Elder Dale G. Renlund on the eternal consequences of choices

Elder Dale G. Renlund (born November 13, 1952) served in the First Quorum of Seventy starting in 2009, until his call to the Quorum of Twelve in October 2015.

"You may know that I used to treat patients with heart failure. Their best outcomes were obtained by following established, evidence-based treatment plans. Despite knowing this, some patients tried to negotiate a different treatment plan. They said, 'I don’t want to take so many medications' or 'I don’t want to undergo so many follow-up tests.' Of course, patients were free to make their own decisions, but if they deviated from optimal treatment plans, their results suffered. Patients with heart failure cannot choose an inferior course and then blame their cardiologist for inferior outcomes.

"The same is true for us. Heavenly Father’s prescribed path leads to the best eternal outcomes. We are free to choose, but we cannot choose the consequences of not following the revealed path. The Lord has said, 'That which breaketh a law, and abideth not by law, but seeketh to become a law unto itself, … cannot be sanctified by law, neither by mercy, justice, nor judgment' (D&C 88:35). We cannot deviate from Heavenly Father’s course and then blame Him for inferior outcomes."

- Dale G. Renlund, "Your Divine Nature and Eternal Destiny," General Conference April 2022, Women's Session

Click here to read or listen to the full discourse

I love Elder Renlund's perspective. We have seen this scenario played out pointedly in recent times. Some people are unwilling to take the advice of a doctor in a critical life situation; they either don't trust the doctor's wisdom and experience, or they think they know better for themselves than the doctor can know. To me, it seems very odd not to trust an expert who is established, recognized, and proven.

The application to critical spiritual matters is so much more important.

Both in medical and spiritual matters, we can always choose the action we take; but we can't choose the consequences of our action. That is a profound, critical, eternal distinction that we must never forget. We should never choose to "deviate from Heavenly Father's course" because the outcomes will certainly follow!

 

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2022)

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf on choosing things that matter most

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf (born November 6, 1940) served as a Seventy from 1994-2004, when he was called as a member of the Quorum of Twelve.  He served as second counselor in the First Presidency from 2008 to 2018.

"The tendency to focus on the insignificant at the expense of the profound happens... to everyone. We are all at risk. The driver who focuses on the road has a far greater chance of arriving at his destination accident free than the driver who focuses on sending text messages on his phone.

"We know what matters most in life—the Light of Christ teaches this to everyone. We as faithful Latter-day Saints have the Holy Ghost as a 'constant companion' to teach us the things of eternal value. I imagine that any priesthood holder listening to my voice today, if asked to prepare a talk on the subject 'what matters most,' could and would do an excellent job. Our weakness is in failing to align our actions with our conscience.

"Pause for a moment and check where your own heart and thoughts are. Are you focused on the things that matter most? How you spend your quiet time may provide a valuable clue. Where do your thoughts go when the pressure of deadlines is gone? Are your thoughts and heart focused on those short-lived fleeting things that matter only in the moment or on things that matter most?"

- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "We Are Doing a Great Work and Cannot Come Down," Ensign, May 2009, pp. 59-62
Click here to read the full talk

"Our weakness is in failing to align our actions with our conscience." That's a powerful warning. We know so much more than we do, and even when the promptings come, we don't always heed and act.

President Uchtdorf gives a "litmus test" to help evaluate the real intent of our hearts. How do we spend our "quiet time," the moments when there is no pressure of deadlines or requirements to fulfill duties? Do we choose to focus that time on "things that matter most"?

We need to "pause for a moment" more often in our lives to "check where [our] own hearts and thoughts are." What a difference that would make!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2022)
November 6, 2015

Elder Dallin H. Oaks on revelation and personal decisions

President Dallin H. Oaks (born August 12, 1932) served as president of BYU from 1971-1980.  He was then appointed as a justice of the Utah Supreme Court, and resigned when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1984. He became President of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles and also 1st Counselor in the First Presidency in January 2018.

