Where I stand on this topic:
Following
Jesus Christ takes faith and fortitude – real desire and commitment. Elder
Dallin H Oaks teaches, “Jesus’s teachings were not meant to be theoretical.
Always they were to be acted upon. . . . Following Christ is not a casual or
occasional practice but a continuous commitment and way of life that applies at
all times and in all places.”
Elder Robert D Hales speaks of our commitment
to act on the teachings of Jesus Christ: “This is the call of Christ to every
Christian today: ‘Feed my lambs’. . . share my gospel . . . lifting, blessing, comforting, encouraging,
and building [my sheep].” He explains how “ [Christ], blesses us with
gifts, talents, and the strength . . . allowing us to go beyond . . . [what we]
thought possible.” He reminds us that although the call, “can seem demanding, [or] even overwhelming . . . we need
not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior has promised that He will make us equal to His
work.” To truly become more like Christ we must, as Elder Hales teaches, “Deny ourselves of ungodly behavior . . . [through]
repentance. . . until ‘we have no more disposition to do evil (Mosiah 5:2).’ This
change, called conversion, is possible only through the Savior. . . . We
are made new in Christ, our very natures change and we no longer want
. . .our old ways.” [ii]
Elder
Richard G Scott comforts and encourages, “We
need not worry if we can’t simultaneously do all of the things that the Lord
has counseled us to do. He has spoken of a time and a season for all things. In response to our sincere prayers for guidance, He will direct us in what should be emphasized at each
phase of our life. We can learn, grow, and become like Him one consistent step
at a time.”
Elder
Quentin L Cook reminds us, “While anything that lessens commitment is of consequence,
two relevant challenges are both prevalent and significant. The first is unkindness,
violence, and domestic abuse. The second is sexual immorality and impure thoughts. These often
precede and are at the root of the choice to be less committed.
“Repentance means not
only abandoning sin but also committing to obedience,” teaches Elder D Todd
Christofferson. “Without this covenant,
repentance remains incomplete and the remission of sins unattained.
([Scriptures] speaks repeatedly of . . . ‘Baptism of or unto repentance’
[referencing] baptism with its covenant of obedience [as] the capstone of
repentance. With full repentance, including baptism, one is qualified for the
laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, and it is by the Holy Ghost
that one receives the baptism of the Spirit (see John 3:5) and forgiveness of sins . . . (2 Nephi 31:17).” [v]
How this affects my future:
Elder
Scott marvels at the technology support and asks, “Who
could have imagined . . . the full standard works and years of general
conference messages would fit into your pocket? . . . Listening to them . . .
of each day will enhance communication through the Spirit.” He suggests, “Mark
important scriptures on . . . and refer back to them frequently. . . .[Soon] you
could soon have hundreds of passages of scripture memorized . . .to be a powerful source of inspiration
and guidance by the Holy Ghost in times of need.” [vi]
Elder Neil L Anderson
reminds us, “Discipleship is believing God in seasons of peace and believing
Him in seasons of difficulty, when our pain and fear are calmed only by the
conviction that He loves us and keeps His promises (Mark 5:36).”
“It is crucial,”
Elder M Russell Ballard counsels, “for us to understand that Heavenly Father
has provided a way for all . . . to have access to [His] blessings (Moses 1:39). . . . We have
unlimited, divine potential. But . . . we can drift away from the true doctrine . . . [and]
remove ourselves from the divine light and living waters of the Savior’s
eternal love and priesthood power.”
My plan to apply it in my life:
I make
and keep covenants to follow Christ, repent often, strive to be kinder and
always study to find and understand more truth. "Failure is only when you
quit trying...if you keep working at a task and try to do what's right and honest,
ultimately it works out," Elder Ballard quips. [ix]
He reminds me to, “Set goals that are well balanced—not too many nor too
few, and not too high nor too low. Write down your attainable goals and work on
them according to their importance. Pray for divine guidance in your goal
setting.” [x] He also helps
me understand family priorities, “When [you]
make family and religious commitments . . .societies at large are strengthened
as families grow stronger. Commitments to family and values are the basic cause.
Nearly everything else is effect. .
. . So the bad news is that family breakdown is causing a host of societal and
economic ills. But the
good news is that, like any
cause and effect, those ills can be reversed if what is causing them is changed.
Inequities are resolved by living correct
principles and values. If we will
devote ourselves to this cause, we will improve every other aspect of our
lives.” [xi] Family relationships are work but are
critical to eternal happiness.
President
Thomas S Monson often reminds me that my first focus should be on making and
keeping of sacred covenants with Heavenly Father: “Those who
understand ... know that no sacrifice is too great, no price too heavy, no
struggle too difficult in order to receive those blessings. . . . Make whatever sacrifices are necessary to attend the
temple and to have the spirit of the temple in our hearts and in our homes.”
(My emphasis.)
Elder
Cook recommends: “A periodic review of the covenants we have made with the
Lord will help us with our priorities and with balance in our lives . . . to repent and change our lives to ensure that we are worthy of the
promises . . . [of] covenants and sacred ordinances. Working out our own salvation requires good planning and
a deliberate, valiant effort.” Like Jesus,
. . (Luke 5:16) We need to do [withdraw]
occasionally to rejuvenate
ourselves spiritually.”.
“Find some quiet time regularly to think deeply about where you are
going and what you will need to do to get there,” he proposes. “Write down the tasks you
would like to accomplish each day. Keep foremost in mind the sacred covenants
you have made with the Lord as you write down your daily schedules. . . . Immersion
in the scriptures is essential for spiritual nourishment. [xiii] The word of God inspires commitment and acts as a
healing balm for hurt feelings, anger, or disillusionment (See Alma 31:5). When our
commitment is diminished for any reason, part of the solution is repentance (See Alma 36:23–26). Commitment
and repentance are closely intertwined.” [xiv]
Emphasis mine
[i]
Elder DALLIN H.
OAKS of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Followers
of Christ,” 183rd Annual General Conference, 7 April 2013
[ii] Elder ROBERT D HALES of the Quorum of the
Twelve Apostles, “Being a More Christian Christian”
182nd Semi-annual General Conference, October 2012
[iii] Elder RICHARD G. SCOTT of
the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “For Peace at Home” 183rd Annual
General Conference, 6 April 2013
[iv] Elder QUENTIN L COOK,
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Can
Ye Feel So Now?” 182nd
Semi-annual General Conference, 6 October 2012
[v] Elder D TODD
CHRISTOFFERSON, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, "The
Divine Gift of Repentance" 181st Annual General Conference, April
2011
[vi] Elder RICHARD G. SCOTT of
the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “For Peace at Home” 183rd Annual
General Conference,
6 April 2013
[vii] Elder NEIL L.
ANDERSON,of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, What
Thinks Christ of Me?" 182nd Annual General Conference,1 April 2012, or
Ensign, May page 111
[viii]
Elder M. RUSSELL
BALLARD of the Quorum of the
Twelve Apostles “This Is My Work and Glory,” 183rd Annual
General Conference, 7 April 2013
[ix] Elder M. RUSSELL
BALLARD of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “True
to the Faith,” by Kathleen Lubeck, March 1986 Ensign
[x] Elder M. RUSSELL BALLARD of
the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Keeping Life’s Demands In Balance,”157th
Annual General Conference, April 1987
[xii] President THOMAS S
MONSON, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints, “Welcome
to Conference,” 183rd Annual General Conference, 6 April 2013
[xiv] Elder QUENTIN L COOK, of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Can Ye Feel So Now?” 182nd Semi-annual
General Conference, 6 October 2012
No comments:
Post a Comment