The Gift and Power of Agency

Elder David A. Bednar has said that the principle of agency is one of the least understood among members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Seeing that “all have not faith,” we should therefore “seek learning, even by study and also by faith” (D&C 88:118) that we may be “edified and rejoice together” (D&C 50:22).

I.                Background

Before we can begin to understand the gift and power of agency, we must first remember that each of us lived with God before we were born (Job 38:4-7; Jer. 1:4-5; D&C 93:29). He is our father and, as children of God, we are his royal offspring.

In the premortal realm, we had free will according to eternal law. It may seem obvious that a righteous and loving father would allow his children to make personal choices without compulsion, but it is important to understand that doing so is both natural to our Heavenly Father and essential to his divine role. God was not simply granted unfathomable power, nor did he obtain it by conquest or by birthright alone; rather, he progressed to it as he learned over time to understand and obey absolute, eternal laws including principles of love, sacrifice, humility, meekness, consecration, and the priesthood requirement to exercise no unrighteous dominion.

At some point in our premortal development, God presented a plan for our continued progress and salvation with moral agency at its core. By our own free will, we would fall. We would experience opposition. We would be separated from Him and unable to return on our own. Our Heavenly Father promised that if we would follow His plan, He would also provide a Savior whose infinite and eternal sacrifice would redeem and exalt us. In other words, He would gift to us the power to choose to return to Him, and even become like Him, even and especially when that goal was and is well beyond our reach. This is the gift of agency.

Lucifer “sought to destroy the agency of man” (Moses 4:3). When God presented His perfect plan, the question wasn’t “which plan shall it be?” That is, Lucifer didn’t present an alternate plan and he didn’t simply lose an election. The question instead was, “whom shall I send?” Jesus Christ, known premortally as Jehovah, was both willing and able to execute the plan as presented for the salvation and exaltation of the children of God.

Lucifer also volunteered, but his apparent volunteerism was a scheme to “exalt [his own] throne above the stars of God” (Isaiah 14:12-15). He asked for God’s power and promised that, with that power, he would “surely” save all of the children of God (Moses 4:1, D&C 29:36). God knew the intents of Lucifer’s heart and that his mutinous scheme was contrary to eternal law and, therefore, void of the power necessary to save and exalt us. In other words, Lucifer was not able to provide for the agency of mankind but was nonetheless willing to damn the progress of all of God’s children and lie in the presence of God to satisfy his own ambitious lust for power.

Because the children of God enjoy free will, Lucifer’s unfeeling arrogance threatened to undermine God’s plan for the exaltation of His children. He wanted the rewards without the work and power without principle. He was willing, without loyalty, to convince others to break the commandments of God and, in effect, sacrifice their eternal progress so he could get what he wanted for himself.

The scriptures say that one-third of the children of God, each loved perfectly by their eternal parents, knowingly rebelled against God and, through the violation of eternal law, were cast out of His presence to both prevent their complete destruction (D&C 67:12) and preserve the opportunity for you and I to have the gift of agency. In Hebrew symbolism, one-third is often used as a fraction of any proportion—it could as easily be one-tenth or three quarters as one third—but if we take it literally we must understand that incomprehensible billions of our brothers and sisters lost their first estate in premortal rebellion.

As promised in the plan, a world was created for us. Physical bodies for Adam and Eve were created in the Garden of Eden. Now in the flesh, Adam and Eve maintained the free will they enjoyed premortally.

Lucifer, still engaged in a personal war for power, deceived Adam and Eve and led them to transgress the laws of God as he had done to so many others before them. Unlike those Lucifer had previously led astray however, Adam and Eve remained loyal to God. Their transgression was not a rebellion, but a consequence of their imperfect effort to keep the commandments according to the knowledge they had. Eternal law mandated that Adam and Eve be separated from God for their transgression just as those who rebelled in the premortal world were separated from God for theirs; but the humility of Adam and Eve allowed for this experience to benefit their progress rather than damning it (D&C 29:39-41).

As Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden, they were taught and given several instructions. They were given more commandments so the Lord could bless them for their obedience and sacrifice. Most of all, they were promised that God would provide a Savior for them, as had been presented in premortal council, so that they could have the agency to return to the presence of God.

II.             Agency is a Principle of Power

The prophet Lehi taught his sons: “Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself… And because [the children of men] are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law… according to the commandments which God hath given.”

“Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh… And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself” (2 Nephi 2:16, 26-27).

We are not victims of the fall to be pulled in every direction by the things that happen to us. As a college football coach said recently, “none of us are born winners and none of us are born losers. We’re all born choosers” (Nick Saban on ESPN.com, August 25, 2022). Elder Klebingat taught in our most recent General Conference that “God won’t force us to do good, and the devil can’t force us to do evil. Though some may think that mortality is a contest between God and the adversary, a word from the Savior ‘and Satan is silenced and banished. … It is [our] strength that is being tested—not God’s’” (April 2022).

Agency is the power to act for ourselves, but it “is not simply the right to choose; it is the opportunity to choose the right” (Elder Randy Funk, April 2022). God explained to Enoch that he “gave unto [the children of men] their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency; And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father” (Moses 7:32-33).

As we choose to trust in God and keep His commandments, we are given power to take those actions that will lead us to “liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men”. We need no such power to choose “captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil” (2 Nephi 2:27, emphasis added). Though we maintain free will to choose life or death, Elder Bednar has taught that “the gift that comes to us through the Savior’s Atonement is agency. … It is the capacity to act and learn from our own experiences. That is the very essence and purpose of being here in mortality.”

The need for this power shows up in everyday situations. It takes no strength of will to stay in bed on a Sunday morning; only to get up and go to church. It takes no willpower to indulge, only to have virtue. We need no power beyond our own to criticize or be sarcastic or cynical. We are completely capable of discouragement, negativity, doubt and despair. We need the power of the Savior’s Atonement to be patient, grateful, kind, and full of faith and hope. This is the power of agency. This is the power to choose Him by choosing to be like Him.

When we consistently use our agency to choose God, our confidence increases until, as Elder Bednar has taught, “we can ultimately navigate the most difficult circumstances in life knowing that we will never be alone and we will always have his help.” This is the power to overcome all things.

III.           The Role and Meaning of Opposition

Of course, the power to overcome all things is only relevant if there are things to overcome. The Lord taught that, “it must needs be that the devil should tempt the children of men, or they could not be agents unto themselves; for if they never should have bitter they could not know the sweet” (D&C 29:39).

