GOOD MORNING,
BROTHERS AND SISTERS,
AND WELCOME TO
OUR DEVOTIONAL.
WE ARE PLEASED TO HAVE
BROTHER DOUGLAS D. HOLMES,
FIRST COUNSELOR IN THE YOUNG
MEN GENERAL PRESIDENCY,
AS OUR SPEAKER TODAY.
WE EXTEND A SPECIAL
WELCOME TO HIS WIFE, ERIN,
AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS
AND FRIENDS WHO ARE HERE.
BROTHER HOLMES WAS SUSTAINED
AS THE FIRST COUNSELOR IN
THE YOUNG MEN GENERAL
PRESIDENCY IN APRIL 2015.
HIS CHURCH SERVICE INCLUDES
SERVING A MISSION IN
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND,
PRESIDENT OF THE MICHIGAN
DETROIT MISSION,
STAKE PRESIDENCY COUNSELOR,
BISHOP, YOUNG MEN PRESIDENT,
GOSPEL DOCTRINE TEACHER,
AND TEMPLE ORDINANCE WORKER.
BROTHER HOLMES RECEIVED A
BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE IN
FAMILY SCIENCE AND AN MBA,
BOTH FROM BRIGHAM
YOUNG UNIVERSITY.
HE WORKED IN SEVERAL
POSITIONS FOR MEDIAONE,
A GLOBAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS
COMPANY,
INCLUDING AS CFO AND
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT.
HE IS CURRENTLY SELF-EMPLOYED
AS AN INVESTOR AND DEVELOPER.
HE IS MARRIED TO ERIN TOONE,
AND THEY ARE THE PARENTS
OF SIX CHILDREN--
THREE OF WHOM HAVE
GRADUATED FROM BYU,
AND TWO MORE WHO ARE
CURRENTLY ENROLLED.
NOW WE'LL BE PLEASED TO HEAR
FROM BROTHER DOUGLAS D. HOLMES.
>>THANK YOU, PRESIDENT WORTHEN.
IT IS A GREAT BLESSING
TO BE WITH YOU TODAY.
IT IS DIFFICULT TO EXPRESS WHAT
A SURREAL EXPERIENCE IT IS FOR
ME TO STAND AT THIS PULPIT AND
SPEAK AT A BYU DEVOTIONAL.
FOR MANY YEARS,
I HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT OF
A BYU DEVOTIONAL JUNKIE.
WHEN I WAS A STUDENT HERE,
I DISCOVERED YOU COULD
PURCHASE CASSETTE TAPES-
SOME OF YOU WON'T
KNOW WHAT THOSE ARE-
>>[LAUGHTER]
>>OF SELECTED DEVOTIONAL TALKS,
AND I BOUGHT SEVERAL.
I REMEMBER WELL
STEPHEN COVEY'S TALK,
"AN EDUCATED CONSCIENCE."
LISTENING TO TRUMAN MADSEN'S
TALK, "A HOUSE OF GLORY,"
WAS PERHAPS THE BEST TEMPLE
PREPARATION I RECEIVED.
NOWADAYS, I HAVE BYU SPEECHES
PODCAST AND LISTEN REGULARLY.
MY SON BLAKE PLAYS ON
THE BYU HOCKEY TEAM-
YEAH, BYU HAS A HOCKEY TEAM-
[LAUGHTER]
AND HE FEARS I LIKE THE
DEVOTIONALS MORE THAN
HIS HOCKEY GAMES.
AND I PROBABLY DO.
[LAUGHTER]
IN ALL MY YEARS OF LISTENING
TO THESE DEVOTIONALS,
IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME THAT
I WOULD BE SPEAKING IN ONE.
SO, SINCE RECEIVING THIS
ASSIGNMENT A FEW MONTHS AGO,
I HAVE PONDERED AND PRAYED
EARNESTLY TO KNOW WHAT THE
LORD WOULD HAVE ME SHARE.
AS I PONDERED,
I WAS REMINDED OF THESE
WORDS FROM PRESIDENT
DIETER F. UCHTDORF:
"STRENGTH COMES...
"FROM BEING SETTLED ON
"A FIRM FOUNDATION
"OF TRUTH AND LIGHT.
"IT COMES FROM PLACING OUR
"ATTENTION AND EFFORTS ON
"THE BASICS OF THE RESTORED
"GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.
"IT COMES FROM PAYING
"ATTENTION TO THE DIVINE
THINGS THAT MATTER MOST."
HE CONTINUED,
"LET US SIMPLIFY
"OUR LIVES A LITTLE.
"LET US MAKE THE CHANGES
"NECESSARY TO REFOCUS OUR
"LIVES ON THE SUBLIME
"BEAUTY OF THE SIMPLE,
"HUMBLE PATH OF
"CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP--
"THE PATH THAT LEADS ALWAYS
"TOWARD A LIFE OF MEANING,
GLADNESS, AND PEACE."
BROTHERS AND SISTERS,
WE LIVE IN DAYS WHERE THE
MISTS OF DARKNESS ARE
"EXCEEDINGLY GREAT."
SATAN IS THE FATHER OF LIES,
AND HIS LIES
"BLINDETH THE EYES,
"AND HARDENETH THE HEARTS
OF THE CHILDREN OF MEN."
