President Howard W. Hunter on achieving true greatness in life

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.

"Many Latter-day Saints are happy and enjoying the opportunities life offers. Yet I am concerned that some among us are unhappy. Some of us feel that we are falling short of our expected ideals. I have particular concern for those who have lived righteously but think—because they haven't achieved in the world or in the Church what others have achieved—that they have failed. Each of us desires to achieve a measure of greatness in this life. And why shouldn't we? As someone once noted, there is within each of us a giant struggling with celestial homesickness. (See Heb. 11:13-16; D&C 45:11-14.) ...

"What is true greatness? What is it that makes a person great? ...

"Giving consistent effort in the little things in day-to-day life leads to true greatness. Specifically, it is the thousands of little deeds and tasks of service and sacrifice that constitute the giving, or losing, of one's life for others and for the Lord. They include gaining a knowledge of our Father in Heaven and the gospel. They also include bringing others into the faith and fellowship of his kingdom. These things do not usually receive the attention or the adulation of the world....

"True greatness is never a result of a chance occurrence or a onetime effort or achievement. Greatness requires the development of character. It requires a multitude of correct decisions in the everyday choices between good and evil that Elder Boyd K. Packer spoke about when he said, 'Over the years these little choices will be bundled together and show clearly what we value.' (Ensign, Nov. 1980, p. 21.) Those choices will also show clearly what we are."

- Howard W. Hunter, "What is True Greatness?," BYU devotional, February 10, 1987; see Ensign, Sept 1987, pp. 70-72
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

Have I achieved anything worthwhile in life? Have I lived up to my potential? Sometimes questions like this are a result of comparing ourselves with those around us who seem to have accomplished more than we have. But sometimes they are honest inquiries about our personal efforts. President Hunter considers what it means to "achieve greatness" in our lives.

The phrase "celestial homesickness" is an interesting one to ponder; perhaps there is something deep inside us longing to return to our heavenly home.

The real message of this excerpt for me lies in how we define greatness. The world's definition often involves recognition and prominence; but in God's sense, it's the development of character, the commitment to principles, the ongoing faithfulness demonstrated by disciples who give "consistent effort in the little things in day-to-day life." That's what we really should aspire to!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)

President Harold B. Lee on worship through music

President Harold B. Lee (1899-1973) was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1941. He served as a counselor in the First Presidency from 1970-1972, then as Church president from July 1972 until his passing less than 18 months later in December 1973.

"Someone [has] said, 'Music is the language of the soul.' I remembered what the Lord said in a revelation to Emma Smith, the wife of the Prophet, 'For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads' (D&C 25:12).... There is truly no finer companion to true religion than great music.

"At the same time music can be prostituted to Satan’s purposes. Napoleon is quoted as having said, 'Music of all the liberal arts has the greatest influence over the passions and is that which the legislator ought to give the greatest encouragement.' May I paraphrase and say, 'Music in the Church of Jesus Christ is that to which every leader of youth should give his greatest concern to see that the wrong kinds of passions are not aroused by our introduction of sensuous music into our youth programs.'

"Your test of greatness, whether you be youth or whether you be adult, is not to be measured by the question about your wealth, how much you are worth financially speaking, or how much knowledge you have gained in the world, or what great talents you have, but your measure of greatness or just mediocrity, or less than that, may be measured by your answer to one simple question, 'What do you like?' Do you like pornographic pictures rather than pictures of great art? Do you like to go to vulgar shows rather than The Sound of Music? Do you love the sensuous music rather than to hear great symphonies or the work of the masters? You answer to yourselves and then see what your youth like and you will have the answer to their souls, for music indeed is the language of the soul, whether it be uplifting or otherwise. It is the index to where we are today."

- Harold B. Lee, MIA Conference, 25 June 1972; see The Teachings of Harold B Lee [Bookcraft 1996], p. 203

This is a profound statement: "There is truly no finer companion to true religion than great music." It's interesting to ponder the place of music in our public and personal worship. The public role is perhaps more obvious, as we see the use of music to edify and inspire in Sunday meetings and other similar settings. But how do we use music's ability in our personal worship?