Lehi likewise taught:

And to bring about his eternal purposes in the end of man, after he had created our first parents… it must needs be that there was an opposition; even the forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree of life; the one being sweet and the other bitter. Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other” (2 Nephi 2:15-16).

Some modern researchers believe that human behavior is entirely the result of our genetics, environmental conditioning, birth order, socioeconomic status, early childhood trauma, and countless other “puppet strings” that pull us in one direction or another. The philosophy that all events are determined by some external pulling of the strings is known as determinism.

We give in to a determinist view when we surrender our agency with comments like, “I just couldn’t help myself,” “I was just having a bad day,” or “I just had to do it.” Determinism implies that we are not in control, that we are merely objects being acted upon, absent any spiritual self-reliance, and therefore we cannot be held morally responsible for our actions. We must join the Dark Side—it is our destiny—so resistance to the opposition we face is futile.

Through the gospel lens, we can see an alternative perspective. We can see, as Drs. Jeffrey Thayne and Edwin Gantt have argued, that “meaning is found in the superposition [or comparison] of things as they are against things as they could be. Sweet is only meaningful in contrast with bitter. Life is only meaningful in contrast with death. And love is meaningful only when set against indifference or hate.”

Opposition, in this view, is not a force pushing us toward our inevitable destiny, a string pulling us in some direction, or even a meaningless obstacle to what we really want, but rather an opportunity to be enticed by good or evil and exercise or practice using our agency. With each repetition of this resistance training—each time we exercise our agency by choosing Him—we invite the strength of the Atonement of Jesus Christ into our lives.

Yes, genes and birth order and socioeconomic status do have an impact on our lives; but rather than causing particular choices or outcomes these characteristics “simply serve to tie all the events of our lives together in a meaningful and coherent story.” With God, all things are possible; and with agency, possibility is preserved.

Ironically, in seeking to destroy the agency of man, Lucifer has provided the necessary opposition to make that agency, and our lives, meaningful. 

IV.           Representative Agency

One of the ways we exercise our agency is by choosing to follow our Savior into the waters of baptism. There are three conditions of the baptismal covenant: we must choose to begin to take the name of Christ upon ourselves (something we will do more fully in the temple later on), to always remember Him, and keep the commandments He has given us. We exercise our agency when we accept those conditions. We are then promised that, if we honor the terms of the covenant, we will always have His spirit to be with us.

When we enter into the baptismal covenant and begin to have the name of Christ come upon us, our agency is enlarged. It is no longer individual agency; it is enlarged to become representative agency as the call to represent Christ and his name at all times, in all places, and in all things becomes more important that what you or I may want in a given moment.

I think of this very much in the same way that I think of my responsibility to my employer. In everything I do, I am an agent representing the organization that pays my salary. I have some autonomy to make decisions and to do good, so long as those decisions and actions are consistent with the direction and purpose established by the organization. My work is not about me; it is about doing those things that contribute most to the mission of the organization.

As covenant Christians, we are agents of the Lord. We represent Him and are enlisted in His work to “bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39).

He wants us to use our agency to act as He would act, or in other words, to become spiritually self-reliant. “For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward. Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward. But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned” (D&C 58:26-29).

Our baptismal covenant includes the keys to having confidence that our actions represent Him. Most of our employers have established policies to give us direction and ensure we act in a manner that represents them well. Similarly, we have covenanted to keep the commandments both for our own benefit and to enhance our ability to represent the Lord as his agents.

Each of us have covenanted to always remember Him. This is essential to our ability to effectively represent Him. Likewise, while all mankind has received the light of Christ, sometimes referred to as our conscience, to provide the knowledge about good and evil that is fundamental to our agency, the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost blesses us and helps us to know, as full-time agents of the Lord, how we should represent the Savior in our words and actions.

Representative agency means that we are dependent upon God and devoted to representing Him at all times and in all places. It also means that we can’t just choose to do whatever we want.

For example, you or I, once we are baptized, no longer have the option to sleep in instead of going to church. We might say, “but I have my agency!” Sleeping in isn’t an exercise of agency because agency is the power to choose God and the duty and responsibility to represent Him—and sleeping in does neither of these.

If we have entered the baptismal covenant, we do not have the option of not paying our tithing. Our agency has been enlarged, we have become agents of the Lord, and what He wants for us has become more important than what we want for ourselves. Choosing to do otherwise isn’t an exercise of agency—we need no power from the Lord to make this choice—but it is a violation of our covenant that, if not corrected, will lead us down the path of selfish enticements, captivity, and spiritual death “according to the captivity and power of the devil” (2 Nephi 2:27).

Taken a step further, we might consider that if we are agents called to represent the Lord, then the priesthood is the authority to do the same. We use the priesthood when we are in the service of others; it is the power to act in His name for the salvation of His children. If we are keeping our covenants to be agents unto the Lord, the priesthood attends all of us in our service to our families, in magnifying the callings for which we have been set apart, and in ministering to one another.

V.              Accountability

Just as determinists argue for the absence of spiritual self-reliance, moral relativism is a popular philosophy that advocates for the absence of absolute truth. Truth, under moral relativism, is merely a social construct and therefore one person’s truth or belief cannot be any better or worse than the so-called “truth” accepted by another person.

What moral relativists are really saying is that there is no sin and that “whatsoever a man [or woman] does is no crime.” They want the rewards without the work and power without principle, so they “[use] their intellectual reservations to cover their [own] behavioral lapses.”

God’s plan for our salvation requires us to put our faith and trust in the Lord and assume accountability for the conditions of our hearts (see Sister Amy Wright, April 2022). It promises that we will reap what we sow.

The prophet Helaman taught: “And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free. He hath given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might choose life or death; and ye can do good and be restored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you” (Helaman 14:30-31).

VI.           Conclusion

Eternal law establishes and requires that each of us have free will to choose life or death. Because we, as imperfect and impure as we are, do not have the right or ability to choose life on our own, our perfect and loving Heavenly Father has provided a Savior, Jesus Christ. Through the power of His Atonement, we can receive the gift of agency, which is the power to overcome all things and choose to return to live with God again.

The power of agency grows by degrees as we exercise it. When we enter sacred covenants to follow Him, we commit ourselves to choosing what he would have us do over some of the things we might want to do. That is, we covenant to discipline ourselves and choose God more often so that He can bless us more abundantly as we continue to strive to return to His presence.

King Benjamin warned his people that “if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not” (Mosiah 4:30).