"A desire to be led by the Lord is a strength, but it needs to be accompanied by an understanding that our Heavenly Father leaves many decisions for our personal choices. Personal decision making is one of the sources of the growth we are meant to experience in mortality. Persons who try to shift all decision making to the Lord and plead for revelation in every choice will soon find circumstances in which they pray for guidance and don't receive it. For example, this is likely to occur in those numerous circumstances in which the choices are trivial or either choice is acceptable.

"We should study things out in our minds, using the reasoning powers our Creator has placed within us. Then we should pray for guidance and act upon it if we receive it. If we do not receive guidance, we should act upon our best judgment. Persons who persist in seeking revelatory guidance on subjects on which the Lord has not chosen to direct us may concoct an answer out of their own fantasy or bias, or they may even receive an answer through the medium of false revelation. Revelation from God is a sacred reality, but like other sacred things, it must be cherished and used properly so that a great strength does not become a disabling weakness."

- Dallin H. Oaks, "Our Strengths Can Become Our Downfall," BYU 18-Stake Fireside, June 7, 1992; quoted in Ensign, Oct. 1994, pp. 13-14
Click here to read the full talk

Sometimes we struggle in our mortal experience to find the right "balance" in a variety of ways. Elder Oaks explains one of them: how does personal agency and the need to choose and learn, balance with promises of inspiration and spiritual direction? He gives wise counsel on the tendency of some to require or expect revelation on every decision of life, warning that it is not going to come, particularly in cases where "the choices are trivial or either choice is acceptable":

Note that Elder Oaks didn't warn (in this excerpt) about the other extreme (not asking God at all for help) since his talk focused on a general theme of how something appears to be a good thing, a "strength," can become a challenge or weakness.

The second paragraph gives his counsel on how we should expect to see revelation in our personal lives. The process he describes is:

1. When faced with a decision, "study things out in our minds." Use our God-given faculties to consider the problem and alternatives
2. Pray for guidance
3. If we receive a spiritual prompting, act on it
4. If we do not receive a prompting, act on our best judgement

I especially appreciated the warning about not expecting revelation in every case, and the potential traps that can lead to.  Wise counsel!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2022)
June 22, 2016

President Ezra Taft Benson on the spiritually alert life

President Ezra Taft Benson (1899-1994) was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1943, and served as the 13th President of the Church from 1985 until his death in 1994 at age 94.

"Usually the Lord gives us the overall objectives to be accomplished and some guidelines to follow, but He expects us to work out most of the details and methods. The methods and procedures are usually developed through study and prayer and by living so that we can obtain and follow the promptings of the Spirit. Less spiritually advanced people, such as those in the days of Moses, had to be commanded in many things. Today those spiritually alert look at the objectives, check the guidelines laid down by the Lord and His prophets, and then prayerfully act—without having to be commanded 'in all things' (D&C 58:26). This attitude prepares men for godhood....

"Sometimes, the Lord hopefully waits for His children to act on their own, and when they do not, they lose the greater prize, and the Lord will either drop the entire matter and let them suffer the consequences, or else he will have to spell it out in greater detail. Usually, I fear, the more he has to spell it out, the smaller is our reward."

- Ezra Taft Benson, "Not Commanded in All Things," Conference Report, April 5, 1965, pp. 121-122; see Ensign Sept 1977
Click here to read the full talk

This is an interesting analysis of the process of mortality. God doesn't tell us everything to do; he doesn't answer every question and give guidance in every minute instance. Instead, he wants us to learn and grow through our own experience. We need to learn to make decisions. And we need to learn to recover from bad decisions. That's all part of the process of growth.

I love the simple description of being "spiritually alert" — what a great attribute!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2022)
August 29, 2015

Elder Dallin H. Oaks on desires, priorities, choices, and actions

President Dallin H. Oaks (born August 12, 1932) served as president of BYU from 1971-1980.  He was then appointed as a justice of the Utah Supreme Court, and resigned when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1984. He became President of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles and also 1st Counselor in the First Presidency in January 2018.

"Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions. The desires we act on determine our changing, our achieving, and our becoming...