President Lee warns that music can not only be used as a very positive influence, but also can be turned negative, and like so many other good things, "prostituted to Satan’s purposes." That is where we are encouraged to be observant and vigilant.

President Lee suggests a simple test of our progress towards refinement and "greatness" in one sense:

The people at the time of King Benjamin commented on a change that took place in their lives by observing that they had "no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually" (Mosiah 5:2). Their hearts had progressed to the point of desiring only righteous things. I think that is what President Lee is suggesting here. Whether the measure be the kind of entertainment we prefer, the music we listen to, the things we read, what we do for leisure and entertainment—so much can be learned about our inner heart by considering what brings us joy! When the things that bring joy also bring us closer to God, we know we are progressing on the path of discipleship.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)

Elder Dallin H. Oaks on being valiant in the testimony of Jesus

Elder Dallin H. Oaks (b. August 12, 1932) served as president of BYU from 1971-1980.  He was then appointed as a justice of the Utah Supreme Court, and resigned when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1984.

"In his vision of the spirits of the dead, President Joseph F. Smith described 'the spirits of the just' as those 'who had been faithful in the testimony of Jesus while they lived in mortality.' (D&C 138:12.)

"In contrast, in his vision of the three degrees of glory, the Prophet Joseph Smith described those souls who go to the terrestrial kingdom as the 'honorable men of the earth,' who were 'not valiant in the testimony of Jesus.' (D&C 76:75, 79.)

"What does it mean to be 'valiant in the testimony of Jesus'? Surely this includes keeping his commandments and serving him. But wouldn't it also include bearing witness of Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Redeemer, to believers and nonbelievers alike? As the Apostle Peter taught the Saints of his day, we should 'sanctify the Lord God in [our] hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh [us] a reason of the hope that is in [us].' (1 Pet. 3:15.)

"All of us need to be valiant in the testimony of Jesus. As believers in Christ, we affirm the truth of Peter's testimony in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth that 'there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.' (Acts 4:12; see also D&C 109:4.) We know from modern revelation that we can come unto the Father only in his name. (See D&C 93:19.) As the Book of Mormon teaches, salvation is 'in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.' (Mosiah 3:18; see also Moses 6:52, 59.)"

"To those who are devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ, I say there has never been a greater need for us to profess our faith, privately and publicly."

- Dallin H. Oaks, "Witnesses of Christ," General Conference October 1990; see Ensign, November 1990, pp. 29-32
Click here to read or listen to the full article

To be "faithful in the testimony of Jesus" or "valiant in the testimony of Jesus" means, according to Elder Oaks, being an obedient and faithful follower; but it also means to be an advocate and defender, an eager and willing witness of His name and message:

It is a timely reminder that we should "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh [us] a reason of the hope that is in [us]." (1 Pet. 3:15.)  As conditions in the world around us change and faith in God and in His Son seem to diminish, it will become even more important for us to stand up for what we believe!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)

Elder D. Todd Christofferson on moral agency and moral discipline

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.

"For positive outcomes, moral agency must be accompanied by moral discipline.

"By 'moral discipline,' I mean self-discipline based on moral standards. Moral discipline is the consistent exercise of agency to choose the right because it is right, even when it is hard. It rejects the self-absorbed life in favor of developing character worthy of respect and true greatness through Christlike service (see Mark 10:42-45). The root of the word discipline is shared by the word disciple, suggesting to the mind the fact that conformity to the example and teachings of Jesus Christ is the ideal discipline that, coupled with His grace, forms a virtuous and morally excellent person.

"Jesus's own moral discipline was rooted in His discipleship to the Father. To His disciples He explained, 'My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work' (John 4:34). By this same pattern, our moral discipline is rooted in loyalty and devotion to the Father and the Son. It is the gospel of Jesus Christ that provides the moral certainty upon which moral discipline rests."