Ultimately, we will also be accountable for our free will: our thoughts, our words, and our deeds. The Savior taught that “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

If we have done the will of the Father, if we have kept our covenants to be His agents, we can lift up our hearts and be glad, for the Lord will be in our midst and He will be our advocate with the Father; and it is his good will to give you the kingdom as He counseled in the beginning (D&C 29:5).

Stories of the Old Testament

This post is composed mostly of other posts on this blog and was written as a sacrament meeting talk to follow the ward primary program and given on September 11, 2022.

Although it was written thousands of years ago, the lessons of the Old Testament are as relevant for you and I today as they were for the people who lived upon its pages. Through these ancient writings we are privileged to observe the lives of the faithful in a very different time, a very different place, and a very different culture. Yet, in their experiences we can identify eternal principles that can guide us as we strive to be faithful in our time, in this place, and surrounded by the society that exists today.

For example, one of the first stories every primary child learns is about Noah and the ark. In Noah’s time, the sons of men were not honoring the covenants the Lord had given them, particularly the marriage covenant, and the “thoughts of [their] heart[s] [were] only evil continually” (Genesis 5:2, 5). Noah was righteous and “found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 5:8). The Lord gave the people 120 years to repent and sent Noah to preach to them.

The people did not repent despite a lifetime of opportunity. What follows in the scriptures is a great chiasm describing the building of the ark, a promised covenant, gathering food and animals, a forty-day flood, waiting 150 days for the waters to subside (symbolic of the completion of a priestly blessing), then the abatement of the flood, the commandment to leave the ark, finding food in the new land, receiving a covenant with a token, and the end of the ark.

We often associate Noah’s experience with baptism. The earth was immersed in water and the Lord made a covenant with all of mankind in the process. Perhaps this is also why the story resonates so well with our children. It is fun to recount the many animals that gathered on the ark, but the spirit also testifies in its retelling of the baptism ordinance we all need to return to our eternal home.

The lesson that the author of Genesis most wanted us to learn, embedded in the very center of the chiasm, is this sentence: “And God remembered Noah, and every living thing” (Genesis 8:1).

Even when the Lord shut Noah and his family in the ark (Genesis 7:16), he did not leave them in the dark. The scriptures speak of a window, though some rabbis believe that the window was really a precious stone that shone in the ark. This insight reminds me that even when I feel like I am helpless and in the deepest of waters, the Lord will always send his light to comfort me. He will remember you and I and he is the in “the details of the details of the details of our lives” (Elder Chi Hong Wong, April 2021).

My favorite Old Testament biography is the account of Abraham. At the tender age of 75, Abraham found himself on an altar about to be sacrificed to an idol god. At the last moment, an angel appeared, untied him from the altar and helped him escape.

In perhaps the greatest understatement in scripture, Abraham reflected that he “saw that it was needful… to obtain another place of residence.” Abraham’s insight about preventing future abuse was also a resolve to spend more time seeking for the things of God. He had been faithful—that’s how he ended up on an altar in the first place—yet he reflected that he desired “greater happiness and peace and rest” that he knew he could receive by seeking “the blessings of the fathers.” These blessings included knowledge, a greater capacity to obey the commandments, being the father of many nations, and being a holder of the priesthood (Abraham 1:1-2).

With renewed resolve, and over many years of diligent preparation, Abraham’s search ultimately led him to the temple and the covenants that each of us can make in the House of the Lord. Along the way he made smaller covenants and his faith was tested and expanded. He moved his family several times, risked his life in Egypt, endured famines, knew prosperity, resisted the evils of Sodom and Gomorrah, rescued his nephew from a foreign army, paid tithing, experienced the disappointment of infertility, and dealt with many emotional and relationship challenges. Through it all, Abraham “believed in the Lord; and the Lord counted it unto him for righteousness” (JST Genesis 15:12).

It is important to note that Abraham’s covenant was not made in isolation. Genesis 17 clearly shows that Abraham’s wife, Sarah, also covenanted with the Lord. She also endured these many tribulations and was blessed, through her covenant, that she would be the mother of nations and kings. Her temple experience also included the very personal promise that, though she had been barren 100 years, she would yet have her desire to give birth to a son. It was her covenant, together with Abraham’s, that secured covenant blessings for her posterity who were born into that covenant.

For Abraham, fulfilling the terms of his covenant required more than thirty years of additional tests and trials. He fought an uphill battle to save the wicked city of Sodom, experienced the loss of members of his family, and was compelled to exile his second wife and oldest son. Then Abraham, who had nearly been sacrificed to idols by his own father, who wanted posterity most of all and had worked for decades to have that blessing, was asked to do the unthinkable. He was asked to sacrifice Isaac, his son of miraculous birth, the symbol of his covenant posterity and the son Abraham called his “beloved.”

The Lord has said that, if we are to receive blessings and glory like Abraham, we must also “be chastened and tried, even as Abraham” (D&C 101:4-5). President John Taylor taught these words that he heard from the Prophet Joseph Smith:

You will have all kinds of trials to pass through. And it is quite as necessary for you to be tried as it was for Abraham and other men of God, and God will feel after you, and He will take hold of you and wrench your very heart strings, and if you cannot stand it you will not be fit for an inheritance in the Celestial Kingdom of God… If God had known any other way whereby he could have touched Abraham’s feelings more acutely and more keenly he would have done so (Journal of Discourses, 24:197; 24:264).

In giving his will to the Lord, and being refined by Him, Abraham found the blessings of happiness, peace, posterity, and priesthood that he desired. He undoubtedly learned about how to deal with family problems, how to follow spiritual promptings, and the importance of love, humility, sacrifice and obedience. He learned that there is not anything that is too hard for the Lord (Genesis 18:14) and that the Lord will keep His promises. I don’t often enjoy the trials in my life, but I hope that I can have the faith of Abraham to seek the blessings I desire, keep the covenants I have made, and learn to be a little better along the way.

Another temple experience, not unlike Abraham’s, begins in the ancient city of Babel, a predecessor to Babylon in modern-day Iraq. A play on the Hebrew balal, which means “to mix or confound,” ancient tradition states that Babel was known as “the gate of God.” Here at the symbolic gates of heaven, Nimrod, the power-hungry grandson of Ham and great-grandson of Noah, sought to build a tower to reach the heavens.