"Readjusting our desires to give highest priority to the things of eternity is not easy. We are all tempted to desire that worldly quartet of property, prominence, pride, and power. We might desire these, but we should not fix them as our highest priorities....

"All of us face potential traps that will prevent progress toward our eternal destiny. If our righteous desires are sufficiently intense, they will motivate us to cut and carve ourselves free from addictions and other sinful pressures and priorities that prevent our eternal progress.

"We should remember that righteous desires cannot be superficial, impulsive, or temporary. They must be heartfelt, unwavering, and permanent....

"As important as it is to lose every desire for sin, eternal life requires more. To achieve our eternal destiny, we will desire and work for the qualities required to become an eternal being. For example, eternal beings forgive all who have wronged them. They put the welfare of others ahead of themselves. And they love all of God's children. If this seems too difficult—and surely it is not easy for any of us—then we should begin with a desire for such qualities and call upon our loving Heavenly Father for help with our feelings. The Book of Mormon teaches us that we should 'pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that [we] may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ' (Moroni 7:48)."

- Dallin H. Oaks, "Desire," General Conference April 2011
Click here to read the full talk

Elder Oaks describes this sequence of how things happen in our lives:

Desires -> Priorities ->  Choices -> Actions -> Changes, Achievements

When we control our desires, we ultimately control our actions and life's direction. But Elder Oaks acknowledges that it's difficult to change our priorities in the midst of the world's temptations:

I thought his acknowledgement was interesting—we might desire some of those "worldly" things, but we must be careful to keep them prioritized among all of our priorities. Our righteous desires must be intense enough to provide the motivation to righteousness and change in our lives. We have to do more than just lose the desire for sin; we have to build and promote those desires for higher things, for holy things. That will lead to the kind of "becoming" that will show we are "true followers" of the Savior.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)
March 30, 2016

President Henry B. Eyring on the choices of life

President Henry B. Eyring (born May 31, 1933) served in the Presiding Bishopric from 1985-1992, as a Seventy from 1992-1995, then was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. He has served in the First Presidency since 2007.

"Our choosing the right consistently whenever the choice is placed before us creates the solid ground under our faith. It can begin in childhood since every soul is born with the free gift of the Spirit of Christ. With that Spirit we can know when we have done what is right before God and when we have done wrong in His sight.

"Those choices, hundreds in most days, prepare the solid ground on which our edifice of faith is built. The metal framework around which the substance of our faith is poured is the gospel of Jesus Christ, with all its covenants, ordinances, and principles.

"One of the keys to an enduring faith is to judge correctly the curing time required.... That curing does not come automatically through the passage of time, but it does take time. Getting older does not do it alone. It is serving God and others persistently with full heart and soul that turns testimony of truth into unbreakable spiritual strength."

- Henry B. Eyring, "Mountains to Climb," Ensign, May 2012, pp. 23-26
Click here to read the full talk

It's easy for us to forget how much the seemingly small and inconsequential choices we make ("hundreds in most days") accumulate to create the foundation of all that we are and do in life. President Eyring reminds us of the importance of "choosing the right consistently" through those opportunities in order to "prepare the solid ground" for the "edifice of faith" that we will build upon it. Without the foundation, the edifice can not stand.

The concept of "curing time" is also a very important one. President Eyring makes an analogy in his talk to the curing of cement, from a soft and moldable substance into the hard, rock-like material that sustains a building. "It does take time" for our faith, based on choices and experiences, to cure into the solid strength that will sustain us. And the curing requires more than the passage of time. It requires passing time in the right way, including "serving God and others persistently."

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)
August 13, 2016

President James E. Faust on making choices in life

President James E. Faust (1920 - 2007) was called as a Seventy in 1976, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve in 1978. He served as a counselor to President Hinckley from 1995 until his death in 2007 at age 87.