ONE OF SATAN'S SUBTLE BUT
MORE PERVASIVE STRATEGIES IS
TO DISTRACT US FROM THINGS
THAT MATTER MOST WITH A
NEVER-ENDING ARRAY OF
MIND-NUMBING TRIVIALITIES.
WITH PRESIDENT UCHTDORF'S
COUNSEL BURNING IN MY HEART,
I WILL FOCUS TODAY ON THE
"BASICS OF THE RESTORED
GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST,"
THE "SUBLIME PATH OF
CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP."
MY DESIRE IS FOR EACH OF US TO
"COME UNTO CHRIST AND
BE PERFECTED IN HIM."
MY MESSAGE IS CENTERED IN
THAT QUEST AND HOW WE CAN
BE MORE DILIGENT, JOYFUL,
AND SUCCESSFUL IN THAT JOURNEY.
AS YOU BEGIN A NEW
SEMESTER AND A NEW YEAR,
I HOPE THAT SOME OF WHAT I SAY
MAY HELP YOU FOCUS YOUR GOALS ON
"DIVINE THINGS THAT
MATTER MOST."
I INVITE YOU TO PAY CLOSE
ATTENTION TO WHAT THE
HOLY GHOST WHISPERS TO YOUR
HEART DURING OUR TIME TOGETHER.
MORE IMPORTANT THAN
THE WORDS I SPEAK,
I PRAY OUR HEARTS AND MINDS
WILL BE OPEN TO RECEIVE LIGHT
AND TRUTH FROM THE HOLY GHOST.
THE LIGHT AND TRUTH THAT THE
RESTORATION OF THE FULLNESS OF
THE GOSPEL HAS BROUGHT ABOUT
CAN PUSH AWAY ALL DARKNESS
FROM OUR MINDS AND LIVES.
WE NEED TO REMEMBER THE
LORD HAS ALSO DESCRIBED
OUR DAY AS "NOON DAY."
A FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH WE
NEED TO CLEARLY UNDERSTAND
IS OUR DIVINE IDENTITY.
MANY OF YOU,
SINCE YOU WERE CHILDREN,
HAVE BEEN TAUGHT AND SUNG
"I AM A CHILD OF GOD,
AND HE HAS SENT ME HERE."
AS YOU HAVE SUNG AND LISTENED,
YOU HAVE FELT THE SPIRIT
WITNESS THIS TRUTH TO YOU.
UNFORTUNATELY, AS WITH ANY BASIC
TRUTH THAT IS REPEATED OFTEN,
THERE IS A DANGER THAT
IT MAY BECOME TRITE.
IN OTHER WORDS,
WE SAY IT, HEAR IT,
AND SING IT SO FREQUENTLY
THAT WE MAY NOT GIVE MUCH
THOUGHT TO WHAT IT ACTUALLY
MEANS TO BE A CHILD OF GOD.
KNOWING WHAT IT MEANS TO
BE A CHILD OF GOD REQUIRES
US TO COME TO KNOW GOD.
ONLY AS GOD IS REVEALED TO US
THROUGH THE HOLY GHOST CAN WE
COMPREHEND THE INHERITANCE THAT
CAN BE OURS AS HIS CHILDREN.
AS GOD'S GLORY, ATTRIBUTES,
AND PERFECTIONS
ARE REVEALED TO US,
THE REALITY OF BEING
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS,
CHILDREN OF A KING"
PIERCES OUR HEART AND FILLS
US WITH HOPE AND JOY.
HOWEVER, COMING TO KNOW GOD
IS NOT FOR THE SPIRITUALLY LAZY.
HE CAN ONLY BE KNOWN
THROUGH REVELATION,
AND POWERFUL PERSONAL
REVELATION FROM THE
HOLY GHOST REQUIRES DILIGENT
SEEKING AND RIGHTEOUS LIVING.
JOSEPH SMITH SAID,
"IT IS THE FIRST PRINCIPLE
"OF THE GOSPEL TO KNOW
"FOR A CERTAINTY THE
CHARACTER OF GOD."
JOSEPH ALSO GAVE US INSIGHTS
INTO THE EFFORT REQUIRED TO
UNDERSTAND WHO GOD IS.
HE SAID, "THE THINGS OF
"GOD ARE OF DEEP IMPORT;
"AND TIME, AND EXPERIENCE,
"AND CAREFUL AND PONDEROUS
"AND SOLEMN THOUGHT
CAN ONLY FIND THEM OUT."
IF WE WANT TO KNOW
GOD AND HIS SON,
WE WOULD DO WELL TO
TURN OFF OUR DEVICES,
REMOVE OTHER DISTRACTIONS,
AND SPEND MEANINGFUL TIME IN
"CAREFUL, PONDEROUS,
AND SOLEMN THOUGHT."
I INVITE YOU TO BE SERIOUS
ABOUT YOUR STUDY OF GOD,
YOUR PURSUIT TO TRULY KNOW HIM.
HE IS REVEALED BY HIS PROPHETS
AND THROUGH THE POWER OF
THE HOLY GHOST AS WE SEEK HIM.
