Elder Richard G. Scott on changing our life with God's help

Elder Richard G. Scott (1928-2015) served as a Seventy from 1977-1988, when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.  He passed away in September 2015 at the age of 86.

"Your exercise of faith permits you to call upon the strength of the Lord when you need it. Obedience to His commandments allows that help to be given. The power of God will come into your life because of your faithful obedience to His commandments.

"Don’t live your life in despair, feeling sorry for yourself because of the mistakes you have made. Let the sunshine in by doing the right things—now. (See 1 Ne. 22:26.)

"It may be difficult to begin, but pick up the scriptures and immerse yourself in them. Look for favorite passages. Lean on the Master’s teachings, on His servants’ testimonies. Refresh your parched soul with the word of God. (See 2 Ne. 4:15–16.) The scriptures will give you comfort and the strength to overcome. (See Hel. 3:29–30.)...

"To reach a goal you have never before attained, you must do things you have never before done.

"Don’t confront your problem armed with only your own experience, understanding, and strength. Count on the infinite power of the Lord by deciding now to be obedient to His teachings. (See 2 Ne. 31:19–21.)"

- Richard G. Scott, "Finding the Way Back," General Conference, April 1990
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

Elder Scott was often sensitive to those confronting challenges or frustrations in life. This talk focused on inviting those with such challenges, particularly the ones resulting from the bad choices made by the individual, to return to a path of peace and obedience.

Obedience is a critical step in finding peace, because as a person faithfully obeys, "the power of God will come into your life." Choosing to obey is allowing the sunshine to return to a dark and dreary place.

Another key is to "immerse" ourselves in reading the scriptures and the testimonies of inspired leaders. That act will bring refreshment to the "parched soul."

But it is important to recognize that change requires effort, commitment, and sacrifice—and divine help:

We should be very grateful to know that God will always help us as we turn to Him in faithfulness and willingness. His "infinite power" can help overcome any obstacle.

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

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf on loving God and our fellowman

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (born November 6, 1940) served as a Seventy from 1994-2004, when he was called as a member of the Quorum of Twelve.  He has served as second counselor in the First Presidency since 2008.

"There is one virtue—one quality—that could solve all the world’s ills, cure all the hatred, and mend every wound.

"If we only learned to love God as our Father in Heaven, this would give us purpose in life.

"If we only learned to love our fellowman as our brothers and sisters, this would give us compassion.

"After all, these are God’s great commandments—to love God and to love our fellowman (see Matthew 22:36–40). If we distill religion down to its essence, we nearly always recognize that love is not merely the goal of religion, it is also the path of true discipleship. It is both the journey and the destination.

"If we love as Christ loved, if we truly follow the path He practiced and preached, there is a chance for us to avoid the echoing tragedies of history and the seemingly unavoidable fatal flaws of man.

"Will compassion for others bring light into the darkness? Will it allow us to part the clouds and see clearly?

"Yes. For though we are all born blind, through the Light of Christ we can see past darkness and illusion and understand things as they really are."

- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Fellow Travelers, Brothers and Sisters, Children of God," John A. Widtsoe Symposium at USC, April 24, 2015
Click here to read the full address

The context of this address makes it interesting and different from many of the talks we have from our leaders. The message was shared at a university symposium with a group that was predominantly not LDS, and President Uchtdorf helps to give them an understanding of our faith's history and foundation. Then he builds on the common ground that exists between all Christians in describing the essence of the message of the Savior—love God, and love one another:

President Uchtdorf teaches that this is truly the essence of religion: "love is not merely the goal of religion, it is also the path of true discipleship. It is both the journey and the destination." And learning to truly express these virtues in our lives would change the world. The challenge is for us to change our world, the world immediately around us; and then the broader world will be changed gradually but inevitably.

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

Elder M. Russell Ballard on the sacred sanctuary of chapels

Elder M. Russell Ballard (born October 8, 1928) was called as a Seventy in 1976, and has served as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles since 1985.

"Sacrament meeting is a wonderful and glorious time. When we step into the chapel and prepare to receive the sacrament, we should think of ourselves as being in a sanctuary, a sacred and special place where we can contemplate Christ and His great and glorious mission. We put aside the things of the world and think instead of what is eternal. We need to put aside our cell phones and ponder about Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God.

"We have just 70 minutes each week to focus on our love for the Savior. If we can start thinking of the chapel as a sanctuary of faith and devotion for sacrament meeting, we all will be blessed.

"As we build the Kingdom of God, I can’t think of anything more important than having a well-prepared sacrament meeting where speakers speak of Christ, testify of Christ, and share testimonies from the apostles and prophets in the scriptures and other sources."

