2 Ne. 9:9).

"Some of Satan's most appealing lines are 'Everyone does it'; 'If it doesn't hurt anybody else, it's all right'; 'If you feel all right about it, it's OK'; or 'It's the "in" thing to do.' These subtle entreaties make Satan the great imitator, the master deceiver, the arch counterfeiter, and the great forger."

- James E. Faust, "The Great Imitator", Ensign, Nov. 1987, p. 33
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It's been almost 30 years since President Faust shared this counsel, warning of "increasing evidence of Satan's power." He foresaw a time when Satan's work would be "both more subtle and more open." That's interesting to ponder. We certainly see evil and temptation being expressed more openly in ways that didn't exist three decades ago (e.g., pornography on the Internet). But we also see the more subtle aspects being manifest, as morality in society gradually erodes, intellectual priorities are changing, and so on — in "greater sophistication and cunning." This was a key warning: "We will need greater spirituality to perceive all of the forms of evil and greater strength to resist it."

It's wise to listen to prophetic warnings, and carefully consider how they apply to our lives. I appreciate President Faust's counsel as he points out the areas of danger.