"In this life we have to make many choices. Some are very important choices. Some are not. Many of our choices are between good and evil. The choices we make, however, determine to a large extent our happiness or our unhappiness, because we have to live with the consequences of our choices. Making perfect choices all of the time is not possible. It just doesn't happen. But it is possible to make good choices we can live with and grow from. When God's children live worthy of divine guidance they can become 'free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon' (2 Ne. 2:26)....

"Some of our important choices have a time line. If we delay a decision, the opportunity is gone forever. Sometimes our doubts keep us from making a choice that involves change. Thus an opportunity may be missed. As someone once said, 'When you have to make a choice and don't make it, that in itself is a choice' (William James)....

"How do we make correct choices? A choice involves making a conscious decision. To make an intelligent decision we need to evaluate all available facts on both sides of an issue. But that isn't enough. Making correct decisions involves prayer and inspiration....

"As we look into the future, we are going to need to be stronger and more responsible for our choices in a world where people 'call evil good, and good evil' (2 Ne. 15:20). We do not choose wisely if we use our agency in opposition to God's will or to priesthood counsel. Tomorrow's blessings and opportunities depend on the choices we make today."

- James E. Faust, "Choices," General Conference April 2004
Click here to read the full talk

It's a good reminder to note that not one of us always makes only perfect choices. We do the best we can; and we always do better when we're worthy of "divine guidance" in those choices.

I liked this thought, of the importance of timely choices:

So then, learning to make correct choices, and make them in a prompt and timely way, is the challenge. "To make an intelligent decision we need to evaluate all available facts on both sides of an issue." That's hard to do; it's rare that we have the discipline to investigate so thoroughly. We are prone to rush to a decision. President Faust encourages more careful and deliberate consideration, followed by "prayer and inspiration."

King Benjamin taught that when we obey God, "he doth immediately bless you" (Mosi 2:24). Our blessings depend on our choices!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)
August 25, 2015

President M. Russell Ballard on loving the Savior

President M. Russell Ballard (born October 8, 1928) was called as a Seventy in 1976, and has served as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles since 1985. He became acting president of the Twelve in January 2018.

"After Jesus’s Resurrection, as we read in John chapter 21, Peter and the other disciples fished all night without success.1 In the morning, they saw a man standing on the shore who told them to cast their net on the other side of the boat. To their astonishment, the net was filled miraculously. (See John 21:11.)

"They immediately recognized that the man was the Lord, and they rushed to greet Him.

"As they dragged the net to shore, full of fish, Jesus said, 'Come and dine.' (John 21:12.) John reports that 'when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?' (John 21:15, emphasis added.)

"While I was standing on that same seashore, I realized that the Savior’s question was one of the most important questions that He might someday ask me. I could almost hear His voice asking, 'Russell, lovest thou me more than these?'

"Do you wonder what Jesus was referring to when He asked Peter, 'Lovest thou me more than these?'

"Relating this question to ourselves in our day, the Lord may be asking us about how busy we are and about the many positive and negative influences competing for our attention and our time. He may be asking each of us if we love Him more than the things of this world. This may be a question about what we really value in life, who we follow, and how we view our relationships with family members and neighbors. Or maybe He is asking what really brings us joy and happiness.

"Do the things of this world bring us the joy, happiness, and peace that the Savior offered to His disciples and that He offers to us? Only He can bring us true joy, happiness, and peace through our loving Him and following His teachings.

"How would we answer the question 'Lovest thou me more than these?'

"When we discover a fuller meaning of this question, we can become better family members, neighbors, citizens, members of the Church, and sons and daughters of God."

- M. Russell Ballard, "Lovest Thou Me More Than These?", General Conference October 2021, Saturday evening

Click here to read or view the complete talk

President Ballard helps us consider the Savior's teachings to his disciples in a deeply personal way. When he asked Peter about the love he felt, he could have equally been asking each of us. The comparison of "more than these" provides us the challenge to consider our priorities and loyalties, the things that matter most in our lives.

Do we truly love Him more than we love the things of the world? Do our actions, our choices, our lives reflect that choice? President Ballard provides a number of things to consider:

• how busy we are
• the influences, good and bad, that compete for our time
• what do we really value?
• whom do we follow?
• how are our relationships with family members and others?
• what brings us joy and happiness?

