Elder Dale G. Renlund on seeing others through a parent's eyes

Elder Dale G. Renlund (b. 1952) served in the First Quorum of Seventy starting in 2009, until his call to the Quorum of Twelve in October 2015.

"In the Church, to effectively serve others we must see them through a parent's eyes, through Heavenly Father's eyes. Only then can we begin to comprehend the true worth of a soul. Only then can we sense the love that Heavenly Father has for all of His children. Only then can we sense the Savior's caring concern for them. We cannot completely fulfill our covenant obligation to mourn with those who mourn and comfort those who stand in need of comfort unless we see them through God's eyes (see Mosiah 18:8–10). This expanded perspective will open our hearts to the disappointments, fears, and heartaches of others. But Heavenly Father will aid and comfort us, just as Chad's parents comforted me years ago. We need to have eyes that see, ears that hear, and hearts that know and feel if we are to accomplish the rescue so frequently encouraged by President Thomas S. Monson.

"Only when we see through Heavenly Father's eyes can we be filled with 'the pure love of Christ' (Moroni 7:47). Every day we should plead with God for this love."

- Dale G. Renlund, "Through God's Eyes," General Conference, October 2015, Sunday morning session
Click here to read the full talk

In his first general conference address after being sustained as the newest apostle in the Church, Elder Renlund spoke of some insights from his occupation as a heart surgeon. He would try to keep a professional perspective when a patient did not survive, but then when he recognized the overwhelming emotions of the parents of a young boy, it gave him insight into eternal perspective.

As Elder Renlund notes, seeing others through an expanded, eternal perspective will show us their potential and gifts. But it also shows the reality of their challenges and shortcomings. The blessing is that through that perspective, we can be enabled to "rescue" in ways that we never would otherwise.

The final statement is profound: "Every day we should plead with God for this love," the "pure love of Christ" spoken of in the scriptures.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)
October 23, 2015

Elder Ronald A. Rasband on the spiritual experiences of our lives

Elder Ronald A. Rasband (b. 1951) served as a Seventy beginning in 2000.  He was the senior president of the Seventy when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in October 2015. This talk was given when he served in the presidency of the Seventy.

"Our personal journey through life provides us with many special experiences that become building blocks of faith and testimony. These experiences come to us in vastly different ways and at unpredictable times. They can be powerful spiritual events or small enlightening moments. Some experiences will come as serious challenges and heavy trials that test our ability to cope with them. No matter what the experience may be, each gives us a chance for personal growth, greater wisdom, and, in many cases, service to others with more empathy and love. As the Lord stated to the Prophet Joseph Smith in a reassuring way during one of his most significant trials at Liberty Jail, 'All these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good' (D&C 122:7).

"As experiences accumulate in our lives, they add strength and support to each other. Just as the building blocks of our homes support the rest of the structure, so too do our personal life experiences become building blocks for our testimonies and add to our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ....

"In these days of worldly intrusions into our lives, when trials and difficulties may seem to engulf us, let us remember our own special spiritual experiences. These building blocks of faith will bring us conviction and reassurance of a caring, loving Father in Heaven, of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and of Their restored true and living Church."

- Ronald A. Rasband, "Special Experiences," General Conference April 2008
Click here to read the full talk

Elder Rasband's message was to acknowledge the events that help us to progress in life. They can be positive "spiritual events," both powerful and dramatic as well as "small enlightening moments." Certainly we should seek more of both of those events, large and small, and recognize their impact. But we are also blessed by "serious challenges and heavy trials" that bring growth in ways we don't expect, if we respond appropriately.

As these experiences accumulate in our lives, we establish the foundation upon which real discipleship can be built:

Elder Rasband encourages us to remember the "special spiritual experiences" when we are engulfed by the "worldly intrusions into our lives." The strength that will follow will bless us with God's help and ever-growing faith.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)
December 5, 2015

Elder Neil L. Andersen on the spiritual haven of the temple

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

"The Lord has given you another way to stand firm, a spiritual gift more powerful than the whirlwinds of the adversary! He said, 'Stand... in holy places, and be not moved' (D&C 87:8). 

