President Gordon B. Hinckley on the blessings of temple worthiness and attendance

President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008) was called to the Quorum of Twelve in 1961. He served as a counselor in the First Presidency from 1981-1995, then as Church President until his death in 2008.

"Our people cannot partake of all of the blessings of the gospel unless they can receive their own temple ordinances and then make these ordinances available to those of their kindred dead and others....

"These unique and wonderful buildings, and the ordinances administered therein, represent the ultimate in our worship. These ordinances become the most profound expressions of our theology. I urge our people everywhere, with all of the persuasiveness of which I am capable, to live worthy to hold a temple recommend, to secure one and regard it as a precious asset, and to make a greater effort to go to the house of the Lord and partake of the spirit and the blessings to be had therein. I am satisfied that every man or woman who goes to the temple in a spirit of sincerity and faith leaves the house of the Lord a better man or woman. There is need for constant improvement in all of our lives. There is need occasionally to leave the noise and the tumult of the world and step within the walls of a sacred house of God, there to feel His spirit in an environment of holiness and peace."

- Gordon B. Hinckley, "Of Missions, Temples, and Stewardship," Ensign, Nov. 1995, p. 53
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President Hinckley's vision of the importance of the temple in our lives changed the direction of the Church in a significant way. The dramatic expansion of temple-building worldwide provides a profound opportunity for all to experience the sacred ordinances, to serve their "kindred dead," and to return regularly for the blessings that are promised for faithful attendance.

In the temple, President Hinckley states, we experience the "ultimate in our worship." We go to be close to God, to learn of Him and His plan for our lives, and to be strengthened by His power.

I am touched by President Hinckley's urging "with all of the persuasiveness of which I am capable" that we live worthy of a temple recommend, and make a greater effort to attend the temple. It's clear he feels the eternal significance and present importance of that standard of worthiness, and of the opportunity it offers worthy holders of the recommend.

Those are wonderful blessings promised: personal growth and improvement, escape from the pressures and frustrations of a noisy world, and immersion in a setting of holiness and peace. We should all make a greater effort to claim those blessings!

President James E. Faust on God working miracles through willing servants

President James E. Faust (1920-2007) 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.

"The Lord has a great work for each of us to do. You may wonder how this can be. You may feel that there is nothing special or superior about you or your ability. Perhaps you feel, or have been told, that you are stupid. Many of us have felt that and some of us have been told that. Gideon felt this when the Lord asked him to save Israel from the Midianites. Gideon said, 'My family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house' (Judges 6:15). He had only three hundred men, but with the help of the Lord, Gideon defeated the armies of the Midianites (see Judges 7).

"The Lord can do remarkable miracles with a person of ordinary ability who is humble, faithful, and diligent in serving the Lord and seeks to improve himself. This is because God is the ultimate source of power."

- James E. Faust, "Acting for Ourselves and Not Being Acted Upon," Ensign, Nov. 1995, 47
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There are times in life when each of us probably has the experience of feeling surrounded by super-achievers, by remarkable people with gifts that lift and bless so many, by individuals who seem to "have it all together" while we are struggling just to hang on. Or worse, as President Faust notes, some have the chronic feeling that they are "stupid" or don't measure up in critical ways.

What a sense of bright encouragement to know that in spite of our perceived shortcomings, if we are humble and faithful, "The Lord can do remarkable miracles" with each of us:

Not only can the Lord do great things with and through each of us, but He will do them. As President Faust points out, "The Lord has a great work for each of us to do." It should be a major quest for each of us to discover that mission as we seek His help in our lives, strive to be humble and faithful, and offer ourselves as willing servants in His work.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell on submitting our will to God

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.

"Seventy years ago, Lord Moulton coined a perceptive phrase, 'obedience to the unenforceable,' describing 'the obedience of a man to that which he cannot be forced to obey' ('Law And Manners,' Atlantic Monthly, July 1924, p. 1). God's blessings, including those associated with consecration, come by unforced obedience to the laws upon which they are predicated (see D&C 130:20–21). Thus our deepest desires determine our degree of 'obedience to the unenforceable.' God seeks to have us become more consecrated by giving everything. Then, when we come home to Him, He will generously give us 'all that [He] hath' (D&C 84:38).

"The submission of one's will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God's altar. The many other things we 'give,' brothers and sisters, are actually the things He has already given or loaned to us. However, when you and I finally submit ourselves, by letting our individual wills be swallowed up in God's will, then we are really giving something to Him! It is the only possession which is truly ours to give!