- D. Todd Christofferson, "Moral Discipline," general conference, October 2009; see Ensign, November 2009, pp. 105-108
Click here to read or listen to the full article

I loved this association of moral discipline with the concept of moral agency. Sometimes it seems that people assume agency means the freedom to do whatever crazy or inappropriate thing they want. But agency gains power only as it is linked with discipline—"the consistent exercise of agency to choose the right because it is right, even when it is hard."

And then Elder Christofferson points out that the discipline that has the most power is the choide to conform "to the example and teachings of Jesus Christ" resulting in "a virtuous and morally excellent person." Even the Savior chose to use his agency to completely subsume His will to that of the Father, following the Father's will in all things. As we learn to follow the Father and Son as true disciples, we will be greatly blessed.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)

Elder Quentin L. Cook on religious principles in public discourse

Elder Quentin L. Cook (b. September 8, 1940) was called as a Seventy in 1996, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2007.

"In addition to protecting our own families, we should be a source of light in protecting our communities. The Savior said, 'Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven' (Matthew 5:16).

"Our day has been described as 'a time of plenty and an age of doubt' (Roger B. Porter). Basic belief in the power and authority of God is not only questioned but also denigrated. How under these circumstances can we promote values in a way that will resonate with the nonbelievers and the apathetic and help abate the spiraling descent into violence and evil?

"This question is of monumental importance....

"My personal experience of living and interacting with people all over the world has caused me to be optimistic. I believe that light and truth will be preserved in our time. In all nations there are large numbers who worship God and feel accountable to Him for their conduct. Some observers believe there is actually a global revival of faith. As Church leaders, we have met with leaders of other faiths and have found that there is a common moral foundation that transcends theological differences and unites us in our aspirations for a better society.

"We also find the majority of people are still respectful of basic moral values. But make no mistake: there are also people who are determined to both destroy faith and reject any religious influence in society. Other evil people exploit, manipulate, and tear down society with drugs, pornography, sexual exploitation, human trafficking, robbery, and dishonest business practices. The power and influence of these people is very large even if they are relatively small in number.

"There has always been an ongoing battle between people of faith and those who would purge religion and God from public life.... Still, the majority of people aspire to be good and honorable. The Light of Christ, which is distinct from the Holy Ghost, informs their conscience.... This is why many will accept moral values even when founded on religious convictions which they do not personally support....

"In our increasingly unrighteous world, it is essential that values based on religious belief be part of the public discourse. Moral positions informed by a religious conscience must be accorded equal access to the public square. Under the constitutions of most countries, a religious conscience may not be given preference, but neither should it be disregarded.

"Religious faith is a store of light, knowledge, and wisdom and benefits society in a dramatic way when adherents engage in moral conduct because they feel accountable to God."

- Quentin L. Cook, "Let There Be Light!," General Conference Oct 2010; see also Ensign, Nov. 2010, p. 27-30
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

This is a thought-provoking passage from Elder Cook. What is the role of religious principles, or even moral principles, in public discussions and settings? How can we have a positive influence in ways that let our "light so shine"? Elder Cook teaches that many people are able and eager to respond to these suggestions and discussions because of the influence of the Light of Christ that rests with every man. It is our duty to see that the discussions are held—that the principles of truth and eternal values are part of the discourse.

Society will be benefited "in a dramatic way" as individuals, like each of us, are willing to be spokesmen and representatives for the teachings and values contained in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Through the religious faith of a few, many will be benefited in profound ways.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)

Elder Neil L. Andersen on compensatory blessings in a world of evil

Elder Neil L. Andersen (born August 9, 1951) served as a Seventy beginning in 1993, and was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2009.

"As evil increases in the world, there is a compensatory spiritual power for the righteous. As the world slides from its spiritual moorings, the Lord prepares the way for those who seek Him, offering them greater assurance, greater confirmation, and greater confidence in the spiritual direction they are traveling. The gift of the Holy Ghost becomes a brighter light in the emerging twilight.

"To understand better, think of these comparisons: If the world were growing more physically dark, He could give us enhanced night vision. If loud noises were constantly in our ears, He could give us a filtering mechanism to block the unwanted sound. If the race we were running was extended, He could give us increased lung and muscle capacity. If the exam we were taking was more difficult, He could quicken our minds—a blessing many here at BYU would like to receive.