"When I was a teenager, there were only 13 temples in the Church. Now there are 142. Eighty-five percent of Church members live within 200 miles (320 km) of a temple. The Lord has given your generation greater access to His holy temples than any other generation in the history of the world. 

"Have you ever stood in the temple, dressed in white, waiting to do baptisms? How did you feel? There is a tangible feeling of holiness in the temple. The peace of the Savior subdues the swirling whirlwinds of the world. 

"The way you feel in the temple is a pattern for how you want to feel in your life." 

- Neil L. Andersen, "Spiritual Whirlwinds," General Conference April 2014
Click here to read the full article

I always appreciate the reminders and suggestions offered by leaders about the temples. The remarkable expansion of their availability in our generation should be a clear message to us of their importance to our lives. I remember as a youth thinking that I would love to visit all the temples some day — a goal that was attainable when there were so few. But now I recognize that a more practical and beneficial goal is just to make frequent visits to the ones that are close by.

Elder Andersen points out one of the important reasons we should go to the temple. The patterns we discover there truly can make a difference in our daily lives.

As we think about "standing firm" in the midst of the challenges of our time, we should be grateful for any help we can find! Standing in holy places is perhaps one of the very most important things we can do. And we learn in the temples how to conduct our lives in the world.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)
February 21, 2015

Elder D. Todd Christofferson on allowing scriptures to enlarge our memories

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

"The scriptures enlarge our memory by helping us always to remember the Lord and our relationship to Him and the Father. They remind us of what we knew in our premortal life. And they expand our memory in another sense by teaching us about epochs, people, and events that we did not experience personally. None of us was present to see the Red Sea part and cross with Moses between walls of water to the other side. We were not there to hear the Sermon on the Mount, to see Lazarus raised from the dead, to see the suffering Savior in Gethsemane and on the cross, and we did not, with Mary, hear the two angels testify at the empty tomb that Jesus was risen from the dead. You and I did not go forward one by one with the multitude in the land Bountiful at the resurrected Savior's invitation to feel the prints of the nails and bathe His feet with our tears. We did not kneel beside Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove and gaze there upon the Father and the Son. Yet we know all these things and much, much more because we have the scriptural record to enlarge our memory, to teach us what we did not know. And as these things penetrate our minds and hearts, our faith in God and His Beloved Son takes root.

"The scriptures also enlarge our memory by helping us not forget what we and earlier generations have learned. Those who either don't have or ignore the recorded word of God eventually cease to believe in Him and forget the purpose of their existence."

- D. Todd Christofferson, "The Blessing of Scripture," General Conference April 2010
Click here to read the full talk

The idea of enlarging memory is a fascinating one to me. We typically think of memory as static and possibly decreasing over time; but Elder Christofferson suggests it can grow and increase. He suggests several ways this happens as we read the scriptures:

1. Helping us always remember the Lord and our relationship to Him
2. Reminding us of things we knew in the premortal life
3. Providing knowledge and understanding of events we didn't personally experience
4. Helping us not forget the lessons learned in the past—both personally, and by our predecessors

And one of the great keys is that the enlarging of memory allows the scriptural record to "penetrate our minds and hearts" so that "our faith in God and His Beloved Son takes root." What a blessing!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)
June 6, 2015

Elder Quentin L. Cook on replacing darkness with light

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

"Freedom and light have never been easy to attain or maintain. Since the War in Heaven, the forces of evil have used every means possible to destroy agency and extinguish light. The assault on moral principles and religious freedom has never been stronger.

"As Latter-day Saints, we need to do our best to preserve light and protect our families and communities from this assault on morality and religious freedom.

"An ever-present danger to the family is the onslaught of evil forces that seem to come from every direction. While our primary effort must be to seek light and truth, we would be wise to black out from our homes the lethal bombs that destroy spiritual development and growth.... These evil forces remove light and hope from the world. The level of decadence is accelerating. If we do not black out evil from our homes and lives, do not be surprised if devastating moral explosions shatter the peace which is the reward for righteous living. Our responsibility is to be in the world but not of the world.

"In addition, we need to greatly increase religious observance in the home. Weekly family home evening and daily family prayer and scripture study are essential. We need to introduce into our homes content that is 'virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy' (Articles of Faith 13). If we make of our homes holy places that shelter us from evil, we will be protected from the adverse consequences that the scriptures have foretold."