NO MESSAGE APPEARS IN
SCRIPTURE MORE TIMES,
IN MORE WAYS THAN
"ASK, AND YE SHALL RECEIVE."
WHEN I HEAR THIS INVITATION,
I HEAR A LOVING FATHER
PLEADING WITH HIS CHILDREN
TO LEARN OF HIM,
TO COMMUNE WITH HIM.
AS WE COME TO KNOW GOD,
WE BEGIN TO REALLY
KNOW OURSELVES.
THESE TWO THINGS
CANNOT BE SEPARATED.
JOSEPH SMITH TAUGHT,
"IF MEN DO NOT COMPREHEND GOD,
"THEY DO NOT COMPREHEND
THEMSELVES."
AS WE COME TO KNOW GOD,
AND CONSEQUENTLY
OURSELVES BETTER,
WE WILL SEE MORE CLEARLY AND
UNDERSTAND MORE DEEPLY
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HIS
SONS AND DAUGHTERS.
WE WILL START TO GLIMPSE
THE PROFOUND FACT THAT WE
HAVE DIVINE DNA WITHIN US,
AS WELL AS GOD'S TRANSCENDENT
PROMISE THAT WE CAN RECEIVE AND
POSSESS ALL THAT HE HAS AND IS.
BUT THERE IS ANOTHER CRITICAL
DIMENSION IN COMING TO KNOW GOD.
JUST AS A SHALLOW
UNDERSTANDING OF GOD LEADS
TO A SHALLOW UNDERSTANDING
OF OUR TRUE IDENTITY,
A NAIVE UNDERSTANDING OF
BEING GOD'S CHILDREN CAN
BLIND US FROM THE REALITY
OF OUR PRESENT STATE.
WHAT WILL STRIKE YOU AS YOU COME
TO KNOW GOD MORE FULLY IS YOUR
CURRENT RELATIVE NOTHINGNESS.
THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED TO MOSES
WHEN HE CAME TO UNDERSTAND HIS
TRUE IDENTITY AS A SON OF GOD;
HE DECLARED,
"NOW I KNOW THAT
"MAN IS NOTHING,
"WHICH THING I NEVER
HAD SUPPOSED."
IN A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE,
NEPHI DECLARED,
"O WRETCHED MAN THAT I AM."
THIS CONFRONTATION WITH REALITY,
OR OUR FALLEN STATE,
IS ALSO ILLUSTRATED
IN KING BENJAMIN'S
MESSAGE TO HIS PEOPLE.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER
THAT KING BENJAMIN DESCRIBED
HIS PEOPLE AS BEING DILIGENT
IN KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS
OF THE LORD.
THESE PEOPLE WERE LIKE US,
WHAT WE MIGHT CALL
COVENANT-KEEPING
LATTER-DAY SAINTS.
BUT AS KING BENJAMIN
DELIVERED HIS ANGELIC MESSAGE,
HIS PEOPLE SAW GOD AND
HIS SON MORE CLEARLY
THAN THEY EVER HAD BEFORE.
THIS GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF
GOD CAUSED THESE PEOPLE TO VIEW
"THEMSELVES IN THEIR
"OWN CARNAL STATE,
"EVEN LESS THAN THE
DUST OF THE EARTH."
THE KNOWLEDGE OF
GOD'S GOODNESS,
HIS MATCHLESS POWER, HIS WISDOM,
HIS PATIENCE, HIS LONGSUFFERING,
AND MOST SIGNIFICANTLY
THE SACRIFICE OF HIS SON,
AWAKENED THEM TO A SENSE
OF THEIR WORTHLESS
AND FALLEN STATE.
THAT MAY NOT SOUND LIKE
MUCH OF A REWARD FOR
COMING TO KNOW GOD BETTER.
DON'T WE WANT A GOD THAT MAKES
US FEEL GOOD AND BUILDS US UP?
YES, BUT WE ALSO WANT AND
WORSHIP A GOD OF TRUTH--
A GOD WHO DEALS NOT IN
ILLUSION, BUT IN REALITY;
NOT IN NICETIES,
BUT IN POWER AND GLORY.
FOR WE DON'T SIMPLY
WANT TO KNOW GOD;
WE WANT TO BECOME LIKE HIM.
AND UNTIL WE SEE OURSELVES
AS WE REALLY ARE,
WE CAN'T BECOME
WHAT HE REALLY IS.
THUS, TO UNDERSTAND
OUR IDENTITY,
WE NEED TO
UNDERSTAND THE FALL,
THE REALITY THAT KING BENJAMIN'S
PEOPLE FINALLY CONFRONTED.
PRESIDENT EZRA TAFT BENSON
TAUGHT: "JUST AS A MAN DOES
"NOT REALLY DESIRE FOOD
"UNTIL HE IS HUNGRY,
"SO HE DOES NOT DESIRE THE
"SALVATION OF CHRIST UNTIL
"HE KNOWS WHY HE NEEDS CHRIST.
"NO ONE ADEQUATELY AND
"PROPERLY KNOWS WHY HE NEEDS
"CHRIST UNTIL HE UNDERSTANDS
"AND ACCEPTS THE DOCTRINE OF
"THE FALL AND ITS EFFECT
UPON ALL MANKIND."
