President Dieter F. Uchtdorf on choices and priorities in living the gospel

President Uchtdorf (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 until 2018.

"Our Heavenly Father sees our real potential. He knows things about us that we do not know ourselves. He prompts us during our lifetime to fulfill the measure of our creation, to live a good life, and to return to His presence. 

"Why, then, do we devote so much of our time and energy to things that are so fleeting, so inconsequential, and so superficial? Do we refuse to see the folly in the pursuit of the trivial and transient? 

"Would it not be wiser for us to 'lay up for [ourselves] treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal'? (Matthew 6:20) 

"How do we do this? By following the example of the Savior, by incorporating His teachings in our daily lives, by truly loving God and our fellowman. 

"We certainly cannot do this with a dragging-our-feet, staring-at-our-watch, complaining-as-we-go approach to discipleship. 

"When it comes to living the gospel, we should not be like the boy who dipped his toe in the water and then claimed he went swimming. As sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, we are capable of so much more. For that, good intentions are not enough. We must do. Even more important, we must become what Heavenly Father wants us to be." 

- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Of Regrets and Resolutions," General Conference October 2012. Click here to read the full talk

One of the recurring reminders from our leaders is the need for real, devoted, whole-hearted discipleship. We don't find happiness, either temporarily or eternally, by casually living the Gospel. President Uchtdorf provides some great imagery to try to help us really comprehend that opportunity and challenge. "We are capable of so much more"—all of us. Note that he doesn't provide a list of specific areas of focus. We each need to learn, then do, and become.

Sometimes we have to trust that our Heavenly Father really does know more about our divine potential! We need to learn to listen to indications of that knowledge and understanding. They can come during prayer, during blessings received, or during inspiration while a speaker shares thoughts. But they will come if we are listening, and they will bless our life if we trust and act upon them! That is an essential part of our discipleship.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)

January 20, 2015

Elder Marvin J. Ashton on personal progress in life

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

"There is a natural, probably a mortal, tendency to compare ourselves with others. Unfortunately, when we make these comparisons, we tend to compare our weakest attributes with someone else's strongest. For example, a woman who feels unschooled in the gospel may take particular note of a woman in her ward who teaches the Gospel Doctrine class and seems to have every scripture at her fingertips. Obviously these kinds of comparisons are destructive and only reinforce the fear that somehow we don't measure up and therefore we must not be as worthy as the next person. 

"We need to come to terms with our desire to reach perfection and our frustration when our accomplishments or behaviors are less than perfect. I feel that one of the great myths we would do well to dispel is that we've come to earth to perfect ourselves, and nothing short of that will do. If I understand the teachings of the prophets of this dispensation correctly, we will not become perfect in this life, though we can make significant strides toward that goal.... 

"I am also convinced of the fact that the speed with which we head along the straight and narrow path isn't as important as the direction in which we are traveling. That direction, if it is leading toward eternal goals, is the all-important factor." 

- Marvin J. Ashton, "On Being Worthy," General Conference April 1989
Click here to read the full talk

Elder Ashton was a personal favorite from my youth; I loved to hear him speak and teach. He often had insights that spoke directly to me, as this example does. Our personal quest for perfection will do much better as we keep it in a proper eternal perspective. The first key is to be careful not to evaluate ourselves compared to others:

Then we also need to be aware that we may become discouraged if we lose perspective of the journey's meaning:

There's a potential trap here. We might rationalize that we can coast a bit; there is no rush to progress, as long as we're facing the right direction, since progress extends into eternity. Slow progress is just fine. And while that's part of Elder Ashton's message, the real essence is that each of us should be doing the best that we can at the pace that makes sense for us. We don't compare ourselves with others to see how we're doing. But we strive always to do the best that we can. The message of the parable of the talents is very applicable; we must strive to magnify and develop the gifts given to us! (See Matthew 25:14-30)

 

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)

January 21, 2015

Elder M. Russell Ballard on how to find joy in life

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

"I believe there is one simple but profound—even sublime—principle that encompasses the entirety of the gospel of Jesus Christ. If we wholeheartedly embrace this principle and make it the focus of our lives, it will purify and sanctify us so we can live once again in the presence of God. 