By virtue of its goal, Nimrod’s tower was likely some version of a temple. Aware of the floods that had previously destroyed the wicked, the Tower of Babel was built high and thick and from bricks and mortar so as to be watertight. Its construction was a mockery of God, to whom Nimrod preached it was cowardice to submit, and many traditions hold that it was Nimrod’s satanic desire to use the tower to break into heaven, dethrone God, avenge mankind of the flood that destroyed it, and place himself as the new ruler of the heavens and of earth.

It was in this wicked society that a man named Jared and his brother pleaded with the Lord for unity, or at-one-ment, for their family and a small band of believers. The Lord answered each prayer with compassion and, when the Brother of Jared had cried “this long time,” the Lord ultimately promised to go before the Brother of Jared’s face, deliver him and his friends from the evil around them, lead them to a promised land, and make Jared and his brother the heads of a great nation (Ether 1:33-43).

Of course, the story of the Jaredites is recorded in the Book of Mormon, but this story very much reflects the Old Testament time period in which it occurred. Intertwined with the Lord’s promises for temporal and political blessings for the Jaredites are the core elements of what we now call the Abrahamic Covenant: knowledge, priesthood, posterity, and a promised land. In other words, because the Jaredites had faithfully rejected the false doctrines of the world and its heretical temple, the Lord covenanted to reveal the doctrines of the gospel and bring them back into his presence through authorized temple ordinances.

Preparation to receive the promised blessings lasted for many years. The Jaredites were tested and refined as they wandered in the wilderness, built barges on several occasions to cross many waters, endured trials and chastisement, collected animals and seeds, and lived four years in tents on the seashore. As the Jaredites’ obedience and sacrifice increased, so did their privileges with the Lord.

“And it came to pass that the Lord did go before them, and did talk with them as he stood in a cloud, and gave directions whither they should travel… being directed continually by the hand of the Lord” (Ether 2:5-6).

“And it came to pass… that the Lord came again unto the brother of Jared, and stood in a cloud and talked with him. And for the space of three hours did the Lord talk with the brother of Jared” (Ether 2:14).

Finally, the Jaredites were ready to construct the barges that would carry them across the ocean; and the Brother of Jared was prepared for the greater light and knowledge the Lord promised to give him. The Brother of Jared’s prayers led him to the top of a particularly high mountain, where he appealed for the Lord’s approval and redemption in the same way that a high priest entering an ancient temple symbolically was redeemed from the Fall in order to enter the presence of God. Once admitted, like Moses on Mount Sinai, the Brother of Jared asked the Lord to touch the stones with his finger that they may have light. I wonder where he got that idea.

The Lord grants the Brother of Jared’s request and then, the scripture records, “there never were greater things made manifest than those which were made manifest unto the brother of Jared” (Ether 4:4). Having received this instruction, “he could not be kept from beholding within the veil… and he had faith no longer, for he knew, nothing doubting” (Ether 3:19).

As the Lord inquired of the Brother of Jared, so he inquires of us: “What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels?” Are we willing to reject the false philosophies of the world, the secularism and selfishness and tribalism, to pursue unity and at-one-ment for our families and our small band of believers here in Mariposa?

If so, the Lord has promised that “inasmuch as you strip yourselves from jealousies and fears, and humble yourselves before me, for ye are not sufficiently humble, the veil shall be rent and you shall see me and know that I am—not with the carnal neither natural mind, but with the spiritual” (D&C 67:10).

Elder Bruce R. McConkie once taught that “a prophet is one who has the testimony of Jesus, who knows by the revelations of the Holy Ghost to his soul that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. In addition to this divine knowledge, many [Old Testament prophets] lived in special situations or did particular things that singled them out as types and patterns and shadows of that which was to be in the life of him who is our Lord” (The Promised Messiah, p. 448).

Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son. Moses was sent from the presence of the Lord to deliver his people. We also see a shadow of the Savior in the life and mission of the prophet Joseph.

Joseph was the favored son of his father. He was rejected by his brothers, the Israelites, and sold into the hands of the Gentiles for the average price of a slave his age. Judah, whose descendants would become the Jews, was the one who proposed the sale. In their very attempt to destroy Joseph, his brothers actually set up the conditions that would bring about their eventual temporal salvation.

Joseph began his mission to prepare salvation for Israel at age thirty and was eventually raised to an exalted position in Egypt where everyone bowed the knee to him. In the end, Joseph, by virtue of being sold—provided bread for Israel, forgave his brothers, and delivered them from death while returning their money to their sacks.

Likewise, Jesus Christ was and is the only begotten Son of God in the flesh. He was also rejected by the Israelites and sold into the hands of the Gentile-Romans for the average price of a slave his age. Judas, the Greek spelling of Judah, was the one who sold him.

Jesus began his ministry when he was thirty years old. He was raised by the Romans and crucified, whereby he completed the atoning sacrifice and became the Deliverer and Redeemer of all mankind.

Jesus taught: “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (John 6:51). We are saved by his grace, after all we can do; yet he offers this forgiveness and salvation without money and without price.

Certainly there are many other examples we can learn from in the Old Testament. I wish that I could have the wisdom of Eve, Esther’s courage, Job’s willingness to consecrate, Elijah’s confidence in the Lord, Isaac’s patience, and Joshua’s loyalty. I want to reject sinful thoughts, philosophies and actions like Noah, Abraham, the Brother of Jared and Joseph.

I want to have Joseph’s faith that the Lord will keep his promises even when it doesn’t seem possible. Like Abraham, I recognize that, though I have been pretty faithful, and have spent some time on metaphorical altars, I need to seek more diligently to keep my covenants and obtain the promises that I have been given. I hope that my life reflects, in some small way, the example of the Savior and that his image can be seen in my countenance.

The Old Testament challenges each of us to endure trials and wickedness to follow the Lord. It also shows us how keeping our covenants and following the prophet can help us with these challenges.

The prophet in our day, President Russell M. Nelson, has asked us to study every day in the scriptures. He has provided the Come, Follow Me curriculum and promised that it has “the potential to unleash the power of families” and, through our diligence, will decrease the influence of the adversary in our lives. He has warned that, “in the coming days it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.”

If you have not yet begun studying the Old Testament with Come, Follow Me in your family, go home today and open it up. Start fresh with the new week and seek for the blessings and strength that is there for you. If you’re not sure if you have enough faith, start to act as if you do—especially studying in the scriptures and praying each day—and I promise there will be a power that will come into your life that will be undeniable. You can know, or know again, that God remembers you and has provided light for you in the darkness.