THE FALL IS HOW WE COMMONLY
REFER TO THOSE EVENTS THAT
LED TO OUR CURRENT CONDITION
AND THE CONSEQUENT OPPORTUNITY
FOR OUR EXALTATION.
BUT TO UNDERSTAND THE
INDIVIDUAL NATURE OF THE FALL,
WE NEED TO SEE IT AT
A PERSONAL LEVEL.
LATTER-DAY REVELATION
TEACHES THAT BECAUSE
OF CHRIST'S ATONEMENT,
EACH OF US IS BORN INTO THIS
WORLD PURE AND INNOCENT,
BUT WE DISOBEY GOD,
WE LOSE OUR INNOCENCE,
AND BECOME NATURAL
OR FALLEN MAN.
WE HAVE EACH MADE AN
INDEPENDENT CHOICE TO SIN,
TO HEARKEN TO THE
VOICE OF SATAN.
WE BECOME,
IN THE LANGUAGE
OF THE SCRIPTURES,
"SUBJECT TO THE WILL
OF THE DEVIL,"
WHICH, TRAGICALLY,
BECOMES OUR "OWN WILL."
IN EFFECT,
WE SELL OUR BIRTHRIGHT
FOR A MESS OF POTTAGE,
OR AS THE PRODIGAL SON,
SPEND OUR INHERITANCE
IN RIOTOUS LIVING.
WHEN WE UNDERSTAND WE
INDEED ARE CHILDREN OF
"THE MOST HIGH GOD,"
BUT ALSO REALIZE WE HAVE
MADE CHOICES THAT PREVENT
US FROM RETURNING HOME,
WE UNDERSTAND HOW
DESPERATELY WE NEED CHRIST
TO REGAIN WHAT WE HAVE LOST.
WE UNDERSTAND WE NEED
ANOTHER CHANCE,
A WAY TO BE BORN AGAIN.
ALMA DECLARED THIS CLEARLY:
"MARVEL NOT THAT ALL MANKIND,
"YEA, MEN AND WOMEN,
"ALL NATIONS, KINDREDS,
"TONGUES AND PEOPLE,
"MUST BE BORN AGAIN;
"YEA, BORN OF GOD,
"CHANGED FROM THEIR CARNAL
"AND FALLEN STATE,
"TO A STATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
"BEING REDEEMED OF GOD,
"BECOMING HIS SONS
"AND DAUGHTERS;
"AND THUS THEY BECOME
"NEW CREATURES;
"AND UNLESS THEY DO THIS,
"THEY CAN IN NOWISE INHERIT
THE KINGDOM OF GOD."
TO OUR GREAT JOY,
GOD HAS PROVIDED A SAVIOR
WHO PERFORMED A PERFECT
ATONEMENT AND A PATH
FOR US TO RETURN HOME,
TO RECEIVE ALL THAT HE HAS.
HIS COVENANT TO US,
HIS CHILDREN,
IS THAT DESPITE OUR
INEVITABLE FALL,
WE CAN BE TRANSFORMED
FROM BEINGS WHOSE IMPURE
HEARTS, DESIRES, AND WILLS
CANNOT ABIDE HIS PRESENCE,
INTO SANCTIFIED BEINGS
WHO CAN ABIDE HIS GLORY.
WE CAN INDEED BE BORN AGAIN
TO A GLORIOUS INHERITANCE.
THE ROBE, THE RING,
AND THE FATTED CALF
CAN BE OURS AGAIN.
BUT HOW ARE WE BORN AGAIN?
HOW DO WE GROW IN LIGHT AND
TRUTH UNTIL THIS PERFECT DAY?
WE WALK THE PATH GOD
PREPARED FOR US.
THAT PATH IS CALLED THE
DOCTRINE OF CHRIST.
IT IS THE PATH THAT,
FOR YOU RETURNED MISSIONARIES,
WAS THE CORE OF YOUR PURPOSE--
"FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST
"AND HIS ATONEMENT,
"REPENTANCE, BAPTISM,
"RECEIVING THE GIFT
"OF THE HOLY GHOST.
AND ENDURING TO THE END."
THE PATH IS BOTH BEAUTIFULLY
SIMPLE AND YET PROFOUNDLY DEEP.
THE VERY SIMPLICITY OF THE PATH
AND OUR ASSUMED SOPHISTICATION
CAN LEAD US TO LOOK BEYOND
THE MARK AS NEPHI'S PEOPLE
DID WHEN HE MASTERFULLY
TAUGHT THIS DOCTRINE.
OUR DESIRE FOR MORE INTRICATE
SOLUTIONS ALSO MAY BE ONE
REASON CHRIST STRONGLY
CAUTIONS US WITH THESE WORDS:
"THIS IS MY DOCTRINE,
"AND WHOSO BUILDETH UPON THIS
"BUILDETH UPON MY ROCK,
"AND THE GATES OF HELL SHALL
"NOT PREVAIL AGAINST THEM.
"AND WHOSO SHALL DECLARE
"MORE OR LESS THAN THIS,
"AND ESTABLISH IT
"FOR MY DOCTRINE,
"THE SAME COMETH OF EVIL,
"AND IS NOT BUILT
"UPON MY ROCK;
"BUT HE BUILDETH UPON
A SANDY FOUNDATION."
