Elder Mark E. Petersen on living the gospel with enthusiasm

Elder Mark E. Petersen (1900-1984) served as a member of the Quorum of Twelve from 1944 until his death in 1984.

"Do you see why the Lord said we should be in the world but not of the world? How do we know he expects enthusiasm from us? Did he not say that we were to love him with all our heart, might, mind, and soul? Is that not enthusiasm? And when he talked about love of God, he talked in terms of service to God: 'O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind, and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day' (D&C 4:2).

"He expects us to put our priorities in order, too. What is to come first in our lives? Pleasure? Even work here at this university? You remember what the Savior said in the Sermon on the Mount. He was talking about shelter and food and raiment, what I call the bread-and-butter blessings, but he did not put them first. He said, 'Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you' (Matt. 6:33).

"Do we have the faith and the courage to be Latter-day Saints first, last, and always, and to put the gospel of Jesus Christ first in our lives, knowing that if we do God will bless us and prosper us in all of our righteous activities? He gives many illustrations, but I mention only one. What did Malachi say would happen if we pay our tithes and offerings? The windows of heaven would be opened to such an extent that we could hardly receive the blessings (see Mal. 3:8-10). Do we believe Almighty God? Do we really accept Jesus as the Christ? He said, 'If ye love me, keep my commandments.... He that hath my commandments and keepth them, he it is that loveth me' (John 14:15, 21).

"I pray earnestly that we will love him and serve him and honor him by our righteous lives."

- Mark E. Petersen, "The Covenant People of God," BYU Fireside, September 28, 1980
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I was a student at BYU when Elder Petersen gave this address. I remember the first part of the talk, when he described the meetings and setting for the weekly gatherings of the Quorum of Twelve in the Salt Lake Temple. That was impressive to me. But I had forgotten these later words, where he offers great counsel about how we should live the gospel in our lives.

The concept of living the gospel with enthusiasm underscores both the joy that we should feel in the process, and the deep commitment we should have to be obedient and to serve others. As we make wise choices in our beliefs and actions, we will feel this spirit:

Elder Petersen asks if we have enough courage and faith "to be Latter-day Saints first, last, and always." There should be no other priority that eclipses this one, in any setting or situation of our lives!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf on the joy of the path of discipleship

Elder 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 served as second counselor in the First Presidency from 2008 to 2018.

"May I suggest that discipleship begins with three simple words:

"Believe, love, and do.

"Believing God leads to faith in Him and developing trust in His word. Faith causes our hearts to grow in our love for God and others. As that love grows, we are inspired to emulate the Savior as we continue our own great journey on the path of discipleship.

"'But,' you say, 'that seems a bit simplistic. Life’s problems, certainly my problems, are far too complex for such a simple prescription. You can’t cure Weltschmerz with three simple words: Believe, love, do.'

"It is not the aphorism that cures. It is the love of God that rescues, restores, and revives.

"God knows you. You are His child. He loves you.

"Even when you think that you are not lovable, He reaches out to you.

"This very day—every day—He reaches out to you, desiring to heal you, to lift you up, and to replace the emptiness in your heart with an abiding joy. He desires to sweep away any darkness that clouds your life and fill it with the sacred and brilliant light of His unending glory.

"I have experienced this for myself.

"And it is my witness as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ that all who come unto God—all who truly believe, love, and do—can experience the same."

- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Believe, Love, Do," General Conference October 2018
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This was the central theme of Elder Uchtdorf's message in the most recent General Conference. His three steps summarize the process of becoming disciples of Jesus Christ, as we first believe in His message, then develop the love that He feels for His children, and finally do the things He would do.

The second half of the excerpt above is equally timely, describing what can happen as we embark on that path of discipleship. In the midst of our challenges and discouragements, we sometimes forget the crucial, eternal truth that God loves us, and continues always to reach out to us with the desire to heal and strengthen. Through Him, the dark clouds of life can be swept away and our lives filled "with the sacred and brilliant light of His unending glory." What a marvelous promise that is!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

Elder Richard G. Scott on seeking personal revelation

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.