"The Savior spoke of this principle when He answered the Pharisee who asked, 'Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 

"'Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 

"'This is the first and great commandment. 

"'And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself' (Matthew 22:36-40). 

"It is only when we love God and Christ with all of our hearts, souls, and minds that we are able to share this love with our neighbors through acts of kindness and service—the way that the Savior would love and serve all of us if He were among us today. 

"When this pure love of Christ—or charity—envelops us, we think, feel, and act more like Heavenly Father and Jesus would think, feel, and act. Our motivation and heartfelt desire are like unto that of the Savior.... 

"The love the Savior described is an active love. It is not manifested through large and heroic deeds but rather through simple acts of kindness and service." 

- M. Russell Ballard, "Finding Joy through Loving Service," General Conference April 2011; Click here to read the full talk

It would be an interesting test, to ask people if they can identify a simple, profound, sublime principle that encompasses the entire gospel and is capable alone of purifying and sanctifying those who are willing to embrace and follow it.

Full obedience to the first great commandment is the prerequisite for the second, the foundation on which the ability to give Christ-like service rests:

The additional point Elder Ballard makes is also very helpful.  It's encouraging to recognize that the key to this transforming power is in small and simple things, well within the reach of even the least among us.

The task we should undertake is to seek those "simple acts of kindness and service" in our daily lives!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)

February 12, 2015

Elder Quentin L. Cook on finding time for inspiration

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

"We live in a noisy, contentious world, where it is possible to be viewing or listening to information, music, or even pure nonsense virtually every waking hour. If we want to have the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, we must find time to slow down, ponder, pray, and live so we are worthy to receive and act upon His promptings. We will avoid major mistakes if we heed His warnings. It is our privilege as members to receive light and knowledge from Him even to the perfect day. (See D&C 50:24.)" 

- Quentin L. Cook, "We Follow Jesus Christ," General Conference April 2010; click here to read the full article

Life in our day becomes increasingly complicated, as new distractions appear constantly. I suspect the adjectives "noisy" and "contentious" were carefully chosen to describe our world. And the distractions vary from "information" to "music" to "pure nonsense" — most of us can see examples of each of those in our own lives or those close to us!

What wise counsel this is: "slow down, ponder, pray." Turn off the distractions, at least part of the time. Look for opportunities to find blessed silence, to contemplate our blessings, to commune with God. It's hard to conceive that we would "receive light and knowledge from Him" while we're immersed in the distractions!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)

February 20, 2015

President Ezra Taft Benson on the blessings of the Holy Ghost

President 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.

"We hear the words of the Lord most often by a feeling. If we are humble and sensitive, the Lord will prompt us through our feelings. That is why spiritual promptings move us on occasion to great joy, sometimes to tears. Many times my emotions have been made tender and my feelings very sensitive when touched by the Spirit. 

"The Holy Ghost causes our feelings to be more tender. We feel more charitable and compassionate with each other. We are more calm in our relationships. We have a greater capacity to love each other. People want to be around us because our very countenances radiate the influence of the Spirit. We are more godly in our character. As a result, we become increasingly more sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and thus able to comprehend spiritual things more clearly." 

- Ezra Taft Benson, "Seek the Spirit of the Lord," Ensign, Apr. 1988, p. 4
Click here to read the full talk

This is a tender witness about the blessings that come to faithful disciples. Joy and tears are often linked in spiritual matters, as the Lord touches our feelings and emotions. And President Benson helps us understand why; it's because of how the Holy Ghost works in our lives, and influences our receptiveness and personality.

This is an inspiring list of attributes - tenderness, charity, compassion, calmness, love. I have known people in whom I believe these promises are realized. If we focus on learning to "hear the words of the Lord" and feel His promptings in our life.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)

January 28, 1915

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland on latter-day discipleship

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (1940- ) served as Church Commissioner of Education from 1976-1980, as the president of BYU from 1980-1989, as a Seventy from 1989-1994, and as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles since 1994.