I HOPE YOU WILL STAY WITH ME AS
WE TRY AND SEE THE PROFOUND
NATURE OF THIS SIMPLE PATH,
FOR IT IS THROUGH THE
DOCTRINE OF CHRIST THAT WE
ACCESS THE POWER OF CHRIST'S
ATONEMENT INTO OUR LIVES.
IT IS HOW WE RECEIVE THE
ENABLING POWER OF GRACE.
IT IS HOW WE ARE CHANGED
AND BECOME PARTAKERS
OF THE DIVINE NATURE.
RATHER THAN VIEW THE
DOCTRINE OF CHRIST AS A FEW
ITEMS ON A LENGTHY GOSPEL
CHECKLIST OF THINGS TO DO,
I HAVE FOUND IT HELPFUL
TO SEE THE DOCTRINE OF
CHRIST AS THE DAILY PATH I
WALK TO COME UNTO CHRIST.
I HOPE A FEW SIMPLE
GRAPHICS WILL HELP AS I
BRIEFLY DISCUSS EACH STEP.
FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST IS THE
FIRST PRINCIPLE OF THE GOSPEL.
FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST IS THE
SOURCE OF EVERY GOOD GIFT.
IT IS FAITH THAT MOTIVATES
AND INSPIRES US TO
TAKE ALL OTHER STEPS.
WHY REPENT OR BE BAPTIZED IF WE
DON'T TRULY BELIEVE THAT CHRIST,
BY VIRTUE OF HIS ATONEMENT,
CAN SAVE US FROM
THE HOPELESSNESS
OF OUR FALLEN STATE?
YOU MAY REMEMBER THESE WORDS
FROM KING BENJAMIN'S PEOPLE
WHEN THEY CONFRONTED THE
REALITY OF THEIR FALLEN STATE:
"O HAVE MERCY,
"AND APPLY THE ATONING BLOOD
"OF CHRIST THAT WE MAY RECEIVE
"FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS,
"AND OUR HEARTS
"MAY BE PURIFIED;
"FOR WE BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST,
THE SON OF GOD."
THEIR "EXCEEDING FAITH"
IN JESUS CHRIST DELIVERED THEM
FROM THEIR HOPELESS STATE AND
FILLED THEIR SOULS WITH JOY.
WE SOMETIMES CRITICIZE OUR
EVANGELICAL FRIENDS FOR
THEIR SOLE FOCUS ON BELIEVING
IN CHRIST TO BE SAVED,
BUT IT IS THROUGH
TRUE FAITH IN CHRIST,
AND HIM ALONE,
THAT WE ARE SAVED.
THE BOOK OF MORMON IS A
VERY CLEAR WITNESS OF THIS.
WE MUST RECOGNIZE THAT FAITH
IN CHRIST IS NOT STATIC BUT
CAN GROW INTO EXCEEDING
AND EVEN PERFECT FAITH.
BROTHERS AND SISTERS,
WE MUST BELIEVE,
AND WE MUST BELIEVE
MORE THAN WE DO NOW.
A CRITICAL AND POWERFUL ELEMENT
OF THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST IS
THAT EACH STEP IS CONNECTED
TO AND MOTIVATES THE NEXT.
FAITH ALWAYS LEADS
TO REPENTANCE.
SAMUEL THE LAMANITE TAUGHT,
"IF YE BELIEVE ON HIS NAME
YE WILL REPENT."
AND I WOULD ADD,
THE MORE YOU BELIEVE,
THE MORE YOU WILL REPENT.
THIS IS SIMPLE
CELESTIAL CALCULUS.
TRUE FAITH IN CHRIST IS ALWAYS
"UNTO REPENTANCE."
FAITH IN CHRIST ALWAYS LEADS
TO REPENTANCE BECAUSE THE
MORE WE LEARN OF CHRIST,
HIS CHARACTER, PERFECTIONS,
AND ATTRIBUTES,
THE MORE WE TRUST HIM,
AND THE MORE WILLING WE ARE TO
GIVE UP OUR OWN AGENDA FOR HIS.
WE OFFER A BROKEN HEART
TO RECEIVE A NEW HEART.
TURNING TO CHRIST AND
FOLLOWING HIM MORE DILIGENTLY,
OR OBEDIENCE,
IS THE ESSENCE OF REPENTANCE.
SOMETIMES I THINK WE DON'T
UNDERSTAND REPENTANCE.
WE TEND TO PICTURE A TEARFUL
CONFESSION TO THE BISHOP
REGARDING A VIOLATION OF
THE LAW OF CHASTITY OR SOME
OTHER SERIOUS TRANSGRESSION.
REPENTANCE IS CERTAINLY
NEEDED IN SUCH CASES.
BUT MORE OFTEN,
IT IS SMALL AND SIMPLE THINGS IN
OUR LIFE THAT NEED TO CHANGE.
THE LORD CALLS THEM,
"THINGS THAT ARE NOT
PLEASING IN MY SIGHT."
IF WE WANT TO BE
HOLY AS HE IS HOLY,
WE NEED TO YIELD
OUR HEART TO HIM.