As we consider these, and other, aspects of our lives, we will be able to discover if our loyalty to Him is in the proper position.

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

President Russell M. Nelson on making time for God amid the world's influences

President Russell M. Nelson (b. Sept 9, 1924) was an internationally-renowned heart surgeon when he was called to serve as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1984, and was serving in that quorum when he shared this message. He was set apart as president of the Quorum of Twelve on July 15, 2015, and then as president of the Church on January 14, 2018.

"The voices and pressures of the world are engaging and numerous. But too many voices are deceptive, seductive, and can pull us off the covenant path. To avoid the inevitable heartbreak that follows, I plead with you today to counter the lure of the world by making time for the Lord in your life—each and every day.

"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."

- Russell M. Nelson, "Make Time for the Lord," General Conference October 2021, Sunday afternoon

Click here to read or listen to the full talk

This excerpt is from President Nelson's brief closing remarks in the October 2021 general conference. He reflected on the challenging, dynamic, changing nature of the world we live in today, with so many things out of our control—but yet, there are some very important things that are in our control—especially the ways we use our time and energy, how we act towards others, and where we seek guidance and truth.

Twice in his remarks, President Nelson used the invitation, "I plead with you"—to make time for the Lord. That is a strong, heart-felt invitation. As we choose how to spend our time, and where we look for information and knowledge, we must not neglect the only sure foundation. We must remember to fix our focus on the Savior and His blessings in our lives.

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

President James E. Faust on standing in holy places

President James E. Faust (1920-2007) was called as a Seventy in 1976, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve in 1978. He served as a counselor to President Hinckley until his death in 2007 at age 87.

"We are bombarded on all sides by a vast number of messages we don't want or need. More information is generated in a single day than we can absorb in a lifetime. To fully enjoy life, all of us must find our own breathing space and peace of mind. How can we do this? There is only one answer. We must rise above the evil that encroaches upon us. We must follow the counsel of the Lord, who said, 'It is my will, that all they who call on my name, and worship me according to mine everlasting gospel, should gather together, and stand in holy places' (D&C 101:22).

"We unavoidably stand in so many unholy places and are subjected to so much that is vulgar, profane, and destructive of the Spirit of the Lord that I encourage our Saints all over the world, wherever possible, to strive to stand more often in holy places. Our most holy places are our sacred temples. Within them is a feeling of sacred comfort....

"In addition to temples, surely another holy place on earth ought to be our homes. The feelings of holiness in my home prepared me for feelings of holiness in the temple....

"Our chapels are dedicated to the Lord as holy places. We are told we should go to the house of prayer and offer up our sacraments upon His holy day. (See D&C 59:9) ...

"We must try harder to be a holy people.... As children of the Lord we should strive every day to rise to a higher level of personal righteousness in all of our actions. We need to guard constantly against all of Satan's influences.

"As President Brigham Young taught, 'Every moment of [our lives] must be holiness to the Lord, ... which is the only course by which [we] can preserve the Spirit of the Almighty to [ourselves].' May the Lord bless each and all of us in our special responsibility to find holiness to the Lord by standing in holy places. That is where we will find the spiritual protection we need for ourselves and our families. That is the source of help to carry forth the word of the Lord in our time. Standing in holy places will help us rise above the evil influences of our time and draw us closer to our Savior."

- James E. Faust, "Standing in Holy Places," Ensign, May 2005, pp. 62-68
Click here to read the full talk

President Faust shares an interesting interpretation of one of the key challenges of our time. The word "bombarded" is particularly descriptive of the way we can be overwhelmed by information, much of which is not beneficial, and even "destructive of the Spirit of the Lord." The key invitation of his message is the powerful invitation that tells us how to counteract the negative influence:

President Faust specifies the most important "holy places" we can find, establish, and visit:

• sacred temples
• our homes
• chapels

But the next level of growth is not just to be in holy places, but to become holy ourselves by overcoming temptation and growing in righteousness.