"Consecration thus constitutes the only unconditional surrender which is also a total victory!"

- Neal A. Maxwell, "'Swallowed Up in the Will of the Father'," Ensign, Nov 1995, pp. 22-24
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The concept of consecration is one of the most beautiful and sacred gospel doctrines. In humility, we offer all that we have to God—everything. We hold nothing back, dedicating every possession and every ability to Him and His work. At that point, He is able to bless us in ways he could not before, including giving us "all that He hath."

I love Elder Maxwell's analysis of what it is we can really give to God. He helps us see that no possession or ability is really ours to give; it's only our will, our agency, our commitment that we can truly and wholly offer to Him:

There's a verse in our hymn "God Loved Us So He Sent His Son" that I love. It's one of those "extra" verses printed at the bottom of the page that we sometimes neglect to sing. But consider the beauty and truth of these words written by Edward P. Kimball:

In word and deed he doth require
My will to his, like son to sire,
Be made to bend, and I, as son,
Learn conduct from the Holy One.
Hymns No. 187

How truly blessed is one who learns to bend his will to God, and thus learn conduct directly from Him! As we consecrate all that we possess, we are blessed with all that He possesses.

Elder Marvin J. Ashton on the blessings of asking for God's help

Elder Marvin J. Ashton (1915-1994) served as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles from 1971 until his death in 1994 at age 78.

"Our Heavenly Father is so concerned that we do right that he will bless each of us with a sign, if we will ask his counsel. Do we realize that the Lord has promised us a physical manifestation if we but ask him to direct us in the right? In the ninth section of the Doctrine and Covenants, verse 8, we have this commitment from the Lord:

"'But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.'

"Brothers and sisters, we compromise our blessings, we rationalize ourselves out of the sure and safe way, when we do not ask our God to guide us in the decisions that are part of our daily lives.

"The Lord has promised that he will help us in our pursuit of happiness if we will trust in him and follow his path. The abundant life will be ours if we rely on his strength.... All we need to do to enjoy eternal, happy lives is to live the gospel of Jesus Christ."

- Marvin J. Ashton, "Love of the Right," Ensign, June 1971, pp. 31-32
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Elder Ashton describes God as a loving Father who is eager to guide and assist us on our way in this mortal journey. But He expects that we will ask for help! And as soon as we do, He will confirm to us that our decisions are right and our path is proper. If we fail to ask for guidance, we put ourselves at risk and deny blessings that could otherwise be ours:

I've always loved the phrase "the abundant life," which many leaders have used to describe the path of a faithful disciple. It implies a richness and fulness not available to those not following that path. And that life, according to Elder Ashton, comes simply from living the gospel of Jesus Christ.

President Howard W. Hunter on being a true and living member

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

"On November 1, 1831, at a conference of the Church in Hiram, Ohio, the Lord revealed in the preface to the Doctrine and Covenants that this is the 'only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth.' Then he added, 'with which I, the Lord, am well pleased, speaking unto the church collectively and not individually' (D&C 1:30). This should raise a question in our minds of eternal significance: We know that this is the true and living church institutionally, but am I a true and living member individually?

"This question may appear as a play on the words of the Lord when he said this is the true and living church. When I ask, 'Am I a true and living member?' my question is, am I deeply and fully dedicated to keeping the covenants I have made with the Lord? Am I totally committed to live the gospel and be a doer of the word and not a hearer only? Do I live my religion? Will I remain true? Do I stand firm against Satan's temptations? He is seeking to cause us to lose our way in a storm of derision and a tide of sophistry. We can have victory, however, by responding to that inner voice calling 'stand firm!'

"To answer affirmatively the question, 'Am I a living member?' confirms our commitment. It means that we now and always will love God and our neighbors as ourselves. It means our actions will reflect who we are and what we believe. It means that we are every day Christians, walking as Christ would have us walk."

- Howard W. Hunter, "Am I a 'Living' Member?", Ensign, May 1987, p. 16
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I remember smiling at President Hunter's application of the Lord's description when he offered this talk. If there is a "true and living Church"—is it made up of "true and living members"? If so, what would that imply in our lives and actions? President Hunter offered some suggestions for us to consider in our individual lives:

I think both of those adjectives are very significant: "true," meaning faithful, consistent, firm, fixed; and "living," meaning vibrant, growing, alive.