"Humility is a fertile soil where spirituality grows and produces the fruit of inspiration to know what to do. It gives access to divine power to accomplish what must be done. An individual motivated by a desire for praise or recognition will not qualify to be taught by the Spirit. An individual who is arrogant or who lets his or her emotions influence decisions will not be powerfully led by the Spirit.

"When we are acting as instruments in behalf of others, we are more easily inspired than when we think only of ourselves. In the process of helping others, the Lord can piggyback directions for our own benefit.

"Our Heavenly Father did not put us on earth to fail but to succeed gloriously. It may seem paradoxical, but that is why recognizing answers to prayer can sometimes be very difficult. Sometimes we unwisely try to face life by depending on our own experience and capacity. It is much wiser for us to seek through prayer and divine inspiration to know what to do. Our obedience assures that when required, we can qualify for divine power to accomplish an inspired objective."

- Richard G. Scott, "How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life," General Conference April 2012
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

Every sincere disciple of Christ desires and seeks inspiration from God for his or her personal life. We want to be led and guided in the right paths, to know we are doing His will. Elder Scott spoke beautifully about the process of receiving personal revelation to guide our life. One great key to that process is humility, which "gives access to divine power" and qualifies us to receive spiritual teaching. Nephi warned about those who "wear stiff necks and high heads" and live in "pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms" as contrasted with "the humble followers of Christ" (2 Ne 28:14).

Elder Scott teaches that we will often receive inspiration when we are focused on serving and blessing others; with the interesting concept that God will "piggyback directions for our own benefit" as He guides us in serving others.

The wise and humble follower of Christ, then, will turn to God in humble prayer for the guidance and help in life that will bless through choices and challenges. One of God's greatest desires is to help us "succeed gloriously" in this mortal experience.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

President Howard W. Hunter on the sacredness of the sacrament

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.

"To make a covenant with the Lord to always keep His commandments is a serious obligation, and to renew that covenant by partaking of the sacrament is equally serious. The solemn moments of thought while the sacrament is being served have great significance. They are moments of self-examination, introspection, self-discernment—a time to reflect and to resolve....

"What a wonderful thing it would be if all persons had an understanding of the purpose of baptism and the willingness to accept of it; the desire to keep the covenants made in that ordinance to serve the Lord and live His commandments; and, in addition, the desire to partake of the sacrament on the Sabbath day to renew those covenants to serve Him and be faithful to the end."

- Howard W. Hunter, "Thoughts on the Sacrament," General Conference April 1977
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This is a beautiful, thoughtful talk by President Hunter. He reviews the personal experience of coming home from a Church assignment in time to participate in the sacrament service of his home ward, and shares the thoughts and reflections he had during that sacred time.

"Perhaps we don't think often enough about the serious and sacred nature of our covenants with God. President Hunter teaches about the nature of making and renewing our most sacred promises:

Those sacred minutes of quiet reflection during the administration of the sacrament are so important. They are "moments of self-examination, introspection, self-discernment—a time to reflect and to resolve." Most of us can try harder to stay focused and receive greater benefit from those times.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin on understanding adversity in life

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (1917-2008) served as a Seventy from 1976 to 1986, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles from 1986 until his passing in 2008 at age 91.  This excerpt is from one of his most memorable talks.

"I know why there must be opposition in all things. Adversity, if handled correctly, can be a blessing in our lives. We can learn to love it.

"As we look for humor, seek for the eternal perspective, understand the principle of compensation, and draw near to our Heavenly Father, we can endure hardship and trial. We can say, as did my mother, 'Come what may, and love it.'"

- Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Come What May, and Love It," General Conference October 2008
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

This is a summary of Elder Wirthlin's classic talk, "Come What May, and Love It." I was touched by his faith and perspective; it takes a deep faith to believe that adversity "can be a blessing in our lives" as we respond to it properly. But we have to "learn to love it."

As he shared in his talk, Elder Wirthlin summarizes some of the keys to understanding the role of adversity in life:

• find humor even in challenges
• know that there is compensation for suffering
• stay close to our Father in Heaven

With those attitudes, we will truly understand the role of adversity and be able to say with Elder Wirthlin, "Come what may, and love it."