I love the passage from Brigham Young that Pres. Faust excerpts:

It's not just the places, but the time of our lives that can become holy! This is a powerful concept, that will bring great blessings to us, and provide the "spiritual protection" for our families in these trying times.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)
May 19, 2015

Elder D. Todd Christofferson on the purpose of life and the blessing of agency

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

"Thanks to our Heavenly Father, we had already become spirit beings. Now He was offering us a path to complete or perfect that being. The addition of the physical element is essential to the fulness of being and glory that God Himself enjoys. If, while with God in the premortal spirit world, we would agree to participate in His plan—or in other words 'keep [our] first estate'—we would 'be added upon' with a physical body as we came to dwell on the earth that He created for us.

"If, then in the course of our mortal experience, we chose to 'do all things whatsoever the Lord [our] God [should] command [us],' we would have kept our 'second estate.' This means that by our choices we would demonstrate to God (and to ourselves) our commitment and capacity to live His celestial law while outside His presence and in a physical body with all its powers, appetites, and passions. Could we bridle the flesh so that it became the instrument rather than the master of the spirit? Could we be trusted both in time and eternity with godly powers, including power to create life? Would we individually overcome evil? Those who did would 'have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever'—a very significant aspect of that glory being a resurrected, immortal, and glorified physical body. No wonder we 'shouted for joy' (Job 38:7) at these magnificent possibilities and promises....

"Knowing why we left the presence of our Heavenly Father and what it takes to return and be exalted with Him, it becomes very clear that nothing relative to our time on earth can be more important than physical birth and spiritual rebirth, the two prerequisites of eternal life."

- D. Todd Christofferson, "Why Marriage, Why Family," General Conference, April 2015
Click here to read the full talk

Elder Christofferson reviewed the doctrines of "the plan of happiness" in order to set context for his discussion of families and marriage. :"Keeping our first estate" refers to the description from Abraham 3 of those who chose to follow the Savior's plan in the pre-mortal life, and were blessed by the opportunity to live in this world and obtain a physical body.

And that leads to the "second estate"—our current existence—where we now have the opportunity to grow and learn, as well as to demonstrate our love and desire to voluntarily follow God's plan. This was a wonderful summary of what we are about in this life:

What a beautiful description of the challenge presented to us in this "second estate"! Truly we should shout for joy at this opportunity, as we did long ago.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)
April 29, 2015

Elder Dallin H. Oaks on the eternal perspective of our lives

President Dallin H. Oaks (born August 12, 1932) served as president of BYU from 1971-1980.  He was then appointed as a justice of the Utah Supreme Court, and resigned when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1984. He became President of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles and also 1st Counselor in the First Presidency in January 2018.

"The pure in heart have a distinctive way of looking at life. Their attitudes and desires cause them to view their experiences in terms of eternity. This eternal perspective affects their choices and priorities. As they draw farther from worldliness they feel closer to our Father in Heaven and more able to be guided by his Spirit. We call this state of mind, this quality of life, spirituality. 

"Spirituality is a lens through which we view life and a gauge by which we evaluate it.... To be spiritually minded is to view and evaluate experiences in terms of the enlarged perspective of eternity." 

- Dallin H. Oaks, "Pure in Heart" (Deseret 1991), pp. 111-112; see also Dallin H. Oaks, "Spirituality," Ensign, November 1985, pp. 61-63
Click here to read the full talk

Somehow, it seems to be a challenge for many of us to view our more challenging experiences "in terms of eternity." Instead, our tendency is to forget eternity in the midst of trials and difficulties. But Elder Oaks points out that the "pure in heart" find that perspective easy to maintain. The more we are able to separate ourselves from worldliness, the more we can be guided by God's influence and can see things in eternal perspective.