GOD KNOWS THE NEXT STEP YOU NEED
TO TAKE IN YOUR JOURNEY TO HIM,
AND IF YOU WILL ASK AND LISTEN,
HE WILL TELL YOU.
ELDER LARRY R. LAWRENCE SAID
IN A RECENT CONFERENCE TALK,
THE SPIRIT MAY SURPRISE
YOU WITH MESSAGES LIKE:
YOU NEED TO CLEAN
UP YOUR ROOM,
YOU NEED TO STOP INTERRUPTING,
OR YOU NEED TO MANAGE
THE DISTRACTIONS IN YOUR
LIFE AND FOCUS MORE
ON THOSE AROUND YOU.
ALL OF THESE ARE INDIVIDUAL
INVITATIONS TO REPENT.
THEY COME FROM THE HOLY GHOST,
WHO PROMISES THAT
HE WILL SHOW US
"ALL THINGS WHAT WE SHOULD DO."
MY EXPERIENCE IS THOSE
INVITATIONS FROM THE
HOLY GHOST ALWAYS LEAD ME TO
BE A MORE DILIGENT FOLLOWER
OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
HUGH NIBLEY SHARED THIS
GEM ON REPENTANCE:
"WHO IS RIGHTEOUS?
"ANYONE WHO IS REPENTING.
"NO MATTER HOW BAD HE HAS BEEN,
"IF HE IS REPENTING,
"HE IS A RIGHTEOUS MAN.
"THERE IS HOPE FOR HIM.
"AND NO MATTER HOW GOOD
"HE HAS BEEN ALL HIS LIFE,
"IF HE IS NOT REPENTING,
HE IS A WICKED MAN."
THE LORD SAYS
"SAY NOTHING BUT REPENTANCE."
MAYBE WE SHOULD PAY
MORE ATTENTION TO THAT.
OUR REPENTANCE LEADS TO AND IS
COMPLETED AS WE MAKE COVENANTS
WITH GOD IN ORDINANCES.
IN THE ORDINANCES OF BAPTISM
AND THE SACRAMENT,
WE WITNESS OUR REPENTANCE
AND COMMITMENT TO FOLLOW
GOD IN A PHYSICAL SIGN,
AS WE SING, "A DEED FOR A WORD."
ELDER D. TODD CHRISTOFFERSON
TAUGHT,
"THE RENUNCIATION OF SIN,
"COUPLED WITH OUR
"COVENANT OF OBEDIENCE,
"COMPLETES OUR REPENTANCE;
"INDEED, REPENTANCE
"REMAINS UNFINISHED
WITHOUT THAT COVENANT."
SIGNIFICANTLY, THE ORDINANCE OF
THE SACRAMENT CONFIRMS OUR
REPENTANCE AND RENEWS ALL
COVENANTS WE HAVE ENTERED
INTO WITH THE LORD AND THUS
BECOMES A VITAL CONDUIT FOR
US TO RECEIVE THE POWER OF
GODLINESS INTO OUR LIVES.
OUR WEEKLY PHYSICAL
WITNESS OF OUR COMMITMENT
TO REMEMBER AND OBEY,
OUR WILLINGNESS,
EVEN OUR ANXIOUSNESS,
TO TAKE CHRIST'S NAME
UPON US IS A VITAL AND
EMPOWERING PART OF THIS JOURNEY.
IN THE SACRAMENT,
WE ARE ALSO REMINDED THAT
BECOMING LIKE CHRIST IS
A STEP BY STEP PROCESS,
LITTLE BY LITTLE,
WEEK BY WEEK,
WE ARE TRANSFORMED.
ORDINANCES UNLOCK GREATER ACCESS
TO THE HOLY GHOST IN OUR LIVES.
WHEN WE UNDERSTAND
THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST,
OUR GREATEST DESIRE IS TO
RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST.
ELDER DAVID A. BEDNAR DECLARED:
"THE COMMANDMENTS FROM
"GOD WE OBEY AND THE INSPIRED
"COUNSEL FROM CHURCH LEADERS
"WE FOLLOW PRINCIPALLY
"FOCUS UPON OBTAINING THE
"COMPANIONSHIP OF THE SPIRIT.
"FUNDAMENTALLY,
"ALL GOSPEL TEACHING AND
"ACTIVITIES ARE CENTERED ON
"COMING UNTO CHRIST BY RECEIVING
THE HOLY GHOST IN OUR LIVES."
IN MY CONTINUING QUEST
TO WALK THIS PATH,
I HAVE BEEN INSPIRED
BY THESE WORDS OF
ELDER BRUCE R. MCCONKIE:
"AS STARVING MEN
"CRAVE A CRUST OF BREAD,
"AS CHOKING MEN
"THIRST FOR WATER,
"SO DO THE RIGHTEOUS YEARN
FOR THE HOLY GHOST."
"THERE IS NO PRICE TOO HIGH...
"NO SACRIFICE TOO GREAT,
"IF OUT OF IT ALL WE...
"ENJOY THE GIFT OF
THE HOLY GHOST."
IT IS IN RECEIVING THE
HOLY GHOST THAT WE
RECEIVE THE BAPTISM OF FIRE.