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

President James E. Faust on enriching marriage

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.

"There is no great or majestic music which constantly produces the harmony of a great love. The most perfect music is a welding of two voices into one spiritual solo. Marriage is the way provided by God for the fulfillment of the greatest of human needs, based upon mutual respect, maturity, selflessness, decency, commitment, and honesty. Happiness in marriage and parenthood can exceed a thousand times any other happiness....

"Our homes should be among the most hallowed of all earthly sanctuaries.

"In the enriching of marriage the big things are the little things. It is a constant appreciation for each other and a thoughtful demonstration of gratitude. It is the encouraging and the helping of each other to grow. Marriage is a joint quest for the good, the beautiful, and the divine."

- James E. Faust, "The Enriching of Marriage," General Conference October 1977
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

No external music or other influence can produce "the harmony of a great love." That comes when two souls are joined through marriage into, not a duet, but a "spiritual solo." Through the commitment and sacrifices of a loyal marriage, profound happiness can be found—enough to "exceed a thousand times any other happiness." What a marvelous promise!

Close relationships are built on sacrifice and commitment. But it is little things that enrich a relationship: expressions and demonstrations of gratitude, encouragement in opportunities to grow, seeking the beautiful and the divine.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

President John Taylor on God's help as we endure in faithfulness

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.

"In all these events which are now taking place we recognize and acknowledge the hand of God. There is a wise purpose in it all, which He will yet more fully make plain to us. One thing is clear, the Saints are being tried in a manner never before known among us. The faithful rejoice and are steadfast; the unfaithful fear and tremble. Those who have oil in their lamps and have kept them trimmed and burning now have a light for their feet and they do not stumble or fall; those who have neither light nor oil are in perplexity and doubt; they know not what to do. Is not this the fulfillment of the word of God and the teachings of His servants? Have not the Latter-day Saints been taught all the day long that, if they would remain faithful and endure to the end, they must live their religion by keeping every commandment of God? Have they not been continually warned of the fate which awaited them if they committed sin? Can adulterers, fornicators, liars, thieves, drunkards, Sabbath breakers, blasphemers, or sinners of any kind endure the trials, which Saints must pass through and expect to stand? ...

"If all who call themselves Latter-day Saints were true and faithful to their God, to His holy covenants and laws, and were living as Saints should, persecution would roll off from us without disturbing us in the least. But it is painful to know that this is not their condition.... The Lord has commanded that the inhabitants of Zion must purge themselves from iniquity, folly, covetousness, and vanity, and listen to and obey His laws, or they cannot have His protection. He has also said that if His people will obey His laws and keep His commandments, to do them, not in name only, but in reality, He will be their shield and protector and strong tower, and no man will be able to hurt them, for He will be their defense.

"These trials of our faith and constancy which we are now passing through will be overruled for our good and future prosperity. In days to come we shall be able to look back and perceive with clearness how visibly God’s providence is in all that we now witness. Let us do all in our power to so live before the Lord that if we are persecuted, it shall not be for wrong-doing, but for righteousness."

- John Taylor, from "An Epistle to the Church," October 6, 1885; see Clark, Messages of the First Presidency 3:36–37

Many of the leaders of the Church were in hiding in 1885 because of persecution related to the practice of polygamy. As they were not able to safely attend General Conference in October, President Taylor and his counselor George Q. Cannon wrote an extensive letter to the Church containing much interesting instruction.

In this excerpt, President Taylor addresses the persecution the Church had been experiencing, as well as the general principles of faith and trust in God in the midst of trials. A great summary lies in the statement, "The faithful rejoice and are steadfast; the unfaithful fear and tremble."

Trials and challenges will come in life. But faithful saints, who strive to keep God's commandments, remaining faithful and enduring patiently, can move forward with confidence in God's protection and blessings; God "will be their shield and protector and strong tower." That's a beautiful promise.

President Taylor also urged the patience that will eventually lead to understanding and perspective: "In days to come we shall be able to look back and perceive with clearness how visibly God’s providence is in all that we now witness."

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)