As we become more "pure in heart" wewill see that our way of looking at life changes, and the eternal perspective is much more natural. Spirituality allows us to view everything that occurs to us "in terms of theenlarged perspective of eternity." What a blessing, and what an advantage! That should truly be our quest.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)
March 9, 2015

Elder Richard G. Scott on the purpose of life

Elder Richard G. Scott (1928-2015) served as a Seventy from 1977-1988, when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.  He passed away in September 2015 at the age of 86.

"You are here on earth for a divine purpose. It is not to be endlessly entertained or to be constantly in full pursuit of pleasure. You are here to be tried, to prove yourself so that you can receive the additional blessings God has for you (see Abr. 3:25).  The tempering effect of patience is required (see Mosiah 3:19).  Some blessings will be delivered here in this life; others will come beyond the veil. The Lord is intent on your personal growth and development. That progress is accelerated when you willingly allow Him to lead you through every growth experience you encounter, whether initially it be to your individual liking or not. When you trust in the Lord, when you are willing to let your heart and your mind be centered in His will, when you ask to be led by the Spirit to do His will, you are assured of the greatest happiness along the way and the most fulfilling attainment from this mortal experience. If you question everything you are asked to do, or dig in your heels at every unpleasant challenge, you make it harder for the Lord to bless you (see 1 Ne. 3:7). 

"Your agency, the right to make choices, is not given so that you can get what you want.  This divine gift is provided so that you will choose what your Father in Heaven wants for you.  That way He can lead you to become all that He intends you to be (see D&C 58:26–32).  That path leads to glorious joy and happiness." 

- Richard G. Scott, "Finding Joy in Life," Genneral Conference April 1996
Click to read the full talk

It's easy to lose sight of the purpose of life, in the midst of demands that are often urgent and options that may seen endless. When challenges come, some people naturally to turn to God; but there is a tendency for many to question or tire in the midst of endurance. How crucial it is for us to learn to trust, to seek the good and the growth!

A true disciple learns to view "every unpleasant challenge" as a sign of God's love, not as a sign of his absence; and as an opportunity to grow closer to Him and become more like Him.

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

January 10, 2015

Elder Richard L. Evans on our search for happiness

Elder Richard L. Evans (1906-1971) served as a Seventy from 1938-1953, when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.  He died in 1971 at age 65.  He was known as "the voice of the Tabernacle Choir" from the beginning of its broadcasts in 1929 until his passing.

"Life offers you two precious gifts—one is time, the other freedom of choice, the freedom to buy with your time what you will. You are free to exchange your allotment of time for thrills. You may trade it for base desires. You may invest it in greed....

"Yours is the freedom to choose. But these are no bargains, for in them you find no lasting satisfaction.

"Every day, every hour, every minute of your span of mortal years must sometime be accounted for. And it is in this life that you walk by faith and prove yourself able to choose good over evil, right over wrong, enduring happiness over mere amusement. And your eternal reward will be according to your choosing.

"A prophet of God has said: 'Men are that they might have joy'—a joy that includes a fullness of life, a life dedicated to service, to love and harmony in the home, and the fruits of honest toil—an acceptance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ—of its requirements and commandments.

"Only in these will you find true happiness, the happiness which doesn't fade with the lights and the music and the crowds."

- Richard L. Evans, Man's Search for Happiness (pamphlet, 1969), pp. 4–5

These lines are very familiar to anyone of my generation. The short film "Man's Search for Happiness" was produced for the Mormon Pavilion at the 1964 World's Fair in New York City, and was viewed by over five million people at that event. For years it was a standard Church film used in visitors' centers, viewed in meetings and classes, and shown by missionaries to investigators. With the beautiful, familiar voice of Elder Evans narrating, the message of the film was moving and powerful to many.

The concepts shared by Elder Evans in these lines are critical to us. We are granted freedom of choice in this life, and time in which to exercise that gift. But how crucial it is to our eternal progress that our choices are made carefully and lead to the right destinations!