THIS BAPTISM REMOVES THE
EFFECTS AND BONDAGE OF
OUR SINS AND SANCTIFIES US.
THE HOLY GHOST ALSO
IMPARTS TO US THE FRUITS
AND GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT,
THE ATTRIBUTES AND
POWER OF GOD.
CHIEF AMONG THOSE ATTRIBUTES
IS HIS PERFECT LOVE, CHARITY.
"CHARITY IS NOT AN
"EMOTION OR AN ACTION.
"IT IS NOT SOMETHING
"WE SIMPLY FEEL OR DO.
"CHARITY IS WHO THE SAVIOR IS.
"IT IS HIS MOST DEFINING
AND DOMINANT ATTRIBUTE."
AND GOD'S PROMISE IS THE
HOLY GHOST WILL FILL US
WITH THIS PERFECT LOVE.
C.S.
LEWIS OBSERVED,
"AFTER THE FIRST FEW
"STEPS IN THE CHRISTIAN
"LIFE WE REALIZE THAT
"EVERYTHING WHICH REALLY
"NEEDS TO BE DONE IN OUR SOULS
CAN BE DONE ONLY BY GOD."
IT IS THROUGH THE HOLY GHOST
THAT GOD DOES THIS MARVELOUS
WORK WITHIN US.
HE GIVES US A NEW HEART.
PAUL CRITICIZED THE SAINTS
OF HIS DAY FOR THEIR ZEAL IN
GOING ABOUT TO ESTABLISH THEIR
OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS INSTEAD
OF SUBMITTING THEMSELVES TO
THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.
AT TIMES, WE MAY BE
GUILTY OF THIS SAME SIN.
WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT
CHRIST IS THE FOUNTAIN OF ALL
RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HE WILL
IMPART THAT RIGHTEOUSNESS TO
US THROUGH THE HOLY GHOST.
IT WILL THEN BE IN US,
A RESERVOIR OF LIVING WATER.
WITH JOSEPH SMITH,
I TESTIFY THAT
"AS THE SON PARTAKES OF THE
"FULLNESS OF THE FATHER
"THROUGH THE SPIRIT,
"SO THE SAINTS ARE,
"BY THE SAME SPIRIT,
"TO BE PARTAKERS OF
"THE SAME FULLNESS,
TO ENJOY THE SAME GLORY."
BROTHERS AND SISTERS,
I INVITE YOU TO MAKE RECEIVING
THE HOLY GHOST YOUR
"OVERARCHING SPIRITUAL QUEST."
THIS LEADS US TO THE LITTLE
UNDERSTOOD DOCTRINE
OF ENDURING TO THE END.
ENDURING TO THE END SIMPLY
IMPLIES WE ENGAGE IN THIS CYCLE
"REPEATEDLY AND ITERATIVELY."
WE KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT
TRANSFORMED INTO CHRISTLIKE
BEINGS OVERNIGHT.
AS JOSEPH SAID,
"NO MAN ARRIVES IN A MINUTE."
WE ARE CHANGED DEGREE BY
DEGREE IN THE PROCESS OF
TIME AS WE GROW IN FAITH,
PARTICIPATE IN ORDINANCES,
AND RECEIVE EVER GREATER
ENDOWMENTS OF THE
SPIRIT IN OUR LIFE.
THE LORD DESCRIBES HIS COURSE AS
"ONE ETERNAL ROUND."
BUT I DON'T THINK HE INTENDS US
TO JUST GO AROUND IN CIRCLES.
I HAVE FOUND IT HELPFUL TO
VISUALIZE THIS JOURNEY AS A
CONTINUING UPWARD SPIRAL,
A STAIRCASE, IF YOU WILL.
THIS IMAGE CAME TO ME
MOST CLEARLY WHEN I FIRST
SAW THIS SPIRAL STAIRCASE
IN THE NAUVOO TEMPLE.
THIS IMAGE GIVES ME HOPE AND
PERSPECTIVE THAT I CAN MAKE
THE JOURNEY TO COME UNTO
CHRIST BY DILIGENTLY APPLYING
HIS DOCTRINE IN MY LIFE.
STEP BY STEP AND
DEGREE BY DEGREE,
I CAN CONTINUE IN THE
COURSE OF THE LORD,
HIS ETERNAL ROUND,
AND HIS GRACE CAN
CARRY ME UPWARD.
I LOVE THE PERSPECTIVE
AND WISDOM PRESIDENT
EZRA TAFT BENSON PROVIDED
RELATIVE TO THIS JOURNEY:
"WE MUST BE CAREFUL,
"AS WE SEEK TO BECOME
"MORE AND MORE GODLIKE,
"THAT WE DO NOT BECOME
"DISCOURAGED AND LOSE HOPE.
"BECOMING CHRISTLIKE IS A
"LIFETIME PURSUIT AND VERY
"OFTEN INVOLVES GROWTH AND
"CHANGE THAT IS SLOW,
"ALMOST IMPERCEPTIBLE.
"THE SCRIPTURES RECORD
"REMARKABLE ACCOUNTS
"OF MEN WHOSE LIVES
"CHANGED DRAMATICALLY,
"IN AN INSTANT, AS IT WERE...