Returning to the Covenant Path

When I was a teenager, my dad took my brother and I on a week-long wilderness backpacking trip. Our goal was to hike about fifty miles across a particular mountain range. Along the way, we had an experience that has taught me about sin and repentance on our path back to our Heavenly Father.

It took us a couple of weeks to prepare for the trip. My brother and I needed larger packs and we had to find food and other supplies that wouldn't add too much weight. I needed some new hiking pants and my mom found a cool pair that zipped off into shorts. Finally, we got a ride to the trailhead, confirmed where we would meet my mom at the end of the week, and set off.

For the first few days, everything went well. We were right on schedule, we found plenty of water and the food we had packed was so much better than when we had sampled it at home. The trail was challenging at times, and we had to find shelter during the daily afternoon downpour, but we were enjoying the experience and what time we had for a little fishing at the end of each day.

Around the fourth day of our expedition, we climbed a difficult pass and stopped at the top to rest for several moments. Although it was early in the day, we were tired and sore from three previous days of hiking with our heavy packs. As we prepared to resume, my dad, who had been studying the map, suggested an alternate route. The next part of the trail formed a large horseshoe shape, he observed, and if we could cut across the top of the horseshoe we would certainly save a lot of time and unnecessary distance.

With some uneasiness about the new plan, at least on my part, we began walking across the mountain tundra. It was harder to walk through the grass and rocks and after a few hours I began to wonder if we'd missed the trail somehow. When we ran out of water, we decided to keep going and hoped to find a spring ahead of us. Physically and emotionally exhausted, I prayed for help to keep going and survive the week.

At last we came to the top of a tall cliff. It was as long as we could see in either direction and the obvious reason for the trail's long detour. Unsure of how to proceed, we found a spot to take off our packs and rest while we decided what to do.

After a few minutes of catching our breath, my dad stood up and walked over to where my brother and I were seated. He picked up our packs, walked to the cliff, and threw the packs as far as he could down the mountainside. My brother and I were stunned. My dad paused for a moment and then said something like, "Well, I guess we'd better go and get them."

Eventually, we found our way down the cliff and slid down the rockslide at the base. More time passed as I worked to close a big hole I'd torn in the seat of my new pants and bandage a few good scratches. My brother located a spring (back at the top of the rockslide, of course) and refilled our water containers. When we were able to regroup, we continued our cross-country "shortcut" and found the trail another hundred feet from the bottom of the rockslide.

Although our chosen route was shorter, it was much more difficult and took more time to complete than if we had continued on the trail. I ruined my pants and some of our things were broken in their flight off the cliffs. Now less prepared than before and unable to make our planned rendezvous, we spent the rest of the week hiking carefully down a new trail that led off of the mountain to a small town. We made it just in time to call our ride home before she left to pick us up in the wrong place.

As we journey through life, we sometimes decide to take routes that detour off the "strait and narrow" covenant path. It can be especially easy to do when we are feeling tired, overconfident, or discouraged. 

When we leave the path, the Lord always invites us to repent-- to turn around and return to the trail that leads to our rendezvous with Him. He knows the covenant path is not easy. Like crossing a mountain range, our lives have peaks and valleys with obstacles and steep inclines between each summit. The Lord also knows that the covenant path is the surest way to our divine destination.

Repentance is "a change of mind and heart that brings a fresh attitude toward God, oneself, and life in general." It "implies that a person turns away from evil and turns his heart and will to God, submitting to God's commandments and desires and forsaking sin" (Guide to the Scriptures, "Repent, Repentance"). In other words, repentance includes returning to the trail and a humble willingness to continue to follow it. It includes gratitude for the trail, with all its obstacles and detours, and a recognition that it is the only way to achieve our goal.

Sometimes we wander needlessly through the more difficult wilderness even when there are indications we should return to the covenant path. We rationalize our way across the tundra, figuratively run out of water, and eventually find ourselves at the precipice of decisions that may have more significant impacts on our spiritual welfare and life journey.

If I had returned to the trail more quickly, I would have been able to recover much of the time that was lost. I would not have run out of water, injured myself, or ruined my pants. My dad and brother and I would have almost certainly reached our goal on the other side of the mountain range.

Likewise, when we do incur the damages of an unexpected cliff and rockslide, we sometimes forget that complete repentance includes changing the behaviors that originally led us off the path and toward the cliffs. We walk away from these experiences with resolve not to go over the cliffs, as it were, but without changing the attitudes and behaviors that led us off the trail in the first place.

The Gospel Topics essay on the Church website teaches us:

It is not enough to simply try to resist evil or empty our lives of sin. We must fill our lives with righteousness and engage in activities that bring spiritual power. We must immerse ourselves in the scriptures and pray daily for the Lord to give us strength beyond our own. At times, we should fast for special blessings.

Full obedience brings the complete power of the gospel into our lives, including increased strength to overcome our weaknesses. This obedience includes actions we might not initially consider part of repentance, such as attending meetings, paying tithing, giving service, and forgiving others.

Gratefully, all is not lost when we have gone over a cliff. Regardless of our route, we needed my mom to pick us up at the end of the week and drive us back to the safety and comfort of home. Our detour changed our experience in significant ways, but getting back on the trail and sticking to it allowed us to reach a different, but equally accessible, place where my mom could find us.

Sometimes our detours off the covenant path may have lasting effects on our life experience, but the trail is never far from where we are. As we repent and return to the path, the Lord can show us the route to His grace. With faith in Christ and our own significant effort, we can be reconciled to God (2 Nephi 25:23) and experience the joy and rest of returning home (2 Nephi 11:5).

Ancient Antichrists with Modern Arguments

Recently, in a fit of insomnia, I scrolled through my social media feeds waiting for the return of sleep. A news article caught my attention. I read the article and then, in a lapse of judgment I can blame only on my fatigue, I read the comments as well.

The article detailed the decline of religious faith among youth and young adults. Most of the comments cheered for a demise of religion in general with a few repeated arguments. We don't need religion, some comments asserted, because it is just myths and magic now refuted by science. Surely we are smarter now than previous generations, some argued, and capable of spirituality without going to church. Others pointed out that many churches have not evolved with the times and preach doctrines that are unpopular, outmoded, or politically incorrect. Besides, a chorus of commenters cried, people at church, including some leaders, can be overly political, hypocritical or unkind. If we can be happy and successful without a church or faith, the commenters questioned, why waste time, effort and belief on religion?