- M. Russell Ballard, "The Chapel: Our Sabbath Sanctuary," from "Speaking Today" posted on the lds.org website
Click here to read the full article

In this brief message, Elder Ballard reminds us that the Church has been giving renewed emphasis to the Sabbath Day for three years now, but he believes there is more progress to be made as we come to understand the potential and power of our worship on that day.

The idea of a sanctuary is not quite as pertinent in our culture as in the past. The word originally referred to a sacred or holy place. It came to be applied to a location of haven, such as a physical place of refuge or safety from attack and persecution. In our day, we see it more commonly applied to safe places for animals, such as a bird sanctuary.

Elder Ballard suggests that we consider our chapels as sanctuaries. We should treat them as holy places, where we can obtain refuge from the attacks of the world and of the adversary. Then the chapel becomes "a sacred and special place where we can contemplate Christ" and His mission on our behalf. That would certainly impact our feelings of reverence and worship as we enter the chapel, and in particular as we spend the "70 minutes" each week that include the sacred renewal of our covenants with God.

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

Elder Neil L. Andersen on the challenges and opportunities of our time

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.

"Every person who has ever been born into mortality and is able to live his or her life into adulthood will experience both happiness and sadness; peace and challenges; good and evil. Whatever the generation, life has its highs and lows....

"Advances in science, medicine, manufacturing, transportation, and communication will continue throughout your lifetime. There will be variety in entertainment and innovation never imagined. These are your days, and it’s a beautiful time to be alive.

"However, in this time of prosperity and advancement, there are also real challenges. You live in a world that is sometimes divisive and contentious. Information is everywhere, and with it, a host of enticing voices attempts to pull you one way and then another. There is confusion and commotion, with many moving away from God and His commandments and away from the Savior....

"Your days are a time of sifting in the Church. It will be very important for your eternal welfare that, as the Apostle Paul said, you are grounded, rooted, established, and settled in spiritual things.

"There are great privileges, possibilities, and opportunities in this wonderful time of life."

- Neil L. Andersen, "Complete Honesty, Unselfish Humility," BYU-Idaho devotional, February 14, 2017
Click here to read the full talk

When the brethren address the youth of the Church, they give counsel that almost always applies to readers of all ages. This is certainly true for this address. Many of us who have been around a little longer can witness to the truthfulness of Elder Andersen's description of the experience of mortality. It will have sadness, challenges, and disappointments; but it will also have much happiness, peace, and joy. Keeping that long-range perspective is so important.

Elder Andersen shares the perspective of opportunity and adventure of our time. The advances in so many fields of science and technology will change aspects of our lives, in ways that are wonderful and also challenging. It becomes more and more crucial that we not allow the "confusion and commotion" that will result from this time, to draw us away from the foundation of truth and light.

That association of descriptive adjectives—"grounded, rooted, established, and settled"—was originally described by Elder Neal A. Maxwell in a 1981 BYU devotional, based on several admonitions of the Apostle Paul. I love its imagery of firmness and stability. In the midst of the "great privileges, possibilities, and opportunities in this wonderful time of life" we must not neglect the kind of firm and solid faith that we are being encouraged to develop by our leaders.

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

Elder Dallin H. Oaks on the importance of lifelong learning

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.

"I have been speaking about pushing back against worldly values and practices that are contrary to gospel teachings and covenants. I now conclude by urging you to practice one worldly value that is consistent with the gospel culture. It is the importance of lifelong learning, which for us is promoted and directed by eternal priorities. Beyond increasing our occupational qualifications, we should desire to learn how to become more emotionally fulfilled, more skilled in our personal relationships, and better parents and citizens. There are few things more fulfilling and fun than learning something new. Greater happiness, satisfaction, and even temporal rewards come from this.

"Our education should not be limited to formal study. Lifelong learning can increase our ability to appreciate and relish the workings and beauty of the world around us. This kind of learning goes well beyond books and a selective use of new technology, such as the internet. It includes artistic endeavors. It also includes experiences with people and places: conversations with friends; travel; visits to museums, plays, and concerts; and opportunities for service.

"Graduates, expand yourselves and enjoy the journey."

- Dallin H. Oaks, "Push Back Against the World," Commencement Address at BYU-Hawaii, February 25, 2017
Click here to read the entire talk

Speaking to a graduating class at BYU-Hawaii earlier this year, Elder Oaks gave a reminder that applies not just to new graduates, but to all. Education doesn't end with graduation, and isn't limited to formal classroom settings. We believe in the importance of "lifelong learning," in particular learning that is "promoted and directed by eternal priorities" (an important distinction). I agree with his claim that there aren't many things more fun and fulfilling than learning new things!