"SUCH ASTONISHING EXAMPLES
"OF THE POWER TO CHANGE
"EVEN THOSE STEEPED IN SIN
"GIVE CONFIDENCE THAT THE
"ATONEMENT CAN REACH EVEN
"THOSE DEEPEST IN DESPAIR.
"BUT WE MUST BE CAUTIOUS
"AS WE DISCUSS THESE
"REMARKABLE EXAMPLES.
"THOUGH THEY ARE
"REAL AND POWERFUL,
"THEY ARE THE EXCEPTION
"MORE THAN THE RULE.
"FOR EVERY PAUL...
"FOR EVERY KING LAMONI,
"THERE ARE HUNDREDS AND
"THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
"WHO FIND THE PROCESS OF
"REPENTANCE MUCH MORE SUBTLE,
"MUCH MORE IMPERCEPTIBLE.
"DAY BY DAY THEY MOVE
"CLOSER TO THE LORD,
"LITTLE REALIZING THEY ARE
"BUILDING A GODLIKE LIFE.
"THEY LIVE QUIET LIVES
"OF GOODNESS, SERVICE,
"AND COMMITMENT.
"THEY ARE LIKE THE LAMANITES,
"WHO THE LORD SAID
"'WERE BAPTIZED WITH FIRE
"'AND WITH THE HOLY GHOST,
AND THEY KNEW IT NOT.'"
PRESIDENT BENSON
UNDERSTOOD THIS JOURNEY.
CAN YOU SEE HOW VIEWING
THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST IN THIS
WAY CAN DEEPEN HIS INFLUENCE
IN YOUR LIFE AND BRING FOCUS
AND HOPE TO YOUR JOURNEY TO
BE WITH HIM AND BE LIKE HIM?
THIS IS THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST
AND THE ONLY WAY WE COME UNTO
HIM AND ARE PERFECTED IN HIM.
THERE IS A FINAL AND CRITICAL
ASPECT OF THE DOCTRINE OF
CHRIST THAT I MUST MENTION.
EVERY PROCESS NEEDS
FUEL TO KEEP IT GOING,
AND THIS ONE IS NO DIFFERENT.
IN THIS CASE,
THE WORD OF GOD
PROVIDES THE FUEL.
THE LIGHT OF THE WORD IGNITES
OUR FAITH AND THEN CONTINUES
TO INCREASE OUR FAITH AS
WE FEAST ON AND OBEY IT.
SPEAKING OF OUR
JOURNEY ON THIS PATH,
NEPHI TESTIFIES,
"YOU HAVE NOT COME
"THUS FAR SAVE IT WERE
"BY THE WORD OF CHRIST,
WITH UNSHAKEN FAITH IN HIM"
AND THAT WE NEED TO
"PRESS FORWARD FEASTING
ON THE WORD OF CHRIST"
IF WE ARE TO ENDURE TO THE END.
LIKE THE FUEL IN OUR VEHICLES OR
THE CARBOHYDRATES IN OUR BODIES,
WE NEED CONSTANT NOURISHMENT
BY THE WORD OF GOD,
THE IRON ROD,
TO MOVE US ALONG THIS PATH.
BECAUSE WE NEED EVER INCREASING
FAITH FOR THIS JOURNEY,
DAILY FEASTING ON THE
WORDS OF THE SCRIPTURES,
LIVING PROPHETS,
AND THE PERSONAL WHISPERINGS OF
THE HOLY GHOST ARE ESSENTIAL TO
SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE THIS PATH.
ELDER RICHARD G. SCOTT
UNDERSTOOD THIS WHEN HE SAID,
"FEASTING ON THE WORD
"OF GOD EACH DAY IS MORE
"IMPORTANT THAN SLEEP,
"SCHOOL WORK, TELEVISION SHOWS,
VIDEO GAMES, OR SOCIAL MEDIA."
BROTHERS AND SISTERS,
I TESTIFY THIS IS THE WAY
WE ARE BORN AGAIN AND
RECEIVE THE GLORIOUS
INHERITANCE THAT IS OURS AS
CHILDREN OF THE LIVING GOD.
AS YOU BEGIN THIS NEW YEAR,
I INVITE YOU TO REEVALUATE YOUR
GOALS TO INSURE YOU FOCUS ON THE
"SIMPLE, HUMBLE PATH OF
CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP."
I PROMISE AS YOU DO,
YOU WILL RECEIVE GRACE,
THE STRENGTH THAT COMES
FROM BEING BUILT ON A SURE
FOUNDATION OF LIGHT AND TRUTH.
YOU WILL FIND JOY AND PEACE IN
A JOURNEY THAT INCREASINGLY
REVEALS GOD AND HIS GLORY.
YOU WILL SEE MORE CLEARLY
YOUR DIVINE IDENTITY,
AND YOU WILL BE FILLED WITH
HOPE THAT YOU, IN FACT,
CAN RECEIVE ALL THAT HE HAS.
I TESTIFY WITH ALL MY HEART
THAT JESUS CHRIST IS
GOD'S ALMIGHTY SON.
THIS IS HIS DOCTRINE--
THE ONLY AND SURE WAY
TO COME UNTO HIM.
IN THE SACRED NAME OF
JESUS CHRIST, AMEN.