[After describing an incident in which fans at a basketball game subjected a player on the opposing team to "vitriolic abuse", Elder Holland commented:] 

"The day after the game, when there was some public reckoning and a call to repentance over the incident, one young man said, in effect: 'Listen. We are talking about basketball here, not Sunday School. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. We pay good money to see these games. We can act the way we want. We check our religion at the door.' 

"'We check our religion at the door'? Lesson number one for the establishment of Zion in the 21st century: You never check your religion at the door. 

"That kind of discipleship cannot be—it is not discipleship at all. As the prophet Alma taught, we are 'to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in' (Mosiah 18:9)—not just some of the time, in a few places, or when our team has a big lead. 

"Whatever the situation or provocation or problem, no true disciple of Christ can check his or her religion at the door." 

- Jeffrey R. Holland, "Israel, Israel, God Is Calling," CES devotional delivered at Dixie State University in St. George, Utah, on September 9, 2012.  See also Ensign, June 2014, pp. 30-37; click here to read the full talk

This is a grand message, and it applies to much more than public athletic competitions and other similar gatherings. Saints and disciples don't "put on" and "put off" their appropriate behavior. It's not a set of clothes; it's part of the very nature of who they are. It's the heart; it's the devotion and commitment that directs every word, every step.

Elder Holland used the opportunity of speaking to a fireside for young adults to direct this rebuke, related to how some fans behave when caught up in the emotion of a sports competition:

I can hear Elder Holland's voice speaking these words, in "righteous indignation." You have to wonder how that "young man" who made the thoughtless comment felt after hearing or reading this comment - I hope his heart was pricked. Each of us should consider if there are ever times when we symbolically "check our religion" and behave differently than we should.

Elder Holland is, in my mind, a prime example of a true disciple.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)

Jan 31, 2015

President Henry B. Eyring on continuing education

President Eyring (1933- ) served in the Presiding Bishopric from 1985-1992, as a Seventy from 1992-1995, then was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. He has served in the First Presidency since 2007. These remarks were shared during a CES fireside address in 2001.

"No service that matters can be given over a lifetime by those who stop learning. A great teacher is always studying. A nurse never stops facing the challenge of dealing with something new, be it equipment or procedure. And the workplace in every industry is changing so rapidly that what we know today will not be enough for tomorrow. 

"Our education must never stop. If it ends at the door of the classroom on graduation day, we will fail. And since what we will need to know is hard to discern, we need the help of heaven to know which of the myriad things we could study we would most wisely learn. It also means that we cannot waste time entertaining ourselves when we have the chance to read or to listen to whatever will help us learn what is true and useful. Insatiable curiosity will be our hallmark. 

"For many of us, the feeling bears down on us that we must choose between spiritual and secular learning. That is a false conflict for most of us, particularly for the young. Before we have families, there is leisure time even in what is our busiest day. Too often we use many hours for fun and pleasure, clothed in the euphemism 'I'm recharging my batteries.' Those hours could be spent reading and studying to gain knowledge, skills, and culture." 

- Henry B. Eyring, "Education for Real Life," CES fireside in Moscow, Idaho, on 6 May 2001; see Ensign, Oct 2002, p. 14.
Click here to read the full article

The ancient apostle Paul worried about those in the last days who would be "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 3:7).  President Eyring worries first that we don't even get that far—that instead, we stop learning altogether. So the first challenge is to be ongoing students, to be committed to learning, to be cautious and wise in how we use our free time in the midst of so many opportunities.

In modern revelation, the Lord has continued to issued this challenge: "...study and learn, and become acquainted with all good books, and with languages, tongues, and people" (D&C 90:15).  Clearly He intends for that to be an ongoing, continual process.

In addition, President Eyring assures us that we need not be overly concerned about the perceived choices of "spiritual" and "secular" learning, since both can lead to good ends. I love pondering D&C 88:77-80 where we are encouraged to study and teach not only the "doctrines of the kingdom," but also a list of topics that seems to include such diverse fields as astronomy, geology, history, current events, social issues, international relations, geography—quite a diverse list! But we should choose wisely where we devote our energies. The key, the second challenge from President Eyring, and the solution to Paul's concern, lies in invoking "the help of heaven" to guide us in what we should study.

 

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)

Jan 18, 2015