- Quentin L. Cook, "Let There Be Light!", General Conference October 2010
Click here to read the full talk

Elder Cook speaks of the great conflict that has been going on "since the War in Heaven," a struggle of "light and truth" against those that would "destroy agency and extinguish light." There has been a decade since this talk was given, during which decadence continues to accelerate. The thought of "devastating moral explosions" is too real and very frightening. He gives two items of counsel:

• Do all we can to "black out evil from our homes and lives" — provide appropriate defenses against the "lethal bombs that destroy spiritual development and growth"
• Enhance the positive presence of light as we "greatly increase religious observance in the home."
  
  

The invitation of this discourse, "Let there be light!", is a wonderful reminder of the critical importance we have to "make of our homes holy places that shelter us from evil."

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

July 8, 2015

Elder David A. Bednar on consistency and obstacles in temple worship

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.

"For many years Sister Bednar and I hosted faithful men and women as devotional speakers at Brigham Young University-Idaho. Many of these speakers were emeritus or released members of the Seventy who had served as temple presidents following their service as General Authorities. As we talked with these stalwart leaders, I always asked this question: 'What have you learned as a temple president that you wish you had better understood when you were a General Authority?' 

"As I listened to their answers, I discovered a consistent theme that I would summarize as follows: 'I have come to understand better the protection available through our temple covenants and what it means to make an acceptable offering of temple worship. There is a difference between church-attending, tithe-paying members who occasionally rush into the temple to go through a session and those members who faithfully and consistently worship in the temple.' 

"The similarity of their answers impressed me greatly. Each response to my question focused upon the protecting power of the ordinances and covenants available in the house of the Lord.... 

"We should not be surprised by Satan's efforts to thwart or discredit temple worship and work. The devil despises the purity in and the power of the Lord's house. And the protection available to each of us in and through temple ordinances and covenants stands as a great obstacle to the evil designs of Lucifer." 

- David A. Bednar, "Honorably Hold a Name and Standing", General Conference April 2009
Click here to read the full article

The reason for our actions is often more important than the action itself. Why do we do the things we do? Out of a sense of obligation, concern for appearances, or simple habit? Or because of love of God, love of neighbor, purity of heart, sincere desire to serve or grow?

Elder Bednar teaches us about "an acceptable offering of temple worship" by implying that the frequency of temple attendance (occasional vs. consistent) and the attitude in attending (rushed vs. worshipful) are evidences of the motivation, and certainly correlate to the benefits derived from attending:

Given the promised blessings and the benefits that come from properly-motivated temple worship and service, it's not surprising there is opposition from the adversary:

We should strive for the protection and blessings that are promised to those who "faithfully and consistently worship in the temple."

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

February 28, 2015

Elder Richard G. Scott offers an Easter invitation

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.

"I energetically encourage you to establish a personal study plan to better understand and appreciate the incomparable, eternal, infinite consequences of Jesus Christ's perfect fulfillment of His divinely appointed calling as our Savior and Redeemer. Profound personal pondering of the scriptures accompanied by searching, heartfelt prayer will fortify your understanding of and appreciation for His priceless Atonement. Another powerful way to learn of Jesus Christ and His Atonement is through consistent temple attendance....

"This Easter, resolve to make the Lord Jesus Christ the living center of your home. Be sure that every decision you make, whether it be of a spiritual or physical nature, be guided by the thought 'What would the Lord Jesus Christ have me do?' When the Savior is the center of your home, it is filled with peace and serenity. There is a spirit of calm assurance that pervades the home."

- Richard G. Scott, "He Lives! All Glory to His Name!", General Conference April 2010
Click here to read the full talk

Even when it is not Easter, this challenge is still applicable and significant for us. Any day is a wonderful time to reflect on the Savior's love for us and on our relationship to Him.

I loved Elder Scott's "energetic encouragement." He gave a worthwhile suggestion to start a "personal study plan," including "profound personal pondering" and "searching, heartfelt prayer," to deepen our understanding and appreciation of the "priceless Atonement."  We would certainly be blessed in any season to accept that invitation.

Is the Savior "at the center" of my home? How can I make Him more a part of my life?

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)
March 30, 2015