As I scrolled the hundreds of comments like these, I noticed that those opposed to religion each had several "likes". The few brave souls willing to express faith or support for religion, however imperfectly at times, were quickly and aggressively opposed with dozens of comments attacking them and their position. At least online, the masses appeared to agree that religion is at least unnecessary and likely much worse.

Of course, this is hardly the first time religion has been called into question. The people in Noah's time took a hard pass on religion despite his preaching for one hundred years. Abraham negotiated with the Lord to save the city of Sodom if he could find ten righteous among them; yet, the city had abandoned all religious principle and was ultimately destroyed.

Perhaps most relevant to the arguments I encountered in the comment section of that online article are the three antichrists we study in the Book of Mormon. Although each lived thousands of years ago, they made the very same arguments in their time that I read online in ours.

Sherem was the first to be called an antichrist in the Book of Mormon. Jacob must have found his brief encounter with Sherem particularly valuable or compelling because it is included after Jacob had written his farewell at the end of the previous chapter.

Sherem was well educated and good with words. The scriptures say that Sherem "preached many things which were flattering to the people; and this he did that he might overthrow the doctrine of Christ" (Jacob 7:2). Sherem convinced many people that no one could actually know that Christ would come in the future and so it was unnecessary to keep the commandments or the law of Moses in the present. When he eventually met Jacob, Sherem demanded scientific evidence-- a sign of some sort-- to prove the reality of Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost by which Jacob testified he knew of the everlasting reality of Christ.

More than three hundred years later, Alma began his record with the account of a strong man named Nehor who "began bearing down against the church" (Alma 1:3). Nehor taught what was popular: that "all mankind should be saved... and that they need not fear nor tremble, but that they might lift up their heads and rejoice, for the Lord had created all men, and... all men should have eternal life" (Alma 1:4). Many people believed Nehor and began to follow him, give him money, and attend the church he established.

On one occasion, while traveling, Nehor encountered a teacher of the church of Christ and "began to contend with him sharply, that he might lead away the people of the church" (Alma 1:7). The teacher was an elderly man, a war hero from decades earlier, whose name was Gideon. When Gideon withstood Nehor's teachings, "admonishing him with the words of God," Nehor became irate and murdered Gideon.

Nehor paved the way for many others "who loved the vain things of the world... [and] went forth preaching false doctrines... for the sake of riches and honor. Nevertheless, they durst not lie, if it were known, for fear of the law... therefore they pretended to preach according to their belief" (Alma 1:16-17). These false teachers lived what they might have termed a "high life" of indulgence with expensive clothing, whoredoms, and the appearance of happiness. They were also very proud, as Nehor was, "and began to contend warmly with their adversaries, even unto blows" (Alma 1:22).

Just as the spread of popular doctrines and philosophies in our day has led many people who had been faithful to be excommunicated, remove their records or stop their activity in the Church, Alma writes that false doctrines were "a cause of much affliction to the church" as "the hearts of many were hardened, and their names were blotted out, that they were remembered no more among the people of God. And also many withdrew themselves from among them" (Alma 1:24).

One of those anxious to follow in the steps of Nehor was a man named Korihor. Korihor taught that religion was foolish and vain. Like Sherem, Korihor taught that "no man can know of anything which is to come... ye cannot know of things which ye do not see; therefore ye cannot know that there shall be a Christ" (Alma 30:13-15). So-called prophecies were the foolish traditions of past generations. Remission of sin was the effect of a frenzied mind and the indoctrination of foolish traditions that led people away from reality. "Every man fared in this life according to the management of the creature," Korihor taught, "therefore every man prospered according to his genius, and... every man conquered according to his strength; and whatsoever a man did was no crime" (Alma 30:17).

Sherem, Nehor and Korihor all had many followers. They became wealthy and did whatever wickedness they desired. Each had an opportunity to validate their philosophies by their own lives. Yet, none of these ancient antichrists could withstand the power of the word of God.

Jacob writes that Sherem sought to shake his faith, "notwithstanding the many revelations and the many things which I had seen concerning these things; for I truly had seen angels, and they had ministered unto me. And also, I had heard the voice of the Lord speaking unto me in very word, from time to time; wherefore, I could not be shaken" (Jacob 7:5). Jacob does not say that he was very unlikely to be shaken or probably not going to be shaken-- he knew the truth and could not be shaken.

As Sherem confronted Jacob, "the Lord God poured in his Spirit into [Jacob's] soul, insomuch that [he] did confound [Sherem] in all his words" (Jacob 7:8). Jacob turned Sherem to the scriptures to refute the claim there would be no Christ and testified of the things he had learned through the Holy Ghost. Sherem changed the subject, pressing instead for physical evidence.

Finally, Jacob left it in the hands of God to show Sherem a sign. Immediately, Sherem was overwhelmed by the power of God and fell to the earth. Jacob states that Sherem was "nourished for the space of many days," denied all he had taught in front of the people, confessed his own deception and knowledge of Christ, and then "gave up the ghost." A multitude observing this deathbed confession were then overcome themselves, in answer to Jacob's prayer, and the "peace and the love of God was restored again among the people; and they searched the scriptures, and hearkened no more to the words of this wicked man" (Jacob 7:23).

Gideon admonished Nehor with the words of God. Though Gideon was killed by Nehor's wrath, Nehor was also sentenced to die for his crime. On top of the hill Manti, Nehor acknowledged that what he taught was contrary to the word of God and then died in disgrace (Alma 1:15). Nehor's followers persisted in apostasy and persecuting the faithful, but the righteous, who did not set their hearts upon riches, began to be very wealthy and dramatically increased their ability to care for those need.

Korihor, it turns out, was also only pretending to preach according to his belief. Like Sherem, Korihor ultimately confronted Alma, the prophet of his time, and demanded to see a sign. Alma testified: "The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form to witness that there is a Supreme Creator" (Alma 30:44). 

Alma told Korihor that he had signs enough between the testimonies of his brethren and the evidence of the natural world, but Korihor continued to press for a miraculous sign. Finally, Alma consented and Korihor was overwhelmed by the power of God and became unable to speak. Asked if he would continue to dispute the reality of God, Korihor confessed in writing that he had known there was a God all along. He had taught doctrines that were "pleasing to the carnal mind" and began to think they were true when he saw how many others believed what he was teaching. Whatever wealth Korihor achieved by priestcraft, the last we read of this third antichrist is of him being trampled while begging for food.