Elder Oaks points out that there are many ways to continue learning:

This is such an important reminder. We learn in ways beyond reading books, sitting in classes, or researching on the Internet. Our experiences with other people are great sources; travel is invaluable; and taking advantage of local resources including artistic and cultural presentations can expand our horizons. The final suggestion that serving others is a part of our education is one that might not have been anticipated.

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

President Russell M. Nelson on the certainty of knowledge and faith

President Russell M. Nelson (b. Sept 9, 1924) was an internationally-renowned heart surgeon when he was called to serve as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1984. He was set apart as president of the Quorum of Twelve on July 15, 2015.

"While the world is filled with uncertainty, there need not be uncertainty in your heart and mind about what is true and what is not. Uncertainty is born of imperfect or unknown information. As an Apostle, I plead with you to learn God’s irrevocable laws. Learn them by study and by faith. That means, among other things, '[living] by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God' (D&C 84:44).

"Pray to discern between God’s laws and the philosophies of men, including those cunning counterfeits of the adversary. Through eons of time, Lucifer has honed his craft. He is skilled at distraction, distortion, deception, and misdirection. I plead with you to avoid his cunning snares as you would avoid a plague!

"Entrapments designed by Satan can only bring to you misery, spiritual captivity, and death. (See 2 Nephi 2:27.) This is true every time. The sad consequences of yielding to Lucifer’s lures are predictable, dependable, repeatable, and regrettable.

"Conversely, I promise that as you keep God’s commandments, as you live by His laws, you will become increasingly free. This freedom will unveil to you your divine nature and allow you to prosper personally. You will be free from the bondage of sin. You will be free to be you—an effective, righteous leader. You will be prepared to lead by precept and by example wherever you are needed. Happily, the blessings of keeping God’s commandments are also predictable, dependable, and repeatable."

- Russell M. Nelson, "Prophets, Leadership, and Divine Law," Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults, BYU, January 8, 2017
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

Using the example of medical situations from his professional expertise, President Nelson established earlier in this talk that some things are "predictable, dependable, and repeatable." The certainty of those things provides a firm direction and help for our lives. Knowing the good things that are predictable helps us choose them as priorities in our lives; knowing the bad things helps us avoid them.

We sometimes need divine help to know the difference between God’s laws Satan's counterfeits. I was intrigued by the idea that "Through eons of time, Lucifer has honed his craft. He is skilled at distraction, distortion, deception, and misdirection." We must rely on both knowledge and inspiration to make wise choices in avoiding his traps!

Prophetic promises are so valuable to notice and then to cling to. President Nelson urges us to keep God's commandments, and explains the promised consequences of freedom that follow such choices. Those blessings are always "predictable, dependable, and repeatable."

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

President John Taylor on our responsibility as saviors on Mount Zion

President John Taylor (1808–1887) was born in England and immigrated to Canada where he and his wife were converted after hearing Parley P. Pratt preach.  He was ordained an apostle in 1838, and became the third president of the Church in 1880, serving until his death in 1887 at age 78.

"We came here to be saviors. 'What, saviors?' 'Yes.' 'Why, we thought there was only one Savior.' 'Oh, yes, there are a great many. What do the scriptures say about it?' One of the old prophets, in speaking of these things, says that saviors shall come up upon Mount Zion [see Obadiah 1:21]. Saviors? Yes. Whom shall they save? In the first place themselves, then their families, then their neighbors, friends and associations, then their forefathers, then pour blessings on their posterity. Is that so? Yes....

"We are desirous of blessing our posterity. We read of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, before they left the world, calling their families together, and under the inspiration of the spirit of prophecy and revelation putting their hands upon their heads and pronouncing certain blessings upon them, which should rest upon their posterity through every subsequent period of time. We have the same gospel and priesthood, and the same light and intelligence, and we are after the salvation and exaltation of our families that shall come after us, as they were, and we are seeking for God’s blessings to be poured upon their heads as they were. And if our fathers have died in ignorance of the gospel, not having had an opportunity to listen to it, we feel after them, and we go forth and are baptized for them, that they may be saved and exalted in the kingdom of God with us."

- John Taylor, Deseret News: Semi-Weekly, 11 Feb. 1873, 2; see also Teachings of Presidents of the Church: John Taylor, p. 189

The concept of "saviors on Mount Zion" is an interesting one. President Taylor discusses a number of aspects of that concept as it applies to ourselves, our families and neighbors, and then both our forefathers and our posterity:

In discussing our role as "saviors," we usually think first of the concept of providing ordinances of salvation for those who died without the opportunity of participating in the ordinances for themselves. That work is truly critical and most sacred. But President Taylor also focuses on how we can save our descendants through righteousness and priesthood blessings. That aspect of our personal work is equally and perhaps more critical, as the actions influencing each individual can also influence generations of their descendants. Good to ponder: are we doing all we can to "save" those we have influence over today?

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