"My brothers and sisters, as evil increases in the world, there is a compensatory power, an additional spiritual endowment, a revelatory gift for the righteous.

"This added blessing of spiritual power does not settle upon us just because we are part of this generation. It is willingly offered to us; it is eagerly put before us. But as with all spiritual gifts, it requires our desiring it, pursuing it, and living worthy of receiving it. 'For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift?' (D&C 88:33)

"Faith is the muscle of spiritual knowledge and power. Faith is a spiritual gift of God, but it is developed and magnified as we eagerly pursue our journey of embracing and following the Savior."

- Neil L. Andersen, "A Compensatory Spiritual Power for the Righteous," BYU Devotional, Aug. 18, 2015
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

The idea of "compensatory spiritual power" is an interesting one. Elder Andersen suggests that as God sees evil is increasing dramatically in the world we live in today, He offers to us greater endowments of spirit and strength to compensate and give us greater endurance and resistance. These added gifts can offer "greater assurance, greater confirmation, and greater confidence" in our times of need.

The examples of temporal compensatory blessings given by Elder Andersen (light in darkness, filtering to block noise, physical strength in a race, enhanced memory in a test) help us see the meaning of the spiritual gift he is suggesting. Basically, that "additional spiritual endowment" is "a revelatory gift for the righteous."

But Elder Andersen points out that the gift does not come automatically to us because of living in this time. Like any spiritual gift, we must "seek earnestly" in order to obtain it. We must "eagerly pursue our journey of embracing and following the Savior."

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)

Elder David A. Bednar on our commitment to education and learning

Elder David A. Bednar (born June 15, 1952) was serving as the president of BYU–Idaho when he was called and sustained as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in October 2004.

"A hierarchy of importance exists among the things you and I can learn. Indeed, all learning is not equally important. The Apostle Paul taught this truth in his second epistle to Timothy as he warned that in the latter days many people would be 'ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth' (2 Timothy 3:7).

"Some facts are helpful or interesting to know. Some knowledge is useful to learn and apply. But gospel truths are essential for us to understand and live if we are to become what our Heavenly Father yearns for us to become. The type of learning I am attempting to describe is not merely the accumulation of data and facts and frameworks; rather, it is acquiring and applying knowledge for righteousness.

"The revelations teach us that 'the glory of God is intelligence' (D&C 93:36). We typically may think the word intelligence in this scripture denotes innate cognitive ability or a particular gift for academic work. In this verse, however, one of the meanings of intelligence is the application of the knowledge we obtain for righteous purposes. As President David O. McKay taught, the learning 'for which the Church stands... is the application of knowledge to the development of a noble and Godlike character' (David O. McKay, 'True Education,' Improvement Era, March 1957, 141).

"You and I are here upon the earth to prepare for eternity, to learn how to learn, to learn things that are temporally important and eternally essential, and to assist others in learning wisdom and truth (see D&C 97:1). Understanding who we are, where we came from, and why we are upon the earth places upon each of us a great responsibility both to learn how to learn and to learn to love learning."

- David A. Bednar, "Learning to Love Learning," BYU Commencement address, Apr. 24, 2008
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

Addressing graduating students at BYU, Elder Bednar gave instruction and encouragement about the importance of an ongoing commitment to learning. He first discussed the role learning plays in the gospel of Jesus Christ; there is a great emphasis on seeking, asking, studying, and growing in intelligence. But it's important to know that all learning is not of equal value or importance:

The key to this type of learning is that it involves "acquiring and applying knowledge for righteousness" or "the application of the knowledge we obtain for righteous purposes." The very purpose of our mortal experience includes the opportunity and responsibility "to learn things that are temporally important and eternally essential." We must catch that vision and become devoted to it!

The rest of Elder Bednar's talk discusses other aspects of learning: how it is vital to our personal and spiritual development, and the critical nature of ongoing learning in the world we live and work in. It is good counsel, worth reviewing.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)