In a social media world, there are many deceptive and seductive voices in the world today. Many of the most popular voices make sinful choices appear glamourous and desirable. As in ancient times, the living prophet of our day has warned us about these voices and admonished us to become as unshakeable as Jacob:

If most of the information you get comes from social or other media, your ability to hear the whisperings of the Spirit will be diminished. If you are not also seeking the Lord through daily prayer and gospel study, you leave yourself vulnerable to philosophies that may be intriguing but are not true. Even Saints who are otherwise faithful can be derailed by the steady beat of Babylon's band.

My brothers and sisters, I plead with you to make time for the Lord! Make your own spiritual foundation firm and able to stand the test of time by doing those things that allow the Holy Ghost to be with you always.

Never underestimate the profound truth that "the Spirit speaketh... of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be." It will show unto you all things what ye should do.

Even more directly, President Nelson has warned that "in the coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting and constant influence of the Holy Ghost". That constant influence is a result of our faithful and consistent study of the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon, and the divine communion that comes with sincere prayer.

It is true that members and leaders of the Church are imperfect and must continue striving to be better. You and I may also have legitimate questions or concerns about Church doctrines or historical figures and events. In these moments, when the Lord may feel far away, it is even more important to make time for the Lord! As we seek Him through gospel study and prayer, He will bless us with His spirit and the revelations we need to avoid the intriguing but false philosophies promoted by modern antichrists on social media and in the comments that you already know you really shouldn't read.

Building on a Firm Foundation

Artwork courtesy Josh Nelson

One of my children's favorite primary songs is "The Wise Man and the Foolish Man":

The wise man built his house upon the rock

And the rains came tumbling down

The rains came down, and the floods came up,

And the house on the rock stood still.

The foolish man built his house upon the sand

And the rains came tumbling down

The rains came down, and the floods came up,

And the house on the sand washed away.

The Southern folk hymn is based on the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount. After sharing the principles of his gospel, Jesus taught:

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it (Matthew 7:24-27).

There is not anyone here who has not experienced storms in their life. Some of our storms may seem like hurricanes.

Several years ago, while my family was living in Virginia, the last residual of a hurricane that had hit the Carolinas blew through our area. It was no longer a hurricane, and we were 100 miles inland, but the wind and rain blew over trees and almost flooded some neighborhoods in our town.

The storm almost flooded some neighborhoods because, fortunately, the town where we lived had experienced such storms before and took steps to prevent future flooding. Large storm drains had been installed throughout the town to allow rainwater to flow into drainages leading away from the town. In areas most susceptible to flooding, asphalt streets had been replaced with permeable brick roads that allowed water to drain through the road where it was filtered and redirected to underground retention basins. Parking lots downtown and at the police station were also replaced with permeable pavers and underground retention basins.

The people in this small town understood how to make it through a storm; but understanding wasn't enough. Devastating floods were prevented only after action was taken to prepare.

Captain Moroni understood that faith is a principle of action. When his nation was attacked by the Lamanites, Moroni inspired his people to pray for deliverance and also made sure that his people "did not stop making preparations for war." First, he instructed his people to dig up heaps of earth surrounding all of their cities. When these were constructed, he directed the people to build "works of timbers" as tall as a man on top of the earthworks. Next, strong and high pickets were built upon the timbers. Then towers were built to see over the pickets, and safe places on each of the towers, so his army could throw stones at any approaching enemies.

There will be storms in our lives. Some of these will be literal storms that interrupt our routine and may cause us to lose power. Others may feel more like battles that stretch weeks, months or years and threaten to cut our connection to heaven.

How prepared are you to face life's challenges? Those in rural areas may spend time cutting weeds to prevent wildfires or chopping wood to be ready for winter. Some of us may have generators for when the power goes out or a plan for where to go or what to do in case of an emergency.

Are we as prepared for spiritual emergencies? Have you built a firm foundation by doing the sayings of Christ-- living his doctrine and his gospel every day-- so you can withstand the storm? Do you have a spiritual generator ready for the times when the Lord may not seem as close? Or are you the person who only starts to prepare when the flames get close?

We can guess what would have happened if our little town in Virginia had waited for the rain to start before building storm drains; or if Moroni had waited until he could see the Lamanites coming to start building fortifications. Whether we feel we have time to prepare, or the war has already started, we can gain spiritual strength by building our lives on the doctrine of Christ.

The doctrine of Christ is declared in the scriptures, taught through modern prophets at General Conference, and comes to us directly through the promptings of the Holy Ghost. This week in Come, Follow Me, we have studied thirteen foundational doctrines in the Articles of Faith. As we hear these sayings, and also do them, the Lord has promised that we will prevail even against the gates of hell (3 Nephi 11:39-40). We can consider how we can better incorporate these principles in our lives as we review them.

The first four articles of faith outline the nature of the Godhead and the basic doctrine of Christ. There is a God and He is our Eternal Father. The Godhead includes three personages including Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the Holy Ghost.

We are responsible for our own actions. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all mankind may be saved in a kingdom of glory. The basic principles and ordinances of God's plan to save his children include faith, repentance, baptism and confirmation. These doctrines show us both the universal and unconditional love God has for His children and how we can be united with Him in this life and hereafter.

The fifth and sixth articles of faith teach us about the organization and order of the priesthood. We believe that the Lord leads and directs his church through prophecy and that we receive authorization and blessings to perform our callings, as in ancient times, through the laying on of hands. We also believe in the same church organization that Christ established two thousand years ago.

Paul wrote that "he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man [or woman], unto the measure and stature of the fullness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the slight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him all things, which is the head, even Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-15).

Jesus Christ stands at the head of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. President Nelson is his mouthpiece and a prophet just as Noah, Abraham and Moses were prophets. We also have teachers, bishops who are pastors, and patriarchs who serve as evangelists in confirming the blessings of the Lord for our lives.

Articles seven through nine speak of additional resources that are available to bless our lives. We are given spiritual gifts to help us serve others and protect us from evil.

The scriptures are a guide for our lives. They establish a standard of truth by which we can know whether the information we encounter is true or false. Paul wrote to Timothy:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man [or woman] may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Some people in the world believe that they should attend a church that teaches what they already believe or what they agree is likely true. The Lord calls gospel living a "refiner's fire" and challenges us to shape ourselves to the gospel rather than trying to change the gospel to fit what we think it should be.