The concept is summarized President Hunter's phrase "every day Christian"—we strive each day to live the life of a disciple, to walk as Christ would have us walk. That's a beautiful and inspiring challenge.

President Ezra Taft Benson on overcoming fear by trusting in God

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.

"Yes, God is at the helm, my brothers and sisters. I know it, and you know it. Surely no group in all the world has greater evidence of that fact than do the Latter-day Saints. Even during the days of persecution and hardship, the Lord has continually encouraged us to trust in him, to keep his commandments, to do that which is right and then be unafraid.

"We live in a world of fear today. Fear seems to be almost everywhere present. But there is no place for fear among the Latter-day Saints, among men and women who keep the commandments, who place their trust in the Almighty, who are not afraid to get down on their knees and pray to our heavenly Father....

"So among the Latter-day Saints, particularly, there should be no fears, even in a world where many people are concerned about atom bombs, the hydrogen bomb; where many are fearing Communism and some are talking fearfully of a depression. There need be no fear in the hearts of Latter-day Saints. People who live the gospel, who keep the commandments, who trust in God and do that which is right, need never fear because God speaks peace to the honest in heart through his Spirit....

"So, my brethren and sisters, there may come persecution; there may come opposition; there may come reverses; there may come criticism and misrepresentation. Your motives may be questioned. You may be attacked. But if we place our trust in the Almighty and do that which is right, there will come an inner assurance, an inner calm, a peace that will bring joy and happiness to our souls."

- Ezra Taft Benson, "Trust in God and Do the Right," Conference Report, April 1954, pp. 56-59
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Many people live in fear of the challenges of their world. In the times when President Benson shared these remarks, some 63 years ago, the fears were somewhat different from the ones we have today. But they were just as real to that generation as our time, when they are perhaps replaced by terrorism and violence, natural disasters, impacts of drugs and pornography, disintegrating families, moral challenges, economic uncertainty, etc.

But the key message never changes; fear is overcome by faith. For those who know God and trust in Him and in His promises, there is no need to fear. The key is "the Lord has continually encouraged us to trust in him, to keep his commandments, to do that which is right and then be unafraid."

So while there may be temporary setbacks and challenges along the path, we can face them with "an inner calm" in knowing God is in charge. That confidence truly will "bring joy and happiness to our souls."

Elder D. Todd Christofferson on the blessings of spiritual rebirth and divine grace

Elder D. Todd Christofferson (b. January 24, 1945) was called to the Seventy in 1993, and as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2008.

"'Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God' (John 3:3-5).

"This rebirth was described more fully to Adam as recorded in the book of Moses. God taught Adam that it was necessary for men to repent, be baptized, and receive the Holy Ghost. Adam, seeking deeper understanding, asked why (see Moses 6:50-53). God explained that man must be clean in order to dwell in His presence and that this requires a cleansing birth into the kingdom of God:

"'By reason of transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death, and inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so became of dust a living soul, even so ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory;

"'For by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified, and by the blood ye are sanctified' (Moses 6:59-60).

"We see here the elements that bring about our second birth or entry into the kingdom of God analogized to the elements that accompany our birth into mortality (water, blood, and spirit). This birth from mortal life into eternal life requires the interaction of (1) covenants (symbolized by water, the principal feature of our first covenant: baptism), (2) the grace of Christ (symbolized by His blood), and (3) the Holy Spirit, the medium through whom atoning grace is applied to remit sins and sanctify souls.

"Justification and sanctification are accomplished by the grace of Christ, which grace is a gift to man based on faith. But our moral agency is also a necessary element in this divine process. We must will to repent and act to repent. We must elect to be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost, and we must elect to remain loyal to our covenants thereafter. To receive the gift we must act in the manner He has ordained."

- D. Todd Christofferson, "Justification and Sanctification," Ensign, Jun 2001, pp. 18-25
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Elder Christofferson's discussion of justification and sanctification in this article is very insightful and helpful to me. In this segment, he talks about the power and blessing of spiritual rebirth that comes to those who choose to accept the call of discipleship and walk steadily on that path.

The description from the experience of Father Adam is particularly helpful; I've always been grateful for Adam's audacious questioning of God (but why is this necessary?). This leads to the analysis of the symbols of water (baptism), blood (grace), and spirit (application of the atonement). The power of that grace in our lives in accomplishing God's plan continues to amaze me.

How blessed we are to have such a plan of perfect potential, enabling us to use our agency to choose to receive all the blessings our loving Father offers to us, now and eternally!