It is interesting to ponder the statement "Every day, every hour, every minute of your span of mortal years must sometime be accounted for." If that is true, it is vital to learn to choose the life of joy, now and eternally, through the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

An interesting article about the history of the Mormon Pavilion, at which these words were premiered, is found in "Legacy of the Mormon Pavilion" by Brent L. Top, Ensign Oct. 1989.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2019)

President Spencer W. Kimball on not wasting our time

President Spencer W. Kimball (1895-1985) was ordained an apostle in 1943 and served as President of the Church from 1973 to 1985.

"Jacob was thinking partly of sins of omission when he uttered the solemn words:

"'But wo unto him that has the law given, yea, that has all the commandments of God, like unto us, and that transgresseth them, and that wasteth the days of his probation, for awful is his state!' (2 Ne 9:27, italics added.)

"Waste is unjustified, and especially the waste of time—limited as that commodity is in our days of probation. One must live, not only exist; he must do, not merely be; he must grow, not just vegetate. John the Revelator recorded for us significantly:

"'Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the [eternal] city.' (Rev. 22:14, italics added.) ...

"To be passive is deadening; to stop doing is to die. Here then is a close parallel with physical life. If one fails to eat and drink, his body becomes emaciated and dies. Likewise if he fails to nourish his spirit and mind, his spirit shrivels and his mind darkens."

- Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness, pp. 92-93

Even though President Kimball had a weak and raspy voice in his later years (after dealing with throat cancer), his talks and his writing were so expressive and, at times, almost poetic. I loved how he would choose words that were so descriptive and vivid. This is a great example, as he discusses the importance of using time wisely, taking care not to "[waste] the days of [our] probation":

When we become passive, we lose so much: "to stop doing is to die." Just as our physical body needs nutrients, our spirit and mind must also be nourished in the right ways in order to retain their vitality. And so we must use our precious time carefully and wisely!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2019)

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin on our journey to higher ground

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (1917-2008) served as a Seventy from 1976 to 1986, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles from 1986 until his passing in 2008 at age 91.

"Those who journey to higher ground love the Lord with all their hearts. We see in their lives manifestations of that love. They seek their God in prayer and plead for His Holy Spirit. They humble themselves and open their hearts to the teachings of the prophets. They magnify their callings and seek to serve rather than be served. They stand as witnesses of God. They obey His commandments and grow strong in their testimony of the truth.

"They also love Heavenly Father’s children, and their lives manifest that love. They care for their brothers and sisters. They nurture, serve, and sustain their spouses and children. In the spirit of love and kindness, they build up those around them. They give freely of their substance to others. They mourn with those that mourn and comfort those that stand in need of comfort. (See Mosiah 18:9.)

"This journey to higher ground is the pathway of discipleship to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a journey that will ultimately lead us to exaltation with our families in the presence of the Father and the Son. Consequently, our journey to higher ground must include the house of the Lord. As we come unto Christ and journey to higher ground, we will desire to spend more time in His temples, because the temples represent higher ground, sacred ground.

"In every age we are faced with a choice. We can trust in our own strength, or we can journey to higher ground and come unto Christ.

"Each choice has a consequence.

"Each consequence, a destination."

- Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Journey to Higher Ground," General Conference October 2005
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

The image Elder Wirthlin conveyed in this talk is based on events in Indonesia in December 2004. An earthquake off the coast caused powerful tsunamis that devastated the coastal regions in countries throughout the area. Safety from the onslaught came only to those who managed to climb to higher ground, out of the reach of devastation. Elder Wirthlin likened that to the spiritual challenges of our time, and the need we have to avoid them by raising ourselves so the "spiritual higher ground" of obedience and faithfulness.

In this segment, near the end of the talk, he summarized some of the ways we can know we are on the higher ground: being filled with the love of the Lord, praying faithfully, studying prophetic teachings, serving eagerly and faithfully in callings, testifying of the truth with growing power, caring for those around us, and supporting others in any way needed. We become true disciples of Jesus Christ. And we seek to be in His presence, feeling His influence as much as we can:

As in every time, we must each choose whether to "trust in our own strength" or to "journey to higher ground and come unto Christ." We make that choice every day, multiple times each day as we move forward in our lives.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2019)