The Lord teaches us how we can be better as we study the scriptures and seek personal revelation from Him. He also reveals His will to living prophets. The Lord will confirm the teachings of the prophets to our hearts if we will study and pray about them. We are also promised that the personal revelation we receive from God will always be consistent with prophetic teachings. Like a lighthouse and the lights upon the short the Lord always provides two witnesses to help us navigate dangerous waters even when a storm is raging.

Articles ten, eleven, and twelve instruct us on how to share the gospel throughout the world. We learn of the gathering of Israel in preparation for the Second Coming of Christ, that men and women are free to accept or reject the gospel according to their own conscience, and that we must respect the laws of the land in whichever nation we find ourselves.

Finally, the thirteenth article of faith provides a summary of how disciples should conduct and present themselves. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men... we believe all things, we hope all things..., and [we] hope to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Are these the articles of your faith? Do you believe that Christ has really done what he said he would do? Do you believe that President Nelson is really a prophet of God? Would someone observing your scripture study habits understand that you believe them to be the words of God? Are you living subject to kings, presidents and rulers? Are you seeking after things that are virtuous, lovely, of good report or praiseworthy?

Adapting an analogy Elder L. Tom Perry once shared, these foundational doctrines are for our spiritual lives what a battery is to a cell phone. When you remove the battery from your cell phone, it cannot function. Similarly, without faith in the gospel of Christ, we become "like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed" (James 1:6). We need a light on the path and an anchor for our souls to weather the storms of life and find our way back to our eternal home.

If there are storms raging in your life today, drop anchor and begin building your foundation with gospel living. Start by doing the primary answers that you already know. Study your scriptures. Pray with a sincere desire to commune with your Heavenly Father. Come to church. Listen to any thoughts or promptings you may have felt today. Reach out for help-- your ministering brother or sister, your Elders Quorum president or Relief Society president can provide inspired counsel for your life. If needed, your bishop is more than willing to help you repent and find the gospel path again.

You may not be able to tackle all of this at once. Do what you can.

As you work to do the words of Christ, it will help to try to see the gospel and your life from an eternal perspective. 

My father used to tell a story of a car crash that happened years ago in Chicago. One car came around a corner and collided with another. It happened so fast, neither driver nor any of the witnesses were really sure what had happened or who was at fault. Six hundred feet up however, a window washer happened to see the entire incident and it was his testimony that clarified the case for the local police.

We live our lives in the driver seat and can't always see what is going on around us. The Lord has said that his ways are higher than our ways, and his thoughts than our thoughts. When we seek to understand what he understands, we will often see the hand of the Lord working in places we had not previously supposed.

With faithful action and a glimpse of the Lord's perspective, we should seek to find answers to our questions in the resources he has given us. The sources we use to find truth matter.

When God visited Adam and Eve after they had eaten of the forbidden fruit, his first question was not why they had eaten the fruit or why they had hidden themselves. His first question was, "Who told thee?" He taught Adam that the source he chose to follow was the reason he reached a false conclusion.

Similarly, there are many internet sites and blogs and podcasts. Many of them are good, but none have the power of the scriptures, the words of the prophets in General Conference, and the other resources the church provides.

In conclusion, consider two final invitations from the scriptures. First, the words of Amulek:

"Now, as I said concerning faith-- that it was not a perfect knowledge--even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge. But behold, if ye will arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words (Alma 32:26-27).

And finally, a familiar invitation from the prophet Helaman:

And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall (Helaman 5:12).

Gathered to a Good Meal

"In Remembrance of Me" by Walter Rane

Nothing brings people together quite like good food. Food is a highlight of many of our activities, our holidays and our culture. We celebrate each other with birthday cake. Families come together to reflect on shared blessings over turkey and mashed potatoes. Church events are rarely held without homemade brownies or an ice cream sandwich. At professional conferences, much of the networking and business is conducted over a meal, drinks and hors d’oeuvres, or some hotel’s idea of cheesecake.

When we are sharing a meal with others, we cannot help but tap into a deeper source of connection. We all need food to live. Our bodies are made of the cells created from and nourished by the food we eat. Sharing our food is sharing our vulnerable humanity. It implies an equality, trust and cooperation that helps us feel closer to our families, our associates, or even those we may not have known when the meal began. Breaking bread with one other can soften our hearts and remind us of all we have in common. Oscar Wilde quipped that “after a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one’s own relatives.”

The gathering of Israel is like a good meal. The Lord taught in a parable that “wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together; so likewise shall mine elect be gathered from the four quarters of the earth” (JS-M 1:27).

The elect of Israel will be gathered to the body of the church for the same reason as eagles gather for a meal: because there is meat for nourishment.

Speaking in 1938, President J. Reuben Clark, a counselor in the First Presidency at the time, spoke to Church educators about teaching the youth of the Church. His comments have many insights for parents and teachers, but the principles he taught apply to each of us and all of the elect of Israel. In that context of the broader elect the Lord has called us to gather, he said:

“The [elect] are hungry for things of the Spirit; they are eager to learn the gospel, and they want it straight, undiluted.

They want to know about the fundamentals [of the gospel]—about our beliefs; they want to gain testimonies of their truth…

[The elect] crave the faith their [friends or coworkers or family members] have; they want it in its simplicity and purity…

[The elect] already know that they must be honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and do good to all men… They should be encouraged in all proper ways to do these things which they know to be true…

[The elect] fully sense the hollowness of teaching which would make the gospel plan a mere system of ethics; they know that Christ’s teachings are in the highest degree ethical, but they also know they are more than this… They know that the gospel teachings touch not only this life but the life that is to come, with its salvation and exaltation as the final goal.

[The elect] hunger and thirst… for a testimony of the things of the Spirit and of the hereafter, and knowing that you cannot rationalize eternity, they seek faith and the knowledge which follows faith…

[They are] working on toward a maturity which they will… reach if you but feed them the right food” (James R. Clark, comp., Messages of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6 vols. (1965-75), 6:44-58).

We live in a “wheat and tares” world. We are called to gather the elect into the barn—not for the barn’s sake, but rather so we may be “made perfect in one” and meet again at the Lord’s family dinner table. There it will not matter if one was a republican or a democrat; rich or poor; American, African or Asian; a sports fan or an artist or wrangler or a nerd. There we will be unified by our common, vulnerable humanity and grateful faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The elect will be gathered to the Church and its covenants, like we are gathered to a good meal, as we love those around us and share the meat of the pure and undiluted gospel with them. Jesus Christ is our Savior, our Creator, the Great Gatherer, and the gracious host of our great gospel feast.